This message was self-deleted by its author

Getting fed up. I want what you want except also kind of want to keep HBO, too.

I don't watch the comedy channel or TCM. Check out Kanopy they have some really great content and it should be free with your library card. Kanopy pops up on Hulu. We have prime and a firestick and hulu as an add on. I figured we would be saving around 900.00 a year. We do not have Showtime and HBO and I do miss some of the shows but not enough to go back to cable. You can watch John Oliver on You Tube.

That you have to sit there and babysit your tv?

For example when you finish something on YouTube it stars playing another related video that it assumes you will be interested in as well . But as time goes on, the videos get less and less related to what you originally wanted to see. Next thing you know it’s showing you clips from Fox News or maybe porch pirate videos.

I listen to tv more than I sit and watch it. And I would like it to keep it on a channel I like without having to constantly monitor it.

want to watch. I get what you mean about You Tube.

it will take you to the next episode of that series.

If you come to the last available episode of a series on Hulu, it will take you to another program you have a history of watching.

We have Sling Blue plus Hollywood Extra (for TCM) and News Extra (for MSNBC) and Cloud DVR, all for $40/month. Watch it with Apple TV or with Chrome web browser on our laptops.

Only problem for us is lack of CSPAN, but it's more than made up for by almost no $ going to Fox or the religious stations that are part of the other packages.

Their DVR isn't great ... but miles beyond the crap that DirecTV Now sold us.

Btw, streaming is just another way of saying delivery over the internet instead of needing some sat dish.

I wish I could explain the process to you, i have tried and fail to hook up on my own. But just maybe there is a YouTube video to do it yourself.

how old is your tv?
Do you have an old tube tv or do you have a TV with USB ports in the back.

Some TV's are smart tv's that will connect to the internet...
but you can have an older flat screen TV like we have, that is not a smart TV, but can plug in
the ROKU stick (or other similar devices) to the TV. And then the ROKU stick plugs into your TV and you look at programs that way.
The Roku interfaces with the internet for you. Some programming is free and some is not, depends on what you want to look at.

We still have DISH, but we got a free Roku stick to check it out what's there.
Our Tmobile started offering Netflix with our current phone service,
and we got a free six months of Amazon prime for free...so we are doing that for now.

...but at some point will probably switch to some kind of cable Spectrum for just he channels we want
and some kind of streaming services, we just haven't figured out which ones yet.
My husband requires some cable channels for sports that he can't get streaming (for free), so I don't think
we've quite figured out a completly dish or cable free existance.

We also have an antenna for the over air channels, and get our network TV that way instead of through Dish.
If it were up to me I'd cancel it all and go with just over the air.

1. The only true "cutting the cord" is using an old-fashioned antenna to receive digital TV from regular broadcast stations. Most newer TVs have built-in digital tuners and you can still buy digital-to-analog converters for older TVs. Just like the old days, this programming is FREE. Here in the Louisville area, we get all three major networks plus PBS stations. In addition, each of those broadcasts several sub-channels, so you get a lot of programming - although some of it is older stuff like re-runs.

2. Cutting the cord is a misnomer for most people because (for example) for the programming you listed, you must at least have high-speed internet. That's where the big change comes in though, because instead of getting your TV signals via a cable or satellite modem and expensive monthly subscription, you will be getting your video and audio "streamed" in over the internet with much cheaper subscription fees. So, you will at least need to have a good internet service with a WIFI modem (the modem can also feed your computer via WIFI or Ethernet cable).

3. A "modem" simply an electronics box that converts a service provider's information transmission signal (cable RF, satellite RF, DSL, etc.) to signals your equipment can process and use. For example, my AT&T DSL line modem converts the DSL signal superimposed on my telephone line into a standard data stream my computer can talk to via an Ethernet or USB cable.

4. "Streaming" simply means that the TV programming (audio and video) is fed continuously from the internet modem to your TV conversion device (Roku, Firestick, etc.), as opposed to time-sharing data streams that might be in multi-computer systems.

5. So, you can use a combination of programming off an antenna (assuming you can get reception at your location) and streaming programming from the internet. That's what we do here. I've actually had friends that had been on cable so long they didn't even know about the free stuff off a simple antenna (I set one up temporarily using a set of old beat-up rabbit ears. The lady said wow, now I can watch my soaps again!).

