TV alturnatives-help pease.

[LoboGunLeather]

My wife loves the old classic movies so we have a cable package that allows her to enjoy what she likes.

For me, the reloading bench provides far more entertainment than any television shows, and what I get done this evening provides a few hours of range time tomorrow.

YMMV

 

[Camster]

I would wait for the technology to mature a little...

Haha...Dare I admit that two of our three TVs aren't even flat screens? (I'm the cutting edge one with a HD flat screen ;-) )

 

[JcMack]

Haha...Dare I admit that two of our three TVs aren't even flat screens? (I'm the cutting edge one with a HD flat screen ;-) )

When OTA TV went all digital a lot of analog TV owners were left in the lurch. Digital to analog converters were developed and sold like hotcakes for a while. They're still available. Check to see what OTA channels are available to you, and if they'll satisfy your needs, buy a converter and an OTA antenna from Walmart and try them. If it doesn't work satisfactorily take them back for a refund.
I dumped cable 5-6 years ago. Since I'm 30 miles from downtown Chicago (as the bullet flies) I get 61 channels. Probably 15 of which are garbage.

 

[mmb617]

I got fed up with the high cable bills a few years ago and put up a rooftop antenna that got the 4 major networks plus a few other channels, which kept the wife happy. She passed away last year and the TV has only been turned on twice since then as I tried to watch a couple football games, but couldn't stand the endless commercials and gave up.

There is nothing on broadcast TV worth watching IMO. I have Netflix and Amazon Prime which costs me next to nothing compared to my old cable bill. I refuse to watch anything with commercials. I also found a source for free Kindle books so I read a lot on my computer.

 

[Funflyer]

I recently discovered that with a "jailbreak" of my Amazon Fire Stick I can download and install any app. Downloaded a few apps and now I can stream all the channels I had on Directv for free. Also, although I lack the sports gene, I found an app that streams most sporting events. That one will come in handy for my sports fanatic friends when they visit. If you want to learn how, just do a search on youtube for "curiosity cafe". It was actually very simple with no hacking involved.

 

[mtgianni]

Mtgianni our PBS station is KAFT 13 I run through a DVD recorder and use the plus on the remote and we get 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 and as I said as many as seven on one channel. Jeff

I live under a hill from the tv towers. I get our one local PBS but would need 50 foot high antennas to clear the hill. Living where 40 mph + winds are regular that isn't an option. None of the "super duper" antennae I have bought have fixed that so we go with internet TV. Our local station is a split-off of a larger one that has some of the large PBS programs and some of the local rebroadcasts, parades and such. When we lived on the other side of the river we could get 7 broadcast stations and only had to move the rabbit ears for one of them.
Sorry I wasn't more clear in my original post. Nearest broadcast station is 58 air miles away and we get what we get through translator rebroadcasts.
Life in the small towns.

 

[amazingflapjack]

thanks everyone-plenty to follow up on here-keep it coming!

 

[amazingflapjack]

we have decided to go with amazon fire stick-eliminate cox cable tv-and retain cox internet and land line phone-not worth the hassle to eliminate the phone, had it for decades, and it is just 30.00 + a month. new rate will be 130.00 a month-down from 256.00 !! thanks everyone. flapjack.

 

[Watchdog]

TV alternatives-help please.

Alternatives:

1. Books. (Almost always my first choice!)
2. Board games.
3. Intelligent and meaningful conversation with your Significant Other.
4. If you need this one written out, I can't help you.

 

[Ziggy2525]

The local LIBRARY .........No loud noises/no commercials/no stupid shows. Just good books on many subjects to read.

Alternatives:

1. Books. (Almost always my first choice!)
2. Board games.
3. Intelligent and meaningful conversation with your Significant Other.
4. If you need this one written out, I can't help you.

^^^These two get my vote.

 

[Bill Raby]

I build flintlock rifles in my workshop in the basement. I have not seen a TV show in years.

 

[1950jcb]

Cut the cord. Between OTA and streaming, lots to watch--you won't miss cable.