Help Choosing the Correct HDTV Antenna

One of the most common questions we get at Solid Signal is "What is the best HDTV antenna for my location?" Unfortunately, there is no single answer to this question. This page, however, will walk you through the process of identifying the type of antenna that you should have the best success with.

1. Go to the antenna selector page of www.antennaweb.org and fill in your address and other relevant information - OR - fill out our easy antenna help request form and one of our skilled antenna specialists will assist you with choosing the correct antenna for your location.

Check the button that says "Show Digital Stations Only" and this will bring up a list like the one to the right assuming you live in close enough proximity to any transmitters.

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The CEA site provides this excellent information, but there is one issue that people have with it. For one city, it will often recommend a variety of antennas one should get to receive HDTV signals. Obviously, most people do not want to outfit their home with numerous antennas, so some trade offs are typically made. From this chart you can determine the type (UHF or VHF), power, and style antenna that should work best.

2. Check to see if all of the digital channels in your area broadcast on the UHF band.
Look under the columns titled "Antenna Type" and "Frequency Assignment" or refer to our list of digital stations broadcast on the VHF band. If you need to receive low frequency VHF stations (Channels 2-8) you may need a VHF antenna.

3. Determine how far will your antenna be from the transmitters?
Look at the "Miles From" column on the far right side of the chart and then choose from the following: Indoor: 0-15 Miles Short Range: 0-25 Miles Medium Range: 10-55 Miles Long Range: 50-70+ Miles

4. Determine whether you need a uni-directional or multi-directional antenna?
In some cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, all stations are broadcast from one central area, the Empire State and GE Buildings in New York, the Sears Tower or Hancock Building in downtown Chicago, and Mt. Wilson in Los Angeles. In other cities like St. Louis, the transmitters are scattered around the city.

Check the "Compass Orientation" and if all of your desired stations are transmitting from the same area or within 20° of each other you can use a uni-directional antenna. If the transmitters are positioned more than 20° apart, it is best to use a multi-directional antenna. It is important to note that most multi-directional antennas will work in place of uni-directional antennas, but you may pick up some multi-path distortion. By clicking on the "View Street Level Map", you can get a graphical representation of your compass orientation.

It is best to use high quality compression fitted coax cables in all multiswitch installations to minimize insertion loss and prevent unwanted equipment damage from moisture.