DTV: Choosing the Right Antenna

By: | News Channel 7
Published: June 08, 2009

As you make the transition to DTV, a vital piece of equipment you may not have considered is your antenna.
A small antenna commonly called "rabbit ears" may provide a good picture. Such an antenna is mounted inside your home on top of your TV.
But as News Channel 7 engineer Charlie Wofford explains in an interview with anchor Tom Crabtree, you may need a big antenna outside to get the best reception.
"It depends on what area you live in, " says Wofford. "Some of our outlying counties, Greenwood, Abbeville, Anderson, may need a larger antenna because of the distance from the transmitter they are."
"Most antennas have a distance range. They will tell you how far away from the transmit site you can be and still pick it up."
Wofford says the distance range can be found on the antenna packaging or by consulting with your retailer.
Wofford adds, "Be sure you get an antenna that picks up UHF and VHF. Our market has stations that are going to be in both frequency bands."
I asked Wofford if the average person can install an outdoor antenna themselves. "They can. Actually all you need is the antenna mast pole that you can mount on your chimney. You can mount it in the attic. A lot of people, due to homeowners regulations, are mounting them in the attic now."
Viewers living closer to the News Channel 7 transmitter site on Hogback Mountain in northern Greenville County may only need a smaller antenna, according to Wofford.
"The old style rabbit ears will still work. An amplified antenna may be another solution for viewers a little farther away. It takes a weaker signal and will actually amplify it a little bit for you."
Charlie Wofford says the cost of an antenna ranges from about ten dollars for rabbit ears to approximately 100 dollars for a roof-top antenna. Wofford says you may wish to try a less expensive antenna and evaluate the picture quality and the number of channels you receive before investing in a more expensive antenna.
Your existing roof-top antenna may be adequate if it receives both UHF and VHF signals.
If you buy a new outdoor antenna but don't like the idea of getting on your roof, the store can recommend someone to install your new antenna.