Is anybody getting their television "off the air"?

[frigilux]

Phil--- The people at TiVo tech tell me I can buy one of their new units and just run the analog cable signal into it. Then it doesn't need a "cable card". However (there's always a however, right?) the local cable company has been talking about phasing out their analog cable.

The company offers a DVR, but it doesn't have all the cool search functions (actor, title, director, etc) of TiVo.

Also: If I get an older TiVo (via E-bay), I'll have to pay for the daily phone call to update programming, plus the monthly service. TiVo offered an 800 number way back when I got my units, but they won't grandfather me into it with a new unit. In fact, they've contacted me several times saying they were going to stop offering the 800 number. I told them I was promised free calling for the life of the machine. They mutter under their breath, but so far have kept to their word.

 

[davey7]

Have only ever had rabbit ears

I've got rabbit ears (non-digital) and have crystal clear reception (except during storms) and more channels than I care to watch.

 

[washerboy]

I think I did a post about a year ago asking the same question...I took someone's advise and got a disk type antenna..I got a cheap one at Wally World and kept it for about 3 days then returned it..went to best buy and bought the 70.00 one and it worked fairly well. About 3 months ago I ordered an indoor/outdoor antenna..it was big and ugly..rather than mount it outside I put it up in the attic...I get 14 stations and then about 10 more I have blocked due to them being hell fire and brimstone preaching. The one I have has a rotary component..so I have a small remote that I press to adjust the antenna to fine tune the station. One of the stations I get is a 24 hour weather channel. I have no regrets!!! I'm not a big TV watcher any way so I was wasting a lot a money every month.

 

[nurdlinger]

OTA works as long as...

...there are signals that may be received. I bought my house in 1978 in the then-booming northwest Tucson area. Broadcast TV antennas are on the mountain north of town, pointing south. I live west of that mountain. Few signals fly my way. I had a big antenna on a mast (got 5-6 channels as I recall) until about 1981-82 when the 'hood got wired for cable. I lined up on the first day and got it. In the intervening 30+ years the situation has not really improved. Using a variety of antennae, I am still never able to get more than three or four stations and most are Spanish-language independents. I do have the old-fogies cable service now which is mostly local stations, shopping channels, WGN from Chicago, and the CSPANs. This costs me under $30 per month and for now I am satisfied. The converter box I am forced to use has HDMI output so I do get to see stuff in widescreen and high definition.

 

[launderess]

local cable company has been talking about phasing out thei

Time Warner Cable did this in NYC and ticked many persons off.

First there were those who one assumes could have been considered "stealing" service since they merely hooked up the cable wire to their television, VCR, or whatever and had basic network service. But another major group were persons who had purchased certain older digital televisions, DVRs, etc...

TWC went to all digital service requiring customers without cable boxes to purchase (rent) a small converter box. This even though you only had "reception" service.

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r28985232-Time-Warner-Cable-NYC-Free-OTA-Channels-now-Scrambled

 

[a440]

I have not paid for cable in over 15 years.
As for as the digital age....I bought a huge ClearStream Antenna that you install outside. I actually catch more channels than I would with basic cable. I live in the Atlanta area and actually catch digital channels from Alabama, and Tennessee. All of their local channels.
My favorite channels are MeTV, Antenna TV, Movies!, GetTV, and all of the PBS Stations (I catch 8 in all for PBS), and a few others. Most are 1080P, then 720, then 480.
Why would I pay for more? I think what I would pay for would be (that I would actually watch) Lifetime, Discovery, and perhaps a few others. Besides my vast collection of Blu-Rays, HD DVD's and regular DVD's I don't need those channels.
It is nice not having a monthly cable bill.
B