As an over-the-air antenna and Roku user, I'll chime in.

Yes, over-the-air TV channel reception is highly variable based on
location. There are a number of sites that can help locate what
transmitters might be in your area, e.g.
https://www.antennasdirect.com/transmitter-locator.html  I always have to
put my indoor antenna up against a window to get any reasonable reception,
and even then the channel selection and quality depends on where the
transmitters are and any intervening obstacles (e.g. buses passing by, ha!).

My Roku is a streaming device only, so an internet connection is required
for it to work. I do not believe any of the Roku devices are intended to
"download", as you mention. For folks without regular wifi access, a Roku
isn't going to do what you want. But yes, as Mark mentioned, there are free
Roku apps like Pluto TV that provide access to various shows; whether
that's sufficient depends on the person.

If that helps,
~Cindy

On Thu, Sep 22, 2022 at 11:13 AM Mark Pernotto <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

> Hello Charles,
>
> This question is also valid in our community. Thank you for sharing your
> experiences.
>
> Is the purpose to enable patrons to stream local & PBS channels? I've had
> little luck with using a digital antenna for my television as well. I've
> not used a Roku device (Amazon makes a similar Fire stick) but the free app
> Pluto TV provides a very healthy selection of free television programming
> on numerous topics, including movies, classic television, reality series,
> animation, even *regionally* local news.
>
> Would love to hear more about how the library is utilizing these
> technologies to benefit their communities.
>
> Mark
>
> On Thu, Sep 22, 2022 at 7:56 AM Tim McGeary <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > Hi Charles,
> >
> > This is a really important issue for our communities, especially public
> > libraries that have higher populations of underserved and low-income
> > residents. I experimented myself with a hi-def antenna when I "cut the
> > cord" from cable, and even with my own technical experience and financial
> > privilege, I found it confusing and difficult. And, yes, the changes in
> > signals from local stations even makes the effort I made obsolete or less
> > functional.
> >
> > I think you are on the right track with considering how to use devices,
> > such as the Roku stick, for your patrons, as streaming access from local
> > stations increases. I am encouraged to see various state governments
> using
> > federal and state funding to increase broadband access in rural areas,
> yet
> > I know the monthly cost remains out of reach for many.
> >
> > I wish I could offer you more substantive feedback, but at least I can
> > cheer you on and say that I believe you are on the right track. I hope
> that
> > as you work through potential solutions, you consider giving a lightning
> > talk or submit an article to the Code4Lib journal to report on your work.
> > It is vitally important that we do all we can to make information as
> fully
> > accessible as possible, especially in this era of misinformation and
> > disinformation.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Tim
> >
> >
> > Tim McGeary
> >
> > Associate University Librarian for Digital Strategies and Technology
> >
> > Duke University Libraries
> >
> > [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> >
> >
> > Request a meeting:
> > [log in to unmask]" target="_blank">https:[log in to unmask]
> >
> > ________________________________
> > From: Code for Libraries <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of ander
> > kierig <[log in to unmask]>
> > Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2022 10:22 AM
> > To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
> > Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Roku - TV - Over the Air
> >
> > Dear Charles:
> >
> > IMHO, this is not an appropriate use of this list. Roku support is
> > online at
> >
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://support.roku.com__;!!OToaGQ!sCxKt9jtSQd49-LU545H7H6Rv-3PCticYppiH7za9auqkE8GBaz9ur_OtBxexbC7zbXGE_sjOWy7tv_0h20NbL1a0Zb6SmeZEw$
> > . Please don't send questions like
> > this to a list with 4000 people on it.
> >
> > respectfully yours,
> >
> > ander kierig
> >
> > --
> > ander kierig
> > Application Development
> > University of Minnesota Libraries
> > [lib.umn.edu](
> >
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.lib.umn.edu__;!!OToaGQ!sCxKt9jtSQd49-LU545H7H6Rv-3PCticYppiH7za9auqkE8GBaz9ur_OtBxexbC7zbXGE_sjOWy7tv_0h20NbL1a0ZbRM7us1w$
> > )
> > they/them
> >
> > On 2022-09-22 at 09:13 (-0500) charles meyer wrote:
> >
> > > Hi my esteemed listmates,
> > >
> > > We seem to generally broach more advanced tech questions than this but
> > > we
> > > have some patrons visiting with simpler needs.
> > >
> > > I was trying to help patrons locate any outdoor TV antenna or tower
> > > climbers who could help with their outdoor antennas but it seems they
> > > have
> > > all retired aso trying to receive over the air TV (as programs assert
> > > can
> > > be done with a TV antenna) is not available for a lot of areas.
> > >
> > > Just to experiment, I bought the best indoor antenna for my house and
> > > placed it on almost every square inch of evereye all in every room ang
> > > received about 4-5 TV stations, no local PBS just mostly 1960 TV
> > > shows.
> > >
> > > My thought was tey could buy a Roku ($50 Amazon, Walmart) and with a
> > > library hotspot connect that Roku to their digital TV (not analog even
> > > with
> > > a digital converter box) and then use the Roku device to downloads PBS
> > > and
> > > local TV stations via their hotspot.
> > >
> > > Some patrons need hand holding so once you plugin the Roku will it
> > > search
> > > for the hotspot and then you type  in the hotspot name and password
> > > and the
> > > Roku connects to the net to download those TV stations?
> > >
> > > I hear the over the air signal are all going 4K soon so does that mean
> > > you
> > > need a particular Roku, not just any Roku.
> > >
> > > Thanks so much,
> > >
> > > Charles.
> > >
> > >
> > > Charles Meyer
> > > Charlotte County Public Library
> > > Port Charlotte, FL
> >
>


-- 
Cindy Bowen
Systems Librarian
Georgetown University
[log in to unmask]
she/her/hers