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Post by wilburthegoose on Feb 26, 2018 18:30:04 GMT -5
AT&T just changed their wireless plans to favor their own services. That didn't take long Abstract: "The body isn’t even cold yet, but AT&T is wasting no time in rolling out new “features” that fly in the face of net neutrality. The company has expanded its “sponsored data” program to prepaid wireless customers, offering content companies the option to “sponsor” their data so that it doesn’t count against users’ caps. This, in case you’re wondering, is what you find under the definition of “paid fast lanes” in the net neutrality false promises hall of fame." bgr.com/2018/02/23/att-net-neutrality-wireless-plans-ugh/
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LCSeminole
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Res firma mitescere nescit.
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Post by LCSeminole on Feb 26, 2018 19:41:24 GMT -5
My current deal with Comcast is up in a year, so I'll be following the cord cutting world news closely until then.
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Post by adaboy on Feb 26, 2018 20:53:57 GMT -5
Thanks for this, I have directv but suspended my services while I tried cutting the cord. I had forgotten about it and after reading this I called Directv and they lowered my bill to $40 per month for 12 months no contract.I have absolutely everything except sports which I requested. Sweet deal, I'll cancel it next month lol.
The fire stick is so easy and I watch just about everything I want with a few additional apps. Technically though I pay around $60 for Netflix, Hulu Live, and Brit Box. I don't consider the cost of Prime since I use it for several things.
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Post by RichGuy on Feb 26, 2018 22:49:40 GMT -5
I don't consider the cost of Prime since I use it for several things. Yes I buy Amazon Prime membership for the free shipping which I save a fortune using with constant shipping. The Amazon Prime video is just an extra benefit I have really enjoyed with movies and a lot of binge watching series, my current binge watch has been the series Justified great show, in the last month or so I have watched 5 of the shows 6 seasons I will probably finish the last season this weekend.
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Post by kewlmunky on Feb 27, 2018 8:45:56 GMT -5
I haven't had cable TV since I moved out from my Dad's house 3 and a half years ago. I mostly used TV as background while I was on my computer. Once I was on my own, I didn't feel like it was worth an extra $50 on top of my internet cost. I haven't missed it since. I had a Netflix subscription, then the girlfriend moved in. She had one as well, so I switched to Hulu. We both have Amazon Prime, so I feel we have pretty much everything covered, now.
If cable TV went à la carte and offered me any five channels for $10 a month, I might possibly be swayed. However, these days the kids use our streaming subscriptions more than us, so we probably still wouldn't get around to watching anything on cable.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2018 9:28:52 GMT -5
I cut the cable cord 8 years ago. Had sat-internet (too bw-limited to stream) when I first moved to the NC mountains, then was able to get ATT DSL at 6MBPS to the house (the ONLY choice) after two months of arguing with them that it could be done, which permitted streaming via Amazon Prime. I get about 35 OTA channels with an inside-the-window antenna and signal amp, some with better-than-cable HD video, including 8 PBS sub-channels, plus some cable-type channels, including ESPN, via Sling-TV for $20/mo, although I'm about the can that. Very happy without cable or Sat-TV.
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Post by broncsrule21 on Feb 27, 2018 12:21:09 GMT -5
For those using Directv Now or Sling.... Can you get local channels via these apps or do you need to figure out an over the air solution? I thought I read that some new tvs don't have tuners in them.
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Post by LuisV on Feb 27, 2018 12:33:33 GMT -5
For those using Directv Now or Sling.... Can you get local channels via these apps or do you need to figure out an over the air solution? I thought I read that some new tvs don't have tuners in them. Some local channels are included with Sling, but I believe you need to check based on your location as to which channels are available within a given plan. Sling is 100% streaming with a single app, so you'll need to make sure that their app is available on your SmarTV or media streamer like a Roku, Apple TV, Nvdia Shield, etc. Sling DVR option is $5 month. For my needs, a simple antenna mounted in my attic, an HDHomeRun Connect Duo with Plex solved my local channels needs with DVR functions. I am a Sling, Netflix, Amazon Prime subscriber.
