Not everyone has the luxury of putting up an outdoor antenna. Outdoor TV antennas are pretty amazing things. Considering that they are, in essence, metal sticks on poles, it’s just amazing that they can receive incredibly weak signals that originated dozens of miles away. I admit, though, that not everyone is as much of a fan as I am.
For a lot of people, an outdoor antenna is simply not an option. If you live in a community with a homeowners’ association, they may have rules about TV antennas. The HOA has a right to limit what you can put in public areas. However, they can’t stop you from putting up an antenna that’s smaller than 39″ in any direction, as long as it’s in a private area like your patio. (If you’re curious about this rule, read more about it here.)
And then of course, there are those folks who simply don’t need an outdoor antenna. If you’re within 8-10 miles of a major city, an indoor antenna might be all you need. If you’re in an area like Los Angeles, that outdoor antenna might even work much further.
Is an indoor antenna affected by weather? The sun isn’t blasting it and the rain isn’t hitting it, so should you worry about bad reception if the weather’s not perfect? The easy answer: YES. But like all things, the easy answer isn’t exactly the right answer.
All antennas are affected by weather in some way. Rain and snow scatter radio signals at least a little bit, and even swirling winds can affect some signals by blowing obstructions between your antenna and the broadcast tower. This happens whether the antenna is inside or outside.
For the most part, though, TV antennas aren’t affected by bad weather in the same way that satellite signals are. There are two reasons for this. First of all, the signal from the broadcast towers here on planet Earth are going to be a lot stronger than the ones from a satellite 22,000 miles away. That means that even if they’re a little weaker during a storm they’re still usually ok.
The second reason is a little harder to understand. Most folks understand that all radio and TV broadcasts take place on a specific frequency. For example, when you’re listening to radio (if you still do,) you might be listening to a station at 104.3MHz. You might watch TV from an over-the-air channel at 506MHz. Satellite frequencies are a lot higher, from 12,000 – 40,000 MHz. Those super-high-frequency broadcasts are affected by rain differently than the relatively low TV and radio frequencies. Specifically, the range between 28,000 and 40,000 MHz, which is used exclusively by DIRECTV in the Western Hemisphere, are very affected by raindrops. But getting back to TV antennas, you’ll find very little affect from just plain rain.
It’s not just a rainy day that you need to think about with outdoor antennas. Wet weather can cause connectors to corrode, high winds can make antennas move, and snow and ice that forms on an antenna can make it less effective. Even sunlight can cause plastic parts to disintegrate.
Indoor antennas aren’t affected by any of these things. If you’re close enough that you can effectively use an indoor antenna, it’s going to be a more reliable bet for you. Also, indoor antennas don’t rely on long lines inside your walls that can be attacked by vermin or suffer from moisture damage.
If you’re looking for an indoor antenna, check out the great selection at Solid Signal! We have all the major brands at great prices. An indoor antenna is a really good way to get into the world of over-the-air TV. Even in today’s streaming-rich world, there are still dozens of programs you can’t get anywhere else but over the air. Look at what Solid Signal has to offer, and if you have questions, we’re here for you! Call us at 888-233-7563. We’re here during East Coast business hours to answer your questions. If it’s after hours, fill out the form below. We’ll get back to you, usually within one business day.
The post NICE AND EASY: Are indoor antennas affected by weather? appeared first on The Solid Signal Blog.
Continue reading...
For a lot of people, an outdoor antenna is simply not an option. If you live in a community with a homeowners’ association, they may have rules about TV antennas. The HOA has a right to limit what you can put in public areas. However, they can’t stop you from putting up an antenna that’s smaller than 39″ in any direction, as long as it’s in a private area like your patio. (If you’re curious about this rule, read more about it here.)
And then of course, there are those folks who simply don’t need an outdoor antenna. If you’re within 8-10 miles of a major city, an indoor antenna might be all you need. If you’re in an area like Los Angeles, that outdoor antenna might even work much further.
So, what’s the answer?
Is an indoor antenna affected by weather? The sun isn’t blasting it and the rain isn’t hitting it, so should you worry about bad reception if the weather’s not perfect? The easy answer: YES. But like all things, the easy answer isn’t exactly the right answer.
All antennas are affected by weather in some way. Rain and snow scatter radio signals at least a little bit, and even swirling winds can affect some signals by blowing obstructions between your antenna and the broadcast tower. This happens whether the antenna is inside or outside.
For the most part, though, TV antennas aren’t affected by bad weather in the same way that satellite signals are. There are two reasons for this. First of all, the signal from the broadcast towers here on planet Earth are going to be a lot stronger than the ones from a satellite 22,000 miles away. That means that even if they’re a little weaker during a storm they’re still usually ok.
The second reason is a little harder to understand. Most folks understand that all radio and TV broadcasts take place on a specific frequency. For example, when you’re listening to radio (if you still do,) you might be listening to a station at 104.3MHz. You might watch TV from an over-the-air channel at 506MHz. Satellite frequencies are a lot higher, from 12,000 – 40,000 MHz. Those super-high-frequency broadcasts are affected by rain differently than the relatively low TV and radio frequencies. Specifically, the range between 28,000 and 40,000 MHz, which is used exclusively by DIRECTV in the Western Hemisphere, are very affected by raindrops. But getting back to TV antennas, you’ll find very little affect from just plain rain.
But there’s more to weather than just rain
It’s not just a rainy day that you need to think about with outdoor antennas. Wet weather can cause connectors to corrode, high winds can make antennas move, and snow and ice that forms on an antenna can make it less effective. Even sunlight can cause plastic parts to disintegrate.
Indoor antennas aren’t affected by any of these things. If you’re close enough that you can effectively use an indoor antenna, it’s going to be a more reliable bet for you. Also, indoor antennas don’t rely on long lines inside your walls that can be attacked by vermin or suffer from moisture damage.
If you’re looking for an indoor antenna, check out the great selection at Solid Signal! We have all the major brands at great prices. An indoor antenna is a really good way to get into the world of over-the-air TV. Even in today’s streaming-rich world, there are still dozens of programs you can’t get anywhere else but over the air. Look at what Solid Signal has to offer, and if you have questions, we’re here for you! Call us at 888-233-7563. We’re here during East Coast business hours to answer your questions. If it’s after hours, fill out the form below. We’ll get back to you, usually within one business day.
The post NICE AND EASY: Are indoor antennas affected by weather? appeared first on The Solid Signal Blog.
Continue reading...
