Get FREE TV - Replace DirecTV with an Over-the-Air Antenna 

FYI: I was inspired by your video but wanted to add a couple items. I unbolted the dish only (3 13mm bolts) leaving the adjustable base in place which is nice if you need to make adjustments to rotation, pan/tilt. To install I had to drill 4 new holes for my u bolts and replace the wing nuts with hex nuts (wing too close to the bracket & wouldn't spin completely around). Also coax can be disconnect so that you don't have to crimp new end on (I always have trouble installing new ends). There is a flip down lever at the end of the arm that will expose the coax connector when you loosen it and pull it apart (very easy). Too bad I can't post pics in these comments. Thought this may help someone doing same thing. I pulled in 47-53 channels at each of my 3 TV's using the same antenna. Thanks again TDT.

thanks for the video ! I was in the same boat with direct tv and turned it off . I watched your video ,went and got the antenna and parts and tools and it worked great ! Thanks again !

You just saved us a TON of time! We were going to attach a new mast to the roof. By taking off the old dish and using the already available coax connectors (we didn't have to do any cutting or adding new connectors) it was a breeze!! Thank you!!!!

of you have a sat. dish, you may use it to concentrate the digital broadcast reception. Buy the outdoor antenna, remove the sat receiver head, install the antenna where the head was - pointed at the dish. Then decline the dish and point it toward the regional broadcast tower farm, scan for channels. With trial and error you should get 2 or 3 times as many in fringe areas.

I did this about a year ago, I have saved over 1,000 dollars already. We are having a much better Christmas this year. I would recommend this to anyone. There are many channels to watch. The only thing missing is the cable bill.

Many thanks for the time and effort Tony! We ended with DISH and right now we're using room antenna's but we want to go to whole house and your step by step directions are great!

Very good, clearly presented video! Really easy to follow and containing all the nitty-gritty info you could need.

I had done the same and I got 50 channels in Houston. I don't regret it. I got my antenna at best buy.

At 8:30, Make sure that you place the power injector between the Surge Bar and the Antenna. Most CATV/ANTENNA coaxial accessories will not pass power through said device. You should always place the power injector on a direct line to the pre-amp(or powered antenna)...No splitters! just good practice.

I'm in central Florida. Bought an antenna from Amazon (38.00) put it on a pole, aimed it toward Orlando, Get 57 channels

Whelp here I am after 13 long years of paying for Dish as they raised my bill again so I did the chop chop cut them off and went to Busy Buy and got an Antennas antener! Lol yeah I’m southern okay and now after watching this Tool Dude Tony I need that RCA pre-amplifier an some silicone grease and I believe we will be ready to hook that new antener up buddy. 👍🏻😆

Just shut off cable to one home and Dish on another. Thanks for the video. Going to try this on both. If you've got stock in cable or Dish, I'd be selling it. People are sick of the price gouging from these companies. Bye, bye, A T & T mafias.

I remember when cable started. the whole , entire reason that you "paid" for your TV station was, it was commercial free...that was the hook. good old greed screwed that up.

Tony you rock. cheers dude.

Yep, I've had it with DirectTV. I am cutting the cord. Great tutorial. I learned a lot and you answered a lot of questions. 73

I have a couple of those antennas - one for my house and one for my shop. They're great but dependent on your location. I really enjoy mine, and the preamp was a great idea I hadn't considered. That might help me pull in those stubborn channels better. Good video dude, thanks for making it.

The Clearstream antennae your using is the best one out there. I've used them for years.

Lol..I did the same thing around one and a half years ago. I watch antenna TV and have a Roku that I watch Netflix and RU-vid videos on. Cancelling Direct TV was a hassle, I called on a Saturday to cancel and the girl told me that section was closed on Saturdays, I told her that was a lie and she transferred me to a number that was out of service and disconnected. I called back and got through to the cancellations and they told me that I had 12 months left on my two year contract, I told them no I didn't, I had a 12 month extension contract that I excepted when they gave me NFL Sunday ticket after my two year contract expired. I told him to look it up on his computer, he put me on hold for a while and came back and told me I was right. So I terminated the service owing nothing. I mailed back the two receivers to them. When I checked my account on my computer a couple of weeks later there was a $160 early cancellation fee owed, I called them back up and they tried one more time to say I cancelled early. I had to go through the same thing again to get it off. I did a screen shot of my account being closed and zero balance. What a pain.. I get calls from them once in a while telling me they "miss" me and want me back.... I tell them I would not have Direct TV back into my house if they paid "me" the $100 a month... I baby sit my grand kids at her house once in a while and they have Direct TV, I cant stand watching it, you get so conditioned to the crap that we call TV with non-stop commercial brakes telling us what medication we need and to make sure we tell our doctor to subscribe this medication to us etc etc.... Great posting!! I hope more people get rid of Direct TV, The Dish Network, or cable TV...

