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some old threads on this but wanted to see what the current consenus is...roku/hulu?? anyway to watch live events/news/sports with these new devices....local channels possible? newbie on this but sick of paying xfinity/comcast. guessing i keep my internet and phone through them but get a different tv box?
I have a nice antenna on my roof. Running a coax to my two big ass smart TV's. I am getting 18 digital channels. The TV s are connected to my internet via WiFi. I have Amazon prime, hulu youtube. Life is goodQuote:
Originally Posted by cinnepa
No cable for the past 7 years
I had a Roku2, was having issues with the signal dropping out. Bought a replacement Roku for $39.00. Problem solved.
I signed up for a free trial of DirectTV Now to watch the final four and last nights game. Other than having less signal quality it was identical to having the cable package.
I won't be keeping it though. Still too expensive when you consider that I pay for the Broadband so all I am buying is the content.
I am happy with Hulu, Amazon and MLBTV along with locals.
For live sports use Reddit sub forums (NBA, NCAA streams). It's typically as good as the online feed I get through the cable company.
I have Playstation vue. 3 "local" Denver channels ( I live in SW CO but these are better than Albuquerque) and lots of sports channels which can be expanded with a $10 sports package. It isn't perfect, hangs up sometimes which can be really annoying but for $40 a month (no premium channels) it's way cheaper than cable/satellite. The sports package includes a lot of local channels (Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, SF, etc) that show live programming which they will black out for people outside the local viewing area but if you use a VPN and connect to a server in one of these areas you can watch the blacked out stuff. I haven't tried the other services, the reason I like PS is it allows streaming on 4 devices at the same time. Some of the others only allow 2. There are other methods for watching premium content that are free and I've addressed those elsewhere on this forum if you search.
We have Apple TV and run Netflix, Amazon Prime & PlayStation Vue. The PlayStation Vue service gets live sports via ESPN, FS, TNT, TBS & has 3 of the 5 major local stations which eliminates having to mess with the shitty antenna every time a cloud passes by.
I periodically quit PV if we aren’t going to watch (off season for sports) or expand it if we want to catch something in particular that isn’t in the base package (like the olympics).
PV has been a better value than SlingTV for us
Plenty of trials out there for 7 days of time to see if the service works for you. General rules are have a good device in place for the service (Roku, Fire TV, Android TV Box, Apple TV, etc.) Some do better than others (boxes typically with a ethernet cable to the router, compared to just getting the cheaper sticks out there). If you are going to have multiple streaming, internet and router/wifi issues may need to be addressed.
Of course best way to save some money is to have an antenna that gets you the local major channels for free on OTA (Over the Air), and evaluate the needs for indoor or attic or even an outdoor mounted antenna to get a start on live TV.
CordCutters News 101 is a good starting place as each is different in what content they are looking for. https://www.cordcuttersnews.com/the-...-cord-cutting/
Also another great web site is https://www.suppose.tv/ which can be another good way to see what will work for your viewing preferences.
Anybody doing Youtube TV? Seems like a pretty good deal, although they've already raised it from $35/mo to $40.
This. Sometimes it's a bit fiddly but generally it's no issue and the quality is great. You need a laptop/HTPC to get it onto the screen though.Quote:
Originally Posted by concretejungle
Leaf antenna and Roku2 with Netflix and Amazon prime, haven't had cable since '05. I get some football games through the antenna, and that's about all the sports I care about. If something else is on I'll go to the bar down the street or a friend's house. We aren't really TV people though. The Roku has worked really well, but you need a faster/more reliable internet service. The antenna can also be pretty unreliable here in the mountains when storms roll though.
Funny thing is, I have a rental condo that has Xfinity, because people have to have cable in a rental. I figured out that I can log in and watch a lot of stuff like MNF on ESPN and other channels through their app. Doesn't always work though, some things are blocked.
I feel like it is only getting easier to cut the cord these days. Cable is such BS. When I stay somewhere that has cable, I find it had to find anything worth watching anyway, I can't believe how much some people pay for this crap. And not watching commercials all the time really makes you realize how shitty they are when you do see them.
