PLEASE someone help me cut the cord to Comcast

[RyeLou]

I just can't stand them anymore. I've done the same as anyone for the past decade or better where you pick a plan and get screwed on the 7th or 13th month where the up the charges, and then you call and get it lowered but not quite as good as before. I've had to call 2-3 times for the past 3 months about my bill. This last time, I finally got to someone who seemed to know what they were talking about, and all they could say was the people I'd talked to in the past were wrong, and they apologize, and my bill was actually higher than what I had negotiated. I'm done doing this.

So...I have an Apple TV if it helps. I'm all for modifying that if need be. And I'm all for learning about torrents and building my own HTPC if that's the better route. I just don't know what's possible, or how to get there.

I think my issue is my wife tends to watch the shows, and I watch sports. The TV shows won't be too big of a deal to watch live with a good HD antenna I'm assuming (assuming they're on the standard ABC, NBC, Fox, etc.) but what about sports? And what about shows on channels like AMC? (big Walking Dead fans.) We use our DVR regularly, so for the TV shows if we have to download something and watch it a few days late it isn't the end of the world. For sports, the Lions tend to play on standard TV channels, so I think I'd be okay there, but the Tigers on Fox Sports I think presents a problem.

For current TV shows, what's the best way to do it? Torrents, Hulu Plus, etc.?

Can anyone chime in on any of this? Good websites to read on the equipment I'll need? I know I'll have to stick with someone for internet service, which is fine.

 

[Nokooler]

I never ever want any television... I don't watch many shows, but my girlfriend does. Long story short, she has amazon prime and hulu plus ... works great for her.
Torrents are easy, but when you get the email from nbc yelling at you, its kind of scary.

Both my bosses have HTPC's, just Core2Duo's, 4gbs of ram and tb's of hard drive space. You'll need to look into different software, there are lots of options.
Personally I download what I want, and stream it to my Xbox360.. simple, easy. Just enough for me.

 

[04GoaT]

I just can't stand them anymore. I've done the same as anyone for the past decade or better where you pick a plan and get screwed on the 7th or 13th month where the up the charges, and then you call and get it lowered but not quite as good as before. I've had to call 2-3 times for the past 3 months about my bill. This last time, I finally got to someone who seemed to know what they were talking about, and all they could say was the people I'd talked to in the past were wrong, and they apologize, and my bill was actually higher than what I had negotiated. I'm done doing this.

So...I have an Apple TV if it helps. I'm all for modifying that if need be. And I'm all for learning about torrents and building my own HTPC if that's the better route. I just don't know what's possible, or how to get there.

I think my issue is my wife tends to watch the shows, and I watch sports. The TV shows won't be too big of a deal to watch live with a good HD antenna I'm assuming (assuming they're on the standard ABC, NBC, Fox, etc.) but what about sports? And what about shows on channels like AMC? (big Walking Dead fans.) We use our DVR regularly, so for the TV shows if we have to download something and watch it a few days late it isn't the end of the world. For sports, the Lions tend to play on standard TV channels, so I think I'd be okay there, but the Tigers on Fox Sports I think presents a problem.

For current TV shows, what's the best way to do it? Torrents, Hulu Plus, etc.?

Can anyone chime in on any of this? Good websites to read on the equipment I'll need? I know I'll have to stick with someone for internet service, which is fine.

I have the terk hdtva anntenea on my tv upstairs, works great. However, it's local only. Channels 2, 4, 7, CW, and PBS are about it. So sometimes sports are ok, as they're on the local channels, but no fsn, b1g, espn, etc. for that we head downstairs to the HD box.

I'd also like to cut my WOW way down, as we've crept up to 117/month now. But between my wife and daughter there's too much crap they watch on the box that it's hard to cut.

The other thing with the terk is the space, it's hideous, but I'm able to stuff it in the fireplace I don't use. Checkout some of the others that are flat and stick to the walls/windows. Costco/SAMs sell these style over the air antennas

 

[02GTVert]

Haven't had cable for almost a year. Kept Comcast business class internet.

I watch all my sports online, thanks to the Swedes, they stream pretty much everything.

 

[Tin]

Haven't had cable for almost a year. Kept Comcast business class internet.

I watch all my sports online, thanks to the Swedes, they stream pretty much everything.

How much are you paying for the business class? I'm thinking of dumping cable TV as well and using something like XBMC with the Fusion plugin to watch cable TV shows. I'd be a few hours behind, but it looks like it'll work well.

 

[RyeLou]

How much are you paying for the business class? I'm thinking of dumping cable TV as well and using something like XBMC with the Fusion plugin to watch cable TV shows. I'd be a few hours behind, but it looks like it'll work well.

That's the stuff I want to know. That and the details of the comments on the Swedes.

I actually didn't think about Amazon Prime but I do have that too. I think my wife would be fine, so I just need an answer to Tigers.

