About Regular TV, No Cable, I Never had Cable TV, but still get stations of all types.

[Stuart G]

So, about an hour ago, I decided to check out how many stations I get on my antenna. (cheap $20.00 thing I bought about 13 years ago.) So, my TV is in the basement of a 2 story townhouse. I ran a wire from the TV up to the antenna which is in an unused bedroom on the second floor. The antenna is about 10 miles away from one of the TV towers that sends out signals. (at least that is where I think many signals come from..not sure).........OK...How many stations. of non- cable TV that comes from a cheap antenna about 10 miles from the tower???? Yes, I live in a suburb next to a very large city....

..............At least 51 stations, maybe 52..........I counted twice..

NO, I don't have any of the so called "movie stations" but there are a number that play old movies, and old TV shows of all types. Yes, the usual network stations. 2 or 3 educational stations..a quiz show station, at least 8 Spanish stations. 3 or 4 shopping stations. a religious station, or two..(not sure).. One station that plays old music, looks like a couple of cooking food stations.. Not sure of all the rest and how to classify them. I was switching around counting..and one show I caught was describing exactly how to move a full size house from one location to another, and another station was describing how to blow up and take down an old football stadium. The variety is endless. Another was describing the life of a butterfly and another was some sort of crime station. Today is Sunday, so there are a couple of football games on..(no I don't know who or where,, cause I was changing stations and counting.
..Yes, I got to add something else..I got about 200 video tapes and discs with movies and old shows on them. Got a nice collection of Star Wars movies, and Star Trek shows...In addition to old shows, I have collected about 1000 cartoons on tape and disc..so I can watch cartoons anytime I like. Yep that is about it. (yes, I love old cartoons and cartoon shows..(Animaniacs, Bugs Bunny, Pinky & Brain Batman and Robin)

......oh one more addition...I live about a 5 minute drive from the local library which has a collection of all the stuff that I don't have. Every movie that has ever been put on tape or disc. The new ones, the odd ones, entire collection of old shows, (like I Love Lucy, etc..).of course a huge collection of documentaries, and other add ons. If I don't have it, the library has it.

I watch the TV a couple of times a week (I like Judge Judy) but don't have any favorite current shows. I watch old shows that just happen to be on. (don't know if the Judge Judy shows are new or old)
... I guess I am on the computer too much, (the computer is on the 2nd floor) but all that is in the basement, if I want to get off the computer for a change, I go to the basement to watch something else.. Yes I will say it again, at least 51 stations (no cable)

[Trust Buster]

1. I did the same. Miss ESPN, CNN, MSNBC and Discovery Channel but I see what I need and

Spend a lot less couch potato time.

[Stuart G]

2. Yes, the only one I really miss is MSNBC, but the important segments, are usally right here.

Not all, but some of the important ones, or discussion of important ones

[Trust Buster]

7. That is true. I can augment what I miss online. I use my television time more wisely now and

Love not receiving a monthly cable bill from the rigged cable industry. Freedom.

[Codeine]

3. I only keep my pay tv service

so I can watch soccer and Formula 1 racing. F1 will soon have an app for my Roku Stick and I’ll be able to cut the cord and just rely on a few streaming services, which will collectively cost far less than a cable bill.

[Stuart G]

6. If I was really into football, or something like Formula 1, I guess I would get it.

But, I am not into that or others that would require cable. ( At least for now )

[California_Republic]

4. Digital antenna

I get about 50 digital channel. Nice mix of foreign language channels.

But the amazing thing is that our new LG TV has an option for LG internet channels. I have the computer directly wired to the internet and it now has an additional 100+ crystal clear channels

[FakeNoose]

5. You can find all your local non-cable listings on this Titan-TV website

StuartG - check this out: https://www.titantv.com/Default.aspx?r=t

You can take advantage of this free program listing even though you aren't a Cable-TV subscriber. I use this listing (I do have Verizon Fios) because I like the search properties better than my Cable provides.

When you setup a free membership you can personalize your channel line-up however you want. There are ads of course, but they're not too intrusive. It's convenient because is you can display only the movie listings, or only the sports programs, or however you want. I hope this is handy for you. I use mine a lot, and it's better than the Verizon Fios guide.

[TexasProgresive]

12. WE use Titan TV. It can be set up to show cable or broadcast channels for your area.

I have adblock on my browser so I don't get the ads unless I go to titan on my phone. They are not particularly annoying except for video stuff. We are on satellite internet which means we have a very limited data cap. The joys of rural living. If we had really high speed internet with reasonable data I would use features like SWIFT or Sufferfest on a smart bicycle trainer, but I'm afraid it would eat up the data.

[eppur_se_muova]

14. Thanks ! That's a great guide. Much better than the one provided by WOW!, our cable provider ! nt

[eppur_se_muova]

8. tvfool.com can find OTA stations in your area ...

http://tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=90

Other DUer's have posted info about this before.

[Staph]

11. Thanks for the link!

I tried it, and in my area, I could get ABC, CBS, ION, CW, Fox, and PBS if I put an antenna on the roof. No NBC. Nothing else.

I'll keep my cable!

[mahatmakanejeeves]

15. Thanks for that link.

AOL used to have a website where you could plug in your ZIP code (I used 20500, that of the White House, which is near enough to me) and choose over the air or cable. They stopped doing that a few weeks ago.

[ghostsinthemachine]

9. I got no cable.

I font miss it, except for some sports.

[red dog 1]

10. K&R

I had my satellite dish (Dish TV) removed back in 2003 because I was staying up until 2 or 3 AM every night, just surfing all the channels...[I had absolutely no "self-control"]

The only thing I miss are Golden State Warriors' games, Oakland A's games, 49ers games, and
SF Giants games.

[left-of-center2012]

13. I tried 'over the air' here in Albuquerque

Bought a top of the line "Leaf" antenna.
I had to move its location inside my ground floor apartment a dozen times a day,
and for each channel I wanted to watch.

Reception would 'scramble' while watching a show.

I'd like to go back to OTA, but what would work here?

I'm thinking OTA works best in HUGE cities.
Thinking the TV towers here may not have a strong 'output'.

P.S. My ex lives in San Diego and gets great reception OTA.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

16. That happens to me too.

There's a (possible) workaround, but I'll have to get back to this later.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

17. Where do you live?

I don't mean street address, but in which town near which big city/cities?