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Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 6,296
Registered: ‎10-01-2010

My granddaughter bought me a Roku for my birthday (Sept.30).  My husband and I would really like to cut the cable we're paying $180 a month for Comcast. That includes WiFi.

Can anyone tell me about it.  Did you cut the cable and go with this?  What extras are there to pay for?  I'm a total no mind when it involves this type of thing.

Thank you for any response.

Trees are the lungs of the Earth
Honored Contributor
Posts: 10,198
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

I can't believe that I just saw your post.  I want to get rid of my cable as well.  I am thinking of getting You Tube TV which has so many channels.  I do have a smart tv but I guess its not so smart as I am unable to down load the app.  Do I need a RoKU to be able to stream? I am thinking of buying a new smart TV that supports more apps.  Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 36,136
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Consider your 180 a bargain, I pay Comcast 221, for cable, internet and land line. I get free Netflix and Peacock included.  No HBO,just Showtime and Epix, have 3 boxes

If I had a Roku I would not know what to do with it, but my Comcast remote works for me!!

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,057
Registered: ‎10-16-2021

Hey guys!

I have YouTubeTV and as far as channel variety, ease of use, and incredible (UNLIMITED) DVR capability ikt is fantastic for only 65.00 a month.

You also need WiFi (mine is $57 a month) so my total is $122. a month.

 

There is a program for seniors that can cut your internet bill by up to $30 a month, and I am looking into that, so it will make my bill under $100 a month for these things!

 

The bad thing about YouTube TV is that they are owned by GOOGLE and therefore everything is done online.  Everything.  They do not have any way whatsoever to speak to a live human being for any reason.  My new debit card takes effect at the end of the month.  I am on Autopay and have tried five times to update my card exp. date and CVV number.  It won't complete the update, and I have ZERO way to ask anyone what to do. If you are not computer /techno savvy, you might want to find a company that will talk to you.

 

Smart TVs made in the last 5 years or so have a lot of these apps already installed.

My SONY TV allows me to sign up for several of the streamers without an attachment.  If you do buy a new set (HSN just had some awesome Samsung QLED TVs on sale!) you should not need a Roku/Firestick etc...

 

 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 78,395
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

I've been using Roku for 5 or 6 years and like it a lot.  There are some movies and other free stuff but its usually not programming that I want to watch.  Mostly, it's a gateway to enter streaming services for which you need a paid subscription like Netflix, YouTubeTv, DisciveryPlus, Sling,  Disney, Peacock, etc.  You also get all the QVC and HSN channels free.

 

I got rid of my satellite four years ago, tried several streaming services and ended up with YouTubeTV and Netflix for less than $80/mo plus a bough $12 interior antennas for each of my TVs so I get all the local channels, the networks, PBS and 40 or so other assorted channels such as religious, Spanish, shopping and old sitcoms.

 

All of this, the Roku and the antennas were simple to install.  I did it all myself.

 

I've also tried Amazon Fire Stick, which does the same thing as Roku, but like the Roku better.

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment
Super Contributor
Posts: 495
Registered: ‎06-14-2010

@781Florist wrote:

Hey guys!

I have YouTubeTV and as far as channel variety, ease of use, and incredible (UNLIMITED) DVR capability ikt is fantastic for only 65.00 a month.

You also need WiFi (mine is $57 a month) so my total is $122. a month.

 

There is a program for seniors that can cut your internet bill by up to $30 a month, and I am looking into that, so it will make my bill under $100 a month for these things!

 

The bad thing about YouTube TV is that they are owned by GOOGLE and therefore everything is done online.  Everything.  They do not have any way whatsoever to speak to a live human being for any reason.  My new debit card takes effect at the end of the month.  I am on Autopay and have tried five times to update my card exp. date and CVV number.  It won't complete the update, and I have ZERO way to ask anyone what to do. If you are not computer /techno savvy, you might want to find a company that will talk to you.

 

Smart TVs made in the last 5 years or so have a lot of these apps already installed.

My SONY TV allows me to sign up for several of the streamers without an attachment.  If you do buy a new set (HSN just had some awesome Samsung QLED TVs on sale!) you should not need a Roku/Firestick etc...

 

 

 

@781Florist:  

 

On your tablet or computer go to tv.YouTube.com.  At the top right corner click on  the ? (Help).  Choose the category update billing.  

