I live in the Bay Area. I am done paying for channels that I don't watch. I want to cancel my satellite. Can you still get the local TV channels with the bunny ear antennas?
The comcast cable service costs MORE than the satellite where I live!!! HELP! Is there an alternative TV programming provider, or is an antenna my best bet?
2007-11-01 05:03:53 · 7 answers · asked by mami3jc 3 in Consumer Electronics ➔ TVs
After January 1st, you can buy a digital TV tuner for your TV that'll let you watch local channels with a picture quality similar to satellite. The reason I'm recomending a Digital tuner to you is the fact after February 17, 2009 the FCC is going to mandate all TV stations turn their regular TV transmitters off. Digital over the air TV is FREE once you buy the converter box for about $40-$80. You probably have about 12 or more digital channels there, I don't know. Where I'm from, which is Cincinnati, there are about 12. If this digital TV stuff is confusing you even more, email me & I'll send you more info via email. I hope I could help.
2007-11-01 07:05:02 · answer #1 · answered by hippyman 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
>Can you still get the local TV channels with the bunny ear antennas?
Many people can get there local channels with a "rabbit ear" antenna.
If you attach a pair to your TV you may get a perfect picture, or you may get unwatchable snow. It really depends on what is between you and the TV transmitters.
Given that you can buy a basic TV antenna for about $10, the best way to find out is to try it.
It's even cheaper to ask your neighbors what their experience is.
Yahoo has a TV listing section, if you put in your ZIP code it will tell you what your local stations are.
If you find the rabbit ears give you marginal results; you will find links below with more info.
Here's some more stuff about rabbit ear antennas
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Rabbit ear antennas are usually two different antennas that are put together.
Typically there are two telescoping rods that stick up at about 45 degrees. These mostly pick up analog stations 2-13* which are in the VHF band.
There will also be a smaller loop, bow-tie, or figure 8. This is mostly to pick up analog stations 14-69* in the UHF band.
In general you want the UHF part to be closer to the TV transmitter than the VHF telescoping rods.
If you put your location in one of the first two links below you can find out where your local TV transmitters are located and what channels they broadcast on.
The first step is to adjust the length of the telescoping rods to the best length. This is explained at the first web site that is linked to, but basically you figure out what the lowest channel number is that you want to receive and then adjust the length of the rods to match.
At this point you start playing around with the antenna. In many cases it works best in at a window that is in the direction of the TV transmitters. Many times you will get the best signal by placing the antenna as high as you can (such as on top of a bookshelf).
One of the other answers refered to getting a digital tuner box. It's true that beginning in Jan 2008 there will be a government program that will let you buy one for about $20.
It's also true that the new digital channels use the same frequencies/antennas as the old analog channels. If you can't get a good analog signal with an antenna, you will not be able to get digital signals either.
*The channel numbers used for digital OTA channels do not correspond to the actual analog/RF channel that they are broadcast on. Most digital TV channels are in the UHF range that analog channels 14-51 use.
2007-11-01 08:38:26 · answer #2 · answered by Stephen P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should be able to get local channels with just the bunny ears, probably will just bad reception, but it will work. Other than that no there isn't alternatives. Read a Book.
2007-11-01 05:12:10 · answer #3 · answered by loudogg 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bunny ears will give you the basic 10-13 channels...Fox, ABC, WB, TBS, etc. I don't remember exactly which stations are in the bay area (it's been some time since I was there last) but we get NBC, ABC, Fox, Telemundo (espanol), WB, TBS Superstation, PBS and a music channel (Las Vegas).
Satellite sucks (in my opinion)!
2007-11-01 05:13:51 · answer #4 · answered by justanothergirl 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I honestly have cable.i attempted the satellite tv for pc element and the 1st time it snowed out the soccer interest i grew to become into gazing have been given all tousled.human beings warned me approximately it too.i admire gazing the heritage channel and the invention channel.
2016-12-30 12:39:51 · answer #5 · answered by fraccola 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just cancle your satellite.
You can watch satellite tv channels on your computer:
http://watch-television-online.info
Enjoy!
2007-11-02 20:02:00 · answer #6 · answered by Kart 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why waste money on that?
Go to http://watch-tv-on-computer.com
With one easy software download, you can be watching thousands of worldwide channels on your computer.
2007-11-02 20:28:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