I researched the best indoor HDTV antennas to find the perfect option for watching free local channels in high definition. After reading expert reviews from reputable sources like techradar, cnet and the new york times, two models consistently stand out as top recommendations:
The Philips antenna offers amplified signal strength, long range reception and support for both 4K and 1080p HD resolutions. It is designed to sit on top of your TV, making it easy to install while keeping a clean look. It also includes a coax HDTV cable and ac adapter. It seems like a solid choice for clear and stable reception of both vhf and uhf channels.
The HIDB antenna features a strong magnetic base for stable mounting and a 10 foot long cable for flexible placement. It supports up to 120+ miles of reception and delivers 4K and 1080p HD signals. The compact design makes it a great fit for smaller spaces or anyone needing a more portable setup.
However,I am having trouble deciding which one would best suit my needs. I mostly use an indoor antenna for watching news, live sports and local TV shows. Strong signal reception is important but I also care about ease of setup and how well it fits into myspace without adding clutter.
So which one would you recommend, the Philips amplified antenna or the HIDB indoor antenna? Any advice or personal experience would be appreciated.
Honestly, I wouldnât recommend either of those antennas. The right antenna depends on how close you are to your broadcast towers. Are you aware of where theyâre located and how far away they are?
You might want to look into the Antenna Manâs videos on YouTube. Please watch his video for a more unbiased, real-world review of the Philips antenna. Iâm not sure the HIDB antenna would be any better. He also makes an indoor antenna recommendation within his video, linked below.
Also, itâs wise steer clear of Amazon items that show this under the product description.
For anyone in the Tablo Community looking for a functioning antenna, I do not and would not recommend this antenna for any reason because there are far better devices that will perform better at this price.
You can see that it makes a claim in the Amazon page below that the device is capable of receiving channels up to 150 miles. This is just about impossible for most terrestrial antennae.
It also shows clearly under the product description that it is frequently returned, likely because it doesnât provide the reception users expect. It may work if you live within a very small distance from towers (<5-7 miles), but it probably a UHF-only antenna. This means you may not receive all the channels in the Low or High VHF bands (RF 2-6 and 7-13). The Philips rabbit ears antenna comes more highly recommended and would probably pick up the VHF channels. So if you want to spend $10-$20 to try an antenna, consider the rabbit ear antenna that the Antenna Man recommends. I would recommend the rabbit ears too for indoor use.
Itâs important to educate yourselves and know what you need before you spend your money on this or any antenna. For a small fee, you can contact the Antenna Man for a recommendation. He will do a channel analysis and make an antenna recommendation specific to your location and environmental factors.
IMO there are so many different user situations that even a large number of user reviews may not be helpful to inform me about what I need in my own situation. Same goes for design, I have tried antennas that check the design boxes, and then donât perform as I need. IMO itâs never going to be true that âeverybody says this antenna works greatâ and I can assume it will do so for me. Too many variables involved. But I did finally find a setup that works for me.
At least I am only using indoor antennas, no climbing onto roofs etc so the trial and error is pretty painless. Good idea though to buy from a place where you can return it without too much hassle.
I like reading about other usersâ antenna experiences, since they help me with my own choices.
I have an outdoor antenna and also have 4 indoor antennas. I will not waste time explaining why. Just want to say from my experience what applies to outdoor antennas applies to indoor antennas even more so. The bigger the better. You can lose up to 50% of potential reception with an indoor antenna due to the walls, roofing etc and the materials of same.
