Cable or No Cable

[Fingolfin269]

I'm going down to the most basic package this week. I'm tired of paying a ridiculous amount of money just so I can get ESPN HD with Comcast. If there is a game on I want to watch I'll just go to a friend's house or a bar.

 

[mshan]

If you know someone with dual tuner Dish Network box (Dish 322 gives you second tuner free as long as you keep the box always connected to a phone line) and they and you already have high speed internet, you could just install a Slingbox there and watch that second unused tuner remotely on your computer. Slingbox Solo has an IR blaster cable, so as long as the tuner box is supported, you can change channels remotely on that unused second tuner (Dish 322 has one IR controlled and one RF controlled tuner, so obviously you have to use the first one; forgot what type of outputs it has, but I think it is s-video / composite).

This Dish Network plan isn't too expensive if split between 2 people, and like I said above, you can get the standard definition dual tuner 322 tuner (one ir and one remote rf controller) with no monthly fee for second tuner in box if you keep it connected to a phone line (I think they are trying to get you to use pay for view). If you have OTA HDTV, you don't need to pay extra for local channels.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Originally posted by: loki8481
there's no non-digital basic, bare-bones cable?

I couldn't imagine it, myself... sure, everything's on the internet if I'm willing to try hard enough, but it's a lot easier just to lay on my couch, hit a button, and have my dvr sitting there with recorded shows to watch.

truth, one of the best luxuries there is!

 

[Injury]

A year ago, I lived in a house with 3 other guys, full cable + internet was about $30 each. This was completely acceptable, but I didn't watch much TV.


Now, I live by myself and pay $35/mo for cable internet only. I don't miss stupid, mind-numbing shows. I mean, I can only care about shows detailing the lives of people who drive trucks or something so much before I have to admit that if I find that entertaining then I need to get out of the house more.

 

[JSSheridan]

I do what I want since I have no roommates. I do not have cable or satellite at this time, and I'll wait until they offer an a la carte package.

 

[Pastore]

Local sports bar for sports watching, download or watch on network website for shows (fox and abc have pretty much all their new episodes online now), Netflix for everything else. If it was up to me I wouldn't have cable, but the girlfriend requires it.

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: Pastore
Local sports bar for sports watching, download or watch on network website for shows (fox and abc have pretty much all their new episodes online now), Netflix for everything else. If it was up to me I wouldn't have cable, but the girlfriend requires it.

Apparently she requires that she wears the pants, too.

 

[TwiceOver]

I've been thinking of dumping cable also. But the wife wants to keep it.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: TwiceOver
I've been thinking of dumping cable also. But the wife wants to keep it.

As pointed out above, i guess we know who wears trhe pnats in Pastore and TwiceOvers houses.


I hope at least you give them the bill.

 

[lokiju]

Now days I'd nearly be fine in that situation with having internet only.

With Hulu and torrents you can watch everything you want as long as you're OK with it not being live.

 

[AstroManLuca]

I just have basic cable. Main broadcast channels only, but at least I get perfect picture quality (I'm on the bottom floor of my apartment building so I get bad reception with an antenna). Only $13 a month.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Most folk can get very good OTA HD with rabbit ears.

I have a $30 Philips antenna and I get all the channels available in crystal clear HD via OTA.

I also don't have cable and download quite a few shows, but I also buy their episode sets when they come out on DVD to make up for it . My friend was hesitant to borrow House season 3 from me because it was unopened... I told him to just open it and the only reason I haven't is that it's more convenient just to watch them on my PC and they're in 720p where most shows are not available on blu-ray (or HD-DVD considering last years releases).

 

[HardcoreRobot]

that bill split 4 ways would not be that bad at all IMO, i wouldnt ahve a problem paying it even if i didn't watch much tv at all
anyways, ur in a crappy situation. unless you can get unanimous support from the roommates i would just hit the bars up on saturdays to watch the aggies lose.... errr 'play'
might end up working out better anyways given regional coverage BS