Cutting the cable, lets talk options and media setups (4 Viewers)

[UncleTrvlingJim]

I am still confused. Is there hardware or is it just software?

You'll need to get a remote and have an IR receiver on your computer... the software provides a UI that is easy to navigate with the remote.

 

[Saint_Ward]

The Roku stick plugs into the HDMI, not USB. Also, the Roku3 has the edge IMO because of the wireless headphone jack in the remote.

I was looking at getting a Amazon Fire TV stick for the boy's TV (since the PS3 is in the main room), so he can watch Netflix and Amazon Prime stuff.

However, I know he wakes up very early and would probably prefer to use headphones.

I was looking into wireless headphones that would have the transmitter connected to the TV audio out. Anyone use something like that? Otherwise, the idea of just plugging in any headphones to the remote of the Roku3 is interesting. Just not sure it's $50 more interesting.

I just use my wireless PS3 headphones for the main room and my computer (works via USB). So, not up on the other options out there.

 

[Zack Lee]

You'll need to get a remote and have an IR receiver on your computer... the software provides a UI that is easy to navigate with the remote.

ok I see. That is why I see RasberryPi being tied in with it since it is a really cheap dedicated option to have/keep near the TV.

 

[UncleTrvlingJim]

FYI - I've had a home theater PC (HTPC), running windows 7 and windows media center for about 4 years with no cable. I get over the air TV with an antenna, and then have plugins for netflix, hulu and amazon streaming.

It works pretty well, but still requires tweaking... at the moment I'm dealing with some issue where streaming flash video (for example from ABC.com) is pretty poor... my other computers don't have the issue, just my HTPC... it probably has to do with my codecs installed.

The biggest complaint as has been noted is not many legal options for live sports.

 

[UncleTrvlingJim]

ok I see. That is why I see RasberryPi being tied in with it since it is a really cheap dedicated option to have/keep near the TV.

Yeah, you'll put something like Kodi on a computer you build with RaspberryPI, making sure the computer has an IR receiver. You can then use a remote to control what you watch.

 

[MLU]

I was looking at getting a Amazon Fire TV stick for the boy's TV (since the PS3 is in the main room), so he can watch Netflix and Amazon Prime stuff.

However, I know he wakes up very early and would probably prefer to use headphones.

I was looking into wireless headphones that would have the transmitter connected to the TV audio out. Anyone use something like that? Otherwise, the idea of just plugging in any headphones to the remote of the Roku3 is interesting. Just not sure it's $50 more interesting.

I just use my wireless PS3 headphones for the main room and my computer (works via USB). So, not up on the other options out there.

Keep an eye on woot.com. Roku's are for sale there quite often.

 

[St. Ouachita]

1. Don't spend $$ on a smart t.v., get the best LED you can for the comparative price.

2. Apple TV for your TV net connectivity, use the optical cable to AV sound unit. Crystal clear.

3. Best Buy sells HD antennae based on range --- 60 miles-- 85 miles -- 115 miles. I live in East Texas (sux) so I can pull in Saints games from Shreveport with a 115-mile unit. Because of geographic location, I get about 27-30 HD stations over-the-air. Dallas Tv is so lame.

4. Get as long a good coaxial cable as possible (like Rocketfish 25') and run it the length of your house to the attic. The coaxial acts as an antenna, as well as the antenna itself. The longer the cable, the better the signal. I'm getting the absolute best picture for NFL games I've ever had on a 50" Panasonic LED that was very economical.

5. XMBC totally rocks. That is some great advice.

6. You can watch any game or anything you want on the web. For me, streaming from a new 27" iMac 5mghz through Airport Extreme Time Capsule (killer Motorola modem) to an AppleTV-3 into a vintage tube setup for sound.

7. Hide your IP address and your dumb-*** ISP won't know what you're doing. 5$/ month. Sometimes my address is in Delaware, Arizona, Denmark or whatever. That Brad Pitt tank movie was available from friends I didn't know well at all like two days after it hit cinema, in 1080p crisp perfection. /IPVanish/ FTW.

8. I'm recently divorced, so me and my mini-schnauzer don't have to worry about stupid cable housewives pap smear drama or dance-offs.

9. I haven't watched any media in over a year that I wasn't expressly interested in. Leave traditional television, please. I was programmed. Commercials every nine minutes...stupid dramas that resolve themselves magically within a hour...Feed your head.

10. Truly trying to help. Been consumed with this idea of beating the media monopoly for a while now.

11. I respect any and all bros trying to cut the cable. Apple just works for me, but any product will set you free. However, using iPhone for a remote and iPad to browse the net while watching whatever I want pretty much rocks, and no nagging, to boot.

12. Geaux Saints.

 

[Hey Beerman]

St. Ouachita, thank you thank you!! I have a nice 27" iMac and would love to incorporate it in my setup, love the idea of AirPlay which I need to look into more.

