Cutting Satellite (Direct TV) ??

[mommy4]

So we are really trying to cut down on our bills now that our health insurance is costing us $200 more a month. If we cut Direct TV how do we get TV from our internet? I'm sorry if this sound stupid, I just really don't know how this works- I'm from the Ice Age in technology We would like to have Disney, Disney Jr., Sprout, Nick and our local stations.
Thanks!

 

[Jonathan Swift]

Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, etc. is the rub. Here's how you can save a bundle:

• Get a rooftop antenna for your local channels.
• Get Netflix for movies and TV shows on demand.
• Buy your own DVR.

A rooftop antenna should run you about $100 plus installation. TV channels are digital now and are higher frequency. The antennas needed nowadays are smaller. The channels are digital, so no snow or ghosting. Depending how far your house is from the broadcast towers, you might even be able to put the antenna in your attic. This will get you all your local channels in HD plus other channels you never knew existed. You can use your existing cable line to send the signal to your TVs.

Netflix is built into most modern TVs. If not, buy a small $50 box that will allow you to stream it to your TV. This takes care of your movies and some kids shows they have available. You may need to run wire to get your TV connected to your internet router. If that's not feasible, wireless or power-line ethernet may be an option as long as the speeds can be maintained.

Buying your own DVR is pretty cheap. They're only $100-$200.

This will begin saving you money in about 6-9 months depending on your cable provider costs. The problem is that Viacom and Disney do not offer their channels as a streaming service like Netflix. Once they do, you can drop cable TV service and stream it to your TV. Hopefully one day this will come sooner than later.

 

[cookingqueen123]

Any antenna suggestions? I am more than ready to kick my cable company to the curb!

 

[Jonathan Swift]

Any antenna suggestions? I am more than ready to kick my cable company to the curb!

It depends on what's available in your area. Go to here: http://www.tvfool.com/ and put your address in there. You'll find out how big of an antenna you will need based on how far away from the transmitters your are. If the "Real Channels" are between 7-13, then you need a VHF-high antenna. Channels 14-51 require a UHF antenna. (If it's 2-6, you're probably in Alaska, and sadly will need an old, full-range VHF-lo/hi antenna.) For example, in New York, ABC (7), WPIX (11), and PBS (13) are VHF-high while CBS (33), Fox (44), and WWOR (38) are UHF stations. There are combo antennas that do both VHF and UHF.

Any channels that are Green or Yellow will likely work with a simple, cheap, indoor antenna (preferably in your window, facing towards the transmitter). The simplest old indoor antennas seem to work the best... better than more expensive indoor antennas that are tunable or have a useless (for short cable runs) amplifier. Nice long "rabbit-ears" at a 45 degree angle will do a good job for VHF channels, while a nice big "loop" antenna will do very well picking up UHF channels.

For a top-quality or long range solution, any house mounted antenna made by Antennacraft or Winegard are good. You'll get a big benefit out of a mast-mounted pre-amp like this: Winegard AP8700 Chromstar 2000 Series VHF/UHF Pre Amplifier (AP-8700)

I suggest you have it installed by an installer since it should be properly grounded, etc. However, if you're piggybacking on the existing cable wiring, that should already be done. You also want to make sure you position the antenna correctly. The results from TV Fool provide the angles needed for optimal reception.

 

[DawnM]

Are you talking about a Tivo?

Yes, the initial cost can be as low as $100-$200 but you will need to pay for monthly service.

Buying your own DVR is pretty cheap. They're only $100-$200.

 

[DawnM]

We cut Directv more than 2 years ago now. I don't miss the bills, that is for sure!

I get almost 30 channels over the air. We have a rooftop antenna that is not on the roof at the moment but will be soon (Dh promises!) We live a ways from the city and need something a little more powerful than an indoor small antenna. We also have an amplifier with it. It was a bit over $100 initially for the investment, but considering we have now saved OVER $2,400, I think we are good.

 

[Jonathan Swift]

Are you talking about a Tivo?

Yes, the initial cost can be as low as $100-$200 but you will need to pay for monthly service.

No. I made my own DVR, but it requires computer expertise.
http://www.mythtv.org/

BTW, I found this article today:
http://boingboing.net/2013/04/25/roku-3-streaming-player-has.html

 

[DawnM]

Oh, ok. We don't have that capability nor do we have an extra computer.

Dawn

No. I made my own DVR, but it requires computer expertise.
http://www.mythtv.org/

BTW, I found this article today:
http://boingboing.net/2013/04/25/roku-3-streaming-player-has.html

 

[Jonathan Swift]

Quite frankly, my cable bill is over $100 just for TV, so the $5.99 a month or $149.99 for lifetime TiVO subscription isn't a bad deal.

