The 5 Best Outdoor TV Antennas for Rural Areas (Review)

In the new era, modern TV antennas are rapidly replacing cable TVs. They are surely an effective way to replace your own costly cable TV subscription, which would help you to watch your favorite TV shows and sports at almost negligible prices when compared to hefty cable TV subscriptions.

A TV antenna is basically a specially shaped bunch of wires that pick up the signals broadcast by television networks. Your TV requires an antenna in order to pick up stations broadcast by television stations. Your TV antenna receives the signal and converts that signal into audio and video signals that can be used by the TV to display whatever program you are watching.

Even in the rural areas, you can grab a TV antenna with long-range signal reception and watch all your TV shows with excellent picture quality. Do you want to own such a thing and put some weight off your pocket? Have a look at these different TV antennas which may well suit your requirements.

The number of stations available depends on where you live. With all of the options for cable TV or satellite, we wouldn’t blame you if you haven’t considered the idea of a TV antenna. However, it is no secret that all of those options can be expensive. They’re not really worth it if you’re a person who just wants to keep up to date with their favorite shows and sports channels. Even if you only pay for a subscription or two, the price is still well beyond what most of us are comfortable paying.

Fortunately, yes, there is a solution to this. It’s not free, but instead of a subscription, you pay a one-time fee. After that, you’re set. Curious? The solution is an outdoor TV antenna. And it doesn’t only work in the city. It works in rural areas as well, all you need is better reception.

Best Outdoor TV Antennas for Rural Areas

But what’s the best outdoor TV antenna available at the moment? In fact, how does one even choose a TV antenna that would give them access to wonderful free TV channels in rural areas? What else do we need to know? This article is our attempt at answering them.

We have made a list of some of the best TV antennas for rural areas. The list has five top antennas available on the Amazon shelves.

1. Winegard HD8200U Platinum VHF/UHF HDTV Antenna (65 Miles+)

Features:

• Watch free HDTV television up to 65 miles from a tower.
• Receives Low-VHF, High-VHF and UHF signals.
• Watch 4k Ultra High-Def television where available.
• 75-ohm download coupler simply snaps into place for fast, easy assembly.
• Vertical height: 33″
• Steel hardware is zinc plated for maximum corrosion resistance; flexible polyethylene boot covers protect connections from the weather
• Receives 73 channels
• Size: 30 x 17.5 x 5 inches

For most users, an indoor HDTV antenna will nab the channels you desire. There are some spots, however, where only an outdoor antenna will do the job. With a reception range of over 70 miles, Wingard’s Elite 7550 provides incredible performance and impressive signal quality. That comes thanks in part to Winegard’s proprietary TwinAmp technology, which amplifies VHF and UHF (the two different types of OTA signals) separately and with less noise than other amplified antenna models.

Keep in mind, amplified antennas come with an in-line signal amplifier that requires power, so you’ll have to find a spot somewhere between the antenna and the TV or receiver to plug it into a wall outlet or power strip. The antenna includes an LTE filter the company says is specifically designed to fight interference from cell towers.

It also has a low-noise preamp embedded in the antenna and an in-line amp with a 3-foot USB power cable and adapter. It’s all intended to clean up what can be less than ideal incoming HDTV signals. It’s smaller and lighter than many outdoor models, making it easy to find the proper location for mounting, and also supports multiple connected TVs at once — you’ll just need to supply the splitter yourself.

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2. Channel Master CM-4228HD High VHF, UHF and HDTV Antenna (80+ Miles)

Features:

• Picks up free TV from multiple networks in crystal clear uncompressed HD
• Top performing and highest rated long range outdoor TV Antenna
• Reception Range is up to 80 Miles
• Reception Angle is multi-directional (Up to 180˚)
• Powerful reception of  12dB Gain
• Preassembled for quick and easy installation on a roof, chimney, wall, attic, etc.

