Cutting the Cable TV Cord - I have Questions

Discussion in 'General Chat' started by Nathan, Nov 29, 2013.

  1. Zapski

    Zapski Well-Known Member

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    Cool Beans!

    Since I wrote the above post, I did get an Apple TV, and I gotta say I love it. It makes accessing some sites much better, and Hulu has gotten rid of the stupid "this content only available on mobile" restrictions. I still have the Mac hooked up too, but it's used less frequently now.

    I also got a nice powered antenna for the OTA stuff, and there's a lot in the area.

    Still haven't missed Cable at all for the last 7 years.
     
  2. vetsvette

    vetsvette MINI Alliance Ambassador

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    #22 vetsvette, Sep 30, 2014
    Last edited: Sep 30, 2014
    Cable has never been an option for me. The road I live on isn't anywhere near cable access. I have Dish satellite TV and am happy with the quality and service (except during heavy rain). I envy you guys streaming live over the net. The only way I can get relatively fast internet service is via satellite (Exede) and my allowance is 10g per month. Anything over that limit drops quickly toward the dialup realm. I do have free unlimited data between midnight and 5AM so that's when I download videos or do large software updates. I have an old Mac Mini hooked up to my 50" plasma that I watch some movies on (again, after midnight) using Amazon Prime. Even with my satellite, compared to some of y'all, I feel like I'm using carrier pigeons (12/3 on a very good day). But, I can only type with two fingers so I guess it can keep up with me without too much trouble for most things.
    Still would not trade my quiet country road for the city though.
     
  3. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    Verizon FiOS just completed a new upgrade and for a current customers they now match upload and download speeds for free. I now have 150/ 150 for free a.k.a. "same price".
     
  4. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    I wish I had FiOS. Around here I have a choice of AT&T, Time Warner and WOW. None offer more than a 50/5 internet connection.
     
  5. caseydog

    caseydog Well-Known Member

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    I gave up cable/satellite a few years ago. Eighty-something a month for hundreds of channels I don't watch was pure nonsense, to me.

    I still have cable-internet, because I need it for business.

    I have an AppleTV unit on my home-theater system, and I rent movies, and buy seasons of the few TV shows that I watch on iTunes. I only pay for the shows I watch -- and no commercials!

    I added Hulu-Plus last month, but probably won't keep it. I'm not getting much out of it.

    CD
     
  6. Zapski

    Zapski Well-Known Member

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    Good news! HBO joins the 21st Century!

    HBO is finally going to let you watch its shows without cable | The Verge

     
  7. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #27 Nathan, Oct 15, 2014
    Last edited: Oct 15, 2014
    I'm two weeks into not having cable TV. I'm getting a lot more stuff that I did want to do but wasn't doing cause I was doing TV, done. Snacking less too.

    I didn't even feel like I missed F1 over the past weekend.
     
  8. eMINIparts

    eMINIparts Well-Known Member
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    Break the addiction to TV.....I wish I could...:crazy:
     
  9. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    Hope the Wifi never goes down...but if it ever does see below. :ihih:
     

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  10. GokartPilot

    GokartPilot Well-Known Member

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    I have contemplated cutting the cord on a few occasions and I am about gnat’s butt from doing it. I am just getting tired of paying for a lot of fluff I don’t watch. I live in an area where TWC has cornered the market, only service I can change providers with is TV by way of satellite, the internet and phone still has to go through TWC. I am not a huge sports fan but I do like to watch football, both types and I can see all I want with something other than cable from what I have been reading. I just need to get the wife to agree. :fingerscrossed:

    As far as F1 goes... Sports Mobile | NBC Sports
     
  11. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    Good luck with that. :lol::nonod::incazzato:

    My wife would go crazy without the food network and the cooking channel.

    Long shows on those networks equal my quality time in the garage with my MINI. (Cleaning or Driving) :Thumbsup:
     
  12. GokartPilot

    GokartPilot Well-Known Member

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    LOL... the wife has three that she is hooked on, needless to say the idea of dropping cable was not meet with enthusiasm I was hoping for. :incazzato::mad5::incazzato:
     
  13. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    I'm now resigned to the fact that I've just got to get better at gaming the system and bouncing back and forth between cable and satellite every 2 years.

    Loving our transition from TWC to DirectTV right now. Saves a ton of money in year one. In year two... not so much.
     
  14. Spa2k

    Spa2k Well-Known Member

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    Before you totally give up on your cable company, call the toll-free number and ask for the customer retention department. I explained that I was really tired of cable rates going up - and, that as a loyal, longtime customer, I was especially irritated about all the special offers being made to new customers that were much lower than I was paying. By the time we were done, the very nice (really) customer service representative had cut my bill by a third - and switched me to the company's top-tier Internet service, which more than doubled the speed. She also was able to give me just BBC America as a standalone channel, instead of having to pay for an entire (and otherwise worthless) 20-channel package just to get it. Finally, I bought my own cable modem (top-rated Motorola Surfboard, on sale for $60), so I wouldn't have to pay the cable company's modem rental fee every month.

    My total savings will be around $850 per year, and I believe one reason I got the deal was because I was so nice about it. These cable folks are used to getting yelled at all day long, so I think they instantly put up a wall if you just start screaming at them. (This works: "Please notice that I'm not yelling at you - the cost has gotten beyond what I can afford, and I'm just really frustrated. I've been a good customer for XX years, and I want to see if we can work something out so I don't have to shut down the service.")

    As much as I hate being that nice, sometimes it pays off. :wink:
     
  15. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #35 Nathan, Oct 17, 2014
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2014
    I have spoken to the retention department in the past. In a very polite and appreciative manner I might add. They cut the bill quite a bit.

    For me it's not the 30 bucks a month I'm now saving. It's getting my butt off the couch and doing things. That is my main reason for cutting the cable.
     
  16. Zapski

    Zapski Well-Known Member

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    My main reason was because it's an obsolete model of business. And money savings, but really even with cable, I was using streaming services or DVDs more than watching whatever was on.

    Appointment based television is soooooo last century (except sporting events).

    I figure it's the 21st Century, and while I can't get a jet pack, or a flying car, or live on the Moon (which by now should be hurtling through space with the inhabitants of Moon Base Alpha) I darn well am going to enjoy what I can of it. Which pretty much amounts to nifty phones and on-demand streaming of HD TV.
     
  17. Apok

    Apok New Member

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    Me and my lovely 2010 MAcBook are a huge fan of The Pirate bay. I'm just sayin....
     
  18. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    It's been about 3 months now without cable. I've done a few Netflix and Amazon binge watch events. Don't miss the talking heads I used to sit there an watch.

    Someone actually sent me something from my Amazon wishlist, an over the air antenna. A scan after hook up found 32 channels. Visually checking found about 10 in English. The picture quality on the major network channels in incredible. Doesn't hurt that I live within about 3 miles of all the transmitters.

    All in all I'm happy with the decision to cut the cable.
     
  19. old81

    old81 Club Coordinator
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    Nathan, what antenna did you get from your wish list, need for a future conversion, if I drop Comcast Cable. I get 50 mg. download, so I might stay with their Blast Internet.

    Thanks, Don
     
  20. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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