Choosing the right HDTV antenna for you
Choosing an HDTV antenna can be a frustrating business.
However, if you prefer to receive HDTV through an antenna,
rather than a satellite or cable subscription, there are a
couple of things that will make life easier.
First of all, if you can, you should opt a roof or attic mounted
HDTV antenna. This will give you the best chance of picking up a
good signal and is a must if you a re in an area where signal
strength is poor such where you live some distance away from the
nearest transmitter or where your signal is affected by hills or
other environmental factors.
If an external HDTV antenna is not an option, perhaps because
you live in an apartment or in a building of historic interest,
then you'll have to go for an internal, set-top antenna.
Unfortunately, every HDTV antenna is not alike and the quality
of your picture can vary greatly depending on which antenna you
choose. So how do you know which one to go for? Perhaps the best
way is to find out from people who already has an internal HDTV
antenna, how it works for them. The best way is to talk to
people you know - particularly those in the same apartment
block. Failing that, user reviews on the Web are a good source.
Amazon sells a number of antennae for HDTV and user opinion on
them varies greatly. For example, this Terk HDTVi Indoor VHF/UHF
HDTV Antenna gets slated by users, while this Gemini ZHDTV1
HDTV-UHF Digital Indoor Antenna, which is actually cheaper than
the Terk, gets great reviews.
As with any item of electronics, the key is to do your research.
Find out as much as you can about the HDTV signal in your area,
and if possible speak to people locally who are receiving HDTV
via an antenna, before you buy.