Cutting Cable... What to get instead

[hsmamato2]

You need a TiVo Roamio (base, four-tuner) or TiVo Roamio OTA box. Then you can add as many TiVo Mini's as you want. The "Plus" and "Pro" Roamio's are cable-only. The older HD and Premier boxes should be able to do OTA, but they don't support the Mini's, so you'd need an antenna in each room.

So from what I can understand, there is only one Roamio version that works OTA,and that is only for one tv too then? (or does it work on more than one?) What do the minis do,just transmit from the main tivo box to extra tvs? We currently just use tivo for our one main tv, then a small antenna/roku for the extra tv FWIW, if you get a decent signal,a digital antenna can cost as little as $10....

 

[scrapquitler]

We cut the cable recently. We have Netflix, CBS all access, Amazon Prime, You Tube, and we watch lots of DVDs (from our local library, Redbox and our already huge collection). We akso have a Chromecast, but I haven't used it at all, so I don't know what it offers. We are also considering getting the HBO Now app (or whatever the one is called that you don't need HBO cable subscription for) just to watch GOT. I also watch the local news on the stations website.
I don't miss having cable AT ALL.

 

[supersnoop]

So from what I can understand, there is only one Roamio version that works OTA,and that is only for one tv too then? (or does it work on more than one?) What do the minis do,just transmit from the main tivo box to extra tvs? We currently just use tivo for our one main tv, then a small antenna/roku for the extra tv FWIW, if you get a decent signal,a digital antenna can cost as little as $10....

There's a "basic" Roamio that does OTA and cable, and a second Roamio that just does OTA. They look identical.

The Mini connects back to the main unit over your home network. It can use a tuner from the main TiVo so you can watch live TV in that room, as well as stream recorded shows. It also has Amazon, Hulu, and Netflix apps (and probably more that I don't use) so you can stream from those services, too. Essentially, a Mini operates as if you're using every feature of the main TiVo on a second (or third or fourth) television.

 

[DawnM]

How about college football? I know we were limited on our Penn State games before our cable provider finally picked up Big 10 network. That and NFL are really the only sports we have the time to follow (cold weather season limits our outdoor work). I know there is always radio for Penn State. I am really looking into Sling I think. If that would work for us, I think we could dump cable too. We watch most of our TV recorded now anyway.


On the TIVO, we had an older model (version 2) but got rid of it because our cable provider refuses to give us a cable card needed with the newer Roamio so we couldn't use our HD once we got a new TV. Version 2 did not have HD. We could rent through amazon on it but it was very slow to load. I never tried a prime movie on it. I don't think it was compatible if I remember correctly. We were never able to upgrade to the Roamio because of the cable card issue. Maybe that is why you thought your tivo didn't work on cable?

I don't know that the cable company actually refused to give you the cable card, I think they simply weren't compatible once the 2009 switch from analog to digital came about, they no longer worked, just like the TVs didn't work unless you had a converter box.

There was no converter box for the Tivo unit and it couldn't decode the signal any longer.

 

[DawnM]

So from what I can understand, there is only one Roamio version that works OTA,and that is only for one tv too then? (or does it work on more than one?) What do the minis do,just transmit from the main tivo box to extra tvs? We currently just use tivo for our one main tv, then a small antenna/roku for the extra tv FWIW, if you get a decent signal,a digital antenna can cost as little as $10....

Ok, there are actually TWO Roamios that work with OTA. One is for OTA only and one is compatible with OTA and cable.

Yes, it is for only one TV, BUT, you can get something called a MoCa bridge to connect and then you could get Tivo minis. Those are automatically "lifetime membership" and don't require an additional fee per month.

Yes, the mini uses one of your tuners, so if you have a 4 tuner Roamio, this would utilize one of them. But they act essentially like a Tivo. You can pause live TV, set recordings, etc....

 

[skysmom99]

Can you get things like Big 10 Network or Fox Sports on some of these services? 75% of our tv watching is in the form of major league baseball, college sports, and some NBA and NFL thrown in. I'd like to reduce the bill but how do I go about it. Right now I pay about $80 a month in Dish and Netflix fees.

 

[powellrj]

Can you get things like Big 10 Network or Fox Sports on some of these services? 75% of our tv watching is in the form of major league baseball, college sports, and some NBA and NFL thrown in. I'd like to reduce the bill but how do I go about it. Right now I pay about $80 a month in Dish and Netflix fees.

That is pretty much what the guys here watch all year. Football, basketball, baseball and auto racing are their sports. We have found we need cable to get these channels. I am not sure you will get those for less than $80 anyplace.

We were in the finals for Google, but congrats to those who got it!

A few years ago we had everything. HD, all the cable stations on 5 TVs. We were paying a small fortune on TV. This was AT&T. I loved it, but had to admit it was way too much money.

We went with Comcast because it was cheaper and cut back on our service.

HATED Comcast, so we went back to AT&T, but cut back on our services. Only got cable on 2 TVs, the other 3 are on antennas. We also have had Netflix and Amazon Prime and Roku for years. The kids use the Roku at college, I have the Amazon for free shipping anyway and the Netflix is for when the grandkids come over. We dropped the HD, got the 2nd lowest package and only have HBO. I may get the Showtime app and pay for showtime for House of Lies, Masters of Sex and Homeland. Not sure yet.

I will admit I watch way too much TV, but I am a retired shut-in due to an auto accident and with the kids away at school and DH was always working, its good company when I can't get out.

I can live with what we pay now.

 

[supersnoop]

because our cable provider refuses to give us a cable card

Cable companies are required by law to provide a cable card.

