ok, this may sound a little like I was behind the curve but… well ok I was. I got Dish TV, that is not a bad thing actually as I have been pretty happy with it and the service. The model I have is the DVR with two receivers; one uses ir (infrared) signals and the other uses a radio signal. Herein lies the rub, the radio signal must make it through several layers of housing material and furniture in order to control the unit. The measly little weak antenna is insufficient and its placement in the back of the uint, subsequently in the back of my entertainment center makes it even less effective. The antenna design is really very simple, it is an extension of the core of a standard TV coxial. To the antenna port I attached a co-ax cable that reached to an area that has better reception, I attached a female connector to the cable end and then attached the antenna. Like magic it works, and it works well.