Read the TV guide, you don't need a TV
Posted on 01/19/2012 8:52:59 AM PST by beachn4fun
Because I know that FReepers are smart and ingenious I am coming to you for assistance and insight in being able to get unplugged from DirecTV. They are raising our rates again.
We currently use Netflix, but are also considering adding HuluPlus. Hubby streams from his PS3 in his game room, and in the living room we stream via BlueRay.
Hubby and I are trying to get details on unplugging without losing our ability to watch our favorite (cable) show.
I've read numerous articles how people are doing this same thing but have not found a step-by-step instruction in what all we need to do to being able to watch shows live when we need, and getting local channels.
Our 'unknowns' at this point are - what to do in order to get our local channels, and can we stream live shows from the Internet to the tv with the current equipment?
I'd appreciate any insight any of you can provide. You may FReepmail me if you prefer.
End note: if there is anyone in FReeperland that owns a television station, can you please come up with new program scheduling that allows a person to have fewer channels at a lower price? I mean we're paying DTV almost $100 a month for 185 channels (with HDVR) when we probably only watch 15. They have smaller packages but hardly any with the ones we watch.
I pay about 180 a month for TV, internet and the cell phones (3)... I am using uverse by at&t... I got 3 boxes and a dvr with the deal, and over 400 channels...
I have their premium package at $141.32/month.....the very next time this goes up ONE PENNY is when I’m calling them to cancel it in its entirety!
I’ll go with direct air, limited cable on a phone/internet package I have, and Netflix. Screw them. HBO with Maher, Streisand, and all the other ‘premium’ channels showing Redford, Griffin, race baiting black comedians, that bitch Sarandon and her ex-shackup Robbins and all the rest...I’m looking forward to it....
Here’s my suggestion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBOMs912-SU&feature=player_embedded#!
Get an outside antenna and a digital converter. I live about 50 miles south of Indianapolis and can get about 35 channels over the air. If I had a rotor on the antenna, I could pick up Louisville, Cincinnati and Bloomington and probably more. Of course, this setup does not get you cable channels.
Get an outside antenna and a digital converter. I live about 50 miles south of Indianapolis and can get about 35 channels over the air. If I had a rotor on the antenna, I could pick up Louisville, Cincinnati and Bloomington and probably more. Of course, this setup does not get you cable channels.
LOL
Not exactly what I had in mind.
but thanks
Can’t help you too much. For local programming, just get yourself an antenna. You may want to add an antenna amplifier if you live far from the towers. I don’t have cable or satellite any longer and don’t really care. I have a few favorite cable progams I would like to watch, but the cost is not worth it. I have a wireless roku box in one part of the house and a wireless bluray player in another and those two give me my streaming internet entertainment content, much of it from Amazon Prime, but a few other channels as well like Hulu.
I can’t help you with getting the newest shows but we got Amazon Prime a while back for the discounts and free shipping. We hooked the laptop up to the TV and have access to about 3000 movies and 900 TV shows (full seasons) for free streaming. The wife’s been watching Agatha Christie’s Poirot and Midsommer Murders. The kids and I have been watching the original Mission Impossible. They have all seven seasons in HD.
What shows specifically are you wanting to keep if you give up cable?
Think about it.
You can watch current cable shows (right after they show, i think) on Amazon Prime, but they cost 99 cents apiece. Pretty cheap.
I’ll check this thread later to see what suggestions other FReepers have.
We watch some shows on WB50, USA, TNT, FX, History, Discovery, and cartoon for the grankids.
I know we can go to the websites and watch shows there but we want to be able to watch them on the tv. Plus I like to watch American Idol live, which won’t be a problem as long as I get a digital antenna to help pick up local station.
My family's viewing habits before:
Sports like NFL, NHL and the occasional golf tournament.
Discovery channel stuff
History channel stuff
AMC's Walking Dead
We dumped DirecTV and installed an antenna for our local channels. I bought a ROKU and the NHL GameCenter package (~$220). With either the ROKU or my TV, I can access Netflix, HuluPlus, Amazon video, and several others. Netflix (streaming only) is $9 I think...maybe 7. With Amazon video I can get AMC's walking dead by the episode for $2/ea, $3/ea for HD. Netflix shows tons of the Discovery/History/Nat Geo stuff, but usually well after the original air date. But I don't care...when they show it on Netflix it's still new to me. So our viewing habits after are:
Sports like NFLand the occasional golf tournament via the antenna.
NHL via the Roku
Discovery channel stuff and History channel stuff delayed from original broadcast via Netflix
AMC's Walking Dead delayed a day or so via Amazon video.
We will NEVER go back to DirecTV
Ok, we were wondering about that. Did you hook up directly with a cable?
Are we talking strictly ‘legal’ here?
If not, check out Sabnzbd, Sickbeard, and hook up a computer to your TV running XBMC. All free software. Being a newsgroup member will cost you, but probably not more than $10 a month.
