For a relatively low cost, a lot of modern antennas provide a bevy of fairly advanced features. Many are ATSC 3.0 compliant, meaning they’re ready for 4K, and cover both VHF and UHF spectrums. Some can pick up signals from up to 60 miles away, and even offer filters and insulation to ensure you’re getting the clearest possible result. And, with many antennas now being built to live inside the home, aesthetics have improved immensely, so they’re no longer the massive eyesores of yesteryear. Check out our list of the best TV antennas below. You could easily place the ClearStream V2 in your home, but it’s designed and works best for outdoor use. The antenna comes with a weatherproof mounting base that allows you to attach it to the side of your home. Though there’s no rotating mechanism on the mount itself, you can hook the antenna up to a motorized rotor sold separately for easy adjustments without having to get your hands too dirty. The only clear drawback of the ClearStream 2V is the lack of coaxial cable in the box, especially considering its relatively expensive price tag, but those are cheap enough that it shouldn’t deter you from purchasing one. That’s probably for the better as it’s impossible for the manufacturer to predict how much cable you’ll need for your specific needs. Indoor / Outdoor: Both | Range: 60 Miles+ | Direction / Band: Multi-Directional UHF/VHF According to ClearStream, its round form factor helps with more than aesthetics, with the company claiming its patented loop design improves reliability and reception with no adjustments. The Clearstream ECLIPSE ships with a 12-foot coaxial cable and an in-line digital amplifier with USB power in the box, allowing you to get the best HD signal out of its 35-mile range without pixelation or fuzziness. Like most newer antennas, you’re also ready for ATSC 3.0, so don’t hesitate to pick one up if you’re planning on a big 4K upgrade down the line. Indoor / Outdoor: Indoor | Range: 35 Miles+ | Direction / Band: Multi-directional, UHF Overall, the value here is incredible. Like most newer antennas, the 1byone antenna parses signals across both UHF and VHF ranges and has all the hardware it needs to support forthcoming 4K broadcasts thanks to ATSC 3.0 compliance. The unit also supposedly has a premium amplifier, complete with noise-busting insulation and radio filters to keep smartphones and other competing wireless signals from knocking your picture out. Best of all, the company offers a generous 90-day return period and two years of warranty support, so you’ll have plenty of time to decide whether it’s right for you. Indoor / Outdoor: Indoor | Range: 25 Miles+ | Direction / Band: Multi-directional, FM,VHF,UHF All that versatility doesn’t come at the expense of performance, either, something our reviewer Jonno called out in his review. Amongst the wide sample of antennas Jonno tested, he found that the Blade delivered some of the best performance, allowing him to pick up a massive 69 channels clearly. Setting the Blade up is also a breeze, and its 40 miles of range should easily cover the needs of any urban viewer and even most users that live in sparsely populated areas. Indoor / Outdoor: Indoor | Range: 60 Miles+ | Direction / Band: Multi-directional, UHF The 4K-ready ANTOP AT-127 is just half a millimeter thin, and there’s decent power in that petiteness with an advertised 40-mile range that should be enough to cover most urban areas. An amp would have been nice to filter out picture-degrading interference and noise that can occur, but the lone 10-foot coaxial cable provided in the box contributes to easy installation and a cleaner look. Indoor / Outdoor: Outdoor | Range: 65 Miles+ | Direction / Band: Omni-directional, VHF, UHF
What to Look For in a TV Antenna
Indoor vs. Outdoor
Outdoor antennas typically have a longer range and are more durable, but are more difficult to install. They also tend to be more expensive than their indoor counterparts, which may have some difficulty getting reception to all the local channels you want to access, but are a breeze to set up, often equipped with a simple adhesive patch to stick the unit to your wall.
Range
Even the best antennas have a limited range, and which one is best for you is largely going to depend on where you live. If you’re someone that lives in a rural area, away from city centers, you’ll need an antenna with a longer range than something that would be sufficient for someone living in a more urban or suburban setting.
Direction / Band
The direction of an antenna can directly impact its range and reception and typically comes in three flavors. Omnidirectional, Multi-directional, and Directional. Omnidirectional antennas don’t need to be pointed in any specific direction but don’t have the same range or power as a single-direction antenna.
