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Hello cord cutters

poweRob

poweRob

USMC 1988-1996
DP Veteran
Joined
Sep 18, 2011
Messages
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Location
New Mexico
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Socialist
Who out there is with me?

I got sick of Comcast lying to me about their jacked up billing so I went to DirecTV. Was with them for a couple years and they started jacking my billing around with no way to tell me why so I dumped them too. I'm impressed with how far internet tv has come.

I bought into SlingTV which is owned by Dish but it's just internet streaming TV. $20 a month. A added a couple packages so I'm at about $30/month. The service isn't glitchy and streams well.

The device I use is a Roku3. I also added an app called USTVnow. For free you can watch the big basic broadcasters that aren't on Sling... CBS, ABC NBC and Fox but USTV's servers apparently are crap and can't handle high activity streaming like games and whatnot that have large viewing base. Otherwise it works well for casual watching. USTVnow is like sling in that you can buy into it for a lot of channels but until they get their servers up to snuff I'm not paying them.

Who else is having fun cutting the cord?
 
I would if it weren't for live sports.
 
poweRob said:
Who out there is with me?

I got sick of Comcast lying to me about their jacked up billing so I went to DirecTV. Was with them for a couple years and they started jacking my billing around with no way to tell me why so I dumped them too. I'm impressed with how far internet tv has come.

I bought into SlingTV which is owned by Dish but it's just internet streaming TV. $20 a month. A added a couple packages so I'm at about $30/month. The service isn't glitchy and streams well.

The device I use is a Roku3. I also added an app called USTVnow. For free you can watch the big basic broadcasters that aren't on Sling... CBS, ABC NBC and Fox but USTV's servers apparently are crap and can't handle high activity streaming like games and whatnot that have large viewing base. Otherwise it works well for casual watching. USTVnow is like sling in that you can buy into it for a lot of channels but until they get their servers up to snuff I'm not paying them.

Who else is having fun cutting the cord?
Click to expand...

This is great, I'll have to look into this.
 
poweRob said:
Who out there is with me?

I got sick of Comcast lying to me about their jacked up billing so I went to DirecTV. Was with them for a couple years and they started jacking my billing around with no way to tell me why so I dumped them too. I'm impressed with how far internet tv has come.

I bought into SlingTV which is owned by Dish but it's just internet streaming TV. $20 a month. A added a couple packages so I'm at about $30/month. The service isn't glitchy and streams well.

The device I use is a Roku3. I also added an app called USTVnow. For free you can watch the big basic broadcasters that aren't on Sling... CBS, ABC NBC and Fox but USTV's servers apparently are crap and can't handle high activity streaming like games and whatnot that have large viewing base. Otherwise it works well for casual watching. USTVnow is like sling in that you can buy into it for a lot of channels but until they get their servers up to snuff I'm not paying them.

Who else is having fun cutting the cord?
Click to expand...

Dude. I don't pay for TV. I have a regular antenna pointed toward Sutro Tower, and I get just plain old digital TV. I spent $49.95 at Best Buy on a digital box , I hooked it up, and I get 70 channels: 7 which are PBS stations. I get a host of retro and old movie channels as well; just no ESPN or History Channel. Anything else I want-I rent.

There is no chord.
 
poweRob said:
Who out there is with me?

I got sick of Comcast lying to me about their jacked up billing so I went to DirecTV. Was with them for a couple years and they started jacking my billing around with no way to tell me why so I dumped them too. I'm impressed with how far internet tv has come.

I bought into SlingTV which is owned by Dish but it's just internet streaming TV. $20 a month. A added a couple packages so I'm at about $30/month. The service isn't glitchy and streams well.

The device I use is a Roku3. I also added an app called USTVnow. For free you can watch the big basic broadcasters that aren't on Sling... CBS, ABC NBC and Fox but USTV's servers apparently are crap and can't handle high activity streaming like games and whatnot that have large viewing base. Otherwise it works well for casual watching. USTVnow is like sling in that you can buy into it for a lot of channels but until they get their servers up to snuff I'm not paying them.

Who else is having fun cutting the cord?
Click to expand...

For shows, not necessarily sports or timely things, but regular series, if you're willing to wait a few hours or a day, there are dozens of places on line to do that for free and even see the HBO and Starz and Showtime originals. If you use NoScript and AdBlock, you can do it for free with only the initial advertising popup.
 
jet57 said:
Dude. I don't pay for TV. I have a regular antenna pointed toward Sutro Tower, and I get just plain old digital TV. I spent $49.95 at Best Buy on a digital box , I hooked it up, and I get 70 channels: 7 which are PBS stations. I get a host of retro and old movie channels as well; just no ESPN or History Channel. Anything else I want-I rent.

There is no chord.
Click to expand...

I bought an HD antennae but my location didn't work for it. I'm in a bowl sort of in mountains and the towers are over an hours drive away and over the hills. Couldn't get hardly anything. The slingtv basic option at $20 gets you ESPN & ESPN2. 5 dollars more you get the sports package.

Channels and packages.

