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Best Outdoor Antenna
The Best Outdoor Tv Antennas For Your Entertainment Needs
Cut the cord and enjoy free cable broadcast channels with these top-notch outdoor TV antennas.
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While cord-cutters have been known to leave their cable companies in recent years, they still subscribe to many streaming services each month. Although each subscription is less expensive than a complete cable bill, you can get several.
Instead of subscribing to streaming services, you could be pulling in free TV channels from the airwaves around your home. The best outdoor TV antennas require only a small investment of time and money, so, in little time, you could be saving money on cable and subscription services, while watching your favorite channels in HD quality.
Although you might be skeptical about outdoor antennas, they are very effective and a good alternative for your entertainment needs. These antennas can pick up a wide range of channels. They’re also relatively easy to install, either by enlisting the help of a handyman or doing it yourself provided you don’t have a fear of heights.
Tv Antenna Cheat Sheet
Our quick-hit recommendations:
Get rid of cable TV, get rid of dish and join other American families that have no monthly television bills.
Putting up an antenna is easy, but before you buy one you’ll need to figure out what channels are available where you live, how strong the signals are likely to be, and what direction they’re coming from. TechHive offers a detailed guide on choosing an antenna.
Indoor antennas can be used in strong signal areas, while outdoor antennas and attic/outdoor ones are best suited for weaker signals.
After you have determined what your needs are, this article can help with antenna purchases. But before we jump into our results, check out this video that explains how to determine which free over-the-air TV channels you can receive where you live.
Best-Rated Outdoor Tv Antenna
RCA Outdoor Yagi Satellite HD Antenna – Over 70 Mile Range Outdoor TV Antennas enable cord-cutters receive cable free of charge. More that 70% of the reviewers believe this is the best antenna because it is both compact and powerful enough to provide them with tons of clear channels. A reviewer stated that the RCA Yagi Antenna was their first. She connected it to her family’s TV and it picked up more than 130 channels. One reviewer was skeptical about whether this antenna would work, as it is so small. However, they claim to have received 186 channels. The antenna is outdoor and can be placed on any point in your roof. This can still be attached to the sides of your house, or even in the attic. Reviewers say that they are 51 miles south of Toledo in Ohio and 61 from Fort Wayne in Indiana. One reviewer stated that the antenna was 25 feet tall and could receive all the Toledo channels. “You can Google the locations of your local stations, what degree they face from your house,” they explain. Then, download a compass application to your phone. Point your antenna towards the appropriate heading. It will give you a better signal.
Top Easy-to Install Outdoor TV Antenna
ClearStream Indoor/Outdoor HDTV Antenna with Mount If the idea of cutting the cord sounds appealing to you but all this antenna-tower-station-reception talk is making your head spin, about one-fifth of reviewers describe installing this one as easy. The product is easy to put in and can be used with existing wiring. It was easy to use a compass and I received 32 digital channels free over the air. My home is located 25 miles from the station, in a development housing complex. So I was nervous about any interference. But, it worked perfectly. You can get strong connections in either direction. A reviewer who has theirs outside says, “The quality never wavers no matter what the weather is,” and another person who has theirs inside notes, “I went from getting 19 channels with the other two antennas to getting 30 channels with this antenna, including the one I was trying so hard for.” Best of all, it holds up to its 60-mile-range claim: “I live in the Ventura County area (about 60 miles away from MT Wilson), and I built my own multidirectional HDTV antenna and got about 100 channels installed outside on my roof.”
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(Image credit: Mohu) Getting one of the best TV antennas is your quickest route to hours of entertainment without paying a cent in subscription fees. Over-the–air (OTA), programming gives you access to news, sports, popular shows and more for absolutely free. You only need an HDTV TV antenna and a Tv. An antenna that works well is essential, regardless of whether you are looking to reduce the cost or have an alternative when your cable goes out.
The TV antenna reviews include hands-on evaluation and careful testing to help you choose the right TV antennas. We review not just the performance of the antennas, such as how many channels they pull in, whether the channels can be watched, but also what equipment is included and how easy it is to set up and use. Advice from experts in the industry is also provided on how you can get maximum reception for your particular TV antenna.
The best TVs available today.
What is the best TV antenna?
Mohu Leaf Supreme Pro TV Antenna is by far the most popular. This antenna combines the basic flat mudflap design and an extra-wide profile with an amplifier that increases the number available channels. A built-in signal strength meter helps to pinpoint the best spot for reception.
For the best reception you will want an outdoor antenna. We love the Winegard Elite7550 Outdoor HDTV Anatenna. You can get channels you couldn’t with smaller indoor antennas. It also has a great range at 70 miles.
Mohu Leaf Metro was our budget-friendly choice. It’s small in size, but has good reception and a rich channel mix. This makes it a popular choice for urban dwellers. You also get a low price.
How to choose the best TV antenna for you
You’re lucky if you are looking for a TV-antenna. There’s no better way to get live TV at the best price: It’s free! However, before you rush to buy the first television antenna at the local store you should ensure it will be functional for your needs.
The range and the location of your antenna: A small indoor antenna is a great choice if you are located in or near a large city. You’ll find many stations that can be picked up without an amplifier or big aerial within 10 to 20 miles. You should consider upgrading to an amplifier if you live more than 30 minutes from the local broadcast tower. The antennas that are rated at 50 miles and more must be large or have an amplifier.