 

[mustinjourney]

Yeah, I know that's an option, but quite honestly, since I'm already paying them $8/month, the commercials shouldn't be there to begin with (except for them to milk more money out of customers to remove them). Amazon prime, which is about the same price and has MANY other benefits does not have commercials. Netflix, again same price, does not have them. I find that I watch netflix or AP way more often anyway (and the stupid commercials are only part of that). In the big scheme of things, $3 or $4 is no big deal, but to me, it's a principal thing. I got rid of the cable/dish because it was outrageously priced *AND* had commercials. When I have 2 that give me the same (or better service) for the same price without commercials, then hulu loses.

I agree about the principle of it -- only problem though is Hulu has shows that neither amazon nor netflix have.

 

[dalmatian7]

Cable companies are required by law to provide a cable card.

Its a small local company and I have argued that point to no resolution. We will be moving in a year to a different company (or dropping cable).

 

[supersnoop]

Its a small local company and I have argued that point to no resolution. We will be moving in a year to a different company (or dropping cable).

File a complaint with the FCC and they'll get it sorted out quickly.
https://www.fcc.gov/media/cablecard-know-your-rights

 

[Camonkeygirl]

My husband and I are getting increasingly frustrated with our cable service (missed service calls, pixilated channels, etc). We bought a new DVD player with access to Netflix, Hulu and more. Can anyone tell me what kind of shows are on Hulu? Can we get current seasons in addition to past ones?

Thank you

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

My husband and I are getting increasingly frustrated with our cable service (missed service calls, pixilated channels, etc). We bought a new DVD player with access to Netflix, Hulu and more. Can anyone tell me what kind of shows are on Hulu? Can we get current seasons in addition to past ones?

Hulu primarily has recently-aired episodes of current-run network (and some cable) shows. Some shows have the entire current season, some only have the last five episodes, and some have past seasons as well. It depends entirely upon the licensing agreement that Hulu has for the content.

They've been expanding their library of movies, original content, and older shows but their main draw for a lot of people is current stuff.

 

[magik]

Here in KC I have access to Google Fiber. Currently have TWC.. Both options are $125+ per month.

We have 5 TV's and I'm thinking of canceling cable, buying rabbit ears for 3 TV's then maybe use my Chromecast to stream Hula and or Sling to the other 2 TV's and/or buy a Roku3
Thoughts?

I have been very happy with my antenna for OTA (attic mounted) and a Tivo Roamio OTA with lifetime subscription to DVR shows from the antenna. The Tivo also has built in Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and VUDU apps. I already had Netflix before cutting the cord, and I still use that. I use it to catch up with a few cable shows once they show up there. I added the no commercial Hulu option, and use that from time to time for past seasons of a few other cable shows that aren't on Netflix, or as a back up in case my DVR messes up recording network TV (has only happened a couple times due to power outages, etc.). There have been a couple cable shows so far that I wanted to watch as they aired instead of waiting for them to show up on one of the streaming services, so I bought season passes from either VUDU or Amazon Instant Video.

I only have the one TV though. For multiple TVs, I'd probably do the antenna and Tivo for one, and maybe Rokus or something for the others.

 

[threeboysmom]

I'm considering cutting cable too. Although with me, the price is pretty cheap since I only have the digital economy package - it's more that I HATE Comcast with a passion than it is about the price.

Currently I spend $38 for basic cable.

There's only a few shows that I care to watch:

Survivor is a must so that means I have to subscribe to CBS All-Access whenever a season airs = $7.99/month
Or I could just buy the entire season for about $20 so that might be a better option.

Once Upon a Time is on ABC which I guess is Hulu (?) for another $7.99/month

Hmmm.... I think that's all we watch now that I'm thinking about it. American Idol on Fox was a regular for us, but now it's been discontinued (although there's a rumor that it's coming back just in different form), but Fox is included with Hulu so a bit of a savings there.

Already have a Netflix account, but I don't find a lot on there that I would want to watch (TV or movies - their selection of movies stinks - I tend to use Redbox a lot instead).

The only other channel I would watch is HGTV but that would be another $20/month from SlingTV.

So basically it's $16/month vs. $38 through Comcast... or if I add Sling, it's $36/month vs. $38 Comcast. Either way, not really a savings, but I'd be paying for only what I want and only when my shows are actually running (which right now, neither of them are until fall)

 

[thespiderman]

Playstation Vue is an intriguing new player in the TV game. You can watch through your Playstation device, but also with an Amazon Fire TV or Chromecast. Pretty good pricing. Local channels in some areas. I have a friend that's had it for a few weeks and absolutely loves it.

 

[Owlpost23]

Love having gotten rid of cable and just doing Roku,Netflix,and antennae.We went from paying over 100.00 a month and saying "there's nothing on TV!" to paying 8.00 a month and saying "there's nothing on TV!".Sugars the pill,it does.

 

[lakelandgal70]

Haven't had cable in couple years now and do not miss it. We have Sling tv which is an app on our tv that has tv shows like HGTV, DIY, Food network and others, Hulu, Netflix and Amazon Prime. We also have Starz streaming from Amazon too. No need for cable these days in my opinion. We aren't news people but Sling TV does have CNN and Bloomberg if we need to watch news. Glad we cut cable and never looked back lol

 

[xlxo]

I was a cord cutter for 5 years relying on rabbit ears for live local content. Went back to cable when they offered cable boxes, premium channels, PVR for multiple stations at the same time and wireless cable boxes that I can move around the home.

When my cable provider is unable to provide me what I want.... Kodi with Exodus! BBTS offers content around the world. Kodi also works on my tablets and mobile devices!

 

[KCmike]

I believe Google charges for each box per tv. I want to quit Time Warner as well and live in KC. Their internet service lately has had drops where I can find myself not having access for 10-30 min at a time during random parts of the day. It's driving me crazy but I don't want to give up the Royals on Fox Sports Midwest.