With dimensions coming in at 41 x 5.5 x 33 inches, EXTREMEtenna 80 from Channel Master is absolutely worthy of its name. This outdoor antenna is a multidirectional eight-bay monster. That means it’s capable of picking up absolutely everything within the 80-mile range.

With its 12dB gain reception, it will bring many channels to your home. And not only will they be free, but they will also come in crystal clear uncompressed HD. Users report EXTREMEtenna picking up VHF-high (RF 7–13) and UHF channels (RF 14 and up). However, the antenna fails to pick up VHF-low channels, i.e. RF 2–6.

EXTREMEtenna is multi-directional. It will receive broadcast signals at the reception angles of up to 180 degrees. However, you will have to point it in the direction of the transmitting station. Now, that doesn’t mean the antenna will fail to pick up channels in the area if you fail to direct it properly. It has strong reception, so it’ll be able to pick up stronger signals coming to its sides. However, for the best results, we advise you to point its bow-tie elements to the transmitting station.

When it comes to its signal range, users report excellent reception even in mountainous areas. Depending on the location of the transmitting stations, however, you might need a signal booster to improve your reception.

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3. 1byone Amplified Outdoor Antenna (60+ Miles)

Features:

• The frequency range is between 174-230MHz; 470-862MHz
• Receiving Range is VHF/UHF
• Built-in Amplified Antenna Gain: 21-23dB for VHF; 26-28dB for UHF
• Impedance for this antenna is 75Ω
• Power Supply Input is AC 110V 60Hz
• Power Supply Output is DC 12V 100mA
• Comes with a 24-month warranty.

One never has to pay his cable or satellite fee for television after once. You can get all local channels crystal clear and absolutely free! Included Mounting Pole and Built-in High Gain and Low Noise Amplifier -J-shape pole for antenna installation; super long distance reception up to 85-100 miles. Superior construction to withstand tough outdoor weather conditions

Optimized for 1080P digital reception, the 1byone antenna allows you to pick up free local VHF and UHF high-definition and standard definition signals. The promised range is 150 miles, but where other antennas don’t come near the promised range, the 1byone actually delivers.

In ideal conditions, you can get a high-quality signal from stations that are around 140 miles away. This is very impressive. Even when the weather isn’t that good, you still get high quality, both video, and sound. The signal range also drops just a touch, but not as much as we thought.

The antenna is best optimized for a 1080p image. This outdoor antenna will allow for amazing image and sound quality, seeing as it supports full HD. It is optimized to pick up all local HDTV, VHF and UHF signals. In addition to that, the antenna comes with an inbuilt amplifier.  So you won’t have to worry about the signal even if you don’t live in urban areas. 1byone’s antenna can pick up channels even through a thick forest.  If a range is a priority for you, and you want something that’s built really well, this is the one to get.

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4. Bowtie Indoor/Outdoor HDTV Antenna (70+ Miles)

Features:

• 70 Mile Range; UHF, 470 MHz to 698 MHz, US Channels 14 – 69.
• Receive free TV from networks like ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CW, PBS, Univision, MeTV and more in FullHD 1080
• The multi-purpose arrangement provides flexibility and easy installation in areas with stations in different directions.
• The beam angle is 24.5 degree at 470 MHz to 16.3 degrees at 698 MHz, the range is 70 miles
• Includes DB8e Antenna, all-weather mounting hardware, and instructions (mount and coaxial cable sold separately)
• Lifetime warranty on parts

The DB8e Bowtie antenna has an unsurpassed gain of 17.4 dBi making this the most powerful antenna in the world! Utilizing patented technology to receive TV signals 70 miles away, the specially designed brackets allow the two panels to target broadcast towers in multiple directions. The DB8e is ideal for rural areas where heavy foliage or roofing materials reduce the incoming signal. No other extreme range bowtie antenna can match its performance.

