Streaming TV

[TheGrey]

Last week, a CenturyLink guy came around and we talked at some length about possibilities for cable service and internet. We've got Comcast right now, and I'm damned sick of paying nearly $200 per month for pixilated pictures, crappy software issues that fall upon deaf ears, and less-than-stellar internet. We'll be trying CenturyLink's internet side-by-side with Comcast's in October, to see which is better. I hope CenturyLink pans out- they're far less expensive.
Either way, we'd like to stream our TV and ditch cable altogether.

We have a smart TV, a DVD/Blu-Ray player that offers options such as Netflix (we have a streaming account with them), Amazon (no account with them yet; is Prime worth it?), Hulu and Vudu and a few others.

I've begun researching how to best go about this, but I have some questions for those of you that have made this plunge:

In order to pull in basic channels (ABC, NBC, and the like) will I need to pick up an HD antenna? I've seen them at Microcenter for $14-20.
Roku offers a lot of streaming channels. There are 3 different Roku devices! Has anyone got an opinion on any of these three devices, plus or minuses?

What do you guys do about the pay channels, such as HBO, Showtime and Starz?

[ray1970]

I have Century Link internet. Works well enough for me. We stream Netflix and Hulu with no issues. I have DirecTV and have been overall pretty satisfied with the service for the last fifteen years or more. I have all of the channels you can get. I watch maybe four of them. Hardly ever even watch HBO, Starz, Showtime, etc.

[Madeinhb]

My In Laws and I split their bill. In their guest room, we have a directv box and a slingbox connected. At out house we connect to slingbox and watch live and recorded content. Not fully cutting the cord,but saving money for both of us. Hulu is nice - but it didn't have a lot of the stuff i watch so I cancelled.

[colorider]

I have 2 roku boxes and they are fine for streaming netflix and amazon prime. They are pretty limited in streaming anything else unless you want to pay for channel subscriptions. The roku does not have a web browser. It will also not stream Hulu. It has hulu plus which is so full of commercials it is annoying.
I too want to tell comcast to piss off and am doing a lot of research lately. What you want is a a digital antenna like the Mohu Leaf. Works great.
For your online streaming, you want to get a box that can do such a thing and one that has xbmc is even better. Such an example would be the
http://www.amazon.com/Matricom-G-Box-MX2-Android-Special/dp/B00GR30SW4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1410836559&sr=8-2&keywords=xbmc

I am still in the research phase of this so I really don't know the ins and outs of these type of boxes. Doing a lot of google searching and info gathering at this point.
Currently I have been using the Mohu leaf and the picture is 100x better then with comcast. So I am happy about that. As soon as I can figure out how to stream the channels that my wife likes, I am done with comcast. My biggest problem is that I won't use any of my computers as a media server to stream to the tv. If you want to do that, then things are pretty simple. You can do it with the roku and a roku ap called Plex.

[Ah Pook]

I have a local wireless provider to the house, so no CL. NF is not an option. Been looking at Amazon Prime but wondering how much is free after you get into it.

Been doing Hulu but the commercials are too much.

Not interested in the cable type channels. Mostly we do movie streaming and series.

[Bailey Guns]

We've had CenturyLink DSL for several years now. Started out at the basic 1.5Mbps service but we've slowly been upgraded to 12Mbps. It's more than adequate to stream movies and such from Amazon and Netflix. The service is pretty reliable other than a line issue we had that caused downtime during rain storms. But, they came out and put in 900' of new underground line across our property and the issues are pretty much gone now. We always get very close to the advertised speed...rarely drops below 10.5Mbps.

We also have Dish...pretty basic service. IMO the premium channels aren't worth it. They generally repeat the same movies over and over. Having said that there are a few programs I like to watch...but it doesn't justify the cost. When we didn't have the movie channels I wanted them. When I got them, I rarely watched them. Most anything I want to see will eventually come out on Netflix or Amazon.

I use Netflix for streaming A LOT! Amazon not quite as much but some. Wife has the Netflix DVD option so we're pretty much covered.

