Benefits of Digital Over-The-Air Antennas

If you are spending $200 a month on traditional cable TV or internet plus streaming services, the cost over 20 years is almost $50,000! Even low budget WIFI plus subscriptions could easily cost the consumer $150+ a month. Over 25 years, the math is very similar and prices will only keep going up. That same money properly invested over time in an IRA (Individual Retirement Account) could potentially yield another $200,000 or more for retirement. Fortunately, there is an alternative.

Most people do not realize that right now over their heads in most areas throughout the lower 48 states are 50+ channels being broadcast. These channels include all your major networks like ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CW and ion, a free Over-The-Air channel/programing guide for Smart TV viewers, plus dozens of other fictional and non-fictional crime shows, classic sitcom channels, educational channels and even free movies, sports, sci-fi, music, weather and news.

Provided that you are not totally obstructed by major topography problems such as buildings, mountains or trees, a good OTA (Over-the-Air) digital antenna will pick up many of these channels. A clear line of sight is required between you and the towers though you yourself may not be able to see the towers from your vantage point. Broadcasters do anticipate terrain issues and will install towers on mountains and tall buildings wherever possible so some perceived obstacles may actually be advantageous. However, before buying an antenna, there are some important things you need to know.

First, despite some unscrupulous antenna manufacturer claims of receiving channels up to several hundred miles away, due to the curvature of the Earth, it is hard if not impossible to reliably receive a broadcast signal over 70 miles but typically; indoor antennas pull in reliable signals up to 30 miles and outdoor, 60 miles. The antenna must be pointed towards the nearest broadcasting tower(s) and you may need a preamp (signal booster - around $80 for a good outdoor one). Be aware that signal boosters can also boost interference so if you do decide to invest in an antenna with a preamp, you will likely need a 5G interference filter which usually runs around $20. It may also be necessary to invest in an FM radio filter which costs about the same. If installed on an antenna, the filter(s) must be hooked up before the signal booster. Experts often recommend not installing a signal booster initially unless you know you need one. A professional antenna installer is probably your best bet if you are not comfortable working with your hands, in crawl spaces or on roofs.

Outdoor antennas can also be installed in attics. They of course work better outside but inside also has its advantages especially if you plan on servicing it yourself. Going on high roofs can be hazardous and even scary at times but inside, you can conceal the antenna and often work safer. This can be particularly handy if the signal booster burns out. The red light will typically go off in the rare case this happens. Likewise, installing a 5G filter or FM radio filter later will probably be significantly easier inside your attack verses the roof. Just be sure to only step on the beams!

Before investing in any OTA antenna, be sure to check where the nearest broadcast towers are in your area. Ideally, it is best to have a backup broadcasting tower in case one is temporally down. A quick search on the FCC website will usually tell you if you are within range. Make sure the antenna provider also has a reasonable return policy in the odd chance it does not work for you. Antenna manufacturers like Channel Master also have a search on their website that lets you see exactly which channels are available in your area and the signal strength of each. Be sure to select the All Channels option at the end or you will only see the popular channels available in your area. Also note that even if the signal strength is poor on these channels, a good antenna or signal booster may be able to correct the problem.

Although I am not affiliated with Channel Master, I did purchase one of their antennas with a signal booster. Unfortunately, I did not purchase a 5G filter or FM radio filter initially. The combination of a 5G filter and FM radio filter later installed greatly reduced non-weather related interference. Channel Master will recommend what equipment (if any) to purchase and has a 30-day return policy.

If you live in an area with multiple TV broadcasting towers within a 40 to 60 mile range, an omni-directional antenna may also be worth exploring. In theory, these will allow you to pick up signals from any direction, gain extra channels and potentially bypass bad weather. The tradeoff is that omni-directional antennas are more likely to also pick up interference. For this reason, the manufacturer will typically either include an LTE (5G) filter and FM radio filter or recommend them paired with the product. My antenna is not omni-directional and I sometimes wonder if an omni-directional antenna would fare better at times.

As a free service, television broadcasting tends to be less reliable than paid services. However, with a good antenna, signal booster (if necessary) and the right filters, there is usually no shortage of surprisingly good alternative programming if a particular channel or tower is experiencing a temporary anomaly. Weather can be an issue at times but unlike cable, fiber optic, let alone satellite or 5G internet which will all go out completely at times, you may very well still get some channels even at the worst of times provided your signal booster does not go which is extremely rare. Note that in this unlikely scenario, if the antenna is in your attic, you could probably just unplug the preamp temporarily until a new signal booster can be obtained. A digital player/recorder may also prove to be an invaluable backup at these times.

Broadcasting also has other perks. With cable TV and some streaming services, you typically pay extra for HD channels. HD broadcast channels are totally free and unlike cable, you do not have to use awkward redirect channels. For instance, ion in my area is channel 31 and will not redirect to channel 799 as with Comcast. This makes channel navigating and using the programming guide so much easier.

Not all channels are broadcast in HD yet but there is good news on the horizon. A current FCC requirement for broadcasters to retain some of their legacy equipment until at least 2027 will be reevaluated in 2026. NEXTGEN TV, a new broadcast standard is slowly rolling out across the country. When the FCC lifts the requirement to maintain older equipment, screen quality will improve on channels still broadcasting in SD and even the signal strength will improve.

In my area, I can receive with my outdoor antenna up to 99 scanned channels at a distance of 46 to 49 miles from the nearest New York towers. This includes duplicates from alternate towers which is actually a good thing because it means I have backups of channels like MeTV and Story TV.

As recommended, I rescan my TV every few months for newly added channels. The average scan usually captures between 76 to 83 channels and lately as high as 99 channels though some of the new channels from Philadelphia (rarely functional) would probably require an omni-directional antenna to receive.

Although I live too far from the New York broadcasting towers to receive any channels with an indoor antenna, my friend who lives just 19 miles from the nearest towers receives 22 channels using an indoor antenna. Being closer to the towers, he and his wife would likely get all (or most) of the 65 available channels in his area with a good attic antenna.

For houses with solar panels installed, this can be an issue but there are ways supposedly to address this so it does not pose too big of a problem. Some electronic appliances can also be an issue at times and even planes may occasionally produce interference but generally all this is workable.

Also note that with broadcast television, there are main channels like channel 33 but also sub-channels such as 33.2, 33.3, 33.4, etc. To tune into these, you would either type the channel number and a decimal or press the hyphen key. For instance, on my Samsung Smart TV, 33-2 is MeTV Toons, a free dedicated channel for classic cartoons. Alternately, you can call up the channel by selecting it using the channel guide or going to channel 33 and pressing the up channel button.

If your TV does not have channel numbers on the remote, keep in mind that universal remotes are inexpensive and easy to setup. Neither of my Samsung TVs had a remote with channel numbers but I was able to purchase a 2-pack Samsung replacement on Amazon. I installed the batteries, selected the channel scan setup for AIR (broadcast) and within 2 minutes, it was like having free cable! It may not be 100% reliable but for the $220 savings gained by dropping cable and my home phone landline, I can live with that. At some point, I may supplement this with a lower cost streaming service because money is not my biggest concern but so far, it has not even been necessary. There is so much great, free entertainment available, it is almost impossible to be bored if you really give it a chance.