Save on CABLE TV switch to Over-The-Air HDTV ... my guide !

[CouponDude]

Would like to share with you how I have been saving quite a bit of money by getting rid of cable tv (which was rarely watched) and switching to over-the-air HDTV.

Please note: Availability of station is dependent on the distance from transmitter towers, as well as the placement of the antennas, mine are in my window 100 feet up from the ground.

Currently the cheapest cable package is:

35.49 Digital TV
0.38 Local Programming Improvement Fund Fee
4.53 Digital Terminal
2.99 Digital Service Fee
5.64 GST/PST
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49.03

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Currently my monthly cable bill is $0. Minimum savings of $600 a year.

With Over-The-Air HDTV I get the following channels out of Mississauga City Centre

2-1 NBC
4-1 CBS
5-1 CBC
7-1 ABC
9-1 CTV
17-1 PBS
17-3 PBS2
19-1 TVO
23-1 CW
25-1 CBC French
29-1 FOX
29-2 FOX2
40-1 OMNI2
41-1 GLOBAL
42-1 CTV2
47-1 OMNI
49-1 MyTV Buffalo
57-1 CITY

Thats 18 channels in crystal clear 720p or 1080i resolution. Cable/satellite signal is compressed and will never be as nice.

Depending on your location you might also get:

11-1 CHCH Hamilton
35-1 CHCJ Hamilton
36-1 CTS Hamilton

Those signals are blocked for me

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How to check what would be available in your area.
Use a TV Signal Locator at:
http://www.tvfool.com/index.php?opti...pper&Itemid=29

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What do I need to receive signal? My setup.

1. A HDTV TV with a ATSC digital tuner (most new TVs have one)

2. An inexpensive AMPLIFIED (<- a must) OTA antenna

I'm using 2 of these for a strong signal. I am able to receive ABC which is 82.5 miles away / 132 km.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

3. A good splitter to join the signals.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

I found dollar store splitters to be useless

4. And coaxial cable to run it to you tv.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/su...09&cp_id=10216

Your costs might vary depending what you purchase and where and if you have to pay for shipping, customs, etc.

My total cost was about $60 + shipping.

Hope this helps those looking to ditch their cable.

[ergo2]

Been doing OTA for about 4 yrs now I'm using Antennas Direct DB8 (no preamp) pointed at the CN tower out a second story window about 30 feet up. I get all the same channels you do except for the American ones as there towers are in a different direction. I do get CHCH and CTS tho.


Here is a great resource where you can learn more:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=81

[Autumn7]

Book marking this for *oneday* (when I have an HDTV) lol. Thanks so much for sharing this! It seems like such a great way to save $$$. I use magic jack (phone service) and have saved soooo much not having a monthly phone bill anymore.

[ergo2]

Book marking this for *oneday* (when I have an HDTV) lol. Thanks so much for sharing this! It seems like such a great way to save $$$. I use magic jack (phone service) and have saved soooo much not having a monthly phone bill anymore.

You don't really need a HDTV. The older ones work too , but you will need to purchase a converter box which can be found for about $30 or less if your lucky.

[walkinglady]

Thank you for providing details about the setup you use CouponDude! I will try to copy you and see what I get. Thank you again.

[anisa]

i want to go OTA, just need my rogers contract to expire. 40% off so no complaints, but i would love to have no more bills.

[kerrylj]

I have been using a TV antenna on the TV tower that was here when I moved in 20 yrs ago. All that has changed is the need for either a digital TV or a digital TV tuner.

If you have to split the signal get a high end one. If you can you want the shortest cable and a straight run from the antenna to the TV. Every connection drops you signal and with digital once it gets to a certain level it will just drop. Some of the TVs have a strength reading on the channels and that can help to aim the antenna.

One thing that helped my signal was using a signal booster like http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...0&locale=en_US (I can't find the exact it I have. It may be like the items listed at the bottom and plugs in the wall and gives me signal a gain of about 10db which makes a big difference with the weaker signals)

If you have an old VCR they also have a signal booster inside and might help more channels come in if they are just on the edge of dropping. Worth a try.

[CouponDude]

The antenna I'm using from Monoprice already includes an amplifyer. http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

Picks up a signal from 82.5 miles away / 132 km, but your milage may vary.

[kerrylj]

You are getting 80+kms with that? Nice. You are in a good location so I am sure it helps.

The one thing I found with the antenna I have is that higher is not always better. I get better signal with mine dropped down from the highest position. It is amazing howa few feet one way or the other makes all the difference. The reception in the warm weather is always better and some days are just so much better than others. One day 2 summers ago I was trying a second antenna aimed directly south. It was pulling in some channels that are over 150km away (indianna) and I thought I was really rocking. Only to find out that I was getting a perfect bounce for a few hours and then nothing. I was very disappointed. Sometimes a good storm will also bring in some stations that don't always show up.

So if you have an antenna that is in a location that is easy to adjust it doesn't hurt to check and see if moving it a bit will make it better once in a while. (I used to have a working rotor and that was a big help but for the amount I watch TV it is not worth getitng it fixed)

[CouponDude]

I know someone with the same antenna thats getting the ABC signal thats 87 km away, from a 7th floor.

They get 11.1 CHCH but not 29.1 FOX, for me its the other way around.

[kerrylj]

Fox is a pain to get. It is quite directional since they went to the digital signal. I get it because of how I am aimed but I know my parents have issues with it.

Does that building cause you issues?

You might want to see if you are getting any kind of bounce from that building and can find a sweet spot.

[CouponDude]

I get 29.1 without any problems, cant get 11.1 because the tower is directly behind the building and cant get the signal to bounce to the antenna.

[Habman1]

Great topic CouponDude. I wonder if anyone has had any experience with "The Leaf" :

https://store.gomohu.com/

Looking forward to cut the cord this summer. will use over air and online to get my fix.

[John.Free]

The leaf ultimate seems interesting because it's "amplified with Clean Peak™ filter technology: most sophisticated amplifier on the market that removes unwanted RF signals and boosts the ones you want" that means cleaner picture. Nice topic and good guide!

[tjthemanto]

I am in a house and I get close to 10 HD channels for FREE with the OTA..more than enough for me