RadioShack Budget TV Antenna

Bottom Line

For those who live in areas of high signal strength, the RadioShack Budget TV Antenna could be all you need. Its classic rabbit ears and loop design is similar to those used for decades for analog TV, but tweaked to do a great job drawing in digital TV signals.

Performance

If you have the signal, this antenna can deliver. In high-signal areas, any basic antenna could work, but the RadioShack Budget TV Antenna (15-1874) uses a larger than typical loop antenna that optimizes UHF gain for the part of the band used for digital TV. However, its design leaves the antenna vulnerable to multipath interference. These signal reflections from buildings or other objects that caused annoying ghosts in analog reception can make digital signals completely useless no matter how strong they are. For areas where multipath interference is a problem, a directional antenna like the Terk HDTVa (*Est. $40) may be a better choice. It includes a built-in 12-decibel amplifier to pull in signals from as far as 45 miles away.

Aesthetics

Retro to the max. The RadioShack Budget TV Antenna certainly isn't a work of art. Some find its traditional rabbit ears and loop design to be unattractive, but it's reasonably unobtrusive compared to some antenna designs.

Value

One of the least expensive antennas you can buy. It's tough to find a cheaper antenna than the RadioShack Budget TV Antenna. That said, the design's inherent limitations make it only suitable for those fortunate enough to enjoy near-ideal reception conditions.