The 8 Best Indoor TV Antennas in 2019
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An indoor TV antenna also eliminates the fee charged by many cable companies for broadcast channels. Indoor TV antennas are also useful since not all cable providers offer access to all local channels.
Things to Consider
While there are outdoor antennas in the market, they are more difficult to set up and if you are in a location with good reception, an indoor antenna is a better choice. When shopping for the indoor antenna, make sure you keep in mind the following factors before purchasing.1. Budget
Since one of your goals is likely to save money, your first instinct may be to buy the least expensive antenna available. This can be a costly mistake since models will have features that directly affect how well you can broadcast channels. On the other hand, a costly TV antenna doesn’t guarantee crystal-clear picture quality. Your geographical location will play a large part in how well the antenna will work for you.
In many cases, channels will either work or not work once you install your antenna. Don’t expect to wrap aluminum foil around the antenna and suddenly have much better reception. The good news is a lot of broadcast channels received via an indoor TV antenna will have much better picture than the quality you have experienced through satellite and cable providers. The reason for the improvement is transmissions received through antennas are compressed to save bandwidth.
2. Signal Strength
One of the major features to choose between when shopping for indoor TV antennas are amplified or non-amplified versions. Your location will be the biggest consideration when deciding if you need an amplified version. Amplified versions are more expensive, so if you can use a non-amplified, also called passive version, that would be preferable.
If you are in an area where stations broadcast within a 20-mile radius, a non-amplified version is likely to work well for you. Amplified versions increase that distance to an average of 50 miles and more. As a general rule of thumb, if you live in an urban area, a passive antenna will prove reliable.
Suburban and rural dwellers may want to invest in an amplified version to get the most access to local channels. Although you may simply want to buy the strongest antenna possible to get the best reception possible, this may actually backfire on you.
If the antenna you purchase is too powerful, it can overwhelm a digital tuner in urban areas with increased broadcast signal strength. Keep in mind that amplifiers can be added as an aftermarket piece of equipment to your antenna.
3. Channel Availability
Another buying consideration is whether the indoor antenna covers UHF, VHF or both. Recently, many HDTV indoor antennas are UHF only. In a good number of areas, UHF is perfectly fine and you’ll be able to receive the locals you want. However, if the broadcast channel is still on VHF, you’ll want to purchase an indoor antenna that covers both channels.
Since finding the best indoor TV antenna for you can involve some trial and error, choose to purchase from a store with a generous return policy. You want to have the option to easily return the antenna for a full refund in the event you’re unable to broadcast your local channels.
4. Location
Before shopping for indoor TV antennas, you must figure out the direction the local broadcasts are coming from. Although the majority of transmissions may come from the same general direction, you may find some distinct differences. This is important to know because when you’re scanning the features and reviews of indoor TV antennas, you’ll find that some work well-accepting signals from multiple directions while others don’t do as well. Tools from online websites like TVFool.com prove very helpful for getting directional assistance with your antenna
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To start, plug in your address into TVFool.com to perform a detailed analysis. Their database includes both digital and analog channels. Although the report may look complicated, a color-coding system simplifies the data. All “green” channels will be accessible via a set-top antenna. “Yellow” channels will require an attic-mounted antenna. The “red” channels will require a roof-mounted antenna to view. Any “gray” channels are not likely accessible at your location.
Distance and direction is also listed within the report as a way to guide you on choosing the best antenna for your specific needs. The tool doesn’t consider factors such as trees and buildings around your home, so keep that in mind when shopping for antennas. These online tools are typically highly reliable and if they state you will have difficulty receiving broadcasts, then adjust the type of equipment you plan to buy.
5. Channel Interference
TVFool.com also provides you with co-channel and adjacent channel warnings. Co-channel warnings are when two transmitters are broadcasting on the same channel and may interfere with one another. Although the FCC attempts to avoid interference, individuals who live between two broadcasts on the same channel may experience technical difficulties. The amount of interference, if any, will depend on the strength of the transmission and the type of antenna you’re using.
Adjacent channel warnings really will only affect you if you’re nearby a transmitter. Very strong transmitters may block out weaker channels. Many receivers are able to resolve this issue with built-in adjacent channel rejection capabilities.
6. Geography
Directional antennas will be another consideration to make when shopping for indoor TV antennas. If obstacles like tall buildings surround your home, then it’s likely to cause interference and prevent you from accessing the channels you need. Even natural landforms like hills could make signals completely unstable.
A directional antenna gives you the option to setup the antenna in a way to eliminate interference from objects. If you reside in an area without a lot of objects blocking your home, then an omnidirectional antenna is perfectly fine.
7. Hardware
The type of cables included with your indoor TV antenna will have a big effect on reliability. Choosing antennas with detachable or longer cables will allow for better placement during setup. Most of the time, you’ll put the antenna near a window and you may need the extra length to reach the area. Extension cables are available if the included wires don’t have the suitable length.
Once you choose a place for the antenna, you must decide how best to mount it. Some models include adhesive strips to secure the antenna to a window or wall. Larger antenna models may require hardware mounting to the wall.
Check for any metal surrounding the antenna since it can cause signal interference. After you choose a location for the antenna, connect all cables. Antenna cables are plugged into a TV sets “Cable/Antenna” connection. When you’re ready to use the antenna, the best way to locate channels is to perform a “Channel Search” using your remote.
If an antenna is the best choice for your home, you may be able to pull in a few extra channels then the standards. For instance, your antenna may be able to play radio broadcasts or foreign language programming.
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