Adventures in Cutting the Cord

For the past six months, I’ve been experimenting in cutting the cord. For those not in the know, this is the term for getting rid of cable. I subscribe to the online streaming services Hulu, Netflix and now Disney+. With the combined cost of those solutions having cable would make TV entertainment an expensive solution.

I merely just want local TV networks. ABC, NBC, CBS & FOX. There is also another network called The CW. Since the changeover to digital OTA broadcasting, many channels have sub or “add-on” channels too. So each station can have sometimes five additional channels.

I’m in what’s called a “deep fringe” area, which makes receiving TV signals difficult at best. There is a PBS station and CBS station that can be picked up with the cheapest of antennas, but the rest require some major work. The transponders I am trying to receive signals from are between 50 and 65 miles away. Other than the two previously mentioned stations, those are my closest options.

At first I tried some solutions through a company called Antennas Direct. They sell what I call “new style” TV antennas. They were funky and I liked it. Sadly, their options were paltry in performance at best. I used their ClearStream 4MAX®, which picked up nothing but my local stations that I previously mentioned. I then tried the DB8e 8-Element Bowtie Attic/Outdoor HDTV Antenna. It did better, but I was still not happy. With it’s vertical style it swayed with the wind pretty significantly as well.

I also purchased their Juice pre-amp. This pre-amp is the 2nd most powerful pre-amp I could find. So I’ve kept it.

I randomly went to my local big box home improvement store and decided on a whim to buy an antenna mast, and ended up buying a large RCA branded TV antenna as well. It claimed to have a 100 mile range, and I could take it back if I didn’t like it. I didn’t have much to lose.

Just playing around with this antenna, the difference in performance was astounding. I was able to pickup the vast majority of the TV stations in the 2 major markets I am in between. Antennas Direct provided me a full refund and I decided to go with this as my solution. It worked well for a while, and then it just didn’t. I ended up losing NBC and then the ABC station as well, which was the one thing I wanted the most.

I primarily use this to watch ABC World News Tonight, something I watched with my father as a child. I then lost reception of both ABC stations that I could receive earlier.

This antenna I have is omni-directional, meaning it picks up signals completely surrounding it. When weather conditions were suitable I can also pickup stations from another state. I decided I needed a better antenna mount and larger mast. So I procured a tripod and a 10′ antenna mast with a Channel Master CM-7777v3 (the highest powered pre-amp I can find).

Sadly, there was no difference after installing all of these items. I needed a better antenna. After speaking with my local professional shop for all things antenna related, they said my antenna was “temperamental at best.” So I went with their guidance, and procured a Winegard 7698p antenna, which is what they sell.

This antenna is massive, when assembled it is 14′ long. It’s specifically tuned for UHF and high-VHF, which most TV stations in the USA are set as now.

The largest functional difference with this antenna is that it is directional instead of omni-directional. It only receives reception from the direction you point it towards.

I received the antenna this week, assembled it on Friday evening and installed it Saturday morning. When it I got it connected, I was instantly floored. It received signals from channels I had never been able to pickup before. I decided to rotate the antenna to see what it would do with the other market. Then something happened, all reception fizzled out. It’s as if the antenna doesn’t work.

I requested a refund and replacement. I know this is a good antenna, this one just gave me a problem.

I haven’t fully decided yet, but I may combine both of these antennas to pickup what stations I can from both of those markets I’m between.

Once I get the replacement in and setup, I’ll post again. I’ll then dig deeper on the high tech end of my system that enables features primarily found with cable service.