Best Outside Tv Antennas Consumer Reports
If you’re one of the many people who rely on your television for news, entertainment, and other forms of information, then you know that a great antenna is essential. With all of the different antennas on the market, it can be hard to decide which one is right for you. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the best outside TV antennas available and help you figure out which one is right for you. So whether you’re in the market for an indoor or outdoor antenna, read on to learn more!
Top 9 Best Outside Tv Antennas
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What are outside tv antennas?
Outside TV antennas are small antennas that you can put on the outside of your home to receive free over-the-air (OTA) television signals. They are commonly used in rural and suburban areas where signals from major networks are difficult to receive.
Benefits of outside tv antennas
- Improved reception and picture quality – Because outside antennas are exposed to the elements and have better line-of-sight to broadcast towers, they provide improved reception and picture quality. This is especially true for HDTV signals.
- No need for a cable or satellite box – Because outside antennas are wired directly into your television, there’s no need for a cable or satellite box. You can watch free TV stations without paying for any subscription service!
- Better reception in bad weather – Because outside antennas are exposed to the elements, they tend to hold up better in bad weather than indoor units do. If you live in an area where it rains often or snows heavily, this can be an important benefit of using an outdoor antenna instead of an indoor one!
- Better reception in mountainous areas – If you live in a mountainous area and have trouble receiving TV signals, an outdoor antenna may be the best option for you!
- Easier to install – Because outside antennas are wired directly into your television, there’s no need for a cable or satellite box. You can watch free TV stations without paying for any subscription service!
- Better reception in bad weather – Because outside antennas are exposed to the elements, they tend to hold up better in bad weather than indoor units do. If you live in an area where it rains often or snows heavily, this can be an important benefit of using an outdoor antenna instead of an indoor one!
- More channels – The number of free TV stations you can receive with an outdoor antenna is often much larger than the number of free channels available through a cable or satellite service.
The pros and cons of outside tv antennas
Pros:
– It’s affordable. You can usually find an outdoor antenna for less than $50.
– It’s easy to use. You just set it up outside and plug it in, then scan for channels.
– Cable companies may not be able to detect that you’re not paying for their service anymore.
Cons:
– Depending on where you live and how far away from the broadcast towers are, there may not be many channels available with an antenna.
– The quality of the picture will depend on the strength of the signal coming from each station’s tower and how far away it is from your house—and that could change at any time!
How to use outside tv antennas?
- Place the antenna outside in a place where it can receive signals from the most channels. If you want to watch local channels, it is best if the antenna is placed in an area that is close to them.
- Connect the coaxial cable from your television to the cable outlet on top of your television and then plug in the power cord for the TV antenna. Make sure you connect both ends of this cable correctly or you may experience problems getting any channels at all.
- Choose a channel from the remote control and press “Select” on it to begin searching for available channels. This should take about 20 seconds or so for each channel that comes up on screen before moving onto the next one if there are many available ones within range of your location compared to others nearby (such as those used by nearby neighbors).
- When you find a channel that is close to where you want it to be, press “Select” on the remote control again. This should begin scanning for signals from other channels nearby and will continue until you find one that is not being used by anyone else in your area.
- This can take a few minutes, so be patient. If you don’t find any channels that aren’t being used by others nearby, try moving your antenna around and trying again. If you still don’t find a channel that is not being used by others nearby, try adjusting the direction of your antenna. Sometimes this will help you find a signal that isn’t being blocked by something in your home or neighborhood (such as trees, buildings or other tall structures).
Tips to use outside tv antennas
- Use the highest quality antenna you can afford. If you can’t afford a new antenna, you may be able to get one free from a local TV station.
- Make sure your antenna is pointed in the right direction before you turn it on. Most antennas have an arrow or other indicator that shows which direction it should face for optimal reception.
- Try different locations within your home for the best reception. If possible, place your antenna near an east-west window or just outside on your roof or chimney.
