How to Watch Local Free-to-Air Channels without an External Antenna

Tapori on 16/09/2024 - 23:50

Hi OzBargainers,

We don't have an external TV antenna port next to our TV and are wondering whether we should pay someone to move the port (which is not cheap) or if there is better way of watching free-to-air channels without needing an antenna.

I have tried an external antenna from kmart (https://www.kmart.com.au/product/high-gain-antenna-43055845/) but I can only get few channels and that too is hit-and-miss.

I have Firestick and smart TV though and was wondering if there was a way to watch all local AU live channels (not ondemand), preferably without any paid subscription :)

Entertainment

Comments

  • jv on 16/09/2024 - 23:55
    +3

    https://freeview.com.au/watch-tv

    • SimAus007 on 17/09/2024 - 14:01

      Love this one, use it on the Xbox daily. Great suggestion.

  • Mechz on 17/09/2024 - 00:04
    +3

    Install Kodi on your TV and then the IPTV AU addon plus yhe catchup apps from all the stations.

    • Savas on 18/09/2024 - 05:11

      I have found sometimes the channel doesn’t play.

      • Mechz on 19/09/2024 - 00:21

        On IPTV? I have never had an issue but YMMV.

  • geekcohen on 17/09/2024 - 05:39

    https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/chromecast-with-google-tv… and then stream via the apps. That is if your Smart TV doesn't already have the apps available.

    • Bruceflix on 17/09/2024 - 08:31
      +1

      OP already has a firestick

      • geekcohen on 17/09/2024 - 08:44

        Don't have much experience with a FireStick and what apps it does/doesn't support.

        I know the Google Products have all the FTA apps available and you can Chromecast from your phone as well.

  • EightImmortals on 17/09/2024 - 07:03

    Do people still watch FTA TV?

    • Bruceflix on 17/09/2024 - 08:32

      Only until the end of Football season

    • Protractor on 17/09/2024 - 09:16
      +1

      Only the grown ups

    • AustriaBargain on 17/09/2024 - 13:53
      +3

      It's nice to be able to put a channel on sometimes. ABC doesn't have ads, at least.

    • SimAus007 on 17/09/2024 - 14:07
      +1

      I love all the subsciption options we have now, but I still love my FTA live TV shows :)

  • GordonD on 17/09/2024 - 07:40

    For years I've had a HDHomeRun quad tuner plugged into my TV antenna socket in the living room, connected to my home LAN. It is next to where my router would be if I had NBN. With TV software on my PCs I can watch FTA in a window or full screen on any PC on the LAN. In fact I'm watching ABC News Breakfast in a window on this PC in my study as I type this. And my "TV" is just another PC - a cheap reporpoised low power thin client - with a bigger screen in another room.

  • skid on 17/09/2024 - 08:02
    +1

    Can you run a cable to the TV?

  • shaybisc on 17/09/2024 - 08:28
    +2

    Put the FTA apps on your tv and there is a live option on all of them. It's a PITA doing it that way compared to FTA via an antenna though. No flicking between channels quickly.

    • GordonD on 17/09/2024 - 08:35
      -2

      No flicking between channels quickly.

      Sure, but you can run them all at the same time in their own windows, couldn't you?

  • CheapandUsed on 17/09/2024 - 08:42
    +1

    Just note the FTA streaming often doesn't have the sports due to Kayo and others having 'sole streaming rights'

    • geekcohen on 17/09/2024 - 08:44
      +3

      Which is changing in 2025 - https://www.afl.com.au/news/837244/afl-reveals-new-broadcast…

      • CheapandUsed on 17/09/2024 - 08:49

        Fantastic, I didn't know to expect that.

        Now if the A-League could get their act together and get all games out from the paramount+ paywall that would help the league.

        • Mechz on 17/09/2024 - 11:21

          Nothing will help soccer except leaving it to women to play. They're much more entertaining anyway and less sooky than the mens leagues.

          • pegaxs on 17/09/2024 - 13:00
            +1

            @Mechz: I have always been amused at the antics in soccer. I have watched MotoGP and WSBK my entire life. I watch guys run into each other, high side a bike at 200km/h into the asphalt, slide 100m on their arse down a race track and flip 3 times in the gravel trap only to get up, run back to their bike, lift it up, bump start it and get back in the race…

            Then over on the soccer, one guy gets too close to another and it’s 2 grown men rolling around on the ground screaming and waiting for a stretcher. How people watch that shit is beyond me.

            Women’s soccer on the other hand… holy shit. How half of them survive without snapped legs and their heads still attached amazes me. Some of the most brutal soccer I have seen is watching the women play.

    • st1ng on 17/09/2024 - 23:16

      As of Sunday, all sports on FTA will also be available via the network's streaming app, including the Brownlow and AFL Grand Final. It's going to be very interesting to see how Seven are going to implement state-based geo blocking of AFL next year. If you live in Albury–Wodonga or Tweed Heads/Gold Coast you can in theory be on the same NBN POI or 5g/6g tower (and thus have the same IP address) and be in two different states.

      https://tvtonight.com.au/2024/09/afl-on-7plus-we-cant-afford…

  • Qazxswec on 17/09/2024 - 09:01
    -4

    Tune the tv first on the proper antenna so all the channels are in the tv's memory, than move it and use the plug in antenna.
    I find you can usually find the sweet spot and get all channels but you need to figure out the perfect place, mine for instance, if i bump it 3mm to the left or right i might lose channel 9 or channel 10.
    If you can put it on a window sill that will help, maybe look at a better antenna though instead of a cheap kmart one, but in saying that, mine is also a cheap one

  • Protractor on 17/09/2024 - 09:17

    "if i bump it 3mm to the left or right i might lose channel 9 or channel 10"
    Patent it. You'll make fortune

  • sumyungguy on 17/09/2024 - 09:39
    +1

    You'll need to be in a strong signal area to use an amplified internal antenna. They're very sensitive to placement so make sure you're orienting it the same as your roof antenna. View your 'hood via satellite to check antenna alignment. You could try an alternative from a retailer who will accept the return; I tried one from Jaycar that didn't work. My Aldi one works fine but only when precisely aligned, otherwise it only picks up half the channels.

  • iguana on 17/09/2024 - 12:36
    +1

    Get a Foxtel Hubbl. All the FTA stations are available via streaming with an integrated EPG. You will need to register for each of the 5 FTA catch-up TV apps and then sign in, but once that's done you can access the channels via the usual channel number and of course see the EPG as well.

    Since you already have a Firestick, you could use Matt Huisman's streaming links. Instructions can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAjBAYKPjr8&t=171s

  • altomic on 17/09/2024 - 12:37
    +1

    Learn how to lip read, buy some Binoculars, and hope your neighbours dont close their blinds

  • bmxr on 17/09/2024 - 14:11
    +1

    You could simply run an aerial cable from the wall socket to the TV rather than pay to have it moved?

  • Shitforbrains on 17/09/2024 - 16:37

    With the Firestick you can get the apps for each free-to-air channel, and each app allows you to watch live TV as well as on demand programs.

    • NeoX on 23/09/2024 - 14:21

      Hopefully all FTA will be able to stream live soon. Found out on weekend the AFL was FTA only and wasn't stream but apparently that will change soon yay!

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join