With cord cutting on the rise, many people are learning to ditch cable and satellite. However, while live streaming sources are thriving, over-the-air (OTA) antennas have also seen a resurgence.
According to DSL reports, 20 percent of broadband households still receive TV from an OTA antenna.
With an OTA antenna and a TV tuner, it's easy to make a DIY DVR. This allows free television programming from local stations. See the best OTA antennas and TV tuners available, and find out why this is essential cord-cutting hardware.
Cutting the cord can result in massive savings. However, you will need to calculate the actual cost of cutting the cable. Considering canceling the cable? The true cost of cutting the cord considering canceling the cord? The True Cost of Cutting Cord When you add everything up, do you really save money by cutting cord? We do the necessary calculations to cancel the cable in favor of Internet services. Read more . Cancellation of satellite or cable broadcasting imposes a burden on broadcasting and often leaves a gap for live coverage and sports. If you're thinking of cutting the cable, be wary of the various cable traps. 7 Pitfalls of Cable Cutting You Should Consider First 7 Cable Cutting Hazards You Should Consider First Before cutting cable to save money, there are a few things to consider. Read more first. Then determine if you should keep the cable or cut the cable. Should you cut the cord or keep cable TV? Should you cut the cord or keep your cable TV? If you're still stuck with your cable subscription, but are debating whether it's time to make a switch, we're here to help. This guide will help you decide. Read more.
While there are plenty of free streaming news channels for cord cutters 5 Free Streaming News Channels for Cord Cutters 5 Free Streaming News Channels for Cord Cutters One of the biggest drawbacks of canceling cable TV cable is news availability. Or the lack of it. Fortunately, things are changing, and there are plenty of free cord-cutter news channels here. Read More For a one-time fee, you get a device that delivers live TV right to your home. Even with a broadcast cable replacement service, an aerial antenna may be a necessity as transmission of broadcast networks is difficult.
However, OTA antennas vary quite a bit. Mainly, channel lineups vary a lot. Antenna Web presents an excellent tool to help you navigate your local broadcast networks.
Because aerial antennas rely on broadcast signals, location is key. As such, you may need to hang an antenna in a window or prominent wall space. This could result in an unsightly antenna in your precious natural light or cluttering up a wall. But the free channels make this totally worth it.
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An aerial antenna is one of the best ways to lower your cable bill. So take a look at the best OTA antennas you can buy.
Mohu ReLeaf Indoor TV Antenna, Made from Recycled Materials, 4K-Ready HDTV, 30 Mile Range Mohu ReLeaf Indoor TV Antenna, Made from Recycled Materials, 4K-Ready HDTV, 30 Mile Range Buy Now On Amazon $24.64
Although there are tons of aerial antennas available, Mohu stood out as a household name. The Mohu ReLeaf offers excellent reception, a quiet design and eco-friendly components.
Unfortunately, there is no amplified iteration. You can also consider the Mohu Amplified Leaf which doesn't come with the eco-friendly features of the ReLeaf leaf, but offers similar specs.
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ClearStream Eclipse TV Antenna, 35+ Mile Range, Multi-Directional, Wall &Window Grabs, 12' Coaxial Cable, Black or White ClearStream Eclipse TV Antenna, 35+ Mile Range, Multi-Directional, Wall &Window Grabs , 12 Foot Coaxial Cable, Black or White Buy Now on Amazon $29.99
With its bold styling, the ClearStream Eclipse is an amazing aerial antenna. You'll find the ClearStream Eclipse in 35- and 50-mile variants. Both include detachable coaxial cables and the 50-mile ClearStream Eclipse is amplified.
The ClearStream Eclipse is as attractive as its high performance. Adhesive and a replaceable coaxial cable come bundled, and its reception is top notch. However, the non-amplified version didn't pack much more channels than budget options like the RCA111Z or Channel Master Flatenna. However, the ClearStream Eclipse is a complete antenna kit with elegant styling.
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Mohu Curve 50 TV Antenna, Indoor, Amplified, 50 Mile Range, Modern Design, Tabletop, Paintable, 4K-Ready HDTV, 16ft Detachable Cable, Premium Materials, Includes Bracket, MH-110603 TV Antenna Mohu Curve 50, Indoor, Amplified, 50 Mile Range, Modern Design, Table Top, Paintable, 4K Capable HDTV, 16' Detachable Cable, Premium Materials for Performance, Includes bracket, MH-110603 Buy Now On Amazon $69.95
Once again, Mohu dominates with the curve. You'll love the Mohu Curve for its great construction materials, phenomenal reception, and modern, minimalist aesthetic.
The only downside to the Mohu curve is that it is expensive compared to competing OTA antennas. Sure, the Curve includes a USB power adapter for your amp, and it has a long 73-inch long coaxial cable. However, for less money, you can hook up many 50-mile antennas with detachable coaxial cables.
