Lets talk about cutting the cable cord

[glhs837]

So, if one were to be interested in just using Metrocast for internet, and using other sources for programming, what are we looking at? I have been researching the heck out of boxes for a day or so now, and have reached the point of seeking actual user input. So, who down here where the chances of OTA reception (thats using an antenna for you non-tech types) are slim and none is using streaming and other means to supplant cable for television needs, what are you using, and how is it working out for you?

 

[rusty27]

So, if one were to be interested in just using Metrocast for internet, and using other sources for programming, what are we looking at? I have been researching the heck out of boxes for a day or so now, and have reached the point of seeking actual user input. So, who down here where the chances of OTA reception (thats using an antenna for you non-tech types) are slim and none is using streaming and other means to supplant cable for television needs, what are you using, and how is it working out for you?

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Although we currently have Comcast, we are thinking of going to just streaming for TV. We have a Netflix account and that would suffice for most needs for us and the boys. Netflix has lot of movies and TV shows but alot of it is older stuff. Thought about trying Hulu since I have heard things about it and they do have a good selection of TV shows with pretty recent episodes as well.

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As far as boxes for programming, we have a Roku box(basic one) and we like it. I would probably upgrade to the Roku 2 HD, a few more features and for the HD of course. The Roku we have has a large selection of channels like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon instant plus lots of other smaller ones. It doesn't have Youtube videos and no web browser if thats your thing. I have been looking at the Vizio Co-Star because of the web browsing with it, but it has not gotten very good reviews so I am still looking for something a little bit better then our Roku. Hope this helps you out.

 

[mamatutu]

Just got the Comcast bill and talked to Comcast last night. Now that they don't do contracts, they just up it every year; so I argued as much as I could and brought the increase down some. We have the bundle (phone, tv, internet). I will keep an eye on this thread because I have been wanting to see what alternatives are out there for the different services. A dish won't work too well for us because we are surrounded by trees; at least that is what I understand. I am not familiar with Metrocast. Thanks for starting this thread, glhs.

 

[blazinlow89]

I am considering dropping the programing portion of our bill and going strictly streaming. I think my route will involve an HD antenna, and one of the boxes. Roku seems to be the better option, I looking at a service called Playon which gains access to most of the cable programing for the price of a Roku for life.

 

[glhs837]

I am considering dropping the programing portion of our bill and going strictly streaming. I think my route will involve an HD antenna, and one of the boxes. Roku seems to be the better option, I looking at a service called Playon which gains access to most of the cable programing for the price of a Roku for life.

The antenna can be the tricky part, check out antennaweb to see what coverage you might be capable of.

 

[retiredweaxman]

So, if one were to be interested in just using Metrocast for internet, and using other sources for programming, what are we looking at? I have been researching the heck out of boxes for a day or so now, and have reached the point of seeking actual user input. So, who down here where the chances of OTA reception (thats using an antenna for you non-tech types) are slim and none is using streaming and other means to supplant cable for television needs, what are you using, and how is it working out for you?

GL - my wife and I are pretty satisfied with DirecTV. Sundays with no Red Zone Channel or European futbol (Visca Barca) get to be a real drag. I have found some (a lot) of info on what you are looking at doing. Here is a quick link with a few options for you.

How To Watch Television For Free Without Paying For Cable Or Satellite TV

 

[glhs837]

I've read most of that, was really looking for personal experiences down here. Lots of this stuff gets reviewed by urban techies, and thier experience might vary considerably from ours.

I was really looking at the Boxee TV, but read a review on Popsci that it's not even really at a beta stage, but more of an alpha stage. The keystone feature, a dual tuner cloud based unlimited DVR, flat doesn't work, and it abounds with reset required glitches and hangs.

Best of the bunch right now appears to be the Roku 2 XS, which has no DVR functionality, and that's a pain, do love to DVR stuff, but maybe having stuff on demand like Amazon Prime will belay some of that pain. It does have a USB port for uploading stuff, and most importantly to me, an Ethernet port so Wifi bandwidth isnt an issue streaming HD. Sports for me, not an issue, I'm not a sports kind of guy at all.

 

[TWL]

The antenna can be the tricky part, check out antennaweb to see what coverage you might be capable of.

tried tvfool.com?
I'm in Suburban MHP off Great Mills Rd. I can reliably get ABC, FOX, CBS, CW and MPT from Salisbury no problem using a dinky circular type UHF antenna.
On a decent day I can pick up channels 4, 5, 7, 9, 20, 50 and 66 from DC with a DB8 UHF antenna + AMP mounted 20ft above ground. 7, 9 and 66 usually stay pretty solid most days while the others are spotty during the daytime. Baltimore channels are difficult to pick up but not impossible. Come night time, point the DB8 due south and pick up most of the channels from Norfolk.

