Outdoor TV Antennas

What is an outdoor TV antenna?

The best outdoor HDTV antenna is the ultimate accessory for cord-cutters. While built-in “bunny ears” antennas disappeared from the backs of TVs years ago, TV stations still broadcast an over-the air signal. Now it’s digital, often 1080p, and sometimes even 4K. Many even offer 5.1 surround sound! Because it’s not compressed to the same extent programming is using other transmission methods, over-the-air programming often looks better. And it’s free.

The trick is, you need an antenna to pull in those broadcasts. An outdoor TV antenna is the best solution in most cases. This is a heavy-duty antenna built to withstand weather. It’s mounted on the outside of a home, usually on a pole or bracket that’s permanently connected to a roof or balcony. A cable connects the antenna to your TV. Because it is outdoors, the antenna can be much larger, making it more capable of pulling in weaker and distant signals. Being outdoors also eliminates factors inside a home that interfere with broadcast signal reception, including walls and roofing materials.

How do I know if I need an outdoor TV antenna vs. an indoor TV antenna?

If you live in an urban area near broadcast towers, and without sources of interference like tall buildings and power lines, an indoor TV antenna may be all you need. You may have to fuss with positioning to get a clear signal (and an amplified model will help), but many people living in large urban centers are able to receive a surprising selection of free programming.

However, if you live some distance from a broadcast tower, you have to deal with issues like tall buildings that block signals, you can’t get decent reception in your home, or you simply don’t want to have to look at an antenna in your living room, then its time to choose an outdoor TV antenna.

What is the range of an outdoor TV antenna?

Outdoor TV antennas are much larger than their indoor counterparts, they don’t have the walls and roof of a home to block signals, they can be mounted in a location that’s high enough to avoid local obstacles like trees and bushes, and they can be more easily positioned to minimize big obstacles such as buildings or cellular towers.

All of these factors contribute to a much longer range for outdoor antennas compared to indoor antennas. The best outdoor TV antenna models can pull in broadcasts from up to 120 km away. Within a large city, you might get double the number of over-the-air channels using an outdoor antenna compared to an indoor antenna. And if you are outside the metropolitan area, an outdoor antenna with its extended range is often the only option if you want to pick up that free over-the-air programming.