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[Chief Pagan]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

I've order a digital antenna just to see how well it works too. I'm not sure that'll be the complete answer but I figured I might as well get one and see how well it works. If it sucks, I'll simply return it.

I'm also wondering if there's a way to "inject" the received signal into the house's COAX cabling and be able to get away with only buying on digital antenna.

There's probably a way to do that. I have an external digital tuner box that the COAX plugs into. I used to plug it directly into the router (via ethernet) to feed the other TVs.

But now I have it plugged into an old desktop that I use as a DVR and only use it with one TV.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by Chief Pagan

There's probably a way to do that. I have an external digital tuner box that the COAX plugs into. I used to plug it directly into the router (via ethernet) to feed the other TVs.

But now I have it plugged into an old desktop that I use as a DVR and only use it with one TV.

Agree. Just like any COAX system, I'd think I would be able to plug it into the closest wall COAX connection and "light up" the rest in the house. Basically the tame thing we did when we got rid of Time Warner and want to Google - we just disconnected from the TW network and put the Google signal into the closest jack, and that's how many of the current GF TV boxes are connected.

So I'll get it working on the main TV, then see if it works to light up the rest of the house. Should be a fun little experiment.

[InChiefsHeaven]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

Agree. Just like any COAX system, I'd think I would be able to plug it into the closest wall COAX connection and "light up" the rest in the house. Basically the tame thing we did when we got rid of Time Warner and want to Google - we just disconnected from the TW network and put the Google signal into the closest jack, and that's how many of the current GF TV boxes are connected.

So I'll get it working on the main TV, then see if it works to light up the rest of the house. Should be a fun little experiment.

That seems simple enough. Never thought of it. I have a digital antennae on the TV in the basement, it's the only place in the house I get good reception, which is kinda odd. I never thought about plugging it in to the coax for the house...let us know how it goes. I would think the signal would not be strong enough for the whole house...

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by InChiefsHeaven

That seems simple enough. Never thought of it. I have a digital antennae on the TV in the basement, it's the only place in the house I get good reception, which is kinda odd. I never thought about plugging it in to the coax for the house...let us know how it goes. I would think the signal would not be strong enough for the whole house...

Will do. I know it works for Google Fiber's TV boxes; 2 of our 4 TV boxes are connected via Cat-6 Ethernet connections, the other two to their COAX wall outlet, as well as the Google Fiber Network Box, so I know those two TV boxes are feeding off the GF network box using the house's internal COAX cabling, so it should work for the digital antenna too.

And it should allow me to find the best place for the antenna too. Unfortunately, looking at the FCC's map, our house in Lee's Summit the best option would be a high NE facing window and we simply don't have that, it's N, S, E or W in this house. We'll see.

[Chief Pagan]

Originally Posted by InChiefsHeaven

That seems simple enough. Never thought of it. I have a digital antennae on the TV in the basement, it's the only place in the house I get good reception, which is kinda odd. I never thought about plugging it in to the coax for the house...let us know how it goes. I would think the signal would not be strong enough for the whole house...

It's cheap to buy an amplifier. Or at least it used to be.

[GloryDayz]

I have good news to report; you can indeed drive all you home's TVs off of one inexpensive digital antenna. Just buy a COAX splitter (if you don't have one laying around) if you need to put it into a TV near the antenna, split the COAX signal coming from the antenna, put one into the local TV, put the other into the local/closest coax wall outlet, and every TV that's connected into that COAX system should be fine. I'm driving four TVs on it as I type... Just make sure your COAX isn't connected to the local TV provider's COAX in the ground. You may need to go outside to disconnect that if you hadn't done that before. I had, so it was n problem.

So find the place where the antenna will get the best signal, hopefully near one of your home's COAX outlets, and make it happen.

Now, to see if we can live with what's offered "over the air" (digital or not)!!!

[007]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

I have good news to report; you can indeed drive all you home's TVs off of one inexpensive digital antenna. Just buy a COAX splitter (if you don't have one laying around) if you need to put it into a TV near the antenna, split the COAX signal coming from the antenna, put one into the local TV, put the other into the local/closest coax wall outlet, and every TV that's connected into that COAX system should be fine. I'm driving four TVs on it as I type... Just make sure your COAX isn't connected to the local TV provider's COAX in the ground. You may need to go outside to disconnect that if you hadn't done that before. I had, so it was n problem.

