We used an old time trick to solve a new time problem
By Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (62857)
July 16, 2026 10:18pm CST
Recently, I changed internet providers. No issues, it's way better and cheaper than what I had previously. It also came guaranteed not to go up in price for five years, and it comes with Hulu and Disney+. I previously had Hulu Live for a year for like $10 a month, and that was it, it was more than enough. But our year was ending, and it was going to be the going price of $99 per month. Umm..no way. We were happy to get the new deal with the new internet provider, for sure.
Except for one thing. It picked up two local stations, but not the one closest to my area for news and weather. (Weird, I know) Son had a very small antenna that he used in his apartment, so we hooked it up to the television. Yay, we could get our local station and we were excited, no money spent. But it was so glitchy...off and on, over and over. We moved it, tried this and that, but nothing worked.
I remembered the old rabbit ear antennas of my youth, and if they didn't work, we put tin foil on the ends of the rabbit ears to get better reception. I told the son about that, so we put foil on the little antenna, even though it is totally different in design, etc.
It worked! We now get our favorite local station for free with the little antenna. Old fashioned, but it works!
Picture of the little antenna via Amazon, as ours is hidden by the blinds in the living room and this is easier to show you.
16 people like this
14 responses
@Deepizzaguy (125236)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
17 Jul
Thank goodness that you were able to get local television with your antenna as well as getting an internet provider.
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (62857)
•
17 Jul
My internet provider of many years pretty much priced themselves out of my house. They weren't that great, anyway. I am tons happier with the new one. Thanks, George.
3 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (125236)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
17 Jul
@MarieCoyle You are welcome.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (170568)
• United States
18 Jul
How funny but it is great that it works.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (62857)
•
18 Jul
That one station we couldn't get is the one closest to our home, with the best news and weather. I was just thrilled that the antenna with the tin foil worked. 
@rakski (161049)
• Philippines
17 Jul
@MarieCoyle and many old hcks still work now.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (62857)
•
17 Jul
One of my younger friends here has 3 children and a huge swing set in the backyard. They were complaining about it being slow to go down and they wanted it to be faster--a fast trip down the slide. I told them we always used some waxed paper and sat on it a few times going down the slide, and then it would be fast for quite a while. They tried it and were simply amazed....and that's an OLD trick.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (62857)
•
18 Jul
@rakski
Sometimes old ways can be better than the new ways are.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (100809)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
17 Jul
Glad it worked out for you,
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (62857)
•
17 Jul
So were we. It's always good to find a free or frugal solution.
2 people like this
@aninditasen (18337)
• Raurkela, India
17 Jul
These type of rabbit antenna is no more in use in India as most people are using the plasma TV. We get our TV programs relayed by the internet provider Jio or Airtel.
2 people like this
@aninditasen (18337)
• Raurkela, India
19 Jul
@MarieCoyle We watch our TV programs through wifi connection.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (62857)
•
20 Jul
@aninditasen
Yes, you can't use streaming services without wi-fi, mine are connected as well.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (62857)
•
17 Jul
The antenna my son has isn't really rabbit ears. It's like the one in the picture (if it's visible, I can see it but pictures might not have been working when I posted this) The only reason we got it out of storage to try was to see if we could pick up that one local station.
2 people like this
@sissy15 (13435)
• United States
18 Jul
I unfortunately can't get any of our local stations to play on our TV, even with the antenna. I think it has something to do with our location. Even our internet doesn't always work right. I'm glad you found something that works. It's interesting how something so simple can sometimes solve an issue. Cable is expensive, and streaming has gotten more expensive too. I watch a lot of stuff for free online. We have some streaming services and the internet. I wish we could pick up our local stations, but we have tried everything, and nothing ever seems to work.
1 person likes this
@sissy15 (13435)
• United States
20 Jul
@MarieCoyle That's great that it works for you. If only it worked for us, alas, it does not.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (62857)
•
20 Jul
I was thrilled that the little antenna he had works for our favorite local station. We were about ready to give up when the tin foil thing came up and so happy it works.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (212786)
• United States
17 Jul
Yeah, good solution for pennies. I have a couple of old attenas here I am not using .one is for a better wi fi signal, the other is for the TV. Maybe I should hang onto them. Nice graphic on your discussion. Who is your provider, wonder if they have that here? You could message me if you want
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (62857)
•
20 Jul
I think that I would hang on to them for awhile, too. It can't hurt. His is just like the one in the picture.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (193620)
• Boise, Idaho
18 Jul
Oh, yes, the old antennas and the foil. We changed our service too. It just got too expensive and kept changing without notice. Now we pay one fee each month.
Great that you've found a way that works and have your local channels now.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (193620)
• Boise, Idaho
18 Jul
@MarieCoyle ........i did the same. Am happy with the free apps too.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (62857)
•
18 Jul
Well, I dumped cable long ago. I am only paying for internet, not a streaming service, etc. And the free streaming services are pretty good. Thanks!
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (92135)
• United States
17 Jul
Genius idea to use the aluminum foil on the antenna. I do remember those days every well.
Internet is expensive these days so any money you can save it a win win
Internet is expensive these days so any money you can save it a win win2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (62857)
•
17 Jul
There are a lot of free options out there to watch good shows and movies, I take advantage of those.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (62857)
•
17 Jul
I just started thinking about those old rabbit ears of long ago, and I remember when a station didn't come in clearly, we added aluminum foil. It never failed us...and evidently, it still works great!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (388118)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Jul
@MarieCoyle I'm sure there are logical reasons why it works but it would still seem a bit unbelievable.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (388118)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Jul
@MarieCoyle Put like that, it sounds so simple, doesn't it?
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (62857)
•
18 Jul
The memory of those rabbit ears with the tin foil just popped up and we tried it. Son couldn't believe it worked on that little bitty antenna!
1 person likes this
