We've cut the cable

[NewlyRetired 16,506]

On 3/24/2019 at 2:54 PM, Uruk-Hai said:

Do any of the streaming services have the Weather Channel?

 

As of last November, Fubo and Direct TV Now had it

https://streambuzz.net/streaming-services-comparison/

[DropKick 1,090]

On 3/24/2019 at 8:25 PM, KingPrawn said:

I had Spectrum and they offered me the same package. I think they called it Spectrum Choice. It was the local channels and your choice of 10 additional channels from a choice of about 30 channels. Wasn't a bad deal if you didn't need a lot channels. Tried it for about a month but the app was absolutely horrendous. It never loaded and crashed countlessly EVERY night. Was unwatchable and I cancelled after about 1 week. Called service and kept getting the "our engineers are working on it". After doing a little bit of searching on the internet it sounds like the problem was ongoing and their "engineers were working on it" for a couple of years. Wouldn't touch it if they paid me for it.

Started a Hulu trial.  Added Starz to their Hulu and Live TV package and am about $76 a month less than Cable.  Few stations but that's OK.  Setup from an Apple Computer was a snap.  I think I need one of the kids to navigate the Xbox set-up.  Probably spring for Fire Stick shortly

[matttyl 2,689]

So Directv Now has an offer of the first month free.  This is for one of two packages that includes HBO - "Max" and "Plus".  So can I sign up for it, watch HBO free for the next month, and then cancel before the first charge hits? 

[Craig_MiamiFL 2,501]

15 minutes ago, matttyl said:

 So can I sign up for it, watch HBO free for the next month, and then cancel before the first charge hits? 

Yes.

 

[matttyl 2,689]

1 minute ago, Craig_MiamiFL said:

Yes.

 

Sweet!  I've been using different email addresses to to "free one week  trials" of HBO now to rewatch all of GoT.  This seems much easier.

Edited March 28, 2019 by matttyl

[rustycolts 1,735]

I had just dropped Hulu because they went up to $50 bucks a month.  I went with youtube tv and now find out today they are raising their price to $50.  Anyone have any suggestions on a streaming service that is remaining fairly cheap?  I have OTA channels for my locals also have Netflix and Amazon prime so really just need something to replace popular cable channels.  Thanks.

[guru_007 758]

Yeah, not happy about this new youtube tv development at all.

May need to start reconsidering other options.

[Trey 644]

Slowly but surely we will be heading back to playing the game with cable bundles as everyone raises prices. 

[Tick 1,394]

On 3/2/2019 at 2:28 PM, themeanmachine said:

I really like the new free CBS Sports HQ app for Apple TV (I think it’s available for Roku as well, plus browser streaming). Sometimes I just want a live Sportscenter-like highlights show, like Sportscenter used to be a few years ago, when it was actually just sports highlights and not all commentary. In the times I’ve turned this new app on in the past few days, it seems to fill that void pretty well. 

It also broadcast the Super Bowl for free.

[Moe. 1,988]

1 hour ago, rustycolts said:

I had just dropped Hulu because they went up to $50 bucks a month.  I went with youtube tv and now find out today they are raising their price to $50.  Anyone have any suggestions on a streaming service that is remaining fairly cheap?  I have OTA channels for my locals also have Netflix and Amazon prime so really just need something to replace popular cable channels.  Thanks.

For a bunch of channels I will never ever watch. Meet the new boss...

[shadyridr 14,320]

It's only a matter of time before they reach cable prices. I thought it was fairly obvious they were starting off cheap to capture customers. 

[DropKick 1,090]

Not paying for cable boxes and DVR fees is a step forward.  and the the additional fees and taxes on top of that.  I don't mind paying a reasonable amount for programming.  

Live in a rural area and picked up a discounted antennae that I placed near a TV on the second floor - pleased with the results.  Will look into a high quality antennae and consider an attic mount... Assume that would be preferable?  Hoping to pick up locals plus..  At worst, not a bad fail-safe in the event of a connectivity issue.

[Walking Boot 8,295]

2 hours ago, shadyridr said:

It's only a matter of time before they reach cable prices. I thought it was fairly obvious they were starting off cheap to capture customers. 

