How much would/did you pay for OTA?

[recneps77]

Was that a typo, or is the compression tool actually $80?!
I thought it was like $10-20...
(I went with pre-fitted connectors since the distance was like perfect for the way my setup was.)

[jb2008]

I'd say the cheaper price is actally for the "crimping" tool which works by deforming the connector over coax cable.
The compression type tool and connectors make a much better termination. Because of the quick payback period of my OTA setup, I thought it was worth it to invest in a good tool.

[classicsat]

I might pay a $25 premium on a TV, up to $50 for an SD tuner or a PCI tuner card, $100 for an HD tuner (maybe a bit more for a DVR), and maybe $200 for an outside antenna, if there were more or for channels around for me to watch.

[montery]

Hauppauge 950 usb adapter ~$100
Zerk Antenna from London Drugs ~$60

I get 3 channels (CTV, CBC, Global) in hdtv. I don't bother with the analogue channels.

The rest of my equipment though, to complete the picture was much more expensive:
Yamaha HTR-6090 Amp $800
homebrew HTPC $600
5 B&W Speakers $1800
Panasonic AX100 Projector $2000
3TB Media Server $800

And just to be silly, 2 years worth of bittorrent downloading @ $57/mo = $1370 ... and thats just to fill up the 3 terabyte media server!

[tablo]

My cost: Phillips PHDTV1 indoor antenna: $30~40

And that's all I have sony kdl-40s3000 but I already had before going ota. And I now use BEV.

[goforit]

From Hamilton mtn. I get approx. 20 digital channels some HD- picture quality is unbelieveable in higher transmissions (1080). Much better than analog reception.

Total Cost $250:
2 (two) Channel Master 4221 UHF antennas ($50 each), plus other materials (mast, support brackets, RG 6 cable, coupler, connectors, etc. and labor ($150).

[stampeder]

The "Less that $100" count has crept up a bit recently. The "$100 to $500" count has dropped about a percentage point in only a couple of weeks, and the other counts have remained about the same.

I think this is symbolic of the fact that so many urban dwellers can now get Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, and Toronto digital stations OTA with an inexpensive indoor antenna. Calgary will be coming online soon in the same fashion. Its also symbolic of the fact that more OTA fans are building their own antennas (make sure its a GH).

Just a reminder to potential voters that the cost figure only includes OTA Gear.

[mlord]

Originally Posted by jb2008

I'd say the cheaper price is actally for the "crimping" tool which works by deforming the connector over coax cable.
The compression type tool and connectors make a much better termination. Because of the quick payback period of my OTA setup, I thought it was worth it to invest in a good tool.

Decent compression tools are widely available in Canada (and USA) for under $30, and often for under $20.

[lubmar]

under $100

$25 - 4bay antena
$45 - usb stick tuner

already had pc and cables

[smiles233]

so far

91 = coby hdtv tuner
13 = 50' rg6
4 = splitter
39 = cm4221 coming soon from ace hardware outlet
41 = phillips mant 940 small panel antenna
4 = cable/antenna switch

about 190$ so far and i have to buy stuff to mount antenna most likely....we have alot of snow in upstate ny now so i will try to mount it on the side of my house for now until april/may

[bozec75]

Cost: $18.00

I just wanted to see if I could get any channels, and I ended up with 9 digital channels

[mjbad2]

$2 for Sparklers for metal wire.
$1 for screw/washers.
$1 for UHF/VHF transformer.
Had old piece of cable/wood.

Fantastic reception.

[mkmorris]

So far these are my costs (WGRZ and WNYO come in flaky, but should be remedied after I put up the mast):

Samsung DTB-260F (my HDTV ready tv does not have an ATSC tuner) $100
Eaglestar CM4221 Knockoff $36.00
10 feet of 1.25" galvanized fence pole (Home Depot) $10.00
Two pairs of CM 9036 18" Brackets (frankensteining two 18" brackets to make one larger set of 26" brackets) - $87.00 incl Shipping
RG6 - $0.00 (had leftovers from a previous install)
RG6 compression fittings / tool $0.00 (had leftovers)
HDMI/RCA's - $0.00 (had leftovers)
18" Masonry Bit ($14.00)
Wall Plate $1.50
Grounding block from Radio Shack $4.50
Cable from grounding block (free, had some 8 gauge kicking around)

$253.00


I could probably have done it cheaper with only one set of 9036's. But I figured, might as well just have it all delivered to me and save me the time of running around between home depots trying to make an extension.

[aforgetit]

For my setup I bought 100ft RG6, DB4, and CM7777 pre-amp. Total was approximately $170 CAD and was worth every penny. LCD is not included in cost cuz I didn't buy it for DTV (but to pass down my CRT). After coming across OTA threads my interest was peaked and I looked for a way to increase my channel count over my rabbit ears. I got jealous over how many HD channels people were getting when my lowly rabbit ears were only pulling in 3.

[Marc]

Mini State Antenna - Free hand me down
100ft RG6 + connectors - $15