Thanks to streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, more and more people are cutting the cord and ditching cable. Of course, there are some programs (particularly news and sports) that are still best viewed live on a television set. If you want to dump your cable provider (your wallet will thank you) it might be a good idea to buy a TV antenna and make sure you keep those important local channels.
A TV antenna will help keep your signal crystal clear when viewing those basic channels. Instead of an overly expensive monthly bill, a long-range TV antenna will cost you a reasonable one-time fee, and even the best antennas out there are affordable. So jump on the “cut the cord” bandwagon and get all of the pros without the cons by purchasing an omnidirectional TV antenna for your home.
Carry on reading to see our full list of the best long-range omnidirectional TV antennas, followed by a recap breaking down what makes each product on our list stand out. Or jump straight to our number #1 pick on Amazon here.
What Should You Look For in a Long-Range Omnidirectional TV Antenna?
You don’t need to be a mechanic to learn what to look for in the best long-range TV antennas. While, especially if you’ve never bought one before, it may sound daunting, we promise that you’ll be able to learn all of the major factors in no time at all. And we’re here to help. We want you to feel in the loop and understand our list as we go without too much extra searching. That’s why we’ve made this easy-to-understand rubric that will break down everything you need to know about omnidirectional TV antennas. You’ll be a certified expert before you know it. Who knows? Soon enough, you might even be making your own list of the best TV antennas. Keep reading to learn about the most important features in your next long-range omnidirectional TV antenna.
Criteria #1: Range – Considering this is a list of long-range antennas, it shouldn’t be a surprise that we’re placing a lot of value on the range. The range of your antenna will determine the distance over which it can receive signals, and that means you’ll be able to get more channels from further away. That means that the range of your TV antenna will be much more important if you live in a rural area. To guarantee that you’re able to access all of the channels you need, no matter how far the nearest city is, make sure you get a long-range TV antenna that really lives up to the phrase “long-range.”
Criteria #2: Picture Quality – The longest range possible and access to all of the channels in the world won’t be very nice if all of your channels look terrible. Even if you have the fanciest TV on the market, if your antenna isn’t up to the job, you won’t be getting good image quality, and that ultra HD TV you splurged for won’t do you any good. We want to make sure that you get an omnidirectional antenna that can give you an HD image that’s up to our modern standards. To that end, we’ll be aiming for antennas that support at least 1080p image quality, though we’ll be aiming for 4K resolution, which is the best quality currently available.
Criteria #3: Versatility – There’s a whole world of TV viewing out there, and we want to make sure you’re able to access all of it. Part of that will be accomplished simply by having an omnidirectional antenna. An omnidirectional antenna (as opposed to directional antennas) can pick up a signal in a radius of every direction, instead of requiring being pointed in one specific direction. Since every antenna on our list will be omnidirectional, you won’t need to worry about that at all, but there are other features to look out for. For example, you’ll want your long-range omnidirectional TV antenna to receive both UHF and VHF frequencies. Additionally, you may want an omnidirectional antenna that supports multiple TV sets, depending on what you have in your household. The best TV antenna will be suitable for any customer – no questions asked.
Criteria #4: Design – “Design” can mean a lot of things, so we’ll have to explain a little bit. As we said, you don’t have to be a mechanic to learn about omnidirectional antennas, and the same is true for installing them. The best long-range omnidirectional TV antenna will be a piece of cake to install and will be just as easy to use. This will usually mean having a convenient remote, that gives you quick access to any settings you need to change, and one that has clear labels so that you always know exactly what you’re doing. In short, a good design for a TV antenna is one that makes the antenna accessible for customers no matter how technophobic they may be.
Criteria #5: Price – We’re not here to make you spend a ton of money for no reason. Meeting this criterion is less about being cheap and more about justifying your price. We’d rather buy an expensive product that’s cheaper than it should be than waste money on a cheaper product that isn’t worth the money and that will just break on you or not perform well. Luckily, a good omnidirectional TV antenna really doesn’t cost all that much, so you won’t be finding yourself needing to compromise between price and quality anytime soon.
Here’s How We’ve Determined the Best Long-Range Omnidirectional TV Antennas
We measured the specs of the top products on the market against our listed criteria to see how they held up and if they’re worth buying. We then checked customer reviews, blog posts, and “best long-range omnidirectional TV antennas” articles to see if the products on our list performed as advertised. We’ll also make sure to include a wide variety of products that covers different niches and price points. Finally, we’ll make sure to take note of any important features that didn’t fit neatly into our above-mentioned rubric. This way, everyone can find the perfect product that will satisfy their needs and their budget.
