digital cable. Until November we had direct hookup to cable -no box. but channels were disappearing so we got the digital box from our cable company. We are dissatisfied when primetime hits- our picture gets pixillated and freeezes and then goes blank. Audio as well. We have had the technician out 3 times- last time Saturday and he said nothing wrong. SO we LISTENED to the Ravens Playoff game that night. The problem is in the line from the pole to the house and their last chance is this week. We will just go with no tv. sorry just had to vent

Direct TV. We don't have cable in our area.
I really like Direct TV but it's not cheap.

We have a bundled package for digital cable with dvr, internet and 2 phone lines. It's not cheap but better than all of the services individually. Happy with service, we've had it this way for over 10 years.

After years of sat TV, cancelled what became $100 a month. This didn't even include movie channels.

Now use a flat panel aerial that cost us $29, TIVO ($12 mo) for recording and have the PC connected to our sound system reciever. We downstream movies and TV shows (most channels are offering free episodes) through the PC without any charges. Great resolution, most are HD now. There is another world out there for doing this that doesn't cost a thing.

We've never had cable - yes, we're THAT family!

We have HDTV's and are still using the antenna that we've had in our attic forever - didn't even bother buying a new one once we made sure we could pick up the signals. We pull in all the major networks that we always have (Chicago) and about 20 stations that we couldn't access before. For example, our CBS station in Chicago was on channel 2 but that analog signal is gone and the new digital signal is on 2.1 now - same programming. All the major networks have multiples that offer varied programming, PBS has 4 including one Spanish language, we pull in signals from Rockford and Milwaukee, too. No converter box, beautiful picture.

I use Hulu to see cable shows that interest me or my son occasionally buys a series and shares with me. I've just never been able to stomach the thought of paying for cable and the LAST thing I need is more time in front of the tube!!!! We get Pandora, Youtube, Netflix and Blockbuster on our Bluray so for us, all our bases are covered. When we travel and have cable in the hotel, I'm always amazed at how little of it is even worth my time.

UHF antenna (free from someone DH works with) works great with new HDTV, only we would need a different antenna for ABC. We have 1.5 Mbps DSL, not too bad with DH's work laptop streaming Hulu, my old (handmedown) laptop can't keep up, so DH is thinking of buying Macbook and using that, or else Roku box or BluRay player with Netflix Wifi. BluRay would probably be best (can play regular DVDs we already own too) so we can use component video for better picture. And it only costs about $100 more than a Roku box. The only thing is, Samsung has bad reviews for reliability, Panasonic (which I would like since we have Panasonic TV, could use "Vieralink" for single remote control through HDMI) doesn't have contract with Netflix (yet), so maybe we'll have to go Sony BluRay?

dlm - we were posting at the same time. Which brand of BluRay player do you have?

Oh, and pesky, dlm has a good point - you don't necessarily need a new antenna, as long as you have either a converter box or an HDTV - anything with the new ATSC tuner. All the antenna does is pick up the radio frequency signal, the tuner is what you need to pick out the digital vs analog information being carried on the RF signal. The only thing is with digital broadcasts, you have to have a decent signal strength, it's "all or nothing", so you won't ever get a snowy image like old analog broadcast, you won't get anything. And some channels (particularly VHF) are highly directional, so you have to be pointed right at the broadcast tower to get them, UHF doesn't seem to be that picky but you still have to fiddle with the antenna direction a little.

I don't know how to attach more than one link, but the FCC has some FAQs and other links (like antennaweb.org) on their website that may be helpful.

Here is a link that might be useful: FCC DTV FAQs

ajsmama we have a Samsung - no issues with it so far. I use CNet to get most of my technology info.

Thanks - I always check out CNet too, that's where I found user reviews saying reliability issues, even though the editors loved it. How old is your BluRay?

We've never had cable - yes, we're THAT family!
...
I've just never been able to stomach the thought of paying for cable and the LAST thing I need is more time in front of the tube!!!!

Ditto. Actually I really haven't watched TV in years. I just got to the point where I couldn't abide all those commercials to watch shows which mostly weren't that good. You can get all those shows on DVD now anyway so I have watched a few series that way but even those, after watching a couple or three seasons, I'm sick of it and quit.

We have large flat screen HD TVs and like dlm, we have an antenna in the attic which brings in all the free channels including all the regular networks' extra channels. My husband watches sports. I watch the Oscars once a year and that's about it. When he wants to see some special sports event that's only on cable he goes to his parents' house.

I do watch a lot of movies on dvd which I obtain for free from my local libraries. I have access to two different library systems and between them I can pretty much see any movie I want.

I can't see myself ever paying for television.

Dlm2000: We've never had cable - yes, we're THAT family!

Agreed. I thought the whole point of cable was that if you paid for broadcasts, you would not have commercials. Turns out you have to pay for it AND you have commercials. No thanks.

-Lena

Here is a link that might be useful: Television Addiction Is No Mere Metaphor

We have Comcast cable with a DVR. I record/buffer everything so I don't have to sit through commercials. Simply fast forward through them and you'll only spend 40 minutes on a 1 hour show.

I'm waiting for AT&T's U-VERSE to come to our area. Anyone know if that's better than Comcast?

We have had Uverse for about a year and we love it, but Comcast raises their prices so much we knew once their promo was over we would drop them. Also everyone on our street switched to Uverse once it was available. It is reasonably priced for what you get. We got the package deal, dsl, tv and phone and we are dropping the phone part because we just don't get enough calls to warrant the cost of it, we will just use our cells.

Cooperbailey,

We had that exact problem with Comcast. It happened when they were adding a lot more high def programming. They denied that was the problem but when I Googled it, there were lots of people in my area who were experiencing the same thing.

All's fine now.