Using an antenna can save you thousands of dollars in cable and satellite fees, but it’s hard to choose the right one. Antennas are still a bit more of an art than a science, and it can be hard to know which antenna you need. If you search some popular online stores, you’ll find hundreds of them in various shapes and sizes. It’s not always easy to know which one will be right for you.
Here’s the easiest way
The easiest way is simply to ask. Call us at Solid Signal at 888-233-7563. We’re here during East Coast business hours. Our team of experts will take the information you give us and create a custom recommendation from our wide selection of antennas. That recommendation will even include the accessories you might need. We have antennas that will work indoors and outdoors, and we will help you find the best choice. Our services are provided for free, with no obligation.
For the DIYer
If you would rather do the research yourself, there are web sites that will help you figure out the right kind of antenna for your area. I personally prefer antennaweb.org. AntennaWeb is provided by the Consumer Electronics Association (Solid Signal is a member) and is better for people who are just beginning to enjoy antenna television.
The main screen asks you the basic questions: your zip code, address and the height of the antenna. Enter this information and click Go.
After a moment you’ll see a map of your area along with a list of stations. You’ll also see a notification of what kind of antenna you need, by color code. You’ll even see if any of those channels broadcast a NextGen TV signal, which is the proposed new signal tech that could roll out in 2027.
Before we continue, a few words
Over the air technology has been around a long time. Digital TV itself has been around for about 15 years. That’s enough time for a lot of information to get stale. So, there are two things to clear up here.
The first is that in the past (and in some other, older articles) I recommended a site called TVFool. That site once was a premier destination for DIYers, but has sadly stopped being updated. The coverage maps it has are now so out of date that they’re not useful. Sadly I’d avoid it now.
The second concerns the antenna color codes. The antenna color code system was created about 20 years ago to make it easy for customers to understand what antenna they need. It’s still important to know what kind of antenna you need, but today most antennas don’t have the codes on them, and most web site listings don’t use them.
How to read the AntennaWeb report
First, look to see if any of the stations you want to get are listed as VHF stations. If so, you’ll need a VHF antenna. Many people think that all digital TV is UHF but that isn’t true. You’ll want to look specifically at the “RF Channel.” This is the actual channel that is used for broadcasting. The channel number you see on the screen can be different. If that number is between 2 and 6, you’ll need a VHF-Low antenna like the HD8200XL. If it’s between 7 and 13, you’ll need an antenna that receives VHF-High stations. All TV antennas receive UHF stations.
When you know what antenna you need, click here to go to our antennas page. The colored codes are here as well, and you can click on the code to refine your search. Once you’ve picked an antenna, check out our line of antenna accessories. Unless you’re replacing an existing antenna you’ll probably need a mast, and even if you’re replacing an older antenna you’ll probably need new cable.
Using an Indoor Antenna
Indoor antennas are easier to aim as needed and are well suited for picking up signals up to 30 miles away. Look through the list to see if all your channels are within 30 miles; if they are, you can use an indoor antenna in many cases. Indoor antennas save you the time and trouble of mounting and they can be so small that you hardly notice them. Click here for our selection of indoor antennas.
Confused? Need advice? Your friends at Solid Signal are never more than a click or a phone call away! If you need help, call us at 888-233-7563, or simply fill out the form below.
