MOVIES! Utah's CW30 Adds Movies! Network on 30.2

I lost CW30.1 and ZUUS Country 30.2 a few times this past week. Sometimes when I re-scanned I found a 30.3 sub-channel - with nothing on it. Or nothing on 30.2, and ZUUS on 30.2. But on Saturday May 3 when it happened again - I re-scanned, I found ZUUS Country had been moved to 30.3, and 30.2 is now the MOVIES! network.

Movies! (stylized as "MOVIES!") is an American digital multicast television network that is owned as a joint venture between Chicago-based Weigel Broadcasting and the Fox Television Stations subsidiary of 21st Century Fox. The network features an emphasis in its programming on feature films; it is available in the United States through the digital subchannels of broadcast television stations, as well as on select cable providers. Movies! is broadcast 24 hours a day in the widescreen picture format (available in either in standard-definition or high definition depending on the station's preference). The network competes with This TV, a similarly formatted network originally operated by Weigel (whose operational stake in that network was later taken over by Tribune Broadcasting on November 1, 2013); that network's primary source of programming is composed of feature films, though that network also broadcasts classic television series and children's programming.

The Cost of Pay TV (revisited)

When I started this blog in 2011, I had just dumped DirecTV and put up an antenna. DirecTV was costing me about $70 a month. In my first post on the subject, I noted that this was pretty much average for Pay TV customers. I also calculated that this $70 a month added up to about $9000 over 10 years, and would only continue to rise over time.

So now just a few short years later in 2014 the average cost of pay TV is up to about $85 a month - over $1000 a year, over $10,000 over ten years. In fact, the average price of cable has been increasing at a rate of 6% annually. What is the cable company going to get from you over your lifetime? Let's assume that you start paying cable at age 20 for $85 a month and continue to pay until you are 70, a period of 50 years. If you were able to work out some magical deal with your provider to have no price increase for 50 years, you would spend $51,000 on TV during that time. Add taxes, Set Top Box rentals, and a 6% annual price increase, and your lifetime total for TV alone will approach $100,000.

Satellite TV: $30, No Monthly Bill.

After setting up a FTA satellite system, I set a challenge for myself: Just how cheaply could I set up a FTA system for Galaxy 19? Turns out the number is around $30. Of course, the secret is getting a suitable dish for free.

The dish I used was a discarded DirecTV "Slimline" dish, it's about 22" x 36". (I wouldn't try anything smaller!) You can find them on Freecycle.org, Craigs List, ebay, on your neighbor's roof, or at the dump. If you can't find a suitable dish for free or cheap, you can buy one but it will add about $50 to your total cost. Try the Winegard DS2076 76 cm Dish.

Once you've obtained a dish, the rest of the components are easily available on Amazon. Here's how we do it:

A Plea To TV Stations For Proper PSIP/EPG Data

I know some TV stations and networks monitor this blog, so I'm hoping that someone that can do something about it will read it and act on it. (I know, I'm a dreamer, right?)

For some time now, many TV stations have had inaccurate, incomplete, or missing PSIP (Program and System Information Protocol) data. For me, this has been an inconvenience mostly, until now. I have an OTA PVR (HomeWorx HW-150PVR, for under $50) that is dependent on PSIP data for recording. I know some of the blame for inattention to PSIP goes to TV manufacturers (For example, my top-of-the-line in 2008 52" Philips TV only tells me what is on now, and only on the channel I am watching now!), but broadcasters should be doing what they can to keep their PSIP data accurate. Manufacturers are only following the specs for our ATSC standards, which stations are supposed to follow - but rarely do.

FTA Satellite, Part 3: The Equipment

In the third installment of our Free To Air (FTA) satellite series, we'll cover the equipment needed to set up a simple, one satellite system that will get you started. We'll assume that you are going to set up your system for Galaxy 19 at 97 degrees. While there is lots of programming on other satellites, Galaxy 19 has over 200 unencrypted channels available (although most are foreign language and/or religious) and it is the logical place to start.

While you can add a motor drive or use multiple LNBs to get more than one satellite, at this point we'll be focused on just a single satellite. For this, you need just 4 things: A dish, 30" or larger with mount, an "LNB" (a Low-Noise Block down converter), a receiver, and some coax cable. I would also suggest an inexpensive satellite finder to make setup much easier. 

Here's the low-down on all that you need:

Using FTA Satellite To Get Free TV

Today, we are going to dabble a bit in the "black arts" of free TV. No, we aren't going to do anything illegal. It's all perfectly legal, the equipment is inexpensive, and the programming is FREE.

Let's get this out of the way first: it's not a replacement for pay TV. No HBO, ESPN, or Showtime here. No HGTV. But there is a lot of content that you would find in a basic pay TV package, and free over the air (OTA) broadcast TV can be found. You can also find some unencrypted premium content as well, albeit most of that is international (non-English) programming.

