Cutting the cable cord

DreamAmalfi
DreamAmalfi Posts: 211 Member
in Chit-Chat
So, am getting really tired of dealing with my cable company and the ever increasing cost. I know many people have cut the cable cord and are streaming tv, movies etc....any pearls of wisdom, recommendations or ones to avoid? Also any recommended internet speed and bandwidth plan giving the streaming demand on the data? Grazie.

Replies

  • km8907
    km8907 Posts: 3,861 Member
    @cee134

    I just use the basic Netflix and Hulu. There's a lot more options though. I think I originally bought into the 75mbps and that was plenty. Comcast recently upgraded it to 100mbps at no extra charge. I have no issues streaming and don't miss cable at all.
  • cee134
    cee134 Posts: 33,711 Member
    You can get away with 10 mbps if you are the only one streaming. That's the minimum. I would up it to 15 to be safe but it's hard to find deals like that. 100 mbps is over kill but works better for families of 4 or multiple streaming devices.

    I got rid of cable back in 2013. And even then I should of done it sooner. Cable is just paying for advertising now.

    I have no problem finding something good to watch or watching my favorite shows.
  • Unknown
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  • DreamAmalfi
    DreamAmalfi Posts: 211 Member
    Thanks all. I appreciate the comments!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I cut the cord when we moved and don't really miss it except for the occasional sporting event that I'm interested in, but it's on ESPN.

    We cut it because we just don't watch that much t.v. in general...maybe an hour in the evening, and that's about it. We stream HULU and Netflix mostly, but I also have an antennae for local channels.

    I got tired of paying $100+ per month for satellite when we barely watched it and were mostly watching local channels or Hulu anyways.
  • Motorsheen
    Motorsheen Posts: 20,508 Member
    I bought and installed an HD antenna.

    I'm able to watch the only thing I care about watching on television ..... College Football.

    Netflix & streaming Amazon is also in the mix.

    No dish or cable bills.

    The only thing I miss is a lil ESPN.
  • Motorsheen
    Motorsheen Posts: 20,508 Member
    Is there a cafeteria plan out there to select certain cable network stations?

    ( espn, tbs, big ten network etc. )
  • ekim2016
    ekim2016 Posts: 1,199 Member
    living in a beautiful basin surrounded by mountains, I cannot pull in any signals via antennae. So I keep my cable for news, baseball, football and some network shows. I also have Hulu, Netflix, Amazon... so I probably have overkill..haha I rationalize the expense by not going out wasting money in restaurants anymore.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    I have been using an android box for a few years. Who needs cable when you can get Kodi for free. I mostly watch using the Genesis reborn add on.
  • gophermatt
    gophermatt Posts: 129 Member
    We did Hulu, with the package that has locals and sports (only “live” TV we watch). Works fine, don’t skimp on the internet speed, though. 3 kids, 2 teenagers so we’re pushing. Not ala carte, but save a bunch every month.
  • Just_Mel_
    Just_Mel_ Posts: 3,992 Member
    I'd do it, but I have to watch my Thunder games. I've yet to hear of a way to still watch them without cable or satellite.
  • cee134
    cee134 Posts: 33,711 Member
    singingflutelady wrote: »
    I have been using an android box for a few years. Who needs cable when you can get Kodi for free. I mostly watch using the Genesis reborn add on.

    Shhhhhhhh......
  • cee134
    cee134 Posts: 33,711 Member
    Avocado_AS5 wrote: »
    I'd do it, but I have to watch my Thunder games. I've yet to hear of a way to still watch them without cable or satellite.

    We should talk.
  • 100_PROOF_
    100_PROOF_ Posts: 1,168 Member
    I use Kodi now and don't miss cable at all.
    My last cable bill was 327$ because we had all the premium channels and a landline. Now I pay for just internet (100$).
    I look up anything I might feel like watching and can find most things with ease.
  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    I've lived on my own since I was 18. I'm 32. I never had cable. Life is fine.

    I didn't even have a tv until a week ago.
  • r3488
    r3488 Posts: 77 Member
    I've been considering trying out sling TV. Not quite a la carte, but you can choose either the orange ($20/month) or blue ($25/month) lineup (or both for $45) and then add on other "mini packages" for additional $5 each.
  • DreamAmalfi
    DreamAmalfi Posts: 211 Member
    You guys rock. Lots of great ideas. I've been on the going to cut the friggen cable train for a while and almost did in October or so last year. I do believe the time has come.
  • DreamAmalfi
    DreamAmalfi Posts: 211 Member
    Avocado_AS5 wrote: »
    I'd do it, but I have to watch my Thunder games. I've yet to hear of a way to still watch them without cable or satellite.

