Watch many shows broadcast in HD without cable or satellite service.
A HDTV antenna is a device that allows users to receive high-definition and digital programming being broadcast by local television stations in their areas. The antenna connects to a television via the TV's coaxial input. Simply screw the cable from the antenna directly onto the coaxial jack on the back of your digital TV converter box. You automatically receive all local programming in range. Consider a few simple things to determine which digital HDTV antenna is right for you.
Instructions
1. Determine whether you need an antenna at all. The only people who need a digital HDTV antenna to pick up high definition television programming are those who do not currently have cable television service. If you have cable television service, an antenna is completely unnecessary.
2. Determine whether you need a UHF antenna or a VHF/UHF antenna. Television signals are broadcast on two different bands, either UHF or VHF. While the number of cities that broadcast exclusively in UHF is small, if you do live in one of these places you can save money by not purchasing an antenna that can pick up both signals. These cities are Dayton, Ohio, Syracuse and Buffalo, New York, Omaha, Nebraska, St. Louis, Missouri, South Bend and Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Huntsville, Alabama.
3. Get a high range antenna. For people living in the middle of large cities with a lot of obstructions or in rural areas far from television station transmission towers, a standard strength digital HDTV antenna may not work at all. A higher range antenna will be able to pick up signals from farther away, and it will also amplify weak signals to provide the best picture quality possible.
4. Consider buying an outdoor digital HDTV antenna. An outdoor antenna mounted on the roof of your home or outside your apartment will always provide a clearer picture than one placed indoors. This is because there is less obstructing the antenna from receiving television signals outside than there is inside. However, an outdoor antenna will cost a great deal more than a standard indoor antenna. It also may not be practical given your living situation.
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