Choosing the Best TV Antenna

Yes. Channel Master offers a free personalized TV antenna recommendation service for customers who would like expert assistance choosing the right antenna for their specific location.

Simply complete the Channel Master TV Antenna Recommendation form with your address and requested information. Channel Master's recommendation process analyzes the predicted broadcast signals available at your location and considers factors that can affect antenna selection, including signal strength, broadcast tower locations, distance, direction, RF channels and the types of signals you need to receive. A Channel Master TV antenna expert will then review the information and provide a personalized antenna recommendation. 

Request a Professional TV Antenna Recommendation

Unlike choosing an antenna based solely on an advertised mileage rating, Channel Master's recommendation is based on the predicted reception conditions at your actual address. This is important because two homes located the same distance from a broadcast tower can have very different reception conditions due to terrain, tower direction, broadcast frequency, obstructions and other environmental factors. 

We stand behind our antenna recommendations

Channel Master has specialized in over-the-air television reception since 1949, and we stand behind the antenna recommendations our experts provide.

When Channel Master recommends an antenna for your location, the recommendation is based on our experience with TV antenna reception along with the available technical and predicted signal information for your address. The goal is not simply to recommend the largest or most expensive antenna, but to recommend the antenna configuration we believe is appropriate for the broadcast signals available at your location.

Because over-the-air reception can also be affected by conditions that cannot always be predicted remotely, including nearby buildings, trees, local RF interference, building construction and the exact antenna installation location, actual reception can vary from predicted results. Channel Master's signal tools likewise note that actual signal strength can vary because of these local factors. 

If you would prefer to evaluate the available broadcast signals yourself, Channel Master also provides a detailed TV Antenna Map & Signal Prediction Tool showing nearby broadcast towers, RF channels, distances, directions and predicted signal strengths. 

View the Channel Master TV Antenna Map & Signal Prediction Tool

An indoor antenna can work well where signals are strong, while an attic installation can provide additional height but still places roofing and building materials in the signal path. For the most reliable reception, Channel Master generally recommends an outdoor installation when practical. Outdoor antennas can usually be mounted higher and with fewer obstructions, reducing the effects of walls, roofing materials, insulation, household electronics, and other sources of signal loss or interference. Actual results still depend on the reception conditions at the location.

In many cases, yes. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations provide protections that can allow homeowners, condominium owners, apartment tenants, renters, and residents of certain other communities to install an outdoor TV antenna even when an HOA, landlord, condominium association, lease, or other property restriction would otherwise limit antenna installation.

These protections are generally known as the FCC Over-the-Air Reception Devices (OTARD) rule. The rule applies to certain restrictions imposed by state or local governments as well as private restrictions such as leases, homeowners' association rules, covenants and similar agreements. For a qualifying antenna installation, the FCC rule generally prohibits restrictions that unreasonably delay or prevent installation, maintenance or use; unreasonably increase the cost; or prevent reception of an acceptable-quality signal. 

For over-the-air television, the rule covers antennas designed to receive local television broadcast signals. The FCC has also applied OTARD protections to other qualifying antenna systems, but for a consumer installing a TV antenna, the important point is that an outdoor television antenna can be protected by federal rules even when private property rules restrict antennas.

One of the most important factors is where the antenna will be installed. In general, OTARD protections apply when the antenna is located on property that is within the antenna user's exclusive use or control and where the user has a direct or indirect ownership or leasehold interest. The FCC has specifically applied these principles to both owners and renters. 

For example, a renter may have OTARD protection for an antenna installed on a balcony, patio or other area that is part of the rented property and is for that tenant's exclusive use. However, the rule generally does not give an individual tenant the right to install an antenna on a shared roof, exterior wall, hallway, common balcony or other common area that is not under that tenant's exclusive use or control.

