Point your antenna with confidence.
This guide will explain how to point your antenna and how to reliably distribute signal from the antenna to your TV or TVs.
Start with Channel Master's signal prediction and mapping tool
Do not assume TV signals come from the nearest major city. Broadcast towers are sometimes located in a different direction, and duplicate networks may appear from more than one tower group.
Enter your full address for the most accurate signal prediction.
The Channel Master map analyzes terrain, signal path, tower direction, and distance specific to your location. If only a ZIP code is entered, the system uses the center point of that ZIP code, which could be miles away from your actual installation location. Even small changes in location can significantly affect signal strength, line-of-sight, and signal reflections caused by hills, buildings, and other obstacles.
Find the strongest tower group.
Look for the cluster of towers that carries the channels you want. If there are two CBS, two FOX, two NBC, or duplicate major networks, choose the tower direction with the stronger predicted signal.
Use the magnetic direction shown in the map.
Point the front of the antenna toward the recommended magnetic compass heading using a compass or our iPhone App (For iPhone users). Most outdoor antennas are directional, so precise aiming can improve reliability.
Scan channels on your TV.
After pointing or adjusting your antenna's direction, height, location, amplifier mode, or wiring, run a new TV channel scan so the tuner can rebuild its channel list. (Make sure to select the correct channel scanning function in your TV. Select SCAN FOR ANTENNA, BROADCAST OR AIR CHANNELS. Do NOT scan for cable channels, your TV will not receive channels if cable is selected)
Pointing guidance is most accurate outdoors.
The map shows where the broadcast signal originates. Indoors or inside an attic, building materials and nearby objects can reflect or weaken the signal before it reaches the antenna.
Outdoor installation
The antenna has the clearest path toward the towers, so the recommended compass direction is more likely to match the signal arriving at the front of the antenna.
Attic reflections
Signals can bounce off roofing material, framing, HVAC equipment, wiring, and other surfaces. Some channels may appear to arrive from a different angle than the tower direction.
Attic/Indoor Multipath interference
The same TV signal can reach the antenna from the front and from a reflected side path. When both arrive at slightly different times, the TV tuner may show pixelation, dropouts, or no reception.
Pointing the antenna is only the beginning of receiving reliable signal at your TV
Once the antenna is pointed correctly, the next most important step is reliable distribution of the signal from the antenna to your TV or TVs through the coaxial cable.
Every part of the coax system matters.
Poor or unreliable reception at the TV is not always related to antenna performance. Signal at the antenna may be good, but coaxial cable, connectors, splitters, amplifiers, and interference can all impact signal quality before it reaches your TV or TVs.
Coaxial cable
Common causes of coaxial cable induced signal loss and unreliable reception include inferior cable such as RG59, cable that does not meet RG6 shielding and attenuation specifications, and old, damaged, or improperly installed coaxial cable.
Connectors
Loose, corroded, low-quality, or improperly installed connectors can cause signal loss and unreliable reception. Corrosion inside the connector may not be visible from the outside, and poor-quality factory-installed connectors or inexpensive screw-on connectors are among the most common causes of connector related signal issues.
Splitters and wall plates
Every splitter, splice connector, amplifier, wall plate, and connection between the antenna and your TV or TVs introduces signal loss into the system. Older, damaged, low-quality, or improperly installed components can weaken, block, or distort TV signals and are common points of failure in coaxial distribution systems.
Common sources of Interference
Interference can be the source of poor or no signal.
LED light interference
Some LED and fluorescent lights can generate radio frequency interference that disrupts over-the-air TV signals. This interference is often caused by low-quality power supplies or poorly shielded electronics inside the light fixture and can result in missing channels, pixelation, or intermittent reception.
To identify lighting related interference, turn off all indoor and outdoor lights and scan for channels again. Then turn lights back on one at a time while checking reception after each. If reception problems begin when a specific light is turned on, replace that fixture or bulb with one that emits less interference.
Electrical device interference
Some household electronics and electrical equipment can generate radio frequency interference that disrupts over-the-air TV signals. Devices such as solar inverters, microwaves, portable oxygen generators, motors, battery chargers, and switching power supplies can cause missing channels, pixelation, or intermittent reception.
To identify electrical device interference, temporarily turn off nearby electronic devices and check reception after each device is powered down. If reception improves when a specific device is turned off, increase the distance between the device and your TV antenna system or replace the device with one that emits less interference.
Blocked or moving line of sight
Trees, nearby buildings, passing vehicles, moving branches, and even people walking through the signal path can block or reflect TV signals and cause intermittent reception, pixelation, or channel dropouts. Obstructions near the antenna are especially common with indoor and attic installations.
To improve reception, move the antenna to a location with a clearer line of sight toward the broadcast towers. Raising the antenna higher, relocating it near a window, or installing it outdoors can often reduce signal blockage and reflections.
LTE Interference
LTE and cellular signals from nearby cell towers can interfere with over-the-air TV reception, especially when strong wireless signals overload the antenna system or amplifier. This interference can result in missing channels, pixelation, or intermittent reception on certain frequencies.
To reduce LTE interference, install an LTE filter between the antenna and TV or amplifier. If an amplifier is being used, verify that it includes a built-in LTE filter, and keep the antenna system as far away from nearby cellular equipment as possible.
Amplifier Caution
Amplifiers are designed to increase signal strength and can help compensate for long cable runs, splitters, or weak but clean signals. However, amplifiers do not correct interference, reflections, or poor signal quality, and in some situations can actually make reception worse by amplifying noise and interference along with the TV signal.
If adding an amplifier does not improve reception or causes more pixelation, missing channels, or instability, the issue is often related to signal quality or interference rather than low signal level. In these situations, the best approach is to identify and eliminate potential sources of interference and improve antenna placement before adding more amplification.
Troubleshooting poor or no signal.
Identify common causes of missing channels and unreliable reception by checking for poor coaxial cable, old splitters, bad connectors, low-quality shielding, faulty amplifiers, poor terminations, and damaged cable between the antenna and your TV.
Temporary direct-connect test
Run a high-quality Channel Master coaxial cable directly from the antenna to the TV. For testing, the cable can temporarily pass through a door or window.
Confirm the antenna is aimed correctly.
Use the magnetic direction shown for the strongest desired tower group, then tighten the antenna so it does not drift.
Bypass everything between the antenna and TV.
Disconnect splitters, amplifiers, wall plates, old coax runs, surge protectors, and any other inline equipment, then connect the antenna directly to a single TV using a known high-quality coaxial cable.
Scan for channels and check reliability.
Connect the antenna directly to a single TV using a known high-quality coaxial cable, then scan for channels and compare reception reliability to your existing installation. If reception improves with the direct connection, the issue is likely related to the existing coaxial wiring, splitters, connectors, amplifiers, or other inline equipment.
Pinpointing the Issue.
If reception improves with the direct connection, use a process of elimination to identify the source of the problem. Replace sections of coaxial cable, splitters, connectors, splice adapters, and other inline components one at a time until the issue is isolated. After each change, run a new channel scan and check reception reliability before continuing to the next component.
We're here to help
Need additional help?
Following the guidance on this page will help most customers properly install their antenna system, eliminate common issues, and receive reliable TV reception. If you have thoroughly followed this guide and still need assistance, the Channel Master support team is here to help.