One of the most expensive bills each month is the cable bill. Losing the cable bill can save you upwards of $1,500 a year. What the cable companies don’t want you to know is that by installing an over the air TV antenna you can get free hi-definition channels right in your living room. The process is very basic. All of the newer televisions have what they call a digital tuner built right into the TV. This allows you to plug in an over the air TV antenna and you can start watching free TV. You get all the major stations like ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, and CW. There are also many substations available with great shows and content.

How Does an Over The Air Antenna Work?

It’s Easy Follow These 3 Steps:

Connect to ‘ANT IN’ on the back of any digital-ready TV. Place the Antenna– Place on wall, window, attic, or roof and find the optimal position for the antenna. Scan Channels – Select ‘Menu’ then ‘Channel Search‘ and you are ready to enjoy your free TV shows.

Check Out Our YouTube Channel for more helpful videos.

Finding The Right OTA Antenna

Since the signal is being broadcast from a transmitting tower, you need to find out how far away you are from the towers. The first thing is to find the proper antenna for your location. Generally, if you live close to a major city, you may not need such a large over the air antenna. There are some great websites and apps that will tell the size and style antenna needed. Let’s take a look at them:

Websites

TV Station Locator Tool – Use our website tool for finding channels, maps, and antennas for your area. Just enter your zip code for results. Mohu Antenna Selector – Enter a zip code and will generate antenna list and stations. Antennas Direct Antenna Selector – Gives you a channel list and range results for your location. Tvfool – Gives you options on what size antenna you need and channels you will receive. Channel Master – Nice antenna selection guide. Giving you the distance and location of broadcast towers. ANTOP – The website has good DTV signal maps and an antenna selector.



SmartPhone Apps

These apps for a smartphone can help point your OTA antenna. They can be useful and accurate when you are in the attic or on the roof trying to adjust your antenna. Just use one of these apps to point your antenna in the right direction.

iPhone

Android

Digital TV Antennas

HDTV Antenna Pointer

Generated Maps

For most of these sites, just enter your street address and zip code. It will then generate a map and a list of channels that you will be able to receive. It will also tell you what style antenna you will need and which way to point it.

Mile Range

These sites will also tell the distance the broadcast towers are from your house. This will give you an idea of the mile range antenna needed to pick up the stations.

Color Code

As you can see in the picture below there are quite a few channels available for the area I entered. The chart is color-coded and tells you what type of antenna you will need to receive the signal.

Channel List

This shows the available channels in the area I entered. You can see a map and channel list for yourself by using our station locator tool.

Type of Over The Air Antenna You Will Need:

Green – An indoor “set-top” antenna is probably sufficient to pick up these channels (30-mile range)

Yellow – An attic-mounted antenna is probably needed to pick up channels at this level and above (60-mile range)

Red – A roof-mounted antenna is probably needed to pick up channels at this level and above (100-mile range)

Grey – These channels are very weak and will most likely require extreme measures to try and pick them up

Let’s Choose an Over the Air Antenna

There are many companies that make over the air antennas. We will show you what we consider the best of the field. We will list these HD antennas by the color code system we showed in the previous graph. For most people that live within their city limits, a yellow (60 miles) range should work well. A general rule of thumb is the higher you place the antenna the better the reception.

Use caution when purchasing an over the air antenna. There are many scams. When buying an antenna, stick to name brand companies who do not exaggerate their clams. The ones we prefer are found on this page. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Green Antenna – 30 Mile Range



Mohu Leaf 30 Indoor Over The Air TV Antenna (30 Mile)

The Mohu Leaf 30 Indoor HDTV Antenna is one of the best interior digital TV antennae on the market today. It’s Omnidirectional flat design and weight makes it very versatile. Its simple square design makes adjusting unnecessary. Assembly is as easy as attaching the cords per the directions, powering up the amplifier, and hanging the Leaf in the best spot for over the air reception. This antenna will give you crystal clear reception. The initial setup is as easy as screwing in a light bulb.

