How to improve your hdtv antenna reception

If you’re lucky, you can place your TV antenna wherever you want and get crystal-clear HD channels over the air for free. However, most of the time you need to go through a little trial and error to get everything working properly.

There are a lot of factors that affect a TV antenna’s signal, so if it looks like your TV is constantly glitching and lagging, you’ll likely need to make a few adjustments.

Use the Right Antenna

First, you want to make sure that you have the right antenna for the job, and you’ll want to make sure that it has enough range to reach the TV signals in the first place.

For instance, if your antenna has a 25-mile range, but the broadcast signals are 30 miles away, the antenna isn’t going to be able to grab any channels no matter what you do. If you’re not sure how far away the broadcast signals are, you can use TV Fool’s signal locator to find out this information. From there, you can see whether or not your antenna is strong enough to reach those signals.

Furthermore, you need to make sure that your antenna can grab the right frequencies. Broadcast signals are transmitted over two different frequencies: Very High Frequency (VHF) and Ultra High Frequency (UHF), so it’s important that the antenna you end up using supports the frequency that most of your channels use. This information can also be found using TV Fool’s signal locator.

You can check out our antenna guide for more info on finding the right antenna, but if your first one doesn’t work, return it and try another. Sometimes it takes a few tries before you find the perfect antenna for your location.

Location, Location, Location

The fewer obstructions, the better, which is why the location of your antenna matters. Ideally, there needs to be a direct line of sight between your antenna and the broadcast towers, but this usually isn’t feasible.

With that said, try to at least stick your antenna in a window or mount it to a wall somewhere around the perimeter of your house. That way, you’ll have the least interference possible from stuff around your house. If you mount your antenna somewhere deep inside your house, there’s a greater chance that walls and household objects will block the path of the signals.

Point It In the Right Direction

If placing your antenna in a random window does the trick, then that’s great. However, if you’re still having problems receiving a clear signal, you might need to also think about actually pointing your antenna in the direction that the broadcast signals are coming from, which you can also find out using TV Fool.

This means that if the broadcast signal towers are located northeast of your location (demonstrated in the graphic above), then you would want to place your antenna in the northeast corner of your house and point the antenna in that direction (if it’s a directional antenna).

Sometimes this alone can make a huge difference, especially if your original location was on the opposite side of the house from where it needs to be.

Mount It As High Up As Possible

If you have an indoor antenna and a two-story house, try to place the antenna on the second floor so that it’s as high up as possible. Again, you want the antenna to have as direct a line of sight with the broadcast signal towers as you can, and this can help accomplish that.

If that still doesn’t work, then you may want to consider getting an outdoor antenna and mounting it either on the roof or a chimney stack. Not only will this get your antenna as high up as possible, but there also won’t be any interference from walls and other household objects.

Consider an Amp or Pre-Amp

If you live out in a rural area where broadcast signals are far away, you might consider getting an antenna that comes with an amplifier (like this one), which boosts the antenna’s strength in order to reach out even farther and grab signals that are a long way away.

Keep in mind, though, that if broadcast signals are close by, using an amplifier won’t necessarily make the signal stronger, but instead can overpower the signal and make it worse. So be sure that you only use an amplifier if you absolutely need to.

As for a pre-amplifier (like this one), these are used when the coaxial cable between the antenna and the TV is too long—the signal degrades the longer the cable is. A pre-amplifier gives the signal a little boost before it travels through the coaxial cable so that the quality is still good by the time it reaches your television. These are great to use if the cable is anywhere over 50 feet or so, and most outdoor antennas will have them built in.

If you’re lucky, you can place your TV antenna wherever you want and get crystal-clear HD channels over the air for free. However, most of the time you need to go through a little trial and error to get everything working properly. There are a lot of factors that affect a TV antenna’s signal, so if it looks like your TV is constantly glitching and lagging, you’ll likely need to make a few adjustments.

Use the Right Antenna

First, you want to make sure that you have the right antenna for the job, and you’ll want to make sure that it has enough range to reach the TV signals in the first place.

