How to Watch TV Without Cable

[Midpack]

We're 40 miles from most towers.

• We're getting 49 stations OTA with our little amplified antenna upstairs only. I probably need to install a better antenna in the attic or outside for the whole house.
• If Directv Now ($35/mo) works well enough we'll get it, if not Sling ($20/mo) or PSV.
• We might get Hulu or Netflix too, for another LT $10/mo.
• Forgoing a DVR for now.

I just need to get DW to let me cancel satellite...she's close!

 

[Carpediem]

We're 40 miles from most towers.

• We're getting 49 stations OTA with our little amplified antenna upstairs only. I probably need to install a better antenna in the attic or outside for the whole house.
• If Directv Now ($35/mo) works well enough we'll get it, if not Sling ($20/mo) or PSV.
• We might get Hulu or Netflix too, for another LT $10/mo.
• Forgoing a DVR for now.

I just need to get DW to let me cancel satellite...she's close!

I was under the impression that PS Vue included locals. True or false?

 

[youbet]

Wouldn't that only happen if they were well matched and 1/2 wavelength apart (or an even wavelength apart if being backwards actually inverted the signal) ?

-ERD50

Actually, 2 yagi's mounted back to back will each deliver RF from the direction they are pointed to the feedline (via the so-called splitter in this case). The do not cancel each other out.

If yagi #1 is pointed east at station A and yagi #2 is pointed west at station B, both signals will be on the feedline in proportion to their signal strength.

 

[Midpack]

I was under the impression that PS Vue included locals. True or false?

I can't tell for sure. It seems they all make it difficult to know, forcing potential customers to sign up for a "free trial" to find out. Sigh...

 

[sengsational]

Wouldn't that only happen if they were well matched and 1/2 wavelength apart (or an even wavelength apart if being backwards actually inverted the signal) ?

-ERD50

Actually, 2 yagi's mounted back to back will each deliver RF from the direction they are pointed to the feedline (via the so-called splitter in this case). The do not cancel each other out.

If yagi #1 is pointed east at station A and yagi #2 is pointed west at station B, both signals will be on the feedline in proportion to their signal strength.

I'm no expert, but my early tinkering with my head-end equipment indicated something bad was going on when passively connecting antennas. These were the days when I was attempting to keep analog going for some TV's and add digital to the spectrum. And there were no digital tuners in the attic in those days, so a coax going into a distribution amp and to various TVs. It was a mess, for sure. But I got it working pretty good with passive frequency filters. So much easier now, just plug each antenna into a separate tuner and forget all of that other stuff.

 

[RonBoyd]

One more OTA Station Finder (as well as other useful antenna stuff):


Antenna Recommendations

 

[Midpack]

PlayStation Vue is THE answers for us!

http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/playstation-vue-85494.html

 

[RonBoyd]

My Ultimate Cord Cutting Setup - Cord Cutters News

I was recently asked what my personal at home setup is for cord cutting. That is no short answer, so I thought I would put down in writing what I use in my house.

Keep in mind that I own more than 30 cord cutting devices: every Roku sold since 2011, every Fire TV/Fire Stick ever made, both first and second generation Nvidia Shields, Apple TV 4th Gen, and probably 50 android-based streaming players. Add in over a dozen antennas and other peripherals etc. - See more at: My Ultimate Cord Cutting Setup - Cord Cutters News

 

[Carpediem]

My Ultimate Cord Cutting Setup - Cord Cutters News

This is exactly the type of information that I've been hoping to find. Thank you for sharing it.

 

[John Galt III]

I just dropped the excess cable stations I had. I have just TV, no internet. I was paying $107 a month for "full basic", and just lowered it to "limited basic" which is $34.22 a month with all fees included. I just surfed my new channel lineup, which now does not have Fox News, CNN, Turner Classic Movies, MSNBC, Comedy Channel, History Channel, etc, etc. and I like it just fine. I feel free and unencumbered !

 

[Starsky]

I just started using DirectTV Now and it works pretty good on my computer once I get it going. [Silverlight is a PITA with Mac] I finally had enough of wrestling with my provider over rates when my cable bill went up $40 from the previous month - to $140 for the basic cable and internet package. Of course my new internet-only service isn't discounted - which hopefully means the price won't change as much or as often.

The main reason I signed up with Direct is that they gave away a free Apple TV with a 3-month subscription. I'll try it for three months and then we'll see if we want to switch to Playstation... nice to hear there is an alternative. Thanks for the great info everyone!

 

[John Galt III]

After I lopped off the top tier of channels, I discovered channels I had been ignoring, and they are not bad. PBS is one of them. And I don't miss the lopped off channels. So glad I lowered my monthly bill!