Watching TV in Worcester MA?

[Garrett]

I was wondering. If someone were to move to Worcester MA, and couldn't afford (or was unable to get) cable, sat or other pay tv, would they be able to watch TV at all? I remember that 27 which is Worcester based has a rim shot into the Boston area, so imagine the same is true in reverse. With no stations of their own (other than 27) how does one simply plug in rabbit ears and watch TV in Worcester? And what about receiving DTV channels?

Watching TV in Worcester must be tough for the pay TV challenged, huh?

[alg2468]

Generally depending what part of Worcester you are living in you should receive of the Boston based TV stations (chs, 2, 4, 5, 7, 25, 38, 44, 56, 68) and outlying channels 46 and 62; also the Providence area stations - signal quality depends on where you are located - (chs 6, 10, 12, 28, 36, 64), and some channels fron New Hampshire (chs 9, 11, 50, 21, 60). Under good signal conditions you may also receive Springfield channels 22, 40, and 57; and Hartford area stations 3, 30, and 61.  So there are plenty of channels you can receive in the area with the right equipment.

[Garrett]

Thanks, but the question wasn't "with the right equipment." The question was, (or should have been stated): "with a normal set of rabbit ears, can u watch TV in Worcestor without some kind of snow on the screen?"

[KML0224]

Other than channel 27, I know Worcester has a religous station on channel 48. Besides Boston and Cambridge, there's also channel 66 from Marlborough (Telefutura). Speaking of Connecticut, channels 3 and 18 transmit from Avon Mountain while channels 24, 30 and 61 transmit from Rattlesanke Mountain in Farmington, which would be a bit further from Worcester.

On the flip side, I've only received channel 27 twice here in central Connecticut, both times during the independent WHLL-TV days.

[PaulRAnderson]

I used to live northwest of Worcester, and although we had cable, I sometimes tried rabbit ears and a loop antenna to see what I could get.

I would expect great signals from Worcester channels 27 and 48, although if you don't speak Spanish or follow Texas-based Bible-thumper religion, that might do you no good.  Channel 66 would come in good too, although it's Spanish-language also.  You would get good signals from Boston channels 2, 4, 5, 7, 25 and 38.  56 would be weaker, 44 weaker still and I don't know if 68 would come in at all.  Springfield channels 22 and 40 should come in OK, as well as Providence channels 6, 10 and 12.  I wouldn't expect 28, 36 or 64 too much.

But Worcester is hilly and your exact location will probably determine on which of these channels you'd get the best reception.

Paul

[KML0224]

Hence the reason Worcester is known in some circles as the city of seven hills.

[dustintv]

I think Worcester has a better chance of picking up the Springfield stations than the Boston ones, but I could be very wrong on that, but Worcester is closer to Springfield is it not?

[Garrett]

I think its closer to Boston. Never took me more than 40 minutes to get there, driving from Boston.

[KML0224]

It's still closer to Boston, but not by much.

[dustintv]

LOL I actually had to pull out the Rand McNallly for this one, and Worcester is closer to Boston, although Worcester is geographically like the middle of the state so it's also somewhat close to Springfield, although slightly father from what I thought. The only place I ever go ever go to Massachusetts anymore these days is Taunton I haven't been on the Turnpike in ages, nor have I been to Worcester since 2004...closet I get to it is Woonsocket.