Great video I purchased the Clearstream 2v and the 4v and 2 of those same rca preamps. I am able to use the antennas inside my house when using the preamp. These antennas are worth every penny. The quality of HD news channels is better than the cable company's compressed picture.

Great video! Very informative and entertaining! "That's a long screw!" HA HA HA... love your sense of humor during the video - thanks for posting!

WOW!! Thanks TONY!!

with dirictv you are paying to watch 24 hr sales pitchs and IF thay get a movie thay run it till it wares out+

Hey Tony, nice work. Was looking through all your vids and they’re right up my alley. You even have cooking vids, lol. Pretty impressive. New sub 👍

That was great watching your video Tony I enjoy it . All the way from Markham Ontario CDN

I have a feeling if you would have followed the coax up the satellite arm there would have found a coax end

awesome video. very informative with a touch of comedy. it's good shiiiii...

Wifey & I were one of the last if the "hold-outs", when it came to cable or satellite service. (My MOM got Comcast before we did ha-ha!) We were kind of railroaded into Comcast because no one else services our area. The installation process was a freakin' *joke* & most of the channels are junk (also a lot of sports & Espanol). We honestly can't wait until the 2-yr's is up so we can go back to our 56 (there may be more nowadays) H.D.-AIR channels. Good move on your part my Friend & GREAT VID too!

I used to have cable years ago, got sick of paying a lot of money and not really watching it. I started using my OTA channels like you did here. I miss watching cable news though. I now have cable (all channels) with all of the OTA channels for around $40/month. I had to purchase and completely install my own 5LNB.

Tony can any brand or type of antenna be connected by cutting at the base of the old dtv dish

Great vid! I have a question tho. So do you just get regular network tv with this? Like the same tv one would get in the 70's and 80's with an old school tv antenna that used to get mounted to a chimney?

I'm dumping Dishnetwork and wanted to do this same thing. I googled and found this video. Thanks for the tips will difinitely follow this method!

If I'm not replacing but adding additional to then what type would you prefer to use then? Flad twin lead? That's what my uncle said to do yesternight but that's his opionum.

I know it's been over a year since video posted and thanks. I was wondering what diameter post your DirecTV dish was mounted on. Mine is 2 inches in diameter. Like that antenna and was hoping it would fit. Thanks.

ha i pay $200.00 a month for cable i'm dumping it soon nothing but repeats

Good job, Dude!

Thank you very much Bro. You are the best.

neighbors were probably like "what the he** is he doing up there???"

DUDE! dont fill the connector with dielectric grease. That stuff blocks electrical signals as good as it blocks moisture. you should put it on the male threads and screw the cable in, getting none on the actual copper conductor in the center. also probably a bad idea to use it at all on a coax connection, since the ground connection (spinning threaded part) is just as important for good reception and a clean signal as the center copper line is. Just use a weather proof exterior rated coax connector. if you are paranoid, slip some heatshrink over the line, and smear the grease on the outside of the established connection, then slide the tube over it and shrink it down.

I had better luck with the Channel Master amplifier at 47 miles from the antenna farm, but otherwise identical setup is now saving my wife's parents $50/month after I put in this same setup! One gotcha was the DC pass/filter that was inline from the dish coax as it ran into the house. Removing that greatly improved signal.

I'm getting ready to do this myself. On the dish itself did you really have to snip off the coax end or did you do that for piece of mind with a new connector? As far as lightning protection which do you think is better? Using a standard belkin power strip with coax surge protection or one of those $10 short coax adapters that have a fuse in it just to stop lightning strikes.

Thanks for sharing, I like to get one of these antennas for my house where would be a good place to get it from for a good price, if any suggestions, thanks, good video

This would probably be a useful video, if there was something on TV I actually wanted to see.

You were fortunate to have the Direct TV setup already in place. Also, you said the station antennas were only about 15 miles away. You could have easily just went with the Clearstream 2 and been fine. I have the Clearstream 2 and the furthest antenna from me is ABC at about 20 miles from my house and it comes in perfect. I do use an amp.

Hey Tony !! My name is Jerry I'm from Fort Mill SC ! I just discovered your channel ! Great Stuff !! I had my own Home Repair Service before I became disabled and have done almost everything you show and its nice to see someone who does things the right way the first time . Your teaching this old dog new tricks and my Wife really appreciates it because I'm getting more of my Hunnydews Done ! Thank You Tony I appreciate all your hard work !!

