Kicking Cable to the Curb

[garyoa1]

Who decides?

You.

 

[NCC]

You.

Moving on ... I have seen you mention that Kodi is a free download which can run on a PC. I've skimmed through the wikipedia article on the software. Interesting. My media PC has an NVidia GTX 960 (nifty card) and an SD video capture card (720x480), which I use daily. I use a 36" TV for a monitor and have online a four bay USB HDD enclosure with 4x8TB drives installed. I'm raring to go.

So, in English please, what is Kodi? Maintaining my broadband, which you concede is required, can I use Kodi to replace Comcast TV? Or, should I just install it and find out for myself? Is the system I described adequate to use this program? Can I drop Comcast TV and still pleasure my OCD pleasure centers with CNN, WxCh, MSNBC, NBC, CBS, ABC, C-SPAN, NatGeo, et al? Can I get premium stuff I don't presently have, like the Science Channel, NASA TV? Yeah, I know NASA TV is available online, but I haven't succeeded in recording it, or much of anything else other than YouTube downloads. I've never found a way to capture live feeds online.

You might have noticed, I like to record 'stuff'. I'm considering that that fact alone disqualifies me for this thread.

 

[garyoa1]

Kinda sorta yes and no. If you want say... an hbo show or the latest tv show you won't get to see it till the next day. (Shows from netflix, hulu etc... they're all there) Live tv... sure. But local channels? Highly unlikely. Networks tho, Yep, all there. To be honest... not sure about c-span. Never really looked for it. Movies? Generally you'll get them before HBO does.
But kodi is a free program. And you'll need some free add ons to make it better.
Kodi | Open Source Home Theater Software
Or you can get a box for your tv practically anywhere. Amazon, best buy, walmart, etc. They generally come with kodi installed.

 

[MamaTried]

like gary said, kodi will let you watch ANYTHING for free.

sometimes tv shows won't show up til the next day, but here on the west coast, i can catch most things a few hours after they air on the east coast.

tonight, i watched NCIS, NCIS NO, Bull, Bizarre Foods, -- an hour or two after they aired on the east coast--and am now watching a movie (in HD) that is still in theaters. i'll have to wait til tomorrow morning for the food channel shows (that i'm addicted to) to pop up.

you can watch most of this stuff in your browser -- IF you have good anti-virus, anti-malware and anti-popups. kodi gets you around all that crap and is generally a better experience.

i've been using the Zen add-on for tv and movies for the last couple weeks. it seems superior to exodus.

more often than not, i use my browser to watch live sports, rather than kodi. Pro Sports and Sportsdevil are hit and miss-- at least when you want your home team's feed.

i'd post some good browser links, but i doubt anyone is as protected as i am-- and i always have to update my browser plugins to get around the stuff these sites can spew. but, again, kodi gets you around all that

 

[r77r7r]

So, Gotta have good interwebbies! In diagnosing mine when having issues lately, I found that I needed to update my wireless dongle on my pc.

Seems to have helped, but ordered the newer type- AC. Anyone using these??

Amazon.com: OURLINK 600Mbps AC600 Dual Band USB WiFi Dongle & Wireless Network Adapter for Laptop / Desktop Computer - Backward Compatible with 802.11 a/b/g/n Products (2.4 GHz 150Mbps, 5GHz 433Mbps): Computers & Accessories

Need to find out if my router runs AC and 5ghz channel....

 

[garyoa1]

Y wood u need wireless on a PC? Or you mean laptop?

 

[Ken_A]

So, in English please, what is Kodi? Maintaining my broadband, which you concede is required, can I use Kodi to replace Comcast TV? Or, should I just install it and find out for myself? Is the system I described adequate to use this program? Can I drop Comcast TV and still pleasure my OCD pleasure centers with CNN, WxCh, MSNBC, NBC, CBS, ABC, C-SPAN, NatGeo, et al? Can I get premium stuff I don't presently have, like the Science Channel, NASA TV? Yeah, I know NASA TV is available online, but I haven't succeeded in recording it, or much of anything else other than YouTube downloads. I've never found a way to capture live feeds online.

to cut out the tech stuff:
1) Kodi is an application you can put on your PC, Mac, or Android device.
2) It allows you to search for and watch content that is hosted in thousands of locations.
3) It does not do specific content providers, like NBC, CBS, ABC, etc. but the shows that play on those channels can be searched for and added to favorites.
4) Some KODI aps allow recording and other's don't. (see #5)
5) If you hook up the KODI through your recording device, you should be able to record shows.
6) It can be difficult or impossible to find PBS programs for DIY or crafts.
7) Many of the older programming was never digitized and is not stored, so you may have difficulties if you want to record episodes of The Magic Clown. But you cna probably get Barny and friends.
8) there are aps out there dedicated to Public/national things like NASA.

