If things work that well with an improvised antenna, sounds like you should have no problem with a "real" indoor antenna.I'm going to guess that just about any small multi-directional antenna is going to work for us.
If things work that well with an improvised antenna, sounds like you should have no problem with a "real" indoor antenna.I'm going to guess that just about any small multi-directional antenna is going to work for us.
Having said that, it appears this is not necessary for us. For another test, I connected a coax from the TV to a metal anchor from a holiday lawn decoration in the shape of an "H" (16" tall by 6" wide). Placing this metal "antenna" on the fireplace mantle, we can pick up 50+ stations. A lot of subchannels on the main (.1) channels.
So we've come full circle, back to the 60s.Where are you located?
Sounds to me like you are where there are (and you are close to) many major local OTA TV broadcasters. If that is the case, you could probably do just as well by connecting your finger to the TV's Antenna input port.
Suburb of Austin. Some things that may be working in our favor:Where are you located?
Sounds to me like you are where there are (and you are close to) many major local OTA TV broadcasters. If that is the case, you could probably do just as well by connecting your finger to the TV's Antenna input port.
Quick question: If I change the antenna at all or its location, should I re-scan the channels even if the reception appears to be stable?
Cord-Cutting Accelerates. Many Traditional Cable Networks Won’t Survive.
Another point is that virtual cable bundles (like YTTV and Hulu Live) are not immune from these same trends, with non-sports fans now leaving these services due to high prices and others chasing better content on the newer DTC platforms.
At the moment, we are still YTTV subscribers, mainly because we both love baseball. But at $65 ($70 with tax), we're probably going to abandon ship and just watch highlights on free YouTube, minus the never-ending beer commercials. Switching to Hulu doesn't really change anything. It's not about $10/mo. It's about paying for a bunch of stuff I don't want, just to get the one thing I do. That's why I left cable originally.
Same for us, although DW likes a few network programs (This is Us). But maybe we go old school and just watch it live OTA? ...
If I could get OTA I would add a DVR off the OTA and drop YTTV.
Can you stream from the network site or network app on a fire or roku stick? You might have to wait a few days before it's available, but I think after that they are usually free, probably with some ads.Same for us, although DW likes a few network programs (This is Us). But maybe we go old school and just watch it live OTA? At least with YTTV or hulu, you can join for a month during a critical run, maybe the playoffs with sports, or the season finale for a network show. Then just pause for a good chunk of the year.
Same for us, although DW likes a few network programs (This is Us). But maybe we go old school and just watch it live OTA? At least with YTTV or hulu, you can join for a month during a critical run, maybe the playoffs with sports, or the season finale for a network show. Then just pause for a good chunk of the year.
We are sports fans for one team. DW and I were talking about it today and maybe we'll just listen on the radio, then watch highlights.
Two things have poisoned sports for me:
1) Coronavirus. Found out life without sports isn't so bad.
2) Politics in sports. The increasing integration of politics and sports are a turn off for me. Literally.
We've determined we can get OTA without much of a problem. Our issue is DW doesn't watch much on network TV, so it makes it hard to justify the expense of an OTA DVR. Those aren't cheap.If I could get OTA I would add a DVR off the OTA and drop YTTV.
We've determined we can get OTA without much of a problem. Our issue is DW doesn't watch much on network TV, so it makes it hard to justify the expense of an OTA DVR. Those aren't cheap.
At the moment, DW can name two shows she watches from network TV. One from CBS, and one from Fox. If we do go with Sling Blue + Total TV (that combination has all of the non-OTA channels DW requires/wants), Sling claims were in a viewing area that gets our local Fox affiliate.
So, we would only have to deal with DVR-ing that one show with CBS (at the moment). If DW could watch that or any other network show the next day on Hulu's basic service ($5.99), that would work.
We've determined we can get OTA without much of a problem. Our issue is DW doesn't watch much on network TV, so it makes it hard to justify the expense of an OTA DVR. Those aren't cheap.
At the moment, DW can name two shows she watches from network TV. One from CBS, and one from Fox. If we do go with Sling Blue + Total TV (that combination has all of the non-OTA channels DW requires/wants), Sling claims were in a viewing area that gets our local Fox affiliate.
So, we would only have to deal with DVR-ing that one show with CBS (at the moment). If DW could watch that or any other network show the next day on Hulu's basic service ($5.99), that would work.
You know you can get Hulu without live tv and she could watch This Is Us the next day. Almost all the network shows are available the next day. And a huge on demand library of movies and shows for only $5.99/month
Joe, I switched to a TABLO dual tuner without HD built in a little over two years ago. It has done just fine. I added a HD I already owned that I was using on my computer as I wanted to upgrade it for my computer. I would advise doing that. Also, be aware that if you want the 2 week TV guide that makes recording in the future much easier you have to pay for the guide. $5 a month, $50 bucks a year or $150 for "lifetime". I did 2 months month to month and then went with the lifetime.
So the question is for you Tablo users: how do you like it? The dual tuner should be fine. I'm considering the Tablo Dual 128GB OTA DVR for $170. No messing with an extra drive. 80 hrs of HD is enough.
1057 Channels and Nothing On (my apologies to Bruce Springsteen)
- Tablo DVR: record the local news for fast forwarding and some network shows
The Tablo will pay for itself in a few months if we pause YTTV or Hulu Live.
So the question is for you Tablo users: how do you like it? The dual tuner should be fine. I'm considering the Tablo Dual 128GB OTA DVR for $170. No messing with an extra drive. 80 hrs of HD is enough.
I know there are "roll your own" OTA DVR solutions out there. I honestly don't want that project right now.
Sorry I missed this the first time around. I had been using the suppose.tv website, which is how I determined we could not get DW's desired channels anywhere near as cheap as with Sling Blue plus their Total TV addon. Outside of the local channels, this combination has everything, including some extra channels not on DW's must-have list, but she is pleased to see them anyway.Check out suppose.tv Neat tool to put in your "must-haves" and see what streaming packages will meet your needs.
At the moment, DW isn't watching CBS. Their show of interest isn't in season yet. And even if it were, I don't think $6/mo for a single show is money well spent.For the CBS show you could do CBS All-Access... IIRC $6/month with commericals and $10/month commercial-free and it has some other unique shows... especially if you are a Star Trek fan it has Star Trek: Discovery and Picard.
Do you get to choose what channels appear on the 2 week TV guide? How does it compare to EPG?Joe, I switched to a TABLO dual tuner without HD built in a little over two years ago. It has done just fine. I added a HD I already owned that I was using on my computer as I wanted to upgrade it for my computer. I would advise doing that. Also, be aware that if you want the 2 week TV guide that makes recording in the future much easier you have to pay for the guide. $5 a month, $50 bucks a year or $150 for "lifetime". I did 2 months month to month and then went with the lifetime.
If I could get OTA I would add a DVR off the OTA and drop YTTV.