F* Cable, what to do now?

[drifter2be]

Looking for suggestions, just had a pissing match on the phone with TWC over them raising my price from 128 to 145 a month for cable and internet. Told them to come pick up their F-ing cable boxes. Probably wouldn't have been such a bad experience if the rude employee on the other end of the phone hadn't been so condescending. So I'm going internet only, 20mbps and trying to figure out what to do as far as TV solutions. I have my living room and bedroom to figure out. The router is on a desk shelf near the TV and I have LAN cables going to my xbox and blu-ray, so between those I have Netflix and Hulu Plus for programming. Looking for suggestions for a solution to the bedroom TV as I have just a blu-ray player in there now, and it isn't wireless. Any recommended streaming devices I should look into, I've read a few bad reviews on the Roku boxes that make me a bit wary of spending money on one. Also, are there any other services aside from Netflix and Hulu that I should look into? I've been contemplating making the switch away from cable for a while, but I was a bit hasty in my decision, and therefore a little unprepared. Thanks for any suggestions.

[Casual_Shooter]

With internet only through the cable company, you should still be able to pick up the major broadcast channels in HD- assuming you have new(er) TV's.

Then use Netflix for movies and TV shows you're used to watching. We have PS3's, Roku's and a Wii. All work well for us. PS3's are obviously the most versatile.

Alternately, you can get an OTA antenna and pull HD signals over-the-air.

[drifter2be]

With internet only through the cable company, you should still be able to pick up the major broadcast channels in HD- assuming you have new(er) TV's.

Then use Netflix for movies and TV shows you're used to watching. We have PS3's, Roku's and a Wii. All work well for us. PS3's are obviously the most versatile.

Alternately, you can get an OTA antenna and pull HD signals over-the-air.

I'll look into the OTA antenna, the cable company is coming out tomorrow to have one of their guys retrieve their cable boxes and install a filter so we can't get TV channels through the existing cable line. Which reminds me that had the gall to try to make me pay $40 to send their guy out to install that filter...yeah, that was going to go over well with a customer they had already made extremely angry with a ridiculous price increase.

Any problems with the Roku's? I've heard of people having issues with them running too hot and having issues playing back due to the excessive heat. Was tempted to swap out the older blu-ray in the bedroom for a newer one with built in wifi, but I don't want to jump the gun if there is a better option, and a roku would allow me to finally take advantage of the streaming video from Amazon that I get with my Prime account.

[den888]

I am also considering telling AT&T U Verse to "f*ck off", so keeping a close eye on this thread.

[DaveInOroValley]

As I posted in an earlier thread cancelling our sattelite was the best thing we ever did. Between Netflix, and over the air channels we do not miss it at all. Saving that 120.00 dollars a month adds up quick.

[Gringo Bandito]

I moved away from cable about 6 months ago and have not looked back. I have the basic comcast 10mb connection and a roku HD box that I use to watch netflix, hulu and amazon(which is great). I also have an HD antenna that I only get a few channels on. I will say that it did take time for me to get used to it but at least when I watch TV now it is with a specific purpose rather than zoning out.

I have been through a few routers and have finally settled on the apple airport extreme and I have not had any throughput or video quality issues at all. It made a huge difference for me.

The only thing that I would recommend doing is looking for the show you want to watch on the different sources of tv providers. I had been paying for Mad Men through amazon and had found that Netflix offered it for free. Doh.

[MMA]

I had a similar problem with Time Warner. Can't stand them.

Went to DSL, over-the-air HD, basic Netflix, and Hulu.

I've saved about $3000 in four years (which translates to three M1 Garands or 30 Mosin Nagants!)

Thanks Time Warner!!

[mrdd]

I went through this back in the mid-90's and told them to get lost. I was spending much of my entertainment time on the internet anyways.

[jen]

If they're anything like cox, you'll hear from them in a couple days with an offer less than what you were paying before. I cancel my cable every 6 months, and 2 days later they call back with a way better price. Last time I didn't even have to cancel, they just gave me the promotional price(that lasts 6 months) when I tried to cancel.

[JeremyKX]

Don't have TV.

If there is ANYTHING on TV that I need, can watch through hulu or "other" sources.

[bubbapug1]

Life will be better without wasting time watching the mindless crap on cable.

I am gross and perverted
Im obsessed n deranged
I have existed for years
But very little has changed
I am the tool of the government
And industry too
For I am destined to rule
And regulate you

I may be vile and pernicious
But you can't look away
I make you think Im delicious
With the stuff that I say
I am the best you can get
Have you guessed me yet?
I am the slime oozin out
From your tv set

You will obey me while I lead you
And eat the garbage that I feed you
Until the day that we don't need you
Don't call for help...no one will heed you
Your mind is totally controlled
It has been stuffed into my mold
And you will do as you are told
Until the rights to you are sold

That's right, folks..
Don't touch that dial

Well, I am the slime from your video
Oozin along on your livinroom floor

I am the slime from your video
Cant stop the slime, people, lookit me go

[walletclan]

Not to thread jack, but what OTA receiver do you guys use/recommend?

[drifter2be]

Not to thread jack, but what OTA receiver do you guys use/recommend?

I'd be interested in a good recommendation as well.

Life will be better without wasting time watching the mindless crap on cable.

Honestly I hardly watch cable as it is. The few things I actually do watch I can live without seeing until I can watch them on Hulu or Netflix. Other than NCIS there really isn't any show that I care about watching that still airs new episodes, and I get the news faster just by checking online, I stopped watching the news channels when I bought my first smartphone. Hardest sell on this whole thing has been my GF since she wastes so much time watching that reality tv garbage.

[JDay]

There's nothing wrong with the Roku, don't know why there were bad reviews. The Roku 2 XD and XS are the models I'd look into. I have used the XS and it is pretty nice. You can stream a lot of movies and shows for free using the built-in services.

[chaunbot]

newsgroups are a good alternative to torrents, if you decide to go down that road.

http://sickbeard.com/

http://sabnzbd.org/

PM me if you have any questions