Reconnecting the Cord

So my end-of-year goal was to cut off my satellite TV coverage, as so many other intelligent, cost-conscious people have done, relying instead on an antenna for local channels (basically all I watch, except for the monstrously-addictive Investigation Discovery), a subscription-free DVR, a DVD player, and my local library's DVD collection to fill in any viewing gaps. The idea was to reduce my TV watching and cut off a $50 monthly bill in one fell swoop (depositing the savings in my travel account, of course).

I started the process earlier this year (Cutting the Cord) by reducing the number of channels in my package (weaning myself off rather than going cold turkey). To my surprise, I found that I didn't miss the channels that I'd dreaded losing. (It was only the thought of not having them that gave me pause.) Also, I never ran out of thing to watch, regardless of how many or few channels I had. By the time Thanksgiving rolled around, I was ready to take the next step.

Before

After nearly a year of research (my typical preparation period before any major change or purchase), I bought the equipment I needed on Cyber Monday: an indoor TV antenna, DVR, DVD player, and the crown jewel...a new flat screen HDTV to (finally) replace my 20-year-old tube TV (it wasn't broken - though the picture and sound quality were less than desirable - so I didn't fix it). I rid my DVR of all essential contents, asked a technically-proficient coworker friend for backup assistance (if needed) and set to work last week rigging it all up. (I was absolutely determined to do it myself despite lacking any technical know-how.)

My bedroom carpet was rapidly covered in a pile of boxes, cords, plastic bags, twist ties, remotes, and assorted electrical parts as I began assembling my equipment, starting first with the TV and antenna, which were the bases for everything else. I plugged in the TV, connected the antenna, crossed my fingers,  began scanning for channels...and found nothing. I moved the antenna all over the room, as directed, sticking it in the window, next to the window, below the window, flat on a hard surface, all to no avail. I felt like Clark Griswold in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation when he summoned his family outside to watch as he failed to turn on his display of 25,000 imported Italian twinkle lights (though thankfully without the audience or tantrum): a whole lot of anticipation with no payoff.

After three hours of frustration, I gave up and went to bed, where I laid awake considering my options. I could stick with what I had (the quickest and easiest choice, though I'd need help connecting my new TV with the satellite receiver), shop around for other satellite and cable providers, install Wi-Fi (forgoing any planned savings) and order Netflix, Hulu, and/or Amazon Prime), or give up TV altogether (my least favorite alternative).

In the end, I opted to stick with my satellite provider, schedule a service call, and further decrease my programming down to 40 channels, the lowest-priced package offered, saving myself a grand total of $15 per month, but I'm not unhappy I did. Of course, it wasn't my Plan A, and I'm not saving as much as I'd hoped, but the upside is that it forced me to upgrade to a 21st century TV (an early Christmas miracle), which I wouldn't have done if it hadn't been necessary for the antenna. So, in a serendipitous way, it's a rare early Christmas gift to myself.

After

 Merry Christmas to me...and to you.