Read the TV guide, you don't need a TV
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.
I pay about 180 a month for TV, internet and the cell phones (3)... I am using uverse by at&t... I got 3 boxes and a dvr with the deal, and over 400 channels...
I have their premium package at $141.32/month.....the very next time this goes up ONE PENNY is when I’m calling them to cancel it in its entirety!
I’ll go with direct air, limited cable on a phone/internet package I have, and Netflix. Screw them. HBO with Maher, Streisand, and all the other ‘premium’ channels showing Redford, Griffin, race baiting black comedians, that bitch Sarandon and her ex-shackup Robbins and all the rest...I’m looking forward to it....
Here’s my suggestion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBOMs912-SU&feature=player_embedded#!
Get an outside antenna and a digital converter. I live about 50 miles south of Indianapolis and can get about 35 channels over the air. If I had a rotor on the antenna, I could pick up Louisville, Cincinnati and Bloomington and probably more. Of course, this setup does not get you cable channels.
Get an outside antenna and a digital converter. I live about 50 miles south of Indianapolis and can get about 35 channels over the air. If I had a rotor on the antenna, I could pick up Louisville, Cincinnati and Bloomington and probably more. Of course, this setup does not get you cable channels.
LOL
Not exactly what I had in mind.
but thanks
Can’t help you too much. For local programming, just get yourself an antenna. You may want to add an antenna amplifier if you live far from the towers. I don’t have cable or satellite any longer and don’t really care. I have a few favorite cable progams I would like to watch, but the cost is not worth it. I have a wireless roku box in one part of the house and a wireless bluray player in another and those two give me my streaming internet entertainment content, much of it from Amazon Prime, but a few other channels as well like Hulu.
I can’t help you with getting the newest shows but we got Amazon Prime a while back for the discounts and free shipping. We hooked the laptop up to the TV and have access to about 3000 movies and 900 TV shows (full seasons) for free streaming. The wife’s been watching Agatha Christie’s Poirot and Midsommer Murders. The kids and I have been watching the original Mission Impossible. They have all seven seasons in HD.
What shows specifically are you wanting to keep if you give up cable?
Think about it.
You can watch current cable shows (right after they show, i think) on Amazon Prime, but they cost 99 cents apiece. Pretty cheap.
I’ll check this thread later to see what suggestions other FReepers have.
We watch some shows on WB50, USA, TNT, FX, History, Discovery, and cartoon for the grankids.
I know we can go to the websites and watch shows there but we want to be able to watch them on the tv. Plus I like to watch American Idol live, which won’t be a problem as long as I get a digital antenna to help pick up local station.
My family's viewing habits before:
Sports like NFL, NHL and the occasional golf tournament.
Discovery channel stuff
History channel stuff
AMC's Walking Dead
We dumped DirecTV and installed an antenna for our local channels. I bought a ROKU and the NHL GameCenter package (~$220). With either the ROKU or my TV, I can access Netflix, HuluPlus, Amazon video, and several others. Netflix (streaming only) is $9 I think...maybe 7. With Amazon video I can get AMC's walking dead by the episode for $2/ea, $3/ea for HD. Netflix shows tons of the Discovery/History/Nat Geo stuff, but usually well after the original air date. But I don't care...when they show it on Netflix it's still new to me. So our viewing habits after are:
Sports like NFLand the occasional golf tournament via the antenna.
NHL via the Roku
Discovery channel stuff and History channel stuff delayed from original broadcast via Netflix
AMC's Walking Dead delayed a day or so via Amazon video.
We will NEVER go back to DirecTV
Ok, we were wondering about that. Did you hook up directly with a cable?
Are we talking strictly ‘legal’ here?
If not, check out Sabnzbd, Sickbeard, and hook up a computer to your TV running XBMC. All free software. Being a newsgroup member will cost you, but probably not more than $10 a month.
Yes, there’s a bit of a learning curve, but if you google for tutorials, you should be able to get it working.
Personally, this is what I do. If I really like something and there is a way for me to consume the content the way I want it (without commercials, forced trailers, nagging, waiting, or lousy resolution), I’ll gladly pay for it. Otherwise, I refuse to pay money to inconvenience myself and to prop up the failing business models of a bunch of liberal morons.
Thanks.
Ok, so far I’m getting suggestions on ROKU and antenna for local stations.
Those are on my list.
We have Netflix for $8/mo and will probably add HuluPlus for $8.
My cable is included in the rent, on-air HD is free with a 40-year old UHF antenna, phone is subsidized, and I pick up my food stamps on the 3rd.
A lot of laptops have an HDMI out.
There’s also a box like this that would work with HDMI.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883108536
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