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Indoor TV Antennas for HDTV Reception
by Eric Gov
http://www.hdtvantennalabs.com
More and more individuals outfit their homes with high
definition TVs. Many of them subscribe for a paid HDTV
programming delivered by their cables or satellite
television provider. Due to cables and satellite TV
bandwidth limitations very strong video compression is
often used and, as a result, the video quality is degraded.
Surprisingly, an alternative option of over the air (OTA)
HDTV broadcasts reception is not only free of charge, but
also frequently offers better video quality. OTA HDTV
broadcasts can be received with a simple off-air TV antenna.
Numerous factors should be considered when choosing an
off-air TV antenna. Frequency band, antenna size,
directivity and placement; all that depends on the
broadcasts you have in your area and the distance from your
location to the transmitters. AntennaWeb can be of great
help in defining the required antenna characteristics.
If possible, an outdoor rooftop HDTV antenna is strongly
recommended. Attic-installed outdoor antenna is the second
best option. Indoor antennas, even equipped with an
amplifier, can not compete with outdoor antennas and will
not pull in weak channels in distant areas. However, if you
live in an urban area or close to the broadcast towers,
then an indoor TV antenna may do the job.
There are many reasons for using indoors antennas, most of
which have to do with the inability of installing an
outdoor television antenna. Indoor HDTV antennas are
especially popular with individuals living in apartments.
Your home may simply not have the space to mount an outdoor
antenna, and there are several indoor models that serve as
space savers while providing you with reception.
Another reason for indoor television antenna selection has
to do with aesthetics. Some neighborhoods forbid
installation of outdoor rooftop antennas. In principle,
according to FCC regulations you have the right to install
a rooftop antenna and nobody can stop you from doing this.
Indoor television antennas are also encouraged for anyone
who may not feel comfortable with accessing their roof and
installing the actual antenna. Furthermore, indoor
antennas do not take the environmental punishments that
outdoor antennas take, so the indoor versions generally
last longer.
The major issue with indoor TV antennas is a poor reception
of weak HD signals. Performance of any particular indoor
antenna type or model is hardly predictable because it
depends on so many factors construction materials of the
building, the exact placement in the house, other objects
located near the antenna. For these reasons, Consumer
Electronics Associations (CEA) does not rate indoor
antennas by CEA color areas as they do for outdoor antennas.
With indoor antennas nothing is guaranteed.
Although an outdoor antenna can potentially pull in more TV
channels, its higher cost, bigger size and installation
hassle can turn your decision in favor of an indoor antenna.
There are many companies that produce indoor HDTV antennas,
including Audiovox, Phillips, and Samsung to name a few. In
UHF frequency band the supply varies from the cheapest loop
antenna to more expensive and better performing directional
log periodic and scatter plane antennas. In VHF band the
most common and almost the only available indoor antenna is
rabbit-ears. Directional VHF antennas are just too big to
be placed indoors.
There are numerous pros and cons with the particular
antenna types and brands, so be sure to research a specific
model before you buy. Consider looking at customer reviews,
to see how owners of the model in question rate the antenna
in a variety of arenas.
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