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Ultra HD Antenna Reviews: A List of the Best Antennas on the Market Today
If you are tired of paying the exorbitant fees charged by cable TV companies, then it’s time you joined other cord-cutters in the world of free TV.
With a good HD antenna, you can get popular TV channels like ABC, CBS, Fox, and others broadcasted to you over-the-air for free. If you want your transition from cable TV to free over-the- air (OTA) transmission to be a smooth one, then you will need to invest in a good, functional HD antenna.
To help you choose the best, I reviewed six of the best ultra HD antennas on the market right now to help make your choice easy.
Hey! By the way… any links on this page that lead to products on Amazon are affiliate links and I earn a commission if you make a purchase. Thanks in advance for your support!
Ultra HD Antenna Reviews
Let’s see how the best HD antennas on the market compare.
1. HDTV Liger Indoor Ultra-Thin Antenna with a 50 Mile Range
Get quality, high definition pictures with this HD TV antenna, and gain access to your favorite shows and games without paying unreasonable monthly fees for it.
It is paper thin, and you will hardly need to create any space for it. It has a 50-mile frequency coverage, which means it’s capable of pulling in channels from a long range.
With the 470-862MHz transmission speeds, you will be getting a lot of over-the-air transmission channels.
The stronger your gain is, the clearer the pictures will be. You’ll get about 10-15dB gain across all channels, which is strong enough to get high quality pictures.
If you are not getting clear reception, however, you can use an amplifier to boost the reception.
The antenna comes with a 10-foot cable, which allows you the flexibility to move the antenna and find the spot with the best reception.
Pros
- An ideal option for cord-cutters
- Comes with a 10-foot cable
- Ultra-thin
- Reasonably priced
Cons
- You may not get some of your favorite channels
2. Vansky Outdoor TV Antenna with a 150-Mile Range
If, instead of having an indoor antenna, you would rather have an outdoor one, this is the ultimate choice on the market.
With the 150 mile range, you will be able to pull in your favorite local channels like ABC, CBS, Fox, and others for the whole family’s viewing without incurring a monthly bill or signing any contracts.
Unlike traditional antennas, which you have to keep rotating to get a signal, this antenna is multidirectional — it receives signals from all directions.
The 28dB gain means you will be receiving your TV channels with superior clarity and the lowest noise possible.
It comes with a 33-foot coaxial cable, which allows you enough room to move the antenna around and find the spot with the best reception. The USB power port makes it versatile and hassle free.
The antenna is built to withstand weather elements as it is water- and snow-resistant. It also has a UV protection coat. This means you’ll get great signal reception in any weather.
Pros
- It’s multidirectional, which means you don’t have to keep rotating it for reception
- 150-mile range means you will pull in a lot of channels
- The 33-feet coaxial cable gives you a lot of flexibility
- Durable and weather-resistant
- Low noise
Cons
- Questionable reliability
3. Amplified 120-Mile Range HD TV Antenna
If you liked the previous antenna from Vansky, but you are looking for an indoor antenna, then this is the perfect choice for you. It’s one of the most frequently rated antennas on this list. Whenever I’m shopping for something, this is always a good sign.
Cut the cord without compromising on the quality of the pictures you are getting on your screen with this 120-mile range indoor antenna. It also has an impressive frequency range of VHF 86-230MHz, UHF 470-862MHz, and supports HD 1080p.
It comes with a detachable amplifier that you can connect to boost signal reception, if needed. This can be useful if you are located in a mountainous region or are far from the towers. But it’s recommended that you first connect the antenna and scan for channels without the amplifier.
Watching TV for free does not have to suck. You can pull in all your favorite HD channels like Fox, ABC, PBS, and CBS with crystal clear visuals and high-quality audio.
With the 16.5-foot coaxial cable, you have a lot of flexibility to move the antenna around and find a location where the signal reception is strongest.
If you are not yet sure whether this is the antenna for you, the lifetime warranty and the 24/7 customer support the manufacturers offer should put your mind at ease. You can also return the antenna within 45 days, if it doesn’t work for you, and get your money back. You will be making a worthy investment.
Pros
- 16.5-foot coaxial cable
- Has a 120-mile reception range
- Clear pictures with high-quality voice
- Comes with an amplifier to boost signal reception
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Poor reception in wooded and mountainous areas
4. 1byone Amplified Digital HDTV Antenna
1byone is one of the antenna manufacturers that have the best HD antennas on the market right now. If you are making the transition from cable TV to OTA free TV, this is one of the best antennas you can get. You’ll get quality pictures with minimum noise.
You will be getting local HD channels like Fox, CBS, ABC, NBC, and more. You can access sitcoms, kids’ shows, sports, and news content catering to everyone in the family’s TV watching needs. This way, you save a lot of money that you’d otherwise spend on cable TV month after month.
