Cutting the cable, lets talk options and media setups (1 Viewer)

[Domefan504]

Another defeat for the cable companies! FCC has had enough!

Three cheers to FCC for wanting to bust cable box monopoly: JR Ball | NOLA.com

Wheeler says it's ridiculous — and overly expensive — that most customers are forced into paying monthly fees to rent decoding boxes from their cable or satellite company in order to watch programming. That why the FCC last week announced a proposal that, in effect, will break the near-monopoly enjoyed by cable and satellite companies, making it possible for consumers to purchase or rent decoding boxes from third-party vendors.

"Lack of competition has meant few choices and high prices for consumers," Wheeler said in a statement. In a post on the technology news site Recode, he wrote, "It's time to unlock the set-top box market — let's let innovators create, and then let the consumers choose."

As you might expect, technology companies, like Google, Apple and Amazon, cheered the proposal, which will be voted on Feb. 19. The cable industry, perfectly happy with a very profitable near-monopoly, is not so happy.

Which makes sense given the typical American household pays $231 per year renting decoding boxes from cable companies, according to a study last year by the U.S. Senate. Brace yourself, but that adds up to a $19.5 billion revenue stream for cable companies. Think about it: Almost $20 billion a year rolls into the coffers of Cox Communications and other cable companies for doing nothing more than renting boxes that make it possible to view paid programming and supposedly free high-definition TV.

 

[NCSaint]

I will have to check out the sling option. I only remember their technology being able to "sling" content vs' offering content. I am way behind on what they offer.

The biggest appeal to cord cutting is cost savings (binge watching also) and the biggest threat to the cost savings is data caps. A big contributor to data is 4K / Ultra etc. I really wish this race for resolution would stop as I am ok with HD and even SD for some content.

I also just found out about ATSC 3.0 which is a looming threat to OTA as we know it today. I see zero appeal to ATSC 3.0 unless your are a OTA decoder box maker or TV maker.

Make it stop...or at least mildly slow down!

 

[slaym]

Bought a kodi k box over the weekend to try out. However, it seems almost nothing really works. Any suggestions on sites to see how the heck this thing works? I cannot get the live tv that was promised (i.e. premium channels, cable channels, etc).

I posted this on the tech board, but I guess it applies here too. ARB is a good all in one build and instructions on how to install it on Kodi are below:

ARB All In One KODI Build v5.2.1, amazing KODI experience 2016

 

[Swampy Saint]

Does anyone have a Tablo?
https://www.tablotv.com/tablo-products/tablo-dvr-4-tuner/

I've done a little internet searching and checked reviews and people seem to love it.
I recently bought a $40 over the air DVR just to play around with the idea.
It works but not very user friendly.
This Tablo 4 tuner seems to be a good alternative if you like to DVR major network programming like we do. They also claim that 5 or 6 TV's can watch and record at the same time.

 

[whodatfever]

There are better performing routers out there for half the price of that Nighthawk. The GUI might not be as slick, bit it's an overpriced piece of tech IMO. I'd start with the TP-Link Archer C7 or C8 first. TheWirecutter really has a good review of them both.

Also, I returned the router for the ASUS equivalent when I noticed drops in network. When I called Netgear for an answer she was pretty blunt about that being a constant issue that she gets calls about. Thanks Netgear.

Very appropriate review I found from Best Buy:

Purchased this after a horrible experience with the netgear nighthawk r8000. This router is great, works with all the devices in my home, from the aquarium controller to the Logitech remotes and the Samsung ultrabook that the netgear refused to work with.
Setup was easy and quick, setup page loaded quickly on first try. Has a set up wizard for those technologically challenged & is easy to access more advanced options for the more tech savvy. This router even had the most up to date firmware installed out of the box.
This was a great upgrade from my aging gen 2 AirPort Extreme & works reliably, something the netgear did not do.

Just info for those looking.

 

[Twenty]

Also, I returned the router for the ASUS equivalent when I noticed drops in network. When I called Netgear for an answer she was pretty blunt about that being a constant issue that she gets calls about. Thanks Netgear.

Very appropriate review I found from Best Buy:



Just info for those looking.

I haven't had any problems with my Nighthawk X4. Blazing fast since the day I bought it.

But I also don't have a constant stream of new Hentai downloading, so that might be where we differ.

 

[zeetes]

I haven't had any problems with my Nighthawk X4. Blazing fast since the day I bought it.

