“Cord cutting requires you to decide you want to save money, to commit to making a lifestyle change and to be willing to try something new.”

Cord cutting isn’t complicated, however some people are afraid to try to cut the cord because of the false assumption that you need to be technically savvy to get the job done (among other reasons).  The truth is, if you can read simple directions and aren’t afraid to make a small effort to dial in the channels at your location, practically anyone can get free TV using an HDTV antenna.

It’s not expensive or difficult to cut the cord. Any initial costs associated with purchasing an over-the-air antenna are quickly recouped in the first month of savings earned after the first month free from cable or satellite TV.

Digital Drives the Signal

To grab free over-the-air TV signals and view television broadcasts on your TV, you need the right equipment.  This doesn’t mean you have to rush out and buy hundreds of dollars worth of new stuff, but it does mean that what you use must be able to capture and descramble digital over air TV signals.

Cord cutting requires that you have a TV that’s digital-ready. The TV you use to view over-the-air TV broadcasts needs to have a digital tuner inside or attached to it. Digital tuners are what decipher digital over-the-air TV broadcasts.  If you have a newer, flat TV, it most likely has a digital tuner already built into it. However if you view TV programming on an older box-type set, you’ll need a digital converter box.

Digital converter boxes are cheap, starting at about $30, and act as an external digital tuner for older TVs. They allow you to view digital TV signals on your older TV without having to buy a new LED, LCD or Plasma TV with the digital tuner inside.

Over-The-Air HDTV Antennas

Digital HDTV over-the-air antennas can be indoor or outdoor, as long as the range of the antenna you are using is adequate for your location.

Select one indoor HDTV antenna for each TV in your household you want to receive over air TV.  Make sure the TV broadcast towers in your area are within range of your chosen antenna.

For example, if the  local TV towers are all within 30 miles of your location, you would be able to purchase an antenna with a range of 30 miles to receive the TV signals broadcast over air in your area. The Leaf 30 HDTV Indoor Antenna is ideal.

I use two Mohu Leaf 50 antennas to cut the cord because the furthest TV towers broadcasting in my area are over 40 miles away.  One Mohu 50 antenna is connected to my smart TV in the living room, and the other is connected to a 24” LED monitor that’s connected to my PC.  The monitor has a built-in digital tuner, so when I’m not using the monitor for work I can watch TV via a connected Mohu antenna.

Alternatively you may use a splitter to share a single over air antenna’s signal with other TVs in your home.  This is a bit more complicated as it means more cables and an antenna that’s best installed in the attic or on your roof.

The Jolt 4-Way Antenna Amplifier by Mohu allows up to four televisions to share the over air signals from a single Mohu Sky 60 HDTV Attic / Outdoor Antenna. It’s a great option for large households on a budget to enjoy free over-the-air TV.

Cut the Cord

I love Mohu antennas for their ease of use and performance. When using a Mohu antenna to cut the cord, remember these tips for easy installation and use of your HDTV antenna.

1.  Easy step-by-step directions are included with each antenna. Read them prior to setup and use.

2. Placement of the antenna is key to successful over air reception. Try several locations. Higher is usually better.

3.  Scan for channels using your TV’s remote and make sure the input is set to ‘Air’ to pick up over-the-air TV broadcasts.

4.  If you have questions, remember you can always check out the Mohu FAQs, their Forum or contact Mohu Support.

Over-the-air TV gives you all the latest network programming in HD and it’s easy to obtain with the right Mohu HDTV antenna. Cut the cord with Mohu and start saving money today!

Andrea Polk hails from Oregon and is a wife, mother, writer, Amazon Top 50 Reviewer, and more. She’s also the author of the Simple Guide to Over-the-Air Free TV as well as the avid deal-seeker behind SavvySleuth.com, where she scours the web for the best online deals.