6. So, once you have your high-speed WIFI internet box set up, the next step is to select a receiver unit such as a Roku box (or stick) that converts the WIFI stream to signals your TV can process. These units typically connect to your TV either via a HDMI cable or older type video/audio (red/white/yellow) connectors. For example, the Roku boxes cost between $30 and $80, depending on features and they include a remote control. I hope some other folks her can comment on other systems that are available, such as Hulu and Amazon (I'm using Roku as my example because it's one I've been studying for my home).

7. After you have your internet and your TV converter receiver set up, then you choose any optional programming you want to pay for. All these systems give you lots of FREE programming, so you just have to buy the box and pay your monthly internet fee to a cable company such as Time Warner or AT&T.

8. You would set up an account say, with Roku, and then you can turn optional programming "channels" on and off as you wish. So, for example, if you only wanted to watch NFL coverage during the playoffs and Super Bowl, you could switch that channel "on" only for say, a couple of months. Same with movie channels.

Hope this helps you get started and you can PM me or answer this post with any questions. Others here that have more experience than me in using these services can help with the details, too.

I am at the same predicament as UTUSN but have no idea how all of this works. Thank you for posting this info - I am saving it.

....................

We have Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu (the cheap version which is 6.99 starting in Feb - they lowered the price) I have commercials but you can get it commercial free by paying a little bit more
I love HULU because I can watch the current episodes of several programs I really like within a couple of days after they have broadcast. I can wait.

Prime Video is included in my Amazon membership which I would have anyway.

We have HBONow for $15 monthly and it's billed through Amazon.

About devices. If you have a ROKU Free Speech TV is a free channel so you can watch Stephanie Miller Thom Hartmann, Amy Goodman and others. FSTV has its own built in archives too. You can get FSTV on the Firestick but it's a little less straightforward.


There are lots of free channels on the ROKU; I have not explored the Firestick that much.

If I am watching a program on the ROKU and then move to the firestick, I'll still be on the same episode because the streaming channel is taking care of marking my place.

When you set this up with your internet service provider (ISP), how did you insure you would get enough bandwidth from them?

That would particularly seem to be a concern in your case since I believe you may feed two TVs with different programming at any given time.

I will only be feeding one TV and a desktop computer.

Also, are you using the ISP's modem WIFI directly, or did you add your own WIFI router?

We have no trouble at all except when my husband is running his virtual reality goggles and using the wifi to access whatever it is he is watching. He can watch on his computer while I watch on one of the TVs and still bring up the internet if needed on my laptop.

We rarely have both TVs on at the same time, often it is one TV and one computer.

We're on CenturyLink and previously had their PrismTV. With PrismTV although you are getting 30 mbs 20 of that is dedicated to Prism even if your Prism devices are turned off. With 10 mbs we had streaming problems especially if both my husband and I were streaming different TVs and on our computers at the same time.

Last year I responded to an offer from Century to op our bandwidth to 40 mbs. My intention was to drop Prism and just stream. The representative talked me into keeping a lower number of channels with Prism but did not tell me about the bandwidth reserved for Prism. In addition with Prism you cannot get the 40 mbs at all.

Finally after months of hassle I dropped Prism (which they tried to charge me for "breaking" the contract they never told me about) and now have 40 mbs. The only channel we have any problem with is Sling and I think that is more that they are trying to live stream and have to "switch" every hour to allow their encoders to catch up. Sometimes it freezes at the hour, sometimes it speeds up, and occasionally it kicks us out to the main Roku menu.

We are using WIFI through the CenturyLink provided modem though I have thought about buying my own. They have not upgraded the modem in many years.

basically streaming allows you to watch several episodes of a program back to back. Series with a lot of intertwining plots and subplots are so much more fun if you don't have to wait a week for the next episode

Also you can watch TV shows you never got to watch when they were on and have the entire series at your fingertips.

Finally much of the original programming coming from Hulu, Netflix and Prime outstrips much of what is on regular TV anymore.

