The antenna is multi-directional, powerful, and surprisingly versatile. The ClearStream Eclipse has some of the best-rated performance in its class. There are numerous antennas available that will nab you plenty of HD channels, but here are a couple of our favorites: ClearStream Eclipse
To make sure you’ll get decent reception, you can simply buy one and try it out, ask around the neighborhood, or try this antenna analysis tool which will tell you which channels you can expect to receive in your area. A good HD antenna likely offers all four major networks (Fox, ABC, NBC, and CBS), along with as many as 10 to 15 other selections (PBS, The CW, Univision, etc.) in HD (and, soon, 4K) resolution, all for free.
If you are located in an urban area, you may be able to get tons of live TV channels for life, for the one-time cost of a piece of hardware! No monthly fees. Get an HD antennaīefore you investigate the best streaming services for you, and especially if local sports and broadcasting is important to you, you should check out what is available to you via an HD antenna.
You can also check out our detailed guide on how to stop streaming buffering and upgrade your network for more details on internet and streaming speeds.
You are looking at closer to 100MB if you want to do all that in 4k Ultra HD. 50Mbps can handle roughly three video streams as well as some additional online surfing in the house. Overall, if you have multiple people in your household using multiple devices such as smartphones, tablets, and computers, or want to watch multiple streams in 4k Ultra HD, we recommend a home internet speed of at least 50 to 100Mbps. If you’re unsure about any of it, be sure to give your internet service provider a call. Any hiccups in your experience also may be caused by weird technical issues such as improper port forwarding, wireless interference, or other random things that are tricky to track down, some of which we’ll attempt to help you troubleshoot. Most modern routers and modems should offer up all the speed you need, but non-gigabit equipment may not suffice for simultaneous 4K streams. Check your home network equipmentĭon’t forget to check your home network equipment. Fortunately, this is an increasingly rare problem outside of rural areas, but better to check ahead. For example, if you routinely get around 10Mbps downloads during the day, but that speed takes a dive to about 3Mbps around dinner time, you’ll want to call your internet provider to see if anything can be done. on weekdays) to determine if your neighborhood struggles under the strain of heavy traffic. We also recommend testing your internet speed at peak streaming hours (between 6 and 10 p.m. Peak internet usage time can affect your streaming If you’re only going to be downloading 4K content from sites like FandangoNow or Ultraflix - which offer 4K content at speeds as low as 4Mbps to 10Mbps - 25Mbps will probably suffice, but regardless of which streaming service you select, fast and reliable internet is key to a positive streaming experience. Of course, if you’re looking to get into the streaming big leagues to access the growing array of 4K Ultra HD streaming content available from Netflix, Amazon, Disney+, YouTube, and others, you’ll want to kick up your broadband speed to at least 25Mbps. High-quality streaming needs higher-speed internet
You will likely experience buffering and possible crashing of the show you are streaming, especially for those with families or households streaming more than one show or movie at a time. Netflix and other similar streaming video services suggest a minimum downstream speed of 5Mbps for HD streaming, but if you have inadequate home internet connection (like 5Mbps) that is not going to allow for a smooth streaming service experience, especially when you consider other devices also using the connection. This may seem like a foregone conclusion, but we want to make it clear that if you’re going to bet your precious entertainment future on your home network, you had better have a solid internet connection. The thing about internet-delivered TV is that you need a broadband connection that can keep up with the streaming lifestyle. Let’s go through the best methods for dropping traditional cable in favor of some of the best streaming services. Ditching your satellite or cable subscription and the bill it carries sounds great in theory, but it’s not something you want to rush into without a bit of research. Not everyone is cut out to be a cord-cutter, though.