When choosing your OTA TV antennas, we always have two options: directional and omnidirectional. In this article we will focus on omnidirectional TV antenna variety.
The main difference between the two is that a directional antenna must be pointed in the direction of the TV transmission tower, while an omnidirectional antenna can receive signals equally from all directions.
The trade-off is that typically a directional antenna can pull in signals from one direction better.
However, today’s omnidirectional antennas are getting better in the design and signal strength department, and they always have the ability to pull signals from more than one direction, eliminating the need for an antenna rotator.
In this buying guide, we will discuss all you need to know about omnidirectional TV antennas, as well as our review of the best omnidirectional TV antennas available in the market today.
What is the Best Omnidirectional TV Antenna?
Our top pick for the best omnidirectional antenna is the ANTOP UFO 720°Dual-Omni-Directional Outdoor HDTV Antenna.
This omnidirectional antenna is the only true 720-degree omnidirectional antenna based on our tests (meaning it is omnidirectional in both horizontal and vertical planes).
This allows for very reliable reception in both the UHF and VHF frequencies with a true 65 mile range.
However, if you are still not sure whether the ANTOP UFO 720° is the right choice for you, below we have reviewed several other great options that may be a better fit.
Let us begin right away from the number eight.
Best Omnidirectional TV Antennas
#8. 1byone TV Antenna Foldable Omnidirectional Antenna
Key Features
- Receive signal from all directions (360 degrees omnidirectional)
- 7” foldable design, larger than other indoor antennas but the foldable design allows more versatility in the installation without sacrificing performance
- 2-side antenna panels enhance VHF signal reception, can also be angled to capture multi-directional signals for enhanced signal strength and reduced dropout
- Clean-filter technology blocks cellular and FM signals for a cleaner, super low-noise picture, and HD sound quality
- Easy installation in different mounting locations. Convenient 3m adhesive stickers, power-grip suction cups, and mounting screws included.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Unique foldable indoor design, allowing more versatility when installing it on areas with limited space
- You can angle the foldable panels to reduce signal dropout and/or increase signal strength
- Multi-directional reception VHF signal enhancement and advanced filtering
- Very easy to install and use right away
- Includes a 16-foot cord for versatility
Cons:
- The 120-mile reception range claim is a bit of an exaggeration
- Power output is rather fragile
Our Verdict
This omnidirectional TV antenna offers a unique foldable design and is designed as an indoor antenna.
1byone claimed that this antenna has a 120-mile reception range, but being an indoor antenna, based on our tests the effective range is only around 50-60 miles when installed indoors.
While it’s still a pretty good number, the 120-mile claim is a stretch. You can use a preamplifier to improve this signal strength.
Still, a great choice if you are looking for an omnidirectional indoor antenna, and the 60 miles or so effective range is still pretty decent. The unique foldable design is its biggest selling point.
#7. LAVA Outdoor TV Antenna Omnidirectional 360 Degree
Key Features
- 150 miles+long range TV antenna, HD-8008 antenna is a state-of-the-art long-range HD antenna
- Built-in preamplifier and 5-way splitter
- 360-degree Omni-directional amplified antenna picks up all the stations 360-degree signals in any direction at the same time
- Easy to install with the included comprehensive installation kit, including all the components needed for quick and easy installation and easy-to-follow manual
- 2-year product service
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Built-in preamplifier to boost received TV signals
- Reliable in receiving both VHF and UHF signals
- 5-way splitter for connecting up to 4 HDTVs included great overall value
- Easy to install with included mounting tools
Cons:
- Relatively heavy
- Flimsy and the design might look cheap
Our Verdict
The Lava OmniPro HD 8008 offers a reliable dual VHF/UHF reception, as well as extra features like the built-in preamplifier and splitter.
It’s easy to set up, thanks to the comprehensive manual and it also includes basically everything you’ll for installation.
It boasts an excellent 150 miles coverage range, but if you live relatively close to TV transmission towers, it might introduce too much noise and cause signal interference due to the built-in preamplifier.
Thus, it’s a great choice if you are trying to receive signals from relatively far away, but we won’t recommend it if you live close (i.e. 10 miles) to the TV transmission towers.
#6. Magnadyne RVTV-B2 Omni-Directional Amplified TV Antenna
Key Features
- Omnidirectional RV TV antenna, includes distribution plates, doesn’t require any aiming or adjusting
- TV connection plate included
- Motorola and coax connectors, can connect to existing radio and TV cables
- Mounting bracket and hardware included
- 12” diameter, 8” height
- 15 lbs weight
- AM: 520-1710K, FM:5-108MHz, VHF: 47-230MHz, UHF: 470-862MHz, DAB: 174-230MHz
- No power needed, hooks directly to the TV
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Easy to install and use right away, simply plug it into your TV and go
- Motorola connector for the radio signal
- Designed for RV, so it’s an ideal pick if you are looking for an RV TV antenna
- Aerodynamic housing, protected from weather and UV
- ATSC compliant, so it supports HDTV
Cons:
- The effective reception range is rather short
- Material is a little flimsy
Our Verdict
The Magnadyne RVTV-B2 is an omnidirectional TV antenna that is specially designed for RV and marine use, although you can use it for your house’s TV without any problem at all.