These are some WIFI-TV system reviews that may help understand your choices:

The best streaming devices for 2019 - Digital Trends
Link: https://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/best-streaming-devices/

The Best Media Streaming Devices for 2019 - PC Magazine
Who needs cable? We pit the highest-rated streaming boxes and sticks against one another to find out which one is your best bet for watching shows, movies, and more on your television.
Link: https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2421457,00.asp

and,
The 12 Best Devices to Buy in 2019 for Streaming TV - Life Wire
Cut cords with the cable companies and stream your content to your TV
Link: https://www.lifewire.com/best-devices-to-buy-for-streaming-tv-4061016

-----------------------
Here are some links to the equipment supplier's web sites (there may be others):

1. Roku: https://www.roku.com/how-it-works

2. Amazon (Fire TV): https://www.amazon.com/b/ref=d_devcp_smp_img/ref=s9_acss_bw_cg_deviceCP_2c1_w?ie=UTF8&node=8521791011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-top-2&pf_rd_r=75140YPH3ZGY5DQDT1ZQ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=12532529-74fe-4b68-8961-93cf88d8719a&pf_rd_i=2102313011

3. Google Chromecast TV: https://store.google.com/product/chromecast

4. Apple TV: https://www.apple.com/tv/

5. Nvidia Shield: https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/shield/

Most of these boxes can be bought either directly from the manufacturer or from web stores such as Amazon, Best Buy, etc.

This all gets very confusing to me. Please understand the difference between the streaming receiver boxes (Roku, Fire TV, etc.) and the optional subscription content providers (Netflix, Hulu, etc.). You buy the box first with their FREE content, then subscribe to optional content if you desire.....somewhat like basic cable TV and their optional entertainment/sports packages.

Good luck!.........

I had previously done some googling and the things mentioned in the thread had come up, but it seemed that almost everything was geared to series or movies or sports, and the add-ons brought the monthly price back up to what I was originally complaining about or more.

Seems like the Roku and Amazon sticks are the most mentioned, will start getting deeper into those first as opposed to the Netflix/Hulu/HBO. As I said, I *do* have DSL/wifi/router-modem and, for the Local channels/networks/PBS, an outside antenna.

"streaming receiver boxes (Roku, Fire TV, ..." and "box first with their FREE content, then subscribe to optional content if you desire.....somewhat like basic cable TV and their optional entertainment/sports packages." -----------both of these phrases refer to Roku and Amazon stick, correct?


Thank you *SO* very much for all the time and knowledge!

What I'm calling "streaming receiver boxes" (for the lack of an official technical name) is the little box or stick that connects to your TV that you buy from Roku, Amazon, Apple or NVIDIA. I personally don't care for Amazon because they're constantly trying to hook me into paying for Amazon Prime, which I refuse to do.

One thing that concerns me in your reply is this statement: "I *do* have DSL/wifi/router-modem". If your internet comes in through a DSL phone line AND unless it's an exceptionally fast service, I seriously doubt if it will be fast enough for TV.

For example, my DSL line at best does around 1.0mbps, and that's annoyingly slow just for my computer. It definitely would not have enough bandwidth to feed a TV, much less my computer and a TV.

You can run a speed test on your system here: https://www.speedtest.net/

These are articles on suggested WIFI speeds for good quality TV:

https://www.bandwidthplace.com/streaming-videos-minimum-internet-speed-depends-on-quality-article/
and
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/how-much-bandwidth-do-you-need-streaming-video

Quote:


In my case, what I plan to do is drop my DSL service and have AT&T install a Uverse line and only their basic modem, which should provide enough bandwidth for both computer and TV. I'll probably then add my own fast WIFI router to that device, particularly if their WIFI is poor. I intend to connect my computer directly to their modem via an Ethernet cable.

Note that my only choices for internet service here are Spectrum cable (formally Time-Warner), AT&T DSL and AT&T Uverse.

If DSL is all you have available, AND your speed test is low, you could talk to your ISP to see if they have line upgrades available. Otherwise, depending on what's available, you could change to a high-speed service via cable or something like Uverse. The great part is that you're only paying for basic internet service and not paying rent for their set-top boxes and content subscriptions.