The same general principle can apply to condominiums and townhomes. The fact that a property is governed by a condominium or homeowners' association does not automatically remove OTARD protection. What matters in part is whether the proposed antenna location is an area within the resident's exclusive use or control and whether the resident has the required ownership or leasehold interest. The FCC has specifically considered condominium and HOA disputes using these criteria. 

An HOA generally cannot impose a blanket prohibition on a qualifying TV antenna when the installation is protected by OTARD. An association may have certain placement preferences, but those requirements generally cannot unreasonably increase cost, cause unreasonable delay, or prevent reception of an acceptable-quality signal. In a recent FCC decision, for example, the Commission found restrictions invalid where an association prohibited roof installation without recognizing situations in which that location might be necessary for acceptable reception and required prior approval without regard to delay, cost or reception quality. 

OTARD protections are not unlimited. Certain restrictions may still be permitted when they are necessary to address legitimate safety or historic-preservation concerns, provided they satisfy the requirements of the FCC rule. Local electrical, building, grounding and installation-safety requirements can also still apply. 

Residents of a mobile or manufactured home community may also have protection depending on their ownership or leasehold interest and whether the proposed antenna location is within their exclusive use or control. Because ownership and lease arrangements can vary considerably among these communities, the specific property and lease documents may affect whether OTARD applies.

If an HOA, condominium association, landlord, apartment management company or mobile home community tells you that an outdoor TV antenna is prohibited, do not assume that the restriction is automatically enforceable. Review the FCC's current OTARD requirements and determine whether the location where you intend to install the antenna qualifies for protection.

FCC information about Over-the-Air Reception Devices (OTARD)

Because property ownership, leases, common areas, safety requirements and other circumstances can differ, this information is intended as general guidance and should not be considered legal advice.

No. You do not need a special TV antenna simply because a broadcast is HD, 720p, 1080i, 1080p, 4K, HDR or NextGen TV.

A TV antenna's job is to receive the radio-frequency (RF) signal transmitted by a local broadcast station. The antenna does not determine the video resolution, picture quality format or broadcast standard contained within that RF signal. Those characteristics are determined by the broadcaster and by the capabilities of the television, tuner, DVR or converter box receiving and decoding the signal.

For example, if a station broadcasts programming in 720p or 1080i, a properly selected antenna receives the station's RF signal and delivers it to the connected tuner. The antenna does not need to be specifically designed or labeled as a “720p antenna,” “1080p antenna” or “HD antenna.”

The same principle applies to 4K and HDR. These are video capabilities, not antenna frequency bands. If a compatible broadcast contains 4K or HDR programming, the antenna simply receives the RF signal carrying that programming. The receiving television or tuner must then support the broadcast standard and video format being transmitted.

What about NextGen TV / ATSC 3.0?

You also do not need a special “NextGen TV antenna” or “ATSC 3.0 antenna.”

ATSC 3.0, commonly marketed as NextGen TV, is a newer television broadcast standard that can support capabilities including Ultra High Definition and HDR. However, ATSC 3.0 broadcasts still use terrestrial television frequencies that are received by TV antennas.

What is different is the tuner. ATSC 3.0 is fundamentally different from the previous ATSC 1.0 broadcast system and is not backward-compatible at the receiver level. To decode an ATSC 3.0 broadcast, you need a television or external tuner that supports ATSC 3.0. 

In other words:

The antenna receives the RF signal. The tuner determines which broadcast standard it can decode. The television and source programming determine which video formats and resolutions can ultimately be displayed.

What should I look for when choosing a TV antenna?

Instead of looking for terms such as HD antenna, 4K antenna, digital antenna or NextGen TV antenna, choose an antenna based on the actual reception requirements at your location.

The important factors include whether your local stations broadcast on UHF and/or VHF frequencies, their predicted signal strengths, the distance and direction to the broadcast towers, surrounding terrain and obstructions, and the gain and directional characteristics of the antenna.

A properly selected UHF/VHF TV antenna can therefore receive compatible over-the-air broadcasts regardless of whether the programming carried by those signals is standard definition, HD or an advanced format supported by the broadcaster and receiving equipment.

