Cord cutter for Vol and SEC fans...

#51
#51
TiVo makes a model, the Roamio OTA, that is designed for cord-cutters. It's cheap ($50), but the $15/month subscription fee is the deal killer for me. Channel Master makes an OTA DVR that is more expensive but has no subscription fees.

I have an ancient Series 2 TiVo that has a lifetime subscription (in-laws handed it down to us years ago) and can be used for OTA broadcasts (a digital converter is necessary, though). You can sometimes find them on eBay. Look for ones with lifetime subscription so there's no monthly fee.

You probably won't need it, though, since most of what you'd record is on Hulu or Netflix anyways.

Another option is Tablo DVR

I've had one since August and it's made cutting the cord pretty painless.

To use it you need an antenna, an external hard drive (USB), a Roku or iPad to control/watch on your TV.

https://www.tablotv.com

Guide data is $50/yr or $150 lifetime
 
#52
#52
I just subscribed to Sling tv to try it out. I may only use it during the fall because xbmc fulfills our needs the rest of the time.
 
#53
#53
We get cable from August to January for CFB. In Chattanooga we use EPB Fiber Optics which allows us to install and cancel at anytime with no charge (basically month to month service). We canceled last month and to our amazement, we can still watch ESPN on the Xbox through the Watch ESPN app. As long as they don't take that away from us,I'm golden. If they take it away, I will definitely give SlingTV a look.
 
#55
#55
Technically challenged here and needing some help. Cut the cord last week and the only thing missing right now is live sports. Have Att wireless for home internet and phone, verizon (employer) cell service, no satellite or cable provider but we have roku. I try to get the live games on watchespn.com and it continues asking for a television provider. Anybody else having this issue and if so what's the solution? Our Att internet service apparently isn't u-verse. I'll be calling them tomorrow but figured I'd check with the brains on Volnation first. Any takers?
 
#56
#56
Technically challenged here and needing some help. Cut the cord last week and the only thing missing right now is live sports. Have Att wireless for home internet and phone, verizon (employer) cell service, no satellite or cable provider but we have roku. I try to get the live games on watchespn.com and it continues asking for a television provider. Anybody else having this issue and if so what's the solution? Our Att internet service apparently isn't u-verse. I'll be calling them tomorrow but figured I'd check with the brains on Volnation first. Any takers?

You have to have cable tv set up. At least that was my experience with Charter.
 
#57
#57
EPB Gig fiber, Watch ESPN, Plex and Kodi for me. Complete entertainment package 50.00 bucks thats with tax and fees.....
 
#58
#58
I have DISH Hopper with Sling and can watch any channel w I have purchased with my package away from home.
 
#59
#59
You folks are lucky to have some decent options.

I live way out in the country North of Nashville near the Ky. border.

My only options are the 2 dish companies and our local country bumpkin phone coop.

I had Dish network for 2 years but their support/repair service is a total joke and if a cloud came by we lost service.

My local phone company requires that we keep our landline phone service to have internet, LOL!

Best bundle deal I can get for phone, internet and tv is $205. a month and that's rough on my little disability check.

At least now in really bad weather I can keep track of what's going on and get my family out of here if it looks like our house might get blown away so that's a positive.

I sure wish I had some cheaper options like you folks have, LOL!

At least now I won't miss my Vols games.

#BrickbyBrick...VFL...GBO!!!
 
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#60
#60
Whats that one they have started to sell from lily's called the box? I just happened to see the commercial today. The commercial didn't say much but basically cut your monthly tv bills with the box. I tried looking it up but couldn't find anything not even on the lily's website.
 
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#61
#61
I've decided to drop DTV. Between sling, Netflix, and Hulu I will have more to watch than I do now, and save well over $100 per month.
 
#62
#62
I've decided to drop DTV. Between sling, Netflix, and Hulu I will have more to watch than I do now, and save well over $100 per month.

