People who "cut the cord"- Do you regret it?

[poofyhairguy]

Will a celeron powered CB be able to run 1080p? Not sure if it'll be worth spluring for the ASUS version with the i3 in it or not.. But that version comes with more RAM, the i3 (obviously) and a wireless mouse and keyboard for $400 on amazon. Celeron is ony $180 with only 2GB RAM and no wireless keyboard and mouse...

The Celeron can handle 1080p video. Get the i3 one only if you expect to do more than playing content on there (like downloading).

 

[Uppsala9496]

I would like to cut the cord with regards to TV portion of cable internet. Sure - it's pricey but Comcast has been pretty reliable for me [I'd say 99.9% up time in the past 14 years]. The remote/UI is easy to use for the wife/kids...and we MUST have our NHL channel [including the yearly NHL package]

Google Fiber will be hitting the streets in my area in a few years [maybe less] and I may opt for that when it arrives and just tell the wife/kids we need to learn to adapt using a Roku box / stream the NHL package from NHL.com.

I cut the cord late in the hockey season. Paid for the NHL gamecenter and have a VPN. No issues getting games. For nationally blacked out games, simply VPN through a country that doesn't have a tv deal with the NHL (France for example, or Poland).
Load the game and as soon as it starts playing, close out the VPN connection. Now you are back to your regular speeds and it streams nicely.
NHL GameCenter only looks at the IP address at login and when it starts loading the stream. After that no need to suffer with the slower speeds.

The games are a little choppier than what you get over cable, and are delayed 53 seconds, but for the $100 a month savings I can handle it.

I would like to remind everyone that we do have rules against copyright infringement here, including requesting/providing help and bragging about it. All of your suggestions need to be fully legal, otherwise we can't allow it here. (Lawyers are expensive)
-ViRGE

 

[z1ggy]

The Celeron can handle 1080p video. Get the i3 one only if you expect to do more than playing content on there (like downloading).

What do you mean by "downloading"? Do you mean downloading torrents, or downloading and watching videos from a website?

I cut the cord late in the hockey season. Paid for the NHL gamecenter and have a VPN. No issues getting games. For nationally blacked out games, simply VPN through a country that doesn't have a tv deal with the NHL (France for example, or Poland).
Load the game and as soon as it starts playing, close out the VPN connection. Now you are back to your regular speeds and it streams nicely.
NHL GameCenter only looks at the IP address at login and when it starts loading the stream. After that no need to suffer with the slower speeds.

The games are a little choppier than what you get over cable, and are delayed 53 seconds, but for the $100 a month savings I can handle it.

I'm unfamiliar with VPN. Can you explain this more? I'm a big hockey fan and it does upset me that with out cable I won't catch any games really.

 

[Blackjack200]

What do you mean by "downloading"? Do you mean downloading torrents, or downloading and watching videos from a website?



I'm unfamiliar with VPN. Can you explain this more? I'm a big hockey fan and it does upset me that with out cable I won't catch any games really.

I don't know how to do the VPN part, but when I wanted to watch NHL streams outside the Gamecenter TOS I just paid for a proxy server. I think I used Foxyproxy. You pay a fee, they give you the gateway ip address for your browser, and you log in through that and go to nhl.com. Easy peasy. Dubious legality at best.

I would like to remind everyone that we do have rules against copyright infringement here, including requesting/providing help and bragging about it. All of your suggestions need to be fully legal, otherwise we can't allow it here. (Lawyers are expensive)
-ViRGE

 

[poofyhairguy]

What do you mean by "downloading"? Do you mean downloading torrents, or downloading and watching videos from a website?

Like if you wanted some service running in the background that automatically torrent your shows for you. Or something else like a PVR backend (for DVRing OTA shows), or what have you.

For simply playing 1080p content, that Celeron box is fine, but if you want more than just a dedicated HTPC appliance then maybe the i3 model is worth a look. Of course at that point maybe you want a full OS on there (Windows) unless you are super comfy with Linux, which means looking at other systems that are not Chromeboxes like a Brix.

