General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums$20/month "cable". We FINALLY unplugged from cable.
I didn't have a problem with Verizon (don't even get me started on Comcast) but we just didn't need it. We also switched to Sprint for the cell phones cutting our cost in half (as advertised) including a 2-for-1 current deal on iPhone 6S's. 4G data and 4G speed with unlimited talk and text. Month to month no contract.
We kept internet/Wifi with Verizon (updated router is 6 times faster than the old one) which we use to do what I am doing now and to run our Apple TV. We have a HD antenna which gives us 13 local stations - in "the Richmond tunnel" apparently you have to find the spot for the antenna to get the local NBC station.
Apple TV costs basically less than one month of cable for the device. We added Apple's basic Sling for $20/month - CNN Newsy(?) Bloomberg ESPN1&2 FOOD IFC AMC (Walking Dead) DISNEY FREEFORM CARTOON TRAVEL HGTV POLARIS AXS (Rather's Big Interview) LIFETIME GLOBAL y EL REY BBC AMERICA HISTORY COMEDY A&E VICELAND TBS TNT.
We have Netflix and Hulu too running through the Apple TV.
This tiny Apple remote frankly freaks me out with all it can do and so easily. I know - it's Apple.
WE should have done this years ago.
Lanius
(603 posts)and what is your data plan? I'm interested in changing internet providers as CenturyLink is extremely slow out here.
underpants
(183,007 posts)I've heard they'll squeeze down on that so we'll see.
The old router was 15kmb/second. I think "kmb" is the right abbreviation.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)We are thinking of upgrading.
and congrats on cutting the cord, so to speak.
broadband is dying out.
underpants
(183,007 posts)That's all I can find on it.
The_Casual_Observer
(27,742 posts)I have to look into something like this too.
Thanks!!!
mcar
(42,465 posts)We have a 3 yo Roku, Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime. Our couple $ a month pledge to PBS gives us their feed. In a pinch, we get news via the internet.
JanMichael
(24,899 posts)Netflix, a digital antenna that gives 30 local channels, and Amazon Prime work fine but we are thinking about a new TV.
If we get the new TV can I get down to one remote? There are 4 now...and the TV remote died and the "UP" channel button is broken so switching from digital channels to Roku takes 4 minutes to go down backwards from #3 to get to #4.
mcar
(42,465 posts)Get a Black Friday deal. Or, we got our flat screen a few years ago on Dec 26 and got a great deal.
Atman
(31,464 posts)It's an older Harmony universal remote, which is fine for on/off/volume, but worthless for changing programs on Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV. But both offer apps which control everything else through the iPhone. Our son has a newer model which is pretty small, and allows navigation even in the Netflix/Hulu/Amazon screens. But it's about $90.
Of course, if you don't use an Apple TV, you don't need Remote. But the Amazon app should be available for iOS and Android.
underpants
(183,007 posts)I'm loving this.
mcar
(42,465 posts)Our son got us an antenna for Christmas last year. We got nothing and sent it back.
underpants
(183,007 posts)mcar
(42,465 posts)and then disappointed. We don't lack for media but it would help during a crisis, like a hurricane.
Go Vols
(5,902 posts)It gets mixed reviews,but I pick up prolly 40 channels from as far away as 65 miles,another city at 60 miles and another at 45 miles.
Cakes488
(874 posts)bhikkhu
(10,726 posts)and it has been easier and easier now, having Amazon Prime and Netflix streaming. Going over the bills it still seems like a lot of various things - $18 or so a month for streaming services, $55 a month for broadband connection, $57 a month for two cell phones with data...
underpants
(183,007 posts)rusty quoin
(6,133 posts)Once the towers came down I wanted more news. I will look to alternative ways like you guys now.
rurallib
(62,478 posts)or do you get programming schedules from the internet?
underpants
(183,007 posts)It's the Apple Menu. That's all I can tell you.
UMTerp01
(1,048 posts)My home security system is wrapped up in it as well as premium cable and the boxes and wifi. I hate that Comcast has such a monopoly on prices because they get on my MF'n nerves but I wish I could just pick maybe about 30-40 channels because the other ones I could live without.
eleny
(46,166 posts)Last time our bill was screwy we went up to the local Comcast office to have them explain it. Turns out that the offices reps have better deals to offer than talking to Comcast reps by phone.
We got a different plan which is mostly all the stations, internet, our land line (we keep that for the convenience of elderly relatives who've known us at the number for 40 years) and the security system. Plus, they gave us a $100. gift card for taking the plan. The security system was new to us. Also, the bill dropped by about $30 a month.
So we've decided that any time we have a question we're going up to the local office to talk to someone in person. But we're lucky. The office is a short drive from our house.
Hope this helps.
underpants
(183,007 posts)It weirdly just depends on who you talk to.
eleny
(46,166 posts)Going to the office in person got us the best deal. The only time I'll ever call is to report an outage.
ProfessorGAC
(65,381 posts)I call about anything significant regarding service. Then they give a pretty sizeable reduction for "2 years". But, at the end of 2 years, you call and tell them "You better not raise my bill." And they don't.
Been doing that for 7 or 8 years. My service is way upgraded and i'm paying less than i did 5 years ago.
