Getting an antenna from government means we can access free over-the-air television. It includes government-assisted channels such as ABC, CBS, PBS, FOX, etc. This program helps people to access free tv, regardless of their financial constraints.
Free TV antennas can be found in several places including public parks, municipal offices, libraries, etc. In this article, we will explore the benefits of getting a free TV antenna from government, how to get it, and how to install or set up an antenna.
Can You Get Free TV Antenna from Government?
No, you can’t get a free tv antenna from government as there is no program for people to achieve a tv antenna without cost. However, few non-profit organizations offer free TV antenna to low-income households and individuals.
Antenna Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides access to free over-the-air TV. They offer free antennas to qualified low-income individuals. To qualify for a free antenna, go to Antenna Foundation or call 1-888-268-3662.
Also, the Lifeline Program offers discounted or free antenna. It’s a govt. Program that provides phone service to low-income people. Lifeline also provides discounts on broadband internet and phone service with a data plan. Lifeline Assistance Program offers few discounts on TV antennas. If you want to get a TV antenna from Lifeline, just contact your local Lifeline company or visit their website.
Otherwise, you can purchase an antenna from a variety of electronics stores, antenna stores, or Amazon. Outdoor and indoor antenna prices may vary store by store but it could range from $10 to $100.
Non-profit organization That Offers Discounted or Free TV Antenna
1. National Telecommunications And Information Administration (NTIA)
NTIA is an agency of the US Commerce Department that acts as an advisor for telecommunication policy. Their goal is to ensure affordable phone and cable TV service to all Americans.
This govt. agency provides different policies to purchase and install antennas according to the FCC. They didn’t provide a free antenna but offered a helpful guide to choose a perfect antenna for over-the-air TV reception.
2. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
LIHEAP is designed to assist low-income families with home energy needs. They don’t offer antennas but helped to raise funds to buy an antenna for over-the-air TV reception. To apply to this program, you must meet eligibility rules. Contact your nearest LIHEAP office or visit the official website for further information.
How to Get Free TV Channels with Antenna?
You can actually save at least $100 per month if you turn off a satellite tv subscription and go for TV antenna. A digital TV antenna is an all-in-one solution for cord-cutters who desire to watch the highest quality content over-the-air broadcast.
Due to technological advancement, we don’t need to place antennas outside of the room. Now you can go for a digital TV antenna that costs about $50. Still, now, TV stations broadcast high-definition free TV over the air.
They deliver radio frequency signals that can be caught by digital and analog antennas. So, buying a small indoor HDTV antenna with an amplifier will be worth it as it can receive broadcasts around 30 miles away.
Here, location must be a factor, the low range you locate, the high frequency you will get into the antenna. As I earlier mentioned some free channels such as ABC, CBS, PBS, FOX, PBS, etc. You can even watch football, movie-series on these channels.
With a digital tv antenna, you will get almost 40+ channels. It is worth buying an antenna to get free tv channels at home without a subscription cost.
How to Pick an Antenna to Watch Free TV?
Watching free TV with an antenna is a simple task. You just need an antenna, connect the cable to the TV, perform a channel scan and you are ready to get dozens of local channels for free.
The number of channels depends on several factors such as the type of antenna, and the distance between tv and broadcast tower. Buying the right tv antenna is a good choice because it can catch good radio frequency and help you to access plenty of local channels to watch for free.
Here is a step-by-step guide to picking an antenna and how to get all local channels for free!
How Many Channels You Can Watch?
Actually, this answer depends on your location. Federal Communication Commission reveals the DTV Reception Maps. When you enter the ZIP code, you will get a complete list of coverage areas that indicates which stations you can view.
Signal Legends differ from area to area. Remember, green labels mean strong reception, yellow means medium reception, orange has weak reception, and red means no signal. Here, I input Northern Colorado ZIP code to see the coverage result which also shows the channel list that I can watch.
Unfortunately, the FCC never recommends antennas for specific locations. FCC evaluates reception primarily based totally on an outside antenna that is 30 feet above the ground.
But, we have a list of non-governmental websites that clarifies the antenna type based on your location. Fortunately, they recommend indoor and outdoor antennas.
Those who can’t afford outdoor antennas can go for smaller indoor antennas. Read on to know this!
