If you’re tired of looking at your bank balance and seeing a big chunk disappear every month for cable TV, maybe it’s time to “cut the cord!” With streaming becoming more popular, many people are asking whether it’s worth keeping a cable subscription or if a simple roof antenna can provide everything they need.

 

A modern roof-mounted TV antenna can receive free over-the-air broadcasts from local stations, often in high-definition, some may even argue that the picture quality trumps cable tv clarity in some cases. That means access to local news, sports, weather, and major network programming without a monthly bill, while still enjoying good picture quality.

 

• Roof antenna: $50 to $200

• Mounting hardware and cable: $25 to $100

• Professional installation (if needed): $150 to $400

 

While handy homeowners can certainly tackle this as a DIY project and get good results, professional installation is often the better choice for larger homes or homes with multiple televisions sharing the same roof antenna.

 

Once installed, there are generally no recurring monthly fees unless you choose to pair your antenna with streaming services from your “Smart TV” apps, that requires an internet connection (which doesn’t come from a TV antenna).

Cable TV offers a large selection of channels, including premium sports, movies, and specialty programming. It’s an easy, all-in-one solution, but that convenience comes with ongoing costs.

• Monthly service: $60 to $150+

• Equipment rental: $5 to $20 per month

• Installation or activation fees: $0 to $100

Over a few years, those monthly charges can add up to several thousand dollars.

 

 

• No monthly TV bill, 

• excellent HD picture quality, 

• reliable local channels, 

• one-time equipment cost.

 

• Mostly limited to local TV stations (about 20-30 channels in the Philadelphia tri-state)

• Reception affected by weather and installation quality.

• Signal power may be limited.

 

• Large channel lineup,

• Premium content

• On-demand features

• Rather stable/ predictable signal strength

• Available technical support service

 

• Higher long-term cost, 

• Recurring monthly fees 

• Equipment rentals

• Possible contracts. 

 

Which Option Is Right for You?

If you mainly watch local news, major network shows, and live events, a roof antenna can pay for itself quickly and significantly reduce your monthly expenses. If you rely on a wide variety of cable-only channels or premium sports packages, cable or streaming services may still be the better fit.

 

Many of our clients enjoy using YouTube TV and Roku devices. If you want the benefits of an over-the-air antenna but still want features like DVR and video-on-demand, products like TiVo can bridge the gap. Pairing a roof antenna with streaming services gives many homeowners the best of both worlds.

 

Bottom line: Cutting the cord isn’t about giving up television, it’s about paying only for the content you actually watch. A roof antenna can be an affordable, long-term solution that helps reduce monthly expenses while still keeping you connected to the programming that matters most to you.

 

Have an antenna you want installed contact us here.