Community Chat

[sixteencharacter]

I'm interested in cutting the cable/DirectTV cord.  Has anyone done this?  If so, what is your experience.  I know I need to get an antenna for local stations, but I also need a DVR to record stuff.  Also can I get Oprah's OWN station and Food Network?  How can I watch QVC, HSN, Evine?  I can't seem to find these answers doing searches.  I hope someone is more savvy than I am and can help me and give me some direction.  Thanks

[curlywhitedog]

You might want to look into a "streaming device", like ROKU.  I know QVC has a channel on ROKU but I don't know about the others you mentioned.

Thinking about cuting the cord as well...just a matter of time.

Maria

[chickenbutt]

You won't get any of those channels without cable.  It's pretty much just the three networks and maybe PBS.  That is ONLY if it hasn't gone to all digital in your market.

Where I am, it's been all digital for a while so if I didn't have cable boxes or cable cards, I would get NOTHING on any of my TVs.

You won't have much to record, obviously, but if you have Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime there are lots of streaming choices.

Also, if you have something like a Roku there are 'channels' there, some of which are free.

[Mary Bailey]

DS bought us Roku for Christmas.  He is determined to break us of cable.  He uses streaming and over the air stations only. 

We have Uverse.  Or should I say Uverse has us?!?

We have to figure out sports and other channels before we can make the break.

Plus I work from home using the internet to take calls, etc.  I cannot have streaming interfer with that.

[ValuSkr]

You'll need an HD TV and HD antenna.  The Mohu (antenna) website will tell you - given your address - which channels you're likely to receive.  Mohu has three different antennas, each stronger and more expensive than the next.  Your distance from the transmitting tower and how many channels you want to receive determine which antenna you'll buy.  In my area, I can get QVC "Over The Air," but cannot get HSN or Evine.  To get OWN, and Food Network, check out SlingTV.  It allows you to stream live programming (CNN, ESPN, etc) via the internet to your TV.  The price ($20 per month) is very reasonable compared to cable.  If your TV isn't smart, you'll need to attach a device like Roku.  (SlingTV will give you a Roku Stick free, or 1/2 the cost of a Roku 3, if you prepay the first six months. Either deal is worth about $50.)  The Roku device may also allow you to stream live programming from the shopping channels to your TV.

I was ready to cut the cord, then my cable company offered a Triple Play package that included Local TV for $10 per month.  I can receive over-the-air channels and reception is somewhat better than it was with the antenna.

[ValuSkr]

DVR's without a subscription service are relatively new, I think.  Here's an article I just came across:

http://www.dvrwithoutsubscriptionhub.com/

It seems there must be devices that allow you to record TV programs to a flash drive but I don't know what they are.

[missy1]

I thought I could never live without dish (and Bravo). Been 2 years and I am still here.       I use an antenna, and I get a few channels. (PBS, ABC etc) 

[SeaMaiden]

NEVER! Love my cable!

[ballyk]

First of all cable isn't even available where I live so cutting the cable cord isn't an option.

Roku, sling tv, hulu , netflix etc require wifi which is only available thru satellite and would cost more and offer less than directv.

Checked out the HD TV antenna and would get networks except CBS.

Thank goodness for directv, I guess. Of course without it I'd have lots more time to shovel snow which it appears will need to be done all week

[CatsyCline]

trying some things/ we had an internet antenna and we got QVC ,  HSN  and the NBC affiliate from an island off shore. but that is most of the channels that go with basic cable

so now will try a digital antenna.  some of the connecters arrived this weekend, the other parts are being shipped separately