I work as an installer... not for DirectTV Never fill fitting with anything...silicon grease or anything else... self sealing and WILL effect signal flow and picture clarity over time

I did this about 5 years ago. And never looked back 😊 The only problem is i never hooked it up out side, its inside my house. This video has motivated me to install it outside. I live in NYC and we get some brutal winters over here. Would i need an antenna warmer so snow and ice dosen't stick to it? I would like to add all 5 TV's to this Antenna. Can you give me some advice what equipment i would need to hooke up 5 TV's., Thanks again for your video 👍

Thank you I'm going to order one right now

Awesome! Thank you.

good video but I like to leave a service loop on my cables and when outside a DRIP loop. The one other thing is I would CAP the 3rd unused Coax Connector on your PreAmp

Tony I bought the same antenna and I did the same thing except I added a tivo roamio ota 4 tuner DVR. This way I have the same type of recording capability as with Dish. The only thing I don't like about the Tivo is the customer support is not great, but there is a large user community that is available to help if you have a question.

Good Stuff! Great Information!

Did the same thing last year. Felt good tossing the dish off the roof 🤘

I did the same thing with my dish. It is much better than having another bill come in the mail.

Although that is a Great medium strength antenna ( it is one of the Antennas I use actually ) It does do a Great job in pulling in UHF TV channels And an Ok in pulling in VHF channels.. But it basically Sucks if you want to mount it on your roof or hard to reach spot.. For the Supplied Wing Nuts always Lossen on their OWN... So you need either replace the wing nuts.. Or use inside where you can easily re-adjust the wing nuts every 2 to 4 months.. That said.. When all is Properly in place..it Actually works Very good indeed....Only a HUGE outdoor only antenna will exceed this antennas ability

i think the pre amp may be installed in the wrong area (wrong side of splitter). your directv probably went: dish - directv pre amp (not sure if all dishes use one) - splitter (most likely in attic/basement/garage) - set top boxes i would think your new pre amp power adapter would need to go: antenna - new pre amp (remove directv amp if installed) - splitter - tv's on top of that, it may be beneficial to replace whatever splitter they installed with a powered one since splitting the signal cuts the signal strength in half. if not all the same rooms that had a directv box need antenna. you could also consider getting a smaller splitter. for instance if you have a 1 x 4, install a 1 x 2, it will make your signal better for the 2 rooms that get cable.

I had a lovely long distance antenna high on a pole at my other house but when I moved could find no one to take it down. Now internet and youtube are my entertainment. Sometimes I visit my girlfriend and watch her TV. Those long distance antennas work well, and it lasted in three bad hail storms too. Can recommend if you want antenna TV!

Good Video Tony. Does this work for Dish as well

Could you please tell me where you bought the antenna from. I've been paying $350 a month for Phone, Internet and DirecTv and I cant keep doing this. I will keep the internet because we need it for school work and my job. But all the others can go. We have the entire house wired for cable. But only 3 TV's are hooked up. We live in a very rural area were we can only get ATT DSL and Satellite TV . Please help me!!!!

I cut the cord (DirecTV - $130/mo) two years ago. Bought an antenna at HomeDepot. Best part, added a DVR+ from ChannelMaster $250, and a 1TB hard disk USB from Costco $70. ChannelMaster (Gilbert, AZ) can record two channels at a time. Now I have more Stuph to watch than I have available time.

I used my old satellite mount too, but my antenna from LAVA was much easier to hookup to it. Thanks!!!

Thank you for the video. Got rid of DISH and went Roku 3 and Netflix with high speed cable internet. With RU-vid, Tubi TV and Pluto TV on the Roku 3, there are many things to view. One thing missing is local channels. Will replace the DISH with a yagi to pick up some local news and major sporting events which are usually only carried by the major networks.

Great video. Unfortunately I live in east jesus nowhere nebraska so I would be lucky to get 4 channels. But with my solid internet connection I have unlimited choices with my gbox👍🏻

How The Way To Bring Back The Old Circle Channel Changer On Vintage TV. How To Run Vitange TV On Direct TV Air.

From 0:00-0:02 when you hit the dish, it probably went out of alignment LOL

Great video, but there really is no need to cut the coax going into the arm of the dish, if you disassemble the lnfb (the eye) there is a connector already on the loine at the other end of the supporting arm. its only a couple of screws.

all you had to do was take the LNB off and you wouldn't have had to cut the coax

Why is everyone hung up on you shortening the cable from the LNB? Who cares and it was your choice so get over it people. I appreciate your nice installation and will look into this antenna right away.

great video thanks so much ..!!!

