How does this Amazon flat TV antenna (a Moho Leaf Clone?) work?

[valley_nomad]

Hello, I just disassembled my Basics Ultra Thin Indoor TV Antenna http://goo.gl/DAioLg
and found that the cable is not connected with the antenna wire/loop directly. There are a few components between the cable and antenna terminals. Without connecting with antenna wire the resistance is infinite between cable signal lead and two terminals to the antenna wire/loop. the resistance between the cable shield and two terminals are 7.2 ohm and 19.3 ohm respectively. The resistance between terminals on antenna itself is 15.7 ohm. This is a non-powered antenna. My knowledge on RF is very limited. I am wondering how it could possibly work

[Ian.M]

The mess of unpopulated pads to the right of the second image would be for the amplified version.

S2 is probably a balun.  The signal then gets coupled via C16, the bypass track round the amlifier section and C14 to the center conductor of the coax.

As to how it works as an antennae, I'd bet the answer is poorly.  Its allegedly

Multi-Directional and Reversible: No "pointing" needed

and the faint lines on image 1 look like a modified bow-tie dipole, but antennaes that aren't intentionally directional are highly vulnerable to multi-path distortion due to signal reflections off metal objects (including many parts of buildings) so unless you are in a high signal strength suburban area with a line of sight to the transmitting tower going through a minimum of walls and buildings, your experience is likely to be less than satisfactory.