And without further ado, here is our list – tailored to your specific needs – of the best long-range omnidirectional TV antennas.
#1: Five Star Omnidirectional HDTV Antenna (Best Value – All-Purpose)
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Our list gets started with the Five Star Omnidirectional HDTV Antenna, which lives true to its manufacturer’s name and really checks all of our boxes. This omnidirectional outdoor TV antenna boasts an advertised range of 150 miles, and it provides you with the best 4K image that money can buy. You’ll be able to enjoy all of your sports games the way they should be enjoyed with this HD TV antenna. Our top-ranked antenna is also equipped with a built-in dipole for excellent UHF and VHF band signal reception, and it has a built-in LTE filter that stops phones and other devices from interfering with the signal.
Like any outdoor TV antenna should be, the Five Star Omnidirectional HDTV Antenna is snow-proof, UV-proof, wind-proof, and water-proof. In short, it’s weatherproof. Combine that with its easy, tool-free, DIY setup, and the Five Star Omnidirectional HDTV Antenna boasts one of the best designs out there.
This omnidirectional TV antenna has absolutely no setting that you’ll need to change. Everything is completely automatic, so all you need to do is install the Five Star Omnidirectional HDTV Antenna and enjoy your new subscription-free TV. There will be some adjustments you’ll need to make on your TV, but it’s fairly intuitive, and you’ll be done before you know it. Best of all, our top-ranked omnidirectional outdoor TV antenna can support up to 4 TVs at once, so anybody can watch whatever they want throughout the house, making this antenna perfect for larger families or shared apartments.
There’s really nothing bad to say about the Five Star Omnidirectional HDTV Antenna. It’s affordable, has great range, has great picture quality, and is easier than anything to install. You’ll wonder why you didn’t get this TV antenna sooner. The Five Star Omnidirectional HDTV Antenna is our best omnidirectional TV antenna, and it’s no contest.
#2: Lava Omnipro HD-8008 Omni-Directional HDTV Antenna (Best for Multiple TVs)
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The Five Star Omnidirectional HDTV Antenna justifiably earned our number one spot as the best omnidirectional TV antenna, but no product is perfect, and while our top-ranked long-range omnidirectional TV antenna should be the first product any customer looks at, it won’t be for everyone. While it’s the best deal on the market compared to its price, some customers may want to spend a little more if it means walking away with an omnidirectional TV antenna that’s a better fit for them.
If that sounds like you, then you’ll need to check out the Lava Omnipro HD-8008 Omni-Directional HDTV Antenna. Our runner-up outdoor TV antenna is a little more expensive than the Five Star Omnidirectional HDTV Antenna, but it has some features you just can’t get anywhere else.
The biggest reason you might decide to go with the Lava Omnipro HD-8008 Omni-Directional HDTV Antenna over our number one pick is that it supports more TVs at a time than any other TV antenna on the market. While the 4-TV support of the Five Star Omnidirectional HDTV Antenna may seem more than enough for a lot of customers, it’s just not enough for some of the bigger families out there. Luckily, if you just buy one extra splitter, the Lava Omnipro HD-8008 Omni-Directional HDTV Antenna becomes compatible with 8 different TVs at once. You can provide an entire Bed and Breakfast with subscription-free television with the Lava Omnipro HD-8008 Omni-Directional HDTV Antenna.
On top of the 8-way support, the Lava Omnipro HD-8008 Omni-Directional HDTV Antenna boasts a 125-mile range and the same 4K image support as our top-ranked omnidirectional TV antenna. It’s also incredibly easy to install, and it’s earned the tagline “set it and forget it.”
Other than the support for more TVs, the biggest reason someone may want to buy the Lava Omnipro HD-8008 Omni-Directional HDTV Antenna instead of the omnidirectional TV antenna from Five Star is simple – it’s more popular. Though the Five Star Omnidirectional HDTV Antenna is an amazing product, it’s something of a hidden gem, and it has just 100 reviews (as of this writing) on Amazon. This might make some customers nervous that they’re buying an unproven product. On the other hand, the Lava Omnipro HD-8008 Omnidirectional TV Antenna has over 1,000 reviews on Amazon and has sold over one million units in the United States, so you can be sure that our runner-up omnidirectional TV antenna is tried and tested.
If you need as much mileage as possible or want the cheaper product, then you should go with Five Star’s incredible omnidirectional TV antenna. But if you have a ton of TVs or you want the most popular product, then you have to buy the Lava Omnipro HD-8008 Omni-Directional HDTV Antenna.
