Maps Match Viewer With Right Antenna

Say goodbye to rabbit ears.

To help take the guesswork out of buying a TV antenna for your home, the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Assn. has released a book of maps that allows consumers to choose an antenna that matches the type of TV reception they receive in their neighborhood.

The maps were necessary because an increasing number of digital broadcast satellite subscribers rely on antennas to receive their local TV channels, said CEMA spokesman Jeff Joseph. In the past, buying an antenna has been a confusing prospect made worse by numerous models and questions about TV reception.

Cable subscribers who buy digital TVs must use antennas to receive local stations because cable operators have not yet decided whether they will pass digital signals through their networks.

Consumers in the nation’s largest TV markets can view the maps at local retail outlets starting this month. The color-coded maps allow consumers to match their area with antennas made by manufacturers participating in the CEMA program.

The maps also refer to a guide that lists antenna models available for various reception areas. The maps take into account reception from all full-powered TV stations in an area, including terrain and building obstructions.