How to Cut the Cord With a TV Antenna: A Guide for DIRECTV Customers

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man – Follow me on X.

TV Answer Man, I am a longtime DIRECTV customer, but I want to cut my bill and cut the cord! Can you offer some advice on antennas as a way to cut the cord and get our local channels? Do they work well? What channels can it get? That sort of thing. Thank you. – Bridget, Lima, Ohio.

Bridget, you’re right. Cable and satellite operators (including DIRECTV) raise their prices at least once every year and the live streamers such as YouTube TV and Hulu Live have joined in with regular increases. Plus, Video on Demand services such as Netflix are also increasing their rates. What’s a cost-conscious consumer to do?

Yes, you could get a TV antenna.

But before you cut the cord, there are 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
Your local channels (ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, PBS, Univision, etc.) are available via a TV antenna, and they are free. Even better, they can an deliver an improved HD picture over an antenna compared to cable or satellite. The latter tends 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, CNN, Fox News, HBO, 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 Max with HBO, separately online.) If you subscribe to DIRECTV for the premium and basic cable channels, this is a big obstacle. You’ll have to invest in some standalone streaming services to keep your viewing favorites.

Pro: Antennas Are Not Expensive
The TV antenna, whether it’s indoor or outdoor, costs less than $100 with many indoor models 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. See our section on NextGen TV below.)

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. For DIRECTV subscribers who live in rural areas, this could be a big problem.

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 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.

Pro: 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. Note that DIRECTV does not carry many of these channels.

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.

In addition, NextGen TV has been rolling out across the nation! The new technology, which tech enthusiasts prefer calling ATSC 3.0, will permit your local station to transmit more HD channels, and it promises to improve indoor antenna reception. Even better, you can receive the NextGen TV signal with a current antenna if you purchase a new TV that is ATSC-enabled or get an external tuner that can be connected to your old set. You can check whether NextGen TV is available in your area here.

Bridget, hope that answers your question. Happy viewing and stay safe!

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The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered television for more than three decades. He will report on the latest news and answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch television. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.