Question for antenna users, does the coax from the antenna just plug right into the antenna jack on my TV, is that gonna be HDTV signal?? All I'm reading is that coax is the worst type of signal connection. How do you connect to the HD signal from an outdoor antenna?

 

[St. Ouachita]

Yo Beerman-

The signal is digital and the television decodes the coaxial signal into HD. Set up right, the picture is a magnitude of order better than the best cable. So the coaxial is a conduit, only as good as the signal it carries, which is digital.

New, digital antenna + new Quallty coaxial + new digital 1080p tele equals the best signal right now.

As far as your iMac, you will get at least 720p resolution going through a $100 Motorola modem, into a new Airport Extreme Time Capsule ($250--3tb hardrive) for any stream or app signal into an AppleTV 3. Movies that you 'find' on the Internet will be Blu-Ray qualty or Black Ray. Be sure to get the .mp4 designated codec that you can just drag into iTunes and boom goes the dynamite.

Alternatively, look at free Mac thrd party stuff like HandBrake to encode movies to the smallest file size and into .mp4 from .avi (standard DVD file codec). Far easier than it all seems. Hit me up on pm if you need specifics.

Hope this helps.

 

[Hey Beerman]

Yo Beerman-

The signal is digital and the television decodes the coaxial signal into HD. Set up right, the picture is a magnitude of order better than the best cable. So the coaxial is a conduit, only as good as the signal it carries, which is digital.

New, digital antenna + new Quallty coaxial + new digital 1080p tele equals the best signal right now.

As far as your iMac, you will get at least 720p resolution going through a $100 Motorola modem, into a new Airport Extreme Time Capsule ($250--3tb hardrive) for any stream or app signal into an AppleTV 3. Movies that you 'find' on the Internet will be Blu-Ray qualty or Black Ray. Be sure to get the .mp4 designated codec that you can just drag into iTunes and boom goes the dynamite.

Alternatively, look at free Mac thrd party stuff like HandBrake to encode movies to the smallest file size and into .mp4 from .avi (standard DVD file codec). Far easier than it all seems. Hit me up on pm if you need specifics.

Hope this helps.

Awesome, it does help thanks for explaining that!

I have a Motorola Surfboard modem and a 9TB NAS streaming to my Xbox One that I do some damage with ; ) Would be great to interface the iMac for streaming web stuff and music.

My movie library is growing, I do use Handbrake.

I was just shopping antennas at Best Buy and the Direct TV guy came up to me trying to convince me how unhappy I was gonna be when I cut the cord LOL. I told him to go find some other sucker to talk to!

My concern for now is getting the local channels taken care of so I can go ahead and make the awesome call to Cox. My kids are starting to freaking haha.

 

[St. Ouachita]

You are liberating your family, Beerman.

Just tell the kids most of their shows will be on Hulu, Nertflix or Apps on your IT/TV connection.

Plus, you're well on your way by functioning in HandBrake!

 

[Eeyore]

On sale SiliconDust HDHR4-2US HDHomeRun Connect 2-Tuner ATSC DLNA/UPnP Compatible Streaming Media Player - Newegg.com

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

On sale SiliconDust HDHR4-2US HDHomeRun Connect 2-Tuner ATSC DLNA/UPnP Compatible Streaming Media Player - Newegg.com

That's a bit confusing
It's saying "cut the cable" but it seems like it's only picking up local TV signals and allowing you to play it on any device
Am I missing something?

 

[atceagle]

Just an update on my antenna research. Last Friday I purchased two indoor antennas, an inexpensive one from Target and a longer range Terk antenna from Best Buy. Both are the flat Mohu Leaf style.

The one from Target performed better than expected giving me 7 channels. I realized the FCC website isn't updated with the new local channels as I was only expecting to get 4 channels according to their website. GE Indoor Antenna Ultra Edge Amp - Black (10621) : Target

The one from Best Buy was around double the price and resulted in 3 more channels. With this antenna, I was able to receive ABC, NBC, CBS, AND FOX. This is really all I need. I was really impressed with this antenna. TERK Ultrathin Indoor Amplified HDTV Antenna Multi THINTV1A - Best Buy

So now the issue is that I will need two of these leaf style antennas, one for the bedroom and one for the living room. So that puts me at $160 if I go with the Terk from Best Buy. However, I can buy an outdoor antenna in the $150 range and mount it in the attic with a splitter to the two tv's. You know what they say about assuming, but I assume I'll AT LEAST get the 10 stations the Terk picked up with the outdoor antenna in the attic. Would you agree with this assumption?

 

[UncleTrvlingJim]

You know what they say about assuming, but I assume I'll AT LEAST get the 10 stations the Terk picked up with the outdoor antenna in the attic. Would you agree with this assumption?

Have you checked this site out yet... should give you a good idea of what channels you can reasonably expect to get...

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