Bowtie antennas have been popular for over 60 years and Antennas Direct designed a new breakthrough technology making these antennas smaller while delivering 2x the power and half the size of legacy bowtie antennas. In addition, the reflector focuses the antennas power for added range and also provides protection against multipath interference. Antennas Direct is dedicated to providing superior antennas supported by a lifetime warranty.

Locate the broadcast towers serving your area at the official website. Place in the attic or outdoors for best results. Connect one end of a coaxial cable to the antenna and the other end to your TV. Scan for the available channels using your TV remote control. Try several locations to find the best reception and remember to scan for channels at each location. Enjoy all your favorite local and network shows in Full HD 1080 where available.

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5. Xtreme Signal Long Range Yagi Style VHF/UHF HDTV Antenna (70+ Miles)

Features:

• The high-gain design allows for 70+ miles reception for UHF and 25 Miles for High Band VHF ensuring you get the freest HD broadcasts for your area
• Mounting hardware is compatible with masts 1.6″ outer diameter and smaller.
• Uses built-in transformer for direct 75 ohms (coax) connection, that is more weather-proof than the old style, pigtail transformer
• Strongback reflector reduces interference from the back giving you better overall signal
• Covered by a 6 Month Limited Warranty

The best thing about Xtreme Signal antenna is that it isn’t affected by trees and shade. It works perfectly and the picture and sound quality are good. It works as good as it looks. Although it intercepts fewer channels than the other antennas in this price range, it works like a charm. If you just don’t want too many channels you can go for this product.

Not only does their long-range HDB91X antenna’s high-gain design allows for over 70-mile reception for UHF channels, but it also allows for a 25-mile reception of high VHF channels. That means the HDB91X will bring you most of the free HD channels that are broadcast in your area.

However, it doesn’t really matter how high you place the antenna. You’ll get the best reception if you direct it toward the broadcast tower. The antenna does not come with a rotor. Basically, once you mount it and point it in a certain direction, that’s pretty much it. HDB91X has a very strong back reflector which will reduce any interference you might be getting from the back. Therefore, you can rest assured that you’re getting a good overall signal. So maybe you won’t even have to move it after all!

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Buyer’s Guide

Unfortunately, things aren’t as simple as just buying the antenna and watching everything your heart desires. There are limitations to consider, and some of them might make the purchase not worth it. Price is the number one factor but not the only one. Let’s see a few of these things that should be considered.

• Access to channels: The first one is finding out what channels you can access. In rural areas, you’ll most likely get fewer channels than you would get in a metro area. This depends on how far you are from the broadcast tower, as well as the type of residence and how high you install the antenna.

• Tools: There are online tools that help you figure this out before you buy. Just type in your details, and you’ll get an estimate of the channels you would be able to watch.

• Type of Antenna: The alleged power of an antenna is also a thing to consider. You should know, though, that what is advertised as power is actually the antenna gain, as an antenna doesn’t generate power. The gain has a huge impact on the reception, so pay attention to this.

• Reception: Reception is key in rural areas, so you’ll want to go with either a rooftop installation or an attic one. However, with an attic installation, make sure the antenna can easily penetrate the roof’s materials. If you have an aluminum roof, this is out of the question, and you must set it up outside.

• Frequency: The TV channels broadcast over both UHF and VHF frequencies. If you want a larger number of channels, the antenna you buy should have both UHV and VHF capabilities. A single frequency range antenna is actually very restrictive, and we wouldn’t recommend it.

• Omni/Multi-directional: While we’re at the frequencies, you should consider a directional versus a multi-directional antenna. A directional antenna will point towards a single direction and improve the signal coming from there. A multi-directional one, on the other hand, will receive signals from multiple directions at the same time.

• Interference & Height: Last but not least, you should consider interference and antenna height. This is a much larger issue in the cities than it is in rural areas. Interference is mostly a problem due to tall buildings, but you shouldn’t neglect electronic interference either. All of your appliances in the home, especially wireless ones, contribute to more electronic interference.