-----
Glad I could help with this and it's been a refresher for me, which I needed to do for changing my service anyway. I'm a retired engineer and enjoy helping others where I can, as that's a big part of my lifeblood these days.

..............

My 1.10 is vis a vis your 1.0, no? I don't notice that my laptop is particularly slow, and there are another laptop and two android phones all working fine. The Kindle is frustratingly slow and clumsy to navigate but I've always pegged that to the Kindle's own fault (in design?).

YouTube videos work fine, does that have anything to do with anything? I don't watch movies on the laptop.

*******I had already fairly much decided to go for the Roku Stick+ - so now with the results here, you think it won't work?

Besides this, it turns out that a family member has an Amazon stick on hand, from a couple of years back, but doesn't use it and we tried connecting it but couldn't get it to connect to my home network. We've done all the troubleshooting tips (Restart, logging password into router), short of calling Amazon customer service.

So we've taken steps forward and are now at a crik in the road with the DSL question for the provider tomorrow. Thanks a ton.

If you prefer to stay with DSL service, you could ask your provider if they have a faster DSL service available, or perhaps a better DSL modem. My modem is very old and I probably should do the same if I decide to stay with DSL. However, my family is pressing me to go with faster service so they can use streaming (they're big into sports).

This is a good summary from the second link I previously sent (soundandvision.com):
(I assume "SD" means "standard definition" )

So, depending on how picky you are about video quality and whether the results gave you intermittent video, you might well get by OK with DSL, but a faster service certainly would be much better.

The basic problem here is that there's no sure way to tell if it's acceptable without trying it with a Roku (or other) box. If you decide to give it a shot, be sure to buy from a supplier that will let you return it say, within 30 days with full refund.

This has been fun and I've learned a lot in the process!

I failed to see your header clearly.

What counts here with speed is your download speed. If you're getting consistent 7mbps, that should be plenty fast!

Are you sure you're on DSL and not cable or something else? DSL usually max's out at around 3mbps at best on good days!

........

DSL speeds depend on a number of factors, including age of the lines and distance from the central office. I live in a low-income neighborhood and I guess we just get the drippings (actually the problem is that AT&T wants to sell everyone on Uverse).

If you try this and have coverage problems, you may want to consider later investing in a better WIFI router to connect to your existing modem (via Ethernet cable).

Best of luck, I think your system will be great and at much lower expense. Forty bucks or so and you're off and running!

Next, we'll have the battles with the families over add-on content, LOL......

It plays a single stream of SD (Standard Definition) Netflix without any problems. We only pay for that level of service.

I have the router set up to favor our television. If someone else in the house tries to watch video while we're watching Netflix they'll only get whatever bandwidth is left over, which may not always be enough for an uninterrupted second video stream.

Netflix is built into our cheap DVD player, which is connected directly to our router using an ethernet cable. (When we first subscribed to Netflix we were watching it on a Nintendo Wii.)

Our television isn't "smart."

We have a Chromecast dongle but don't use it. It hasn't been plugged in for a long time.

One of my kids and spouse use Chromecast exclusively. They don't even have a DVD player in their home. They have a Netflix subscription but I don't know what else. Like my wife and I, no cable, satellite, or broadcast. The have a wicked fast fiber optic internet connection straight into their home office they both use for work.

... I think our internet speed was struggling to reach 2.

Apparently the phone company has been doing some work around here.

I suppose it was fast enough then because the Wii has 480p or 480i resolution, similar to an old 640 X 480 computer monitor. The picture was acceptable on our bulky CRT television. Wide screen movies were letterboxed on our old television, which used even fewer horizontal lines than 480, maybe 640 X 360, which reduced the bandwidth required considerably. I'd say the quality then was a little better than a high quality VHS tape played on a higher quality machine.

Our current widescreen television is 1080p, but "Standard Definition" Netflix is less than that, something similar to DVD quality 480p which works out to 853 X 480 for a wide screen movie. This picture is then upscaled to fill the 1080p screen.

I don't notice a significant difference between Netflix and DVDs unless I'm looking for it.