But I also don't have a constant stream of new Hentai downloading, so that might be where we differ.

i have the 7000 (the x4 is 7500?). rock solid.

 

[whodatfever]

My neighbor (who leeches internet off of me) told me today the new router sucked compared to the crappy e1000 it replaced. I probably just got one of the bad units. I had a Hearthstone game disconnect four times within 10 minutes. That is completely unacceptable for someone who streams for the entertainment of thousands. Maybe hundreds. Well I do have one follower. Unfortunately, it's Twenty.

New router seems ok but I'm reserving judgement as the Nighthawk seemed fine too.

Renamed my 2.4 and 5.0 networks to The Judean People's Front and The People's Front of Judea. I want to see which side my neighbor falls on.

 

[buzd]

I haven't had any problems with my Nighthawk X4. Blazing fast since the day I bought it.

But I also don't have a constant stream of new Hentai downloading, so that might be where we differ.

Ubiquiti FTW.

 

[MLU]

Don't get me wrong. The Nighthawk is a good device for the most part. You just get the same (and sometimes better) performance for half the price with the TP-Link

 

[Twenty]

i have the 7000 (the x4 is 7500?). rock solid.

Yeah. R7500. AC2350. I love it.

 

[NCSaint]

I would like to hear from some SlingTV viewers. How's the service? I would be watching thru a Roku app I would guess. Is it only live or can you replay a show that you may have missed? Thanks.

 

[GW93]

I will have to check out the sling option. I only remember their technology being able to "sling" content vs' offering content. I am way behind on what they offer.

The biggest appeal to cord cutting is cost savings (binge watching also) and the biggest threat to the cost savings is data caps. A big contributor to data is 4K / Ultra etc. I really wish this race for resolution would stop as I am ok with HD and even SD for some content.

I also just found out about ATSC 3.0 which is a looming threat to OTA as we know it today. I see zero appeal to ATSC 3.0 unless your are a OTA decoder box maker or TV maker.

Make it stop...or at least mildly slow down!

Sling TV is not the same as Sling Box. I'm surprised there haven't been any ™ issues come up between the two.

Anyway, no sooner did I cut the cord than Cox announced they're jacking the prices for all their Internet tiers, so the $25 I was saving is now more like $20.

 

[whodatfever]

TIME WARNER WANTS TO STOP CORD CUTTERS

Time Warner Cable may have a plan to fight the cord cutting trend.

The Wall Street Journal reports the cable company is considering buying a 25 percent stake in Hulu, the streaming service best known for making new episodes of many TV shows available the day after they air. "People familiar with the discussions" say TWC wants episodes from current television seasons off the service to prevent more customers from leaving.

"Time Warner believes that the presence of full, current seasons on Hulu—or anywhere else outside the bounds of pay-TV—is harmful to its owners because it contributes to people dropping their pay-TV subscriptions, or 'cutting the cord,'" the publication writes.

As Perez Hilton explains, the proposed deal would mean seasons of shows currently on the air wouldn't be available until after the season finale airs.

"Most of [Hulu's] value lies in users who really want access to cable or broadcast programs but who don't want to pay the heavy fees," Cinema Blend writes. "For a small percentage of the money the average cable purchaser shells out, Hulu's audience can still catch shows... from the comfort of devices as varied as tablets, TVs and computers."

But would any changes at Hulu stop TWC customers from leaving in the long term? According to CNN, one in four adults currently don't pay for TV and by 2025, half of all adults under the age of 32 are expected to be cord cutters.

And more a la carte options are being offered than ever before, from big streaming services (like Netflix, Amazon and Hulu) to individual content providers (like CBS All Access, Nickelodeon Noggin and HBO Now) and offerings of both live and on demand video (Apple TV, Sling TV, PlayStation Vue). Of course, an Internet connection is still required -- and cable companies can still hang on to some customers that way.

Time Warner Cable eyes Hulu deal to stop cord cutters from watching new TV shows | syracuse.com

 

[NCSaint]

Sling TV is not the same as Sling Box. I'm surprised there haven't been any ™ issues come up between the two.

Anyway, no sooner did I cut the cord than Cox announced they're jacking the prices for all their Internet tiers, so the $25 I was saving is now more like $20.

ahh..they had me fooled. thanks for the input. The wife would like AE and HGTV but TWC is not an option (or rather a choice we would make).