An external antenna is essential to getting the best reception out of your TV. You won't be able to get HD channels without a good HD antenna either, even with your widescreen set. An external antenna can be installed either inside or outside the house as long as it's connected to the TV. An indoor antenna is much easier to install since you only need to find a place for it to rest in the house. Mounting a larger antenna outside, however, can get you even better reception.
Instructions
1. Choose a location to mount or place the antenna. In all cases, higher is better. If it is an outdoor antenna, pick a spot on the roof's peak that is clear of trees or buildings blocking its path. For an indoor antenna, keep it away from major power sources that can interfere with its reception.
2. Mount the antenna securely to the roof if it is an outdoor model. Bolt the mounting kit to a spot where the wood decking underneath the shingles is solid. Attach the antenna to the mount as its instructions dictate and make sure it's stable, but don't permanently secure it yet.
3. Decide on the cable connection to connect the antenna to the TV set - coaxial or ribbon. Most antennas today will use coaxial cable only, which is the better choice since it's shielded. The only real advantage to a ribbon cable is that it frees up the TV's coaxial port for something like a DVD player or game console.
4. Connect the antenna to the TV set. Ribbon cables connect by hanging their bare U-shaped ends on the connector bolts. An RF coaxial cable uses its standard screw-in port. If you have a VCR or other device, connect the device's input to the antenna and the output to the TV.
5. Turn the TV on and test the antenna's reception. With an HD antenna, go to the TV's Menu screen and use the channel scan so the tuner picks up all the channels available.
6. Adjust the antenna's position until you have the desired reception. For an indoor antenna, move its resting spot around or adjust the height and angle of the "rabbit ears." An outdoor antenna will require getting back on the roof and is best done with an assistant to watch the TV reception. Secure the outdoor antenna when you are satisfied with the reception.
Tags: indoor antenna, outdoor antenna, coaxial cable, external antenna, with reception
