In most situations, you will find that you cannot pick the first antenna you see off of the shelf at your local electronics retail store and get the best possible picture quality for your TV. Antennas purchased at retail stores can be hit or miss, and often times, you will find out firsthand that you will need to do some research prior to investing in a digital antenna. The technology of an antenna is fairly simple and straightforward, but there are certain factors about how they work that you need to take into account before buying just any antenna.

There are usually two different types of antennas: an indoor and an outdoor. Relatively small in size, the indoor antenna is usually placed on top of your TV stand or sometimes it can be placed on the floor next to your entertainment system. This type of antenna is meant to be used for households that are no more than 35 to 40 miles away from the broadcast towers. One of the problems with an indoor antenna is getting constant clear reception. You might find that your electronics, your household appliances, and even the movements of your upstairs neighbor can occasionally cause disruptions. There are, however, some antennas that will work perfectly despite the obstructions from electronic appliances and the building materials that make up your walls.

The outdoor antenna is noticeably and significantly larger than its indoor counterpart. The larger surface area gives it a stronger signal range, and it is capable of reaching transmissions from 100 miles away. Outdoor antennas will almost always outperform an indoor antenna, but there are certain cases where an indoor antenna will work better for some reason or another. Outdoor antennas are especially useful for homes that are in rural areas where the nearest city is more than just a few miles away.

The next thing you will need to consider is whether you need a directional or a multi-directional antenna. A directional antenna picks up transmissions from one general area. If transmissions are being broadcast from more than one tower, they need to be no more than 20 degrees apart from one another. Because a directional antenna focuses on one general area, it tends to be stronger. In major metropolitan areas where the signals are transmitted from one central tower, a directional antenna is optimum.

A multi-directional antenna pulls signals from all around. It doesn't focus on one particular area and is capable of picking up signals from several different locations at once. If you live in an area that is between two or more cities, you can pick up channels from these locations, which will give you more variety and more options to choose from. A multi-directional antenna is usually best for homes located in the countryside.