How many channels did you end up getting and where can I get that antenna and how much

You should insert a long pipe into the Direct TV pole like 5' at least to high up your new antenna. and that way gain more reception,

I have a audio video surround sound receiver that is hooked up to my Direct TV. Can this antenna be used with a audio video SRS receiver.

I live in Central Florida, 45 miles from Orlando transmitters and 45 miles from Tampa transmitters. Installed the Clearstream 4 multidirectional antenna with preamp and distribution amp, and I am getting 96 channels! Also have a Roku for streaming and a Channel Master Stream+ for DVR and more streaming. Goodbye, Frontier Communications.

If you remove the cable from the arm on directv dish you have a great cable end already made.

this is awesome would love to have someone come do this for me

I have the same set up. Awesome.

Was the old Direct mounting pole grounded? And can you rely on the clamp to ground the antenna to the pole?

i would like to add to this and point out a few things... First.... the coax and mast should already be grounded by the first "Dish" installer.... Second.... although this is ok... It is not picking up a "dish" signal.... Its only picking up the broadcasts from local providers it seems because in the video it shows only about 14 channels listed.. ALL local stations across the US were FORCED to change to a digital signal broadcast. i have Dish and have the 250 package because i can only get the channels I want that way. There are several dish boxes on the market you can get to actually "only" replace the main receiver.... I hope this helps and not hurts the very informative video..... p.s... my grandfather was the head technical supervisor for KTVI in St. Louis for 35 years.....

How is that antenna working for you ?what brand btw

Good video might try it

will this act as a splitter and connect to every tv in my home directly that was routed to my providers box?

I get 45 channels from mine. Combined with Roku, it is better than any basic cable or dish television.

cool,...I'm sick of paying my(cable) bill too!!,...but I think i'd like to keep Netflix,...for a lousy $8./mo. (and wifi ofcourse)

thank you for info

Tool Dude, what'sThe brand of preamplifier that is needed, and do you know if it's available at Walmart?

New subscriber here. Do you make house calls on the east coast? J/K... This is what we need!

and now you can watch Gunsmoke, Bonanza AND This Old House... FOR FREE!

excellent i learned a bunch

I did the same as you did, I have had this antenna for years and it works great, Between streaming and antenna, I don't miss cable or satellite.

Nice

Good tutorial, but it's "over the air." Cheers.

MY SWM adapter is in the attic. What do I do with the two cables after removing them from the adapter and unplugging the adapter? Thank you for your response. My Directv signal splits to 5 tv's so I don't want to mess with losing that capability by putting these two cables somewhere they shouldn't. I hope you can respond. Thank you.

How did you reuse the wire? I unscrewed it from the DTV dish and I noticed that seem to only use male ends but living in an apartment I've got a bag of adapters I unscrewed the cable that's going to my apartment and nothing! Bought a couple years ago GE antenna 75 ML so either the antenna is shot or I messed up

Tony, I have a ClearStream 4 as well and an existing DirecTV dish. My question is do I need the preamp? If I use all the existing DirecTV cabling, which goes to 3 TVs in my house, wouldn't that suffice?

A good description of Direct & Dish Satellite , paying for channels you don't watch. That satellite dish looks good leaning up against that garbage can.

That was an awesome demonstration. I really appreciate the insight

You can also get an over the air DVR like the channel master DVR or the TiVo Roamio

OTA tv has ALWAYS been free, notwithstanding the cost of the equipment and having to endure endless commercials. The only difference is that now it's digital the quality is much better, but still "free".

Ive had antenna tv for years!! I hated paying for tv!!

You can get a GE Pro Outdoor Yagi Antenna from Wal-Mart for $49, hook it up in the attic and get many OTA channels, without an amp. I hooked one up next to my bedroom TV, in the middle of the house and scanned 53 channels just that way. If I put it up in the attic or roof I could get many more. Worth the money just to add channels to your satellite subscription. Put a two way switch to select between the two. OTA is HD, my satellite isn't BTW.Many of the OTA is not on satellite. Also got FOX (Seattle area) while they were blacked out during the DISH dispute! Good You-tube video!

I have this same antenna. Get 23 crystal clear channels. And mine is on the side of my house not the top. I live in a rural area but at a high altitude so works fine where it is. With a booster I can get more stations but frankly they are mostly all duplicates so no big deal. These antennas do a great job. Just get online and see where the bulk of the stations are in relation to you.