Living Well On A Budget

How I said Goodbye to Cable and Hello to DTV

Posted on June 10th, 2009.

This is a repost from my original blog with a couple of updates, but many people said they found it useful and a lot of it is still relevant with the June 12th analog to digital transition upon us. Your options are:

1. Buy a converter box that will plug into your current TV
2. Buy a TV with a digital tuner built in (if you already this kind of tv, you’re all set)
3. Connect the analog TV to cable, satellite or other pay service

~ Budget Maven ~

I finally did it. Broke the cable habit and switched to free Digital TV. I was already at the lowest and cheapest cable package Comcast offered – limited basic (I downgraded right after HBO aired the final episode of ‘Sex in the City’ – one of my guilty pleasures). Canceling cable saves me $16.42 per month or $197.04 per year. My withdrawal symptoms are almost non-existent. I get most of the same channels with DTV as with limited basic cable, with the exception that I no longer get the Discovery Channel. I do miss Comcast’s more comprehensive online guide for tv programs. Here’s how I did it:

Step 1  Go to tvfool.com
I went to tvfool which allows you to enter your zip code to locate TV transmitters, look at coverage maps, and optimize your HDTV setup. I currently have a 6+ year old, 25″ Symphonic SDTV, i.e., a tv that only supports standard definition. tvfool.com is a good resource to learn about digital TV and how to incorporate it into your home theater system.

Step 2  Apply for $40 DTV tuner coupon
I applied for a $40 coupon from the government toward a digital tv tuner at http://www.dtv2009.gov/ . It took about 3-4 weeks for the coupon to arrive in the mail and looks like a credit or debit card. Make sure to note the expiration date on the card and use it before it expires.

Step 3  Buy a Digital Converter Box
Meanwhile, I started researching DTV converter boxes. Luckily, I have a father who is analytical with a degree in electrical engineering and a HAM radio buff. He has expertise in these types of things. He owns and recommended the Zenith DTT900 Digital TV Tuner (if it’s good enough for him…). I price shopped on and offline and found the best price (and in stock) at my local Frys Electronics store. My father told me to make sure I bought a unit with the box stamped Apr 08 or later. Apparently, there were some minor sound problems with earlier Zenith DTT900 units. There were only 2 units left at that Frys, but they were Apr 08 so I purchased one. With tax less the coupon, it cost me $11.87. Since the DTT900 is no longer available, you can also check ConsumerReports.org for their reviews on DTV converter boxes.

I also had to get a two way tv splitter to connect both my DVD player and the DTV tuner/rabbit ears to my tv without having to swap cables around every time I wanted to watch a DVD – cost at Fry’s $1.89 +tax

Step 4  Get Rabbit ears UHF/VHF antenna
I went into my garage and dusted off my old rabbit ears antenna from when I used to live cable-free in Boston more than 11 years ago (sometimes it does pay to hang on to old stuff). The antenna’s position does sometimes need to be adjusted to get a good signal depending on what time of day it is, the weather or what channel I am watching

Step 5  Set up
I unplugged my cable box and plugged in the Zenith DTT900 and attached it and the rabbit ears to the back of my tv. The installation process was very easy and straightforward, even for a non-electrical engineer. Signal strength varies by channel and time of day where I live, so some adjustments need to be made to the ”wabbit” ears frequently. The Zenith tuner does have a tv program guide feature, but you can only see what the programming is for the current time and the next hour. I found a good Digital Television/HDTV Channel List for within 100 miles of San Francisco.

Step 6  Cancel Cable
I called Comcast and canceled my cable service. I returned the cable box and remote to the local Comcast office. They didn’t even put up a fight.

Step 7  Eventually Get a Better Antenna
My father, who lives in Massachusetts, said he will build and mail me a better antenna out of wire coat hangers, cardboard and tinfoil. I’ll give an update on that when it happens. He said it’s an easy DIY project and “even you could do it.” Thankfully, I won’t have to since he does this for fun.

Note: If you live too far from the television transmitters or in an area where there is too much interference blocking the signal, for example Twin Peaks in San Francisco or tall buildings if you live in a city, you might not have the option go this route. In that case, it’s important to know that the pay tv service providers are supposed to provide you with all the same channels at their lowest level offering as with the free version. Again, check tvfool.

Related articles/posts:

The Post Digital TV Transition Explained Part 1: What’s in it for you? What you need to know now

The Post DTV Transition Explained Part 2: How to Build Your Own DIY HDTV Antenna and Save Money

How to Recycle an Old Satellite Receiver Set Top Box instead of Buying a DTV Converter Box

Did you like the post above? If so, please share it
with your friends using the Share services below. Thanks!

Make a Comment

Make A Comment: ( 3 so far )

3 Responses to “How I said Goodbye to Cable and Hello to DTV”

Comments RSS Feed

Where's The Comment Form?