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Thread: Thinking of cutting Cable TV - Need your Advice.

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    Eye Shooter Frank A's Avatar
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    Default Re: Thinking of cutting Cable TV - Need your Advice.

    Thank you Sid. I felt that the topic was a good one and very timely. Thank you to all that have given their input. Any additional input from members who just noticed the thread would be appreciated.

    Frank A
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    MacGruber JACKSJE4's Avatar
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    Default Re: Thinking of cutting Cable TV - Need your Advice.

    Since I started this thread, I have spoken to many, many people about my situation and what ideas or solutions they could recommend. Most didn't have any recommendations, but wanted to know what I learned and if the solution I picked worked. I spent many hours researching all of the options and technologys, reading end-user reviews, reading discussion threads in other forums and all the while making copious notes. Now that I have fully educated myself and made my selection, I thought I would share my notes and insights in this thread so that the others who are watching with interest can leverage the information should they choose to follow me down this path.

    The best part about this entire quest is that I will be saving over $1,000 per year from what I am currently paying for TV.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Where to Begin:

    Before deciding on a Digital Media Receiver (DMR), the first thing you need to do is decide what channels and TV content is most important to you and your family, and then match it up with what is currently available from a DMR. Having this information up front will help you decide which (if any) DMR is right for you. One important item to note is that many shows from sports and cable channels are not yet available over the internet, or at least not available from a DMR. Also, as of this writing, sitcoms and series from CBS are mostly unavailable over the web. From what I have researched, this technology is still in its infancy so content is certain to improve over time as more people move from cable and dish TV to web TV. In fact, reading older reviews for some of these units indicate they didn’t offer certain content that is now offered today – a span of only 4-6 months. That indicates to me that the variety of content is sure to grow in the short term.

    The content or channel selection varies by DMR, so make sure you review the available channels from each manufacturer carefully. Most have free content, and all allow you to stream content from your Netflix account. You can also watch movies and TV shows on demand from Amazon OnDemand and some offer access to Hulu Plus. While these “premium” channels require a subscription, they are far less expensive on a monthly basis than your cable or dish service.

    I have also found that few local stations are available from a DMR. Therefore, you may need to add an HD antenna and converter box for local programming.


    Digital Media Receivers to consider:

    As of this writing, there are several DMR’s on the market. The prices vary depending on the manufacturer, but all seem to fill this niche depending on what is important to you and what you are trying to accomplish. Some of the better DMRs are:
    ·AppleTV
    ·WD TV Live Plus
    ·Roku XDS
    ·Sony SMP-M100

    I researched each of these DMR’s independently, and then found this Cnet page that compared them all side-by-side:

    Cnet DMR Comparison and Reviews

    The comparison was very helpful for me, and the end user reviews both on Cnet and in the public domain provided a ton of helpful information. I made sure I read both positive and negative reviews equally for each DMR to get a balanced perspective.


    Bandwidth challenges:

    Internet bandwidth is an important consideration when using a DMR, particularly when streaming HD content. Using a DMR with a slow internet connection will cause frequent pauses for “buffering” during your program, and you will get a pixilation effect on the image.

    Depending on how many devices you want to use simultaneously on your home network, you may need to upgrade your internet service, modem, and router. Most internet providers recommend a minimum of 7Mbps for streaming normal TV content, and 12 Mbps for streaming HD content. To see what your current internet speed is, run a free test at www.speedtest.net .

    The best option for connecting your DMR to the Internet is to plug it directly into the broadband modem for best quality. If you choose this option, then you can probably get by with a 12 Mbps internet connection speed. If you are like me, you probably have a router of some sort connected to your broadband modem so that you can share the connection with other devices. Any router you connect to your network will steal some of your bandwidth speed, so a 7 Mbps Internet connection may only offer 5.3 Mbps streaming speeds through your router. To prevent pixilation and buffering pauses during your movies, it is recommended to have an internet download speed of 16 Mbps through your service provider and at least 12 Mbps at the DMR if you will be connecting your DMR wirelessly or through a router. If you plan to have more than one DMR running at the same time, then you may need a faster Internet connection to accommodate the increased demand.


    Connecting DMR Wirelessly:

    I have found that many of the DMRs that offer a wireless connection are capable of using an “N” band router, while older devices on your network may only be capable of using “G” band. Routers work on radio frequency. G-band devices operate at 2.4 Ghz, which may be the same as your cordless phone, baby monitor, microwave oven, and other popular devices. Depending on how your G-band router is configured, your network may be getting interference from such devices in your and your neighbor’s homes. You may also be competing with your neighbor’s wireless router that is operating on the same frequency. In all cases, the 2.4 Ghz spectrum is crowded.

