Cutting The Cord -- How to leave cable companies?

Mighty AC · February 3, 2014

What VPN service do you use? I've looked into it and what to try it but I don't know a good one to use.

I use Private Internet Access. It encrypts your connection and allows you to spoof your location. You can select from 20+ locales around the world. I used a US locale when installing Netflix and Hulu apps and the Netherlands if I need to DL something. The cost works out to less than $4 per month.

You can install the software on your computer, tab or phone. In many cases your can setup the VPN directly in your router so every device using your network is protected. To do this you may need to replace your the firmware on your router with dd-wrt. Even if you're not using a VPN, DD WRT has many advantages over most factory router firmware. You can check if your router is compatible here: http://www.dd-wrt.ca/site/support/router-database

Mighty AC · February 3, 2014

Tell me more about this XBMC. I perused the website briefly and I'm curious about how it works and whether you need a VPN mirror.

XBMC is a free, open source media player that can be installed on many platforms. It allows you to organize and play movies, music, pics, etc. In my case I was testing a RaspberryPi as a media device, like an AppleTV. XBMC is just the app I chose to play my stored media content.

The RasPi is tiny and can be powered by the USB port on my TV and I control it with a mini wireless keyboard/trackball combo. I then use XBMC to play my network media content. I can also stream content like music or Netflix to the RasPi and play it through my receiver.

It was interested in the DIY aspect of the RasPi route, it works well but I wouldn't really recommend it until Netflix can used directly. Currently, I have to stream it from another device.

Mighty AC · February 3, 2014

i should also mention i started using a voip service a couple years ago, some are virtually free with your own equipment, mine isn't quite free but it's been reliable, i spend about $25 a year on phone service.

Which service do you use? I use voip.ms though not free, it is ridiculously cheap and the quality is great. I picked up an ATA device for $65 and use my existing jacks and phones for almost nothing. The only downside of the voip route versus a traditional milivolt phone line is it requires power. Just like those who get phone service from Rogers or another cable co, I use a UPC battery backup. That still only gives me power for a few hours though.

Mighty AC · February 3, 2014

Nothing on Netflix is new though. There are some relatively new movies but the TV shows are at least a year behind. Not including the original content of course.

Hulu is far better for current TV content than Netflix. The completely free version can be viewed through a browser, though you will have to wait a few days longer for some current episodes of more popular shows. The paid version, Hulu+, airs TV episodes the next day, though that service is also $8 per month.

Hulu is a US only service. To try it for free through a browser, just install the MediaHint extension.

https://mediahint.com/install_chrome.html

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-hint/

In addition to Hulu, you will also be able to use US Netflix, Pandora and Rdio without a VPN.

If you like it enough to purchase Hulu+ there are some additional tricks required in order to use a Canadian credit card to pay for a US service. If anyone is interested I can direct you to the appropriate sites. Basically, it just involves manipulating your Postal Code.

Mighty AC · February 3, 2014

Oh and for the limited time I was using one, I found that it was slower and affected my streaming quality.

Free VPNs are usually horribly slow. Paid services are much faster, though still a little slower than going VPN free. In addition to spoofing your location, many (but not all) also encrypt your connection making your information transfers more secure. It's not typically an issue, but important for some.

For those that pirate media content a VPN service is something to consider.

Boges · February 3, 2014

Hulu is far better for current TV content than Netflix. The completely free version can be viewed through a browser, though you will have to wait a few days longer for some current episodes of more popular shows. The paid version, Hulu+, airs TV episodes the next day, though that service is also $8 per month.

Hulu is a US only service. To try it for free through a browser, just install the MediaHint extension.

https://mediahint.com/install_chrome.html

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-hint/

In addition to Hulu, you will also be able to use US Netflix, Pandora and Rdio without a VPN.

If you like it enough to purchase Hulu+ there are some additional tricks required in order to use a Canadian credit card to pay for a US service. If anyone is interested I can direct you to the appropriate sites. Basically, it just involves manipulating your Postal Code.

I mentioned Hulu in reference to a VPN or a Proxy. Just not worth my time though. Especially if you can only view the free version through a browser and not on a Media Extender. Pandora and Rdio are available as Smartphone Apps. I use Slacker and TunedIn myself.

Mighty AC · February 3, 2014

I mentioned HULU in response to your comment that the TV content on Netflix is not current. I have installed HULU on a Roku, stream it to my TV via my RasPi, watch it on my phones and tabs and it was on the WD TV Live box I borrowed. I'm sure HULU can be streamed to an Apple TV as well.

