Antenna Locator

 

Indoor and Outdoor Antenna Information

What type of Antenna should I use?

• Each antenna is designed for a specific area. One antenna will not work everywhere. To determine the correct antenna for where you live, Click Here for the antenna locator link. It will pull up a window where you can enter your address and pinpoint the antenna that will work for your location. It will also show you the direction the channels are broadcast from. Although this is meant mainly for outdoor antennas, it will give you the distance and direction of the broadcasting towers in your area.
• The Canadian antenna locator reception options are driven by longitude and latitude and take a bit more work. We have prepared a guide to help you, you can click here for that information.
• If you live over 25 miles from a TV station's broadcast tower, or if you live in an area with a lot of hills, your reception environment might require an outdoor antenna for best reception. Long distances and hilly terrain make reception more difficult.
• If your TV stations have broadcast towers in several different directions relative to your house, a multi- or omni-directional antenna will work better than a directional antenna.
• For HDTV Antennas, and which ones are amplified or non-amplified, please click here. Even if you do not have an HDTV-ready television, any VHF/UHF (both) antenna with a TV Tuner will receive the HD signals.

Which Indoor Antenna performs the best?

• We will not be able to give you a specific model that is best for your location.
• When choosing an indoor antenna there is no guarantee you will receive signals, this is because the environment and surroundings affect an indoor antenna much more than an outdoor.
• When purchasing an antenna, look on its label for the color-coded antenna mark for outdoor antennas.

Which Outdoor Antenna performs the best?

• We will not be able to give you a specific model that is best for your location.
• The environment and surroundings of your location will affect an outdoor antenna, but not as much as an indoor antenna.
• The CEA and the NAB have created a color-coded labeling standard for antenna classification. When purchasing an antenna, check the packaging for the color-coded label for outdoor antennas. More information about this can be found at AntennaWeb or TVFool

Should the Antenna be amplified?

• An amplified indoor antenna should be used when you need to compensate for long wire lengths.
• The amplification will not necessarily increase your level of reception.
• A passive (non-amplified) antenna will work well with regular installation.

Where should I locate the Antenna for the best reception?

• For Indoor Antennas:
• • In general you want the antenna to sit or be installed as high vertically as possible and as close to a window as possible.
  • The front of the antenna should be facing towards the station you wish to receive. You can find this information by going to TVFool or AntennaWeb.
• For Outdoor Antennas:
• • Roof mounting will give you the best reception. Make sure the antenna is placed on the roof where the least amount of obstructions will interfere with the signal.
  • The front of the antenna should be facing towards the station you wish to receive. You can find this information by going to TVFool or AntennaWeb.
  • Place the antenna in a location where multi-path reflections cannot interfere with your signal. You may have to test different locations to know for sure. Multi-path occurs when the broadcast signal reflects off of something and hits the antenna multiple times.

Another helpful site:  TV Antenna Source

Ready to purchase a Terk Antenna? Click Here for the Terk antennas online store.

Ready to purchase an RCA Antenna? Click Here for the RCA Antennas online store.