Help with cutting the cable?

[dawg day]

I've got Xfiniti TV and internet. Both are fine, but overpriced. I don't mind the internet $ because I work remotely and need it, and XF has been reliable and fast.

However, the TV portion-- every month, I pay that, and don't feel like it's worth it. My kids go without cable and just go with a pastiche of SmartTV streaming. They're happy (though I notice they come to our house for most live sports...).

But I'm not as patient with pastiche as they are. Is it possible to set up the TV so that I get everything cheaper with streaming services, but seamlessly, just like with the cable-- you know, you power on the TV, and up comes the channel guide, and I don't have to switch from one service or port to another?

I want:
LIVE
Local news
PBS
Sports
ABC, CBS, NBC
(That is, just like with cable).

Also DVR (if possible). The husband wants ESPN and all the sports he's used to. I mean, he watches curling if he can find it. So... more sports, the better.

I already pay for Amazon and Netflix, and get a couple minor channels (Disney+) through my phone provider.

Any ideas? I feel like I need to hire someone to set this all up and make all the decisions! A cable-cutting consultant.

Also, there is a main TV and two others in the bedrooms. Will that make a difference? The wi-fi is fine throughout the house (small house).

I know once it's all set up, it will be fine. It's just getting to that point that seems insurmountable.

[PoliticAverse]

1. Master guide for cordcutters...

https://www.reddit.com/r/cordcutters/wiki/index

ESPN+ is $ 5.99/month (See: https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-espn-plus )

[dawg day]

4. Thanks!

I'll check that out.

[Pobeka]

2. You didn't say -- are you close to major broadcast antennas for reception?

I'm 30 miles from Seattle, but still get Local news, PBS, all major networks for free... Using a Tivo OTA box. Also has network access for Netflix, Amazon Prime an a bunch more like Hulu etc...

[dawg day]

6. I'll have to see about that-- Tivo?

Do you just turn on the TV and there are all your options?

[Pobeka]

10. Yep, a menu system.

Other things:

Records multiple programs simultaneously that are being broadcast.

Many shows encode commercials somehow, and you can literally hit a button to skip over all commercials in a break and go right back to the show.

You just plug the antenna into the Tivo, and connect the Tivo to the flatscreen with DVD cable.

It is actually a "headless" computer. I did have to replace the fan in it to a higher quality fan (original was too loud, there was a "google-able" solution), but it was super simple. Newer models may be using better fans. Ours is about 10 years old now. Really does work quite well for us. But we also don't care about ESPN, that would be something you'd need to check out and see if the model of Tivo you look at would support it separately. I have no idea.

[dawg day]

18. If I get a Tivo OTA, will I also need an antenna?

It looks like you can get a Tivo with lifetime "subscription" for $300.

Then a Tivo "mini" ($40) for the other TVs.
Hardware, not software, as we used to say?

Then can use Roku or Firestick or??? for the streaming services? I already pay separately for Netflix and so on, so that cost won't change.

Still need the cable channels-- AMC, ESPN, CNN, etc-- but I think one of the subscription services (YouTube?) will take care of that.

Okay, seems like there'll be some setting up time, but I'm getting a better idea of it.

[Pobeka]

19. Yes, you need an antenna. If you are close enough to towers it might be very small.

LIterally might only be a foot around. I have a little bigger antenna -- looks like 4 cat whiskers stacked vertically, so it's about 1 foot by 4 feet, but a flat panel. I just nailed to to my inside garage wall which faces the towers and the antenna comes off of that.

With digital those huge old antennas that were one your roof are not as necessary, unless you are really far away from broadcast towers. The whole antenna thing is either going to be dead simple, or need more research depending on your location.

The Tivo OTA I have is an old model, the Tivo itself connects to our in home wireless and has a few "apps" for connecting to NetFlix, Amazon, Hulu, and a bunch of others. Mine has no integration with Roko or the like, but new models may have added that for all I know.

[EYESORE 9001]

9. I live in a major market, but I live too far away from transmitter towers

I’ve downloaded Locast to my Roku, but I haven’t used it much because of buffering problems. I suspect they may be throttling my bandwidth until I pony-up a $5 monthly ‘donation.’
https://www.locast.org/

[dawg day]

14. I'll check on that too.

Thanks.

[dawg day]

12. I live in a city, there would be no problem picking up local-- just about 8 miles from the stations.

I am looking into TIVO OTA... not sure what it is though.
But it looks like it's a better option than the Amazon OTA.

I'm hoping all these subscription costs still add up to less than cable.

[Pobeka]

20. OTA Over The Air. i.e. free broadcasts.

I suspect the Tivo will run a couple hundred $$, but it's a one time cost.

If you are only 8 miles from towers (which are often located in a different location from the station buildings), you should be able to get great reception with the cheapest digital antenna you can find -- as long as you have no hills between you and the towers.

My daughter lived only a mile from towers in her first apartment because the towers were on a hill and literally shot the signal over her apartment.

