Selecting the right kind of antenna for reception of over-the-air digital TV broadcasts is just as important as the size and type of display.  Even viewers who subscribe to pay-TV services from cable, satellite, or telephone company operators should consider buying a TV antenna for pickup of local stations.  Severe weather can affect pay-TV, and you may want an antenna to pick up the pristine signals transmitted by local TV broadcasters.

TV antenna technology has come a long way since the giant Yagi-style models that were installed on rooftops and chimneys when television was new. Still, the best TV reception comes from an antenna that can easily find local broadcast channels.  Most antenna purchases are for indoor "rabbit ears" models, which generally work well but are highly directional and may need to be adjusted as channels are changed. This could be a problem for digital TV reception.

That’s because digital TV delivers either perfect reception, or no reception. Unlike analog broadcasts that gradually fade away and grow "snowy," a digital receiver that can’t get enough signal will lock up and the picture will become blocky and lock up. Audio will disappear, too. If that’s happening to you, then you should consider a new antenna.

Amplified antennas can be useful, but an amplifier can also make a bad situation worse. If you’re amplifying bad signals, then your TV receiver won’t be able to make a picture.

To choose the best type of antenna, first visit http://www.antennaweb.org/. This site is jointly run by the Consumer Electronics Association and the National Association of Broadcasters. It offers information and advice about outdoor antenna reception, allowing you to see likely reception patterns for your specific address.

In addition to traditional "rabbit ears" designs that feature dipoles (the "ears") for pickup of VHF channels 2 through 13 and a circular hoop for pickup of channels 14 through 69, some antenna manufacturers are offering new designs for digital TV pickup.  One new technology puts VHF and UHF reception on a flat plate and permits reception from TV stations broadcasting from all 360-degrees around the antenna.  This indoor antenna option might be ideal for viewers not too far from transmitters who are having trouble with indoor "rabbit ears" reception.