- Place your TV as close to the center of your home as possible for better reception—the closer to the center of your house, the less likely it will be affected by interference from other electronic devices like microwaves and computers in other rooms, which can cause problems with radio signals being transmitted through walls and floors inside homes (this could also happen if you have too many TVs in one room).
- If you have a satellite dish, try placing it in a different location or pointing it in another direction to see if you get better reception.
- Replace your antenna with one that’s designed for digital signals and make sure that your receiver is compatible with digital TV (look at the packaging when purchasing new equipment).
- Try attaching an external indoor antenna—these are usually U-shaped devices that can be placed on window sills or hung from the ceiling; they pick up both VHF and UHF signals from local stations and transmit them through your home’s wiring system.
- Call your cable company to see if they are aware of any service outages in your area and to find out what the problem could be.
- If you have a home entertainment center in your living room, try moving it to another location (such as the basement or garage).
- If all else fails, try plugging the cable directly into your television (without using an amplifier) or contacting your cable provider to see if they can send someone out to fix it.
Common mistakes when using outside tv antennas
- Not having the right tools for the job
When you’re setting up an outside TV antenna, you’ll need to have some basic tools ready. You’ll need a drill, as well as a screwdriver and possibly a wrench. Bring along a level if you can, as this will make it easier to ensure that your antenna is properly installed.
- Not using the correct parts
Make sure you have all of the right parts before beginning installation. Many antennas come with instructions that are easy to follow and can help you avoid making mistakes when installing them. If there are no instructions included with your antenna, check online or ask someone who has installed one before for advice on what parts you need and how to install them correctly.
- Not being patient enough while trying to get channels in certain areas
If there are certain areas where you aren’t able to pick up any channels on your TV using an outside antenna, try moving it around until you find a spot where everything works well enough for what you want from it—this might take some time!
- Not buying the right coaxial cable
When you’re shopping for an outside antenna, make sure you have everything you need—including the proper coaxial cable. If not, your new antenna won’t work as well as it should!
- Forgetting to install an amplifier
If you have a long cable run between your antenna and TV, you’re going to need an amplifier—otherwise, your signal will be weak and distorted.
- Not having the right grounding tools
It’s important that all of the parts in your outside antenna are properly grounded—including cables, mounting hardware, amplifiers and even your TV itself (if it has one). If you don’t have the right grounding tools, your antenna won’t work as well as it should.
- Not following installation instructions
If you don’t read and follow the installation instructions that come with your new outdoor TV antenna, you might end up damaging or misplacing parts—making it impossible for your equipment to function properly.
Factors to consider before buying outside tv antennas
Before buying an outside TV antenna, there are some things to consider. Your preferred channels, the channel frequency and range of the antenna are important factors to consider before you purchase one.
Your preferred channels:
If you don’t have a specific list of channels that you want to watch, then it may be easier for you to purchase an antenna that receives all channels rather than one that only receives some stations. If you know which stations provide the programs that you want to watch, then look for an antenna that has a good range and can pick up those particular stations.
The range:
Another important factor is the range of your antenna. This will determine how far away from your home or office building it will be necessary for you to place your antenna in order for it to receive signals from broadcast towers located within its range. You should also consider how far away from your home or office building broadcasters’ transmitters are located when determining which type of antenna would best serve your needs.
Channel frequency:
The channel frequency is another important factor to consider. This will determine the type of antenna that you need, as well as its range and power. The most common types of antennas are UHF or VHF antennas.
Directional vs. omnidirectional:
Outdoor TV antennas come in two different varieties – directional and omnidirectional. A product with an omni-directional design can pick up signals from all directions, but may have a smaller range than one that is exclusively used for receiving primarily signals pointing towards its corresponding direction (for instance if you live near mountains). On top of this difference between types based upon their ability to receive various degrees across an arc stretching miles away from itself depending on what kind suits your location best! The azimuth data you should have recorded earlier comes in handy when choosing an antenna. If all signals are coming from roughly the same direction, a directional or omnidirectional model will work equally well- but if they’re not sure which way their audience prefers to receive information then it might be best for them to get something with more diversity like omni models instead! This type of antenna is perfect for those who want to pick up as many channels as possible without being limited by their location. You can rotate it 360 degrees and receive signals from all directions, making this a multi-directional Antenna!