 

[coolymcoolster]

i haven't had cable in over 3 years. I picked up a netflix sub at 7.99 a month and a couple tv antennas. it beats the $100+ minimum for comcast

 

[raroz28]

I have a G box with xbmc which is the same as apple tv from what I hear.

I get all my shows in HD and as soon as they air (on demand interface). The live tv is OK and always has games, but tigers games are a little harder to come by and for the first time I'm a little disappointed with it. I haven't been able to get a tigers game yet.

I cut the cable for the same reason as you and couldn't be happier. I dealt with them up until Feb and I cancelled them in December. They have been a nightmare everytime I've dealt with them.

I pay $30 to wow for 15mb internet and it's great for everything I do.

 

[RyeLou]

I thought I read of people using some IP forwarding service to avoid the blackout restrictions of MLB TV.

 

[raroz28]

I thought I read of people using some IP forwarding service to avoid the blackout restrictions of MLB TV.

I haven't found an MLB network add on yet, but I haven't looked very hard. Sometimes it shows up on mashup I've noticed but it isn't always on there.

I'd like to find a FSN add on or something that's consistent but I haven't. Veetle might have games as well but I need to reinstall it to check. This thread just reminded me.

 

[ibmgto]

I use MLB.TV with smart dns from https://www.overplay.net/ on my AppleTV, can watch the Tigers games live.

Think i pay $5 a month for the DNS, works with other stuff too so you can watch tv from the UK etc. There are probably cheaper options but it works for me.

 

[RyeLou]

I use MLB.TV with smart dns from https://www.overplay.net/ on my AppleTV, can watch the Tigers games live.

Think i pay $5 a month for the DNS, works with other stuff too so you can watch tv from the UK etc. There are probably cheaper options but it works for me.

That's exactly what I was looking for. You don't have any issues with watching Tigers games in this area?

 

[ibmgto]

That's exactly what I was looking for. You don't have any issues with watching Tigers games in this area?

No it works fine, I set the AppleTV to use the DNS servers that you get and it tricks it into thinking you are out of the blackout area.

I have not tried it with the fox saturday national games yet but if you have an antenna thats not an issue anyway because you can get fox 2.

 

[RyeLou]

No it works fine, I set the AppleTV to use the DNS servers that you get and it tricks it into thinking you are out of the blackout area.

I have not tried it with the fox saturday national games yet but if you have an antenna thats not an issue anyway because you can get fox 2.

Yes, I'd get a good antenna for the local stuff. Thanks for the tips.

 

[dave89iroc]

I haven't found an MLB network add on yet, but I haven't looked very hard. Sometimes it shows up on mashup I've noticed but it isn't always on there.

I'd like to find a FSN add on or something that's consistent but I haven't. Veetle might have games as well but I need to reinstall it to check. This thread just reminded me.

Yeah, fsn is the reason I haven't made the plunge yet

Sent from an undisclosed location.........

 

[02GTVert]

That's the stuff I want to know. That and the details of the comments on the Swedes.

I actually didn't think about Amazon Prime but I do have that too. I think my wife would be fine, so I just need an answer to Tigers.

Just asked my brother, he's the one who pays for the bill. He said it was $87.99/mo, which is much cheaper than I thought. That is for 150mb/30mb no cap. We go through 1-1.5 tb of bandwidth per month and have never had an issue. I'll PM you the links I am currently using for sports streams as I don't want to post links.

Just so you all know, these streams are not HD quality here. I've gotten used to watching sports through the internet. Baseball is pretty clear because of the speed of the sport, but fast action, like hockey, the quality is not crystal clear. I have 3 monitors (two 23" and one 32")on my computer and usually watch 3 or 4 NHL games simultaneously without any issues. Most of the major PPV's are streamed too.

 

[Tin]

Just asked my brother, he's the one who pays for the bill. He said it was $87.99/mo, which is much cheaper than I thought. That is for 150mb/30mb no cap. We go through 1-1.5 tb of bandwidth per month and have never had an issue. I'll PM you the links I am currently using for sports streams as I don't want to post links.

Just so you all know, these streams are not HD quality here. I've gotten used to watching sports through the internet. Baseball is pretty clear because of the speed of the sport, but fast action, like hockey, the quality is not crystal clear. I have 3 monitors (two 23" and one 32")on my computer and usually watch 3 or 4 NHL games simultaneously without any issues. Most of the major PPV's are streamed too.

Damn, that isn't bad at all, $10 more than what I'm paying for WOW with Basic Cable. I could all kinds of shit with a 30Mb upload speed.

 

[02GTVert]

Yeah, I thought it was more expensive. That fucker got away with one of the cheaper utilities for his share of the monthly bills!

 

[Tin]

Yeah, I thought it was more expensive. That fucker got away with one of the cheaper utilities for his share of the monthly bills!

Did he have a hookup? I'm seeing $250 per month :lol:

 

[02GTVert]

No, he said we had to keep basic cable though for that price. If you don't have any cable, Comcast rapes you on just internet service.