Cutting the Cable Cord...

[DaveS]

Are you guys doing that just to save money? We cut the cord in May but didn't replace it with anything. The idea was to raise our daughter outside. Since then we've started a small farm and have spent exponentially more time doing things as a family rather than watching tv. With the exception of a game, or two, and some golf tournaments, I haven't missed it. Even hunting shows were getting ridiculous with all the advertising.

We gave up cable because most of the channels were worthless and we found ourselves wasting time watching stupid programs. We didn't replace it with anything at first and found, as you did, that we spent a lot more time doing things as a family, reading more, getting outside more and getting more things done around the house.

A couple years ago my wife saw an add for the fire stick and decided to try it. We watch more TV now than we did when we first cut cable but not near as much as we did when we had cable. We watch movies and few TV programs. We only have Amazon prime so no sports. I don't miss sports.

 

[PNWGATOR]

We cut cable years ago. HD antenna gives us local news and enough tv for our family. Don't miss cable at all.

 

[TJ]

You can probably get away with as little as 10 mbps internet, but that's if the only thing going on is you watching one program on one tv. If someone else in your house is on the computer or ipad using the same wifi, then you'll need more. Ours ranges from 10-60 depending on our signal strength (Verizon mifi throught he local school system for $48 a month unlimited data) and we only have issues if we are streaming something on the tv and the ipad at the same time when the signal isn't strong.

I have a 8 mbps DSL connection and dont have any issues with watching Netflix and using the internet on my tablet at the same time, including watching a different video stream. I am sure that during peak time I am not getting 8 mbps either.

Do you guys ever run into any data limitations from your providers?

 

[Eagle]

Do you guys ever run into any data limitations from your providers?

Mine is unlimited data, so no issues for me.

 

[COlineman78]

Do you guys ever run into any data limitations from your providers?

Comcast has a rarely enforced 250GB limit in the fine print. I think they will only choose to enforce it if you are consistently exceeding it using torrents (if you don't know what these are, it's a common peer to peer sharing method for downloading less than legal video, audio and software). Never had any problems when I had Century Link either.

 

[SHTF]

I work for comcast so my bill for everything is 35$ a month max Internet, TV, phone and home security. Great company to work for.

 

[Piscatory_4]

Thanks guys. Reaffirming my decision. Now to find the right streaming device. So far leaning toward the Fire.

If you're ditching cable what are you using for internet? DSL, cellular?

 

[Matt W.]

If you're ditching cable what are you using for internet? DSL, cellular?

still using the cable company, just ditching the cable package. I rarely watch TV except for Football and I can live without that. Just seems like a lot of channels that hardly get used for way to much a month.... I found out I have a contract that lasts another couple of months. Going to let that expire and then just purchase the fastest internet I can get and use the Kindle Fire TV. Start out with that and see if I miss anything.

 

[colonel00]

For those that are interested, there are ways to watch sports via the internet. Earlier this week I was stuck in a hotel that didn't have FS1 and I wanted to watch the Royals' playoff games. With just a little searching I found a couple sites that were streaming it. Quality isn't the best but it was better than nothing.

 

[Piscatory_4]

still using the cable company, just ditching the cable package. I rarely watch TV except for Football and I can live without that. Just seems like a lot of channels that hardly get used for way to much a month.... I found out I have a contract that lasts another couple of months. Going to let that expire and then just purchase the fastest internet I can get and use the Kindle Fire TV. Start out with that and see if I miss anything.

Feel the same way about my dish. I think with Comcast you still get xfinity TV shows that you can stream, but maybe you need a video package to get that--I take that back, I don't have video and still get to steam video over internet.

 

[Finch]

We cut the cord about 2 years ago when my wife decided to stay at home with our daughter. Figured we had better things to spend the $100 on. The way I look at it now is that would have equated to $12,000 in 10 years. That's a lot of money for just TV IMO. We have an HD antenna and Amazon prime. I also bought a TIVO roamio box which I can record OTA and I have a nice TV guide like you would with cable or satellite. Only thing is this TIVO service costs $15 a month. I've been considering cancelling the TIVO and just subscribing to one more streaming service. Really don't need to record OTA since most of the shows can be watched via other methods. It is nice to be able to record the local news when I won't be able to watch it. Break out the VCR???

