Like many other cord-cutters, I’d grown tired of the constant price hikes for the biggest streaming services. So last year, I chose to really cut the cord by switching to an old-school, over-the-air antenna.
After much deliberation, I chose to go with this model: the GE Outdoor HD Digital TV Antenna, now selling for roughly $39 on Amazon. I’ve been using it for more than a year and love it, and I’d happily recommend it even though it’s getting only the tiniest of Black Friday discounts.
I wanted an outdoor model because the cheaper, leaf-style indoor antenna I’d been using couldn’t pull any signals in my basement Brooklyn apartment. But I also wanted an antenna that was small enough to install on the exterior wall of my rental, given that I don’t have rooftop access (we do have a small back yard).
This GE antenna checked both boxes, and it was also easy to assemble (those long, thin aluminum rods slide easily into the antenna assembly) and install (the mast and screw kit are included in the box, although I opted for a different mast due to the quirky configuration of my outdoor wall). I grounded the antenna with some copper wire, then aimed it at the TV broadcast towers in Manhattan.
Now, instead of barely getting any channels at all, I get crystal-clear reception for about two-dozen channels, including my local ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, and PBS affiliates—meaning no more worries about streaming channel blackouts. I also get decent reception for another dozen channels that are a bit further away, as well as spotty reception for roughly 20 more distant TV stations. Overall, I now have plenty of over-the-air channels to choose from. (I’ve previously chronicled how I paired the antenna with the HDHomeRun Flex Duo 2 TV tuner, while using Plex as a DVR.)
I installed the GE antenna more than a year ago, and it’s been performing like a champ since then. Crucially, it weathered an entire year of harsh New York City weather, including several bouts of lashing wind and torrential rain.
This antenna is called the GE Outdoor HD Digital TV Antenna, but there’s nothing inherently HD about it, nor is it exclusively for outdoor use. Yes, this particular antenna can receive digital HDTV signals, but so can antennas that are decades old. Also, the GE antenna is small enough to fit in an attic if you’d rather not install it outside.
Now, here’s the part where I’d normally tell you about the fantastic Black Friday discount the GE Outdoor HD Digital TV Antenna is getting; unfortunately, that’s simply not the case. As of this writing, it’s selling on Amazon for $38.98, a mere 5-percent off its $40.99 list price. Checking camelcamelcamel’s price history, the all-time low for the antenna was $28.96 back in pre-Covid days.
Even with that modest 5-percent discount, though, I’d argue that this GE antenna is well worth its current $39 price tag. It’s easy to install, it’s small enough for apartment dwellers, it’s tough, and most of all, it works.
Buy the GE Outdoor HD Digital TV Antenna on Amazon
Check out TechHive’s other picks for the best TV antennas.