Skip to main content

Mohu’s Jolt antenna amplifier clears the airwaves to better TV reception

Jolt 2Check out our review of the Mohu Jolt amplifier as part of our Mohu Leaf Ultimate HDTV antenna.

Mohu has released a new antenna amplifier today that it calls the Jolt. But before you write it off as another signal booster (as we almost did), take a closer look. The Jolt is designed to filter through unwanted wireless radio signals – particularly from cellular and FM radio waves –  to increase the capability of pulling in weaker over-the-air TV channels via an antenna.

Mohu, makers of the Leaf line of digital TV antennas, has designed this with what it calls CleanPeak Filter technology, which is meant to reject signals that aren’t meant for the TV. This would theoretically make it easier to capture stations with weaker signals and even bump up those that are already coming in.

Mohu says the Jolt can do 15 dB of gain across the whole TV broadcasting band, which is why it can pull in even the weakest signals for proper viewing without choppiness or pixilation. It is dual-powered, with an option for doing it through USB directly into the USB port in the back of the TV, or by plugging it in to a wall outlet. As a power-saving measure, the Jolt will not draw any power when the TV is turned off.

Though designed to work with the Leaf antennas, it’s not exclusive to them, so it can boost the reception capabilities of any passive antenna. The fine print on the Jolt’s product page at Mohu’s Web site also states that it won’t work with the Leaf Ultimate and other already-amplified antennas.

The Jolt is selling now for $59.99 at GoMohu.com and Amazon. Look out for a full review here at Digital Trends soon.

Ted Kritsonis
A tech journalism vet, Ted covers has written for a number of publications in Canada and the U.S. Ted loves hockey, history…
There’s a rare deal on the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones today
Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones seen in black.

The massively popular Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless headphones rarely appear in headphone deals, so if you've had your eye on them for quite a while, you're in luck because they're currently $51 off on Walmart. From their original price of $400, you'll only have to pay $349, but only if you hurry because we don't expect stocks to last long. You're going to miss out on the offer if you take too long, so don't hesitate -- add the wireless headphones to your cart and check out as fast as you can.

Why you should buy the Sony WH-1000XM5
The best headphones that you can buy right now are the Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless headphones, and it's not even close. At the heart is their outstanding wireless sound, supported by top-quality active noise cancellation that uses two processors and eight microphones to block all unwanted sound, as well as crystal-clear hands-free calling using four beamforming microphones and advanced audio signal processing. The wireless headphones also offer Bluetooth multipoint connection so that you can quickly switch between different devices, touch controls for functions like adjusting volume and calling your digital assistant, and Speak-to-Chat and Quick Attention features to stop your music and let ambient sound in without having to take them off.

Read more
Sony’s premium soundbars will finally get support for VRR, ALLM
Sony HT-A7000 Dolby Atmos soundbar close-up of top panel.

It's been a long time coming, but the wait is almost over. Sony's premium home theater soundbars are set to receive a software update that will add support for variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low-latency mode (ALLM), two HDMI 2.1 gaming features that have been absent since these products launched.

The soundbars in question are the Sony HT-A5000, HT-A7000, and the multi-wireless speaker HT-A9 system. All three are scheduled to receive the update this fall, but Sony has declined to share specific timing, saying only that there will be more information closer to the rollout date.

Read more
What is Roku? The streaming platform explained
A roku powered TV hanging on a wall running Roku OS 12.

How do you get your Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, or Prime Video fix? Chances are it's through a streaming device or smart TV, and there's a good chance that it's through a Roku device or one running its pioneering streaming operating system. At this point, cord-cutting is old news, and Roku was one of the earliest companies to drive the adoption of web-based streaming with its self-contained, app-driven devices.

Today, watching something "on Roku" is standard parlance and the company's popular platform can be found baked into some of the biggest TV brands in the world as well as in its own lineup of streaming devices sticks, and set-top boxes. Even so, that doesn't mean you totally get what a Roku actually is. What is Roku? How does Roku work? Do you need a subscription to use it? Is it just a device you buy, or is it software?

Read more