I'm considering cutting the cord on Cable (DIRECTV) and can use some help.

[RamblingRose]

Just finished our 'intro' offer on DIRECTV and our monthly bill is now $196/mo!! Usually I can call & bicker for another 12 month deal but this time I'm considering cutting the cord.


We currently have 4 cable boxes. 2 of our TV's are Vizios. We subscribe to Amazon Prime & Netflix
We live down in a hole with lots of tall trees and are unable to get a signal with an antenna.


Is Roku the best option?


YouTube TV v. Directv Now v. sling ????


We want to be able to watch MSNBC and college sports (ACC network?).



Would love any suggestions or advice.

Thanks!!

[Lochloosa]

1. Since you have Netflix and prime get a Roku box.

There are plenty of ways to add on if you want more.

[RKP5637]

2. Roku is excellent!!! n/t

[SWBTATTReg]

3. Wow...I don't blame you ... I've installed netgear wifi boxes so my TVs can connect with the wifi...

via a sony box. I use this too for my TV upstairs so it's nice to have only 1 cable (charter), serving the whole house...I don't get any premium channels to watch (don't need or watch) other for the computer connectivity.

We also get about 65+- channels locally so there's tons of stuff in my area thank goodness. For those in rural areas, I don't know. I also don't know anything about Roku so I'm sorry here that I can't help you but in getting the wifi network setup at your house (w/o paying charter $5 a month), DM me. I'll try to help!

[aeromanKC]

4. Full Sling (Blue, Orange, News, Sports and DVR) with ROKU would be about $70/month

You'll need to also get an HD antenna to get local channels. (I only get CBS with mine but downloaded the NBC, ABC and Fox Apps to ROKU to get those live). Full Sling with sports and News (CNN and MSNBC), DVR add ons = @$70/ month. ROKU @$20 one time expense, HD antenna @$25 one time price

[underpants]

5. We don't have ROKU but basic sling starts at $25/month

I watch way less TV now. Good tip on the antenna- a lot of sports is still on network

[mr_lebowski]

7. It is a good tip in general but apparently inapplicable for the OP

"We live down in a hole with lots of tall trees and are unable to get a signal with an antenna. "

[RamblingRose]

16. That sounds perfect. Which Roku stick do you recommend? I've looked at their website & am trying

to do a comparison.

[mr_lebowski]

6. One thing to consider, esp. if you have 4 TV's ... how many are 4k/1080p?

And how many of them might be in use at one time? And then what's your internet connection speed like? How many Mbps are you rocking?

Reason being if you have >1 1080p or above that's likely to be needed at once you'll need some juice on your internet connection.

[Bleacher Creature]

8. What are you going to do about getting internet access?

That's always been the hurdle for me as it can get expensive once you unbundle WiFi from cable and phone coverage, such that it doesn't really save much money once you start adding streaming services.

[Raven]

9. I have Directvnow with 2 Roku sticks.

It now costs me $50 a month for 2 TV's. I was paying about $125-150 a month before. I have the same thing at my cabin where I couldn't get cable or satellite tv before.

[LiberalArkie]

10. Just turn off all the extra stuff and see what basic directv is. That would get you your locals

and have it on only 1 set.. then Roku or whatever on everything. You need local for weather, local news etc.

[Quemado]

11. I have a TV set with Roku built in and I subscribe to YouTube TV.

My YouTube TV costs me $53.21 per month, tax included. I receive the following channels:

ABC
NBC
CBS
FOX
TBS
TNT
ESPN
ESPN2
SEC Network
ESPNU
ESPN News
FS1
FS2
Fox Sports Arizona Plus
Fox Sports Arizona
NBC Sports Network
NBA TV
MLB Network
BTN
CBS Sports Network
NBC Golf
Olympic Channel
Tennis Channel
Disney Channel
Disney Junior
Disney XD
Universal Kids
Cartoon Network
AMC
BBC America
Freeform
FX
FXX
FXM
IFC
Pop
Sundance TV
TCM
Tru TV
USA
National Geographic
National Geographic Wild
Animal Planet
Discovery
Smithsonian Channel
SyFy
Trvl Channel
Bravo
E!
Food Network
HGTV
Investigation Discovery
MT
Oxygen
Tastemade
WE TV
BBC World News
Cheddar Business
Cheddar News
CNBC
CNN
Fox News Channel (Boooo!!!!)
HLN
MSNBC
Newsy
Local Now
Fox Business
TYT
Telemundo (local affiliate)
Universo
Start TV
Comet
Cozi TV

To see what networks are available in your area, you'll need to pretend that you're signing up. Go to the YouTube TV signup website, and before you enter your credit card information, the site will show you the channels specific to your region.

[RamblingRose]

19. The only thing missing from the list I want is Comedy Central.

It looks like Directv Now is the only one that has it included.

[Beausoleil]

22. Sling has CC n/t

[Bradshaw3]

26. Wow that is impressive

I'm considering getting rid of Direct tv and youtube sounds like it has everything I want - at half the cost.

[KansasKali]

12. Books and check out movies from the library.

[TexasBushwhacker]

17. You can even stream library content

from Kanopy.com .

[VarryOn]

13. I'm a huge Roku fan...

We have the Roku Ultra (around $100). Living in the country, we dont have cable. Our only option is AT&T's internet...at a mere 10 megabips. And surprisingly, it's enough. We are big users of YouTube, Amazon Prime, Hulu and Netflix. Navigating Roku menus are quite easy.