Ok, tech-minded folks, if my large family utilizes (3) televisions simultaneously at times does each tv need a sling box or tablo tv dvr for streaming throughout the house?
I currently utilize time warner cable and I'm looking for options to save $$ and still get the espn sports channels, etc...
Thanks for your input!!
 
#63
#63
Ok, tech-minded folks, if my large family utilizes (3) televisions simultaneously at times does each tv need a sling box or tablo tv dvr for streaming throughout the house?
I currently utilize time warner cable and I'm looking for options to save $$ and still get the espn sports channels, etc...
Thanks for your input!!

I would like to know this, as well. We have Dish Network with Hopper and three Joey receivers on four TVs. I like the way we can record things, etc., but I would be more than willing to try Sling, etc. to save a few bucks from the $140 per month I am now paying.
 
#64
#64
Ok, tech-minded folks, if my large family utilizes (3) televisions simultaneously at times does each tv need a sling box or tablo tv dvr for streaming throughout the house?
I currently utilize time warner cable and I'm looking for options to save $$ and still get the espn sports channels, etc...
Thanks for your input!!

If you all want to watch Sling at the same time on 3 different TVs, you'll need 3 Sling accounts. $60 pretty much. You can watch it on any device (phone, Roku, Fire Stick, etc), but only 1 device at a time.
 
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#65
#65
For you cord cutters, how to you access network TV: abc, cbs, nbc, fox? Or do you?
Over the air Antennas. If you live near a large city, you can generally use one of those like the Mohu LEAF, which mounts in a window.
Mohu Leaf 30 Indoor HDTV Antenna Multi MH-110583 - Best Buy

But in rural areas, you need a bigger one, and mounted outside. Good thing about the Antennas is that the HD signal is much clearer than what you get with cable or dish....because unlike them, it is uncompressed.

I think Cable and Dish subscriptions are going to become obsolete in 5-10yrs, if they don't make some drastic adjustments. Too many options to watch online, now a days. SlingTV is supposedly one of the Dish company's attempt to assuage the cord cutter.
 
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#66
#66
Ok, tech-minded folks, if my large family utilizes (3) televisions simultaneously at times does each tv need a sling box or tablo tv dvr for streaming throughout the house?
I currently utilize time warner cable and I'm looking for options to save $$ and still get the espn sports channels, etc...
Thanks for your input!!

TabloTV streams over wifi.

Up to 6 devices at once. You can stream to Roku, iPad, iPhone, Kindle Fire.

Only one dvr required. Had it since Aug 2014 - love it.
 
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#67
#67
Digital antenna for cable and Apple TV for everything else. I use my parents and friends codes for access to everything. I pay $30 a month for internet!


GBO!!!
 
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#68
#68
Comcast has a new surprise for cord cutters. They have instituted a 300 GB usage limit per month and sell additional blocks for $10 each. We have measured and Netflix and Amazon prime video are 3 to 6 GB per hour depending on the video definition with HD being a true data eater.

It does not take long to reach the limit each month in our family. If we cut the cord the usage will skyrocket. Comcast Internet is fast but they have a system that still gets them paid if we cut the cord.

Truly wonder if cutting the cord and using the sling box would actually cost more.

I have found that, with the newer digital TV's, buying HD from a service (Charter, Comcast, etc.) is not really needed...my picture is great without HD.
 
#69
#69
Over the air Antennas. If you live near a large city, you can generally use one of those like the Mohu LEAF, which mounts in a window.
Mohu Leaf 30 Indoor HDTV Antenna Multi MH-110583 - Best Buy

But in rural areas, you need a bigger one, and mounted outside. Good thing about the Antennas is that the HD signal is much clearer than what you get with cable or dish....because unlike them, it is uncompressed.

I think Cable and Dish subscriptions are going to become obsolete in 5-10yrs, if they don't make some drastic adjustments. Too many options to watch online, now a days. SlingTV is supposedly one of the Dish company's attempt to assuage the cord cutter.

