Tired of spending too much money on your Satellite TV bill? Well for around $50 you can purchase and easily install an HDTV Antenna that will give you quality HD TV programming. Of course you will not get as many channels as before using DirecTV, but there are hundreds of channels available broadcast into the airwaves for free from the stations you already know and love. This is a tutorial for most people who can no longer afford the cost of satellite television. Cancelling DirecTV or Dish Network will save you from $75 to $300 dollars a month. Admit it, most of the channels that you are paying your hard earned dollars for are completely worthless. Cancel the service, buy an HD Antenna, and get Netflix. You will not miss most of the TV you watch and you will be saving mountains of money per year. So ditch the monthly bill and follow our tutorial below for saving your money…
Step 1: CANCEL SATELLITE TELEVISION
Step 2: Buy an HD (High Definition) Television Antenna.
Here is the HDTV Antenna we purchased from Amazon for around $50 dollars.
(You may also need a coax cable splitter, antenna amplifier signal booster, or new coax cable)
Step 3: Remove the cone and place the HD Antenna on your existing Satellite Dish.
Step 4: Install the U-bolt that is included with the antenna and secure it tightly in place.
Step 5: Connect the already existing coaxial cable to the HD Antenna.
(The cable is already going from your TV from the dish, so just disconnect and re-attach to the hd antenna)
Step 6: Check all connections to make sure everything is secure and tight.
Step 7: There should already be a coaxial cable going into your home from the roof.
If it was disconnected then look along the side of your home for a connection like this and plug back in.
Step 8: The next process involves finding out which direction in the sky your local channels are in.
You will need to point your antenna in a certain direction for best reception depending on where you live.
Go to Antenna Web, FCC DTV MAPS, or Antenna Point and type in your info to find out which way to point your HDTV antenna.
Once you have the correct direction located, point your antenna/dish in that direction.
Step 9: Turn on your TV and set it to “Antenna” and let it “Find” the available free stations.
Then check the signal meter to see if it is strong.
If all is good you are done! Free HDTV!
HDTV That is broadcast free is from 720p to 1080p HD quality!
Of course you do not need an old dish to install a new HD Antenna.
You can install one in your attic too if you desire.
But remember that HDTV Antennas work best when attached to a roof and there are no obstructions.
Here is a small chart for “how to connect and combine signals from 2 antennas facing different directions” if needed.
Written by Keith Schneerer
Certified Appliance Tech · Founder, RemoveAndReplace.com
Keith has spent 30+ years repairing machines, starting as a military mechanic and later maintaining food processing equipment before moving into appliance repair. He founded RemoveAndReplace.com to share field-tested repair advice.
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I think I am going to do this.
I have Dish Network now, going to the main tv – then mirrored to 4 additional TVs. One box for all!
Is it just as simple as installing this antenna … and plugging the coax into it?
After doing so … I would just have the question of … will all my TVs receive the HD antenna signal?
Would I try to keep my Dish box to pump this signal out somehow?
Do I buy some kind of other box?
I am confident it can be done – just can’t visualize it right now …
I mean all my TVs have coax going to it so …
Also, perhaps will do this in conjunction with SLING TV. If anyone has moved from Dish – to HD Antenna/Sling and got it on all TVs with limited equipment let me know.
I inherited a a slimline DirecTV antenna from the previous owner, in reviewing your previous post “Theresa from August 2015” mostly fits my situation with the 16swm distribution block. However, I have a total of “4 coaxial cables” coming from the antenna (which based on Ben’s posting Feb 2016) its the different SAT azimuths (which makes sense to me).
1st question: Do I just pick ‘1’ coaxial and connect to my Clearstream antenna?
I have one coaxial going into the detached garage which in a good distance from the house. I found the SWM power module in my attic; so im assuming its whats powering the SWM16 unit. I disconnected the Power-IN (Coaxial ) and plugged it into my new Channel Master CM3414 4-Port Distribution Amplifier for Cable and Antenna Signal splitter.
2nd question: What do I do with the single coaxial coming into the garage? I’m assuming is being split somewhere before reaching the house.
I currently have AT&T Uverse w/2 wireless boxes; but, the technician has all my bedroom runs disconnected, so i’m a little perplexed with best approach to the problem. My goal in to have all TVs with a HDTV signal (9 in All) 4 outside(2 in garage and 2 on patio) and 5 bedrooms.
Ben,
You should be able to use the existing coax with no trouble at all. If you get no channels then a signal booster may be needed. The channel master amplifier for cable and antenna signals should solve your issue. Make sure the coax cables are secure and there is no damage. Sometimes a coax cable can bend in a certain area and the cable inside snaps. You can actually use a meter on it to be sure it is not damaged. If the coax is okay and you add the amplifier, it should solve your issue. Let us know what you find and how it works for you.
-RR
I have a Dish satellite and removed the LNB. There were 2 coax cables running from the dish to a Solo Node on the exterior of the house. There was one coax running from the Solo Node into the house. I have disconnected both antenna coax cables from the Solo Node as well as the one running into the house. I tried each of the coax cables from the antenna with a F-F coax connector (one at a time of course). Neither coax cable picked up any channels.
TvFool says all the major channels are at the 115-120 heading from my house, and have oriented the antenna to point that direction. The antenna is pointing at the same angle as the satellite used to, and is pointing over the roof ridge line. There aren’t any other obstructions, trees, homes, etc.
I only have one tv in the house, and don’t plan on adding any. The coax run from the antenna into the house is a decent length, would guess around 30-50′ at termination at the receiver, etc.
Do I just need an amp to boost the signal?
Getting frustrated with what should be a very simple project. Thank you very much in advance!
Oh okay. Thank you!
So, as long as the antenna is properly mounted and directed where it needs to be pointing, and accompanied by an inline amp I should be good to go?
You can absolutely mount it without the dish. It does nothing to enhance the signal. Just makes it easier to mount the antenna since the dish is already mounted to the roof.
Very good and interesting write up on this satellite conversion to break away and cut costs from cable TV. After reading the article a couple times and reviewing every comment in the post below my only question is this… I have obtained a DISH Network satellite dish and I will be purchasing said RCA HD antenna as you have used, does the Dish satellite do anything to amplify or enhance the HD antenna? Would I still get everything that you are showing if I were to mount it without utilizing the dish?