Cord is cut, living large

[washman]

Like so many others, I grew tired of ever increasing cable bills and piss poor programming along with gobs of channels I just plain did not watch.

I purchased an LG "smart" tv that replaced the trusty USA assembled tube Toshiba. After getting acclimated to its nuances, I grabbed an indoor antenna from waldo world (my radio shack closed here) and after some adjustments, experiments, I finally got it to where I can get 30 channels over the air, a good many in HDTV format.

Sure there are things I miss like CNN and the Weather channel. What I do like is a cable bill that is cut in half. And I get all the major networks in HDTV whereas I only got 2-3 channels total in HDTV whilst on the box. NIce thing is, I can tie in to youtube netflix, etc with the LG and have a bevy of things to watch at a cost far less than cable.

In fact, dear old dad is fed up with direct TV (AT&take-it-up-the-arse-T) and today he got an antenna from radio shack and will have a neighbor help him get it connected. I know he pays around $150/month for lousy service; let a rain cloud appear and all his channels are gone. He called dozens of times only in the end to be told that weather falls under the act of God clause in his service agreement and thus Direct TV is not responsible nor will they issue him credit.

Funny thing is, before AT&T got their arse skinners in the mix, he had no issues at all with direct TV. Year in and year out, his service was stellar. Well he lost autotune, most of his hi def channels(oh that's in a package IF you want to pay more), some of his music channels but got a lot more useless crap like religious channels, government meeting channels, a local school channel and tons of HSN and ION buy now junk.

Direct TV used to send out a tech when a customer needed help with a receiver or dish issue. Not ATT. You're on your own buddy. Good luck, and by the way, make out your check to ATT and make sure it is postmarked by the due date. Et Cetera.

Obviously this is an individual choice. I;m leaving not because of lousy service, just absurdly priced "packages" that I find useless. Dad is leaving after nearly 26 years on direct tv (we got one of the very first dishes in Indiana from HH Gregg). He does not take this lightly but it is painfully apparent that ATT is totally clueless on how to run a sat tv business. I'm not so sure they even know how to run a cellular business but that is another discussion.

 

[wayupnorth]

So far my Direct TV has not been a problem. It works 99% during storms when the rooftop antenna for locals just pixilates, but I wont spend the 6 bucks extra to get it on satellite out of principle. I have had it since 1999 and just keep calling
back and get discounts because I am under a grandfathered package and a long time customer. I always get my way on this stuff for a decent price.

 

[frigilux]

You won't regret it, Ben. Glad you get networks over the air, as none of the stations are close enough for me to pick up. I was kind of lost the first month or so, but now I've found so many things to watch.  YouTube is a treasure trove and it's free!

 

I subscribe to Hulu, Netflix and Amazon Prime (although Prime is the service I've hardly touched media-wise; have it primarily for free 2-day shipping) and CBS.  I also purchased the NOAA Weather Radar app, which comes in handy during severe weather.  

 

While NBC and ABC still require you to have cable/satellite-provider proof before they allow you to view most of their programming, CBS charges $5.99 a month for full access to everything, plus they give you a live affiliate station from your area (I get WCCO from Minneapolis).

 

I use Hulu the most (after YouTube). Lots of great vintage TV shows, British shows, original programming. I am finally exploring Netflix more.  It was primarily the 'Orange Is The New Black' network for me, LOL.

 

I cut my landline as well and am saving about $130.00 per month.  

 

[gusherb]

We don't have cable here either. Just Netflix, Hulu, Internet and cell service of course. I cut the landline two years ago but ported the number to a VoIP provider so I could still have something in the house to plug my Western Electric phones into.

 

[mattl]

I do get tired of people claiming a rain cloud knocked out their Directv signal.  On a properly installed system the signal is 99%+ solid.  If not it needs to be re-aimed.  The ONLY time I loose signal is when a massive storm comes in, and at that point I'm glad to get the 15 minute warning.  I do all my own installs, and own all my equipment.

 

As to the $150 bill, unless a person had every premium channel or lots of receivers that's too high.  I have 7 HD DVRS and pay $155 -but no premium channels.  I do pay for the service package and if anything goes wrong with a receiver I have a new on in my hands in 2 days.  I really have no issues with Dtv, I was angry when ATT took over, but have not had to deal with them yet.  When I go 4K I will need new equipment, but that is a bit in the future.

 

I kick around the idea of dropping Directv form time to time, but it's just too easy to punch a button and have hundreds of hours of programming  on my various drvs available.

 

[ilovewindex]

We have the hulu, netflix, amazon deal and no cable.. I don't even like tv... I rather watch you tube

When we did, there was very little i watched to begin with

 

[vacerator]

A friend

phoned me yesterday and said his cable bill was hiked $30. He called WOW and told them he'd have it cancelled. They lowered the increase to $10. Just greedy.