Amazon Prime is definitely worth it for me. Obviously it was a better deal at $79 per month as opposed to $99 but still very much worth it. I don't use it so much for the streaming but for the shipping. Since it's a haul for us to town, we order tons of stuff from Amazon and almost everything is shipped 2nd day for free. We save hundreds every year on shipping. Plus you get free Kindle books and all sorts of other goodies. It took me a while to sign up for it but I'm glad I did...been a Prime user for about 2 or 3 years now.

[Madeinhb]

Ya I love prime. I try to buy anything I can using it if it saves money. Toilet paper is cheaper and you get the 2 day shipping.

[Zundfolge]

We currently stream via Roku boxes on all our TVs using Century Link (at either 12mb or 7, I can't remember ... haven't had any streaming problems unless I'm also torrenting a huge file with a large swarm of peers), I also set up a Plex server (https://plex.tv/) on my wife's Mac and use it for stuff I've "acquired" online :D Plex also has a Hulu (not Hulu +) plugin that works ok, but I don't use it much. The Plex app for Roku used to be free but now it's something like $5. If you have a lot of media stored on a computer that you want to stream, it's worth the expense (the Plex server software is still free IIRC).

If you're looking at the Roku, just get the Roku 3 and be done with it ... it has a faster processor than all the other ones which really shows when streaming full 1080.

The only streaming service we pay for is Netflix which is fine if you don't mind being a season behind everyone else on TV shows.

I've found that most of the TV I watch anymore is either YouTube channels or stuff I've downloaded and watch via Plex.

Also, switching to streaming really does change the way you watch TV. We watch a lot less than we did before streaming, but that's mostly because we don't just put it on in the background for noise, and we sit down specifically to watch something not to just surf channels.

[cstone]

Comcast Internet, one Roku, with Netflix. We stream Netflix and do one at a time DVDs for anything that isn't available streaming.

We don't watch anything else on TV and everyone in the house has access to a laptop and their own cell phone, so no landline either.

One day, the courts will force cable companies to allow other service providers access to their wire, just like the landline phone companies 30 years ago.

IMO, traditional TV is dead. Pay for access and watch what you want, when you want, where you want.

[45XD]

Good questions and lots of good feedback.
I agree that Comcast surely does suck donkey balls... BUT, their internet is the fastest around here and I work a significant amount from home so we do pay for it. Internet only though- no phone or TV
Like many of the others said, we stream Netflix and Amazon Prime and there's more there than we have time to even watch. But for local channels I have to give a plug for Denny's TV Antenna Source:

http://dennysantennaservice.com//

Yes at $129, these cost more than what you'd find from Radio Shack or Best Buy, but we've tried two different cheaper options for an HD Antenna and neither of them worked that great- despite repositioning, moving from the south side of the house to the west side, and countless channel searches. I purchased the HD Stacker earlier this year, put it in the attic, and now I'm pulling all the local channels from both Denver and Cheyenne (plus a whole bunch of stuff I don't care about) and it's working great. I think the greater amount of surface area with this antenna is just able to gather more signal in (for example, we had never been able to get NBC (so no Sunday night football) until we got this antenna). No need to buy the $300 install kit if you are going into your attic (IMHO) like I did- just some conduit from Home Depot and a new RG6 cable. I also didn't buy a signal booster (despite running 75ft of cable) and haven't needed it so far...

My two cents on this...

[Zundfolge]

Good questions and lots of good feedback.
I agree that Comcast surely does suck donkey balls... BUT, their internet is the fastest around here and I work a significant amount from home so we do pay for it. Internet only though- no phone or TV
The problem with Comcast is that they throttle your connection if you do things they don't like, like torrenting (which isn't always illegal) and there are many complaints online about them throttling Netflix and other video streaming services. Yes they have a very fast connection but they seem to smack down anyone that actually takes advantage of that speed.

[TheWeeze]

I don't know anything about the Roku, but I use Chromecast for a lot of my streaming needs. They have all the apps needed (controlled by your computer browser, or phone or tablet) such as HBO Go, YouTube, Hulu Plus, Netflix, and any other app you can get on an Android device. It works pretty seamlessly, just need to have your device and Chromecast on the same WiFi. I have 3 Chromecast devices @ $35 each, one for each TV. Works great for me.

