OT - Cutting the cord

ChrisSonn23 · July 2017

Cut the cord a few months ago. Went with the Playstation Vue. Has all the basic channels you would need and is only $54 a month. Have a FireBox in each room without the PlayStation and it doesn't miss a beat. Had DVR capabilities and I use a HD antenna for my local channels. Highly recommended.

girbim · July 2017

I never cut the cord, because I never had a cord to cut. As TV went digital, I went with a system called SageTV to give me DVR capability. Google bought that company and shut it down, so it really isn't available any more to new users. I bought my parents a DVR+ from ChannelMaster. That system seems decent. It looks like it is even on sale.

I am not up to date on other options. It seems like others will charge a monthly channel guide fee and others are better-suited for use with multiple devices.

Toxarch · July 2017

TN_Sister_State said:

I had my firestick side loaded with Kodi and now it's gone so the crack down is far and wide. And it's gone from my fire TV as well.

When the Firestick updates itself, it will sometimes erase Kodi from the Firestick due to incompatibility. You just have to reinstall Kodi with the latest version and you are good. I recommend installing Wookie after that if you don't already. You can also turn off the auto update to stop it from happening again.

Toxarch · July 2017

blasting said:

Bit torrent has worked well and cost me zero over the last dozen years. Movies, TV etc. I've added a VPN the last couple years in order to be totally anonymous. This cost somewhere around $40 per year.

Some sporting events and local news may be an issue. But there are solutions for those too.

What VPN do you use? Been looking into adding a VPN to the router to cover the whole house network. I am thinking of going with HideMyAss VPN.

Toxarch · July 2017

cheeaa said:

So, we're finally getting ready to cut the cord and are looking for the best options. Luckily for me, the wife is redecorating both living rooms so soon we will have 2 new 4k tv's to help.

Before you start streaming video, be aware that you will need a lot of bandwidth to stream multiple 4k videos at the same time. Rural areas are lucky if we can get the bandwidth to steam one 4k video. So hope you are on FiOS or something. Also, check the download limit in your internet contract. Most all have a monthly cap on it and then start charging you a LOT for a little extra if you go over. A few devices streaming 4K video will reach that limit a lot faster than you think.

northGAcock · July 2017

Hans61 said:

Do you mean ditch cable for streaming?

netflix Hulu and hbo now

Glad he's not jumping out of a plane.

tz666 · July 2017

TN_Sister_State said:

I had my firestick side loaded with Kodi and now it's gone so the crack down is far and wide. And it's gone from my fire TV as well.

Its still there, look under settings/manage installed apps and you can launch it from there.

tz666 · July 2017

Toxarch said:

TN_Sister_State said:

I had my firestick side loaded with Kodi and now it's gone so the crack down is far and wide. And it's gone from my fire TV as well.

When the Firestick updates itself, it will sometimes erase Kodi from the Firestick due to incompatibility. You just have to reinstall Kodi with the latest version and you are good. I recommend installing Wookie after that if you don't already. You can also turn off the auto update to stop it from happening again.

I use wookie also, its the best I have found. Install downloader app on firestick and type in the address for the APKS files and save it as a favorite in downloader.
http://wookiespmc.com/APKS
goto program add ons in KODI and the wookie button is already there and will take you right to the install screen
I have noticed now my Kodi or Wookie doesnt show up in previously used apps and I have to launch from the manage installed apps screen

News2u · July 2017

ChrisSonn23 said:

Cut the cord a few months ago. Went with the Playstation Vue. Has all the basic channels you would need and is only $54 a month. Have a FireBox in each room without the PlayStation and it doesn't miss a beat. Had DVR capabilities and I use a HD antenna for my local channels. Highly recommended.

Build your own. YouTube has paint-by-number videos by the dozens on DIY attennas. Check out my thread from June 8:

http://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1206412/smooth-landing-after-cutting-the-cord/p1

blasting · July 2017

Toxarch said:

blasting said:

Bit torrent has worked well and cost me zero over the last dozen years. Movies, TV etc. I've added a VPN the last couple years in order to be totally anonymous. This cost somewhere around $40 per year.

Some sporting events and local news may be an issue. But there are solutions for those too.

What VPN do you use? Been looking into adding a VPN to the router to cover the whole house network. I am thinking of going with HideMyAss VPN.

