Needing a TV provider, tired of just PBS

[Josh B]

Ah yeah, I also talked to an aunt who said her, well I don't recall which service but quite a few channels for 60 a month, I might try that out

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I don't Have TV. Just stream from Internet. And I barely watch anything but YouTube.

I stream with a Roku and watch the 'tube on tv though.

 

[4.0blue98]

I got xfinity.

Its expensive and sucks

Same here. 800 channels and I watch maybe three.

Pretty sure these computer thingys are just a fad...

 

[sgtsandman]

We have Roku for when we want to watch tv, otherwise I'm either on Youtube, Odysee, or Rumble.

EDIT: We also have an amplified digital antenna when we really have a need to watch broadcast TV. We get quite a few channels but rarely use it.

 

[Northidahotrailblazer]

I have antenna for my local channels, I get 12 channels from that. And then I stream every from our phones to the tv. Works ok. Our antenna gets all the majors, news, PBS, fox and something else. We have amazon prime so we get stuff there. We have a Roku smart tv so when its connected to the phones, it gets a lot of channels. Last time I checked dish and the other one don't even have local channels anymore.

 

[Josh B]

Yeah, I had three channels for the longest time, should still have them now but the two network stations dropped out and in emails they didn't give a care so the last 2 or 3 years or so it's only been PBS.
Three stations was fine long as I got the news and weather and football games

 

[RonD]

This website, TV Fool: https://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29

It will tell you what free channels are available at your location and from what direction and what size and type of antenna you will need

All over the air channels are digital now, so to get PBS you must have a digital tuner

Digital channels still use Analog Carriers, VHF are channels 2 to 13, these go farther but need a larger antenna for the longer waves
UHF, channels 14 to 83, don't travel as far, are cheaper to broadcast and use shorter waves so can use smaller antennas

UHF is, of course, the most popular for broadcasters, lol

An analog carrier can have 1 to 8 digital channels on it, that's where the digital tuner comes in, it tunes the analog carrier, like channel 3 or 33, then looks for a signal that tells it how many channel "packets" are in the carrier and what format to use to "decode/unpack" them

 

[Josh B]

Y ou are right on that Ron, I think they bailed on the long range and if they do still broadcast local it is VERY local, they used to be nearly in a competition of who could cover the area best, and now they dont even care, because they are not making large sums of money broadcasting a wide area to someone who isn't paying cable prices

 

[97RangerXLT]

Fiber optic internet and prime, Hulu and Disney +. No need for cable or satellite.

But like Eric and 85, my main media consumption is youtube. I occasionally watch a show or movie on the streaming platforms.

AJ

 

[Bill]

Unless you live further from civilization than I do local programming is free. Given that most of it is garbage or re runs it is still free. All that's required is an antenna. I get 35 channels or so.

Only 35? That's it? I get garbage from three TV markets (Sacramento, Chico and San Francisco) and there is so much garbage that it takes a week to delete all the garbage channels after doing a scan.

 

[tw205]

Only 35? That's it? I get garbage from three TV markets (Sacramento, Chico and San Francisco) and there is so much garbage that it takes a week to delete all the garbage channels after doing a scan.

I did mention I live a far piece from civilization. If that's what we call it.

 

[rumblecloud]

like everyone else, I stream too. I'm late to the party for that though. We're rural so it's either through the phone or satellite. Choices are slim, but I've bee a Hughes Net customer for a looooong time - work picked up the tab.
I've had Dish and Direct -both got too expensive and you a kabillion shopping channels and very little good content and have to pay extra for local channels and sports.
I have ChromeCast - like Firestick and the others. Same principle.

I really think the way to go is via phone with unlimited data. We have Verizon and they offer packages that include some premium networks like Disney Plus and a couple of others - but I haven't gotten to that point yet.

Currently we get 100 gig /month and haven't hit that mark yet. Still do not get local news or sports.
Good luck in your search.

 

[Northidahotrailblazer]

Y ou are right on that Ron, I think they bailed on the long range and if they do still broadcast local it is VERY local, they used to be nearly in a competition of who could cover the area best, and now they dont even care, because they are not making large sums of money broadcasting a wide area to someone who isn't paying cable prices

weird, My stations are over 50 miles away and some pretty good hills blocking them and I'm still able to get them in. I have my antenna pointed at spokane but Idaho channels are out of Coeur Dalene. So some times I have to turn my antenna a little bit to get PBS. All my new channels are out of spokane. I'm pretty far and still get a decent amount of them.

 

[Josh B]

I have a 100 antenna up in the attic on a 50 ft cable and have tried moving it around but to no avail.
This was not an imaginary signal that I was hoping to find, it was a years old signal which the TV stations (2) decided to physically discontinue, forcing what ones might choose to "upgrade" (pay) to see, commercials included, or what ones may choose to watch the clouds go by, as there are obviously no incentives remaining which says they must provide local programming in such a way as to have them turn the local signal back on the air, I think at one time there were fines

 

[ZMan]

I have an antenna, i get 50 channels. I also have Roku, which has a ton of free tv available, and streaming.