 

[lordkenmore]

I've cut the TV cord a lot more dramatically than some here. Not only is there no cable, but there is also no antenna and no Internet connection. All of my watching is by DVDs, most of which are checked out from the library. The local library has an incredible collection of TV shows, both old and new.

 

[frigilux]

You are a cord-cutting samurai, Lord Kenmore! Don't think I could go quite that far.

 

[henene4]

No internet conection

Something dosen't seem quite right there, if you ask me... Find the mistake

 

[foraloysius]

Now Henrik, you disappoint me. What happened to the possibility of using a Smartphone? Although I'm not sure Lord Kenmore has one.

Ofcourse he can always use the internet at the mentioned local library.

 

[washerboy]

No Regrets

I cut the cord almost 3 years ago and I haven't missed a thing. I know some folks have mentioned they didn't have trouble during storms...I did..there would be severe weather and I couldn't get receiption....bothersome esp. during a torando. This was also the case with the hospital helocopters flying over and sometimes when we had an ice storm. I get about 22 channels with the antena. PBS has some wonderful programming for my grand kids. I also took out the landline. I was sending the telephone company a check every month so I could send the security carrier a check every month. Went cellular on the alarm system so I didn't need the landline. I was convinced it was going to be hell without cable and a landline...haven't missed either.

 

[henene4]

But a smartphone with internet conection still is an internet conection ;D

 

[foraloysius]

Not in the meaning of this thread which is about cutting the cord.

 

[henene4]

Either the US and EU have different systems, but over here, cable TV and wire-based internet are 2 completly different networks as well.

 

[kb0nes]

Rain outs with DirecTV

I agree with the above comments on rainouts with DirecTV, they are very infrequent and short lived (provided the dish is aimed well and has no foliage blocking the aperture etc).

Over the 11 years I had DirecTV I probably had about 4 total hours of loss of signal due to rain or snow. I can remember a number of instances when I had Comcast prior to installing the dish where individual outages were measured in DAYS till a tech fixed the problem.

Rainouts are largely a scare tactic used by the cable providers to try to protect their market share.

 

[foraloysius]

I have been on cable internet for over 20 years now. That doesn't exist in Germany?

 

[launderess]

It is and we are

Things are rather complicated on this side of the pond as in theory the bones (wires) of telephone systems that carry Internet and other services (except obviously satellite) are owned by the large telephone and or cable systems. These are legal monopolies given rights to an area to provide service.

This made sense in the days of copper and other cables as you don't want several companies tearing up streets/putting up poles to carry wires. However in return for this monopoly companies have to give access to certain others by law for a fee.

EarthLink (an Internet provider) does not own any wiring. Nor does Netflix, Hulu, and countless other telephone, Internet, or information companies. They merely use existing networks built and maintained by the big telephone and cable monopolies.

Here is a list of Internet providers for the New York City area: http://broadbandnow.com/New-York/New-York

Only three; Verizon/Fios, RCN (cable), and Time Warner (cable) have built, own and maintain their own networks. Everyone else piggy-backs off one of the majors.

You can get telephone, cable, and Internet service from either one of the telephone companies (now most often rebranded themselves into "information and technology companies") or cable company such as Time Warner. For now the only fiber optic network is being built by Verizon.

The old copper wiring that has been in place for decades if not over a century is fast being phased out in favor of fiber optic wiring. In fact Verizon and other telephone monopoly companies in the USA are trying to ditch/sell off their old copper systems and cooperate solely on fiber optic. FO is better or carrying the data most homes use these days (television programming, media, heavy Internet usage, etc...). This is being also pushed as the use of land line telephone use has plummeted year after year as more persons simply use their cell/smart phones as their only connection.

 

[washman]

well feel free to call my dad and tell him that he's ful

it then.

ATT replaced his dish, w/o his knowledge or consent with a cheap plastic piece of junk. Ever since, he's had problems and ATT denies that they did it nor do they have any record of equipment change nor will they send anyone out to diagnose and correct the problem.

You are partially correct, when Direct Tv was Direct TV, he had stellar service and reasonable rates. Ever since ATT took them over, it has gone to pot. Bottom line is ATT effed it up not my dad (he's 72 and sure as hell can't get up on a ladder either) so he's got his outdoor antenna and as soon as the neighbor can come over, it will be installed and if he can pick up enough OTA channels, he's telling ATT to kiss is arse.

I know he's telling the truth; I've been there when a storm is 30 miles away over lake okeechobee and we'll lose every single channel. Meanwhile the sun is shining on his house and no, there has been no new tall buildings on his street and the same trees have been there for 14 years, same height breadth etc.