Ultimate TV Antenna Buying Guide
The bunny ears have mostly been left in the past, but TV antennas are still alive and well. These days, they’re pulling in digital signals rather than analog, and they often come in very different designs—often a flat, super-thin sheet of plastic that you can hide behind your TV or attach to a wall near your window. Why would you need an antenna in the era of streaming services and 4K resolution? Well, for people who have cut the cord and ditched a costly cable or satellite bill, a digital antenna provides an affordable way to access local channels without an ongoing bill, and it’s an easy way to supplement your streaming subscriptions of choice. Over-the-air television signals are totally free and don’t require any sort of membership or plan. And today, the quality can be pretty great, depending on reception: the major networks all stream in HD, and before long, we’ll start seeing 4K broadcasts as well. There’s a wide array of antenna options: indoor or outdoor, short-range or long, amplified or not, and they come in a surprising number of designs and styles. Even digital antennas can be fickle with reception, however, and choosing an antenna isn’t always as simple as going by specs. Here’s what you need to know if you plan on buying a digital antenna.
Indoor or outdoor
Truth be told, this category and the next two or three are pretty well intertwined—but it’s good that you know what everything means before considering your options. Ultimately, you need to choose whether you want an indoor or outdoor antenna, and there’s a pretty major difference between the two. An indoor antenna is incredibly easy to set up. You simply plug in the cord to the coaxial input on the back of your TV and maybe also plug a cord into a wall outlet (depending on the antenna), find a place to set or mount it, and then run a channel scan on the TV. With an outdoor antenna, you’ll have to add the extra step of mounting the antenna to the exterior of your home, which may not be an easy or desirable option for you. They also require a long cord running to your television, so keep that in mind. The upside is that there’s less interference without walls, furniture, and other electronics between the antenna and the source, but it’s potentially a lot more work and expense. After all, the cheaper, flimsier indoor antennas aren’t meant to be as durable and weather-resistant as those marked for outdoor mounting. Some outdoor antennas are also advertised as being “attic” antennas, essentially splitting the difference: it can’t dodge all potential indoor interference issues, but it’s still higher up and shouldn’t be quite as challenging to install as an outdoor antenna.
Range
How far are you located from a major city? You’ll want to keep that in mind as you shop for antennas, as your distance from a broadcast tower will affect the quality of reception that you can pull in. Granted, not all transmitters are located in big cities, but that’s typically where signals originate. Antennas Direct has a handy map that lets you search by zip code and then see how far away various channel sources are.
Amplification
Lower-range antennas are often plug-and-play models with just the coaxial cable attached. However, longer-range options are typically “amplified,” which means they require a power source to boost the range. Some amplified antennas have a permanent cable attached with a wall plug at the end, while others have a USB cable that you can plug into a compatible TV or insert into a wall plug attachment.
Design
Modern antennas come in a wide range of designs. Many indoor antennas take that aforementioned flat-plastic approach, while others have a figure-eight shape or resemble a soundbar. There are some that look just like an internet router, and the bunny-ear design isn’t completely gone: there’s one particularly compact digital antenna with flip-up, telescoping antennas. Outdoor antennas, meanwhile, are designed to withstand the elements and are typically larger and heavier models with a thick plastic enclosure, metal build, or mounting mast. There is an aesthetic element to consider when choosing an antenna, and some companies lean into that market with different color and design options or unique materials. However, many people stick their antenna behind the TV or in an otherwise inconspicuous location, assuming that the chosen spot doesn’t affect the reception. Most likely, you just want something that works, and most modern antennas aren’t stylish or visually appealing. Design matters when it comes to reception, however. Flat antennas are usually omnidirectional, which means it can pull in a signal just as well from any direction. That’s ideal for mounting, but interference can still rear its ugly head: you may still find better reception near a window or with the antenna on the wall facing the direction of the broadcast source. Other antennas are directional and must be pointed in a certain way to get the best signal.
Price
While there isn’t always a direct relationship between price and signal quality with antennas, there is typically a relationship between price and range, which means strength of signal. If you live really close to a big city, you might do just fine with a cheap, entry-level antenna that isn’t amplified. If you’re further out or have interference issues, then you’ll probably need to spend more on a longer-range, amplified indoor antenna, or potentially even an outdoor antenna. If unsure about range, you’re probably best off investing in an antenna with a larger mileage estimate. A longer-range indoor antenna may cost you between $25 and $55 or more, while powerful outdoor antennas can cost upwards of $100 or more.