Learn More: How to Get Better Signal With Straight Talk – 7 Super Easy Method
3 Websites to Get Free TV Antenna Type Ideas Based on Location?
1. Antenna Web
AntennaWeb is a very important website to check all available channels in your area. After you input ZIP code, this site will reveal a color-coded channel list and antenna type in your area. This all-in-one tool will help you to understand the antenna type to access your favorite channel.
2. Antennas Direct
Like other antenna mapping tools, Antenna Direct is also a part of this race. It displays suitable TV transmitters in your area. This map also shows the actual distance between broadcast towers and your home. It also recommends antennas and similar components based on particular locations just like Channel Master.
3. Channel Master
Channel Master is the perfect place to get all TV antennas and mounting equipment. After you input the location name and ZIP code, this site will show available channels, the best channels you can receive, and the suitable antenna model you should go for.
Fortunately, they recommend both indoor and outdoor antennas based on the distance from the broadcast tower. You can navigate and see the maps and understand the relation to your house.
3 Websites to Get Free OTA Service from Antenna?
1. NextGen TV
NextGen TV is the new version of over-the-air antenna TV. It is a popular platform that broadcasts TV for free. It is also known as ATSC 3.0 offering HD video quality, mobile reception, theater-like sound effects, and smart features to enhance your broadcasting experience.
NextGen TV helps local TV stations to be better in broadcasting with interactive features, so you can get the most free and relevant content. NextGen TV is available in many areas. You can check out its market here.
2. Antenna TV
Antenna TV is a digital network that airs on TV stations in the US. This network offers favorite movies, tv programs. Local TV stations broadcast Antenna TV as a digital channel in many cities. It is free and available for everyone over-the-air using indoor and outdoor antennas. They are working to be available in all areas of the USA. Inform your local TV stations to allow watching Antenna TV’s classic program.
3. Free TV Project
Free TV Project is an over-the-air (OTA) platform that is used for education purposes. They promise to deliver OTA service to all educationists and ensure a safe content policy. Free TV Project delivers OTA service and provides you with antenna options, clean installation tips, and offers free broadcast tools to discover the educational content and educational channels in your area via OTA TV.
How to Find the Right TV Antenna for Your Home?
As I mentioned earlier, reception maps are the first step to understanding the signal capability in your area. But, signal strength depends on several factors such as construction area, hills area, distance from broadcast tower, weather, and trees.
But, the right antenna can catch a distant tower signal, which will also help you in watching free TV. Finding the best antenna could be a hassle and error process as you don’t know which antenna works best in your home.
First thing, you can check the coverage map by inputting the location name and ZIP code (on Antenna Web, Channel Master, Antenna Direct) to see the visualization of the signal. Second, follow my antenna recommendations.
Such as, if your location is 20 miles away from broadcast towers, you may want to try outdoor antennas. But, you can first try an indoor antenna, and return it if it doesn’t work. Sometimes, indoor antennas don’t work well because building materials like brick, metal, and stucco reduce the incoming signal.
But, an outdoor antenna has no issue with this as it is completely hung on the particular material and dancing over the air. So, all types of signals can catch it.
How to Connect Antenna to Your Smart TV?
After you purchase an antenna above, set its position and location to determine where it receives the best possible signal. Your purchased antenna should be located near a window or wall and must be pointed in the direction of broadcast towers.
You can also try different points, different locations, and different angles to get the best signal, so you can watch ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX channels in HD versions with no rain fade effect.
How to Perform a Channel Scan?
Once you set up the antenna and connect it to your TV. Now it’s time to scan my favorite channels. FCC has clear instructions about performing channel scanning. You can also do this from settings or menu buttons on your remote control and select channel scan to find available channels.
If you see “No signal or Weak signal”, try “Rescan”. Sometimes, “Rescan” helps to get better signal reception. After performing a channel scan, you will get a list of available channels. Save them to access later or now.
Enjoy Your Free TV!
Once you installed the antenna and connected it to the TV in the right direction. Furthermore, you just completed channel scanning. Now, start clicking through a channel to start watching. If it seems to lag and load more time, consider trying another channel, or changing your antenna. It is always better to point the antenna in the tower’s direction to capture the most possible frequency signal. Okay bye, enjoy your free tv antenna from government.
