Alternatives to paying for expensive cable TV

[Times Roman]

I have a "friend" that is not too tech savvy. My "friend" is currently paying around $240/mo for Comcast Triple play, with the HDDVR and an extra room fee. So my "friend" is trying to save some bucks and wants to know what alternatives some of you have and strategies on how to minimize this cost. LB and I, uh, I mean my "friend" have been talking about this, and want to see what other options there are out there.

Thoughts?

[Iceberg]

I pay about the same. I also use netflix. I hate comcast. Lol, but it's a must have I guess.

[zempey]

I have an android box, it cost $120 and all you need is internet and you get everything, movies, tv shows, sports. The technology is primitive, but with patients it is doable. I hear the apple tv is really good, same principles as the android box just better user interface.

[Hazard]

Verizon fios is around $99/month in my area

[thegame1431]

you have to call every year and threaten to switch to another cable company and they will give you a promotion.

[lovbyts]

Apple TV was good about 5+ years ago but if you want ease of use, 100s of channels then Roku is the way to go. 3 different models from $40 - $99 depending on what you want for options. Add $9 a month for Amazon prime and you just added 100s of TV shows and 100s of movies for free.

If you want everything built into one including most every movie ever made including new releases even the same day they come out into theaters then go with XBMC, also $99 fully loaded or if you are a little tech savvy then download for free onto a PC and hook to your TV.

I made the switch to Roku and Amazon prime a year ago and would not switch back.

Oh yeah of course you need internet. Centurylink DSL is $35 month and it steams movies 100% fine, never a single problem.

So, for around $50 a month I get internet and TV with a $99 initial investment.

[Times Roman]

copy and pasted this into a note so I, eh, I mean my friend can research later.

[lovbyts]

Id go with the new model Roku 2. It's the same as the 3 but $20 cheaper.
Amazon.com: Roku 2 Streaming Player (Black) (Roku 2720R): Televisions & Video

XBMC
Amazon.com: Matricom? G-Box MX2 Dual Core XBMC Android 4.2 TV Box + Special Edition XBMC: Electronics

[< <Samson> >]

If your area still pumps analog through coax - just tap into


That's what I do here - gets you about 50-60 channels


Oh yeah - & hack someone's Neflix account

[lovbyts]

If your area still pumps analog through coax - just tap into


That's what I do here - gets you about 50-60 channels


Oh yeah - & hack someone's Neflix account

From my experience the time invested trying to do this, the hardware needed and the fact it usually only last a couple of years before the hardware is deactivated via spike or ??? at best you will break even.

Using the Roku and/or XBMC is legal and no worries about it being spiked or just going out.

Also if you get caught it could be very expensive and in some cases even cost you your job so you have to take into account the risks of hacking cable.

[zempey]

The android box I have has XBMC plus a bunch of other stuff like youtube and netflix.

[lovbyts]

The android box I have has XBMC plus a bunch of other stuff like youtube and netflix.

You can add 100s of more channels easily. Youtube XBMC addons. The best/main channel I use for 99% of my xbmc is 1Chanel.

[zempey]

Cool, thanks, I will look it up. I get frustrated with it at times, it takes a lot of patients sometimes, but way better than a $150 cable bill every month.

[Honkey_Kong]

You could always go Hulu plus.

I really don't watch TV and I'm thinking about just getting rid of my cable TV services. Time Warner's been hosing me on cable boxes for all the TVs I own and they just sit there not getting used.

[zempey]

Can't get hulu in Canada unless I get a US ip address.

[< <Samson> >]

From my experience the time invested trying to do this, the hardware needed and the fact it usually only last a couple of years before the hardware is deactivated via spike or ??? at best you will break even.

It's kinda nice for me - It was my last real job and I still talk to who ever is left working.

[evander87]

Id go with the new model Roku 2. It's the same as the 3 but $20 cheaper. Amazon.com: Roku 2 Streaming Player (Black) (Roku 2720R): Televisions & Video XBMC Amazon.com: Matricom? G-Box MX2 Dual Core XBMC Android 4.2 TV Box + Special Edition XBMC: Electronics

Does XBMC have live football? I got rid of tv a few years ago and don't miss it but I would like to see a football game or two at home.

Eat meticulous, train ridiculous for best results.

[lovbyts]

Does XBMC have live football? I got rid of tv a few years ago and don't miss it but I would like to see a football game or two at home.

Eat meticulous, train ridiculous for best results.

Live football, boxing, mma and anything else you can think of.

[Honkey_Kong]

Live football, boxing, mma and anything else you can think of.

You can't get the Dodgers.

[Times Roman]

You can't get the Dodgers.

and it blacks out the victorious Raider games too.

[lovbyts]

You can't get the Dodgers.

and it blacks out the victorious Raider games too.

