$20/month "cable". We FINALLY unplugged from cable.

[underpants]

I didn't have a problem with Verizon (don't even get me started on Comcast) but we just didn't need it. We also switched to Sprint for the cell phones cutting our cost in half (as advertised) including a 2-for-1 current deal on iPhone 6S's. 4G data and 4G speed with unlimited talk and text. Month to month no contract.

We kept internet/Wifi with Verizon (updated router is 6 times faster than the old one) which we use to do what I am doing now and to run our Apple TV. We have a HD antenna which gives us 13 local stations - in "the Richmond tunnel" apparently you have to find the spot for the antenna to get the local NBC station.

Apple TV costs basically less than one month of cable for the device. We added Apple's basic Sling for $20/month - CNN Newsy(?) Bloomberg ESPN1&2 FOOD IFC AMC (Walking Dead) DISNEY FREEFORM CARTOON TRAVEL HGTV POLARIS AXS (Rather's Big Interview) LIFETIME GLOBAL y EL REY BBC AMERICA HISTORY COMEDY A&E VICELAND TBS TNT.

We have Netflix and Hulu too running through the Apple TV.

This tiny Apple remote frankly freaks me out with all it can do and so easily. I know - it's Apple.

WE should have done this years ago.

[Lanius]

1. How much is Verizon per month

and what is your data plan? I'm interested in changing internet providers as CenturyLink is extremely slow out here.

[underpants]

2. $70 + tax. 75 kmb/second. Not sure of total data

I've heard they'll squeeze down on that so we'll see.

The old router was 15kmb/second. I think "kmb" is the right abbreviation.

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. What kind of new router did you get?

We are thinking of upgrading.

and congrats on cutting the cord, so to speak.
broadband is dying out.

[underpants]

14. Verizon Fios 5GHZ

That's all I can find on it.

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. That sounds like a great solution!

I have to look into something like this too.
Thanks!!!

[mcar]

4. We cut the cord two years ago

We have a 3 yo Roku, Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime. Our couple $ a month pledge to PBS gives us their feed. In a pinch, we get news via the internet.

[JanMichael]

10. We have a first generation Roku and a TV from 1999.

Netflix, a digital antenna that gives 30 local channels, and Amazon Prime work fine but we are thinking about a new TV.

If we get the new TV can I get down to one remote? There are 4 now...and the TV remote died and the "UP" channel button is broken so switching from digital channels to Roku takes 4 minutes to go down backwards from #3 to get to #4.

[mcar]

11. I do think a newer tv will help

Get a Black Friday deal. Or, we got our flat screen a few years ago on Dec 26 and got a great deal.

[Atman]

47. We got a universal remote; Amazon and Apple both have remote apps

It's an older Harmony universal remote, which is fine for on/off/volume, but worthless for changing programs on Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV. But both offer apps which control everything else through the iPhone. Our son has a newer model which is pretty small, and allows navigation even in the Netflix/Hulu/Amazon screens. But it's about $90.

Of course, if you don't use an Apple TV, you don't need Remote. But the Amazon app should be available for iOS and Android.

[underpants]

13. We get 3 PBS stations on the HD antenna

I'm loving this.

[mcar]

19. We live in a rural area

Our son got us an antenna for Christmas last year. We got nothing and sent it back.

[underpants]

20. I can imagine. We were laughing about having both "antenna" and Apple technology at the same time.

[mcar]

21. We were so excited

and then disappointed. We don't lack for media but it would help during a crisis, like a hurricane.

[Go Vols]

42. I tried the LAVA HD-2605 antenna

It gets mixed reviews,but I pick up prolly 40 channels from as far away as 65 miles,another city at 60 miles and another at 45 miles.

[Cakes488]

5. sling tv looks pretty good

[bhikkhu]

7. Congrats - we've done without cable since 2001

and it has been easier and easier now, having Amazon Prime and Netflix streaming. Going over the bills it still seems like a lot of various things - $18 or so a month for streaming services, $55 a month for broadband connection, $57 a month for two cell phones with data...

