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 found this six whole years after you posted it and the same antenna will be arriving tomorrow and I’ll be cannabalizing my DirecTV Dish the same way. Great idea!
I have the same type of dish. I have not hooked the antenna up yet, hoping to see if someone replies to this thread. Also, I have 8 different rooms that have cable to them, but watch TV in 3 of the rooms. If I buy the same model antenna, is the RCA amplifier fine or do I need a better amplifier. Drawing all signals from 35+ miles. Thanks.
I live in a project apt building i have 5 tvs in each room in my apt and there is my old dish if i attach this hdtv antenna will it work for all tvs.
My dish has three coax cables coming out of the pole out of the ground. I’ve tried all three cables to my new anteanna and none seem to work. What am I doing wrong?
Hello I have Xplornet Satellite will this work with it
We have some sever storms coming through today so I took it down. I may have to call someone as my electric box is actually about 40 yards away in the ground and I don’t have a clamp where it enters the house.
I am very surprised that it appears dish never grounded my satellite when they installed it.
I have just one tv. I had dish until last week. I went up to roof and the dish had one coax coming off it with the small wire running along that coax. The small wire stoped right before the splitter the coax was attatched to. Then I have a coax coming out of the other side of the splitter into the house.
I thought the small wire from the dish was supposed to be attached to the splitter screw. Looks like Dish never attatched it as it stops right before it!