Sometimes the best technology is old school. And after writing columns recently on devices like Roku and Chromecast that help stream shows and movies to your TV, I was solicited by over-the-air antenna makers wanting me to test out their products to see how to completely cut out cable for next to nothing in cost.
So I put two of these indoor-only products up to the task. Mind you, I live in a particularly hilly area of Southern California where analog TV reception is almost non-existent. Representatives from both companies promised me that wouldn’t be an issue with their antennas. And by the way, I turned down the opportunity to test more-powerful outdoor antennas, because frankly I just didn’t want to climb up on my roof to install them.
The first company, Antennas Direct, sent me its ClearStream Eclipse Amplified Sure Grip Indoor HDTV antenna that sells for about $60. It’s a step beyond those old rabbit ears that came with old television sets. It includes an amplifier that plugs into the wall to boost the reception to a 50-mile range. After plugging it in and easily hooking up the base unit to my TV, I positioned the receiver in the window and performed a channel search. To my surprise, it picked up a few dozen channels -- many of them digital but some analog.
Most of the channels were Los Angeles-based, while a few were from San Diego. Interestingly, I live closer to the San Diego market than L.A. But I admit my window faces north, so that may have had something to do with it.
Regardless, I turned on a football game and couldn’t believe how much clearer it was through the antenna than through my own cable system. Mind you, this was in the morning -- yes, our college football and NFL games start early for our time zone -- and the reception flickered in and out. When it was on, though, it was crystal clear. I hear reception is better at night, so I turned back on the TV at night. Surprisingly, fewer channels came in but those that did were more stable without any pixelating.
For those of you considering cutting the cord, I warn you that the first thing you notice with an over-the-air antenna is how slow it is to change channels -- each interval last about four seconds. I’m used to channel surfing with instant feedback, and using an antenna I had to be extremely patient.
Next I tried the Mohu Leaf 50 Indoor Amplified HDTV antenna that sells for $70. It works in much the same way as the Eclipse, but in this case I was able to conveniently plug the amplifier into the TV’s USB port. It also comes with a wall plug, but the USB option saves space and cuts the electric bill. A nice touch.
The Mohu had a similar experience grabbing channels mostly from L.A., but fewer than the Eclipse. I could still get major networks like CBS, NBC, Fox and ABC, but unreliably: NBC would come in fine, and if I surfed up a few channels and then returned to NBC, the reception would be gone. I tried it both during the day and at night, with identical results. The other channels were much more stable.
So after being hooked to cable for decades, could I revert to an over-the-air antenna? Maybe, but I’d have to supplement it with a streaming device for sure. I give cord-cutters a lot of kudos for giving it a go. They’re saving a lot of money by not paying outrageous cable bills. And using products like these two antennas makes it a much more palatable experience.