The antenna comes with an amplifier that you can use to improve the signal quality, especially if you live far from the TV towers. This way, you can continue getting a strong, clear signal despite obstructions.
It features an ultrathin, compact design, and also comes with stickers you can use to stick the antenna on a flat surface, such as a window. This makes this antenna super easy to set up.
This antenna continuously scans for new channels and gives them to you without the need to keep scanning for them.
The long, high-quality coaxial cable allows you the flexibility to move the antenna around until you find the location with the best reception.
1byone is committed to ensuring that you get the best cord-cutting experience, and that’s why they have a 90-day full refund policy for this antenna and friendly technical support for their customers. This is assurance enough that you’ll be making a good choice.
Pros
- Extra-long coaxial antenna for flexibility
- Ultrathin compact design
- 90-day full refund policy
- Clear cell reception
- Very reasonably priced
Cons
- You may not get all your favorite channels
5. ANTAN Indoor Amplified HD TV Antenna
This is another great HD antenna for cord-cutters that will let you transition from paying a lot of money just to watch TV to watching great content for free.
You will be able to access your local HD over-the-air transmitted channels like CBS, NBC, Fox, and more. This gives you access to great content like local news, sports, kids’ shows, as well as your favorite sitcoms without incurring hefty monthly cable bills or agreeing to long-term contracts that may contain hidden fees.
It comes with a 16-foot coaxial cable, which gives you a lot of flexibility to move the antenna around to find the best spot with the clearest and strongest signal. The cable is high quality too, which minimizes the chances of the signal being lost in transmission.
The antenna also incorporates a high tech 3g and 4g filter to eliminate FM and cellular signals that may sometimes interfere with the transmission, so you’ll have the clearest pictures with minimum noise.
The power adapter has a USB port, which makes it versatile.
This antenna will pull in signals within a 65-mile range. It also constantly scans for new channels that may become available in your location and gives them to you without having to keep scanning for them.
To ensure that you are happy with your purchase, the ANTAN manufacturers have a 30-day money back guarantee.
Pros
- 30-day money back guarantee
- Has a 65-mile range
- 16-foot coaxial cable for flexibility
- FM and cellular filter for a clear signal
- Pulls in your favorite OTA HD channels for free
- Compact design
Cons
- Questionable reliability in suburbs
6. GE UltraPro Optima TV Antenna with a 60-Mile Range
This is another great antenna option for a smooth cord-cutting experience. If you are looking for a strong uninterrupted signal, then this antenna with a reflector panel is the ideal choice.
You will be able to pull in your favorite HD channels like CBS, ABC, NBC, PBS, Fox, and more for great versatile content like sports, kids’ shows, local news, and sitcoms. This way, everyone in the family’s watching needs are catered for without any exorbitant cable TV bills at the end of the month.
The antenna features an aesthetically pleasing design that goes well with any kind of home décor you might have. Apart from being aesthetically attractive, the curved design also helps enhance signal reception for high quality, crystal clear pictures with minimum noise.
You will get perfect VHF and UHF signal reception. The antenna is also 4k capable. The antenna has a 60-mile range, allowing you to pull in a clear signal even if you are located in the suburbs.
The antenna keeps updating newly available frequencies, and all you have to do is rescan your channel list to access them.
The lifetime warranty that this antenna comes with should be reassuring enough that you will be making a worthy purchase.
Pros
- Access to local HD channels for free
- Looks great and will seamlessly integrate with any décor you might have
- Curved design for a stronger signal
- Both VHF and UHF signal reception
- Has a 60-mile range
Cons
- Clarity diminishes the further you are from TV towers
Considerations for Buying the Best HD TV Antennas
While cord-cutting will save you a lot of money that you’d otherwise pay to cable TV providers, one thing that puts people off and keeps them paying cable bills is the fear of having a terrible TV experience once they cut the cord.
If you don’t get a suitable antenna, this is very possible. If you want to make a smooth transition from cable TV to the free OTA transmitted TV, a good antenna is a must-have. If you don’t know what you are looking for, however, it’s easy to get it wrong.
Here are some of the most important factors to look for to find an appropriate antenna for you.
Distance from the Transmitter
When you are shopping for an OTA HD antenna, you should know how far you are located from the transmitters closest to you. This way, you can buy an antenna with a sufficient signal transmission range.
Antennas will have an indicated signal range. Mostly have a 50-mile radius, within which they will transmit a clear signal to your TV. The closer you are to the transmitters, the higher the chances of getting a clear signal.
Some antennas come with a reception booster as well, and this allows you to improve any weak signals you may encounter.
Before buying an antenna, make sure you are within the indicated broadcasting range. If you are a bit too far away, consider getting an antenna with an amplifier.