#3: Forlovv Digital Omnidirectional HDTV Antenna (Best Indoor Antenna)
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While the first two omnidirectional TV antennas on our list have both been outdoor TV antennas, you may want something that’s going to stay indoors. If you live in an area with more intense weather, you may want something that’s not going to be exposed to the elements, or you may just not like the look of a TV antenna sticking out of your roof. Whatever your reason is for wanting an indoor TV antenna, the Forlovv Digital Omnidirectional HDTV Antenna is just about the best product for you.
This amazing indoor omnidirectional TV antenna offers the same 4K image quality we’ve grown used to, and its indoor design means it’s even easier to install than our two top-ranked omnidirectional antennas. You’ll get all of the free TV channels you can ever ask for, and you’ll never need to climb on top of your roof to install an outdoor TV antenna. All you have to do is plug the Forlovv Digital Omnidirectional HDTV Antenna’s USB charger into the wall and its coaxial cable into your TV, and you’re set!
Since our lone indoor omnidirectional TV antenna measures just 10 x 10 x 15 inches, you can store it in a convenient location and forget it’s there, or you can simply mount it to the wall and make it part of the decor. One thing’s for sure – the Forlovv Digital Omnidirectional HDTV Antenna will not add any clutter to your living room.
While indoor omnidirectional antennas have a lot of benefits in terms of both aesthetics and convenience, they’re not quite as powerful as outdoor TV antennas, and your house walls will weaken the signal reception of your antenna. Case in point: The Forlovv Digital Omnidirectional HDTV Antenna has the worst range on our list at just 50 miles, so it’s definitely not best for anyone living in a really rural area.
One final advantage of the Forlovv Digital Omnidirectional HDTV Antenna is that it’s cheap. Really cheap. In fact, this indoor amplified antenna costs about half the amount of either the Five Star Omnidirectional Antenna or the Lava Omnipro HD-8008 Omni-Directional Antenna. Sure, its range is worse, but that seems like a fair trade for all of the money you’re saving.
If you want something a little more suitable for a city apartment, or if you want to save some money, then stop reading and buy the Forlovv Digital Omnidirectional HDTV Antenna. When all is said and done, it’s one of the best omnidirectional TV antennas out there.
#4: Channel Master Omni+ Omnidirectional Outdoor TV Antenna (Best for RVs)
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Switching back to outdoor TV antennas, our final omnidirectional TV antenna can be thought of as the outdoor antenna of omnidirectional TV antennas. The Channel Master Omni+ Omnidirectional Outdoor TV Antenna is the best option for any nature-lover or constant traveler who knows how to move in style. Why? Because its size and design make it perfect for your RV.
The Channel Master Omni+ Omnidirectional Outdoor TV Antenna will give you all of the best channels while you’re on the road, so you never have to feel out of the loop while you’re traveling ever again. No more missing the big game (or, heaven forbid, watching it on your tiny smartphone screen) or getting to the next stop on your road trip and feeling like you crawled out from under a rock.
This Channel Master omnidirectional TV antenna receives both UHV and VHF signals, and it has a reception range of about 50 miles, which puts it in the same range as our Forlovv TV antenna. It also supports 4K image resolution, and it comes with a mounting rack that’s guaranteed to make installation a breeze.
With a weight of just 2.4 pounds, you’ll have no problem transporting this omnidirectional TV antenna, and your RV certainly won’t notice the extra baggage. Plus, with its small frame of 12.9 x 12 x 3.4 inches, the Channel Master Omni+ Omnidirectional TV Antenna won’t be an eyesore or give you any close calls with low-hanging bridges or tunnels. Sure, its range isn’t great, but since you’ll be on the go, you can take matters into your own hands and make sure to be within range of the nearest city if there’s a big game on or anything else that you simply can’t miss. The rest of the time, you can just enjoy the serenity of the open road.
The Channel Master Omni+ Omnidirectional TV Antenna is one of the cheaper items on our list, and it falls closer to the price range of the Forlovv Digital Omnidirectional HDTV Antenna than the more expensive price tags of the Five Star Omnidirectional HDTV Antenna or the Lava Omnipro HD-8008 Omni-Directional HDTV Antenna. This long-range omnidirectional TV antenna is small, easy to install, and will be right at home on your RV. Stay connected even while you’re road tripping with the Channel Master Omni+ Omnidirectional TV Antenna.
What’s the Difference between UHF and VHF Frequencies?
We’ve spoken a decent amount about UHF and VHF signals, so you might be wondering what the heck those are. The honest truth is that since all of the omnidirectional antennas on our list support both automatically, you don’t really need to know the difference, but it could be good to know for the future, so I’ll give you a quick breakdown.
