Smart TV's - What You Need to Know | Jim's Antennas (2024)

FAQs

Smart TV's - What You Need to Know | Jim's Antennas? ›

Smart TV Antennas

If you want to watch free-to-air channels on your Smart TV, you would need to purchase an HD Digital TV antenna and attach it to your TV. You could use an analog antenna, but be prepared to have signal issues.

Smart TV Antennas

If you want to watch free-to-air channels on your Smart TV, you would need to purchase an HD Digital TV antenna and attach it to your TV. You could use an analog antenna, but be prepared to have signal issues.

While smart TVs typically come with built-in antennas, they are used for Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity — not for picking up free-to-air channels. You can always try using a less sophisticated analog antenna, but there's a good chance you'll experience signal problems.

In truth, most smart TVs have built-in antennas. And you can find this feature behind the TV. It's a port that allows you to plug a cable box into your TV. Further, the port is called an F-type connector or F-connector.

The two main types of smart antennas are switched-beam smart antennas and and adaptive arrays.

Compared with common antennas, smart antennas have the following advantages: Longer coverage distance: Smart antennas improve the signal strength at the same location as before and increase the user-experienced Wi-Fi speed. As such, fewer APs are required, reducing customers' investments.

A Roku TV is equipped with an ATSC tuner that provides access to digital “over-the-air” broadcast television. These channels can be accessed via an HDTV antenna connected to the Live TV input on your Roku TV.

Smart TVs come with built-in Wi-Fi connectivity. This allows them to provide you with a variety of streaming services and content. You can choose to connect your smart TV to the internet either wirelessly or using an ethernet cable. An ethernet cable will provide you with a stronger, more stable internet connection.

Ensure that your TV antenna is connected correctly to your set top box. Ensure cables are plugged in securely and undamaged. Attempt to view a Free to Air channel.

Can you watch normal TV channels on a Smart TV? ›

Yes, you can purchase a smart TV without an aerial built in. The catch is that aerials are not required to watch normal TV.

Yes, you do. Smart TVs do not have built-in antennas, so to be able to view free over-the-air channels, an antenna is required. You would need to connect the antenna to the TV and then use the following easy steps to get local channels: Install the Antenna.

Just like radios, some TVs will pick up local channels more reliably than others. Brands known to have the best tuner sensitivity include Samsung, LG and Vizio. Brands known to have the worst tuner sensitivity include Sony, Dynex, Insignia, Toshiba and TCL.

Parabolic – The most widely used high gain antenna at microwave frequencies and above. Consists of a dish-shaped metal parabolic reflector with a feed antenna at the focus. It can have some of the highest gains of any antenna type, up to 60 dBi, but the dish must be large compared to a wavelength.

Also known as adaptive antennas, these use an array of antennas in combination with smart signal processing algorithms that track the location of a mobile client device using techniques such as the direction of arrival of a signal.

There are several different types of antennas in three broad categories: omni-directional, directional, and semi-directional.

If hills, trees, buildings, or other geographic features are in between the broadcast towers and the antenna, the signals might not be able to reach your antenna. Elevating the antenna, either by placing it in a higher location or using a taller mast, will increase the signal reception.

All Smart TVs have a settings menu. While each model might organize the TV settings differently, you just need to find the section within your menu that allows you to “scan for channels” or “scan for TV antenna.” Expect the channel scan to take some time.

This is often a result of either the TV box being powered off, not being properly connected to the TV, or the TV being set to the wrong input. In some cases, if you are not receiving a signal on your TV, it could be a result of a service outage.

Some people think that a higher gain antenna will give them the strongest signal and highest quality connection. This is true in some cases, but in certain applications too much gain can be a bad thing. The truth is, the answer to whether you need a higher or a lower gain antenna lies in your application.

Is a longer antenna always better? ›

In addition, certain radios work better transmitting more power and using smaller antenna while others like to transmit less power but use larger antenna. Having a bigger antenna does not always increase usability of the signal. It may increase the total signal strength but it also can increase the noise in the signal.

Quality Over-the-Air TV antennas installed decades ago are still in service and capable of receiving signals because the basic science behind OTA reception hasn't changed. So, as long as your antenna hasn't been bent, broken, or otherwise damaged, there's no need to replace it.

Check to make sure your remote is working properly. If your Roku is too long out-of-date, you may experience any variety of issues. Update your Roku TV, and look to see if the problem is resolved. Especially after trying out the above, rescanning for channels can sometimes fix channels not appearing.

In addition to ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox stations, you also get access to some other syndicated stations in your area, plus your local PBS channels. The CW is available, but only as an on-demand service and not as a live TV channel.

With Roku TV's built-in features for Live TV and HD antenna, it's easy to cut back on cable bills without cutting back on the features that cable offers. Easily browse what's on now and what's coming up later with more than 100 always-on free Live TV channels.