    OK City Thunder?
  • Just_Mel_
    Just_Mel_ Posts: 3,992 Member
    DreamAmalfi wrote: »
    Avocado_AS5 wrote: »
    I'd do it, but I have to watch my Thunder games. I've yet to hear of a way to still watch them without cable or satellite.

    OK City Thunder?

    kv07naeseat1.gif
  • xFunctionalStrengthx
    xFunctionalStrengthx Posts: 4,928 Member
    I use cable as my internet provider. But, don't do TV service. Instead, I have an HD antennae for the local channels which is a fair number of them at about 30 in my area. Then, I only have Amazon Prime, since I rarely watch any TV and can't justify more than that. Works for me.
  • hroderick
    hroderick Posts: 756 Member
    Search YouTube for Kodi and Amazon for "kodi box".
    Also from Amazon get a keyboard remote.
    You'll thank me later
  • rutzsa
    rutzsa Posts: 52 Member
    Motorsheen wrote: »
    Is there a cafeteria plan out there to select certain cable network stations?

    ( espn, tbs, big ten network etc. )

    I use a Roku device to stream and one of their channels is sling tv that has all the tbs, tnt, fx, espn, etc.channels depending on package its like 25 channels for 25$ a month, they have now incorpoated a dvr as well
  • DreamAmalfi
    DreamAmalfi Posts: 211 Member
    Avocado_AS5 wrote: »
    DreamAmalfi wrote: »
    Avocado_AS5 wrote: »
    I'd do it, but I have to watch my Thunder games. I've yet to hear of a way to still watch them without cable or satellite.

    OK City Thunder?

    kv07naeseat1.gif

    Hmmmmmm...Oklahoma Thunder then. Nailed it!
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    We dropped cable/satellite tv about 10 years ago. At the time we mainly had Netflix dvd's and whatever we found free on the internet. Then we had streaming on Netflix. Now we have Amazon Prime video as well.
    I don't really watch anything regularly myself.
  • AusAshMommy
    AusAshMommy Posts: 845 Member
    Cut the cord going on 10 years ago ourselves, we used to watch what we wanted in the form of DVD's and what we could find on YouTube - then got ourselves a SmartTV and stream via Netflix (Hulu no longer supports our TV so we can't watch it anymore - thus considering a Roku device).

    We get out internet through AT&T and have a larger bandwidth - the SmartTV, a Desktop Computer, three phones and a couple tablets in the house we need it.

    I wouldn't skimp on the bandwidth. Makes a lot of difference.
  • Deisler26
    Deisler26 Posts: 357 Member
    Avocado_AS5 wrote: »
    I'd do it, but I have to watch my Thunder games. I've yet to hear of a way to still watch them without cable or satellite.

    Markham?

    And we cut the cord last year. All we did was upgrade our internet to a 200mbs fibre connection, so that all three kids can stream their shows, my missus can watch her Netflix and I can play the Xbox
  • DreamAmalfi
    DreamAmalfi Posts: 211 Member
    Officially cut the cord today. Got a Roku stick and Sling TV so far. Thanks all!
  • SmurfBunny3
    SmurfBunny3 Posts: 73 Member
    People still have cable???

    We cut the cord like 10 years ago. We have Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. Anything we really want to watch that we can't find there (Big Bang Theory, for example), we buy the season pass on Vudu.

    The only thing we haven't really managed to replace is live sports. But, hubby gets by without it. That one thing isn't worth all that money for. If he really wants to see a game he will either go watch it at a friends house or at a sports bar. It's all good.... :)
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    bbell1985 wrote: »
    I've lived on my own since I was 18. I'm 32. I never had cable. Life is fine.

    I didn't even have a tv until a week ago.

    Living alone I never had cable either. For me it was always a thing on my to do list when a relationship ended. Call and cancel the cable because I don't need or want it. Every guy I lived with previously (a few boyfriends and my ex husband) HAD TO have cable, HBO, sports package(s) and so on.

    My husband now doesn't care about TV. We have literally turned on our TV zero times in 2018 so far and only have one because my in-laws died and their two year old flat screen would not have brought much in at the auction.

    I tried Netflix for a month in 2016 and fully intended to keep it permanently since it's very affordable...but within that month we had icy weather and I hurt my arm, so I burnt myself out watching everything and was more than done in three weeks. Haven't missed it. I do occasionally watch TV shows at others' homes but it's always their idea.
  • 4legsRbetterthan2
    4legsRbetterthan2 Posts: 19,590 MFP Moderator
    I have never had cable. Unless you are into sports doesnt seem worth the money anymore.

    We use netflix and hulu. Hulu seems to do better for tv shows, netflix has more movies. Curious to see if thos cheaper version of tv lasts? Seems like different channels are starting to create their own streaming sites and moving away from the big ones.

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