topic Re: Cutting the Cable Cord in Electronics

Cutting the Cable Cord

CherryHugs — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 18:58:27 GMT

How do you go about doing this?

What can you replace cable with? And what do you do about your wifi and internet?

Needing to do something! Spectrum just raised costs again!! It is becoming so expensive each time.

Thank you!!

Re: Cutting the Cable Cord

Auntie CC — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 19:01:17 GMT

I NEED HELP TOO!

We pay 165.00 a month with no premium channels and we maybe watch 6.

Thanks in advance for the advice.

Re: Cutting the Cable Cord

jlkz — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 19:09:28 GMT

Help needed here too....my DH is just hooking up our new TV that says “ ROKU TV “ on the box !!!

Oh dear ! He just handed me the remote: there are no NUMBERS on it...this may have to be returned today !

Re: Cutting the Cable Cord

Havarti — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 19:07:13 GMT

We need help, too! We pay $180/mo for basic cable (no box - no fancy pay channels) and basic internet - both from the cable company. I attended a community ed class on how to cut the cable cord and the instructor said.....don't do it - keep your cable. The class was really more about the very many options to subscribe to for more & more channels. We want to cut the cord...but, we live in a wooded area so DIrect TV and antennas are not workable options to receive good reception. I'll be anxious to see if there is a good, easy answer. Fingers crossed!

Re: Cutting the Cable Cord

wingnut — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 19:10:54 GMT

I was paying $186 a month for the Triple Play through Comcast (Phone, Internet and Cable). In October they wanted to raise it to over $200. I asked about discontinuing the phone service and that would have raised it even more. I had them discontinue cable and phone and to continue just the wi-fi. I now pay $90 per month (no taxes or fees on wi-fi only.)

You will need wi-fi if you are streaming. I have Amazon Prime, Netflix and Hulu and don't miss cable at all. My "regular" shows I catch on Hulu the next day. Hulu also offers "Hulu Live for $49.00 per month. I wish I had done it years ago.

ETA: I also have the Amazon Fire Stick.

Re: Cutting the Cable Cord

Annabellethecat66 — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 19:11:33 GMT

I have no idea. I will never do that. I enjoy watching TV and love having background noise.

I live in a big house and have cable in the bedroom and down the other end of the house in the TV room.

I'm posting here because my oldest daughter and her family don't watch TV.

They are a family of 3 teenagers. Most teens do not watch TV much anymore. They mostly watch their phones (that's what these people are on 24/7).

My middle daughter's children watch everything on their phones. She watches TV shows on her phones.

I could never do that. You might look into that.

I have friends who have antennas. Yes, good old antennas. I used to have one when my husband was alive.

We and this friend have motors on them. You can turn them if the signal is off and it will be better reception.

I realize it is more difficult if you are in an apartment. It's just another alternative to think about.

No cable cost and they are really good these days.

As for me. I have two entirely separate cable boxes. But my friend just found out that her lowest BASIC cable is a few pennies cheaper than my 2 separate boxes.

I think it only saves if you go totally cable(less). But that's just a guess as everyone I know pays different amounts.

Re: Cutting the Cable Cord

SurferWife — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 19:13:09 GMT

@wingnut

How do you watch local stations, i.e., news?

Re: Cutting the Cable Cord

wingnut — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 19:17:45 GMT

Hulu Live provides the local channels. If I want to see the local news I watch it on my phone.

I know they tell you that you will get Fox News and local channels with the Fire Stick, which is true, but it's not the entire show. They will show just snippets of different shows throughout the day. Roku may provide local over the air channels but I think you would need an antenna for that.

Re: Cutting the Cable Cord

CherryHugs — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 19:19:11 GMT

Tried an indoor antenna on second TV and got a few channels but not much. They did not come in clear and all and would freeze up and be distorted! Returned that antenna, it does have good reviews though on the walmart site.

Re: Cutting the Cable Cord

dsw503 — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 19:30:47 GMT

We have had the same issues with costs. Here's what's worked for us: DH calls the provider and tells them we want to cancel. Provider then offers to reduce the price of service to save the account. This has worked more than once. We have also switched providers and found that as a "new" subscriber you get a reduced rate for the service. When the reduced rate ends (typically after a year) it's time to call and threatened to quit. See if they offer to continue the reduced rate. If not, go to another provider. If it sounds like a game, it is but it can save you $$.

