Basics

• If your antenna can receive both VHF (Very High Frequency) and UHF (Ultra High Frequency) signals, then you should not need to buy a "digital" antenna. Most antennas can receive signals on both of these frequencies.
  
  

Tuning

• However, you still need a digital tuner device to handle the digital signal. This tuner may be built in, or you might have an analog TV that requires a "converter box."
  
  

Reception

• Digital signals do not "fall off" as smoothly as an analog signal. Where an analog signal gets progressively "fuzzier" as reception gets worse, a digital signal will simply stop once it has reached a certain threshold.
  
  

Scanning

• You also must instruct your digital tuner to "scan" for channels. This process varies by tuner manufacturer, so consult your documentation.
  
  

Cable and Satellite

• If you have cable or satellite TV, you do not need an antenna to receive digital television. These services provide digital programming through the cable or satellite connection instead.