In this multi-part series of posts, we'll walk you through what free satellite TV is and what is not, what content is available, what it will cost you, and how to set up a simple single satellite system for about $100-$200.

Lets start at the beginning: the 1970's, the dawn of satellite TV.

Some Myths and Misconceptions About Free OTA TV

There is a lot of bad information out there about free OTA TV and pay TV. Some of it is lack of information, some is misinformation. Some of it comes from a basic misunderstanding of free digital TV, and some of it even originates with pay TV providers themselves.

LET'S LOOK AT THESE MISCONCEPTIONS AND THE FACTS.

What's The Best Way To Watch The Superbowl?

GAME TIME!

Super Bowl XLVII—featuring the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers—happens Sunday, February 3 in New Orleans. CBS has the broadcast rights to the game this year, and kickoff is 6:30pm Eastern. You can  Stream the game live online at CBSSports.com, or on a phone or tablet, you can download the NFL Mobile app at NFL.com/mobile. Of course, won't won't get the best  picture quality streaming on the internet, and as often happens when millions of people try to access the same stream, servers crash, and who wants to watch on a 3 inch screen?

So, if the internet doesn't have the best picture, who does have the best picture for the big game? DirecTV, Dish Network, Comcast, Time-Warner cable? Another cable company? The answer may surprise you.

AND THE WINNER IS:

Where To Watch The London 2012 Olympics

There's been a lot of searching on the internet by people looking for ways to watch the 2012 London Olympics. I've done a little research and find there's more then one way to see Olympic games. This is by no means a complete listing of sources, and it will be updated if I become aware of other sources. If you have found coverage that isn't listed here, please feel free to update this information by adding a comment.


So, lets look at the sources I've found for 2012 Olympics Coverage!

Help Cache Free TV Help You

I'm often asked why I write this blog. I guess the answer is that I really hate paying for something that you can get free, and I hate the pay TV companies for, well, so many reasons. Making people believe that you must pay for TV, for their poor service, high prices, constant price increases, charging extra for HD, making you rent a set top box for each TV you own, cable TV's monopolistic practices and... I could go on, but you get my point.

I can tell you one thing for sure: it's not for the money. Nobody should ever write a blog just for the money. Do it because you like it, do it because you can help others, do it to put a smile on someone's face. I do enjoy writing this little blog, and I enjoy helping others defeat the big, bad pay TV providers. The look on someone's face when they see they are getting 30 or more channels of digital TV free is priceless. And I hope I manage to put a smile on someone's face once in a while.

I don't want it to seem like I'm panhandling, but the reality is that I spend a lot of time - and yes, my own money, too - working on this project for little or no compensation. During the recent recession, pay at my day job has been frozen for 4 years, benefits cut. Prices on everything have continued to skyrocket upwards. I climb up on roofs to install antennas for people, in spite of being over 50 and - believe it or not - I hate heights! In the end, I have a family to support, and I have to justify to Mrs.CacheFreeTV all the time and money I spend writing this blog and buying cool TV gadgets to review for you, my readers.

So I'd like to take a few minutes to tell you how you can help me keep Cache Free TV going, and continue helping everyone cut the cord and save some green. If I've helped you save money, or if you find this blog useful or entertaining, you can help in a number of ways. Best of all, it doesn't have to cost you anything!
Read on...

CW 30 and BYU 11 Update

After trying to get CW 30 and KBYU 11 on my portable Eviant TV using its built in rod antenna, and failing miserably, I did a Google search that confirmed my suspicion that both transmitters are NOT located on Mt Pisgah! Nope, they're on Clarkston Ridge to the West!

Does OTA TV have a Program Guide Like Cable? ( YES, it does! )

DTVpal converter box program guide. A number of former pay TV users have lamented the lack of a program guide when they switched to free OTA TV. The problem doesn't lie so much with OTA Digital TV as much as it does with the manufacturers of televisions and converter boxes. You see, the Digital TV standards provide for a rich set of features, including an EPG - an electronic program guide. Most TV stations broadcast their EPG info, which is embedded in the DTV signal. The information they provide includes the time, program name and a description. Some stations are very good at providing EPG info, while others fail miserably. Some stations will provide several days of EPG with detailed descriptions, while others provide only a few hours of program names or nothing at all. The worst offenders are LPT - Low Power Television - and independent TV stations. PBS stations generally do the best job with their EPGs.

Be Prepared: A TV for Use in Power Outages and Emergencies.

Q: Will my old portable DC TV work after the digital transition?

I was recently asked this question, so I set about doing some research about what options are available if you need a TV for use on a power outage.

A: Do you mean, an old analog portable - battery operated - TV? The short answer, in most cases, is NO.

