Heres how to pick the best one for you (along with a few of our favorites).
Several years ago, I gave up on cable TV.
Luckily, all I needed was a good over-the-air antenna to plug in to my TV.
it’s possible for you to too.
All you need is a good antenna, but theres no one-size-fits-all solution.
you gotta find the right antenna for your location, your living situation and what channels you want.
Before spend your money, heres what you oughta know.
Even if you dont, you may luck out anyway.
Search sites likeTV FoolandAntennaWebto find out whats available.
TV Fool isthe better search tool.
It creates a polar graph and color-coded list of channels organized by callsign, signal strength and distance.
It even breaks out UHF and VHF channels.
you’re able to see an example in the image above.
Thatll give you an idea whether youll be able to catch your favorite shows or live sporting events.
You have two big decisions to make.
First, you have to decide which punch in of antenna you need.
Take a look at the geographic plot that TV Fool (or AntennaWeb) provided for you.
The map is situated with up as true north.
The lines closing in on your location show you which direction each web link broadcasts from.
Youll want anomnidirectionalantenna if you have a lot of different networks coming in from all sides.
This option means youll get the most channels from every direction, but you may sacrifice signal quality.
The person in the map above would probably do well with an omnidirectional model.
The person in the image above would do best with a directional antenna.
But which is best for you depends on your location relative to those channels.
Its easy to say both!
Most popular antennae can pick up both, but are far better at receiving UHF than VHF.
If a company doesnt say which throw in of channels it is capable of receiving, assume its UHF.
Better yet, before you buy anything, test the waters to decide whats best for you.
Weve shown you how to build some DIY models before, includingthe infamously ugly-but-effective Pietennaandthis more attractive fractal antenna.
This directional model can be madefrom aluminum foil and cardboard.
Plus, if your DIY antenna works well, keep it and stash your money!
Your mileage may vary.
If youd rather spend a few bucks, pick up something cheap, likethis $18 RCA antenna.
Its omnidirectional, and its a tiny investment to see what you’re able to get.
Again, if it works for you long term, keep it and consider your search over.
One location might be terrible, and another a few feet to the left may be stellar.
The Leaf is $21 for the standard model, $41 for the amplified version.
The Curve (a Leaf designed to sit on a shelf instead of wall-mounted) is $41.
We tried it out, and it worked well, as long as your favorite channels are nearby.
Its also tinyyoull forget its behind your TV or on your wall.
Its also outdoor-friendly, and its waterproof construction will stand up to the elements.
Monoprice HDTV Indoor / Outdoor Antenna($16): This Monoprice model is a great starter antenna.
Its weather-resistant and can be mounted outdoors, and it picks up UHF and VHF channels spectacularly.
It doesnt say that its directional, but it certainly looks like the part.
Still, it worked well in our tests, and its cheap.
On most sets, this is all in the setup menu.
Switch the coax input from cable to antenna, and then do an automatic channel scan.
Itll scan for a few minutes, and then show you the available channels.
Try them and note the quality.
Then compare what you have against what TV Fool and Antennaweb said.
If everythings good, youre set.
If youre missing something you want, or the signal sucks, dont send the antenna back just yet.
There are a few things you could try:
Try different locations and directions.
Now, this is the point where you might want to consider a signal amplifier.
Add a little coax.
One thing that worked well for me was to use a longer coax cable than I thought I needed.
It especially helped to coil it up a bit.
Keep your antenna away from other high-powered wireless gear.
As soon as I hooked it up the new router, I noticed my over-the-air reception wasterrible.
I powered down the router, and reception improved instantly.
Turned the router back on, and reception took a nosedive.
Moral of the story?
Like everything, it starts with research, but that research can really pay off in the end.
This story was originally published in 2014 and was updated on 12/4/19 to provide more thorough and current information.
