HDTV Reviews

Do I Need An HDTV Antenna?

If you are considering the purchase of a new TV, unless you have a set top cable box or a satellite dish, it’s almost certain that you need to purchase an HDTV antenna before you can receive high-quality HDTV programming.

What’s So Great About HDTV?

As an HDTV owner, I would know that I would never go back to traditional CATV television. I bought my first HDTV set a couple of years ago, and when I set it up, an antenna was not required, because I upgraded my cable box to include a digital video recorder, or DVR, so I could record my favorite programming without having to use a videocassette recorder.

I bought my HDTV unit during the baseball season, and I’ll never forget the first few minutes of watching one of the players hit a home run into the stands. I don’t remember who it was or even what teams were playing or what stadium they were playing in I was so taken with the clarity of the picture.

What I do remember is when the camera closed in on the fan who caught the home run ball. Not only could I see the fan clearly showing off the ball to his friends in the seats around him, I could read the time of day on the guy’s wristwatch. It read 3:40 p.m. You can’t forget that kind of clarity if you’ve become used to traditional low definition TV.

Cable Or Satellite Not Required

Virtually all of the regular broadcast channels that used to send analog broadcast signals over the air are now also sending their digital high definition signals as well. An HDTV antenna will allow you to receive these high definition signals without the trouble and expense of cable TV or satellite TV.

What About an HDTV Antenna?

The term “HDTV antenna” is actually a misnomer. An HDTV tuner is what is required for HDTV broadcasting. An antenna is merely a resonating piece of metal with certain electrical conductivity to transfer the broadcast signal to your set. Some antennae are optimized for HD signals, so focus on an antenna that will compliment your HDTV tuner to optimize the signal for HDTV.

The Consumer Electronics Association has divided the United States into antenna zones based on the properties of broadcast signals and the manner that they travel over the airwaves. So, an HDTV tuner, and the antenna, that works in one part of your city, may not work elsewhere.

The best way to determine which HDTV antenna to use is to contact the Consumer Electronics Association before you make your purchase.