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There are still a lot of people who live too far from the TV transmitters to get free broadcast TV using an antenna. If you are one of them, here are some ideas. Note, many of these require Internet access. Free Options The options below are free, though some have paid add-ons. Some require high-speed Internet access and a device (phone, tablet, or computer) to view them on. 1. Pluto TV Pluto TV is an Internet streaming service that offers live streaming TV and on-demand movies It’s available as a website or on streaming devices like Roku. No, it doesn’t […]
2022 Update: Unfortunately, the Amazon Fire TV Recast was discontinued in August of 2022. It’s too bad, because it had a slick user interface and was easy to set up, with its internal drive. You may be able to find one on eBay, but it’s unclear how long Amazon will support it. I’ll leave my review up in case you’re looking for a used model. Original Article The Amazon Fire TV Recast is Amazon’s broadcast TV DVR solution which lets you record live TV using your TV antenna. Unlike the Tablo, the Recast has its mass storage included inside the […]
When it comes to watching TV, I’m a cheapskate. I remember when TV was totally free and I don’t want to pay for it now, especially if I’m watching commercials! So, I usually pay zero dollars per month for TV. Occasionally I’ll splurge and get a streaming service like Disney+ for a month, but I’ll immediately cancel it after I’m done watching the shows I want to watch. This works for me but I’m not saying it will work for everyone. For example, if you’re not able to get free broadcast TV using an antenna, I can totally understand subscribing […]
If you are using an antenna to watch TV, I highly recommend picking up a broadcast TV DVR (digital video recorder) to record entire seasons of your favorite shows so you can watch them anytime. It makes the broadcast TV experience much more like a streaming service! Considerations Here are some questions you should ask yourself when looking for an over-the-air DVR: There is no one DVR that is best in every situation. Here are the broadcast DVRs that I recommend depending on your setup and needs. 1. Tablo Generation 4 DVR – My #1 Pick for Most People! Tablo […]
[…]to binge-watch certain shows, then I cancel them. Read more about my current antenna setup in my blog. Expanding to Cover Internet and Cellular Services As people have shifted away from traditional cable TV, the cost of Internet access has gone up. So, I’m now covering ways to lower the cost of Internet access (as well as cell phone service). I personally switched from cable Internet to Verizon 5G Home Internet, saving $30 per month! Interestingly, the phrase “Disable My Cable” fits in this context as well! For my mobile phone service, I switched to Mint Mobile, saving $40 per […]
I started using indoor TV antennas in 2010 when I first canceled my cable service in Providence, RI. Since then, I’ve moved to Los Angeles and have amassed a collection of different types of indoor antennas. I figured it was time to re-test my TV antennas to make sure I’m still recommending the best ones. After all, what worked well in Providence might not work well in Los Angeles, right? The Antennas So, here’s what I’m calling the “great antenna shootout”. I’ve taken a representative selection of different types of indoor TV antennas and tested them in my condo. These […]
A reader recently asked me what type of parental controls the major set-top boxes have. So I decided to do some research and write an article about it. The bottom line is that all of the major set-top streaming boxes have some degree of parental controls, but some are better than others. What do I mean by “parental controls”? I’m talking about limits that a parent can place on the usage of the set-top boxes by their children. These limits may take place within the set-top box operating system or within the apps that are running on the set-top box. […]
You can find certain types of really good mainstream commercial content on plain old free YouTube if you know what to look for. I’m talking professional, full-length, unedited, and free from commercial interruptions. There is a YouTube app for all of the major set-top boxes (Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Chromecast), so you’ll be able to watch whatever you find on your TV. So, in your quest for free TV, don’t forget about YouTube, the streaming service, paid or free, that I watch the most! Here are the best types of content to find: Movies While you won’t find the […]
If you have an old tube TV or a flat-screen that does not have a digital TV tuner, then the only way you can watch free broadcast channels on that TV is to get a digital converter box, or tuner box, as it is sometimes called. You plug your TV antenna into the box, then you connect your box to your TV. It converts the signal either to an analog signal that your old TV can use, or to a digital HDMI signal that you can plug into a more modern HDTV. Many of these boxes today have a USB […]
UPDATE: See this article for a review of the latest Tablo Generation 4 DVR. I’m keeping this older article up for those who have the previous generation Tablo. Original Article The Tablo records broadcast TV from your TV antenna; it won’t record cable TV or streaming apps. For most Tablo models, you’ll need a Roku or other streaming player to watch your recordings. The newer models have HDMI output so you can plug them directly into a TV. Tablo works in the United States and Canada. What is Tablo? Tablo is a digital video recorder (DVR) for broadcast TV. You […]
