Montrealers toss billions of hard-earned dollars out the window each year by subscribing to costly cable TV packages, while failing to realize that a lot of that same high-definition TV content can be grabbed for free by simply putting up an HDTV antenna on your roof.I discussed this with veteran antenna installer Mario Trottier, 53, who will hook you up for $250, all labour and equipment included.
1-What's the best way to lower your internet/cable/phone bill?
"I use Distributel for unlimited internet and a MagicJack and subscribe to Netflix. We’re sometimes five people using it all at once and it's still fast."
2-A very high percentage of people still have cable, why is that?
"With the advent of HDTV, people were misinformed - especially the older folks - they misunderstood and thought that their antenna signal would be cut and they wouldn't have any TV, so they thought 'let's call Videotron.' They didn't know that the signal was going to be much better and the antenna technology was going to be amazing compared to the old analog broadcasts where you had a ghostly image."
3-Some people have the expensive cable but don't connect it all the TVs in their home because that costs $10 more per month per TV. So those other TVs only get the basic 40 channel low-def. Is there any way to combine an HD antenna feed with that 40 channel thing?
"Yes, it's easy, you can toggle between the inputs by using your remote.
4-You say there's 22 channels on the HD feed, but some of those look a little boring, which ones do you watch?
" I like NBC, CBS, PBS, the French stations, CBC, CityTV from Toronto and Memorable Entertainment TV with Jeannie, Mannix, the Fugitive, all old shows. There's a new station coming soon called ICI International with Romanian, Polish, German broadcasting beamed from Mount Royal."
5-Where do the signals come from?
"In Montreal we’re dealing with four transmitters, the Mount Royal broadcast tower, the Olympic Stadium, Mansfield in Burlington and Plattsburgh."
6-Most Montrealers are renters and might have to negotiate with their landlords to allow someone to install something on the roof. Is that a problem?
"Not that much. The people don’t say anything and often already have satellite dishes on the roof."
7-People can install their own HD antenna without hiring you, why should they hire you?
"I'm 53, I've been doing this for 25 years. It's important to know your city and how to catch the signal with, the mountains and buildings and how they affect the signal. When I go up there, even before I pull out the spectrum analyzer I know how to make it work."