For instance, if your antenna has a 25-mile range, but the broadcast signals are 30 miles away, the antenna isn’t going to be able to grab any channels no matter what you do. If you’re not sure how far away the broadcast signals are, you can use The LAVA signal locator to find out this information. From there, you can see whether or not your antenna is strong enough to reach those signals.

Furthermore, you need to make sure that your antenna can grab the right frequencies. Broadcast signals are transmitted over two different frequencies: Very High Frequency (VHF) and Ultra High Frequency (UHF), so it’s important that the antenna you end up using supports the frequency that most of your channels use. This information can also be found using TV Fool’s signal locator.

You can check out our antenna guide for more info on finding the right antenna, but if your first one doesn’t work, return it and try another. Sometimes it takes a few tries before you find the perfect antenna for your location.

Location, Location, Location

The fewer obstructions, the better, which is why the location of your antenna matters. Ideally, there needs to be a direct line of sight between your antenna and the broadcast towers, but this usually isn’t feasible.

With that said, try to at least stick your antenna in a window or mount it to a wall somewhere around the perimeter of your house. That way, you’ll have the least interference possible from stuff around your house. If you mount your antenna somewhere deep inside your house, there’s a greater chance that walls and household objects will block the path of the signals.

Point It In the Right Direction

If placing your antenna in a random window does the trick, then that’s great. However, if you’re still having problems receiving a clear signal, you might need to also think about actually pointing your antenna in the direction that the broadcast signals are coming from, which you can also find out using LAVA’s Signal Locator.

This means that if the broadcast signal towers are located northeast of your location (demonstrated in the graphic above), then you would want to place your antenna in the northeast corner of your house and point the antenna in that direction (if it’s a directional antenna).

Sometimes this alone can make a huge difference, especially if your original location was on the opposite side of the house from where it needs to be.

Mount It As High Up As Possible

If you have an indoor antenna and a two-story house, try to place the antenna on the second floor so that it’s as high up as possible. Again, you want the antenna to have as direct a line of sight with the broadcast signal towers as you can, and this can help accomplish that.

If that still doesn’t work, then you may want to consider getting an outdoor antenna and mounting it either on the roof or a chimney stack. Not only will this get your antenna as high up as possible, but there also won’t be any interference from walls and other household objects.

Consider an Amp or Pre-Amp

If you live out in a rural area where broadcast signals are far away, you might consider getting an antenna that comes with a built-in amplifier (like this one), which boosts the antenna’s strength in order to reach out even farther and grab signals that are a long way away.

Keep in mind, though, that if broadcast signals are close by, using an amplifier won’t necessarily make the signal stronger, but instead can overpower the signal and make it worse. So be sure that you only use an amplifier if you absolutely need to.

As for a pre-amplifier or inline signal amplifier, these are used when the coaxial cable between the antenna and the TV is too long—the signal degrades the longer the cable is. A pre-amplifier gives the signal a little boost before it travels through the coaxial cable so that the quality is still good by the time it reaches your television. These are great to use if the cable is anywhere over 50 feet or so after your control box or power insert.

Use these tips to improve your reception

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Digital TV signals move through the air like water mixes with oil. These signals aren’t resilient like old analog TV signals, which delivered in the rain, sleet, snow, or shine. If you experience poor reception with an indoor digital antenna, use the following troubleshooting techniques as a guide to be on your way to watching prime-time television again.

This information applies to televisions from a variety of manufacturers, including, but not limited to, those made by LG, Samsung, Panasonic, Sony, and Vizio.

What Causes Bad TV Antenna Reception?

The antenna may have difficulty picking up your favorite stations over the air for several reasons. The causes mostly come down to the basic idea that the signals reaching the device aren’t strong enough. You may be too far from the broadcast location, or something physically blocks the signals. The antenna could be in a less-than-ideal place or facing the wrong direction. Or, in some cases, the antenna might not be strong enough.

