Electronics

[AngelPuppy1]

My husband and I are sick of paying high cable bills -- they are outrageous!

We heard that an amazon fire stick is an option.

Neither of us is particularly good with electronics - especially me!

Could some here give some info?

I heard that they are easy to install - just plug into the back of your t.v.?  Is this true?  Sounds too good to be true.  Also, that you can move the stick from t.v. to t.v. with ease??

Also - other questions:

Can you get local new stations?

How about sports stations, so that DH can watch his favorite football and baseball games?

I watch Netflix and Peacock, would I be able to watch them?

Also, we record and lot of shows so that we can watch them later - is this something you can do with a firestick?

We also listen to various music stations, is this a feature with the firestick?

How do you know which firestick to order?  I see on amazon that there are quite a lot of different ones?  We just had to purchase a new t.v. and we got it from amazon.

What other things do we need to know?  I know this is a lot of questions, but we have no idea what we are doing and we really want to "cut the cable" so to speak from our cable company.

DH wanted to get info from other places such as perhaps dish, sling, etc., but we don't know if any of these places are good or would offer what we want and for a good price.

HELP!!!

[Ainhisg]

@AZfem gives the correct information.  To get live channels, you will either need to get an over the air (OTA) antenna or subscribe to a premium streaming service like Hulu Live or YouTube TV.  Many of us on here have YouTube TV.  I believe both offer unlimited recording; at least I know YTTV does.  You can't record from an OTA antenna unless you also purchase a digital video recorder.  Since you say you are technically challenged, I would suggest forgoing that and either selecting Hulu Live, YouTube TV, or maybe some of the others that are mentioned--will be much easier for you to learn with no additional equipment.  If you could let us know what brand, model, and year your TV is, we could probably find a video or something to help you learn how to use the smart function of it.  You truly already have everything you need to break away from cable as long as you have internet service.

In your smart TV apps, you will find whatever streaming services you want to use, and you add those to your home screen.  We have YouTube TV, Netflix, Paramount+, HBO, Prime Video, and Apple TV.  All you have to do is sign in to the ones you already have after clicking on their icons.

[gardenman]

You say you just had to buy a new TV, so it likely comes with or can download all of the apps you would get on a Fire Stick. It's hard to find a TV these days that isn't loaded with Smart features. 

A Fire Stick won't let you save shows on it due to very limited memory. If you subscribe to a cable alternative like YouTube TV, you can record shows there for watching later. A Fire Stick is most useful on TVs that aren't Smart. My old Samsung and RCA being good examples of that. I have Fire Sticks on both because they have no other way to access the Internet.

To watch things like the NFL, you really need a cable alternative like YouTube TV or one of the others. There, you can get the NFL Network, ABC, CBS, FOX, ESPN, and NBC. 

[AZfem]

If you have a new tv, you most likely have apps on it which is the same as what you get on a fire stick so you don't need it. 

To get local tv you can install an antenna or subscribe to the streaming live tv platforms which will be on your apps. They are you tube tv,  Hulu live tv, philo & direct tv streaming as far as I know.  Google to check. You can try them free for a period of time just make sure you cancel if you want to try all of them.  Sign up & check offers online. 

On these live streaming apps you get local tv & many channels you had on cable.  Check online & see the line up on each of them. 

We have Hulu live streaming & we can watch live tv, record shows or stream all of hulus offerings. 

We have a Samsung tv & receive tons of free channels there - mostly former tv shows & movies - this is free.  

[We rescue cats]

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@AZfem wrote:

We have a Samsung tv & receive tons of free channels there - mostly former tv shows & movies - this is free.  

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We have all Samsung tvs in our house but the motorhome does not. As long as your television is a Smart TV you can download the Samsung program to it and it is free.

[FranandZoe]

As others mentioned your new TV likely already has the apps for your streaming services.  Anything you pay for now you still have pay for with a Firestick.

And yes you need an antenna for local channels.

I have two of them - I got them years ago as that was the only way to watch the ACC sports network as Xfinity didn't carry it at that time.   Currently I use it to watch Court TV also not carried by Xfinity.

I was able to watch some TCM free on the Firestick too but not live programming.  I have it now on Xfinity but had to pay extra.  I don't have smart TVs but get the apps via Xfinity and my DVRs.

[Zhills]

@AngelPuppy1   Which TV did you buy?  Knowing will help the information you ask.

You do realize that you will still need WiFi?

It doesn't save as much as you would think!

[Kachina624]

@AngelPuppy1.  Both Firestick and Roku do the same thing.  I have one of each and find the Roku easiest to install and use.  I'm not great with electronics but installed them myself (a senior) along with an interior antenna.

Both of these devices are just doorways into which you can enter streaming services,  although they do have some content also.  They're easy to hook up but you must also program the tv to which they're attached.  It's self explanatory.  Then you must learn a new method of using and finding programming on your tv.   There's a learning curve and it takes awhile to become thoroughly familiar with it.

To get programming, you'll need to subscribe to a streaming service and pay a monthly fee which is considerably less than cable.  I think the most expensive is YouTubeTV for about $90/mo.  It includes all the local network stations.  You can Google the services to see what programs they include.  Most have a short free trial periods.

You can also see all your local stations by installing a simple interior antenna.

Let me know if you have questions.

[Maizie Green]

I subscribe to sling. They have a couple of different options and add ones. It has a limited amount of DVR but you can upgrade to unlimited. Some areas have local channels. 

I also read the cord cutters forum on Reddit. They are quick to post current  streaming deals. Recently I got AMC+ ad free for $29 for a year. 

Cord cutter weekly  dot com also lists streaming deals monthly.

The best deals are on Black Friday. I got a year of Starz  ad free for $12.00 I just canceled all of my Black Friday deals so I have been gone long enough to be eligible next Black Friday.  Since paying for them yearly I can still enjoy them. 

Walmart+ includes free (with ads) Paramount plus or Peacock. You can switch every three months. 

Fawsome and tubi have a lot of great movies and series. 

I use a Roku and have no complaints.

[Mz iMac]

@Kachina624 

Spoiler

 "I think the most expensive is YouTubeTV for about $90/mo."

Not any more.  YTTV is now a-la-cart w/different packages w/varying pricing.  It has been like this for months once they released it country wide.

Settings / Membership / Manage / Explore

Once my twice a year 3-6 month $20 discount expires in a few months, I will check it out. 

In spoiler so I can't hijack OP post.