[Scalewoodman]

After all the years of irritating Cable TV price increases, we found the local stations we usually watch were the ones we were paying Comcast for!

When we moved (Brownstown area now) we decided-- no CATV, no Internet (in the house, but at work), no Home Phone (using cells instead)... and are saving approx. $200/month x 12 = $2,400 per year. Not chump change. No CATV suits me fine-- hate to pay for what used to be free and it's my 'antiestablishment' vote against the liberal media and bankrupt morals of the Paris Hilton, MTV, media crowd anyway.

When I bought a new TV at Boscov's the salesman told me we actually could get BETTER DTV signal because the DTV pulled free from the airways is not compressed as it is with cable or satellite. The FCC has provided for us low budget cheapskates by making the signals available free as they always have been. He was right-- there are more channels available than ever.

We now get 9 DTV stations-- with no snow or shadows-- in Hi Def or w/digital signal. CBS (3.1), NBC (8.1), Channel 8 Weather (8.2), Public TV (2 stations), CW (15), ABC (27), and a couple of others. I bought an amplified antenna on Ebay for $35 and it works just fine.

Anybody else getting 'unplugged' from cable? How are you making out? What channels to you get? If I upgrade the antenna, can we get more stations? If so what type of antenna? Let's get some discussion going here on this topic-- a real way lots of people can improve service and save some precious money.

[clanker]

After all the years of irritating Cable TV price increases, we found the local stations we usually watch were the ones we were paying Comcast for!

When we moved (Brownstown area now) we decided-- no CATV, no Internet (in the house, but at work), no Home Phone (using cells instead)... and are saving approx. $200/month x 12 = $2,400 per year. Not chump change. No CATV suits me fine-- hate to pay for what used to be free and it's my 'antiestablishment' vote against the liberal media and bankrupt morals of the Paris Hilton, MTV, media crowd anyway.

When I bought a new TV at Boscov's the salesman told me we actually could get BETTER DTV signal because the DTV pulled free from the airways is not compressed as it is with cable or satellite. The FCC has provided for us low budget cheapskates by making the signals available free as they always have been. He was right-- there are more channels available than ever.

We now get 9 DTV stations-- with no snow or shadows-- in Hi Def or w/digital signal. CBS (3.1), NBC (8.1), Channel 8 Weather (8.2), Public TV (2 stations), CW (15), ABC (27), and a couple of others. I bought an amplified antenna on Ebay for $35 and it works just fine.

Anybody else getting 'unplugged' from cable? How are you making out? What channels to you get? If I upgrade the antenna, can we get more stations? If so what type of antenna? Let's get some discussion going here on this topic-- a real way lots of people can improve service and save some precious money.

But ... but .. you won't be able to watch Fox News.

[mimi45]

But ... but .. you won't be able to watch Fox News.

In HD - we get 8-1, 8-2, 33-1, 33-3, 43-1(fox)

In regular channel - 3, 8, 15, 21,

It's plenty, as most of tv is CRAP, and it's FREEEEEEEEEEEEE!!

We have an antennae and live in a valley.

Have been cable free for approx 4 years and life is much better - we actually communicate insteal of sitting spaced out in front of the tv!

[Big Bad Wolf]

In HD - we get 8-1, 8-2, 33-1, 33-3, 43-1(fox)

In regular channel - 3, 8, 15, 21,

It's plenty, as most of tv is CRAP, and it's FREEEEEEEEEEEEE!!

We have an antennae and live in a valley.

Have been cable free for approx 4 years and life is much better - we actually communicate insteal of sitting spaced out in front of the tv!

