Posted on 11/04/2018 1:36:13 PM PST by OregonRancher
Do you get a dedicated computer linked up to your tv? how do you change channels?
I have a Winegard Metrostar 2000 amplified antenna (not sure they are available anymore). It’s in my attic and, when I dropped cable, I just switched the main input from comcast to my antenna - all my TVs work great.
It looks like a UFO in my attic and it’s been working for about 10 years.
I’m just outside of Houston and have a DVR to record the weird shows I like - like Perry Mason...
what cable modem do you own?
I used to own my own but it got friend in a thunderstorm a few while back.
sling.com
A $34 Android TV box connects to your router and has an HDMI output to connect to your flatscreen TV.
Several sources — Youtube TV, Hulu TV, Sling TV, and several others.
The problem I see is that they, like cable and satellite, sell bundles or tiers. Thus, you will still pay for channels you don’t want in order to get channels you do want. Sports? That usually requires an additional tier. And each tier adds to the overall cost.
From the ones I have checked, to get my basic + advanced (which includes most general sports) via cable, my cost would run just a few dollars less than cable. Where cable robs you is with add-on fees for their boxes, etc.
Of course, you would need a good internet connection. I think my cable company charges extra for internet-only. Their internet is wobbly anyway, but there is no viable competitor. The phone company recently advertised internet-only for $45 and never a price increase. Sounded good, except for my location they only offer 10Mbps. Most internet TV websites recommend at least 15Mbps.
I did see a mention of MyWiFi.tv in a recent thread that got pulled. It seems to offer a lot, but I am suspicious. It reminds me of some of the ‘free movies if you subscribe and pay us’ websites. I wonder about the legitimacy of it.
Also check the daily ‘blog’: Cord Cutter News
https://www.cordcuttersnews.com/
You don’t need a computer, per se, just the wi-fi. We have one TV with a Fire Stick and the other is a Smart TV. Still have cable, but, hoping to drop it eventually.
Great antenna if most stations broadcast from the same general area within 70-miles distance:
RCA Compact Outdoor Yagi HDTV Antenna with 70 Mile Range (ANT751E)
We cut the cord years ago now. use DirecTV NOW with HBO, Amazon Prime with Starz, and Netflix. We have had Google Chromecast, ROKU, AppleTV and Amazon Fire TV. My least favorite and most expensive box was the AppleTV which was nothing but trouble from the getgo. Please do not waste your money. We use only the FireTVs with 4K these days as they go on sale for about $40 frequently and work the best with Amazon Prime services. Since we currently have high speed internet at two houses this gives us better programming choices for less money than we have ever had with cable.
We use mostly https://instantwatcher.com/
and also
to figure out what to watch. This is especially helpful on Netflix and Amazon Prime. Combined the two have around 70,000 titles to stream, so you get much better results if you use the websites to search for content.
We also have a couple dozen different free program providers apps that we watch with commercials. HGTV, etc...
It’s a Netgear brand and I haven’t had any trouble with it save an occasional reboot. It wasn’t the low-end model or the high-end model. I think the box said it’s supposed to handle about 100 Mbps (it probably won’t), which is way more than you need to stream. Roku says you need 6 Mbps to stream.
In theory modern wifi should be fine. For standard def video you need about 3 Mbps. For HD video about 5 to 7 Mbps (depending on who you believe). For newer 4K HD video it needs about 15 Mbps.
The original wifi standard was about 11 Mbps. So in theory it could've done even HD, just not 4K. Then along came 802.11a which upped bandwidth to 54 Mbps. It only goes up from there...
That said, there is something to be said for wired connections. Wifi is subject to interference which can temporarily (or continually) reduce it's performance. Also, other wifi users in the house may soak up some bandwidth, impacting video streaming. With a wired connection you're good to go as long as the router/switch is working fine - right up until you run out of bandwidth from your ISP.
Our Samsung smart TV is wired to the router too. ;-)
Get one of these:
https://www.roku.com/ set it up
And Subscribe to this:
https://tv.youtube.com/
Set it up and you are set to tell your Cable Co to Get Screwed!
I was looking at this one because someone near us has it on their balcony; reviews suggest that it can work from indoors. We are way up high, and I thought it might do:
Have to learn more about this stuff.
Easiest is to buy a smart tv.
I like tv shows though.
2 years ago we cancelled our regular Comcast and went to Comcast Business for the internet, wifi and our two phones.
Our Comcast/Infinity bill had gone to over $250/month. The business Comcast has a very fast and reliable internet, wi fi and 2 phones for $110/month. That same old Comcast that two neighbors have, has gone up to $350/month.
We had Fire TV for a couple of their programs, Acorn and PBS.
Roku didn’t work for us. We went to Sling for the Giant Baseball and CBS via Sling. Since then, Fire TV had its own CBS and gets more programs/providers.
Each Fire TV up date ends up with more reliable programming and ease of use.
We cancelled Sling, when the SF Giants failed to make the playoffs. No NFL going on 3 years. We will sign up again w/Sling next year when the new baseball season begins. The basic Sling cost is $25/month.
We, now only use the Fire TV remote. Now a lot of finding certain programs works on the voice command. My wife has learned how to use the Fire remote and the voice command. CBS keeps track of the programs and makes it easy to find the next week’s programs or to watch an older one.
We contribute $5/mo to PBS via their channel on Fire TV, and we get a lot of premium and good channels we never go on PBS before.
We watch zero so called network news and go to Fox’s web site, which is fairly balanced.
Get one of these:
https://www.roku.com/ set it up
And Subscribe to this:
https://tv.youtube.com/
Set it up and you are set to tell your Cable Co to Get Screwed!
Apple TV.
I cut the cord about two years ago. Amazon fire stick.
I like the amazon connection so that I can purchase pay per view sport event.
It takes a few weeks to forget the old cable TV, but you do forget about it and move on.
“the weird shows I like - like Perry Mason”
Please ... Perry Mason is anything but weird!
I have a big antenna with rotator on the roof.
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