Before the Internet boom, television used to be the main media channel for people. We can now watch movies, TV shows or the news by just clicking a button. You can choose what you want to watch by just going to a specific website. People now watch a lot less television than before. Some people save the cost by abandoning cable completely. But do you miss watching the local news? Do you miss the moments sitting back and switching between channels until you luckily find your favourite TV shows?
Instead of paying for cable, you can keep your favourite channels by installing a HDTV aerial. But before heading to a local antenna provider, I need you to consider a few things. Keep in mind that different areas needs different antennas. There is no fixed solution regarding what is a ‘good antenna’. It all depends on the location of your house. Here I have some basic tips for you to help choose the right antenna for your HDTV.
Check Your Area
When you make a decision on installing the antenna, do not automatically expect to have as many channels as cable. How many channels you can get depends on your area.
Firstly, find out what channels you can have in your area. If you live in the centre of a big city, you are likely to get more channels than in suburban areas.
Check where your local broadcasting towers are because you will need to receive the signal from the towers. Check how strongly you can receive each channel, your area might not be able to receive your favourite channels.
Choose the Type of Antenna
After you have checked where the local broadcasting towers are, you will know the directions from which signal will be sent to your house. Check to see how many directions you can receive signals from.
‘Omnidirectional antenna’ can receive networks from various directions. You will be able to get most channels but be aware that they may be poor in quality. If you can receive all your favourite channels from only one direction, go ahead with a ‘directional antenna’. They can receive stronger signals and display clearer pictures.
There are 2 main types of antenna; indoor and outdoor. An ‘indoor antenna’ is more compact and portable. It comes as a square sheet or pair of rabbit ears with a small base, which are easy to move around or hide behind the TV. These types of antenna are easily affected by external factors such as lights or when people walk by them. Outdoor antennas are more stable and can receive a stronger signal. An antenna provider normally attaches these to the roof.
Improve Your Signal
After installation, scan through the channels for few minutes. If you cannot receive clear signal, you might need to move the antenna or install some additional gear.
Change the Direction – Make sure that your antenna is facing towards the local broadcast tower. A little bit of adjustment can have a huge effect, so try to move until you get better signal.
Add an Amplifier – Your area may not get enough signal from the tower, so you will need to install an electronic amplifier to receive better signal. However, be careful when you choose to install an amplifier. Only houses that are more than 50 miles away from the tower should be installed, if it’s less than that it may cause the signal to be even worse.
Keep It Away From a Wi-Fi router – Placing a Wi-Fi router near the TV can make the signal go wrong. Make sure you move the router away from the antenna.