I have talked with them several times on the phone.  Initiate a help email and they will either respond with an email or call you,  very helpful.  



 

 


 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 78,395
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

 


@781Florist wrote:

Hey guys!

I have YouTubeTV and as far as channel variety, ease of use, and incredible (UNLIMITED) DVR capability ikt is fantastic for only 65.00 a month.

You also need WiFi (mine is $57 a month) so my total is $122. a month.

 

There is a program for seniors that can cut your internet bill by up to $30 a month, and I am looking into that, so it will make my bill under $100 a month for these things!

 

The bad thing about YouTube TV is that they are owned by GOOGLE and therefore everything is done online.  Everything.  They do not have any way whatsoever to speak to a live human being for any reason.  My new debit card takes effect at the end of the month.  I am on Autopay and have tried five times to update my card exp. date and CVV number.  It won't complete the update, and I have ZERO way to ask anyone what to do. If you are not computer /techno savvy, you might want to find a company that will talk to you.

 

Smart TVs made in the last 5 years or so have a lot of these apps already installed.

My SONY TV allows me to sign up for several of the streamers without an attachment.  If you do buy a new set (HSN just had some awesome Samsung QLED TVs on sale!) you should not need a Roku/Firestick etc...

 

 


@781Florist   I have  Samsung TV and hate it.  I'd never get another.  It has something called Samsung TV Plus installed with no way to get rid of it.  It's old programming which I don't care to watch (example: Bob Ross videos 24/7).  Many of the channels default to it, especially  the new ones like channel 7.2, 11.4, anything other than the traditional old channel numbers.  I can't watch the channel that carries QVC.  You can't use channel up or down, each has to be laboriously manually entered.

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment
Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,141
Registered: ‎03-11-2010

@Kachina624 wrote:

I've been using Roku for 5 or 6 years and like it a lot.  There are some movies and other free stuff but its usually not programming that I want to watch.  Mostly, it's a gateway to enter streaming services for which you need a paid subscription like Netflix, YouTubeTv, DisciveryPlus, Sling,  Disney, Peacock, etc.  You also get all the QVC and HSN channels free.

 

I got rid of my satellite four years ago, tried several streaming services and ended up with YouTubeTV and Netflix for less than $80/mo plus a bough $12 interior antennas for each of my TVs so I get all the local channels, the networks, PBS and 40 or so other assorted channels such as religious, Spanish, shopping and old sitcoms.

 

All of this, the Roku and the antennas were simple to install.  I did it all myself.

 

I've also tried Amazon Fire Stick, which does the same thing as Roku, but like the Roku better.


Yep, what you said...we did the exact same thing. We have Roku tvs and have more tv now  than I ever had with cable...45$ for internet and with Netflix, Hulu, Sling We pay about 85$ total monthly. I also grabbed a couple 25$ indoor tv antennas and get all my local channels, plus PBS, the CW, abc, nbc, cbs all for free free free.   Best thing I ever did after the cable bill soared to over 200$ a month. Just downloaded three FREE vintage movie channels.  Love the roku tvs.  Wouldn't change a thing.  Love playing around the menu to see alllllll the stuff I can get. 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 27,428
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

I have two Rokus and three Fire Sticks. In general, I like the Rokus better, but one tries to take control of one of my TVs after an occasional update and won't let me turn it on or off until I unplug the HDMI cable from it. 

 

I just switched from Sling ($50 a month) to YouTube TV ($55 a month for three months then $65 a month afterward) as Sling briefly lost the ABC family of channels in a contract dispute. I didn't want to miss out on the college football games on Saturday, so I made the switch, and the YouTube TV interface is better and so is the channel selection. I'll probably stick with YouTube TV for now. 

 

Amazon has great prices now on their Fire Sticks if you're a Prime member, and either Amazon, Walmart, Target, or someone will have the Rokus on sale heading into the holidays. You can typically get them at 50% off around Black Friday and lots of retailers are offering sale prices earlier this year. 

Fly!!! Eagles!!! Fly!!!
Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,057
Registered: ‎10-16-2021

@Kachina624  Yikes!  Bob Ross!  I would go up in one of those beautiful balloons you 

folks have in NM and jump if he was a steady diet on my TV!  

I thought that the picture quality on the HSN TVs was amazing, and my local BJs has Samsung QLED and LG  OLED TVs on display and they are breathtaking.

 

I now know to investigate whether a TV contains special "features" that are really curses!