Anyone have an HD tuner or can recommend one?

[Jason]

Hey guys,

My brother went into Fairhaven and I'm having trouble reaching the guy at Cogeco (big surprise there!) to get his cable tv hooked up. I've only been able to leave him a message or email him. No response yet.

Since I'm going there tomorrow, I wonder if anyone has an over-the-air HD tuner they could give, or sell or recommend a good one? Even just to lend me so that he can use it for a few days or a week? There probably aren't many OTA HD channels available in Peterborough but if he has a few until they get it activated at least he'd have that. I hope I'm using the right term here. I saw Bill demonstrate it once at a meeting. It had a short antenna with a connector that plugged into the TV or perhaps computer.

I'm looking at them at Bestbuy but I don't expect he'll need it for long so seems a shame to buy him something new. He's also getting the internet hooked up. The cable tv is just short-term until I get an android box hooked up for $15 a month instead of paying for Cogeco's ridiculous prices for their tv packages. Honestly, I'm not sure I want to give them the business at all with their sluggish response but the home has partnered with them.

[gmiller1977]

I'm sorry to hear about your brother.

With respect to OTA, you don't require anything special, as long as you have a TV with a digital receiver built in.  Any LCD/LED television will have this, and a set of "rabbit ears" will be fine, although given your proximity to the transmitters, you may not even need them.  Digital TV boxes were only required for old analog TVs that didn't have digital tuners built in.

There are not many digital signals in Peterborough (I believe there are 2 - CHEX and CTV); you can check on TVFool.com

Is internet provided at Fairhaven?  If so, I'd suggest either a Roku or Fire TV stick.  Roku will give you Global TV for free, CBC for free.  Fire TV will give you those, plus CTV - in addition to the obvious selection of other streaming services.

[Jason]

Is internet provided at Fairhaven?  If so, I'd suggest either a Roku or Fire TV stick.  Roku will give you Global TV for free, CBC for free.  Fire TV will give you those, plus CTV - in addition to the obvious selection of other streaming services.

Thanks for your concern. He was in the hospital for five months after getting pneumonia. I pushed (my wife helped) to keep him in the hospital so they wouldn't just send him home right after he healed from that. He had a lot of trouble getting around his home and couldn't even leave it because there was steep and long stair to go down. His issues are mainly physical. I knew if we could keep him in the hospital they'd push to get him in a home and they did. He seems really unhappy now maybe just because of the change. I think he'll like it better than the hospital in time. But I feel like a horrible brother. I just can't be a caregiver to him. I already have to help my wife and I don't mind that. But two people is too much.

I don't think it's a very old TV. One of the members, Brian S. gave it to us and we passed it on until he can get something better. It's about 40" I guess. They only allow up to 45" wide which works out to a 50" set on the regular 16:9 form factor. They used to provide Wifi but not anymore. Their office was on the same network (yeah, great security there) so resident use slowed it down immensely. But trying to set him up with the internet. I just hate Cogeco with a passion, Bell, too. I'd much rather get him Carrytel internet and their tv service until I set up the box. Thanks for the info, I'll check the set tomorrow to see if he can get any OTA channels as-is.

[gmiller1977]

I'm sorry for the cirucumstance you are in.  I don't know what else to suggest.

[William]

I don't think it's a very old TV.

I have OTA.  Even though my TV is OTA-ready, I still need an external tuner.  If you're close to transmitter, you can get away with rabbit-ear antenna.  If you're farther way, then you'd need proper HD antenna.

[Jason]

I'm sorry for the cirucumstance you are in.  I don't know what else to suggest.

It's alright. It's life. I have a counsellor I can talk to whenever I need one. The mental health system seems a lot better than it was 10 years ago, definitely better than 20 years ago. I'll survive.

[Jason]

I have OTA.  Even though my TV is OTA-ready, I still need an external tuner.  If you're close to transmitter, you can get away with rabbit-ear antenna.  If you're farther way, then you'd need proper HD antenna.

Thanks for your input, William. I was looking at the website that gmiller recommended and it shows that 3 stations are easy to get in Peterborough. Everything else probably (50/50) does or definitely does need an antenna in the attic (not sure they'd like that) or on a roof. Maybe I could put one up by stealth. Does anyone have a grappling hook and some good rope? The kind with knots would be good as I'm a girly man with girly arms.