On 11/14/2011 01:00 AM, Mike Miller wrote: > I've been noticing that about 90% of what I watch comes from local > channels that I think all have digital broadcasts. These would be the > local PBS, ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox stations. It seems like a bad idea > to pay $80/mo for DirecTV (HD) if I can get the HD on those stations > for free over the airwaves and record the content to my computer > (which is already connected by HDMI to the HDTV) > > So I'm wondering if any of you are doing this -- can you get good > signals over the airwaves with no antenna outside the home? > > I'm also wondering about using the Ubuntu box as a DVR. Apparently > there is this thing called MythTV, but I don't know much about it, > yet. Is it possible to add DVR capability to an ordinary Ubuntu 10.10 > installation? > > Mike > _______________________________________________ > TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota > tclug-list at mn-linux.org > http://mailman.mn-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list > Yes. An outside is best, but and indoor antenna can work well. Antenna orientation can be quite important; you may have to rotate it to test for best reception. A window will present the least obstruction. I've had very good success with a variation of the coat hanger antenna: http://makeprojects.com/Project/Digital-TV-Coat-Hanger-Antenna/722/1 Instead of coat hangers, I bought four Radio Shack bow-tie antennas and clipped them to an aluminum tube. I also built a modified Gray-Hoverman antenna for a friend who was considering cable: http://www.digitalhome.ca/ota/superantenna/design.htm She wasn't keen on a geeky-looking antenna. So I formed the antenna using fine-gauge wire (no reflector arms) and taped it on her window with transparent tape. It's almost invisible and her reception is quite good.