 

[z1ggy]

I don't know how to do the VPN part, but when I wanted to watch NHL streams outside the Gamecenter TOS I just paid for a proxy server. I think I used Foxyproxy. You pay a fee, they give you the gateway ip address for your browser, and you log in through that and go to nhl.com. Easy peasy. Dubious legality at best.

So instead of me paying like $150 a year for the NHL package, I pay like.. some small fee per month to go on nhl.com and watch every game my heart could desire? 0_o

Like if you wanted some service running in the background that automatically torrent your shows for you. Or something else like a PVR backend (for DVRing OTA shows), or what have you.

For simply playing 1080p content, that Celeron box is fine, but if you want more than just a dedicated HTPC appliance then maybe the i3 model is worth a look. Of course at that point maybe you want a full OS on there (Windows) unless you are super comfy with Linux, which means looking at other systems that are not Chromeboxes like a Brix.

Yeah I manually download torrents every so often, and I do it on my desktop anyway. I would just stream from my desktop to the chromebox, which would obviously be hooked up to my TV.

Also in my bedroom I have an old tube TV, where the inputs are coax and the regular RCA cable..Def no HDMI etc. How would I use chromebox on that? Or is the answer, I can't, and I'd need a new TV?

 

[poofyhairguy]

Yeah I manually download torrents every so often, and I do it on my desktop anyway. I would just stream from my desktop to the chromebox, which would obviously be hooked up to my TV.

In that case just having an XBMC appliance via a Chromebox would be perfect. You share your download folder on the network, and just play them directly on the box.

Also in my bedroom I have an old tube TV, where the inputs are coax and the regular RCA cable..Def no HDMI etc. How would I use chromebox on that? Or is the answer, I can't, and I'd need a new TV?

Any TV without HDMI is pretty useless when it comes to digital media consumption. There are adaptors and such, but it is all throwing good money after bad IMHO.

If you don't mind just getting streaming options in there (Netflix, etc.) an old Roku would work, but if you want the full modern setup and the ability to hook up a Chromebox it needs HDMI inputs.

 

[SP33Demon]

I have OTA and a HTPC that I use to watch pirate feed sports (occasionally), netflix, comedycentral.com, torrents, and amazon prime.

This as well + I watch regular Hulu in case I miss something OTA. And I'm happy as the meat in a clam. To be honest, I don't even have time to watch my paid netflix and a.prime.

Hockey, I watch every game off of certain... sites. Not HD quality (you have to pay for that, silly!), but still good enough to see the puck.

 

[amdhunter]

Not for a minute.

I use Aereo for local TV on my Roku 3, HBO Go from my mom's account, Hulu and Netflix for whatever I want, and Plex connected to my friends house over the Internet for other content.

 

[Xonim]

When we bought our house, my wife and I didn't setup cable right away. We went 6-8 months without it, using a Leaf antenna for OTA stations. It was ok for a while, but we missed certain things from cable stations -- mostly AMC, ESPN, TNT, USA, FX, and HBO. We ended up signing up with DirecTV about 15 months ago, and we're considering paying the ETF to get out of the remaining part of our contract. It's convenient and all, but we've been watching more and more Netflix stuff lately, plus we're way behind on the movie side of things.

Anyone have a raspberry PI home theater setup?

I've setup a Pi with RaspBMC but decided to go another route. The navigation was way too slow for my liking, plus I had a few weird problems that I couldn't get resolved due to my lack of Linux knowledge. Supposedly the new version of XBMC has some rather large performance increases for the Pi, but I haven't tried it.

 

[z1ggy]

In that case just having an XBMC appliance via a Chromebox would be perfect. You share your download folder on the network, and just play them directly on the box.



Any TV without HDMI is pretty useless when it comes to digital media consumption. There are adaptors and such, but it is all throwing good money after bad IMHO.

If you don't mind just getting streaming options in there (Netflix, etc.) an old Roku would work, but if you want the full modern setup and the ability to hook up a Chromebox it needs HDMI inputs.

I knew I'd need to buy a new TV someday...This bad boy has lasted me many years.