Most television broadcasts will use UHF, which stands for ultra-high frequencies. The signal is a little weaker and more prone to disruption than with VHF, but you get more audio options, and the equipment needed to broadcast the frequencies isn’t big or expensive. A lot of the technology you use every day, like GPS, wi-fi, cellphones, Bluetooth, and of course, television, uses UHF technology. If you had to buy an antenna that’s only compatible with one of these two frequencies, you should probably pick UHF.
VHF, which stands for very high frequency, supports fewer television broadcasts, which is why – if you had to choose – VHF should probably be the frequency that you give the boot. But you don’t have to choose, and this is all theoretical. My honest advice is don’t worry about it too much unless you’re a real TV antenna connoisseur.
Verdict: Your Best Long-Range Omnidirectional TV Antennas
We’re reaching the end of our list, and you’re hopefully starting to get a good idea of which of our products is best for you. But if you haven’t made up your mind yet, not to worry. We don’t want to rush you, and we know how important it is to make sure you’re getting the long-range omnidirectional TV antenna that’s perfect for you. That’s why we’re going to recap all of our long-range omnidirectional TV antennas and focus on their standout features. This way, you’ll be able to see the highlights and really know what each product has to offer for you.
If you want the best value for your money, pick the Five Star Omnidirectional HDTV Antenna.
This omnidirectional TV offers it all, and there’s almost nothing else to say. It really is the full package, and I’m not sure I could think of a flaw of the Five Star Omnidirectional Antenna if I tried. Its range of 150 miles is one of the best in the business. It offers crisp and beautiful 4K image resolution, and it’s incredibly easy to install. On top of that, it comes with a built-in LTE filter to make sure nothing jams your signal, and it can withstand anything mother nature has to throw at it. On top of all of that, it’s not even expensive. Considering everything you’re getting from this omnidirectional TV antenna, it’s amazing that it doesn’t cost twice as much. It’s the best value out there, hands down. So if you appreciate a good deal, you need to stop paying for cable and buy the Five Star Omnidirectional HDTV Antenna.
If you need an indoor omnidirectional TV antenna, pick the Forlovv Digital Omnidirectional HDTV Antenna.
Whether you don’t want to climb around outside setting up an outdoor TV antenna, or you don’t trust an antenna to stand up to the weather, or you just don’t like the look of them, there are plenty of reasons to say no to outdoor TV antennas and yes to indoor omnidirectional TV antennas. If that’s the approach you’re taking, then the Forlovv Digital Omnidirectional HDTV Antenna is exactly what you’re looking for.
This incredible, compact, indoor omnidirectional antenna is the best omnidirectional antenna for anyone looking to keep their equipment inside. As far as installation goes, this antenna can’t be beaten, and it might be the king of the hill in price as well. The only problem with the Forlovv Digital Omnidirectional HDTV Antenna is that its 50-mile range is a little on the shorter side, so it’s best for people living in or close to a city. If you fit that criterion, then purchase the Forlovv Digital Omnidirectional HDTV Antenna and cut your cable cord.
If you want something for your RV, pick Channel Master Omni+ Omnidirectional Outdoor TV Antenna.
Some people just aren’t meant to stay put. And some of those people still need access to their sports and news. The Channel Master Omni+ Omnidirectional Outdoor TV Antenna is the best option for anyone who needs to stay in the loop and out of the city. It’s cheap, easy to set up, and durable. Its 50-mile radius won’t be as much of an issue if you know how to plan your route a little, and the Channel Master Omni+ Omnidirectional Outdoor TV Antenna will look and feel right at home on your RV. If you don’t want to miss the big game while you’re on day number 365 on the road, then you need to deck out your RV with the Channel Master Omni+ Omnidirectional Outdoor TV Antenna.
Now it’s finally time to wrap things up. If you didn’t really fall in love with any of the long-range omnidirectional TV antennas we’ve highlighted above, you may be more interested in the Lava Omnipro HD-8008 Omni-Directional HDTV Antenna, which can support enough TVs to keep an entire motel in business.
If you’ve been thinking of cutting the cord but felt there were just one or two channels holding you back, then a good TV antenna is the answer for you. An omnidirectional antenna is definitely the way to go in terms of user-friendliness, and that’s really the end of the conversation as far as I’m concerned.
As a final note, remember that all of our antennas have one main feature that separates them from the crowd, so that’s what you should focus on before you make your decision. This will really speed up the purchasing process and save you some time and stress.
That’s all for now. Enjoy your new TV antenna, and enjoy the extra money you’ll save by canceling your cable subscription.