Antenna TV

Plus, a newsletter and Threads update and a notorious outlaw meets his fate.

Our TV Antenna

Since the TV antenna years that I reminisced about last week, the technology of video entertainment has evolved from over-the-air broadcast to cable, satellite, and the internet. You don't even need to be sitting in front of your TV anymore. Nowadays, you can pull up an app on your phone to watch the local news, enjoy a sitcom, or dive into a movie.

It's funny; the more things change, the more they stay the same. You can still watch over-the-air (OTA) TV for free with an antenna. In my area, those same five channels all those decades ago are still broadcasting along with some relatively new faces: ABC, CBS, CW, FOX, NBC, PBS, and an Independent. With new digital technology, each channel can broadcast multiple sub-channels. For example, new networks like Comet, Stadium, Charge, Cozi, GetTV, MeTV, Antenna TV, and more are being broadcast along with their "major" network.

Cord Cutting

Many people are coming back to antenna TV while dropping expensive cable and satellite.

When we first moved into our home in the early 2000s, we started with cable TV, switched to DirecTV, and now use internet-based YouTube TV. DirecTV just kept raising their prices to the point where we just couldn't afford it anymore. YouTube TV offers us the same "cable" channels at a much-reduced price (Yes YouTube TV has raised their prices since we started, but they're still cheaper than DirecTV.)

The only issue we've been having is our internet service isn't reliable. Oh, it'll be up, say 90% of the time, but it'll often go out when it's most inconvenient. So, I thought, why not put up a TV antenna as a good backup? I'm glad I did. There is a repeater tower not far from Elk City, Oklahoma, so we can decently pick up all the Oklahoma City local channels. Except for KWTV 9, it just won't come in. (The same tower, so that's odd). OETA (PBS) has its own tower in the opposite direction from the other, but its four sub-channels come in the clearest.

Tune In

If you're interested in using OTA TV, first, you'll need to see what is available in your area, in what direction they're broadcasting from, and how strong their signal is. All these factors will determine what kind of antenna you'll need. If you live in a metro area or are within a few miles from the broadcast tower, an inside antenna like rabbit ears might work. Otherwise, you'll need to mount an outside antenna either on the house or up on a poll. Digital OTA television is line-of-sight, so you'll need to point your antenna at the broadcast source.

To see what's broadcasting in your area use these websites: RabbitEars, Channel Master, or AntennaWeb.

RabbitEars and Channel Master Station Search Results

For antenna recommendations, check out the YouTube channel Antenna Man.

If you put an antenna, let us know your results.

More later. Time to tune in.

Threads

Meta's new social network, Threads, now has a web version at www.threads.net. Yay! If you’re on Threads, please feel free to connect with me at @blogoklahoma.

Newsletter Update

Due to the Labor Day holiday, there will be no newsletter next week. I'll be back on Monday, September 11, 2023, with an all-new edition. Have a fun and safe holiday weekend, everyone.

In The News

A look at some of the latest headlines from around Oklahoma and beyond.

• Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge to integrate prairie dogs back into prairie dog town | KSWO

• Turner Falls brings in millions for Davis after summer | KTEN

• Tulsa honors late 1921 Massacre researcher with commemorative sign | Public Radio Tulsa

• Frederick makes strides towards new hospital | KSWO

• Two western Oklahoma cities work to preserve their hospitals | Nondoc

• Oklahoma Broadband Office launches internet service map | The Journal Record

• Tulsa school board accepts Gist's resignation, names Johnson interim superintendent | KOSU

• Tulsa Public Schools to keep local control, accreditation after August State Board of Education meeting | KGOU

• Ryan Walters under fire after Libs of TikTok video tied to bomb threat | The Oklahoman

• State lawmaker calls for impeachment of St. Superintendent | KFOR

• Oklahoma FFA membership reaches an all-time high this year | KOSU

• With super conferences and CFP expansion on horizon, 2023 is the end of an era in college football | AP News

• Texas Tribune holds first layoffs in 14-year history | Poynter

• IBM sells The Weather Channel and the rest of its weather business | CNBC

• The EU's Digital Services Act is now in effect: here's what that means | The Verge

In Oklahoma History

Wanted poster for the Outlaw Bill Doolin

On Tuesday, August 25, 1896, the outlaw Bill Doolin was killed in Lawson, Oklahoma Territory.

The notorious outlaw Bill Doolin formed the Wild Bunch, also known as the Doolin–Dalton Gang, in 1892. They were infamous for robbing banks, holding up trains, and killing lawmen throughout the Indian and Oklahoma Territories, Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas. By the end of 1894, lawmen had either captured or killed many of the gang. Bill Doolin was finally captured in Arkansas in 1896 by Deputy Marshal Bill Tilghman. On July 5, 1896, Doolin would escape jail to hide out in Lawson, Oklahoma Territory (now known as Quay, Oklahoma). There he met his fate on August 25, 1896, in a confrontation with Deputy U.S. Marshal Heck Thomas.

Bill Doolin is buried next to the outlaw Elmer McCurdy, in the Boot Hill section of Summit View Cemetery in Guthrie, Oklahoma.

About Oklahoma: Alfalfa County

Alfalfa County, Oklahoma

Alfalfa County sits on the Kansas border in the north-northwestern part of the state. The county was formed at statehood in 1907 from Woods County, Oklahoma Territory. It was named after William H. "Alfalfa Bill" Murray, president of the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention who would later become the first Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and Oklahoma's ninth Governor. Cherokee, Oklahoma, is the county seat, the county's largest city, and is in the center of the county south of the intersection of State Highway 11 and State Highway 8. Other notable towns in the county include Aline, Carmen, Goltry, Helena, Jet, and Lambert in the southern half of the county and Amorita, Burlington, Byron, and Ingersoll in the northern half. Alfalfa County is home to Salt Plains State Park and the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge. The area is known for its unique 11,200-acre salt flats, where you can dig for selenite crystals.

Here is some more information about Alfalfa County

• Established: 1907

• County Seat: Cherokee, Oklahoma 73728

• Nation: None

• Map: Google Maps

• Area: 867 mi² (2,246 km²)

• Population: 5,637 (2020 Census)

• Time Zone: UTC−6 (Central), DST observed

• Area Code: 580

• Congressional District: 3

• State House District: 58

• State Senate District: 19

• Weather: NWS Norman

• Tourism Region: Red Carpet County

• History: Oklahoma Historical Society

• Historic Places: Exploring Oklahoma History

• More Information: Wikipedia

Extras

Here are some more things I hope you'll find interesting.

Doolin-Dalton Gang vs. Stillwater Marshals | True West Magazine

Passing Of The Oklahoma Outlaws - 1915 | Rhetty for History

I Rebuilt JAPAN'S TINIEST SHOP!! | Tokyo Lens

BABYMETAL - メタり！！ (feat. Tom Morello) (OFFICIAL) | BABYMETAL

Don't Arraign on His Parade! - A Randy Rainbow Song Parody

The Real Betty Crocker's Pineapple Upside Down Cake | Tasting History with Max Miller

The 50 Greatest Pieces of Classical Music | Spotify

Feedback Welcome

If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to leave a comment on Substrack, email me at blogoklahoma@blogoklahoma.net, or connect with me at Mastodon at @blogoklahoma@social.tulsa.ok.us.

Have a great week.

– K.