UHF and VHF
UHF and VHF are the frequency bands used for broadcast television, and they’re akin to AM and FM on the radio. Certain channels are only located on VHF, but most of the major channels now broadcast on UHF. Many antennas are designed to pick up both frequencies, and it will be specified on the box. Some may only pick up UHF signals, which covers the larger majority of channels available in the U.S. and Canada, but check the box or website for an antenna if you’re unsure. VHF channels span 2-13, while UHF channels are between 14-51. However, that’s the real channel number, which may not be the one that shows up on your TV. Confused? Head over to this tool at TV Fool to enter your address and zip code and pull up a listing of available channels. For example, the NBC channel in Chicago shows up as channel 5 on your TV, but the real broadcast channel is 29. You don’t need to know this information when using the antenna, but it may be handy for figuring out whether you need a UHF/VHF antenna or just a UHF one.
Ready for 4K?
As of this writing, no antenna in North America is going to pull a 4K signal from a broadcast tower: at best, you’ll get a 720p or 1080i high-definition signal. However, many of today’s antennas claim to be 4K ready. The manufacturers aren’t lying—they’re just future-proofed. The Advanced Television Systems Committee has been working on its ATSC 3.0 standard for some time now, and it is now deployed under “NEXTGEN TV” branding. Essentially, it allows compatible antennas to receive 4K Ultra HD signals from those broadcast towers that are pumping them out, letting 4K-compatible televisions receive live channels that can make the most of those high-end sets. You should get something that’s ready for the 4K transition, even if you don’t have a 4K TV right this moment.
Brands/Manufacturers
There are plenty of antennas available for cheap online, but chances are pretty good that you’ve never heard of the companies that make them. Luckily, there are several reputable antenna makers. Here are a few examples: Antennas Direct: Antennas Direct has emerged as one of the top manufacturers of late thanks to an inventive figure-eight design that the company suggests can boost signal quality. Their indoor antennas are on the higher end of the price scale, but are well-reviewed and advertise long-range capabilities. The company also makes outdoor antennas with a similar core design but built to withstand the elements. Winegard: Winegard’s FlatWave Amped antenna is our favorite as of this writing, delivering strong reception, dual-band and future 4K compatibility, and a generous 50-mile range. The company also makes a number of other antennas, including smaller, cheaper, lower-range models as well as outdoor models. Mohu: Mohu has one of the broadest selections of antenna designs, including models that are thin and flat, curved, or designed like a soundbar. There are also antennas billed as “designer” in appearance, and even models made from recycled materials. Ultimately, it’s your call whether you care about design and want to potentially spend more for something unique. Mohu was recently acquired by Antennas Direct, however, so it’s unclear whether the brand will continue to release new products in the future or just sell through its existing stock. Terk: The Terk Trinity indoor antenna has the unique hook of looking very much like an internet router, complete with little antennas that point upwards. Interestingly, Terk also has a model called the Trinity Xtend, which pairs that kind of design with Wi-Fi extender functionality to help spread your wireless internet signal further around your house. It’s pricier, but that two-in-one approach might save you some excess plastic elsewhere in the home. 1byone: We’re fans of the 1byone Digital Amplified indoor antenna, which offers a 50-mile range but isn’t terribly expensive. This brand has a number of other antenna options available, including various outdoor antennas and cheaper, non-amplified indoor antennas.
Conclusion
If you’re not keen on paying for a cable or satellite subscription today or you just want an easy way to access local channels, a digital antenna is an affordable way to bring that to your home. There are a variety of different options to choose from, whether indoor or outdoor, along with widely varying designs and styles. Range is typically the biggest consideration, as you’ll need an antenna that can pick up your nearest broadcast signals while overcoming any interference or physical obstacles in the way. When setting up your indoor antenna, be sure to try multiple locations around your TV: even omnidirectional antennas will work better in some positions than others. And be sure to re-scan for channels after each repositioning, as you may find some new ones in the process.
