Omnidirectional antennas receive signals from all directions. Omnidirectionalĭirectional antennas receive signals only from the direction in which they are aimed. In rural areas, where the signal is weak, a directional antenna may be the best choice. If you are farther away, up to 35 miles, choose a more powerful outdoor, omnidirectional antenna. If you are close to the tower, within 20 miles, a small indoor antenna will work just fine. Signal strength corresponds to distance from the broadcast tower. AntennaWeb has a helpful search tool that lets you find your local broadcast towers based on your ZIP code. Locationīefore choosing an antenna, find out from where the local stations broadcast. You’ll also want to learn more about your local TV broadcast signals and which channels are available. When shopping for the best TV antenna, you’ll want to consider distance, direction, frequencies, and obstructions between your home and the nearest broadcast tower. What to Consider When Choosing the Best TV Antenna The reflective array can help sort out the noise in areas with lots of signal traffic. At the same time, signals that approach from other directions are reflected away from the element. When the signal reaches the reflective array, it is bounced back toward the dipole element, increasing gain. The antenna is pointed in the direction of the desired broadcast tower. Reflective ArrayĪ reflective array antenna is a type of attic or outdoor antenna that uses signal reflectors to focus directional reception and block out signals coming from other directions. LP antennas are a good choice for suburban and rural areas where the signal is weak. While the Yagi provides more gain for a single frequency, the LP handles a range of frequencies more efficiently. The difference is the Yagi has a single driven element whereas the LP has multiple driven elements. It works like a series of linked Yagi antennas, each tuned to different frequencies. Log-Periodic (LP)Ī log-periodic (LP) antenna, or log-periodic dipole array (LPDA), is a multielement attic or outdoor directional antenna that is built to operate over a wide band of frequencies. A Yagi antenna can be a good option if you live in a rural area where maximum gain is required to pick up a faint signal. They are known for high gain, which means that they are capable of receiving low-strength signals far better than other types of antennas. A Yagi antenna is an outdoor directional antenna that concentrates signal reception in a single direction at the expense of all others. Yagi antennas receive VHF and UHF channels well. The flat, rectangular indoor antennas that have become quite common since broadcasters switched from analog to digital signals are made with a metal loop antenna embedded in conductive plastic. Loop antennas are especially good for receiving ultrahigh frequency, or UHF, channels (channels higher than 13). A loop antenna is often configured in a circle but can also form a square or even a series of circles or squares. A loop antenna is a modification of the dipole in which the two poles are folded back to meet one another. The loop antenna is another popular indoor TV antenna. This type of antenna most efficiently receives very high frequency, or VHF, channels (channels 2-13). The configuration allows them to be aimed in the direction from which the signal is broadcast so they receive the signal on a plane, which makes it come through stronger and clearer than would be the case with a monopole. Although they often look like rabbit ears, where both poles stick up and out from a television set, this isn’t always the case. Two antenna “poles” work together to receive the broadcast signal. Dipoleĭipole antennas, sometimes referred to as “rabbit ears,” are one of the most common types of indoor TV antennas. Read on to learn more about some of the most common options and which type of TV antenna may make the most sense for you. If you’re looking for the best possible reception of over-the-air (OTA) television, you’ll need the right kind of antenna for your particular setup.
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