The Best OTA TV Antennas Out There

When you are looking for local broadcast and network channels, you can use an antenna that is specially designed for digital signals transmitted through the air. If you have one of these, you can get free HD channels to watch all day long! Let's take a look at  and see if we can find the best OTA  tv antennas for your money.

You might be surprised to hear this: If you live in populated regions of the US, the majority of the primary digital TV channels are available entirely free, without a cable subscription. All you need is an antenna that can catch a digital signal and you’re all set!

Basically, you are going to have decide on your priorities. Do you want good? Or do you want cheap? Well, let's take a look at both.

The Wineguard 5500a HDTV antenna is a wonderful selection for getting digital television channels within the air. It has a 50-60-mile variety and people even report around 70! It is possible to get ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS and Fox (and perhaps more) in HD plus it supports a large and beautiful 1080p quality video.

This antenna is not the cheapest, but it's probably the best. Winegard has been in making these for a long time. The quality image from this antenna is really awesome for the affordable price that you purchase this for.

It’s rated for a range of 60 Miles, but could reach even farther. This is in part because of an included amplifier on it that is quite strong. You also can power it with the usb plug in your smartTV. If you do a short google search, you can even look up how far away the local channel towers are to help you figure out if it’s within the 60 mile range.

Finally, it’s a flat type of antenna so you can hang it anywhere and even paint it to match your walls.

 

What about cheaper OTA antennas?

However, maybe you want a cheaper option? This might be ok if you are in the middle of a big city. In the bigger cities, there may be a lot of digital signals flying around just over our heads. You may find that you can catch a lot of channels very easily.

In this case, you may want to try out a cheaper antenna to see if it will suit your needs. If it does, then you're all set. Take a look at the antenna I've listed below. If you check out the reviews online, you'll see that this is probably the most popular. It's generic, cheap, and has 4/5 stars. Sounds tough to beat!

Top HDTV Antenna Table Comparison 2018

Product name Price
best ota tv antenna 1byone 1byone Amplified HDTV Antenna - 50 Mile Range *
best ota tv antenna amazon AmazonBasics Amplified Indoor/Outdoor TV Antenna *
best ota tv antenna clearstream ClearStream Eclipse Amplified Antenna 50 Mile Range *
Mohu Leaf TV Antenna 50 Mile Range * Check price and reviews
best ota tv antenna winegard Winegard FlatWave Amped FL5500A 50 Mile *
What to Look for in Indoor Digital TV Antennas

Let us look at the way a indoor electronic antenna works. There is an assortment of styles you can find, but the majority of them are in fact flat and also have a coax cable attached. This is for those who want to connect to a dvr recorder or straight in your TV for over
the air hd stations. Then you will be able to get free channels in your region.

You will discover that the electronic antennas will be flat for storage, then can hang on the wall when in use. You can either hang directly on the TV or they will stick to a
window, too.

Common Ranges

They most commonly come with a 25 mile roughly 50 miles variant. The sole distinction is that it might cost a bit more to get a longer range. However, this may be crucial for a few of you if you're a long ways away from a TV tower.

It'll come down to your personal preference as where you decide to place the antenna. The most significant aspect to bear in mind is that you just need the indoor TV antenna to possess the most direct route pointing toward the regional towers which are sending the HD channels through the air.

For some of you, you may recall the old times where we employed those the very lengthy bunny ear antennas. You'd literally point them in various directions to find a better reception. Then you'd also go to the point of placing tin foil onto it if needed. Actually, the exact principle applies here, too. However, it's quite a bit more forgiving from the technology hd antennas currently catch the channel signal.

Simply do your best to put it into place the antenna where it has the very best opportunity to find reception. It's actually simple to experiment with this by shifting it about from place to place.

Here are just two tidbits to use which will help you discover the broadcast systems close to you and the local television stations you'll be able to grab. Checkout antennapoint.com along with antennaweb.org. These websites will also tell you the distance of the tower from where you are and the level to point your antenna in.

This will really help you to get your bearings in regards to what you may want to purchase as soon as you see just how far you're in your towers.

What if your antenna doesn't get the job done?

Well, of course there'll be a few of you in which the indoor version doesn't work. In that case you may have to move outdoors. It just depends where you live.

