Antenna Selection Guide

Welcome! First, let's find out what channels you will get in your area and make sure that everything you want is available. You are mainly looking for the Big Six networks: ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS and The CW. These six networks represent 80% of the English-language TV programming watched in the U.S. You can also look for Spanish-language networks such as Univision, Telemundo and UniMas.

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Live in a Metropolitan Area?

Chances are, if you live in a metropolitan area, a multi-range TV antenna will do the trick. Simply purchase the Smartenna+ by Channel Master with our no risk 30 day money back guarantee. Otherwise, continue through the following guide to find the perfect TV Antenna for your home.

Check Your Location

Enter just your zip code for an approximate result, or include your street address for an exact result.

Seven Virtual Antennas in a Single Device   Smartenna+ - The World's Smartest Indoor TV Antenna

The Streaming Box for Antenna Owners   Stream+ - Subscription-Free Guide & DVR

Easy to Install, Professional-Grade   Amplify - Adjustable Gain Signal Amplifier

To learn more about the amazing value of a TV antenna, be sure to check out our blog post: Blog: What Do You Get From A TV Antenna? What Do You Get From A TV Antenna?

Through the search tool, this is the information you will want to determine:

  1. How far away do you live from television broadcast towers in your area, at least for the channels you want to be able to get? Be sure to look for ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS and The CW at the very least. Search results will give you tower distance in miles from your home address.

    Distance

  2. Are the television broadcast towers in your area located in the same general direction, or are some of them located in different directions? Search results will give you tower direction in degrees, clockwise from Due North. Are your desired channels within at least 90 degrees of each other, or are some outside of that range?

    Angle
    Single Tower Location (90 Degrees)
    Single Tower Location

    If towers are in a single location, both directional and omni-directional antennas will provide reception. For the best signal reception from a distance of more than 50 miles, a directional antenna is recommended.

    Multiple Tower Location (180 Degrees)
    Multiple Tower Location

    If towers are grouped in two locations in the same general direction, such as living in a "border" area in which you want to get stations from two different cities, a multi-directional bay-type antenna is needed.

    Scattered Tower Location (360 Degrees)
    Scattered Tower Location

    If towers are scattered in several locations, you will need an omni-directional antenna. The best use case for omni-directional antennas is within a signal range of 50 miles or less. If more than 50 miles, the best option would be a directional antenna with the use of a remote- controlled antenna rotator.

  3. The majority of television broadcast stations in the U.S., about 75%, utilize UHF frequencies (RF channels 14-51). 23% broadcast over high-VHF (RF channels 7-13), while a very small number of stations, about 2%, broadcast over low-VHF (RF channels 2-6). If you are in one of the rare areas that includes a channel broadcasting over low-VHF, you will need a special outdoor antenna that receives low-VHF in addition to UHF and high-VHF. Search results will give you the frequency of each channel in your area.

    Frequency

Got all of your information? Let's choose an antenna!

Important Note About Amplifiers

It is not always necessary to "boost" your antenna signal using an amplifier. In fact, using a signal amplifier when not needed can add "noise" to your otherwise stellar signals, causing pixelation or signal disruption. A signal amplifier is used in cases where one of your broadcast towers is located at a significantly further distance than the others, or you are having trouble getting reliable reception from one or two channels due to foliage, a mountain range, or splitting signals inside the home between two or more television sets. For these reasons (in addition to encouraging energy conservation!), all Channel Master antennas come "passive" without built-in amplification, and amplifiers are sold seperately.

Indoor Antennas

Channel Master's indoor antennas are designed to be ideal for the majority of metropolitan and suburban dwellers, providing simple installation, flexible placement, and reception of both UHF and high-VHF signals.


Product
Type
Range*
Direction / Band
Use Case
Price
SMARTenna+
 
Indoor
MAX
Omni-directional
UHF/VHF
Amplified, noise filtering, maximum-range houses seven different "virtual" TV antennas inside a single device. Maximizes the number of channels received across all VHF and UHF channels.
$89
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FLATenna
 
Indoor
35 Miles
Omni-directional
UHF/VHF
Provides signals from all directions, easy stick-on installation for windows, walls or cabinets, easy to relocate. Reversible black and white finish provides added versatility for moving the antenna to different locations in the home.
$19
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Outdoor Antennas

Channel Master's Outdoor antennas are designed for instances of special needs, such as long-range reception, dual-tower locations and the addition of low-VHF signal reception. Specialty Series antennas are outdoor products that may require professional installation, depending on your DIY skill level, for mounting on roofs, chimneys, or installed in attics.


Product
Type
Range*
Direction / Band
Use Case
Price
METROtenna
 
Outdoor Bay
40 Miles
Multi-directional
UHF
Provides signals from two locations.
$49
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ULTRAtenna
 
Outdoor Bay
60 Miles
Multi-directional
UHF
Provides signals from two locations.
$69
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EXTREMEtenna
 
Outdoor Bay
80 Miles
Multi-directional
UHF
Provides signals from two locations.
$109
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Digital Advantage 45
 
Outdoor
45 Miles
Directional
UHF/HighVHF
Provides signals from a single direction.
$45
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Digital Advantage 60
 
Outdoor
60 Miles
Directional
UHF/HighVHF
Provides signals from a single direction.
$69
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Digital Advantage 100
 
Outdoor
100 Miles
Directional
UHF/HighVHF
Provides signals from a single direction.
$99
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Advantage 45
 
Outdoor
45 Miles
Directional
UHF/VHF
Provides signals from a single direction, plus low-VHF reception.
$69
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Advantage 60
 
Outdoor
60 Miles
Directional
UHF/VHF
Provides signals from a single direction, plus low-VHF reception.
$99
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Advantage 100
 
Outdoor
100 Miles
Directional
UHF/VHF
Provides signals from a single direction, plus low-VHF reception.
$119
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Masterpiece 45
 
Outdoor
45 Miles
Directional
UHF/VHF
Provides signals from a single direction, heavy-duty longevity for extreme weather conditions, plus low-VHF reception.
$89
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Masterpiece 60
 
Outdoor
60 Miles
Directional
UHF/VHF
Provides signals from a single direction, heavy-duty longevity for extreme weather conditions, plus low-VHF reception.
$129
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Masterpiece 100
 
Outdoor
100 Miles
Directional
UHF/VHF
Provides signals from a single direction, heavy-duty longevity for extreme weather conditions, plus low-VHF reception.
$159
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* Range values are an approximation based on the antenna ratings system developed by the Consumer Electronics Association.

Still Have Questions?

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