Anyone switch from Cable TV to Broadcast TV?

[DWalt]

My TV and my laptop both have HDMI ports. I can play directly from the laptop to the TV using only an HDMI cable using an internet connection. I think all of the networks have websites for delayed viewing of their shows, also can use HULU, Netflix, etc. the same way. I don't do it very much, but it can be done. Playing DVDs from the laptop to the TV can be done the same way.

There are lots of old movies to be found on YouTube.

 

[JcMack]

I dropped Comcast when "basic cable" jumped to $60 a month about 2 yrs. ago. I live in Indiana about 30 miles from the Sears tower in downtown Chicago. (where HD OTA is broadcast fro). I get about 55-65 OTA channels. 65 when weather is clear, 55 when it rains hard. I use a flat 10X12" indoor antenna that I found I get best reception on when its mounted in a window and angled towards Chicago. My laymans theory is my house has pipes, thinwall, and anything else grounded that attenuates the signal unless the antenna is in the window. I currently have Netflix, Trial Amazon Prime, and Hulu+. I'm gonna drop Hulu and start paying for prime.

 

[ace22]

I just dropped dish network this past Friday. I had it for over 16 years but I was fed up with the rate increases. I've also had a high quality channel master rooftop antenna for about 35 years that I barely used during the time I had dish but now that's my tv source. I get 30-35 channels but there's nothing worth watching 95% of the time. I suppose i'll make it through the summer with just the roof antenna but i'll probably go with cable or direct tv when football season starts if I can find a reasonable package.

 

[JohnRippert]

We dropped ATT and their Triple Play and went to Comcast for phone and internet. Paying $60/mo for that now compared to $250 for ATT. I also subscribe to SlingTV for $27/mo and MLB.tv for $10/mo. Mom does not watch TV much at all and using the ESPN app with SlingTV as my provider gives me all the sports I need. I still watch golf and some other sports on OTA television. About the only thing I miss is racing and I get a fix now and then on regular tv.

 

[AZretired]

a roku costs $60.
there are no monthly charges unless you want premium channels.
my wifi give me all the movies i could possibly want for free.
it just plugs into your tv n you get everything from the net.

How do you get Wi-Fi? Don't you still need a WiFi router from your cable provider to feed the Roku?

 

[pinoakflats]

Gone

Got rid of the dish three years ago. Have a roof mounted antennae and a Roku. I'm paying for high speed internet either way so made sense to me. Dropped the $115 per month Direct TV bill and pay about $25 for Netflix and Amazon Prime. During SEC football I get Sling for 19.99 and get 4-5 college FB channels. Then I cancel it after the Super Bowl. Watching less TV and saving $$

 

[mtgianni]

How do you get Wi-Fi? Don't you still need a WiFi router from your cable provider to feed the Roku?

Plenty of other providers for Wi-fi than cable or dish.

 

[susieqz]

i get wifi over fiber optic cable from my phone company.

 

[DWalt]

If you are lucky, in some areas you can get free "hot spot" wireless internet service. While I don't use them as my primary service, I can access two other services from my location free, and have been able to for years. I don't know their source, but the signals are not as strong. I think one is from a nearby McDonald's. Not sure about the other, possibly a pizza restaurant. For about 5 years years I piggybacked on a neighbor's wireless internet service. He didn't mind, as he seldom used it for anything other than email with his kids. He died several years ago. I miss him.

I have read that Austin TX is so full of free wireless "hot spots" that there is no place in town that you can't access at least one of them.

 

[Bugkiller99]

Thought I would jump in with an update.

Put up the antenna and got the 5 major network stations, along with various other channels. Spent a month noting what we watch, and discovered 90%+ was on of the 5 networks.

So we cut the cord. Ramped up our internet service, got a Roku box, and a Sling subscription to watch football. Got an over the air DVR.

Been three weeks, and haven't missed the 300 plus channels and big dollar bills at all!