Television antennas are making a surprising comeback in an increasingly digital age
Signal strength matters
In the Kalamazoo area, though, making the switch isnt as simple as plunking down a set of rabbit ears in the living room. TV watchers need decent signal strength to pull in programs.
Digital rabbit ears generally do not work, because theyre usually only at ground level, and the signal is weakest at ground level, says John Vroegop, an independent technician who installs antennas on houses in Southwest Michigan. It takes more antenna to bring in the (digital) signal so its more reliable.
Unless you get 50 percent of the signal its not going to work too well. Itll lock up.
Ron Berg, a technician with Laings TV in Kalamazoo, agrees.
Its not like the old analog signal, he says. In the old days, rabbit ears would get you a picture or two.
Some viewers with strong digital signal reception can get high-definition television broadcasts using antennas, Vroegop says. And they pick up the extra levels within the channels (say, three levels through Fox, like Cox).
You can get between 20 and 30 channels from an antenna, but you have to be willing to spend a couple hundred dollars, Vroegop says.
To rig a one-story home with an antenna for one TV can cost as little as $200, he says. It may also power an additional TV, if there is already an existing cable to it through the house.
‘TV was free when I grew up’
A customer service representative with Charter Communications says she hasnt noticed any changes in viewing patterns.
No one contacting us have said that they were going to use antennas, says the representative, who declined to give her name. Many places do not have the signal strength to offer many channels. Most people like what they have.
Kathy Winchell of Kalamazoo says she bought high-definition rabbit years about a year before the digital signal conversion.
Before the digital conversion, I could receive all major networks plus PBS, channel 50 out of Detroit, some religious channel at 64 and sometimes a South Bend (Ind.) station, she says. Boy, was I disappointed when I could only pick up one network after the switch to digital.
Winchells old TV couldnt show high-definition broadcasts. After buying a new one, she was able to see high-definition broadcasts of PBS channels. But she still doesnt receive any other networks.
TV was free when I grew up, and I think it should be free now, she says. If I have an extra $30, Id rather spend it on something else than cable or DirectTV.
Some television industry observers are suggesting cable and satellite subscribers are defecting to Internet video services watching television shows on websites such as Hulu.com or subscribing to Netflix either for streaming movie service or DVD rental.
We do watch stuff on the computer, Winchell says. We can watch Netflix through the Wii. … I really dont feel like were missing out.
Cox watches some shows on Hulu, but says he’s reading more.
I have found I dont miss 200 channels, he says.
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