Faster router, X1 in the whole house, VOIP phone. For less than i paid 5 years ago.
underpants
(183,007 posts)Waaaaay too much. We are actually lucky to have two cable options. Comcast at one point blamed squirrels for our internet not working. I was out of work at the time (like many in 2008-9) and I had to go to the library to search for jobs. The techs who came by called into the same customer service number as I did. I've noticed that a lot of Comcast vehicles barely have their name on them anymore - they say Xfinity.
BTW - if I'm not in their call center training program they are missing a golden example of a "problem call". I wore them out
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)and will be cutting shortly. One thing- when it comes to streaming movies, Amazon Prime kicks Netflix's sorry ass.
Jim Beard
(2,535 posts)clicked on a rental. I have it but don't use it. I don't want to be charged for something I want to pay for. I like Netflix and the British "Acorn" Because I love mysteries, real ones, which the Brits do best.
burrowowl
(17,655 posts)Thanks for info!
PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,927 posts)The simplest being the internet. Which is how I watch the various shows and such.
A while back, after some changes in my life, I couldn't afford to purchase a TV or cable, although I was willing to pay for internet. You understand, that was my hierarchy of needs. Anyway, I found I didn't miss regular TV at all. It's pretty impressive how much is available over the internet. I think if you're a huge sports fan and want to watch games, it's a bit trickier, but I'm not very into sports.
It's pretty amazing how much is simply put out there.
Jim Beard
(2,535 posts)sends it to other TV's in my house but how do I do it with other things I find on the internet, like CNN? I can watch it on my PC but not other TV's.
PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,927 posts)I do all my watching on the screen I'm sitting in front of as I type this.
Perhaps there's a way to connect your regular TV to your computer/internet, but I don't know how it would be done. Do you have a teen at home? Friends with teens?
Vivid Lizard
(23 posts)I SEMI cut the cable a little over a year ago after much research. We had Verizon FIOS (now Frontier FIOS) and I thought I could simply drop TV and keep the Internet connection. Now, I'm one to negotiate... every couple of years calling up whoever my provider is and innocently asking "what do I need to do to cancel my service?" That starts the whole "why do you want to cancel your service?" thing, talk to a rep, talk to a supervisor, etc. I usually end up with a "new service" rate.
Anywho, I come to find out that if I totally cut TV and keep the internet, it's around $80 p/month. But, if I keep TV, downgrade it to that unpublished "just local" service, plus the internet, it's $50 p/month! No TV, $80, with TV, $50. I know it has to do with keeping me connected to Pay-Per-View and such, but damn. So I went with that. Still a monopolistic ripoff. We use Hulu and Netflix on a Roku. Experimenting now with Amazon Prime.
underpants
(183,007 posts)Funny I'm getting all kinds of deals offered by Verizon via email since we pulled the plug.
We'll stick with what we have now or at least get acclimated to it.
Duppers
(28,132 posts)But we're moving to mountain country where we'll need dish or some satellite equipment to get anything. I'll have to research our options for net service.
Suggestions welcome.
underpants
(183,007 posts)I can't really help - my folks live near Staunton and they switched back from dish to cable.
Duppers
(28,132 posts)Five acres at the top of first ridge.
Google "BlackBerry Farm" images.
underpants
(183,007 posts)Duppers
(28,132 posts)Found a deal on foreclosed property and are building a new custom home. Hubs is working way over retirement age, hoping to afford what we want. At least living costs there will be lower. And it's home, since he and I hiked the AT back in the college years. Love, love mountains. Another plus is that one of our future neighbors is a real liberal! Shocked me too.
phylny
(8,393 posts)We've patched together "Internet" consisting of two satellites and two Verizon MiFi units and pay a ton of money for the "convenience." It's expensive and during the summer when there are visitors at the lake, the MiFis are almost useless.
Jane Dittmar and Hillary Clinton are running with platforms that include high-speed broadband to every home in America. Can't wait for that day.
Duppers
(28,132 posts)Thanks, you've initiated my research. Not familiar with the MiDi but am googling.
I've been to Bedford, the lake, the WWII Memorial, and Peaks of Otter several times. Beautiful country.
Hope Jane gets elected...and Hillary, of course.
phylny
(8,393 posts)needs a certain type for work. The MiFis act as a separate hotspot. Depending upon where you live, they can work well or not well.
Response to underpants (Original post)
Atman This message was self-deleted by its author.
Atman
(31,464 posts)First, we did almost exactly what you did and never looked back. But we also added Amazon Prime and a $39 Fire TV Stick on our primary tv. In retrospect, you really don't even need the stick if you have Apple AirPlay -- just use the Amazon Video app and select AirPlay and video will play on your Apple TV.
Anyway, about the tiny remote; we lost ours within two weeks. DL the Apple Remote app to your phones and control your Apple TV, as well as iTunes on your Mac (if you have one). It's obviously four times the size of that tiny remote, and provide a keyboard and voice recognition for easier searches. It's a must-have if you have Apple TV.
underpants
(183,007 posts)Thanks. I'll give it a shot tonight.
Kermitt Gribble
(1,855 posts)I've been trying to do the same. I currently cast Sling TV through Chromecast, but the streaming is lousy. From what I've read, there are no streaming issues with Roku. How is the stream quality with Apple TV?
underpants
(183,007 posts)Maybe it's the TV? Phillips HD
ecstatic
(32,782 posts)I just didn't have the patience to set up my computer each time I wanted to watch tv. When I wake up, I want instant access to the latest news. MSNBC's website is awful, and the music they play during breaks was unbearable. CNN has an awesome multi platform app, but it wasn't enough.