    Enter the newer N-band router that operates on a newer, 5 Ghz spectrum which is much less crowded and offers a longer range than the 2.4Ghz spectrum does. N-band is recommended for streaming HD content because the band is “wider” and can accommodate more simultaneous traffic (think of a six lane expressway during rush hour as opposed to a three lane expressway). Another benefit is that the N band can reach farther, so if you have a spotty signal in certain areas of your home with your 2.4 Ghz G-band router, it should improve when you switch to N-band. Solid walls and other obstacles may still hinder overall performance and speed, but the net result should be better that what you would experience with a G-band router. You can test signal strength using the SpeedTest website on a wireless enabled laptop at your TV location.

    Some N-band wireless routers are single band, meaning that they only operate on the 5 Ghz spectrum. If you have some older devices on your network, they may not be compatible with the N-band and will not connect. Other N-band wireless routers offer Dual Band services, where they can accommodate both older and newer devices. Most will “adjust” the speed of the entire network to accommodate the slowest device, while others will allow both spectrums to operate simultaneously. Of course, the more features you add, the higher the overall cost of the device. The router you select really depends on how you plan to use your network while streaming TV content. I personally chose to purchase a dual band router that can run both spectrums simultaneously. While it may be al little overkill for my needs now, I suspect I will be very glad I selected it during the next year or two as technology evolves and wireless bandwidth demand increases.


    Connecting DMR through power lines:

    If you don’t have a need for a wireless router in your home, or you are not ready to upgrade the one you have, another technology you may wish to look into is connecting your streaming TV service through your home power lines. While I am not very familiar with this technology, some of the end-user reviews I found on the internet were positive, and customers report good picture quality when streaming HD content using such devices. For more information on this technology, check out this website:

    </title> <link href="/css40/quickmenu_styles.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <link href="/css40/wdc40.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <link href="/css40/wdc40TXT.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <link href="/css40/skin.css"

    Before you make a hefty investment in any of this technology, I recommend starting with at least a 12Mbps Internet connection, connect your DMR with the technology you currently have, and test it yourself. If the performance is not satisfactory, then look at making strategic upgrades until the streaming quality is acceptable.


    Costs vs. Savings:

    After completing all of the research and due diligence, I chose the Roku XDS DMR for my home entertainment system. I also needed to upgrade my internet service to accommodate the increased demand, and I decided it was time to bring my wireless router into the 21st century.

    The exciting part is that I will save approximately $1,000 per year over what I was paying for my cable service alone, and I will recoup my start up costs for the hardware I had to purchase in less than four months!!

    Hopefully the selection of programs, channels and content continue to expand and grow at a steady pace so that we can eventually get all of the shows we watched in the past. I’m certain we will need to make some concessions with regard to what we used to watch on cable, vs. what is available for us to watch now. But with the new selection of programming that is only available on webTV, I’m sure that we will quickly find new shows to enjoy in place of those we left behind.
    Jeff Jackson, Denver CO

    There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."

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  4. #23
    Goodwill Ambassador luckydog's Avatar
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    Default Re: Thinking of cutting Cable TV - Need your Advice.

    I would like to add even though I've been using an antenna for over a year I still get "cable envy" when I'm at someones home that has a dish or cable!!

    I plan on giving Netfilx a try with my PS3 toward the end of the month, my current DSL is on the slow side, so I'll post a review in the future.
    幸運わんわん Luckydog or Yukiwanwan in Japanese

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    Pachi Puro RaymondV's Avatar
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    Default Re: Thinking of cutting Cable TV - Need your Advice.

    I have been following this thread because I would be interested in cutting my cable bill as well.
    Right now, I pay about $140/month for Comcast cable & internet.
    The biggest loss for me getting rid of the cable would be Fox Sports Detroit channel which shows all the Red Wings hockey games.
    As far as I can see those players do not have any capability to get channels like that, is that correct?
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    MacGruber JACKSJE4's Avatar
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    Default Re: Thinking of cutting Cable TV - Need your Advice.

    The Roku DMR offers access to MLB and NHL channels, but I can't say from experience how they work or what programming they have.

    Here's a link to a channel line-up, although I think it is a little bit dated. HuluPlus is available on Roku, but it is not reflected in this database.

    Roku Channel Database

    It looks like NHL Gamecenter requires a subscription to stream it to a DMR:

    https://gamecenter.nhl.com/nhlgc/sec...FQQFbAodUnHtHA
    Jeff Jackson, Denver CO

    There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."

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    Default Re: Thinking of cutting Cable TV - Need your Advice.

    AS much as I would LOVE to dump Verizon and Fios they do give me good service and the best internet I will EVER see...



