I’m Done With Cable TV. Have You Cut The Cord?

[joeychitwood]

After researching, I decided Hulu Live would meet about 95% of my needs. Then I found out that neither my five year-old LG 4K SmartTV or my two year-old Sony Bravia SmartTV will support Hulu Live. For ease of operation for the less tech-savvy person in my family, I don't want to have to stream everything through a smart phone to the TV via Chromecast, so unless you all have a workable suggestion, I'd need to buy new TVs to get the streaming services I want.

[Brew]

No tv for about 15 yrs. Don't miss it.

[SMD]

Originally Posted by joeychitwood

After researching, I decided Hulu Live would meet about 95% of my needs. Then I found out that neither my five year-old LG 4K SmartTV or my two year-old Sony Bravia SmartTV will support Hulu Live. For ease of operation for the less tech-savvy person in my family, I don't want to have to stream everything through a smart phone to the TV via Chromecast, so unless you all have a workable suggestion, I'd need to buy new TVs to get the streaming services I want.

Can't you just buy a roku stick for $30 (or whatever it is these days) and stream Hulu live that way? Or an Apple TV?

Not sure why you would need new TVs.

[Blansky]

Do you have Amazon prime? If you do or even if you don't you can get the Fire stick and plug it into your HDMI port and run pretty much anything through that, I believe.

https://www.amazon.com/Fire-TV-Stick...s%2C207&sr=8-2

This enables you to have an interface on your TV to go to most streaming services including PRIME for free,( if you already use Amazon Prime) and Hulu, HBO, Netflix etc etc.

Then you have to subscribe to those streaming services that you choose.

I believe Roku, Apple TV etc all allow the same gateway. Even older TVs have the HDMI port.

[Rebel]

I cut it several years ago.

No regrets.

[joeychitwood]

Originally Posted by SMD

Can't you just buy a roku stick for $30 (or whatever it is these days) and stream Hulu live that way? Or an Apple TV?

Originally Posted by Blansky

... you can get the Fire stick and plug it into your HDMI port and run pretty much anything through that, I believe.

https://www.amazon.com/Fire-TV-Stick...s%2C207&sr=8-2

This enables you to have an interface on your TV to go to most streaming services including PRIME for free,( if you already use Amazon Prime) and Hulu, HBO, Netflix etc etc.

Then you have to subscribe to those streaming services that you choose.

I believe Roku, Apple TV etc all allow the same gateway. Even older TVs have the HDMI port.

My question is whethert these devices are like Chromecast where you have to stream content from another smart device like a phone or iPad into the Chromecast, then into the TV, or if they are direct streaming devices sending content to the TV?

[ReMember]

Cut the cord in 2016 and been streaming ever since. I’m surprised no one has mentioned streamer box. Paid for the box and no monthly subscription fee. I get to watch free new movies, free PPV, “all” NFL, NBA, MLB, etc games for free, OTA TV shows without commercial interruptions, SHO, Amazon, HBO, etc. AND local TV channels from every state. Initial cost was $188 for the box, shipped.

[Ferdelious]

Originally Posted by joeychitwood

I live too far out in the backwoods to get any antenna TV. What internet speeds are you all using? My choices here are 50MB, 100MB or 1GB, prices ranging from $45 to $125 per month.

I have 75/75MB and never have connection issues with a family of 3 including a 9 year old that plays a lot of XBox and Switch.

[joeychitwood]

The Fire Stick looks like it connects directly to the internet. That would solve my issue.

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by joeychitwood

The Fire Stick looks like it connects directly to the internet. That would solve my issue.

I guess one thing to remember on these things compared to cable is that every TV in the house needs its own separate one.

An interesting thing though is that when I used the Fire stick in Hawaii it knew which episodes on each streaming service I was at from when I watched them at home. So the account you have with the streaming services must know exactly where you are with each show you watch. So if you had 2 Fire sticks at home on 2 TVs you just have to set them up and it would know from TV to TV where you are with each episode.

[SMD]

Originally Posted by joeychitwood

My question is whethert these devices are like Chromecast where you have to stream content from another smart device like a phone or iPad into the Chromecast, then into the TV, or if they are direct streaming devices sending content to the TV?

No. You switch to the hdmi input where it’s plugged in and they have their own UI.

[mountainjogger]

Originally Posted by Brew

No tv for about 15 yrs. Don't miss it.

30 here. Don't miss it either. But I do buy too many books.

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by mountainjogger

30 here. Don't miss it either. But I do buy too many books.

Tree Killer !!!!

But at least your brain hasn't been destroyed by mindless TV noise.

[Brew]

Originally Posted by mountainjogger

30 here. Don't miss it either. But I do buy too many books.

If you use a Kindle, it's easier to lose track.

[joeychitwood]

The Roku devices appear to solve my issues and allow me to use a wired ethernet cable into each TV. Thanks for the input!!!

[Ferdelious]

Originally Posted by joeychitwood

The Roku devices appear to solve my issues and allow me to use a wired ethernet cable into each TV. Thanks for the input!!!

I think Roku makes the best device IMO.

[SearChart]

Haven't watched cable TV in ages, never will again.

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by Ferdelious

I think Roku makes the best device IMO.

You may be right.

Fire stick allows for direct ethernet as well. My main TV is ethernet connected.

[swils8610]

What’s the deal with a streamer box?


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[Cloudchaser]

Early cord cutter here. I can proudly say that I have successfully converted from a monthly cable bill of $89 to a monthly streaming bill of about $300. I've been shopping lately, too, and I think I can get it to $500/month with very little effort.

