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Tech-type questions
Posted: Jul 16, 2016
I posted earflier about how my local cable TV/internet/telephone company started blocking TV channels unless you rent a "box" from them. I lost my temper and broke my bundle. I cancelled TV and phone, ordered Direct TV, moved my phone # to a tracfone, and left internet intact because it's fast and high quality.
It turns out that Direct TV couldn't get a "line of sight" to their satellite and so couldn't install. I called Dish Network, and they're supposed to install next Friday.
But...ya know...I'm sick of expensive long-term contracts for TV. I just want to cut the cable/satellite habit and be done with it. I enjoy very few shows and think I can find them for free (or a small fee) on the internet. Does anyone use Hulu, and do you like it? How about Netflix? Someone said you can connect your PC to your TV using an HDMI cable...is this correct? Will my PC burn out from streaming long shows? I live in a rural area but think I can pick up some free channels with a high-quality antenna...anyone try that?
Really, there has to be a viable alternative. We MTs have diminished earning power, but the cost of everything continues to increase. I don't care if I can't afford the latest in high tech (really kind of bored with it by now), but I'd like to have just the basics.
Any ideas?
;
Get a Roku Box - SM
[ In Reply To ..]Hooks up to your TV with HDMI and plugs into electrical outlet and has lots of free content. There are other streaming boxes and devices out there, but I have found this to be reliable and easy to install. I have this and Amazon Prime and I'm quite happy with the setup.
From OP - sm
[ In Reply To ..]Question: Amazon Prime looks very cool and is affordable. So...if I get this, I'll have access to lots of stuff on my computer. I can hook up my computer to my TV via HDMI cable so that the picture will be larger.
I'm looking into Roku, too, but can I use just Amazon Prime, as above, until I make a decision about Roku?
Also, is Roku enough for you? Did you cancel traditional cable/satellite in favor of Roku, or do you have both?
I have Amazon Prime abd Google Chrome - but still have cable
[ In Reply To ..]If you get Amazon Prime you should just go ahead ans get a Roku device, about $50. I should have that to start with. I got a Google Chrome device before I got Amazon but could not get Amazon on the Chrome device. Now my cable streams through Roku and I want to get that and drop the Amazon Fire device and Google Chrome. Roku accesses Amazon and a lot of other services.
If you use your library, you can access Hoopla (NOT Hulu) to watch movies for free. I am limited to five per month but with my child's membership, I get a total of 10. With the cable connecting to your TV, you could watch those on a bigger screen.
I suppose you can just use Amazon Prime - SM
[ In Reply To ..]with an HDMI, but I just wonder how close are your TV and computer? Will you need a long cable? Those HDMI cables are expensive, IMO.
I didn't have actual cable TV for years until I had to get digital phone (unlimited long distance) for a job last year and the TV was bundled into the internet and phone for a reasonable cost. Time Warner has a streaming app that I access through Roku, so I don't need a cable box. I think Amazon Prime has a free trial. I had Hulu and Netflix streaming too, but I don't have time to watch all that and I thought I had a good assortment of movies and TV on Amazon. However, if Time Warner jacks up the price of cable, I'll be getting rid of it again.
Roku - anon
[ In Reply To ..]I just left Dish to go with TV service offered through Century Link, who is my home phone/DSL provider. Saving over $100 a month that way as my Dish bill alone was $133/month. I recently got a Roku stick $50) at Walmart, Which I just plugged into the USB port on the back of my TV. There are TONS of "free channels." I can get the news feed from my hometown area in IL (I live in FL), as well as the local news feed for the town in Nebraska where my mom's side of the family lives. The VUDU app is a GREAT source for movies! They have movies going way back and they vary in price. I recently watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 and I think I paid $5.99 for it and it was for a week.
No, your computer - will not
[ In Reply To ..]"burn out" from streaming video. There are no moving parts to burn out. And the transfer of electrons via coax generates virtually no friction.
From OP - sorry...
[ In Reply To ..]Dumb question about burnout. I'm so low-tech that I'm embarrassed. Geesh. I'm using a cellphone for the first time and can't figure how to hold onto the darned thing without dropping it.
