Buh-bye Comcast!

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Pretty interesting: The Digital TV Transition: Reception Maps

All weak signals at my Zip Code (20650) with a 30 foot outdoor antenna.

Paul, there's various sites that might help you find what you can pull in with various outdoor antennas. Here's one site for example...

Antennas Direct | Need Help Choosing the Right HDTV Antenna

[fintstone]

Paul...I have a small antenna in the attic that I just installed. Brings in the DC stations that broadcast on digital. Since they are digital, they come on as good as cable. Also will work when the power is off, with my generator, unlike my local Cable. Supplements my Direct TV as I could not get cable in my new house.

Antenna is about 12 inches square dish and mounts inside or out. Mine is in the attic and brings in about 65 mi....but very directional.

I think it cost me $90. I bought another $50 box that integrates it seamlessly with the direct TV...but it worked just fine off the TV digital tuner.

[mikeatfhc]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Thanks.

I need to look at coverage where I am with a digital antenna.

The reason we went DirecTV 20 years ago was the over air reception brought in three channels.

Not a big sports watcher, but I do like to sit down on a chilly Sunday afternoon and watch the 49'ers.

Worth a look. Thanks again.

I just dumped Comcast (Xfinity) Triple Play. I had HDTV, Phone and Blast Internet. I was paying $207 a month and had no premium channels. When my contract ended my monthly payment went up $30 with no additional service. I was renting 1 HD Box, a Cable modem, and two SD boxes for bedroom TVs. Comcast tried to sell MORE services rather than help me reduce my bill so I dumped them.

Since we don't watch much TV we decided that we no longer needed this unnecessary expense and have dumped Cable TV and home Phone. Further, I cut my Comcast-delivered Internet speed down as (according to my IT brother) I did not need that much bandwidth so what I was paying was a waste of $.

I've done quite a bit of research over the last few months on entertainment options:
1. I put an antenna on the roof - I live too far from a major city to get a bunch of channels but I can get ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, Ion, FOX and couple of independents. (BTW the HD picture quality is FANTASTIC, the cable companies compress the HD signal to stuff so much crap down the line they take all the detail of their delivered HDTV service - like what an MP3 does to the original music).
2. Subscribe to Netflix streaming, Amazon and might get Hulu+
3. Bought a Roku (neat little box)

So far (I was already paying for Amazon Prime and Netflix anyway) I am saving $153 a month. That will be over $18,000 in 10 years!

We are very happy with our choice.

Like the McDonald's theme song... I'm Loving it.

For a good idea of what stations in your area you can pickup over the air try the TVFOOL.COM website. It will print out a map of stations around you, and where you will need to point your antenna. I've learned a lot lately and would be glad to help you interpret the graphs if you need it.

TV Fool

[fintstone]

This is the unit I am using:
Winegard FlatWave Air Outdoor Amplified HDTV Antenna (FlatWaveAir FL6550A) from Solid Signal Antennas&sku=
It works great and is easy to install.

[biosurfer1]

So I get home tonight and my tv is still working. Apparently Comcast cannot disconnect someone correctly. When I called, the lady said there was a problem and her supervisor would have to finish the disconnect. I'll call in the morning and make sure they note that I will not be paying for the extra day.

Amazing how incompetent they are...

[biosurfer1]

So 24+ hours later, TV is still connected. They can't figure out how to turn off their own crap. They wanted me to bring in the modem and cable boxes so they could look into it. I said I'd bring them as far as the curb in front of my house, they can pick them up there. They tell me I am not being charged for this but it wouldn't be the first time they charged me incorrectly...hell, wouldn't be the 200th time for that matter.

[RWebb]

Do not talk to them on the phone - use their chat system and save copies of everything.

Remember, they are a monopoly.

(BTW - I own their stock, which has done quite well - guess why)

[fintstone]

I have always had to return the equipment to them. Once you disconnect it...it is off.