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- Hi, I'm Agent Lee, and today I'll show you how to
set up an over-the-air TV antenna.
If you've been thinking about getting rid of cable
or finding different ways to watch your favorite shows,
but still want local channels,
this might be a great solution for you.
Here's what you'll need.
A TV with a digital tuner, either built-in
or connected externally, a digital antenna;
and it's not required for the actual setup,
but if you wanna check the available channel lineup
in your area, you'll also need a computer
or a smart device with internet access.
I'll be using the Insignia Amplified Indoor Antenna,
along with an Insignia TV, with a built-in digital tuner.
So the steps might be a little different,
depending on your devices.
I'll also be using an HP computer.
Let's get started.
First, we'll figure out the best place to put our antenna.
Most antennas come with a long cable,
so they can be mounted higher up on the wall,
getting above some of the common interference in your home.
On a computer, go to this website.
Feel free to pause the video or use the link
in the notes below, if that makes it easier.
Then enter your address, along with your zip code
and click Go.
You'll see a list of channels available in your area,
along with the estimated signal levels.
This is based on your distance from the tower.
Again, this is just an estimate.
So don't be surprised if the signal is stronger or weaker,
as there are a number of other factors,
including nearby obstructions, weather,
or even the material in your walls.
Now we'll connect the antenna and scan for channels.
First, make sure the TV is off.
The connection part is simple.
Simply connect it to the co-ax connection on your TV.
Again, my TV has an internal digital tuner,
but if you're using an external, you would connect it there.
If you're using an amplified antenna like mine,
go ahead and plug it into the wall.
Amplified antennas are great for weak signals,
but they're not always needed because they can overpower
the digital tuner, making certain channels unwatchable.
It sounds strange, but if your signal is too strong
because you live close to the station,
you might actually get fewer channels
because the signal is being over-amplified.
On the other hand, if you live too far away,
an outdoor antenna might be a better option,
so you can get it even higher, avoiding more interference.
The good news is that you can easily disable
the amplification by unplugging it.
The antenna then becomes a regular un-amplified unit.
I'm going to plug mine in now,
but if I'm not happy with the scanning results,
I can unplug the power and do another channel scan.
Now turn on the TV.
Go to the menu or settings and go to the channel section.
On this TV, I'll go to Settings.
Live TV
And then choose Channel Scan.
Before going any further, select the antenna option,
not the cable TV option, as that setting is for use
with a cable subscription and provider.
To do that on my TV, I'll select Advanced Options.
And then, Digital and Analog, to make sure it scans
for everything that my antenna can pick up.
Then I'll choose Next, to start the scan.
This might take a few minutes.
When it's done, you'll see the results,
separated by analog and digital stations.
Digital stations will have a nice picture or nothing at all.
There's no in between.
Analog stations will deliver a varying level of quality,
from a crisp, clean picture, to one with a lot of static,
making it barely visible.
Digital channels have a dot or dash after the first number.
This shows the sub-channels that are being broadcast
on that same radio frequency.
The main sub-channel will typically have a number one
following the dot or dash.
Oh, and here's a tip.
If you don't get all the channels you are expecting
during the first scan, try moving the antenna
to a higher or less obstructed spot.
And then try again.
All right, now that the channel scan is complete,
it's time to go through them all manually,
removing the ones that don't come in clearly.
When you're done, exit the menu
and you should be ready to watch.
Hopefully this video was helpful.
If it was, give it a "like".
If you have questions, let us know in the comments
and don't forget to subscribe to our channel
for more tech tips from Best Buy.
Thanks for watching.
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