Customer Ratings & Reviews

Hello JerseyJoe - The broadcasters signal strength at your location is one of the major factors on whether an antenna can receive a signal or not. Unfortunately there are some locations where it is difficult to get a great viewing experience due to lack of strong signals. If you can send us an email at RCAAntennaHelp@voxxintl.com we would be glad to assist you in determining which antenna would be best for your location. Some other factors when it comes to selecting a proper antenna for your location include factors like the surrounding terrain, whether or not you have a line-of-sight to the broadcast towers and even materials used in construction of your dwelling have an impact on the signal indoors. In most instances, if you can place your antenna high up, near a window, facing the direction of your local broadcast towers you generally have better luck getting a signal. Always remember to rescan for channels through your TV menu settings any time you move your antenna. If you did not rescan for channels after relocating the antenna, any new and expected changes in channels/reception would not be accurate and would likely be much worse.

Hello Television - Sorry to hear that the antenna did not work for you when you tried at your specific location. Hopefully we can offer a couple tips that may help get you watching Free HDTV. First of all, we want to make sure that you performed a channel scan using your TV’s menu system. This is the most important and most often over-looked step after connecting the RCA antenna to the TV. Unfortunately each TV manufacturer has a different process on how to get to the channel scan function within its menu settings, so you will have to look at your TV owners manual for those specific steps. Also, make sure your TV input is set to "Antenna" or "Air" or something similar. Also, if you can place the antenna near (or in) a window facing the broadcast tower general direction the better your chances are of receiving a signal. It also helps when you completely uncoil the antennas cable before running the channel scan. If all of that does not work, I would check your TV to ensure that it does indeed have an ATSC tuner which is needed to receive today’s digital broadcast signals. Most TV's built around 2007 have this type of tuner. An easy way to find out is by finding your TV model number and doing a Quick Google Search for your TV model number. The type of tuner should be an “ATSC” (not an NTSC) as mentioned above. If it does not, you will need to purchase a digital converter box. If you can send us a quick email to RCAAntennaHelp@voxxintl.com with your zip code we can take a look to see what other specific information we may be able to provide to help you get watching Free HDTV.

Hello Benp – It sounds like you may not have experienced the full potential of the antenna before considering a return. Over-the-air signal performance depends on several factors, including your distance from broadcast towers, the materials within your home, and antenna placement. Even small changes—such as moving the antenna near a window facing your local towers, keeping it away from Wi-Fi routers and large metal objects, or positioning it higher on the wall—can make a dramatic difference.
Be sure to perform a new channel scan each time you reposition your antenna so your TV recognizes all available signals. You can check which stations should reach your area by visiting the FCC signal map here: https://www.fcc.gov/media/engineering/dtvmaps

Hello Bigdaddy - We're sorry to hear the antenna didn't work for you when you first tried it at your specific location. We'd love to offer a few tips that may help you start watching free HDTV. First, it's essential to perform an "Auto Program" or "Channel Scan" using your TV’s menu system after physically connecting the antenna. This is the most important step that's often overlooked and your TV will not display any over-the-air channels unless this step is performed. Since each TV manufacturer has a different process for accessing the channel scan, you'll need to refer to your TV's owner manual for those specific instructions. The channel scan is a function of your TV and not the antenna. Also, any time you move or relocate your antenna, you must perform a new channel scan.

Also, please ensure that your TV input is set to "Antenna" or "Air" (or a similar setting). For the best results, try placing the antenna near a window facing the general direction of the broadcast tower, and be sure to fully uncoil the antenna’s cable before running the scan.

If you're still having issues, check that your TV has an ATSC tuner, which is required for receiving today's digital broadcasts. Most TVs manufactured after 2007 have this tuner. You can easily verify this by doing a quick Google search with your TV model number to confirm it has an "ATSC" (not "NTSC") tuner. If not, you'll need a digital converter box.

Feel free to send us an email at RCAAntennaHelp@voxxintl.com with your zip code, and we'll be happy to provide more specific information to help you get set up with free HDTV.

Hello mjr6724 - There are many factors that go into deciding on an antenna that is right for your specific location. It sounds like you did the research and were able to get the correct antenna for your location. Each antenna installation location is 100% unique and typically presents its own set of challenges. Objects such as tree foliage, building construction type and materials, metal roofing materials and the physical terrain (mountains & hills) of the land all play significant roles and may severely block the incoming signals at your specific location. If using an indoor antenna, aluminum or steel siding, metal lathe used under older plaster walls, and metal mesh under exterior stucco all can also impact the incoming broadcast signals. When looking at signal strength ratings online, keep in mind that those signal strength ratings are taken at a height of about 30 feet with zero obstructions. As no two antenna installations are 100% identical, reception seemingly always varies from neighbor to neighbor and even from room-to-room even within the same house. Also Mileage ratings placed on antenna packaging are merely provided as a general guide to antenna performance and those ratings can vary substantially based on all of the above mentioned items that affect incoming broadcast signals.

