Pull plug on paid/cable TV

tekapo

tekapo

Joined
Jul 30, 2006
Messages
140
Not big television watchers. Weather channel, some history channel, local news and a few shows during the winter. Cable bills have passed absurd and approaching rediculous. I'd like to pull the plug and go with an antenna. From what I've read, I would need some sort of dish/anntenna, descrambler, digital tuner and digital recorder. Has anyone gone this route and have some advise to offer? I don't want to do a paid dish network thing.

Thanks
 
At 54, I have never had cable. That being said, I do watch some documentaries and a couple shows on network like the now defunct 24.

You only need a good antenna, and if your TV doesn't the the correct tuner inside, a digital to analog converter box. I get more channels now than I ever did before the switch to all digital.

My TV has two ports I can use, and the TV tuner gets HiDef quite nicely. For the plain digital channels I bump the button on the remove to "Antenna 2" (my preference) and it switches to digital/analog conversion automatically from the HiDef mode.

It's really easy to set up if you have a newer TV.

Robert
 
tekapo said:
... I'd like to pull the plug and go with an antenna...
Click to expand...

I'm hearing you brother. I did a lot of work on this issue and I've got some information for you. First, go to this location to see what HD broadcast stations you might be able to pickup with a well mounted antenna...

http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx

I can also tell you that there are some alternatives the first of which is NetFlix streaming video. Many devices (Televisions, BlueRay players, ect.) now come with NetFlix streaming video built-in. In addition there is a GREAT little box called the Roku Player that gives you access to Netflix streams for $100.00 (and it works GREAT). NetFlix streaming video allows you to access 14,000+ movies, tv shows, and documentarys. The video is streamed from the NetFlix servers, over the internet, and into you home wired or wireless network. The cost is $8.00 per month :eek: The only downside is that you have to have a broadband connection.

The other alternative is watch TV over the internet on a service such as Hulu, although you will need a powerful computer, a decent video card, and a broadband connection for Hulu. IMO, Hulu ain't quite yet ready for prime-time.

That's my $0.02. Please let us know how you make out! :thumbup:
and
 
+1 on the Netflix stream. Thats all we have used for the past 2 months. We have 10 seasons of Law and Order SVU to get through, and they have a lot of really good documentaries most come from the History Channel. We will eventually get cable, just waiting on the paychecks to hit from the new jobs, but in the mean time...I don't really miss it. But, I will when House comes back in September.
 
Tekapo:

Just to clarify, you need either:

1) a digital-ready tv with an antenna, or

2) an older, not digital-ready tv with converter box and antenna

Digital tv over the airwaves is crystal clear and, being "free", is quite a value. The Powernoodles could go that route were it not for our (my) addition to the Discovery Channel, and a few other things on the History and Travel channels.

Somehow, we are getting basic cable (maybe 60 channels) plus high speed internet for $60 a month.
 
When my wife and I a couple months ago we decided to not get cable. Our TV while only a year old doesn't actually have an antenna so we went to the local big-box and got a RCA Antenna for like 30usd. It works great if you have an HD tv you'll still get channels like Fox, CBS, ABC, WB, PBS and such in HD. Everything is crystal clear, sometimes when it's really stormy outside we'll get some disruptions but it's not an issue.

There are only a few shows that we watch on television, for the most part we also use Netflix streaming, through our BD Player (Samsung BD-P1600), they have a lot of tv shows streaming, both new and old, in addition to new releases and what is available through starz. Netflix also has deals with NBC/Fox/CBS/Starz/BBC/Discovery and a couple other channels to stream their content. It's pretty awesome, we recently made our way through all of Bones, Jailbreak and Arrested Development all in HD.
 
I don't have cable. I don't even have a TV. I put my money towards decent internet and leave it at that.
 
Whoever has NetFlix Streaming Video and like science fiction, watch this complete servies...

"Firefly"

Then watch this movie...

"Serrenity"
 
CitizenQ said:
Whoever has NetFlix Streaming Video and like science fiction, watch this complete servies...

"Firefly"

Then watch this movie...

"Serrenity"
Click to expand...

A most excellent duo. I couldn't believe that they canceled that after one season. :thumbdn:
 
Josh K said:
A most excellent duo. I couldn't believe that they canceled that after one season. :thumbdn:
Click to expand...

Weren't they going to bring back the tv show after the DVD sales of the movie, maybe on the Scifi channel, or whatever it's called now?