One of my readers told me that his Amazon Fire TV Stick was causing interference with his broadcast TV channels. When he unplugged the stick, his reception improved and his TV could receive more channels. I did a quick test with my own Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (purchased in 2019) and didn’t find any difference in my TV reception with on or completely unplugged. However, when I researched online, I found a ton of other users in various forums complaining of TV interference caused by their Amazon Fire TV Sticks. They all said the interference went away when they […]
The AirTV 2 is a two-tuner broadcast TV tuner that connects to your home network by Wi-Fi or Ethernet. The addition of an external USB hard drive (not included) allows viewing of live TV or recorded shows on a website or on the Sling app for Roku, Fire TV, Android, iOS, and other platforms. You can watch one show while recording another, or record two shows at the same time. The Air TV’s sister product, AirTV Anywhere has an internal 1TB drive and four tuners, allowing you to record up to four shows at once. AirTV works in conjunction with […]
Roku is my #1 streaming player recommendation for cable-cutters looking for an easy way to watch content from the Internet on their TVs. While Amazon Fire TV is also great, Roku is probably the best choice for most people. What is a Roku? Roku comes in several versions but basically, it is a small black box or stick that comes with a remote control and power adapter. Roku connects to the Internet through your home’s Wi-Fi network (some models also have Ethernet connector), so you need an Internet connection to use it. Roku allows you to watch paid and free streaming services […]
One of the most common questions people ask me is “which TV antenna should I get?” There are so many on the market, it can get pretty overwhelming. In this article, I’ll discuss my recommended TV antennas. Before You Buy an Antenna But before buying an antenna, you need to find out how many channels are available in your area. To do this, enter your zip code (or full address) into the Station Finder: If you got a lot of green channels, congratulations! You should be able to use a simple non-amplified indoor antenna and get most of those channels, if not more! Check out […]
While discovering free and cheap ways to watch TV is a good thing, it is possible to have too much of a good thing. In 2017, the average American spent almost four hours a day watching television! That’s a HUGE amount of time to spend staring at a TV screen! What could you accomplish with that time? When you look back on your life, will you wish you did something else with that time? Giving Up TV for Lent This year, Lent runs from Wednesday, March 2nd to Thursday, April 14th, 2022. That’s 40 days x 4 hours = 160 hours […]
2024 Update: Discontinued? Reader Marcia copied me on an email from Channel Master (a distributor of the TiVo Edge for Antenna) saying that the Edge for Antenna would no longer be manufactured: It’s indeed out of stock on the TiVo website, and no longer available on Amazon or the Best Buy website. I would recommend looking at a better-supported DVR like the Tablo Gen 4. You may still be able to get an Edge for Antenna used on eBay, so I’ll leave the original article for you, below: Original Article TiVo is known for its excellent cable TV DVRs, but […]
My AirTV 2 was working great until I decided to test some other hard drives with it. After unplugging my original drive, it refused to recognize any drives, including the original one. It just said “No hard drive connected”, even though it was. I tried reformatting the drive in various ways, but that didn’t help. After spending hours trying to get the unit to work, I found this solution which does the trick! How to Make Your AirTV Recognize Drives I used the Sling iPhone app to do this procedure. First, click your account icon in the upper right corner […]
As I’ve mentioned elsewhere on this site, my favorite overall streaming media player is the Roku. It’s got the most content and a ton of great features. One feature that you might not be aware of is the ability to stream video, music, and photos from your iOS or Android phone to your TV wirelessly! And it’s not difficult to set up! The Down Low I need to clarify that this technique lets you watch or play back media that is stored on your phone. This is not the same as mirroring your phone’s screen to the TV. You can’t, […]
I’ve gotten lots of comments and emails from readers who’ve lost channels after re-scanning for channels on their TVs. And it’s happened to me too! Here are some things you can try to help recover the channels you lost. 1. Manually Add Missing Channels Back The first thing you should try adding the missing channels back, if your TV allows it. Some TVs let you manually add channels manually in the setup menus. My old Sony Bravia would do this but my new Samsung does not. Consult your TV’s manual. 2. Find the Real RF Channel (Older TVs) If that […]
Getting the ideal reception using your indoor digital TV antenna can be a challenging task. It can be like playing “whack-a-mole”: when you have the antenna in one position, you get certain channels; move it to another position and different channels come in and the original ones you had are now gone. The best location for your antenna is outside as high up as possible, such as on your roof, but many people are not able to put an antenna on their roofs. Here are my hints and tips to help you get the most channels with your indoor antenna. […]