This is the one I use.

https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/pages/buy-vpn/

nolabrew · July 2017

Just tell the nurses beforehand that you want to be the one to cut the cord, they get that request all of the time so it's not weird at all. Be sure to tell them you want to keep the placenta because it's packed with vitamins and nutrients meant to sustain the mother after birth. You may get some odd looks from the medical staff but trust me it's worth it.

cheeaa · July 2017

These are all great options. Thanks guys. Gotta tell ya, I didnt realize the antennae was so damn big. Lol

Anyone know how to record shows that air live (mostly hockey games) and watch later?

Oh and crackdown or not, the kodi thing looks awesome

TN_Sister_State · July 2017

Kodi is awesome. Found it again thanks to the help here.

nolaegghead · July 2017

Read moar bookz!

Toxarch · July 2017

cheeaa said:

These are all great options. Thanks guys. Gotta tell ya, I didnt realize the antennae was so damn big. Lol

Anyone know how to record shows that air live (mostly hockey games) and watch later?

Oh and crackdown or not, the kodi thing looks awesome

There are different size antennas. The farther away from the broadcast towers, the bigger the antenna you might need. I am a good 45 miles from the tower cluster. I have an old VHF/UHF antenna hanging from the rafters in the attic and it works great for picking up HD. If you are close, a small 1 square foot antenna will work.

Proser · July 2017

cheeaa said:

These are all great options. Thanks guys. Gotta tell ya, I didnt realize the antennae was so damn big. Lol

Anyone know how to record shows that air live (mostly hockey games) and watch later?

Oh and crackdown or not, the kodi thing looks awesome

I use Tablo to record OTA channels. It's easier for my wife to watch her network shows than to find them with Kodi

tenpenny_05 · July 2017

We cut the cord over a year ago, we share streaming service logins with friends and family. We have a Firestick with netflix, amazon, sling, and hulu for the price of our prime subscription. Also we have Kodi which is really awesome. The only thing I would do different would be buy the fire box not the stick so you can have a hard wired internet connection and not rely on wifi.
The best surprise was the digital antenna I bought at walmart for 10 dollars. It sticks on the wall behind our tv and I'm amazed how good the picture is. All the local channels and local sports games for free!

SemolinaPilchard · July 2017

I know someone that made this antenna for his cabin, works well, and he said it was easy to make
http://www.instructables.com/id/Homemade-TV-antenna/

cheeaa · July 2017

Toxarch said:

cheeaa said:

These are all great options. Thanks guys. Gotta tell ya, I didnt realize the antennae was so damn big. Lol

Anyone know how to record shows that air live (mostly hockey games) and watch later?

Oh and crackdown or not, the kodi thing looks awesome

There are different size antennas. The farther away from the broadcast towers, the bigger the antenna you might need. I am a good 45 miles from the tower cluster. I have an old VHF/UHF antenna hanging from the rafters in the attic and it works great for picking up HD. If you are close, a small 1 square foot antenna will work.

Thanks. This makes sense. I'm basically in the suburbs of stl so it probably wouldn't be bad.

I appreciate the feedback everyone!

stlcharcoal · July 2017

cheeaa said:
Thanks. This makes sense. I'm basically in the suburbs of stl so it probably wouldn't be bad.

I appreciate the feedback everyone!

You've got it even better......

HTTP://www.antennasdirect.com is located in Ellisville. You can head over there an get an open box one for a discount. Plus they have all the amplifiers, splitters, etc if you need them.

My old house sat in a valley, so I had to get a directional......the unidirectional had a lot of fuzz. They gave me four antennas to try and I just returned the three that didn't work. That was ten years ago during the HD switch over. They were operating out of storage unit place in Eureka and we're growing like wildfire. Now they have a really nice building off Old State in Ellisville.

