Cutting the cord - Dropping Cable/Satellite

[Papa Zook]

I just cut the cord on cable TV because I got tired of paying close to $200 a month to watch commercials and I spend way more time here than watching TV anyhow. The kids bought me a smart TV and showed me how to watch anything I want to see for free with no commercials. Free still isn't 100% free as we still have basic internet, but its a lot cheaper than it was before dropping my cable plan that had a few premium channels and Netfix. I went from slow internet and crappy commercial filled TV to high speed 400mbps internet and commercial free HD TV for $75.95 per month.

Anyone else cut the cord? How did you do it?

Smart TV? (with free pre-loaded program apps)<~~ me

Google Chromecast?

Amazon Firestick?

YouTube TV?

Sling TV?

Roku?

Antenna?

I still have a lot to learn about this so I thought we could share information and learn more about what works best. I will post some links to articles I have found on the subject. I have learned enough to know that its crazy to pay what most of us are paying for cable TV.

Great Read> http://www.techradar.com/news/televi...-cable-1320023

[1dn5up]

I just cut the cord on cable TV because I got tired of paying close to $200 a month to watch commercials and I spend way more time here than watching TV anyhow. The kids bought me a smart TV and showed me how to watch anything I want to see for free with no commercials. Free still isn't 100% free as I still have basic cable, but its a lot cheaper than it was after dropping cable, a few premium channels and Netfix.

Anyone else cut the cord? How did you do it?

Working on it. I need someone to splaine the fire stick way as so I can understand it’s workings. So far all I get is lawyer talk If I can see it’s workings then I’ll understand how it works.

[peteg59]

Like to, but nothing so far has "tickled my fancy" from anyone, when it comes to keeping many of the same stations I watch.

My crystal ball prediction is: Pretty soon all TV's will be "smart" and even cable companies won't have "cords" any longer, but someone is still going to get "paid" for bundling TV stations to the gen public...

[Papa Zook]

Frank,

You plug the Firestick into the HDMI port on your TV. It picks up the signal from your wireless internet router and displays a setup screen on your TV with all the available channels. You select what you want to watch and stream it in HD to your TV.

Cord Cutting 101> http://www.techradar.com/news/televi...-cable-1320023

oops..wrong link. Firestick info is HERE

[consitter]

Got the wife to do the closest thing she would...cut down to an $80 package. Much better than the $200 we were paying before.

We have a Roku to fill in the gaps for her in things she’s missing. Keeps her happy, so I’m happy, as I don’t watch hardly any boob tube anyway. I keep my nose stuck in some trike forum.

[Papa Zook]

Got the wife to do the closest thing she would...cut down to an $80 package. Much better than the $200 we were paying before.

We have a Roku to fill in the gaps for her in things she’s missing. Keeps her happy, so I’m happy, as I don’t watch hardly any boob tube anyway. I keep my nose stuck in some trike forum.

How do you like Roku Scott?

[Papa Zook]

Grab a glass of tea and learn all you want to know HERE.

Adding more good info threads from various forums:

https://www.thehulltruth.com/docksid...able-bill.html

http://2coolfishing.com/ttmbforum/sh...=cutting+cable

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.co...highlight=kodi

https://www.groundedreason.com/cable-tv-alternatives/

[Jack Klarich]

I have the triple play with ATT

My wife can talk long distance as much as she wants now

We cut our bill in half switching from Comcast

Locked in for 2 years with unlimited long distance, fiber optics cable and internet

I am happy with125dollars per month

I would consider this new deal if I could break my contract

[hogmemberisold]

We cut the cord back in September and have really fared very well with it.

I had just talked with Verizon and was able to get the monthly cell bill down $30 and then paid the cable bill online, the single largest monthly bill we had. We canceled everything except for internet that evening and went from almost $170 down to $65 to the cable company.

Between Amazon Prime (member since 2008), Netflix, CBS All Access, plus the outside antenna for about 50 local OTA channels, we are content.

We had tried Hulu but didn’t see the value there. I’m looking to try HBO for a little bit… it’s nice to be able to start and stop services as desired, makes for a better Taylor made experience.

Older Plasma with a Roku and outside antenna… Splitting the OTA signal to a TV in the bedroom too.

[Papa Zook]

We cut the cord back in September and have really fared very well with it.

