Choosing an HDTV Antenna

High definition televisions are capable of producing video quality close to three times that of a standard definition television (standard definition televisions offer 480 lines of horizontal resolution while high definition televisions offer up to 1080 lines of horizontal resolution). Typically, to receive the high definition channels you will need to sign up for the HD package from your cable or satellite provider. However, if you are interested in receiving only local channels in HD, or if you are not currently receiving your local channels in HD, an HDTV antenna may be just what you need. Of course there are a few aspects to take into consideration when looking for HDTV antennas, such as inside verse outside, the signal strength, and the size.

First off, decide if you want your HDTV antenna to be an inside or outside antenna. Inside antennas are smaller, but do not have as much of a signal range. They can also tend to take up an excess amount of space around the television (you will often need space to rotate the device without striking any other obstacles around it). Outside antennas will have a much larger signal range than its indoor counterparts. However, they will be much more expensive and require an installation on the roof of your house. In addition, this may be tacky to look at (and many residence areas do not permit the installation of roof mounted antennas or satellite dishes).

Determine how far out you want the antenna to receive signal. Some antennas (generally outdoors) can receive signals from stations up to seventy miles away. This may be fine for those living out in the country or more rural areas, but is generally not necessary for individuals living in larger cities.

Think about how much physical space you have to set aside for the HDTV antenna, especially if it is an indoor model. Most indoor models appear fairly similar to a typical antenna. If you live in a larger city with several broadcast stations nearby, it will not be necessary to purchase a device which has a wide signal radius. In fact there are actually flat bed HDTV antennas which you may want to try out. The device is roughly the size of a closed laptop and can be mounted just about anywhere near the television. There are no cumbersome metal wires or an excessive amount of cables extending out of the device. The downside to these particular HDTV antennas is that you can not rotate the signal, unlike the larger, metallic indoor antennas.