How to Fix Bad TV Antenna Reception

Follow these potential fixes in the order presented to troubleshoot the problem:

Perform a double-rescan. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) designed a process called double-rescanning, which erases and reprograms the channels in the converter box or digital TV’s memory. Here’s how to do it:

1. Disconnect the antenna from the converter box or digital TV.
2. Disconnect the converter and digital TV power supplies from the wall. Wait a minute before plugging the cables back in. The antenna should still be disconnected.
3. With the antenna disconnected, run the channel scan function on the converter box or digital TV. When the scan completes, any channel data the converter box or digital TV had in its memory should be removed.
4. Rescan by reconnecting the antenna to the converter box or digital TV and running the channel scan function again.

Troubleshoot the converter box. If the problem isn’t the channels, it may be another piece of hardware. The converter box may be affecting the system’s ability to receive and display channels. Some possible fixes for this issue include unplugging the device, checking the connections, and making sure the TV is on the right channel.

Adjust the antenna. Move the antenna to a different spot on the entertainment center and realign it up or down and left or right. The FCC says moving the antenna a few feet can reduce the interference caused by competing electronics equipment, like a DVD player, converter box, or TV.

Moving the antenna a few feet away from the converter box may not make a big difference, but give it a try. If it doesn’t work, relocate the antenna.

Relocate the antenna. The indoor antenna should be as close to the outside world as possible. Move it near a window, so it gets an unobstructed look at the open air.

Extend the antenna rods (also called dipoles) all the way up if you use rabbit ears.

Before relocating the antenna, go to Antenna Web to get an idea of where the TV transmission towers are in relation to your address. Then, point the antenna out a window that faces those towers. This increases the odds of capturing a good digital TV signal.

Moving an antenna presents a few logistical issues. You might need to increase the length of the antenna’s coaxial cable to move it by a window. To make this happen, buy more coaxial cable and a coaxial extender. These items are sold at most hardware and electronics stores.

Once you relocate the antenna, perform the double-rescan process again.

Buy a new antenna. Consider ditching an indoor antenna for an outdoor model. Outdoor antennas are more expensive and are difficult to install, but the bump in reception quality may be worth the effort.

Check out Antenna Web before buying an outdoor antenna so you can get the most accurate recommendation for your address.

If an outdoor antenna isn’t feasible, try a different type of indoor antenna, one specifically for digital. The new digitally-enhanced antennas are flatter by design, which helps capture the TV signal.

Amplify the antenna. If you receive a digital TV signal, try amplification. The signal can be poor, but at least it’s there. If you don’t pick anything up, amplification probably isn’t an option. In this case, consider buying an outdoor antenna.

Mike Mountford, the former CEO of All American Direct, explains it best by comparing amplifying a digital TV signal to water barely falling out of a hose. Antenna amplification is like attaching a nozzle to the end of the hose to increase its spraying power.

Amplifying isn’t a guaranteed fix for every poor TV reception scenario, but it’s an option.

Don’t over-amplify the signal. You can blow out a TV tuner in the same way you can blow out a car speaker when cranking the volume.

Consider an alternative. You can supplement your TV watching with programming on the internet. Consider going in with someone on a satellite service package and splitting the cost, or paying for the cheapest basic cable service.

Get help. Contact your local broadcast stations to see if they can help. They may be having technical difficulties you’re unaware of.

Special thanks to Hank Caskey, vice-president of antenna reception for Audiovox, who helped shape this article with his valuable insight on antenna reception.

Paid-TV costs households thousands of dollars each year. Failure to pay the monthly subscription fee means no viewing. However, if you put up an antenna, you will have access to up to 100 stations that broadcast over the air. The best part of this is that they are all free of charge.

Surprisingly, old-school antenna broadcast channels show high-resolution pictures much like cable television. This is because over the air signals transmit without the rigorous compression that cable signals go through.

All broadcast networks transmit antenna signals in high definition and a number of major broadcasters can even send out 4K broadcasts that can be picked by the latest antennas.

Is it Okay to Raise an Antenna in my Neighborhood?

