Is there an alternative to watching basic channels?

[The_Donster]

OK, I knew this day was coming and had the equipment in the closet until it did. Still, I'm a little frustrated that I have to use a digital transport adapter if I want to watch the basic channels with Comcast. We had cut the cable down to the bare bones because the HD was less than stellar. I still haven't hooked it up and the box with the equipment is sitting on the counter. Seems they went a little overboard with the amount of equipment they sent me. So even if I keep this I'll have to return the other 3 boxes they sent. Anyway, my question is there an alternative to this that is affordable? I'd love to cancel cable altogether and just keep internet, since they have me by the short hairs when it comes to providing the best internet in our area. Appreciate the assist.

[HAMP]

I would say DirecTV has the better picture and audio of the two. I have had Comcast internet, but DirecTV for video for over two years.

At the beginning of the summer when I know I wasn’t going to be watching much TV, I cut DirecTV off until later, but I still haven’t cut it back on. It seems whatever I want to watch from DirecTV, that I catch it on the Internet from one source or another.

I know over the air looks better then comcast.

[The_Donster]

Sorry, that's not what I'm looking for HAMP. I'm looking for an alternative to using boxes for viewing. Meaning, do I get a set of rabbit ears or does Comcast have me by the short hairs again with this box?

[Scarriere]

http://www.apple.com/ca/appletv/

http://www.roku.com/what-is-roku

I have an AppleTV and it's great. Movies, tv shows are all excellent quality! And streaming my music is great too!

[The_Donster]

OK, clearly one again I'm not being clear. I already have Hulu+, Netflix and Amazon Prime. What I am looking for is something that will pick up my local stations so my wife can check out the traffic report in the morning and Big Bang on Thursday. With the remedies I'm being given, I think I'm going to have to hook the #@$% digital adapter. Because I'm not looking for a replacement for cable. Just way to tune into my local stations.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by The_Donster

OK, clearly one again I'm not being clear. I already have Hulu+, Netflix and Amazon Prime. What I am looking for is something that will pick up my local stations so my wife can check out the traffic report in the morning and Big Bang on Thursday. With the remedies I'm being given, I think I'm going to have to hook the #@$% digital adapter. Because I'm not looking for a replacement for cable. Just way to tune into my local stations.

Rabbit ears.

[The_Donster]

That's funny Detroit, my wife has been saying the same thing since she came home. It didn't help Comcast when we found out the digital adapters they sent are SD and not HD. So I'm taking them back tomorrow and canceling the cable. Any suggestions on which one's? She was looking at Best Buy and said they had a pair for $8.99. Do we have to go balls out or will these work?

[Scarriere]

Originally Posted by The_Donster

OK, clearly one again I'm not being clear. I already have Hulu+, Netflix and Amazon Prime. What I am looking for is something that will pick up my local stations so my wife can check out the traffic report in the morning and Big Bang on Thursday. With the remedies I'm being given, I think I'm going to have to hook the #@$% digital adapter. Because I'm not looking for a replacement for cable. Just way to tune into my local stations.

Like your spelling and your first post, you weren't clear.
Google and rabbit ears are your friends right now.
Sorry for trying to help.

[The_Donster]

Ah the joys of being constantly distracted by a 4 year old Scarriere, I can't keep a thought straight in my head to my hands I appreciate the assistance, it just wasn't what I was looking. Sorry that my frustration with Comcast and my son got blasted in your direction.

[Scarriere]

I am sorry for misunderstanding.
Have a good weekend.

[katharsis]

You can get a Boxee Box and Live TV adapter to hook up an Antenna.
That box lets you watch anything from attached drives or usb sticks, it lets you stream from your other devices (even from an iPad) and you can use apps such as Netflix, YouTube, TED talks etc (unfortunately no Hulu app - but might be able to use the built in browser to go to the Hulu website - have to try that out).

I then bought a Leaf Paper Antenna (which is as thick as a few sheets of paper) - there is two options - a regular one or a powered one which gives you more channels.

The only thing is that they don't produce the Boxee Box any longer and D-Link (Boxee) is supposedly working on some kind of deal with Samsung.

I have had mine for almost 3 years now and it's my number 1 choice to watch movies, shows and some live tv.

