Similar to the Amazon stick. We cut the cord several years ago and never looked back.

The few streaming services that offer local channels still have to negotiate carriage agreements that Comcast etc have to negotiate. Some offer a couple of locals, and in some areas you get none.

A decent antenna located outdoors should get you all your locals, also a bunch of .2 and .3 channels not usually carried by the streamers. Depending on location you might receive some nearby area stations that aren't available by cable, satellite or streaming service unless you move.

You will need to retune your TV occasionally though. Channels are being repacked as channels 35 to 51 are being cleared out for T-Mobile; some .2 and .3 channels may disappear (and possibly some religious broadcasters) as a result but your main channels should be available.

It doesn't work in our area. We're too far from the closests stations; too many trees, weather etc.

When it was analog, we could get them all - fuzzy, but they were there. Once the digital switchover occurred, we lost all but the local PBS stations, and one local all-jesus-all-the-time stations. Rarely, after 11 PM, we can get one of the network stations (still cutting in and out).

In some places (like central NYC) an indoor antenna may suffice.

In extreme rural areas in some cases an antenna will not work (not in range of any terrestrial transmitter). Satellite and cable is what is generally used. In rare cases community built translator stations exist, though this is more common in Europe.

But in general for most places a decent outdoor antenna will yield good results and be less frustrating than rabbit ears.

(less than 50 miles from a major metropolitan area, and less than 9 miles from a city of 100,000) and our outdoor antenna does no good. We're hardly in an extreme rural area. And it isn't a matter of frustration - it is that digital is either present or not, and the range of digital transmission is considerably less than that of analog.

But you could get a Mohu Leaf for $60. No climbing on the roof or in an attic-mine looks like a piece of paper hanging in the window. I get 42 over the air channels for free.

http://store.gomohu.com/leaf-50-indoor-amplified-hdtv-antenna.html

I have a Roku for Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu. It's more television than I can keep up.

However, we can get them as channels on Roku. We don't get live stuff, we get it after the fact.

For example, we can get the CBS evening news at 7, after it's run live at 6:30. Ditto NBC or ABC. We can get PBS News hour live via the YouTube channel on Roku.

We can get just about any show the next day - just add the channel for that network. Exception is CBS, you have to pay $5.99/month for that. We subscribe to Netflix so get all their stuff via Roku, ditto Amazon video. With Amazon video, you can pay by the month to add a premier channel, so I add Starz when Outlander is on, then cancel it after the season ends. It costs maybe $10/month.

All the news channels have some live content, especially if something big happens. PBS broadcasts live Senate hearings and stuff like that via You Tube. We donate $5/ month to our local PBS station so get all those shows.

You have access to hundreds of channels, free. If you really need live TV, Sling gives it to you for $20 or so a month.

We do cheat a bit and use my son's Verizon FiOS account to get CNN, HBO go and sports channels. He uses my Netflix and Amazon video in return.

Hope that helps!

This is a great antenna, thin as a piece of paper and picks up local stations (you go to their website and put in your address and it will tell you what stations you can pick up). 2018 is probably going to be my end of cable too. I would have ended it last year but when I told the cable company what I planned to do (leaf), the retention department met my price for a year. year is up so i'll be making a call and if they don't keep my price, I'm gone.

I got mine for a decent price (less than 1/2 of what i pay for cable for a month) from Amazon.

a

San Diego. It sounds wonderful! But I'm not sure how it works?

I don't have a tv.. just my Netflix on my laptop.

Happy New Year, mcar!

I don't know if you need a Roku for it. Seemy response above.

Happy New Year, Cha! I hope it's a better one for all of us.

I still have cable, but that's because I cannot get good reception via my antenna. Cutting the cord will have to wait until I get a chance to move to the city.

Besides, my favorite channels are on cable, such as MSNBC, CNN, and Animal Planet (which isn't available on Sling).

Get a Roku. You can still stream Amazon Prime on it.

My mom has both and says the Roku is far far superior.

I have two Rokus in my house.

On Edit: get a flat wall mount digital antenna for local channels.

This app can stream local news from almost every media market in the country.

https://channelstore.roku.com/details/71845/newson

Blue channel carries most of the basic cable channels and a few sports. Orange channel carries Disney channels and ESPN sports. Not sure what the orange channel costs, I'm not getting it.

To get cable news - like MSNBC and CNN - the news pack can be added for $5 a month.

I use my Roku for my news. There are several free apps for news.

I'm looking at both Sling and Philo.

I get MSNBC and the basic cable channels on PrismTV still. MSNBC is the only thing I am watching on Sling so it doesn't make sense to pay for both.

I haven't heard of Philo - what is that?