Re: Cutting the Cable Cord

CherryHugs — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 19:33:11 GMT

One time earlier this year a friend called and said he was cancelling and they did not offer a discount. They said OK and said they would proceed to cancel LOL!! He didnt though.

Re: Cutting the Cable Cord

Havarti — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 19:39:36 GMT

@CherryHugs

Same thing here...I called and said I was ready to drop it and they were just fine with it...no offer of anything (same thing happened with the land line through another company). When you can only have one cable provider in an area they know they have you stuck. Why isn't exclusivity for cable companies considered a monopoly?

Re: Cutting the Cable Cord

traveler — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 19:39:34 GMT

We kept internet but switched to unlimited. Bought a roku which has a lot of channel selections. Pluto tv is thru them and it is free old movies. We also signed up for Netflix but I'm not sure about them. It's $15 month but lots of selection. DH picked up a really good indoor antenna at Goodwill which we use for local stations.

https://www.cordcuttersnews.com/

Re: Cutting the Cable Cord

CherryHugs — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 19:41:48 GMT

@Havarti funny how that happens! some i have heard of did call and get a discount! not sure why they do and some dont!!!

when it was time warner they had promotions and this company does not. we are in a small town and might look at other options for cable and internet but i always wonder if they have a deal for a year then costs go up!!

SPECTRUM IS SOOO GREEDY!

Re: Cutting the Cable Cord

patbz — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 19:49:50 GMT

@Annabellethecat66 : For those of us who live in remote areas: any antenna doesn't work!

Re: Cutting the Cable Cord

Annabellethecat66 — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 20:01:09 GMT

@patbz Were I live used to be remote. Then to get money they started buiding houses (huge houses) everywhere, big developments.

I live off of a 2 line (one each way) country road and as many as 100 or more cars go down it every time the light changes to green. This road curves like crazy. My youngest daughter at the age of 16 flipped the car (I was right behind her). When I came upon her the car was still spinning wheels and she was standing next to it. All she did was over-correct.

My point? What used to be remote in this area is no longer remote. Doesn't take long for it to get crazy.

But even then we could still have an antenna.

Re: Cutting the Cable Cord

estaw2000 — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 20:06:30 GMT

Just in the past few days I have dropped DirecTV.I have been with them for 25 yrs.I have Roku & I added HULU with my local channels & most of the same channels that I liked on DirecTV.I cut my bill from 85.00 down to 43.00. So now I'm trying to learn how to find the channels I want.Here in my area I don't even have a cable company available.

Re: Cutting the Cable Cord

TheMemphisVette — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 20:11:07 GMT

depends where u live.

I have never had cable.

I went from dial up to wireless via a hot spot when they first came out approx. 20 yrs ago.

Verizon jetpack. Unlimited internet as I am grandfathered due to 20+ yrs. 7 things can be used at a time. Phone, tablet, tv, laptop, etc. This is mobile and i take it everywhere. works in all my house locations. $80 month

Amazon prime. Movies and such. $12 month

Tv with roku catches my amazon prime and more. Movies and such. Included with tv.

Digital antenna. Local and free sations. Mohu Leaf HDTV Antenna $33 one time purchase. i have several of these. i get less stations at the mountain house. but many stations in the other houses.

Re: Cutting the Cable Cord

icezeus — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 20:36:12 GMT

I cut the cord about two years ago and can honestly say that I do not miss Direct TV at all. My brother had been telling me to give it a try for years, but I was just to stubborn. He was right.

I stream all of my entertainment. and pay for WI-FI. In my living room I have a ROKU TV that was advertised for cord cutters and streaming. It's 55" TV that I purchase from Costco. In my Bedroom I have a regular TV that I use with my fire stick I have Netflix, Prime,, and Sling. All of these channels can be seen on both television screens.

I am debating getting rid of Sling and switching over to HULU.

It's really easy.

Re: Cutting the Cable Cord

icezeus — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 20:57:08 GMT

@jlkz wrote:
Help needed here too....my DH is just hooking up our new TV that says “ ROKU TV “ on the box !!!

Oh dear ! He just handed me the remote: there are no NUMBERS on it...this may have to be returned today !

@jlkz

That sounds like the TV that I have that I purchased through Costco. Just go through the set up instructions, and then utilize the search feature and start downloading any APPS that you may already pay for (Net-Flix) and free one's that are available (QVC/HSN). Once you get them set up you click on the APP that you wish to view and watch TV.