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If you are a television fan, you will almost certainly be familiar with satellite antennas. Many TV broadcasters offer satellite dishes and receivers included their paid packages.

A lot of the time, the satellite antenna will be installed and set up by a professional and television channels and services are delivered on a contract basis.

But with the necessary equipment and a little know how, satellite antennas can be used to pick up hundreds of channels from around the world, legally and absolutely free of charge.

To do this, two essential items equipment are needed – a satellite dish and a satellite receiver. There are a number of types of satellite antennas on offer, so you will have to determine which one best suits your requirements.

Basic – The most basic variety of satellite antenna. These can be mounted on a wall or pole and pointed towards one satellite, so all adjustments need to be done manually.

Multi-satellite – These are a more expensive variety of satellite antenna, but they can receive signals from a few different satellites without adjusting the antenna.

Motor-driven – These pole-mounted satellite dishes can be directed towards any satellite position using a remote control, allowing convenient access to a huge number of channels. These are costly, but a must have for enthusiasts.

Satellite dishes are cheap both to buy and set up. A basic satellite system including antenna, receiver and a remote can be bought for around $150. A basic motor-driven system should cost about $350. Installation costs for these systems should be in the region of $150.

Top-of-the-range satellite antennas with all the features can cost thousands of dollars, with set-up costs running to hundreds of dollars. But you can save some of the expense by installing the system yourself. There are plenty of guides and dedicated sites on the internet which, with the aid of a satellite finder signal meter, will give all the know how you need to set up and tune in your dish to receive the free channels of your choice.

Before you purchase a satellite antenna you should do your homework. Find out what free-to-air stations are available, which satellites transmit them and decide on the ones that you want. Again, all of this information is easily available on the web. You can then purchase your satellite antenna based on these requirements.

The beauty of owning a quality satellite dish is that you can enjoy the best of both worlds. You can receive the best in free-to-air television from around the globe, and you can also choose from any number of subscription-based services that are available in the US.

Therefore, if you want to add a new dimension to your TV viewing, a satellite dish could be the perfect solution.

You may be looking for the best HDTV outdoor antenna and feeling a bit overwhelmed, but choosing an antenna does not need to be a difficult task. There are several tips and tricks to keep in mind so you can get the most bang for your buck when selecting an HDTV outdoor antenna. Your television viewing needs and your location are among the most important factors.

First, why an outdoor antenna? You may have tried using an indoor HDTV antenna, only to be frustrated by poor reception. While there are some good indoor antennas, they do not work well for everyone. You can get much more bang for your buck by mounting your antenna in an outdoor location. You will also get a more reliable signal from an HDTV outdoor antenna.

Your HDTV outdoor antenna does not need to be an obtrusive eyesore. While it is true that a large antenna on a large tower will give you better reception, most people, especially in major metropolitan areas, will require something much smaller. A small antenna mounted on a simple rooftop bracket works well for many people. Another option for outdoor antennas is to mount them in an attic, if you have the space. There is some degradation in signal quality, but for some people, attic mounting is the preferred option.

Do not be intimidated by a landlord or condo association that tries to stop you from installing an HDTV outdoor antenna. You have the right to install a small antenna or satellite dish of one meter or less in size on an outside part of your property. You are protected by FCC statutes and laws passed by Congress. You may have a patio, balcony, or railing available. There are many good options in small- to medium-sized HDTV outdoor antennas for renters.

Once you decide that an HDTV outdoor antenna is right for you, you will need to research your local broadcast situation. Go to AntennaWeb.org and enter your address. You do not need to enter your email address or phone number – just enter your street address and ZIP code for the most accurate assessment. Answer the questions about tall structures nearby, and the number of levels in your house as well.

Finding the best outdoor HDTV antenna begins with getting a list of local stations and finding the ones broadcasting in digital. Your AntennaWeb.org results will list the network, channel number, call sign, distance, and the true broadcast frequency. To find DTV stations exclusively, click on the “Digital Stations Only” option.

You should now have a list of local TV stations broadcasting in digital, listed in order from easiest to most difficult reception. Focus on the first stations listed, and see which ones are most important for you to receive. Your outdoor HDTV antenna will probably be pointing at a cluster of stations near a major city. If the stations are too spread apart, each at different compass headings, you may need to install a rotator to help a more directional antenna lock onto a signal better.

The HDTV outdoor antenna you choose can be based on recommendations from the AntennaWeb.org list. The recommended antenna type for each location is color coded, based on six different categories: small multi-directional, medium multi-directional, large multi-directional or small directional with pre-amp, medium directional, medium directional with pre-amp, and large directional with pre-amp. Use these guidelines to help you find the best category when selecting the best HDTV outdoor antenna.