Like Sling or DirectNow.

There is an app for it on roku.

Just major streaming services. But my learning curve has been interrupted twice since I got it. I'll have to do some research to find out about apps!

Went up from 150 (a ripoff) to 224! I'm keeping internet. I got a 9$ antenna and can get the 4 big networks. There is finally some competition coming to my city, so I'll see if that magic hand of the free market lowers prices. I have a feeling they will all be about the price.

Peace

apple tv and two older rokus, the rokus are the most reliable, the amazon firestick has a lot of connection issues (maybe ours is defective)
and the apple tv has connection issues (not as much as the firestick) and we hated the apple touch tiny remote (too sensitive for old fingers
and cats and dogs) so we got a universal remote from walmart to replace it (much better). We did get the directv now $35 life special
they were running last year and subscribe to netflix and donate to PBS ($6.25 a month to get access to many of their programs through
PBS Passport). Between those and free youtube (search for BBC documentaries or History documentaries, full music concerts and such...you will find thousands) and other free online streaming stuff we have plenty to watch...also our small metro area has
about 12-18 over the air channels we get with a flat indoor antenna...lots of options.

You might be saddled with Comcast for Internet... but if you turn off their TV you do have options. However if you do dump Comcast entirely make sure the alternative for your Internet service is fast enough for your needs.

Other points to consider:

Make sure your TV has an antenna. An antenna gets you your local TV stations, which many streaming services don't provide. I recommend an outdoor antenna where possible. I certainly recommend ensuring you can get your local stations reliably before cutting the cord entirely.

In terms of cheap streaming devices I would suggest one of three:. The Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast, and Roku (Express or Express+).

If your TV is older and does not have HDMI input then Roku (Express +) is the way to go; Amazon's stick and Chromecast are HDMI only.

Amazon Fire TV is OK if you don't want Google provided content. Google Chromecast is OK if you're ok with choosing to use it with a phone or tablet and don't need Amazon content.

I personally prefer Roku. I've had their streaming devices since their first one. No Amazon/Google conflict. And tons of free content. Plus your regular streaming services.

If you want cable channels, Sling TV is what we have. You pick the packages you want. If it is just you and you alone then the $20/mo package (sling orange) is ok. If you have a family and want multiple TVs sling blue is needed at $25/mo. We have that plus the news pack (news junkies here). Fox News is not available on Sling.

I could go on...

no other providers in my area -- which is why I suspect they are being such haughty, anti customer dicks.

and thanks for all your input

Who's your local telco provider?

as I use Vonage......

sports. I also have Hulu, netflix and Amazon (for shipping to).

This is what we do to stream Netflix, Amazon, and YouTube, as well as to watch MP4 files on the main TV.

We have an Apple TV in the bedroom, and it is used only for Netflix.

That matters a lot.

Hopefully Comcast isn't your only choice. With an internet-only connection they'll still pester you with special deals and upgrades that will eventually end up costing you a lot if you agree to them, even when they start out "free."

I'm fortunate to live in a place where Independent Internet Service Providers are an option. I don't have to put up with Comcast's or AT&T's nonsense. They still send me a constant stream of junk mail that goes straight into the recycling bin.

I've got a medium speed DSL connection and Netflix. Our internet is fast enough for the Netflix medium resolution stream, which is 0.7 GB per hour. We don't watch broadcast television at all. We can get a mess of broadcast stations with a simple home-made television antenna, but I didn't even bother connecting an antenna last we moved the television. Our television is a commercial free movie player. It plays DVDs I find in thrift stores, Redbox DVDs, and Netflix. That's all it does.

Whenever I encounter commercial television these days I find it intolerable. It happened recently when I bought tires, and in a medical clinic waiting room. Does anyone mind if I unplug the television? I'm trying to read! Unfortunately it seems these days there are many people who can't sit still unless the television is on, although a lot of these are graduating to smart phones which are not so annoying if the users are wearing ear buds or headphones, unless they are actually talking on the phone.

My wife and I cut the cord years ago. The price of Comcast was escalating from $29, $39, $49, while the quality of content was plummeting. (We quit at $39) It wasn't just that, I also realized that a portion of my cable subscription cost went straight to entities I despise (for example, Fox News) whether I watched those channels or not.

no other providers in my area

But you do have to wrestle, and you do have to watch your bill and renegotiate whenever some "special" deal you got expires.

It might pay off, in less than a year, to buy your own cable modem-router rather than rent xfinity's modem for ten bucks a month. You first have to make sure whatever cable modem you buy will work, and xfinity may be reluctant to tell you.

