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Accessing Local Basic TV Channels
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Dec 31, 2020 09:48:11   #
olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida
 
Moose wrote:
I've had Google Fiber installed and discontinued my Spectrum account. I thought Google had an option to select the local channels, but its just a fast internet connection and no TV options, except for an option you can buy for $60 a month that will provide the same basic and movie channels offered by Spectrum and others. Total cost is $70 for Google Fiber and $60 for the Google Channel.

I knew that I would need some other means to select local channels so I purchase Ruku for my TV's, but with all the options provided, I cannot find one that will provide the local channels. For instance, I can get CBS, but it is the national version and no local. I signed up for HULU which I thought would give me the local channel option, but if it does, I don't know how to set it up.

There is another option and that is having an external antenna to get local channels. Not that expensive which I may have to use.

Other than signing up for the Google channel, going back to Spectrum or using the external antenna, does anyone know of an option to use on Ruku?

Thanks for your help. It will be appeciated as my wife is and I are struggling to get back to the "norm".
I've had Google Fiber installed and discontinued m... (show quote)


W/O going into a big effort (or Radio/TV antenna science) try this: Run a coax from your tv (antenna connection) to outside, up as high as is practical, cut back approx. 18" to 24" of the sleeving and inner wrap, exposing the center wire...stand it up straight. or hook it on something, you will get all the local stuff that is available in your area (mountains/valleys can change reception distances). Put a little glue or sealant on the coax - where it was cut back, since coax will "wick" water, especially downhill.... Cheap and effective, I get approx 50 channels with the same setup here on East Coast of Florida....mine is up at about 15 feet, and higher is better.

Reply
Dec 31, 2020 09:48:50   #
aphelps Loc: Central Ohio
 
Moose wrote:
I've had Google Fiber installed and discontinued my Spectrum account. I thought Google had an option to select the local channels, but its just a fast internet connection and no TV options, except for an option you can buy for $60 a month that will provide the same basic and movie channels offered by Spectrum and others. Total cost is $70 for Google Fiber and $60 for the Google Channel.

I knew that I would need some other means to select local channels so I purchase Ruku for my TV's, but with all the options provided, I cannot find one that will provide the local channels. For instance, I can get CBS, but it is the national version and no local. I signed up for HULU which I thought would give me the local channel option, but if it does, I don't know how to set it up.

There is another option and that is having an external antenna to get local channels. Not that expensive which I may have to use.

Other than signing up for the Google channel, going back to Spectrum or using the external antenna, does anyone know of an option to use on Ruku?

Thanks for your help. It will be appeciated as my wife is and I are struggling to get back to the "norm".
I've had Google Fiber installed and discontinued m... (show quote)


I use Sling Air for local channels. It requires a flat panel indoor antenna which we attach to an upstairs window. The sling device is merges local ota channels with their internet programming so no input switching. The device sends all programming to a Roku stick. Works well and is worth checking out.

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Dec 31, 2020 10:36:43   #
nmw1004 Loc: Dresher PA
 
I purchased a indoor antenna for a set I had in a back bedroom that didn't have a cable connection or could pick up my WiFi. Bought it at Best Buys for about $15 . If you live in a metro area and the broadcast towers are within 30 miles of your home you can get pretty good reception on your local channels. It is a flat antenna around 6 X 9 that you can attach to a wall or interior of a window near your tv. Mine picks up about 30 channels.

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Dec 31, 2020 10:53:50   #
Sendai5355 Loc: On the banks of the Pedernales River, Texas
 
For local channels, I use an indoor powered antenna that I purchased from the big A. It is rather finicky about orientation and placement but when properly situated provides a decent picture. A plus is that it receives some channels that are not included in the standard cable's broadcast of local channels.

Reply
Dec 31, 2020 10:59:03   #
olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida
 
olemikey wrote:
W/O going into a big effort (or Radio/TV antenna science) try this: Run a coax from your tv (antenna connection) to outside, up as high as is practical, cut back approx. 18" to 24" of the sleeving and inner wrap, exposing the center wire...stand it up straight. or hook it on something, you will get all the local stuff that is available in your area (mountains/valleys can change reception distances). Put a little glue or sealant on the coax - where it was cut back, since coax will "wick" water, especially downhill.... Cheap and effective, I get approx 50 channels with the same setup here on East Coast of Florida....mine is up at about 15 feet, and higher is better.
W/O going into a big effort (or Radio/TV antenna s... (show quote)


I will mention that even a simple wire like I described gives full HD reception.

Reply
Dec 31, 2020 11:22:06   #
BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA
 
Moose wrote:
I've had Google Fiber installed and discontinued my Spectrum account. I thought Google had an option to select the local channels, but its just a fast internet connection and no TV options, except for an option you can buy for $60 a month that will provide the same basic and movie channels offered by Spectrum and others. Total cost is $70 for Google Fiber and $60 for the Google Channel.

I knew that I would need some other means to select local channels so I purchase Ruku for my TV's, but with all the options provided, I cannot find one that will provide the local channels. For instance, I can get CBS, but it is the national version and no local. I signed up for HULU which I thought would give me the local channel option, but if it does, I don't know how to set it up.

There is another option and that is having an external antenna to get local channels. Not that expensive which I may have to use.

