Unless this a new TV with ATSC (digital) tuning built in, you will need a digital adapter for off-the-air reception. Older TV sets have analog tuners, and analog broadcasting ended in June 2009.
Wal-Mart and
Radio Shack carry the adapters, as do other retailers. Your antenna connects to the adapter, and the adapter sends the converted signal to the TV on channel 3 or 4.
With digital broadcasting, a strong signal is necessary. Unlike the analog days, when a weak signal just meant a fuzzy picture, a weak digital signal will cause pixellation (blockiness) or freezing of the picture, or may not even be detected by the tuner. Depending on how far you are from the station's transmitter, you may find that rabbit-ears may not work too well. You may need an amplified antenna or even one outside to get best performance.
×