KTUL digital signal

[Conan71]

I guess I'm blissfully ignorant and assumed very few people aren't on cable, Uverse or dish.

[nathanm]

I guess I'm blissfully ignorant and assumed very few people aren't on cable, Uverse or dish.

Apparently KTUL made the same assumptions.

[Cats Cats Cats]

Apparently KTUL made the same assumptions.

I got rid of it because I was tired paying for crap channels and they kept canceling all the shows I liked.  I figured it out, I was paying like $80ish a month for Digital cable and all the shows I wanted.  For $1.2k I could get a dual tuner 1TB HDTV DVR PC setup with $0 monthly fee.  I figured if ALL of the shows I watched I just downloaded whole seasons from Itunes I would still only spend about $350 a year.  I was WAAAAAAAY off with my calculation.  Now I just use Hulu to watch all the TV shows I would normally watch on cable.  I have purchased about $70 worth of shows in the last 6 months.  $60 of it was for seasons to catch up with what was on TV at the time.  $30 of it was things on DVD that I could have rented but wanted to buy. 

So right now I am out about 1.2k+$70-$80*6=$790 for the computer (which is WAAAAAY better than Tivo or the cox box)

In another year I will be saving money over continuing to use cable.

KTUL is the only thing I don't get at my house very well...

[nathanm]

So right now I am out about 1.2k+$70-$80*6=$790 for the computer (which is WAAAAAY better than Tivo or the cox box)

TiVo is cheaper. $150-$250 for a brand new TiVo HD plus $400 for lifetime service. Add another $100 if you want to put a 1TB drive in it. Or for $250 more you can get an HD XL with a 1TB drive preinstalled.

No iTunes, but you do get Amazon and Netflix, among other VOD options.

[Hoss]

TiVo is cheaper. $150-$250 for a brand new TiVo HD plus $400 for lifetime service. Add another $100 if you want to put a 1TB drive in it. Or for $250 more you can get an HD XL with a 1TB drive preinstalled.

No iTunes, but you do get Amazon and Netflix, among other VOD options.

That's fine if you want to put up with Tivo's banner ads....personally, I don't.

[Conan71]

Out-teched again.  Did I say "blissfully ignorant"?  I think I'm just plain ignorant when it comes to cool tech stuff.  I'm blissfully complacent with my cable.

Trog's solution makes sense, so long as none of the equipment takes a dump.  I realize I do pay for a lot of stuff I don't watch when there's a few hundred channels to pick from. 

[PonderInc]

We had to put our antenna on top of a tall bookcase facing south to get a good channel 8 digital signal.  

Fortunately, you can also get a cable to connect your PC to your TV, and watch just about any TV shows you want online (with fewer commercials).

We have a pretty new TV.  Not sure how long they've been making TVs with the right input jacks to connect to a computer, but if you've got one, it's pretty cool.  (Now if we just had a decent wireless mouse....)

Hard to justify cable or satellite costs when the only shows we care about are available online for free.

[custosnox]

We had to put our antenna on top of a tall bookcase facing south to get a good channel 8 digital signal.  

Fortunately, you can also get a cable to connect your PC to your TV, and watch just about any TV shows you want online (with fewer commercials).

We have a pretty new TV.  Not sure how long they've been making TVs with the right input jacks to connect to a computer, but if you've got one, it's pretty cool.  (Now if we just had a decent wireless mouse....)

Hard to justify cable or satellite costs when the only shows we care about are available online for free.

I picked up a microsoft wireless mouse and keyboard set about a year ago and love it. I'll look when I get home and post you a link if your interested

[Michael71]

I am looking at dropping my Cox cable...but, keeping my internet.  Anyone done this?  I live downtown in a house with plaster walls...not sure if I should get an outdoor antenna.  If I do, will that feed to all 6 rooms with a clear picture?  We usually only use one TV at a time.

[brianh]

Michael, try getting a TERK DTVa. I had a terrible time with other antennas.  I was able to receive all the stations except KTUL crystal clear when I was living in an apartment(generally known for worse reception). It is 74$ before tax, but you can always take it back if it doesn't work.  The multiple TV thing is a little tricky, I havent tried to split it on two TV's.  I am going to be getting a second terk if I manage to drop cable this weekend.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7322587&st=terk&type=product&id=1118844608800

I was getting a really nice signal from KTUL last night, as good as kjrh and kotv.  I think they started changing stuff out already.

[Wrinkle]

KTUL Ch 8 has been iffy since they started their digital broadcast. Here in midtown, with plaster walls, I've found only one very precise spot where I can get their signal, most times. Sometimes not all.

I don't understand the technology well enough to know why, but it seems irritating that a station less than 5 miles (crow path) away cannot be gotten.

Today, the signal does appear to be somewhat stronger, but still cannot get it with the other stations on my UHF/VHF combo antenna, have to switch to the old rabbit ears at the precise location.

[Cats Cats Cats]

Michael, try getting a TERK DTVa. I had a terrible time with other antennas.  I was able to receive all the stations except KTUL crystal clear when I was living in an apartment(generally known for worse reception). It is 74$ before tax, but you can always take it back if it doesn't work.  The multiple TV thing is a little tricky, I havent tried to split it on two TV's.  I am going to be getting a second terk if I manage to drop cable this weekend.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7322587&st=terk&type=product&id=1118844608800

I was getting a really nice signal from KTUL last night, as good as kjrh and kotv.  I think they started changing stuff out already.

Or get it for $31 from amazon.com shipped free
http://www.amazon.com/Terk-Technology-HDTVi-Indoor-Antenna/dp/B0001FV36E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1244823210&sr=8-2

Instead of $74 from worst buy

KTUL's signal goes off and on for me.  It isn't consistent, I mostly get 0 signal strength, I sometimes get 4/5 and I never get 5/5.

[patric]

KTUL Ch 8 has been iffy since they started their digital broadcast.

They have been forced to cut back on their signal because of another station in Ada on the same frequency.
Re-scan for channels on your tuner tonight and see if it doesnt improve.

Ironic that we would be making the switch during severe weather, I would think the stations would let the storms pass before cutting off their signal to those that havent made the trip to WalMart yet for a converter.

[Red Arrow]

I don't remember anything about KTUL moving their transmitting antenna from near Coweta.  In the BC (Before Cable) years, we had to rotate our antenna to get a good picture on Ch 8 after we had the antenna oriented for good reception on Ch 2 & 6.

[Cats Cats Cats]

TiVo is cheaper. $150-$250 for a brand new TiVo HD plus $400 for lifetime service. Add another $100 if you want to put a 1TB drive in it. Or for $250 more you can get an HD XL with a 1TB drive preinstalled.

No iTunes, but you do get Amazon and Netflix, among other VOD options.

Tivo HD XL is $998.99 with lifetime service.

AND the service is tied to the box and NOT to the person.  So if anything happens to that box that can't be repaired you have to buy new service.  At least with this computer the most I will in theory be out is to replace the memory, motherboard, or processor.  So about $50-$200 to repair anything in the pc.