Get The Low Down On How An Antenna Works

We have been using antennas for many decades now and continue to reap the benefits of this useful and reliable device. The antenna that is attached to our car allows us to tune in to radio broadcasts and listen to mainstream music. The antenna that is attached to that remote control car that your child is playing with allows him to enjoy his new toy immensely. The antenna in our cell phones, although not the typical shape and size of most antennas, allows us to converse with our family, friends, business associates, and just about anybody anywhere - well, almost anywhere!

Like those antennas that we find so useful in our lives, TV antennas are still very much in use by millions of people across America and the rest of the world. Television stations broadcast their news, series, movies, and other programs through over-the-air frequencies, and millions of people prefer the simplicity of local channels and love not having to pay for TV service. Most people don't give it a second thought, but have you ever wondered how it is an antenna works?

Have you ever seen how metal reacts to electricity? An antenna works much in the same way. It is comprised of a central metal piece, otherwise called a boom, and has a pair of metal rods extending from its main body. This aluminum or metal can rust over time, however, and when it does, the active elements will lost contact with one another and compromise its performance. With these components, it is able to pick up over-the-air signals that are being transmitted from the broadcast towers that are placed on the rooftop or at a nearby elevated location by the television station.

Since an antenna can pick up frequencies, can't it pick up transmissions from radio and cell phones as well? TV frequencies are broadcast on either VHF, or very high frequency, UHF, or ultra high frequency, or both. Radio stations and cell phones use different frequencies, so you wouldn't have to worry about picking up someone's conversation while watching TV. When the antenna picks up the signal emitted from the towers, it is then translated into video and audio.

If you are in the market for a new digital antenna, you might have noticed specific words that you are unsure of. Gain refers to how strong the antenna can receive signals at certain frequencies, so it is advised that you purchase an antenna that has a higher gain. Front-to-back ratio determines how directional an antenna is. Directional or uni-directional means that the antenna focuses on receiving signals from one central location, and it can pick up signals that are broadcast no more than 20 degrees apart from one another. Multi-directional or omni-directional means the antenna can pick up signals from all locations at once. Ghosting refers to multiple images you see on the TV as a result of interference or receiving the same signal multiple times, which can be caused by reflections off of the clouds or neighboring buildings.