$20 for this basic package:

slingtvbasic-100578917-large.webp

$5 for each additional package below

slingtvaddons-100580458-large.webp

This is all live streaming channels. Not on demand style watching. I've got the basic with the lifestyles and hollywood package now. When football season comes I may add the sports package.
 
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poweRob said:
Who out there is with me?

I got sick of Comcast lying to me about their jacked up billing so I went to DirecTV. Was with them for a couple years and they started jacking my billing around with no way to tell me why so I dumped them too. I'm impressed with how far internet tv has come.

I bought into SlingTV which is owned by Dish but it's just internet streaming TV. $20 a month. A added a couple packages so I'm at about $30/month. The service isn't glitchy and streams well.

The device I use is a Roku3. I also added an app called USTVnow. For free you can watch the big basic broadcasters that aren't on Sling... CBS, ABC NBC and Fox but USTV's servers apparently are crap and can't handle high activity streaming like games and whatnot that have large viewing base. Otherwise it works well for casual watching. USTVnow is like sling in that you can buy into it for a lot of channels but until they get their servers up to snuff I'm not paying them.

Who else is having fun cutting the cord?
Click to expand...

You can still get the networks over the air in HD with a simple antenna. I bitched to my provider (Cox) about them jacking the price, so they lowered me $25 a month, and offered me HBO for $5 a month, which gives me free HBO Now on the computer or tablet or on Roku. I have Netflix and share the password with my sister for her sharing Amazon password, so I'm covered there.
 
poweRob said:
I bought an HD antennae but my location didn't work for it. I'm in a bowl sort of in mountains and the towers are over an hours drive away and over the hills. Couldn't get hardly anything.
Click to expand...

Damn, that's bad. HD antennae eh? I'll have to look into that.

Yeah, cable TV actually started a long time ago and was aimed at mountain people who couldn't get anything - now it's a rip off. I used to work for Teleprompter Cable, so I have a problem with "pay TV".

I guess you figure into Hill Folk :)

Good luck. Sorry I can't help.

Warrior's game is Sunday though - hope you can get it.
 
jet57 said:
Damn, that's bad. HD antennae eh? I'll have to look into that.

Yeah, cable TV actually started a long time ago and was aimed at mountain people who couldn't get anything - now it's a rip off. I used to work for Teleprompter Cable, so I have a problem with "pay TV".

I guess you figure into Hill Folk :)

Good luck. Sorry I can't help.

Warrior's game is Sunday though - hope you can get it.
Click to expand...

USTVnow app shows it for free. But their stream keeps freezing during the game unfortunately.

HD antennaes

Just read up on the reviews.
 
Oh yeah... there's also CBS All Access. CBS is now selling themselves individually apart from cable companies for $6 a month. So you can ala cart CBS if you want. They worked just great but I just turned them off today due to lack of use. It offers all their shows live and on demand.
 
jet57 said:
Thanks man. I'll read up.
Click to expand...

A lot of people are claiming that the picture from an HD antennae is crisper than watching HD over comcast or directv. I guess if you have a good clear aim at the towers you can get some really good pictures.
 
poweRob said:
A lot of people are claiming that the picture from an HD antennae is crisper than watching HD over comcast or directv. I guess if you have a good clear aim at the towers you can get some really good pictures.
Click to expand...

Ya'know, I dunno. I'm not an expert. All I know is - I walked into COSTCO with my young bride, and bought a 55" Samgsung (675 'er whatever) and we can see the pimples on the weather fox's face. So, I'm happy. And I see her nipples for free!!
 
jet57 said:
Ya'know, I dunno. I'm not an expert. All I know is - I walked into COSTCO with my young bride, and bought a 55" Samgsung (675 'er whatever) and we can see the pimples on the weather fox's face. So, I'm happy. And I see her nipples for free!!
Click to expand...

I never realized how unattractive some people are on TV until we got our first HDTV. :lol: Terrible, terrible complexions.
 
I'd love to cut the cord. DirecTV keeps telling me they are going to bring my bill down to 150 a month, but every time I get my bill, it's 185 or more. :(

But I like Network TV and I like cable shows, like Food Network and AMC.
 
poweRob said:
Who out there is with me?

I got sick of Comcast lying to me about their jacked up billing so I went to DirecTV. Was with them for a couple years and they started jacking my billing around with no way to tell me why so I dumped them too. I'm impressed with how far internet tv has come.

I bought into SlingTV which is owned by Dish but it's just internet streaming TV. $20 a month. A added a couple packages so I'm at about $30/month. The service isn't glitchy and streams well.

The device I use is a Roku3. I also added an app called USTVnow. For free you can watch the big basic broadcasters that aren't on Sling... CBS, ABC NBC and Fox but USTV's servers apparently are crap and can't handle high activity streaming like games and whatnot that have large viewing base. Otherwise it works well for casual watching. USTVnow is like sling in that you can buy into it for a lot of channels but until they get their servers up to snuff I'm not paying them.

Who else is having fun cutting the cord?
Click to expand...