Hello Carolh, we’re sorry to hear you experienced difficulty receiving channels. The most common cause of this is not performing a Channel Scan after connecting the antenna to your TV. This step is required, as TVs do not automatically detect channels without it and your TV will not display any channels without performing it. While the Quick Start Guide and Owner’s Manual included in the package mention that this step must be performed, each TV manufacturer has a different method for performing a Channel Scan. Please refer to your TV’s Owner’s Manual for the exact steps. Placement is also key—higher locations near windows, facing the direction of your local broadcast towers, and away from metal objects and electronic interference typically provide the best results. You can check for available broadcast towers and their signal strength in your area at https://www.fcc.gov/media/engineering/dtvmaps. Unfortunately, some areas have limited channel availability. If you need further assistance, visit https://www.rcaantennas.net/ask-engineer/ for expert guidance.

Hello Paige - The signal strength at your location is one of the major factors on whether an antenna can receive a signal. There are small cities all over the United States that have strong broadcast signals and where our antennas work great. There are some locations however where it is difficult to secure a watchable signal. Some other factors include things like the surrounding terrain, whether or not you have a line-of-sight to the broadcast towers and even materials used in construction of your dwelling have an impact on the signal indoors. If you can place your antenna high up, near a window, facing the direction of your local broadcast towers you may have better luck getting a signal. Always remember to rescan for channels through your TV menu settings any time you move your antenna. If you can send us a quick email to RCAAntennaHelp@voxxintl.com with your zip code we can take a look to see what other specific information we may be able to provide to help you get watching Free HDTV.

Hello James - Sorry to read that this antenna didn't perform as expected at your specific location. There are indeed some areas where over-the-air broadcast signal coverage is not very strong and another type of antenna may be needed. If you can send us a quick email to RCAAntennaHelp@voxxintl.com with your zip code we can take a look to see what other specific information we may be able to provide to help you get watching Free HDTV.

Hello Great - Sorry to read that the antenna did not work for you when you tried it at your specific location. Hopefully we can offer a couple tips that may help get you watching Free HDTV. First of all, we want to make sure that you performed a channel scan using your TV’s menu system. This is the most important and most often over-looked step after connecting the RCA antenna to the TV. Unfortunately each TV manufacturer has a different process on how to get to the channel scan function within its menu settings, so you will have to look at your TV owners manual for those specific steps. Also, make sure your TV input is set to "Antenna" or "Air" or something similar. Also, if you can place the antenna near (or in) a window facing the broadcast tower general direction the better your chances are of receiving a signal. However, tall buildings or buildings that are extremely close may indeed block the incoming broadcast signals. It also helps when you completely uncoil the antennas cable before running the channel scan. If all of that does not work, I would check your TV to ensure that it does indeed have an ATSC tuner which is needed to receive today’s digital broadcast signals. Most TV's built around 2007 have this type of tuner. An easy way to find out is by finding your TV model number and doing a Quick Google Search for your TV model number. The type of tuner should be an “ATSC” (not an NTSC) as mentioned above. If it does not, you will need to purchase a digital converter box. If you can send us a quick email to RCAAntennaHelp@voxxintl.com with your zip code we can take a look to see what other specific information we may be able to provide to help you get watching Free HDTV.

Hello KIA1 – Hello KIA1 – If you did not perform a Channel Scan (also called Auto Program) through your TV’s menu after connecting the antenna, your TV will not display any channels. This step is essential for the antenna to work properly. If you have performed a scan and still only receive one channel, that indicates the over-the-air broadcast signals in your area may be weak or partially blocked. The single most important factor affecting reception is the signal strength from your local broadcast towers inside your home.

Try placing the antenna as high as possible, near a window facing the direction of your local broadcast towers, and run a new Channel Scan after each adjustment. You can check tower locations and signal coverage for your address here: https://www.fcc.gov/media/engineering/dtvmaps
For personalized setup help or pre-purchase antenna recommendations, visit our Ask-An-Engineer page: https://www.rcaantennas.net/ask-engineer/

Hello LisaP - Thank you for reaching out. To ensure optimal antenna performance, it's essential to first perform a channel scan through your TV menu settings after installation. However, regarding your experience in a basement setting, it's important to note that over-the-air broadcast signals have difficulty penetrating the earth and other dense materials, which is a significant challenge in basement environments. This obstruction is a key reason why receiving clear and stable signals in a basement can be particularly difficult. For antennas, higher and less obstructed locations typically offer better reception. If you require further assistance or guidance on antenna placement and options, we encourage you to contact us at RCAAntennaHelp@voxxintl.com for more help.

Hello Marji - The strength of the signal from your local broadcast towers at your specific location is the key factor in whether an antenna can receive a clear signal. Unfortunately, no antenna can pick up a signal that isn’t present. In some areas, it may be challenging to secure a strong, watchable signal due to the surrounding environment. Factors like the terrain, whether you have a clear line of sight to the broadcast towers, and even the construction materials of your home can impact indoor signal strength. To improve reception, we recommend placing your antenna high up, near a window that faces the direction of the broadcast towers. Also, be sure to rescan for channels anytime you adjust or move the antenna, as this step is essential to ensuring the best reception. If you’d like personalized assistance, please feel free to email us at RCAAntennaHelp@voxxintl.com, and we’d be happy to help determine the best antenna for your location.