The free browser option is great for those who want to test out the service or those with a media PC.

I've never used Slacker. I should try it sometime. I do listen to a lot of podcasts via Stitcher though.

Edited February 3, 2014 by Mighty AC

Boges · February 3, 2014

I'm sure Hulu is a fine service. So is Amazon's streaming service. But you're now adding up all these online services just to avoid paying a cable company that provide all those services, for more I concede, very conveniently.

The other thing I've heard about Hulu is that it's content from cable providers is lacking, meaning your just streaming programming largely available for free.

And no online service can provide the sports watching ability of a cable provider yet. That's the main obstacle to many for cutting the cord.

Boges · February 3, 2014

I just looked up pricing for 3rd party bandwidth. The company TekSaavy is the one I keep hearing. They charge $100+ for 300 gb/month. That's more than enough space if you're trying to replace your TV viewing. But then you have the Netflix, Hulu, VPN costs.

And you still can't just channel surf which is something I do quite enjoy.

To get good quality Sports you'd have to pay extra for good quality streaming. (Most leagues blackout the local team though)

I keep my bill under $200 for internet, phone and cable. This doesn't seem like a huge savings to replace the convenience.

Edited February 3, 2014 by Boges

Mighty AC · February 3, 2014

In my region a 25mbps cable internet connection via TekSavvy is $42 for a 300 gig cap or $60 for an unlimited plan.

I was paying for internet access anyway and I pay almost nothing to use a VOIP phone system with my own equipment. The $75 or so per month I save on cable makes the $20 total I spend on Netflix, Hulu and a VPN service seem quite reasonable.

I used to think I enjoyed channel flipping, but now I find it much more convenient to watch whatever I want, when I want, without having to record it first. Plus browsing available content is still enjoyable and I'm not missing a show while I browse. I'm sure cutting the cord isn't for everyone as it took my wife and I a while to finally cancel.

cybercoma · February 3, 2014

XBMC is a free, open source media player that can be installed on many platforms. It allows you to organize and play movies, music, pics, etc. In my case I was testing a RaspberryPi as a media device, like an AppleTV. XBMC is just the app I chose to play my stored media content.

The RasPi is tiny and can be powered by the USB port on my TV and I control it with a mini wireless keyboard/trackball combo. I then use XBMC to play my network media content. I can also stream content like music or Netflix to the RasPi and play it through my receiver.

It was interested in the DIY aspect of the RasPi route, it works well but I wouldn't really recommend it until Netflix can used directly. Currently, I have to stream it from another device.

Thanks. I'm familiar with those things, but I'm wondering in more practical terms how XBMC works. Do you have to save your own movies and music onto the device running the software or can you stream with it? If it doesn't run Netflix does it run other services? If so, do you need to spoof an American IP?

cybercoma · February 3, 2014

Hulu is a US only service. To try it for free through a browser, just install the MediaHint extension.

https://mediahint.com/install_chrome.html

Just a heads up, MediaHint is an absolute nightmare to uninstall from a Mac. Oh sure, the instructions seem easy on the site, but it doesn't actually install the way they say it does. Edited February 3, 2014 by cybercoma

bleeding heart · February 3, 2014

Mighty AC, I'm not big on channel flipping either (unlike my wife, who can do it all the day long). But the "subscription" option in my cable package allows me to watch what I want, when I want; and while the content is considerably less than Netflix, it's nonetheless in the several hundreds, if not thousands...and there are better movies and tv programs available, as well as newer ones.

Mighty AC · February 3, 2014

Thanks. I'm familiar with those things, but I'm wondering in more practical terms how XBMC works. Do you have to save your own movies and music onto the device running the software or can you stream with it? If it doesn't run Netflix does it run other services? If so, do you need to spoof an American IP?

XBMC is a full media pc controller. Along with playing/organizing stored content, playing physical discs and acting as a DVR for live tv it will also stream internet content like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, etc. However, Netflix will only work directly when XBMC is installed on Windows or OSX, not on my Linux based Raspberry Pi. I believe the problem is the Silverlight requirement.

Just a heads up, MediaHint is an absolute nightmare to uninstall from a Mac. Oh sure, the instructions seem easy on the site, but it doesn't actually install the way they say it does.

Thanks for the heads up, I've never used it on a Mac.