However, placing your antenna outdoors, above the ground, can help quite a bit. You don’t have tall buildings in rural areas, so you’re good with that. Height does boost reception quality, though, because even trees and hills can deflect and weaken signals. Placing the antenna in an elevated space, such as the highest point of your rooftop, ensures the best quality and reception.

What are the other factors I should consider?

Figure out what channels are available in your area. There’s a number of online tools you can use for that, such as TV Fool. With a couple of details regarding your location, you can easily find out what channels you can expect your antenna to pick up.

Also Read: TVFix Caster Review

Perhaps even more importantly, decide which channels you’re interested in watching. The drill is rather simple for this one, guys. You just need to pick up the TV guide in the newspaper! But let’s face it. Most of you are going to do it online, which is perfectly acceptable too. But when you do it, just make sure you mark over the air or antenna as your provider. You don’t want to get your hopes up only to realize it’s a cable channel.

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FAQs

• Am I allowed to mount an outdoor antenna?

Yes, but we advise you to double-check whether the FCC allows it. Interestingly enough, the FCC will usually override any homeowner association rules that prevent you from mounting an antenna.

• Are these weatherproof?

No matter where you live, you’ll need to consider the weather factor before committing to an antenna. Namely, the receiver of your choice has to be able to withstand heavy rain, strong wind, and occasional thunderstorms. Basically, you need to look for an antenna that is lightning protected and, if possible, that requires a mounting mast. J-poles are okay too, but only if they’re made of iron.

• Should I opt for a directional antenna?

Yes, if you live in a densely populated area with a lot of tall buildings or in a rural area surrounded by hills. The so-called multipath interference can cause quite a lot of problems, making signals unusable in the process. The surest way to avoid turning signals into ghosts is to opt for a big outdoor directional antenna.

• Should I install it in the attic or on the roof?

Most people consider that the roof is the best possible place to mount their antenna. And in case you have an aluminum roof, you should definitely stick to that belief. However, the attic is a great alternative too. You will need to make sure that the broadcast signals can actually penetrate through the roof.

• Will I need a router or a signal amplifier?

If you’re too far away from the broadcasting towers and your signal is too weak, then you will probably need an amplifier. Make pre-amplified antennas your priority when browsing. If you opt for a non-amplified antenna, and the broadcast signals are already decent, making them stronger can actually harm your digital tuner. The amplifier doesn’t only amplify the signal. It also amplifies the noise.

When it comes to the rotor, it can come in very handy if you’re interested in picking up channels that are broadcast from different locations. With it, you can simply rotate the antenna with a simple click of remote control.

• Do these products have warranties?

Yes, different brands have different warranty periods. Please check the description box of the required product before buying,

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Conclusion

Well, guys, all good things must come to an end, and so must this guide on best outdoor TV antennas. It’s time to bring this exposé to a close. Our goal here today was to present the top five outdoor antennas that are popular at the moment. And we did our best to compile a list of antennas. We sought out the best, only to deliver them to you.

In addition to that, we wanted to teach you what you should pay attention to when looking for an outdoor antenna. We just hope that our Q&A-meets-Buyer’s-Guide manual provided everything you wanted or needed to know. In our opinion, buying an outdoor antenna is the best decision any TV-lover could make. Make your big screen TV shine brightly with awesome channels. For free. You deserve it, and you know it.

Also Read: Best Long Range Outdoor HDTV Antenna

At the end of the day, picking the best outdoor TV antenna for rural areas isn’t that easy. You have a lot of options, and not all of them are optimized towards being used in a rural area. Some are made for areas with a lot of obstacles and plenty of towers nearby, which is the opposite of what you need.

However, if you go through our list, you’ll see five excellent options for rural areas. They all have great reception, and the range is also good for most of them. Weather doesn’t hinder them much, which is an essential thing for rural areas. All that’s left for you is to choose the one that fits your environment best and order it. Good luck!