(Back in the early analog TV signal days, most major broadcast channels were in the lower-frequency VHF band-channels 2 through 13. Any time a new UHF or VHF channel was found during a given scan, it was added to the total number available for that tester. The “percentage of VHF/UHF stations received” breaks out the two broad categories of signals that were found at each location by any given tester, across all antennas. The “percentage of stations received” is a weighted average of the total number of stations that a particular antenna received at each location, divided by the number of stations we found to be available at that location through all our testing. In the rankings below, you’ll see two figures. And a few were significantly cheaper, at $20 or less, including the 1byone (Updated 2020) Ultra-Thin Amplified HD Digital TV Antenna and the Mohu Leaf Metro. In the tests near a window, the three indoor TV antennas that stood out for performance were the Winegard FlatWave FL5500A, the Winegard FlatWave Amped Pro TH-3000, and the ClearStream Eclipse Amplified TV Antenna.īut there were a number of other models that also did well. We tested antennas near a window and away from a window, near the TV. Our test results should be useful for pointing you in the right direction to models you might consider, but there are a number of variables that can affect antenna performance in your home. Most locations were within a 40-mile radius of the Empire State Building in Manhattan, but one was 64 miles away. We had 10 testers evaluate each of the indoor TV antennas at their homes, which were scattered around the New York tristate area. And use our tips on where to place your antenna to get the best reception. Also, it’s a good idea to regularly rescan for c hannels because you might have missed some the last time you scanned. That’s why we strongly recommend purchasing from a retailer with a no-hassle return policy. You may need to try several models before finding the best antenna for your needs. The number of channels you receive will depend on your location and environment, as well as the placement of the antenna in your home. But our tests showed that amplified antennas weren’t always more effective than nonamplified models-they can also amplify noise and distortion, and overload reception from closer stations. These models can boost signal strength to help pull in stations that might otherwise be on the fringe. We included some amplified TV antennas in our review. The antenna that pulled in the most stations for most of our testers cost $35, and several pricier models were in the lower half of our rankings. The antennas we tested ranged in price from $10 to more than $100-and we found little correlation between price and performance. In addition to a TV antenna, all you need to watch your local stations is a TV equipped with a digital TV tuner, something included in almost all TVs since 2007. “The signals may be less compressed,” says Claudio Ciacci, lead television tester a Consumer Reports. Websites such as AntennaWeb and the Federal Communications Commission’s DTV Reception Maps page can give you an idea of which stations you might expect to receive.Īs a bonus, the picture quality you get from your indoor TV antenna might be better than what you get from cable. These offer additional programming, such as old TV shows, B movies, and niche content. But there are also now dozens of digital subchannels under the primary channels. If you live near a major TV market, you’ll probably get many local stations-ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC, plus PBS and Telemundo-using a TV antenna. An indoor TV antenna can help fill that gap. These services-which include DirecTV Stream, FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV-don’t always provide local programming in all markets. There, we break down how to build a vinyl library as well as what to look for in a turntable.Even if you subscribe to a cable replacement service that brings you channels such as AMC and HGTV, you might still want an antenna. Not sure where to get started with vinyl? We have a beginner’s guide that walks you through all the steps so you make the most informed decision. This is crucial to keeping records in tip-top shape, especially if you’re using more vintage vinyl. It’s available for $23 on Amazon when you clip the on-page coupon. It includes a velvet record brush, cleaning liquid, a stylus brush, and a travel pouch to keep everything neat and tidy. Given that you’re saving nearly $50 with today’s lead deal, we’d recommend picking up this record cleaning kit.
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