Maiden Voyage
Gold™ Member
I know about this but I was poor growing up. Surprised others had no idea it existed.
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WSJ: Millennials Unearth Amazing Hack to Get Free TV, the Antenna (Not The Onion)
- Thread starter mreddie
- Start date
whiteninja
Member
I was pretty surprised by the amount of channels I got. Last time I used an antenna was like 20 years ago and I got maybe 4 or 5, now its around 20+. Also no more snow, they come in clear.
Zoe
Member
When my BIL upgraded from an SD CRT to an HDTV last year, they had no idea they no longer had to use a converter box. I think they were even outputting it in SD still.
I think his mind was blown when I said, "is there a reason you're not just connecting the antenna directly to the TV?"
Don't know about other areas, but there are more than just the major broadcast channels now.
I think his mind was blown when I said, "is there a reason you're not just connecting the antenna directly to the TV?"
Don't know about other areas, but there are more than just the major broadcast channels now.
Rentahamster
Rodent Whores
Anecdotally speaking, every group is dumb in this regard, not just Millennials.
RedAssedApe
Banned
over the air does kind of suck in terms of uhf vs vhf and how you adjust for channels broadcast over those different signals
I used to work for DirecTV. Believe me when I say the cable and satellite companies were a contributing factor to this.
People would pay extra to get their local channels on satellite. Sometimes you would even have to have a second dish if your local channels were routed through a separate satellite.
This despite the fact that you could just as easily hook an antenna into your digital receiver and scan them in to the rest of your channel lineup for no extra cost.
These telecoms tricked a whole bunch of people into thinking they needed cable or satellite to get their local channels.
People would pay extra to get their local channels on satellite. Sometimes you would even have to have a second dish if your local channels were routed through a separate satellite.
This despite the fact that you could just as easily hook an antenna into your digital receiver and scan them in to the rest of your channel lineup for no extra cost.
These telecoms tricked a whole bunch of people into thinking they needed cable or satellite to get their local channels.
Glass Shark
Banned
Totally depends on your location and other factors, but I just have a cheap $20 antenna from Walmart inside my house and I get all 4 major networks plus some other stuff.
Spike Spiegel
Member
Clear TV... Has it really come to this?
Other than a brief period in college when I shared a satellite dish, I've never had anything but an antenna. People "rediscovering" antenna TV has always seemed like a strange, incredibly dumb concept.
Other than a brief period in college when I shared a satellite dish, I've never had anything but an antenna. People "rediscovering" antenna TV has always seemed like a strange, incredibly dumb concept.
Not really. Antennas aren't common anymore.
Naw, that was Gen X. Millennials are bringing it back!
Pop-O-Matic
Banned
What he just described was that "some other stuff." NBC/CBS/ABC/Fox is almost always a given and are nowhere near what makes up most of what people watch nowadays.
Same here, although add the Olympics to that.
whiteninja
Member
Glass Shark
Banned
More like *most people are not that careful with their money and are okay with the status quo*
The antenna section at stores like Walmart and Target is actually growing if you pay attention. People are obviously taking advantage of this. But honestly I think those sketchy Android TV boxes sold at mall kiosks are probably more popular than OTA television at this point.
Well yeah, but beyond the 4-5 major networks everything else is just throwaway garbage that's not really worth bragging about. Usually there's one good PBS channel, to be fair.
Freeview in the UK has a guide..
America is weird. Kettles to boil water a rare strange thing and now no TV antennas. I know cable was a big thing but not so big there was virtually no use of antennas.
Yeah, I get 6 content producing HD channels (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, PBS, CW), and the rest are as you say. The PBS subchannels sometimes have interesting stuff, though, and LAFF's good for watching Roseanne.
TV Guide app works pretty well, but yeah, it'd be nice if there was a guide channel like there used to be.
DiscoJer
Member
I'm actually impressed at how many channels there are. I have like 40 in my area and honestly, as someone that likes old movies and re-runs, most of them are far better than what's on cable.
I mean, no reality TV. No 24 hours opinion shows presented as "news".
Only real downside is a lack of sports.
I mean, no reality TV. No 24 hours opinion shows presented as "news".
Only real downside is a lack of sports.
Just like vinyl.
NOLA_Gaffer
Banned
This article is kind of amazing. How dense does one have to be to not know that broadcast television channels are...well, broadcast over the airwaves for free? Jeez.
I wonder if a millennial would know how to operate a pay phone.
I wonder if a millennial would know how to operate a pay phone.
Man-is-Obsolete
Member
If you can get a rock solid connection, channels OTA are have much better image quality because they aren't getting compressed by cable/satellite companies trying to save bandwidth.
TheCochese
Banned
Unfortunately you also have stations that aren't compatible with the leaf style antennas, or you need to install antennas externally. Not something everyone is going to do.