Maybe I find DSL internet speeds acceptable because at the distance I sit from my television, in combination with my not-so-keen eyesight, I don't see much difference between DVD quality and Blu-Ray quality, or Netflix's "standard" vs. "high" definition. It also helps that our kids are grown now and left the nest. We no longer have to share our internet connection with them and their friends. When our kids were living at home, or home for college breaks, there were days our humble DSL internet connection would drag.

I cut it off about five or six years ago. I generally don't miss it. I mostly watch PBS, which I can get with an antenna.

I was just given a Roku, which is like the Firestick. It's the version for old CRT sets. Unfortunately, my TV is so old, I'm going to have to do some jerry-rigging to get it to work. Or, just break down and get a new set, since I can use it on that, as well. A lot of the new models have Roku built in. It's disappointing, since I was hoping to stream things like Netflix and YouTube on my TV, rather than on my laptop.

definition sets.

Haven't had cable since 2001 and don't miss it. We have a Roku and with Netflix and Amazon Prime there's a lot to choose from.

Every time I stay at a hotel or have to sit in a waiting room and watch what's on cable I think what crap and glad I'm not forking out the outrageous fees they want.

Now for $50 we have Hulu, HBO now, Netflix and Amazon Prime.

I have smart tv and apple tv.

We also bought antenna that gets local channels for news, cbs and abc and about ten more offbeat ones.

My step daughter gave me direct tv password and i only use it to watch fox sports for my Seahawks games and few other shows.

I find I watch Netflix the most.

But i did watch Rose parade for free with antenna today.

My wifi is pretty slow, there is only one other company so i am going to check how they are which is Century Link. I have Charter now. 12 month special for $45.

Last edited Mon Jan 1, 2018, 07:13 PM - Edit history (1)

I heard it is $20.00 plus extra packages are available. My GF's son thinks eit is a great idea. (computer techie).

Iike sling
Decided on the more expensive due to channel selection..more my taste
Sling works well enough
A bit glitchy some times but I like it
I do like Roku... fair number of free channels.like the free Roku channel and Pluto tv of all thing...

But do a comparison between the sling packages

So far it has been good. We had Roku years ago. I can remember having issues with the Roku. Whether or not we will have issues with the firestick remains to be seen. Personally, I don't think you can go wrong with either.


Just asked my wife why we went with firestick over Roku. She said she wanted to try something different.

I cut the cord December 2016, and got in on the ground floor witht the GoBig pkg for $35. It has everything my previous Directv cable had at a fraction of the price. Also in my pkg is HBO for $5 a month more, a deal. They also gave me a free AppleTV with the promo, first 3 months free too. I have a Roku box too for my 2nd teevee, it's a bit more user-friendly than AppleTV. I also have Netflix. I like that Directvnow has all my locals too, but this has been a recent addition.

I sampled Hulu, Sling, Amazon, etc., but Directvnow is way better and has all the content I want or need. You will love not paying those high prices anymore! The one thing I miss, however, is not having a DVR so I can FF thru the commercials. Now I just mute them.

It works quite well with the Amazon Prime content, but I found the 3rd party apps pretty tedious and the wireless Windows display function too buggy to be useful.

My parents seem to get by okay with just the Apple TV.

Fkat panel attenna the get arou nd 28 stations out here's in Portland Oregon. The Rrokuh box is excellent.

I'm almost considering dropping SkingTv. I Don't watch it that much.

With two months prepaid. For someone not used to streaming it's a good start.

It runs on internet but live streams a number of cable channels for $20-25 a month. Anyways, The offer was if you prepaid two months of Sling they'd mail you a free Roku.
www.sling.com

don't miss cable at all. I watch a lot less TV.

The digital antenna allows me to watch the local channels. I have HBO, amazon prime, Hulu and Netflix.

For lowest-tier cable with hundreds of channels I didn't want, no premium channels, internet and phone.

I switched to AT&T U-Verse to lower it to $120.

When I called to cancel Spectrum, they said it was too bad I didn't call them first, because they wanted to give me my package for $80/mo. I was like "Why the hell don't you offer me this price AS A RECURRING CUSTOMER to KEEP ME instead of making me cancel outright and trying to lure me back?"

I stayed with AT&T for now because I didn't want to reward that behavior. But in a year or two I'll be a "new" Charter customer again, and I'll qualify for discounts, and their internet actually kicks ass.

And, when the analog to digital switchover happened, we lost access to network TV (too far from the nearest towers) - and I'm too cheap to pay for what has been free all my life.

I miss news, but not much else.

We have a subscriptions to Netflix (started when it was mailed CDs). We also now have Amazon Prime (my daughter's student account - it pays for itself in shipping art supplies).

