Top Buying Tips for HDTV Antennas

The very first thing you should do before buying an HDTV antenna is to check that your television set has an HDTV tuner. Many of today's television sets are HDTV-ready, meaning, they have the capability of showing high-definition pictures they receive from cable and satellite or played from your DVD player. But when it comes to over-the-air broadcasts that are high-definition, you'll need an HDTV tuner to help descramble the signals and translate them into high-def video.

You'll know that your HD television has a tuner if you can find an RF connector either on the side or the rear portion of the unit. This is where you will connect your HDTV antenna. If your TV doesn't have an HDTV tuner, you'll have to buy one in order to make full use of and HDTV antenna.

What's an HDTV antenna?
First things first - there is no such thing as an HDTV antenna. So what on earth are you buying? It's still the same TV antenna that can be used to receive high-definition signals from stations that broadcast them but it will not turn your ordinary TV into a high-def unit. You'll need the appropriate tuner for that. To get an HDTV antenna, you'll probably spend around $50 for the low-end to about $100 for the more expensive brands.

Know your zone
There are certain areas that are generally blessed with great HDTV broadcast receptions. If you want to know how high-def will fare in your area, you might have to do a little research. You might be receiving exceptionally strong signals from one broadcast tower but rather weak signals from another. This information will help you decide on the type of HDTV antenna you will use.

Should you buy an indoor or outdoor HDTV antenna?
Get an indoor HDTV antenna if you live in an area where it's easy to receive broadcast signals. This is a good choice for people who can't access their rooftops for some reason, as in the case of people who live in apartments. If, however, you live in a remote location that's too far away from broadcast towers, you might have no choice but to get an outdoor antenna.