Print Post - What should you look for in an outdoor antenna?

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Power

Antenna power is misleading because antennas are passive and don't actually generate any power. It actually refers to the antenna's gain, which measures how much power of the transmitting antenna's power your antenna can actually receive. The higher the gain, the better the reception. Gain is also a complex topic so most antenna companies choose to publish the range of the antenna in miles. It's not a good comparison tool since the range is sensitive to a number of local conditions between you and the transmitting antenna. That said, for the average consumer, it's probably about the only specification that you will be able to compare.

Frequency

TV stations broadcast over UHF and VHF frequencies. To have the best chance at receiving the most channels in your area, you should choose an antenna with both UHF and VHF capability. The only time you would want to choose an antenna with a single frequency range capability is when you only have the choice of one or the other at your location. For most, a dual UHF/VHF TV antenna is the way to go.

Directional or Multi-directional

You point a directional antenna in a single direction in an attempt to improve the signal strength of a single station or set of stations in that direction. If your stations are far away in a specific direction or there is a lot of interference, a large directional outdoor TV antenna would be the right choice.

A multi-directional antenna does not need to be oriented in a particular direction as it is capable of receiving signals from multiple directions simultaneously. If your channels are all around you in multiple directions, then a multi-directional antenna would be a good choice.

Antenna Height

You might have guessed that if you place an outdoor TV antenna higher, you will improve its range. You might not know that it can also reduce the effect of nearby interference and improve the quality of the reception. For channels that are very far away from your location, you may need to mount your directional or multi-directional antenna on a mast to get the best reception.

Interference

Interference makes it more difficult for your TV's receiver to distinguish the TV signal from the background noise.

Electronic interference is everywhere and it's getting worse. When you add wireless devices, electrical equipment, and appliances to your home, you are increasing the potential for interference. In addition, you may have to contend with physical interference from tall buildings, water towers, hills, and other tall objects that reflect, distort, and interfere with TV signal reception.

You can improve reception by raising your antenna higher above the ground, moving it outside, or moving it away from local noise sources.

Amplifier

A TV antenna amplifier is normally placed at the antenna to amplify the signal from the antenna to your TV receiver. It can improve reception quality, but it's not a miracle cure for poor signal strength. Whatever noise arrives at the antenna is also amplified by the amplifier and may degrade reception. Placing the amplifier near the antenna delivers the best possible signal to the amplifier and reduces noise that can be introduced into connecting cables and connectors.

An amplifier's best use is with an outdoor antenna where the antenna is very far away from the TV receiver or in the situation where you need to provide the signal to your whole house. Some antennas have built-in amplifiers.

If you are looking for a reliable antenna specialist that can assist you in choosing the best outdoor antenna for you, consult AntennaPros today.