Cutting cable TV

[WIMUSKY]

I made a boo-boo. Recorded the news this evening on Hulu and while watching I tried to fast forward through the commercials. No joy. I figured it out quickly enough. I'd selected the Expanded DVR option at sign-up but failed to hit the "Submit" button. D'oh!

I've added it now and will test it tomorrow.

One thing that I noticed is that my DVR recording of The Simpsons is not available to watch until 0300 tomorrow morning. Waddup wit dat?

I believe the expanded DVR costs more? That just eliminates commercials?

 

[BWR1953]

I believe the expanded DVR costs more? That just eliminates commercials?

Yes, it allows FFWD & RWD during commercials. It also allows pausing live TV, which is something that I really missed with SlingTV.

 

[BWR1953]

Well, I just learned that although the Hulu Enhanced DVR does allow pausing and buffering live TV, it doesn't allow fast forwarding through commercials on buffered live TV.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Well, I just learned that although the Hulu Enhanced DVR does allow pausing and buffering live TV, it doesn't allow fast forwarding through commercials on buffered live TV.

You're correct, I guess we have enhanced. Although some commercials we can skip thru on certain shows, go figure..

 

[BWR1953]

Okay, I just switched back to Spectrum.

I got their Double Play Select package which includes 125 channels plus internet. They also threw in a DVR as well. Total price comes up to the same as what I had with just SlingTV and internet, which is $125/month.

Bottom line - I cut my cable/internet bill in half from what it was a couple months ago and I still have a DVR and all the channels that I normally watch. And I'll be regaining the music channels too.

I'm satisfied.

 

[alldodge]

Just noticed a write up about locast which is note worthy. Says signing up is easy but stopping is an issue. There is no contact info link to stop, only a forum area which can be discussed. So once they have your CC info, stopping them may require cancelling the card

I'm still thinking about using a VPN and sign up for Atlanta or DC.

 

[BWR1953]

Just noticed a write up about locast which is note worthy. Says signing up is easy but stopping is an issue. There is no contact info link to stop, only a forum area which can be discussed. So once they have your CC info, stopping them may require cancelling the card

I'm still thinking about using a VPN and sign up for Atlanta or DC.

I found this about cancelling. https://helpcenter.locast.org/portal/en/kb/articles/how-to-cancel-donation

 

[bigdee]

Okay, I just switched back to Spectrum.

I got their Double Play Select package which includes 125 channels plus internet. They also threw in a DVR as well. Total price comes up to the same as what I had with just SlingTV and internet, which is $125/month.

Bottom line - I cut my cable/internet bill in half from what it was a couple months ago and I still have a DVR and all the channels that I normally watch. And I'll be regaining the music channels too.

I'm satisfied.

They hooked you with a promo package but after promo expires look out!!

 

[MRS]

They hooked you with a promo package but after promo expires look out!!

I have Spectrum really like it when they get to much on the billing we just switch between the two of us me and the first mate. I have account and cancel and she sings up with the new account.

 

[poconojoe]

I hear you!
Long post...sorry...but this is important!

My triple play bundle expired and without warning they sent me a bill for $286!!!! No way am I gonna pay that every month.
I tried to bargain with them as I've done in the past, but they wouldn't budge.

I switched to Sling TV. You get over 50 channels for $30 a month, which includes 50 hours of cloud dvr. You need a roku stick or a fire stick to pick it up. Which ever you choose, each of those are $40.

I opted for two other channel packages for $5 each, so my monthly bill is $42.

You can get premium channels and sports too if you pay extra.

Sling doesn't give you your local affiliate channels such as your local abc, cbs, NBC, fox, cw, pbs, antenna tv, mytv, but you can get them with an antenna. Yes, an antenna! Like the old days! I'm in the Pocono Mountains of P.A. It's pretty hilly here and I'm pulling in 16 channels with a $35 antenna.
With all the snow out there, I just screwed the antenna to my fence for now and it works great. Go online to see which direction to point the antenna. I used the compass app on my phone to find the direction needed.

Then sling gave me half off on an AirTv dvr which has 4 tuners and a 1 gb hard drive. That's for recording the channels from the antenna. That was $89, normally $199.

The antenna channels show up in the Sling TV guide and so does the AirTV DVR, So it's all seamless.

There's another way you might be able to get your local channels. It's called Locast, a non-profit organization that you also watch through the internet. There's an app for roku or fire stick. They ask for a $5 a month donation, if you choose, you can donate. You have to plug in your address to see if it's available in your area. You won't be able to dvr with Locast. Maybe if you have your own dvr...I don't know. That's why I chose the antenna with AirTV DVR.

I can watch all my channels remotely while I'm out, if I choose to.

Then I went after my cell phone bill...
I recently dropped my at&... cell phone service. They've been ripping me off for over 25 years!
4 phones 20gb of shared data was $180 a month with 18% union discount mind you. I switched and ported my 4 phones to Consumer Cellular and now I'm paying $102 for everything totally unlimited, even data.
If you don't need unlimited data, you can pay even less.
They never charge you extra for anything. No BS activation charges, etc.
I used all my same phones too. If you do need a new phone, their prices are amazing. Even for iPhones.
They sent me 4 sim cards for free. Ported my numbers free and I got $25 credit for each line for switching. That's $100! Now they are giving $50 credit for each line!
If you choose a lower gb plan and go over, they don't charge you, they bump you up to the next plan. Switch back any time too.
Oh, Consumer Cellular uses AT&T or T-Mobile towers, which ever is best in your area. So, my service is the same...no problems.

