How to break free from smart TV ads and tracking

The best part is that companies can't track what you watch using an antenna. Like Nielsen said in a January 2024 blog post:

Big data sources alone cannot provide insight into the behavior of the millions of viewers who watch TV via a digital antenna.

Antennas have also become more versatile. For example, in addition to local stations, an antenna can provide access to dozens digital subchannels. They are similar to the free, ad-supported TV channels that are gaining popularity among smart TV users today because they often show niche programs or a constant stream of old shows and movies with commercial breaks. You can find a list of channels you are likely to receive with your antenna via this site from the Federal Communications Commission.

TV shows and movies viewed through an antenna will likely be less compressed than what you get with a cable, meaning you can get superior picture quality with the right setup.

You can also add DVR features such as recording and pausing to live streams through equipment such as Tablo OTA DVR device or Plex DVRa subscription service that allows Antenna users to add live TV recordings to their Plex media servers.

Port diagram for Tableau 4th generation.

Things to keep in mind

You're unlikely to get 4K or HDR broadcasts with an antenna. ATSC 3.0, also known as Next Gen TV, allows stations to broadcast in 4K HDR, but its adoption has been slow. Legislation recently proposed by the FCC may slow things down further.

To watch the broadcast in 4K or HDR, you'll also need an ATSC 3.0 tuner or ATSC 3.0-capable TV. The latter is rare. LG, for example, ended support in 2023 due to patent dispute. You can find the list ATSC 3.0 certified TVs and converters here.

In fact, the antenna does not have enough channels to provide sufficient entertainment for many modern households. Sixty percent of antenna owners also subscribe to some kind of streaming service, according to Nielsen.

Further, obstacles for example, tall buildings and power lines can degrade antenna performance. Another challenge is supporting multiple TVs in your home. If you want OTA TV in multiple rooms, you'll need to either buy multiple antennas or set up a way to split the signal (for example, using an old coaxial cable and a splitter, running a new coaxial cable, or using an OTA DVR like Tablo or SiliconDust). HDHomeRun).