Hi, All,
First, my TV Fool report:
http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...1ddab6601a9029
My husband and I have recently cut the cord from satellite service with Dish. Our goal is to cut monthly costs and quit wasting money on bad programming. We are enjoying streaming videos, but miss local news and weather. Until recently, our satellite package involved one receiver servicing two TV’s, with all the coaxial cable installed by the Dish guy in our attic two years ago (there’s a splitter up there somewhere). The furthest TV from the satellite location (now the antenna location) is an older Panasonic, and I don’t think it’s digital. That TV was the site of the Dish receiver and is about 50’ from the antenna. The second TV is digital and is about 25’ from the antenna. The antenna is mounted on the northeast corner of our 1-story house, on the eave. It’s the same location that the satellite dish was mounted. Our house is located on a hill, and TV reception is known to be tricky.
We’ve already purchased an antenna and are 7 days into a 14-day return time with Best Buy. It’s a ClearStream 2V, purchased on the advise of a sales rep. So far, we have picked up nothing with it. We initially pointed it at about 45 degrees, based on the suggestion of the sales rep. However, after much poring over the TV Fool reports and maps (a steep learning curve for the uninitiated), I think a more correct direction would be to about 85-90 degrees. But we’re still picking up nothing.
To complicate matters, when we removed the satellite dish from its mast, there were two coax cable ends plugged into the business end of the dish. But there is only one coax receptacle on the antenna. We’ve tried it with both cables, but neither has made a difference (still no reception).
So my questions are as follows:
1. Do we need a converter box? If yes, what is a good but inexpensive suggestion?
2. Did I buy an appropriate antenna? The questions and answers I’ve been reading on the forum make me realize how clueless I am on that issue.
3. Are we doing the right thing with the two coax cables (leaving one to dangle while the other is plugged in)?
4. Is there any hope of OTA TV for us?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Marian