In that situation, there are a bunch of options for outdoor antennas. A popular one is the ClearStream 2V exterior version. You could put it on a tripod. That could make all the difference and you may be all set.

Best 5 Indoor HD TV

5. AmazonBasics Ultra Thin Indoor TV Antenna

To start is Amazon's own Standard product line of electronic antennas. They possess exactly the identical flat layout as other versions discussed within this report. It's paint-able like another popular versions.

AmazonBasics Characteristics

  • It's multi-directional like another high rated antennas we examined. That is good.
  • It includes coax cable. 25 mile (6 ft ), 35 mile (10 ft ) 50 mile (16 ft )
  • Merchandise dimensions are 11.5 x 0.6 x 3.5 inches
  • It's a white and black side that you are able to paint also.
  • Comes with push hooks to hang on it along with velcro strips.

The 50 feet version does include an amplifier. It's usb established and additionally plugins into a wall socket. Thus, you can plug it into your smartTV in case you've got one. It is going to only remain on when the TV is still on.

Client Feedback

There is also a 35 mile range version. You'll find exactly the identical comments concerning other 35 mile versions. It works for some and not others. It comes down to a line of site whenever you're employing those more compact variations. Thus, be certain to understand the distance from your home to your towers.

That being said, there are a bunch of people who are very pleased by it. Thus, I wouldn't say that I wouldn't suggest this model at all according to what I noticed. Plus, it's priced lower than the winegard flatwave in case this really does matter for you.

An opinion that is worth mentioning is that a gal had difficulties while using the toaster. It really twisted the image. Whenever you're really near the towers I guess this can really happen. This is the location where you need to test it using the amp and have to find out where the image is best. This may happen with almost any indoor climbing antenna and isn't unique to this amazon basic. But anyway, it's kind of a funny story.

4. Mohu Leaf 50 Antenna

The Mohu Leaf is just another 50 mile, paper-slim indoor antenna. In addition to being thin, it has reversible white and black sides. Why is this unique is you may paint it. It is a great feature since in the event that you hang it on your walls you are able to paint it the identical color to help hide it.

Features
  • It's a 50 mile array
  • It's the horizontal paper thin version with reversible sides which you may paint to match walls.
  • There's a 16 foot detachable bolt cable included.
  • It's Multi-directional so you don't need to be concerned about pointing out it in 1 direction.
  • it is made in the united states and includes a 1 year guarantee.
  • Comes with 4 sticky pads to hang on it. There's also just a tiny gap to hang it using a nail from the wall.
Client Reviews

I included this since it is one that you are going to wind up coming across if you do your own searching. You might discover the remarks relating to this are varied. When you browse through the comments and you see it did not do the job, it is spam. Continue reading through them since you may observe folks acknowledge it was not the fault of this item. These cases are often due to the home being obstructed by trees etc.

Additionally, it seems like those that it did function for were in 25 miles in the TV channel towers. So, that said, I would say if you're near your towers that is well worth a shot. This is especially true if you would like something to paint so that it fits your wall color if you're likely to hang it. In case your towers are farther than 25 miles, I would advise that the wineguard horizontal wave we have discussed before or even the clearstream just below.

3. ClearStream Eclipse

The Eclipse was created by antenna company who is a really reputable manufacture from the market you can trust. I know a guy who has the ClearStream 2v 60 mile variation on his home and he loves it.

The ClearStream Eclispe comes with a 25 mile range and with 50 mile version. Both of these are white so they will match white decor when hung. The 50 mile version will include an amp, but the 25 mile does not.

Features
  • It's mult-directional that can get the OTA signals from all possible directions.
  • You might even paint this to suit your wall colour whenever hanging it.
  • 12 x 2.8 x 9.8 inches (25 mile variant ), 10″ x 9″ x 5″ (50 mile variant )
  • Complete HD 1080 competent with UHD 4k Able
  • Life time guarantee
  • 25 version has a 12 ft cable along with the 50 mile variant comprises a 15 feet
  • For your amplified antenna it's a benefit of 24 dbi maximum. The sound is significantly less than 2db.

To hang this antenna, then you just use the certain grip technology that's built into this item. It'll stick to walls, windows or a horizontal surface. You do not need to nail this into the wall or fret about adhesives to hang on it. That's pretty awesome I think.