[underpants]

3. Apple TV or Roku- Sling Tv has ESPN and a digital antenna

Last edited Tue May 18, 2021, 01:51 PM - Edit history (1)

The antenna will get you the networks and PBS.

Sling Blue which is the $25/month basic has ESPN. You may have to pay $5 more to get Orange and all 3 ESPN.

Sling may have local channels where you live - mine doesn’t.

[dawg day]

8. Okay, so I use an antenna

to get the locals.

Then I get Sling for other channels?
And will that also let me at my Netflix etc. account?

I have a firestick and a roku, and I think I can get the streaming accounts through those if needed.

[underpants]

17. Yes Sling for the cable stuff

And yes you can get the streaming stuff thru Roku/Apple.

BTW the local channels all have two or three extra channels. Usually a weather loop and a rerun network. We get 3 maybe 4PBS’s.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

5. Couple suggestions

For channel lineups, do you have a smart TV? An antenna will take care of your local channels

For ESPN, I believe there is a Disney+ package that includes ESPN.

As far as a DVR, I'm not sure if there is something out there that works w/ streaming, although streaming programs should be available whenever. Not sure about live sports, if they stay online for replays.

[dawg day]

13. It's not like I actually watch much live....

The husband, however, would hate to miss the Lady's Lawn Bowling Finals Direct from Bournemouth every year.

[MyOwnPeace]

7. I have YouTube TV....

Along with Prime and Netflix - love it and don’t miss a thing!

[dawg day]

11. So do shows come on YouTube TV about the same time they are broadcast?

I mean the usual network shows-- This is Us or whatever.

I'm so confused!

[Cattledog]

16. They come on the same time. It's live TV.

[Corgigal]

30. We just switched a month ago.

Cost about 60 bucks a month, but we also have HBO.

Every channel I need, including local ( for us Lexington KY) channels. Easy set up, and I even got the remote control down.

[dawg day]

15. I think what I'm confused about... is... So I push the Power button.

Now what comes up is the Channel Guide line up.
I can also choose the DVR recordings, and the "APPS" which has all the Amazon and Netflix etc.

If I'd get Tivo, Sling, locast, etc. (and should I get all, or??)--

What comes up when I click on "Power"?

Is there an overall guide or?

I'm thinking we might need to get a new TV. This one is like 10 years old. It's like a "not very Smart TV." Like a Grade School Smart TV.

[Pobeka]

22. Our TV is at least 15 years old!

If you have DVD inputs on your TV you'll be fine. I can't comment on other services like Sling, locast etc.

I only have a Tivo and the TV. The Tivo remote "learns" how to turn on the TV. So we turn on the TV and the Tivo. The Tivo is then the only thing to worry about -- really, just a simple menu system you control with the Tivo remote. Channel guides, TV channel selection, volume, pause, play, record all done from the Tivo remote (yeah, it's handy to pause"a live broadcast, run to the bathroom, answer the phone, ..., and then start the broadcast from where you stopped it).

I'd start by going to the Tivo site and see what the new offerings have in terms of integration with other services -- remember the Tivo will connect to your in home wireless and can theoretically stream anything as long as it "knows" about it.

[dawg day]

23. Okay, I was wondering about that--

So can I record stuff that's not over the air? The stuff that's streaming?

Thanks for the help.

[Pobeka]

25. Unfortunately, you can't record streaming, at least ours can't.

Maybe there is a new model that might allow it, though I suspect that is governed by a license agreement between Tivo and (youtube or netflix or ...), and really unless there is some commercials in the stream (Hulu for example), there'd be no need to record a stream, because a stream is always available anyway...

[Pobeka]

21. Here's a link to see what stations you can receive at your location

http://www.tvfool.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29

[dawg day]

24. This was good-- said all the local stations

would be accessible with a table-top (indoors) antenna.

[dawg day]

26. Welll, at this point....

Thinking YouTube TV with Amazon Firestick as the conduit or whatever you call it. They carry all my local stations.

I am worried about buffering. I assume internet speed is important here. My download speed is 115 mbs, which the site says is sufficient.

I've learned a lot from you all in an afternoon! I found all these different services, including two streaming and download services free with my library card.

I'm going to give Youtube TV a try.
Sling is a little cheaper but doesn't have one of the obscure sports networks needed.

Not ready to cancel cable yet, but...

[CloudWatcher]

27. For extra brownie points ...

Try and find a package that doesn't send a dime to Fox. We used to have Sling until recently, but dropped it because they added Fox to the same base package that we needed for MSNBC.

We're still looking for a decent source to get Rachel Maddow (well, DVR'd that is ... you can watch live on https://www.livenewsnow.com/featured/msnbc.html)

I'm all ears if anyone has a clue

[dawg day]

28. I would love to withhold $ from Fox.

Won't watch it, don't want my fees going there. I don't know how they got such a sweet deal.

[dawg day]

29. Most of the MSNBC shows are made into podcasts after they're broadcast.

There's no video, of course, but most of the shows are conversation anyway. And I can listen when I drive and walk.

https://www.nbcnews.com/podcasts