Are you getting fired up for the Olympics? The countdown has begun and in less than a month gymnasts, runners, swimmers and other athletes (that are way too toned and tanned to be real human beings) will be coming to your living room TV. If you like the Olympic Games, great! If watching hours of competition makes your mind go numb, well then you probably will be seeking different entertainment.
For households that enjoy the benefits of free OTA broadcasting and have kissed their over-priced cable packages good-bye, this can be a challenging couple of weeks. Your favorite shows on network TV may be unavailable due to the overwhelming Olympic coverage. Thankfully, with the new way that OTA broadcast are transmitted this isn’t your 2008 Olympic Game dilemma. In 2009, the OTA signals went digital which means you have more viewing options than you did in 2008 when Michael Phelps won 8 gold medals, setting a record that most humans could never hope to achieve (but we already determined they are aliens, right?). Now that OTA signals are broadcasted digitally you will not regret getting rid of your cable programming. Are you planning an Olympic Game get-together? Recent storms on the East Coast may have damaged or displaced some Norfolk residents’ rooftop antennas. A quick check by a local professional can get your signal in tip-top shape by the time the summer games air. But, if you are not an Olympic fan, and you feel the need to abandon your TV for a while there are many ways to find the entertainment you are looking for. You could always catch a movie, play some mini-golf, or set your own record at the pool for the longest nap. Whatever you do, you can be certain that your rooftop antenna will continue to provide you great coverage during the Olympic Games and beyond.
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It seems as if all the good ideas (and some incredibly bad fashion ideas) go round and round. They recycle themselves as time progresses. What was old is new again, is the common cliché. Lately, it seems that the 80’s are making a comeback. Clothing is more noticeable in the bright neon colors reminiscent of Punky Brewster. Big hair is back in the form of the “poof.” Even 80’s television shows are being resuscitated and reimagined on the silver screen and living room screens.
Another symbol of the 80’s, as well as the decades before, is the rooftop antenna. For a while the rooftop antenna became critically endangered, as close to extinction as a rare jungle species. The MTV generation fell in love with alternative programming that, at the time, only cable companies could provide. It seemed that more and more antennas were silenced as more and more cable was laid for the generation that just needed its’ innovative technology and their MTV. Oddly enough, it is this same generation that is embracing the idea of the rooftop antenna now. Unstable economic conditions, the mounting costs of cable and satellite programming, and an increase of smart, trendy local programming are beckoning the MTV generation to forgo the standard cable luxury. Instead, this generation of Akron consumers values a new luxury. This luxury focuses on spending money wisely in order for families to spend more time together and less time apart working to pay a cable bill that they are never home to watch. Akron residents who install a rooftop antenna have realized that with the HDTV signal they receive from their antenna, they are acquiring a superior picture to what they received on the same TV with their cable company. The fresh design of up-dated rooftop and indoor antennas are stylish and nowhere near as much of an eyesore as the original rooftop antenna. Oh, and the programming? It is still free! So, maybe the 80’s weren’t all that bad. Yes, the clothing was hideous and the hair was outlandish, but the comeback of the rooftop antenna is technology worth a second shot. Forget MTV, who wants their free TV? Did you know that TiVo is antenna friendly? Have you considered ditching your cable company, but reluctant to make the call because you are afraid you will lose quality programming?
Acquiring your TV shows from an over-the-air broadcast signal by installing an antenna and does not mean you will lose quality programming; or make your life more difficult because you will no longer have access to hundreds of movie channels. An antenna gives you unrealized options. Cable and satellite customers have grown accustomed to the benefits of their DVR devices. It is one of the main reasons that these same consumers are disinclined to consider a rooftop antenna. However, TiVo is antenna friendly and gives you FREE HD programming the moment you plug your HD antenna into a TiVo Premiere DVR. How does it work? It works virtually the same as your current DVR from the cable company. The biggest difference is your monthly subscription fee can be as low as $15 per month or for a flat, upfront rate you can pay for a lifetime of TiVo service. Through your TiVo device you are able to view all the local programming available to you in the San Antonio market via your local broadcast tower. In addition, you can supplement your lineup with thousands of movie and show titles by streaming them directly to your TiVo from services like Netflix, Amazon, and HuluPlus™. Do you use your cable company’s music channels to listen to music while you make dinner? You can do the same with TiVo. Online services such as Rhapsody and Pandora® stream music directly into your home. Even YouTube is available so you can make sure to never miss a viral video. The point of this post is not to try to sell you TiVo. The point is to make you aware of the options available to you in the San Antonio area if you choose to install an antenna at your residence. Antennas do not limit your television programming, but they provide an extraordinary picture and many viewing options at a much cheaper rate. Who wouldn’t be interested in that? Many Kansas City residents enjoy the high-quality, HDTV television signals they receive from their rooftop antennas. However, some residents are questioning whether or not they can receive the same great reception by installing antennas in their attics or inside their house. Why mess with technology, you wonder? If the rooftop option has been producing excellent results why would anyone want to change it?
