Alternative to Cable

A new season of House is coming upon us, and we are big fans. Last season, my wife was happy to buy each episode a day or two after it aired. But with this season being pumped bigger than the last, she has been twisting my arm (with her pinkies) to get cable back, and I "let her" get her way. No, I'm not a HUGE fan either, can't you tell?!

I'd be lying if I said I was completely ok with getting cable back. As much as I use to enjoy cable, I've enjoyed seeing our money stay with us more. My thought has been either get cable or have no cable. So, as I was doing my due diligence with the various providers looking for the best deal, the idea of an antenna came to mind. I've heard about them before but never fully investigated it. I always thought the old rabbit ears were a piece of crap. But I also knew technology has come a long way. I spent the better part of the other day acting on the curiousity I had. I went out and bought 3 HD antennas and finally found one that worked very well. Compared to paying for cable, this is the best thing since sliced bread!

There are a few things that you should do in preparation to buying an antenna that will save you the time I lost:

1. Use antennaweb.org to find out how far the nearest signal towers are from you, as well as, the direction an antenna should point. These two items will tell you if you need an outdoor antenna and/or a multidirectional antenna.
2. Research a few stores like Radio Shack or Walmart online to see if they offer an antenna like the one you need. Call them next to see if they have it in stock. I was surprised that both of these stores didn't have the one on their website.
3. Follow the antenna directions and have fun playing around with it.

Chances are, if you live more than 20 miles from the nearest tower, you'll be spending more time finding the right angle to get the most stations. Hopefully you'll get some good results. Mine were pretty good. We live 45 miles from the towers, but luckily they are all within 4 degrees of each other. We get at least 20 stations, including all the local channels that broadcast in HD. Pretty cool, I must say. Going from 6 months of no cable to having digital channels is a great alternative to cable. Needless to say, paying a one time cost of $50 for an HD antenna instead of a monthly reoccuring cost for cable makes me feel like a true wise man! And my wife is happy that she gets to watch House in HD (which fulfills the goal in the first place).

I would highly recommend giving it a try. You've got nothing to lose except the time invested in seeing if it works. I'm on the hunt for a DVR now, so that we can get most all of the benefits of "paid for" broadcasting.