I ended my voluntary programming completely on 1/1/2000. We never really used it in the summer time growing up or through my twenties. But since 2000, I haven't even owned a television.

For several years on another forum I would offer up a yearly challenge... 90 days television free. Never had one taker.

I remember my first year without television or commercial content of any kind.. At the end of it, it was impossible not to notice that my perception of the world had changed a great deal. Being around television programming these days, for me, is intolerable... I'd rather be in a room with a skunk.

Having said all that, I admit to watching some content online, but always commercial free and rarely entertainment or news. Educational or documentaries mostly.
 
Occam's Razor said:
At the end of it, it was impossible not to notice that my perception of the world had changed a great deal.
Click to expand...

I felt the same way when I gave up Facebook. It was like this huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I just dumped it and walked away for a while. Shut down the entire account, without even letting anyone know. Just shut it down. After a couple of months, I started another account that now has a grand total of 25 "friends," who are mostly family and a handful of very good, drama-free friends. It is a drama free zone, and it's actually fun again.
 
poweRob said:
Who out there is with me?

I got sick of Comcast lying to me about their jacked up billing so I went to DirecTV. Was with them for a couple years and they started jacking my billing around with no way to tell me why so I dumped them too. I'm impressed with how far internet tv has come.

I bought into SlingTV which is owned by Dish but it's just internet streaming TV. $20 a month. A added a couple packages so I'm at about $30/month. The service isn't glitchy and streams well.

The device I use is a Roku3. I also added an app called USTVnow. For free you can watch the big basic broadcasters that aren't on Sling... CBS, ABC NBC and Fox but USTV's servers apparently are crap and can't handle high activity streaming like games and whatnot that have large viewing base. Otherwise it works well for casual watching. USTVnow is like sling in that you can buy into it for a lot of channels but until they get their servers up to snuff I'm not paying them.

Who else is having fun cutting the cord?
Click to expand...
We "cut the cord" about two years ago. Primarily for short-term financial reasons, saying we'd go back when times got better, but better times are here and we haven't gone back. Nor do we intend to anytime soon. This, I think, is the thing cable and satellite companies fear the most... people realizing their products aren't that important or special.

We now do over-the-air tv and Netflix. This satisfies 95% of our wants and needs.

I will admit that I miss the ability to watch news pretty much anytime of night or day (read: at my convenience), and the occasional live sports program (I'm a Warriors fan and I cannot watch the NBA finals right now), but I don't miss them enough to consider going back. I'm really quite happy without cable/satellite.

Now, try and take away my internet and we'll have a fight on our hands. :lol:
 
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Occam's Razor said:
I ended my voluntary programming completely on 1/1/2000. We never really used it in the summer time growing up or through my twenties. But since 2000, I haven't even owned a television.

For several years on another forum I would offer up a yearly challenge... 90 days television free. Never had one taker.

I remember my first year without television or commercial content of any kind.. At the end of it, it was impossible not to notice that my perception of the world had changed a great deal. Being around television programming these days, for me, is intolerable... I'd rather be in a room with a skunk.

Having said all that, I admit to watching some content online, but always commercial free and rarely entertainment or news. Educational or documentaries mostly.
Click to expand...

In my early 30's I went without a TV for a few months when mine died. That was the longest I did it.
 
Superfly said:
I'd love to cut the cord. DirecTV keeps telling me they are going to bring my bill down to 150 a month, but every time I get my bill, it's 185 or more. :(

But I like Network TV and I like cable shows, like Food Network and AMC.
Click to expand...

Boost your internet speeds and get SlingTV for $20. Beats the hell out of $185. Here are the channels on it... link. AMC and Food Network are on there.
 
poweRob said:
Boost your internet speeds and get SlingTV for $20. Beats the hell out of $185. Here are the channels on it... link. AMC and Food Network are on there.
Click to expand...

Thanks, luv. How long do you have to wait for, say, a show that you watch on Sunday night on AMC using cable, for it to show up on SlingTV?
 
Superfly said:
Thanks, luv. How long do you have to wait for, say, a show that you watch on Sunday night on AMC using cable, for it to show up on SlingTV?
Click to expand...

You don't wait. It's live. It shows the exact time when it shows so it will be there Sunday night on AMC when you usually watch it. It's not recorded for you to watch later. It's like watching old school tv in that you have to be there to watch it when it comes on because at this time there is no DVR function for it.
 
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Superfly said:
I'd love to cut the cord. DirecTV keeps telling me they are going to bring my bill down to 150 a month, but every time I get my bill, it's 185 or more. :(

But I like Network TV and I like cable shows, like Food Network and AMC.
Click to expand...

Yeah, DirecTV was asking me why I was dropping them and I told them the billing was atrocious and unpredictable. They just kept jacking my rates with no explanation. Or a lie of an explanation. I'd call and ask why they raised it and they'd say, "Your introductory rate ended" and I'd say, "that's what you told me last month when you raised it and I know I can't have multiple introductory rates."

It's like they preprogram these folks with lines to repeat to the customer no matter if its true or not.
 
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