Tag Archives: over the air TV

As pioneers in the cord-cutting movement, it is our mission to educate viewers on not only the benefits of our HDTV antennas, but all the alternative viewing options that are available. From the integration of a streaming device to low cost services such as Hulu and Netflix—there are a slew of ways you could be saving money!

It truly warms the cockles of our heart when we hear that someone has canceled their pay-TV subscription. Recently, parenting blogger,      Meghan Cooper, wrote about her quest to find a more cost-efficient substitute to cable. While it is ultimately Meghan’s goal to save money, she does not, however, want to lose all the programs she has grown to love.

Her conclusion: you don’t have to settle for outlandish monthly fees in order to enjoy top-notch original programming! While we don’t want to spoil her blog, (it is really great!) we have to fill you in on one small detail: she is now a cord-cutter! By integrating a ClearStream C2V HDTV antenna and a Roku streaming device, Meghan is now able to enjoy all of her favorite programs—minus the monthly fee!

To read all about Meghan’s cord-cutting journey, please visit: http://jamonkey.com/get-tv-for-free-tips-to-save-you-hundreds/ or http://atlmomsonthemove.com/2013/03/getting-free-tv-in-atlanta/

View the complete line-up of HDTV antennas from Antennas Direct or visit Antenna Point to find the best antenna for YOUR location!

As you may know, our Micron-R antenna is one of the most popular indoor antennas on the market. The advanced design allows these 10”x11” digital antennas to be smaller and more powerful than ever before. The precision engineered reflector focuses two-times more broadcast signal through the antenna, making it ideal for those who experience multi-path interference. 

The good folks at Modsynergy.com recently got their hands on our prizes indoor antenna. To read their review in full, please click on the provided link below.

http://www.modsynergy.com/review267.htm

Cord cutting is real and happening in significant numbers now, concludes a new research report by Nielsen (which is significant itself, given Nielsen’s long-time central role in television audience measurement). The report measured year-over-year changes from Q3 2011 – Q3 2012.

Here are some of the report’s key findings:

– U.S. individuals spend 33 hours per week watch videos across all screens
– the number of homes subscribing to wired cable television services decreased 4.1%
– at the same time, telco-provided television services increased 21.1% and satellite television increased 2.1%
– “nearly a million more homes are subscribing to broadband while skipping a traditional paid tv subscription”
– the number of broadcast/broadband only “television” homes increased 22.8% in the two year period Q3 2010 – Q3 2012

Getting TV stations through the airwaves may seem like an anachronism in the age of streaming video online. But actually, the rise of Hulu and Netflix seems to be helping the rabbit ear industry.

Over the last few years, many of us cut the cord on cable in favor of streaming programming online. Hulu Plus ($8 a month), Netflix streaming ($8 a month) and even Amazon ($80 a year for Amazon Prime with free, instant access to shows and movies) all have the same sort of content as cable but costs much less than a $50-plus cable subscription.

(MORE: Non-Cable Subscribers Will Have to Pay $4 for March Madness Games Online)

It’s sparked industry analysts to predict the demise of the traditional cable package, even though some providers like Comcast believe they have started to right the ship, while claiming that massive cord-cutting has been exaggerated. Comcast recently announced that it lost “just” 17,000 video subscribers in the fourth quarter, which is the fewest in five years.

Naturally, with so many ways of getting broadcast content, you would think that accessing programming through an antenna would go the way of the Walkman. But actually, the industry is experiencing a bit of a boom.

According to The Wall Street Journal, TV-antenna sales are up – big. One retailer – Antennas Direct – says it expects to double last year’s sales of 600,000 antennas, which was itself an increase from 400,000 sold in 2010. Walmart even recently announced it would start stocking the seller’s antennas.

What’s going on? It seems that a number of consumers have decided to ditch cable altogether, and they are getting shows through a combination of over-the-air broadcast stations and online streaming services. “Every time that Hulu and Netflix enhance their services, our phones light up,” Richard Schneider of Antennas Direct told The Journal.

In a further hybrid of old and new technologies, a new service called Aereo will be launching in mid-March in New York that will allow cable-cutters to stream local broadcast signals online. It’ll be $12 a month, but will have a 30-day free trial period.

Still, the number of Americans who receive broadcast channels over the air is tiny, estimated at less than 10%. Most get those channels through their pay-TV packages that come with many more cable channels. But a lot of those channels are still accessible and completely free over the airwaves (after you purchase an antenna, of course, which ranges from as low as $10 to $150). And in parts of the country with good reception, it makes sense that consumers are turning to traditional rabbit ears while also getting content online. Most places in the U.S. can get on average 30 to 45 channels over the air.