And I was just thinking.. I don't really need a chromebox, at least right away. My ps3 can serve as my outlet to stream my media too as far as local content, and chromecast could stream everything else from the web, like fox, nbc, amc, etc.

Also, would I benefit from a Roku? Seems like I won't be able to get many OTA stations where I live according to that antenna website.

This as well + I watch regular Hulu in case I miss something OTA. And I'm happy as the meat in a clam. To be honest, I don't even have time to watch my paid netflix and a.prime.

Hockey, I watch every game off of certain... sites. Not HD quality (you have to pay for that, silly!), but still good enough to see the puck.

Can you PM me about this? Or, PM me your email and we can email about it. I'm very interested in still being able to catch all the hockey games.

 

[Blackjack200]

So instead of me paying like $150 a year for the NHL package, I pay like.. some small fee per month to go on nhl.com and watch every game my heart could desire? 0_o



Yeah I manually download torrents every so often, and I do it on my desktop anyway. I would just stream from my desktop to the chromebox, which would obviously be hooked up to my TV.

Also in my bedroom I have an old tube TV, where the inputs are coax and the regular RCA cable..Def no HDMI etc. How would I use chromebox on that? Or is the answer, I can't, and I'd need a new TV?

No, you still need to pay for the GCL package, but GCL normally blacks out your 'home team' based on the location of your server's ip address. Using a proxy is just an end around to get the home games as well.

I don't personally do this anymore, it's just not worth it to be on the wrong side of the TOS, and potentially the law, and frankly I have better things to do with my time than fight with the NHL. They want to build all these barriers to me watching their games? Fine, I won't fucking watch. They win.

 

[smackababy]

No, you still need to pay for the GCL package, but GCL normally blacks out your 'home team' based on the location of your server's ip address. Using a proxy is just an end around to get the home games as well.

I don't personally do this anymore, it's just not worth it to be on the wrong side of the TOS, and potentially the law, and frankly I have better things to do with my time than fight with the NHL. They want to build all these barriers to me watching their games? Fine, I won't fucking watch. They win.

If only more people had this attitude, it might impact the leagues enough to get more consumer friendly policies.

I won't go to games. It isn't that I can't afford it or don't enjoy it; it is I refuse, on principle alone, to pay $300 a ticket to watch a football game. Then, I get the privilege of sitting next to some asshole and paying $9 for a warm beer.

 

[poofyhairguy]

No, you still need to pay for the GCL package, but GCL normally blacks out your 'home team' based on the location of your server's ip address. Using a proxy is just an end around to get the home games as well.

Yup, I do this to watch games ESPN 3 blacks out.

 

[amdhunter]

When we bought our house, my wife and I didn't setup cable right away. We went 6-8 months without it, using a Leaf antenna for OTA stations. It was ok for a while, but we missed certain things from cable stations -- mostly AMC, ESPN, TNT, USA, FX, and HBO. We ended up signing up with DirecTV about 15 months ago, and we're considering paying the ETF to get out of the remaining part of our contract. It's convenient and all, but we've been watching more and more Netflix stuff lately, plus we're way behind on the movie side of things.



I've setup a Pi with RaspBMC but decided to go another route. The navigation was way too slow for my liking, plus I had a few weird problems that I couldn't get resolved due to my lack of Linux knowledge. Supposedly the new version of XBMC has some rather large performance increases for the Pi, but I haven't tried it.

Are LEAF antenna's worth it? I haven't had any luck with any antenna so far. I'd like to quit Aereo if I could and save the extra dollars a month.

 

[Harrod]

I used to be in this situation for about 4 years, I had a 50 dollar U-verse internet only package with Netflix + XBMC addons. It worked pretty well combined with Redbox.

 

[SP33Demon]

Are LEAF antenna's worth it? I haven't had any luck with any antenna so far. I'd like to quit Aereo if I could and save the extra dollars a month.

Try the Winegard. You have to plug it in (amplified), it's worked better than Leaf and some of the others that I tried.
http://www.amazon.com/Winegard-FL55...lucent/dp/B00GFE70I0/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Got it for $22 refurbished from 1sale. I couldn't get ABC before but now I can.