It's possible our television is too small and my vision not acute enough to have any complaints. I think it was Ray Bradbury or my grandma who said a television shouldn't be any larger than you can eclipse it with your hand held at arm's length.

I suppose my standards are pretty low. When I was a kid we had a 13" B&W television. Someone invested in a giant 4K television and ultra HD Blu-ray player might have a different opinion about how well streaming works over a DSL connection.

then when we upgraded the TV we got a new ROKU which was smthigarter. We got the third one because we kindof messed up the remote and we really like this one. The remote has direct keys for Netflix, Amazon and Hulu.

I'd recommend if you already have an Amazon Prime account, make that your first streaming channel to explore. It is part of your Prime subscription. Then if you want you can add Hulu or Netflix and if you want HBO Now you can get it through your Prime account. You can turn HBO on and off (example if you only want it for Game of Thrones)

When you fire up your device, you will see an icon for Prime just click on it and register it with your device .It is easy if I can do it anyone can! Very simple.

If you are a donor to your local PBS station, you can get a PBS Passport code which unlocks so much of their past programming. It's really cool. That is a free channel on your ROKU

Free Speech TV is another great free channel.

We have Prime because it's included in our Prime Membership. We started with Netflix back when it was DVD only; there are more things to watch than you can view in a lifetime.

Hulu is nice for current TV and their own productions. Each of these services has programming that the other two do not. I think my subscriptions total $30 monthly and that inc ludes HBO

Can't beat hints from folks that are using this stuff and know the ropes.

Personally, I watch very little TV, but my wife and grown son watch all the time. So, they would dictate any add-on content. They mostly watch basketball games, and mainly college. They have expressed an interest in accessing the NCAA tournament when it's playing. Other than that, we could probably do with Roku's basic programming plus what we get off our antenna.

This is complex enough that one might be wise to build a spreadsheet to help compare programming costs from the various providers, LOL. I'm somewhat anti-Amazon and don't want to be further entrenched with them at this time. So, I suspect my first choice would be Roku for the WIFI receiver and basic service, then let the family add their content.

I would like to ask how you got your PBS access code. I'm a contributor but don't recall seeing that perk.

Thanks so much for your input!......

There's a lot of interesting info to consider.
Kick, rec, bookmark

I’m bookmarking for later. Thanks for starting it, UTUSN, and thanks to all who contributed. Looks like solid information.

... and a DVD player.

No "free" broadcast television, no cable, no satellite.

That's plenty of television for us.

Best of all, no television commercials!

Once you quit television you never go back.

He also left us the receiver. I was able to get two years of cheap $25 per month viewing out of it. Loved getting the east coast stations on the west coast. Then the channels started going away and we were forced to get either cable or dish. I picked dish and at the time it was affordable then. Now it costs me $125 per month and we lost our HBO. I also have used Direct TV and between the two I like DISH better.But this HBO loss is starting to make my husband say drop dish and get direct. I just might bite the bullet and get hbo as a stand-alone on my 4K tv. Between satellite and the internet I'm paying close to $200 a month. They really got us in the shorthairs costwise..

I hired this handyman to remove it. He was having fun destroying it and used some type of electric saw. I watched him from my deck and he was smiling also using his sledge hammer. I kind of wanted to take a wack at it myself.

Amazon Prime or Hulu

Every series HBO has ever done is available on HBO Now

For what you describe, Sling Blue plus their News Extra will give you basic cable channels and an assortment of news channels. What would be missing is CSPAN. I can watch some CSPAN on YouTube which is on Roku for free - I just use my regular YoutUbe sign in. CSPAN offers some content free on YoutTube but does not stream live unless you have a cable or satellite subscription. Apparently you can watch SPAN on other devices and transfer that stream to your TV. I've never tried it and have only read about it. I have watched live CSPAN on my computer so I know that part can be done.

From other comments here on DU YouTube TV (which is different than regular YouTube) there are similar options to what Sling offers.

I really like Roku - the choices are good and the menus are easy to navigate. Channels are easy to add, also. Once you purchase the Roku device, the only charges are for the streaming services you want to sign up for or subscribe to. Most of those will let you subscribe, suspend or cancel with no penalty, and sign back up if something new comes on.