Start with the broadcast conditions at your address rather than choosing only by antenna size or advertised mileage. Channel Master provides an Antenna Selection Guide, TV Antenna Map and Signal Prediction Tool, and a personalized Antenna Recommendation service. These resources can help evaluate predicted signal strength, UHF/VHF frequencies, tower direction, distance, terrain, and other factors. If you want an expert recommendation, Channel Master can review your location and recommend an antenna based on the available technical information.

Not necessarily. Price is not a technical measure of antenna performance. A more expensive antenna may include higher-quality construction, additional gain, broader frequency coverage, or features suited to a more difficult installation, but the best antenna is the one that matches the reception conditions at your location. Compare UHF/VHF coverage, gain, directionality, construction quality, mounting requirements, and predicted signal conditions rather than choosing an antenna based on price alone.

Yes. Channel Master offers a detailed TV Antenna Selection Guide designed to help you understand the technical information that matters when selecting an antenna and use that information to choose the best antenna for your location.

Choosing a TV antenna involves more than simply looking at an advertised mileage rating. The Channel Master Antenna Selection Guide explains how to evaluate several important factors, including:

• Distance to broadcast towers — how far the stations you want to receive are from your location.
• Direction of broadcast towers — whether your desired stations are located in the same general direction or spread across multiple directions. This helps determine whether a directional, multidirectional or omnidirectional antenna may be appropriate.
• RF channel and frequency band — whether your local stations broadcast on UHF, high-VHF or low-VHF frequencies and whether the antenna needs to support those bands.
• Signal conditions — stronger and weaker signals can require different antenna characteristics, and terrain or obstructions can also affect reception.
• Antenna gain and directionality — these characteristics help determine how effectively an antenna receives signals and from which directions.
• Amplification — an amplifier is not automatically required. It should be used when appropriate to compensate for signal loss or specific reception conditions; unnecessary amplification can sometimes create reception problems. 

The guide walks through these factors and explains how to use the technical information available from Channel Master's signal tools to narrow down the type of antenna that is best suited for your installation. 

Channel Master Antenna Selection Guide — Learn how to select the right TV antenna

The goal is to select an antenna based on the actual broadcast conditions at your location rather than relying on a single specification such as advertised reception range.

When desired broadcast towers are located in different directions, compare their directions and predicted signal strengths before selecting an antenna. If the towers are spread across a moderate angle, a multidirectional antenna or a directional antenna with a sufficiently broad beamwidth may receive them. If the towers are widely separated, the installation may require a different strategy. Strong signals are generally easier to receive off-axis than weak signals, so tower direction should always be evaluated together with signal strength.

An antenna itself is better described by its gain and directionality rather than as being 'too powerful,' but an antenna system can deliver more signal than some equipment can handle. In a very strong-signal area, combining a high-gain antenna with unnecessary amplification can overload a preamplifier, distribution amplifier, or television tuner and cause reception problems. Select an antenna appropriate for the local signals and add amplification only when it is needed to compensate for actual system losses or weak signal levels.

Suburban and urban locations often have stronger nearby broadcast signals, so a very large or highly amplified antenna may not be necessary. However, buildings, reflected signals, electrical noise, and other sources of interference can make these environments complex. A smaller outdoor, indoor, or moderately directional antenna may work well depending on the address. Choose the antenna based on predicted signal levels, UHF/VHF requirements, tower directions, and the local installation environment rather than assuming more gain is always better.

There is no single antenna that is best for every rural or long-distance location. Start by checking predicted signal strength, RF channels, tower directions, terrain, and the height at which the antenna can be installed. Locations with weaker signals often benefit from an outdoor, higher-gain directional antenna, particularly when desired towers are grouped in one direction. VHF capability and appropriate amplification may also be important. Avoid selecting an antenna solely because it advertises an unusually large mileage rating.

