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TV antennas may seem like relics from the last century, but a growing number of viewers are finding them to be indispensable in getting the best picture from their HDTVs.
In this article, we'll discuss the advantages of over-the-air (OTA) reception and explain how to find digital TV signals in your local TV market and in nearby cities. We'll introduce the different types of TV antennas and tell you which ones perform best under various reception conditions. And we'll offer tips on how to install larger attic- and roof-mount antennas.
To learn about the government-mandated switch to digital TV broadcasting that was completed on June 12, 2009, check out our article about the digital TV transition.
Over-the-air HDTV signals are the best you can get
The switch to digital TV broadcasting has eliminated the most annoying picture distortions — snow and ghosting — that made analog off-air reception so hit-or-miss. With digital TV signals (both standard-definition and high-definition), you'll either see a crisp, ghost-free picture or no picture at all. Because most local and syndicated programming is not high-definition, it's typical for local stations to broadcast their digital signals in standard-definition during the day, then switch to full widescreen HDTV during primetime.
Even if you've never used an off-air antenna before, there are several good reasons to consider adding one to your other TV signal sources:
- Local digital TV broadcasts are everywhere: Although the widest selection of digital TV broadcasts are found in large metropolitan TV markets, over 99% of U.S. TV households have access to at least one local digital station; 89% can get five or more stations. You can learn which stations in your area are providing digital broadcasts by visiting the Antennaweb site listed below.
- Over-the-air digital reception provides the best picture quality: Cable and satellite providers offer tons of channels, but to do this they use data compression or other techniques that compromise picture quality, resulting in a "soft" image, distracting video "artifacts" (distortion), or both. Off-air antenna reception is the best way to enjoy HDTV programs at the full resolution the TV networks intended.
- Access to all your local channels: Bandwidth limitations also mean that cable and satellite providers may not carry all the local channels in your area, or may not offer them in high definition. Also, contract disagreements between local cable operators and local broadcasters can mean that major networks may not be available via cable TV in your area.
- Access to out-of-town channels: With the right equipment and reception conditions, some viewers may even be able to receive out-of-town channels, some of which may carry sports programs that are locally blacked out.
- Over-the-air signals are free: Aside from the costs to purchase and install an antenna, receiving over-the-air HDTV is free.
Of course, in addition to an antenna you'll need some type of HDTV tuner to receive digital TV programs. If you own an "integrated" HDTV, the tuner is already built into the TV. If you have an HDTV-ready TV, you'll need to connect it to a separate HDTV tuner. If you're currently subscribed to the HDTV package from satellite providers DIRECTV® or DISH®, your HD satellite receiver probably includes an over-the-air HD tuner.
Finding over-the-air digital TV signals
TV signal transmission is considered to be "line of sight." Getting reliable DTV reception beyond the curvature of the earth (approximately 70 miles) is difficult. And if mountains or tall buildings lie between the transmitter tower(s) and your home, they can cause reception problems. So, the first step is to locate the transmitters for your local stations.
The quick, easy way to get information that's specific to your address is to visit the Consumer Electronics Association's excellent Antennaweb TV antenna selector website. You can look at a list of both analog and digital TV stations, or digital only. Each station has a color-coded indicator showing which type of antenna is recommended for best reception. (We'll cover the different antenna types on page 2.)
The Antennaweb site provides a wealth of information about local off-air reception. In addition to the distance and direction (compass orientation) for each station, the color code on the left indicates which type of antenna is recommended. Note: Charlottesville only has two stations broadcasting digital signals.
Image courtesy of Antennaweb.org.
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The Antennaweb site is great for locating the TV stations nearest to your home. However, some viewers, especially those living in rural areas or small towns, may want to use an antenna to receive stations in another city. A properly-installed high-quality antenna can often pull in digital stations that are over 50 miles away. With the help of some very cool Internet tools, you can quickly get detailed information on out-of-town stations.
Start at this site, and enter your full address; the site calculates your precise latitude and longitude. Jot down the decimal values and be sure to note direction (North or South for latitude, East or West for longitude). Then, go to this page and enter your latitude and longitude values to determine your magnetic declination. Now comes the fun part: Point your browser to the payoff page and enter your latitude, longitude, and declination values. Then, just plug in an appropriate distance range (no more than 80 miles), and view your results. You can choose to have the stations organized by their distance or direction in relation to your address, or by channel.
Since it's common for several TV stations to have transmitters located on the same tower or location, many viewers can aim an antenna in one direction and receive most or all of the major network channels (in the graphic above, ABC, CBS, and two PBS stations are clustered together).
Now that you know the precise direction and distance of the stations you want to receive, let's see which type of antenna will work best for you.
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