Cord Cutting Basics to dump Satellite or Cable

[Underdog57]

Outdoor TV Antennas & Accessories - Denny's TV Antenna

Very good info on OTA Antennas. Go to TV Fool .com and research the channels you are trying to recieve
(VHF or UHF or both) and get the proper Antenna for the job. I am going to try the HD Stacker!

 

[goeduck]

. Once you go past about 50-60 miles, you'll get poorer reception due to the curvature of the earth.

What if I subscribe to the flat earth society? I can sign up if that will help me get better signals.

 

[prof fate]

Doing the same here. I need internet for my business, so might as well use it for TV, right?
got a roku box and antenna.
Antenna works SOMEWHAT (i'm way out in the country) and no DVR..I gots to have my dvr!

I got the cheap hulu, netflix, probably gonna get amazon prime and dump the satellite in the next month. When I called to cancel they offered to cut the bill by $50/month..so for $45/month I stayed,but that deal is about to expire.

Looks like directtv now gives me most of what I want. Seems I'll lose PBS no matter what I do. Oh well, no more antique roadshow for the mrs and this old house and nova for me. Or donations for them.

I'm not big on sports but she likes teh Pirates - MLB tv is cool but ALL pirate games are delayed till AFTER the game is played...stupid for $120/year. AFAIK no way to get the local sports network other htan cable or extra cost satellite...

I ordered an OTA antenna on eBay yesterday. I am going to ease my way before canceling my Comcast $$$$$ channel lineup. After getting the antenna setup I will get a Roku device as the next step. Then streaming services. Then cancel the $$$$$ channel lineup. If I do it too fast my TV addicted wife will not be able to transition. :laughing:

 

[CMV]

I wish there was something simpler - more of "all in one". One of the issues now (and we're not old or severely tech challenged - mid 40's), is switching inputs and remotes to go from cable to netflix to prime to bluray to whatever. Doesn't much bother me, but mrs CMV likes just flipping thru channels until she lands on something she sees interesting.

Cord cut would mean, go to antenna input, flip the dozen or so channels we get OTA, then switch to firestick or roku or whatever, browse around there, go to netflix and see the same titles offered over & over in a different order, go to prime, etc..... A couple of our TVs are smart TVs, but "slightly less than average intelligence" would be better description than "smart". Several years old now, so the interfaces for the smart apps is real clunky and slow. Haven't messed with them in a while, but when we first got the TVs and I played around with them, they seemed "crashy" and the apps didn't "just work" very well.

So....I wish there was one device that would consolidate everything and just give one simple view - this is everything OTA and your subscribed streaming services all in one place.

We're heading that way - cutting it - but will most likely end up with a very similar "cable replacement" streaming service for probably the exact same cost when all is said & done (internet price will skyrocket when unbundled form phone & tv service I'm sure). Already paying for Prime & netflix....so might have to pay for something else too - mrs cmv does like the hallmark & lifetime movies (not sure why since they all seem to be the exact same movie over & over just with different cast & different title), but when channel surfing she will land on those or something like CSI:Newark (or wherever they are now)....

 

[thekkfan]

I wish there was something simpler - more of "all in one". One of the issues now (and we're not old or severely tech challenged - mid 40's), is switching inputs and remotes to go from cable to netflix to prime to bluray to whatever. Doesn't much bother me, but mrs CMV likes just flipping thru channels until she lands on something she sees interesting.

Cord cut would mean, go to antenna input, flip the dozen or so channels we get OTA, then switch to firestick or roku or whatever, browse around there, go to netflix and see the same titles offered over & over in a different order, go to prime, etc..... A couple of our TVs are smart TVs, but "slightly less than average intelligence" would be better description than "smart". Several years old now, so the interfaces for the smart apps is real clunky and slow. Haven't messed with them in a while, but when we first got the TVs and I played around with them, they seemed "crashy" and the apps didn't "just work" very well.

So....I wish there was one device that would consolidate everything and just give one simple view - this is everything OTA and your subscribed streaming services all in one place.

We're heading that way - cutting it - but will most likely end up with a very similar "cable replacement" streaming service for probably the exact same cost when all is said & done (internet price will skyrocket when unbundled form phone & tv service I'm sure). Already paying for Prime & netflix....so might have to pay for something else too - mrs cmv does like the hallmark & lifetime movies (not sure why since they all seem to be the exact same movie over & over just with different cast & different title), but when channel surfing she will land on those or something like CSI:Newark (or wherever they are now)....

CMV,

We use these on TVs with roku and soundbar and the two device models with just tv and roku. You can program vol and channel lock through, depending on what you want for your default devices for each function.

https://www.amazon.com/4-Device-Advanced-Universal-Learning-Backlighting/dp/B07H52257T/ref=sr_1_3?crid=9NVDOSONS492&keywords=anderic+universal+remote&qid=1552331182&s=gateway&sprefix=anderic+%2Caps%2C302&sr=8-3

 

[goeduck]

So....I wish there was one device that would consolidate everything and just give one simple view - this is everything OTA and your subscribed streaming services all in one place.

