Cutting the Cord

ArgentCy

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Jan 13, 2010
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I understand the fun that it could be to try and play their games, it certainly would save some money. I just really don't like calling all the time and playing this game. Just like buying a car is having to haggle over the price, it gets my anxiety and fight or flight response going. I do like doing the research and knowing what I am doing but just give me your price and I'll decide. I am really saving more money by just not watching TV but did sign up for Netflix DVD service. I can watch the few good things produced, if a little late which is fine with me, without commercials and on my schedule. All for 10% of the monthly cost.
 

Triggermv

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Jul 16, 2010
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I understand the fun that it could be to try and play their games, it certainly would save some money. I just really don't like calling all the time and playing this game. Just like buying a car is having to haggle over the price, it gets my anxiety and fight or flight response going. I do like doing the research and knowing what I am doing but just give me your price and I'll decide. I am really saving more money by just not watching TV but did sign up for Netflix DVD service. I can watch the few good things produced, if a little late which is fine with me, without commercials and on my schedule. All for 10% of the monthly cost.

I can respect your opinion. Believe it or not, I still highly utilize the Netflix DVD (blu-ray in my case) service a lot and don't even do the streaming on top of it. All said and done, I've always been more of a movie guy than a TV show guy and I desire the full selection of movies in the highest quality available rather than having someone limit what I can or can't watch. I'm also okay being patient (wait a day or two for a disc) to get what I want too. With that said, I've always still only been on the single disc plan, but I do get a decent amount of blu-ray rentals from our local library as well to supplement things too. While disc popularity has become less popular over the years, for some things, it is still unbeatable.
 

Triggermv

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Jul 16, 2010
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One side benefit I also take pleasure in by cutting the cord is not forking over a dime to the evil empire called the Big Ten Network. I truly sleep better at night. You should give it a shot.
 
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ArgentCy

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Jan 13, 2010
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My biggest complaint this year was the evil empire that runs ESPN. Somehow that evolved from a company that created kids shows and Mickey Mouse. Go figure. DirecTV called like 7 time to get me to come back (only answered twice) but the second time I really blitzed the poor guy with my reasons. He stumbled a little while and came back to the price (happened to be $3 more than the prior day) but they got the message when I soon hung up on them. I really don't want to support them with any more money at any price. I think I'll buy some football tickets for the first time instead.
 

ArgentCy

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On a side note, since you trade energy futures, do you have a public source for propane prices in the summer. I know the EIA publishes them in the winter months but I can't find it for the summer. I have noticed that for consumption the best price seems to be the first week of October here in SE Iowa.
 

Triggermv

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Jul 16, 2010
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On a side note, since you trade energy futures, do you have a public source for propane prices in the summer. I know the EIA publishes them in the winter months but I can't find it for the summer. I have noticed that for consumption the best price seems to be the first week of October here in SE Iowa.

Sorry bud, all I've got for a good place for you to find that type of info is the EIA's site as well: http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_wfr_a_EPLLPA_PRS_dpgal_w.htm

Propane, unlike crude, diesel, and gasoline doesn't trade as a futures contract anymore, so it is hard for the average Joe out there to even find what the market is doing. Right now, it is all traded over the counter. As for prices though, we've been setting lows in June for the past few years for the most part, but with propane, that doesn't necessarily translate over to when exactly you'll find the lows in the retail prices. The way LP is bought and marketed is a much more complicated game than without any simple rules to it. In that way, it is much different than the simpler gasoline and diesel prices.

I'd go more in depth, but it would have to be a much longer explanation and I've vowed not to talk anything about energy again on this site. Just like anyone else with any inside, good info out there on anything, they really all just end up getting tarred and feathered in the same on these forums for simply trying to help people out. I've experienced no different.
 
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cowgirl836

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Sep 3, 2009
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I didn't realize Pirate Bay was still around, I thought they were shutdown years ago. Guess I might have to brush up on the newest technology for torrents as it sounds like the Sling TV doesn't do OnDemand for AMC.


the ending changes every now and then and you need to make sure it's the legit one, but works well.
 

ArgentCy

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Jan 13, 2010
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Going to bump as we are heading into football season. So far I haven't signed up for any service or SlingTV. I did install a new preamp on my antenna and didn't pick up any new channels but don't have any drops. At one point tonight was getting 4 different NFL preseason games on my measly ~24 channels. Not too bad. Will suck a little for college football but I will see.
 

isucy86

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Apr 13, 2006
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I cut the cord about 17 months ago and have no regrets. I thought football season would be tough, but on weekends ISU is at home I don't watch much FB at home. When the Clones are on the road might have to go to a sports bar to catch ISU. Other than that, between the ABC/CBS games at 2:30 and great Saturday night games on ABC/FOX most of the elite games are available over the air. Might miss 1 quality ESPN game a weekend, but have 4 other great games to choose from.

The toughest part of cutting the cord is the Bowl games which are now all on ESPN as well as ISU MBB games. The NCAA Tourny is also becoming a bit of a pain, because CBS local in DSM won't necessarily carry the Clones and CBS local doesn't carry the final 4. Sling TV is tempting, but holding off for now. At least Sling is owned by DISH as DIRECTV is unethical IMO.
 

BikeSkiClone

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Jul 25, 2014
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Sorry if already asked, but is Sling like Apple TV in that you have to have a cable subscription to ESPN in order to get watch ESPN? Or is Sling just the straight up ESPN channels w/o anything else required? I don't have cable but considering getting sling to watch more football and college basketball.
 

isucy86

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Apr 13, 2006
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Not familiar with Apple TV. SlingTV is a streaming service like Netflix. It's base package is $20 and includes ESPN/ESPN2, TNT/TBS and some other specialized channel. You can then pay extra for an expanded sports package, expanded kids, etc. There is no long term committment- you can subscribe for a month and then cancel.
 

