You can still use rabbit-ear antennas, and will need to if you want to receive free, over-the-air television. Most cable and satellite services include over-the-air television. If they do not, or if you don't have cable or satellite services, then you need a rabbit ear or other type of antenna. One other reason to use a rabbit-ear antenna is that "the rabbit-ears antenna setup, modified with a ring to receive UHF signal, can help boost a set's ability to receive an HDTV signal," according to wisegeek.com.

On the Other: Not as Effective as Outside Antennas

The days of adjusting the tips of the rabbit-ear antennas to strengthen your television signal are over. Digital TV is "more of a go/no-go proposition," according to an online article from "Business Week." With a weak signal, you may see nothing at all on your screen. "That means that some people who got by with rabbit ears may have to go to an outside antenna," the article says.

Bottom Line

Digital television has not changed the fact that rabbit-ear antennas are still a great choice for strengthening your television signal when receiving over-the-air television. "In general, the same type of antenna that gives you good-quality analog TV signals now will also provide reliable DTV reception," according to DTVanswers.com. Rabbit-ear antennas can also help receive a high-definition signal when watching over-the-air television.

Source:

Wisegeek: What Are Rabbit Ears?

Business Week: DTV Rabbit Ears

DTV Answers

More Information:

How to Recycle Your Rabbit Ears