When TV was originally invented, the only way to watch it was using an antenna, but now with Digital TV, you can pick up far more channels than you ever could, and the best part is, it’s free and more channels are being added every day, everywhere. Even rural areas that never got TV over the air are seeing more free tv channels than ever before.
Step 1: A little research goes a long way.
The first step in getting free tv “over the air” is getting an antenna, and that means you might have to do some research on the TV stations around you and also the type of antenna you will need to pick them up.
The websites I use for this in the US are TVFool and RabbitEars. (Click the links to open them in a new tab and keep this guide open for the next step.
First, go to RabbitEars and click on your local TV Market. (Don’t know what Market you are in? Check out this map from the Video Advertising Bureau.).
Take a good look at the stations listed and the channels on each one. Pay particular attention to the RF channels on each one. It may help to write down the call letters of channels you think you want to watch.
Then go to TVFool.com and run a Coverage report to see what stations reach you.
Pay attention to the types of stations on the report. Look for VHF and UHF. Most stations are now UHF which are a bit easier to pickup, but there are still some VHF stations, and those can sometimes be tough to receive with a cheaper antenna and which direction the station’s transmitter is in relation to you.
If the RF or Physical channel is 1-13, it’s a VHF Channel, and you’ll need an antenna that does VHF. An Outdoor antenna is probably best if you need to pick up a VHF Station.
If the RF or Physical Channel is listed as something 14 or higher, the more common UHF antenna will do just fine for it.
Tip: If you still need help: look up the phone number of the TV station(s) you really want to receive, then call and ask for the Engineering Department. They should be able to answer any questions you may have about what antenna you might need, and where to point it from your location.
Step 2: Get An Antenna.
Based on the information you have above, now you can pick an antenna.
Cheap and Easy:
If all the stations you want to pick up are fairly close by (30ish miles and/or you can see their tower on a clear day) and they are mostly UHF stations, a cheap $5-20 antenna will work for you. I recommend these antennas in your case:
If you want a little extra oomph for your indoor antenna, try getting one with a bundled amplifier or if you already have an antenna, try adding an amplifier. The best amplifiers are ones where you can turn the amplification up or down. Sometimes signals can be too strong, so having the ability to turn down the amplifier can help.
If you are in a more suburban area, or just a little bit further than 30 miles away from the stations you want to pickup, or have a couple of VHF stations you want to pickup, I recommend these Cheaper Outdoor/Attic antennas:
A quick word about outdoor antennas: Your HOA or Apartment buildings cannot stop you from having an Outdoor Antenna. The Federal Government protects your right to get free over-the-air tv with an outdoor antenna. For more info, click here.
If you want to try to pick up distant stations in a different market, some of the above outdoor antennas may work, but here are the best Antennas you can buy for outdoor or attic use:
Step 3: Install the antenna and do a channel scan.
Install the antenna at the highest point that you can safely mount it, facing the direction that’ll give you the most stations. Remember that research you did earlier on TVFool? It’ll give you the exact direction of the stations you can pick up. Here’s a nice video on how to install the outdoor antenna.
Once you’ve mounted the antenna, routed the cable and weather-sealed the entry point for the cable (You did do that, right? You can get a tube of good silicone sealant for less than $5. It could save you thousands in water damage and pests. Go nuts.)
It’s time to connect the antenna and do a channel scan. So hook it up to the back of the TV and go to the TV menu, under Channels there should be an option called “Auto Scan” or “Scan for Channels.” If there’s an option to scan cable or “Air” or “Antenna,” make sure Air or Antenna is selected. Most TVs now scan for Cable and Antenna channels at the same time, so it’ll figure out that you’re connected to an antenna. If you don’t get any channels, check your settings to make sure it knows it’s connected to an Antenna.
Outdoor Antennas need to be grounded. Especially if you’re in an area with Thunderstorms. Check out this video on how to install an antenna, including properly grounding the antenna.