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Post by davidl81 on Feb 27, 2018 12:45:21 GMT -5
For those using Directv Now or Sling.... Can you get local channels via these apps or do you need to figure out an over the air solution? I thought I read that some new tvs don't have tuners in them. For DirecTV Now it depends on your, but most markets get all of the locals. I live in Houston and I get all locals except for NBC (Houston NBC is locally owned and they have to make a direct agreement with Directv)
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Lsc
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Post by Lsc on Feb 27, 2018 16:01:56 GMT -5
For the past year, I’ve used DirecTV Now with mostly an Apple TV. Cloud DVR is in beta right now and is coming soon. For music, I use mostly an attached HD to my new Denon AVR-X4400H with occasional streaming via HEOS. Perpendicular, I've heard about DirecTV Now, but never looked into it. Thx I second (or third or fourth) the Directv now solution. It got to a point where I seldom watch live tv. So instead using DVR, I just stream it from the networks app the next day etc. I was worried about the Olympics bc I cancelled my directv right when the Olympics were starting but the NBC sports app covered the Olympics better than me trying to record everything. My kids watch Netflix or YouTube only so this change has had zero negative effect on me. I thought I could never live without DVR - not the case.
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Post by Loop 7 on Feb 27, 2018 16:37:52 GMT -5
I just cut the cable... again.
In 2016 I returned to cable because it seemed to be cheaper to have cable Xfinity TV and internet than just internet but, when I called before my package was set to renew last week, there were lower priced internet only packages. I had been using an HDHomeRun cable card tuner with excellent results - PLEX as the DVR and "both PLEX and Channels" app for live on the Apple TV.
I'm back to internet only and it's going well.
Xfinity also just completed infrastructure upgrades so the previous lower tier internet plans are now ample. I was getting 110m down but downgraded with a $40/month savings to a package that tests out at about 90m down.
Now, I did not post this to start a flame war about internet speeds. I'm still in 1080p land and 90m down is more than enough for this household. Sure, a symmetrical gig service would provide bragging rights but not necessary in my house at this point. When I stream Netflix, Amazon and Hulu, it looks pristine and there's no waiting.
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Post by davidl81 on Feb 27, 2018 16:46:22 GMT -5
I just cut the cable... again. In 2016 I returned to cable because it seemed to be cheaper to have cable Xfinity TV and internet than just internet but, when I called before my package was set to renew last week, there were lower priced internet only packages. I had been using an HDHomeRun cable card tuner with excellent results - PLEX as the DVR and "both PLEX and Channels" app for live on the Apple TV. I'm back to internet only and it's going well. Xfinity also just completed infrastructure upgrades so the previous lower tier internet plans are now ample. I was getting 110m down but downgraded with a $40/month savings to a package that tests out at about 90m down. Now, I did not post this to start a flame war about internet speeds. I'm still in 1080p land and 90m down is more than enough for this household. Sure, a symmetrical gig service would provide bragging rights but not necessary in my house at this point. When I stream Netflix, Amazon and Hulu, it looks pristine and there's no waiting. I agree on the download speeds. 90m is more than adequate. My issue lately has been data caps. We get 1TB a month, but with everything streaming (4k Apple TV included) and just other downloads (apple phone updates, etc) we come pretty close to our data caps most months. We have gone over twice, but luckily Xfinity gives two months of free overages each year. Its a little frustrating because we don't use our PC much at all, so its not like we are downloading a bunch of things on to a hard drive etc.
