Residents of New Haven, Milford and Bridgeport are catching on to the exciting perks of installing and owning a rooftop antenna. But searching for a licensed professional installer can be an intimidating task. At TV Antenna Installers, we offer a free service to help you find the right installer for your situation. However, it is important for homeowners to feel empowered and informed when making a decision about who to hire to install their antenna.
When hiring a professional it is imperative to ask these fundamental questions:
Being knowledgeable of the professionals that you are choosing to hire is essential to preparing for a smooth rooftop antenna installation. Asking the above questions, does not make you intrusive. It tells the professional from the very beginning that you know what you want and that you expect the installer/customer relationship to be truthful and forthright. This will safeguard you, the consumer, from any potential pitfalls of hiring a professional who is far from professional.
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What type of TV do I need to receive free over-the-air HDTV signals? This is a question we are asked over and over again. Since the digital conversion occurred in 2009, many homeowners who want to take advantage of free local programming ask this question often. Truthfully, it is not the type of TV that you have, but the equipment to go along with your TV.
Unless you have a very old TV, you most likely are already in a good position to receive free OTA broadcast signal. An antenna professional can access your situation and decide if your TV needs a converter box, but chances are it doesn’t. Televisions sold these days and over the past few years, are already up to the digital standards. The proper equipment you need to receive free HDTV signals is an antenna. This antenna can be a rooftop antenna or an indoor antenna. In areas where there is little signal interference from terrain, dense construction materials or tall buildings, an indoor antenna that sits on top or near your TV may give you the access you desire. An indoor antenna may also be a desirable option for renters who do not want to go through the hassle of installing a rooftop antenna. However, the majority of homeowners choose to erect a rooftop antenna. This is the ideal antenna choice because it can be mounted at the highest point possible on a structure. The higher an antenna is able to be installed, the easier the antenna will be able to reach out and grab the digital signals without interference from natural and man-made barriers. Other equipment/accessories needed to access free digital signals include cables, the proper installation tools and general know-how. That is why is it highly discouraged that homeowners try to make an antenna installation a DIY weekend project. Call a professional to install your antenna and you will be enjoying free TV safely and quickly. Recent Boston College Grad Has Questions About Antenna Installation at Her Apartment Complex?7/19/2012 Kerri, from Boston, MA, recently ventured out on her own and is on a tight budget. She wants to have access to television programming, but isn’t sure she wants the hassle of a monthly cable bill. Here is the question she emailed to us.
“I am a recent college graduate and a first-time renter. My complex is able to receive service from our local cable company, but when I called to inquire about subscription pricing I was astounded to discover that I would have to choose between paying my car insurance each month and having TV. A friend suggested that I ask my complex to install a rooftop antenna, but I don’t know how to approach my landlord. Can I really ask them to install an antenna just so I can get free TV?” Kerri, Boston This question brings to mind the saying, “You won’t know if you don’t ask.” That is exactly true in this situation. It is true that your landlord does not have to comply with your request to erect an antenna on his or her property, but here are some points you can make to strengthen your request.
If your landlord still doesn’t seem sold on the idea, you could consider installing an antenna yourself at your own cost. For more information on renters installing their own rooftop antennas, click here. The District of Columbia may be the center of our government, but it is also known for free entertainment. While Americans may complain about the amount of taxes paid each year, the District of Columbia has an abundance of free museums, memorials and attractions designed to entertain and educate. In addition to these free establishments, residents if the District can also get free HDTV without a monthly cable bill.
How? It is no secret that the cost of living in our nation’s capital is expensive. Housing, transportation and food prices are sky-high, but severing ties with your cable company is one way to cut expenses. Cable companies taunt you with their HDTV programming, but anyone can receive free HDTV by purchasing and installing a rooftop antenna or, in some cases, an indoor antenna. HDTV is digital TV. In 2009, the old analog signals that were broadcasted from the nation’s local towers were converted to digital signals. All stations were required to switch. This means that all signals transmitted freely over the air from broadcast towers are digital and high-def. As long as you have a means to receive these signals from an antenna, you will receive multiple stations of local programming absolutely free. No, you will not receive cable networks free with a rooftop antenna, but many of today’s most popular cable stations make their episodes available online which can be streamed directly to your TV as long as it is connected to the Internet. This can be done with Internet ready TVs. Finding a professional installer in your area is easy and inexpensive. Households in the D.C. area can expect to purchase and install a rooftop antenna for about $150 dollars. This is a one-time cost, not a monthly subscription fee. Give us a call and we will set you up with an installer in your area quicker than you can say free TV. Did you know that HDTV is free? Really, it is! Cable and satellite companies send out promotional material urging customers to upgrade to get the best picture possible, but usually these promotional postcards have a lot of fine print designed to lure Honolulu residents into extending contracts and renting, for an additional fee, HD receivers.
