Selecting and Installing Digital tv antenna

Do you really need a “digital tv antenna”?
Digital TV Antenna is used to receive digital TV signals and is no different from a conventional off-air TV antenna. This is just an ordinary TV antenna that constitutes the front-end of digital TV transmisison system. TV antennas may seem like relics from the last century, but a growing number of viewers are finding them to be indispensable in getting the best picture from their HDTVs.

The switch to digital TV broadcasting has eliminated the most annoying picture distortions that made analog off-air reception so hit-or-miss. With digital TV signals, you’ll either see a crisp, ghost-free picture or no picture at all. At the present time, Cable TV is the primary source of television programming for the majority of U.S. TV viewers; additionally, multiple-millions of viewers are DBS TV subscribers.

Choosing a digital antenna

A TV Antenna that can receive traditional analog tv signals, is NOT different than an antenna that receives Digital-HDTV Signals. A TV-Antenna does not discriminate between Analog TV and Digital / HDTV Signals.

So, don’t be fooled by manufacturers and retailers which are taking advantage of the current, heightened consumer interest in all things related to Digital-HDTV. There is no thing such as digital HDTV antenna.
A digital tv antenna is the same as an analog antenna!

So choose any tv antenna you like! Like analog signals, digital TV signals can be broadcast over two different frequency ranges: VHF and UHF. The VHF channel range is 2-13 — low-band VHF is channels 2-6; high-band VHF is channels 7-13. The UHF channel range is 14-69.

Indoor vs. outdoor tv antennas
Indoor antennas are small, designed to be placed on or near your TV but are affected by the walls of a house and even by movement of people in the room, household interference include fluorescent lights, computers and cordless phones.

tv antenna" width="150" height="103">Outdoor antennas are larger and intended for roof. In general, the larger an antenna’s surface area is, the stronger the signal it will provide. Nearly all outdoor antennas perform better than even the best indoor antennas.

Installing a digital tv antenna

For digital antenna cabling always use 75-ohm coax cable. Coax cable is superior to twin-lead in every way and should be used if possible or for the best performance and reliability, use RG-6 cable.
Large outdoor antennas can be installed on a roof or a free-standing pole and for the best results, your antenna should have the clearest possible view of the transmitter tower.

• locate and avoid power lines and other wires in the work area
• do not climb onto a roof when there is no one else around
• if possible, avoid chimney-mounting an antenna as smoke and gases from the chimney can impair the antenna’s performance and shorten its life

When you’re aiming the antenna it’s best to have a helper who can check picture quality and relay the information to you. Most HDTVs and HDTV tuners include an onscreen signal strength meter but be sure to check the picture on all channels you want to receive before securing the antenna in place.

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