cutting cable Netflix?

[Ragnrok23]

You can, but I feel like the interface with the Roku was worth the purchase- heck you probably pay more for cable a month than the box would cost you. We had Amazon prime already for the shipping, so we get amazon movies, netflix which we already had, and we signed up for Hulu which if you buy the roku you'll get cards good for 2 free months. We are quite happy and find there is nothing to watch just about as often as there was before and we love the money we are saving! On Amazon there is alot you have to pay for if you want to watch - we also have alot of other channels but those three, the news channel and our PLEX channel (where we stream digital movies from DH's computer) are the ones we use the most. Our Roku is hooked up to our home wireless.

If you think its good now, wait until the update (unless you already have the Roku 3) I actually hated the old interface and switched back to using my PS3 to stream netflix and Amazon

OP- You need a PS3 to stream, PS2 can't stream

 

[momof3ds]

You will need to make sure your internet speed is fast enough for streaming. We dropped cable and increased our internet plan. We have hulu plus, netflix, and a Tivo (purchased from ebay with a lifetime sub). If CBS were on hulu plus, we wouldn't need the Tivo.

But, as another poster wrote, hulu plus will freeze if your internet is too slow. Our plan was for up to 3mbps and we increased it to the up to 12 mbps plan. We average around 6-8 now and it is generally fine even with multiple devices running.

 

[Ragnrok23]

You will need to make sure your internet speed is fast enough for streaming. We dropped cable and increased our internet plan. We have hulu plus, netflix, and a Tivo (purchased from ebay with a lifetime sub). If CBS were on hulu plus, we wouldn't need the Tivo.

But, as another poster wrote, hulu plus will freeze if your internet is too slow. Our plan was for up to 3mbps and we increased it to the up to 12 mbps plan. We average around 6-8 now and it is generally fine even with multiple devices running.

Actually why do you need Hulu? I assume if you have a Tivo, you have an antenna? I found very few shows on Hulu that were not on network TV

 

[hsmamato2]

We juist started this month with no satellite service...I don't miss it at all. I don't know why I felt so stressed making the decision...seriously my only regret is waiting so long to finally do it!
We decided ,based on our viewing preferences, to buy a few items to get us going. We got a nice antenna for our attic ($70 on Amazon) plus a used Tivo box with a lifetime subscription from ebay (more than $70,LOL)
I tried a magnavox dvd/dvr recorder, didn't work well for our needs. I tried the roku, again, not ideal for us.
I also tried a few different antennas and setups before finally settling on the one we are using. (didn't unplug cable till we were done LOL)
Our setup is approx. 10-12 channels w/antenna, plus our Tivo box that records any and all shows for later viewing(top importance for us) plus we stream Netflix and Amazon prime thru the Tivo box also. (Don't use Netflix every month,just sometimes)
If you don't care about the tivo, you can do an antenna+Netflix for movies and TONS of older shows very easily. A roku is the simplest way to stream shows and movies,like hulu plus,amazon, or netflix. (Or you can use a ps3,wii,or some dvd players do it)
Just decide what you like to actually watch. We looked over what we watch,and nothing came from our limited cable channels anyway,so no loss at all.
Netflix is a lot of older stuff, huluplus is up to date tv shows. a roku is 50.00 at best buy.

 

[hsmamato2]

You will need to make sure your internet speed is fast enough for streaming. We dropped cable and increased our internet plan. We have hulu plus, netflix, and a Tivo (purchased from ebay with a lifetime sub). If CBS were on hulu plus, we wouldn't need the Tivo.

Interesting,in our local area we can't get ABC OTA,so I will pay to watch the couple of episodes on Amazonprime that I care about- If you have an antenna you may not need the extra(?)
I personally like the tivo box over streaming... but I like the opportunity to use both also!
to op, you can see that there is no shortage of tv to watch without that cable line LOL (My tivo box is always TOO full of recorded shows still!)
I was thinking If I had to I could upgrade our dsl, but right now our 3 mbps is working fine for what we do.....

 

[momof3ds]

My wife travels and likes being able to watch hulu on her ipad. Plus, I can watch Hulu from either TV in the house.

We do have an indoor antenna but the reception is not always 100%. The tivo helps if we are watching something live, like the superbowl or shows not on hulu. Like "the voice", which my kids enjoy.

Actually why do you need Hulu? I assume if you have a Tivo, you have an antenna? I found very few shows on Hulu that were not on network TV

 

[momof3ds]

Oh, and if you have any apple products, you will want to compare the apple TV to the roku. We have an apple TV downstairs and a roku connected to our bedroom TV.

The apple TV will mirror wirelessly almost anything on your ipad or iphone. But, you can't access amazon.

