Way off topic - HDTV reception

[CityHick]

Figured I'd toss this out here as I am sure there are others like me who are fed up with the high price of TV service. I currently have Dish Network with a fairly minimal plan. My 2 year promo price expired and they are not working with me to find a better rate plan.

I watch so little TV anymore as it is that I am thinking I could probably do pretty well with on-air (free) HDTV reception, and streaming from Amazon/Netflix/etc.

So my question - anybody in the greater east bay area have experience with this? Thinking an attic mounted or roof mounted antenna could get me the basics - and I know that internet streaming from the major players works extremely well since I have super fast internet at the house.

I know that my line of sight to the primary broadcast antennas in the Bay Area proper (Sutro tower, etc) is somewhat obscured by the Pleasanton Ridge, and those huge antennas near Galt are obscured by Mt. Diablo.

Just a thought at this point... a tempting one.

[Lars]

Re: Way off topic - HDTV reception

Davis isn't Livermore, but I know several people here that get a good selection of HDTV channels just using cheap (less than $40) small rooftop antennas. My son actually does well with an FM antenna meant for radio, mounted on a fencetop outside his apartment. It's on my list, for the same reason. The cost and effort commitment is so low that I think it's worth it to experiment.

[CityHick]

Re: Way off topic - HDTV reception

It is funny to me - I recall back in the 1980s, my parents were among the last in the neighborhood to get a cable subscription; the neighbors would give my dad some ribbing about why he hadn't removed that "ugly" antenna from our roof yet.

Now the move back to antenna reception seems to be picking up speed. I have read similar info about cheap antennas working very well over the hill in Oakland, SF, etc. Think I may go pick up an antenna soon and experiment.

[CageDave]

Re: Way off topic - HDTV reception

I miss the good old days when I could just splice into the nebors cable line or hook up my own by the box that was out by the street.

[California Monkey]

Re: Way off topic - HDTV reception

The worst part about not having cable is that I cant watch sharks games. Besides that, hulu and amazon prime keep me very happy. I dont have HD tvs so I cant say for sure about the HD reception but I get 14 channels with a cheap $25 converter I got at walmart

[CityHick]

Re: Way off topic - HDTV reception

I miss the good old days when I could just splice into the nebors cable line or hook up my own by the box that was out by the street.

We had a neighbor who got "blacklisted" by the cable company for getting caught doing that. I recall it was an ordeal for the next owner to convince the cable company to actually hook up cable there again.

Rich, I agree I would miss certain content but overall I think I can manage quite well. For example many A's games are on Comcast Sports Net.. but I believe there are ways around that online. Heck most games I "watch" via the MLB At Bat app on my phone and/or tablet. Would also miss receiving Sirius content over Dish Network (that's my main garage music source). But again... there are alternatives.

[TWISTER]

Re: Way off topic - HDTV reception

I did this last year and have not looked back, their are some good antena's on Amazon that are reasonable.

[TRAILBOUND]

Re: Way off topic - HDTV reception

been rock'n the Hulu and Netflix for three years. I do miss sports but eh that's what bars are for. We are thinking of switching over to Comcast for Internet and then it's a no brainer for TV. Comcast bundle is like $15 more a month than my current internet plus streaming.

[Rockbronco67]

Re: Way off topic - HDTV reception

I been streaming for over a year and don't miss Directv one bit. A lot of the big sport games you can stream on ESPN (world Cup looked great). I run Hulu plus through my smart TV and Everything else over my Google Cromecast (ESPN, HBO GO). That meets all my needs.

[70 Steed]

Re: Way off topic - HDTV reception

Tony, one thing about an HD signal over the air. It has to be pretty strong or you get nothing. Although there might be repeaters that would get a signal over Pleasanton Ridge or Mt. Diablo. I would call a couple of stations. They can probably tell you if you will be able to get HD over the air in your neighborhood.