I watch a lot of MSNBC (on Sling), BritBox (for Doctor Who and British mysteries), Acorn (British mysteries and documentaries (Time Team!)), and at the moment Amazon Prime. I also like Curiosity Stream (science & history documentaries) and NASA TV (free!). If I join PBS I can watch the PBS shows for free and I plan to do that soon.

Some of the services will automatically go on to the next program in a series but most do not continue to unrelated content. Acorn TV and Curiosity Stream do not, though Curiosity Stream used to. BritBox is annoying since it does not keep track for me where I am in a series - I have to remember in order to find the last episode I watched and move to the next one. It wouldn't be a problem if I wanted to binge watch all 27 seasons of Classic Doctor Who in one go but I don't plan to sit in one place that long....

Free channels: As I said NASA TV, Roku Channel, VUDU (but they will try to sell you movies and episodes or DVDs from WalMart), Sony Crackle, FreeSpeech TV (YEAH!), some SciFi channels (SyFlix, TPG Fiction Flix, and Tales of Tomorrow which all seem to have the same stuff), Comet (a broadcast SciFi channel), Pluto TV (some cable channels and an odd assortment of other stuff), and Tubi. Most of these have commercials but it is worth it, I guess. These are all available on Roku free.

That's very helpful for those if us just getting into the streaming world.

So many choices, it makes my head spin. I'll get my much younger son to sort it out, LOL....

I still have an early ROKU for my analog tv.

Do they have an adapter for the newer digital outputs to convert to analog?

I would seriously go for a newer ROKU.

smarter remote controls and just plug into the back of your TV Our remote has direct keys for hulu , netflix and Amazon Prime I think Roku has come up with a stick

No need to go to a fancy electronics store - we got ours at Target

I need to play with our Firestick more to learn its tricks.

If I'm interpreting your question correctly, I believe you intend to buy a newer Roku box, perhaps either the "stick" model or the one that has an HDMI cable, AND that you want to use that with your older TV. Correct?

You might consider buying the Roku Express+ which provides outputs for both newer HDMI or composite-input older TVs. It's only $35 and that would save buying a converter and will work with old or new TVs.

See: https://www.roku.com/products/roku-express-plus

However, if you intend to buy one of their other models such as the "stick", you would need an adapter to do that and these are a couple I found on-line:

This one is $20 and comes with all the associated audio/video cables:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/HDMI-RCA-Converter-Composite-AV-Adapter-Kit-1080p-HDMI-3RCA-CVBS-Yellow-White-Red-PAL-NTSC-Output-Works-Roku-Streaming-Devices-Includes-HDMI-Composit/947364682

This one is $22.52 and RCA audio/video cables are built-in:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/RCA-DHCOMF-HDMI-to-Composite-Video-Adapter/540440677?athcpid=540440677&athpgid=athenaItemPage&athcgid=null&athznid=PWVUB&athieid=v0&athstid=CS020&athguid=3a8556d9-48e-168938443e8631&athena=true

If you have a set of the RCA composite cables (red/white/yellow), Walmart has some for as low as $14.

I have not used any of these devices, so you may want to read the user reviews either on Walmart or Amazon's web site. Amazon carries tons of these as well.

Hope this helps!.......

Thanks... will look into the Express+

Will check if Amazon or ebay carries it.

http://www.livenewsmag.com/msnbc-news-live-stream/

Free, but you they have commercials. You just stream it on your computer.

You won't miss it cutting off the cable. Save your money.

Get DirectvNOW which they have now for around $50 a month. You don’t use a dish. All you need is an internet connection because you stream everything. You get a ROKU connection which they supply so you can plug it into the tv.

Everything you are saying you want is included in the service, plus you can subscribe to a lot of free movie and tv series streaming channels. You can also get Netflix and Hulu.

It won’t hurt if you go to the Directv store and ask them about it. You won’t lose a thing by just asking.

They do provide a simple modem which you use the ROKU stick to connect to the tv. All the dish problems go away which were always one of the irritating things about the dish. Plus no unsightly dish on your roof.

It’s basically a la carte tv.