It is not only a VHF/UHF TV antenna but can also function as an FM/AM radio antenna. It’s not the best regarding reception range, and in our tests, it’s only effective within the 20-30 miles range.
It is easy to install and pretty versatile, so it can be a great choice if you don’t really need long reception range from your omnidirectional TV antenna.
#5. Channel Master Omni+ Omnidirectional Outdoor TV Antenna
Key Features
- 9 x 12 x 3.4 inches
- 4 pounds
- 50+miles digital reception range, 360° Omnidirectional
- Compatible with all HDTVs and 4K TVs
- Designed for indoor or outdoor use (RV compatible)
- Easy installation
- Includes mounting bracket for wall-mounting, or mounting to a mast pole or existing satellite mount
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Lightweight at just 2.4 pounds
- Unique modern look
- Compact size, great for indoor installations or to use in your RV
- Sturdy, the base is made of powder-coated metal
Cons:
- Doesn’t come with mounting screws or bolts
- 50 miles reception range might not be enough in some locations
Our Verdict
In our test, the Channel Master Omni+ performed really well in receiving signals from the advertised 50 miles range, and it even performs really well in our test to receive signals from towers that are slightly more than 60 miles away.
This is quite surprising considering the size of the antenna, which is pretty compact with only 12.9” in length and 2.4 lbs in weight.
Channel Master advertised this antenna s a 4.5 dB gain, and it performed really well in low VHF although it can do better in low UHF.
Overall, it performs really well as a compact omnidirectional antenna that is also quite cost-effective.
A great choice if your favorite stations are located within the 50 miles range or less, and definitely one of the best omnidirectional TV antennas.
#4. Winegard MS-3005 MetroStar Omnidirectional Antenna
Key Features
- The ultimate cord-cutter antenna because of its slim size, built-in amp and 360 degree reception.
- Omnidirectional Reception – Pick up signal from all directions, no rotor or pointing needed.
- Built-In Preamplifier – Allows you to boost signal right at the antenna, making up for signal loss from long cable runs and splitters.
- Easy Installation – Install with simple hand tools on any antenna mast (mast not included).
- Low Profile Design – Meets HOA requirements, perfect for condos or homeowners association neighborhoods.
- Included components: Amplified Antenna Head, Mounting Hardware, Power Supply and Injector
- Power source type: Corded Electric
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Reliable dual-band UHF, VHF TV antenna, very reliable reception
- Compact size, but comes with a built-in amplifier
- Easy to install with just basic hand tools
- Low-profile design, great for apartments and condos
- Built in preamplifier is pretty decent
Cons:
- Short range with just 35 miles nominal range
- Not the most durable design
Our Verdict
The Winegard MetroStar is very compact with a built-in preamplifier. Very easy to install, and is pretty reliable in receiving both VHF and UHF signals.
Low-profile construction with components like power supply, injector, and mounting hardware included in the package. With a weight of 2.8 pounds, it is also pretty light to carry around during installation.
#3. Winegard Elite 360 Pro Amplified Omnidirectional Antenna
Key Features
- Omnidirectional antenna receives UHF and VHF signals from any direction
- Up to 55 miles reception range
- Built-in preamplifier boosts the signal right at the antenna, making up for the signal loss from splitters.
- Winegard’s Clear Circuit Technology offers the lowest noise (1dB average) to ensure less signal dropout and pixelation
- Discreet, minimalist, storm-resistant design. Wind-tunnel tested at 100 mph.
- Low-profile design, perfect for apartments, condos, and homeowner’s association neighborhoods
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Innovative low-profile design, easy to install, but suitable for apartments and condos
- Very reliable for UHF and VHF signals (slightly better for UHF)
- Great performance, can accept signals from up to 70 miles of range despite the advertised 55 miles range
- Sturdy, wind tunnel tested at more than 100 MPH
- Built-in 20 dB preamplifier with Clear Circuit (interference filter) technology
- Integrated Channel Finder software with App
Cons:
- A lot of plastic materials used
- The screws on the middle antenna rods are rather flimsy
Our Verdict
Winegard is widely known as one of the most prominent TV antenna manufacturers at the moment, and the Winegard Elite 360 Pro offers one of the best performances as an outdoor omnidirectional TV antenna.
Comes with a pretty decent built-in amplifier that is also equipped with Winegard’s Clear Circuit Technology to prevent signal interference. Also, the integrated channel finder software and app is very handy.
A really high-quality antenna that can receive signals from more than 55 miles (based on our tests, can still receive pretty well from 70 miles range).