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KeithL
Administrator
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Post by KeithL on Feb 27, 2018 18:09:10 GMT -5
I should note that, while their normal cap is 1 tB/month, XFinity DOES offer unlimited/uncapped data service. (I think it's $50/month..... but there is... or was... a "half price for a year" promotion of some sort when I signed up.) I just cut the cable... again. In 2016 I returned to cable because it seemed to be cheaper to have cable Xfinity TV and internet than just internet but, when I called before my package was set to renew last week, there were lower priced internet only packages. I had been using an HDHomeRun cable card tuner with excellent results - PLEX as the DVR and "both PLEX and Channels" app for live on the Apple TV. I'm back to internet only and it's going well. Xfinity also just completed infrastructure upgrades so the previous lower tier internet plans are now ample. I was getting 110m down but downgraded with a $40/month savings to a package that tests out at about 90m down. Now, I did not post this to start a flame war about internet speeds. I'm still in 1080p land and 90m down is more than enough for this household. Sure, a symmetrical gig service would provide bragging rights but not necessary in my house at this point. When I stream Netflix, Amazon and Hulu, it looks pristine and there's no waiting. I agree on the download speeds. 90m is more than adequate. My issue lately has been data caps. We get 1TB a month, but with everything streaming (4k Apple TV included) and just other downloads (apple phone updates, etc) we come pretty close to our data caps most months. We have gone over twice, but luckily Xfinity gives two months of free overages each year. Its a little frustrating because we don't use our PC much at all, so its not like we are downloading a bunch of things on to a hard drive etc.
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Post by RichGuy on Feb 27, 2018 21:11:50 GMT -5
I thought I read that some new tvs don't have tuners in them. My professional Panasonic plasma has no built in tuner and no built in speakers, personally I love it that way, I use my HTPC as the tuner with 4 channel DVR.
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Post by dust770 on Feb 27, 2018 22:20:23 GMT -5
I cut the cord 15 years ago. I’ve never had a tv antenna because sitcoms and sports aren’t my thing. I’ve always been more into movies and music for entertainment than anything. Mostly movies. I was using Netflix dvd service for a few years with a dash of redbox rentals thrown in there. Now just Prime Video and Netflix. Every few months I turn on HBO for a month and catch up on all the shows that have aired for the year and shut it back off. Same for showtime. One day it just clicked with me, I was changing channels for hours, not really watching anything. The same commercials over and over were driving me insane and I had had enough. I realized I was watching 75% commercials and only 25% tv. It’s ridiculous. I Got rid of all of it. Never missed it for a second
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jlafrenz
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Post by jlafrenz on Feb 28, 2018 7:26:21 GMT -5
No. I've looked into it, but by the time I add all of the streaming services to get the shows that I watch, I might as well just keep traditional TV service.
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Post by broncsrule21 on Feb 28, 2018 13:15:54 GMT -5
How well does the “on demand” feature work for Directv now? It seems like the fine print says you have to have the highest tier package? Or does that mean that you only get on demand feature within the package you have? That would of course make sense...how soon are shows available to watch on demand?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2018 14:27:37 GMT -5
How well does the “on demand” feature work for Directv now? It seems like the fine print says you have to have the highest tier package? Or does that mean that you only get on demand feature within the package you have? That would of course make sense...how soon are shows available to watch on demand? That's what I thought- streams only what your plan channels offer. I've been busy with the move to the lake. Big problem there- the internet options there suck- DSL, cellular or HughesNet, no cable or fios Looks like we're stuck with DTV or Dish. I saw a commercial for DHL Shipping that is proposing using aircraft with rf servers to offer internet service, interesting idea.
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Lsc
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Post by Lsc on Feb 28, 2018 22:40:10 GMT -5
How well does the “on demand” feature work for Directv now? It seems like the fine print says you have to have the highest tier package? Or does that mean that you only get on demand feature within the package you have? That would of course make sense...how soon are shows available to watch on demand? The shows are available on demand via that network’s app usually the next day. But some channels like TNT does not participate with directv now. It’s been a couple of weeks now with directv now and the various apps I downloaded on my Apple TV and Apple TV 4K. I don’t miss my DVR one bit. It’s amazing how quickly we adjust.
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