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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: > 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 >