They have decades of evidence that people will pay... $80, 100, 150 a month to get their shows. 

At first they worried that Netflix would cut into that for $15 a month. 

Then they realized there's still $65, $85, $135 a month being left on the table. 

They're happy to keep expanding and adding services until they capture every dollar people are willing to spend. 

[Craig_MiamiFL 2,501]

18 hours ago, dorno said:

Philo. They have a $16 and a $20 package. 

Far and away the best service I've experienced. Think I've tried them all. Haven't experienced a single buffering and has nice DVR/VOD service. 

Obviously if need sports it might be an issue but DTV Now regularly offers free months to former customers if need access for NBA playoffs/NCAA tournament.

Right now I'm spending $18/mo for Philo/Hulu (paid $2 for year of access during promo late last year)/Pluto. Watching video on Youtube is my largest media viewing. Dropped DTV Now after the Viacom news.....appears they've add them back but they've already lost me after found Philo in the meantime. I'll probably add WWE Network and/or ESPN+ for a month here and there

Edited April 11, 2019 by Craig_MiamiFL

[ghostguy123 3,809]

Just cancelled my spectrum cable finally.  Felt good.  Just keeping the internet, netfliz, basic hulu, and amazon prime. 

WHat might be the cheapest and easiest way for local channels?

[matttyl 2,689]

5 minutes ago, ghostguy123 said:

Just cancelled my spectrum cable finally.  Felt good.  Just keeping the internet, netfliz, basic hulu, and amazon prime. 

WHat might be the cheapest and easiest way for local channels?

Antenna?  If not, then we're in similar boats.

[JoeSteeler 3,426]

Kanopy and Hoopla are two really nice free services for watching movies.

You have to sign up thru your local library but they offer a nice range of newer and older movies. They both have free Roku apps with a simple interface. Only drawback is you are limited to around 10 movies per month for each service. I guess you can get around that with multiple accounts.

 

 

[Tick 1,394]

2 hours ago, ghostguy123 said:

Just cancelled my spectrum cable finally.  Felt good.  Just keeping the internet, netfliz, basic hulu, and amazon prime. 

WHat might be the cheapest and easiest way for local channels?

Antenna is best.  If that doesn't work for you, you can look in to USTVNow.

[Tick 1,394]

2 hours ago, JoeSteeler said:

Kanopy and Hoopla are two really nice free services for watching movies.

You have to sign up thru your local library but they offer a nice range of newer and older movies. They both have free Roku apps with a simple interface. Only drawback is you are limited to around 10 movies per month for each service. I guess you can get around that with multiple accounts.

How has the quality been?

[stbugs 3,000]

1 hour ago, Tick said:

How has the quality been?

If you have Amazon Prime, the IMDB app has free movies and honestly it looked like the same only more. I went to those sites and the only movies I recognized were also on IMDB’s app. I thought it looked interesting until I realized it was the same or less. 

[ghostguy123 3,809]

1 hour ago, Tick said:

Antenna is best.  If that doesn't work for you, you can look in to USTVNow.

Any suggestions on a good one to use?

[Osaurus 8,962]

5 minutes ago, ghostguy123 said:

Any suggestions on a good one to use?

It depends on his far you are from the local source feed.  I use this one on 2 different televisions and pick up 20 channels and it works great.

[ghostguy123 3,809]

5 minutes ago, Osaurus said:

It depends on his far you are from the local source feed.  I use this one on 2 different televisions and pick up 20 channels and it works great.

I was just looking at some on YouTube.  Clear stream and winegard seem interesting.

Basically I would want the best possible antenna that i dont have to mount on the roof and does not have to be on a window.  

[Osaurus 8,962]

2 minutes ago, ghostguy123 said:

I was just looking at some on YouTube.  Clear stream and winegard seem interesting.

Basically I would want the best possible antenna that i dont have to mount on the roof and does not have to be on a window.  

Both of mine are mounted to the wall behind each TV and they are close to windows, but not on them.

[Cowboysfan8 7,633]

38 minutes ago, Osaurus said:

It depends on his far you are from the local source feed.  I use this one on 2 different televisions and pick up 20 channels and it works great.