I had just talked with Verizon and was able to get the monthly cell bill down $30 and then paid the cable bill online, the single largest monthly bill we had. We canceled everything except for internet that evening and went from almost $170 down to $65 to the cable company.

Between Amazon Prime (member since 2008), Netflix, CBS All Access, plus the outside antenna for about 50 local OTA channels, we are content.

We had tried Hulu but didn’t see the value there. I’m looking to try HBO for a little bit… it’s nice to be able to start and stop services as desired, makes for a better Taylor made experience.

Older Plasma with a Roku and outside antenna… Splitting the OTA signal to a TV in the bedroom too.

An extra $1200 a year in your pocket, HD TV and no commercials doesn't suck does it? For over a year, I've been saying I was going to get rid of cable and just never got around to it. Besides saving the money, I think the thing I enjoy most is no commercials and being able to start a program from the beginning and pause it anytime I want, or skip to another program if I want. I watch a lot of HGTV and car themed programs.

[Pooch]

I just use the antenna and converter box, so whatever I watch is free TV, plenty of channels.

[Ezjerry]

I live out in the country. I pay for satellite internet and am limited how much I can use. Very little reception with antenna. Maybe some day.

[hogmemberisold]

An extra $1200 a year in your pocket, HD TV and no commercials doesn't suck does it? I've been saying for over a year I was going to get rid of cable and just never got around to it. Besides saving the money I think the thing I enjoy most is no commercials and being able to start a program from the beginning and pause it anytime I want, or skip to another one if I want. I watch a lot of HGTV and car themed programs.

Just commercials on the OTA shows, but, those are very few as most of our shows are on CBS, and no commercials there. Savings are nice!

[2006gold]

We've had AT&T Uverse a couple of times, now on Direct TV for the second time. That contract expires in February and we're not going to renew. Also, have Amazon Fire which we are just now beginning to use frequently. Recently signed up for HBO now, a streaming service accessed through the Fire so the wife could watch the Game of Thrones series.

We will probably continue with streaming and install a digital antenna for the local channels. Tried the DirectTV steaming, but the picture quality was terrible and the programming very limited, plus it had zero DVR capability. Frankly, I'm tired of everything on TV right now. It's all gotten so freaking boring with the same old story lines being rehashed over and over.

Most of the time while the wife is watching something, I work crossword puzzles, tinker with the pistols, or read. Only thing I need TV for, most of the time, is news - and that through one local channel or One America News. Still, regardless of the news channel, I keep a large container of salt nearby.

[Lee H. Mann]

Well, I don't consider this off the grid but I changed my phone to a Magic Jack. My monthly phone and long distance bill was averaging $130.00.

I bought a Magic Jack for $99.00 and a 5 year subscription for $99.00.

For $200.00 I now have 60 months of no phone charges.

I have Comcast cable for the H/S Internet and TV still.

In order to upgrade to Internet TV I would have to buy a new computer.

Don't see a savings there yet and I would still be attached to the Comcast devil.

[Bubba49]

I also live way out in the country, so my options are limited. My internet is about the speed of dial up and I have to use it for work 5 days a week. However, I’m thinking about getting rid of DirecTV as soon as the contract expires. Those fools promised me 200+ channels of TV for around $135 per month, but they failed to mention that 150 channels of that are infomercials. What a ripoff! I’d rather watch paint dry than watch that stuff.

Bubba

[Ol' Man Jeb]

We're testing the waters. Got our Dish TV bill cut from $117 to $71. Also have Roku and Chromecast from previous residence in the boonies. We also have a digital antenna ( about 1 foot square) hanging on the wall. Our son includes us on his Netflix account. We're also Amazon Prime members. We still making adjustments.

[Marc H]

How much internet does those streaming services use in a month?I have internet through Dish right now but basically it limits me to 10gb a month.My only other option is Hughes and I hear they are hated by most.I get the impression that any savings would be offset by the increased internet bill.Paying $190 for TV and internet right now.

[Lee H. Mann]

shucks man ............. if I didn't have Cable I would be missing the All Day Marathon of Live PD !!

[Pooch]

I live out in the country. I pay for satellite internet and am limited how much I can use. Very little reception with antenna. Maybe some day.

I went to walmart and bought one of the "60 mile" antennas, it helped alot.