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Video: Ten Tips to Get More Channels with Your TV Antenna
[…]questions I get on this site is, “how can I get more channels with my TV antenna?” I have a blog post with my most effective tips, and now I have a video with my top ten tips to get more channels: Here are links referenced in the video: For more tips, visit https://www.disablemycable.com/antenna-tips For the Station Finder, visit https://www.disablemycable.com/station-finder/ For more information on antennas and cables, visit https://www.disablemycable.com/antennas/ For more information on amplifiers, visit https://www.disablemycable.com/blog/are-amplified-indoor-antennas-better/ Hope this was helpful! Please leave your comments and questions below. – […]
Ten Reasons You Need a DVR If You Watch Broadcast TV
When you think of a “DVR”, or “Digital Video Recorder”, you might think they’re mainly used for time shifting. That is, recording a show or sporting event so that you can watch it later, kinda like what we old-schoolers used to use a VCR for. While you can definitely use a DVR for time shifting, today’s DVRs can do so much more. In fact, some of their other features are way more important and useful than time-shifting TV programs. Here are my top ten reasons that I think you should get a DVR if you watch broadcast TV, along with […]
How to Use an Antenna and TV Streaming Services If You Have an Old Tube TV
If you have an old tube TV like the one shown here, or a flat screen that does not have a built-in digital tuner (made before 2006, when digital tuners were mandated), you won’t be able to watch modern broadcast TV using just an antenna. You’ll either have to buy a new TV, or buy a digital TV converter box (also called a tuner box) in order to get free TV using an antenna. Converter boxes run about $30 to $50. Consider These Points Before You Buy a Converter Box The cost of new flat screen TVs has come down […]
Troubleshooting Your TV Antenna
[…]more tips on how to get the best reception and most channels with your antenna, check out my blog article, Top Tips for Better Reception with Your Indoor […]
Streaming Media Players: Which One Should You Get?
What Is a Streaming Media Player? A streaming media player lets you watch video from the Internet on your TV. For example, you can watch Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, or YouTube on your TV using one of these devices. All of these devices require that you have Internet access at your home. Most require Wi-Fi as well. Amazon Fire TV, Roku, and Apple TV, have built-in “apps” that give you content from mostly paid services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Sling TV, etc. There are also some channels offering free video like Pluto TV, Crackle and YouTube. Google Chromecast doesn’t have apps. […]
Why I No Longer Recommend the Apple TV Streaming Player
The Apple TV streaming player is a small box that connects to your TV via its HDMI port. It gives you the ability to watch streaming services from the Internet on your TV, and it allows you to “mirror” the screen from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to your TV. To use Apple TV, you need to have Internet access, and you’ll have to connect your Apple TV to your home Wi-Fi network or router via Ethernet cable. Connection to Wi-Fi is pretty easy as long as you know your Wi-Fi password. Why I Now Recommend Roku Instead For a […]
Save Thousands of Dollars on Internet, TV, and Cell Phone Service
Congratulations on taking your first step toward getting free and cheap TV entertainment, as well as lowering the cost of Internet access and cellular service! I’d like to help you save money by replacing cable TV, satellite, and expensive streaming services with free broadcast TV and affordable and free streaming services tailored specifically to your needs. The techniques I present on this site are completely legal. If you’re spending more than you’d like on cable, satellite, or streaming services, keep reading below. Many folks like me spend about zero dollars per month on TV entertainment. If you’re paying more than […]
Frequently Asked Questions About Broadcast and Internet TV
I get a ton of questions from folks around the country asking me about how to cut cable and get free and cheap TV. I’ve compiled the most common questions and answered them here. Q: Which indoor antenna should I get? A: Go to my Antennas page to start. Basically, you should first check to make sure that broadcast signals are in your area by entering your zip code in the Station Finder before purchasing any antenna. Q: Which outdoor antenna should I get? A: I’d recommend getting a professional opinion from your local TV antenna installer if you want to put up […]
Verizon 5G Home Internet Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
I’ve compiled all of the questions I’ve received on my blog and YouTube channel about Verizon 5G Home Internet here in one handy place for you to reference! Is it reliable and fast? For most people, including myself, it is reliable and fast. I’m on a plan that maxes out at 300 Mbps and I typically see download speeds of 220 to 280 Mbps, and sometimes even over 300 Mbps! Regarding reliability, I do occasionally have my Internet access go down, maybe once a month. A power cycle of my gateway fixes this in a few minutes. What should I […]
The Amazon Fire TV Recast DVR is Discontinued. What Should I Do With It Now?
