What Is a Digital Antenna and Do They Work?

While the days of adjusting the TV antenna are long gone, there’s still a way to use them in your home. Digital antennas don’t look like a bunch of close hangers wrapped together anymore, but they will pick up local broadcast signals. Simply put, it’s a great way to access local television stations without having to pay a monthly fee.

What Is a Digital Antenna?

A digital antenna is an accessory for your TV or home used to pick up on electromagnetic signals sent out from local broadcast stations. Digital antennas transmit the signals into data to your TV to display the live broadcast.

Rather than using a satellite or cable to pick up the signal, a digital antenna will use the over-the-air (OTA) broadcasts. Unlike cable or satellite, OTA broadcasts are transmitted in uncompressed, crystal-clear 1080i, which means you’ll experience HDTV in the highest quality picture and sound available.

What Do Digital Antennas Look Like?

Digital antennas come in a wide variety of different shapes. One of the most popular options on the market is a simple flat square that you can mount above your TV or put on the TV stand. They’re extremely thin and tend to blend in with the surroundings.

There’s also the option for a more traditional-looking digital antenna, though it’s still received a facelift in the last few decades. Rather than only having exposed wire, these antennas will have a mast that extends upward and then have a few circles on each side.

Do Digital Antennas Work?

For the most part, digital antennas will work so long as there are channels within range and you have good reception. What’s available to you will depend on where you live and what channels are available. Some major metropolitan areas may find upwards of 15 main channels to choose from whereas rural areas are lucky if they pick up five.

What Stations Will a Digital Antenna Pick Up?

The main stations that most digital antennas pick up will be the major broadcasters such as PBS, NBC, FOX, ABC, and CW. These networks have quite a few branches throughout the United States, making it more likely for them to offer an OTA broadcast in your area. Though your mileage may vary, as the actual stations offered will depend on your region as well as where you’re situated in the region.

Digital Antennas and Subchannels

One benefit of digital antennas that your typical cable or satellite companies won’t offer is the ability to pick up subchannels. Subchannels belong to the same station transmitting the broadcast but aren’t the main broadcast. 

For instance, you may find your local channel 8 also has 8.1 and 8.2. On these subchannels, you’re likely to find local sporting events or simple news coverage. It’s possible to pick up six subchannels per broadcast, though the network broadcasting typically reserves the .1 channel for a higher definition option of the broadcast on the main channel.

Where Do You Put a Digital Antenna? 

There are two main options for digital antenna placement. The simple option is mount it on top of your roof or to the side of your home. Since there’s little to no interference from roofs or walls, outdoor digital antennas typically offer the best signal strength.

The other option is to put the digital antenna indoors. Most people will set it up close to the TV and simply plug the antenna into the coaxial cable port on the TV. However, you can opt to put the digital antenna somewhere like the attic if you find it unsightly in the home and run the coaxial cable to an outlet.

How Far Do Digital Antennas Reach?

On average, digital antennas have a range of 35 miles to upwards of 150 miles. Most digital antennas will fall between 60 to 75 miles.