Millennials Unearth an Amazing Hack to Get Free TV: the Antenna (Paywall)

Wall Street Journal ^ | 8/2/2017 | Ryan Knutson

[V K Lee]

That is true. A TV purchased before ?? (c’mon guys help here) would need a converter box. You have three Tee Vees in your home = three convertor boxes required. At the time the govnmnt was giving away via some shady dealings I’m certain. TeeVees purchased after such and such date were programmed digital and ready to receive after installing a proper antenna. A digital antenna need not be purchased. You can make your own, easily. YouTube has a number of sights which show you how. We did and it has accomplished a job well done. DFW and Oklahoma stations OTA (over the air)

The best antenna was the large dish LNB which had a short life span before the networks begin to scramble. It was always a hoot and a holler to watch the peacocks on nightly news feeds. The ‘reporters’ would be primping and fluffing their hair during the ad breaks. Those programs were watched just for the belly laughs they supplied. Once seen, you might not ever listen to a ‘reporter’ again. PERIOD. Once networks scrambled, the dish itself was useless, unless the kids had snow and used it for sledding. Or one needed a large bird bath, shallow pool.

Another industry government shut down and abandoned. Another item purchased that is no longer relevant - no more than the lps played on stereos (which are no longer made) or 8 track tapes played on eight track players (which are no longer made) or cassettes played on cassette players (which are no longer made) or reel to real tapes played on reel to reel players (which are no longer made) Now it’s CDs
And shall we speak of Beta (IIRC it was beta) who had the first recording tv devices before VHS became available then it became visual CD players. (not the audio CD recorder/players, BTW
Of course, there will be some of one item above which might be found, but the industry itself is no longer bustling.

At the present the focus is on computers and what is being phased in and then abandoned. Technology is wonderful. It is expensive, it changes far too rapidly, where are all the out-dated, still working gidgets and gadgets being used? Filling a self-storage locker?

[cynwoody]

It’s funnier because the article is behind a paywall...

The full article can be read here.

[Disambiguator]

Nope. I’m just saying that people who complain about cable TV can always opt out, but many don’t.

We gave up on TV altogether almost 10 years ago. Our set is hooked to a DVD and even sometimes a VHS player.

[VanShuyten]

“What other channels are available?”

Here in the DC area, the major channels also have sub-channels that broadcast old TV shows, movies, weather and some sports. There are also several ethnic and religious ones.

There are several websites that can give you a pretty good idea of the stations you can get, their directions and if you will need an amp to boost the signal.

Mohu Antenna has their locator here:
http://www.gomohu.com/tv-for-free-front/

TV Fool has theirs here:
http://tvfool.com/

Mohu says I can get 95 stations with their top-of-the-line amplified attic/rooftop antenna, but about a third of those are duplicates. TV Fool has a more realistic 28 stations, with about a third of those duplicates. Mohu lists the exact stations, but TV Fool only shows the major channels with few of the digital sub=channels.

[American in Israel]

The place I was staying this winter was over 60 miles from most tv stations. Gave an old antenna from the garage a try and my new flat screen smart tv found 30 srations.

Much clearer reception than cable or dish. Do miss fox news as its cable only like CNN

[dragnet2]

Of course they can opt out, no one is arguing they can’t and hopefully they can do it without additional penalty. Btw, people have been opting out in a big way for the past decade. It’s not a secret, their numbers are in decline.

[cynwoody]

That’s why fast food joint went to paper cups.

Fast food has always used paper or plastic cups. No need to wash glasses, and the only difference between takout / drive-thru and eat-in is bag vs tray (the trays do need to be washed).

A few years ago, under green pressure, McD phased out polystyrene foam coffee cups in favor of waxed paper cups.

[roadcat]

Wait’ll they find out about the big outdoor antennas with motorized rotators for optimizing reception.

I bought one off eBay new for $28. Works great, except I don't know which way the antenna is pointing unless I go outside and look at it above my roof. It's a simple box which attaches to the TV and the antenna via RF cable, the remote control uses InfraRed to direct the box to rotate the antenna CCW or CW. My neighbors laughed, asking why not just pay for Cable. Because I can, and it's free off the air. But I don't get all the channels I want, but good for switching to local news and shows, cartoons for the grandkids without worrying about bandwidth use.

[American in Israel]

Actually as a fringe tv user it is exactly the opposite. There is a vhs station 25 miles from me I do not get, but the digital stations much farther away are clear as a bell.

Phase lock loop blows analog away in low signal to noise reception. As a bonus, if you get the station you usually get three sub channels.

I received one station set clearly at 89 miles away.

[cynwoody]

no more than the lps played on stereos (which are no longer made)

You can find plenty of 3-speed turntables on Amazon. Some even come with USB (for your convenience in ripping your record collection to MP3). Example.

[American in Israel]

I am in the mountains surrounded by tall trees and receive all my stations in the 60 to 90 mile range.

I am however running an extreme fringe uhf only antenna rig with a low noise on antenna pre amp.

I tested reception with an old garage sale fish bone a tenna, but when I found over a dozen watchable channels I broke down and spent a few days researching antennas.

Settled on a resonant yagi about 5 foot long because of its flat spectrum response across all channels. At fringe every dB counts.

Note that high dolloar does not translate to better reception. The best antenna was one third the price.i highly recommend Solid Signal antennas, they are well made and smoke the competition at dB per dollar.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CX700EY/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Yes, only 39 bucks, ones almost as good go for over a hundred bucks.

[Davy Crocket]

no air antenna without a tuner.