Mighty AC · February 3, 2014

Mighty AC, I'm not big on channel flipping either (unlike my wife, who can do it all the day long). But the "subscription" option in my cable package allows me to watch what I want, when I want; and while the content is considerably less than Netflix, it's nonetheless in the several hundreds, if not thousands...and there are better movies and tv programs available, as well as newer ones.

I had "On Demand" service via my cable package as well. Unfortunately, the selection was extremely weak and it was very slow to navigate. A service like Hulu will allow me to watch brand new TV episodes one or two after release, as well as watch every previous episode from every previous season. My cable On Demand service typically only made a handful of TV episodes available. In addition, the on demand movie content was all pay based so I would have to shell out $6 for each viewing. Thus it would cost more to watch 3 movies per month than to subscribe to both Netflix and Hulu+.

bleeding heart · February 3, 2014

Ah, I see. That's not my situation. I have the pay based on demand feature (which I never use), but the free on-demand content is actually much larger, and better. It's no slower than Netflix (actually, it's far quicker and easier to navigate)...and the selection is, in my opinion, far stronger than that of Netflix.

Netflix has price going for it, to be sure. Aside form that, I find it inferior in literally every single way.

Mighty AC · February 3, 2014

Wow, nice. My cable provider was Rogers in Ontario, sounds like yours offers a superior service.

bleeding heart · February 3, 2014

Yes, I switched from Rogers to Bell Aliant.

I should add that I'm not disparaging the non-cable methods. I mentioned Netflix, which I'm not crazy about, but as you point out, there are others...and in conjunction, I see that the service can be really good.

I like my cable, but I'm not married to it. If other options seem better, I'll go in that direction.

Mighty AC · February 4, 2014

Smart or dumb, HDTVs can now use HDMI streaming dongles:

I really like the concept. In theory, it let's you stream content from laptops, phones and tabs to your TV via a $35 dongle . This would be great because so many shows are available, for free, from the television network websites. However, current reviews aren't very good, especially when attempting to view US content in Canada. Apparently, it could use a firmware update to rectify some latency issues and it needs more apps.

Fortunately, Google has released the Chromecast SDK so developers can easily port existing apps over to the streaming device. Considering the low price I will likely pick one up in the near future. In the US, where users have access to Google Play content this device would be an amazing value. I know Canadian users can get Netflix, YouTube and Hulu+ working; which, is worth $35 in my opinion, and I'm interested to see what else I can get to play.

Boges · February 4, 2014

The Chromecast is just a poor man's media extender. Apparently you get what you pay for. Media Extenders are available for little over $100. But I guess if people are serious about saving money, this would be an option.

Edited February 4, 2014 by Boges

bush_cheney2004 · February 4, 2014

The Chromecast is just a poor man's media extender.

Not just for a "poor man"....as I've got plenty of media players for multiple displays. Just messing around with the Chromecast reveals it to be quite adequate for my purposes, and means less screwing around with HDMI cables/switches. I did have to use a wifi range extender to get whole house and garage coverage. Anything that makes getting network content on any display is a welcomed option.

gunrutz · February 5, 2014

Which service do you use? I use voip.ms though not free, it is ridiculously cheap and the quality is great. I picked up an ATA device for $65 and use my existing jacks and phones for almost nothing. The only downside of the voip route versus a traditional milivolt phone line is it requires power. Just like those who get phone service from Rogers or another cable co, I use a UPC battery backup. That still only gives me power for a few hours though.

That is what i use as well.

August1991 · February 6, 2014

Cutting the cord?

Bump.

Edited February 6, 2014 by August1991

Mighty AC · February 6, 2014

I use TekSavvy in Ontario. They offer both DSL and Cable options and their prices are great. As mentioned above every cable plan has a 300gb or unlimited option and most DSL plans offer 75/300/unlimited options. My area only offered basic DSL service so I went with a 25gbps plan with a 300gb cap for $42. I haven't cracked the cap yet, but if we end up surpassing that regularly as my kids get older I can make the same plan unlimited for $60.

Funny that despite having to pay Rogers a fee to use the cable infrastructure TekSavvy can offer better prices. In my area Rogers charges $55 for a 25gbps plan with just an 80gig cap.

Mighty AC · February 6, 2014

I am a recent cord cutter and am loving it so far. Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Ted, NHL Game Center, network websites, etc. are not just a replacement for my old cable package, they surpass it in both content, price and convenience. The downside is now that viewing is more civilized, I have started to spend more time watching TV.