Flat antennas can work very well in locations with strong, favorable signals, especially for UHF reception, but antenna shape alone does not determine performance. Traditional antenna designs can provide additional gain, directionality, or VHF capability that may be useful in more challenging locations. The correct comparison is not simply flat versus traditional; it is whether the antenna's frequency coverage, gain, reception pattern, and installation location are appropriate for the stations you want to receive.

Usually not. Combination UHF/VHF antennas are designed to receive both television frequency bands and are appropriate for many installations. Separate antennas may be useful in specialized situations, such as when UHF and VHF stations require very different antenna characteristics or aiming directions, but they are not normally required for a typical home installation. Check the actual RF channels used by your desired stations before deciding which frequency coverage is needed.

Yes. A TV antenna can receive signals from multiple broadcast towers as long as those signals fall within the antenna's supported frequency ranges and reception pattern and arrive at usable signal levels. An antenna is not limited to one tower or one station. How many towers can be received depends on their directions, signal strengths, frequencies, the antenna's beam pattern, and the local RF environment. A properly selected antenna can often receive many stations from a single installation.

Many passive outdoor TV antennas can technically receive signals when installed indoors or in an attic, but performance may be reduced because the building becomes part of the RF signal path. Roofing, insulation, radiant barriers, metal construction materials, walls, and household electronics can weaken or interfere with signals. Channel Master generally recommends outdoor installation when practical for the most reliable reception. If an attic or indoor installation is necessary, actual reception should be tested at the intended location before completing the installation.

Yes. Antenna height can have a major effect on reception because increasing height may help clear nearby buildings, trees, rooflines, and other obstructions. A higher installation can sometimes improve reception more effectively than simply choosing an antenna with more gain. When comparing antennas, consider where each antenna can realistically be mounted and evaluate signal predictions at an appropriate antenna height whenever possible. The highest location is not guaranteed to be best, but height is an important part of antenna-system design.

Yes. Terrain and physical obstructions can significantly affect over-the-a...

If most of the stations you want are located in the same general direction...

Use a TV antenna map or signal-prediction tool and enter the address where the antenna will be installed. Channel Master's TV Antenna Map provides information about nearby broadcast stations, including tower locations, directions, distances, RF channels, frequencies, and predicted signal strengths. This information can help determine which frequency bands your antenna must receive, which direction it should face, and whether your desired stations are grouped together or located in several directions.

Predicted signal strength is generally more useful than distance alone bec...

No. An amplified antenna is not automatically better. Antenna gain and amplifier gain are different: antenna gain comes from the physical RF design of the antenna, while an amplifier electronically increases the level of signals already received. An amplifier can help compensate for certain losses or weak signal levels, but it can also amplify unwanted signals and may cause overload when signals are already strong. The best system uses amplification only when the reception conditions and distribution losses justify it.

Not every antenna system needs amplification. A preamplifier can be useful when signals arriving at the antenna are weak or when sufficient signal must be preserved through coaxial cable and other system losses. Amplification does not increase the antenna's inherent gain or automatically make distant stations receivable, and too much amplification can overload equipment in strong-signal areas. Select the antenna first based on the available signals, then determine whether amplification is appropriate for the completed system.

The amount of antenna gain you need depends on the strength of the signals at your location and the losses in the reception system. Higher antenna gain can help with weaker signals, but more gain is not automatically better in every installation. Strong-signal locations may not need a high-gain antenna, while weak or distant signals can benefit from additional antenna gain and directionality. Gain should be considered together with frequency coverage, tower direction, terrain, cable loss, and amplification rather than used as a single selection specification.

Neither design is universally better. A directional antenna is often advantageous when most desired towers are in the same general direction because it can provide greater gain toward those stations and reduce unwanted signals from other directions. An omnidirectional antenna may be useful when strong stations are located around the installation in several directions. The correct choice depends on tower locations, predicted signal levels, interference, and the reception pattern required at your address.

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA), formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), developed a standardized color-code system to help consumers and professional installers select an appropriate outdoor TV antenna based on reception conditions and measurable antenna performance.