Schfinkter

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Dec 3, 2008
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Bump. We are planning on cutting the cord at the end of the month since our DTV subscription is up and we were paying $135/month. We are new to all of this cord cutting stuff so I wanted to reach out the CF experts as far as what they would recommend.

We already watch a ton of netflix. Wife's only request was that she could still record the Bachelor, Real Housewives and other "reality" shows. I only care about sports channels (ISU and Cubs) and the occasional travel channel/history/discovery channels.

What do some of you use now that technology has changed and what have you found to be the best?

TIA
 

JY07

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Aug 20, 2009
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We already watch a ton of netflix. Wife's only request was that she could still record the Bachelor, Real Housewives and other "reality" shows. I only care about sports channels (ISU and Cubs) and the occasional travel channel/history/discovery channels.

Based on her requirements honestly I think your best bet is to just start up service with dish, or call up directv and see what kind of deal they can cut you when you say you need to disconnect

I don't think you're going to find a cord cutting solution you're going to like (or she'll like) at this point
 

cycloneworld

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Mar 20, 2006
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Good timing on the bump. My wife and I just had this discussion this weekend after our Directv bill jumped to $125/month.

We can easily survive on Netflix/Prime/Hulu but I'll be looking for sports options - primarily college football and basketball and the NFL. I know nothing about Sling but maybe its an option to get ESPN and a few other basic channels? Does anyone have any reviews that uses Sling TV?
 

DSMCy

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Feb 1, 2013
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Bump. We are planning on cutting the cord at the end of the month since our DTV subscription is up and we were paying $135/month. We are new to all of this cord cutting stuff so I wanted to reach out the CF experts as far as what they would recommend.

We already watch a ton of netflix. Wife's only request was that she could still record the Bachelor, Real Housewives and other "reality" shows. I only care about sports channels (ISU and Cubs) and the occasional travel channel/history/discovery channels.

What do some of you use now that technology has changed and what have you found to be the best?

TIA
Cord cutting isn't perfect, so if you or your wife want a seamless experience, sticking with cable is probably your best option to stay married.

My advice would be to take a month and keep track of what you watch and if it would be accessible online.
Bachelor is an example. You can watch it live over the air with an antenna. Or wait for ABC to post it on their website and stream it there. So you can't record it, but you can still watch it later.
I'll warn you, you'll have trouble finding Bravo shows.

Sling has a nice variety of channels; ESPN, ESPN2, TBS, TNT, HGTV, Food Network, Comedy Central, CNN, and others
https://www.sling.com/
Sling has some on demand, but most of this is live tv only.

I cut the cord a year ago and haven't looked back.
For hardware, I have two Roku 4s and a Roku 3.
 

xboxfever

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Nov 4, 2008
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I've been home today sick, and mediacom has been down all afternoon. I'm cutting the cord on there asses too. This is ridiculous.
 

clonebb

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Oct 23, 2015
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Based on her requirements honestly I think your best bet is to just start up service with dish, or call up directv and see what kind of deal they can cut you when you say you need to disconnect

I don't think you're going to find a cord cutting solution you're going to like (or she'll like) at this point
Bump. We are planning on cutting the cord at the end of the month since our DTV subscription is up and we were paying $135/month. We are new to all of this cord cutting stuff so I wanted to reach out the CF experts as far as what they would recommend.

We already watch a ton of netflix. Wife's only request was that she could still record the Bachelor, Real Housewives and other "reality" shows. I only care about sports channels (ISU and Cubs) and the occasional travel channel/history/discovery channels.

What do some of you use now that technology has changed and what have you found to be the best?

TIA

you can get a dvr for OTA channels. Tablo and TiVo sell them. It connects to your antenna.
 
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ripvdub

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Mar 20, 2006
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Iowa
Good timing on the bump. My wife and I just had this discussion this weekend after our Directv bill jumped to $125/month.

We can easily survive on Netflix/Prime/Hulu but I'll be looking for sports options - primarily college football and basketball and the NFL. I know nothing about Sling but maybe its an option to get ESPN and a few other basic channels? Does anyone have any reviews that uses Sling TV?
Playstation Vue. No Playstation required. $35 and you get almost every sports station I had on directv, just $100 less a month. Had for 3 months, no complaints.
 

CysRage

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Oct 18, 2009
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I just decided to end our Mediacom TV and Internet as well. Centurylink is offering a $30/month 1 year special. The data cap is 250 GBs and the speed is up to 12 MB/second. Is this good enough for slingTV? Thanks!
 

ripvdub

Well-Known Member
Mar 20, 2006
8,353
754
113
Iowa
Bump. We are planning on cutting the cord at the end of the month since our DTV subscription is up and we were paying $135/month. We are new to all of this cord cutting stuff so I wanted to reach out the CF experts as far as what they would recommend.

We already watch a ton of netflix. Wife's only request was that she could still record the Bachelor, Real Housewives and other "reality" shows. I only care about sports channels (ISU and Cubs) and the occasional travel channel/history/discovery channels.

What do some of you use now that technology has changed and what have you found to be the best?

TIA
Ps Vue has comcast, fs1, all the espns. B1G network, NFL coming soon. My wife watches all that reality crap and still gets it all. Available on Playstation, amazon fire, I think roku now
 
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