 

[donalduck]

You can also get a roku box. That has a bunch of internet channels on it.
I think there down to 50 to 60 now. Some of the channels are free but some you have to pay per month it will tell you.

 

[pat fan]

I SO wish we could do this We just live too far out and can't pull in any antenna signals. Any other options? All we want are local channels and NFL.

 

[Jonathan Swift]

I SO wish we could do this We just live too far out and can't pull in any antenna signals. Any other options? All we want are local channels and NFL.

How far are you? I thought I would be too far, but I'm not. Did you try your address in TV Fool?

 

[tvguy]

For your locals, do you have a TV with a built in digital tuner? I not you will need a converter box.
I would suggest before going to the trouble and expense of having an outdoor or attic antenna put up, that you gamble $10 on a set of VHF/UHF Rabbit ears. Make sure they are BOTH VHF/UHF because in some cities stations stayed on VHF when they went digital. That may be all you need.

 

[tasha99]

Quite frankly, my cable bill is over $100 just for TV, so the $5.99 a month or $149.99 for lifetime TiVO subscription isn't a bad deal.

Tivo subscriptions are $19.99/month for the first box. Lifetime is $499 on top of the hardware.

Edit--Well it looks like it's 14.99 now--nice to know.

 

[leagirl12]

For your locals, do you have a TV with a built in digital tuner? I not you will need a converter box.
I would suggest before going to the trouble and expense of having an outdoor or attic antenna put up, that you gamble $10 on a set of VHF/UHF Rabbit ears. Make sure they are BOTH VHF/UHF because in some cities stations stayed on VHF when they went digital. That may be all you need.

I second this....I would try this first. The website where you put your address in and it tells you what antenna to use told us we lived in a spot where no channels would reach us with any antenna. Well a friend encouraged me to try it anyway. I went to Walmart and bought a $10, $20, and $40 antenna. I figured we would start with the $10 and work our way up to one that worked and then take the others back. Well the $20 worked and we now have local channels. We use Hulu, Amazon Prime, Netflix, and a service called PlayOn for everything. It has been nice to go from a $105 monthly cable bill to $24 a month for those services.

 

[LJSquishy]

I may be wrong, but I don't think you will be able to get Disney, Nick, or Sprout unless you have an actual cable or satellite subscription. Maybe these channels offer their shows online at their respective websites but other than that I think you have to have to subscribe to either cable or satellite.

 

[vicki_c]

I may be wrong, but I don't think you will be able to get Disney, Nick, or Sprout unless you have an actual cable or satellite subscription. Maybe these channels offer their shows online at their respective websites but other than that I think you have to have to subscribe to either cable or satellite.

That's correct. Pay channels that work through the Roku or Apple TV make you subscribe/log in with your satellite or cable company before you can view them through those devices.

 

[Jonathan Swift]

It should be noted that some of the services mentioned do have programming from Disney Channel Nickelodeon, etc.

 

[MineMail]

You can also get a roku box. That has a bunch of internet channels on it.
I think there down to 50 to 60 now. Some of the channels are free but some you have to pay per month it will tell you.

Roku does have a lot of free channels, but almost all of the top and current tv shows require a subscription to another service, like Netflix, huluplus or amazon. If you want to watch Petticoat Junction, you're good. If you want to see Quantum Leap, Monk, or Big Bang Theory you need a subscription service. I'm not really into movies, but all the ones I searched for came up with a rental/purchase fee through a service.

Roku is still cheaper than cable/satellite, even with the roku device purchase and the monthly subscription fee.

My biggest complaint is with the streaming services - you can't tell which service offers specific tv shows/seasons until you sign up. I found that neither Netflix or huluplus offered the series that I wanted in total - one didn't have the pilot episodes or first season, another only offered some of the episodes in a given season. It's frustrating if you want to actually follow the story arcs as they were originally written/aired. In fairness, I haven't checked out Amazon as yet - that could be more comprehensive. DH really wants to ditch DirecTV to save money but I'd miss the DVR.

Roku is a different method of watching TV - it's like going through your VHS/DVD collections to find what you want to watch; it's not the same as hitting "Guide" and seeing what's on right now.


Going back to the original post, while Nick, Disney, etc. are great channels, most cities have over-the-air PBS stations that offer better children's programming than the cable channels. Nick is basically the Sponge Bob marathon channel, which I could do without quite easily. You know the shows are overexposed when someone (like me) who doesn't even watch it, knows the dialogue for any random episode.

 

[pat fan]

How far are you? I thought I would be too far, but I'm not. Did you try your address in TV Fool?

I am firmly in the outer band if the gray circle on tvfool. The joys of living in a valley in the sticks. I even put that I would have an antenna at 30 ft., but still no go.