KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

cable bill is starting to get a bit out of hand... i've delayed the inevitable because it was just easier for my older parents who enjoy popping on the local news channel or football... and to watch nick jr for the kiddies... i already have amazon prime and netflix... i'm wondering if anyone has used Sling TV with success... especially with like a sports package or local channels...

thoiboi

Fiance's brother has it and it works very well for him. They cut the cord a while back and haven't looked back! Sling costs about 20 a month + sports. Hulu at 8, Netflix at 10.. At that point, you basically have all your bases covered! One may argue for something like HBO GO for the remainder but you're still way under Cable pricing.

Flipster23

iTrader: (15)

I had Sling+sports, Hulu, NetFlix, and AP. I ended up going back to satellite because they offered it to me for $45 a month, which is what I was almost paying with all the streaming.

But, I know next year when my contract is up I'll probably cut the cord for good. Get a FireStick loaded with Kodi and save my $45 a month.

KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

FIOS is no where near $40 a month on any package they have... everything seems to be $80+ before premium channels..

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

Have you tried Youtube TV? I believe they have like a 5-7 day free trial

2012wagon

I have never had cable. So don't know what I am missing.

Last 6 years I only have netflix. Kids are fine with it.

Every May-June I get sling for 2 months for NBA finals.

gnuts

iTrader: (1)

i need to cut the cord but I still want to watch hockey. I wonder if I can get Sling in Canada? My kids are good with only Netflix and we have a smart TV.

AZuser

I tried Sling for the first time last year during the holidays when they were offering a free Roku stick with 1 month service. While the service was fine, the interface sucked. I ended up cancelling it since it didn't really have anything that I couldn't already get with a digital antenna, Netflix, and an on/off sub to Hulu.

There are also a lot of free streaming channels I can get on my Roku, so there are more than enough things to watch.

I cut the cord back in 2011.

thisaznboi88

iTrader: (7)

cut the cord and signed my parents up for att direct TV, got them a roku and showed them how to stream chinese and vietnamese channel on the side

KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

parents want that here as well... is roku the better interface to do kodi?

TeknoKing

Roku is definitely easier than Kodi. (and it's quite different)

I want to cut the cord too but the price difference between just having internet service alone or having everything package is $30. FIOS is absurd with their pricing. I wish I've had google fiber in NYC.

thoiboi

Roku for that huh..

Can you elaborate on the setup you use? Thinking about doing it for the 'rents as well..

AZuser

You can get a lot of Chinese and Vietnamese channels over digital antenna. Well, at least here in L.A. you can. My parents watch more tv now than when they had cable.

thoiboi

Oh yeah I know, same here! but there are some more via TVB and all that crap as well that they might be interested in. Fiance's mom has a HTV box (basically just mini PC (AppleTV formfactor) running Android and has some apps to watch Chinese, Vietnamese, and a bunch of other channels so was curious which other options are out there.

CCColtsicehockey

Don't they have NHL Gamecenter in Canada? That is how I get my NHL now.

KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

so Roku stick or box? what's the diff other than the box can come with an ethernet port???

thoiboi

roku box has much better processing power and thus is zippier than the stick.

gnuts

iTrader: (1)

No Sling in Canada, just looked it up. NHL Gamecenter is $30/month here. For only a little more I have full cable with a sports package.

CCColtsicehockey

Yeah that is what I pay for Gamecenter here as well but I have to have Gamecenter either on cable or the app since I watch an out of market team so I went with the app so I have it always even when I travel.

KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

premier plus it is!!!

Flipster23

iTrader: (15)

I have Roku box, I had the stick for a couple of weeks. But I feel that the box was quicker.

I also have Chromecast in my bedroom for streaming from the Ipad....

thoiboi

https://slickdeals.net/f/10060168-am...ct-cardholders

check to make sure your amex has an offer you can claim


you have an amex right?

KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

thanks brah... looks like you can get an Ultra box for half if you prepay 3 months... good deal...

thisaznboi88

iTrader: (7)

kodi is better since you can steam a lot of "free movie" wink wink

but the setup for the roku is pretty easy. Just set what app you want to use and go from there. no need to load custom apps and bootloader.

My parents got the premire one for free *after paying for 3 months of direct TV stream*

There offer kinda sucks now since its just the stream stick in no 4k

https://www.directvnow.com/rokunow?ref=EDSCDNCDB00GOO7QP&gclid=CjwKCAiA0IXQBR A2EiwAMODil7_WfEWzq8ai0Z21UQIzNZb8KTz0Ov1MDDYmMn7Q 1xOFaNGHZp_8PxoCroIQAvD_BwE

I have also tried sling TV and there chinese channel was a joke. It was like chinese travel channel, no drama, movies, or any other good stuff. I really didn't know how to use it

ATT directvnow is good, The interface is similar to satellite tv. The only problem is random slow speeds.

