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Dropping cable...

rivan

rivan

Diamond Member
I'm looking to drop cable.

I've got an antenna and a Roku along with Netflix and Prime. I'll be moving in the next few months and chances are relatively good that I'll start using my TV as main computer display (or may just build a lower power HTPC for it).

I should get ABC/NBC/CBS/PBS ota.

A few questions:
- Can I replicate DVR functionality for OTA stuff? Best way to do so (schedules/program grid etc)?
- Is there any access path at all to BBC news/content? It looks like cable companies have US access locked out. Bitches.

Am I missing anything big?
 
Yep, I really missed sports when I went TV sub-less.. Not everyone cares about sports though so YMMV

The other thing to consider is ISP.. For me, I am locked into cable in my area. They really stick it to you trying to bundle their dead weight services ( LLphone / TV) to Internet Only setups.. Its actually cheaper for me to sub TV + Internet
 
Ns1 said:
kiss sports programming goodbye.
Click to expand...

I get all the 49er games OTA. That's the only sports programming I care about.

OP: A computer can act as a DVR for OTA - windows media center is probably the easiest. Or get a Tivo. There are likely other options.
 
HBO. As far as I know, you can only get a subscription through a cable provider. I couldn't get through spring without my weekly dose of Game of Thrones, and I'd rather not pirate anything.

And, yeah, sports. Granted, you'll get some football over the air. But NFL RedZone is a life-saver when you get blacked out of the games you actually want to see and the only game shown is Jacksonville at Miami or some other equally putrid matchup.
 
I dropped it two weeks ago and haven't missed it yet. We'll see once Football season starts. I already have friends that I'll watch GoT with so I've got that covered.
 
I recently dropped cable, that's 70/mo in my pockets. I barely watch TV. I plan to just download a bunch of TV episodes of various shows, and in a way that's better as I can watch stuff in order. For some stuff it does not matter but for other stuff it does.

We are getting Fibre service soon though, I can't wait to get hooked up! I might take the bundle that has TV as well. It wont be as expensive as cable as it will be part of the internet and home phone bundle.

Really the only time I watch TV is when I'm sitting down to eat, then I might watch an hour or so after that.

My new TV does not work with OTA, only the small CRT I never use, but even that stopped working a few years ago when they cut off OTA service.
 
BBC: you can get the shows on Amazon or iTunes for $2/episode, or wait for discs and streaming from Netflix.

I'd much rather pay ~$30 a year for Doctor Who than $1,200+ a year for Comcast.
 
Ns1 said:
kiss sports programming goodbye.
Click to expand...

I don't care at all about sports.

DaveSimmons said:
BBC: you can get the shows on Amazon or iTunes for $2/episode, or wait for discs and streaming from Netflix.

I'd much rather pay ~$30 a year for Doctor Who than $1,200+ a year for Comcast.
Click to expand...

I'm actually looking mostly for BBC news - though Top Gear, Dr. Who and others are as entertaining as TV gets for me.
 
Ns1 said:
Except for those MNF games that are now on ESPN...
Click to expand...

Not a problem. Those are simultaneously broadcast OTA on another network. :colbert:

I'll acknowledge I'm in the minority though. I only care about one sport, and only one team in that sport. I'm in the local TV market for that one team. As such, all games of that team are broadcast OTA (subject to blackout, and I'm old enough to remember blackouts of 49er games).
 
I am using wmc with a couple tuners to the hdtv and it is great. I don't particularly care about sports so no big deal for me.

I'd recommend getting dvds from the library, at least in my area they have nearly show I want to watch.
 
Ns1 said:
then cutting the cable is fucking awesome.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I was so happy the day Comcast got their shit out of my house. I've never looked back. It freed up so much time that I didn't realize I was wasting in front of the tube.
 
rivan said:
I'm looking to drop cable.

I've got an antenna and a Roku along with Netflix and Prime. I'll be moving in the next few months and chances are relatively good that I'll start using my TV as main computer display (or may just build a lower power HTPC for it).

I should get ABC/NBC/CBS/PBS ota.

A few questions:
- Can I replicate DVR functionality for OTA stuff? Best way to do so (schedules/program grid etc)?
- Is there any access path at all to BBC news/content? It looks like cable companies have US access locked out. Bitches.

Am I missing anything big?
Click to expand...

Cough Cough xbmc w/hub wizard Cough Cough
/thread
 
MrDudeMan said:
Agreed. I was so happy the day Comcast got their shit out of my house. I've never looked back. It freed up so much time that I didn't realize I was wasting in front of the tube.
Click to expand...

My time spent in front of the tv hasn't changed at all - only the amount of money spent.
 
If you don't want to bother with a computer, you can get something like this: http://www.channelmasterstore.com/HD_DVR_receiver_for_antenna_p/cm-7000pal.htm

Otherwise, build an HTPC, throw on a free dvr program (Mythtv if Linux, or use whatever Microsoft throws in with their OS nowadays) and maybe setup XBMC to watch the recordings/live streams (at the cost of slower tuning). I've used XBMC/Mythtv combo for years, and it works great. You can use a tuner card, or get an ethernet tuner, and you can have multiple computers use the same device to watch streams.

Whatever you do, get a rooftop antenna. Either install it on the roof, or put it in the attic, or face it to a window. Also, check your address at antennaweb.org to make sure it's possible to get a good signal first.
 
Ns1 said:
kiss sports programming goodbye.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. I dropped DirecTV over a year ago for Roku/Netflix/Amazon Prime/OTA like the OP did. I opted to get the NHL Gamecenter live for $150 for the season and MLB package for $99. Even with that extra $250 on top of Netflx and Prime I am money ahead as my DirecTV bill had ballooned to over $80/month with no premium movie channels.
 
It's amazing how many cable ads there are on free tv. I've been seeing them constantly.

Also, good advice about antenna web. That site is great. I have managed to get away with an indoor antenna thus far. Antennas direct clear stream 2.
 
Last edited:
ScoobMaster said:
Not necessarily. I dropped DirecTV over a year ago for Roku/Netflix/Amazon Prime/OTA like the OP did. I opted to get the NHL Gamecenter live for $150 for the season and MLB package for $99. Even with that extra $250 on top of Netflx and Prime I am money ahead as my DirecTV bill had ballooned to over $80/month with no premium movie channels.
Click to expand...

Who's the provider for game center/MLB?

Do any such packages exist for NBA/NFL?
 
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