topic Re: cord-cutting CABLE CORDS in Electronics

cord-cutting CABLE CORDS

LTT1 — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 22:24:06 GMT

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cord-cutting

Apparently this is the new...

people are ditching their cable services for less expensive ways to watch tv shows!

Not sure I completely understand all of the different methods, but hey, I will be open-minded!

New VoIP phone service allows you to keep your landline telephone #. The service requires Internet WIFI to work...about $2/month. Search Magik JACK.

Don’t stop the landline service before starting the new VoIP sevice (like we did 😢) or you won’t be able to use your old number.

Re: cord-cutting CABLE CORDS

Kachina624 — Sat, 30 Jun 2018 01:13:02 GMT

@LTT1. How long have you had the Magik Jack service? Any problems with it? Can you make long distance calls? Clear reception?

Re: cord-cutting CABLE CORDS

jpie — Sat, 30 Jun 2018 01:27:36 GMT

This was a timely post @LTT1. My"promotional" TV package from AT&& U-verse expired. Today I got an email bill that states it will be an additional $40.00 month for all of my basic, expanded, and premium channels. Ugh, now I have to call and talk turkey. I do not enjoy this hassle one little bit. Maybe instead of telling them I want to switch cable providers, I should say "I've been thinking about cutting the cord" and see if I can get another promotional package. I do love my premium channels!

Re: cord-cutting CABLE CORDS

Kachina624 — Sat, 30 Jun 2018 01:40:40 GMT

The are several good threads in electronics if you're interested in pulling the plug on TV cable or satellite. You can look them up.

Re: cord-cutting CABLE CORDS

Desertdi — Sat, 30 Jun 2018 05:54:52 GMT

Make sure you can GET regular TV reception (unless you are going to use a service that runs thru your computer.) I get zero, zip, NADA regular tv where I live. It's a choice of cable or satellite around here. This is not true for Phoenix in general........just my particular neighborhood in a mountainous area.................

Re: cord-cutting CABLE CORDS

glb613 — Sat, 30 Jun 2018 10:23:01 GMT

@LTT1 wrote:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cord-cutting
Apparently this is the new...

people are ditching their cable services for less expensive ways to watch tv shows!
Not sure I completely understand all of the different methods, but hey, I will be open-minded!

New VoIP phone service allows you to keep your landline telephone #. The service requires Internet WIFI to work...about $2/month. Search Magik JACK.
Don’t stop the landline service before starting the new VoIP sevice (like we did 😢) or you won’t be able to use your old number.

It all depends on where you live, what you watch and how much are you willing to pay. Cutting the cord if you live in an urban area is much easier than if you live in a small town or rural area. Most antennas have a range of 30-50 miles so you need to live fairly close to the broadcast stations.

If you like to watch sports, most are broadcasted on cable channels and can't be viewed with an antenna. It's the one reason I keep my cable subscription.

Many cable channels programs can be watched online using your computer, tablet or phone. If you have Apple devices, you can mirror what is on your computer or tablet to your TV using Apple TV.

There are many streaming devices and services you can subscribe to and watch on your TV. Which device and service you choose depends on personal preference. I have 2 Apple TVs since I have Apple computers, iPad and iPhone I can use with them. Roku seems to be the most popular device for streaming programs. But be advised, if you want Netflix, Hulu or other streaming channels, you pay a monthly fee. Over the air braodcasts using an antenna are free, the streaming channels are not.

Re: cord-cutting CABLE CORDS

Deree — Sat, 30 Jun 2018 18:27:19 GMT

Hi, I'm new here. I'm also exploring ways to cut the cord. My cable company will be increasing my monthly bill by 120%. I already tried an antenna on my bedroom tv and even though I'm in a large city only 2 miles from 3 broadcast towers, only 5 channels are coming in. Only 1 of those is a network channel. Sometimes they don't even work. I've been told this is because I'm facing away from the broadcast towers and there are highrise buildings in between. So not only is location important but orientation is too.

To glb613: Doesn't Sling TV offer a good sports lineup?

Re: cord-cutting CABLE CORDS

Deree — Sat, 30 Jun 2018 18:29:04 GMT

I'm also interested in the Amazon Fire TV thingamajig but have no idea how to set it up with what I have at home. I watched the presentation but my questions were not answered. Does anyone know how I can get my questions answered? Thank you.

Re: cord-cutting CABLE CORDS

glb613 — Sat, 30 Jun 2018 18:36:47 GMT

@Deree wrote:
I'm also interested in the Amazon Fire TV thingamajig but have no idea how to set it up with what I have at home. I watched the presentation but my questions were not answered. Does anyone know how I can get my questions answered? Thank you.

Set up

Re: cord-cutting CABLE CORDS

Deree — Sat, 30 Jun 2018 18:44:43 GMT

Oh thank you glb613 for the link but I already looked up several sites and they still don't answer my questions. If I may ask here.

My laptop is in front of the sofa where I sit. It's connected to a modem right next to the sofa via an ethernet cable so I don't have a router or wifi. The tv is on the other side of the room so if I plug the Amazon Fire into the port in back of the tv how can the ethernet cable be plugged into the modem on the other side of the room where my laptop is plugged into the modem? Does this mean I must get a router? If I get a router do I still need the modem?

Also the guy who presented on QVC said there is a huge amount of free content just by hooking up the Amazon Fire? So you don't need to subscribe to a streaming service to see all these hundreds of movies? I'm not sure if I understood him correctly.

Also the set-up said you have to enter your internet password. I don't have an internet password and have no idea what that is about. These are my questions. Sorry I'm so dumb about it.

