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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So i had directv, now i have time warner cable. I still have my dish, I use roku and would like to get rid of time warner, my question is, how would i hook this antenna up from my satelite to the box. since I know have cable and cable put a huge splitter in the cable box outside.
I am having a problem with Step 5. I have the same antenna that you recommended. I did not have a cone. There is a loose coaxial cable. There is no cone. When I take off the end of the dish where I think the cone should be, there are about 3 coax cables but none with a loose end. 2 questions: 1) do I use the loose coax cable (or how do I have to unhook something else?) and 2) how do I connect the connector from the antenna to the coax cable on the roof? They don’t seem to fit easily. Thanks in advance!
I installed a RCA ANT751 antenna and connected it to my old dish. I added a pre-amplifier to the assembly. I ran new RG-6 coaxial cable and connected to the existing cable runs in the house. According to AnntennaWeb I should receive at least 12 channels at a distance of 10-13 miles at 250-256 degrees, from Norfolk, VA. I am only able to get 3 of the listed channels, and 6 additional channels, all digital. I used the old dish mount and did not change the vertical angle of the dish. How close to I have to be on the compass readings? Any suggestions on how to get more channels?
Brett, not sure where you are, but I just installed my outside antenna, using my old satellite mount, and its great,,,get over 30 channels, BUT, it didn’t just happen. I went on antennaweb.org and found the degrees for the stations in my area and had to work a little to get the antenna aimed in the right direction. Then, I moved it up the post some more and VOILA…36 channels…boom! Good luck and be sure to get those locations.
I followed the instructions and only was able to get 2 channels. I had previously used an indoor antenna and was able to get 12 channels that were intermittent. I know that all of the connections are tight. I thought for sure that putting the outdoor antenna would bring all of them in clearly. Why is this? Am I going to need a preamp or something?
Robin,
Yes if you add the HD antenna and then decide to go back to Satellite TV, no problem. Just put everything back as to where it was before!
-RR
I’m highly considering doing this. My question though, is this- if I decide to go back to Directv, can I just put the cone back on? Not so sure my husband would want to go without Game of Thrones when it comes back on… We’re still on the fence. I know, I know. We’d get locked back into a 2 yr contract with Directv if we resubscribe. But we could save so much between now and April if we do this!