[underpants]

22. Once we finish buying the phone (s) ours will be that low too

[rusty quoin]

28. That's funny. We had no cable prior to 2001.

Once the towers came down I wanted more news. I will look to alternative ways like you guys now.

[rurallib]

8. do you have a programming grid on screen

or do you get programming schedules from the internet?

[underpants]

15. Uh....

It's the Apple Menu. That's all I can tell you.

[UMTerp01]

9. My cable bill is $287/month. I wish I could

My home security system is wrapped up in it as well as premium cable and the boxes and wifi. I hate that Comcast has such a monopoly on prices because they get on my MF'n nerves but I wish I could just pick maybe about 30-40 channels because the other ones I could live without.

[eleny]

16. Just a tip if it might help

Last time our bill was screwy we went up to the local Comcast office to have them explain it. Turns out that the offices reps have better deals to offer than talking to Comcast reps by phone.

We got a different plan which is mostly all the stations, internet, our land line (we keep that for the convenience of elderly relatives who've known us at the number for 40 years) and the security system. Plus, they gave us a $100. gift card for taking the plan. The security system was new to us. Also, the bill dropped by about $30 a month.

So we've decided that any time we have a question we're going up to the local office to talk to someone in person. But we're lucky. The office is a short drive from our house.

Hope this helps.

[underpants]

18. Yep like with a lot of other things keep calling and you'll get better deals.

It weirdly just depends on who you talk to.

[eleny]

23. We won't ever deal with them by phone regarding billing

Going to the office in person got us the best deal. The only time I'll ever call is to report an outage.

[ProfessorGAC]

33. You're Right

I call about anything significant regarding service. Then they give a pretty sizeable reduction for "2 years". But, at the end of 2 years, you call and tell them "You better not raise my bill." And they don't.

Been doing that for 7 or 8 years. My service is way upgraded and i'm paying less than i did 5 years ago.

Faster router, X1 in the whole house, VOIP phone. For less than i paid 5 years ago.

[underpants]

17. That's sounds about right

Waaaaay too much. We are actually lucky to have two cable options. Comcast at one point blamed squirrels for our internet not working. I was out of work at the time (like many in 2008-9) and I had to go to the library to search for jobs. The techs who came by called into the same customer service number as I did. I've noticed that a lot of Comcast vehicles barely have their name on them anymore - they say Xfinity.

BTW - if I'm not in their call center training program they are missing a golden example of a "problem call". I wore them out

[awoke_in_2003]

24. I got one a couple months ago

and will be cutting shortly. One thing- when it comes to streaming movies, Amazon Prime kicks Netflix's sorry ass.

[Jim Beard]

39. When I first tried my Amazon Prime videos, it was very confusing and I

clicked on a rental. I have it but don't use it. I don't want to be charged for something I want to pay for. I like Netflix and the British "Acorn" Because I love mysteries, real ones, which the Brits do best.

[burrowowl]

25. Will look into it!

Thanks for info!

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

26. There are many alternatives to cable.

The simplest being the internet. Which is how I watch the various shows and such.

A while back, after some changes in my life, I couldn't afford to purchase a TV or cable, although I was willing to pay for internet. You understand, that was my hierarchy of needs. Anyway, I found I didn't miss regular TV at all. It's pretty impressive how much is available over the internet. I think if you're a huge sports fan and want to watch games, it's a bit trickier, but I'm not very into sports.

It's pretty amazing how much is simply put out there.

[Jim Beard]

40. How do you get internet programs to other TV's? I have Netflix & Hulu and the wifi

sends it to other TV's in my house but how do I do it with other things I find on the internet, like CNN? I can watch it on my PC but not other TV's.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

44. Haven't a clue. I don't own a TV.

I do all my watching on the screen I'm sitting in front of as I type this.

Perhaps there's a way to connect your regular TV to your computer/internet, but I don't know how it would be done. Do you have a teen at home? Friends with teens?