The Federal Communications Commission gives renters and homeowners the right to erect an antenna, though some states and localities may have additional rules so be sure to check with your local authorities first.

However, the OTARD rule overrides most declarations by homeowners to prohibit the installation of antennas in your exclusive area of use.

Indoor or Outdoor Antenna Installation?

TV aerials are categorized as either indoor or outdoor antennas. The two categories of antennas can then either be amplified or non-amplified.

The kind of antenna you choose to install will depend on any of these three factors:

The general rule is that the higher you place your antenna, the better the reception will be.

Installations at least 30 feet above the ground level provides an optimum connection. If you want this height, get the outdoor antenna.

However, if you are inclined towards an indoor TV antenna, you can choose either an amplified or non-amplified antenna.

How far is enough to warrant an amplified antenna? Usually, if you are outside a 30-mile radius of a broadcasting tower, you need the amplified version. Other conditions such as climate can also be factors.

Sometimes the broadcasting stations are not visible to the eye, but there is a way to find out. One such resource is the AntennaWeb, which allows you to enter your address and search for the closest transmitter.

Indoor and Outdoor Antenna Placement

Choosing the right spot to erect your antennae is essential for getting the most channels and good picture resolution.

To install an outdoor antenna, choose a spot on your rooftop, or in an attic if you have one. The roof is the most popular spot since it gives the best results. One negative point: outdoor antennas tend to take up more space than their indoor counterparts.

An indoor antenna can simply be attached to your TV, though almost any spot in your home will do provided the antena is still wired to your TV.

Regardless of your choice of installation, there should be no metallic or any large objects around the antenna. Some of these objects have the ability to deflect signals.

Antennas are also sensitive to direction and they tend to favor one direction (towards the tower) to receive or transmit signals.This is to say that if you want the maximum benefits from your antenna, find the right direction to aim at.

How to Find the Right Direction to Aim an Antenna

Since the television and the antenna are usually located worlds apart, it is difficult to adjust the antennae and then check the performance on the TV.

It is better if there are at least two people involved. However, the process is still tiresome even with an extra set of hands.

There are a number of techniques to adjust the antennae in a less laborious fashion.

(i) Visual Alignment

This is the simplest and most effective method of aiming an antenna. It requires that the broadcasting mast is visible.

When you install your antennae point the receiver towards the direction of the tower.

If your neighbors have antennas and your mast cannot be seen from your vantage point, align your antenna in the same direction as your neighbor’s antennas.

(ii) Phone Application

There is an app for everything these days. So, it goes without saying that there are apps that show you the direction to point your antenna.

These apps are available on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Antennae orientation apps contain a list of broadcasting maps and their locations. When you input your address, the apps use your phone’s GPS system to provide the general direction of your local transmitting towers.

These apps will typically provide you with a list of signal towers over a range of miles. It is important to note that the closest tower may not provide the strongest signals or have a broader channel coverage.

The downside of using smartphone apps for antenna orientation is that sometimes the signals detected may be reflections. Over the air, signals can bounce off foliage, hills, and even buildings.

(iii) Signal Strength Meter

Antenna signal strength meters are simple to use. They show the direction from which the broadcast signal is strongest. Point your antenna in that direction.

Signal strength meters are cheap but effective means of determining the strength of broadcast signals across the whole frequency band.

Antenna strength meter is an analog RF meter that gives the readings on LED displays. Rotate the antenna until you get the strongest signal reading on the meter.

When you are buying an antenna signal strength meter, check whether it is for:

Have you been frustrated at times with your HD antenna reception? Do some channels come and go and are not as strong as they should be? There also might be a few channels that are out of reach by your current antenna setup. By combining two HD antennas together you can increase your current signal strength and channel coverage. In this article, I will explain how to set this up and what are the benefits of a two over the air antenna system.