How far are you from your local source feed?

[Osaurus 8,962]

7 minutes ago, Cowboysfan8 said:

How far are you from your local source feed?

Maybe 12 miles

[Phil Elliott 1,114]

13 hours ago, Osaurus said:

Maybe 12 miles

I use a Mohu Leaf that lays flat,similar to what Osaurus provided a link to.  At 12 miles, If it comes with an amplifier, you may need to disconnect the amp (just unscrew), as the signal will be too strong and distorted. You may just need to try a couple different ones to see what works best for you.

Edited April 12, 2019 by Phil Elliott

[Ned 10,554]

14 hours ago, Osaurus said:

Both of mine are mounted to the wall behind each TV and they are close to windows, but not on them.

How far are you from the broadcasts?  Assume your walls are already in the general direction they need to be pointed?

[matttyl 2,689]

14 hours ago, stbugs said:

If you have Amazon Prime, the IMDB app has free movies and honestly it looked like the same only more. I went to those sites and the only movies I recognized were also on IMDB’s app. I thought it looked interesting until I realized it was the same or less. 

What's that now?  I have Amazon Prime, and two fire TV devices.  What's the IMDB app, and does that get me additional content than what comes with Prime anyway?

[Cowboysfan8 7,633]

14 hours ago, Osaurus said:

It depends on his far you are from the local source feed.  I use this one on 2 different televisions and pick up 20 channels and it works great.

According to this website

https://www.fcc.gov/media/engineering/dtvmaps

I have weak or no signal from 6 of the 8 feeds in my area.

I assume I'm screwed

[JoeSteeler 3,426]

14 minutes ago, matttyl said:

What's that now?  I have Amazon Prime, and two fire TV devices.  What's the IMDB app, and does that get me additional content than what comes with Prime anyway?

actually called IMDB Freedive. It is ad supported on demand programming free if you have a Prime account. From what I have seen it has different content then Prime.

https://www.imdb.com/freedive/

What Is IMDb Freedive?

 

Edited April 12, 2019 by JoeSteeler

[matttyl 2,689]

11 minutes ago, Cowboysfan8 said:

According to this website

https://www.fcc.gov/media/engineering/dtvmaps

I have weak or no signal from 6 of the 8 feeds in my area.

I assume I'm screwed

Try this one - here.

[Osaurus 8,962]

50 minutes ago, Ned said:

How far are you from the broadcasts?  Assume your walls are already in the general direction they need to be pointed?

12 miles.  Here’s mine.  It’s pretty much what I thought   Got chopped off a little, but 18 out of 20 are good.

Edited April 12, 2019 by Osaurus

[rustycolts 1,735]

2 hours ago, Cowboysfan8 said:

According to this website

https://www.fcc.gov/media/engineering/dtvmaps

I have weak or no signal from 6 of the 8 feeds in my area.

I assume I'm screwed

I am 40 miles from towers and I get 60 channels ota.  I use an outside antenna I think it's 20 feet high.  Of course Fl is flat so that helps.  Maybe try an outside antenna?

 

[Cowboysfan8 7,633]

13 minutes ago, rustycolts said:

I am 40 miles from towers and I get 60 channels ota.  I use an outside antenna I think it's 20 feet high.  Of course Fl is flat so that helps.  Maybe try an outside antenna?

 

Hmm.. That's interesting

Mountainous here though, I may have to look into it more

[stbugs 3,000]

3 hours ago, matttyl said:

What's that now?  I have Amazon Prime, and two fire TV devices.  What's the IMDB app, and does that get me additional content than what comes with Prime anyway?

It just appeared. Here’s some info: https://www.google.com/amp/s/screenrant.com/imdb-streaming-service-amazon-fire-tv/amp/

[matttyl 2,689]

1 hour ago, Cowboysfan8 said:

Hmm.. That's interesting

Mountainous here though, I may have to look into it more

That's the killer.  I'm trying to find the site I used that gave me topographic information.  Basically my issue wasn't distance, but rather the fact that there are mountains between the tower and my house.  Line of site and all that.