So, if HDTV is free to the general public, why are cable and satellite companies charging customers hundreds of dollars each month? Simply stated, the reason that these companies have gotten away with charging high prices for TV service is because we forgot that once upon a time TV was free. Cable didn’t exist and customers received local programming from rooftop antennas. What changed? Well, time changed and alternative programming like MTV, HBO and CNN became hot commodities. Honolulu customers jumped on the opportunity to have more variety in their television programming. Analog TV signals did not provide the luxurious shows residents wanted. Soon, rooftop antennas became endangered, nearly forgotten. As the years passed, more and more cable networks were formed and more choices were offered to consumers – at a price. No longer was cable a cheap alternative to over-the-air broadcasting. With each new channel added, a new package was needed therefore increasing cable service. In 2009, when the digital conversion occurred cable companies held onto customers by assuring them that their television signal was safe and sound as long as they kept their current cable subscription. No matter the age of their TV, customers would be certain to never miss a single program. Well, three years have passed since the digital conversion and while customers may still have their cable, their HDTV packages and a picture quality that is decent what they do not have is free HDTV. If you want to know how to get free HDTV, click here and we will tell you how. Maybe, maybe not. By now most people have seamlessly made the switch from analog to digital without noticing an interruption in their service. However, if you are a Manchester resident who has an older, analog TV and has relied on cable, but now want to switch to a rooftop antenna to receive HDTV signals you may need a convertor box.
If you have an old analog TV set you will need to connect it to a digital-to-analog converter box to begin the process of receiving a digital signal. This converter box will need to be connected between the antenna used for receiving the digital signal and the convertor box. If you already have a rooftop antenna installed, you may consider upgrading your TV instead of purchasing a convertor box. Yes, a convertor box will be cheaper than a new television, but with technology continuously upgrading it may make better financial sense to purchase a digital ready TV. Digital ready TV’s have many feature besides being able to receive digital signals. These TVs are often equipped to allow you to run an Ethernet cord between your TV and wireless Internet connection so that you can watch Internet TV. If you are cancelling your cable subscription, you may still want to watch some of your favorite shows that will not be available on local programming. Upgrading your TV will allow you to stream these shows free from the Internet, when applicable, straight to your TV. Newer TVs also boast a sleeker style that is adaptable to a living space. They can be mounted on walls, above fireplaces and moved easier than older TVs. Another reason to consider upgrading instead of simply adding a converter box is that technology makes it possible to play home movies, share photos and music by connecting other electronic devices to the TV with a universal USB cord. So, I suppose the question posed to Manchester residents with older TVs is this: Is a convertor box the best choice for enjoying the free technology upgrades to consumers? Only you can answer that question. Salt Lake City Residents Install Rooftop Antennas and Find Creative Uses for their Satellite Dish7/16/2012 Have you recently made the switch from satellite to a rooftop antenna? If so, you may have that circular dish still hanging out on your roof or sitting unceremoniously in your garage. Sure, you can throw it away, but what is the fun in that? Instead, here are some creative tips for reusing your old satellite dish in the spirit of the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle movement.