 

[COlineman78]

Donnie, if you want a TIVO like device for Antenna check out Simple TV https://us.simple.tv/ No subscription necessary for local recording, just $130 for the hardware.

Brad, you are right about being able to find a lot of sports on (less than legal) low quality streams and with a chromecast you can throw them up on your TV. This is really the only solution for college football, but if you are okay catching NFL a little late check out NFL Game Rewind which can also be chromecasted. What I figured is on the rare occasion I couldn't find what I wanted to watch it would still be cheaper to go watch the game at a bar.

 

[Finch]

if you want a TIVO like device for Antenna check out Simple TV https://us.simple.tv/ No subscription necessary for local recording, just $130 for the hardware.

Brad, you are right about being able to find a lot of sports on (less than legal) low quality streams and with a chromecast you can throw them up on your TV. This is really the only solution for college football, but if you are okay catching NFL a little late check out NFL Game Rewind which can also be chromecasted. What I figured is on the rare occasion I couldn't find what I wanted to watch it would still be cheaper to go watch the game at a bar.

Thanks man, I'll check into this.

 

[Ironman8]

How do you guys go about getting current shows on channels like Discovery or Food Network?

 

[COlineman78]

How do you guys go about getting current shows on channels like Discovery or Food Network?

Some Discovery shows will eventually show up on Netflix. Food, not so much. If you couldn't live without it then SlingTV offers Food, ESPN and History but no Discovery. With Discovery try to figure out what you can't live without and look into buying from Amazon, Google or Apple. Usually $25-30 per season of a single show so still cheaper.

 

[justin davis]

We do t have cable. Don't miss anything. Rent movie if we need to watch something. Otherwise just Internet

 

[bourbon]

I'm a tech guy and have been since before the internet was public accessible (BBS days!). From then till now I've spent a lifetimes worth of, well, stealing media. It's a harmless crime right?

I have not purchased cable or satellite television in a long, long time and instead rely on a variety of methods to get my fix.

#1 Usenet new servers and a reliable NZB directory website are the primary method I use to download shows, movies and even sporting events (not live however). This does take a fair amount of technical wherewithal, although it is also not very complicated, and a monthly subscription to one of the premiere "news" providers. I use giganews and pay $11.00 a month for an unlimited subscription with multithreaded SSL. This of course requires an internet connection, which I do get from my cable provider - currently their max offering of 65 Mbps (giganews has no problem usually all 65 Mbps), which can be costly IF you don't call them every 6 months and renegotiate your contract. Right now I'm paying $55.00 and month after taxes.

This method also requires the use of various software packages, most of which are free, can be difficult or confusing to setup. However, once you have your system "tuned" it works very well. I use some free apps called Sick Beard and Couch Potato to automagically locate my content for me as long as it meets certain criteria (at least 720p, etc), downloads, extracts, moves and renames the files for me. You will also need a news agent, I paid for and use News Bin Pro, and then a method to reliably get that media streamed to your TV, tablet or phone. For this I rely on the somewhat sketchy, but reliable enough protocol of DNLA, and an application called Mezzmo.

In order for this to be effective I do not rely on WLAN for my streaming. I have wired (hidden) my entire house with ethernet, coaxial cable and speaker wire (this is a brick house built in 1976 -- Yes, it SUCKED) and have a semi dedicated machine acting as my media server. The wired 100 Mbps connection is critical to be successful IMHO although many will argue this point. As for viewing the content on your TV or device ... Most any "smart" TV nowadays has an ethernet jack and built in DNLA capabilities. I actually use an Oppo Blu Ray player because it is a fantastic piece of kit and has a 4 Mb buffer that helps to smooth out the stream. Via a TV or whatever device you use, you could even use a Playstation, you simply browse to your DNLA server select your content and start watching.

#2 OTA Broadcast via an antenna is also how I get my TV media. A $40 antenna, look HERE it will help you get started, placed in my attic with the coax ran back to my wiring closet, into a signal splitter and amp, and then patched out to individual tvs via a patch panel works great. Because I have an 8 port splitter/amp (THIS one) I can light up 8 different TVs in the house (we only have 2). The previous link for Antenna Web will help you position your antenna for optimal signal pickup in your location. I actually get 30 channels, in HD (1080i), this way for free...although most are channels any sane person wouldn't watch. It does get me NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX local affiliates and several other good options.