Well, there are a couple reasons that consumers of TV antennas begin considering attic installations. One reason is aesthetics. Some neighborhoods, especially those in historic districts, may question the integrity of the neighborhood and lost charm if every other house on the block has a piece of technology on their roof, a glaring reminder that we have moved out of the 19th century. Another reason is to protect the antenna and surrounding structures from wind gusts which may propel the antenna off the roof causing property or personal damage. While this is highly unlikely, this is still a reason that some rooftop antenna customers are considering attic installs. When considering an attic install of your antenna, consumers must keep in mind some of the following questions. How is your roof constructed? Building materials such as brick, tile and metal can work very efficiently at keeping even the strongest HDTV signal from reaching your attic antenna. If you have a roof constructed of common roofing materials like wood and normal, everyday shingles, then the chances of you receiving a decent signal through to your attic antenna are more in your favor. How tall is your home? Basically, the higher you roof extends the better signal an attic antenna will receive. Two-story homes typically get a better signal than ranch style homes. Do the critters like your attic? As creepy as this last question is to consider, you may want to think about any wildlife that hangs out in your attic. While we all like to think our attics are undesirable and impenetrable by raccoons, mice or birds, the truth is that these pesky varmints find a way to get in to our attics. And they tend to be jealous of free television programming. If you attic is a half-way house for wayward animals, an attic antenna may not be feasible. The best way to find out what type of antenna would benefit you the most is to give a professional installer a call in Kansas and let them guide you to the right product to fit your needs. Time for the question and answer game. This question comes from a TV antenna owner in Omaha, Nebraska.
“I have an older rooftop antenna. I had it professionally tuned to receive the best possible signal in my area. The only problem I am having is that the past couple weeks have been considerably windy and my antenna keeps moving around. My signal is still quite good, but I have noticed a difference. I am afraid that eventually a bad storm will come and send my antenna falling to the ground, damaging it beyond repair. I am considering having my antenna remounted in my attic. Any advice?” – Travis, Omaha A loose antenna that is constantly being affected by blustery winds is quite frustrating. Yes, you can have your antenna remounted in your attic, but there are a few considerations to take into account before moving your antenna from your current location. Most TV antennas that are erected in an inside location lose about 35% – 50% signal strength. The reason is that walls and a lower location, even just a few feet lower than an antenna placed outside on the roof, can hinder signals from the broadcast tower. Another consideration is the available space in your attic. Attics are crowded, tight places and sometimes we use them for long-term storage making them less than ideal places for installing an antenna. Remember Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase? He sat in his attic, comfortably watching old movies and reminiscing about the past. Yeah, only in the movies are attics that large. The majority of American attics are spaces too tight for even a mouse to comfortably enjoy. You may want to call a professional installer and ask someone to come out to take a look at your current antenna. It may be fixable with just a simple adjustment by adding a screw or two to get you back to enjoying the amazing digital signal you know and love. It is true. I am not a big racing fan. I don’t care for the noise, the smell of the engines, the crowds. I get nauseous at the mere thought of going around and around a paved track for 500 miles while reaching speeds upwards of 150 miles per hour. I can already feel my lunch in the base of my throat.
But there are countless numbers of fans who swarm the stands at Daytona each year. If you are one of the lucky ones who have a seat, then you can stop reading. But, if you weren’t able to secure entry or have a weak stomach for the chaos of racing, you probably prefer to watch it on the 50-inch plasma screen you bought on clearance at Christmas time. If you are watching via your cable/satellite company’s local programming, you could find yourself in the dark. For certain sporting events, racing included, contractual clauses between affiliates and cable/satellite companies can result in a temporary black-out of normally available stations. Can’t I just switch cable or satellite providers and find one that doesn’t have any contractual obligations? You might ask. Sure, but why bother with the hassle and expense involved cancelling your own contract? You can have complete access to local programming that carries your favorite races and sporting events, including the Daytona 500, by purchasing a standard rooftop TV antenna. This is the easiest way to always ensure that your race day parties will pass each lap worry free. Of course, you don’t want to install an antenna yourself. Find a professional in the Daytona area who will get your antenna primed and ready for the big day. Hurry! You don’t want to be late for race day. You only have a mere eight months before the next Daytona 500. Don’t let others beat you to the finish line where the reward is free local TV. Are you interested in having a new HDTV antenna installed? Well, that is kind of a rhetorical question considering you have navigated your way to this site on by your own free will. I will try to not ask such obvious questions in the future. But on a serious note, what made you curious about TV antennas?
