With an HDTV antenna you can watch high definition television without spending money on cable or satellite services. A few years ago the Federal government made some policies that made dramatic changes to how Americans watch television. The Digital Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 ended the broadcasting of analog television signals. On June 12, 2009 full-powered television stations switched to digital signals only.

You need a digital-to-analog converter box to watch high definition television on older analog television models. In order to make sure all consumers can receive high definition broadcast signals, Congress told the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to make the converter boxes available to the public. Congress subsidized the purchase of the converter boxes by issuing a coupon that could be redeemed when purchasing the converter box.

If you do not want to pay for a cable or satellite subscription, there is another option that is available. You can receive the high definition with an antenna. Sometimes companies make it seem like you need something special but it is really just a regular old fashioned TV antenna. They cost approximately one hundred dollars which is not very expensive considering the monthly price of a subscription service.

There are some decisions to make regarding what type of antenna to use. There are indoor and outdoor types. Most experts recommend using one designed for the outdoors. This is because it is easier to pick up the high definition signal when it is outside. If you live in a rural area you might get a weak signal because there are only a few broadcast towers and they may be far away so the signals tend to be weak. In a urban environment, where there are lots of broadcast towers, it is more practical to use the inside type. The inside type is not exposed to the weather so they last longer.

If your condo does not allow you to put it on your roof or if there is any kind of covenant against it, you should make them aware of a federal regulation that prohibits bans on erection them outside. They can not stop you from putting on your roof or outside. If they do so they are breaking the law.

Most high definition television broadcasts are on the UHF band. In fact more than 90% are broadcast on UHF. For this reason, it is probably a waste of time or money to worry about a VHF antenna. The VHF type are larger, cost more money and can be a hassle to install. You could consider getting a VHF/UHF type which will cover both bands. However, the combination types sacrifice bandwidth on both bands.

There are also two types regarding direction. A directional antenna receives signals from all directions. An omni-directional only receive a signal from one direction. An omni-directional may be alright in an urban area where signals are strong. In a rural area where the signals are weaker you will want to use an omni-directional.

The clear vivid picture of high definition TV can be enjoyed with a HDTV antenna. They are low priced and easy to install. There is no good reason to spend money on a cable or satellite TV subscription. You and your family can enjoy the pleasure of great HDTV viewing without purchasing cable or satellite service.

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