What is OTA
OTA stands for Over the Air which signals coming from broadcast TV stations.
What Is An Off-Air Antenna
An off-air antenna is a product people use to receive over-the-air signals from broadcast TV stations. In order to use an antenna, your television must have a built-in tuner or you must have an external tuner connected to the antenna and television.
Digital or HD Antennas
There really is no such thing as a digital or high definition antenna. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) says that anyone owning an antenna that is capable of receiving analog signals should be able to use that same antenna to receive digital signals.
Beware of scammers claiming to sell HD Antennas!
Amplified Antennas
Amplified antennas electrically increase the ability to receive a weak signal. These antennas are especially good for people living in rural areas because the incoming signal might need a boost.
Indoor v. Outdoor Antennas
One could argue that a $20 indoor antenna works just as well as a $100 roof-mount model. It all depends on where a person lives in conjunction with the strength of signal coming from the TV towers.
According to Antenna Web, a site managed by the Consumer Electronics Association, good antenna selection is not just based on distance from the transmitting station. It's also based on accurately characterizing signal conditions and selecting an antenna that works in that situation.
Antennas are either indoor or outdoor. By indoor, this means that the antenna is inside a residence. As such, outdoor antennas will mount on the roof, on the side of a residence or in an attic.
Both types of antennas ability to receive a good signal rely on the distance from the transmission tower and any obstacles that lie between the antenna and the tower. Outdoor antennas are usually more powerful than indoor antennas so they are generally more reliable.
UHF and VHF
Most antennas will receive UHF, VHF or both types of signals. UHF and VHF are similar to AM and FM on the radio. So, it is critical to choose an antenna that meets your needs. If you desire channel 8 then you’d want to get an antenna that receives VHF. The same would hold true for UHF and channel 27.
The Federal Communications Commission says that the VHF band is between channels 2 and 13, or frequencies 54 - 216 Mhz. UHF signals cover channels 14 through 83, or frequencies 300 - 3,000 Mhz, though the higher numbers have been or will be reallocated as the digital transition nears.
There is a common misconception that all digital or high definition signals fall within the UHF bandwidth. While UHF may contain many of the digital signals, there are digital and high definition signals on the VHF band. That is why I recommend using the antenna selection tool at AntennaWeb.org.
Distance From Transmission Tower
There isn’t a specific mileage that determines if an indoor antenna will work for you. If you live within the city limits or possibly the suburbs of the television station then you will likely be able to use an indoor antenna.
Obstacles Between Antenna and Transmission Tower Obstacles can be mountains, hills, buildings, walls, doors, people walking in front of the antenna, etc. These create havoc with TV signals and impact the reliability in signal reception.
Will An Indoor Antenna Work For You?
An indoor antenna can work for you. I just urge caution when buying an indoor antenna because it might not pick up all the stations in your area or it might require frequent adjusting depending on the station desired.
Outdoor Antennas
Outdoor antennas are products you install on your roof, in an attic or on the side of your residence. Outdoor antennas come in two varieties, directional and multi-directional.
Directional antennas must point toward the transmission tower to receive the signal while multi-directional antennas can receive signals when not pointing toward the transmission tower. This is a point to remember when selecting an antenna because if you choose a directional antenna and need multi-directional then you will not receive some stations.
Programming
By using an antenna you get access to your local broadcast TV station’s free digital (HD) signals. Another benefit is that in some markets you might be able to receive local channels that aren’t offered by your cable/satellite provider. Or, you might receive out of market stations from a nearby city or town.
Peace of Mind
An antenna can give you security knowing that you have access to programming should your cable or satellite reception fails.
FinancialReceiving over-the-air signals is free, which means you don’t have to subscribe to your cable or satellite provider’s HD package to watch local channels in digital or high definition.