Xfinity is now providing streaming services it seems. It’s a winning strategy.

the service you posted is for programming content only and it does not include internet service or the WIFI modem required to use it. So, it is basically Roku's system (which you can buy outright for around $30 one-time charge) with a bunch of programming.

People still have to pay around $40 to $50 per month for the internet access alone, plus the cost of any optional content. For my family's purposes on a tight budget, internet service with an inexpensive Roku box is all we need. Then, my family can subscribe to optional stuff as needed via Roku. We also get lots of free content off regular broadcast channels via a simple antenna.

It's a bit disingenuous for vendors like them to say "no cable" when in fact most folks will get their internet service over a cable wire installed into their house. The difference is that it's not a "cable TV" subscription like in the old days with all those damn boxes and fees. And, as you mentioned with satellite - no dish antenna either.

I think one thing we've demonstrated here is that different people have widely different TV content needs, from basic to complex. And, understanding all the options available is complex - especially if one looks at ones that provide equipment plus content like Amazon, Apple, Roku and Google, and the many others that provide viewing content only like Netflix and Hulu and DirectTVNow.

Thanks for the input!......

Answers to my questions: 2 t.v.(s), using simultaneously for different things - yes, will eat up the speed. Yes, can either buy separate sticks for separate t.v. or relocate one stick from one to the other t.v. Yes, when t.v. is off, the download keeps coming, can disconnect the stick. I have router/modem XyXEL this provider sold me, same thing, Roku requires a 9 download so this should be enough. Yes, if speed drops it goes to buffering so viewing is interrupted. Yes, if internet goes out, the whole shebang goes out.



I'm paid up for the coming month with Dish, so there's time to buy and try the stick.

Maybe you can leave a post down the road to let us know how it all worked out.

It's not a bad idea to have a battery backup (UPS) at least for the provider's modem so you can at least plug a computer in during power outages. I insure we at least have landline phone coverage and simple internet by using a UPS for my DSL modem and cordless phone (we're still on the old-fashioned wired phone system).

I think most people fail to think through what all fails to operate during power outages. We all need at least one means to communicate, even when cell towers are toppled (we live in tornado country).

..........

Registered the thing (over again, passwords, e-mail, etc.) and it is working - I downloaded CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS - (not the live networks?) and asked for "Third Rock from the Sun" and it asked for Philo app, and the show started. I don't know what I'm doing. I tried stopping the show, then went back to "Home" and who knows what's going on, downloading Third?

My laptop was on/connected the whole time while the stick is working on the t.v. Everything clear as a bell. Who knows.

For myself, am buying a Roku tomorrow. Thanks again, who knows!1

Internet $40

Netflix $8

Cell Phone $8

Done.

$56 + taxes.

Bought the dsl modem and cell phone up front, expect them to last many years.

If I had a few hundred extra dollars a month burning a hole in my pocket I'd probably spend it on Arrogant Bastard Ale, not television.

Are you using streaming into a TV, and if so, what streaming box (Roku, Amazon, etc.) are you using?

If it were not for the wife and son wanting access to basketball games, it would be even more simple. I watch little or no TV. We're making do now just with antenna TV and bumming some WIFI off a neighbor, but I need to buckle down and get high-speed internet through AT&T (I have low-speed DSL now, only for computer).

The new AT&T internet speed offers here are weird: $40/month gets you 5mbps and $50/month gets you 50mbps, with no offers in-between. I think they're wanting to get everyone here off DSL and get us on AT&T Internet, which was called Uverse.

I'll put any savings into my house which is nearing time for a roof. I've paid dearly for my share of booze in my younger days and fighting different addictions today such as being a tool nut.......

It's one of those models that does everything -- from playing CDs to displaying family photos from a USB stick, and maybe allowing China to spy on you. It also has a web browser, but the browser is pretty useless because the only way to navigate or enter text is by the arrow keys on the remote control. If you plug a keyboard or mouse into the USB port the machine ignores it.

I just looked on Amazon and that particular model is long gone, I just get lot's of suggestions for Ultra HD Blu-ray players.

We were originally watching Netflix on our Nintendo Wii. Years ago one of our kids was home from college (same kid who decided we *needed* Netflix), took pity on us, and bought us a little Chromecast Dongle.

