Marathon HDTV Long Distance Antenna Review

Why the Marathon HDTV Long Distance Antenna might just be the most beloved top-end antenna on the market today.

Cord-cutting is an excellent way to reclaim your freedom from cable and satellite bills. With the new ATSC 3.0 over-the-air standard rolling out over the next few years, broadcast channels are going to be able to send the standard, Full HD and Ultra HD (that’s 4K resolution) quality video, as well as internet content and more. It’s a game-changing upgrade, but in order to be able to appreciate it, you’ll need a proper antenna. Enter, Marathon HDTV Long Distance Antenna, one of the highest rated long-distance amplified antenna on the market today. While it is large, bold white, and nearly impossible to hide except behind a few well-placed trees or inside your home, this unit has an excellent reputation, provides unbeatable quality of service, and a single connection point for every television in your house, though it has a price tag to match its exceptional claims.

If you have multiple televisions in your home, require a strong and amplified antenna to pull in reliable signals from 100 miles away, or simply want one of the best units on the market, the Marathon HDTV Long Distance Antenna should be at the top of your list if you’re searching for the whole package in one perfect place. Let’s take a closer look at the claims this unit is making and see if they fit your needs.

DESIGN & BUILD | Not Subtle, but Powerful

The Marathon HDTV Long Distance Antenna is not an attractive piece of technology, but what antenna at this point is? While the bright white rounded-off design might put some people off, the low-profile and curved shape allows the Marathon to avoid wind and weather damage that can twist and loosen other, more sail-like or branch-like antenna. Producing noise under 3.5db (quieter than human breathing) and pushing out a powerful gain range of 40 DBI, this unit works indoors and outdoors with little issue. A customer service representative with Free Signal TV, the makers of the Marathon, is quoted as saying that the unit “is capable of capturing signals at a variety of heights above ground,” meaning that it does not require rooftop mounting for best performance. Just mount it within reach of a 110V outlet (this much amped up tech needs power) and you’re ready to enjoy a life without cable and satellite bills.

“Producing noise under 3.5db (quieter than human breathing) and pushing out a powerful gain range of 40 dBi…”

The Marathon HDTV Long Distance Antenna features a plastic body, and in addition to its wide range of frequencies, is also outfitted with the latest in 4G/LTE technology, another tip of the hat to its future-proof forward thinking. All that without needing to climb up on the roof sounds too good to be true, although, if you insist, you certainly can mount it on a roof or pole to get past geographical limitations. The powerful amplifier and 100-mile range can punch through quite a few obstacles, something to which hundreds of happy owners can attest.

Marathon HDTV Long Distance Antenna in box

SAFETY & DURABILITY | Strength in Versatility

What the Marathon HDTV Long Distance Antenna lacks in aesthetic, it makes up in versatility. This antenna’s amplifier and receiver are strong enough to break through foliage and many other obstacles without needing to be roof mounted. Many potential owners will avoid needing periodic adjustment, reattachment or replacement if the wind gets too strong, and be allowed to simply enjoy quality local entertainment, news, and sports. Its overall design seems to be intended for wall or side-of-the-building use anyway, thanks to the 110V power requirement, which could turn problematic for roof or pole mounts. Because so much of antenna ownership is making sure the installation is performed safely, removing the need for climbing up on the roof is a huge benefit. Some owners mount theirs in their attic, under a safe overhang out of sight and behind the house, others plant it proudly on their roof. Where it goes is up to you and your environment to decide.

“…strong enough to break through foliage and many other obstacles without needing to be roof mounted.”

Durability-wise, the Marathon has converted quite a few plastic skeptics. While some claim it appears flimsy, the majority of the reviewers and outspoken owners have revealed a lifespan of multiple years with no damage, even after severe, inclement weather. While other plastic antenna can act like sails and catch rough winds with their flat designs, the Marathon HDTV Long Distance Antenna huddles up to your house when wall-mounted, lessening that risk. If pole or roof mounted, the installation hardware includes a robust u-bolt, with room for attaching more for that extra measure of security.

Marathon HDTV Long Distance Antenna front

PERFORMANCE | Excellence and Aftercare

Ease of Use

As mentioned before, removing the requirement for roof-mounting and claiming functionality at any height above ground makes the Marathon HDTV Long Distance Antenna an excellent option for people who either cannot or do not want to mess with a rooftop installation or micro-adjustments. But if you do choose to rooftop mount it, do it safely. Additionally, thanks to the amplified signal and how the antenna transmits it into your house, you don’t need to have a separate unit for each television, allowing the Marathon to cover each screen with relative ease.

Best Features

The Marathon HDTV Long Distance Antenna’s best feature lies in its customer support network. Customer representatives have gone above and beyond multiple times to research potential buyers’ locations to see if the Marathon (or any one of their other models) would work and, if it doesn’t work for some reason, other reviewers have stated that Free Signal TV will worth with the purchaser to exchange or return the unit. There’s little mystery as to why this antenna has a small but happy following on various sites.

Marathon HDTV Long Distance Antenna back

LONGEVITY & PRICE | A Long-lasting Investment

It doesn’t make sense to spend a healthy amount of money on a piece of technology that won’t last, but hundreds of happy owners and reviewers have made it clear that the Marathon HDTV Long Distance Antenna is well worth the cost in both performance and lifespan. If for whatever reason your unit fails to live up to the hype, Free Signal TV will take care of you. That means a lot in an increasingly automated world, and their customer service might just make you a believer.

Be sure to check the current Marathon HDTV Long Distance Antenna – Amazon price here.

The moment of truth. Yes, the Marathon HDTV Long Distance Antenna has an MSRP of $169.00. This easily puts it at the top end of the market for something that was supposed to have gone totally out of vogue decades ago. Yet, over-the-air broadcasting has survived, improved, and is even continuing to evolve and remain just as free of monthly bills as ever, something to remember as you continue your research. The technology, advances, and future-proofing packed into this stark white plastic design should make the price tag worth the investment.

Marathon HDTV Long Distance Antenna outside

Pros

• Powerful 100-mile amplifier and receiver for overcoming obstacles
• Can be mounted at any height with no performance impedance
• Excellent customer service reputation

Cons

• Expensive (see current Amazon Price)
• Plastic design
• Bright white and difficult to conceal outside

THE BOTTOM LINE | Totally Worth the Cost