You may be looking for the best outdoor HDTV antenna and feeling a bit overwhelmed, but choosing an antenna does not need to be a daunting task. There are several tips and tricks to keep in mind so you can get the most bang for your buck when selecting an outdoor HDTV antenna. Your television viewing needs and your location are among the most important factors.
An outdoor HDTV antenna will most likely give you superior results compared to an indoor antenna. Many people have tried indoor HDTV antennas, only to experience signal dropouts and limited stations availability. There are a few decent indoor antennas available, but they do not work well in all situations. You will get the most bang for your buck, as well as a better, by using an HDTV outdoor antenna.
Your HDTV outdoor antenna does not need to be an obtrusive eyesore. While it is true that a large antenna on a large tower will give you better reception, most people, especially in major metropolitan areas, will require something much smaller. A small antenna mounted on a simple rooftop bracket works well for many people. Another option for outdoor antennas is to mount them in an attic, if you have the space. There is some degradation in signal quality, but for some people, attic mounting is the preferred option.
If you live in an apartment or condo complex, your landlord or condo association may try to discourage you from installing an outdoor HDTV antenna. According to the FCC, you are protected and have a right to install a small antenna. According to regulations passed, apartment managers must allow requests to install a traditional stick-type antenna, or a satellite dish of 1 meter or less in size, on a balcony, balcony railing, or patio that is part of the resident's rented property. These guidelines are subject to reasonable restrictions, so in practice, there may be some room for debate as to what is reasonable.
Go to AntennaWeb.org to start your research into local TV stations broadcasting digital signals. This is the first step in picking out the best HDTV outdoor antenna for your location. Enter your home address, ZIP code, and fill out the optional info about tall trees and the number of stories in your home. You can skip filling out your email address and phone number.
Now you will end up with a list of local TV stations and their broadcast locations. Each station has the following info: callsign, channel number, network name, location, compass heading, distance away, and their true RF (radio frequency) broadcast channel. Since the switch to DTV, the actual RF channel may be different from what the channel number they have been popularly known as. Narrow down your choices to "Digital Stations Only" - this is our main concern when selecting an outdoor HDTV antenna.
You should now have a list of local TV stations broadcasting in digital, listed in order from easiest to most difficult reception. Focus on the first stations listed, and see which ones are most important for you to receive. Your HDTV outdoor antenna will probably be pointing at a cluster of stations near a major city. If the stations are too spread apart, each at different compass headings, you may need to install a rotator to help a more directional antenna lock onto a signal better.
The best HDTV outdoor antenna for your location will be based on the recommendations at AntennaWeb.org. Purchase an antenna from the recommended category for the best results. There are six color-coded categories of antennas to choose from: large multi-directional or small directional with preamp, large directional with preamp, medium directional, medium directional with preamp, or small multidirectional.
An outdoor HDTV antenna will most likely give you superior results compared to an indoor antenna. Many people have tried indoor HDTV antennas, only to experience signal dropouts and limited stations availability. There are a few decent indoor antennas available, but they do not work well in all situations. You will get the most bang for your buck, as well as a better, by using an HDTV outdoor antenna.
Your HDTV outdoor antenna does not need to be an obtrusive eyesore. While it is true that a large antenna on a large tower will give you better reception, most people, especially in major metropolitan areas, will require something much smaller. A small antenna mounted on a simple rooftop bracket works well for many people. Another option for outdoor antennas is to mount them in an attic, if you have the space. There is some degradation in signal quality, but for some people, attic mounting is the preferred option.
If you live in an apartment or condo complex, your landlord or condo association may try to discourage you from installing an outdoor HDTV antenna. According to the FCC, you are protected and have a right to install a small antenna. According to regulations passed, apartment managers must allow requests to install a traditional stick-type antenna, or a satellite dish of 1 meter or less in size, on a balcony, balcony railing, or patio that is part of the resident's rented property. These guidelines are subject to reasonable restrictions, so in practice, there may be some room for debate as to what is reasonable.
Go to AntennaWeb.org to start your research into local TV stations broadcasting digital signals. This is the first step in picking out the best HDTV outdoor antenna for your location. Enter your home address, ZIP code, and fill out the optional info about tall trees and the number of stories in your home. You can skip filling out your email address and phone number.
Now you will end up with a list of local TV stations and their broadcast locations. Each station has the following info: callsign, channel number, network name, location, compass heading, distance away, and their true RF (radio frequency) broadcast channel. Since the switch to DTV, the actual RF channel may be different from what the channel number they have been popularly known as. Narrow down your choices to "Digital Stations Only" - this is our main concern when selecting an outdoor HDTV antenna.
You should now have a list of local TV stations broadcasting in digital, listed in order from easiest to most difficult reception. Focus on the first stations listed, and see which ones are most important for you to receive. Your HDTV outdoor antenna will probably be pointing at a cluster of stations near a major city. If the stations are too spread apart, each at different compass headings, you may need to install a rotator to help a more directional antenna lock onto a signal better.
The best HDTV outdoor antenna for your location will be based on the recommendations at AntennaWeb.org. Purchase an antenna from the recommended category for the best results. There are six color-coded categories of antennas to choose from: large multi-directional or small directional with preamp, large directional with preamp, medium directional, medium directional with preamp, or small multidirectional.
About the Author:
Author Tomas Lindstrom enjoys viewing free over-the-air HDTV and finding the best HDTV outdoor antenna. He is constantly looking at different outdoor antenna options to find what works best.
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