Okay, slight exaggeration but the larger point still stands. And I still very much prefer the current arrangement. That said, there is one thing I miss; I was a customer of Cox Cable. Purposefully mis-spelling their company name on my monthly check was the most rewarding juvenile thing (of many) I did with my money.

[mailman]

Originally Posted by swils8610

What’s the deal with a streamer box?


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My buddy paid $300 for his a few years ago. No monthly fee. He can watch pretty much any TV station in the country. Sports, news you name it. He gets his movies from a Firestick.

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by Cloudchaser

Early cord cutter here. I can proudly say that I have successfully converted from a monthly cable bill of $89 to a monthly streaming bill of about $300. I've been shopping lately, too, and I think I can get it to $500/month with very little effort.

Okay, slight exaggeration but the larger point still stands. And I still very much prefer the current arrangement. That said, there is one thing I miss; I was a customer of Cox Cable. Purposefully mis-spelling their company name on my monthly check was the most rewarding juvenile thing (of many) I did with my money.

You can get the full cable experience back if you want.

Just kill the power to your house when you're in the middle of a good show or sporting event and re-live the beauty of cable.

And you can even call a random number and put yourself on hold for half an hour to fully enjoy the experience.

Congratulations on your evolution to the magic of streaming, all you need now is a pay-per view account to jack that bill up to a grand a month.

[Romeojk]

I have 2 Roku Ultra devices, it has a good basic remote.

My internet it 100MB and I use wireless all the time. I set up a 2nd WiFi router in my garage/office, connected via Ethernet, named them the same so there’s no disruption moving between them.

Saved $180 from my cable bill by reducing, not cancelling, to internet and basic channels. Bill is now $95

I originally got Firesticks but returned them, they did not have the Xfinity app, which I needed to watch local channels for pro football or my favorite weather man.

I have Amazon Prime w/HBO and Showtime. I have Netflix and basic Hulu too.

I have 2 Smart TVs but I hated the remote interface and bought the Roku boxes after just 1 day without them.

[DJ39]

Cut it, sliced it diced it, cooked it and threw it away. Netflix rules


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[Cloudchaser]

Originally Posted by Blansky

You can get the full cable experience back if you want.

Just kill the power to your house when you're in the middle of a good show or sporting event and re-live the beauty of cable.

And you can even call a random number and put yourself on hold for half an hour to fully enjoy the experience.

Congratulations on your evolution to the magic of streaming, all you need now is a pay-per view account to jack that bill up to a grand a month.

Ah...if we're counting PPV, my son's near-weekly UFC buys probably already have me at $500. And now we're completely desensitized as a family; I'd have never guessed that my wife would accept this type of wanton TV spending, or that she'd turn into a fan of a bloodsport for that matter. The magic of streaming knows no bounds.

[Cryten]

Does anyone one still watch cable? It was bad when we cut the cord over 10 years ago, it's completely unwatchable now.

I used to try sometimes in hotels and even gave that up years ago. I just can't understand how anyone manages to watch it. There are so many adverts I couldn't remember what I was watching, then the shows started those "coming up next" and "what you just saw was....." bits because they knew the ad breaks were so long the flow of the programming was lost.

I remember when we bought cable so we didn't have to watch adverts.....then they snuck the ads back in, and then put every channel anyone wanted to watch on a separate package so we ended up paying 5 times as much to watch their adverts.

Cable's days are over, I'm sure it wont be missed.

[swils8610]

Originally Posted by mailman

My buddy paid $300 for his a few years ago. No monthly fee. He can watch pretty much any TV station in the country. Sports, news you name it. He gets his movies from a Firestick.

Local channels are my hang up...I may get an Antenna for that. Any services or other ways to get the locals?


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[Blansky]

Originally Posted by Cryten

I remember when we bought cable so we didn't have to watch adverts.....then they snuck the ads back in, and then put every channel anyone wanted to watch on a separate package so we ended up paying 5 times as much to watch their adverts.

.

One has to wonder when ads start appearing in streaming.

I can't imagine these commercials will go quietly into that good night. Too many eyes on too many screens.

Remember when movie theaters didn't have commercials, just previews.

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by Romeojk

I have 2 Roku Ultra devices, it has a good basic remote.

My internet it 100MB and I use wireless all the time. I set up a 2nd WiFi router in my garage/office, connected via Ethernet, named them the same so there’s no disruption moving between them.

Saved $180 from my cable bill by reducing, not cancelling, to internet and basic channels. Bill is now $95

I originally got Firesticks but returned them, they did not have the Xfinity app, which I needed to watch local channels for pro football or my favorite weather man.

I have Amazon Prime w/HBO and Showtime. I have Netflix and basic Hulu too.

I have 2 Smart TVs but I hated the remote interface and bought the Roku boxes after just 1 day without them.

I think the Fire stick has the Xfinity app these days.

https://www.lifepyar.com/how-to-inst...k-and-fire-tv/

[Cryten]

Originally Posted by Blansky

One has to wonder when ads start appearing in streaming.

I can't imagine these commercials will go quietly into that good night. Too many eyes on too many screens.

Remember when movie theaters didn't have commercials, just previews.

I'm sure it'll happen. Even YouTube managed to squeeze them in.

Streaming services didn't exist when we cut the cable, it was torrent downloads, and I still do it now. The only down side is you need to find new shows to download, but friends are always recommending something.

Some uploaders are even putting adverts in their downloads, but because they can be traced, they're flagged and removed pretty quickly.