Cutting The Cord

What hardware/services/software is any of you using, to save paying the exorbitant fees charged by cable/satellite TV companies? We have Comcast, and are not happy with their prices being "jacked up" every few months, plus we're paying for a load of channels that we never watch. Then there's ALL the darned commercials shown, which at times are up to 5 (10+ commercials) minutes long, it seems like a age since the commercial breaks were just two minutes, and we nagged bout that!

 

I use Kodi. SMPC is a clone that works better for some people. You'll want to download a "build" that's already got all the recent apps on it. You have access to movies, TV shows, documentaries, live cams and a lot more. We also have Roku.

 

It really comes down to what "cable" channels you want and how (ahem...) legally you want to do it.

I cut the cord, still get all the "cable" and broadcast channels I like and cut my bill by $100 a month. Here are the steps I took:

• Determine how strong of a TV antenna you'll need for local channels at www.antennaweb.org. Check antenna reviews on Amzon. If in doubt, go with a stronger amplified antenna. You can usually tie a TV antenna into your existing cable TV wiring. Verify your local channels are coming in clearly before cutting the cord.

• You can either repurpose an old PC or buy a device (Roku, Amazon Firestick, etc.) for each TV you want streaming on. Be sure the device is compatible with the streaming service(s) you plan on using.

• To get "cable" channels, there are many streaming services including DIRECTV Now and Sling. Look at the options and decide which has the best pricing on the channels you really watch. Most streaming services have honest pricing (no hidden fees like Comcast or satellite DIRECTV), but read the fine print before signing up.

• Most streaming services limit you to two devices at a time. Keep this in mind if you have three kids each watching a different TV, tablet, etc.

• Even with high-speed Internet and a decent dual-band router, services like DIRECTV Now are still a work in progress. In exchange for saving money, prepare to deal with some freezing and buffering issues on a regular basis.

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• As for things like "jailbreaking", the legality (or lack thereof) is an issue. I have it on good authority that a hacked Amazon Firestick is often unable to receive legitimate paid programming. I'd rather just pay $35 a month to DIRECTV Now and be done with it.

Hope this helps.

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One more note: Check to see if your ISP has a data cap and if they give you any courtesy (warning) months before overage fees kick in. Also check your average data usage for the past few months (you can do this on Comcast's "My Account" page).

Although this can vary, a 1080 HDMI stream uses around 3-4GB per hour. A 4K stream can jump to 15-20GB per hour.

Comcast's data cap is 1TB (1000GB) per month. They give you two warning months in a 12 month period. After that, you pay overage charges of up to $200 per month or can switch to an unlimited plan for an extra $50/month.

With about 5 hours of HDMI streaming per day plus the usual Internet stuff, I normally hit around 800GB/month. If you have multiple people watching different streaming and/or have other high bandwidth usage (gaming, huge downloads, etc.), you may need to factor in the cost of going to an unlimited data cap option.

 

I just go straight internet i don't need or watch TV.Most of the TV shows are annoying and nothing but the same for the same 10 years.There are no new fresh ideas like back in the 80's and 90's.Most of the stuff any more is about guns and violence and reality tv shows that people take way to seriously.I don't even watch the news media for one good reason way too much drama.If i wanted drama i would just go to work.

LOL