Cutting the cord - Dropping Cable/Satellite

Papa Zook

Papa Zook

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Dec 14, 2007
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Conroe, TX
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Randy
I just cut the cord on cable TV because I got tired of paying close to $200 a month to watch commercials and I spend way more time here than watching TV anyhow. The kids bought me a smart TV and showed me how to watch anything I want to see for free with no commercials. Free still isn't 100% free as we still have basic internet, but its a lot cheaper than it was before dropping my cable plan that had a few premium channels and Netfix. I went from slow internet and crappy commercial filled TV to high speed 400mbps internet and commercial free HD TV for $75.95 per month.

Anyone else cut the cord? How did you do it?

Smart TV? (with free pre-loaded program apps)<~~ me

Google Chromecast?

Amazon Firestick?

YouTube TV?

Sling TV?

Roku?

Antenna?

I still have a lot to learn about this so I thought we could share information and learn more about what works best. I will post some links to articles I have found on the subject. I have learned enough to know that its crazy to pay what most of us are paying for cable TV.

Great Read> http://www.techradar.com/news/telev...services-you-need-to-get-rid-of-cable-1320023
 
Papa Zook said:
I just cut the cord on cable TV because I got tired of paying close to $200 a month to watch commercials and I spend way more time here than watching TV anyhow. The kids bought me a smart TV and showed me how to watch anything I want to see for free with no commercials. Free still isn't 100% free as I still have basic cable, but its a lot cheaper than it was after dropping cable, a few premium channels and Netfix.

Anyone else cut the cord? How did you do it?
Click to expand...

Working on it. I need someone to splaine the fire stick way as so I can understand it’s workings. So far all I get is lawyer talk:Shrug: If I can see it’s workings then I’ll understand how it works.
 
Like to, but nothing so far has "tickled my fancy" from anyone, when it comes to keeping many of the same stations I watch.

My crystal ball prediction is: Pretty soon all TV's will be "smart" and even cable companies won't have "cords" any longer, but someone is still going to get "paid" for bundling TV stations to the gen public...:Shrug:
 
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Got the wife to do the closest thing she would...cut down to an $80 package. Much better than the $200 we were paying before.

We have a Roku to fill in the gaps for her in things she’s missing. Keeps her happy, so I’m happy, as I don’t watch hardly any boob tube anyway. I keep my nose stuck in some trike forum. :D
 
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consitter said:
Got the wife to do the closest thing she would...cut down to an $80 package. Much better than the $200 we were paying before.

We have a Roku to fill in the gaps for her in things she’s missing. Keeps her happy, so I’m happy, as I don’t watch hardly any boob tube anyway. I keep my nose stuck in some trike forum. :D
Click to expand...

How do you like Roku Scott?
 
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I have the triple play with ATT

My wife can talk long distance as much as she wants now

We cut our bill in half switching from Comcast

Locked in for 2 years with unlimited long distance, fiber optics cable and internet

I am happy with125dollars per month

I would consider this new deal if I could break my contract
 
We cut the cord back in September and have really fared very well with it.

I had just talked with Verizon and was able to get the monthly cell bill down $30 and then paid the cable bill online, the single largest monthly bill we had. We canceled everything except for internet that evening and went from almost $170 down to $65 to the cable company.

Between Amazon Prime (member since 2008), Netflix, CBS All Access, plus the outside antenna for about 50 local OTA channels, we are content.

We had tried Hulu but didn’t see the value there. I’m looking to try HBO for a little bit… it’s nice to be able to start and stop services as desired, makes for a better Taylor made experience.

Older Plasma with a Roku and outside antenna… Splitting the OTA signal to a TV in the bedroom too.
 
hogmemberisold said:
We cut the cord back in September and have really fared very well with it.

I had just talked with Verizon and was able to get the monthly cell bill down $30 and then paid the cable bill online, the single largest monthly bill we had. We canceled everything except for internet that evening and went from almost $170 down to $65 to the cable company.

Between Amazon Prime (member since 2008), Netflix, CBS All Access, plus the outside antenna for about 50 local OTA channels, we are content.

We had tried Hulu but didn’t see the value there. I’m looking to try HBO for a little bit… it’s nice to be able to start and stop services as desired, makes for a better Taylor made experience.

Older Plasma with a Roku and outside antenna… Splitting the OTA signal to a TV in the bedroom too.
Click to expand...

An extra $1200 a year in your pocket, HD TV and no commercials doesn't suck does it? For over a year, I've been saying I was going to get rid of cable and just never got around to it. Besides saving the money, I think the thing I enjoy most is no commercials and being able to start a program from the beginning and pause it anytime I want, or skip to another program if I want. I watch a lot of HGTV and car themed programs.
 
