TV from antenna vs cable company?

[Ricardo]

Cause my internet speeds suck.

Dude, I may not be rich in money but I'm rich in bandwidth 300/300 MB symmetrical fiber optic. And I got weeeeed

 

[grokit]

I can easily find any show I want on the internets, either through my apple tv or pirate sites in a browser. I never download/upload, l can live stream all the sports and shows I could ever want. The only thing I can't easily watch is movies, and tv "news" shows. I have netflix for the former, and don't care for the latter.

 

[TeeJay1952]

 

[His_Highness]

Anyone tried Android TV with Kodi, a good Kodi Build and a VPN?

 

[Ramahs]

I don't really do broadcast TV or cable.
I'm poor, and you can find it all on the internet for free these days.

Most movies can be found streaming for free within a couple days to a couple months of premiering in theaters.
Most show episodes can be found streaming for free within a couple hours of airing on broadcast TV or network cable .

 

[His_Highness]

On a whim I picked up a cheap Android TV box - like $25. Installed Kodi and an up to date build (Just search Kodi Build) and all I can say is .... Holy crap!

 

[Hackerman]

I have been using KODI/XBMC for decades. Exodus Redux is currently working for movies. It's not always perfect but I am not a TV watcher so I just watch a movie now and then. Works great for that.

 

[His_Highness]

I picked up the Android TV box as a test because it was so cheap (on sale for $20 with $5 shipping) and we don't have any TV/cable options in the guest room. Some folks NEED a TV playing when they fall asleep. I had a cheap 1080p led tv that wasn't "smart" and using my Chromecast wasn't simple enough for some.

It wasn't as simple a set up as I expected but I'm a professional nerd so I got-er-done. Lots of not-really-legal availability that works most of the time. Also options like Pluto and Tubi free tv.

The android box is basically a cell phone without a screen that connects to the TV via HDMI or Cat5. Mine came with a basic remote.

 

[Hippie]

Kodi's almost dead now
Was great in its day but after people started selling android boxes fully loaded and ready to pick up copyrighted media it gained the attention of the authorities and the cease and desist orders and internet blocks soon followed.
So now we use android apps to do the same thing instead
Just search Google for android streaming apps

 

[Hackerman]

I have been running KODI, my personal DISH Network hack and an old P4 hack from DirecTV for decades. Still running a private XM hack my team did almost 2 decades ago. Oh, and I did have an old HU card running music only but I think they did an update and killed that recently. LOL I barely keep track any more. I can remember the days when my life revolved around DTV sending out their new hash every Friday. LOL

Funny thing, I almost never watch TV and until recently didn't listen to XM that much. I just bought a cool Bluetooth adapter that I plug my old XM radio into and it converts the signal to Bluetooth so I can use it with my Bluetooth speakers throughout the house. Pretty cool. Although, XM can get repetitive after a while.

What with Amazon Prime offering TV and Music I find myself going there more often that not.

Plus, everything is about to come down and get shut down as I am moving to San Diego soon.

 

[His_Highness]

Kodi's almost dead now
Was great in its day but after people started selling android boxes fully loaded and ready to pick up copyrighted media it gained the attention of the authorities and the cease and desist orders and internet blocks soon followed.
So now we use android apps to do the same thing instead
Just search Google for android streaming apps

I know what you mean but ..... Kodi is available, without a build or media access, in the Google Play Store. New or updated builds are still getting out there. Access to an illegal media stream works one day and doesn't the next ..... but it's free, and again...it was illegal to begin with. Reminds me of the old days when folks would use peer to peer to illegally distribute movies and music.

 

[Hippie]

Stremio will check as many torrent trackers as you let it and stream directly, if you still have access

 

[grokit]

No more free sports streaming on my end of things, it was russian I believe. I did youtube tv for the nba season, hated paying for commercials so canceled it. Now I actually get free ota tv through my antenna, it's nice to have pbs again, I get all the local broadcasts. I pay for prime, tidal, and dvd.com, $41/mo. total. My screen time has gone way down since I got tidal. I may try the audio-only nba.com this fall who knows.

 

[DDave]

HI,
our real enemy is the f'in cable companies.
We recently switched over to Century Link for cable tv, internet, and phones. After a 2 month ordeal of them installing fiber optic cable with a tear in it, and 15 + hours of phone calls later, we get our first bill.

Their promise was a lower bill, at most $99 plus taxes. Now it comes in at $129 plus taxes.
They just wore us out in another 90 minute phone call, like they are trained to do
and ruined a nice buzz too

Thinking of a fancy TV antenna plus only phone and internet service.
How good are current antennas, any particular brand or style or link to buying?

Thanks.

Our setup.... with costs...

(Local Rate) Internet Service
($170, no future costs) Nvidia Shield Multimedia Streaming device (all below services stream with native apps on this device, and MANY more).
($12) NetFlix subscription
($8) Hulu Subscription
(Had it for shipping, movie inclusion part of the package) Amazon Prime

Plus, TV stations (ABC, CBS, Fox, etc) have their own apps that install on the Shield device.

Will never return to Cable or similar service.

 

[MinnBobber]

Plus, TV stations (ABC, CBS, Fox, etc) have their own apps that install on the Shield device.

Now with a high quality indoor antenna, we get maybe 20 stations but nothing upscale like ESPN2, etc.
What would your setup yield for TV stations, any upscale ones?

Currently in TV slums.... pretty crappy selection

 

[grokit]

Plus, TV stations (ABC, CBS, Fox, etc) have their own apps that install on the Shield device.

Will never return to Cable or similar service.

Don't the network apps require a subscription through a cable, dish or online package?

 

[al bundy]

Should try SPORTZ tv
IPTV lots of channels for 15$ for 3 tv

https://sportz.vodiptv.org/home/index

 

[macbill]

I live along the Columbia River, and the TV towers for Portland, OR are visible on the West Hills across the river. I also have a FireTV and a subscription to ATT TV Now (Formerly Direct TV Now). Still, not much on...

 

[Ramahs]

Don't the network apps require a subscription through a cable, dish or online package?

Sure...but you can find all those shows streaming for free, often within an hour or so of airing, all over the intertubes.
Not all heroes wear capes my friend

 

[Ramahs]

I remember it being said by a comedian recently (I don't remember they were) that the only people who still watch Game of Thrones on cable are people who don't have kids or grand-kids around to download it for them. lol

Very true.

 

[Exsmoker]

We can pickup a couple of dozen OTA HD channels with an amplified antenna in the attic. For extra content, I have the iWebTV app (free, but I paid a few bucks one-time to remove the banner) on my iPad. It allows one to watch streaming videos, movies and tv series on the big-screen TV via Chromecast, or via the AppleTV (4+ Gen), Roku or Fire TV. I use it with Roku to watch the streaming sites, mostly www.soap2day.com because it has complete TV series, movies, HBO & Netflix shows, etc., with good picture quality. Just need a decent internet connection.