I prefer the apple TV's interface for netflix and hulu over what our wifi TV has available.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

no apple products around here. Think im gonna end up buying a roku this weekend. Can it stream the free hulu shows? Im kinda addicted to the free tv right now (and trying to see if I REALLY need to sign up for netflix)

 

[lovesmurfs]

no apple products around here. Think im gonna end up buying a roku this weekend. Can it stream the free hulu shows? Im kinda addicted to the free tv right now (and trying to see if I REALLY need to sign up for netflix)

Only HuluPlus is available for streaming on Roku -- not the free Hulu. You can pay for Playon Channel (it's like $25 per year or $45 for a lifetime membership) and stream the free Hulu on that, I think.

http://www.playon.tv/devices/roku

 

[Ragnrok23]

My wife travels and likes being able to watch hulu on her ipad. Plus, I can watch Hulu from either TV in the house.

We do have an indoor antenna but the reception is not always 100%. The tivo helps if we are watching something live, like the superbowl or shows not on hulu. Like "the voice", which my kids enjoy.

Makes sense

If you can I would invest in an antenna and install it on the rooftop (or the very least in the attic) it's amazing how many channels you can get with a good ($100) antenna pointed in the right direction

 

[DisneyBoricua]

We gave up cable for the same reason and I do not miss it at all. I still get to watch all the shows I love (Law and Order, Modern Family, The Middle) on Hulu for free off my computer. I can watch Real Housewives off Bravo for free and Criminal Minds off CBS for free. We also got Netflix live stream. We have Apple TV so we watch Netflix off that. The only thing I will say is that my husband misses sports. He hates trying to refresh the computer for live scores. But that has been our only complaint and even he admits that it isn't worth the price to go back to cable.

The answer is firstrowsports.eu! You can watch any sports event around the world......for free! Safe and secure. Like Hulu for Sports, but streamed live! Check it out and leave feedback here. Hope this helps the hubby!

 

[wallawallakids]

The answer is firstrowsports.eu! You can watch any sports event around the world......for free! Safe and secure. Like Hulu for Sports, but streamed live! Check it out and leave feedback here. Hope this helps the hubby!

THANK YOU!!!! He is going to be so thrilled. I can't wait to tell him tonight.

 

[SamiL]

A combination of Netflix and Hulu Plus works well for us. We us a PS3 and a Roku box. A bonus is that I can watch both at the gym while I work out (wifi) and we can take the Roku and cords with us when we travel (it's really small).

You might also consider an Apple TV instead of a Roku. I think it also does Hulu Plus and Netflix. Plus, if you buy any TV shows or movies on an iDevice, you'll be able to watch them on your TV at home. (if you've got a Kindle fire or something like that and you're buying shows from Amazon, go with the Roku).

One other thing--It's cheaper for us to have limited basic cable (the cheapest cable package, they usually don't advertise it, but they're required by law to provide it) along with cable internet, than just cable internet alone. Something about the bundle, so you might check and see if there's a similar discount with your provider.

 

[teacup princess]

We got a Vizio tv at Costco last year that streams the Internet plus Netflix, Hulu, amazon and a couple others. Plus, it's a 3d tv using regular movie theatre glasses. Pretty cool. I don't recall it being terribly expensive. I use the amazon streaming a lot but don't have a subscription to Hulu or Netflix. I too have been pondering the idea of adding them and dropping cable, but I'm waiting for the final episode of The Walking Dead to do so.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

so if I get a roku is there any free stuff I can watch>?

 

[DawnM]

THere are a few free channels with shows but I don't use them. Crackle has shows like Seinfeld and Different Stokes.

PlayOn is only a one time $39 charge. It is not perfect and you may want to do the free trial first.

PO will stream anything that is currently online through your Roku box. But you must have a PC turned on the entire time you use it and the PlayOn program open.

Dawn

so if I get a roku is there any free stuff I can watch>?

 

[Ragnrok23]

We got a Vizio tv at Costco last year that streams the Internet plus Netflix, Hulu, amazon and a couple others. Plus, it's a 3d tv using regular movie theatre glasses. Pretty cool. I don't recall it being terribly expensive. I use the amazon streaming a lot but don't have a subscription to Hulu or Netflix. I too have been pondering the idea of adding them and dropping cable, but I'm waiting for the final episode of The Walking Dead to do so.

If walking dead is the only cable show you watch, you can buy episodes the day after on Amazon for $1.99

I usually pay for one TV show at a time that way (Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Sons of Anarchy)

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

One last question! is there any of these channels that have the judge shows? You know judge joe brown, peoples court, judge judy.... I miss my judges! Also any with game shows? I miss jepordy

 

[sweetdana]

2 yrs gone in Aug.. LOVE it. I cancelled home phone and cable in same phone call.. nearly 90$ a month..

no going back, no regrets.


We have Netflix, and amazon prime now.

When we first turned off we had hulu, but found after the initial clearing of things, we just didn't watch that either.

I use cbs.com for survivor, and hubby watched like 2 other shows online. DD* watches Icarly.com and tons of Netflix.

I cannot imagine being sold on going back even at 15$ a month. (goes the same for Ohma and my home phone using internet as well.)

 

[Nicoal13]

One last question! is there any of these channels that have the judge shows? You know judge joe brown, peoples court, judge judy.... I miss my judges! Also any with game shows? I miss jepordy

Go to hulu.com and search for those shows. I don't watch them, so I have no idea.

If you have an antenna, you would be able to get all those Judge shows over the air. We have a digitenna for our local channels. Works great.