I just use the antenna and converter box, so whatever I watch is free TV, plenty of channels.
 
Papa Zook said:
An extra $1200 a year in your pocket, HD TV and no commercials doesn't suck does it? I've been saying for over a year I was going to get rid of cable and just never got around to it. Besides saving the money I think the thing I enjoy most is no commercials and being able to start a program from the beginning and pause it anytime I want, or skip to another one if I want. I watch a lot of HGTV and car themed programs.
Click to expand...

Just commercials on the OTA shows, but, those are very few as most of our shows are on CBS, and no commercials there. Savings are nice!
 
We've had AT&T Uverse a couple of times, now on Direct TV for the second time. That contract expires in February and we're not going to renew. Also, have Amazon Fire which we are just now beginning to use frequently. Recently signed up for HBO now, a streaming service accessed through the Fire so the wife could watch the Game of Thrones series.

We will probably continue with streaming and install a digital antenna for the local channels. Tried the DirectTV steaming, but the picture quality was terrible and the programming very limited, plus it had zero DVR capability. Frankly, I'm tired of everything on TV right now. It's all gotten so freaking boring with the same old story lines being rehashed over and over.

Most of the time while the wife is watching something, I work crossword puzzles, tinker with the pistols, or read. Only thing I need TV for, most of the time, is news - and that through one local channel or One America News. Still, regardless of the news channel, I keep a large container of salt nearby.
 
Well, I don't consider this off the grid but I changed my phone to a Magic Jack. My monthly phone and long distance bill was averaging $130.00.

I bought a Magic Jack for $99.00 and a 5 year subscription for $99.00.

For $200.00 I now have 60 months of no phone charges.

I have Comcast cable for the H/S Internet and TV still.

In order to upgrade to Internet TV I would have to buy a new computer.

Don't see a savings there yet and I would still be attached to the Comcast devil.
 
I also live way out in the country, so my options are limited. My internet is about the speed of dial up and I have to use it for work 5 days a week. However, I’m thinking about getting rid of DirecTV as soon as the contract expires. Those fools promised me 200+ channels of TV for around $135 per month, but they failed to mention that 150 channels of that are infomercials. What a ripoff! I’d rather watch paint dry than watch that stuff.

Bubba
 
We're testing the waters. Got our Dish TV bill cut from $117 to $71. Also have Roku and Chromecast from previous residence in the boonies. We also have a digital antenna ( about 1 foot square) hanging on the wall. Our son includes us on his Netflix account. We're also Amazon Prime members. We still making adjustments.
 
How much internet does those streaming services use in a month?I have internet through Dish right now but basically it limits me to 10gb a month.My only other option is Hughes and I hear they are hated by most.I get the impression that any savings would be offset by the increased internet bill.Paying $190 for TV and internet right now.
 
Ezjerry said:
I live out in the country. I pay for satellite internet and am limited how much I can use. Very little reception with antenna. Maybe some day.
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I went to walmart and bought one of the "60 mile" antennas, it helped alot.
 
Wish I could cut the cord, internet here sucks. CenturyLinks is so bad, all I get is 2.5 megabits not the 40 advertised on tv. They are also the only internet provider in our area. So I am still on satellite tv but only at around $25 a month, only get the local and a few others.
 
Marc H said:
How much internet does those streaming services use in a month?I have internet through Dish right now but basically it limits me to 10gb a month.My only other option is Hughes and I hear they are hated by most.I get the impression that any savings would be offset by the increased internet bill.Paying $190 for TV and internet right now.
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Mark,

Check your local rates for a 20mbps plan to maybe up to 50mbps plan if your local providers have a low cost package for that. From what I am reading, 20mbps should be more than sufficient and rates should be very reasonable. I went for overkill and opted for 400mbps on my just-switched plan with my current provider, Suddenlink for $75.95 per month. I'm still going to shop around and see if I can beat it.

Read more on cutting the cord recommended internet speeds below.

https://www.cordcuttersnews.com/internet-speed-need-cord-cutter/
 
Almost 20 years ago we got rid of all TV channels...Been using Netflix, and recently Amazon Prime streaming.

Any news we want (which isn't much) we can get off the internet.

Yeah, we don't see shows when they first are on the air...but no commercials either for the last 2 decades!

When we travel, and are in a motel, it always amazes me how many commercials there are.

Not only did we save a ton of $, we got a lot more time in each day. :)

Kevin
 
Papa Zook said:
Mark,

Check your local rates for 20mbps plan to maybe up to 50mbps plan if your local providers have a low cost package for that. From what I am reading, 20mbps should be more than sufficient and rates should be very reasonable. I went for overkill and opted for 400mbps on my just switched plan with my current provider, Suddenlink for $75.95 per month. I'm still going to shop around and see if I can beat it.