Roku - wordie
[ In Reply To ..]A couple of years ago I cancelled my satellite dish TV (seemed like every month the bill kept going up) and bought a Roku for under $100. I subscribed to Netflix ($8 a month, now $10 a month), Hulu ($8 a month), and have Amazon Prime ($100 a year). Roku has literally hundreds of free channels (all the cable news and one channel where you can find your local network news channel) and pay-per-view channels. So my monthly bill for TV, instead of being about $70 a month just for basic cable stuff, nothing fancy, now costs me $18 a month, plus the Prime for a year (which I don't really count, since I use Prime all the time for free shipping savings), and I also watch a lot of the free Roku channels like Animal Planet, Smithsonian, etc. Not to mention I am not a sports fan and have zero sports channels on my home page and am no longer paying for them in a bundle. Definitely the way to go for TV.
Roku - wordie
[ In Reply To ..]Forgot to mention Roku also has the free YouTube channel, so everything on YouTube can be streamed to your TV. I watch a lot of shows through that channel, too.
Thanks for all the info. sm - Not the OP.
[ In Reply To ..]Long story, but my bundled cable bill is almost $170/month, and that is the "introductory deal" and prices will go up sometime next year. I need to keep the high-speed internet for work, but the 2 primary residents in my house don't watch much TV, so the alternatives sound great.
Jailbroken Amazon Fire Stick! - Misty
[ In Reply To ..]Try and find someone selling the jail broke Amazon Fire Sticks! They are pretty amazing. You can use an antenna for local channels. You can get Hulu, Netflix all of that stuff for free, no subscription. You pay just the one price for the Fire stick and that's it. It's a USB stick and plugs into your TV (if it has a USB port). If not, I believe you can plug it into your computer then use the HDMI cable to your TV. Hope that helps! I'm in Oklahoma and we bought ours from a local guy.
From OP - Thanks so much!
[ In Reply To ..]Lots of great ideas and ways to get around the traditional cable/satellite prison. I'm excited about working with the new technology and getting creative with it. I ordered a new inexpensive flat-screen TV with the features I think I'll need, and I bought an HDMI cable, 6 feet. That may not be adequate, but I can buy another.
I'm going to start with Netflix since it's instant instillation, and then buy a Roku...haven't heard any feedback on this product so far.
If anyone's interested, I plan to start all of this on Thursday and Friday, 7/21 and 22, and will post my experience and impressions. My next-door neighbor has a Roku so I'll ask for his help :)
Roku feedback - wordie
[ In Reply To ..]It's very easy to set up the Roku. One thing I would point out is that the speed you will stream programs and movies through the Roku or the Fire Stick is completely dependent on your wifi internet speed. When I was still on DSL, the only alternative to terrible cable internet in my area, it was okay, although there were the occasional "loading" pauses. Since my area was upgraded to fiberoptic internet late last year, the streaming is much, much faster, and the loading pauses are much less often.
I've actually found that there is a whole lot more interesting TV available since cutting the cord, not less, and awesome programs that aren't available on regular TV, like Netflix's OITNB and new Longmire seasons. I've been completely on Roku streaming TV for a couple of years and did not miss the satellite TV even once.
When I tried to cancel my - pathetic cable TV, they
[ In Reply To ..]gave me 2 new options...
pay $89+ for high-speed internet, or
pay $85+ for high-speed internet + basic cable.
They are truly DESPERATE. What a joke. I never watch anything that isn't on Roku.
Tech/cable - Mt100
[ In Reply To ..]I dropped my cable completely about 2 to 3 years ago and have only an antenna. I got very tired of their prices and paying for so many channels that I never watched. I have to have indoor antenna because I rent and not allowed to have antenna on roof. I get good reception most of the time and generally get about 13 changes over the air. When it storms or something like that the reception is not as good for a time but I'm pretty satisfied with it -- I have no cable or dish bills :) I can get all the local channels as well as a movie channel and several channels that have old shows and movies on them. Every time I think I need to have cable to a news channel or something, I just remind myself that I am paying no fees for what I watch on my TV :)
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