Need some insight into cutting my cable

[Soignee]

I've got kids that like to watch TV, but I'm tired of paying Comcast a buck and a half a month...

Whatcha got as far as methods to still watch TV (local news etc...) and only use Comcast as mah internet provider? Any ideas, links etc...will be much appreciated!

 

[chickennuggets]

You are looking at getting streaming services if you want the tv without the cable. Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and Yahoo I believe all have streaming products for movies and tv shows and the like. you just won't remain current in all cases. I find that I like to binge watch shows anyway, waiting a week between shows really grinds my gears. then if you still want local tv an hd antenna is a good move. not sure if you would need a digital box or not...

I didn't have cable for years, what I did is I got the cheapest cable package and the second best internet and the netflix.

 

[Ridilen]

You could always use KODI from kodi.tv. It is the new XBMC. Also there are torrent sites to download tv episodes and cartoons.

 

[Reverend Brimstone]

I use an HD antenna for local channels and stream the rest. If you have a modern TV that uses a digital tuner, you should have no trouble using the antenna. The picture's better than what I got with my cable, since I was too cheap to pay for an HD box every month.

Other than that, we use Netflix and amazon prime. Don't watch a whole lot on amazon, but I'm a prime member anyhow.

What do your kids like to watch? Finding specific shows can be difficult if you don't want to torrent or buy the seasons outright.

 

[Train2]

Most of what I found that would do the job was a combination of services, especially if I need (and I do) to record current TV series and have a solid fast internet connection - and it kept adding up to more than Comcast.

Check though - I ended up with an internet/TV/VOIP phone package that was less than TV/Internet only a year ago.
Then recently, I lowered it again, even while adding "anyroom" to access the DVR from any TV.
Since I actually need the landline, it ends up being almost reasonable for the trio of services...

 

[Brandon David]

I have no landline and no cable. Just internet and a roku box. I need to look into kodi. I haven't had my xbmc going since I moved.

Oh and also have access to a friend's plex acct.

 

[CES]

My public library now offers streaming services through Hoopla https://www.hoopladigital.com/home. Older stuff, but free. You sign in with your library card. Looks like you can search to see if your library offers it, and lobby them to provide it if they don't.

(i have netflix and Amazon, no cable TV)

 

[Reverend Brimstone]

My public library now offers streaming services through Hoopla https://www.hoopladigital.com/home. Older stuff, but free. You sign in with your library card. Looks like you can search to see if your library offers it, and lobby them to provide it if they don't.

(i have netflix and Amazon, no cable TV)

I hadn't heard of that one, and my library participates! I'm having trouble finding this info, though: do you know if there is a way to stream this content to a TV? Or do you just watch on the PC instead?

 

[CES]

Unless there's a way to download the app to your TV, I think it's limited to PCs and handheld devices. You might be able to use HDMI out on the PC or tablet to send it to your TV.

 

[Reverend Brimstone]

Well I'll check it out eventually and report back here if I learn anything different or discover any workaround. Thanks for the tip, though. I had no idea this service even existed.

 

[wonkeypickle]

i cut my cable. now me and the girlfriend do weird things......have conversations, go for walks, read books......

 

[Darryl Licht]

I've got kids that like to watch TV, but I'm tired of paying Comcast a buck and a half a month...

Whatcha got as far as methods to still watch TV (local news etc...) and only use Comcast as mah internet provider? Any ideas, links etc...will be much appreciated!

I did that 9 months ago! Cut the cable TV and went to DirecTV because of my grandkids love of Disney channel! I'm saving over $70/month! And I got Sunday Ticket for free the first year! Yeehaw!

 

[Reverend Brimstone]

More info out on the Sling TV service. Looks like that twenty bucks only gets you twelve channels. The original release I heard said two hundred, but I guess that's the total number available, not the number of channels in the base package. Additional channel packages can be added for five bucks a month.

What initially sounded like a great service now sounds like too much money for too little content.