Size:
If you want to get the most out of your TV antenna, it’s important that not only do they have a wide range but also one which can be easily accessed. If this is something like large antennas then make sure there are people available who could help with installation if need arises! There are many reasons why people might not want a large TV antenna, such as the unsightly appearance. If this sounds like you and your house is sitcom-worthy small enough already then consider investing in one of our smallest models!
Installation:
Installing an outdoor TV antenna is not complicated, but there are some things to keep in mind. Your new broadcasting device should include instructions on how to set it up and test the signal before mounting outdoors; if you feel uncomfortable installing your own equipment then consider hiring someone else for this job who knows what they’re doing!
Durability:
When it comes to your home’s exterior, you want something that will last. For an area prone to strong winds and heavy rainfall (like most places), make sure the antenna is durable enough not to be damaged easily by these conditions so they can continue broadcasting signals smoothly throughout storms or other types of weather events!
Price:
You should consider the price of the antenna you want to buy. If you are looking for a cheap option, then you can go for a no-name brand or one that sells cheaply online. However, if you want something more reliable and durable, then it is better to go for a branded product instead of a cheap one.
Brand:
Another important factor is the brand of the antenna you want to buy. It is better to choose an established brand because they will offer better service than unknown brands due to their reputation and experience in providing quality products. The brand also determines how long your product will last as well as its performance level (how well does it receive channels).
Warranty:
The best antenna will have a good warranty. You can always buy an extended warranty if you are not satisfied with the product. It is better to choose an antenna with a long warranty period so that you will be able to get your money back if it does not work as expected.
Customer Service:
You should consider customer service as well when buying outside tv antennas. Customer service will help you with any problems or concerns regarding the antenna you have purchased. They can also help you install the antenna if you do not know how to do so on your own.
Material:
The material used in making outdoor antennas varies from one brand to another, but there are some common materials used in most outdoor antennas such as plastic, aluminum and steel. You should check for these materials before buying any outdoor antenna for your home or office because they determine how strong and durable your antenna will be.
FAQs:
Are outdoor antennas worth it?
There is no definitive answer, as the performance of an outdoor antenna can depend on a variety of factors, such as your location and the type of antenna. However, if you are looking for better reception, an outdoor antenna may be worth it.
What is the best way to maintain my outside antenna so that it continues to provide me with great reception quality for years to come?
The best way to maintain your antenna so that it continues to provide you with great reception quality for years to come is to keep it clean, free of dust and debris, and properly grounded.
To keep your antenna clean, try not to touch it too much. If you have pets, they may run into it or rub up against it while they’re outside, which will cause dirt and dust to get on the antenna and cause interference. If you have pets, try putting a cover over the antenna or moving it out of reach so they don’t have access to it.
You should also make sure that your antenna is free of dust and debris by regularly vacuuming around it. If there’s an accumulation of dirt around the base or inside the cable connections, this can cause electrical resistance which can result in poor reception quality.
Finally, make sure that your antenna is properly grounded by using a grounding rod (sometimes called an earth rod) to connect from its grounding terminal directly into the ground at least eighteen inches deep into soil (or concrete). Also make sure there are no other metal objects nearby that could interfere with the signal coming in from these rods—this includes metal fences or gates!
Conclusion:
If you want to cut the cord and save money on your cable bill, you’ll need a good TV antenna. We’ve rounded up the best ones you can buy whether you live in a rural area or near a major city. If you’re not sure which one is right for you, we’ve also included a buyer’s guide with everything you need to know about TV antennas. So sit back, relax, and enjoy watching your favorite shows without having to worry about paying an expensive monthly cable bill.
I’m Ella Andrews, owner of the website https://bestconsumerstips.com/
I give you valuable information about good products to help you choose the best product.