So find the place where the antenna will get the best signal, hopefully near one of your home's COAX outlets, and make it happen.

Now, to see if we can live with what's offered "over the air" (digital or not)!!!

I've been doing that very thing for the last 10 years. Used all the wires that were being used for my cable at the time.

[BigRedChief]

Been using it for a week or two. Have a gig of fiber so making the switch from cable tomorrow. Got the 4K and sports package.

[GloryDayz]

Been up on the new Google configuration for about a week. All I can say that I like about it is that the cable bill has gone from $195 a month to $70. We're still resisting paying for anything while we sort out what we can get for free, and what might drive us to going with one of the streaming services like YouTubeTV, FUBO, or the likes.

We have four TVs, only one is a true "Smart" TV, all now have the Chromecast dongle, two have the Firesticks that we already owned, and all are being fed by the digital antenna.

Perhaps I've created a monster, but "loading Apps" is getting old. Yeah, $125 a month is worth some pain, and maybe we'll figure out how to watch what we want among all the options, but we'll see how things go as (if) the MLB season starts, and next season for the NFL.

I might buy that this is better because it's cheaper, but it sure as hell is more complex as you sort through options.

[BWillie]

All these streaming sites and new cable sucks. There are no scrambled channels like the 90s when I could listen to soft porn on Cinnamax and occasionally see a titty for a half a second. Those were the good days.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by BWillie

All these streaming sites and new cable sucks. There are no scrambled channels like the 90s when I could listen to soft porn on Cinnamax and occasionally see a titty for a half a second. Those were the good days.

Agree. And it's having to decide which service you want to go with that 'most generally' gets you what you want. Add local sports blackout possibilities to the mix (hence the digital antenna) and it's all the worse.

I'm a tech guy, I do it all day every day (hell I'm on a call as I type (**** CISCO!!!)), so I guess I'm officially getting closer to being a luddite, I just want what I want without so many options and clicks. NOT that Google Fiber TV had everything I wanted, not that TimeWarner did before we have GF, but you didn't have to go through a bunch of shit to find you wife her favorite shows she uses as background noise while she works...

[GloryDayz]

Well I almost signed up for the trial of YouTube TV yesterday so we could watch the Royals game, but did enough digging to find out that they (Bally's) doesn't stream on stream on YouTube TV. It seems like buying the MLB package or going back to Spectrum (which was Time Warner when we left for Google) are my two most realistic options.

Reading Bally's complaints about a few of the companies that have told them to pack sand was pretty funny...

This new à la carte paradigm we're all getting forced into pretty much sucks IMO. Nothing is perfect, but this sucks...

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

Well I almost signed up for the trial of YouTube TV yesterday so we could watch the Royals game, but did enough digging to find out that they (Bally's) doesn't stream on stream on YouTube TV. It seems like buying the MLB package or going back to Spectrum (which was Time Warner when we left for Google) are my two most realistic options.

Reading Bally's complaints about a few of the companies that have told them to pack sand was pretty funny...

This new à la carte paradigm we're all getting forced into pretty much sucks IMO. Nothing is perfect, but this sucks...

DirectTV Stream is your option for the Royals. Its about $20 bucks more than YouTubeTV but they are similar. I have had both.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

DirectTV Stream is your option for the Royals. Its about $20 bucks more than YouTubeTV but they are similar. I have had both.

So, before the cowards at Google decided to get out of the TV provider business our bill was ~$190, now it's $70 because we only get Internet. But, as is so often the case, nothing ends up being as awesome as you think or were told..

We simply decided to not do the YouTube TV trial and we'll look into Spectrum in a few months after we get back from Bonaire. Nothing is perfect, but right now Spectrum seems to offer the most of what we'd want, the simplicity we want, and pretty-much without all the à la carte bullshit. At least until they start doing the same shit and we find out what THEY weren't telling us.

[unlurking]

The only thing a la carte sucks for is sports. Blame the leagues and the teams for the exclusive contract bullshit. Ask Avs fans in Denver who haven't been able to watch a record breaking season without going to a game or a bar.