TV Antenna Review: Top Picks From Our Experts for Free Over-the-Air Channels
The right antenna will get you free TV stations and make it easier to cut the cable TV cord
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TV antennas might seem like a relic of a bygone era, when the number of channels you received could be counted on one hand. But as people look for ways to trim their ever-escalating cable and streaming TV bills, digital TV antennas are making a comeback. In fact, nearly 23 million U.S. homes use an antenna to watch free over-the-air programming, according to data analytics firm Nielsen.
For our most recent test of indoor TV antennas, we used a location just north of New York City. We received dozens of free over-the-air channels. (Outdoor antennas tend to work even better.)
That’s good news for the growing number of people who are dumping traditional cable packages but keeping streaming services such as Amazon Prime and Netflix. An antenna can supply their live TV, including local news and other broadcasts. (See more on the benefits of a TV antenna.)
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Tips for TV Antenna Shoppers
The antennas we tested cost about $15 to $100. As in previous tests, we found little correlation between price and performance.
How many channels you receive will depend on your location and factors such as local topography and where you place the antenna. In one instance, when we moved an antenna from near a window to a nearby chair, it picked up an additional 20 channels.
Over years of testing, we’ve found that the antenna that works best in one location may not be the top performer elsewhere. That means you may need to try several models, and we strongly recommend purchasing from a retailer with a no-hassle return policy.
We included a few amplified TV antennas in our review. These models have the potential to boost signal strength to help pull in stations that might otherwise be on the fringe. But our tests show that amplified antennas aren’t always more effective than nonamplified models. They can also amplify noise and distortion, and overpower reception from closer stations. Some amplified models actually did better with the amplifier turned off.
Also, whichever antenna you purchase, it’s a good idea to regularly rescan for channels, because you may have missed some the last time you scanned. And use our tips on where to place your antenna to get the best reception.
How CR Tests TV Antennas
For this year’s project, Consumer Reports tried each antenna in White Plains, NY, about 30 miles north of Manhattan. We attached the flat antennas to a window on clear days and placed one model with a different design on the windowsill. We also put each antenna outside the window on a balcony. Only one model we tried is actually rated for outdoor use, but the results were overwhelmingly better outside for every antenna. So you might consider using an indoor/outdoor model if you’re able to place or mount it outside. In general, we advise trying a few locations to see whether reception improves.
In the rankings below, you’ll see three figures, all recorded in White Plains: the number of VHF channels received, the number of UHF channels pulled in, and the number of NextGen TV channels the antenna could get.
This year, our tests counted only the number of primary (or RF) UHF and VHF channels, such as the local ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC stations. (Last year, our tests included both the primary broadcast channels and the digital subchannels.) In our experience, if you can receive these primary channels, you’ll also be able to get all the digital subchannels associated with them.
Receiving both UHF and VHF channels has become increasingly important. Back in the early analog TV signal days, most major broadcast channels were in the lower-frequency VHF band (channels 2 through 13), but now they’re scattered across both bands.
Most, but not all, of the antennas were able to receive at least some NextGen TV channels, which mainly use the UHF band. (A total of 11 NextGen TV channels are currently available in the wider New York City area.)
To earn a mark for reception, a station had to have a relatively stable, viewable TV picture. The amplified models in this group were tested with the amplifier turned both on and off. We gave credit to those models that had marginal reception at some moments if they were able to provide a stable, viewable picture at another time during the test.
Our test results should be useful for guiding you to models you might consider, but a number of variables, such as geography and distance from broadcast towers, can affect antenna performance in your home.
