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The cord is officially cut! No more cable TV!

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  • #16
    We have satellite (cable not available). I could certainly live without it, but my wife likes it, so guess we'll keep it a while.
    Heck, we get about 25 channels for free on the antenna, along with Netflix and Amazon TV, that leaves plenty of options.

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    • #17
      Originally posted by disneysteve View Post

      Yep. We had our own modem but stupidly when we upgraded a few years ago to the Triple Play, I took their modem and never replaced it. We've been paying $14/month for it. My own procrastination here which cost us way, way more than what buying our own would have cost.

      I should have the new one within the week and can return this one and get that off our bill.
      This is incorrect actually. it depends on the provider. NOT every provider will not charge you for using your own modem. Where we are frontier charged me $10/month for "cable box rental" even though I didn't have a box . This is because they said it's "insurance" in case they have to come out and fix anything. So it was basically a fee I HAD no choice but to pay just for having home internet. And I didn't have another provider. Still don't have another provider. Still don't have the modem (we have a triple modem system hardwired across our house) with 1 GB. We no longer have to pay since frontier got bought out the $10/month fee for the privilege of NOT using their modem!!!

      So they rip you off either which way. Right now I pay $60/month. And with our super heavy data usage never could go we go cell phone only. And whatever the cost we are going to pay it. I pay $60/month. I wonder how long until I just pay $150/month for internet? I bet that day is coming.
      LivingAlmostLarge Blog

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      • #18
        I cut the cord in 2012 with a Roku and in 2013 added a Kodi box and went cold turkey with no added services that cost recurring money and I can only get one channel consistently over the antenna PBS. There are a couple of free apps on Roku like Pluto TV Stirr and Xumo that do provide a cable tv format on rerun cable and over the air TV programs. Honestly, I don't really miss the circus anymore I would rather spend my time learning a new skill, very well informed when I purchase a product reading a book usually financially related or researching macroeconomics trends and/or companies for investment etc..

        Disneysteve when my DSL provider wanted to upgrade my modem one that I purchased and installed myself I told them it was only OK provided I would get no rental fee and they didn't ever charge me for it.

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        • #19
          In Los Angeles my antenna catches all the local channels but only CBS is consistent. NBC, ABC, FOX, CW are marginal at best. In all though I catch about 100 channels with about 20 Asians channels, 10 Latino channels, but does me no good not understanding the languages.

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          • #20
            Originally posted by QuarterMillionMan View Post
            In Los Angeles my antenna catches all the local channels but only CBS is consistent. NBC, ABC, FOX, CW are marginal at best.
            Check out Locast or LocalBTV. Does the local channels but over the internet instead of broadcast signal.

            Locast charges $5/month to get it ad-free but at least for us that was well worth paying. I may end up reselling the antenna I bought but it was only $40 so not a huge deal either way.
            Steve

            * Despite the high cost of living, it remains very popular.
            * Why should I pay for my daughter's education when she already knows everything?
            * There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going.

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            • #21
              Originally posted by disneysteve View Post
              Check out Locast or LocalBTV. Does the local channels but over the internet instead of broadcast signal.

              Locast charges $5/month to get it ad-free but at least for us that was well worth paying. I may end up reselling the antenna I bought but it was only $40 so not a huge deal either way.
              Thanks for the recommendation I'll check it out.

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              • #22
                Click image for larger version

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ID:	717614 1G.png When buying a modem/router be sure to get the highest internet speed applicable (ie, 1G, 400 Mbps, 300 Mbps, etc) Click image for larger version  Name:	IMG_2906.jpg Views:	0 Size:	96.8 KB ID:	717611

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                • #23
                  I took care of the final step today. I had ordered a modem which got delivered a couple of days ago. I set it up and activated it today, then took the old one over to UPS to return to Comcast. So we're now officially done. Our bill drops from $236.40 to $92.95. Add in $30 for Sling and $5 for Locast and we're at $127.95, a savings of $108.45/month from now on.

                  ETA: That number might not include tax. The figure in my OP might be the correct one.
                  Last edited by disneysteve; 12-10-2020, 11:16 AM.
                  Steve

                  * Despite the high cost of living, it remains very popular.
                  * Why should I pay for my daughter's education when she already knows everything?
                  * There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going.

                  Comment


                  • #24
                    Originally posted by disneysteve View Post
                    I took care of the final step today. I had ordered a modem which got delivered a couple of days ago. I set it up and activated it today, then took the old one over to UPS to return to Comcast. So we're now officially done. Our bill drops from $236.40 to $92.95. Add in $30 for Sling and $5 for Locast and we're at $127.95, a savings of $108.45/month from now on.

                    ETA: That number might not include tax. The figure in my OP might be the correct one.
                    Nice Disneysteve, way to shave off $1,200 expenses per year.
                    james.c.hendrickson@gmail.com
                    202.468.6043

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                    • #25
                      When you get your new bill compare it to the old bill and it'll be gratifying even more, especially take note of the savings from the added fees, taxes, rental fee, etc. To me it felt like removing a ball and chain locked to my leg.

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                      • #26
                        An intangible perk not often talked about is the ease to which one can cancel a streaming service and/or sign up for another. With the cable TV box, you have to disconnect the box and return it to your service provider. That hassle alone discourages many to cut the cable TV box and the fear factor of the unknown of streaming services which may or may not meet their expectations. Once you can overcome these obstacles streaming is liberating.
                        Last edited by QuarterMillionMan; 12-11-2020, 01:14 PM.

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                        • #27
                          Originally posted by disneysteve View Post
                          The deed is done. I cancelled our Comcast cable service today. I just kept internet.

                          Old bill: $236.40
                          New bill: $96.79
                          Savings: $139.61 per month

                          SlingTV: $30.00
                          Locast: $5.00

                          Net savings: $104.61/month or $1,255.32/year

                          I do need to buy a new cable modem. We used to own ours. Then when we upgraded to the triple play with phone, I sold ours and have been renting one. Now we can go back to a basic one. I should be able to find one for under $50.
                          Disneysteve do you still have Sling TV? I'll be signing up next month and I was wondering if could send me your friend referral code? If you no longer have Sling TV could I ask if anyone else has a friend referral code (but I'll give disneysteve first dibs). We both would get $20 credit (see below).

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                          • #28
                            Originally posted by QuarterMillionMan View Post

                            Disneysteve do you still have Sling TV? I'll be signing up next month and I was wondering if could send me your friend referral code? If you no longer have Sling TV could I ask if anyone else has a friend referral code (but I'll give disneysteve first dibs). We both would get $20 credit (see below).

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                            We do still have Sling (which is $35 now, not $30 - still a bargain). I'll check on the referral code. Not sure how I do that. Thanks.
                            Steve

                            * Despite the high cost of living, it remains very popular.
                            * Why should I pay for my daughter's education when she already knows everything?
                            * There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going.

                            Comment


                            • #29
                              QuarterMillionMan Here you go. Use this link. https://refer.sling.com/steveng-1405
                              Steve

                              * Despite the high cost of living, it remains very popular.
                              * Why should I pay for my daughter's education when she already knows everything?
                              * There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going.

                              Comment


                              • #30
                                QMM How are you going to watch sports? Disneyplus for ESPN? Or buying the packages?
                                LivingAlmostLarge Blog

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