Antenna FAQs

What do I need before I purchase an antenna?

Before you purchase an Antenna, you’ll want to make sure your TV includes an integrated digital tuner. This is standard for virtually any TV you can currently buy, but if you still own a very old set you might need to purchase a separate digital tuner.

You’ll also want to check whether or not the antenna you’re considering comes with a coaxial cord. The cord is the only way you can connect your antenna to your TV so you’ll need to buy a separate one if it’s not included. If you want to place your antenna in the window or in a space away from your TV, you should measure the distance beforehand to see if the cord is long enough.

What channels can I get with an antenna?

Antennas pick up over-the-air broadcast channels that are available in your area. This typically means local networks like NBC, ABC, CBS, and Fox, along with a few dozen other stations. Channel availability, however, can drastically differ depending on whether your community is more rural or urban. 

One way to check available channels in your community is through the AntennaWeb tool. Just enter your address in the search bar and a list of channels that can be picked up in your area will show up in the results.

Are there any limitations with an antenna?

Antennas, unlike Cable or streaming services, will only pick up local channels. If you want to see content from the likes of ESPN, AMC, FX, Disney Channel, and more, an antenna probably isn’t for you. We recommend getting Sling TV ($35/month) for streaming access to more networks, as it’s cheaper than most cable services.

Antenna reception can also be limited by external factors in your area. This means things like the amount of trees outside your home or nearby buildings could impact your viewing. The location of broadcast towers in your area, weather, and your room’s shape and design can also impact your reception. In other words, the performance you get from an antenna can be rather finicky compared to cable and streaming. 

Unlike most cable boxes, an antenna on its own won’t let you record and store shows, though some external DVRs can be bought separately to record TV broadcasts from an antenna. Depending on your TV, you also might not get any kind of on-screen guide for navigation. This means, you have to manually go through each channel. With that said, some smart TVs now include guide integration for antenna playback.

What video and audio quality can I get with an antenna?

Most over-the-air broadcasts currently offer high definition (HD) picture quality with either 720p or 1080i resolution. This matches the resolution that most cable and live TV streaming services provide. 

With that said, antenna-based broadcasts can actually look better than cable. Cable tends to compress video and audio quality more than antennas, so over-the-air TV will typically provide the clearest quality you can find in a broadcast. That is, as long as your reception is strong.

Over the next few years, some over-the-air stations will begin to broadcast in

4K
through the new ATSC 3.0 standard, aka NextGenTV. NextGenTV’s 4K broadcasts are already available in markets like Pittsburgh and Phoenix, and will make their way to cities like Buffalo and Orlando throughout 2021. 

If you want to keep your current antenna, you can, but you’ll have to buy an ATSC 3.0 tuner or a 4K TV with a built-in ATSC 3.0 tuner to actually watch in 4K. You can find more information on when 4K broadcasts will become available here.

Can I get local channels without an antenna?

Yes. If you don’t want to purchase an antenna or you don’t already get local stations through cable, there are several streaming options that provide local channels over an internet connection.

The Locast streaming app offers local channels for free, but the service periodically interrupts streaming with donation requests unless you pay $5 a month to support the non-profit app. We don’t recommend this as the best option, as it’s cheaper to pay for an antenna in the long run, since the investment will pay off after a couple of months’ use.

Other ways to stream local channels without an antenna include live TV streaming services like Sling TV, Fubo TV, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV. Each service offers a different assortment of channels, including many cable networks you can’t get with an antenna, so you’ll want to ensure that the stations you want are available.