However, do have a number of options that will get you TV in an emergency, even when nobody else has power or TV. You can even get that old analog TV to work if you have time (and money) on your hands. 

Read on...

Make Your Own TV Antenna

If you want to try free OTA digital TV, but don't want to spend a lot of money, here's a project that will only cost you a few dollars and about a half hour of your time. Keep in mind that this antenna is NOT for outdoor use, but it is great for mounting in a closet, in your attic, or it could even be hidden in a picture frame with a little modification. It's also a great way to see how many TV channels you can get for free before investing in a commercial antenna.

You could easily re-design this antenna using durable materials to make it suitable for outdoor use.

Watch the video here:

Save money... get HDTV for free!

Here's a local news story about families that have cut the cable,
News Report that ran on KGW Channel 8 Portland, Oregon:




"Ugly mass of metal"? hmm, to me an antenna is beautiful. It screams "FREEDOM!"

My favorite quote, though, is "I didn't know you could still use them". Yes, you can!

Save free TV!

Save Free TV!

A commercial from the 1970's. More relevant now in 2010!

Yes, It could happen. The government and broadband providers are conspiring at this very minute to TAKE AWAY YOUR FREE BROADCAST TV, or cut the number of available channels. WHY? Because they want those channels to be SOLD to the highest bidder at auction,... So a for-profit corporation can sell it back to you as a subscription wireless internet service. Face it, the US government is deep in debt and is willing to sell almost anything for a buck.
Yes, the FCC "goon squad", AT&T, Verizon, Comcast,  Time-Warner etc, want to take your granny's TV away, and offer her to pay for tv and twitter on her fixed income. Oh, and you too!

Announcement!

I will be posting television related articles at DTV USA Forum, where I am a contributor. I will post links to relevant articles from this blog, as well as my other blogs. I will continue to work on these pages to help everyone in Logan, Cache County and Northern Utah enjoy...

 Cache Free TV

But, REMEMBER, even if you don't live in these areas, there's still LOTS of good information here about CUTTING THE CABLE or DITCHING THE DISH!

And, if you would like advice on how to live below your means and pocket your savings, please visit

...A Nickel Earned.

Coming soon to DTV USA Forum :

Do-it-yourself TV antennas! 

Build this antenna for free, or with very little out of pocket!

We'll give you instructions to build this compact 12" x 20"' DTV
urban / near suburban attic / rooftop antenna for next to nothing.

And many more, so you can enjoy FREE Digital OTA TV.
Coming soon to DTV USA Forum!

The "secret" for getting FREE HD TV

The "Secret" for Getting FREE HD TV.

 Ready?

Put a TV antenna on your roof, in your attic, or on a wall. Aim it toward your desired stations, and enjoy.

Huh? That’s it? Hey, I know what you're thinking. "My grandfather had an antenna. He got 4 stations and bad reception. That’s why we pay for TV now - more channels and HDTV. Besides, do they even do that anymore?"

This is NOT your grandfather's Antenna TV!

The TRUE cost of Pay TV

*fine print: AFTER THE 6 MONTH PROMOTIONAL PERIOD, COMCAST’S REGULAR CHARGES APPLY UNLESS SERVICE IS CANCELLED. SERVICE MAY BE CANCELLED BY CALLING 1-800-COMCAST. Comcast’s current monthly service charge ranges from $56 to $62 for Digital Starter, $72 to $78 for Digital Preferred, and $105 to $130 for Digital Premier, depending on area. Limited to service to a single outlet. Equipment, installation, taxes and franchise fees extra. May not be combined with other offers. Certain services are available separately or as a part of other levels of service. Basic Service subscription required to receive other levels of service. On Demand selections subject to charge indicated at the time of purchase. Converter and remote required to receive certain services. HD choices include HD channel lineup and HD programming available from Comcast On Demand. Choices and availability may vary by market. Call Comcast for full details and restrictions. DVR service may require a deposit. DVR service requires an additional monthly DVR service fee. Number of recording hours varies by model. Please call your local Comcast office for restrictions and complete details about service, prices and equipment. Comcast ©2010. All rights reserved. HD choices based on a comparison of satellite’s HD channel lineup to the combination of Comcast HD channel lineup and Comcast HD programming available On Demand.

Sure, that $29.95 offer from the pay TV sevices looks inviting.
But once the "promo" expires, whats it really going to gost you? Recent Surveys indicate the average pay TV subscriber pays about $70 a month. This price generally does not include "premium" channels or packages, or even an occasional Pay-Per-View. Even HD is extra for some providers. About a hundred channels, including lots of infomercial-religious-and useless,and about 4 local stations.

Welcome to Cache Free TV!

