Reasons to Purchase a TV Antenna
Installing an HDTV antenna can save you money and give you access to free, local channels you can’t get with a streaming service. Those who are “cord cutters” often find they miss the live sporting events and news broadcasts that only air on these networks and want a more economical way of watching them. Depending on your location, you may be able to pick up broadcasts of all the major networks in high-definition. In select areas, you can also view programming in the new ATSC 3.0 standard, which is also known as NextGen TV, with a TV antenna.
Choosing the Right TV Antenna Simplified
Depending on what area of the country you live in, you may be able to get up to 50 stations for free, or even more. Although, those who live in urban areas can often get more than those who live in rural areas. The simplest place to start when trying to determine the right type of TV antenna is to figure out which channels are available in your area. A quick internet search will typically turn up several websites that will tell you which local HD channels you can pick up and how strong the signal will be. After you know what’s available, make a list of the channels you most want to watch and choose an antenna that will allow you to pick up all or at least most of those channels.
It's important to note that when searching for free channels in your area, you’ll want to look for the “real” channels. That is, some stations may broadcast on a different channel than they are commonly referred to. For example, Channel 4 in your area may broadcast on Channel 29 when using a TV antenna.
Also, to get the most value out of your antenna, be sure to select one that can pick up the right frequency band(s). In the U.S., there are three different frequency bands. Some antennas are designed to pick up either one band, two bands or all three bands:
- VHF-Low (channels 2 through 6)
- VHF-High (channels 7 through 13)
- UHF (channels 14 through 51)
Should I Buy an Indoor or Outdoor TV Antenna?
Indoor HDTV antennas hook directly into your TV through a coaxial cable. Although their shape can vary, many consist of a wide, flat-panel receptor that can be mounted in a window or on a wall. This type of antenna is usually the most economical variety as well as the most convenient to install. Although performance can vary greatly by model and the mounting location, in general, indoor antennas work best for local channels with a stronger signal.
Outdoor HDTV antennas install outside your home, either on top of the roof, on the side of the house or in the attic. Most of the time, outdoor antennas are larger than indoor ones and are more sensitive in terms of signal reception. Although there are many factors that affect an antenna’s performance, often the larger it is, the more channels it can receive. For an outdoor TV antenna, you’ll need to factor in the extra cost of the antenna as well as a longer coaxial cable and the costs of drilling into your walls or ceiling. In general, you’ll get better results from an outdoor antenna, particularly for weaker channels or those that are broadcast from farther away. However, depending on signal strength in your area and which channels you’ll watch most often, an indoor model may be perfectly sufficient.
Often both indoor and outdoor TV antennas will include mounting hardware. However, be sure to check the packaging to see if you need to purchase separate hardware or additional fasteners, as well as which tools are required for the job.
Best Mounting Location for a TV Antenna
- Outdoor antennas are most often mounted either on the roof or home exterior. In general, the higher in elevation the antenna is mounted, the better the reception because there is less signal interference at greater heights. When installed in an attic, an outdoor antenna may not get the same reception because architectural structures like roofs and can weaken a signal, particularly if it isn’t very strong to begin with. However, mounting an outdoor antenna in an attic area does provide additional protection from the elements. Plus, you won’t have to use a ladder to climb on your roof if you need to make adjustments. You will also need to position some antennas in the direction of the signal you’re trying to pick up.
- For many indoor TV antennas, it’s best to hang them in a window that faces the direction of the signal you’re trying to receive.
About Amplified Antennas
For those who live in areas that are further away from broadcast towers or experience a lot of TV signal interference due to geographical obstacles such as hills, mountains or dense forests, amplified antennas can improve the strength of a signal. This type of antenna is also a preferred choice for areas that experience frequent seasonal.
Should I Get a Multidirectional or Directional Antenna?
To take advantage of the best signal direction for your favorite channels, there are two types of antennas on the market today: directional and multidirectional. Directional antennas, or standard HD antennas, are — as the name suggests — designed to pick up signals from a single direction. Multidirectional antennas, which are sometimes referred to as omnidirectional antennas, can receive signals from all directions.
Although directional antennas may not pick up as many different signals in some areas, they often perform better for targeting signals from a specific direction than an omnidirectional antenna. On the other hand, omnidirectional antennas may be a better choice for those who live in areas where signal strength is generally very good or who want the best overall performance without using multiple antennas.
Determining the Right Antenna Direction and Signal Range
If you decide to purchase a directional antenna, you’ll need to determine exactly which direction it should face when mounting it, since TV signals will come in stronger or weaker depending on the direction in which your antenna is pointed. The same websites that tell you which channels are available in your area should also tell you which direction to orient your antenna to best receive them and how strong the signal is. Knowing this information can also be useful when determining whether you’ll need an indoor antenna or an outdoor one.
Regarding signal range, some antennas will advertise that they are designed to receive channels that broadcast within a certain number of miles from your home. However, this reception distance can vary greatly according to many factors, such as the landscape and any architectural structures that may block the signal. So, this label is not always as informative as one might assume. Although it is difficult to tell exactly how far away a particular antenna can receive a signal from because there are so many factors that can affect signal clarity, you can typically assume that the greater the reception distance the packaging advertises, the better the product is at picking up long-distance signals. If reception is spotty in your area and you know that a particular station broadcasts from, say, 50 miles away, it may be wise to purchase an antenna with at least a 75- or even 100-mile range, depending on your budget.