Antenna Setup Guide for 2026

An antenna gets you ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, and 20-50 other free channels in HD. No subscription, no monthly fee. If you live in a city, this is the easiest $30 you'll ever spend.

What you actually get

All major networks live with the same picture quality cable companies charge $80/mo for. Local news. Live sports on the broadcast networks (NFL Sunday games, MLB World Series, Olympics). PBS. Plus 20-50 sub-channels like MeTV, Antenna TV, Cozi, Movies!, Decades. Free forever.

Step 1 · Check your signal strength

Go to antennaweb.org and enter your address. It tells you which channels you can get and how strong each signal is. If most channels are 'green' (strong), an indoor antenna works. If they're 'yellow' or 'red,' you need outdoor.

Step 2 · Pick the right antenna

Indoor flat antenna ($25-40): Mohu Leaf or Antop AT-127. Stick on a window facing your nearest broadcast tower. Works for 95% of urban/suburban setups.

Outdoor antenna ($60-150): Channel Master CM-2018 or Antennas Direct ClearStream. Mount on your roof or attic. Needed in rural areas or behind hills.

Step 3 · Plug in and scan

Plug the antenna's coax cable directly into your TV's antenna input. Go to Settings → Channel Setup → Auto Scan. The TV does the rest. Takes 5-10 minutes. Re-scan once a year as new channels pop up.

Step 4 · Add a DVR (optional)

If you want to record live shows, add a Tablo or Channels DVR. Tablo Quad TV ($150 one-time) records up to 4 shows at once and streams to every TV in your house. No monthly fee. Best long-term value.

Common problems and fixes

Pixelation/cutouts: antenna's not getting enough signal. Move it higher, closer to a window, or upgrade to outdoor.

Some channels missing: they may broadcast on a different frequency. Try a UHF/VHF combo antenna.

Works on one TV but not another: longer coax cable loses signal. Use shorter runs or add a signal amplifier ($20).