It’s a Great Time to Finally Buy a TV Antenna

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In life, some of the finest things are gratis – like the sun, the moon, and network television. It seems we often overlook this fact amidst the noise generated by streaming services. Yet, it’s crucial not to forget that a wealth of engaging, meaningful content is readily available for us, free via over-the-air broadcasts. By investing in a modest antenna to pick up the signal, you can tune into this weekend’s Emmys on CBS. The football season being in full swing means you can catch college and pro games on all four major networks. Soon, Saturday Night Live will be back on NBC. In between those notable instances, there’s local news, The Masked Singer, and countless other programs airing on ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and numerous other channels. All you need is an affordable digital antenna and a television set.

Given that you might not have given much thought to antennas, I’ve gone ahead and handled that aspect for you. Here are brief reviews of three top-selling indoor digital antennas on Amazon, each offering a distinct price range and set of features. I’m certain you’ll discover the perfect model to catch the free broadcast of 9-1-1 Nashville coming up next month.

But first, a quick antenna FAQ:

Which digital TV antennas are available?
There is a wide range of antenna types available, each with different features. They can pick up HDTV signals, work with most TV models, and can be installed quickly. Online forums such as RabbitEars and r/cordcutters highly recommend them. The three antennas I’m suggesting are all suitable for indoor use, though outdoor versions are also available. I found them to be less prone to lag and glitches, and easier to navigate than the live-TV streaming platforms I have used previously.

In my Brooklyn apartment on the fifth floor, I positioned the antennas a few feet from the window near my 32-inch TCL Roku TV, which resides on a dresser. I conducted tests on all three devices within an hour of each other to maintain consistent weather conditions (it was a clear and sunny day). As the devices came with materials to attach them to walls, I tested each one as a freestanding unit.

To put it simply, setting up an antenna on a TV doesn’t require interacting with it like you would with a device such as Apple TV. Instead, you navigate your TV’s built-in menus and inputs. After connecting the antenna to your TV using a coaxial cable, the process is consistent across all three units: On my Roku TV, I navigated to “TV Input,” then selected “Antenna,” and clicked “Scan for Channels.” Once the channels were loaded, I could access them immediately from the home screen under “Live TV” and begin watching. The “Guide” button on the remote allows you to browse through channels much like you would with digital cable.

Which TV stations can you receive?” The availability and quality of TV signals can vary greatly depending on your location. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) provides maps showing where networks are accessible, but their signal strength estimates might not always be accurate. Commonly, channels like ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, the CW, PBS, and Telemundo are broadcast nationwide. My personal experience with various antennas is that they often pick up more stations than what the FCC website suggests.

Are there any other factors that might influence my television or internet signal quality? The Federal Communications Commission notes that several elements can affect signal strength, including “the construction of your building and surrounding structures, trees, weather conditions, specific reception equipment,” and terrain in extremely hilly areas. They also suggest positioning your antenna near a wall and close to a window for optimal reception. However, I’ve found these devices to be less sensitive than the guidelines might suggest.

How about discussing digital-antenna setups that incorporate amplifiers? These devices are often included in digital-antenna models, providing a more vivid picture and enhanced reception. They require power, which can be supplied either through your TV using USB-A or directly from the wall. I found only minor differences between the amplifier and non-amplifier models I tested, but enthusiasts at the Free TV Project suggest the use of amplifiers for rural and remote locations.

If you don’t own a TV, there are alternatives available! You might consider USB television antennas. These can be connected to a laptop, making it possible for you to watch live television when traveling or in situations where a TV is not accessible. Just make sure to check the compatibility with your operating system before purchasing to avoid confusion with Wi-Fi antenna models.

shopping guide

3 Digital-Antenna Models Worth Buying

Sorted by price, low to high.

Philips HD Classic Rabbit Ears Antenna

This product features adjustable rabbit ear antennas that can extend, and it has a round loop design. The price is $13.48 on Amazon. The cable length is 5 feet long. There’s no amplifier included, and unfortunately, it doesn’t come with any instructions either.