One of the best omnidirectional TV antennas, especially if you are looking for an outdoor antenna.
#2. 1byone 720° Omni-Directional Amplified Outdoor TV Antenna
Key Features
- 720-degree omnidirectional outdoor antenna
- 150 miles reception range
- Enhance VHF signal reception
- Support 2 TVs at the same time with its built-in splitter
- Weather-resistant and durable, get better signal reliability on a windy or rainy day and anti-UV coating and waterproof/snowproof design allow shielding for minimum interference.
- A 90-Day Full refund and 24-month with friendly customer service
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Compact and lightweight
- Easy installation with tool-free assembly
- The built-in preamplifier is pretty reliable and comes with an AC adapter for TVs without a USB port
- Great-looking, ideal for indoor installation
Cons:
- Might not be suitable for those living in areas with fringe reception
- 150-miles advertised range is a stretch
Our Verdict
One of the key highlights of this 1byone omnidirectional antenna is that it’s pretty reliable in picking VHF signals, which can be useful when you are trying to get local channels like ABC, NBS, and so on.
1byone claimed that the antenna can receive signals from 150+ miles away, but based on our tests, it is a stretch. However, it is still pretty reliable in picking signals from 60 to 80 miles range.
Easy installation with the included instructions, and it is also a compact omnidirectional antenna making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor installations.
#1. ANTOP UFO 720°Dual-Omni-Directional Outdoor HDTV Antenna
Key Features
- 720° Dual Omni-directional reception for weak/moderate signal strength areas. No signal blind zone. Perfect for outdoor, attic, RV and marine used.
- Innovative, lightweight design emphasizing easy set up in under 5 minutes. Tools-free installation with minimum effort
- Built-in 4G LTE filter, shields against interference and blocks unwanted 3G and 4G wireless signals for stable performance.
- ANTOP Smart Pass technology, allowing easier adjustment between short and long-range reception. Intelligent switch can avoid signal overload
- UV-coated, weather-resistant exterior design combined with anti-interference internal tech. Protects signal reception to provide clear pictures and full channel capacity even during bad weather.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Unique 720-degree dual omnidirectional design without any blind zone. Much better at receiving signals than other omnidirectional antennas
- Pretty compact, doesn’t require any room for installation
- Very easy installation, tools-free assembly
- Built-in 4G LTE filter, blocks unnecessary 3G and 4G wireless signals so you can enjoy better HDTV reception
- Weather-resistant design and UV coating, very reliable
Cons:
- Included coax cable might not be long enough
- Build quality could be better
Our Verdict
The ANTOP UFO 720°Dual-Omni-Directional Antenna features a unique 720-degree design so it doesn’t have any blind spot, allowing a more reliable reception from all directions.
It can receive both high VHF and UHF frequencies, and also has some nice features like built-in preamplifier and LTE filtering.
A compact antenna with an effective nominal range of 65 miles, making it a very reliable choice for almost any situation. Based on our tests, the best omnidirectional TV antenna available today.
What is an Omnidirectional TV Antenna?
As the name omnidirectional antenna suggests, the antenna is designed to receive signals equally from all directions.
However, it’s worth noting that most omnidirectional antennas are only omnidirectional in the horizontal plane (North, South, East, and West), but can’t receive signals from above and below it.
Omnidirectional TV antennas are also called isotropic antennas because they emit the signal uniformly in all directions (isotropic means having the same value when measured in all different directions).
So, at the same distance from the antenna, the transmitted signal power will be the same when measured in any direction.
In a directional antenna, on the other hand, the signal strength at a specific distance is stronger in one or more directions than in other directions.
Omnidirectional TV antennas are easy to identify due to their more ‘vertical’ design.
They don’t need to be pointed in a certain direction, so don’t need the horizontal reflector and director we often see in directional antennas.
Do Omnidirectional Antennas Really Work?
In a word, Yes!
While it’s true that a directional antenna typically has better signal receptions than a comparable omnidirectional antenna, there are certain applications where an omnidirectional TV antenna would perform better than its directional counterpart:
- For vehicles on the move, for example on top of your RV or even if you are trying to receive OTA TV in your car.
- If you are unsure where the signal originates from, for example when you can’t access a TV station locator tool for one reason or another.
- You are trying to receive signals from more than one direction, so you don’t need to use an antenna rotator.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Omnidirectional antennas are very easy to install since you don’t need to point them anywhere.
- Versatile, you can mount it upside-down from a ceiling when installing indoor, or attach the antenna to your TV.
- You don’t need to use a TV station detector tool or other ways to figure out the location of the nearest TV transmission tower.
Cons:
- The area below the antenna wouldn’t have any coverage, which can be an issue when installing the antenna from a high point.
- Vertically polarized, so you can’t use cross-polarization to fight interference.
- While you can increase the gain so it can receive signals from further away, it will also receive more noise from all directions.