According to Cox Cable, approximately 20 percent of Las Vegas residents still watch over-the-air programming, which is higher than the national 5 percent to 10 percent reported by the Consumer Electronics Association . A new antenna installation company, Free Vegas TV, plans to educate those over-the-air TV consumers about the 41 high-definition channels that are available without a monthly subscription fee.

Free Vegas TV owner, Karlo Maalou, provides an outdoor antenna and installation.
Maalouf is committed to over-the-air programming, including in his own home.

“There’s really no need to spend $50 or $60 a month for programming when local networks seem to do a pretty good job.” he said.

Maalouf declined to say how many customers he has seen since launching Free Vegas TV Dec. 1, but said he has received numerous phone calls since he started advertising on KTNV-TV, Channel 13 and KGNG-TV, Channel 47. The most common phrase from prospective customers: “I thought free TV was gone.”

According to Jeff Ross, executive producer of Conan O’Brien’s Conan show on TBS, Microsoft has some big plans for Xbox Live and streaming television.

There have been rumblings of Microsoft wooing several companies to acquire content for a pay-television service that would stream through the Xbox 360 console. Would original programming like something from a big name like Conan O’Brien make you think about cutting the cord from your current cable provider?

Today a fan on our facebook page posted a video showing just how easy it was install a DB4 antenna and test it. Notice how they make good use of the satellite dish!

* Range: Up to 55 miles
* Strong performance across UHF spectrum (Channels 14-69)
* Versatile high gain multi – bay antenna
* Efficient design allows tremendous gain in a compact size 13.7 dBi gain
* Versatile HD antenna, succeeds in difficultareas where other antennas fail
* All weather Balun included
* Designed to resist extreme wind loading
* Works great in attics. Fits easily & high gain can help overcome loss from roofing materials
* Dimensions 29″ H x 19″ W x 4″ Deep
* Product Weight: 4.5 pounds

Recently, it was released that the cable industry shrank for the first time ever in the second quarter, losing 711,000 subscribers. The cable companies which credit the problem to the current economy are partially right, people are leaving because of the price…because they are finding a better way to receive their TV somewhere else through what is called multicasting.

Because of multicasting, you may have noticed a lot more channels than you remember being available in your local market. In fact, in some markets, they have up to 40 channels available for free, more than many basic cable packages carry. Broadcasters are doing this through what is called multicasting, splitting their digital streams into two, three or even four different channels showing up on your digital tuner looking like 5.1, 5.2 and so on.

The additional channels range from extra local news, sports, weather, to regular network programming. Multicasting also has the capability to continue coverage of a live sporting event on one of the additional channels if coverage is interrupted because of a breaking news story. And as over-the-air television continues its growth, broadcasters are sweetening the deal, by expanding their multicast stations.

Broadcasters are able to do so by being more efficient with the spectrum though digital television. Now the packages they send out containing pictures, sound and other information are much smaller, meaning they can send more out.

This also means that many local broadcasting stations will have a channel that broadcasts in high definition for prime time programming and second station that broadcasts in standard definition. When broadcasters send out their high definition signal, they are uncompressed, giving the best picture possible. But when cable sends out the same picture it is compressed to fit their tiny bandwidth, leaving viewers with a lower quality picture.

You may have heard a lot of commercials lately from pay TV providers, saying that they’re going to bring you more of your favorite channels…at no additional cost. Which yes, you won’t pay up front for the channels, but will instead incur the cost later. Why else would people be leaving in such great numbers? Stick with over-the-air television where you will not need to pay for channels you don’t want and a picture that is inadequate.

The Micron is once again featured for its strength and size. Jay Palmer of Barron’s tested the Micron in New Jersey bringing in channels from greater distances and “near-perfect high-definition picture” from several local channels. He was impressed that he could simply plug in the antenna and even with trees and buildings in the way, receive a quality signal.

IN THIS AGE OF CABLE AND satellite TV, it’s easy to forget that signals are still being sent the old-fashioned way: over the air. It’s a lot cheaper than the alternatives, and the picture quality is a whole lot better than in the days of analog signals and set-top rabbit ears. It also can be a smart option if your cable service has frequent service disruptions or if you want a TV in a room that isn’t wired.

I have been testing a couple of highly regarded antennas, the ClearStream Micron and the ClearStream 2, both designed for ultra-high-frequency reception and available from a private company called Antennas Direct. Both pick up digital broadcast signals and help deliver surprisingly crisp pictures, but there are important differences between the two.

Follow the link to continue reading: Good bye, Rabbit Ears