INSTALLATIONS
The Best television images come DIRECTLY from the source!

For those who choose the finest possible HDTV display, this is the place for you !!! Only original signals carry the incredible amount of data necessary to ignite HDTV's. Cable and Satellite use media compression to transmit HDTV signals over narrow bands, thereby degrading program transmission.

Over-the-Air digital signals are crystal clear and Free! Starting February 17, 2009, only digital signals will be allowed over-the-air in the U.S. limiting reception to Cable, Satellite or Antenna (with Converters Boxes on older sets). If you know which RF Channels you want to watch, and have followed the Example, enter your address or ZIP Code HERE to determined what sort of antenna you need. Keep in mind that HDTV does NOT require a special antenna.

Antenna Selection begins in Your City
(or is determined with the Antenna Selection Guide Below).

Antennas are Dangerous! They can bruise, pinch, cut and KILL you!! They are dangerous inside and outside. They have metal pieces on them which can do things you do not expect. Many pieces are pointed and sharp, some narrow enough to slide into a power socket, or power box, accidentally. ALL are dangerous as far away as 50 feet from any power line! Enough Said?

You have the right to an Antenna! FCC Rules prohibit restrictions that impair the installation, maintenance or use of antennas used to receive video programming in the United States. This rule applies to ALL types of homes, apartments, mobile homes and condos, owned or rented anywhere in America. Period!

Where do you put antennas? In space you own, rent or control (12 feet maximum over your roof, see FCC Rule above) as near the signal source as possible and away from heavy stuff inside your home (refrigerator, TV set, book case, barred exterior windows, thick concrete walls, etc).

91% of HDTV signals are UHF and UHF Antennas are cheap. Get a good one, the best, if possible, with RF-6 cable, strong supports and a good rotator. If stations you want to watch are VHF, add a good quality VHF antenna accordingly.

And most important:

Enjoy the New World of HDTV!

Antenna Selection Guide
Every major U.S. City has HDTV Stations to watch right now. What follows is a way to find the perfect antenna to enjoy them - within fifty miles of the downtown area. The CEA, Consumer Electronics Association, and NAB, National Association of Broadcasters, created the AntennaWeb to help you do just that. Free! For us non-experts, a working example of it is presented here.

NOTE that all TV stations will be transmitting on different channels then they are now. But to avoid confusion, the new tuners allow a station to keep its old channel number while automatically switching you to its new RF Channel. Some of them will be VHF RF Channels; most will use UHF.

Stations on your RF Channel List numbered less than 14 are VHF. In general, they need a broader antenna than UHF channels; the ones numbered 14 and up. Since HDTV is 91% UHF, you probably won't need a bulky VHF Antenna at all.

Most will need an Indoor Antenna which can work with an old TV and Converter Box or new HDTV with an "antenna in" post on the back. Some will need Outdoor Antennas, others several. Whichever your situation, find a store with someone who uses the antenna(s) you plan to buy... or one with a good return policy!

PRESS HERE to use the Antenna Selection Guide

AntennaWeb.org's Front Page

Example Street Level Map and Station Table from AntennaWeb.org

EXAMPLE... We'll use a place near Tampa:
ENTER 11903 67th Ave, Seminole, FL, 33772, or just
the Zip for partial results, on the Pop-Up form to get:
The address you entered was located at Street level.
Stations and Antenna Types
The Channel List below is arranged by ease of reception, with the strongest stations, which need the smallest antennas, at the top. To find the antenna for this example, record the color codes of channels you might like for use on the "Color Codes" Chart shown below.

Select Digital Stations Only then press the "View Street Level Map" bar to build the Compass Orientation map at right. You need to point your antenna in the below listed directions to receive various channels. A rotor can be used, and would be needed here, even in a nearby city, for staggered and distant stations.

...Select Digital Stations Only for This Example ...

Start of RF Channel List used in the Example

Careful checking reveals only 10 digital stations on the Table while Tampa's RF Channel List shows more. Likewise, some which appear on the Table (under Frequency Assignment) will expire. One channel listed, 13, is totally in error. You're better off using RF Channel Lists to determine which type of antenna, VHF or UHF, is needed. If you have any doubt, consult TVFool.com for further antenna analysis.

Finally, note that many channels, such as the ones with decimal 2's, 3's and 4's on the RF Channel List, are missing from the Table. You'll find that there are omissions on many Tables. Cable and Satellite are missing most of them completely. You'll need an antenna to see them!

At this point we should have a pretty good idea of what sort of antenna we'll need in our Example, both by Color Code and VHF/UHF.

Small Multi-Directional Antennas
DESCRIPTION		The smallest of TV antennas receive from all directions.
APPEARANCE		Good looking home interior designs.
USE		For use where signal strength is high and with No pre-amplifier.

Medium Multi-Directional Antennas
DESCRIPTION		Larger and slightly more powerful, may be placed in interior attic.
APPEARANCE		These antennas include novel stick, wing shaped or disk antennas.
USE		An amplifier is recommended for 20 feet long, or more, cables from the antenna, or when more than one TV or VCR is used by a single antenna located AWAY from reflecting structures or in valleys.

Large Multi-Directional Antennas
DESCRIPTION		Bigger in size, these antennas receive more signal power. Better for greater distances from signal source and areas with low signal strength. May work well in interior attic.
APPEARANCE		Styles include element antennas. These antennas can be used to reject simple ghosting.
USE		When mounted at rooftop heights (30 feet) outdoors, amplified antennas can be used in light green color code areas away from reflecting structures or low areas.

ALL OUTDOOR ANTENNAS ARE DANGEROUS AND CAN SERIOUSLY HURT YOU.
WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU HIRE A PROFESSIONAL
FOR ALL ANTENNA WORK OUTSIDE YOUR HOME.
CONSUMER DATA PROVIDED HERE IS TO KEEP THEM HONEST!

Small Directional Antennas
DESCRIPTION		Picture quality is excellent with no signal reflecting structures around.
APPEARANCE		Multi-element rooftop antennas.
USE		Suitable for far edge of light green color code areas. Amplified antennas with rooftop mounting can be used in these areas if the area is free of signal reflecting structures and is not in a low area.

Medium Directional Antennas
DESCRIPTION		Most popular rooftop antenna because of its modest size.
APPEARANCE		Multi-element rooftop antennas.
USE		If there are ghost producing reflective structures near TV receiver antenna location, this kind of antenna is best for yellow, green, light green and red color code areas. Amplified antennas with rooftop mounting can be used with the blue color code.

Large Directional Antennas
DESCRIPTION		Large antennas used in weak signal areas for maximum possible TV reception.
APPEARANCE		Multi-element rooftop antennas.
USE		Can be used in any color code area, but requires an amplifier and roof mounting for blue and violet color codes.

      THE ANTENNA FOUND IN THIS EXAMPLE NEEDS TO HAVE:
        A: Medium Multi-directional VHF Antenna pointed 10° magnetic, and
                 B: Large Directional UHF/VHF Antenna pointed between 92-95°
             C: NO 129° NEEDED BECAUSE "B" SEES TAMPA's ABC

If ALL of the Stations you want to watch are within 15 miles, THAN USE AN INDOOR ANTENNA.
All are more than 24.4 miles in the example... so an Outdoor Antenna Selection is the next step!

Having gone thru this Example - Enter Your Address or ZIP Code
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