Do it Yourself and Save...never pay for TV Again...
It's doesn't take a special TV, expensive equipment, or a high tech expert, but it is a little bit of work.
First off each situation is different. This is broadcast TV, that you can also combine with on line TV, or internet supported TV like Roku or Apple TV. This is not a website to help you steal cable TV, it's a website to help you receive on air broadcast TV.
About three years ago by mandate of the Federal Communications Commission, all TV stations had to switch from analog broadcast to high definition digital broadcasts.
Most people never noticed the difference because they were hook to cable or dish. However with the new digital scheme there is no more static, the stations are crystal clear, and most importantly, it allowed TV stations to broadcast multiple digital channels on the same channel...eg. 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 etc...If you are hooked to cable you will never see these channels..but they are there, and it's the little secret the pay tv companies don't want you to know...Broadcast TV stations are providing as much, if not more programming choices than basic cable..With most you also get an on screen program guide, and yes there is room to hook up additional services as well.
Under Construction: Last Updated June 2012
Easy Step by step...
1. Determine your TV reception, and the channels you will receive.
Go to http://transition.fcc.gov/mb/engineering/maps/ (and enter your address to see what your TV reception would be like)
This site is fairly reliable, but not completely. I have never seen where is says you get TV reception and you don't, but I have seen some instances where it says TV reception is only fair, and it is actually much stronger.
2. Where do you live? Are their restrictions because you live in an Apartment? Condo? The Federal Communications Act of 1996 prohibits restrictions on TV reception in any space that you control. But sometimes your apartment will be on the wrong side of the building etc.. Broadcast TV is line of sight..in other words you must be able to draw a line from your TV to the TV antenna. Talk to your community manager first. There are many styles of antennas, some no bigger than the more accepted dishes that will still give you good results.
When you are on the FCC website, after you have entered your address and you have received your report. click on any TV station call letters and it will automatically draw a line from your TV to the antenna (This is important to do since it will tell you how to point your antenna later on)
Also keep in mind, with the exception of KVCR Ch. 24.1, 24.2, 24.3, 24.4, every other TV station in the Los Angeles market is on top of Mount Wilson just north of Pasadena.
(Sorry San Bernardino folks that rules most of you out because of the Mountains - unless you live below 9th Street or West of the 215
Freeway)
3 Pick out an Antenna. Roof Top old school clothesline style antennas are the best. There is no such thing as a digital antenna. That's a bunch of consumer hype. All antennas pick up digital signals. They must be UHF and VHF because channels 7 through 9 are still VHF, and now all the rest are UHF- (even though they say a lower number on your TV, that's technical trickery. Example Channel 2 (CBS) is actually broadcast on UHF channel 53, but they have a gadget that sends you a pilot signal that tells you it's still channel 2) (Not all that important, but a fact none the less)
The further West you live the smaller antenna you can use and if you are West of the 15 Freeway and South of Foothill you might even get by with an
indoor set top antenna. Also in many cases you don't have to put the TV antenna on your roof..if you have an attic, that can work pretty well..
but again, the best reception is a TV antenna on your roof.
Where can I find a TV antenna? Home Depot sells them for $35-$119. The pole is about $8, but you can also use a much longer piece of electrical
EFT pipe for about the same price and that will give you a higher antenna. Lows and other places have them too..Radio shack might..but they are
always more expensive. You can also go on line. Google Channel Master and Winegaurd.
5. What kind of TV do you have? Any new Flatscreen TV made after 2009 can receive digital TV.
If you have an old school TV, than you will have to buy a TV converter box. Souces: Radio Shack, Best Buy, Wahlgreens, Rite Aid.. Price: About $65 per
box Other resources: Ebay (type in TV Converter box) hundreds of them from $.99 cents to $100 bucks - be care, some people get crazy.
Be Careful! Not all TV boxes are created equal. There are some really cheap ones..(mostly because their remote controls are cheap)..The best one is
Pal Plus, or Digital Stream.
6. Hooking it up....This is basically in two parts..(Outside and Inside)
OUTSIDE
A. Roof - (attic) If you choose a roof antenna you will have to climb on the roof. The rule is that the antenna must clear the roof line by at least 4 feet.
Mounting - Do yourself a favor and as much as possible mount your antenna as close to where your cable or dish TV came into your house because you can use the same line with a barrel connector to run from your antenna into your house.
There are several kinds of Mounts to a TV antenna, and the best way to figure out how to do this is to go to Winegaurd or Channel Master and look at the mounting systems they have to offer. In most cases it's not necessary to have such a large antenna that you have to have extensive guide wires etc.
Mounting Suggestion: Any iron sewer vent pipe will work quite nicely. Simply stick the antenna mast pole in the pipe and drill two screws in through mast and the pipe cross ways..(make sure your antenna is pointed in the correct position before you do this). The mast is hollow so it will not interfere with the sewer vents original purpose.
B. Pointing your antenna: Once you've picked a location and assembled your roof top antenna (be very careful while handling the antenna..the antenna rays can be lethal to your eyes or the eyes of others if they poke them) it will be necessary to point the antenna in the best position for the best possible reception.
You will be pointing the tail (bird beak) end towards the TV antenna. Refer back to the FCC website where you had the line drawn from the TV call letters to the TV Tower on the map. You will see your local streets etc, and this will help you detemine the best direction to help mount your antenna.
C. Wiring your antenna. It takes simple coax antenna cable (like your cable company uses) to run from your antenna (see your antenna directions)
to the input of your previous cable. Use a simple barrel connector to connect your antenna wire with your standing house coax cable. Make sure to wrap the coax neatly around the mast and run it as short a distance as possible without being secured. Over the months and years cable that is the constant victim of wind, rain, sleet and snow will crack and interrupt good reception otherwise.
INSIDE
Analog TV- (Old Style)
Converter box - If you are using a converter box you will hook it up just like a cable box. Set your TV on channel 3 or 4. There is one exception - some older TV's have a broadcast v antenna setting in the TV's programing. You must go into your TV menu and set your TV to Broadcast or Air. It is very important that you do this, or you will not get any reception.
Digital TV - Good news if you have a flat screen or digital TV you do not need to purchase a convertor box. However, again (this is important) you must set your TV to "Broadcast" or "air" in your TV programming menu. Then you must take one more important step: You must prompt your TV to scan for new channels. If you do not do this your channels may be limited, or you may not receive any channels at all...Scan, Scan, Scan!!!
Then kick back and enjoy your new TV...All Free from that moment on..no more pay TV bills, and save hundreds, then thousands over the years..
One other exciting thing...You'll never have to watch another infomercial again. : )