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Good reception is based on accurately characterizing signal conditions and selecting an antenna that works in that situation. That is why Ogren Electronics, with years of experience installing antennas specifically for the Northwoods area, can be trusted to give you the best options.
Whether the antenna you want is for use with a home satellite system, high-definition television, or a traditional TV set, we will recommend the right antenna for your situation. We install antennas of all sizes, including towers.
Good TV antenna selection is not based on distance from the transmitting stations, except in rural environments. There are four basic rules for any TV signal reception that you should keep in mind. |
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- Outdoor is generally better: outdoor antennas have a better view of the transmitting station, with no building-induced signal loss. They receive less interference from other household electronic/electrical appliances, and they are less likely to receive reflected ghost signals from the building structure.
- Higher is better: the higher an antenna is, the more direct signal it can receive from the TV transmitter, while at the same time reducing the reception of interfering signals from other household electronic/electrical appliance and reflected ghost-causing signals from other nearby structures. The higher the better, but any antenna should be at least four feet above the structure to which it is mounted, and ideally above the roofline.
- Closer is better: if a position above the roofline is not possible, the antenna should at least be on the side of your building facing the TV signal broadcast tower.
- Bigger is better: the larger an antenna, the more signal it receives. This is expectancy important on channels 2-6, where the longer wavelength requires a larger antenna in order to be efficiently received. Larger antennas also become directional which reduces ghosting caused by reflected signals coming from the side and the rear of the receiving antenna.
Can I put an antenna in my attic?
Generally, antennas do not perform optimally in an attic. Even when an antenna will perform well outdoors, reception of TV signals in an attic can be made very difficult by interference from other electrical devices. The building's construction can also hinder the entrance of the TV signal or cause reflection of the signal, which leads to ghosting. Depending on building construction, you can expect to loose a at least 30% of the signal. In a house with aluminum siding, signal loss could be 100%. Outdoor installation is always best. |
