It won't require the assistance of a handy man to mount an outdoor antenna to your roof. Most antennas will come with basic instructions on installation and may even provide diagrams. Depending on who you bought the antenna from, they might be able to help you with any installation problems you may encounter. Buying from Amazon or eBay will have you dealing directly with the seller, so it might not be a good idea to buy from them in case you need assistance. Try to find an online retailer that will offer customer support in case you come across some trouble.
By now, you have probably determined that your TV will be able to handle HD channels. If you're uncertain, then there are some things you need to look for. First, you need to have a HDTV with built-in tuner or a TV that is HDTV ready with an external ATSC, or Advanced Television Systems Committee, tuner. Then you will also need the following:
1. A HDTV antenna
2. An all-weather coaxial cable that will be connected from your TV or receiver to the roof
3. A shorter cable that will connect your TV or receiver to the cable from the roof
4. Some basic tools, such as a screwdriver and wrench
You will need to find an area on the roof that is free of any obstructions, such as trees or tall structures, and you will also need to find where the channels are being broadcast. If living in a major metropolitan area or close enough to one, then stations are usually broadcast from one central tower. Some outdoor antennas are capable of picking up signals 70 miles from the broadcast towers, but should your house be farther away than that, you will need to elevate your antenna to get better reception.
In some situations, however, you might need to pick and choose which channels you would like over others that you do not like as much. If there are two channels you want but are 30 degrees or more apart, then you will need to install an antenna rotator. If you don't want to do that, you could always install two antennas that are going in opposite directions. That might be more favorable because you will pick up more channels. Cost usually is not an issue as well since HDTV antennas are fairly inexpensive.
Assemble the antenna according to the instructions but connect it to the mount in such a way where slight movement will be allowed. Allowing some leeway will be good in case you need to move the antenna for whatever reason. Find an area on your roof where the antenna will not be directly around any metallic objects. They are sensitive to those and will react adversely. Also try to find an area on your roof where big objects, such as trees or tall buildings, will not be in the antenna's way.
Most, if not all, digital receivers and HDTVs come with a built-in meter that will show the signal strength of each channel. As you flip through each channel, you will be able to see which channels have the strongest signals and which ones have weak signals, if any. Since you might have to make several trips to the roof, it might be best to have someone in the house to tell you if the signals are coming in clearly.
With just a little work and effort, you will be well on your way to watching the best of the HD world.
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