Over the Air HDTV Antennas

One of the essential components you will need for an HDTV system is an antenna. You will see many advertisements for HDTV antennas but be aware that in many cases the same antenna would work for any digital television system; the most important features of an antenna is that gain, F/B ratio and directivity. These are the specifications that are most important to ensure clear reception on both digital and analog broadcasts.

Making the decision to purchase an HDTV system is becoming increasingly more difficult to postpone as broadcasters prepare to make the transition to the analog signal broadcasting behind to deliver their programming in high definition resolution. Owners of analog television sets can convert them to be able to receive digital signals but the cathode ray tube technology have a hard time competing with the resolution of an plasma or LCD monitor.

Surprisingly, "Over The Air" (OTA) antennas provide reception quality equal to and in some cases better than satellite or cable.

The first step in purchasing an antenna for your HDTV system is to make sure that you have a built in tuner. Many digital television sets on the market are being sold under the labels of "HDTV-ready". These DTV sets are able to receive high-definition video from a satellite or cable receiver but are not able to receive the signals from over the air broadcasting because they do not have a tuner. On a DTV set without a tuner the OTA HDTV broadcasts cannot be decoded into visual images and sound.

To determine whether or not the DTV has a built-in tuner simply look to see if there is an "RF antenna connector" at the back of the television set. A DTV set with a built -in tuner must have a connector to plug in an off air high-definition antenna.

There are outdoor and indoor antennas you can use:

An outdoor directional antenna receives high-definition signals from a longer range and must be aimed in a particular direction. This type of antenna is ideal if the source of your broadcasting signal is in the same direction from your location.

An indoor directional antennas but the reception is not as stable as the outdoor models. An amplified indoor antenna may give you better reception but in most cases an outdoor HDTV antenna is your best option for reliable reception. Make sure the cables are connected properly and the antenna is aimed in the right direction.

Many times the reception problem with the antenna is that the directivity or gain is too low to pick up the signal. The antenna is the least expensive component for your HDTV system, but it plays a crucial role in its enjoyment. In most cases you will be able to purchase a good-quality antenna for under $100.

Consumers need to be aware of how the various components of the HDTV system work and what their capabilities need for the best performance. Shopping for an HD TV system with factual information will prevent confusion and will make you resistant to the HDTV hype that surrounds this technology and electronics being manufactured for it. Make sure to discuss the features of the antenna for your HDTV system with a salesperson and compare the directivity and gain of the best models before you buy.

HDTV Antenna is one of the things you should look at when upgrading your television system, learn more about High Definition Television at http://hdtvmainhub.com