|
| Off-Air Antenna |  Off-air antennas are used to receive over-the-air signals from broadcast TV stations. You must have a built-in tuner in your TV in order to use an antenna or you need to have an external tuner connector to the antenna and television.
It is thought to be such kind of antennas as digital or high definition antennas. But there is no such definition in practice. The Federal Communications Commission declares that anyone who owns an antenna that is capable of receiving analog signals should be able to use that antenna to receive digital signals. So you can try to use your old antenna before buying a new one marked toward HD reception. If your antenna doesn’t work, then you can try to use antenna with amplifier.
Antenna with amplifier increases the ability to receive a weak signal with the help of electricity. It is especially useful for people, who live in rural areas as the incoming signal usually needs a boost there. Some experts consider that there is a need for amplifier if there is a long cable run or several splitters between the antenna and TV.
There are indoor and outdoor antennas. Indoor antennas are set inside the residence; outside antennas are mounted on the roof, on the attic of the residence or on its side. The quality of the antenna work depends on where a person lives in conjunction with the strength of signals coming from the TV transmission tower and any obstacles that lie between the antenna and the tower. In general, indoor antennas are more powerful and so more reliable, but in some cases $20 indoor antenna works just as well as a $100 roof-mount model.
Most antennas receive VHF, UHF or both types of signals. It is important to choose an antenna that will meet your need. According to the Federal Communication Commission VHF band between channels 2 and 13, or frequencies 54-216 MHz. UHF signals cover channels 14 through 83, or frequencies 300-3,000 MHz. If you still do not know what you need, you can consult with the Consumer Electronics Association through their web site.
|
|