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Direct ClearStream 4MAX Antennas TV Antenna, 70+ Mile Range, Multi-Directional, Indoor, Attic, Outdoor, 20" Pivot Base Mast, All Weather Mounting Hardware, 4K Ready, Black - C4MVJ Direct ClearStream 4MAX Antennas TV Antenna, 70+ Mile Range, Multi-Directional, Indoor, Attic, Outdoor, 20" Mast with Pivot Base, All-Weather Mounting Hardware, 4K Ready, Black - C4MVJ Buy Now On Amazon $129.97
Although listed as an indoor antenna, the ClearStream 4 Max is also suitable for outdoor mounting. This OTA antenna boasts a whopping 70 mile range. Unlike flat, inconspicuous antennas, the ClearStream 4 Max is a behemoth with a 20-inch mast and multi-directional UHF and VHF antennas.
Interestingly, especially for its substantial price, there is no coaxial cable included. In any case, ClearStream 4 Max may be an expensive look, but its performance is second to none. For a smaller option, check out the 60-mile 2Max.
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Just because everyone else is cutting the cord doesn't mean you should too. Among the biggest pain points in cutting the cord is the lack of live content. Pairing an OTA antenna with a TV tuner allows you to create a DVR, alleviating that challenge. These are the best TV tuners you can buy.
An affordable TV tuner, the Mediasonic Homeworx HW180STB is an amazing budget DVR. Although the Homeworx lacks advanced features like those found on more expensive Tablo or TiVo models, it's a no-fuss DVR. No subscription or software required.
Plus, because Homeworx uses a standard hard drive to store recordings, you can transfer files to virtually any device. Disappointingly, the menu is difficult to navigate and scheduling conflicts are difficult to resolve. Minor shortcomings aside, the Homeworx Mediasonic is an amazing DVR, barebones.
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Hauppauge WinTV-DualHD Dual USB 2.0 HD TV Tuner for Windows PC 1595 Hauppauge WinTV-DualHD Dual USB 2.0 HD TV Tuner for Windows PC 1595 Buy Now On Amazon $59.98
This TV tuner is capable of handling two television broadcasts. So you can watch one channel while recording another, run picture-in-picture, or watch two channels simultaneously. It's easy to configure with a small form factor.
In addition to PC compatibility, the Hauppauge WinTV-dualHD TV tuner is compatible with Nvidia Shield TV and Plex. As an alternative, you can consider the Tablo Dual TV Tuner, which offers a similar feature set. Unfortunately, the Tablo only supports Shield TV, so it's not the best option for PC users.
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SiliconDust HDHomeRun Connect Duo 2-Tuner LiveTV for Cord Cutters (HDHR5-2US) SiliconDust HDHomeRun Connect Duo 2-Tuner LiveTV for Cord Cutters (HDHR5-2US) Buy Now on Amazon $79.99
Silicon Dust's HDHomeRun Connect DUO is a premium dual-tuner DVR. Thus, you can watch and record from two sources at the same time. It is capable of handling 1080p resolutions and includes DLNA for network streaming.
While it's a solid hardware option, the Silicon Dust software is dated. Also, the Duo lacks built-in video transcoding capabilities. For that, you'll need to move on to HDHomeRun Extend. However, the HDHomeRun Connect Duo is a good bet as a solid TV tuner.
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Tablo DUAL DVR OTA 64GB for Cable Cutters - with WiFi - For use with HDTV Antennas Tablo DUAL DVR OTA 64GB for Cable Cutters - with WiFi - For use with HDTV Antennas Buy Now On Amazon $269.66
With its great hardware options, Tablo has become a go-to in the DVR space. The Tablo Dual OTA DVR is your best choice for the average cord cutter. You'll find two tuners, easy networking with Wi-Fi and Ethernet, and 64GB of storage space. Plus, it's expandable via USB for additional storage space.
The Tablo Dual OTA DVR features intuitive setup, robust streaming apps, and the lack of a paid subscription. However, standard storage fills up quickly, especially when shooting in high definition. Also, storage is a bit limited and some live channels load slowly.
Still, it's easily the best DVR you can find. If you need four tuners, check out the Quad DVR Tablo.
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With plenty of streaming sites, over-the-air antennas, and TV tuner devices, this is an ideal time to cut the cord. In particular, the WeTek Play 2 is among the best Android TV boxes for any budget, largely due to its built-in TV tuner capabilities.
Simply connect an OTA antenna to use your WeTek Play 2 streaming box as a media player and live TV with DVR unit. Mohu and ClearStream generally provide the best antennas, while Tablo, Silicon Dust, and Hauppauge provide the best TV tuners on the market.
Still considering just cutting the cord? Maybe you should ignore the decoders and use a PC instead. Cord Cutters:Ignore Set Top Boxes and Use a PC Cut the Cords Instead:Ignore Set Top Boxes and Use a PC Stay away from dedicated media center devices. Your spare PC is a great alternative because it's cheap to install, more powerful, and always flexible. Read more.
