Which Antenna Will Work Best For You?
The title of this article is the biggest concern amongst people who are thinking of investing in an antenna for their TV-watching needs. An antenna might seem like old technology, but what’s more important is that it is a very reliable technology that more people are returning to in an effort to avoid costly monthly fees and whatnot. Like anything else, however, it does have its occasional problems, such as signal interruptions, distorted pictures, and fuzziness. These ailments, of course, can be avoided, or its occurrences decreased, if you find the right antenna for your location.
At this point, your biggest concern is still: which antenna will work best for me? There are several factors to look at before you buy the first antenna that promises huge results you see on the shelf. All antennas are capable of picking up signals emitted from broadcast towers, but what’s more important is how well the antenna does its job. Some models are better than others for various reasons.
If you live within just a few miles from a transmitter or broadcast tower, you can usually get away with one of those smaller indoor models, which usually have a very limited range. Typically, an outdoor antenna will outperform an indoor antenna because it has less interference and a more direct line of sight to the broadcast towers. In addition, an outdoor antenna will almost always be larger than an indoor one, thus increasing its range and also the strength of the signals it receives on its surface.
How far you are from the transmitters will be the determining factor between an indoor or outdoor antenna. Another factor to take into consideration is whether you will need a directional or multi-directional antenna. A directional antenna means that the antenna will be picking up signals from one general location. Ideally, this is best used in major cities where all major TV channels are broadcast from one central tower or within a short distance from one another. The range of a directional antenna is no more than 20 degrees apart.
A multi-directional antenna, on the other hand, is capable of picking up signals from all around. Although this is ideal for homes in rural areas or for people who want to pick up different local channels from other nearby cities, a multi-directional antenna tends to be weaker in strength because it is not focusing on one general location like a directional antenna is.
Aydan Corkern is a writer, HD enthusiast, and promoter of tv antenna and plasma mounts.