We used Chromecast for a few months but neither my wife or I liked using our phones or laptops as remote controls, mostly because when we're watching Netflix we don't want to be interrupted by work and the easiest solution is to shut off the damned phones and laptops and leave them in another room on their chargers.

Which is why my wife bought the "smart" DVD player.

We have a 1080p flatscreen television which we bought before televisions were smart. It's connected to the DVD player, the Wii, and (don't laugh) the VHS video cassette player.

I first logged onto the internet in the late 'seventies and have been here since. We're fortunate to have a local Internet Service Provider. When we first signed up with our ISP, Pacific Bell (now AT&T) and Comcast simply didn't offer residential internet service.

Comcast Xfinity and AT&T Uverse send me absurd amounts of junk mail which only hardens my resolve to never do business with them.

I chose DirecTV Now after trying Playstation Vue, Sling TV, YouTube TV. DTVN has Comedy Central, all the news channels (CNN, MSNBC), and, for an extra $5/mo, you can get HBO. All for $45/mo.

Make sure your internet is, at a bare minimum, 8 *clean* mbps down, or you'll be frustrated by the experience.

Also, subscribe to Cord Cutters News - a LOT of helpful tips.
https://www.cordcuttersnews.com/

Good luck!

Uverse notified me my "promotion" expires next month and they're raising my rate $12 under a new "promotion", so I decided to take a look around.

DirecTV Now has a Todo y Mas option with most of the Latin channels my wife prefers (for the telenovelas), plus MSNBC and other English channels.

We have Rokus and Firesticks on all our sets, and there is a lot of great content on Youtube for free viewing, including full episodes of a lot of archeology and history series that interest me.

Should save at least $50/month going this route.

Currently $39.95 a month. Includes TCM, CNN, and MSNBC. You can record almost anything and watch later too. I had Hulu Live TV but the streaming quality was horrible.

Add a booster if you must. We're middle-of-nowhere and still get the stations from Fairbanks, Anchorage and Juneau.

Most evenings 3 are streaming at the same time.

Vue has the main local channels and since the Firestick is an android based system I have added a VPN service. This enables me to watch local channels in places like New York, Chicago, Seattle, etc.

I did have to go to a business internet from our pirate masquerading as a cable company. Even after that gouge factor we save money with streaming and have access to an overwhelming amount of content.

The only caveat is if you have someone in your household using a desktop that has windows operating system. These devices tend to grab ALL available bandwidth when they download. My preferred solution is to use our router's qos to limit the bandwidth the windows devices use. Only takes once to be watching a climatic ending to a movie when Windows "decides" to download a update.

CSPAN is online so I watch that on my iPad.

I watch Sling Blue through the app on my Roku device. There are a lot of free apps on Roku too, I like Pluto TV which includes a live NASA channel.

after months of arguing with myself about it on January 1 and am very happy with my new internet provider, Netflix and Hulu. Saving money, too! I encourage you to go for it.

Thanks to all for all the helpful info, everybody, but especially Mr engineer KY_EnviroGuy for all the time and effort.

*************O.P.

So Dish raised the monthly price by about three dollars. Yeah, sounds like nothing but I've stuck with them for 15 years or so. I started with the Echo gigantic dish satellite in the '90s, which turned into TurnerVision or something, then I found Dish which I went to because DirecTV was owned by MURDOCH.

So went years paying for a 200 or 150 channel b.s. "PACKAGE" thing, meaning hundreds of music channels and whatever that I *never* frequented.

For the past 5 or so years I've been at the Basic thing, which is fine with me.

Here's what I need: MSNBC, CNN, Comedy Channel, TCM - besides the transitory History, single CSPAN - you get the picture. I do *NOT* need drama, movies, reality, etc.


I've done some googling about cutting the cable and it gets down to "streaming" (WHAT THE HADES IS "streaming"?????!1) - the netflix, Hoola, Sling, yadda yadda - DON'T need movies, made-for-t.v. whatever STORY crap. And SPORTS - do NOT need SPORTS!1

It looks like all the cheap fire stick things are geared to narrative type movies and stuff.

***********Hoo-KAY, will wait, Lounge.