For me to have usable channels, I'd have to upgrade significantly from what I have.
For me to have usable channels, I'd have to upgrade significantly from what I have.
Allforce
Member
I have a 12 dollar circular antenna from Lowes that I've used for 10+ years now, gets every major network in full HD perfectly as well as a bunch of gonzo channels that are tucked away as like 4-2, 6-2, 6-3. This is stuff like "BOUNCE" which is just awesome movies starring African Americans and also a channel that just plays Law & Order 24/7. I think there's one called MeTV that just plays old sitcoms too from the 60s, 70s, 80s.
Also a fuckton of crazy ass Christian networks that are free OTA. Yay America!
People ask me if you need some sort of "HD Antenna" and it's all snake oil. Just get any antenna and hook it up to your TV and scan and see what you get.
Also a fuckton of crazy ass Christian networks that are free OTA. Yay America!
People ask me if you need some sort of "HD Antenna" and it's all snake oil. Just get any antenna and hook it up to your TV and scan and see what you get.
Marty Chinn
Member
Terrible first post given that it's the better quality than cable, satellite, and any streaming service on top of being free.
When it works it's awesome. When it doesn't for your location/setup there's not much you can do.
Wait - what? How do Americans boil water then?
Sports broadcasts on OTA are simply amazing. (edit: hence the superbowl comments by other posters earlier?)
If my friends are any indication, they microwave the water for tea.
GhostWriter24
Member
Nope, it's actually the greatest thing ever if you have Netflix, Amazon, and HBO Go.
Being able to watch HD NFL broadcast games without having to pay the bullshit $50 TWC fee is a gamechanger.
parrotbeak
Member
I bought an antenna and got a converter box in 2009 because I still have a Trinitron. Never use it though; the signals were pretty inconsistent and I can just watch local news in online clips.
Last time I checked there were the local channels and a bunch of religious channels but nothing I wanted to watch besides the occasional PBS show, which I can usually find online.
Last time I checked there were the local channels and a bunch of religious channels but nothing I wanted to watch besides the occasional PBS show, which I can usually find online.
This is completely inaccurate. I get 7 Christian channels(two in Spanish) and a least 5 channels that only play old sitcoms.
Robdraggoo
Member
Don't feel bad milennials, I grew up with rabbit ears, used free tv for years, and until this thread I forgot it existed.
I think it was when Obama cut the anologue signals for digital, I could never get it to work so I gave up
Thanks Obama
I think it was when Obama cut the anologue signals for digital, I could never get it to work so I gave up
Thanks Obama
I don't see why not knowing that you can use antennas to catch some channels would make you dumb.
*shrugs*
I have cable and an antenna because everyone said that locals look better OTA. They lied, I can't tell a fucking difference.(note: I live in a city with local affiliates so reception for the big 4 is not an issue at all.)
I get my team on locals, but many don't which forces them to get DTV. Also as a CFB fan cable is absolutely necessary.
parrotbeak
Member
I feel sorry for people who never had to turn the channel with a pair of pliers because the knob broke.
Robdraggoo
Member
Remember the old cable boxes with the slide dial? And it only went up to 45 channels. Good times
Zoe
Member
They don't have to be installed anywhere... just hook it up to the back of your TV.
AstroNut325
Member
How the heck is this possible? I've used antenna TV my whole life...
Crazy. I mean in the UK I just had a Freesat box and Netflix, nothing else needed. Although there are no analogue TV signals here anymore, if that's what the article is referring to. But... who wants to watch adverts? And no offence meant, but I've seen American adverts from time to time and they're some of the most obnoxious ones going, I couldn't stand it.
Do you not have to pay a TV licence there, though?
Do you not have to pay a TV licence there, though?
TheCochese
Banned
JonnyDBrit
Member
Admittedly speaking with regards to Freeview here in the UK, but I picked up an indoor aerial for my TV shortly after Christmas this year, and after setting it up in the top corner of the room, it works phenomenally. Solid signal for dozens of channels, plus a number of radio frequencies. Much more stable and consistent quality than trying to stream when it comes to sports or the news.
I legitimately thought the transition to digital meant antennas didn't work anywhere, until 3 or 4 years ago I moved to a new apartment and couldn't afford cable for a bit. Wouldn't have been a HUGE loss except for football. Googled around, found out antenna's still existed.
I also have major problems with antennas no matter where I put them. To the point where even me just standing up will interrupt the signal on almost any channel, and I lived in Austin and Dallas, not out in the boonies far away from the towers. The picture did definitely look better than cable, it was just too unreliable to count on for sports watching.
I also have major problems with antennas no matter where I put them. To the point where even me just standing up will interrupt the signal on almost any channel, and I lived in Austin and Dallas, not out in the boonies far away from the towers. The picture did definitely look better than cable, it was just too unreliable to count on for sports watching.
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