Like I stated earlier, combining two HD antennas can have a positive impact on your signal coverage. In many cases, it can improve weak signal strength. Let’s look at three methods to combine your HD antennas. One method will be used to increase your current signal strength. The other method is used to gain channels from towers located in different directions and the last method called antenna stacking can help with those hard to get stations. In all cases, your location to the broadcast towers will be a factor. In some cases, the towers may be too far away to obtain any channels. You can use our Station Locator Tool by clicking on the icon below to determine how far away the broadcast towers are from your location.

Cabling, Cable Lenght and Rescanning

With all of these setups, cable length and the style of cabling is very important. Make sure the cables coming from the antennas that are going into the combiner or joiner are the same length and are identical. If not, it could cause phasing issues because the signal from the antenna will not reach the combiner at the same time. This can cause the tuner to not properly lock onto a channel. Make sure that you rescan the tuner each time you make a change to the antenna setup. This will ensure that you are receiving the proper channels. It can also help to use the signal strength tool that most TVs and tuners have in the menu option. This is useful to see what type of signal strength you have for each channel.

Two HD Antennas Pointing in The Same Direction

This method can be used to increase the current signal strength to existing channels coming from broadcast towers in the same direction. By adding a second OTA antenna you can increase your signal strength. If you already have an amplifier to boost your signal a second antenna can help to increase the consistency of your coverage. Depending on how the signal is being sent, obstructions can interfere with the delivery of the signal path. Adding a second antenna can increase the signal path coverage and give you a more consistent signal. To accomplish this you will need a combiner or coupler that can combine the two antennas together. I would recommend that you use two identical antennas. This will ensure a balanced signal path and coverage. Try experimenting with placement and proper directional pointing.

Winegard CC-7870 Antenna Coupler

The Winegard CC-7870 Antenna Coupler combines any two 75 Ohm HDTV antennas into one. Features low -3.5 insertion loss.

Have you been thinking about swapping your annoying and pricey cable service for an indoor TV antenna that enables you to watch free over-the-air TV? If so, the number one thing that will determine your signal strength is your location, amongst other small tweaks to your antenna. Not only does it matter where you place your antenna, but where you live is also a factor.

When people talk about having an indoor TV antenna, most people think of the old-school rabbit ears that were used back in the day and took a lot of tinkering with to receive a halfway decent picture on your television. Even though there haven’t been major advancements in antenna technology, in 2009 the broadcasts themselves switched from analog to digital making it really easy to reliably receive crystal clear HD picture quality with an antenna.

Receiving ideal reception using your indoor TV antenna can be very easy in many cases but in some instances, it can be challenging depending on how far you are located from the transmission towers, geographic conditions, and obstructions to line of sights such as buildings, walls, and trees. Don’t worry, there are a few things you can do to boost your indoor TV antenna signal for ideal reception.

Here are a few tips on how to boost your indoor TV antenna signal:

Higher is Better

When thinking about where the ideal place is to set your indoor TV antenna the best advice we have is to go high. As stated above, the height of your antenna is one of the most critical factors in getting the best reception. We recommend you place it on a wall near the ceiling or near a window. This small change in placement can be a determining factor between good and poor reception.

Eliminate Interference

If you feel like you’re not getting the best reception, it could be caused by other devices interfering with your signal. To find which device is causing the interference to unplug all computers, gaming systems, stereo equipment, etc.

Next, you will need to unplug all of your TV connections except for the power and the antenna. Once you have done that you are free to re-test your signal. If you find that your signal has improved, start plugging in each device you unplugged one by one to find what’s causing the interference.

When you find what electronic equipment is causing the interference, the best option available to you is to move that equipment further away from your antenna. If you find that the equipment that is causing the interference is essential for your viewing experience you might need to move your antenna into another room. All you need to do is get a longer cable to reach your TV.

Purchase an Amplifier

If you live further away from the television transmitter towers (over 20 miles) you should invest in an amplifier to accompany your indoor TV antenna. If you live close to a television transmitter tower, buying an antenna amplifier can make your situation worse due to the amp making the signals stronger than the television will accept.

