HDTv Antenna LabsBefore we discuss any of the advantages that off-air will provide in contrast to a cable or a satellite we should discuss what HD off-air antenna really is.
Off air HD antennas are readily available in the market. Many will tell you to buy an HDTV optimized new antenna and replace the existing one. The truth is that an off air HD antenna is not any special kind of antenna. It is just a normal type of aerial that you have used before for VHF or UHF reception. The digital data is transmitted from the station either on UHF or VHF frequency band and is received by the antenna. It is the receiver built-in the TV set or placed externally that decodes the digital bit streams for your HDTV. Today the HDTV channels are mostly broadcasted on the uhf band but in a few years many will return to the vhf band. You can simply use your current antenna if it is in a good shape as an HD off air antenna.
Top rating off-air HD antenna reviews:
| Antenna | Average Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Winegard HD9085P | 5 | Read reviews |
| Winegard PR-9014 | 5 | Read reviews |
| Winegard PR-9032 | 5 | Read reviews |
| Winegard YA-1713 | 5 | Read reviews |
| Winegard YA-6713 | 5 | Read reviews |
The best off air HD antenna for you setup depends on the distance, directions, transmitter¢s power, height of the transmitter, type of terrain between your antenna and transmitter, buildings and the transmission path. All of these factors contribute to the strength or weakness of the signals that you receive. You have to take all of them into account as well as the type of antenna. A good choice will be an outdoor VHF/UHF antenna with a good size. If the transmission path is not obstructed then a multidirectional antenna works well and in case of building, trees you require a directional antenna. In case of great distances or placing the outdoor antenna in the attic you will have to use a preamplifier as well. Follow step-by-stepHDTV antenna selection guide to make a final decision.
Off air HD antenna is the best way to catch the high resolution quality audio and video. There are many benefits related to off air reception. HD off air antenna reception produces best picture quality because there is no compression in screen resolution and audio. Almost 99% of the people can receive one digital station and 89% can receive 5 stations in the cities. In case someone lives in a large city he will be able to pull in many digital stations with his off air HD antenna for free.