Choosing an HD Antenna for Your Home: Tips for Buyers

High-quality digital resolution is no longer just for satellite TV and cable subscribers. Over the course of the past couple years, a lot of local television broadcasts throughout the country have begun to be available in high definition format. If your home entertainment source of choice is free over the air television and you want to be able to take full advantage of this technology, you will need to get a special tuner. This device, known as an HDTV antenna, allows you to actually see the programs in the high-quality format in which they are broadcast. These antennas come in a range of different forms, which vary with regards to their functions and features. There is not one "best" antenna that is the right choice for everyone. Figuring out which model you should purchase will depend on a number of factors, such as where you live and the type of television that you have. If you are currently shopping for an HD antenna to incorporate into your home entertainment system, then you could benefit by taking the following tips into account:

• The first thing that you ought to take into consideration is where your antenna will be located -- that is to say, are you looking for an indoor model or one that goes outside? Though not always the case, for the most part, outdoor antennas tend to be of a higher quality. This is because positioned outside, they are able to receive stronger signals with limited disruptions or interference. For people whose homes are fairly close to the local TV station that is transmitting the signals, as long as you do not have any large buildings or other obstructions blocking your airwaves, then an outdoor antenna should provide exactly the type of crystal clear images that you are looking for. The farther you live from this source, the bigger the antenna that you get will need to be. Other than that, there are really only a couple of downsides to going with an outdoor device. The first disadvantage is their price tag. In general, these units cost more than their indoor counterparts. The other negative is the fact that they are harder to set up than indoor models. The installation of an outdoor antenna will usually require the professional expertise of a technician. You should be able to handle an indoor antenna yourself.
• The next thing you should do is head to a nearby electronics store for help finding the HD antenna that is the right match for your home. There is a guide put out by the Consumer Electronic Association that will be helpful to refer to. This guide uses a colour coding system to sort antennas by the locations that they can be used in. A salesperson or customer service representative at the electronics store should be able to determine your colour coded zone for you. This information can also be found online at the Consumer Electronic Association's website.
• If you are getting an outdoor antenna, you need to decide precisely where your device will be installed before you make a purchase. Most people choose units that are mounted on the roof of their homes, as these usually provide the clearest line of sight view of the TV transmitter.
• You will also need to choose between directional and multi-directional versions. The first type is most commonly used for long range reception. Such models are designed to accommodate those people who live far away from the broadcasting stations. The second type is better for more short range reception. These antennas allow for the reception of transmissions from multiple locations. In order for them to be fully functional, however, it is very important that there are no obstructions blocking the signals.
• Before finalising your HD antenna purchase, make sure that you shop around and compare prices. In order to get the best deal possible, check out the merchandise from more than one electronic store.