cutting the cord (Page 3): No problem with the attic. A small amount of attenuation at UHF, but not an issue unless the signal is marginal. Remember this is digital, so analog noise...

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Mickeydin43 wrote:

Thanks everyone for your responses. The outdoor antenna looks like the ticket but I'm wondering whether the attic version would be a reasonable alternative since the outdoor setup is a bit more labor.

No problem with the attic. A small amount of attenuation at UHF, but not an issue unless the signal is marginal. Remember this is digital, so analog noise isn't an issue. Also no danger of falling off the roof 😀, and the deterioration of the antenna and wiring due to weather will ultimately degrade the signal as much if not more than the attenuation from being in the attic.

romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI

jct842 wrote:

I do have a roku but seldom use it. Last month I ... (show quote)

And your cable service doesn't run commercials too?? We goy rid of Dish Network because we had to upgrade 5 levels to get one show I wanted. Now we watch the prior season for free. Besides. they were "giving" us programming in 10 languages we don't speak. There is so much on YouTube alone that you could educate yourself on almost any subject. And on iTunes you can find free university classes to watch and learn from, but no "credit" towards a degree.

romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI

Mickeydin43 wrote:

Thanks everyone for your responses. The outdoor antenna looks like the ticket but I'm wondering whether the attic version would be a reasonable alternative since the outdoor setup is a bit more labor.

it might work better if you are in an area of ice and snow, especially if you'll have help in aiming and adjusting it. Even in the attic, I'd run a wire to "ground" for lightning protection.

jct842

romanticf16 wrote:

And your cable service doesn't run commercials too?? We goy rid of Dish Network because we had to upgrade 5 levels to get one show I wanted. Now we watch the prior season for free. Besides. they were "giving" us programming in 10 languages we don't speak. There is so much on YouTube alone that you could educate yourself on almost any subject. And on iTunes you can find free university classes to watch and learn from, but no "credit" towards a degree.

Try the very same commercial repeated every 5 min for the whole movie! And then more others, then "your program will start after one more" then because it is streaming you get a blank screen until the buffer gets what it wants

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

romanticf16 wrote:

it might work better if you are in an area of ice and snow, especially if you'll have help in aiming and adjusting it. Even in the attic, I'd run a wire to "ground" for lightning protection.

Good grounding of antennas is always a good idea (unless it causes a ground loop).

erickter Loc: Dallas,TX

Mickeydin43 wrote:

I'm pondering whether to opt out of cable tv service and going with an hdtv antenna. The options are a scaled-down version of the old roof top, for an attic, or a wall hanging one. Both in the $50. range. I'm in suburban Phila. about 14 miles from several sources. My attic is 18' +/- of the ground. Any experience out there? Thanks in advance, Mike

I did it 4 years ago and have never been happier. Better choices, quality, and a lot cheaper. I got an indoor digital HD antenna, plus Netflix and Amazon prime and roku streaming device. Price dropped from about $120 per month to about $20. Initial capital outlay was $50 for each roku (x 4), and $45 for the digital antenna.

One thing that improved immediately was the near complete lack of stupid commercials that Charter cable stuffed into just about every channel. Also, my digital antenna picks up local and other channels - about 40 or so - in full high def and with more content than Charter ever provide...all for free.
Never going back to cable or satelite. Had both. Done.
Cutting the cord was best thing I did.

n3eg Loc: West coast USA

Mickeydin43 wrote:

I'm in Holland, Bucks co. My wife is from Grant and Blvd. Mike

That seems like a good distance, but worth a try. I would think anything beyond the city limits out that way would be marginal.
Just for the heck of it, try pointing NE to NYC over flat New Jersey and see if it might work better.

Johanna Loc: Albuquerque, NM

With all this discussion, I need help with my thoughts. In my house I have in wall cat5 wiring to all computer devices. I have in wall RG75 coax to all rooms for cable TV. Comcast now provides basic cable TV, land line phone and internet service for about $140/mo. AT&T gets around another $60/mo. for cell phone. All for one person! Everything keeps going up except my pension & SS!!!!!!!
I’m thinking of putting up one good antenna with an amplifier and distributing that signal to all my TVs’ (6). For my landline I need to have overseas service; which I have with Comcast cable & phone. With any cable service I could use Vonage or the other similar VolP providers.
An internet search shows 6 local internet providers other than the biggies. On Monday the telephone ought to be busy!
Another problem I just thought of is my email address. I've used Comcast.net for nearly 20 years. Is there any forwarding services?

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I cut the cord, completely, back in 2002. I haven't had a TV since July of that year. Haven't missed it either.
--Bob

Mickeydin43 wrote:

I'm pondering whether to opt out of cable tv service and going with an hdtv antenna. The options are a scaled-down version of the old roof top, for an attic, or a wall hanging one. Both in the $50. range. I'm in suburban Phila. about 14 miles from several sources. My attic is 18' +/- of the ground. Any experience out there? Thanks in advance, Mike

starlifter Loc: Towson, MD

I've had a roof mounted antenna all my life (I'm 66) no problems. Get 13 channels including PBS and all the networks. And it's free. When ever I have access to cable or satellite as when traveling I can't find anything worth watching. I only have cable for the internet. Just get a good antenna and cabeling.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Johanna wrote:

With all this discussion, I need help with my thou... (show quote)

Sounds like a workable plan. You can get a distribution amplifier to feed all your outlets - Channel Master is an old well-known company with a variety of amps. You're lucky that you already have in-wall coax (I think you mean RG that's 75 ohms - there's no RG75 that I'm aware of - probably RG6). Adding fast internet service with VOIP would complete the package. If you have a Comcast Internet address (xxx@comcast.net), not sure how you could forward that since any messages would have to route through Comcast, but perhaps someone else has an idea.

whitewolfowner

mikedent wrote:

I have thought of "cord cutting" also bu... (show quote)

Get the channel master DVR+. It also accesses the internet and you can get sling TV that way (also through a Roku). It come via the internet so you'll need at least 3 mb/sec, 5mb/sec is better but it has to be constant streaming; not like some that deliver what you pay for for a few seconds and then slow to a crawl. The channel master also brings in some internet channels for free too.

whitewolfowner

jct842 wrote:

I do have a roku but seldom use it. Last month I ... (show quote)

This is very true and any good ones you pay for. A Roku, in my book, only makes sense if you want to get Netflix (not what it used to be at all), Hulu or Amazon prime. The channel master DVR+ is a much better solution.

whitewolfowner

Mickeydin43 wrote:

Thanks everyone for your responses. The outdoor antenna looks like the ticket but I'm wondering whether the attic version would be a reasonable alternative since the outdoor setup is a bit more labor.

If it will bring in the channels, it will be fine. But I bet you will be able to get a lot more on the roof with a rotor; all depends on where you live.

whitewolfowner

TriX wrote:

Sounds like a workable plan. You can get a distrib... (show quote)

For the best chances of not running into problems with cables, the best co-ax out there is RG6 (has an extra layer of insulation and wire wrap over the others), and for internet you want Cat6 which will prevent flutter on the screen in HD signals.