I know>>

[V K Lee]

Thanks, have a great stereo player and 1000s of LPs (which, by the way have greatly declined in their manufacture). Point being - how many machines are being sold monthly, yearly. Enough to warrant their continuing to do so? Once a machine is purchased and being used what are the chances the owner might find new releases on LPs Get the point yet? Sorry to state as if my finger is pointing at you, personally. That is not the intention. Only stating a fact that those in charge are so interested in selling a product, revising a “better” product which only entails another need to buy product in order to use it. Once, collections were via LPs. Now it’s a mix mash of Lord knows what. And LOL I’ll not even mention the video recorders once again.

[Davy Crocket]

A TV isn’t much good if it don’t have a Tuner..

[cynwoody]

Point being - how many machines are being sold monthly, yearly. Enough to warrant their continuing to do so?

Amazon has plenty of examples for sale, some of which have thousands of reviews. So, it's clear there is demand for equipment to play vinyl records.

It would be interesting to know how many of those turntables are being used to listen to vinyl vs how many have been purchased to convert existing record collections to digital format. Some folks think vinyl records sound better than CDs. Others think that's a superstition. MP3's are their own deep dark subject.

what are the chances the owner might find new releases on LPs

Vinyl records are actually experiencing a revival in recent years, after being killed off by CDs (which were introduced in 1982).

Typically, on Amazon, a release will be offered in multiple formats, sometimes including vinyl. When vinyl is offered, however, it is the most expensive. Example.

[Ciexyz]

With the big analog to digital changeover, I bought an antenna that looks like a closed computer laptop. You stick it inside your window to pull in the most channels and get the best reception. It has two lines to plug in, one into the wall plug and one into the back of your HDTV. I get approximately 30 channels incl. all the major broadcast channels and their substations that show retro stuff. I also get the two religious stations broadcasting in my Pittsburgh area, Channel 40.1 and Channel 40.2. The cost for this antenna has come down in recent years, I see it in Wal-Mart for $39. Of course that’s the only charge, then you get totally free reception and it’s good reception for most of those channels, although on cloud-covered days and nights in my area, like now, PBS and Channel 40 don’t come thru. That’s a seasonal drawback that eventually clears up and I can live with it for the free reception. BTW, the setup was as easy as it sounds, a technical novice can do it and there’s no heavy lifting for that small antenna.

[HereInTheHeartland]

“It’s illegal NOT to broadcast. “

It has to be.
I also heard they found a backdoor way to get free music the same way; called FM.
I’m sure the music industry will be suing soon to shut this down.

[Openurmind]

I am in similar conditions and have actually tried all this, preamps and all. I have probably spent at least 2k over the last few years trying. I am 50 miles away from the nearest multi-frequency TV repeater. But I have mountains between there and here and just can’t get a signal strong enough to lock.

I now realize I am just in a very bad spot and not going to get digital. But I was getting analog from 150 miles away with a well tuned antenna before they went digital. Little snowy at times but it was watchable and didn’t drop the lock like digital does when weak because of rain etc.

But speaking of analog to digital, I really miss the days of free big dish satellite. They went digital with that too and ruined a good thing. lol I have looked into the new digital “free to air” satellite boxes but haven’t ran across anyone who has used one to find out more.

They are only about $150 bucks and will pull all the satellite feeds and apparently there are still a lot that are not scrambled (they have a feature for scrambled too) . I still have my big dish set up and can utilize it to track with, just have to change the LNB. But I want to talk to someone first to get some experiences.

http://www.starlink-dss.com/fta-receivers/

[publius911]

It’s one of the biggest con jobs ever.

Actually, the next step was.
Literally licenses to steal : The cable companies became laundering machines funneling hundreds of millions$ by forcing us all to actually pay for a hundred channels we don't want for the privilege of receiving the dozen channels that we do want, effectively allowing the cable companies to demand payment three times for the same desired content.

And then there's the sports channels, to all of which I have permanent immunity, fortunately.

Another puzzle solved : how the cable companies became the tails that ended up wagging the 10,000 pound government dogs, screwing the taxpayer-consumer and supporting new, huge and growing permanent bureaucracies.

The endless HD fees, equipment rentals and endless invisible taxes became the means to compel the unwilling victims to enjoy their bread and circuses with no means to resist.

The ultimate goal: the transformation of a free over the air "service" into an endless cash cow. All invisible and legal.

No wonder that the new Marxism, aka Crony Capitalism is going nuts trying to find ways to resist being found out and their criminal RICO symbiosis revealed.

SWEET!

In a truly Free exchange, Private Enterprise System, cable TV service with handsome fair profit should cost no more that just the Federal taxes charged to "enjoy" the use of the People's air space.

I have puzzled for decades as to how humble, local cable TV services managed to become financial giants, rich enough to buy entire movie studios, and extravagant giant skyscrapers all over the country.

Check your Cable TV service bill next time you have the opportunity.
Then think about how pissed off you should feel to allow being milked or sheared for several generations. Most specially if you are among the clueless who are surprised to learn that all you really need to watch clear high resolution (better than cable!) news and other HD entertainment over the air is a pair of rabbit ears or other low cost antenna...

I am not immune to the scam, since I DID know all that all along, but was mystified at the lack of a low-cost way to receive digital HD audio over the air (OTA)using what used to be called "transistor radios" to listen to local and network news, as in the old days. The signal is there; but receivers are not being manufactured. The premium satellite Audio digital services should not be necessary! The network and local news, talk radio and music stations of old are still there, still free, and still inaccessible in Digital format.
WHY NOT?

[dragnet2]

I'd check my bill but I don't have one.☺ Good points btw. And even if money was nothing, I still don't like being ripped off by shysters. Free is way better.