By Jim Kimble Editor, The Cord Cutting Report
in three very different states
FROM BROADCAST TOWERS
will always outperform an indoor TV antenna. Elevating a TV antenna high on a roof or in an attic gives you a much better shot at getting local broadcast channels. The Antop 800SBS was one of the best models I tested in Boston. It receives UHF and VHF signals from multiple directions. The Antop got 68 channels total.
A directional model like this RCA Compact Outdoor Yagi is designed to reach further signals. I got stations from 55 miles away while testing it out in Southern Maine. I got 34 channels total.
The Antop 400-BV mounted on a roof nearly tripled the channel lineup. There are still a lot of TV stations operating on the VHF band in Los Angeles. So having a TV antenna with decent VHF elements is a must! The channel lineup jumped to about 175 channels total after only getting about a dozen with an indoor TV antenna.
While testing in Boston, the ClearStream 4Max got 68 channels, including stations in the Providence, Rhode Island market. The ClearStream 4Max includes a J-Pole, mount base and a bracket. But I used a 38-inch Winegard pole I keep on my roof for testing. To me, the Antop models slightly edge out the ClearStream 4Max because of their weather-proof finish.
The ClearStream FLEX is the best indoor TV antenna that is capable of receiving UHF and Hi-VHF channels. During my testing in Boston, I got more than 55 channels.
Forget about range. Instead figure out whether you need UHF or VHF elements. Look for information about antenna signal gain. Get a TV antenna with about 20 decibels (db). Want more ways to pick out the best TV antenna based on where you live in the U.S.? Check out the Best TV Antennas at...