
The number of televisions estimated that sit unused in closets.
The EPA estimates that nearly 100 million unused televisions are currently taking up precious, beautiful space. (source: EPA, July 2008)
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I'm in the Phoenix area and I get OTA on my Windows MCE with an ATI HDTV Wonder. I have used the indoor antenna that came with the HDTV Wonder and a DB2 from Antenna's Direct. Both work well indoor but the DB2 slightly better. I am approx 8 miles as the crow flies from the towers on South Mtn. in Phoenix. I can get all 18 or so digital stations broadcast in Phoenix. Some are better than others. I think it is a matter of power. All the major networks usually are flawless. It is basically the local stations that seem to come and go. for example: in Phx it's 3 and 61 and sometimes the PBS stations. I think I'd be ok if I put the antenna in the attic or on the roof though.
I set my aunt and uncle up with a Sony OTA HDTV DVR and put up a DB2 antenna in the attic and they are approx 13-15 miles from the transmitter and they get all stations flawlessly.
I get the feeling that only a small fraction of the public even realize that there is FREE OTA HDTV available today. I also get the feeling that the cable/satellite providers don't want people to know about OTA. It is extremely hard to find a stand alone OTA tuner. For example I got an Accurian HDTV tuner from Radio Shack for $90 bucks then they discontinued it. Then I get the Sony DHG-HDD250 which is only available at about one online store. Now it seems to be discontinued. I don't think people realize/or know how much better the digital stations will look on all the old TV's they have sitting around. You don't need an HDTV to see the improvement. But nobody seems to want to offer stand alone HD tuners.