Outdoor or indoor: The location of your outdoor antenna is important. Obstacles like walls, trees and other obstacles can block signal transmission to the outdoor antenna. Outdoor antennas tend to be bigger and more effective when placed higher than normal. The ideal location is a rooftop mast.
Non-amplified or amplified: An amplified antenna uses an additional signal strength booster that can help weak signals come in clearly with a little extra juice. However, this means that you’ll need to have another device and a power source to charge it. This also results in a slightly more expensive product.
Non-amplified indoor antennas typically sell between $20 and $40. However, you can find many cheap antennas for under $20 that still offer good performance. Amplified antennas offer better performance and are available for between $30-100. For the best performance, consider an outdoor antenna, which costs $100 or more.
Our Best Tv Antenna Advice
An antenna is not going to solve every problem with your over-the air TV. Although better antennas, and optional amplifiers, will help you get more channels on the air, it’s just one piece of the puzzle.
To determine the range and type of antenna that you will need, we recommend doing some research beforehand. The best place to start is AntennaWeb.org , which lets you enter your address or ZIP code and see what stations are broadcasting in your area, as well as how far away the broadcast towers are.
Do you worry about how futureproofing will work for ATSC 3.0? The good news is that your existing antenna will work, and may even pull in more channels under the new standard. The bad news is that you’ll need to buy a new tuner or an ATSC 3.0-equipped TV, and these are only now coming to market.
How to get better reception with your TV antenna
You are important!
You should first check the availability of channels near your location before you begin shopping for an antenna.
AntennaWeb offers a useful tool which allows you to enter your address and see the closest TV stations. The tool also shows you the distance to each station and what type of antenna is needed. It will allow you to determine the most suitable antenna.
AntennaWeb’s TV station tool categorizes nearby stations based on the sort of outdoor antenna you need to tune in. Indoor antennas depend on your house’s architecture and other structures which could interfere with the signals. This doesn’t mean the map is useless for indoor antennas, though; yellow and green stations can be tuned into with small and medium multidirectional antennas mounted outdoors, which means you can probably get a signal from them using an indoor multidirectional antenna. You will need an outdoor multidirectional antenna for weaker or farther stations.
Multidirectional Antennas
The multidirectional antennas can pick up signals in any direction. These antennas are usually flat and can easily be mounted to a window. When properly mounted, they will tune in to any station that is within their range. This applies regardless of whether it’s located north, south or west.
Multidirectional TV antennas are most commonly used. Multidirectional antennas make up the majority of indoor antennas, as well as many outdoor antennas. It’s easy to put together and doesn’t require you knowing the precise location of every station. But they’re not perfect. Multidirectional antennas perform less well than directional antennas so the ranges of these antennas is much smaller.
Directional antennas have a very specific purpose. The antennas have a shape similar to arrows, tubes, or fins. When tuned, they need to be pointed towards the correct stations. Mounting them correctly will allow you to pick up signals from the stations. They can reach much further than multidirectional antennas. However, they will allow you to tune in to weaker or more distant stations, provided the antenna is pointed at them.
Directional antennas must be installed outside so are better suited to houses than apartments. The antenna blocking a wall will make the pointer less effective.
With this in mind we selected some of the most versatile antennas available.
Consider These Factors
1. Safety First
It is important to ensure safety when mounting your new outdoor TV antenna.
2. Never be shy to ask for help. If you have any concerns about your ability to install it on your own, you can always arrange for a local handyperson to take care of this task for you.
3. People are often in a rush. Outdoor antennas should be easy to set up.
4. Get Hours of Free Programing Through Your Outdoor Antenna. You’ll soon be able sit down on the couch to start watching all the TV shows through your antenna.
5. The Cord Can Be Cut If you have been paying for cable TV and internet access, you can cancel the subscription.
It is amazing to see the RCA Compact Outdoor Yagi HDTV Antenna, with a range of 70 miles. Because it comes with pre-assembled components, this is a great choice for TV viewers who cannot wait to begin watching their favorite programming.
Weatherproof and windproof
The Winegard’s streamlined antenna is constructed from weatherproof material that can withstand all weather conditions. In wind tunnels, the Elite Outdoor 7750 model was tested to withstand winds of up to 100 MPH. The antenna was also tested for corrosion and durability against salt and fog.
Winegard Elite’s Flex Mounting System makes it easy to set up. For optimal positioning, the mounting system can also be used outside or inside the house.
For the best reception, position the antenna towards the closest broadcast tower. Next connect the antenna cables to an inline power converter. Your TV will be connected to this inverter (coaxial cable separately). Winegard Broadcast Tower Finder App for your iPhone can help you find your nearest radio tower.
Amazon.com: Read More Buyer Reviews
Outdoor Antennas Best Of The Rest
We are proud to recommend the three above-mentioned outdoor antennas as an excellent value. There are however many other fantastic products available.
This is why we have included honorable mentions in the Best Outdoor TV Antennas For Rural Areas. This list of antennas is also ideal for rural use. It ticks all the right boxes: quality, price, signal reception and ease-of-use.
LONG-RANGE RECEPTION: 100 miles (with an amplifier, and an increased installation height you can achieve a greater reception range. The CM-3020 performed better than other outdoor tvs during comparison tests.
.Best Outdoor Antenna