Antennae selection help - Philadelphia

[Kelly]

I am posting this on behalf of my sister who is currently without internet access:

"Hi,

I am widowed with two children and trying to cut expenses. I’d really like to cancel my Comcast cable subscription and am looking for ideas on how I can get tv reception for free. Here is the link to my TV Fool report:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id%3d0559789a10d305

I live on the first floor of a duplex in an apartment complex. Each duplex includes 2 units (upper/lower), with breezeways between the buildings. We have two televisions, one located in the living room and one located in my son’s bedroom. The tv in the living room is in the corner of the room facing two windows that face West. The tv in my son’s room is 2 yards away from a window facing East.

My first question is: Can I use indoor antennas to get tv reception? If so, what type of antennas should I buy?

Second, I already have a converter box that I bought back in 2009 and am wondering whether I could use that instead of buying an antenna?

Finally, my boys like to watch some cartoons on Cartoon Network and NicToons and I am wondering if there is a cheaper alternative to cable that will still allow them to watch their favorite shows?

Thank you in advance for any advice you can provide.

Amy"

[teleview]

As always , the inside of buildings and attics Are Not a reception friendly environment and Never Will Be a reception friendly environment.

Multi-path/reflections signals bouncing all around , absorbing , blocking , Broadcast Tv reception.
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The Philadelphia Area Digital Broadcast Tv stations/channels to the west are the strongest signal strength to receive.

In the west facing window , put a , TERK HDTVa , antenna aimed about 271 degree magnetic compass direction - West.

Here is how to aim indoor and outdoor antennas , http://www.kyes.com/antenna/pointing/pointing.html.

Put the HDTVa antenna Up High in the window , not down low close to the floor.

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Recommend Do Not use cable system coax , Unless , you know what you are doing to connect/route the antenna signals reception through the coaxes to route the signal from point A's to point B's.
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Recommend run Separate Coax in the apartment to get the antenna signal reception from point A's to point B's.

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A simple common 2 way splitter can be used to split the signal to the son's bedroom from the living room.

The Tv's Must Channel Scan for the , OTA=Over The Air , Digital Broadcast Tv stations/channels , often named the 'Air Channels' or 'Antenna Channels' in the Tv Setup Menu because the Tv transmissions travel through the Air from the transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna.

Some Digital Tv's will Automatic channels scan for cable tv channels.

DO NOT channel scan for cable tv channels.

Go into the Digital Tv Setup Menu and select 'Air Channels' ~ 'Antenna Channels'.

Scan for channels.

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The converter box that was bought in 2009 ->Is Not A Antenna<-.

The converter box connects to a antenna such as the TERK HDTVa antenna.

The converter box - Converts the Digital Broadcast Tv signals - to Analog signal for - Analog Tv's - that Do Not have a built in Digital Broadcast Tv Tuner.

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Cartoon Netwok and NicToons and other cable and satellite channels ->Are Not<- available on Digital Broadcast Tv reception.

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For reception of many of what is on the cable/satellite channels and more for a Lot Less Money per month.

Go with with the Streaming Internet Services , such as , Netflix , Hulu+ , and etc. .

The ROKU Box has the most services and the most flexibility of use.

http://www.roku.com.

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Here are some places to buy antennas and etc. .

http://www.solidsignal.com.

http://www.amazon.com.