Lets talk about cutting the cable cord

B

bresamil

wandering aimlessly
I have Metrocast just for internet. We have no TV provider. We use Hulu for 7.99 a month and Netflix for movies at 7.99 month. Many tv websites have the programs available for viewing the following day. What we don't have access to is local news broadcasts or sports.

I have a friend who installed a large antenna and uses Roku and that works for them.
 
glhs837

glhs837

Power with Control
So, installed a Roku 2 XS yesterday, still getting the hang of it, took a small bit of doing to get it to work nicely with the Harmony remote. Chose the XS because I simply do not want to rely on wireless for an HD video feed. Streams nicely in HD, using a powerline networking adapter thats usually good for 10 or so Mbps. BTW, there is literally nothing that requires IR remote codes the Harmony remote cant control, including floor fans:)) Will be clearing off the DVR shortly and turning the boxes in. Right now the plan is for us to use both NetFlix and Hulu and other Roku channels like Crackle and others. Nice thing about this plan is that using these web based services means that any laptop in the house or out of it, say when I"m travelling and in an airport of hotel, or any of our smartphones anywhere can access the content. Will be turning off the cable in the next couple of days, and seeing if there is a base signal there even after that.

Bres, not sure what sort of TV you have, but a lot of them come with whats called a QAM tuner, and it's possible you do have the basic cable feed (all analog) available even though you only have internet. I know this house, which had been vacant for close to a year when we moved in had it.

I am going to feel the lack of a DVR, I know that, although the on demand nature of the web services should offset that a little, I think maybe next month I might get a Simple.TV setup if we still have the basic cable signal. One downside is that you have to supply your own hard drive for storage, but thats a plus also, since USB hard drives are stupid cheap, saw a freaking 3 terabyte for $150 the other day
 
blazinlow89

blazinlow89

Big Poppa
Got the Roku for free with the Play On service (lifetime premium membership). Taking the DVR's back Friday. So far I can watch everything I want, the menu on the Roku leaves a bit to be desired, have to go from one end to the other to get where I want to be. Not really a pain but would like something more like the way netflix is setup. I am also considering setting up my own TV PC to DVR stuff for me and run the server for the Play On server.

The LT which came free is going on the TV upstairs next to the router no issues with streaming or quality. I will buy a 2 XS for the home theater.
 
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glhs837

glhs837

Power with Control
Well, turned in the cable boxes today dropped all service except for internet. Plugged cable into TV, still getting 80 or so channels. All analog, of course. At some point, I might bring the mongo antenna from over at the rental house where I never had hooked it up. Be a bit of a pain to get it up on this roof and mount it, but might be worth it.

Roku seems to be filling the bill so far, girl is happy to run Netflix off of the Wii in here room, boy can run it from the 360 in his room. Wife and I started watching Breaking Bad last night, seems crazy so far.

Man, so many channels on the Roku, and I haven't even tapped into the private ones yet.
 
blazinlow89

blazinlow89

Big Poppa
glhs837 said:
Man, so many channels on the Roku, and I haven't even tapped into the private ones yet.
Click to expand...

I realized that I only watch like 5 channels, I am also at work when all the "good" stuff comes on so it gets recorded to the DVR anyways. Most of what I watch I can wait a day or two and get it off youtube or the channels website directly. Turning the cable box in Monday, so we are going to watch the last recorded episodes of whats on the dvr, clear it and drop $90 off our service price.

Might have to look into Boxee then, seemed you needed an antenna, or cable service for certain functions. If you can still get analog channels then that is sweet.
 
ylexot

ylexot

Super Genius
BTW, I got the Android box a couple weeks ago and it works great. I paired it up with a Logitech keyboard with a built in touch pad for control. I like the flexibility that this offers over the Roku boxes.
 
glhs837

glhs837

Power with Control
blazinlow89 said:
I realized that I only watch like 5 channels, I am also at work when all the "good" stuff comes on so it gets recorded to the DVR anyways. Most of what I watch I can wait a day or two and get it off youtube or the channels website directly. Turning the cable box in Monday, so we are going to watch the last recorded episodes of whats on the dvr, clear it and drop $90 off our service price.

Might have to look into Boxee then, seemed you needed an antenna, or cable service for certain functions. If you can still get analog channels then that is sweet.
Click to expand...

ylexot said:
BTW, I got the Android box a couple weeks ago and it works great. I paired it up with a Logitech keyboard with a built in touch pad for control. I like the flexibility that this offers over the Roku boxes.
Click to expand...


BL, if you are talking about the Boxee TV box, check out PopSci, they reviewd it, and combined with the WalMart reviews, it's not ready for prime time. PS said it's more like an alpha than a beta even, that unstable.

YL, which box did you go with?
 
glhs837

glhs837

Power with Control
somdfunguy said:
Wirelessly posted (Samsung Galaxy S III )

Boxcee Box is dead. They changed direction again.
Click to expand...

Right, to the Boxee TV, but from everything I read, it's not ready yet, even though they rolled it out nationally in WalMart. I suspect they might not last the year. Geeks will put up with a lot of workarounds to get a thing they want, WalMart electronic consumers, they just expect a thing to work.
 
blazinlow89

blazinlow89

Big Poppa
I was reading that the boxee was still in early stages. Oh well maybe google TV then, guess I will do some research and see what has the best reviews.
 
glhs837

glhs837

Power with Control
blazinlow89 said:
I was reading that the boxee was still in early stages. Oh well maybe google TV then, guess I will do some research and see what has the best reviews.
Click to expand...

How the hell do you release a product for nation release in WalMart if it's still in the early stages. ThinkGeek, sure, but not WalMart. And given that the other two products (which are the only products they have released) have gone to support only, they will need a serious turnaround before I look at them.
 
thurley42

thurley42

HY;FR
warneckutz said:
Comparing it to the BOSE, I wasn't sure, but it seems to have a few features the BOSE doesn't... it's $50 off right now... Any idea if there's a better price for it?
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No idea, I got it for my birthday....it's by far out performed anything we have had at tailgates thus far...and it's nice you can just hand off control to anyone with blutooth to play music. It has a nice range on it too, I've inadvertanly used it around 50 feet......I was in the bathroom and the speaker was playing Gems with Friends..:killingme
 
warneckutz

warneckutz

Well-Known Member
thurley42 said:
No idea, I got it for my birthday....it's by far out performed anything we have had at tailgates thus far...and it's nice you can just hand off control to anyone with blutooth to play music. It has a nice range on it too, I've inadvertanly used it around 50 feet......I was in the bathroom and the speaker was playing Gems with Friends..:killingme
Click to expand...

Winner... Winner!!!

Yeah... this would be a Christmas gift, but I can see myself using it a ton.
 
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