Yes, there’s a bit of a learning curve, but if you google for tutorials, you should be able to get it working.
Personally, this is what I do. If I really like something and there is a way for me to consume the content the way I want it (without commercials, forced trailers, nagging, waiting, or lousy resolution), I’ll gladly pay for it. Otherwise, I refuse to pay money to inconvenience myself and to prop up the failing business models of a bunch of liberal morons.
Thanks.
Ok, so far I’m getting suggestions on ROKU and antenna for local stations.
Those are on my list.
We have Netflix for $8/mo and will probably add HuluPlus for $8.
My cable is included in the rent, on-air HD is free with a 40-year old UHF antenna, phone is subsidized, and I pick up my food stamps on the 3rd.
A lot of laptops have an HDMI out.
There’s also a box like this that would work with HDMI.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883108536
We got a cord that hooks up from the HDMI port on the laptop to the HDMI port on the TV. We also got an adapter to go from the headphone port on the laptop to the stereo. Instructions for hooking it up abound on YouTube and other websites.
sorry, yes, all legal stuff please.
See if that cable show is available via iTunes on a Season Pass.
>>>digital antenna
You can receive OTA digital television signals on the same antennae that were useable for the old analog stations... the “digital antenna” is a marketing myth. What matters is the receiver the antenna connects to.
If you go with Roku, be sure to get the right box to match your needs. Some are wired and some wireless. Some support HD and some are standard definition. Get the HD version and you get HD content when available.
If you need an antenna amp, get a Motorola. It has worked flawlessly for me the last 6 years. They come with built in splitters so you can get one that supports 2 TVs and another with 4 TVs. Maybe more.
It’s great that you asked this question. I’m in the same place.
Thanks largely to the good folks here at FR, I’ve decided on cable internet, with streaming stuff from my (new) TV. It came with apps, so I don’t need to go rokyu yet :)
I’ll add the antenna, because the only reason for ‘pay-tv’, for me, was sports.
I think it will work ok.
Thank you everyone - you are very helpful to the tv-noobs!
Cheers!
FTA Receivers
Someone already mentioned an antenna rotor and I also suggest getting that if you are getting an outdoor antenna or have an existing outdoor antenna. Digital signals are highly directional, so pointing the antenna precisely toward the broadcast towers is very important for receiving the signal. Since digital is basically all or nothing, if you are off by just a few degrees, you can lose the signal entirely. The amplifier helps pull in the signal, but proper pointing of the antenna is also important for reception. Where I live I can pick up 50+ stations, but not all at the same time unless I rotate the antenna.
AWESOME! Helps a lot. Thanks
"Horizontal hold" and "verticle hold" problems were the norm as was aluminum foil on the rabbit ears........
I totally disagree with you. It may be right for you but not in the Beachy household.
thanks
OMG! LOL I remember those days.
Hum, I’ll try to remember this when purchasing antenna. Thanks.
More helpful information. Thanks
Glad we could help.
LOL
Don't know a thing about these. Can you explain more?
And how would this apply to a wireless system?
We have been using a Roku box for several years. The box taps into your wireless Internet and allows Netfliks and other streaming channels to your TV. Netfliks has been great, but we tried Hula Plus and were disappointed with the movie selection. Set up is very easy and the box allows access to numerous channels some free.
One needs an ATSC tuner in the receiver for OTA TV as opposed to the former NTSC receivers/tuners that were previously used for OTA TV reception.
Learn more here.
Try TVPC.com I recently watched the new episodes of BBC’s Sherlock on the BBC1 iplayer channel, it looks like they have a lot of channels there from all over the world.
Reminds me of that scene in “Mars Attacks”
Loading the shotguns - “They ain’t gettin’ the TeeVee!”
d;^)
LOL. Almost like that when it comes to my husband.
I’m going to be VERY curious to see what the iTV deal from Apple is going to be like later this year. Does anybody know the details including how much monthly charge? Satellite bills are way too high.
I haven’t heard a lot of details on the iTV. I’m curious too!
Keep us updated if you hear anything more.
I just canceled my SiriusXM radio cause the programming sucks lately. Wish we had more choices for satellite radio.
I’ve been trying to unplug from a lot of ‘extras’ this year. I wish I could get rid of my house phone (I have house phone and cellphones) but that’s not looking good right now. Do NOT want every Tom, Dick, Harry, or their family calling my cellphone!
More research needed there.
A friend bought an Apple TV box at the store for $100 and had another friend jailbreak it(legal in US according to Wiki).
I was amazed at the volume and quality of the movies and shows, the small size of the unit and that it has a remote control.
It has me thinking about ditching cable TV.
If both Dish and Direct TV don’t DRASTICALLY cut their rates, they will be in for a world of HURT when more of these new technologies kick in. And I am definitely thinking of iTV.
Could you provide more details and links. This is something I am thinking of IF it is truly legal.
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