Where to Buy:

The Mohu Leaf 30 Indoor HDTV Antenna is available at these retailers:

Mohu:

Mohu Leaf 30 Indoor HDTV Antenna

Amazon:

Mohu Leaf 30 TV Antenna





Green Antenna – 30 Mile Range

1byone Super Thin Digital Indoor HDTV Antenna (30 Mile)

Installation is super simple with the 1byone indoor antenna. Just connect the coaxial cable to your TV. This indoor/outdoor antenna from 1byone is a great way to cut loose from your monthly cable bill or to get over the air signals for rooms that aren’t wired for cable. In the package are the flat panel antenna, mounting accessories, the power adapter, the power booster, and a waterproof connection cover for outdoor installation. You will need a coax cable of the necessary length to hook up to your television. You can mount the antenna on a wall or on a pole. It’s lightweight, so it’s easy to mount or put up anywhere.



Where to Buy:

The 1byone Super Thin Digital Indoor HDTV Antenna is available at these retailers:

eBay:

Buy It At eBay

Amazon:

1byone Super Thin Digital Indoor HDTV Antenna





Yellow – 60 Mile Range



Mohu Sky 60 Amplified Attic/Outdoor Antenna (60 Mile)

The Mohu Sky 60 HDTV Antenna is nice and solid. This antenna is extremely light. This size antenna will fit comfortably between typical roof joist spacing in an attic or a crawl space. The mounting components are of high quality and can be adjusted for any mounting configuration. This multi-directional antenna provides excellent quality HD television from signals approximately 60 miles away. The build quality and construction are top-notch. This antenna is completely weatherproof. Lightweight and will not topple in high winds. All the needed hardware is included in the package and the instructions are well written.

Key points

You can use this antenna inside or outside.

Comes with a 30-foot cord

Comes with hardware and mount to bolt it down

Brings in many channels and makes existing channels more solid

Comes with a USB powered preamplifier

Small footprint

Where to Buy:

The Mohu Sky 60 Amplified Attic/Outdoor Antenna is available at these retailers:

Mohu:

Mohu Sky HDTV Antenna

Amazon:

Mohu Sky 60 Amplified Attic/Outdoor Antenna





Yellow – 60 Mile Range

ANTOP AT-415B UFO Dual Omni-Directional Antenna

The ANTOP UFO Dual-Omni AT-415B Outdoor/RV/Attic HDTV Antenna is very easy to set up-no tools are required. This antenna comes with a quick and easy mounting bracket. Just mount the antenna and hand tighten with the provided wing nuts. The size of the antenna allows for many applications. It is much smaller than most antennas in this mile range. ANTOP AT-415B UFO Antenna can be mounted on a balcony, on the roof or in the attic. It comes with a power amplifier and built-in 4G filter which will help to boost the signal and filter out unwanted cell phone interference. ANTOP smart pass technology amplifier is easy to adjust the balance between short and long-range reception. Plus the intelligent switch can avoid signal overload.

Where to Buy:

The ANTOP AT-415B UFO Antenna is available at these retailers:

ANTOP:

ANTOP UFO Dual-Omni AT-415B Outdoor/RV/Attic HDTV Antenna

Amazon:

ANTOP AT-415B UFO Antenna





Yellow – 60 Mile Range



1byone 85 Miles Digital Amplified Attic or Roof Antenna

With the 1byone 85 Miles Digital Amplified Antenna, you will get superior reception without the whole neighborhood noticing. This compact outdoor antenna is designed to maximize signal reception and integrate seamlessly into any home environment, indoors or out. It’s easy to install. Turn a few bolts and this antenna is ready to be mounted outdoors or in the attic. It’s a complete kit with a very strong mount.

Specifications

Withstands tough outdoor conditions

Superior reception outdoors or even when mounted in the attic

Includes J-shape mounting pole, built-in high gain/low noise amplifier

Where to Buy:

The 1byone 85 Miles Digital Amplified Antenna is available at these retailers:

eBay:

Buy It At eBay

Amazon:

1byone 85 Miles Digital Amplified Antenna





Red Antenna – 100 Mile Range



DB8e Extreme Long Range Bowtie HDTV Antenna

The DB8e Extreme Long Range Bowtie HDTV Antenna has a gain of 17.4 dB which makes it one powerful OTA antenna. This antenna comes with a special bracket that allows you to turn each panel toward different broadcast towers. This HD antenna is excellent for rural areas where heavy foliage or roofing materials can reduce your signal. It works well in an attic or mounted on the roof.

