You Can Receive HDTV Signals for no Monthly Fee
If you have over-the-air signals in your area, you can receive these signals for free if you have an appropriate antenna to capture the main signal being transmitted from the station’s tower and a digital tuner in your HDTV. In order to determine what signals you can receive, you should start by logging onto antennaweb.org to determine where your signals come from and their relative strength. A color coded system is used to advise on the strength of the signal.
The direct signal can be better than the one being sent to you via cable or satellite provided your antenna is of good quality. There are those that will argue that there is really no such thing as an HDTV antenna and that it is really just marketing hype in practice. What they are saying is that a better quality antenna (usually UHF) is what is required to receive the signal properly.
In rural areas, a directional antenna may be required to aim carefully at the signal, while an omni-directional antenna may work better in an urban setting where there are more and stronger signals and having a separate antenna for each source is just not practical.
An interior antenna may be the only choice if you have issues with your locale where outdoor antennae are restricted from installation. The experts will say that an exterior antenna is preferred but local weather conditions may make an internal antenna a better longer term choice. Amplification will help with the signal strength and you must aim the antenna carefully to ensure the best signal which may be different in the morning than in the evening. A rotor on an exterior antenna will assist the aiming process.
Experts also advise that the difference between a cheap antenna and a quality one suitable to perform as an HDTV antenna is as little as $50-100 so scrimping on this purchase is not the best way to spend your money. When you consider that an HDTV is usually not a small ticket purchase, this is sound advice indeed.
