Home audio & video forum: Alternatives to Cable TV? Internet? Antenna?

Proximity to the broadcasting antenna still makes a difference, along with topography when reception is concerned. In fact, receiving digital broadcasts (ATSC) is a little harder than the older analog system (NTSC) broadcasts. While I could always receive even a snowy picture way back, now a digital one breaks apart/goes way if minimum threshold is not met. The bottom line is you need to verify your proximity to the broadcaster antenna sites using web sites such as antennaweb.org. If you could provide your zip code, we can assist. The site gives you an idea of what type of antenna you will require too.

Essentially though, you ideally would be using an outdoor/rooftop mounted antenna for best OTA (over the air) reception. Internet is currently a no-go as a complete substitute for OTA live content unfortunately. Only select streams/live broadcast are available currently in the US, with the exception of NYC anyway (Aereo service).

If you want to not deal with any sort of infrastructure issues/installation costs as such, you might look into using Slingbox to stream your home cable or satellite content over the internet to your vacation home. There's a thread here on some various user experiences/hardware used. There are also some Slingbox dedicated discussion forums if you look around a little.

http://www.amazon.com/Slingbox-vacation-home-connecting-internet-ready/forum/Fx1TVBEV6RBOVAY/Tx2M61RFM1MXAJ0/1?_encoding=UTF8&asin=B001EZRJZE

hth,
Pedro

Thanks Pedro. I should have also mentioned that I ran my zip code at antennaweb.org and only one channel was returned (remote area in the mountains). Sounds like Slingbox might be my most cost effective option.

Just curious. Utah? CO? My faves for skiing & snowboarding anyway.

I'm in Conway, NH.

BTW - I picked up the Slingbox 500 per Pedro's recommendation. I got it hooked up and it works great (knock on wood!) on my iPad. Why didn't I think of this sooner?!?!?

Anyway . . . . tried to cancel my television service with TW, and since I didn't have my bill (PIN) despite giving them everythign else, they wouldn't cancel. Arghh . . . .

Now it's time to find a phone alternative!

...even when the authorized bill owner is making the request. It's simple- someone could quickly hijack your info and make unauthorized changes otherwise. Funny story- my friend had subletters when he left his condo for Europe for two years. Unknown to him, they somehow figured out how to switch over his cable to DSL, etc. (He probably sent his renters a copy of the cable bill w/o the account numbers redacted.) What a hot mess(!)

A phone alternative is even easier. Just find a decent VoIP service. If there's nothing decent in the way of cellular reception, simply use some type of phone service (VoIP, mostly) that can piggyback onto your broadband at the cabin. Done. The web site DSLreports.com has a lot of useful info on that topic, FWIW.

More importantly, how's the powder up there this year?