Read more on cutting the cord recommended internet speeds below.

https://www.cordcuttersnews.com/internet-speed-need-cord-cutter/
Click to expand...

Zook,

Check the fine print of your Suddenlink agreement. Some of their lower Mbps plans have a monthly Gb limit and then they charge $/Gb overage fees on the months you go over. This is a fluid situation as their plans keep changing (upgrading). They should show your Gb usage on your monthly bill. Suddenlink is my provider and I'm really happy with their service.

Haven't cut the cable cord yet. Just got a Harmony remote control for the wife for Christmas so she has one remote to control the TV, Roku, and DVD player. She told me she was afraid she wouldn't be able to watch TV if I died as she couldn't figure out how to use all the remotes we had before.:) I've got the Harmony programmed with buttons for TV, Netflix, Amazon, DVD, and Pandora just for her. I tell her it is the Phd system (Push Here Dummy):D. She hasn't beat me too badly.
 
I am still on "Scamcast" at $130 month for unlimited phone, high speed internet, cable, HBO, Showtime, many other movie channels equipment and much more.

The only hassle is every 12 months I have to go through a big rate increase discussion. All you have to do is demand a "good customer loyalty" discount about three different calls through the billing department only.

Regular service represetatives are useless in this matter. "Scamcast" will back down and reduce the rate back to about $130/ month for another year.:gah:
 
fire em

I fired direct tv 6 years ago and they send me please come back letters every week for the last 5 1/2 years. I figure there postage comes up to a months worth of there service. The letters go directly into the fire pit.LOL Ya live out in the country you put up with slow internet. 4mbs is all i can get untill they actually want to hook everyone up to fiber. 14 years ago me and my 5 neighbors put down $1800 each to put up a satellite to get more than dialup out here in the sticks. no internet bill for life, as long as they were in business. Its defiantly paid for itself, but slow, slow,slow it is. I got me an amazon jailbroke stick that works only if my neighbors aren't home.LOL netflix does work but limited. farmers 11 works for news.
 
I have not completely cut the cord yet,but headed in that direction. I had suddenlink. My son had worked for them. They sold out and the new owners started jerking the employees around. There were 40 techs here locally and when my son quit the were 8. Between the company firing and the employees leaving and going to work elsewhere ,they don't have enough people to get the work done.

I had enough of giving my money to a company that treats there employees like that,so I dropped them. I have direct tv which is tied to at&t my cell phone provider. I use my phone as a hotspot for my internet. This seems to be working for us,and is much cheaper than suddenlink.

My son was a good tech,in fact he had the the highest score on repairs and the least amount of repeats in the mid Atlantic area. Many months he had double the repairs as any other tech here. It's been a little over 3 months since he left ,and last week they called him and wanted him to come in and talk about coming back to work for them.

We will see where that leads,but I guess they now know he is not going to be jerked around anymore. I think I could do away with direct tv and be ok,but I am not so sure about my cell phone,probably have to keep it.
 
vwbug72501 said:
Zook,

Check the fine print of your Suddenlink agreement. Some of their lower Mbps plans have a monthly Gb limit and then they charge $/Gb overage fees on the months you go over. This is a fluid situation as their plans keep changing (upgrading). They should show your Gb usage on your monthly bill. Suddenlink is my provider and I'm really happy with their service.
Click to expand...

Tom, you're right on that, but we normally hovered around 70% of our max gb limit so we never went over as far as I know. I really started paying attention to the bill the last few months when I realized how much I was paying for so little after a trip to visit my son who had just bought a new smart TV and had cut the cord. He showed me a variety of content that was so much more interesting than normal TV and the picture was amazing. Some of my favorites are a handful of YouTube channels.

Fabricater said:
I have not completely cut the cord yet,but headed in that direction. I had suddenlink. My son had worked for them. They sold out and the new owners started jerking the employees around. There were 40 techs here locally and when my son quit the were 8. Between the company firing and the employees leaving and going to work elsewhere ,they don't have enough people to get the work done.

I had enough of giving my money to a company that treats there employees like that,so I dropped them. I have direct tv which is tied to at&t my cell phone provider. I use my phone as a hotspot for my internet. This seems to be working for us,and is much cheaper than suddenlink.

My son was a good tech,in fact he had the the highest score on repairs and the least amount of repeats in the mid Atlantic area. Many months he had double the repairs as any other tech here. It's been a little over 3 months since he left ,and last week they called him and wanted him to come in and talk about coming back to work for them.

We will see where that leads,but I guess they now know he is not going to be jerked around anymore. I think I could do away with direct tv and be ok,but I am not so sure about my cell phone,probably have to keep it.
Click to expand...

Your son should get a major raise if he goes back to work for them.
 
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