local channels without cable?

**mama2James** · 08-15-2011, 09:42 AM

When the digital converter box issue was in the news, I didn't pay any attention since we had cable. Now we are about to cancel our service and I'm wondering if we can get free tv? Our television is one of the new flat screen HD things, so I'm not sure how that works. We don't have a digital converter box. Can new "digital tvs" just "pick up a signal out of the air?" I know these are dimwit questions, I just need someone to break it down for me. Should I just unhook the cable box and see if I can get anything?

**mama2James** · 08-15-2011, 10:09 AM

OK, just did a little googling and discovered that new tvs have built in digital tuners. Maybe I will just go disconnect the thing and see what happens!

**Contrary Housewife** · 08-15-2011, 10:23 AM

There is no more tv "in the air". It is all digital or cable, which means you need a converter box or a tv with a built in converter box, or a cable box.

Here are some options, though: Frugal TV & Internet: Watch TV without Cable | Richmond.com

**mama2James** · 08-15-2011, 10:29 AM

My tv is very new, so it must have a built in converter or tuner right? I just tried to figure it out and I wasn't getting any signal. The manual mentions a digital antenna.. this is all rather confusing.

**mama2James** · 08-15-2011, 10:40 AM

ok, sorry for the consecutive posts. It looks like we will need to purchase a digital antenna. Can anyone recommend a brand or model that has worked well for them?

**2ndGenGranola** · 08-15-2011, 10:48 AM

You just need old fashioned rabbit ears. In fact, my 11 y/o makes our antennas off of plans on the internet and his gets way better reception.

**mama2James** · 08-15-2011, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by 2ndGenGranola

You just need old fashioned rabbit ears. In fact, my 11 y/o makes our antennas off of plans on the internet and his gets way better reception.

So, since the tv I have has a digital tuner inside it, I just need the rabbit ears? That would be awesome! Do those old rabbit ears have connections that hook right up to the new tvs?

**2ndGenGranola** · 08-15-2011, 11:16 AM

If you have old ones in the attic, they will need a special connector.

If you buy the rabbit ear style at the store ($10), they will have the new connectors.

**ShadowMom** · 08-15-2011, 12:39 PM

We're using our old analog roof antenna with ours and it works just fine.

**shoiji** · 08-15-2011, 02:52 PM

You might be able to find rabbit ears at the thrift store. I have read many times that the old version of rabbit ears seem to work the best.

Also, do not forget that you can watch many tv shows on the internet for free. If you have a laptop you can also get cables to attach to the laptop and your tv to view the shows. Basically just hooking it up to a larger screen. This way it is easier for more than one person to watch the show.

**2ndGenGranola** · 08-15-2011, 03:03 PM

Our old rabbit ears worked the very same at the new rabbit ears. All have now been replaced with our DS's homemade coat hanger antennas. We get every channel available with those!

**elphaba** · 08-15-2011, 06:45 PM

Kinda OT but...
We use playontv for most of our cable shows. It is a program you download onto a computer and run through an x-box, wii, ps3, roku or if your tv is internet ready, you can use that. basically it streams internet tv onto your tv screen. No more watching at the computer!! It's about $40 for the year and it definitely isn't perfect. You also need wireless access and high speed internet. I chose to keep the high speed cable internet and do away with the cable tv so this is a viable alternative for us. We already had a roku and a wii, so there was no extra expense there. You can try them for free for 2 weeks....no credit card required.

**NikoSan999** · 08-15-2011, 07:06 PM

If you are going to do the internet tv thing make sure your internet is positively unlimited. You can rack up a fortune if it's not truly unlimited.

**mndtrp** · 08-17-2011, 08:54 PM

I had one like this:

**Brat** · 08-18-2011, 07:47 AM

I had to buy the digital antenna because I am so far from the TV towers..and I had to get the big one..It works great on the old style tv with the box and the newer tv that has be built in..I got a windgard..It works great..