As of a week ago, we have an HD TV and an Amazon Firestick. My spouse seems to like it. I'm fine with watching my Netflix on my cell phone.

The cheapest is about $30 but does not include any control for the TV. The Roku stick is about $50 and has volume control for the TV.

I you get the Roku from any source other than Walmart you have buttons for Netflix, Sling, Hulu, and Amazon. Other streaming sources are accessible from the home menu.

Free streaming sources are Tubi, Crackle and Roku's own source.

So far I'm mostly watching Netflix, some Tubi, and some Sling. My "cable" (PrismTV) made me a deal to keep their service for two years for cheap so I haven't bothered with a digital antenna. I tried out one a while back and can pick up all the local channels except the three offered by the local PBS - the main reason I was testing it. To get those I will have to put up an exterior antenna and it's just not worth it right now.

I've only had the Roku for a little over two months so have not explored all the possibilities - but it seems less married to any specific streaming source than the Amazon or Google version.

And it has the buttons for Netflix, Amazon, etc. Also, you can always download a free remote on your smartphone.

As to PBS-just get the free app on Roku.

I'll take a look at the PBS thing for Roku. As I said I am still finding stuff on Netflix to watch.

The one thing I do need to find is where to watch Doctor Who - not just the new episodes, but the old ones that are available. I've missed pretty much all the Peter Capaldi ones so I need to catch up on them and would love to see the new season coming up.

Buttons on my remote.

The PBS app allows you to pick up your local.

I've had roku for years, with different models. Look up Pluto, Channel Pear and the Nowhere channels. Also do an online search for private roku channels.

Our local PBS station has three different broadcast channels - standard PBS, CreateTV (DYI, crafts, cooking), and PBS Kids. PrismTV carries the standard one and the kids one - though they list the content for Create on the kids channel.

They cannot stream the CreateTV channel because of the agreements they had with the various program distributors. The only way to get it is over the air. Since the standard PBS station carries kiddie programs all day, I would love to have the DIY programming instead.

Unfortunately, the PBS antenna is 32 miles away from us on the other side of the north south ridge where our house is. That ridge not only blocks all the PBS stations, it also blocks cell phone signals.

Every other local TV antenna is to our north, north east and the the Leaf inside antenna I could get clear signals for all of them. But I couldn't even get a fuzzy signal for the PBS stations.

Someday we will pay to have an exterior antenna put up on top of our house - that should get us over the ridge and over the tree tops and provide a signal for all the local stations. Then we have to figure out how to distribute it all over the house - we have a main box for TV and telephone but at the moment the Prism signal is being carried by the cables out of it.

It was a private channel. Maybe that's why I still have it.

And it may have been a temporary thing - there was some question about the legality of the streaming of some channels through Pear right about the time I tried to sign up.

Down the road I might try again.

And watch them days, weeks, even months later. So I must have DVR with high capacity. Right now I am clearing out space so I can tape the entire Winter Olympics coverage and then watch it leisurely over time. The curling coverage alone is going to be dozens and dozens of hours, especially since they have added a mixed curling event for the first time.

I've checked some options but not thoroughly. Every time I read that DVR is either not available, or not as good as I currently have, I click away.

I have Uverse U300 at $136 per month including internet and home phone. But I figured out last summer that I could call or chat and complain about something every month and the phone representatives are authorized to keep people happy by dropping the bill $25, without needing to transfer to a supervisor or taking any further steps. They'll do it without me asking.

Eventually I realized that chat during the wee hours is awesome because it is not crowded so I have no waiting time and the people they put on that shift are not the cream of the crop. They get nervous when they can't help me so they apply the $25 very quickly.

I did this 6 months in a row. They never figured it out or stopped doing it. My complaints were legit, for the most part.

I took one month off but then just did it again for the January bill.

Interesting thread.

I have been without cable for so many years now I think it would just grate on my nerves to ever have it again. Then, there's the cost factor. No way am I prepared to pay those prices.

I have a great internet package. Thinking about getting roku.

Enjoyed reading the reviews on this thread.

I watch a lot of sports and they are all on YouTube TV. I love it.
Plus it has MSNBC and all local channels plus some others.
Try it for free, you'll like it. Much better than Sling.
It costs $35 per month.
PLUS - it record UNLIMITED numbers of all shows and events on TV. Very easy peasie.

I also have Netflix and an antenna but I hardly use them anymore.

I also have Chromecast (which I highly recommend so you can cast everything on your computer to your big TV).
Also have Roku but quit using it due to casting limitations.

No more Comcast or DirecTV for me.

You can stream a lot of movies with commercials and others are as little as $2.99.