Boxee Box
http://www.amazon.com/Boxee-D-Link-S...keywords=boxee

Boxee Live TV -
https://store6.esellerate.net/st0re/...ageCatalog.htm

Leaf Paper Antenna -
http://www.gomohu.com/

[The_Donster]

Thanks katharsis. Am I misunderstanding or don't those first 2 devices basically do what the Roku, Apple and my BD player do with streaming? Not needing those, but the Leaf Antenna might be worth looking into. I'll show it to the mrs. when she has a free moment. For right now I just went in and exchange it for the HD digital adapter. I'm kind of glad I did because apparently we got signed to a plan we didn't ask for. Still trying to work out how they signed us up for that and still sent the wrong equipment(twice!). While I'm not excited about that, it isn't costing us anything for the moment. So it gives me a bit more time to do a little homework. Appreciate the assistance everyone.

[Beachguy]

Big Bang Theory is the one reason I'd consider cancelling basic network tv over the air -- even though it's already free.

But, I do have cable.

[arcadeforest]

I made an HDTV antenna and could not be happier.

http://www.tvantennaplans.com/

Did not cost me a thing as I had scrap wood, wire, etc in the garage. Put it up in the attic and I'm getting around 22 channels. Over the air HD cannot be beat - dropped Directv back in the spring and as good as it was it does not beat this antenna for picture quality.

Use this for local sports, PBS, network shows. Anything I miss I use the Roku (Netflix, Hulu+, Amazon Prime) or my media center pc (network websites, youtube, BBC iplayer, ITV player, etc)

[The_Donster]

Originally Posted by Beachguy

Big Bang Theory is the one reason I'd consider cancelling basic network tv over the air -- even though it's already free.

But, I do have cable.

Wow, thanks smart ass. If you don't have any input to the thread maybe you should shut your mouth. Glad I could help bump up your post count with my thread

Originally Posted by arcadeforest

I made an HDTV antenna and could not be happier.

http://www.tvantennaplans.com/

Did not cost me a thing as I had scrap wood, wire, etc in the garage. Put it up in the attic and I'm getting around 22 channels. Over the air HD cannot be beat - dropped Directv back in the spring and as good as it was it does not beat this antenna for picture quality.

Use this for local sports, PBS, network shows. Anything I miss I use the Roku (Netflix, Hulu+, Amazon Prime) or my media center pc (network websites, youtube, BBC iplayer, ITV player, etc)

Did you just place it up in the attic or connect it to something arcade? I'm not the handiest, but I'm sure if I gave the specs to my brother in law he'd make it with improvements of his own. Unfortunately I wouldn't see it for 6 months

[arcadeforest]

Originally Posted by The_Donster

Wow, thanks smart ass. If you don't have any input to the thread maybe you should shut your mouth. Glad I could help bump up your post count with my thread



Did you just place it up in the attic or connect it to something arcade? I'm not the handiest, but I'm sure if I gave the specs to my brother in law he'd make it with improvements of his own. Unfortunately I wouldn't see it for 6 months

It's just sitting up in the rafters - I put a screw in the rafter for it to set on. I unhooked the cable from my satellite dish and fished it into the attic and connected it. No power, not amplified, etc. All you really need to build this is a piece of wood, screws, washers, and some wire (could use clothes hangers, non painted kind). The only thing you would need to buy if you did not have the previous mentioned materials would be a balun. I had one laying around from another project but I think they are only a few dollars. Now on the website link I sent you they include the reflector in the build - I did not do this and it still works very well.

[dustin1084]

if your tv is a newer tv it should have a digital tuner in it already in which case all you need to do is either buy or as the other poster said make an HD antenna. I bought mine at walmart for 7$ went to this site http://www.tvfool.com/index.php?opti...pper&Itemid=90 to see where the signals in my area are being broadcast from and placed my indoor antenna accordingly. I get almost all of my local channels. Although if i want the ones i dont get i have to play with the antenna for a little bit but can get them with some work. I noticed that your location says Fife. If your in Fife,WA then you should have a good chance at getting the channels wanted. I'm In Puyallup. Hope this helps.

[The_Donster]

So I'm back in the market for a HD indoor antenna. I bought this one at Target, but it was more miss than hits. I'd love to do what arcadeforest suggested, but I'm not handy enough to run things through my walls of the house and with a 4 year old running around it isn't feasible if I was. So does anyone have any suggestions with indoor HD antenna's? I'm not looking for alternatives to cable other than HD antenna's. Because this DTA box Comcast has stuck me with is driving me nuts.

[The_Donster]

PS: Has anyone used MOHU antenna's? That is something I'm considering because I can mount it to a wall or to the back of the flatscreen once I mount it.