Can I Watch HDTV Programs for Free (no DirecTV or Cable)?

Dear Ike,

If you'd like to enjoy high definition TV programs on your new HDTV but don't want to have to pay a monthly fee for satellite or cable, you may be in luck, depending how close you are to a major city. 

All of the major networks, including NBC, ABC, CBS, PBS, Fox, and a few of the minor networks are currently broadcasting digital standard definition and high definition programs for free over the air from broadcasting towers all across the country.  If you live in or near a major city, chances are pretty good you can receive high definition programs with no monthly fee and with a minimal investment in an antenna.

If you're a home-owner with access to your roof or attic, then you'll get the best results (the higher the antenna the better, in most cases).  You may even be able to pick up stations that are 60 miles away with a good roof-mount antenna.  But if you're close enough to the broadcast towers, you might be OK with an indoor antenna such as the Terk HDTVi . 

Terk's inexpensive HDTVi indoor antenna may be adequate for picking up local HDTV broadcasts if you're close to the towers.

where the closest broadcast towers are to your home, and exactly which type of antenna is best suited for your needs, check out AntennaWeb.org.  If you provide your zip code and details about your home, they'll tell you what kind of antenna you need and where to point it.

Once your antenna is plugged into the coax antenna input on your HDTV, go into your TV's set-up menu to find your local channels.  On your set, I believe this is in the "Initial Set-up" menu, and called "Auto Program." On other sets, it may be called "search for channels," "auto add" or "program."  This procedure allows your HDTV's internal ATSC tuner to detect any local digital channels.  It's a one-time process that should take just a few minutes to complete.  Once that's done, simply hit your channel up and down buttons to enjoy all that free HDTV.

Hope that helps.

-Chris