Welcome to the CACHE FREE TV blog, where we'll show you everything you need to know about how to get FREE Over-The-Air (OTA) TV using an antenna in Cache County and Northern Utah.

Here's a sample of the channels you can get for FREE
(No money, EVER) in Cache Valley, UT.

 Your results will vary depending on your location and antenna:

Cache Valley Broadcast TV Channels
Virtual Channel	Call Sign	Network	Programming Notes	Resolution	Locations
2.1	KUTV-HD	CBS	SLC CBS affiliate.	1080i	C/Fs/Fn
2.2	KUTV-DT2	MY Network/ This TV	"MyUtahTV" MyNetwork Programming weekdays, REAL Soccer. ThisTV: weekends, Mostly  movies.	480i	C/Fs/Fn
3.1	KIDK-HD	CBS	Idaho Falls / Pocotello CBS Affiliate	1080i	Fn/M
3.2	KXPI	MyNetworkTV	Idaho Falls / Pocotello. Syndicated Programming.	480i	Fn/M
4.1	KTVX-HD	ABC	SLC ABC affiliate	720p	C/Fn/Fs/M
4.2	KTVX-SD	Untamed Sports	'UNTAMED SPORTS' NETWORK Hunting / Fishing / Outdoors	480i	C/Fn/Fs/M
5.1	KSL-HD	NBC	SLC NBC affiliate	1080i	C/Fn/Fs/M
5.2	KSL-US	Universal Sports	“Universal Sports” network	480i	C/Fn/Fs/M
5.3	KSL-Wx	weather	Local weather 24/ 7	480i	C/Fn/Fs/M
6.1	KPVI-HD	NBC	Idaho NBC affiliate	1080i	M
6.2	KPVI-US	Universal Sports	“Universal Sports” network	480i	M
6.3	KPVI-TS	This TV	Mostly older and “B” movies, all the time.	480i	M
7.1	KUED-HD	PBS	SLC PBS affiliate operated by Utah State University	1080i	C/Fs/M
7.2	WORLD	WORLD	Programming and news from around the world	480i	C/Fs/M
7.3	V-me	V-me	Spanish language programming.	480i	C/Fs/M
8.1	KUTA-LP	AmericaOne	Logan Digital low-power TV station. America One network, also broadcasts Telemundo network shows.	480i	L
9.1	KUEN-HD	PBS / UEN	“Utah Educational Network” and PBS Educational TV and distance learning, Public Television	480i	C
9.2	MhzWorld	MhzWorld	Programming and news from around the world	480i	C
9.91	KUER-FM	NPR	Audio from KUER-FM, Utah National Public Radio. Video from 9.1 on some TVs, blank video on others.	480i	C
10.1	IDPTV	PBS	Idaho Public TV, standard definition. Children's educational programs 5 am to 5pm	480i	Fn/M
10.2	IDPTV-HD	PBS	Idaho Public TV, High Definition.	720p	Fn/M
10.3	LEARN	LEARN	PBS LEARN	480i	Fn/M
10.4	WORLD	WORLD	Programming and news from around the world	480i	Fn/M
11.1	KBYU-SD	KBYU / PBS	PBS programming	720p	C*/Fn/Fs/M
11.2	BYU-TV	BYU	BYU network, LDS religious programming	720p	C*/Fn/Fs/M
11.3	Create	PBS Create	HDCreate: How-To, Cooking, Travel, etc.	480i	C*/Fn/Fs/M
11.4			Silent	480i	C*/Fn/Fs/M
13.1	KSTU-SD	FOX	AntennaTV -coming soon	480i	C/Fn/Fs/M
13.2	KSTU-DT	FOX	SLC FOX network in HD	720p	C/Fn/Fs/M
14.1	KJZZ-DT	Ind	Utah independent TV. FORMER home of the Utah Jazz.	720p	C/Fn/Fs/M
26.1	KCVB-LD	Ind	“The Valley Channel” All local advertising, all the time.	480i	L
16.1	KUPX-TV	ION	Syndicated programming.	720p	M
16.2	Qubo	QUBO	Children's Programming / Cartoons all day & night	480i	M
16.3	ION Life	ION Life	Health /  fitness /	480i	M
30.1	KUCW-DT	CW	Not Operational.*	480i?	C*

Transmitter locations:                Fs= Franklin South    Fn= Franklin North      C= Cache County (Mt. Pisgah)    M= Malad         L= Logan

* License for translator has been approved by FCC for Cache County. Waiting on funding from Cache County.

Malad Stations NOTE! - So far, nobody has reported seeing these stations, although theoretically, it is possible in certain limited locations. If you recieve these channels, please leave a comment.

If anyone notices channels missing here, please contact me so that I can update the list!

We'll start out next time with an article I wrote for my other blog, A Nickle Earned , about The True Cost of Pay TV