4 Things To Know Before You Buy a Digital TV Antenna

1. Should You Get a Digital TV Antenna?
TV antennas let you pick up extra channels in your area. They’re especially great if you want to (or already have) cut the cord. These live, over-the-air channels may include ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS affiliates and independent stations.

Money expert and football fan Clark Howard says he loves his digital antenna because of the crisp picture he gets from it on his TV. Watch the video above for more information from Clark about TV antennas.

2. Types of Digital Antennas
Once you decide you want a digital TV antenna, you’ll have to figure out which kind you need. There are three basic types of antennas:

Indoor TV Antenna
An indoor digital antenna hooks up to a single TV to pick up over-the-air programming.

It’s the simplest antenna to install, but it won’t work well for everyone. This type is usually best for urban areas where broadcast towers are close by.

If you want to improve the signal of a single digital TV antenna, moving it closer to a window or higher up on a wall might do the trick.

One member of Team Clark has the Mohu Leaf, a popular indoor digital antenna that connects to the back of his TV to pick up local channels. He secures it to the back of his TV with a Velcro strip to keep it out-of-sight.

Attic TV Antenna
An attic antenna is a larger unit, similar to an outdoor antenna, but it’s installed in your attic on a mounted metal pole.

The installation process will involve connecting the antenna to your home media wiring, so follow the instructions and take proper precautions if you’re installing the antenna yourself.

The main disadvantage is that roofing materials may prevent the antenna from picking up channels clearly. Other factors like fluorescent lights and computers may also affect your TV’s ability to receive a clear picture from the antenna.

Outdoor TV Antenna
An outdoor antenna, also known as a whole-house antenna, is best for people who live far away from broadcast towers. Generally, an outdoor antenna gives homes in rural communities the best picture and the most channel options.

Outdoor antennas are the trickiest to install since you’ll have to get on your roof to anchor the unit down and ground the wiring. As with attic antennas, follow the directions and take proper precautions when installing an outdoor antenna.

3. What’s the Best TV Antenna for Me?
The best way to find the best digital TV antenna for your home is to visit AntennaWeb. There, you can input your address and/or ZIP code and review antenna recommendations from participating Consumer Technology Association (CTA) vendors.

AntennaWeb offers choices from several companies for each search, so be sure to comparison shop those options to get the best deal for your wallet.

Another way to find out if an antenna might work for you is by asking your neighbors. This tactic may seem old-fashioned, but the signals picked up by an antenna vary a lot depending on location. Your neighbors might have already gone through trial and error to find a TV antenna they love.