Free Over-The-Air HDTV

In the old days people used to use "rabbit ears" to pick up a TV signal. Well, those days have returned with HDTV and it is free. I get 21 digital (and 23 analog) channels over the air but I never watch analog TV anymore. You don't need expensive cable or satellite hookups - just your old antenna. There are lots of antennas you can buy which are better, if you want. One that I have has a preamp and the other has a tuner in a box with no amp. It all depends on your situation. Buy a HDTV with an ATSC tuner so you don't need to buy a separate one. Use good RG6 cable (not Dollar Store junk) and then a preamp if necessary. Sound is great on digital transmission as well. You can get a DVD that upgrades ordinary DVD (not BluRay) to good viewing too. Analog TV will be disappearing so you have to go digital. Digital TV has no ghosting and the picture and Dolby sound are terrific. And FREE!!! The antenna and amp will cost you about $100 and there are no subscription fees - ever.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• HDTV
• digital
• free
• over-the-air
• ATSC
• tuner
• Dolby
• sound
• cable
• satellite
• rabbi-ears
• high
• definition
• television

[timc101]

I have a Digiwave DTV-5000 decoder although I am not a big fan of Digiwave. It works fine. My Samsung device died after a year and a half. Lesson learned was not to leave it on all the time.

[timc101]

Yes and even program line ups.

[GlockNinja]

I am thinking of canceling my cable service and just watch over the air TV. But all of my TVs are the old non-HDTVs. So I imagine I need to purchase the digital decoders. Do I really need to get outside antenna or can I use my cable for reception?

[timc101]

@GlockNinja With cable you'll need to get a HDTV box and upgrade your subscription. HDTV is like high speed internet - you won't want to go back. Decoders for analog TVs are cheap. Get an antenna, decoder and some coax R6 cable. Test what you see. If you like it you can dump cable and get a HDTV with ATSC tuner and still save.

[GlockNinja]

@timc101 I discontinued my cable TV service today and out of spite, the cable company raised my high access internet about $20. I have about 4 rooms I have to get converters and antennas for. My wife want us to go with Dish Network because they are running a special of $19.99 a month for 120 channels for 12 months. And their regular price is $39.99 after that. Wonder which way is the best way. I'm just tired of high cost TV watching. I got Netflix to help the lack of movie channels.

[timc101]

@GlockNinja Everyone's situation is different and free-over-the-air is only one possibility. For me, I get over 20 HD channels. Of course, you have to still pay for Internet access; this is true for an ADSL phone connection. If you get VOIP you may still have to pay for a "dry loop" connection on the phone line. BTW, if you get an antenna you probably want a booster amp with some have multiple feeds for your TVs (as you can see in the movie).

[hailherrosner]

@timc101 Just to let you know, all BluRay players will upconvert standard DVD's to 1080P, I would not bother buying an upconverting DVD player, it's a waste of money, buy a BluRay player it will upconvert all your old dvd's and will also play all you music CD's as well!! I sell TV's and BluRay players, that's how I know this, and I'm also a big fan of free over the air HD, you have a great video, thanks!!

[Kirthin123]

What is a good decoder at a reasonable price? I have two HDTV ready that dont have ATCS decoders, any help would be greatly appreciated. I saw @bennyherber posted his $2 HDTV Antenna video but you didnt post a how-to. Anyone actually try this?

Let me know! Thanks for the help!

[greyfoxzero]

Everything was lookin real good up until he panned over to the that monster he calls an antenna, dear lord thats ridiculous. That sucker needs to be outside or on the roof or something.

[itdudntwork]

@MrLxmarshall you could find out on the internet. If your TV says "Dolby Digital" on the front, that means it's

very likely that your tv has an ATSC tuner.

[itdudntwork]

Can you receive Dolby Digital 5.1 with any of the digital SD or HD channels? If you bring up the TV's display, it should tell you the audio information.If it's Dolby 5.1, it should say something like "multichannel".

[bennyherber]

Look at my video. You only need $2 worth of parts for a high reception HDTV antenna ;)