    I hate paying them and they really wack you if you do not have a package. I find as much as I LOATHE paying them I still will in the end! I you have enlightened me to technology i knew existed but I had not realized how far along it has come!
    Good luck with whatever choice you make!
    Last edited by KimbaWLion; 01-18-2011 at 11:57 PM.
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    Chicken Fried Steak takethecastle57's Avatar
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    Default Re: Thinking of cutting Cable TV - Need your Advice.

    Netflixs is going to no DVD's sent by Snail Mail and make it only online download Oh, and HBO wants Netflix's to raise the cost per month to $20 or more for their content on Netflix's

    [H]ard|OCP - HBO Would Want Netflix to Charge $20 a Month
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    Ensign Newton owennewton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Thinking of cutting Cable TV - Need your Advice.

    HBO, just a bunch of money grubbing s
    the

    LLTR

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  16. #29
    MacGruber JACKSJE4's Avatar
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    Default Re: Thinking of cutting Cable TV - Need your Advice.

    Quote Originally Posted by takethecastle57 View Post
    Netflixs is going to no DVD's sent by Snail Mail and make it only online download Oh, and HBO wants Netflix's to raise the cost per month to $20 or more for their content on Netflix's

    [H]ard|OCP - HBO Would Want Netflix to Charge $20 a Month
    From what I was able to dig up on this brief article, it doesn't sound as if Netflix is going to raise it's rate to $20 per month. They know they would lose too much business. They want to stream some HBO content, but HBO will not cut them a deal.
    Jeff Jackson, Denver CO

    There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."

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  18. #30
    The Barbarian johntofva's Avatar
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    Default Re: Thinking of cutting Cable TV - Need your Advice.

    I believe that I've read all the post and hope haven't missed one. About 6 - 8 months ago Comcast sent out letters noting a change in policy. This policy requlates the amount of bandwith you are aloud to use before a penality is applied. It clearly seems this was aimed at the future of "streaming". The future is streaming, but it would appear they have choosen to stack the chips in their favor on this one. So well they let you do it, they are not going to let you do high amounts of it.

    And this is a great thread, thanks for starting it... "Note: This thread would probably be better in the Home Theater section"
    Last edited by johntofva; 01-19-2011 at 10:30 PM.
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  20. #31
    MacGruber JACKSJE4's Avatar
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    Default Re: Thinking of cutting Cable TV - Need your Advice.

    Quote Originally Posted by johntofva View Post
    "Note: This thread would probably be better in the Home Theater section"

    I agree.


    Quote Originally Posted by johntofva View Post
    About 6 - 8 months ago Comcast sent out letters noting a change in policy. This policy requlates the amount of bandwith you are aloud to use before a penality is applied. It clearly seems this was aimed at the future of "streaming". The future is streaming, but it would appear they have choosen to stack the chips in their favor on this one. So well they let you do it, they are not going to let you do high amounts of it.
    Thanks for posting this topic John! It is quite pertinent to this discussion.

    I do not recall receiving such a letter from Comcast, but I had heard rumors and read news articles relating to that topic over the past six months. When I called Comcast to upgrade my Internet connection, I specifically asked the tech about additonal charges for streaming movies and such. The tech was very open, helpful and candid about that topic. She said she streams movies to her home TV all the time and has not had any increases or penalties on her bill. She also added that she does not get an employee discount on internet services through Comcast and has to pay what you and I would pay for the same service.

    She then offered my a ton of free advice on how to connect everything up, upgrade my router, and provided pros and cons regarding different methods for streaming TV. I have reflected some of her pointers in my lengthy post above.

    Should I see a change in my Internet bill after hooking up my DMR, I will gladly research other methods of connecting to the internet and post my findings to this thread. I'm sure there is a lot of competition for your Internet business out there, so there should be some deals to be had as well.
    Jeff Jackson, Denver CO

    There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."

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  22. #32
    The Barbarian johntofva's Avatar
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    Default Re: Thinking of cutting Cable TV - Need your Advice.

    The current allowance for bandwidth with Comcast is 250g , which is a very large amount. I presently use about 15g a month with streaming only a few movies. So it will be interesting to see what happens when you stream TV.

    For Comcast users, go to "Manage My User Accounts" to view your usage.

    And here is an article explaining some of it.:

    Brier Dudley's blog | Comcast launching broadband meter: Watch your limit! (UPDATE) | Seattle Times Newspaper
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    Blind Shooter Rig's Avatar
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    Default Re: Thinking of cutting Cable TV - Need your Advice.

    I've considered cutting cable. I would really like to move to a satellite provider, though I would probably still be paying about the same. Only reason why I haven't switched is because I cannot get satellite service in my apartment complex. :/

    The cable company was going to *doube* my Internet/Cable bill from $65/month to $130/month (because my two year contract was up). I threatened to walk from the cable service, and talked them into another year at $77/month. Next year, I'll do the same thing, and if they don't play ball I will definitely drop cable.

