I recently got rid of our $55 a month cable and don't want to pay for satellite services either. Without doing something illegal, how can I pull a strong tv signal in to the house?
2007-07-31 18:08:43 · 6 answers · asked by gregwhatshisname 2 in Consumer Electronics ➔ TVs
Go to Radio Shack and buy an outdoor antenna, mast, and cable....install it on your roof or gable mount it.
Purchase a 20 db amplifier from them too....
Go to
http://www.antennaweb.org
and get the best direction and best antenna for your area....
I generally suggest the 8-bay Bowtie antenna for all around reception.
Anything less will be substandard....
2007-08-01 00:03:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
First, go to www.antennaweb.org, enter your address, and check the stations in your area. It will tell you how far away they are, what direction (antenna pointing angle), and what type of antenna you need for each.
Keep in mind that after Feb 2009, all the stations will be broadcasting in digital. But the antenna needed for digital is the same needed for analog TV, since DTV just inherits TV channels 2-51 after the transition.
BTW, I sympathize with you on this. I have minimal basic cable, but even so, I'm planning to get an antenna for the post-transition phase. HDTV transmitted over the air will be the best possible picture quality. Cable and satellite can only hope to match it, but I expect them to be worse.
2007-08-01 15:37:46 · answer #2 · answered by link 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Run a wire outside of your house and into the air.
Back in the dark ages when I was a kid, back before Cable TV was invented everyone with a TV had a TV antenna that could receive TV signals. Those that lived far away from the TV stations used to have to run wires outside of the house and some of them even put up external antennas to receive the signals.
To make your own cheap antenna, wrap a lot of wire around a metal bar, start the wire at one end, wrap it and stop at the other end. Then take the two wires and connect them to the back of your TV. Most TVs have a pair of screws to do this. The newer ones that don't can use a standard cable wire to tie in the signal. Cut off one end and connect each wire to each end then plug it into the TV.
2007-07-31 18:11:46 · answer #3 · answered by Dan S 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Depending on where you live, you might be able to pull in local programming with bunny ears that you can get at Walmart or Radio Shack for $10-$20. Otherwise, stick with cable. Satellites have too many hidden fees and charge for everything, including service calls. If the weather is bad, forget it.
2007-07-31 18:24:31 · answer #4 · answered by pywacket72 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you live in an area that has local channels that broadcast in HD, and you check to see the distance you are from them, you can get an outdoor over the air HD Antenna. The signal needs to be strong though, that's why you need to check the range of these local channels, if you have them near you. No monthly fees, just the price of the HD antenna & good Digital coax cable for it.
2007-08-01 03:28:33 · answer #5 · answered by The Count 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Get the biggest antenna you can afford and install it as high as you can on your house ! if pictures are still snowy then fit a mast head amp . If your pictures are still snowy then move house to a better reception locality !!!!!
Cheers Pete
PS. Forget the the first two fanciful answers !!
To The Count --Please explain to the rest of what denotes a HD ANTENNA !!
2007-07-31 23:55:53 · answer #6 · answered by Realist 2006 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