Comments on: Free Digital HDTV Receivable Downtown? You Bet!

By: mhz

mhz — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:58:17 +0000

I’m relieved I’m not the only one who can’t get channel 56 this way. I checked their website and it looks like they’re broadcasting digitally via other channels now, but those don’t come in either. Can’t understand why it’s so hard to pick up now, right in the heart of DC!

By: Columbo

Columbo — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:07:02 +0000

$250 for the DTVPal is starting to look a lot more palatable after seeing that $800 unit.

By: pqresident

pqresident — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 10:55:39 +0000

here's another HD DVR that doesn't carry monthly fees, it appears to be more expandable/flexible and can play content from the Internet such as streaming Netflix moives. its initial cost is quite a bit higher than the DTVPal though coming in at $799. Moxi HD DVR

By: Columbo

Columbo — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:05:23 +0000

You know that DTVPal you linked to is intriguing pqresident. I'm not sure it's worth $250 to me right now, but once something like that goes below $175 I think I'd pick one up. Part of why I prefer DVD's to TV watching is the ability to pause, rewind, pick up where I left off, etc. Something like this product now offers that ability to OTA HDTV viewers. I only wish manufacturers would work something like this into a DVD player so I didn't have to have an additional box attached to my TV.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:41:16 +0000

Yes, and if you get Comcast basic cable, which is only about $16.00 a month, and you don’t use the cable box (just plug the cable from the wall into your television), you get all the way up to channel 99! Using the cable box you only get up to channel 30 or something around there.

By: Flipperman75

Flipperman75 — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:19:14 +0000

Another option that’s a step up from an antenna but cheaper than the full-on digital/HD cable box:

If you have an HDTV with a digital tuner (most made in the last few years have one), just get regular old analog basic cable, and you’ll also be able to get the local digital/HD channels. They don’t advertise it (big surprise–they want you to pay for the super deluxe digital HD DVR cable box), and they don’t list the channels on any of their listings, but they’re there–just make sure you include digital channels when you do your automatic channel setup. (And you’ll have to delete a bunch of unused channels, too.) You only get the digital/HD channels you’d get if you had an antenna (plus some from Baltimore, for some reason)–your cable channels will all be analog–but you wouldn’t get those at all with an antenna anyway.

(NOTE: This is for COMCAST; I have no idea if this would work with Cox.)

By: pqresident

pqresident — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:38:13 +0000

an amplified antenna is a good idea. thanks Columbo!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:10:58 +0000

Columbo…..thanks for the info. I’ve been very anxious to rid myself of the 140 cable/internet bill. I look forward to purchasing this antenna and giving it a try.

By: Columbo

Columbo — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:34:39 +0000

We've got an HDTV so didn't need the converter box, but we did have to upgrade our indoor antenna. I highly recommend the Terk HDTVa that I bought on Amazon last year, I pull in approx. 20 or so HD channels with this amplified antenna. The Columbo's haven't had cable for 7 years now, and it's only gotten easier to live without it thanks to OTA HDTV, Netflix, Hulu, and the iPhone. Oh and going to bars to watch sports. When you live in a 1 bedroom condo it's nice to get out of the house to watch tv sometimes too.