[Kitty]

I recently purchased two indoor HDTV antennas. My intent is to get rid of my cable TV. I want to find out what kind of reception I'll have with these antennas first, though, before I contact Charter and have them cut it off.

I am so technically challenged. I looked up these antennas on the Internet but couldn't understand what in the world it all meant. My sons will come hook them up for me once the antennas arrive.

Does anyone here use indoor antennas in lieu of cable? I'm not so much concerned about the lineup of shows but the reception. I don't watch much TV anyway and having a hundred channels is just ridiculous to me.

I'll keep the Internet service but get rid of the phone and cable TV. I have my cell phone.

[Jomar]

I'm not sure about the HDTV antennas , but we are using regular antennas to get over the air TV broadcasts.

I've found that the ones that are supposed to give more power ( plug in to a outlet) , don't work any better than the plain old antennas. Just makes for another thing to plug in...

One TV is hooked up to a roof top antenna & 2 other TV are using plain old rabbit ears, they all get the same stations with pretty good reception.

We are about 30-40 miles from the local stations signals.

Only time the signal breaks up is during heavy wind, snow or rain.
We can get about 25 channels but some we block out since they aren't of interest to us.

There are antenna info sites that tell you more info , but it's mainly for rooftop antenna that need to be aimed in the right direction.
It might still tell you how many over the air broadcast stations are available in your area.

As long as you have a newer TV LCD/ Plasma etc. with a digital tuner built in, or a DVD or VCR recorder with a digital tuner you should be fine.

Older TV & recorder tuners were analog ( I think), that is what they changed to digital when everyone had to get those tuner converter boxes or a new TV, or cable, dish etc..

[Kitty]

Thanks, Jo. I'm excited to be able to cut the cable. I watch so little TV it's just not fiscally responsible to pay all that money for watching channels I could get for free. I'm hoping Charter doesn't try to cheat me with a high Internet bill. I'll just find another provider if that happens.

[Jomar]

Oh, as long as you aren't surrounded by really tall buildings, a forest full of tall trees or hills that would block the signal you should be fine.
If many of those are between you and the broadcast towers it might break up or block the signal.

We have a portion of a hill and some trees but they don't bother our signal.

When the antennas get there you can hook them up and un hook /turn off the cable box to test.
You have to use the TV menu/settings to scan for channels and to use the antenna instead of the cable.

[Dejibo]

i live in the boonies. I hooked up a HD TV antennae and ...nothing! I only get ONE channel without cable. UGH! so, for now, im keeping my cable.

[Kitty]

I think I'll get good reception. I looked on a map and I'm within 5 miles of a signal.

[KittyLady]

We have hdtv antennae for 2 tv's. Our other apartment, perfect signal. We were on the top floor. Never had to adjust the antennae or anything. In our current apt, bottom floor, signal keeps cutting out, pixelating I say. Hard to hold stations. I have found the higher the antennae, the better the signal. We are tired of fighting with the tv, so we are getting satellite. I do believe its all in the location, location, location. Good luck to you.

[zygopetalum]

HA!HA! Someone as technologically challenged as I am, I thought the world had been taken over by 16 year old computer genius'.

I have HDTV antenna, I get very clear reception and it works fine most of the time. I live on a fairly busy street and during rush hour some channels are prone to degrading into pixels when a car goes by, it doesn't happen all the time. I have no idea if it is atmospheric or depends on the car. They will also do that sometimes if someone walks in front of them. To me it isn't a big deal, it usually only lasts an instant and can someitmes be fixed by changing the orientation of the antenna but I do occasionally get fed up enought to change channels. i"m pretty sure they get less interference if they are not right by a window like mine is.

It was very easy to hook up, I even had no problem. I Kind of forgot how but I think you just have HD on the menu, select antenna, then it will scan for channels, OK, and you are done.

judi

[Kitty]

Thanks, Judi. I'm going to let my son do it for me. I'm beginning to know how my own parents felt when we tried to explain cell phones to them!!

[Sparky10]

Originally Posted by Kitty

I'm hoping Charter doesn't try to cheat me with a high Internet bill. I'll just find another provider if that happens.

My new internet service is Verizon MiFi. The unit costs $50 to purchase and is $50 a month for the service. It is 4G capable but because I live just outside that range I only get 3G. It is still WAY better than Hughesnet satellite.

It is portable; the unit is about the size of a deck of cards and can run on batteries. It does have data limits, however. The $50 a month plan gets you 5GB for 30 days. I've only had it for one 1-monthe cycle and used about 4.5 GB. You have to keep track.