Specifications

Weatherproof

High gain UHF band (UHF channels 14-51)

75-ohm Impedance

Gain 17.4 dB

Dimensions: 50″W x 37.5″H x 6″D

Product Weight: 12 pounds

Where to Buy:

The DB8 Bowtie Antenna is available at these retailers:

Antennas Direct:



DB8e Extreme Long Range Bowtie HDTV Antenna

Amazon:

DB8 Bowtie Antenna





Red Antenna – 100 Mile Range



Channel Master CM 3020 UHF / VHF / FM HDTV Antenna

The Channel Master CM 3020 is a keeper and totally worth it. Get crystal clear free HD channels with this antenna. So well built, even on windy days it locks into all channels. It is very easy to install and has excellent reception. The antenna is all that Channel Master claims it to be. Well made with clear easy to follow directions and simple assembly. This antenna has a signal range of 100 miles and will pick up available local digital and HD signals. It is a little on the large size, but that is why it works so well.

Specifications

Reception Range: Up to 100 miles

Picks up UHF, VHF, FM, and HD

Antenna Size: 152 x 95 x 22 Inches

Easy installation

Superior signal strength in weak signal locations

Optimized for HDTV and Digital FM Signals

Where to Buy:

The Channel Master CM 3020 UHF / VHF / FM HDTV Antenna is available at these retailers:

Channel Master:

Channel Master CM 3020 Antenna

Amazon:

Channel Master CM 3020 UHF / VHF / FM HDTV Antenna





Grey Antenna – Over 100 Mile Range



Long Range Rotating Antennas

Long range rotating antennas are excellent for receiving channels from towers that are in different locations. They come with a motor and will rotate the antenna 360 degrees. Most are HDTV Yagi style antennas with a pre-amplifier. If you live far away from different broadcast towers, you can dial in your reception by rotating it in the right direction. These long-range antennas come with a wireless remote to control the motor. They work well in the attic or on the roof.

Where to Buy:

Long Range Rotating Antennas are available from these retailers:

eBay:

Buy It At eBay

Amazon:

Long Range Rotating Antenna





HD Antenna Mounting Options

Most antennas that you purchase will come with the mounting hardware. In some cases mounting to a pole, tripod or bracket system may be your best option. We have an article explaining different methods of mounting an OTA antenna. See the link below.

Scanning Your Television for Stations and Fine Tuning

Once you have you’re over the air antenna set up, you will need to scan your TV for the stations to show up. That option depending on your television should be in the menu options. Check the user manual for more information. Most TV’s also have an option to allow you to see the signal strength to fine-tune the antenna. You may have to move the antenna around a bit to get it in the ideal position to obtain all the channels available. Use the map you generated to point the antenna in the right direction.

One Antenna Multiple Televisions

If you have other TV’s in the house, add a splitter to the one over the air antenna and distribute it to multiple televisions. Just take the output of the HD antenna and plug it into the input of a powered UHF splitter. Then plug each cable from the output of the splitter into the other televisions. In most cases, you can use the existing wiring in your home, left by the cable company.

Other Helpful OTA Antenna and Station Locator Websites

Are you still having trouble finding an HD antenna? If you are looking for more information on available channels and antenna options, then these websites can be very helpful. Just enter your address or zip code for channel results. Stick with name brand antennas like the ones listed below and on this page. Be wary of scammers. Click on the logo below to get started.

Channel Master – Antenna Locator

Mohu Antenna – Channel Locator Tool

Antennas Direct – Antenna Selector



ANTOP – DTV Signal Maps and Antenna Selector

Conclusion

As you can see, you don’t need cable to watch TV. Free television is at your fingertips, just by installing an over the air antenna. Get rid of that expensive cable bill today.