Never thought I'd see assuage on VN. We're stepping up in class!
 
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#71
#71
Curious about this. Explain more please.

TabloTV is an OTA (over the air - i.e. Antenna) DVR.

They sell 2 versions - one has a 2 tuners, the other has 4 tuners. The # of tuners determines how many shows can be recorded at the same time - also one tuner is used when watching live TV.

The product is the DVR - you need to add a USB external hard drive for recording. You'll also need an antenna to input to the DVR - mine is in my attic.

You need an Internet connection for the unit to download the tv schedule (guide data). The first month of guide data is free, after that you can pay $50/yr or $150 for lifetime guide data (for you, not the device). I went with the lifetime option - if I ever have to add a DVR it is already covered under my lifetime sub.

I connect via Roku and iPhone. We have a kindle fire and that works too.

Up to 6 devices (Roku, iPhone, iPad, PC/laptop, etc) can connect to Tablo and stream recordings over wifi at once.

I think I've only ever streamed from 3 devices at once, but it worked well.

The software is updated fairly regularly. They really try to add new features and fix problems based on user feedback.

Check their website (link below) for more info - let me know if you have any specific questions.

https://www.tablotv.com
 
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#72
#72
Comcast has a new surprise for cord cutters. They have instituted a 300 GB usage limit per month and sell additional blocks for $10 each. We have measured and Netflix and Amazon prime video are 3 to 6 GB per hour depending on the video definition with HD being a true data eater.

It does not take long to reach the limit each month in our family. If we cut the cord the usage will skyrocket. Comcast Internet is fast but they have a system that still gets them paid if we cut the cord.

Truly wonder if cutting the cord and using the sling box would actually cost more.

I have Comcast Internet Blast with the 300 GB limit, all of the sports channels, including NFL Redzone (must have), and all of the HBO channels, (Netflix), and I have gone over the 300 GB limit one time. I pay $146.00 per month. Not a bad deal. Cutting the cord is NOT as easy or convenient as some people like to try and make it sound.
 
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#73
#73
I had planned to cut off my Dish subscription about a week ago. When I called to do it, I found out that I still have 8 months left on my 2 yr contract. They were gonna charge me $160 for early termination. I was able to get them to reduce my monthly bill from $118 per month, to $73.99 for the next 3 months, then $93.99 for the final 5 months. So, I'm gonna keep it to finish the contract, then I'm cutting the cord.
 
#74
#74
I had planned to cut off my Dish subscription about a week ago. When I called to do it, I found out that I still have 8 months left on my 2 yr contract. They were gonna charge me $160 for early termination. I was able to get them to reduce my monthly bill from $118 per month, to $73.99 for the next 3 months, then $93.99 for the final 5 months. So, I'm gonna keep it to finish the contract, then I'm cutting the cord.
This is why I absolutely loathe Dish and DirectTV and their 2yr contracts. It's absolute nonsense in a time where the alternatives are much better and cheaper.
 
#75
#75
I had planned to cut off my Dish subscription about a week ago. When I called to do it, I found out that I still have 8 months left on my 2 yr contract. They were gonna charge me $160 for early termination. I was able to get them to reduce my monthly bill from $118 per month, to $73.99 for the next 3 months, then $93.99 for the final 5 months. So, I'm gonna keep it to finish the contract, then I'm cutting the cord.

I told direct TV fine,I'll pay it off now :) and since I turned Direct TV off I saved enough to pay them off in a month and a half

I've just been using free sites off of the net and haven't missed anything,Sports or TV wise,I don't have any live feeds for news channels though, you need to be able to uuuh borrow a log in for WatchESPN too

I'm going to try this antenna a try before long

Amazon.com: Outdoor HDTV Yagi Antenna with Motor Rotor, WA2608: Electronics

my friend lives in Morristown and says it works great
 
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