Signal Reliability
When you get an HD antenna, you need to make sure you buy one with reliable signal reception. This means getting an antenna with reception that’s not affected by the weather or obstructions.
Some antennas will not perform during a storm or when you live in a heavily wooded area. Get an antenna that’s unaffected by these things.
What’s the Direction of the Signal Transmitters from Your Home?
Most antennas will require that you install them facing the direction the transmitters are located. You can always find the direction you need to face your antenna online.
This can be a problem when the transmitters are located in multiple directions. In this case, an omnidirectional antenna will come in handy. Find out the most suitable type of antenna for your location before you buy an antenna.
Should I Buy an Indoor Antenna or an Outdoor Antenna?
This will mostly depend on where you live. If you live within a large city or around a large city, an indoor antenna will work just fine. This is because in such areas transmission signals are always strong enough.
If you live in the suburbs, the transmission may not be as strong, especially if there is a reasonable distance between the transmitters and your home. In this case, an outdoor antenna may be what works best for you.
The Signal Range
Some TV channels will get to your antenna in either UHF or VHF signal range, especially if you are close to a transmitter. If your antenna cannot pull in any of these signal ranges, it will mean missing those channels. Make sure the antenna you are buying is capable of pulling in both, just to be on the safe side.
Design
When you are looking for an antenna, you have a variety of designs to choose from. From this list, for instance, you could choose the ultrathin compact design or the curved design of the GE UltraPro Optima design. It all comes down to your preference.
Price
While you shouldn’t let price dictate the antenna you will get, you should still be able to get a decent antenna within your budget. Generally, quality indoor antennas will cost you about 20 to 40 dollars. This is a great deal considering that you will be saving a lot of money once you cancel your cable TV.
How Many Channels Can You Get in Your Area?
Before you decide to cut the cord and get yourself an OTA antenna, this should be the first thing you find out. An antenna will not be any good to you if you cannot get any channels.
You can do this by logging in to AntennaWeb.org. All you have to do is put in your address, and you will get a list of channels that you can get in your area. You will also learn the signal strength of the channels beforehand. This way, you can decide on whether you want to get an amplified antenna or a simpler one.
Length of the Coaxial Cable
A long antenna coaxial cable gives you room to move the antenna around, so that you can find the best spot to mount the antenna. If you buy an antenna with a short coaxial cable, you will not have this option, and that can be a bit limiting.
How Easy is it to Install?
Some antennas have complicated mounting procedures. If you are the type of person who enjoys handling things on your own, you might want to get an antenna with a simple setup procedure. Most HD antennas come with simple instructions to follow, and you can install them on your own.
Frequently Asked Questions about HD TV Antennas
How Can I Improve the Signal Reception of My Indoor Antenna?
Indoor antennas are always a good choice if you are living in a building where you cannot mount an antenna outside, or you just have no access to the roof of your building. The problem is that sometimes you cannot get a strong signal on an indoor antenna.
The first thing you need to do is to make sure you get a functional antenna model. Another thing you need to check is that you are pointing the antenna in the right direction. If you have a directional antenna, you should always point it in the direction of the transmitters.
If you don’t know what direction that is, you can always find this information online if you type in your location on Antennaweb.org.
You can also try mounting the antenna on a wall or a window, if you haven’t already done that. Play around with the location of your antenna to find the strongest signal.
If you’ve tried all these options and you’re still not getting results, you can mount an indoor antenna outside using a flat coaxial cable as a final option. This helps by getting the obscuring walls and windows out of the way.
What is OTA TV, and How Does it Work?
Over-the-air (OTA) TV is TV broadcast signals transmitted over the air from your nearest transmitting towers. This is different from the technology cable TV uses. Cable TV transmission utilizes fiberoptics technology to transmit signals through cables.
While OTA transmission may not work as well as fiberoptics do in some areas, with the right HD antenna, like the ones on the list above, you can reproduce cable signal clarity.
Will I Still Get All the Channels I was Getting on Cable TV with an HD Antenna?
No, you will not get all the channels you can get on your cable or satellite subscriptions. This is because only limited TV channels have currently embraced OTA. The good news is that more channels are embracing the technology, and these are made available to you over the antenna by rescanning the channels.
Another thing that will affect how many channels you get is your zip code. As I explained earlier, you should always find the number of channels available to you before buying an antenna.
In Conclusion
You should not have to break the bank for something as basic as watching TV. While cable TV comes with a myriad of channels, rarely will you watch all of those channels.
With the right antenna, watching TV for free should be as enjoyable as watching cable TV. While the many options on the market can be confusing, I hope this guide helps point you to your best TV watching experience.
All the antennas listed here are great, but definitely check out ANTAN indoor amplified HDTV antenna. I like that one because it has a compact design, comes with a 16-foot axial cable, has a 60-mile range, and they have a 30-day return policy, just in case you don’t love it.
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