Re: cord-cutting CABLE CORDS

glb613 — Sat, 30 Jun 2018 20:23:05 GMT

@Deree wrote:
Oh thank you glb613 for the link but I already looked up several sites and they still don't answer my questions. If I may ask here.

My laptop is in front of the sofa where I sit. It's connected to a modem right next to the sofa via an ethernet cable so I don't have a router or wifi. The tv is on the other side of the room so if I plug the Amazon Fire into the port in back of the tv how can the ethernet cable be plugged into the modem on the other side of the room where my laptop is plugged into the modem? Does this mean I must get a router? If I get a router do I still need the modem?

Also the guy who presented on QVC said there is a huge amount of free content just by hooking up the Amazon Fire? So you don't need to subscribe to a streaming service to see all these hundreds of movies? I'm not sure if I understood him correctly.

Also the set-up said you have to enter your internet password. I don't have an internet password and have no idea what that is about. These are my questions. Sorry I'm so dumb about it.

The streaming device, no matter what the brand, needs to be connected to the internet. Some can be hard wired or wireless. It looks like the Fire stick is wireless only. You'll need a wireless router to connect it to the internet.

Re: cord-cutting CABLE CORDS

Deree — Sat, 30 Jun 2018 20:48:50 GMT

I just spoke to a Best Buy rep on their Chat and it can be hooked up via ethernet cable which is a separate purchase. Amazon site also stated this could be done. However hard wiring is cumbersome and too much trouble. I would definitely choose to by a router. Thank you for your reply!

Ah I just learned how to edit my post. yay.

I also found out that remark the QVC sales rep made about being able to see hundreds of movies as soon as you hook up the Amazon Fire TV is ONLY for Amazon Prime members. The rest of us would definitely need to pay a monthly fee for a streaming service.

Re: cord-cutting CABLE CORDS

Kachina624 — Sun, 01 Jul 2018 01:58:12 GMT

@Deree. The Amazon TV devices are remarkably simple to set up. They all come with explicit instructions that an idiot could follow. The hardest part is remembering or finding your WiFi password.

Re: cord-cutting CABLE CORDS

DollyDee — Sun, 01 Jul 2018 13:48:28 GMT

I cut the cord last month. My promotional price was up and my bill was to go up an additional $40 a month. I took in all my boxes (had 3 of them) and just went with internet and phone. I am saving $90 a month on cable plus I notice this month electric bill was lower. Apprently those cable boxes uses quite a bit of electricity.

Now I watch over the air tv, Netflix, and Amazon Prime. I am really happy so many people are cutting the cord and not paying the cable company so much of their hard earn money.

Re: cord-cutting CABLE CORDS

DollyDee — Sun, 01 Jul 2018 13:53:02 GMT

I cut the cord last month. My promotional price was up and my bill was to go up an additional $40 a month. I took in all my boxes (had 3 of them) and just went with internet and phone. I am saving $90 a month on cable plus I notice this month electric bill was lower. Apparently those cable boxes uses quite a bit of electricity.

Now I watch over the air tv, Netflix, and Amazon Prime. I am really happy so many people are cutting the cord and not paying the cable company outrageous prices.

Re: cord-cutting CABLE CORDS

SilleeMee — Sun, 01 Jul 2018 17:11:49 GMT

I've had Ooma VoIP phone service for about two years now. The basic service is free and the monthly FCC tax of about $5 (required) is the only thing I pay for it. The Ooma box was $79. I kept my old land line number and had that routed to my Ooma service for a one-time fee of $40. After that it was clear sailing. No problems, crystal clear voice and internet viewing of your calls logs or a place to change account upgrades. I would never go back to a regular land line.

Re: cord-cutting CABLE CORDS

Deree — Sun, 01 Jul 2018 20:29:58 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@Deree. The Amazon TV devices are remarkably simple to set up. They all come with explicit instructions that an idiot could follow. The hardest part is remembering or finding your WiFi password.

Thank you @Kachina624. I think you're talking about the set up instructions from your tv screen once you plug in the Amazon Fire, which look to be very easy. I'm talking about my physical room set-up. I have an ethernet connection for my computer not a router. I found out I would need a second ethernet cable from the Amazon fire to the modem as well. I can't do that across the living room about 12 feet, so I would have to buy a router.

Re: cord-cutting CABLE CORDS

Deree — Sun, 01 Jul 2018 20:33:15 GMT

Thank you @SilleeMee. I'm going to research Ooma. I want to get rid of my land line, but I am in a "dead zone" with my cell phone service which means once in a while I can't even make a call from my cell phone from my home! I need something reliable to replace my land line.

Re: cord-cutting CABLE CORDS

Kachina624 — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 07:38:00 GMT

@SilleeMee. Your phone service sounds interesting. Can you make free long distance calls?

Re: cord-cutting CABLE CORDS

thechedda — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 16:36:20 GMT

Just wanted to mention to those wanting to switch to VOIP, if your internet goes down, so does your VOIP line. Here's a link that explains some ways around that if it should happen:

https://www.softwareadvice.com/resources/3-ways-to-keep-your-voip-service-from-going-down-with-the-internet/

It's my understanding also that once you get rid of your hard wired land line, the telephone companies are not too keen on hooking it back up for you. In fact, I've heard if they do, it will be 3-4 times the cost you were paying prior to. I've also been told the phone companies are looking to get rid of land lines all together. The only way I see that happening is it being phased out as the population ages and the phone companies no longer have it as an option. Some food for thought.