worshingcompost : Americans are moving faster than ever away from traditional TV

worshingcompost ^ | March 11 2015 | Cecilia Kang

[HereInTheHeartland]

My TV broke a month ago. I suppose I should replace it; but I don’t miss it all that much.
Like is too short to have it directed by network television.
Much better to get out and LIVE and be around real people.

[Gideon7]

Roku does Netflix, Plex, Sling, Hulu, Amazon, DisneyTV, FoxNews...

Roku channel list.

Tip: Get the $99 Roku the set-top box, not the $49 USB stick. You want the extra CPU for responsiveness. Plug the set-top box into a wired RJ45 jack (not WiFi) to your Internet router.

In my experience HD 1080p can push more than what WiFi can handle sometimes. (The USB stick is WiFi only.) A gigabit RJ45 CAT6 line gives you plenty of headroom.

[Marko413]

We cut cable 3 years ago because we had to cut our budget and it was either cable or something like food/gas/medicine so the choice was kind of obvious. After a few months on Netflix, we didn’t miss TV anymore and haven’t looked back.

Also found out that if you simply plug the cable line into your TV, you get antenna channels clear as day without having to pay for a cable package. Just a tip for people to try if you are only paying for an Internet signal through your cable company. Most of the time, after you plug it in you need to go into your TV menu and have it do a channel scan to pick up the channels, otherwise you just get snow.

[Gideon7]

The other problem with WiFi is the airspace is getting crowded, especially if you live in an apartment bldg. or in close-packed residential area.

[TxAg1981]

The thing that distinguishes Dick Van Dyke, I Love Lucy, etc is the lack of rape and murder.

[WakeUpAndVote]

For bookmark and an open question.

What are you using for internet then? I am getting everything via cable including internet. I am testing antennas but, there are only 3 station I can get. I want to jump but, I will still have to have cable for internet. What USB adapter should I be looking for?

[texas_mrs]

BFL. My ultimate goal!

[TomGuy]

Over 250 different cable channels and seldom anything worth watching.

I watch Netflix usually more than the cable channels, including HBO and STARZ.

My cable’s On-Demand is about as crappy as the tv offerings.

[TomGuy]

because most have a plot that oftimes can't be determined right away

Many of those 'detective' dramas follow a basic script. After a few minutes -- yeap, that is the perp. At the end of the program, more times than not, my selectee was either the perp or a partner with the perp.

Scripted programs follow a basic pattern. That makes it relatively easy to 'predict' things.

[TomGuy]

http://instantwatcher.com/

The above website has both the Netflix and Amazon Prime catalogs. You should check them out. Both services have plenty to satisfy your interests and both are relatively inexpensive.

[DaveA37]

No soap operas, situation comedies, reality shows or TV news here. Now a good old hockey game or baseball game and things are different. Wish I could subscribe to ONLY the programs I choose and not the hundreds of channels of worthless crap one must be obliged to take

[TomGuy]

For several years, I have been collecting TV programs that interest me. I have around 3,000 episodes. I have them on a NAS (wifi) USB 3 Tb hard drive. That way, I can access them on my computers (laptop & desktop) and on my LCD TV via ROKU/Plex or WD TV/Plex/Servers.

Technology is finally getting to the point that computers can talk to TVs.

[goodnesswins]

BFL. Tv

[reed13k]

Heck - get Rabbit TV. I pay ~$10/year has all sorts of new and old links to stuff on the internet. You can find it all yourself, but Rabbit organizes it for you.

If I want a specific movie/show that isn’t available through Rabbit, I can always do that through a DVD, Amazon, or search for it on other internet sites.

[upchuck]

For me, it depends on what you mean by "TV."

Sorry I wasn't more clear. For entertainment I subscribe to the DVD service from Netflix. No off the air broadcasts, no cable, no streaming.

All the news I want can be had from the Internet. I can balance it how ever I want by choosing different outlets.

Do not own a "TV set."

[867V309]

Could I ask what make/model card you use?

I use the AVERMEDIA H837 AVerTV Volar Hybrid Q HDTV & FM Radio.

The hardware has worked flawlessly for over a year. Tips: Don't bother with the installation CD, get updated software from their website. It's still a little clunky, but it works well. Read the reviews on Amazon.

[huldah1776]

thanks! bkmkd for when I settle in to wherever I may be.

[huldah1776]

understood and empathize. Hockey is awesome. I would go to the team site or somewhere like that when the playoffs were going to get updates on scores.

[minnesota_bound]

#14

[wally_bert]

Thank you for the link. It’s wish listed for now.