If you are not sure if an amp would be the right call for you just look into if your signals have weak signal reception in your area. If you can’t find if your signals are strong or not use this guide by Channel Master. It will tell you what stations you receive and the signal strength as well. If just one or several of your channels have low signal there are a number of amplifiers you can choose from.

Experiment and Try New Things

The last thing you can do is experiment and find what works best for you and your location. It is important to know that not all indoor TV antennas work the same in every household. Your situation is unique and so is your broadcasting signal. A great tip to remember how to boost your indoor TV antenna is that location is key. If nothing else works, try and move your antenna to a higher location and see what happens.

My viewing stations are from 7 to 40 miles away in the Mechanicsburg, Pa area. Reception is good on all stations except when we get windy weather then I have inconsistent picture fluttering and loss of audio on a couple of the stations. These signal interruptions will last up to 10 seconds and maybe a few times per minute which is frustrating.

I have a 25 ft cable run from the attic TV antenna to a 2 way signal splitter with a 4 ft cable branching to my upstairs TV and another 25 ft cable going to my downstairs TV. Both TV’s experience similar picture and audio interruptions during windy weather.

Would a signal amplifier or preamplifier help my signal when it’s windy? Which would you suggest?

Hi Steve,

A signal amplifier will likely improve the reception but it may or may not completely solve the problem. I think it is the best place to start. Other options that may also help is to move the antenna outside and or get a larger more powerful TV antenna such as the HD Stacker antenna > . You may find that moving the antenna to a different location within the attic will help. The cause of the problem is likely a tree or trees swaying in the wind and by moving the antenna to another location may avoid the signal obstacle that is causing the problem and improve reception.

If the signals are very weak to start with the wind itself could cause the interruptions in signal but is likely trees causing the problem.

A very good preamplifier choice for your set up is the LNA 200 preamplifier >

You may want to visit TV Antenna Preamplifier Installlation and Troubleshooting >

If we can assist you further, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Best Regards,
Denny Duplessis

TV Antenna Service
“Helping America Watch Free TV”
3758 W. Washington Rd. Ithaca, MI. 48847

Poor tv reception in windy weather. TV reception fails in windy weather. Improving TV reception during windy weather.

For fair weather sports fans, playoff season is the time of year when we all start pretending to care about our local team and attempt to tune in our TV sets to channels we might not usually care about. With digital TV, it’s a bit more difficult to find a signal, but a few tricks will make the process easier.

If you only have a set of rabbit ears trying to pick up a signal can be hard. This is especially the case with digital where you get either a solid picture or no picture at all. If you’re struggling, here are some pointers for finding the best signal with rabbit ears.

Find the Location of Your Nearest Broadcast Center

We’ve previously mentioned AntennaWeb is a great source to angle your outdoor antenna, but it’s also a valuable resource for setting up your indoor antenna.

AntennaWeb Finds the Best Outdoor Antenna for Your House

If the upcoming switch to HD digital broadcasting has you considering dropping cable for the free…

Subscribe for 2 years and get an extra 1-month, 1-year-, or 2-year plan added to your cart at checkout.

Start by typing in your address. If the channel you’re trying to get is within about 20-30 miles, you should be able to get reception over any rabbit ears you have around. You can also see the location of the broadcast’s origin here.

Each channel is also color-coded. If it’s yellow or red, you won’t have a problem tuning into it. Television signals are broadcast in one of two ways: VHF and UHF. Rabbit ears are used to pick up the stronger VHF signal. UHF is lower power and the antennas will usually look more like a little bowtie or circle. Generally, if you purchased your antenna within the last few years the antenna can pick up both.

Click the “View Street Level Map” button and make a note of the broadcast origin you’re trying to tune into. This is where you’re going to try and point your rabbit ears.

Angle and Set You Rabbit Ears

If you’re just trying to tune into one show or game for the week keep in mind this can be a temporary setup. For instance, the best way to get a clear signal is to move it away from the TV and near a window. You should also move it as far away from your Wi-Fi router as possible because the signals can interfere with each other. This isn’t the most aesthetic solution in most cases, but it’s good to keep in mind if you’re only watching a single broadcast.