Just a heads up that I've found stuff can be blocked on your computer but not on an Ipad. I don't know why.Quote:
Originally Posted by shredgnar
Get an unlimited data cell phone plan and be sure it includes a w-fi hot spot. Then run your Firestick/Apple TV/Roku etc. off the wi-fi hot spot. We've been doing this for a while - just need to pay a monthly cell phone bill, no more cable or internet.
I've found the same with phone vs computer (don't have an iPad). Must be the browser or something. Like even NYT articles, I have a limit on my web browser on the computer, but not the phone.Quote:
Originally Posted by concretejungle
This is pretty much what we do, but still have an antenna that gets us local TV. Depending on your area, you might not get live local channels on the streaming services (we don’t in Boise), but you do get all of the content on demand.Quote:
Originally Posted by acinpdx
I mostly end up using Vue just for the credentials to sign into the ESPN app or HBO or whatever other channels have shows I want to watch. Rarely am I ever on there just surfing channels.
It was really nice during March Madness to have a TV with one game on, my iPad ei n another and my computer with a third. Could have pulled up a fourth on my phone, but it was a work day.....
One thing we ran into was having to pay for more bandwidth with our internet provider. We pay for a set number of gigs per month and streaming all of your TV adds a lot to that number. Still I think we are about even cost wise to cable and don’t have to support their company any more.
Can you run the reddit feed through a tablet or phone? I'll have to look into this.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Tortoise
Our setup: Roku standalone box sitting a foot away from the wifi router, then hard wired to the TV. Works better than the built-in smart TV apps - faster, more channel apps on the Roku. This, plus a HDTV antenna on a tree.
Yup, Roku>built in TV APPs. We have apps built into the TV, WII, and DVD player, but still use a Roku2 stick. The remote is Bluetooth too, which is nice.Quote:
Originally Posted by El Chupacabra
I am pretty sure you can get the feeds onto a tablet or phone. Though I haven't tried it myself.Quote:
Originally Posted by El Chupacabra
I need cable so I can stop watching the walking dead on AMC. :D
Seriously I do more YouTube than TV but the wife needs her cable programs. Like Oprah's Own - FX - Cooking - AMC and so on. Can't blame her.
Unlimited Internet - unlimited long distance calling us + canada - 75 stations - PVR cost me $205 a month.
If I cut TV it will only save me $90 a month and that's not much.
Leaf antenna plus Roku or firestick depending on tv. If there's a sport that I really need to watch i will do a sling tv trial, but their buffering seems lacking sometimes. I'll try the other options here.
I wasn't into watching this year so it didn't really matter, but was shocked last night's NCAA championship wasn't on cbs. So there will be more incentive for me to check out the reddit subs for next time
I live in sf and we can't get NBC on antenna cause it's in SJ, so I might upgrade to a roof antenna. Anyone have a rec?
in that cordcutter link above there is another link that recommends antenea for your zip code.
looks like i need to keep my xfinity wifi (which is ok)...in order to keep my xfinity mobile phone. dropping the tv ill look into the outside ant. setup with a roku or similar.
Couldn't get cable, Direct TV was $$ with terrible service and life got better with a Roku and Amazon Prime two years ago. Direct TV would have no signal for weeks at a time and then expect me to pay the full bill. Should have made the switch sooner.
So serious question. let me say up front I am totally adicted to the speed and reliablity of xfinity WiFi, but I live in a major metro area where they have the franchise. if you go just internet with them, how much do you "really" save? right now I got the full hookup, virtually unlimited harddrive, HBO/Cmax/Showtime hell everything but dumb ass movie channel, netflix, but no amazon or hulu. I got two more TVs with basic cable; and lan line bundled in for about $250 a month. I gather for the WiFi by itself i'm in for $100/month.
Last time I was with them (in PDX ~6 months ago), I paid about $80/month for internet only. I think it was Blast level whatever that means. Never had bandwidth issues.
No cable since early 90's in college.
