Gave up cable TV -- now what?

May 4, 2011 | Me

[Keltik]

I gave up cable TV a few days ago. I watched perhaps five or six channels, at most, and it just wasn't worth the money.

Now, I have no TV at all since my set is pre-digital and I don't have an antenna. What now? Do I have to get a special antenna? I would like to have at least broadcast TV if only for sports.

[rockinqsranch]

Radio Shack, and get an analogue converter, and some rabbit ears I guess. I couldn’t find an antennae recently other than rabbit ears around here, but I s’pose they’re out there somewhere.

[InvisibleChurch]

enjoy your life

[joe fonebone]

go get a converter box....they run about 50 bucks...

[Westbrook]

Take your TV out and shoot it.

Twice.

I haven’t had TV since 1996.

I got annoyed with inviting strangers to come into my house only to swear at me and insult my sensibilities.

[dubie]

all you need is a uhf vhf transformer from radio shack. under $5. I've made kickass antennas out of just tinfoil and picked up Philadelphia 45 miles away. checkout http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=186 store bought antennas suck compared to DYI. most designs very cheap. (under $10).

[Dacula]

Use the internet - wwitv.com has many of the latest movies, news and TV shows

[Dacula]

Use the internet - wwitv.com has many of the latest movies, news and TV shows

[BuffaloJack]

> go get a converter box....they run about 50 bucks...

I recently dumped the cable box,too.
I got a converter box ($34 total including tax and shipping) and I picked up a $7 set of rabbit ears at Home Depot. I now get 14 channels, and remarkably, they’re the same ones I watched on cable.
I do wish the box would lock onto a channel faster than 2 seconds, it makes channel surfing a pain.

[Ronin]

Get a library card and enjoy books! An AM radio is all you need for sports. Use your imagination.

[DeathBeforeDishonor1]

Dude No problem...Get a Roku and a $7 a month subscription to Netflix. They’re awesome.You wont want Cable anymore.

Google Roku.

[dubie]

some design plans http://www.frontiernet.net/~mclapp/Antennas/

[Blueflag]

There’s three things you’ll need, all available from Radio Shack or maybe even WalMart.

(1) a ‘digital’ antenna. (if you are more than 10 miles or so from the broadcast tower, invest in a ‘box’ antenna. They look kinda like the box kites we flew as kids.)
(2) the digital to analog signal converter box. This is a box that receives the new digital TV signals and then sends them all to either channel 3 or 4 on your old TV. You’ll use a new remote that comes with the box to select channels on the converter box, and the TV itself will stay set on channel 3 or 4.
(4) connector cables and doo-dads to connect the new converter box to your TV. This SHOULD all come with the box, but ask the guy at Radio Shack to be certain.

You’ll have to go through an auto-tune/ station finding sequence to set up the box. If you have issues, ask a 10 year old to help you ;-) The channels will have slightly different numbers than before, like 5.1 and 5.1 and 33.2, but the programming is no better.

**IF** you are 20 - 50 miles from the broadcast tower, you’ll need to buy a signal amplifier to go with your antenna. If you have to drive a long ways to get your new box, and your signal was just OK in the old antenna days, then go ahead and buy the amplifier anyways. We’re 18 miles from the towers in modestly hilly country, and we benefit from using an amp. Just FYI

[Dr. Sivana]

You don't mention if you have a budget to receive over the air reception, or what size screen you have. LCD TVs are quite inexpensive fr what you get, otherwise you can get a digital converter box at the Best Buy, Radio Shack, ebay, etc. ($50?) You also don't mention if you are rural or urban. What sufficed before may not be adequate, as digital stations require a more consistent signal, and many stations are now broadcasting at a higher (which usually means less less power over distance) frequency. Personally, I'd go for a big time roof antenna (on the roof, not in the attic) from a legacy manufacturer like Channel Master or Winegard. If you have multple cities to point to, a rotor might be called for. Modern rotors have it all over the old style ones. This kind of rig can cost north of $500. If you are in an urban apartment, and you have broadcast stations within 15 miles, you might do fine with an indoor antenna. You can try the old rabbit ears/bow tie/bulls eye, but most likely you'll want to get a new one. DON'T get hooked on antennas with lots of buttons and knobs. The goal is GAIN, let the digital box process the signal. Finally, streaming video is becoming more doable. I can live with watching sports on my 19" 4:3 screen, and I had no difficulty picking up the NFL playoffs (until the Super Bowl) with my broadband connection. (I watched a Swedish stream. Cheesy Swedish announcers with one set of clothes during what would be extra U.S. commercials. Good luck!

[Louis Foxwell]

bttt

[libertarian27]

We have had DirectTV for 9 years now - back then they didn’t offer local channels - so we have basic/basic cable at $6 per month. If you have a digital/plasma tv you can program it to find the digital/hg channels. We have around 20 channels for $6 per month. Regular TV’s in the house get @6 channels (They don’t list basic/basic on any paperwork or website - give them a call and ask for it.)

(We really should dump Satellite;>)

Most TV shows and Movies you can watch for free on the internet - No netflick required - just be careful which sites you use.

You can WiFi your computer to the TV.

[AlexW]

From what I read, you have a standard analog TV, just as they made from day one.
I assume it has a tuner (channel changer) and antenna connections for coaxial line or twin lead.
If you are near a normal size city, you have maybe 3 or more
TV stations?
Go to most any hardware store, Walmart, Radio Shack
and buy an appropriate antenna for your area.
If you have UHF channels you will want a separate antenna for that, but some antennas are dual band, VHF/UHF.
If your in a city, a set of indoor rabbit ears will do.

[Stevenc131]

Buy a new flat panel tv. Best value is usually in the 32” to 42” range. You don’t need 1080P to get a great picture, 720P will do just fine.

You can pick up free over-the-air HDTV from local broadcast stations, and even the regular digital signals (non-hd) look pretty good. Depending on how far you are from the broadcast towers you may need an outside atenna, or you may be able to make due with rabbit ears. Some folks just mount a smaller sized outside antenna in the attic if they don’t want to have it showing outside.

As mentioned by others, a ROKU box and an internet connection will give you access to Netflix and Amazon video.

[LSAggie]

Here’s a hint—If you want to watch one show and record (tape) another at the same time, get a second converter box made by a different manufacturer, so the remotes will work independently.

[The Great RJ]

Consider Internet TV. We use a Roku streaming video box hooked to our TV and watch movies, documentaries, MLB games and a host of other things. Subscription costs are relatively cheap less than $10 per month. If your TV has a good quality sound system Internet radio stations are generally free and offer a variety you won’t find from local broadcasts.