I grew up without cable, only had it on vacation. All of the shows that I wanna watch, are either showing up on regular tv, or on DVD. Hell, I can watch most of them for free on different video sites. However, because I live in the sticks, the digital signal can be lost when the wind blows.
 
the dish network. they are the best and cheaper than cable tv. no sci-fi the world is coming to an end. life is over and we are all doomed.
 
silenthunterstudios said:
Weren't they going to bring back the tv show after the DVD sales of the movie, maybe on the Scifi channel, or whatever it's called now?

I grew up without cable, only had it on vacation. All of the shows that I wanna watch, are either showing up on regular tv, or on DVD. Hell, I can watch most of them for free on different video sites. However, because I live in the sticks, the digital signal can be lost when the wind blows.
Click to expand...

I don't recall if that was the plan, but the movie wrapped it up as best it could.

Kinda like Dollhouse. That last three episodes of the second season could have been two whole seasons.
 
Josh K said:
A most excellent duo...
Click to expand...

Ok, here's a couple more for you bro...
  • District B13 (French SciFi: but good none the less)
  • Spy Game (Spy Action\Adventure: Redford and Brad Pitt who unfortunately does not die)
  • District 9 (SciFi: I guess I like "District" movies...this one is STRANGE
 
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CitizenQ said:
Ok, here's a couple more for you bro...
  • District B13 (French SciFi: but good none the less)
  • Spy Game (Spy Action\Adventure: Redford and Brad Pitt who unfortunately does not die)
  • District 9 (SciFi: I guess I like District" moving...this one is STRANGE
Click to expand...

I saw District 9, it did nothing for me. Far to strange.

I will check out the others though. :thumbup:
 
Josh K said:
I don't have cable. I don't even have a TV. I put my money towards decent internet and leave it at that.
Click to expand...

exactly. My TV broke about 15 years ago and I haven't gotten around to repairing it yet... and it's too late now since I threw it out in my last move.

Today, when I do getthe chance to watch TV, I am constantly amazed that people waste their time... and money... on it.

Billions of dollars have been spent on high definition TV, but nothing on high quality TV.
 
Gollnick said:
exactly. My TV broke about 15 years ago and I haven't gotten around to repairing it yet... and it's too late now since I threw it out in my last move.

Today, when I do getthe chance to watch TV, I am constantly amazed that people waste their time... and money... on it.

Billions of dollars have been spent on high definition TV, but nothing on high quality TV.
Click to expand...

Excellent summary.

Half the time when I'm somewhere that does have cable I can't find anything decent to watch. I settle for I Love Lucy reruns. :)
 
Thanks! I have DSL and have watched a few shows on that. Mostly because I was so sick of the commercials. For a 60 minute show there is usually 28 minutes of commercials and 6 minutes of the last episode recap and previews. Most of the shows are posted online within a week or three of airing.

Our TV is an early Sony Bravia flat panel LCD. Still works great, has a great tuner. Before the switch to digital we were getting HD, digital on the stations that had it. Then the switch came and we had to use the little box that filtered everything. We are in an area of PA that does not allow competition. One electric company, one phone company, one cable company and they all tuck it to us. Our basic plus cable is now approaching $70 a month and I keep saying for what? I go to Redbox for $1 movies (a lot when the wife is away!) and recently got Boondock Saints 2 and loved it. I've got to find the 1 version now. The leg shot on the FBI agent had me begging for handcuffs!

District 9 I could not get into either.

Thanks for the help!

Charlie
 
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Gollnick said:
...Today, when I do getthe chance to watch TV, I am constantly amazed that people waste their time... and money... on it...
Click to expand...

When you do get the chance to watch TV, who is choosing the content which you watch? Perhaps the issue is who you're watching TV with.
 
I do not have cable TV, though I enjoy watching some cable-only programs when I visit friends and family.

I have two old CRT TVs running the converter boxes PowerNoodle mentions with the types of antenna's you can buy at any WalMart or drug store.

My reception is great. If you don't live near broadcast towers or the terrain is mountainous where you live, you could have problems with reception.

I have thought about buying this DVD recorder with built-in hard-disk drive to record shows:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0020ZW8P8/ref=ord_cart_shr

In general the devices are a bit glitchy yet, based on reading Amazon.com reviews. Problems seem to stem from the new digital-receiver technology.

None of my VCRs with analog receivers can be used to program recordings as they used to. But you can manually record shows with them (turn on all the components and hit the "record" button) just fine.

I use Netflix and love it. There are more and more options (Roku box, Wii compatibility, etc.) to stream content from Netflix over the Web and basically get instant access to all sorts of programming right on your television. Currently I watch lots of stuff on my laptop through Netflix, in addition to getting their DVDs in the mail.

When I update to flat-panel HD TVs, I think I will get a Roku box for Netflix. My brother has it and it works very well. Turn it on, scroll through the programming, pick what you want -- watch it.
 
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