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Instead of subscribing to streaming services, you could be pulling in free TV channels from the airwaves around your home. The best outdoor TV antennas require only a small investment of time and money, so in little time, you could be saving money on cable and subscription services while watching your favorite TV channels in HD quality.
You are watching: The Best Outdoor TV Antennas of 2023
Outdoor antennas can pull in a range of channels, including local, national, and public broadcasting. They’re also relatively easy to install, either by enlisting the help of a handyman or doing it yourself—provided you don’t have a fear of heights. This guide explores all of the factors and features to consider when shopping for an outdoor antenna, including a list of some of the best ones available.
- BEST OVERALL: Channel Master Multidirectional ExtremeTenna 80
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Pingbingding Digital Amplified Yagi HDTV Antenna
- BEST COMPACT: Antennas Direct ClearStream 4V Long-Range TV Antenna
- BEST LONG-RANGE: Five Star Outdoor Digital Amplified HDTV Antenna
- BEST MOTORIZED: Pingbingding Digital Outdoor TV Antenna
- BEST FOR ATTIC INSTALLS: GE Outdoor HD Long-Range TV Antenna
- BEST APP SUPPORT: RCA Compact Digital Outdoor HDTV Antenna
- BEST FOR RURAL AREAS: Antennas Direct Multidirectional Bowtie HDTV Antenna
How We Chose the Best Outdoor TV Antennas
The best outdoor TV antenna should provide a clear picture and offer ample channel options. Our top choices were based on size, mile range, frequencies provided, durable construction, and special features.
The above picks prioritize medium- and large-size options for better connection. For those who live close to broadcasting towers, small options are also featured. Though our picks vary in size, they offer a range of 70 to 200 miles for maximum coverage. All of these offerings also provide VHF and UHF signals, increasing the number of channels available, as well as HDTV 1808i, FM, and 4K and 8K resolution.
Many selections are made from durable materials and mounting hardware to withstand all-season weather. For added convenience, some also include built-in amplifiers, smartphone connectivity, remote controls, and 180- to 360-degree fields of vision. A few of these models can be used as indoor antennas for attic spaces.
Our Top Picks
The best outdoor TV antennas are reliable and deliver solid reception. Some have incredibly long ranges, which are great at picking up TV signals for residents of remote areas. Others are compact and less obtrusive. Here are some of the best ones on the market.
Jump to Our Top Picks
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Outdoor TV Antenna
Several factors need to be taken into consideration before buying an outdoor TV antenna. Where the house is located relative to area broadcast towers, for example, is an important one—the farther those towers are, the harder it’ll be for an antenna to pick up the broadcast signal. Here’s a closer look at what shoppers need to consider ahead of buying an outdoor TV antenna.
Location and Building Structure
A home’s location and construction can have a lot to do with choosing the right outdoor TV antenna. Someone who lives in a city, for example, will have different factors to contend with than someone living in a suburb or rural area.
With broadcast towers nearby, a city dweller might not have to worry much about their antenna’s reception. HOA restrictions or historical society rules on outdoor antennas may pose a problem, though. Many of these organizations don’t want outdoor TV antennas to be visible, so choosing a model that can be installed inside an attic might be a good choice.
Reception quality is a bigger concern for those who live in suburban, rural, or remote areas, far from broadcast towers. An outdoor TV antenna has to be affixed to a tall pole that lifts it as high above the house as possible to pick up a signal.
Antenna Size and Height
When shoppers are on the hunt for the best outdoor TV antenna, size and height can be important factors in how well the device will work. The signal waves that antennas pick up can be blocked by large obstructions like tall buildings, mountains, and even large depressions in the ground. If a homeowner gets poor reception, it might be due to a blockage between the house and the broadcast tower.
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In this case, they can purchase a larger antenna or increase the height of the existing one. A taller antenna is more likely to pick up a quality signal and improve reception. This is especially true in a valley. However, larger antennas can pick up weaker TV signals, so they also have their benefits.
Signal Range
If a standard cable isn’t available in the immediate area, the signal range is, by far, the most important factor when choosing the best outdoor TV antenna. For those located a short distance from a broadcast tower, an antenna with a 70-mile range is more than sufficient. Those who are nowhere near the closest broadcast tower will likely find a short-range antenna useless. Instead, they should look for an antenna with a 150- to 200-mile range for optimal broadcast TV quality.
While a signal amplifier can be purchased, too, they usually don’t improve the antenna’s reception. They simply make up for the quality and signal loss that occurs between the antenna and the TV. That said, signal loss could be the actual problem—not the reception the antenna is receiving. In that case, a signal amplifier may be a potential solution.
HD Capability
Whether HD capability actually matters much to the quality of TV programming is a controversial point. Most outdoor TV antenna manufacturers claim their products offer HD capability. For this reason, it might be worth considering if only as an indication of capability.
In today’s TV broadcasting, antennas receive a digital signal, which means the device picks up a channel or it doesn’t. Someone experiencing poor reception likely won’t see a fuzzy picture. Instead, the TV screen will display a “no signal” message. So, if an outdoor HD antenna truly has HD capability, the TV screen should—in most cases—display crystal clear signal quality.