 

[GWguy]

tried tvfool.com?
I'm in Suburban MHP off Great Mills Rd. I can reliably get ABC, FOX, CBS, CW and MPT from Salisbury no problem using a dinky circular type UHF antenna.
On a decent day I can pick up channels 4, 5, 7, 9, 20, 50 and 66 from DC with a DB8 UHF antenna + AMP mounted 20ft above ground. 7, 9 and 66 usually stay pretty solid most days while the others are spotty during the daytime. Baltimore channels are difficult to pick up but not impossible. Come night time, point the DB8 due south and pick up most of the channels from Norfolk.

I just put up a small UHF antenna
RCA Suburban Mini Yagi Digital Outdoor Antenna with Mast: TV & Video : Walmart.com
with an in-line amp and get about 15 channels. Half of them are PBS...

This is just a stop-gap, I want to get a full size long range antenna with a rotor. I'm sure I can do much better. One time cost for the antenna, no outrageous recurring fees.

 

[GWguy]

And to make this even better, I just opened my snail-mail. I got a letter from Dish Network.

"You are spending too much on TV! Come back to Dish."


I dropped them years ago because they got too pricey. Can't get cheaper than FREE!!!!

 

[MarieB]

I was just reading an article (on CNET?) about the pros and cons of Apple TV and Roku

there is also Boxee, which I've heard is cheaper. I've been doing the same research. I'll try to find that article and post it.

 

[glhs837]

TVfool says I might get one ABC, two PBSs, and one CW digital, nothing analog with a + 20 foot antenna.

Antennaweb says nothing, even with a 30 foot antenna height.

 

[GURPS]

it depends on what and when you want to watch TV shows


for everything I watch, I can find it online in well seeded Torrents


ok I am watching shows a day late, or weeks because I will down load a bunch of shows, and watch them all at once in a block



Burn Notice, Leverage, Walking Dead, Falling Skies, Justified, Revolution, Suits, White Collar ..... etc

 

[glhs837]

it depends on what and when you want to watch TV shows


for everything I watch, I can find it online in well seeded Torrents


ok I am watching shows a day late, or weeks because I will down load a bunch of shows, and watch them all at once in a block



Burn Notice, Leverage, Walking Dead, Falling Skies, Justified, Revolution, Suits, White Collar ..... etc

See, I cant do torrents, like downloading music, just wont do it. Most of what I watch can be found online, but the wife does like her local news folks.

 

[Reighvin]

When I moved here over a year ago, I made the decision to only get Broadband, and not cable. I use my Roku to stream alot of Netflix and Amazon content directly to my TV. But I found a little trick that may work for you, may not. I put a splitter on my line going to my modem, and ran it to my TV. Low and behold, I have cable channels coming through the line. All the basic networks, plus Discover, A&E, AMC, and all those other type of cable channels. I'm on MC, and they either don't put a filter on the line when you get broadband only, or forgot. However, after I told a friend of mine, he did the same thing and is getting cable channels for free with his broadband.

And for streaming web content to your TV, I can't recommend the Roku more. It is a fantastic, cheap little device. If you have a gaming system though, check there first as most of those can get the content to your TV as well.

 

[ylexot]

I ordered one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/MK808-Android...?ie=UTF8&qid=1354635050&sr=8-2&keywords=mk808

It should be here in a couple weeks (shipped from China).

 

[glhs837]

I suspected as much, given my experience when I moved in here....

http://forums.somd.com/consumer-financial-affairs/233925-filters-cable-box-really.html

 

[somdfunguy]

So, if one were to be interested in just using Metrocast for internet, and using other sources for programming, what are we looking at? I have been researching the heck out of boxes for a day or so now, and have reached the point of seeking actual user input. So, who down here where the chances of OTA reception (thats using an antenna for you non-tech types) are slim and none is using streaming and other means to supplant cable for television needs, what are you using, and how is it working out for you?

Metrocast $45 month
Dish Network w/ DVR Two TVs $40 month
Netflix $8 month
Amazon Instant Video - Free w/ Prime ($40/yr)

 

[DEEKAYPEE8569]

When I moved here over a year ago, I made the decision to only get Broadband, and not cable. I use my Roku to stream alot of Netflix and Amazon content directly to my TV. But I found a little trick that may work for you, may not. I put a splitter on my line going to my modem, and ran it to my TV. Low and behold, I have cable channels coming through the line. All the basic networks, plus Discover, A&E, AMC, and all those other type of cable channels. I'm on MC, and they either don't put a filter on the line when you get broadband only, or forgot. However, after I told a friend of mine, he did the same thing and is getting cable channels for free with his broadband.

And for streaming web content to your TV, I can't recommend the Roku more. It is a fantastic, cheap little device. If you have a gaming system though, check there first as most of those can get the content to your TV as well.

If they catch this tred, they will in the near future.
So, everybody SSHHhhh!

 

[somdfunguy]

If they catch this tred, they will in the near future.
So, everybody SSHHhhh!

They don't seem to care, even their techs will tell you about it.