[dblue351]

Re: Way off topic - HDTV reception

Found this online.

http://www.tvfool.com/

Mounting it on the roof
Callsign Chan Network Dist
(mi) Path NM
(dB)
KTNC-TV 14 (42.1) Azt 15.8 LOS 50.6
KQEH 50 17.7 LOS 49.4
KICU-TV 36 (36.1) Ind 17.7 LOS 48.9
KSTS 49 (48.1) TEL 17.1 LOS 39.8
KDTV-DT 51 (14.1) Uni 17.1 LOS 38.5
KBKF-LP -- 6 (6.1) 42.3 2Edge 25.2
KKPX-DT 41 (65.1) ION 39.3 2Edge 21.5
KTSF 27 (26.1) Ind 39.3 1Edge 19.7
KTVU 48 Fox 17.7 LOS 19.2
KNTV-DT 12 (11.1) NBC 39.3 2Edge 18.7
KXTV 10 ABC 38.0 1Edge 17.6
KVIE-DT 9 (6.1) PBS 40.1 1Edge 15.5
KGO-TV 7 (7.1) ABC 40.3 1Edge 11.4
KPIX-TV 29 (5.1) CBS 40.3 1Edge 10.3
KFTY-LD -- 2 82.4 2Edge 9.8
KCSO-LD 3 61.0 2Edge 9.2
KOFY-TV 19 (20.1) 40.3 1Edge 9.0
KMAX-TV 21 (31.1) CW 39.9 2Edge 8.8
KOVR 25 CBS 38.0 1Edge 8.4
KRON-TV 38 (4.1) MyN 40.3 1Edge 7.5
KQED 30 (9.1) PBS 40.3 1Edge 7.4
KCNS 39 (38.1) Ind 40.3 1Edge 7.1
KTVU 44 (2.1) Fox 40.3 1Edge 5.4
KAXT-CD 42 17.1 LOS 5.0
KMTP-TV 33 (32.1) Ind 40.3 1Edge 4.8
KFTL-CD 28 (28.1) 39.3 2Edge 4.3
KCRA-DT 35 (3.1) NBC 39.9 2Edge 4.3
KAXT-CD 42 (1.1) 17.1 LOS 4.2
KCSM-TV 43 (60.1) PBS 40.3 1Edge 4.2
KBCW 45 (44.1) CW 40.3 1Edge 2.0
KTLN-DT 47 (68.1) Ind 56.3 2Edge 0.0
KQCA-DT 46 (58.1) MyN 39.9 2Edge -0.7
KFSF-DT 34 (66.1) Tel 40.3 1Edge -0.8
KTXL-DT 40 (40.1) Fox 40.1 1Edge -2.4
K02QX-D -- 2 67.2 2Edge -3.0
KTFK-DT 26 (64.1) Tel 38.0 1Edge -3.1

[bent70]

Re: Way off topic - HDTV reception

You can make your own antenna with some copper wires crisscrossing on two prices of wood to an rca plug. It works real well in the city and in the delta so it should work for you..plus its bacically free to make. I'll see if I can find the plans.

[CityHick]

Re: Way off topic - HDTV reception

Dave you beat me to the post! I found that earlier too, cool site especially if its accurate. I am definitely going to experiment with this a bit - I can see the end of my Dish subscription on the horizon.
I pay more than I should for a cable modem and the deals at Comcast are now just 12 months when you add TV service. Their internet has always been awesome for me, TV, wasn't so impressed hence the switch to satellite when I got an HDTV 2-3 years ago. I need high speed internet for telecommuting. TV with 150 channels that I don't watch, not so much. Streaming more TV content makes my cable modem bill seem more reasonable.

[71BRONCO71]

Re: Way off topic - HDTV reception

Google/youtube XIOS and XBMC

Ive been using it for a while. You're welcome.

[bent70]

Re: Way off topic - HDTV reception

I just have San Bruno cable internet, but for some reason I get over the air channels through my TV and random pay channels/ "on demand" in the later channels. The random channels are weird cause they can go out randomly or even rewind/fast forward like I'm pulling signal from anther user. It real funny when its a porn...haha the signal is lost if my modem goes down so its either coming from the cable company or using the modem as an antenna. I don't pay for TV.
Anyways you might get lucky/cursed like me after you lose you subscription. We also use xfinity TV, whom my wife's dad has a supscrition to with all pay channels. So we tag along on their account. Its got damn near every show, most past episodes and worst case shows up current episodes one day later.