Q. I want to cut the cord, but I live in a relatively rural area where Internet service is okay, but not great. So I’m afraid of using streaming as my sole way to watch television. (We now have a satellite dish.) What are the pros and cons of a TV antenna? Could I get by with that? — Vanessa, Taos, New Mexico.
Vanessa, thank you for your question. Too often, people, including myself, forget that streaming isn’t a viable option for some rural residents because their Internet service might be spotty at best. The satellite dish, whether it’s from DIRECTV or Dish, may be the best way to watch quality television.
However, the satcasters are continuing to raise their monthly subscription prices, and many DIRECTV subscribers say their customer service is in rapid decline. Consequently, some rural folks with a dish are desperate for an alternative.
And that’s where the TV antenna comes in. Or, I should say, may come in. There are definitely some pros and cons to getting an indoor or outdoor antenna so allow me to offer a few here so you can make a good decision.
Pro: Free Local Channels
Yes, your local channels (ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, PBS, Univision, etc.) are available via a TV antenna, and they are free. Not only that, they can deliver a better HD picture over an antenna compared to cable or satellite. The latter tend to compress the signals of local (and all) channels, which tends to dilute the picture quality. The TV providers do this for several reasons, including creating more system room to deliver more channels. The signal your antenna receives directly from the local channel is purer (layman’s term, folks and therefore a better one.
Con: No Basic Cable or Premium Channels
If you get an antenna, you won’t be able to watch ESPN, TBS, E!, CNN, Fox News, HBO, Showtime, or your favorite regional sports channel. The TV antenna will only pick up signals that are distributed locally, and that does not include the basic cable or premium channels that are on many viewers’ list of favorites. (If you do have a decent Internet connection, you can purchase some of these, such as HBO and Showtime, separately online.)
Pro: Antennas Are Not Expensive
The TV antenna, whether it’s indoor or outdoor, costs less than $100 with many indoor models well under $30. With local channels free, that’s a great deal for consumers looking to cut expenses. (Note: The outdoor antenna can normally pick up more channels than the indoor one. But indoor antennas are becoming more efficient every year with new models and new technology.)
Con: The Antenna May Not Work at Your Location
Before you run off to buy an antenna (and drop your cable or satellite service), you need to know that depending upon the location of your home, your antenna may not be able to pick up the signals of all your local channels. You may live too far away from the channel’s tower to get a decent signal, or you could have a major obstacle in the signal’s path, such as a high-rise office building or mountain.
Also, since the nation’s transition to Digital TV in 2008, many antenna owners complain that it’s been more difficult to capture local signals. Unlike the old analog signal, you need a perfect connection to capture the digital signal or it will not display on your set. There is no middle ground. You either get a digital signal or you don’t.
So how can you tell if an antenna at your home will receive all your local channels?
AntennaWeb.org, a web site co-sponsored by the Consumer Technology Association and the National Broadcasting Association, offers an easy-to-use guide to determining what kind of antenna you would need — and how many channels that antenna will pick up. You type in your address, zip code and whether the antenna will be 30 feet or higher above ground level and then antennaweb.org will display a list of stations that you probably will be able to receive.
I say ‘probably’ because until you actually test it at home, you can’t be 100 percent sure. Antennaweb.org might say your address can pick up all four major broadcast networks, but the site isn’t aware of that group of large trees that surround your home, or that high-rise building that sits all too inconveniently across the way.
The good news here is that antennas are inexpensive so you could buy one to test without spending much.
Con: You May Get Some Bonus Channels
In addition to the major networks (CBS, etc.), there are numerous independent channels that broadcast locally. Some feature old movies and TV shows while others specialize in niche categories such as religion. If your antenna signal is strong, you’ll get more programming than you might have expected.
Pro: The Technology Is Improving
As noted earlier, in the last few years, the antenna companies have done a great job of beefing up their products, offering indoor antennas that can pick up signals as far away as 75 miles. Yes, indoor antennas. If you had a bad experience with an antenna several years ago, you might be pleasantly surprised at how far they have come.
Vanessa, hope that helps. Happy viewing!
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Generally cable does not compress local tv stations. They already are compressed more because tv stations now include sub- channels that take away bandwidth, from the main HD channel. Before 2006 most OTA stations devoted 19.2 megabits per second, to their only carried HD Channel. Now TV Stations, offer as many as 5 standard definition subchannels as well as the Main HD channel, This reduces bandwidth devoted to the main HD channel to as low 8 megabits per second which reduces overall HD quality and could be called pseudo HD.
Depending on how many TVs you connect that require splitters, you may need a preamp to boost your signal. I’ve installed a few antennas with the help of a friend who is an RF engineer which is great. For most people who are not knowledgeable, I would recommend hiring someone. Love antennas!
Another another alternative is RBTV you have to pay the cost of equipment up front but there are no contracts and monthly fees or very low it’s a prepaid satellite service so there are three operators now DirecTV dish and RBTV
There is for rual customers a alternative to DirecTV or Dish Orbi tv it is a prepaid satellite TV you pay for the equipment up front but the costs are very low so instead of using up your minutes on streaming you can have a quality low cost satellite TV this is something to consider and isn’t mentioned
mjoshkelly@sbcglobal.net
RCA Makes a decent
HD Antenna it comes with a amplifier to receive the station a lot stronger I got mines at micro Center
I live 80 miles from my most distant broadcast tower and I use an UltraLava 2605 HDTV antenna. My picture comes in clear as cable tv. Only thing I have to reprogram my tv everytime I change the directions of the antenna. It has a red light on it to show it’s on and working. You turn that light opposite of your tower location to bring in the channels. It has a range of 150 miles. It’s small and light weight and can be mounted on a pole or rooftop. Mine in on a pole about 6 feet above my roof top. Search tvfool and find your towers to see how many stations you can receive in your area code. I love my antenna and plan on using it as long as it will work. No bill each month at all and that I like. In my area I get prolly 60 + channels.