Thursday, November 28, 2013

What type of "antenna" do you buy for your tv to avoid having to pay co's like time warner?

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And what channels will you get off of this antenna? Im just ready cancel time warner because their equipment is terrible and they just insist on increasing their prices constantly. And will that antenna work on all tv's? I have one that is 15 years old (not a flat screen) and a flat screen.


Answer
What you are wanting to do is switch over to broadcast television.

Each area, or "Market" is different - you'll have to visit a web site such as tvguide.com to find out what is broadcast in your area. Typically it will be the major networks plus extra channels that vary by market.

The antenna you need is cheap to purchase - $10 at Walmart buys one that works for most locations. However there is a small catch... your 15 year old set won't tune in anything that is broadcast today as we have since switched over to a new high quality type of broadcasting that provides a MUCH better picture. You either need a set-top box (Walmart - $40) or purchase a newer used CRT set that has the "SDTV" logo on it, which should cost less than $40.

As for your flat screen set, hard to say for sure. Sets built after 2006 typically tune the new channels, and the date is on the back of the set. You can also look for the "Dolby Digital" logo and word on the front of the set. If this set is older than that - you'll need a set top box for it as well. You won't get a good picture with the $40 area box, you will be best served with a true HDTV set top box, which cost closer to $80 as a starting point.

Bright side is, once you upgrade as needed - there will not be a monthly bill.

Is there one HDTV Converter Box better than all others? What features does one need to be aware of?




Sunshine


A friend in Centralia, Illinois area (southern) just told me she got her first converter box and received 4 clear PBS stations and some fuzzy local ones--prior to that she had no reception beyond 2 very fuzzy channels w/rabbit ears. A friend of her's suggested she put up an external antenna to get even better reception.


Answer
The Consumer Reports article referenced by theone78 is a good reference, but it doesn't really seem to address tuner sensitivity, and instead concentrates on picture quality. That's an OK criteria for use in strong reception areas, but if you're in a remote area, having the best tuner is critical. From articles and testimonials I've seen, the Zenith and Insignia converter boxes seem to have exceptionally good tuners.

But you also need a good antenna, preferably a roof-mounted on, or at least an attic one. Rabbit ears just won't cut it for distant reception with digital TV.




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