Replacing Satellite and Cable

#1
VolnJC

VolnJC

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#1
After bowl season, I'm considering getting rid of DirecTV, I really find myself watching less and less weekly shows. I've got either Amazon Fire Sticks or Chromecasts on all my TVs and I have a subscriptions to Amazon Prime( I get it for half price because I have a .edu email) and HuluPlus and I'm considering picking up Netflix. Those three together would cost about 300 per year compared to the near 1500 I'm paying now.
What are you guys doing that have already made the switch? What would be the best way to get local channels without sticking an antenna on the roof or in the attic?
 
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#2
#2
I put an antenna in the attic and bought a Netflix subscription. I use ustream to watch Tennessee (road games) and AF football.

Im much happier with this set up than any cable or satellite packages.
 
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#3
#3
I had an HD antenna that I bought from Best Buy for about $100. It has a stand and reaches 35 miles to TV towers. Used that plus Apple TV withHulu, Netflix, borrowed passwords for Watch ESPN, etc. Done this for past 8 months.

That being said, we missed cable so getting Uverse installed on Monday. There's only so much you can watch like that
 
#4
#4
Been a cord cutter for 3 years. Don't miss cable one bit.

If you are the type that just enjoys flipping through channels than you may miss it.
 
#6
#6
BTW... I live in JC and a $45 amplified antenna that connects directly to the TV picks up everything except PBS. It's got a low profile so unless you know what you are looking for you wouldn't even notice it.

But we are a one TV household. You may some other solution.
 
#7
#7
I was playing around with the little antenna that came with our DirecTV receiver..I plugged it into our small monitor in the kitchen and picked up 9 channels. PBS, ION, QUBO, ABC, some religious channels and shopping channels..if only I could pick up CBS and NBC we would be set..the only network shows we watch are Castle, The Goldbergs, and NCIS
 
#8
#8
VolnJC said:
I was playing around with the little antenna that came with our DirecTV receiver..I plugged it into our small monitor in the kitchen and picked up 9 channels. PBS, ION, QUBO, ABC, some religious channels and shopping channels..if only I could pick up CBS and NBC we would be set..the only network shows we watch are Castle, The Goldbergs, and NCIS
Click to expand...

A good antenna makes all the difference

Got mine here:

EZ-HD TV Antenna
 
#9
#9
I have zero experience wiring anything but want to get a decent antenna. How hard are they to install? I tried one of the flat ones that goes on the window but got little to nothing because of trees. I think I'd have better luck in the attic.

We cut cable two years ago. I use Netflix and a Roku and can get most everything. I would like to get local channels for the NFL though
 
#10
#10
CanadianVol said:
I have zero experience wiring anything but want to get a decent antenna. How hard are they to install? I tried one of the flat ones that goes on the window but got little to nothing because of trees. I think I'd have better luck in the attic.

We cut cable two years ago. I use Netflix and a Roku and can get most everything. I would like to get local channels for the NFL though
Click to expand...
If you live out in BFE, you may have to mount it in your attic or on the roof. Still easy, just will tequire a little climbing and maybe a drill.
I put one in my attic using the old cable line that was left by comcast.
 
#11
#11
Plugged the same small digital antenna into my bedroom TV and picked up 18 channels, including all the local networks..so we should be good without putting one in the attic
 
#12
#12
Just got my Uverse installed today. Been unplugged since April. I feel like I've just awoken from a coma
 
#13
#13
For those who complain about not having espn this may help

Dish Network Sling TV announcement at CES: You can now watch ESPN without cable.

Dish Network announced what is probably the first credible attempt to solve that problem. Its new, Web-based Sling TV service will offer live, streaming cable TV for $20 a month—significantly less than a standard cable subscription.

To start with, Sling TV will come with 12 major channels, including, crucially, ESPN. Here’s the full list:

ESPN
ESPN2
TNT
TBS
Food Network
HGTV
Travel Channel
Cartoon Network
Adult Swim
Disney Channel
ABC Family
CNN
Click to expand...

In addition to being available on your computer via the Web, the service will work with an impressive array of devices, including iOS and Android devices, Amazon Fire TV, Google Nexus Player, Roku players, and Xbox One, with more supposedly on the way.
Click to expand...
 
#15
#15
Another article said it was coming later this month.

The catch is it will only play on one device at a time. Adding another will be an additional $20 sub
 
#17
#17
A few years back I cancelled my dish network cause I was fed up with paying for 250 channels i didn't even watch. I was hoping that they would come out with something that included sports channels only. I gave in though and got dish again. I couldn't go without the sports.

My sister gave me a chrome cast for Christmas tho so I may try to explore that option and see if there is a way to watch the sports live on there.
 
#18
#18
that is definitely big news..I'm still waiting on a streaming only option to be announced soon..I guess the holdup is cable/satellite companies like charging for equipment rental and don't want to give that up until it is absolutely necessary
 
#19
#19
Tzettler87 said:
A few years back I cancelled my dish network cause I was fed up with paying for 250 channels i didn't even watch. I was hoping that they would come out with something that included sports channels only. I gave in though and got dish again. I couldn't go without the sports.

My sister gave me a chrome cast for Christmas tho so I may try to explore that option and see if there is a way to watch the sports live on there.
Click to expand...

ask your sister for her Dish/DirecTV password and you should be good :)
 
#20
#20
I cut off cable over a year ago, and with my buddy's watchESPN password, I haven't missed it a second.
 
#21
#21
salutethehill said:
I cut off cable over a year ago, and with my buddy's watchESPN password, I haven't missed it a second.
Click to expand...

The key is knowing someone with a login.

My brother in law used to split a Direct TV account with 3 other households. They all needed their own dish and the main account just got four boxes with the SIM card then divied them out. They split the bill evenly. Not sure if that's even possible anymore.
 
#22
#22
VolnJC said:
ask your sister for her Dish/DirecTV password and you should be good :)
Click to expand...

I think there is something I can do with Time Warner Cable that is similar. I think I can stream the channels so long as I have the password for someones account who is paying for the cable box.

Originally I thought that i would just take my better half to a restaurant to catch a game if i had to see it but i found out quickly that its def. just cheaper to get dish again lol.
 
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