Older homes have an incredible amount of charm and nostalgia. While some of that charm stems from the old-world construction practices of ornate stonework and interesting woodworking, there are also negative aspects of living in a dated home, namely the electrical system. We bought our first older home a few years ago, and it has been interesting to see just how much of a problem the electrical system has been. We knew that we needed to update a large portion of the space, so we started going through and having sections replaced. This website is here to help other people to know when to work with electricians.
More people are cutting the cable cord and moving away from cable TV services than ever before. Many people are opting to use television that is broadcast over the internet TVOIP (television over IP) to get the shows they want. Others are considering OTA (over the air) channels that are still broadcast from many local TV stations on standard bands that can be received on standard TV antennas.
Standard Antennas
Often a television antenna positioned outside your home can pick up some of the most common channels that are broadcast close to you. The antenna may need to be mounted on the roof of your house or high on a pole to get the best reception, and you may need to rotate the antenna to get the best reception, but they still work well if you place them high and without obstructions.
Most of the stations that still broadcast OTA are public stations that broadcast old shows, educational programming, or children's shows. However, there is a lot of good programming still available at no cost to you if you are patient enough to watch the older shows and commercials. For many people, the cost reduction of cutting cable out and going back to an antenna can significant.
Digital Antennas
If you are trying to get more OTA channels, you may want to consider a digital television antenna that will pick up analog and digital broadcasts in the area. The difference can be significant, sometimes adding double or even triple the number of channels you can watch.
Like the standard antenna, digital receivers do better the higher they are and the less obstructed they are. These television antennas will capture more channels because they can intercept digital broadcasts that are not possible with the standard antenna.
Some models work inside the home, but they can be less effective because of the wiring and pipes in your home. The metal in the walls can reduce the reception, but mounting the antenna on the roof eliminates these interruptions. The antenna may still benefit from mounting with a rotor that can turn the antenna when you need.
Some digital television antennas can pick up channels from many miles away. If you are considering going back to an antenna for your home, there are some phone apps available that will help you determine what stations are near you and how to best aim the antenna to receive them that can help improve your channel reception.
For more information on television antennas, contact a local provider.