[Jeffhs]

Rob,

I'm curious. If you don't have cable, what stations do you receive where you live? I seem to remember you mentioning awhile back that you are close to Buffalo; if so, I'm sure you get at least one Canadian station as well as all Buffalo channels, as Buffalo isn't that far from Toronto. I would think, however, that, as you have mentioned, if you have an amplified fringe-area antenna with a rotor on a tower, you'd be getting every TV station within at least 100 miles in all directions.

I agree with you on the cost of cable. It is very expensive, especially if you have digital service. I have Comcast digital cable, which runs about $40 per month (without the premium channels), but to me it is worth it, since I don't go out much and don't have very many expenses (I live in an apartment). Moreover, I am in a fringe area for reception of Cleveland TV stations, so I don't have much choice if I want to get decent reception (cannot erect an outside antenna or satellite system without first getting the landlord's approval). I realize I don't need digital cable just to get clear reception of the so-called "local" channels (all of which are 45 miles southwest of here), but I want to be ready for the digital revolution when it comes, not to mention the fact that two of my favorite cable channels (Game Show Network and the National Geographic Channel) are now available only on Comcast's digital service.