The system was formalized in ANSI/CEA-2028, Color Codes for Outdoor TV Receiving Antennas. Rather than categorizing antennas simply by physical size or an estimated mileage range, the standard established performance categories based on measurable antenna characteristics. A companion standard, ANSI/CEA-774, defined standardized testing and measurement procedures for manufacturers participating in the program. These measurements included antenna gain, directionality, beamwidth, front-to-back ratio and other performance characteristics. 

The CTA system established six outdoor antenna color categories: Yellow, Green, Light Green, Red, Blue and Violet. In general, the categories progress from smaller multidirectional antennas intended for very strong signal conditions to larger directional antennas with preamplification intended for more difficult reception conditions. The color categories were based on antenna performance and reception conditions—not simply the number of miles between an antenna and a broadcast tower.

A directional antenna concentrates reception toward a particular direction...

It depends on the actual RF channels used by the television stations you want to receive. UHF and VHF are different frequency ranges, and an antenna must be designed to receive the frequencies being broadcast in your market. Do not rely only on the channel number displayed on your TV because a station's virtual channel can be different from its actual RF channel. If your desired stations include both UHF and VHF broadcasts, choose an antenna designed for both bands.

Not necessarily. A larger antenna may provide more gain, greater directionality, or better performance on certain frequencies, but physical size alone does not determine reception quality. The best antenna is one whose UHF/VHF frequency coverage, gain, beam pattern, and installation requirements match the signals available at your location. In a strong-signal area, a smaller antenna may perform very well, while a more challenging location may benefit from a larger directional design.

There is no fixed mileage at which a TV antenna will always work or stop working. Mileage ratings are estimates and should not be treated as guaranteed reception ranges. Actual reception depends on transmitter power, RF frequency, terrain, antenna height, buildings, trees, interference, antenna gain, and other local conditions. A station 40 miles away with a clear signal path can sometimes be easier to receive than a station 20 miles away behind difficult terrain. Use predicted signal strength and tower information along with distance when selecting an antenna.

The best TV antenna for a specific location depends on more than distance from the broadcast towers. Important factors include predicted signal strength, whether desired stations use UHF or VHF frequencies, the direction of the towers, terrain, nearby buildings or trees, antenna mounting height, and whether the antenna will be installed indoors or outdoors. Start by reviewing the broadcast conditions at your address, then choose an antenna with the appropriate frequency coverage, gain, and directional characteristics. Channel Master's Antenna Map and Recommendation Tool can help evaluate these factors before you select an antenna.

Yes. Build quality is an important consideration when selecting a TV antenna, particularly for an outdoor installation where the antenna may remain exposed to sunlight, wind, rain, temperature changes, moisture, and other environmental conditions for many years.

Two antennas can have similar advertised reception ranges and look comparable in a product listing, while being very different in materials, mechanical construction, RF design, serviceability, and expected lifespan. Reception performance is obviously important, but a good outdoor antenna also needs to maintain its physical shape, element positioning, electrical connections, and aiming direction over time.

Metal construction and material quality matter

Traditional outdoor TV antennas are primarily constructed from aluminum because aluminum is lightweight, corrosion resistant, and well suited for RF antenna elements. However, not all aluminum construction is equal. The grade, thickness, mechanical strength, and manufacturing tolerances of the aluminum can affect how well the antenna maintains its shape after years of exposure to wind and weather.

An antenna element that bends, twists, becomes loose, or changes position is no longer in the same physical configuration in which the antenna was designed and tested. For this reason, the mechanical construction of an antenna is directly related to its ability to maintain consistent RF performance over its service life.

The hardware is important as well. Zinc coated or stainless steel hardware is generally preferable for outdoor installations because fasteners, clamps, brackets, and other hardware are continuously exposed to the environment. This becomes especially important in coastal regions and other high moisture environments where corrosion can occur more rapidly.