 

[garyoa1]

On 3... yes, the networks are there. (live tv)
On 6... PBS shows and all kinds of docs/DIY are out there.
But none thru exodus.

 

[r77r7r]

Y wood u need wireless on a PC? Or you mean laptop?

PC. Router is on other side of the house for TV and multiple device use. I use a range extender to get it here. Just the way it is, right now...

 

[garyoa1]

Ah. I'd go for something like this...

https://www.amazon.com/Rosewill-802...=1486560232&sr=1-22&keywords=wireless+pc+card

Or if you really don't want to open it up...
https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-Wire...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=RCSF7AAX85C95NKJGTBS

 

[r77r7r]

Ah. I'd go for something like this...

https://www.amazon.com/Rosewill-802...=1486560232&sr=1-22&keywords=wireless+pc+card

Or if you really don't want to open it up...
https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-Wire...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=RCSF7AAX85C95NKJGTBS

Ty. They seem to only have the additional benefit of the antenna, and I already have a repeater?

My signal right now is good, strong, and consistent. I just experience some lag which I thought could be addressed with the new dongle. Could be my video card or pc tho.

 

[garyoa1]

OK. I don't do builds. But this vid will show a build with a bunch of add ons for those who don't know about what is which.
And yes, I have kodi 17. Seems more robust to me. But I use the old confluence skin. Just got used to it and I really didn't like the new 17 skin.

 

[oldbroad]

I'm asking for help...and I need to keep it simple! Else i won't grasp anything I've spent a lot of time and way too much brain effort for days now and still don't grasp any of this.
So here's my questions ...

Do I need some sort of antennae? If so, it'd have to be an indoor one in my case.
Which Kodi box is very good but also not the most expensive?
What else do I need?
( besides a better brain)
I have a Roku , should i also connect that to my "Smart " tv?

I'd SO appreciate any and all input!!!!

This?

https://www.amazon.com/ClearStream-...=1486576851&sr=1-75&keywords=indoor+antennaes

And this?

https://www.amazon.com/OHITEC-Andro...77311&sr=1-75-spons&keywords=Kodi+boxes&psc=1

 

[garyoa1]

No antenna required. Roku? No klue. Heard of em, never saw or used one.
Kodi box? Don't know if there is a "bad" one. Figger about $50 and yer good to go. I have some links back in this thread about what I have.
And FWIW, I also have kodi on a lil laptop. Werx fine. Itz free. Try it to see if u like it before you invest in boxes.

 

[MikeE3]

And FWIW, I also have kodi on a lil laptop.

Good suggestion for a beginner. No money expended to see if you like using Kodi. I actually run Kodi from my laptop and just switch it's output to Apple TV if I want to watch on a big screen.

 

[oldbroad]

The one I posted has Kodi built in...is that good? And it has 5 stars...

And I have a GD that will hook it up

Oh...and i think I need an indoor antennae to get the major tv channels?

 

[oldbroad]

No antenna required. Roku? No klue. Heard of em, never saw or used one.
Kodi box? Don't know if there is a "bad" one. Figger about $50 and yer good to go. I have some links back in this thread about what I have.
And FWIW, I also have kodi on a lil laptop. Werx fine. Itz free. Try it to see if u like it before you invest in boxes.

https://www.amazon.com/Roku-Streami...s&ie=UTF8&qid=1486577937&sr=1-2&keywords=Roku

 

[garyoa1]

I have a couple of these... (was $50 when I got them)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01C5HFHUI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And I recommend this unless you don't mind pecking at a weird remote.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BP5KOPA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[garyoa1]

Pretty sure they all have kodi installed. BUT the add ons that come with it aren't really great. You'll have to add your own.
If you want to install it on a puter...
Kodi | Open Source Home Theater Software

 

[garyoa1]

FWIW, the new kodi 17 was just released a couple days ago. So any box you buy will still probably have kodi 16.1.