I know that you, my inquisitive reader, cannot answer me. But I would like to put some reasons out there so that other Indianapolis readers who have stumbled upon this blog will have some information. Many people who call us seeking information on TV antenna installations are looking for similar benefits, such as:
I am sure other people have their reasons for installing a TV antenna. For some it is a necessary home décor statement, for others it may be a way to rub free television in their neighbors’ smug faces. But, as I said, the majority of consumers want help to find the most up-to-date information in order to make an informed decision when deciding if an HDTV antenna is the best option for their household. We help Indianapolis residents by answering the phone when they call. We will ask a couple questions about your current home situation (i.e. rent vs. own), your landscape (We don’t care if your grass isn’t mowed. We just want to know if you live near hills, mountains or on land flat as a pancake) and how soon you want your new antenna installed. After we have those answers, we help you get in contact with a professional local installer who will continue assisting you with installing your new HDTV antenna. Oh, I forgot to mention the cost. This service is free! Free help for free local programming! Does it really get any better than that? The truth about living in San Diego is that the weather is remarkable, the energy is spirited and the cost of living is staggering. The cost of living in San Diego can be so high that you probably wonder why you haven’t yet been charged for breathing the fresh ocean air. So, I thought I would entertain you with a little game today called: If you had free TV via an antenna install, what would you do with the extra money? Here are some answers that your fellow San Diego peeps shared with me.
As you can see, it doesn’t take people long to think of a few things they would prefer to spend their money on than over-priced cable television. Consider this, why are you paying so much for television when you live in a city with outdoor activities galore? You have the ocean, the mountains, and the desert. There is hiking, surfing, rollerblading, sunset strolls on the beach. Forgive me, I don’t want to be presumptuous and assume that SoCal residents don’t need to sometimes relax and watch a sitcom. Television is certainly not the devil, but do you really need to pay for hundreds of stations when the nature of your city is beckoning you to play outside? If you are a San Diego resident who watches television less than a couple hours a day, you may want to consider installing a rooftop antenna at your residence and saying Adios to that enormous cable bill. I know you could already tell me 10 things you would rather spend your money on each month. So, just do it! Question and answer time again today. Here is a question that comes from a Lexington resident who recently installed a television antenna, but is feeling a bit disconnected from the shows she previously enjoyed through her cable programming.
“I am extremely happy that I ditched my cable company and the extravagant bill that I received each month. While I am enjoying the quality of the picture I receive from my HDTV antenna, I find myself missing some of my favorite shows that I use to watch on stations like ABC Family and USA. Any suggestions on how I can stay in touch with those shows?” – Jill, Lexington, KY Of course, I have some suggestions for you. If you completely cut ties with the cable company and switch to receiving television from an antenna, you will undoubtedly experience moments where you long to watch those quirky shows that are too unique for the main networks to include in their line-ups. However, there are some easy fixes. Services like Netflix have an abundant amount of titles available for instant download that you can stream live and watch immediately as long as you have an internet connection. I know that Netflix has had issues, a little ADHD with trying to decide the company’s long-term goals while competing with cable and satellite companies, too, but . . . that is good news for you! Netflix has lost a lot of contracts with feature film productions companies, resulting in fewer feature film titles. However, it has become a mecca for television viewers who enjoy television series as opposed to big screen mega-hits. For instance, in Jill’s case, ABC Family and USA have some of their most popular series, many with recent episodes, available for instant download. You don’t even have to sit in front of your computer to watch. Most electronics stores sell wireless receivers that allow you to instantly access the internet through your television. Gaming systems like WII and Xbox do as well. So, Jill, you won’t have any more cable withdrawals. You can continue to get your fix of your favorite cable shows while still receiving free local television. Did a friend or neighbor recently have a TV antenna installed? Have they been gushing about how incredible their new, free television programming is and about the new channels they have access to that they never knew existed? Are you scratching your head trying to decipher what your neighbor means when he says he gets multicast channels?
For those who are still TV antenna virgins the technology behind the broadcast signal capabilities of local programming can seem quite confusing. If you are a cable customer, you may be wondering why someone would opt to have less channels. But with multicasting, depending on your location, you actually do get many more channels than the traditional 2, 4, 5, 9, 11 and 30. Simply put multicasting means that a single station can now provide multiple channels of free programming simultaneously. It is kind of like cloning, but with different show options. Let’s look at some examples in the St. Louis Metro area. St. Louis residents are familiar with the local ABC, CBS and NBC affiliates; 2, 4, and 5. These channels are available to residents free of charge when a person has an antenna. They are also available to satellite and cable customers for a local fee charged by those companies. For those who receive their television from a TV antenna, these channels also offer additional channels like 2.1, 2.2, 4.1, 4.2, etc. Why do you care about multicasting? Well, the reason you should care is that it means you can save money by ditching local channels on your cable bill while gaining more local free programming that your cable company does not have access to. Multicast channels are only available from local broadcast television providers. For more info on multicasting you can go here. Living in The Lou and exploring the multicast channels available in your market gives you more opportunities for movies, syndicated television and diverse programming. You never know what you may find. |