 

[Soignee]

Thanks for everyone's help! Here's what I've got so far:

Streaming sites (netflix, etc...)
KODI for media streaming
HD Antenna for local programming
Beat up cable company for lower rates (that's in the works)
Hoopla through local library (nice one)
Get out and take a walk with the family (we're on board with that already )
Direct TV (we are wired for it already)

Any insight into Chromecast vs Apple TV vs Roku etc...? Pro's and Con's
We are a mixed technology household. Apple phones and an ancient iPad, Samsung Tablet and Windows based laptop and digital TV's.

 

[KurrptSenate]

I haven't had TV for over a year +. hasn't been a big deal. have Netflix for the kids

if you don't watch sports, it's really non-issue.

don't touch my internet though

 

[aznnp77]

My boss had comcast. Absolute worst service ever, but they were the only choice in his area.

Whenever he was unhappy, he would call them and select the option to cancel his service.

Every single time they came back with a nice reduction in monthly fees to retain him. Once in a while the bill would mysteriously go back up, so once again, select option to cancel service, rate always lowered by end of call.

You should try it. I bet you can get down to $100 or less.

He even did it for one of my co-workers once. Pretty funny

 

[AdamAAdams]

I cut the cable about six months ago, use a outside antenna for local channels but that is only because they are coming from far away. My sister in CT is much closer to her local signals and only needs a small indoor antenna. I have Amazon fire TV that at the time was faster than any roku chrome or apple device and the same price as the others. I also have a smart TV and the fire TV apps are much better. Was going to switch to comcast for faster, cheaper service but AT&T didn't like that and offered me a better deal. I only have a Netflix and hulu account and that keeps me happy. Sometimes I'll connect my laptop to the TV and watch shows or movies on prime wire.ag that are not on Netflix or hulu. Like keeping up with The Walking Dead. But you need to be careful on that site because there are lots of adds that are disguised as links that carry viruses and adds that are unappropriate for children (porn).

 

[Ou2mame]

I haven't had cable in 7 years.. never really saw the need for it.. But I always had it since I was born basically so I kept paying it until one day I was like f this. I've never had a landline though. Anyways, I can watch the local news station streaming, and fox news cnn and abc from their sites. My gf has her sisters hbo go account login and showtime I think and a few others. A lot of stations have current episode streaming, and we have Netflix.. And then there's also torrents. Anyways, cable is basically half a car payment. Totally not worth it. I think my generation is starting to see that cause a lot of our friends don't have cable.

It helps that we have 2 tvs and a computer for each. My work computer in the bedroom is connected to a 46", and in the living room I built a small media computer for 200 bucks from Newegg with black Friday parts a few years ago, on a 50". It's pretty much the perfect setup for what we need. It's got a ton of space, and enough power to do what we need and doesn't use much power since it's such a budget build. Smart tvs are cool but it was much cheaper to do it this way and we have unlimited functionality.

 

[Reverend Brimstone]

I built a small media computer for 200 bucks from Newegg with black Friday parts a few years ago, on a 50". It's pretty much the perfect setup for what we need. It's got a ton of space, and enough power to do what we need and doesn't use much power since it's such a budget build. Smart tvs are cool but it was much cheaper to do it this way and we have unlimited functionality.

I think this is my next move, to put together a media PC. The smart TVs don't interest me. Even without a media PC, for fifty bucks or less I can buy a set top box or streaming stick that adds new functionality and is replaceable when it becomes obsolete. Building the tech into the set seems like the worst way to go.

 

[Soignee]

I think this is my next move, to put together a media PC. The smart TVs don't interest me. Even without a media PC, for fifty bucks or less I can buy a set top box or streaming stick that adds new functionality and is replaceable when it becomes obsolete. Building the tech into the set seems like the worst way to go.

Building the tech in just reinforces planned obsolescence. I have yet to see a tv with up gradable firmware...