Just cut the cable
- Thread starter Ozhawk
- Start date
Fryowa
Administrator
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
My TV is on my south wall of my living room. I'm wondering how I place my antenna for my local stations. I can't really run it to my north wall as It would look pretty gawdy on my window in the dining room. What do I do about my antenna to get the local stations. I have a Mohu flat antenna. Not sure wifey is going to want me to run cable and the antenna to the N wall of our dining room.
Who has experience placing antenna's? Thanks.
Who has experience placing antenna's? Thanks.
Fryowa
Administrator
I did the antenna thing for a while in the corner of my living room bay window. It was white and didn't look all that bad, but I found after a couple months that I never watched the local channels anymore and got rid of it. Do you think you'd have to have them, or is wifey the one who wants the channels?
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
I think she would like the local news. She's not one to want or accept change right away. She always questions and boo hoos things if different. You know what I mean.
Fryowa
Administrator
My gf is the same way. She still refuses to do online bill pay and automatic withdrawal because “someone could steal my information.”
I haven’t manually paid a bill in probably 10 years.
If you want background TV and white noise just get an antenna for those times with your local stations on inthe background.
What are the prices you are paying for some of these services?
Sling just didnt work good for me one time. How much for PS Vue?
Retiring soon and dropping the monopoly high priced DirectTV and others that hold you hostage.
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
I think Vue was at 35 or 39 at the start but think they are now at $45.00 for the package that would work.
https://www.playstation.com/en-us/network/vue/channels/
Fryowa
Administrator
Correct. $45 will get you BTN and all of the ESPNs.
A Roku stick (which is all you need) will run you $50 one time purchase; running the PS Vue app on a smart TV is a bit disappointing...it's really sluggish. The stick will also allow you to run the network apps like WatchESPN, FoxSports Go, etc. For example, you would be able to select any college game on any of the ESPN channels. Same for Fox, etc. In other words, you're not stuck with whatever game happens to be on the satellite channel.
Do check to make sure that you have good internet speed before you make the switch. I'd recommend at least 15 mbps download to keep it streaming smoothly.
HawkU
Well-Known Member
You can go here - https://www.antennasdirect.com/transmitter-locator.html and find where your broadcast towers are located to optimize your antenna location.
I currently have a flat antenna as well and my experience with those is that it really helps to have them located in the right window. If you can't optimize the window location a signal amp may help. While you may boost some signals for better clarity you may scramble some signals that are already working because of over-amplification.
No two situations are the same because of exterior factors as well such as trees, other buildings nearby etc.
I don't intend to ever go back to cable so I'm going to upgrade to a better antenna and install it in the attic.
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
Yep, my setup is as follows:
Living Room - Main TV running on kid's Playstation 4 with Mohu antenna for local stations
Master Bedroom - Roku
Basement - Roku and Mohu antenna
Looking at about $160 of hardware to buy flat out to run everything. Pretty much a couple months of satellite bills and it pays for itself. In addition, up the internet speed download for $10-15 I suppose.
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
This is what I figured I'd end up doing at some point. Funny going back to this after technology for so many years.
Actually when I think about it, it won't be too long until P Vue has NBC, ABC and Fox locals streaming, IMO. May not need the antenna at all.
Butkus051
Well-Known Member
deanvogs
Well-Known Member
I need to have the networks. The wife is addicted to Jimmy Fallon, and we want local news. She also has a couple network shows she watches. I got a TV Roamio for $50, and now I have a DVR for all the local channels. It does cost $15 a month, but I will be able to drop that when PS Vue gets all the locals (only have CBS right now).
deanvogs
Well-Known Member
Here is another good site to figure out your antenna needs: https://www.channelmaster.com/Antenna-Selection-a/134.htm
deanvogs
Well-Known Member
So PS Vue cost me $45 a month and has every kind of sports channel you need to get all the Hawk games + nearly anything else as well.
I looked into Hulu and did the 7 day free trail, and didn't care for the layout as much. They had all the channels I needed and was $40 a month. They charge extra to have more than 2 streams (PS Vue lets you have 5 streams going at once) and their DVR was also more $$
DirecTV Now was more expensive at $50 or $60 I think and they don't have a DVR yet.
YouTube Live isn't in the Des Moines market yet, so I haven't tried that.
deanvogs
Well-Known Member
So to go along with my PS Vue, I also purchased a TiVo Romio. With this and an antenna I get all my local channels and can record network shows. I am really pretty happy with my Tivo.
That said I just ran across the Channel Master DVR. https://www.channelmaster.com/Antenna_DVR_s/336.htm
It will stream live OTA antenna signals, and you can also record 2 shows or watch one and record one. It is only $99 right now, and there are NO subscription fees for a guide or DVR. That is a pretty sweet deal, and a really cheap way to get free OTA TV.
That said I just ran across the Channel Master DVR. https://www.channelmaster.com/Antenna_DVR_s/336.htm
It will stream live OTA antenna signals, and you can also record 2 shows or watch one and record one. It is only $99 right now, and there are NO subscription fees for a guide or DVR. That is a pretty sweet deal, and a really cheap way to get free OTA TV.
