Q: How Do I Find Out Which Channels I Can Get with an OTA Antenna?
A: A good resource for determining which channels are available in your area is the FCC.gov1 website. Start by typing in your address or ZIP code to view a list of available channels, along with the estimated signal strength for each, identified by: strong, moderate, weak or no signal.
Q: How Do I Find Out Where the Transmitters for Channels I Can Get Are Located?
A: Once you determine the OTA channels that are available in your area using the FCC.gov1 website, you can click on each station call sign to see how far it is from your location, plotted on an area map, and to get an indication of the signal strength.
Q: How Does Having the Channel Strength and Transmitter Location Help Me Select an Antenna?
A: When you combine the locations and signal strength for the transmitters for all the channels you're interested in receiving, you'll be able to determine the range capabilities you need in an antenna to receive signals for those channels. Due to the curve of the earth, the maximum effective range capability for a traditional antenna is approximately 75 miles.
Q: What Do I Need to Know About UHF and VHF Channels?
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A: TV signals are broadcast in wavelengths, and each channel is assigned a frequency. VHF (Very High Frequency) and UHF (Ultra High Frequency) refer to signal frequency, with VHF channels on the low end, 1-13, and UHF channels 14 and above. The tricky part is that the actual channel frequencies in use in your area won't likely correspond to the channel number you would expect to tune in. Rather, you need to be aware of the RF channel number (once again identified on the FCC.gov1 website) to know whether the channel you're identifying is UHF or VHF. This information will only be pertinent if you're considering an antenna that only receives UHF or VHF channels, and not both.
Q: Should I Get a Directional Antenna or a Multi-Directional Antenna?
A: If you want to pull in signals from multiple transmitters in your area, you'll likely want a multi-directional antenna. If you want to receive signals from one transmitter — or if you want to hone in on a location because of possible interference caused by terrain, large trees, tall buildings or other obstructions — you'll likely get better results with a directional antenna. Either presents something of a trade-off. Directional antennas will not pull in signals from multiple transmitters and multiple directions. But multi-directional antennas do not focus on one transmitter, so signal strength tends to be weaker.
Q: Is Using an Amplified Antenna a No-Brainer?
A: An amplified antenna is great for strengthening weak signals especially in conjunction with long cable runs. But it's not automatically the best course of action. That's because, if you don't really need it, an amplified antenna can overwhelm your digital tuner by over-amplifying already strong signals, increasing noise and distortion, and rendering weaker channels unwatchable.
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