I watch a lot of television on the internet for free. My friend has netflix and I watch all the movies and alot of the different seasons of the sitcoms and dramas. It works for me as It seems I'm always tied to this computer or cooking in the kitchen, lol

This post has been edited by Big Bad Wolf: 02 December 2008 - 01:25 PM

[peteegroff]

hey everyone. NOW i need help. You got my attention so i went a got a tv and an rabbit ear setup to try your setup. I got 1 channel-43-and i is not watchable for snow. i simply plugged it in,added the antenna,and scanned. Do i do something else or just consider myself in a bad area? We used to use antenna only and did better than this! This is a just out of box DTV. THANKS

[mimi45]

hey everyone. NOW i need help. You got my attention so i went a got a tv and an rabbit ear setup to try your setup. I got 1 channel-43-and i is not watchable for snow. i simply plugged it in,added the antenna,and scanned. Do i do something else or just consider myself in a bad area? We used to use antenna only and did better than this! This is a just out of box DTV. THANKS

I'll get my hubby to give you info later. He went online to an antennae website and entered our zip or something and they give you a list of channels you may get. Ordered the ant. online and spent some time on the roof adjusting it. I think it's an HD antennae and we have a flat screen tv. Picture it great.

[citizen-too]

I'll get my hubby to give you info later. He went online to an antennae website and entered our zip or something and they give you a list of channels you may get. Ordered the ant. online and spent some time on the roof adjusting it. I think it's an HD antennae and we have a flat screen tv. Picture it great.

You will need an old fashioned uhf / vhf combination antenna. Depending on the cost, you could always opt for a separate vhf and a uhf bowtie antenna. Either way, you'll still need a tenna-rotor. The motor that makes your antenna aim toward the transmitting tower. You will also need to get a digital converter box. Antennas will not pick up digital signals and be able to unscramble them. Antennas will pick up digital signals and analog signals, which will end in February. If you're able to watch a channel now, with an antenna, it's not being broadcast digitally.

[Scalewoodman]

Petee:
If you do not have a digital converter box you will need to get one of those; sounds like your TV is older analog style. If you have CATV now, you probably are using a converter box that you purchased or rented from the cable TV carrier already. If you unhooked that you're back to analog TV again and need a converter box.

IF YOU NEED A BOX: Go to this site https://www.dtv2009.gov/ and apply for your (2) $40 coupons, again courtesy of the FCC... take them to WalMart and buy 2 converters ($49.95 less $40 coupon = $9.95 plus 6% tax - $10.55) so you can convert airwave signal to analog that your set can digest.

What I've discovered is with DTV you either have enough signal or you don't-- no shadows or snow as in the older analog signal. If the signal fluctuates you will have some breaking up of the picture, but tweak antenna position all is well. And remember it's free. Get those bloodsuckers off your back.

IF ALL ELSE FAILS, get a neighbor kid or grandson-- pull one off the street if you have to. This is all easy for them, except the no-cable part!

This post has been edited by Scalewoodman: 02 December 2008 - 05:57 PM

[harv1]

There are, unfortunately, a lot of people who are going to be screwed by the digital switch unless they pay for cable or satellite depending on where they live. We have a decent antenna and got one of the digital converters. Two stations we now receive drop out and the PBS station we get now with analog we won't get with digital.

[Scalewoodman]

harv1: Don't be so cynical... I am pretty sure most everybody will benefit; this is the pleasant surprise in all of it!
Start here: http://www.antennawe...aw/Address.aspx
You only HAVE to enter your zip code... then go to the street level map... then see where the stations are in relation to your home. Very informative.

You may have to reorient the antenna because they are directional; also try to find an amplified antenna (experimenting with mine doubles the signal strength when it's amplified). My TV (and the converter boxes) have a signal strength meter that can help you zero in on the best signal for the location of the station; if you're lucky you can find one position that works for the ones you use most.

btw: Tell us WHERE you are located so your neighbors can benefit from your results. Me: Brownstown/Talmage area.

This post has been edited by Scalewoodman: 02 December 2008 - 06:50 PM

[peteegroff]

okay guys thanks. just got back into house and good info. starter thread had me thinking it was a 1 2 3 process. Brand new digital tv with a add on Radio Shack antenna setting on table. NOW I see that with some more work i can do this. Thanks this was not a lost venture as i learned some more about the change-over. also i just applied for my convertor boxes and a step closed to doing this FREE upgrade. thanks IF ITS FREE ITS FOR ME LOL