I'll chime in too as someone who lives in a state with NO air TV (Delaware).

We have a Roku with Hulu Live. It is expensive, but still cheaper than
cable. This is the only way I've found to watch local news / weather.
Pluto, freevee, Roku TV, all have free national news / weather / movies
etc. This of course requires a strong wifi connection though.

----

Kayla Abner

(she/her)

*Digital Scholarship Librarian*

Digital Initiatives and Preservation

Library, Museums and Press

University of Delaware

[log in to unmask]


Visit  https://library.udel.edu/continuity/  for information on library
services during the COVID-19 pandemic.


[image: University of Delaware]


On Thu, Sep 22, 2022 at 11:35 AM Cindy Bowen <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

> 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
>