I also subscribe to hulu and share netflix with my brother

Doom878

How much is home internet stand alone? I had Xfinity while cord cutting and they charged $70/mo. I pay under $100 for DirecTV with HBO and ATT Internet. If you can get internet for $30/mo for a year or so Kodi all day.

oo7spy

I cut the cord Jan 2016. My TWC bill was (a relatively low) $120/month. Cutting cable brought me down to $40 for just internet. Last winter, my temporary incentive rate expired and then TWC changed to Spectrum causing two rate increases. With the latest discount, my internet bill is now $57 for 100 MBPS, the lowest offering.

I don't have a comparison to what my $120 bill would look like today, but I'm +$60-80 before streaming which is currently Netflix and HBO Now. We tried Sling for a while and didn't have any issues. We just weren't using it.

My one caveat is that that I have my parent's Dish login, so I get all the ESPN, Nick Jr, Disney... streaming channels.

thisaznboi88

iTrader: (7)

My xfinity bill is 40 for 75mbps internet. Wishing google fiber was around. 1gbps internet speed

Doom878

^Is that a special? That's crazy

KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

Fios really get you... was paying $170 all in for a triple play package with an old 15/15 mbps internet package... turned off the tv and phone and got their 100 mbps internet only for $69 a month. seems like it's still higher than xfinity...

Beak14

^We need to do something like that! What are you guys using for hardware?

Doom878

I just plugged in my laptop to my TV via a 15' HDMI. I got a chromecast for my phone to stream some stuff. Back then options were limited.

KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

ordered a Roku Ultra via thoiboi's slickdeal link... got 3 months of Sling TV to give it a go for the local stuff... i'll load on some apps for my parents to watch Chinese and Viet stuff... and i ordered an antenna from monoprice to cover the local stuff...

i think chromecast and roku will be on sale for BF... so i may pick up another one of those...

AZuser

Spectrum for me is $45 for 100Mbps (promo rate discount of $20). Their internet, tv, voice package is $89.97 ($29.99 each).

cM3go

I've been trying to figure out which is best... Hulu/Sling/YouTube TV/Playstation Vue I still don't know which one to go with. I need to cancel Xfinity TV tho... with Cable and internet paying 192 a month is definitely hurting the finances. Already have access to Netflix and Amazon

I have an Apple TV at the moment... I guess I could add a Roku or Fire... I used to have a Fire with Kodi and I got annoyed that a good portion of the streams never worked.

cM3go

Great resource.... Compares all the major players, Sling might be it for me...

Streaming services comparison: Hulu, YouTube TV, Sling TV, DirecTV Now, PlayStation Vue, Fubo TV - Business Insider

F-C

Cutting the cord and then subscribing to individual services actually costs more, at least for me.

I'm paying something like $130/m for Fios Triple Play with the channels on want. To get the same channels that I care about, I'd need to purchase individual streaming channels that gets more complicated and expensive.

KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

is that all sport channels that are driving up the price?

Doom878

I think he means that if you want certain channels you need PS Vue but it's missing a particular channel so then you need Hulu. All the services combined with internet can make it more $$ vs paying for premium. Area varies since providers are local based.

KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

got the roku in the mail yesterday... started setting it up to get the streaming channels etc... pretty cool gadget... if i can find a stick or another box on sale during BF i'll probably pick another 2 up...

has anyone had any success with any antennas??? so of the indoor ones with amplifiers seem to pick up some decent channels and are fine for what they are, but i wonder if i actually get an outdoor one and roof mount it, if i could grab some strong signals 30 miles away in NYC... their signals are pretty strong here...

AZuser

See if there are any sticks near you. Suppose to be on clearance at Walmart for $9 though some locations could be selling them for $17

https://brickseek.com/walmart-invent...r?sku=54649025
https://brickseek.com/walmart-invent...r?sku=50785112


Express is on clearance between $5 and $15 :

https://brickseek.com/walmart-invent...r?sku=54649024


If you want the newer/faster 2017 version, Walmart will be selling Express+ for $22 (Retails for $40) during Black Friday. Includes 1 month of Direct TV Now, 1 month Showtime, and $5 Vudu credit.


As for antennas, I've been using a (discontinued) GE 24775 Quantum HDTV Amplified Antenna since 2011. I tested out about half a dozen indoor models (priced between $25 and $90) and this was the best (pulled in most channels) and one of the lowest priced units (~ $30).