Outdoor TV antennas are either directional or omnidirectional. Most can pick up VHF-High and UHF frequencies easily, but you may need to do a little more research to find a product that can pick up VHF-Low frequencies, as these are less common. It’s important to understand which types of channels you want to access because not all antennas can pick up all signal ranges. Note that the real channel numbers may be different from the channels that appear on your TV when you are scrolling around to see what’s on. Real channel numbers 7 to 13 are considered VHF-High, and real channel numbers 14 to 51 are considered UHF. VHF-Low channels have a real channel number between 2 and 6. Over-the-air channels may be classified as Very High Frequency (VHF) Low, VHF-High, or Ultra-High Frequency (UHF). Many outdoor TV antennas offer a 50- or 60-mile range, but some exceptional ones can pick up TV signals from as far as 200 miles away. If you don’t see what you need right away, keep looking. That way, you won’t have to grapple with poor video quality from faraway channels.
You should choose an antenna with a range that is slightly greater than what you think you might need. Antennas possess various stated ranges, from a short 40 miles to a lengthy 150 miles or even more. Use this as your baseline when determining the range (in miles) that your antenna needs to offer. Look at your list of channels, and determine how many miles away the farthest channel that you’re interested in is.
Note the local channels that you may be interested in, and write down their azimuth and real channel numbers for your reference. It will also show you exactly how far away each broadcast tower is from your location. The website will then show you all the broadcast towers, and therefore all of the available over-the-air channels, in your vicinity. You can do this by visiting a website like TV Fool or Antennas Direct and entering your address. Your initial task is to determine which channels are available in your area and decide which ones are of interest to you. Key considerations Your preferred channels Some outdoor TV antennas include a mast so you can elevate your TV antenna above your roofline. A strong signal is required, and that can only be attained by maximizing your signal reception. Then, use that information to determine the range, channel frequencies, and type of TV antenna you would need to achieve this goal. First and foremost, you should consider which channels you would like to receive and view. There are a number of factors that should be considered before you purchase a new TV antenna. Notably, it is not a good idea to simply buy the first antenna you spot on Amazon or at the store. With an antenna like this in your arsenal, you can watch some of the most popular local channels in your vicinity without paying a dime.
#Tv antenna free
Well, how does free TV sound? Cord-cutters have been enjoying this wonderful perk for years, and you can, too, with the help of an outdoor TV antenna that gives you access to all of the over-the-air (OTA) channels in your area. Buying guide for best outdoor TV antennasĬable and satellite TV packages can be expensive, and if you don’t watch TV that often, you may find yourself wondering if there is a more affordable option.