News2u · October 2017

Started streaming with DirectTV Now in December when its promotional lifetime $35/mo introductory, no contract subscription kicked off. More than 100 channels including ESPN, CNN, HGTV -- the whole 9 -- and a trial subscription to HBO that's been running for like a year at no extra cost; don't know when it'll end & don't care. We piggyback our son's HBO Now login. No regrets--navigating a bit annoying but far easier than Sling. Been satellite free for nearly a year and a half -- a distant memory since cutting the cord and using the satellite foot mount for a homemade antenna to reel in all local stations; it feeds all 3 of our flatscreens full strength HD signals using old satellite coaxial cables runs in the attic.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5017260/uploads/editor/qk/7zjj820l0q1v.jpg

Cording cutting savings has more than paid for our 65", 4K, High Dynamic Range Samsung.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5017260/uploads/editor/a4/wjnz844bkldk.jpg

Despite the savings, we go to the local affiliates and DirecTV Now only as a last resort ... satisfying most of our viewing needs thru Netflix and Amazon Prime cuz we still can't stomach commercials.

billt01 · October 2017

you got options if you get an Android box where you can load APKs.

Terrarium TV
MobDro
Kodi
ETC..

just do some google searches on the above

you can definitely go down a rabbit hole

News2u · October 2017

billt01 said:

you got options if you get an Android box where you can load APKs.

Terrarium TV
MobDro
Kodi
ETC..

just do some google searches on the above

you can definitely go down a rabbit hole

Will do. Always lookin' for a better mouse trap.

cheeaa · October 2017

Weird bump... lol... Just this weekend actually we bought 2 roku tvs. I bitched to the uverse retention and they cut me a pretty good deal for 12 months. We've been playing with the streaming services built into these tv's though and it's awesome. With YouTube on the tv's for the kids, we haven't turned the DVD player on since. Can't wait to try Netflix too. Once I figure out how to record live sports while streaming, we'll drop the cable. Any ideas on that?

GregW · October 2017

I use and recommend Private Internet Access (PIA) for my VPN.
Seems to be fast enough to stream with and they supposedly don't maintain any records.
I bought a 2 year subscription when I was playing with a Nvidia Shield with Kodi.
I quickly decided that Kodi was not for me and I went back to my Roku.

The PIA VPN is plenty fast to stream video with for me.

Toxarch · October 2017

I've been using PIA for a while now. There are a couple of websites, such as AT&T's login page, that doesn't like me being on a VPN. But I am fine with that. Low cost anonymous browsing and extra security against a hacker trying to snoop through my network.

billt01 · October 2017

for those Kodi Fans...

Throw the Mobdro and Terrarium TV APKs on there...

You will go to Kodi no more due to better quality streams and LIVE...yes...LIVE TV

News2u · October 2017

cheeaa said:

Weird bump... lol... Just this weekend actually we bought 2 roku tvs. I bitched to the uverse retention and they cut me a pretty good deal for 12 months. We've been playing with the streaming services built into these tv's though and it's awesome. With YouTube on the tv's for the kids, we haven't turned the DVD player on since. Can't wait to try Netflix too. Once I figure out how to record live sports while streaming, we'll drop the cable. Any ideas on that?

Use built in streaming all the time with our Samsung, but no ROKU interface. Course, now, ROKU yesterday dropped its Ultra streaming box price to $99 to counter the latest version of Apple TV's Johnny-come-lately 4K-HDR box, which now will have the Amazon Prime app. At half Apple's price with more features, tempted to add Roku to the mix. Learned after buying the Samsung, the sets sold in the U.S. are pre-set NOT to allow recording. Supposedly, it can some how be overridden.

DieselkW · October 2017

We like Playstation Vue, keeps my AMC addiction to Walking Dead alive (pun intended) and has all the sports with a big bonus... the virtual and automatic DVR. If you watch a channel, they automatically DVR that channel for 28 days so you can go back to any game, any episode, any time for almost a month before it disappears.

Big downside: If I'm looking for a college game played last Saturday, they show the final score. Helpful if you're keeping stats in your head, not so helpful if you want to watch a game you missed and don't want to know who won before watching it.

Adding Hulu and Netflix and CBS and Amazon Prime, all without commercials, has my monthly cost back up to my corded days, but so much more content without commercials I don't mind paying $100/month.

I would pay double that to watch TV without a single commercial interruption.

CPFC1905 · October 2017

Not the childbirth thread I initially thought, however, in such circumstances I always turn to Hip-Hop of the early 90's.

These lads offer some insightful perspective;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgOWTM5R2DA

And they released an album with William S Burroughs, what better testament to lucidity can there be?

OT - Cutting the cord

Comments

Categories