Posted by QuickReadAbout.com Staff in In order to maximize the benefits of a high-definition television, your TV should have the ability to receive HDTV channels. Receiving reception will largely depend on the type of HDTV you have or you wish to buy. If you have an HDTV, it usually includes a built-in ATSC tuner that allows users to receiver OTA (over-the-air) HDTV broadcasts. On the other hand, if you have an HDTV-ready television, then expect your TV to produce high-definition images, but you need to have an additional external tuner to receive broadcasts.
The two most important things you will need are the HDTV antenna and HDTV tuner (internal or external) to be able to pick up HDTV channels.
Choosing the Appropriate HDTV Antenna for your TV Set
Having your own HDTV does not mean you can watch all HDTV channels. This is because satellite and cable providers do not distribute free-to-air, available HDTV channels. In addition, majority of free HDTV channels are not included or carried by satellite and cable operators. Thus, you will need an HDTV antenna to watch all local and free channels on your HDTV. Although some satellite and cable providers offer over-the-air HDTV channels, they provide these channels at a highly compressed rate that can give a negative effect on the quality of pictures. Having an HDTV antenna allows you to watch these channels without distortion or any negative compressions.
Things to Consider
Once you understand the reasons for buying an HDTV antenna, you now to determine the type of antenna to buy. Be aware that there are indoor and outdoor HDTV antennas in the market. Just like standard televisions, it is best to go for outdoor antennas because they could easily pick up signals. However, if your situation (building codes, apartment rules, etc) cannot allow outdoor antennas, then an indoor HDTV antenna can also do the job.
Be aware that there is no guarantee that you will always receive signals, even if you have an outdoor HDTV antenna. This is because HDTV signals are digital, giving you no middle option for signals you will either get signals or not.
In choosing the HDTV antenna for your television set, be aware that no one antenna that can fit all preferences and condition. Choosing the most appropriate antenna for your TV set will depend on the distance of the transmitter and your antenna, your house location and the frequencies of each channel you wish to pick up.