Setup Convenience: The setup time primarily depended on the hassle of inserting the coaxial cable. This specific setup was somewhat tricky, however, due to its short cable and absence of amplifier accessories, there were fewer items to sort out and untangle.

Channels: 107

As a movie connoisseur, I was taken aback by the stunning clarity of the visuals. Flipping through channels to catch some cartoons, I noticed that their resolution surpassed what I’ve previously experienced while streaming. Even a niche channel like Bark TV, dedicated to our canine friends, struggled with reception and slight delay.

In the bustling city of New York, it seems that a lack of an amplifier doesn’t alter the viewing experience noticeably. Compared to the $63 amplified model, this one has six fewer channels, but these stations had no usable metadata and such weak signals that they were impractical to watch with any device. The rabbit ears do lend a quaint vintage charm, but fiddling with them while watching Cyberchase on PBS momentarily caused some minor glitches, which ceased once I stopped adjusting them.

Mohu Leaf

Description: Ultra-thin flip screen, bi-colored (black and white)
Pricing: $44.99 on Amazon
Cable Length: 12 feet
Additional Features: Includes an amplifier with a toggle switch for power control, and offers hook-and-loop fasteners and pushpins for wall mounting without causing damage.
Inclusions: Comes with a USB-A power adapter, one-year warranty, as well as promotional postcards from television networks MeTV and COZI.

Setup Convenience: The coaxial cable in this product was quite tricky to deal with during setup, requiring a separate connection to the amplifier for the antenna. Despite being incredibly thin like paper, the antenna itself seemed simpler to attach to the wall theoretically, though I merely leaned it against the wall during installation.

Channels: 107

Performance: With the amplifier activated, this antenna picked up an identical number of channels compared to the unamplified Philips model. However, when tuned to All Arts, the picture appeared slightly clearer and more high-definition than it did on the Philips. Conversely, a Blue Bloods rerun on ION seemed somewhat less vivid.

A few points: The model I tested stands out for its top-notch branding, and the warranty is a plus. What impressed me the most was finding that it includes a charging block, something Apple apparently finds too costly to include nowadays. If you reside in a low-signal area or a basement apartment, an amplified wall-mounted model could be worth your while. Lastly, I should mention that some online users have reported that the flat-leaf model may not perform as well as the rabbit ears in areas with poor signal reception.

Random Amazon Brand (PGOFBUO)

Product Description: A 10-inch tall tower speaker, suitable for placement on a tabletop or mounting on a wall.

Pricing Information: Retails at $62.78 on Amazon.

Cable Length: The cable measures approximately 38 feet in length.

Amplifier Availability: Yes, this product includes an amplifier.

Included Accessories: Upon purchase, you will receive two adhesive stickers, a set of screws, and nylon ties for secure wall mounting.

Ease of setup: This cable proved the easiest of the three, screwing in on my first try.

Channels: 113

Improvement: A digital antenna offers a convenient feature that displays the signal strength from various channels visually on your screen, similar to cell phone reception bars. For instance, COZI TV airs reruns of shows like Frasier and Roseanne in standard definition (480p), whereas major networks broadcast The View and Good Morning America in high-definition clarity (HD).

Despite its unusual, egg-like cylindrical form that wouldn’t stand upright on its own, this device functioned exceptionally. It worked efficiently when placed on its side and saved space being tucked under my TV. The extended cable allowed flexibility to position it elsewhere if I encountered poor reception in my room; the product description claims versatility for indoor/outdoor use in places like basements, garages, offices, yachts, and RVs. In my apartment, however, such versatility was inconsequential as the performance differences between models were negligible. Factors like cost and aesthetic preference became decisive, and it’s hard to justify spending over $50 on an antenna when a budget-friendly model like the Philips Rabbit Ears performs nearly as well (99%).

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2025-09-12 23:58