Should you put an antenna behind the TV?

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There are some folks who think antennas are ugly. I’m not one of them, but then I’m a little different from your average TV watcher, right? So if you’re one of the people who look at a TV antenna and think “yuck,” if that’s the reason you haven’t cut the cord yet, you might be thinking of putting the antenna behind the TV in order to eliminate the look of too many wires and too many pieces. I totally understand. Everyone likes a clean installation.

The problem is, it might not work.

Your television has metal shielding that is designed to keep its electronic emissions from affecting other things in your home, and that same stuff will effectively block antenna signals. Most flat TVs also have a mirror behind the panel itself to make the image seem brighter, and that mirror does a great job of blocking antenna signals too.

You also may find that the wall behind the TV is blocking signals. It’s not that uncommon. A lot of older homes have flex conduit in the walls that can block signals. Insulation and vapor barriers installed in upgraded homes can also block and scatter signals.

Here is one option.

If you’re smart and you’re able to… the one case where it could work is if the antenna could still face the broadcast towers. In other words, if all your TV signals come from the south, and you happen to orient the TV so you’re looking south when you’re watching it, then the antenna won’t be blocked by the TV at all and it won’t be a problem. Of course not everyone is so lucky or is able to plan so well. This takes some planning and of course everyone else in the home is going to have to agree with your choice of reorienting the entire room so that the antenna can receive signals. It might be too hard of a sell.

Really, you are better off not planning to have the antenna behind the TV and finding an antenna that you can stand the look of. There are a variety of choices at SolidSignal.com and the folks at Solid Signal can help you find the right one. Indoor antennas come in all shapes and sizes. Chances are that at least one of those antennas will be tolerable to all members of your family, especially when it allows you to bid farewell to the cable company and their $100/month bills.

It’s easy to find out which antenna is best for you. Just call the experts! At Solid Signal, we have a team of antenna technicians in our Novi, Michigan offices. These are real trained antenna specialists. They know what they’re doing. I’m not talking about script readers at some overseas call center. Find out what I’m talking about. Call 888-233-7563. You’ll reach a friendly person on the other side of the phone. They’ll even give you their call back number or email address if you ask.

Our staff is here to help during East Coast business hours. If it’s after hours, no problem at all. Just fill out the form below. We’ll get back to you quickly.

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.