Less plastic can mean fewer potential failure points

Plastic is not inherently bad. High quality UV resistant plastics can be very useful for insulators, spacers, housings, and other components where a nonconductive material is required.

The concern is how much plastic is used, where it is used, and the quality of the material.

Outdoor exposure to ultraviolet radiation, heat, cold, moisture, and repeated temperature changes can eventually degrade lower quality plastics. A plastic component that becomes brittle and cracks can allow an element to move, a connection to become exposed, or part of the antenna structure to fail.

Some modern antennas are designed primarily around appearance and may use substantial plastic housings or even enclose most of the antenna inside a plastic enclosure. These designs can be appropriate in some applications, but designing an antenna around a predetermined enclosure, shape, or appearance can place additional constraints on the RF design.

Traditional antenna configurations such as Yagi, log periodic, and phased array designs allow engineers to determine element lengths, spacing, boom dimensions, reflector geometry, and other physical characteristics primarily around RF performance rather than fitting the antenna into an ornamental enclosure.

This does not mean every traditional antenna will outperform every enclosed antenna. Actual performance depends on the engineering of the individual product. However, when comparing antennas intended for difficult reception conditions, consumers should consider whether the design appears to have been optimized primarily as an RF receiving device or primarily around compact size and appearance.

A replaceable balun can extend the useful life of an antenna

The balun, or matching transformer, is an important component that provides the electrical interface between the antenna and the 75 ohm coaxial cable used in a typical television antenna system.

Some antennas integrate this component permanently into the antenna assembly. If the balun or its connections are eventually damaged by moisture, corrosion, electrical events, or normal aging, replacing the failed component may be difficult or impossible without replacing the entire antenna.

A separately replaceable balun provides a significant serviceability advantage. If the balun develops a problem years after installation, it can be replaced without discarding an otherwise functional antenna.

This is particularly valuable for a professionally installed outdoor antenna, where the antenna itself may be capable of remaining in service much longer than an individual electrical component.

The mounting system is part of antenna quality

A high quality antenna should also have a strong mounting mechanism that keeps the antenna securely attached to the mast and maintains its intended aiming direction.

Digital television reception can change quickly when a signal approaches the tuner's decoding threshold. Movement of a directional antenna can change the level and quality of the desired signal, as well as the reflected and interfering signals reaching the antenna. Under marginal ATSC 1.0 reception conditions, this can contribute to intermittent pixelation, freezing, or loss of reception.

This is why a quality mounting bracket, mast, fasteners, and installation method are important. The objective is to keep the antenna mechanically stable and properly aimed during normal wind and weather conditions.

Satellite television provides a useful comparison

Traditional satellite television systems provide an interesting example of the importance of mechanical construction.

Companies such as DISH and DIRECTV historically installed rigid metal reflector dishes as part of their satellite reception systems. A satellite provider charging a customer every month needs the receiving system installed at the customer's home to maintain reliable alignment and reception over long periods of outdoor exposure.

An Over the Air television viewer may not pay a monthly television subscription, but someone seeking a similarly dependable reception system should think about the antenna as permanent outdoor communications equipment rather than a disposable accessory.

A well constructed, mostly metal antenna, securely mounted outdoors and properly aimed, provides a strong foundation for a reliable Over the Air television system.

No. A bigger TV antenna is not always better. Larger antennas can often provide more passive antenna gain, but the important question is whether your location actually needs that additional gain, and on which frequencies it is needed.

The physical size of a TV antenna is largely determined by its frequency coverage, number of elements, element spacing, and the amount of gain and directionality the antenna is designed to provide. This means that simply comparing the overall dimensions of two antennas does not necessarily tell you which one is better for your location.

Frequency coverage has a major effect on antenna size

One of the most noticeable examples is Low VHF reception. Low VHF television signals use much lower frequencies and longer wavelengths than UHF signals, so antennas designed for strong long range Low VHF performance require much wider elements.