Digital antenna gets a few local stations, but basically just occasionally watch shit on Amazon Prime.
Order whatever streaming service fits your needs...
LEMMY!!!!
This is what it is for us in Denver. ~$80/mo.Quote:
Originally Posted by Supermoon
Add ~$40 for PS Vue, $10 for Netflix, $10 for Amazon, $10 for HBO and $10 for HULU you still end up a bit less than what the Comcast cable package was, and a hell of a lot cheaper than going to the bar to watch games.Quote:
Originally Posted by skaredshtles
Distance is still going to factor into even a Roof antenna- Channel Master would be one to investigate- amplified and other things like a rotor motor option if you have towers in different directions. ClearStream or Mohu Sky possibly also would be worth a look if you are closer. Do not forget to ground the outdoor antenna properly. Mostly anything more than 60 miles could be a troublesome process of finding one that will work in all weather and cloud cover etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by mcski
No XFinity in our area, but you mention specifically their wifi? Is this just a wifi connection, or are they doing like so many of the companies providing you cable modem via a coax wired connection and then charging a fee for using their wifi off the modem/router for your devices? In our area Spectrum now has gone to $5 per month just to turn on the wifi capabilities. You can tell them no and just connect your own router or wireless access points to the coax internet connection and forego their "wifi" supplying your own wifi...Quote:
Originally Posted by cinnepa
I pay ~$80/mo for pretty much just internet, but they jack it up every 12 months and I have to go into the store to re-sign up for the intro deal.Quote:
Originally Posted by MARSHALL TUCKER
I find these discussion annoying, because for me the real issue isn't "cutting the cord", because I'm still stuck with Xfinity. With my only other option being the only company in the universe worse than Comcast: CenturyLink. That said, I have only basic cable TV along with my internet, because it costs almost nothing (because they give you a discount for having "2 services"); it gets me local channels but nothing else. But you can try using antennas to get the local channels, the easy ones didn't work for me and it wasn't worth trying to mount a larger one on my roof.
I wish the options available to us included different internet providers, then we'd be talking!
I’m in the mountains so no antennae for me, we have a roku device with Netflix, amazon and just switched from sling to Hulu live. Hulu live is basically like having cable for $40 a month,and not as much buffering issues like on sling.
Due to where I live I found this small internet company, they are really small but is great due to them not being Comcast, or centurylink.
https://www.hilltop-broadband.com/residential
They are in some areas of the front range.
I live in a major city:
- $40/mo xfinity - nothing else comes to my building. I'll probably loose this rate in a month.
- $35ish/mo streaming netflix/hbonow/prime
- $3/mo magicjack - need a local number for the building keypad.
- two $30 TV antennas, I get 54 local HD channels.
- I bought my own modem and router years ago.... never ever pay comcast for these.....
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using TGR Forums mobile app
I am one of those fools that pays comcast for this item, mostly because IME whenever you have a problem with service, they will blame it on your modem/router if it isn't theirs.Quote:
Originally Posted by nickwm21
90 bucks a month = New Billy Goats + 4 flats of beer in a year's time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenny Satch
Sent from my XP7700 using TGR Forums mobile app
Plus you want a new router every couple of years. If you run old hardware you will get much lower speeds.Quote:
Originally Posted by Danno
Ya, I've had a few routers replaced by AT&T. Seems simpler just to use thiers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Supermoon
I was going to go antenna and internet TV. Bought an antenna, but it just wasn't working that great. Just about that time, AT&T sent me an offer that they put fiber in my hood and they were running a special with DirectTV. Got a great package with all my sports on three TVs and 100g internet for $115 a month. Sure, I'll be haggling with them in a year, but not bad for now.
Why? Do they actually get slower over time, or is it that cable or fiber internet keeps getting faster?Quote:
Originally Posted by Supermoon
For context for my question - I'm on DSL, which is the only internet option at my house, and tops out at 6mbps. My router isn't my bottleneck...
Yeah you probably don't need a new router.
I got a new one about 5 years ago, to get more range in a new house. Still same old slow DSL though.