Cable TV - Ahhh buh bye

[rec head]

No experience with the Firestick but if you read my other posts in this thread you can see that I'm pretty into this stuff. If I was to buy one streaming device it would be whatever the nicest Roku is available. Right now it looks like it is the Roku 3 for $85. Why? Roku sells boxes. It is in their best interest to offer as many services as possible. The other big players Firestick, Chromecast, Apple TV are all made by companies offering their own video services and limit what competitors they allow on their devices. In this respect at least with the Chromecast you can "cast" almost anything from a browser or the screen of your Android device but it isn't as good as a native service. I wouldn't think about what is the cheapest way to get Netflix. If you have Amazon Prime they have some really good content including old HBO series. The Roku can be controlled by a universal remote too so that helps keep things easy.

[Will Neide]

I've been really happy with my Chromecast and streaming from various sources is nice.

No experience with the Roku, but it sounds nice.

[Too Tall]

Roku has been rock solid. Recently we purchased a new Samsung Smart TV which has amazing capabilities including built in "apps" and downloadable apps for everything from Netflix, Amazon to YouTube.

[Jonathan]

We use the kid's Xbox for Netflix, Hulu and Amazon streaming apps. I've got a no video game during the school week rule so there is rarely competition for the TV.

[rec head]

Roku has been rock solid. Recently we purchased a new Samsung Smart TV which has amazing capabilities including built in "apps" and downloadable apps for everything from Netflix, Amazon to YouTube.

How are the Apps on the TV? My TV is a few years old and the apps blew last time I tried them. Another bonus with the Roku is that it stays up to date.

We use the Xbox One for streaming because that is what we have and it works pretty good but the Roku still usually gets apps/services sooner.

[Too Tall]

How are the Apps on the TV? My TV is a few years old and the apps blew last time I tried them. Another bonus with the Roku is that it stays up to date.

We use the Xbox One for streaming because that is what we have and it works pretty good but the Roku still usually gets apps/services sooner.

All the apps are very good and the TV software is updated frequently via wiifi no complaints.

[dashDustin]

I've used an Xbox, Wii, Amazon Fire TV, and Chromecast to stream Netflix...

I like Chromecast. Super basic, and it works. We have it in the bedroom.

Amazon Fire TV is in the living room. I like it, as well, but don't like that I have to use a separate remote.

[BShow]

I recently picked up some hardware from Mohu, but I havent really done anything with it yet other than hook it up ane poke around for a few minutes. I got their box and the biggest HD antenna they have in a package deal. I've been draggin ass because I need to put the antenna on my roof, but its getting to be crunch time. I need to just get it done.

[EricKeller]

I have a firestick, and the only grump I have about it is that the networking is stupid. I had to delete one of my wifi networks or it would always say it couldn't connect, even though it is within a few feet of another configured access point.

The software is better on the firestick than it is on the roku. And all the apps I want are available. The only thing is that I have to pay $5 for Plex, whereas it's free on roku. It's small potato money if you actually use the app, but I just wanted it for testing. I use it for other family members.

[Too Tall]

I recently picked up some hardware from Mohu, but I havent really done anything with it yet other than hook it up ane poke around for a few minutes. I got their box and the biggest HD antenna they have in a package deal. I've been draggin ass because I need to put the antenna on my roof, but its getting to be crunch time. I need to just get it done.

Not to rain on your parade Bill. I was real disappointed in their antenna and returned it. Infact, I found a gent in PA who makes his own OTA antenna's who traveled here and installed a really great rooftop antenna. Turns out that even the most basic rooftop antenna is pretty spectacular. Had I know I'd have a few more Dinars for cold beer. Live and learn.