[B Maverick 2,263]

Reports of Disney + being released in Nov for 6.99/mo.  They even reported there may be a bundle package that includes Hulu, Disney + and ESPN + (no pricing on that yet).

[Cowboysfan8 7,633]

1 hour ago, matttyl said:

That's the killer.  I'm trying to find the site I used that gave me topographic information.  Basically my issue wasn't distance, but rather the fact that there are mountains between the tower and my house.  Line of site and all that.

Right.

Mountainous and several feeds are 50-60 miles away from me

[matttyl 2,689]

2 minutes ago, Cowboysfan8 said:

Right.

Mountainous and several feeds are 50-60 miles away from me

Same issue here.  Maybe we're neighbors. 

I actually have this antenna (or that company's prior version of it), but in order to get my "locals" I'd have to have it above my roofline, run coax cables from it to all the TVs in the house, and likely have to get signals boosters and powered splitters and stuff to get the four big networks.  So I'm still with cable at the moment. 

[JoeSteeler 3,426]

1 hour ago, B Maverick said:

Reports of Disney + being released in Nov for 6.99/mo.  They even reported there may be a bundle package that includes Hulu, Disney + and ESPN + (no pricing on that yet).

here is more info

https://www.cnet.com/news/disney-plus-release-date-shows-movies-to-expect-streaming-service-avengers-star-wars/

[Otis 13,396]

Just got an email to beta test a new hardware box for DirecTV Now. Signed up. Hope I’m selected, looks interesting. 

[Ted Stickles 228]

I've been with DirecTVNow since inception at $35/mo.  They said our price wouldn't go up.  Then they bumped it up $5.  Now they are bumping it another $10 to make it $50/mo.  I chose them to get the locked in price I thought for life, and get away from the bill bloat I was getting from Dish Network.

Strongly considering cancelling DirecTVNow.  

[Phil Elliott 1,114]

2 minutes ago, Teddy Stickles said:

I've been with DirecTVNow since inception at $35/mo.  They said our price wouldn't go up.  Then they bumped it up $5.  Now they are bumping it another $10 to make it $50/mo.  I chose them to get the locked in price I thought for life, and get away from the bill bloat I was getting from Dish Network.

Strongly considering cancelling DirecTVNow.  

I was just going to post the same.   

[Gianni Verscotchie 521]

1 hour ago, Otis said:

Just got an email to beta test a new hardware box for DirecTV Now. Signed up. Hope I’m selected, looks interesting. 

The addition of hardware and the rate increases are making old fashioned cable/satellite more attractive.

[ghostguy123 3,809]

Just hooked up the clearstream thing that cost like 40 bucks and says has a 50 mile range.  Got 6 channels in one spot and 13 on the window on east side of the house. 

I live about 35 miles east of cleveland.  

I better find a spot that gets a lot more than that.  About to try my bedroom in southwest corner of house, window faces south.  It does say that it doesn't matter which direction it faces though

[B Maverick 2,263]

5 hours ago, Teddy Stickles said:

I've been with DirecTVNow since inception at $35/mo.  They said our price wouldn't go up.  Then they bumped it up $5.  Now they are bumping it another $10 to make it $50/mo.  I chose them to get the locked in price I thought for life, and get away from the bill bloat I was getting from Dish Network.

Strongly considering cancelling DirecTVNow.  

At this point I think I am just holding out for the Disney+ service packaging with ESPN+ and Hulu.  Depending on the price.

[Otis 13,396]

I get they’ve jacked up the price a few bucks, but I’m still crushing what I used to spend on cable. 

[Trey 644]

I think my biggest impediment is the lack of internet choices in my town. If you want internet you’ve gotta have Comcast. So no sweetheart 50/month deals with Fios to really cut costs. Cheapest internet only packages are still going to run you in the 75ish range for decent speed. Tack on another 40-50 for a live streaming service and I’m 25 bucks away from being back to square one on the “call and threaten to cancel” game each year. 

[bucksoh 489]

So want to cancel internet and cable and just use my phone.  Just wondering if chromecast or any other device is available to use with your phone to connect to the tv to stream shows?