Monday, February 14, 2011

When Choosing What Type Of HDTV Antenna To Purchase

By George Binder


With an HDTV antenna you can watch high definition television without spending money on cable or satellite services. A few years ago the Federal government made some policies that made dramatic changes to how Americans watch television. The Digital Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 ended the broadcasting of analog television signals. On June 12, 2009 full-powered television stations switched to digital signals only.

People who own older analog models of television have to use a digital-to-analog converter box to be able to use the older technology. So congress also directed the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to develop and manufacture these converter boxes. Congress also provided coupons that consumers could use to pay for the converter boxes.

Most people choose to subscribe to a cable or satellite subscription, but it is not necessary to do so. With a regular TV antenna you can receive the high definition signals from television broadcasters. There is not anything special about these antennas. They are just like the ones you used for analog television. They cost around fifty to one hundred dollars. Considering that cable television charges you at least that much every month, this seems to be a good deal.

You must decide if you are going to use the antenna inside or outside. Usually you will want to put it outside, probably on your roof. It is easier to pick up the signal outside. In rural areas where the signals are not very strong you will have no choice but to put it outside. In urban areas where there is a high saturation of strong signals, it is probably OK to put it inside. Inside types are not exposed to the elements so they tend to last longer.

If your condo does not allow you to put it on your roof or if there is any kind of covenant against it, you should make them aware of a federal regulation that prohibits bans on erection them outside. They can not stop you from putting on your roof or outside. If they do so they are breaking the law.

Most high definition television broadcasts are on the UHF band. In fact more than 90% are broadcast on UHF. For this reason, it is probably a waste of time or money to worry about a VHF antenna. The VHF type are larger, cost more money and can be a hassle to install. You could consider getting a VHF/UHF type which will cover both bands. However, the combination types sacrifice bandwidth on both bands.

A directional antenna will receive high definition broadcasting signals from any direction. In contrast, an omnidirectional receives a high definition signal from only one direction. In an urban setting where the signals are plentiful and strong a omnidirectional will work out fine. You will need a directional in a rural setting because the broadcast signals are from a long distance away and there are fewer of them.

An HDTV antenna is a great way to take advantage of the brilliant clear picture of high definition television. Why waste money with expensive cable or satellite service. These can cost more than $100 a month. You can see great shows and movies in high definition without these expensive services.




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