Today’s question comes from Dale who asks, “How much does your location affect signal reception for antenna TV? I moved across town recently and my antenna and Tablo seem to be struggling to pick up and record the same channels that used to come in great.”
Location is one of the most important aspects of over-the-air TV antenna reception. Whether you’ve moved across the city or even across the country, the signal strength and lineup of local channels you’re able to receive is highly dependent on geography and antenna setup.
If you’re just starting to watch free TV with an antenna or setting up again after a recent move, keep these location-based factors in mind to ensure a smooth experience.
LOCATION FACTOR #1 - Proximity to Local Broadcast Towers
Ideal reception areas for antenna TV are within 35 miles of local broadcast towers. However, under normal atmospheric conditions and depending on your antenna equipment, placement and other factors, TV signals can be received up to 70 miles away. Beyond 70 miles, signals are blocked by the curvature of the earth and cannot reach any TV antenna.
If you’re living closer or further away from your local broadcast towers after moving, you may need to swap out your old TV antenna for one that better suits your current needs.
Not sure where your local towers are? Use our online tool here.
LOCATION FACTOR #2 - Line-of-Sight to Local Broadcast Towers
Over-the-Air TV signals are distributed via line-of-sight. It’s important to place your TV antenna facing the direction of your local towers and avoid obstructions like hills, buildings and trees which impact your ability to receive a strong signal.
When you’re setting up your TV antenna, take the time to understand what direction your local towers are in relation to your home. If you’ve moved from a relatively flat and open area to somewhere mountainous and forested, you may need a larger, more powerful TV antenna to make up for local topography.
LOCATION FACTOR #3 - Local Channel Selection
Major local broadcast networks – ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, The CW and PBS – are available for free with an antenna in most cities and towns in the United States. Most locations also offer a variety of subchannels with specialty programming like westerns, sci-fi and children’s shows. If you move to a larger metro area, you’ll likely see more than 100+ subchannels, including programming in international languages to serve local communities.
However, the more rural your location, the more likely your channel lineup will be limited, or over-the-air TV signals may not reach you at all.
In some locations, receiving a subset of channels may require a specialized antenna designed to pick up VHF frequency broadcasts.
LOCATION FACTOR #4 – Sources of Interference
If you’ve moved recently and you’re experiencing unexplainable or intermittent issues with over-the-air reception, invisible interference may be the cause. Locations near high tension power lines, cellular towers, airports, hospitals and buildings with mirrored surfaces can be particularly at risk for antenna TV reception interference.
Repositioning your TV antenna or adding a filter or reflector may help, depending on the specific source of the problem.
Have a question about watching TV that you’d like answered? Send us a note and you may see your question on the Tablo blog and in an upcoming issue of our newsletter, Stay Tuned!
