Unfortunately, even after following these tips, you still might not get all the channels you want, but you are almost certain to get more than if you were to just slap up an antenna in the most convenient place.We're happy to report that all our previous selections remain very good choices for most consumers. We’ve also asked numerous antenna manufacturers for advice.

We’ve learned the tricks we describe below over years of antenna testing and experimentation, in settings ranging from high-density urban areas to sprawling suburbs. The number of channels you receive might even change from day to day or week to week. There are just so many variables affecting the performance of an indoor TV antenna, and the design of the antenna plays only one part: The characteristics of your TV’s tuner, the construction of your home, the room you place the antenna in, the way you mount the antenna, trees and other outdoor objects that may block reception, and multipath interference caused by signal reflections from mountains, bodies of water, or buildings all can affect antenna performance. If the latter describes your situation, we’re here to help, with a few tips to maximize your chances of pulling in your can’t-miss shows.Īs we found in our research and testing for our best indoor HDTV antennas guide, you can find plenty of good antennas priced between $25 and $100, but even a broadcast engineer can’t be 100% sure which stations any antenna will pull in at a certain location. For others, the process of tuning in over-the-air channels is an exercise in frustration.

Some antenna owners find that they can just position the thing anywhere, run a channel scan, and have instant access to all their favorite local stations.

This resembles the dilemma that cord-cutters face when they’re ditching their cable or satellite TV box in favor of an indoor TV antenna. Imagine if someone offered you a car for $1,000 that ran forever without fuel, but they couldn’t guarantee that it would get you to any of your favorite destinations.

The wirecutter antenna