    I already have a Wii, two 360's, and two PS3's in my apartment...and I already have Netflix. Plus, I grab a lot of torrents for shows I miss.

    The only thing I'd miss from cable/satellite is live sports. Well, that and [adult swim]...though again, I could always torrent that.

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  26. #34
    Pachi Puro RaymondV's Avatar
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    Default Re: Thinking of cutting Cable TV - Need your Advice.

    Quote Originally Posted by johntofva View Post
    The current allowance for bandwidth with Comcast is 250g , which is a very large amount. I presently use about 15g a month with streaming only a few movies. So it will be interesting to see what happens when you stream TV.

    For Comcast users, go to "Manage My User Accounts" to view your usage.

    And here is an article explaining some of it.:

    Brier Dudley's blog | Comcast launching broadband meter: Watch your limit! (UPDATE) | Seattle Times Newspaper
    I just looked at my Comcast account.
    I used 47GB in Oct, 46GB in Nov, 24Gb in Dec and so far for this time period I have used 18GB.
    I might watch 5-10 movies a month on Netflix.
    Last edited by RaymondV; 01-20-2011 at 07:36 PM.
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    Ensign Newton owennewton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Thinking of cutting Cable TV - Need your Advice.

    they must not be tracking here yet as bittorrent says I have 665gb transfers with it alone in the last 30 days
    the

    LLTR

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    SNORTARRIFIC! new in town's Avatar
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    Smile Re: Thinking of cutting Cable TV - Need your Advice.

    Found this on my Home Page when I got off work this morning. :

    First Person: How We Cut the Cord and Now Enjoy (Almost) Free TV - Yahoo! Finance
    72 Pachi's, 36 Pachinko's, 2 Pallots, 3 Pinn's & 2 Pachinko Bar Signs. Links to About Me: pachijunkie's Videos


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    Default Re: Thinking of cutting Cable TV - Need your Advice.

    I signed up for netflix on my ps3 tonite, if you had an account with them before you don't get the free month

    I used my other account to join, I'm watching a movie now, 1920 X 1080 on my HD tv. even with my slower dsl the movie started very fast and streams flawlessly

    i haven't looked at the selections to much yet.

    it looks like a keeper for only $7.99 a month
    幸運わんわん Luckydog or Yukiwanwan in Japanese

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    MacGruber JACKSJE4's Avatar
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    Default Re: Thinking of cutting Cable TV - Need your Advice.

    My Roku box should be here in the next day or two, and I plan to get it hooked up for testing during the weekend. I will report back with a "review" sometime next week.

    In the meantime, a friend sent me this link on how another person successfully kicked the cable/dish habit by using a different path:

    http://learningischange.com/2011/01/...-cable-for-me/#

    I thought I would post it for others to reference, as there appears to be a solution mentioned for watching cable TV ov the PC without pay a monthly fee. I have not had time to research all of the solutions in the link as of yet, but plan to do so in the near future.
    Jeff Jackson, Denver CO

    There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."

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    Tokie Owens Outnumbered621's Avatar
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    Default Re: Thinking of cutting Cable TV - Need your Advice.

    I am not an expert on this subject but I have been wondering the same thing. I got both my older boys Apple TV's for Christmas this year ($99) because they both use the Netflix service through the mail. I figured if they used it for nothing else it would be worth the $99 just to not have to deal with mailing the disks back and forth plus the streaming NetFlix subscription is only $6/mo.

    I just found out that NetFlix is/has changed the way the customer can load their queue. From what I understand they can no longer select movies for their queue from the Apple TV and have to do it from the computer then can go back to the tv and select the movie from the queue. It will be that way for the ps3, and the other add ons.

    I don't know how much of a hassle this would be as I am not that familiar with it but it is something more to think about before making these decisions. How these add on devices will intereact with each other and don't forget we are at the whim of the companys that provide the services.

    My guess is that NetFlix is gettting ready to come out with their own streaming device and don't want the Apple TV to be just as easy to use with more options.

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    Stuey - The RADministrator MrGneiss's Avatar
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    Default Re: Thinking of cutting Cable TV - Need your Advice.

    The only thing that I have heard about adding things from streaming devices to your queue is that you can no longer add movies to your DVD queue from your streaming device, only from your computer...This doesn't affect me because I've never done it, but I'm sure it will be annoying for some..It has no affect on streaming only customers!!

    Netflix Removes 'Add to DVD Queue' for Streaming Devices | News & Opinion | PCMag.com

    "Blowing smoke rings at the moon."

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