Antenna for free TV?
 

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/06/bu...abbitears.html

Am I reading this correctly? I can purchase an antenna and watch TV without paying for cable? Is this even legal? I watch TV infrequently, and would love to lower my cable bill to only the price of internet. Can someone shine some light on this for me?

its basically like the old style analog air broadcasted signals. but since the switch to digital tvs must be either new enough to use the digital signals or with older tvs you need a converter box. But yes, You can get some channels over-the-air for free still.

you need a digital converter box and an antenna. my friend has it at her apt and we had it when I worked at BJs.

you get the minimal channels. 2-11, pbs, and some other crap you'd never watch. jake, have you never heard of people using antennas for tv? the govt was giving out the cable boxes free for months

Yeah, well, I thought that couldn't be done anymore. I was unaware you could get digital TV over the airways.

I am going to have to do some research on this. There is never anything on basic TV channels though.

Thanks guys!

Welcome to 1976

I have a digital antenna I bought before I got cable. My tv has a built in tuner and I get about 30 channels, half of them are in HD.

There are also a few web pages that tell you which direction to point your antenna to pick up different channels.

Location is a big issue. If your near a city you'll be fine. If your out in the country don't expect to pick up many channels.

I live in Queens, about 4 miles from Manhattan. Signal should be fine. The TV I have is old, got it for free, so I doubt I have a tuner. I'll likely only get a few channels then, huh?

Kiss my butt! I thought this was done away with when they made that big stink about going digital!

IIRC, you can buy the digital converters for roughly $40, and that should get you all the digital broadcast channels that are available.

- Justin

I think I'm going to do it. Gonna cancel the Time Warner service after I get it set up and it works. I'll order the box and antenna on Amazon and return if it doesn't work. Should set me back no more than $60.

Gonna miss the DVR though.

You can do that with an old computer, big hard drive(s), and free software.

- Justin

I through out my old desktop :(

craigslist!

- Justin

Eh, not that serious. :) I'm really just excited to lower my cable bill!

Hulu.com FTW!

Also you do not need a "special" antenna for digital broadcast Television. Any old antenna will work.

as long as you have a TV that's digital compatible. Otherwise you need a "special" antenna or a converter box.

We have it at the shorehouse. We get 1.5 stations on a good day.

After much thought, I decided to just do this: http://www.amazon.com/LG-BD550-Netwo...pr_product_top

My DVD/VHS combo went out on my a few months ago, and this seems like a better option than trying to get cable through the airwaves. I figure there is more likely to be something of use to watch on Netflix or DVD than if I were to search basic television. And most importantly, it will have some use after I move from this apartment. Problem solved :)

Edit: just realized it doesn't have WiFi. The search continues....

Edit Again: I may just get a Roku and forgo the dvd/blu-ray for now. Gonna call Time Warner in the morning and see what my rates are for just internet.

No, thats not quite right. You only need the box for an older TV, i.e. non hd. The antenna is universal, I know because my grandparents just hooked their old amplified antenna to the converter boxes and they are good to go now. Even with the digital TV you can use an old style antenna

Isn't that what I just said? I think you missed the word "or" in there

There is no "special" antenna :huh:

At my apartment I have a digi box W/rabbit ears in the window ( something outside would probably be better. I get NBC, CBS, 17, 29, 57 and the rest is a TON OF JUNK CHANNELS!

I say it's better nothing, and that's about as good as it gets!

I have to repostion the antenna for certain channels, if its raining I loose 1/2 the channels, or the picture gets "choppy".

You've been able to do this since the 1930's. Shine light on what??? You've never heard of anyone using an antenna for TV in your life?


It's not "cable through the airwaves".... it's your normal broadcast television through the airwaves, just like your parents used to watch. Also please note that digital != HD. Most stations will look the same, especially on your old TV.

A special antenna would be an antenna with the digital converter built in. Hence a converter box (w/ basic antenna aka paperclip [it works!]) OR special antenna.

OK, what ever makes you feel like you are the one correct here :rollseye: