HDTV ANTENNAS "Fact or Fiction ?
HDTV antenna fact or fiction. Explore the facts and fiction surrounding so called HDTV antennas. Lets separate the facts from the fiction.
Buyer Beware" We all have heard this a thousand times, yet many consumers continue to purchase products with false or misleading information without further investigating of the facts. One case in point is the HDTV antenna. Lets separate the facts from the fiction.
FICTION Special HDTV antennas are necessary to receive the free over the air HDTV/Digital signal.
FACT HDTV/Digital signal are and will broadcast on the same channel frequencies (VHF and UHF) that traditional analog television has been broadcasting on for years. See: Real vs. Virtual Channels >. There's no such thing as a HDTV antenna.
FICTION all HDTV/digital signals will be broadcast on the UHF(Ch.14-69) frequency band.
FACT Not all digital signals are UHF. Nearly every television broadcasting market in the U.S. has at least one or more VHF (2-13) channel. requiring a VHF and UHF capable TV antenna.
See: What's the difference between a VHF antenna and a UHF TV antenna >.
FICTION I will need to replace my current TV antenna with a HDTV antenna to receive over the air HDTV.
FACT If your current TV antenna can receive both VHF(Ch.2-13) and UHF(Ch.14 and up) TV signals, and is in proper working order, it is unlikely a change will be necessary.
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Because of widespread misunderstanding many people will purchase two TV antennas. The first TV antenna will be purchased as a so called HDTV antenna.
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This TV antenna will usually be a UHF TV antenna. The well meaning dealer who sold the HDTV antenna thought all HDTV signals were broadcasting on the UHF band. After the digital transition date of 2009 many TV channels broadcasting on the UHF band will move to the VHF band channels leaving the consumer without reception on these VHF stations.
See: Why most TV antennas are designed wrong >.
I believe for the most part this is an honest mistake. In the beginning of the digital transition all broadcasters were required to broadcast their traditional analog signal along with the new digital signal until February 2009. Because of the limited channel space allotted for television broadcasting most HDTV channels were temporarily assigned to UHF channels, and were permanently assigned in 2009. At that time many of the HDTV channels that were broadcasting on the UHF(Ch.14 and up) returned to the VHF(Ch.2-13) frequency.
The fact of the matter is, there is no difference between a traditional TV antenna and a HDTV antenna.
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What type of antenna do i need for my hdtv?
Although some people would like you to think there is a difference this simply is not true.
When choosing your antenna for HDTV use the same guide lines used for selecting a traditional TV antenna. Consider the antennas quality, size, and how much money you are willing to spend and in most cases be sure the TV antenna is truly VHF/UHF capable.
See TV Antenna Range > and What's the difference between a VHF and UHF TV antenna >.
Remember if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is.
Today the same people that tried to convince people to buy a HDTV antenna are now trying to sell you a 4K TV antenna. See: No such thing as a 4K TV antenna >