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The TV antenna is making a comeback

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Re: The TV antenna is making a comeback

#111

Post by soylentcola »

shanecleveland wrote: post #93
kxr wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting. What's your cable provider?

Comcast. No complaints about internet service. I get 50mbps, which I believe is advertised at $80/mo. With the basic cable plus HBO promotional rate, our bill is about $72/mo.

I'll also chime in to say that we have a similar deal. Not as cheap but still less than a lot of people pay. I usually get 100-120mbps down and 10-ish mbps up, cable with a bunch of channels that I never watch (but my gf seems to want), some of the channels are in HD, many are just stretched SD, again, I don't really care since I don't watch much. The "main" channels are in HD at least. Also HBO (main channel in HD, others in scaled SD) but I only really use it for access to HBO Go.

As far as hardware, I only get the tuner/DVR from Comcast. Own my own modem and router. No phone service because it would be redundant.

Total cost is around $99/mo. I'd just as soon knock it down to internet only but that's around $70/mo and I'd spend the extra $30/mo subscribing to the various services that carry programming I currently access with our cable account login.

Not saying it's all sunshine and lollipops. We've had the usual billing and service tech issues that come with these sorts of companies that cut every corner imaginable. But when it works for most of the year, it does the job I guess.

On the subject of OTA antennas, I do have one hooked up to my PC's tuner card (since they did away with any unencrypted QAM over the cable lines....bastards) and when I watch one of the 5-10 channels I can pick up, the local HD broadcasts look so much nicer than the compressed stuff on cable. I actually prefer to throw a football game on my secondary monitor while I'm messing around on the computer rather than watch it over cable upstairs.

Re: The TV antenna is making a comeback

#112

Post by eludwig »

nsxwolf wrote: post #46
LVB wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess $250-400 isn't "cheap", but for easy: http://www.channelmaster.com/Antenna_DVR_s/336.htm Our family has used their previous model for years with great success. Dual tuners, program guide (picked up OTA as well), and no fees or subscription.

That looks nice, but is a bit steep especially if you still have to provide your own storage. Still, best I've seen so far, thanks.

I can vouch for this model. Works great. I think it gets the guide over ethernet. It comes with a jack for that, or you can get an optional wireless USB dongle.

The interface is decent, nothing great, but better than most cable provided boxes. I've got mine hooked up to a 2TB usb drive I had laying around. Worked immediately.

It has reasonably good recording options. It can do string matching, so you can say "record any new shows with the word 'Masterpiece' in the title." That kind of thing.

I recommend it.

Re: The TV antenna is making a comeback

#113

Post by mariodiana »

The U.S. switch over to digital transmission killed my reception. The analog signal had no problem with the mountain ranges between me and the nearest metropolitan areas, but the digital signal can't make it through. I was using a rabbit ear antennae up until then.

I get the NYC stations. It's perhaps a horrible thing to say, but Osama Bin Laden's boys knocked out only one of my channels and only temporarily; the FCC, however, killed them all.

Re: The TV antenna is making a comeback

#114

Post by shanecleveland »

canow wrote: post #98
shanecleveland wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Comcast. No complaints about internet service. I get 50mbps, which I believe is advertised at $80/mo. With the basic cable plus HBO promotional rate, our bill is about $72/mo.

That sure ain't less the Internet service alone, I pay $25/month for 25mbit/s download

It is for me in my location through Comcast at double the speed you are getting, which I want. I went and took a look. Comcast charges $60 for 25mbps and $75 for 50Mbps. Typically no promotions on just internet. Have to get phone or TV included for promotions. So I am paying less for more. Just have to be on top of it every year.

Re: The TV antenna is making a comeback

#116

Post by shanecleveland »

dexterdog wrote: post #108
shanecleveland wrote: post #79

Get internet service from cable provider with basic cable plus HBO for less than the advertised price of the internet service alone. Have to call back every year to get the promotional price back, which sucks. But we almost never watch the cable channels. Local channels in HD with a couple low-end antennas in the attic. And tend to watch HBO GO on a Roku, where we also have Netflix, Prime, etc. Doing Sling during foo…

http://antennaweb.org/

Thanks. Seems to be pretty general, though. I just think it would be cool to combine this with anecdotal info from antenna users.

Re: The TV antenna is making a comeback

#117

Post by shanecleveland »

narrowrail wrote: post #101
shanecleveland wrote: post #79

Get internet service from cable provider with basic cable plus HBO for less than the advertised price of the internet service alone. Have to call back every year to get the promotional price back, which sucks. But we almost never watch the cable channels. Local channels in HD with a couple low-end antennas in the attic. And tend to watch HBO GO on a Roku, where we also have Netflix, Prime, etc. Doing Sling during foo…

>would like to have a better antenna setup with DVR that does not require subscription I have been looking at a Channel Master[0] for this exact purpose; the cost is $250+HDD. It has an ethernet port which allows one to get an EPG [1] from Rovi, but it isn't required. If I pull the trigger maybe I'll do a write up and submit it. [0] http://www.channelmaster.com/Antenna_DVR_s/336.htm [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/…

Thanks. A good option. Definitely would pay for itself over time if switch from a cable provider alternative. We've never had a DVR before, so hard to justify the jumping in cost.

It would be cool to see Roku or Apple TV combine this functionality.

Re: The TV antenna is making a comeback

#118

Post by icebraining »

jp555 wrote: post #73
greg5green wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This was technically stealing.

Doesn't stealing - technically speaking - mean taking another person's property without an intention of returning it? Duplicating someone's property without their permission is copyright infringement, not stealing. You're making more of it, not less of it.

The SCOTUS agrees with you (in Dowling v. United States). Dowling prevailed, because while he committed copyright infringement (for profit!), he didn't steal.

Technically.

Re: The TV antenna is making a comeback

#119

Post by dtparr »

ilamont wrote: post #89

I took a look at a relative’s cable bill last year. He lives in a town with three competing cable/ISP services. Here is how the monthly costs broke down: Expanded basic service: $60 High definition converter box: $10 Digital converter rental: $3 HBO Cinemax package: $18 Premiere Total Pack: $16 Showtime/TMC: $5 Starz: $5 Franchise fee: $7 Broadcast TV surcharge: $4 Sports programming surcharge: $2 Total monthly cost:…

With the exception of the low power stations, if you're within 10 miles of the tower and have a 'good' antenna (for some reasonable definition of good), you shouldn't have any trouble picking them up. I'm about 15 miles from mine and get maxed signal strength using one of those flat piece-of-paper-sized Mohu with no amp.

Is there an LOS issue (huge building, mountain, etc.) between you and the towers? Is there something in your walls turning your house into psuedo Faraday cage? If your channels are VHF-low (physical channels 2-6) is your antenna rated for that and not just UHF/VHF-hi?

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