In all fairness, before we go any further, I have to admit my own lack of creativity. The suggestions here were found on The National Geographic website. I picked some of my favorites to share with you. Small Satellite Dishes These dishes can be sturdy sleds for the kids in the winter time. Why bother buying a piece of plastic that is susceptible to breakage. A sturdy satellite dish will do the trick! These types of satellites can also be used as water features or birdbaths for the songbirds that flitter and fly in your backyard. You will need to plug up any holes, but after that you can sit the satellite in your backyard, fill with a little water and enjoy. Large Satellite Dishes With these contraptions you can invert the dish and use it to cover a sandbox or fire pit. If you are ambitious, you can even use these types of dishes to create a bog garden (don’t worry I had to look the definition up, too. A bog garden is a piece of land laid out and irrigated to grow plants which prefer a damp habitat). You would need to sink the dish into the land to create the illusion of a shallow pond. Creating a bog garden could actually be a great experiment to do with your kids who are bored by their summer break. In summary, there are many ways for Salt Lake City residents to use a satellite dish aside from receiving TV shows. If you decide installing a rooftop antenna is more in line with your needs and budget, you will be sure to continue to have hours of fun with your satellite dish in different, unique ways. Are you considering breaking up with your cable company because you’re tired of paying for expensive movie and television dates? Have you listened to your neighbor gush over his rooftop antenna way too much and would like to show-off your own brand new rooftop antenna?
Here are the top 5 reasons Albuquerque customers have made the switch to over-the-air TV.
Now that you have heard the top 5 reasons why customers are switching from cable to an OTA broadcast signal, what reasons are there left to stay with your cable company? Free television programming versus costly programming that doesn’t perform to true HDTV standards - which choice do you prefer? Only you know the answer, but we think we can guess what your response might be. The choice is obvious. Mark, from New Orleans, emailed us last week with a question asked often by newbie rooftop antenna owners.
“I am a handy guy and have done my research regarding rooftop antennas. I know exactly the type of antenna I want to install at my residence. I have the tools and feel confident that I can erect the antenna myself to save money from installation fees. My brother-in-law thinks I am being ridiculous and unsafe. He strongly believes I should call a professional. Should I concede to my brother-in-law’s way of thinking?” Mark, New Orleans This is a question we are asked on a daily basis. We understand the desire and need to save money, but installing an antenna without professional assistance can be much more costly in the end. If you install your rooftop antenna incorrectly, you may have to pay for repairs from an improper installation. For instance, if you fail to mount the antenna properly you may find it in your neighbor’s yard (or worse yet through his car window) if a bad storm blows through. The amount of money to repair your property and your neighbor’s property could negate any money you saved trying to do it yourself. Other reasons to hire a professional installer include peace of mind and safety. Safety should always come first. Antenna installers tackle roofs and high pitches every day. They are accustomed to the heights and how to attach the antenna safely. Attempting a DIY antenna set-up could be deadlier for an amateur. Seeking the expertise of a professional TV antenna installer in New Orleans will also guarantee that your antenna works properly. In addition, it secures your warranty. An amateur install because of a misplaced screw or a part accidentally removed can void your warranty instantly leaving you responsible for the cost of your mistake. So, in this case, we have no choice but to side with your brother-in-law. We’re sorry. We know that is a hard pill to swallow. Why are Las Vegas customers canceling their cable services? A strained economy can affect pay-television industries like cable and satellite services, but the economy is not the sole reason for the backward slide that these companies are facing with customers not renewing services.
Pay-television offers consumers a wide variety of diverse programming, but the programming options are dimmed by the exorbitant cost Las Vegas consumers are absorbing to watch programs that can be enjoyed absolutely free. There are two methods by which these residents are acquiring their TV; over-the-air broadcast signal via a rooftop or indoor antenna and online streaming methods via broadband. While these two methods may seem separate, when used together they are proving to be a worthy opponent to traditional cable service programming. Installing a rooftop antenna at your residence gives customers instant access to free local programming that are affiliates of major networks like CBS, ABC, FOX and NBC. Even with the plethora of cable channels many American TV viewers still view the majority of their shows on these networks. In addition, these are the networks that affiliates use to broadcast their news and local programming. Using Internet-connected TV and game consoles, many Americans are finding that they have the option of streaming those highly-rated, anticipated cable networks shows free with their broadband and Ethernet connections. No more do they need to pay $80+ per month to watch local programming and cable network luxury shows. These can be streamed for a small fee from companies like Netflix and Amazon Video On Demand for a more reasonable monthly fee. The pay-television industry is far from in trouble, but consumers in Las Vegas and around the country are starting to realize that by installing antennas and taking advantage of broadband technology, they can have their cake and eat it, too. |