Most of Southeast Idaho is served by free over-the-air television. There are several things that you can do to receive a very good set of local signals without spending a lot of money.

First and foremost is the use of a good quality outside conventional receiving antenna positioned at rooftop level. No television set will pull in free over the air signals without a cable connection or a receiving antenna that's attached to it's antenna input connector.

Today many people live in apartments or   communities that prohibit the use of outside television antennas. Even though the Federal Communications Commission has ruled that no one can prevent you from installing and using a reasonably sized outside antenna on a home that you own in order to receive free over the air television, some people choose to not install an antenna on the roof because of aesthetic reasons.

Many times an antenna can be mounted in an attic space or above a garage. Some antennas will fit under the eves of a house becoming very hard to spot
from the street. The important thing is to have as much antenna as is required for your television set to produce a good picture.

The next issue is the lead-in. Good quality coaxial cable or the older style flat twinlead both will provide a very good transfer of the received signals to the television set. The antenna and the lead-in must be in good working order. If your antenna used to provide good reception but no longer does, checking and cleaning all of the connections will probably help. If your antenna and lead-in is over ten years old you should consider replacing it. Inexpensive antennas and hardware can be found at the stores listed below.

Last but not least is proper aiming of the antenna. It is very easy to install a good outside receiving antenna that is aimed in the wrong direction. A good antenna cannot perform at it's best unless it is aimed properly. The KIDK-TV3 transmitter on  the East Twin Butte near Arco has 100, 000 watts of transmitting power and provides the correct ingredients for complete coverage. Point your antenna directly at the East Twin Butte and you'll likely receive a beautifully clear picture. Almost all outside television receiving antennas have numerous elements that go from longer to shorter. The shortest element is at the front of the antenna. Point the front of the antenna at the East Twin Butte with the elements parallel to the ground and you will be ready for some excellent quality free over the air television.

Some Frequently Asked Questions

Q. I have rabbit ears on top of my set and I can receive some of the channels ok but your channel is not watchable.

A. Channel 3 is a low band frequency channel in the television spectrum. It often requires an outdoor antenna to pull in a good signal.

Q. I bought one of those amplified indoor antennas that are "guaranteed" to receive all channels and I still can't get your station.

A. Small indoor receiving antennas seldom work well on Channel 3 and will never replace a good full sized outdoor antenna. A good quality outside receiving antenna will always provide you with a clearer picture, better color and cleaner sound. It will also go a long way to make your reception more immune to signal fading and most forms of interference

Q. My satellite provider installed a loop antenna that fits around my satellite dish . He told me that I would be able to receive all of the local stations on it but I can not receive your channel.

A. Again, none of the small shortcut schemes will produce as good a picture as a full sized conventional receiving antenna especially on the lower numbered channels.

Q. I do not want to put a big ugly antenna on my roof, besides the homeowners association will not allow them.

A. The Federal Communications Commission has ruled that no authority can prevent you from installing an outside antenna on a home that you own to receive free over the air television. If you do not want to place an antenna where it can be seen you might consider installing an antenna in your attic. If your home contains foil backed insulation it may be better to install the antenna above the garage, which is usually not insulated. The antenna will still have to be aimed correctly but you will never have to worry about it being damaged by the weather.

Q. Sometimes the picture is fine on my TV but at other times it is full of lines and white dots and is not watchable.

Here are a few locations that sell antennas: