Replacing Directv with streaming

[mrodgers]

Ok, I'm still confused about this streaming stuff. We only went flatscreen/HD 2 years ago. I had to call to cancel Directv back then to get new equipment that worked and add HD. Now the contract along with discounts I had is up. $118 for Directv and $85 for phone/internet through Centurylink.

Internet is 5 mb/s. I can't even stream a 3 minute Youtube video on that. Could be because of Youtube itself, my computer or other electronics are old and cheap, or the internet speed is garbage. Any time I test connection speed, it is right up there 4.8-4.9 mb/s, so it works for what it is suppose to be.

I still don't know what I need. Nor do I know what I would get. First off, the main points of television.

• Walking Dead is top 2 things needed on TV. I've heard it several ways where it isn't available except for previous seasons, it is available on one of the big 3 streaming services, or it is available online at AMC.com. I don't know, which is it?

• Pittsburgh Penguin Hockey is the other of the top 2. I imagine I might be able to find this online? I don't know.

• Local channels is right up there as important for news, Jimmy Fallon, SNL, and my wife's and kids' shows during the day (The Talk, Bold and the Beautiful.)

So, what do I need? I have 3 TVs, 2 of them are old CRT (replacing soon if money can be found) and 1 current Plasma. Let's see if I can get this right.

• 3 Roku boxes right? Need 1 for each TV?

• Hulu Plus, Netflix, and Amazon Prime? I don't know what each offers.

• Need an antenna. What cable to they connect to TV with these days? All I have is HDMI on the Plasma. Do you end up with a tuner box I am guessing? I live in the middle of nowhere north of Pittsburgh. Had an indoor antenna not long ago and picked up CBS and NBC (actually about 4 different NBCs from different areas.) No ABC. I hope maybe a better (more costly) antenna or an outdoor would pick up better.

• What is needed to stream on a computer and connect to a TV? I only have a 2005 desktop which barely runs and the kids have a hand-me-down older laptop with broken screen and half the keys missing. Thus, I am in desperate need of a computer, just haven't had the funds to get one.

• We just had 10 mb/s internet speed available. I'm guessing I'd have to upgrade to that. Not sure if that will cost us more or not as getting broadband available and finally getting out of the stone age in 2005 (including getting caller ID, call waiting, unlimited long distance which we had none of) did cost us any more on the bill. Nor did the bill go up when we moved from 1.5 to 5.0 mb/s. Hopefully it's the same way with moving to 10 mb/s.

It's actually rather costly to cancel the Directv with everything I would need to buy. I'm just about breaking even with the first entire year if I include replacing the old CRTs with something cheap. I have yet to figure out how to record the OTA programing like SNL or the Tonight Show (without yet another service fee with a TIVO setup.) We watch those religiously, the following day. Perhaps they are available streaming? I don't know. That is one of my concerns, I have no idea what is available to stream. We don't watch much aimless TV, but do have a few specifics we watch individually as well as together as a family.

Amazon/Hulu/Netflix question. They are each around $8-9/month for the service. Are you able to stream to multiple devices at the same time with these services? I thought I had read there was one of the services that you had higher cost to stream to more devices.

With a Roku box, you can get other apps? What I'm thinking is apps from the networks such as Spike, AMC, A&E and such that might have available their programing if it is not on the big 3?

What is the experience of finding programing to watch compared to a scheduled programing like cable or Directv? You know how it is, a show airs every day at this particular time and you select it to record it and it shows in your DVR list. That is how we watch TV. Do you have to constantly search for programing with the streaming services?

I actually think we would watch a lot less TV with streaming. As it is, all of our shows record to the DVR and most of us watch it while doing something else because it is in our DVR list. If I have to go searching for something every time it had just aired on cable/sat. we may not watch it. We don't typically sit down specifically to watch TV, we just turn it on because it is in the evening and 4° outside, at least for most except for The Walking Dead where we are all glued to the TV at 8:50 impatiently waiting and watching the end of last week's episode, LOL.

 

[elgerber]

I can't really help with most of the questions, but as far as I know, you cannot get the Walking Dead any other way. You can watch on AMC, if you log in with your participating provider, of which Direct TV is not one. So, with no provider, you cannot watch there. And Netflix only has the previous season. You could buy a season pass on Itunes, or Maybe Amazon, but that's the only way I know of to get the Walking Dead without Cable or Sat.

 

[ChipnDale79]

I'm curious, how are you watching youtube, through a streamding device app that is named "youtube for tv", or going to youtube itself to watch?

The reason I ask, I've had a lot of problems with the app both blueray player and Amazon Fire TV, it buffers a lot.

I've had no problems when i go to the youtube website to watch videos, nor have I had any problems with Netflix or Amazon either.

So you're connection might be ok.

 

[TNS_Tinkerbell]

I can't comment on Direct Tv, however we have survived without traditional cable for over a year.

How as a Canadian did we do this?

Netflix, youtube streaming, the library and iTunes.

Most shows I could find on YouTube, or the iPad apps the free ones that weeks episode, with a few commercials. (Talking to you CTV and the annoying triple commercial)

Our public library has movies and shows on DVD to rent.

And for birthdays we rent a movie current off of iTunes.

Now' we are a Canuck family, not Pittsburg, although we like Crosby.

And we can normally stream the games on the web or radio.

Good luck.

We cut our bill from Shaw from 127 to 67.

That's how we did it.

 

[TNS_Tinkerbell]

Also, I bought an tv cable to connect my iPhone or iPad so I can put them up on the tv, it works well too.

 

[texasroni75]

We recently cut our cable. We have 2 Rokus (1 in living room, one in master bedroom, and considering a 3rd for the kids room, but they have a Wii so they can already stream channels on that).

We use our antenna for basic channels - it was already in place on the house when we moved in so we lucked out there.

We have a Netflix and Hulu subscription. I'm planning to switch to Amazon Instant Streaming instead of Hulu next month. Because I'm a college student, I have Amazon Student Prime for free. So it will cost only $50 to upgrade to get the Amazon streaming service for a year, instead of $100.

I admit that Youtube buffering is TERRIBLE on our Roku. For everything else, we can stream to multiple devices at the same time, as well as use our laptops and tablets in the house with no noticeable lag. I think it's a Youtube issue.

I basically nagged our cable company and kept checking promotions every week for a month. Finally got locked in to a one-year rate of $40/month for the fastest speed internet they offer including the modem from the cable company. Considering that our cable bills were $160/month, even with the cost of the Rokus ($40 each for the HD ones with a remote) and the streaming subscriptions ($7.99 each), we came out ahead the first month. The only thing we "miss" so far is DH'S UFC channels. Roku has some but not all of the fights but it's a small inconvenience for the big savings.

I can see how for some it wouldn't be the best option, but for us - I wish I had done it 2 years ago when I first considered it.

 

[mrodgers]

I'm curious, how are you watching youtube, through a streamding device app that is named "youtube for tv", or going to youtube itself to watch?

The reason I ask, I've had a lot of problems with the app both blueray player and Amazon Fire TV, it buffers a lot.

I've had no problems when i go to the youtube website to watch videos, nor have I had any problems with Netflix or Amazon either.

So you're connection might be ok.

All kinds of Youtube buffering problems (buffering as in it starts to buffer and doesn't go beyond, can't finish watching.) I use cheap Walmart HiSense tablets with the app (sometimes youtube won't even connect with the app and it's stuck at just rotating circles loading the page content.) Computer is sadly way obsolete, it's a Compaq from 2005. Can't run current browsers. I have to leave 2 versions of Firefox, a really old version, 3.6 I think, for browsing and have a current version for the few websites that I need that won't load in old versions (updating my GoPhone accounts for example.) Youtube buffers about 1/3 of the video and quits on the computers. I do think it's a youtube thing though as other video sites (Vimeo) work fantastic.

Also stream youtube on the DirecTV Genie DVR. It also craps out often, but biggest downfall is it is only available at the 480 resolution. I do have a lot of youtube "shows" that I watch, or want to watch when youtube works correctly.

Our public library has movies and shows on DVD to rent.

I never think of a library for stuff like this. I'm in the middle of nowhere, but there is a library local to me. I think my wife would take our daughters way back when they were toddlers. No info online about electronic borrows but the library in town where I work does. Thanks for the idea to look into.

Now' we are a Canuck family, not Pittsburg, although we like Crosby.

We use our antenna for basic channels - it was already in place on the house when we moved in so we lucked out there.

I doubt it would have worked because it was an old analog antenna, but I had a nice pole mounted aerial when I bought the house. We used it for a while because of old Dish Network equipment not picking up new satellites until we switched to DirecTV and got our local channels across the sat.

We have a Netflix and Hulu subscription. I'm planning to switch to Amazon Instant Streaming instead of Hulu next month. Because I'm a college student, I have Amazon Student Prime for free. So it will cost only $50 to upgrade to get the Amazon streaming service for a year, instead of $100.

I'm being told by some younger folk at work to skip Netflix and just go with Hulu and Amazon.

 

[scrapshappen]

We cut the cord three years ago. In my experience, there isn't a good legal way to watch local major league sports teams (local teams are blocked from packages the leagues sell for streaming games).

We've adjusted to life without our favorite Basketball games (and to being a season behind on all the other shows) because neither were worth the $1200 a year it was costing us to watch them. We decided we could attend a few games a year with the savings. But you'll have to decide for yourself if the cost is worth it.

 

[lakelandgal70]

We cut our cable last year and are streaming. We have Amazon Prime, Hulu and Netflix. We are huge Walking Dead fans and we order the season off Amazon Prime. Still cheaper than paying for cable each month. Any other primetime channel shows we catch on Hulu. Since we are not sports people I have no idea how you would view that. Like you mentioned online more than likely.
We only have one box, our dvd player has the apps built in. I think you can browse around and see what hulu and the others offers online before you make decision.

 

[hsmamato2]

I can't comment on specific shows, but we live in an odd area, and we bought an attic antenna for about 79.00 at Best buy- it pulls in about 10 channels- we also have 2 roku boxes,and a chromecast. I like the roku for ease of use- I like the chromecast for the casting youtube or abc.com directly to my tv,using an ipad as a remote. (I don't use chromecast except for that,as I don't get abc,and I like some of the current shows,and I don't like using a chromecast as much a s aroku streaming box)
You can buy a refurb roku in many places online for aorund 30- that's how I got mine. they are super easy to use. But I like My antenna for when I feel like 'live' tv.(I also invested in a tivo from ebay,which had a lifetime subscription attached to it,for recording antenna shows,I watch a lot of cptv)
You can also stream netflix and hulu and amazon thru a wii, or playstation,etc.
Total outlay for what I bought a few years ago was approx. 450.00 overall, but my sat. bill was 45.00 per month- the math told me that even with all my new gadgets, within 10 months it had paid for itself. and beyond....(it's been a few years now) I don't miss a thing. Even if all I had was the antenna and Tivo, that is enough for me.
I also don't mind waiting to see things, there is always something else I can watch while waiting...

 

[hsmamato2]

We cut our cable last year and are streaming. We have Amazon Prime, Hulu and Netflix. We are huge Walking Dead fans and we order the season off Amazon Prime. Still cheaper than paying for cable each month. Any other primetime channel shows we catch on Hulu. Since we are not sports people I have no idea how you would view that. Like you mentioned online more than likely.
We only have one box, our dvd player has the apps built in. I think you can browse around and see what hulu and the others offers online before you make decision.

I can't find full episodes on the free hulu anymore, did something change since last year?

 

[lakelandgal70]

I can't find full episodes on the free hulu anymore, did something change since last year?

Oh I should have mentioned we have the pay hulu. That is how we view the prime time shows.

 

[mrsmedamoo]

I didn't order a Roku box for my Netflix and Hulu streaming. I already had a ps3 that does the job. When my ps3 became dust-lock I purchased a phone to tv adapter since my smartphone streams netflix and hulu. When my fiance bought his new computer, he connected his old tower to my tv and that is where I am now..

Hulu's movie selection sucks. They have the best current episodes for some shows.
Netflix takes a long time to become current. Netflix has the first 3 seasons of the Walking Dead, but I'm not sure that they are going to get the rest.

Netflix costs $7.99 for one device streaming and $8.99 for two... they have a third option with a higher price that I completely ignored.
Even with Prime on Amazon some show cost extra to watch, like the current episodes of the Walking Dead and Grimm

 

[elgerber]

Hulu's movie selection sucks. They have the best current episodes for some shows.
Netflix takes a long time to become current. Netflix has the first 3 seasons of the Walking Dead, but I'm not sure that they are going to get the rest.

Netflix costs $7.99 for one device streaming and $8.99 for two... they have a third option with a higher price that I completely ignored.
Even with Prime on Amazon some show cost extra to watch, like the current episodes of the Walking Dead and Grimm

Netflix has season 4 of the Walking Dead, but they will not get the current season until next fall when the DVD comes out.
Grimm can be watched on NBC's website, the next day.

 

[tina.tina]

What are you going to do for internet service?

Why not cancel your Directv service and sign up again like you did before to get the promotional prices?

We recently signed up for Directv for about 1/2 of what we were paying for cable but we kept our internet service from the cable company. There is no way I would do the Century Link with such a downgrade in service. The cable is so much better in my area. I need it for school and DH needs it for work.

 

[mrsmedamoo]

Grimm can be watched on NBC's website, the next day.

Hulu has the current Grimm episodes as well.

 

[mrodgers]

What are you going to do for internet service?

Why not cancel your Directv service and sign up again like you did before to get the promotional prices?

They'll only give you discount for 12 months and then it will be a new 24 month contract. That is where we are now, the end of the 24 month contract.

We recently signed up for Directv for about 1/2 of what we were paying for cable but we kept our internet service from the cable company. There is no way I would do the Century Link with such a downgrade in service. The cable is so much better in my area. I need it for school and DH needs it for work.

We just recently had cable come out our way the last year or so. I just looked it up, our 10 mb through Centurylink is somewhere around $20, our bill has never gone up since moving into the house in 2000, but we've gone from no phone features, paying long distance, and dialup to phone features and 1.5 mb DSL, to 5.0 mb DSL, and a few years ago to 10 mb DSL. Just checked with the cable company, 1.5 mb for $27 and 15 mb for $45. $45 for 15 mb seems a bit over the top, this isn't 1995 any more (same as I feel with HD upcharge, HD is the standard now, not something new and exciting.) Thus going elsewhere with internet would cost more whether it is downgraded or upgraded.

 

[gabriellewatson]

I wrote a blog about how to "cut the cable cord" and save money by streaming with a Roku.

I hope it helps.

Internet prices depend on the area that you live, but in my town, we can get very fast internet for only $30 per month (when you sign up, 1 year only). The rate in my town goes up to $45 per month (after 1 year of service).

http://fromwatsonwithlove.blogspot.com/2014/06/cut-cord-on-cable-and-save-money-big.html

 

[gabriellewatson]

Internet is 5 mb/s. I can't even stream a 3 minute Youtube video on that.

• Walking Dead is top 2 things needed on TV.
  
  
  • Pittsburgh Penguin Hockey is the other of the top 2. I imagine I might be able to find this online? I don't know.
  
  [list]Local channels is right up there as important for news, Jimmy Fallon, SNL, and my wife's and kids' shows during the day (The Talk, Bold and the Beautiful.)

• 3 Roku boxes right? Need 1 for each TV?

• Hulu Plus, Netflix, and Amazon Prime? I don't know what each offers.

• Need an antenna.

• 
  
  
  • What is needed to stream on a computer and connect to a TV? I only have a 2005 desktop which barely runs and the kids have a hand-me-down older laptop with broken screen and half the keys missing. Thus, I am in desperate need of a computer, just haven't had the funds to get one.
  
  
  
  Amazon/Hulu/Netflix question. They are each around $8-9/month for the service. Are you able to stream to multiple devices at the same time with these services?
  
  With a Roku box, you can get other apps? What I'm thinking is apps from the networks such as Spike, AMC, A&E and such that might have available their programing if it is not on the big 3?
  
  
  I actually think we would watch a lot less TV with streaming.

• 
  
  I wrote an entire blog post about how to cut cable from your life and save money by streaming through the internets.
  
  HUGE savings per month, just saying. Here is a link to my post... also feel free to ask questions. I got rid of cable when we moved in 2012, and it is the ABSOLUTE, handsdown, BEST thing we have EVER done as a family.
  
  Here is a link to the blog post: How I Cut the Cord on Cable
  
  Outside of that, let me answer some of your questions and also comment on other statements -
  
  Internet is 5 mb/s. - THAT is very slow internet. We have Charter Communications (North Texas region). It starts at 60mbps for $30 per month (1 year); after a year it's $45 per month. Look into other providers in your area. I've also had Verizon Fios and ATT U-Verse (both were slower than Charter in my experience).
  
  Walking Dead - You can stream this on your computer, ipad, iphone or even television (if you hook up the laptop to your TV). There is a great website that I use to stream the latest episodes for free. They are good quality and no commercials. When I don't want to watch on my computer, I buy the episode for $1.99 through my Amazon Prime Account (watch on TV through my Roku).
  
  Pittsburgh Penguin Hockey - I'm not sure if this airs on a local channel, but if it does, then you can buy a very inexpensive HDTV antenna on Amazon - Homeworx Super Thin Indoor Antenna. I paid $10 for one. Hook it up to your plasma, and watch games on regularly scheduled days/nights.
  
  Local channels is right up there as important for news, Jimmy Fallon, SNL, and my wife's and kids' shows during the day - Again the indoor antenna will meet the needs for local networks. These are like NBC, FOX, CBS, PBS, etc. You can also stream a lot of these on Hulu for $9/month. They usually air the day after the fact. There are TONS and I mean TONS of children's programming on Netflix for $9/month as well as Amazon Prime ($99/year - possibly cheaper for Amazon Mom account or Amazon Prime for Students - look at your options).
  
  3 Roku boxes right? - Yes, but ONLY if you absolutely MUST have access to Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and all the other wonderful apps on EVERY television in the house. My family does NOT do this. We have 3 TVs as well. Instead, we have chosen to have our living room TV with the Roku and BluRay player. The TV in my scrapbook room another "family room" has just a regular DVD player. This forces us to only watch movies that we own or borrow from the library (FREE). In the children's playroom, another 'family room', we have a wifi bluray player with access to Netflix (built in). There are lots of these out there, and they are VERY cheap on Black Friday (this is usually when I buy electronics). So my kids have access to Netflix in their playroom, but most of the time they watch Disney DVD and blurays that we own or borrow from the library (FREE). - We love the library. TO SUM IT UP - in reality depending on your REAL needs, you can survive with just 1 or 2 Roku players in your house and have DVD or bluray players in your other rooms (especially with those analog TVS, they won't work with ROKU).
  
  Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime - They all have kind of the same thing. This is what it boils down to...
  Netflix - Lots of movies (including some recent), lots of kids programming (Nickelodeon, Disney, PBS, etc), lots of family/adult programming (previous seasons of Walking Dead, Weeds, Orange is the New Black, Once Upon a Time, etc.)
  Hulu Plus - Programming from main networks the day after the fact. We used to use Hulu Plus to watch Modern Family and SNL, but then we found we could live without watching them and decided to turn off this service. We haven't used it since, but a lot of folks like to watch what's on main networks (aka Dancing with the Stars, American Idol). I can live without it because there is SO much programming on Netflix and Amazon that I've never watched!! I've prefer to get caught up on older shows and watch whole seasons in 1 week rather than waiting with bated breath each week for a new episode. I'm spoiled now. Thanks Amazon and Netflix.
  Amazon Prime - Other benefits: FREE 2-day shipping everyday, every purchase; FREE ebook downloads all the time, FREE music downloads all the time; FREE tv and movie streaming. They have a library very similar to Netflix, but with a bit different stuff. I LOVE watching Downton Abbey on Amazon. They have an exclusive contract with PBS, so lots of PBS programming on here. They also have an exclusive contract with HBO, so we're talking previous seasons of Boardwalk Empire (great show, IMO), TruBlood, Big Love, Sopranos, Treme, a lot of GOOD stuff to watch on Amazon Prime. ANOTHER benefit, you can rent movies digitally and have them for 24-48 hours typically. It's about $3.99 per rent sometimes cheaper, but it's worth it in the end. Most times I want to rent an old movie I haven't seen in years, so the other day we rented a movie for Halloween, called the Halloween Tree (this is not something that will be a Red Box and there are no movie rental places in my town anymore). It was $2.99 and we got it for 24 hours. It was GREAT. Pizza and a cheap movie anyone?
  
  
  Need an antenna. - Yes if you want to watch local networks (news, games, etc) when they are on. We lived for 2 years without an antenna. A few months back, I bought one because I wanted to see how it worked. It was $10. I thought it was a cheap investment, and I'm VERY glad I bought it. Although we don't watch the TV shows, etc. I turn it on in the morning to see what the weather forecast will be, especially for snow days and stuff like that. We surprisingly get a lot of channels with the little thing, like 50-60 maybe. We don't really watch shows on it because we get all of our TV needs via Netflix, Amazon and other "apps" on the Roku.
  
  What is needed to stream on a computer and connect to a TV? - You won't need to do this unless you want to watch certain shows that are through the computer (like new episodes of Walking Dead) or you may just choose to buy the episode for $1.99 on Amazon. You'll own it forever. I've never had to hook up my laptop to my TV for anything other than a workshop I presented at my house, and I needed a large screen for a Prezi.
  
  Amazon/Hulu/Netflix question. They are each around $8-9/month for the service. Are you able to stream to multiple devices at the same time with these services? - Yes, Netflix is $8.65 per month after tax currently. Hulu is $8.65 per month after tax currently. Amazon is $99 per year (1 time payment). It breaks down to $8.25/month when all is said and done. I have Amazon Student because I'm in grad school, so I only pay $49 for the year (it's MUCH cheaper). Amazon Mom is another discounted program. Look into both if you have students or moms
  
  You can also stream them on multiple devices. I have my Roku set up to stream Netflix and Amazon. I also watch them on my iPad frequently, so I have it set up with their apps from the app store (free). I also share my Netflix and Amazon account with my in-loves, so they stream from their Roku that we bought them last year. They love it and have completely gotten rid of their cable mostly.
  
  With a Roku box, you can get other apps? - There are hundreds if not thousands of other apps on Roku. These are the FREE ones that I have and use most frequently: Netflix, (Hulu), Amazon Prime, HBO go (I use someone else's account info), Showtime Anywhere (I use someone else's account info), AMC, History Channel, A&E, Vevo (music videos), You Tube, PBS, PBS Kids, Disney App, Disney Channel, Disney XD (I use someone else's account info), Disney Junior (I use someone else's account info), Jim Henson, Hasbro TV, and more.
  
  I actually think we would watch a lot less TV with streaming - Yes without a doubt. Also less commercials. I despise cable TV now. We sometimes have to watch it at my parent's house, and I feel so spoiled now that I don't deal with commercials. My kids had no idea what a commercial was and kept wondering why shows were getting interrupted, lol. Also, I we are very particular about what we watch as a family now because we only have the 1 roku on the main TV in the house, so we all decide on something together as a family rather than just having TV on in the background. We also go to the library a lot and get books as well as get movies and music on CD. It's FREE, and our library system is FANTASTIC. They always have new releases, and we don't mind waiting a short period of time to get to watch a newer movie because it's FREE.
  
  I hope this very LONG response helped you out. Also refer to the blog link at the top or down here just in case I left something out. I tried to explain it fully on my blog.
  
  Cut the Cord on Cable and Save Money with a Roku - How I cut cable and save $168 per month

 

[gabriellewatson]

I can't really help with most of the questions, but as far as I know, you cannot get the Walking Dead any other way. You can watch on AMC, if you log in with your participating provider, of which Direct TV is not one. So, with no provider, you cannot watch there. And Netflix only has the previous season. You could buy a season pass on Itunes, or Maybe Amazon, but that's the only way I know of to get the Walking Dead without Cable or Sat.

You can watch Walking Dead through streaming on the internet. It's free. There is a great website that I use.

Also you can buy the episode the day after on Amazon. It is $1.99 per episode. You can do this with a lot of shows. Last year, I bought each episode of Downton Abbey (season 4) the night after it aired. It suited me to be able to watch it whenever.

Now season 4 is available on Amazon Instant Video; I just wasn't patient enough to wait.