DON’T FALL FOR IT: The best TV antenna?

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If it sounds too good to be true it probably is. If you go searching for the best TV antenna, you’ll find a lot of claims of “super power” and “super range” from companies you’ve never heard of. They promise a lot, and they’ll even tell you not to fall for “cheap imitations.” Seriously, a lot of these ARE the cheap imitations. It would be funny if so many people weren’t cheated out of so much money.

It’s not always possible to avoid buying the wrong things, but there are some things you should look for that might alert you to a problem. Here are some of them.

Promises that couldn’t possibly be true

Don’t fall for promises of 150 mile range. It just can’t happen without a 100 foot tower and a massive array. It’s the same thing with antennas that say they give you 40dB gain. That’s really just not possible.

OK I’ll back up. It’s possible to amplify a signal and give it 40dB but you would get so much noise that it won’t be worth it. There just isn’t 40dB of signal that you’ll be able to pull out of an antenna, unless you’re taking about something the size of a house.

On the other hand, promising you 50 or more channels from over-the-air antennas might sound like hype, but it’s not. Truth is, you’ll get that many and more in a lot of cities.

Zombie brands

In general, the sad thing today is that you can’t judge any piece of consumer electronics by its brand name. Even if it says RCA, Emerson, Westinghouse, or any of the brands you remember from your youth, it probably isn’t the company you remember. That’s not to say you won’t find a good antenna from one of these companies, just don’t take it on faith.

The RCA name in particular is one to look out for. This once-storied brand has been licensed to several different companies. Some of them are on the up and up. Some aren’t. All I’m saying is, be careful.

Web sites that look like infomercials

If the web site screams with animations that make it look like a garage sale or late-night infomercial, it’s a fair bet that the product isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Look for a stable company that promises tech support, answers their e-mails and gives you the resources you need. If they promise two antennas for $19.99 and want to throw in their famous spiral slicer, don’t go for it.

Antennas that pile on the extras

Here’s where you really have to be careful. There are antennas out there that offer amplication, a rotator with wireless remote, and reception of channels 2-35 (in other words all of them) all for a low low price. Right now “Amazon’s Choice” for antennas is one of these, as I write this.

Think about it. An antenna with all that for a price like that couldn’t possibly be good. It’s probably made of a lot of plastic parts that will break quickly. It’s not worth it. Now, there are antennas out there that have good amplifiers, but they aren’t priced under $50. They’re well made, and that costs money.

So, you know what not to look for.

Big promises usually hide small results. If you’re looking for an antenna (or anything else for that matter) there’s a lot more to your purchase than price. There’s support and availability after the sale, and it all starts with a product that works. Misleading claims of super-power or amazing feats of strength aren’t going to get you those distant stations, but working with an antenna professional, and buying products that work right out of the box… that’s a recipe for success.

Here’s another recipe for success: call the experts. If you have questions about TV antennas, call the folks at Solid Signal. We can help you choose the right antenna for you need, and help you get something that will be worth the money over time. Call us at 888-233-7563 during East Coast business hours. If it’s after hours, fill out the form below. We’ll get right back to you as soon as we can!

About the Author

Stuart Sweet
Stuart Sweet is the editor-in-chief of The Solid Signal Blog and a "master plumber" at Signal Group, LLC. He is the author of over 10,000 articles and longform tutorials including many posted here. Reach him by clicking on "Contact the Editor" at the bottom of this page.