#3 Amazon Prime - We are already Amazon prime members for the free 2 day shipping, but the TV service is excellent as well. We do not watch any programs here that require an additional fee as I can usually find them using option #1 above. Since our primary televisions are wired there are bandwidth limitations from sharing a crowded WLAN channel/freq.

#4 Netflix - we occasionally will pickup a couple month trial of Netflix, my wife does anyway, so this service comes and goes.

#5 Live sports streaming --- this one can be tricky, but is definitely an option. I am a huge University of Kentucky fan and with the SEC Network out there now most games (football and bball) are played here now. This sucks as it is not an OTA channel of course. However, I have found a few dedicated fans who do a great job streaming each game via a few dedicated websites. I have these all bookmarked on my TV's browser, and load them up a few mins before game time. Resolution is usually shitty, 480i, but it beats the radio.

 

[bourbon]

How do you guys go about getting current shows on channels like Discovery or Food Network?

See my response above ... Option #1.

 

[TJ]

^^^^^Good info bourbon, thanks

 

[COlineman78]

From then till now I've spent a lifetimes worth of, well, stealing media. It's a harmless crime right?

I did so much of this in college. I have several invites to Demonoid and last I heard it was back up so if anyone wants an invite let me know (if you don't know what a torrent is don't bother). My buddy pays for an out of the country VPN for the purposes of torrenting. I use to have it set up so that my trackers went through Tor and the rest of the data came across encrypted. Haven't done any of this in years so I am not familiar with the latest methods.

This of course requires an internet connection, which I do get from my cable provider - currently their max offering of 65 Mbps (giganews has no problem usually all 65 Mbps), which can be costly IF you don't call them every 6 months and renegotiate your contract. Right now I'm paying $55.00 and month after taxes.

I have Comcast 50 Mbps and it costs me $80 and I own the hardware without any renegotiation. I got sick of the reneg and they usually don't offer many deals for internet only. I get 50 Mbps consistently and sometimes over (tested both wired and over 5GHz wireless). My buddy actually gets almost 100 Mbps while only paying for 50. If anyone needs a Comcast modem to stop paying the equipment rental let me know as I have and extra Surfboard sitting around unused (DOCSIS 3, latest).

In order for this to be effective I do not rely on WLAN for my streaming. I have wired (hidden) my entire house with ethernet, coaxial cable and speaker wire (this is a brick house built in 1976 -- Yes, it SUCKED) and have a semi dedicated machine acting as my media server. The wired 100 Mbps connection is critical to be successful IMHO although many will argue this point.

I also wired my house with Cat6 as soon as I moved in and have my desktop and gaming devices hard wired, but with 5GHz wifi and how small my house is it isn't all that necessary for my layout. If I were streaming in my second bedroom I would probably drop a Cat6 run into it due to the distance from the router, but for everything in my living room the proximity allows me to achieve very fast speeds over 5GHz 802.11n.

As for viewing the content on your TV or device ... Most any "smart" TV nowadays has an ethernet jack and built in DNLA capabilities. I actually use an Oppo Blu Ray player because it is a fantastic piece of kit and has a 4 Mb buffer that helps to smooth out the stream. Via a TV or whatever device you use, you could even use a Playstation, you simply browse to your DNLA server select your content and start watching.

PS4 has little to no DLNA support, but the PS3 was/is the best DLNA device out there. PS3 Media Server in combination with a PS3 will give you the most stable DLNA experience. I use Serviio, Bubble uPNP (Android) and Chromecast in combination right now.

Lastly, the only thing I use that hasn't been mentioned yet is called PlayOn/PlayLater. PlayOn allows you to push any web video to a supported renderer (like Chromecast). This is even more powerful for those that have cable as it will allow you to push things like USA Network, Discovery and other restricted streaming options to your TV. PlayLater works similar to PlayOn except it records the video to a file so that you can watch it later and it also has some supposed ad skipping mechanisms. This is useful because a lot of the major networks only rotate the last 4 episodes and you may not have time to watch so you can record it. Also, it hooks up to Amazon Prime which also rotates through their content quite a bit.