Antenna TV is pretty cool, actually (www.spacebar.news)
from corbin@infosec.pub to technology@lemmy.world on 26 Sep 2023 22:01
https://infosec.pub/post/2983355

#technology

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th3dogcow@lemmy.world on 26 Sep 2023 22:26 next collapse

It is surprising to realise that this is not more common. In Japan, basically every home and apartment comes with rooftop antennas and coaxial connections in multiple rooms. No need to pay for cable TV (BS and CS) unless you want to get more channels.

SmashingSquid@notyour.rodeo on 26 Sep 2023 23:51 next collapse

A lot of places in the US are too far for using antennas. In my area all you can pick up is a religious channel and a channel named infomercial tv.

justTouchit@discuss.online on 27 Sep 2023 00:30 next collapse

80% of the US population lives in urban areas. An amplified antenna can pick up channels for many of those further out. Won’t work for everyone of course.

Fondots@lemmy.world on 27 Sep 2023 08:43 collapse

I live almost exactly 20 miles from most of the towers in my area, if I got rid of all the trees and buildings in my way I might even have line of sight to the towers

Unfortunately my main TV is in the basement, and even with an amplified antenna I can’t quite seem to pick up more than 1 or 2 channels, and I don’t quite care enough to put up an external antenna on my roof.

shortwavesurfer@monero.town on 27 Sep 2023 02:42 collapse

Well… You could, you just have to get it as high as you can manage. Lookup a radio horizon calculator as most broadcast antennas are 400+ feet above ground.

Cheez@lemmy.world on 27 Sep 2023 08:51 collapse

It’s one of those weird things that a massive amount of people in the world use but not Americans, so it ends up in articles about this hot new gadget that will change your life.

btw have you ever heard about heat pumps?

TheYear2525@lemmy.world on 27 Sep 2023 12:44 next collapse

Careful, you’ll summon the Technology Connections guy.

Cheez@lemmy.world on 27 Sep 2023 14:19 collapse

Pls

pewgar_seemsimandroid@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 27 Sep 2023 13:02 collapse

there’s not too many ota viewers here even i personally use telia

iopq@lemmy.world on 26 Sep 2023 22:53 next collapse

Good point about cabilization, seems like every service evolves into cable

TheYear2525@lemmy.world on 27 Sep 2023 12:44 collapse

They’re the crabs of technology.

sic_semper_tyrannis@feddit.ch on 26 Sep 2023 23:38 next collapse

This is cool. I didn’t know about it but I’ll certainly look into how to set it up

knobbysideup@lemm.ee on 27 Sep 2023 00:40 next collapse

Especially with an hd home run and Plex. With a cheap tablet and phone tether I can watch my live tv and DVR recordings anywhere while camping in the van.

Cihta@lemmy.world on 27 Sep 2023 03:03 collapse

Anyone want an old HD homerun prime? It’s just collecting a lot of dust. Not sure if I still have the PSU but i think it’s just a standard 12v. I’ve had it utilize a cable card before no prob. But I don’t use it, never have.

Model is HDHR-3CC

IPTV probably easier though.

TimeSquirrel@kbin.social on 27 Sep 2023 00:56 next collapse

It is if you're in spitting distance of a major city.

stonedemoman@lemmy.world on 27 Sep 2023 01:56 next collapse

If you’re talking about more than a 50 mile radius, then yeah it’s probably not realistic. But I’m watching and recording from stations 50 miles out with no issues.

Edit: Just for reference I’m using a passive antenna www.amazon.com/…/B00SVNKT86?ref_=ast_sto_dp&t…

LifeInOregon@lemmy.world on 27 Sep 2023 02:06 collapse

Those of us who live in valley’s outside of major cities are not as fortunate.

stonedemoman@lemmy.world on 27 Sep 2023 02:10 collapse

I know that not everywhere is going to be within 50 miles of a broadcasting tower, but it doesn’t hurt to check. www.antennasdirect.com/transmitter-locator.html

thanevim@kbin.social on 27 Sep 2023 03:37 collapse

"Valleys" was the key word there. Even if the distance isn't bad, a mountain between you and the broadcast tower can make 20 miles look like 70 in terms of signal

Source: am Appalachian resident

stonedemoman@lemmy.world on 27 Sep 2023 04:26 next collapse

With ATSC 1.0 channels this is generally true, with some exceptions, but ATSC 3.0 channels use OFDM to circumvent a lot of interference. There’s no real way of knowing whether or not it would work but Amazon has a 30-day return policy.

pewgar_seemsimandroid@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 27 Sep 2023 13:00 collapse

in the town of Appalachia there is a pbs station that cannot broadcast ota because of the mountains

breathless_RACEHORSE@lemmy.world on 27 Sep 2023 03:49 collapse

60 miles away from the broadcast center, but luckily in a very flat area. I still have an old-school antenna set up on a tower and rotor, and can pull in between 25-30 stations if you include the digital substations.

I got this set up from Radio Shack in the early 80s. Cable made me regret it for a long time, but let’s hear it for laziness allowing me to get good use out of it since I clipped all but internet service.

Bonus: you can split out the signal and hook the antenna up to home stereos, and get TONS of FM stations that even my car won’t pick up.

Old stuff gets useful again! Yay!

stonedemoman@lemmy.world on 27 Sep 2023 01:47 next collapse

I have an antenna and a self-hosted DVR and it’s awesome. What’s not awesome is that networks are attempting to weasel DRM into ATSC 3.0 broadcasts and get rid of ATSC 1.0 broadcasts to eliminate third party tuners: techhive.com/…/nextgen-tv-drm-puts-future-of-the-…

corbin@infosec.pub on 27 Sep 2023 03:57 collapse

Yeah, it’s gonna be interesting to see how that pans out. DVR manufacturers got thrown through a loop with the DRM changes, and LG just announced it won’t sell TVs with ATSC 3.0 anymore due to patent issues. Maybe it will just be thrown out entirely like 2.0.

garretble@lemmy.world on 27 Sep 2023 03:06 next collapse

I’ve had some bunny ears for about 20 years now and they still work fine for the local channels. Never really need or watch regular tv unless it’s the Super Bowl or Olympics or a storm is coming.

But it’s nice to have.

nostradiel@lemmy.world on 27 Sep 2023 21:54 next collapse

I don’t watch TV for more than 15 years. I just don’t see a reason to not to be in control of what, when and how I want to see it. Also I don’t see a reason to pay dozens of £ for X streaming services when they are not able to have all content at one place. It’s just easier, cheaper and more convenient to be a pirate, download a file and put on to my NAS (what I do since age I couldn’t even afford to think on spending on some digital content) and see it through Kodi with Netflix like skin all at one place whenever I want, without adds and offline. And when I want to support a movie, I go to watch it in cinema…

jocanib@lemmy.world on 30 Sep 2023 16:10 collapse

Is this another thing that the rest of the world didn’t know the US doesn’t have?