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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