[BShow]

Not to rain on your parade Bill. I was real disappointed in their antenna and returned it. Infact, I found a gent in PA who makes his own OTA antenna's who traveled here and installed a really great rooftop antenna. Turns out that even the most basic rooftop antenna is pretty spectacular. Had I know I'd have a few more Dinars for cold beer. Live and learn.

well shit. I hooked it up on the second floor and was unimpressed. I had flashes of HD signal in between scrambled mess and I figured Its the valley that I live in. I was planning to put it on the roof to gain another 10 feet of vert but now maybe I'll just send it back instead.

[Too Tall]

well shit. I hooked it up on the second floor and was unimpressed. I had flashes of HD signal in between scrambled mess and I figured Its the valley that I live in. I was planning to put it on the roof to gain another 10 feet of vert but now maybe I'll just send it back instead.

Bill here is how I taught myself the basics: Picking out, installing, and pointing a TV antenna - Home

Bottomline, something like this: Winegard® HD7694P with a rotor will do a great job. There are some very good online websites that will help you nail the direction to point your antenna based on your location, antenna height and location of favorite stations such as this: AntennaPoint.com - Antenna Locator

Go get em' scout.

[rmplum]

Those Winegards are the business. I had one perched on top of my last house here in A2. I had my choice of Lansing, Toledo and Detroit OTA channels all at 90+% with my rotor. Plus you can grab an OTA-specific TiVo now to sort everything out. I had no complaints.

[Too Tall]

Those Winegards are the business. I had one perched on top of my last house here in A2. I had my choice of Lansing, Toledo and Detroit OTA channels all at 90+% with my rotor. Plus you can grab an OTA-specific TiVo now to sort everything out. I had no complaints.

Good to know about TIVO. I've been circling the Channelmaster offering for a year! TV Freedom | Channel Master

[rmplum]

Although I see that TiVo still hits you with the $15/month service fee - even with the OTA box. That's a bummer. $5/month might tempt me with the reduced programming it has to sort.

I'm using Roku now (the Sling App really added a lot of content) but I have found both it and the TiVo interface very easy to use. The new Roamio OS is pretty nice.

I only turn the tube on about once per week though, except for college football season.

[rec head]

I see you guys talking about TiVo. I have a TiVo HD sitting around that can be had for the price of shipping. It does have a Netflix app.

[EricKeller]

putting an antenna in the attic is really tempting, but I really don't want to go up on the roof. Anyone using an antenna in their attic? Given the mountains surrounding us, I don't think we can actually get stations from further away. Maybe some up state New York stations.

Back before the analog phase-out, we could get the OTA digital on cable. They charge way too much for HD digital, so now we get a degraded version of the OTA stuff with our non-HD. Really tempted to drop cable.

[rmplum]

I started playing around with OTA this weekend again with some indoor rabbit ears. Mildly successful, but that's not good enough. Just grabbed one of the RCA ANT751R units and will throw it up later this week. I have a perfect carport wall facing east towards Detroit from Ann Arbor, at about 26-30 miles and with no nearby obstructions. It's also right near the old cable co input box, which I'll commandeer.

The Roku with Sling works great, but if I can grab solid network feeds for $50 worth of hardware and 30-60 minutes on the ladder - that'll be nice. I splurged for a pre-amp too since I'll be running this through the house splitter system in the basement.

[Too Tall]

Get a good amplifier.

I started playing around with OTA this weekend again with some indoor rabbit ears. Mildly successful, but that's not good enough. Just grabbed one of the RCA ANT751R units and will throw it up later this week. I have a perfect carport wall facing east towards Detroit from Ann Arbor, at about 26-30 miles and with no nearby obstructions. It's also right near the old cable co input box, which I'll commandeer.

The Roku with Sling works great, but if I can grab solid network feeds for $50 worth of hardware and 30-60 minutes on the ladder - that'll be nice. I splurged for a pre-amp too since I'll be running this through the house splitter system in the basement.

[deadbeef]

A revamped AppleTV (possibly with an app store) could make things even more interesting on this front...

We've been cable TV-free for a year+ now, it's great, other than trying to borrow logins to watch live sports on the web.