Antennas described as “directional” are designed to receive signals from one direction. “Multidirectional” or “Omni-directional” antennas are able to receive signals from multiple directions.

Directional HD antennas are able to pull in signals from greater distances, and because they “see” in only one direction they are resistant to noise and “multipath distortion” (a problem created when an antenna receives reflections of the desired signal).

Because multidirectional antennas “see” in many directions, they are more likely to pick up noise, interference, and multipath distortion.