Back in August 2022, Amazon confirmed to TechHive that it was discontinuing the Amazon Fire TV Recast DVR: We are constantly evaluating our product and service offerings to best serve the evolving needs of our customers. Many of the features offered by the Recast are now available through other apps on Fire TV, and we are focusing our efforts and resources on other Fire TV devices and services that provide great value to our customers. Amazon, via TechHive I thought this was a shame because Recast was a solid broadcast TV DVR that had great integration with the Amazon Fire […]
The Number One Mistake to Avoid When Buying a New TV
Since 2006, the Federal government has mandated that all TVs include a digital tuner to allow you to receive free broadcast TV using a cheap antenna. This is one of the main ways that I promote on DisableMyCable.com to save money! But recently, I’ve been getting messages from readers who claimed that their TVs did not come with a built-in tuner! So, I looked up the specs of one of these: the Vizio E55u-D2 SmartCast E-Series 55″ Class Ultra HD Home Theater Display. Sure enough – this TV had no coax antenna input, nor did it have a tuner!! “TV” vs. […]
How to Set Up Your TV Antenna
Hooking up an indoor antenna like the Mohu Leaf to your TV is pretty easy if you have a modern flat TV (built in 2006 or later). Simply screw the antenna’s coax cable into the “ANTENNA/CABLE” plug on the back of your TV, as shown here: If you have a powered antenna, you’ll have to plug it into the wall for power (or some models have USB power plug that you can plug into your TV if it has USB). Scanning for Channels on Your TV Now turn on your TV and go into the settings menu. Find the option […]
How to Fix Verizon 5G Home Internet Frequent Loss of Connection and Rebooting
Probably the most common problem I see on the various Verizon 5G Home Internet forums and social platforms is that the gateway cube will lose Internet connection, requiring a reboot to restore, or will reboot itself. For me, this happens a few times a month, max, so not a big deal. But for others, it happens once a week, once a day, or even every few hours, which is completely unacceptable! While I don’t have a magic fix for every situation, here are some tips that have helped folks with this problem. 1. Reposition Your Gateway This is easy to […]
The Broadcast TV Station Finder
The Station Finder is my name for the FCC tool that tells you which TV stations you can potentially get in your area of the United States. The channels you actually get will depend on your exact location, type of antenna, height of your antenna, and other factors. Press the button below and enter your zip code. Wait a few seconds, and it will show you how many potential free TV channels are available in your area. You should be able to get most of the green and yellow channels using a good indoor antenna. Click on the station’s call letters […]
My Free Broadcast TV Channels in Santa Monica, CA
These are the free broadcast channels that I receive and watch in Santa Monica, CA using my indoor antenna. I’m not including foreign language channels, duplicate channels, home shopping channels, and other stations I’m not interested in. Channel Call Sign HD Description 2.1 CBS Yes CBS network 2.2 Decades Oldies like “Lost in Space” 4.1 NBC Yes NBC network 4.2 COZI Oldies like “Miami Vice” 5.1 KTLA Yes CW network 5.2 Antenna TV Oldies like The Tonight Show 5.3 This Old movies 7.1 ABC Yes ABC network 7.2 LiveWell Yes Food and lifestyle 7.3 LAFF Old comedies 9.1 KCAL Yes […]
Review: The Antop HD Smart Bar – The Best Indoor Amplified TV Antenna?
The Antop HD Smart Bar AT-500SBS has some innovations which could make it the best indoor TV antenna for you. I’ve tested a lot of indoor antennas over the years, and I’ve found the unamplified Mohu Leaf to perform the best time and time again. However, I was intrigued when Antop came out with their amplified HD Smart Bar antenna. It has some innovative mechanical and electrical design features that I had to check out. Could the reign of the Mohu Leaf be in jeopardy? What Is It? The Antop HD Smart Bar is a broadcast TV antenna. If your […]
I’ve Got an Old Tube TV: What Are My Options Besides Cable?
While most people have modern flat-screen LCD or LED TVs these days, I still get a large number of questions from people who own older tube-type TV’s like the one pictured here. If you are one of those people, I’ll describe your options for free and cheap TV in this article. Some of these options will require some money up front, but it’s usually less than the cost of one month of cable TV. 1. Broadcast TV Using an Antenna and Converter Box The most common question I get is “how can I watch broadcast TV on my old tube […]
My Review of the SiliconDust HDHomeRun Tuner/DVRs (FLEX and SCRIBE)
After seeing a lot of positive reviews on Facebook of the SiliconDust HDHomeRun tuners being used as DVRs, I had to get my hands on one to check it out for myself (and review for y’all). To be clear, these devices will record broadcast TV shows, not cable TV or streaming TV. You need to attach your own TV antenna. Some models require external USB storage while others have internal storage. You can watch and record shows using their app, which is available for Mac, PC, and the most popular streaming boxes and mobile devices. But the apps won’t work […]
Why Did My Broadcast TV Channels Disappear?
A very common question I get on DisableMyCable.com is “why did some of my broadcast TV channels disappear?” Usually, people think something is wrong with their antenna, but TV antennas are pretty simple devices, just a piece of metal basically (unless it is amplified). Usually, the antenna isn’t broken and it’s some other issue. If your channels disappeared after doing a re-scan, check out this article. 1. The TV Station’s Frequency Changed During the FCC “Re-Pack”. Here’s What to Do. The most likely culprit for losing a channel in 2020’s FCC “re-pack” is that the channel’s broadcast frequency changed. If […]
