Antennas can be designed to transmit and receive radio waves in all horizontal directions equally (omnidirectional antennas), or preferentially in a particular direction (directional, or high-gain, or "beam" antennas). If you want to cut the cord but keep live TV, you need the right antenna to tune into over-the-air broadcasts. Here's what you need to know, along with our top picks.

Understanding the Context

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Key Insights

antenna, component of radio, television, and radar systems that directs incoming and outgoing radio waves. An intuitive tutorial of antennas and antenna theory. This website is designed to present a comprehensive overview of antennas, from design, to measurement and theory. That's more or less what an antenna (sometimes called an aerial) does: it's the metal rod or dish that catches radio waves and turns them into electrical signals feeding into something like a radio or television or a telephone system. Antennas like this are sometimes called receivers.

Final Thoughts

Learn about antenna functions, types, working principles, radiation patterns, and applications in wireless communication. This tutorial covers essential antenna basics.