If your antenna does not come with a signal-level meter, you can buy an add-on signal-level meter, such as this model from KKmoon that we tested. However, we found this inexpensive meter fussy to use because it requires you to adjust its sensitivity to suit the characteristics of your antenna. But in our case, the meter jumped around a lot, while the audible tone accompanying it often shifted wildly in pitch and volume.
We found the meters built into the RCA and Winegard antennas more helpful and less frustrating to use. This is part of the reason, in our experience, wall-mounted antennas typically outperform antennas placed on top of a table or TV stand. However, this is just a general rule; the construction of your house, the orientation and position of the wall, and whatever is on the other side of the wall might actually cause worse reception if you mount the antenna high up.
All of our picks come with at least 10 feet of cable, which in most homes should be enough to position the antenna up near the ceiling. You can lengthen any antenna cable with an extension cable and coupler. It happened to be the winner of an antenna roundup I performed years ago using a radio-frequency spectrum analyzer. How far is enough to warrant an amplified antenna? Usually, if you are outside a mile radius of a broadcasting tower, you need the amplified version. Other conditions such as climate can also be factors.
Sometimes the broadcasting stations are not visible to the eye, but there is a way to find out. One such resource is the AntennaWeb , which allows you to enter your address and search for the closest transmitter. Choosing the right spot to erect your antennae is essential for getting the most channels and good picture resolution. To install an outdoor antenna, choose a spot on your rooftop, or in an attic if you have one.
The roof is the most popular spot since it gives the best results. One negative point: outdoor antennas tend to take up more space than their indoor counterparts. An indoor antenna can simply be attached to your TV, though almost any spot in your home will do provided the antena is still wired to your TV.
Regardless of your choice of installation, there should be no metallic or any large objects around the antenna. Some of these objects have the ability to deflect signals. Antennas are also sensitive to direction and they tend to favor one direction towards the tower to receive or transmit signals.
This is to say that if you want the maximum benefits from your antenna, find the right direction to aim at. Since the television and the antenna are usually located worlds apart, it is difficult to adjust the antennae and then check the performance on the TV.
It is better if there are at least two people involved. However, the process is still tiresome even with an extra set of hands. This is the simplest and most effective method of aiming an antenna. Getting great reception from an indoor antenna can be a mix of science and art, though. Our tests of 19 top-selling indoor TV antennas revealed how well they perform for 10 testers spread across the New York City metropolitan area.
We just updated our antenna testing. Reception depended mainly on distance from broadcast towers, the terrain, and details of the surroundings, such as houses, buildings, trees, and so on.
Some models worked better than others, but it was hard to predict which antenna would perform best in any particular location.
A number of models are directional, so they need to be oriented toward broadcast towers. Multidirectional antennas, which receive signals from all directions, might be better for urban locations, but they might not pull in the more distant stations a properly positioned directional antenna could.
One surprise was that we found little correlation between price and performance; often the cheaper antennas did as well as, or better than, the more expensive models. To do that, you need to buy from a retailer that offers a no-hassle return policy and reasonable warranty. If possible, place your indoor TV antenna in an attic or second-story location, preferably by a window.
Sometimes objects in the room or roofing materials will interfere with the signals, so it pays to try a few different attic locations. Of course, having the antenna in one room and the TV in another requires running a cable through your home, because the antenna needs to be connected to the antenna RF input on your set. In reality, most people will place the antenna in the same room as the TV. So try a few higher locations in the room, such as along the wall near the ceiling.
Most antennas are directional these are also called "unidirectional" antennas , which means they need to be oriented toward a broadcast tower.
Even when two people are available, it is still surprisingly difficult. There are several techniques that can be used to align the antenna: Visual alignment: This is probably one of the simplest methods of aligning the antenna.
When up with the TV antenna, simply point it in the direction of the television transmitter mast. Obviously, this required the TV transmitter mast to be visible, but if not, it is often possible to align the antenna in the same direction as other local antennas. This may be satisfactory in some instances, but signal strengths can vary from one house to the next and with reflections often present, the direction required in one location may be different to that needed in another.
Use smartphone app: There are several smartphone apps which help orientate the antenna towards the television transmitter. There is a good selection, both for Android and also for Apple iOS. Typically they have a list of the television transmitting antennas with their locations and then they use position location and the orientation capabilities of the smartphone to be able to provide the direction or orientation for the various transmitters.
Typically a list of close stations is provided, as the nearest one may not always be the best. This method may not always work as well as expected if the television transmitter mast is not directly visible because the if the transmitter cannot be directly seen the signal used may be a reflection. It could bounce off buildings, hills and the like. In this way it is best to ensure that all options are taken to get the best signal and picture quality. Signal strength meter: There are several low cost TV antenna signal strength meters or alignment meters that can be used.
These antenna alignment signal strength meters are straightforward and can enable the easy alignment of the antenna actually at the point of the antenna if it is possible to access the cable to connect to the meter.
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