For example, the Channel Master Advantage 100 (CM-3020) is a full range antenna designed to receive Low VHF, High VHF, and UHF. Its widest elements are necessary to provide performance on Low VHF channels 2 through 6. (channelmaster.com)

If there are no Low VHF stations that you need to receive in your area, there may be little benefit in selecting an antenna with these very wide Low VHF elements. A narrower antenna optimized primarily for UHF and High VHF reception may be a much more practical choice.

This is why consumers should determine which actual RF channels are used in their area before choosing an antenna based on physical size.

Stronger signal does not mean better picture quality

The same principle applies to antenna gain.

If the desired stations are predicted to have very strong signals at your location, installing a substantially larger, higher gain antenna may provide little or no improvement in picture quality.

Digital television does not work like an analog picture where progressively increasing signal strength continuously improves the image. Once an ATSC tuner receives a sufficiently strong, clean signal to decode the broadcast reliably, additional signal strength does not inherently make the picture sharper, increase the resolution, or improve the broadcaster's video quality.

The goal is therefore not to obtain the strongest signal possible. The goal is to provide the tuner with adequate signal strength and signal quality with sufficient operating margin for reliable reception.

When does a larger, higher gain antenna help?

Additional passive antenna gain becomes more valuable when one or more desired stations are predicted to be weak.

It can also be useful when significant signal loss will occur after the antenna. Long coaxial cable runs, splitters, and distribution to multiple televisions all reduce signal level. Additional passive antenna gain can provide more signal at the beginning of the system before these losses occur.

A properly selected preamplifier can also help compensate for downstream cable and splitter losses, particularly when signals at the antenna are usable but relatively weak. However, amplification should be selected based on the actual system requirements rather than automatically added to every antenna installation.

The dimensions that matter depend on which signals are weak

Instead of asking, "What is the biggest antenna?", a better question is:

"Where do I need additional antenna performance?"

If your location has no Low VHF stations, but some UHF stations are predicted to be weak, additional antenna length devoted to more UHF elements can be useful. A longer directional antenna can provide additional UHF gain and directivity without requiring the very wide elements associated with Low VHF reception.

For example, an antenna such as the Channel Master Digital Advantage 100 (CM-2020) uses a long directional design optimized for UHF and High VHF rather than incorporating the large Low VHF elements found on a full range antenna such as the CM-3020. (channelmaster.com)

The same concept applies to the modular Channel Master Pro-Model (CM-1776). If additional UHF gain is required, the optional UHF extension can be added without unnecessarily increasing the antenna's Low VHF capability.

If your location instead has a weak Low VHF station but strong UHF stations, an antenna designed for stronger Low VHF performance may be more appropriate. A full range antenna such as the CM-3018, or a Pro-Model equipped with the optional VHF extension, can provide additional capability where it is actually needed.

If your location has weak predicted signals on both UHF and Low VHF, then a larger full range antenna such as the CM-3020, or a Pro-Model equipped with both the optional UHF and VHF extensions, may be appropriate.

The Pro-Model's modular design is particularly useful in this respect because additional UHF or VHF capability can be added independently rather than requiring every installation to begin with the largest possible antenna. (channelmaster.com)

Choose an antenna based on your signals, not its overall size

For most consumers, the best antenna is not necessarily the largest antenna they can install. It is the antenna whose frequency coverage, passive gain, directionality, and physical design match the actual broadcast signals available at their location.

Before selecting an antenna, determine:

• Which desired stations use UHF, High VHF, or Low VHF RF channels.
• Which of those signals are predicted to be strong, moderate, or weak.
• Whether the broadcast towers are located in the same direction or different directions.
• How much coaxial cable and splitter loss will occur between the antenna and televisions.
• Whether a preamplifier will be appropriate for the system.

A larger antenna can be extremely valuable when its additional elements and physical dimensions provide the gain or frequency coverage that your installation actually requires. If those capabilities are not needed, however, simply installing a larger antenna will not inherently provide better television picture quality or better reception.