Omnidirectional Reception
Those who aren’t interested in dialing in the perfect reception but would rather purchase a set-and-forget type should consider an omnidirectional antenna. These antennas don’t need to be pointed directly at a broadcast tower for the best possible reception. Instead, these round, disc-like outdoor TV antennas can draw reception from any direction.
These antennas do have their limitations, though. Many omnidirectional antennas, for example, have shorter ranges than the directional types. This type of outdoor TV antenna might be a better option for someone who lives relatively close (less than 100 miles) to a broadcast tower, making it easier to receive a solid signal.
Connectivity
While it’s possible to connect more than one TV to an outdoor TV antenna, there are several factors to consider. It usually works well to use a splitter to divert an antenna’s signal to connect to two TVs; however, it can be difficult to divert the signal to more than two TVs if the antenna doesn’t support dual connectivity. If a coaxial splitter wasn’t included with the outdoor TV antenna purchase, it will have to be bought separately to take advantage of dual connectivity. Despite the word “dual,” it is typically possible to split the signal among three or more separate TVs using a coaxial splitter.
Cabling
If someone lives within range of broadcast towers and has their outdoor TV antenna pointed directly at them yet still gets bad reception, a cabling problem might be the cause.
A broadcast signal travels from the source to the TV through a coaxial cable. Not all coaxial cables are high quality, though. A coaxial cable is available in various grades, with RG-6 being sufficient for standard TV reception and RG-11 being the best for an HD signal. An HD-ready coaxial cable typically provides the best pathway for an antenna’s signal to travel to the TV.
It’s worth noting that a signal amplifier can be added but it won’t necessarily increase the antenna’s reception. It will only work to improve the quality of the signal from the antenna.
Ease of Installation
There’s a reason antenna installers are paid well: It’s not always easy work. Anyone who considers themselves particularly handy can likely install and set up an outdoor TV antenna, though. Most kits provide the necessary hardware to bolt the antenna to a pole, though few include the pole itself.
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Choosing an antenna that can be self-installed can save quite a bit of money, even if the pole must be purchased separately. The antenna brackets should be installed on the house or roof first followed by the antenna and pole as a unit. Trying to secure the antenna to the end of a long pole while standing on a roof or ladder several feet above ground should never be attempted for safety reasons.
Tips for Using an Outdoor TV Antenna
Reception and broadcast quality tend to be the top issues outdoor TV antenna users face. If reception is the issue, installing the antenna to a taller pole or mast that lifts it higher above the house might help—the taller the antenna, the better the reception. The entire unit should be brought to the ground in one piece to swap the antenna onto the taller pole and then reinstall it as one piece.
If the TV has a signal gauge, this gauge can be used to determine the location of the best quality signal in the area. While repositioning the antenna, the TV’s signal gauge will adjust accordingly when the antenna’s pointed in the direction of the strongest signal.
Transmitter maps can also help determine the location of the closest broadcast towers in an area. The closest tower may not be the best one, however, if it’s blocked by mountains or other obstructions.
FAQs
Shoppers often wonder whether the outdoor TV antenna they’re considering will work properly once it’s installed. Some don’t know how to find the right spot to install it, while others worry about connection issues. Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions shoppers have about outdoor TV antennas.
Q. How does an outdoor TV antenna work?
An outdoor TV antenna intercepts VHF and UHF signals that broadcast towers transmit and sends them to the connected TV. Those TV signals become onscreen images and audio.
Q. Can I put an indoor TV antenna outside?
Indoor antennas may work outside, but they’re rarely water- and weather-resistant enough to sustain outdoor conditions. An outdoor model is built to weather the elements.
Q. How do I get the best outdoor antenna reception?
Point the antenna toward the strongest broadcast tower in the area. Also, consider raising the antenna higher so it can capture the strongest signals. Nearby thick foliage or roofing material can often weaken the signal.
Q. Does aluminum foil boost antenna signal?
Aluminum foil does increase an antenna’s conductive surface area, boosting its signal. It’s unlikely that wrapping an antenna with aluminum foil will work past the first strong windstorm, though.
Q. Can I install an outdoor TV antenna myself?
An outdoor TV antenna can be self-installed as long as the person installing it is comfortable with heights. In most cases, climbing a tall ladder is necessary. Aside from this, mounting and installation itself is usually quite straightforward.
Why Trust Bob Vila
Bob Vila has been America’s Handyman since 1979. As the host of beloved and groundbreaking TV series including “This Old House” and “Bob Vila’s Home Again,” he popularized and became synonymous with “do-it-yourself” home improvement.
Over the course of his decades-long career, Bob Vila has helped millions of people build, renovate, repair, and live better each day—a tradition that continues today with expert yet accessible home advice. The Bob Vila team distills need-to-know information into project tutorials, maintenance guides, tool 101s, and more. These home and garden experts then thoroughly research, vet, and recommend products that support homeowners, renters, DIYers, and professionals in their to-do lists.
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Outdoor