[Harker]

14. My suggestion would be to yank

the plug, then see how youbfeel about television after a few months.

You might be amazed by how much richer other aspects of life become. Then you're in a better position to find what works best for you.

[hunter]

21. That's what my wife and I did a little over ten years ago, even the antenna.

Our television was connected to the VCR and DVD player. That's it. We rented newer movies from Redbox. I found DVDs in thrift stores.

Soon after we quit traditional television one of our adult kids, a huge fan of of low and medium budget movie making, set us up with Netflix so we now have movies and some television series in common to talk about. Our inexpensive DSL internet can handle a single standard definition Netflix stream so that's all we pay for, $40 for the internet which we'd have anyways, and $8.99 for Netflix.

In all that time we've never run out of things to watch, and we NEVER see commercials. I have zero tolerance for traditional television anymore. It's just noise.

My wife and I have always been big readers. We both have e-books. I can take my e-book anywhere.

There are plenty of free e-books at gutenberg.org which can be a fascinating place for anyone interested in historical perspectives.

[Harker]

24. Similar outcome for us.

Having worked much of my life in bookshops, there's no shortage of rewarding reading at hand, and if we want to watch a film or a hockey game, that's an option.

We seldom think to turn it on, though, as the bird feeders get plenty of action, there's lots to talk about, the dog loves walkies, etc.

[hunter]

25. My wife and I have thousands of paper books.

All the walls in our house are covered with either bookshelves or art.

E-books saved us. There was literally no more room.

I still buy paper books I especially like, often directly from the authors.

Whenever I buy a new paper book I get rid of a few less loved books by giving them to the local friends of the library. They either sell them or put them out on the "FREE!" shelves. I'm often tempted by the free shelves...

Books I've disliked get recycled or turned into art.

[Harker]

29. Love it.

Books into art!

[RamblingRose]

15. What is the difference in Roku sticks? Which one do you recommend?

2 TV's are 1080.

Comcast is our internet provider. I don't know the speed but haven't had any issues (except Comcast sucks).

Generally only 2 TV's are ever on at the same time.

Will I need to upgrade my modem? I don't know how old it is. Comcast always makes things worse when they come out!

I haven't decided on 2 or 3 sticks.

Thanks for all the great suggestions! This is so liberating

[NurseJackie]

18. The Roku "sticks" have menus and apps that are very slow to respond...

... and that's because of less processing power and less memory. The small "box" versions of Roku are better and faster (and you can also add additional memory with a micro memory card.)

The small "sticks" are functional, but really clunky when waiting for the menus to re-load (even if you've JUST looked at them an hour ago, they still have to re-download) but, with faster processing and more memory, the menus (and title cards/images) are much quicker and responsive.

[roamer65]

20. Try PlutoTV

It’s a streaming service like sling, but it’s free.

I got rid of the TV part of Comcrap and have more than enuff TV with OTA antenna TV and streaming PlutoTV.

My Vizio smart tv has Pluto TV access built into it. It is also available via Roku.

[Marthe48]

23. Can you get Internet without Direct tv?

I stopped suddenlink cable tv in March. I had to replace my tv so I got a Samsung Smart tv. I got a Roku syick and my daughter and her husband let me use their Netflix. Suddenlink has a 250g data cap, and I am still monitoring my usage. I use about 10g daily surfing, watching about 2 hrs tv, streaming about 2 1/2 hrs. There are websites that give advice on getting the most out of your broadband use. I don't have the tv on all day like I used to. My electric bill is way down. I have a radio, a dvd player, and a cd player, none hooked to suddenlink. I feel like I'm spending my time better. Alice Cooper has a night time radio show I
Realy like. I stream msnbc from a site online. It seems like cable based networks aren't on Roku, at least I haven't found TWC, or MSNBC. but I found the networks, such as NBC and CBS, and even the local news stations.
I posted in DU forums computer support before I cut the cord and got a lot of
good advice.

[qazplm135]

27. I hear ya

I love the service and choices of Directv and as a fantasy football fan, nothing beats Sunday Ticket.

Having said that, outside of rent, the bill is the single most expensive thing I pay for monthly outside maybe food.
I might do what a friend of mine does, cut out all of the movie channels and then record a crap ton of stuff during the free weekends.
That might cut 100 bucks a month or so off the bill.

[stopbush]

28. If you have a smart TV, you don't need Roku.

That said, Roku is excellent. Get the more-expensive model that has a volume control.

We are using YTTV. Plenty of channels and under $50 a month. You can watch on three separate TVs at the same time. I believe Sling allows you to view only one TV at a time. Couple YTTV with Netflix, amazon prime, Vudu and a few others and there are more than enough choices. Roku has its own channel that has a good spread of programs. There are lots of streaming services that offer free TV shows and movies but with commercials.

My son lives 8 miles away and he can sign into YTTV using my account info via Roku.

I have an LG Smart TV and two HDTV sets running off Roku.

[UniteFightBack]

30. I have friends who have youtube tv and they love it. nt

[meow2u3]

31. I have DirecTV Now and one Roku stick

DirecTV Now offers more channels than Sling, which I used to have, but didn't like the lack of channels I normally watch.

http://www.sling.com

[CatWoman]

32. bookmarking to read later

[Floyd R. Turbo]

33. I have a Fire Stick with Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Netflix.

At around $77/mo. it’s about 1/3 of my Directv bill!