Start by angling the antennas in a “V” shape. Next, angle one of the antennas at the broadcast tower you found above (if you’re on the ground level assume it’s a few stories high). HD signals take a few seconds to find, so give it five seconds before you start tweaking everything. If you don’t get a signal, start moving the antenna that isn’t angled at the broadcast tower down toward the floor. TV antennas receive the signal when they’re perpendicular to the transmission’s origin. This means you want the rabbit ears to resemble one long pole. Keep moving the antenna down toward the floor one inch at a time until you get a signal.

In some ways, getting reception is the equivalent to a sniper shooting a bullet straight into another sniper’s gun barrel. If the above method doesn’t work, angle both antennas at signal’s origin. This gives you a wide barrel to catch the signal with.

These are the two easiest ways to make rabbit ears work. Indoor antennas will never be as good as outdoor ones, but if you’re stuck with them, these tips can help ensure you don’t miss the big game. If all else fails, you can always build your own with coat hangers or aluminum foil . We’ve outlined the ways you can ditch cable and move to online alternatives, but for fair weather sports fans looking to watch a few games during the playoffs, the rabbit ears are still the best solution. Photo by Andy Price .

If you’ve recently joined the ever-growing ranks of the cable cutters, you’re far from alone. More and more people (myself included) are getting fed up with service providers’ outdated subscription models and absurd pricing—and canceling their service.

There are more legal alternatives than ever, and if you’re willing to wait a little longer to catch up on your favorite shows, you can save a ton of money.

In addition to online services like Netflix, Hulu, and Crackle, you can still watch some over-the-air channels like ABC , NBC, FOX, and PBS free of charge, but you have to be able to pick them up. There are plenty of antennas you can buy to help boost your signal strength, but few of them are as effective as the Gray-Hoverman antenna.

Invented and first patented by engineer Doyt R. Hoverman in 1959, the device is called a “super antenna” because it greatly increases the range and number of channels you can pick up. Users are commonly able to tune in to stations broadcasting 30-40 miles away, and sometimes more.

Both of the two patents on the device have since expired, making it easier than ever to build your own at home. There are a number of tutorials using different materials, but one of the simplest comes from tech blogger John Biggs, using foam core board and copper tape for a light, inexpensive antenna that can be mounted indoors.

How to Build a Gray-Hoverman Super Antenna

Putting it together is easy. In addition to the foam core board and copper tape, you’ll also need a really cheap balun transformer (which you can get at any electronics store), two wood screws (or solder) to attach it, and a coaxial cable to connect it to.

John created the diagram below and used a ruler and protractor to draw it on the board before laying down the tape. It’s important to pay close attention to the measurements and be as precise as possible as your results will be determined by how accurate they are.

When you start taping, it’s important to fold the tape at each corner rather than cutting it, so each side is one continuous piece. The top and bottom pieces (shown in black in the diagram) should be exactly 6mm from the sides (shown in blue).

The gap in the center between the two sides (shown in red) should be 81mm after you’ve finished taping, and this is where the balun will be attached. You can either solder it on or use two wood screws to connect it to the copper tape.

Mounting and Finding Stations

The antenna can be mounted pretty much anywhere, but you do need to make sure it’s facing the right direction to pick up any stations. The model that John used (the GH0n) should be able to pick up digital HDTV channels that you’re within range of, and works better with UHF or ultra high frequency channels (channels 14-51) than VHF or very high frequency (channels 2-13).

To find out which stations your antenna will receive, you can use the FCC’s online tool, or a different one like TV Fool, to locate stations in your area that broadcast for free. The tool will also tell you which direction they are broadcast from so you know how to position your antenna.

Once you’ve got it positioned correctly, just plug in your coaxial cable and run a scan on your television to find channels. The settings are different for each brand, but you should be able to find an auto-scan option on the menu under Cable or Antenna.

You can find more information and technical specs on the Gray-Hoverman antenna here, and more details on building your own over on John’s blog.

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