Client Feedback

One client living in NY tried numerous brands seeking to pick up these stations. He had been using the RCA Basic, August DTA240/250/215, and with also the Mohu Leaf Metro with hardly any success. When he saw a review by wirecutter.com about this antenna, he was super skeptical regarding the Clearstream Esclipse. With this particular model he ended up getting 65 stations! He did acknowledge he needed to move the antenna to a lot before he found a sweet place, though. In addition, he tried it using the amplifier off and on to determine how it functioned in a variety of locations. After he discovered the perfect place, he's one happy client.

You will find 1000's a fantastic reviews. This is unquestionably a version I would advise considering.

2. 1byone Super Thin

As it stands that the 1byone 25 mile version is a best vendor on amazon. You will find more than 7,000 reviews by customers. 1byone is one solid black color. Also, it must be among the least expensive versions we've reviewed yet from the 25 mile range.

Features
  • It comes with a 10 foot cable
  • There's a 25, 30 and 50 mile variant it's possible to buy.
  • The surface will be paint-able
  • Very simple installation. Rg6 cable links to a dvr or Television Ant in. Scan for stations and you're rocking watching TV.
  • Contains 2 sided tape
1Byone User Reviews

There's nothing but favorable remarks here. Everybody was happy with that. They noticed that the tape is quite robust and also had no worries about it slipping down if hanging it. It was super simple to set up and hook up.

I understand the 25 mile variant will be really a best seller, but keep in mind that it does not arrive with the amp.

In case you've got a very long cable run from the antenna on the TV you'd use an amp which you may buy separately. For the price tag, a few people ended up purchasing one for your living room along with a second antenna their bedroom.

I would like to especially mention the very popular 1Byone 50 mile range antenna, too. This one is made to be hung onto the window due to it is clear layout and elegance strips. It's a little of a designer artwork look for an antenna, too. You may especially want to consider this one if you need to put it in a window.

1. Winegard FlatWave Amped FL5500A

This winegard version is ultra-thin and reaches a 50 mile long range. Some say that it reached farther however. What's exceptional about this version is it is reversible with a single website being black and the other hand being whitened . This is of interest for a few of those who are worried about how it may appear hanging on the walls or from the open. In case it goes up on the walls you will likely try it with the the white side up to
blend with your white wall.

Features
  • Includes an embedded amplifier using clear circuit technologies.
  • It will include a 18.5 oot coax cable so that you don't need to purchase that separate.
  • That power source is USB driven. It plugs from the wall such as ordinary but brings less electricity and gives you choices to plug it in to a system which has a usb link to control it besides a wall socket.
  • It's a 50 mile reception array using a HD double ring VHF/UHF
  • Even the preamplifier inserted into It's just 1db nose in which others are in 3db+
  • It's likewise multi-directional which lets you get signals from all possible directions.
  • It is 12″x 0.6 x 13 inches that is wider compared to the amazon basics version antenna to capture more channels.
User Reviews

With over 3,000 opinions on amazon that is decidedly among the top ones on the market to think about purchasing.

One woman had attempted 3 indoor variations. She lived in Minnesota with no chance of catching much. She might never get exactly the nbc affiliate channel which was 35 miles off on VHF. She eventually broke down and purchased the winegard flatwave. Instead of just picking up the nbc channel, she got many different channels to continue to keep her fantasy of cutting the cord!

Another man was amazed that he managed to receive a channel 52.3 miles off. He had it hung 8 feet high in his workplace. He was impressed that the station was view-able even at during bad weather.

A Few clients made remarks this antenna was a better than the Mohu Leaf antenna by a little margin.

A couple of people made remarks that this one is larger than others. Well, that's precisely exactly the reason why it will get a much better range. You'll also notice that a few folks today say it did not do the job nicely. Take this with a grain of salt. If you're surround by a great deal of trees down into a valley you won't have great luck using all the indoor edition.

Conclusion

Hopefully, now you've got sufficient knowledge on what to search for when purchasing your indoor hdtv antenna. What exactly are the important features they have? What's the best way to hook up them up? What distance range should you look to purchase?

Good luck!