Watching Netflix on a Smart TV

The remote may even have a dedicated Netflix button to open the app. If the app isn't already installed, just open your TV's app store and search for Netflix. The process of installing the app will vary based on your television, but the app will always be free to download.

On your Android TV, go to the Home screen. Scroll down to the "Apps" row. Select the Live Channels app.

If the Wi-Fi signal on your TV device drops or intermittently disconnects, try a power restart or reset of your TV and your modem/router first. A power cycle or reset of your devices often improves or resolves Wi-Fi connectivity issues.

If you are wondering how to get free to air channels without an antenna, or if it is possible, you'll be pleased to know that you can do so by watching content over the web using your digital TV. While you won't need an antenna, you will need an internet connection that is set up to a smart TV.

Do you need a Roku or Firestick with a smart TV? ›

Do I need a streaming device if I have a smart TV? The answer is not necessary. You do not need a streaming device like the Roku player if you have a smart TV. You can stream almost anything on the smart TV.

If you already have a smart TV, you don't need a streaming device. However, if you have extra needs or an older smart TV, a streaming device could be a better choice for you. Streaming devices provide more content. If you want endless options for entertainment, a streaming device is more beneficial.

Channels and broadcasts just don't magically appear on your TV. You have to connect an antenna or cable and then scan for local stations. Once you do this, available channels nearby will be yours to watch! First, make sure you have an antenna or a cable box already installed and set up to go.

Look on the front and back of the TV for a marking that indicates a digital tuner. It might say ATSC, DTV, HDTV, Digital Ready, HD Ready, Digital Tuner, Digital Receiver, Digital Tuner Built-in or Integrated Digital Tuner. Locate the model number of the TV and check the specifications on the manufacturer's website.

Pretty much all new digital TV's have a connection for a TV aerial which requires a lead with a coaxial IEC plug connection, some of the latest larger TV's are also equipped with Freesat tuners so you will need a lead with F connections to be able to connect this.

The cheapest streaming service that offers local channels is Sling. It costs $40/month and offers a lineup of NBC and FOX in select markets. The next best thing is Paramount+, which offers CBS affiliate channels. As a general rule, you should check with each service to see what they offer depending on your area.

While on-demand TV shows and movie access on Roku are convenient, some prefer live TV channels to catch their favorite shows, news channels, and sports events. You don't lose access to local channels when you cut the cord in favor of a Roku streaming stick. It's easy to watch local channels on your Roku device.

While smart TVs typically come with built-in antennas, they are used for Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity — not for picking up free-to-air channels. You can always try using a less sophisticated analog antenna, but there's a good chance you'll experience signal problems.

Con: No Basic Cable or Premium Channels

The TV antenna will only pick up signals that are distributed locally, and that does not include the basic cable or premium channels that are on many viewers' list of favorites.

The Winegard Elite 7550 is the smart option and the best TV antenna for outdoor installation. It may cost a little more, but the Winegard Elite 7550 pays dividends, delivering a whopping 73 channels in our tests.

Can you use Roku without internet? ›

Roku can work perfectly without an internet connection. There is a limit to the features you can access on Roku without the internet. But there are many things you can enjoy on Roku without an internet connection.

Nearly everything you might want to connect to a TV these days uses the same connection: HDMI . HDMI cables carry high-resolution images and sound over one small cable. Thankfully, HDMI cables are quite cheap.

There are huge differences between digital antennas and analog antennas. Analog antennas were specially designed to only pick up analog signals. On the other hand, digital antennas can receive and interpret digital signals. Analog antennas have lower frequencies while digital antennas have higher frequencies.

Smart TVs come with built-in Wi-Fi connectivity. This allows them to provide you with a variety of streaming services and content. You can choose to connect your smart TV to the internet either wirelessly or using an ethernet cable. An ethernet cable will provide you with a stronger, more stable internet connection.

Quality Over-the-Air TV antennas installed decades ago are still in service and capable of receiving signals because the basic science behind OTA reception hasn't changed. So, as long as your antenna hasn't been bent, broken, or otherwise damaged, there's no need to replace it.

Should You Get a Digital TV Antenna? TV antennas let you pick up extra channels in your area. They're especially great if you want to (or already have) cut the cord. These live, over-the-air channels may include ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS affiliates and independent stations.

While indoor antennas can pick up channels from broadcast stations within a 20-30 mile radius, the reach of an outdoor antenna is about 60 to 80 miles.

Outdoor antennas, especially those on a roof or mast, generally offer the best performance, particularly if you're many miles from the nearest broadcast towers. But an indoor TV antenna is easier to set up, and for some people, it's the only practical option.

As a rule of thumb, indoor antennas are suitable for areas with strong or very strong signals, attic/outdoor antennas work in areas of medium signal strength, and larger outdoor antennas are best for areas surrounded by weak signals.

The app will be free to download and install on your connected TV but you will need a subscription. You do get a 30-day free trial though, if you've never used Netflix before. Once you have the application downloaded and installed, you can log into it with your account details and off you go.