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Seeking the Best Outdoor TV Antenna

Why Our Long Range TV Antennas

  

Comparison of Our VHF/UHF Insane Gain vs So Called 990 Mile TV Antennas

TIP: the Best TV Antenna for you may also differ based on your install situation and location (for example if you have stations in multiple directions, our 360 degree OB-130 Omni antenna could possibly be a better fit)..  Also check out our Model Comparison Guide page to learn more.

Model Comparison:

Models Compared;   

Our Insane Gain VHF/UHF Antenna

Competitor's So Called 150-990 Mile Antennas:

# of UHF Elements, (more elements create more antenna gain):

18 Only 5

# of VHF-Hi Elements:

*TIP: more elements creates more antenna gain.

12 Only 1

Length (longer size also increases gain):

60" 18" (approx)

Deep Fringe Capable, (very weak signal pickup):

Yes No

Amount of Plastic Content:

Why is this important?:  Plastic usually doesn’t hold up as long outside in the elements / summer UV sun rays, and extreme cold  temps can weaken plastic over time)

Virtually none (only the included combiner box has plastic, however antenna itself, structural components are all corrosion resistant aluminum and corrosion resistant steel hardware.

Lots of Plastic parts (plastic is used for holding antenna elements,  for the housing itself, mounting pieces / knobs etc).

Electricity Required to Function

No, only passive components, damaged parts also replaceable

Yes, typically electronics inside which aren't typically replaceable.

Freedom to add, remove, and replace your choice of Signal Amplifier.

Why is this important?

This creates flexibility, (sometimes a signal amplifier is a good idea, other times not so much, or if it's built into the antenna may reduce antenna's lifespan as they are generally non-replaceable  electronics inside.

Yes, fully passive, so no limitations (if needed due to high install loss) freedom to add a signal amplifier of your choosing to remedy it. 

Tip: A quality signal amplifier doesn't have to be expensive.  We sell inexpensive RCA signal amplifiers starting at only $15 for indoor to $35 for outdoor RCA models, however If you're not using splitters in your line (direct line to a single TV only) and no more than 50ft of low loss RG6 coax cable or better, a signal amplifier may not be beneficial (they're great as signal maintainers through the cabling and splitters, not antenna range extenders).

 

 

 

 

No - the signal amplifier is inside the antenna and isn't removable, so antenna's durability/lifespan, and its performance / noise floor is reliant on the built in signal amplifier that's fixated inside the unit and can't be upgraded or replaced.  Adding additional signal amplifiers (as they add more noise than signal) makes the signals noiser yet, so usually not a good idea adding an additional amplifier to an amplified antenna unless install loss is very high (i.e. 500ft of coax or several splitters).

US Company: Yes Not Likely
US Support: Yes Not Likely

 

 

 

 

 

Don't be Duped by Cheap HDTV Antennas with Exaggerated Range Claims:

Although it makes sense to think the Best TV Antennas would have the highest mile range listed, however you really have to take them as a grain of salt.  It's common to see even small, low grade antennas claiming 150 mile to as high as 1000 mile range (please don't be duped by this).   It's an unfortunate common mistake of comparing antennas by their claimed range and/or gain (nowadays these figures are rarely accurate and highly exaggerated just to sell a product).

 It may be of surprise but often the antennas claiming the highest ranges actually have the lowest real range (it's a marketing gimmick in many cases).  Usually it's actually the cheaper, smallest sized antenna with the most exaggerated claims  in an effort to dupe US consumers in buying their product.   The reality is smaller antenna with less tuned elements (despite the unrealistic ranges and gain  claims) have less antenna gain than larger antennas with more elements.  

Typically the best TV Antennas with the most capable range will be more directional and will have some substantial size to them, with several antenna elements.  Additionally design (although they look the same, a Yagi directional antenna will almost always have more gain than a log periodic directional antenna of comparable size) and how well it's tuned to US frequencies. 

Our Range Xperts brand of long range VHF/UHF TV antennas not only have a considerable amount more elements than these smaller, cheaper made antennas that make such high range claims, they are also well tuned and maintain the Yagi directional design on both the VHF/UHF bands) to maximize their efficiency and gain for their respective size..

Knowing that range and gain claims can't be trusted, the one true method to determine how capable an antenna really is and it's range.  The hard antenna attribute which determines real antenna gain is the amount of tuned antenna elements it has for the band of use.   Often these 150 to 990 mile outdoor antennas will only be 18" to 24" long and only have a handful of antennas for UHF and one single longer element on VHF (not to great).  This of course lowers manufacturing cost so they can sell them as cheaply as possible.