Dish or DirecTV

[JustinG]

Snagged up a Roku 3, and in doing so walked out with a new a/v receiver. After doing the logistics of hooking the roku/ps4/OTA it was only going to work with a new receiver or a new TV. Mostly because the Roku3 only does audio via HDMI and my TV has no Digital output to feed into my previous receiver. I pushed hard for a new 4k (Vizio 55in for $1k), the receiver was the cheaper option. But still, recouping costs of Roku/2 OTA Antennas/2nd Chromecast/New receiver, I will break even in 3 months.

Also, when disconnecting the Genie in my living room, holy crap I did not realize all the bullshit that was hooked up back there. A little network box, that I have no idea what the purpose for is (Directv Cinema box?), Genie Go, a box that my Coax has to run through before going to the Genie???? Along with all the cat5, Coax, power cords, etc. I filled the box the receiver came in with all the crap just from Directv.

OTA antenna should be here from Amazon today, and then I am pulling the plug on all the directv stuff until we can cancel at the end of the month.

[WRXtranceformed]

I picked up an OTA receiver for the TV in my office and I was surprised how many channels we got and the clarity. I am waiting for a few more months to dwindle down on our DTV contract and then I will probably pull the plug early. It's just hard to justify $115/mo for really only a couple shows we watch each season.

[JustinG]

Also anyone want this Genie Go box? $25. No additional charges on your account, lets you watch anything you have recorder from your Genie DVR on your Ipad/Android device away from your home. AFAIK, it is mine to keep even after cancelling. You can even watch Live TV by using the Directv App to record what you want to watch, and then switch over to the Genie Go app to watch the "Recording" live.

[Apoc]

Hmm. I may want the Genie Go.

[JustinG]

Hmm. I may want the Genie Go.

Call to see if you can get it for free. I know some people have said they were able to get it for free, but that was when it first came out. I was only able to knock em down to $50 (was $100). Otherwise, I will confirm they do not require me to send it back.

[JustinG]

After going a month without powering up the DirecTV boxes, and using Hulu +/Plex on our Roku and Chromecasts + OTA antennas, we are free of a cable bill. Contract was up 10/30, called and cancelled that morning.

Ordered 2 of the FireTV sticks to potentially replace the Chromecasts in our bedroom and Averie's room, I like the fact they have a remote and are not reliant on a phone/tablet to control. ETA of 12/10. I will try and post up my thoughts after the arrive.

Only one call from DirecTV so far trying to get us back. I don't see that happening.

Also Chris, they don't want the GenieGo back so it is yours for $25 if ya want it.

[WRXtranceformed]

I'm looking forward to the day I can cut the cord. They forced me into another 2 year agreement when I added the tv in my man cave, so I think next Sept is when we are up. They charge $20/month cancellation fee, so I may cut the cord earlier when the amount in penalties equals the amount of my monthly bill. Right now I would have to come out of pocket a few hundred bucks to cancel :/

[Apoc]

Also Chris, they don't want the GenieGo back so it is yours for $25 if ya want it.

Seems like it's pretty worthless to you... so how about just the cost of shipping? :lol:

[HAULN-SS]

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.tablotv.com/tablo-products/tablo-dvr-2-tuner/">https://www.tablotv.com/tablo-products/ ... r-2-tuner/</a><!-- m -->

Anyone tried one of these?

[JustinG]

So it seems ISPs are catching on to cordcutting.

My promo rate of $49.99, for 50/50 internet through Verizon came to an end. Increased to $89.99. Shopped around with Fios and Comcast, since those are really my only 2 choices. I would either lose internet speed and still pay more, or have to do a bundle to keep 50/50.

So now my bill is back up to $86 for 50/50 and one box. Bummer......but still better than the $150 I was paying to do Fios and DTV.

[HAULN-SS]

Maybe there's a chance networks are catching on too though: sling.com

[JustinG]

Yea, but sling gives you like 7 channels for $20 a month. Plus $70 for internet, you may as well get the bundle and 160 channels.

I am glad providers are doing more outside the home on any device options, I can watch all of the channels slingTV has on any device outside of my home with Fios.

It is pretty much a wash regardless now it seems. regardless of what you do, unless you can continue to get good promo deals. Just didn't seem to work out in my favor this time around.

[WRXtranceformed]

I wanted to cut the DTV cord so bad this month...but with the superbowl, the last season of Justified and Vikings starting this February I may wait until after the spring TV season.

[Apoc]

I wanted to cut the DTV cord so bad this month...but with the superbowl, the last season of Justified and Vikings starting this February I may wait until after the spring TV season.

We need a 12 page thread about Lee deciding to (not) cut the cord.

[.RJ]

I thought superbowl was free OTA?

[Evan]

I thought superbowl was free OTA?

its also free to stream live

[Evan]

I wanted to cut the DTV cord so bad this month...but with the superbowl, the last season of Justified and Vikings starting this February I may wait until after the spring TV season.

all 3 of those are on basic cable. cut down to one tv box on basic cable and you will destroy your cable bill.

what really kills your bill is the 18 networked HD DVR BBQ boxes that you rent for the tv in every room of your house, along with the crazy channel packages.

cut down to one non-dvr box on your main tv, with the regular channel package, you will waste time watching tv just because you are bored, and have 99% of your viewing covered when you do want to watch something. Will also save a ton of money, and not have to mess with pointing a yagi antenna on your roof or juggling a bunch of video service subscriptions with their laggy apps

[WRXtranceformed]

Yeah I mean with DTV anyway the main chunk of our bill is the package you have to buy to get the channels you want. Our dvr receivers are only $5 each per month I believe. The problem is that every time you add one they lock you in for another two year agreement. Really at the end of the day I don't want to give Time Warner more money for basic cable and if I am going to have TV I want DVR because of my travel schedule. I'll probably cut the cord for good in June-ish when the cost of my bill is the same as the cost to cancel early. We can deal with antennas to pick up the local channels

[WRXtranceformed]

As planned the cord was officially cut this morning. The DirecTV rep pulled out "all the stops", offering money off, free Sunday Ticket, etc. but I have had enough with their shady billing practices. And we really just don't watch much on TV anymore, it's all such garbage. The only thing I will really miss is sports, but we will be able to catch Panthers games and the Thurs-Sunday Golf tournaments on over the air antenna, or I can swing by my buddy's wings restaurant to catch the other games. I had to pay the early cancellation fee which equated to basically another month of normal service, vs spending $750+ during the remainder of the contract for service. Definitely fine with that extra money back in my pocket, kind of liberating to shed off something we don't need anymore.

With that said, what OTA antenna are you all using? I found a few AmazonBasics ones that seemed fine. Looking at Antennaweb.org it looks like most of the stations in our area are 30 miles or less away, so could we get away with an amplified 35mile antenna? Just kind of starting the research on these.

[.RJ]

I bought this - <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003L76BJS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003L ... UTF8&psc=1</a><!-- m --> - and put it in the attic.

I need to run the coax though so I have no idea how it works :lol: Just not much TV time lately to be concerned with it - we turned on the TV for the first time in a week last night.