Hope this helps.....
Poconojoe

 

[jhande]

Up here in my neck of the woods are options are limited for providers. Satellite is just terrible due to weather and clouds plus up load speeds are slow. When we moved 3 years ago we got the entire package from Spectrum (Comcast) at the first year cheap deal rate. 4 TV's, 3 basic TV boxes with I think the premium channel bundle and 1 DVR, internet and phone. Before the year was up we dropped the TV deal and went with just WiFi internet and phone. We now have 3 TV's with a Roku box attached. I spend most of my time on the PC and my wife watches her shows on Roku and we both watch YouTube content. The Internet & Phone package price climbed up to $99.97 a month, rip-off I say but no other options. I don't watch much TV anymore, instead of wasting hours starring into the boob tube I do other things.

 

[poconojoe]

I haven't had any problems with Sling. I've been using it now for a few months.
It never drops out, great picture quality and I've never had a commercial pop up in the middle of something.
Maybe they have improved it?
Maybe my internet is better? It's speed is 100mb.

 

[WIMUSKY]

That's what I noticed too was a better pic than our local cable, but we went with Hulu. Get all our locals channels too...

 

[poconojoe]

My TV’s are old school because they do not have HDMI ports ... guess I should have written that out a bit clearer ... the one is a 42 inch cabinet CRT ... not sure how I will ever get rid of that monstrosity! Will need a crane to remove it! LOL!

Dude! TV's are way cheap now!
You're probably ruining your eyes with that antique!
You're definitely gonna need a crane, come-a-long or chain fault to get that thing out!
I remember getting my old 25 incher out. I rolled that thing out the door and down the steps. No way was I gonna pull my back out for that clunker!

 

[poconojoe]

Good conversation....

 

[WIMUSKY]

I have a 35" on our lowest level that doesnt get used. Maybe I'll sell it with the house someday. Back in the day it was impressive..... Mitsu......lol

 

[poconojoe]

This conversation made me reminisce about my childhood.... when our TV would act up we would remove the masonite cover from the back. In there would be those old vacuum tubes. We'd pull the tubes out, go to the local Rexall (CVS, Rite-Aid, Walgreens of the era). There would be a console that you plugged the tubes into where they would be tested. When you found the bad one, they had new ones stored in the bottom. You picked out the one you needed and bingo...your TV was fixed!

Funny thing is...all this talk about the almost endless amount of channels, we only got VHF 2,4,5,7,9,11 (Staten Island, NY) and maybe UHF 21 from Long Island. All with a set top "rabbit ear" antenna. Sometimes you would have to move the rabbit ear antennas around to get a better signal or scrunch a ball of aluminum foil onto the tips of the antennas. There was also a fine tune knob that surrounded the channel changing knob. Plus there was no remotes. Kids were the remotes! "Joey, change it to channel 4".
Ah, the good 'ole days! Simplicity.
No video games. We played outside all day. Came home when the street lights came on.

 

[alldodge]

TV, Phone sll re things that work pretty well around cities, go rural and things don't work as well like no local. Some have tried CC hear and say it works but its spoty and worst the ATT. Bluegrass works best but they were just bought out by Verizon, which was no to good, but guess now they will be better

 

[jhande]

This conversation made me reminisce about my childhood.... when our TV would act up we would remove the masonite cover from the back. In there would be those old vacuum tubes. We'd pull the tubes out, go to the local Rexall (CVS, Rite-Aid, Walgreens of the era). There would be a console that you plugged the tubes into where they would be tested. When you found the bad one, they had new ones stored in the bottom. You picked out the one you needed and bingo...your TV was fixed!

Funny thing is...all this talk about the almost endless amount of channels, we only got VHF 2,4,5,7,9,11 (Staten Island, NY) and maybe UHF 21 from Long Island. All with a set top "rabbit ear" antenna. Sometimes you would have to move the rabbit ear antennas around to get a better signal or scrunch a ball of aluminum foil onto the tips of the antennas. There was also a fine tune knob that surrounded the channel changing knob. Plus there was no remotes. Kids were the remotes! "Joey, change it to channel 4".
Ah, the good 'ole days! Simplicity.
No video games. We played outside all day. Came home when the street lights came on.

Ahhh yes the good old days.
WHAT push button phones? Color TV? Dad was slow with getting on the band wagon since the old B&W still worked. We didn't like the color enhancer; clear vinyl blue on top and green on the bottom. Eventually I got the Atari and played Pong with my little sister for hours on rainy days.

 

[poconojoe]

Ahhh yes the good old days.
WHAT push button phones? Color TV? Dad was slow with getting on the band wagon since the old B&W still worked. We didn't like the color enhancer; clear vinyl blue on top and green on the bottom. Eventually I got the Atari and played Pong with my little sister for hours on rainy days.

I remember going to a neighbor's house to watch the wizard of oz. They had a color tv.

Ah! Atari 2600 and pong!
I still have mine! I wonder what it's worth?
Ha! Pong! Atari 2600!