Use my Dish as an OA Antenna?

[Pixelation]

Hey all, quick question:

I am dropping Dish Network in March when my one-year commitment is up. It's too expensive and I work too much to enjoy it anyway.

My question is, after it's turned off, can I use my satellite dish as an off-air antenna to pick up local channels? I don't want to buy one if I can just use the one that's already up there since it's already paid for.

Thanks guys!

 

[mattb]

No, you cant use the LNB, or Dish as an OTA (off air) antenna, You could mount an antenna to it then connect the Coax to that antenna instead though.

 

[Pixelation]

Thanks, mattb.

Can anyone recommend a good OTA antenna? I live about 40-50 miles from the nearest TV station unfortunately.

 

[mwgiii]

Go to http://www.antennaweb.org and see what you should be able to pick up from your location. It will tell you what kind and what size of antenna you need.

 

[Pixelation]

Cool, thanks. That site is really informative. It seems I need a "large directional antenna with amplifier".

Can anyone recommend a good online store where I can find these?

Also, I'm curious why it suggested a "directional" type. Wouldn't a multi-directional pick up channels from all directions? If I used a "directional" would I have to adust the antenna every time I changed channels?

 

[mwgiii]

http://www.antennasdirect.com/ 90 day money back guarantee.

Directionals pick up stations much further away.

You would need to move the antenna if the stations are in different directions or try to combine 2 antennas.