As for internet, I have Comcast right now as they seem to have the fastest internet at the moment in my area. CenturyLink is developing a Fibre network that will be faster, but have to wait for my area. My 25-30m/s internet through Comcast is $45 a month with TV.

[TheGrey]

This is GREAT information, guys. Thank you for taking time to pass on information and opinions; I didn't realize there was such a variety of equipment to select from. This is helping tremendously- we'll be able to shake the shackles of the cable company soon, and be able to use the $ for better things!

[Kraven251]

Never had any speed issues with Comcast, and when I did had far more to do with the coax than the service. Re-ran a few drops in the house I was renting including the one that went outside, and suddenly the few minor problems I had were largely resolved.

[smokeyradio]

I use a homemade antenna in the attic for broadcast channels (cost $1.27 to make), a roku for netflix and amazon prime, a chromebook to find anything else I want online. We are satisfied so far. Our bill each month is about $16 plus internet. We would have internet even if no TV, so it is a wash.

[crays]

I use a homemade antenna in the attic for broadcast channels (cost $1.27 to make), a roku for netflix and amazon prime, a chromebook to find anything else I want online. We are satisfied so far. Our bill each month is about $16 plus internet. We would have internet even if no TV, so it is a wash.

I'm sure I could google-fu it, but care to share details?

[smokeyradio]

Here is the link for the 4 bay antenna I built. This link is just one of many on the same antenna.
You could probably find a better one. I built it out of scraps I had laying around. For coax I took
down the coax Dish left from a previous owner and used it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlShMxSCZJ0

I get all the Denver channels. I live close to I25 and Hwy 60. I put it in the attic and it works.
I bought the Chromebook and googled how to watch free tv online. There are several sights
you can do this on. Some are HD some are not.

On the Roku we get all we need in movies. The $16 a month is Netflix and Amazon Prime. We
already had prime since the wife (and me) like the free 2 day shipping. Prime is going up to $99
a year this year, but ours was $79 last year. There are free trials on these sites to check them out.
We tried HuluPlus, but dropped it after free trial.

[Fromk]

Cutting cable is incredibly easy if you don't care about sports. It seems like that's the last big piece of the puzzle until cable companies really start losing subscribers.

To start I have Comcast internet and I have no complaints. Their outsourced phone support is terrible but I have nothing but good things to say about the local staff.

Through the internet I do Netflix and Amazon through my PS3. If you have Netflix don't bother with Amazon unless you order a bunch of stuff through them (which I do and 2 day shipping is great). I also have a simple network setup through my PS3 that streams downloaded video to my tv. In a month or so the Xbox One will have that ability, too. A lot of this end has been covered so I won't get into it.

I also have a $50 antenna on my roof that I patched into the wires somebody else put in for a satellite. That existing hardware made my job really easy. Where I live in Parker and given how many walls the signal needs to go through to get to my tv an set top one wasn't an option. When I was in Lone Tree it was fine. The good news is that you can go to your store of choice, pick up a cheap antenna, and see if it works. If it doesn't then return it, upgrade, and repeat as necessary. It's a good reason to make that purchase locally.

DON'T FORGET TO ADJUST YOUR TV'S SETTINGS!!! Somewhere in the menus you have to change the input from searching for cable channels to looking for over the air channels. This is hugely important. Odds are it will already have the digital converter so don't let somebody sell you an extra box you don't need that just clutters things up. After that there's probably a channel auto detect procedure then you go in and make adjustments to your liking. If you haven't seen OTA tv since the digital conversion prepare to be shocked at how good it looks. It's even better than cable in some cases.

[Madeinhb]

IMO, traditional TV is dead. Pay for access and watch what you want, when you want, where you want.

Almost dead. Radio is having the nails put into the coffin. TV is in the coffin. Just needs the lid shut and nailed.

[BigNick73]

I'll add another recommendation for the roku 3. And for those that have one Google roku private channels. There's some out there like whisper TV that add a lot of shows/content.

Also if you use the Bing search engine they have a rewards/points thing that can be redeemed for hulu+

Edit: the private channel I use a lot is nowhere tv not whisper. Whisper TV might be that porn station I found on there.

[jerrymrc]

Sorry but had to clean up. Some may want to look here. https://www.ar-15.co/threads/138573-Streaming-TV-Boxes