 

[Saint Nick]

No regrets at all. We pay for high speed from COX, and that is it. We barely even watch Hulu or Netflix, though. Come to think of it, now I'm wondering why I bought that plasma and XBOX One...

 

[WilliamM2]

Are LEAF antenna's worth it? I haven't had any luck with any antenna so far. I'd like to quit Aereo if I could and save the extra dollars a month.

I tried the Mohu Curve 50, and the Leaf 50. Neither worked very well for me. Without the amp I would get a couple of channels, with the amp I would lose all signal. That's why I tried the Curve 50, I thought maybe the amp that came with the Leaf 50 was defective. They both worked (or didn't) the same. I also tried the Winegard Flatwave, it didn't work at all.

I ended up getting a Winegard Freevision:

http://www.amazon.com/Winegard-FreeV...rds=freevision

This thing pulls in all the stations possible in my area, some that are 40 miles away, and I just have it sitting on top of my stereo rack indoors. No amp.

You can mount it on the wall, but I built a small stand, because sometimes I have to rotate it a little if it's cloudy and rainy out. Got mine at Home Depot for only $35.

Every location is different, you'll probably need to try a few antennas before finding what works best where you are. Especially if you are using indoor antennas.

I still have cable internet (no other option but dial-up), but I don't miss cable TV at all. And I don't torrent either.

 

[Gunslinger08]

I have not cut the cord, and I don't plan to.

I think I could live without TV. We watch most of our stuff several days to several weeks later via DVR anyway. I would really miss it for the things that you can't typically purchase via VOD - sports, news, HBO, smaller/lesser known shows. I watch several baseball games a week and 30-40 NFL games during the season. I would also miss the ability to turn randomly channel flip every one in a while.

 

[Xonim]

Are LEAF antenna's worth it? I haven't had any luck with any antenna so far. I'd like to quit Aereo if I could and save the extra dollars a month.

They've worked fine for me (the regular, not-amplified version). We have a relatively flat terrain, towers are all between 14 and 14.7 miles away. On our main level of a 3 level split, the antenna was on an interior wall. I had great reception on everything except PBS, which I sacrificed in order to get good reception on NBC ... for whatever reason, I could only get one or the other. Our 2nd leaf is on the lower level of the split, barely above the ground. On an interior wall I couldn't get much of anything, but on an exterior wall in the direction of the towers, I had the same good results as the main level.

There are a few knockoffs around, I've seen them posted on slickdeals for $6-7 each or so with free shipping. Might be worth trying for that cost.

 

[J30_Uwe]

We live in mountains in North Carolina and with OTA we would only get 1 channel so we opted to get the sub-basic (broadcast) line-up with our cable internet provider. Two Roku 3s and a Playon subscription. The initial setup cost was about $170. The cable bill for internet/sub-basic is $60/mo compared to the $135/mo for DirectTV + ATT DSL.

The sub-basic line includes the 4 major networks and in HD, NatGeo, HGTV, PBS, PBSKids plus a few other channels we'll never watch.

 

[squarecut1]

No. But if it hasn't already been brought up, it should be noted that even though people won't say it 90% are pirating to make up the difference.

If only there actually was content worth pirating....

I have only watched, in terms of TV, Breaking Bad (Netflix), Sherlock (Netflix and PBS) and Boardwalk Empire, Game of Thrones (HBO). All legally.

There are gazillions of channels out there pumping out nothing worth watching...as the Springsteen song goes...57 channels and nothing's on...

I have Netflix and been a long time that I have watched anything on it.

 

[Ns1]

I have only watched, in terms of TV, Breaking Bad (Netflix), Sherlock (Netflix and PBS) and Boardwalk Empire, Game of Thrones (HBO). All legally.

How did you watch GoT legally?

 

[ViRGE]

I would like to remind everyone that we do have rules against copyright infringement here, including requesting/providing help and bragging about it. All of your suggestions need to be fully legal, otherwise we can't allow it here. (Lawyers are expensive)
-ViRGE