Cutting the cable, Digital TV receiver questions.

[Wud Legerity]

I'm thinking of dropping my cable package entirely. I have logins for all the major apps on xbox and apple tv. I have subcriptions for amazon instant, netflix and hulu.

I'm wondering about these digital receiver boxes that pick up local network providers like NBC, ABC, FOX.... so on and so on.

 

The question is, what are the best options for hardware, including things like the boxes and I'm guessing you need some antenna outside. Also possibly a dvr for the setup.

I want to have boxes for 4 tv's in the house. I live only a few miles from all of our local broadcast towers, so I should have good reception.

Any experience, advise or counsel is welcome.

 

 

[Arty]

I'm thinking of dropping my cable package entirely. I have logins for all the major apps on xbox and apple tv. I have subcriptions for amazon instant, netflix and hulu.

I'm wondering about these digital receiver boxes that pick up local network providers like NBC, ABC, FOX.... so on and so on.

 

The question is, what are the best options for hardware, including things like the boxes and I'm guessing you need some antenna outside. Also possibly a dvr for the setup.

I want to have boxes for 4 tv's in the house. I live only a few miles from all of our local broadcast towers, so I should have good reception.

Any experience, advise or counsel is welcome.

I just plugged my antenna into my tv,

[W-L]

I'm thinking of dropping my cable package entirely. I have logins for all the major apps on xbox and apple tv. I have subcriptions for amazon instant, netflix and hulu.

I'm wondering about these digital receiver boxes that pick up local network providers like NBC, ABC, FOX.... so on and so on.

 

The question is, what are the best options for hardware, including things like the boxes and I'm guessing you need some antenna outside. Also possibly a dvr for the setup.

I want to have boxes for 4 tv's in the house. I live only a few miles from all of our local broadcast towers, so I should have good reception.

Any experience, advise or counsel is welcome.

 

Here we get it was 10-15 channel if you just direct connect to cable with no service for the most basic channels but if you want more there are antennas that use analog to digital converters to try and pickup more.

[Wud Legerity]

After doing some more research I see that I only need to buy antennas for the tvs which already have tuners built in. The question now..... What is better? multiple antennas or one exterior antenna wired to all the t.v's. Can I link the exterior antenna through my current coaxial system left behind by the cable company. Any suggestions on the hardware?

 

 

[Stagea]

After doing some more research I see that I only need to buy antennas for the tvs which already have tuners built in. The question now..... What is better? multiple antennas or one exterior antenna wired to all the t.v's. Can I link the exterior antenna through my current coaxial system left behind by the cable company. Any suggestions on the hardware?

 

Yes, you can use the existing coaxial system in your house (especially if it's decent quality RG-6 or better).

 

How far are you from the nearest cluster of broadcast stations (normally in the city)? The more distant you are, the greater the need for a high mast and a high gain directional antenna. 

 

If you live in the suburbs: Get a really good external antenna (with a high mast if possible), then use a preamplifier near the antenna to boost the signal level (and improve SNR over long cable runs). The higher signal level will also compensate for the attenuation as the signal gets split to multiple RF outlets in the house.

 

If you live in the city and the stations are all around you (within 10 miles), then indoor antennas should work just fine (one antenna per TV). In such cases, directional external antennas may not be the best idea (unless you're using an antenna rotator).

 

You can check what stations you can get OTA using this tool (type in your address):

http://transition.fcc.gov/mb/engineering/dtvmaps/

[Wud Legerity]

Yes, you can use the existing coaxial system in your house (especially if it's decent quality RG-6 or better).

 

How far are you from the nearest cluster of broadcast stations (normally in the city)? The more distant you are, the greater the need for a high mast and a high gain directional antenna. 

 

If you live in the suburbs: Get a really good external antenna (with a high mast if possible), then use a preamplifier near the antenna to boost the signal level (and improve SNR over long cable runs). The higher signal level will also compensate for the attenuation as the signal gets split to multiple RF outlets in the house.

 

If you live in the city and the stations are all around you (within 10 miles), then indoor antennas should work just fine (one antenna per TV). In such cases, directional external antennas may not be the best idea (unless you're using an antenna rotator).

 

You can check what stations you can get OTA using this tool (type in your address):

http://transition.fcc.gov/mb/engineering/dtvmaps/

I live exactly 3.1 miles from the broadcast cluster.

 

My home is one of the highest elevations between my property and the cluster.

 

However my "mancave" where my largest tv is located, which is also the one we need the most for network tv/college football.  It's underground by about 7'.

[Stagea]

I live exactly 3.1 miles from the broadcast cluster.

 

My home is one of the highest elevations between my property and the cluster.

 

However my "mancave" where my largest tv is located, which is also the one we need the most for network tv/college football.  It's underground by about 7'.

 

That's a pretty good distance. If that's the case, then go get an external antenna with a wide capture area and gain. Most are designed to be 30 feet or more above the ground to reduce the effect of ground reflection, though you can probably get by with a lot less since you're fairly close to the stations (if you don't care about the weaker stations, an attic mount may actually work).

 

If you can support it, an 8 bay antenna would be excellent for your needs (though even a 2 bay or 4 bay will likely do).

 

Other people in more distant places can gang multiple 8-bays to increase gain (every doubling of the antenna count can give 3dB better gain if done properly) or use a higher gain directional antenna (if they are far from the nearest population center).