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Q. Is it possible to dump cable and still view my television, even if it is just local channels? I am really tired of paying the cable prices.

A. Depending on where you live, adding an antenna to your television could bring in plenty of free broadcast channels — including those in high-definition. If your TV came with a basic antenna that you never used since you were getting your channels through the cable company, try unplugging the cable and connecting the antenna, and repositioning it if needed, to see if your television can pull in any stations.

If you cannot get much from the standard antenna, investing in a larger indoor antenna or even an outdoor model to pull in UHF and VHF signals may help. The Federal Communications Commission has a guide to picking an antenna at fcc.gov/guides/antennas-and-digital-television. TheAntennaWeb.org site can also guide you.

If you are not sure what channels are available, check the digital television reception map on the F.C.C.'s website attransition.fcc.gov/mb/engineering/dtvmaps. Here, you can type in your address to see a list of stations and signal strength nearby. Major stations in the United States switched from analog to all-digital signals in 2009. If you have an older television set that cannot receive digital transmissions, you may also need to add a digital-to-analog converter box.

If an antenna will not work because of your location or surrounding elements, other options include streaming stations over a broadband Internet connection. Companies like Aereo and FilmOn offer service in some areas but have been entangled in lawsuits in the last year from broadcasters, so pending court decisions, including one from the Supreme Court, may affect future development.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/27/technology/personaltech/watching-tv-without-paying-for-cable.html?_r=0

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