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Unplugging (Vanity)
January 19, 2012 | beachn4fun

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.


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Computers/Internet; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: bettervalue; cable; directv; satellite; savings; streaming; television
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To: beachn4fun

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.


41 posted on 01/19/2012 11:35:56 AM PST by Keith in Iowa (Willard Romney, purveyor of the world's finest bullmit. | FR Class of 1998 |)
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To: beachn4fun
FTA is "Free To Air" satellite video. It's not pirating, these signals are sent unscrambled.

Learn more here.

42 posted on 01/19/2012 11:52:19 AM PST by whd23 (Every time a link is de-blogged an angel gets its wings.)
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To: beachn4fun

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.


43 posted on 01/19/2012 1:03:47 PM PST by stylecouncilor (Some minds are like soup in a poor restaurant...better left unstirred.-PG Wodehouse)
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To: beachn4fun

Reminds me of that scene in “Mars Attacks”

Loading the shotguns - “They ain’t gettin’ the TeeVee!”

d;^)


44 posted on 01/19/2012 2:01:36 PM PST by Chuckster (The longer I live the less I care about what you think.)
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To: Chuckster
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.

45 posted on 01/20/2012 4:05:18 AM PST by beachn4fun (I have a book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble)
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To: beachn4fun

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.


46 posted on 01/20/2012 4:10:04 AM PST by PJ-Comix ("Now I am become Death, destroyer of oysters" ---from the Buffetvad Gita)
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To: PJ-Comix

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.


47 posted on 01/20/2012 5:35:54 AM PST by beachn4fun (I have a book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble)
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To: beachn4fun

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.


48 posted on 01/20/2012 5:39:49 AM PST by Rebelbase
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To: beachn4fun

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.


49 posted on 01/20/2012 5:45:37 AM PST by PJ-Comix ("Now I am become Death, destroyer of oysters" ---from the Buffetvad Gita)
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To: Rebelbase
A friend bought an Apple TV box at the store for $100 and had another friend jailbreak it(legal in US according to Wiki).

Could you provide more details and links. This is something I am thinking of IF it is truly legal.

50 posted on 01/20/2012 5:47:29 AM PST by PJ-Comix ("Now I am become Death, destroyer of oysters" ---from the Buffetvad Gita)
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To: Rebelbase

What are the monthly costs when using the Apple TV box?


51 posted on 01/20/2012 5:54:47 AM PST by PJ-Comix ("Now I am become Death, destroyer of oysters" ---from the Buffetvad Gita)
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To: beachn4fun; EnglishCon; Bill W was a conservative; verga; thesaleboat; Sick of Lefties; ...
+

Freep-mail me to get on or off my pro-life and Catholic List:

Add me / Remove me

Please ping me to note-worthy Pro-Life or Catholic threads, or other threads of general interest.


52 posted on 01/20/2012 5:58:29 AM PST by narses
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To: beachn4fun

bookmarking this thread as I need the info too.
We are talking about doing away with our DISH network.


53 posted on 01/20/2012 6:22:48 AM PST by pollywog ("O Thou who changest not, abide with me.".......)
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To: Gaffer

I feel your pain Gaffer......

We just went around and around with Comcast. They were overcharging us for the last 7 months. Their bill has so many extra charges that it’s hard to decipher the darned thing. Then they talk you into an HD box (cost about $10 each every month) but don’t tell you that you can get the plain old adaptor for FREE! The only reason we found out was that hubby took the boxes back for two of our tv’s. We decided we just didn’t need to watch them. (I want to use one as a computer monitor anyway). He knows the lady in the Comcast office. She told him about the adaptors and said that they don’t tell people about it unless they ask. So we got those instead. Bill is still too high though. We get tons of stations that we will never, ever watch.
Like another poster said, we watch only a few stations on a regular basis.
What a rip off!!


54 posted on 01/20/2012 6:32:44 AM PST by sneakers (EAT YOUR PEAS!)
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To: Rebelbase

Good morning.

I’ve been eyeing the Apple TV box but now they are talking about bring out an iTV, so I’m waiting.

I love Apple products, and I want to sew my lips shut before saying this, but others on here have been talking about ROKU, which I believe is the same as Apple TV box.

We’re ditching DirecTV as soon as we can work out the logistics.


55 posted on 01/20/2012 6:39:42 AM PST by beachn4fun (I have a book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble)
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To: caver
I live about 50 miles south of Indianapolis

Wonder if your setup would work 65 miles NORTH of Indianapolis??

How tall is your outdoor antenna? Are you surrounded by woods/trees??

Just inquiring...

56 posted on 01/20/2012 6:47:11 AM PST by Logic n' Reason (N/A)
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To: pollywog

Welcome aboard!

I’ve read where there are a lot of people doing this. That’s where I got the idea to pursue more information on doing it.


57 posted on 01/20/2012 6:56:28 AM PST by beachn4fun (I have a book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble)
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To: Logic n' Reason

It should work up norh. The antenna is mounted about 30’ high. It is one of the longer range ones about 10’ long. Yes, there are much taller trees all around. It is in the middle of the city. You can also get a amplifier to increse the signal strength. At a previous house I had a rotor and an amp and could pick up all kinds of stations. There are many more stations on the air now, many of them high def.


58 posted on 01/20/2012 6:58:55 AM PST by caver (Obama: Home of the Whopper)
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To: caver
Now yer talking...so I need a 30 to 35' antenna mount (securely fastened), a good HD antenna, an amp, and a rotor.

Ideas as to possible costs on all this???

59 posted on 01/20/2012 7:22:00 AM PST by Logic n' Reason (N/A)
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To: caver
Now yer talking...so I need a 30 to 35' antenna mount (securely fastened), a good HD antenna, an amp, and a rotor.

Ideas as to possible costs on all this???

60 posted on 01/20/2012 7:22:20 AM PST by Logic n' Reason (N/A)
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