Other than signing up for the Google channel, going back to Spectrum or using the external antenna, does anyone know of an option to use on Ruku?

Thanks for your help. It will be appeciated as my wife is and I are struggling to get back to the "norm".
I've had Google Fiber installed and discontinued m... (show quote)


We have only an internet connection (1 GB by CenturyLink although we have 4 GB cables providers running through the front yard). For the local stations we had a state of the art antenna put into the attic and all local channels come it over that, some in HD.

We also use AT&T Now which offers us about 120 additional channels of which we watch 5. Netflix, Britbox, and an annual donation to PBS give us unlimited viewing opportunities.

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Dec 31, 2020 13:25:31   #
edrobinsonjr Loc: Boise, Idaho
 
We had an antenna mounted on the roof and we get 60 channels including all of the locals. There is no monthly cost. A lot of the channels are crap and we don't use them but the ones we do use seem to be all we need.

Ed

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Dec 31, 2020 13:39:48   #
bertloomis Loc: Fort Worth, Texas
 
Get an antenna for your regular channels. There are many many streaming channels available on a Roku TV. You can get them to come to your TV by going to the area where your TV searches for regular channels and elect to display the streaming channels as well.

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Dec 31, 2020 14:17:50   #
Ollieboy
 
Moose wrote:
I've had Google Fiber installed and discontinued my Spectrum account. I thought Google had an option to select the local channels, but its just a fast internet connection and no TV options, except for an option you can buy for $60 a month that will provide the same basic and movie channels offered by Spectrum and others. Total cost is $70 for Google Fiber and $60 for the Google Channel.

I knew that I would need some other means to select local channels so I purchase Ruku for my TV's, but with all the options provided, I cannot find one that will provide the local channels. For instance, I can get CBS, but it is the national version and no local. I signed up for HULU which I thought would give me the local channel option, but if it does, I don't know how to set it up.

There is another option and that is having an external antenna to get local channels. Not that expensive which I may have to use.

Other than signing up for the Google channel, going back to Spectrum or using the external antenna, does anyone know of an option to use on Ruku?

Thanks for your help. It will be appeciated as my wife is and I are struggling to get back to the "norm".
I've had Google Fiber installed and discontinued m... (show quote)


I get 62 channels from my roof antenna here in NYC. They are also not a compressed signal and have better picture quality then my Verizon Fios. I'm going to dump my land line and tv subscription soon. They've gotten out of hand with their pricing over the years. BTW you need a UHF antenna for the new digital signals. VHF TV antennas are obsolete.

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Dec 31, 2020 14:37:46   #
kdogg Loc: Gallipolis Ferry WV
 
I downloaded the app to my local station and watch over my Frontier internet service.

Reply
Dec 31, 2020 15:31:21   #
Kozan Loc: Trenton Tennessee
 
Moose wrote:
I've had Google Fiber installed and discontinued my Spectrum account. I thought Google had an option to select the local channels, but its just a fast internet connection and no TV options, except for an option you can buy for $60 a month that will provide the same basic and movie channels offered by Spectrum and others. Total cost is $70 for Google Fiber and $60 for the Google Channel.

I knew that I would need some other means to select local channels so I purchase Ruku for my TV's, but with all the options provided, I cannot find one that will provide the local channels. For instance, I can get CBS, but it is the national version and no local. I signed up for HULU which I thought would give me the local channel option, but if it does, I don't know how to set it up.

There is another option and that is having an external antenna to get local channels. Not that expensive which I may have to use.

Other than signing up for the Google channel, going back to Spectrum or using the external antenna, does anyone know of an option to use on Ruku?

Thanks for your help. It will be appeciated as my wife is and I are struggling to get back to the "norm".
I've had Google Fiber installed and discontinued m... (show quote)


I bought the LAVA brand HD-2805 Ultra for about 35 dollars. Have it up on a painter's pole I got from Lowes.
It has a 35dB amplifier built in the antenna. I have Spectrum internet, but I did not want the TV package. So I don't get a ton of local stations, but I get 3 channels of PBS, ABC, CBS, and Fox. along with GRIT. NBC would be nice but I can live without it. Can't think of anything else I would need. Once you have the internet anything is possible.

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Dec 31, 2020 16:54:21   #
BrianFlaherty Loc: Wilseyville, CA
 
I live in the foothills of Central California (about 70 miles SE of Sacramento); and, have an old (1975 vintage) roof-mounted yagi antenna on a 5 ft pole on the roof of my ranch-style home. . . And, I get 57 FREE over-the-air channels. I also subscribe to BritBox ($6.00/month) for streaming British films and TV shows via my computer. . .
By the way, VHS tapes are 25 CENTS each (or, 10 for a buck); and, DVD's are $1.50 each at my local thrift stores!

Who needs cable or Direct-TV or any of the other multi-dollar monthly services? <smile>

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Dec 31, 2020 19:19:49   #
Moose Loc: North Carolina
 
Thanks all for some great input. I didn't realize that Spectrum had an app which would be just what I want since it would access all the channels I've had before. I do have an external/indoor antenna for the local channels if needed. Need something more for History Channel, Discovery, etc., but maybe I can just access them on Roku and or one of the other apps.
Thanks again.

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