Not if you set up the right channels. You have to learn how to set it up for what you are looking for. There are 100s if not 1000s of channels you can add but sometimes like the free PPV sites you have to re add or change ever so often because they change but once you know how to find them it's not hard to do again.

[BG]

I dropped down to the very basic, worked well during the summer but I didnt last and had to up my package. Hate this crap.

[ppwc1985]

From my experience the time invested trying to do this, the hardware needed and the fact it usually only last a couple of years before the hardware is deactivated via spike or ??? at best you will break even. Using the Roku and/or XBMC is legal and no worries about it being spiked or just going out. Also if you get caught it could be very expensive and in some cases even cost you your job so you have to take into account the risks of hacking cable.

Do you get local channels with that?

[Rwy]

I got rid of cable, got an HDTV Antenna. I had internet and phone which was 60 bucks and included taxes.

My fiancee whined and now I am paying $150 for cable and Showtime. My building is only wired for Time Warner so I cant put them against other companies. There are so many options now if you live in a house. Keep switching or tell them you are leaving and they will change the price really fast

[Honkey_Kong]

and it blacks out the victorious Raider games too.

Luckily, that doesn't happen too often.

[Times Roman]

Luckily, that doesn't happen too often.

whatchyoo takkin 'bout Willis?

[lovbyts]

You guys need to just YouTube xbmc and check it out. There is not one single tv show or movie I can't find for free.

Im watching teenage mutant ninja turtles in DVD quality tonight. Hercules last week and anything else you can think of.

[lovbyts]

I was just looking at xbmc and with only the one add-on to programs I did all free btw it has 977 tv/movie channels and 150 music channels.

[Times Roman]

so a good idea to have a lap top for each viewing center?

[lovbyts]

so a good idea to have a lap top for each viewing center?

You can buy the unit all in one for around $100 each or download for free to run off any laptop, pc or tablet but yes one for each tv or move it between each one.

[Juced_porkchop]

I have a "friend" that is not too tech savvy. My "friend" is currently paying around $240/mo for Comcast Triple play, with the HDDVR and an extra room fee. So my "friend" is trying to save some bucks and wants to know what alternatives some of you have and strategies on how to minimize this cost. LB and I, uh, I mean my "friend" have been talking about this, and want to see what other options there are out there.

Thoughts?

first google/get "utorrent"

then visit this site and put in name of movies or shows you want> http://kickass.to/

then connect HDMI cable from PC to TV and play.
NVM getting ripped off for 90% shitty tv

[< <Samson> >]

first google/get "utorrent"

then visit this site and put in name of movies or shows you want> http://kickass.to/

then connect HDMI cable from PC to TV and play.
NVM getting ripped off for 90% shitty tv

+ steal regi cable

[Zodiac82]

+ steal regi cable

Made me lol

[evander87]

You can buy the unit all in one for around $100 each or download for free to run off any laptop, pc or tablet but yes one for each tv or move it between each one.

I downloaded xbmc onto my Mac and couldn't figure out how to get the damned thing to work. Yes I watched how to view and set up fusion and added damned near every add on possible and still couldn't view a single program.

[lovbyts]

I downloaded xbmc onto my Mac and couldn't figure out how to get the damned thing to work. Yes I watched how to view and set up fusion and added damned near every add on possible and still couldn't view a single program.

Double click the program. Go to video add-on, add more channels and choose the ones you want to watch by right clicking and add.

See the all in one unit will be easier for some people who are not so tech savvy.

I had it on my MacBook air but it works better under windows.

[Rwy]

first google/get "utorrent"

then visit this site and put in name of movies or shows you want> http://kickass.to/

then connect HDMI cable from PC to TV and play.
NVM getting ripped off for 90% shitty tv

You need to protect your ip address. Stay away from public torrent sites. The studios and Premium Tv Channels are putting their own torrents up with trackers. Everyone thinks they are downloading and getting away with it but they are piling up huge lists on people.

Makes sure the program/company that hides your ip address will not hand your information over to a studio if you down load their material with a tracker. Def smarten up especially if you have assets.

[Bonaparte]

I have an internet TV and pay like $8/month for Netflix.
Oh, I also torrent some stuff on my laptop, and use a VPN that costs like $50 a year.
But I couldn't care less about watching sports.

[Frank777]

I have recently cut the cord and bought Amazon Firestick. I found a lot of great IPTV services https://www.firesticktricks.com/best-iptv-service.html that offer a cost-effective solution to stream the cable TV channels. In my opinion, this is a great alternative to the cable TV that allows to watch my favourite content without paying big bills.

[Oliver47]

I've quite often gone for cancellation and usually get offered something, once the channels did go off before I got some sort of offer from comcast phone number customer service that tempted me enough to come back, if you're prepared to do without it's probably better for offers in the end, I do watch a lot of free to air TV and have a motorised setup so it wouldn't be too bad to do without Sky if I had to.