[Vivid Lizard]

27. Verizon/Frontier Weirdness

I SEMI cut the cable a little over a year ago after much research. We had Verizon FIOS (now Frontier FIOS) and I thought I could simply drop TV and keep the Internet connection. Now, I'm one to negotiate... every couple of years calling up whoever my provider is and innocently asking "what do I need to do to cancel my service?" That starts the whole "why do you want to cancel your service?" thing, talk to a rep, talk to a supervisor, etc. I usually end up with a "new service" rate.

Anywho, I come to find out that if I totally cut TV and keep the internet, it's around $80 p/month. But, if I keep TV, downgrade it to that unpublished "just local" service, plus the internet, it's $50 p/month! No TV, $80, with TV, $50. I know it has to do with keeping me connected to Pay-Per-View and such, but damn. So I went with that. Still a monopolistic ripoff. We use Hulu and Netflix on a Roku. Experimenting now with Amazon Prime.

[underpants]

29. I had never heard of Rocky until this thread

Funny I'm getting all kinds of deals offered by Verizon via email since we pulled the plug.
We'll stick with what we have now or at least get acclimated to it.

[Duppers]

30. Thanks. If we were staying in Wmsburg, we'd do the same.

But we're moving to mountain country where we'll need dish or some satellite equipment to get anything. I'll have to research our options for net service.

Suggestions welcome.

[underpants]

31. The Valley or west of Roanoke?

I can't really help - my folks live near Staunton and they switched back from dish to cable.

[Duppers]

32. Redneck country: on the border of the GSMNP.

Five acres at the top of first ridge.


Google "BlackBerry Farm" images.

[underpants]

34. Wow. Very cool.

[Duppers]

38. Thanks. We looked for years.

Found a deal on foreclosed property and are building a new custom home. Hubs is working way over retirement age, hoping to afford what we want. At least living costs there will be lower. And it's home, since he and I hiked the AT back in the college years. Love, love mountains. Another plus is that one of our future neighbors is a real liberal! Shocked me too.

[phylny]

41. We're at the lake in Bedford County.

We've patched together "Internet" consisting of two satellites and two Verizon MiFi units and pay a ton of money for the "convenience." It's expensive and during the summer when there are visitors at the lake, the MiFis are almost useless.

Jane Dittmar and Hillary Clinton are running with platforms that include high-speed broadband to every home in America. Can't wait for that day.

[Duppers]

43. Thank you. Requires 2 satellites, uh! Wowzer!

Thanks, you've initiated my research. Not familiar with the MiDi but am googling.

I've been to Bedford, the lake, the WWII Memorial, and Peaks of Otter several times. Beautiful country.

Hope Jane gets elected...and Hillary, of course.

[phylny]

48. Yes and no. It depends where you are. We have two satellites because my husband

needs a certain type for work. The MiFis act as a separate hotspot. Depending upon where you live, they can work well or not well.

[Atman]

36. About that tiny remote...

First, we did almost exactly what you did and never looked back. But we also added Amazon Prime and a $39 Fire TV Stick on our primary tv. In retrospect, you really don't even need the stick if you have Apple AirPlay -- just use the Amazon Video app and select AirPlay and video will play on your Apple TV.

Anyway, about the tiny remote; we lost ours within two weeks. DL the Apple Remote app to your phones and control your Apple TV, as well as iTunes on your Mac (if you have one). It's obviously four times the size of that tiny remote, and provide a keyboard and voice recognition for easier searches. It's a must-have if you have Apple TV.

[underpants]

37. Just downloaded it

Thanks. I'll give it a shot tonight.

[Kermitt Gribble]

45. Congrats!

I've been trying to do the same. I currently cast Sling TV through Chromecast, but the streaming is lousy. From what I've read, there are no streaming issues with Roku. How is the stream quality with Apple TV?

[underpants]

46. It's great. Even on the antenna it's crystal clear

Maybe it's the TV? Phillips HD

[ecstatic]

49. I tried for a month. Couldn't make it, found a deal I couldn't refuse.

I just didn't have the patience to set up my computer each time I wanted to watch tv. When I wake up, I want instant access to the latest news. MSNBC's website is awful, and the music they play during breaks was unbearable. CNN has an awesome multi platform app, but it wasn't enough.