[Janisum]

I have been wanting to ditch my Satellite service as it's gone up almost double and it's just not worth the money for us or our budget.
I have seen in magazines, several types of gadgets that can be connected through a high speed internet connection and will open up several channels. Also, many roof antennas for $29, $39. and up to $130.. There is another product called the "Super Sonic" digital indoor rotating antenna. I'm not very tech savvy so please bare with me. All we need is basic channels and maybe a few select and use Netflix to watch movies unless their is a more efficient way.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I can't see paying $75. a month for our satellite that has mostly channels we don't even watch. I live in Iowa at a 52302-3039 zip code. We only have 2 cable TV/internet companies to choose from and they are just as costly. I will need my high speed internet. And want to get rid of the landline phone too. These TV,phone and internet packages are just not a deal anymore with having to sign a 24 month agreement.

I am totally confused as to what's out there so any help is alot of help to me... Thanks in advance

Janet

[nonseq]

Janisum, on 08 May 2012 - 03:24 PM, said:

I have been wanting to ditch my Satellite service as it's gone up almost double and it's just not worth the money for us or our budget.
I have seen in magazines, several types of gadgets that can be connected through a high speed internet connection and will open up several channels. Also, many roof antennas for $29, $39. and up to $130.. There is another product called the "Super Sonic" digital indoor rotating antenna. I'm not very tech savvy so please bare with me. All we need is basic channels and maybe a few select and use Netflix to watch movies unless their is a more efficient way.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I can't see paying $75. a month for our satellite that has mostly channels we don't even watch. I live in Iowa at a 52302-3039 zip code. We only have 2 cable TV/internet companies to choose from and they are just as costly. I will need my high speed internet. And want to get rid of the landline phone too. These TV,phone and internet packages are just not a deal anymore with having to sign a 24 month agreement.

I am totally confused as to what's out there so any help is alot of help to me... Thanks in advance

Janet

Janet, I live in Phoenix and watch Over The Air (OTA) and have had good success with a simple pair of rabbit ears and an inline amplifier that I got at Radio Shack. At one location we had to invest in a Winsted amplified antenna that worked quite well. We also stream Netflix via DSL from the phone company along with other offerings like Hulu.

BTW my mom lives in Ames and Century Link's DSL is more than adequate. The trick with DSL is to make sure you are as close to the phone company's switch if you are on copper and not fibre.

Others will have much better insights than mine.

I hope this helps.

This post has been edited by nonseq: 08 May 2012 - 03:33 PM

[LiveBrianD]

Try calling them up and telling them you're planning to cancel because the rate is too high, and you might be rewarded with a discount. Also, think about getting an antenna and using OTA broadcasts, and maybe supplementing it with hulu plus and netflix.

[Rommel]

If your house is around taller structures or tall trees, they will interfear with OTA signals.
As well as T-storms.

But if you live close enough to OTA broadcasts without obstruction, the HD looks awesome.

Did you research what is broadcast in your area and how far away it is?

Last time I looked into this there is no special antenna to receive HD so don't be talked into over spending for one.

This post has been edited by Rommel: 08 May 2012 - 04:58 PM

[coastie65]

Hi Janet, As the others have pointed out, if you need a ton of Channels, a good over the air digital ( ok, these days everything is digital ) antenna will do fine. In this area we have Comcast and Verizon FiOS and I haven't seen much in the way of "benefits" from the competition. As for high speed internet, DSL can be dicey, as the more users you have online at the same time, the slower your speeds. Just the nature of the beast. Mine keeps going up, but then again, my Mom keeps adding Premium channels. Depending on the cable company, you can probably opt for just the internet service and get your TV from over the air. Using your computer, you can stream movies from the internet.

[mjd420nova]

I've tackled more than a few outside antennas and can tell you that if you live within 45 miles of the OTA stations you seek, a medium range outside antenna on a pole twenty five feet high will suffice. Around $100. with guy wires. Coax should be of your choice and most pole mounted are 300 ohm or twin lead. A converter or balun can convert that right at the antenna and follow the pole to the roof or ground. These are broadband and longer ranges can be brought in with an antenna amplifier but it must be a 30MHZ to 1,500 MHZ and any splitters must have the same spec. If properly weatherized that installation can last twenty years. A $150. investment and a payback of maybe $75. not paying for satelite/cable bill each month. In populated areas, rabbit ears may be all you need and the digital boadcasts take up far less of the spectrum and are thus farther away from the adjacent channel broadcast. The interesting part I find is the new digital TVs sometimes can tune to channel ONE. Multiple channels based on the first or mother station can have a dashed number. There's become a whole new world in the OTA arena. Even some cable channels have been picked up by broadcasters and are transmitting them. Like WE and ION.

[Janisum]

Thanks a bunch for all your input!!! I looked on antennaweb.org and found what reception I'd have in my area and then from there it was 2 hours later and decided I'd check with Radio Shack since they're just a couple blks. from my home and I may just give Direct TV a call tomorrow in attempt to get a discount since we are locked into a 24 month contract. Guess I better stay with them for now. It was great of you all to comment and give me such good info.. I appreciate all of it.
Janet

[LiveBrianD]

As I recall, my dad used to have satalite TV (I think it was directv, but I'm not positive), and he'd call them, threaten to cancel, get the discount, and when the discount expired threaten to cancel again, get them to discount it, etc. It's funny how they never seem to catch onto that tactic.

[coastie65]

Janisum, on 08 May 2012 - 05:58 PM, said:

Thanks a bunch for all your input!!! I looked on antennaweb.org and found what reception I'd have in my area and then from there it was 2 hours later and decided I'd check with Radio Shack since they're just a couple blks. from my home and I may just give Direct TV a call tomorrow in attempt to get a discount since we are locked into a 24 month contract. Guess I better stay with them for now. It was great of you all to comment and give me such good info.. I appreciate all of it.
Janet

I have had no problems with DirecTV . In fact, I found their customer service among the best I have ever dealt with.

[Dellinsp531]

As other have recommand, you can watch most shows online now either at hulu, the TV shows website (ie abc, cbs, USA, etc), crackle, and other websites. I cut my cable almost 4 years ago since I download what I want to watch or stream what I want to watch.