Cutting the cord: How to get free HDTV in Charlotte (legally)

If you’ve been thinking about cutting the cord, here’s a way to get the best of both worlds — the perks of live television without spending $150 a month.

First, you’ll need an antenna.

You can spring for the old-school, rabbit-ear type, but most look like this:

An over-the-air antenna is going to cost between $15-$80, depending on the device. If you live near a broadcast tower, you most likely need a non-amplified antenna. They are less expensive and will pick up channels within about a 35-mile radius.

[The Wirecutter: The Best Indoor HDTV Antenna]

Here’s a list of the channels you’ll get in the Charlotte area, via nocable.org:

To get better service you may have to move it closer to a window, and know that if your house is surrounded by tall trees or other large items that could obstruct a signal, you may not get great service.

Tip: The experts say to keep your WiFi router away from your antenna for better reception. Something about the noise from the router messes with the signal.

The antenna should be enough to get all the good channels (I’m looking at you, sports fans). You should be able to catch most regional sports games with ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX. For those who can’t live without ESPN, look into services such as Sling TV, PlayStation Vue and DIRECTV NOW.

[Agenda story: As a streaming alternative to cable, Google launching $35/month TV service with ESPN, ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, etc in Charlotte]