Can You Get Local Channels Before You Cancel Cable? Test your channels before you make the switch.
Before you cancel cable, make sure you can still get the local channels you care about.
Use this free test to check your local signal, try an antenna, and track your channels for 7 days before making the switch.
No email required. Both versions are free.
- ✓ Check ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, local news, and weather
- ✓ Test one antenna before changing your whole setup
- ✓ Track what happens for 7 days
- ✓ Get a simple recommendation before you cancel cable
Before You Cancel Cable:
Check Your Local Channels First
Strongest channels: ___________________
Weak or missing channels: ______________
Tower direction: _______________________
☐ Place antenna near a window
☐ Raise it as high as practical
☐ Run a fresh channel scan
☐ Write down what comes in clearly
Printable
This test helps you:
Choose the local channels you care about
Check your signal before buying anything
Test an indoor antenna on one TV first
Track your channels for 7 days
Get a clear next step before canceling
Before You Cancel Cable
Do not cancel cable until you know how you will get ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, local news, weather, and any local sports you still want.
Interactive Local Channel Test
Click the boxes and type your answers below. Come back during the week to add your results.
Your answers are saved automatically on this device.
You can also click the button below whenever you want reassurance that your latest work has been saved.
Step 1: Mark the Local Channels You Want to Keep
Step 2: Check Your Signal Before Buying Anything
These two free tools can help you see which local stations may reach your home before you buy an antenna.
1. Start with AntennaWeb . Enter your address or ZIP code. Find the stations you want to keep and look at how far away their towers are and which direction they are from your home.
2. Then check the FCC Reception Map . Enter your location and look at the predicted signal strength for your important local stations.
You do not need to understand every number. For this test, write down your strongest stations, the stations that look weak, and whether most of your important towers are in the same direction.
Keep in mind: Reception maps are estimates. Walls, trees, hills, buildings, antenna height, and antenna placement can change what you actually receive.
Most of my important towers seem to be:
My predicted signal looks:
Step 3: Try an Indoor Antenna Test
Before canceling cable, test an antenna with one TV first.
Step 4: Track Your Channels for 7 Days
Do not test your antenna only once. Reception can change, so track it for a full week before calling the cable company.
Before You Decide
Look at all seven days. Do your must-have channels come in clearly most of the time? If a channel disappears often, freezes, or breaks up regularly, do not count it as reliable yet.
Step 5: What Your Results Mean
If most channels come in clearly: You may be able to use an indoor antenna for local channels. Test it for several days before canceling cable, especially during different weather and at different times of day.
If some channels are missing: Move the antenna higher, try a different window, aim it in another direction, and run a new channel scan each time.
If channels freeze, break up, or disappear: Your signal may be weak or blocked by distance, trees, hills, buildings, metal, splitters, or poor antenna placement.
An indoor antenna may not be enough. You may need more height, an attic antenna, or one of my best outdoor TV antennas for rural areas and weak signals . You can also use streaming as a backup for channels you cannot receive reliably.
Step 6: Final Check Before You Cancel Cable
After your testing, are any must-have channels still freezing, breaking up, or disappearing?
Finished for now? See what your answers suggest you should do next.
Your Local Channel Test Results
Your Next Steps
Prefer to fill it out by hand?
Download the free 4-page printable checklist and keep it near your TV while you test your channels.