It’s hard to find a perfect HDTV antenna, especially since every antenna is different and every area receives different reception. Even next-door neighbors sometimes require different antennas because of reception differences.
The 91XG Uni-Directional Antenna from Antennas Direct is a great option for those who live many miles from HDTV broadcasting stations. We found that when this antenna is within about 50 miles of broadcast stations, it does not pick up as many channels or provide high-quality HDTV as it would if it were farther away.
The 91XG provides dozens of UHF channels to your HD television, but unless you have a VHF antenna, you will miss out on channels 7–13. If you’re far away from stations or out in the boondocks, you will receive excellent-quality HDTV that is hard to come by in those areas. However, if you live in a city or closer than about 45 miles away from HDTV broadcast stations, you will probably be better off with a smaller HDTV antenna.
In certain areas, this antenna can receive signals from nearly 100 miles away, which is a feat unheard of for most HDTV antennas. As mentioned previously, however, the channel quality and quantity increases with the distance from the signal sources. The 91XG does not work as well when it is within about 50 miles of broadcast stations, so we recommend it for people living in rural areas and small towns.
Since this antenna is nearly eight feet long, setting it up would seem like a frustrating task. However, the 91XG arrives almost completely assembled in its package, along with helpful instructions and a guide for outdoor installation.
The antenna is made of durable, high-quality metal. It is constructed from anodized aluminum and zinc-plated steel, so we are sure that the 91XG will withstand the elements for a good number of years.
It is extremely important to read and follow all safety instructions before and during antenna installation. Because of the 91Xg’s large size, you should be aware of nearby objects such as trees and power lines. Mount your antenna as far away from electrical lines as possible. We recommend giving your local power company a call for additional safety and installation information.
Antennas Direct has the best help and support of all the HDTV antenna manufacturers we compared. Its website makes it easy to find an answer to any question you might have. The website has a learning center with FAQs, guides for helping you choose the best HDTV antenna for your area and a blog with the latest and greatest in HDTV antenna news.
Antennas Direct is very easy to contact; it provides an email address, support phone number, direct email submission and live chat support on its website. Although the chat feature was offline every time we visited the website, there are several other ways to contact Antennas Direct.
This antenna has a very different feature set from other HDTV antennas we reviewed. Unlike most antennas, it works best when it is several dozen miles from any signal sources. Although it is a large antenna at nearly eight feet long, it’s smaller than most other antennas with a similar signal-pickup range. If you live 50 or miles from HDTV stations and need UHF channels, the 91XG Outdoor Antenna is the one for you.