If you have a ROKU TV (not a ROKU box or stick) I think it does that, more or less, brings it together. What I do not know is to what extent, if any, the ROKU box and sticks do this. The second link indicates that they do not

TCL Roku TV - The First Smart TV Worth Using - YouTube

Roku TV a close up look at how it works - YouTube

 

[CMV]

CMV,

We use these on TVs with roku and soundbar and the two device models with just tv and roku. You can program vol and channel lock through, depending on what you want for your default devices for each function.

https://www.amazon.com/4-Device-Advanced-Universal-Learning-Backlighting/dp/B07H52257T/ref=sr_1_3?crid=9NVDOSONS492&keywords=anderic+universal+remote&qid=1552331182&s=gateway&sprefix=anderic+%2Caps%2C302&sr=8-3

You might have to come to my house and set it up

Used Logitech Harmony universal remotes for a while. Set up a whole macro for one button push. For example, turn on tv, turn on receiver, set input to cable, turn on cable box. Or another button, turn on bluray, switch tv input, switch receiver audio input, etc. While that did work, it would get out of sync sometimes and skip a function or something. That was a pain then trying to get everything where it should be (and where the remote "thought" it all was).

That is one thing I like about cable (vs the 100 things I don't like). It is very simple to just flip channels, or bring up the guide, or direct access a channel, or navigate the DVR recordings, or navigate the on demand choices. One remote, it's all intuitive, and can't "break" anything.

Ordered an antenna from amazon. Will get a firestick or similar and play around with it just to see if it's something we'd like. Not like cable has to get cancelled tomorrow. Can just test out the new stuff & see what's lacking or what would be best

Main TV in downstairs living room is about there.....have a laptop hooked up to it. So switch input from cable box to laptop, switch which remote is in your hand....but watch regular tv is simple, switch to PC and then do netflix or prime or youtube isn't difficult. Will just have to see how that works going thru whatever streaming device and what service needs to be paid for to get whatever channels we'd want to still have w/o cable.

 

[thekkfan]

Yep, had a logitech too. My wife could screw that one up also. :confused2:

I dont know how many times I had to say, "make sure you are FACING the equipment when you press the 'watch tv' macro."

 

[techman]

I got a firestick 4k. After I plugged it in it found my TV and automatically configured volume, power and inputs. Hit the power button on the firestick remote and up comes the firestick stuff automatically. The only twist if you want OTA you have to switch to OTA with the TV remote. Otherwise the firestick does a great job of handling most of the switching.

paul

 

[MacLawn]

I didn't read ye novel, but I ain't studyin' nary TV, it's internet that's got us by the horns on a downhill pull boys. We've gotta have internet.

 

[goeduck]

I bought a ROKU today and installed it on the wifes TV. My OTA antenna should be here shortly and It is just a matter of time until I kiss the Comca$$$t TV lineup goodbye. :thumbsup:

 

[MAD777]

.... it's internet that's got us by the horns on a downhill pull boys. We've gotta have internet.

Agreed!

 

[CMV]

I bought a ROKU today and installed it on the wifes TV. My OTA antenna should be here shortly and It is just a matter of time until I kiss the Comca$$$t TV lineup goodbye. :thumbsup:

How is it - or too early to tell? Mine arrive tomorrow....kind of intimidated

 

[goeduck]

How is it - or too early to tell? Mine arrive tomorrow....kind of intimidated

The ROKU was easy enough to set up, I was watching the free stuff in about 15 minutes. You will need to enter your email address, PIN and password, etc. It will take a little time to get used to how to navigate the menu. Later I will setup some streaming services after the wife says what she wants. Currently we are thinking Netflix and Hulu or Sling. I am more anxious on the OTA antenna stations I will receive. Some of her favorite old shows are not on the streaming services that I could find but seem to be on a station I will get with the antenna per TVFool.

This morning I turned the TV on with the ROKU remote but had to power down and back up the ROKU ultra. I am not sure why that was.

Walmart.com has a sale going on ROKU and I had to have the salesperson in the store do a price match to get me the discount. The sale prices are not marked in the store.

 

[Underdog57]

I'm going to order my Antenna parts this weekend and get the locals tuned in first, then I will have a nice discussion with Charter/Spectrum! :cool2:

I have two TV's with Roku built in and two Roku sticks and are very happy with them.

 

[goeduck]

I received my antenna and have it set up in the living room on a table next to a window for now. I set it up on a pole outside and got a little better reception. I am tickled pink with the number of stations, however none of the ones that were picked up were below 0 dB. Digital reception is amazingly clear on an antenna, not like the old days.

 

[goeduck]

The wife seems to be taking to ROKU and streaming. I have not found where I can stream cable news and sports effectively yet. I also ordered a powered splitter for the OTA antenna. When the time comes to cancel my Comca$t lineup I will mount this where the cables gather under the house. There is power there already. The primary ROKU is Ethernet connected, the others will be WiFi.


Of the 4 main stations, 2 are broadcasting in 1080p and 2 of them at 720p. Substations mostly are in 480. All -1 stations seem to be at least 720p. Plenty good for free TV. :thumbsup:

 

[thekkfan]

I received my antenna and have it set up in the living room on a table next to a window for now. I set it up on a pole outside and got a little better reception. I am tickled pink with the number of stations, however none of the ones that were picked up were below 0 dB. Digital reception is amazingly clear on an antenna, not like the old days.
View attachment 596077View attachment 596078

Goeduck,

That's what most people do not realize.

OTA broadcasts are actually better resolution than anything providers can stream (cable, sat, or internet)----- they are all compressed to get the signal to you. OTA issue is if you can keep a solid signal without any blips for the whole program.

 

[Xfaxman]

And when recorded on an OTA DVR, the playback is exactly the same as the original, not slightly degraded like my old VCR did :thumbsup:.