Cutting the cord - some things I've learned

[medion]

A few months ago, I began the process of "cutting the cord." The idea of paying $120/mo+ for a few select channels on two TVs was getting ludicrous. However, in making the mistakes that I've made, I have spent more on cutting the cord (short term) than if I had just kept DirectTV. In the long run, it will even out before going in favor of my current setup. So, here's some lessons learned in case you want to give it a shot.

What you'll need:
-Antenna for local stations
-Some form of internet-connected device for each TV for streaming
-a router, either wired or solid wireless-N

What you'll want:
-A large external HDD
-DVD Fab HD Decrypter (free)
-Handbrake (free)
-Apache (Free)
-ThumbGen (free)

Antenna:

This is simple, do NOT make the mistake that I did. Indoor antennas, as nice and simple as they are, flat out SUCK for consistent reception, plus you miss out on channels. Spending $80-$100 on a good outdoor antenna will net you twice as many channels (many in HD), as well as consistent reception. Also, little known fact, but due to compression, OTA (antenna) > Satellite > Cable for image quality. Needless to say, today's football games looked a heck of a lot nicer on my setup than on my mother-in-laws "HD" cable setup (Time Warner) last weekend.

IPTV:

I have a Roku hooked up to each TB. This gives me access to Netflix, Hulu Plus, and many other "channels." We use Kidlet, Crackle, Roksbox (not to be confused with our own RoxBox), and a few others. WD TV is nice as well, but some of the best options if all you care about is DLNA, Netflix, and Hulu would be the cheap connected Blu-Ray players. Amazon has a Vizio that fits the bill for under $100. However, if you already have a Blu-Ray player, the Roku may be superior. While not supporting DLNA, Roksbox is only $15, and it is FAR superior to DLNA, although harder to configure. For example, DLNA looks like folders when browsing through your ripped collection. Roksbox allows you to setup movie sheets and use cover art, so you're sorting through your DVD/Blu-Ray covers instead of folders. So, go with the Vizio for a basic setup, Roku for more powerful/advanced configuration.

Router:

These internet streaming devices hooked up to your TV will require some sort of connection. Wired is typically preferred, but I've found -n on my Linksys E4200 to be just as good (minus the wires). I did try it on a -g router for awhile, and HD simply wouldn't work consistently. While Hulu and Netflix will simply drop in quality when your -g connection slows down, anything that you've ripped yourself will either die or pause/rebuffer. So, go wired or -n.

Netflix vs. Hulu:
At $8/mo each, I use both. Each has its own purpose and exclusive content, but there is a lot that is available on both. Here's something I've learned the hard way, and definitely pay attention if you have internet data caps. Hulu encoding is generally higher quality than Netflix in terms of HD (haven't compared much at SD). However, Hulu uses up to 2.5mb/s, while Netflix is in excess of 5.1mb/s! So, if you have data caps, and your favorite show is availabe on both, Hulu is worth the occasional commercial!

Tivo/DVR:

If you find yourself watching a lot of OTA material and still want a TIVO-like experience, you have some options, but none are cheap. For the technically inclined, you could build an HTPC (thus negating a lot of the above equipment). For those who want a Tivo experience, it's only $100 for the player + $20/mo, or $300 for the player + $350 for a "lifetime" subscription. Lastly, you can just order a channel master from Amazon for about $300, which is just a HDD w/DVR software, and thus, no subscription fees. Not as pretty as TIVO though. I don't watch enough OTA to care.

External HDD plus ripping your own sh*t:

Small/moderate collections will want a 1TB external, mediums will want a 2TB, and larger collections will want 3-4TB. I went with 3TB and it will be awhile before I use it. Only cost $130.

I use DVD Fab's free HD Decrypter to rip an exact copy of the movie/show to my HDD. I then use Handbrake to convert it. I use Apache to serve it via HTTP (because DLNA is overrated), and Roksbox on both Rokus to grab it. Lastly, I use Thumbgen to make moviesheets. If anyone is interested in this, I can go into more detail later. But, this is for serving your own content.

You might be thinking, "why go to the trouble?" Simple, I have a lazy wife who would rather load up Hulu/Netflix than put the DVD in, thus consuming more bandwidth than is needed. By doing this, I get higher quality rips (Blu-Ray is still preferred), but can watch it using an app right next to Netflix, minus all of the bandwidth.

[CrowdAds]

[eboyer93]

I don't have any problems playing HD Netflix on my Xbox with Wirless-G. I have an Actiontec Verizon FiOS Router. I only ever have one streaming device being used at a time though.

[medion]

Originally Posted by eboyer93

I don't have any problems playing HD Netflix on my Xbox with Wirless-G. I have an Actiontec Verizon FiOS Router. I only ever have one streaming device being used at a time though.

We have two TVs streaming at the same time. Using the PS3 (b/g only) and our old Linksys b/g router, we'd occasionally have streaming degrade. No such issues since switching to the Roku (b/g/n) and the Linksys E4200 (dualband a/b/g/n). We can stream HD over both TVs simultaneously.

[Satellite_6]

Interesting.

By the time I get my own place broadcast TV might be obsolete. ATM I'm quite happy with just Netflix tho (at college). With the internet and my music library, I can be entertained indefinitely.

EDIT: At my home we have like everything tho: DVD/blu-ray, netflix, broadcast TV. Too much really. Must cost a lot, but I'm not paying.

[medion]

Originally Posted by Satellite_6

Interesting.

By the time I get my own place broadcast TV might be obsolete. ATM I'm quite happy with just Netflix tho (at college). With the internet and my music library, I can be entertained indefinitely.

EDIT: At my home we have like everything tho: DVD/blu-ray, netflix, broadcast TV. Too much really. Must cost a lot, but I'm not paying.

There's a channel on Roku of questionable legality (Roku banned it once, it's gone underground) that allows you to watch broadcast TV via an internet stream. The quality varies per channel, IE the Nick channels suck while USA and TNT are outstanding. The UI also sucks (changing channels takes like 5 minutes). Anyway, Google is your friend.

I'm not certain the channel is illegal as it doesn't get you access to paywalled content for free (it only aggregates alot of the online offerings), but I'm not certain it's totally legal either, which is why I'll leave it to readers to find it on their own.

MOD NOTE: Post it here and it will be deleted, and you'll get a warning/infraction/ban depending on how many times I have to say it.

[Confispect]

A way thru, around, down, in, out of the system? Confi's on it.

[steinburger1109]

Lol Confi, medion made it sound like it's pretty easy to find... Your skills are probably overkill in this situation.

Anyway, I'm cutting my cable soon, I think. With hulu on my PC and Netflix and ESPN on my XBox, I just don't really use it much anymore.

BTW, I find wired to be way better than any wireless I've tried. More reliable, easier to set up, and faster, to boot. Only downside: an 80 ft. ethernet cable running from my XBox upstairs to the modem in the basement...

[medion]

Originally Posted by steinburger1109

BTW, I find wired to be way better than any wireless I've tried. More reliable, easier to set up, and faster, to boot. Only downside: an 80 ft. ethernet cable running from my XBox upstairs to the modem in the basement...

There's no doubt about it, if you can deal with the wiring, it will always be at least as good as wireless, if not superior. I just ran into my first wireless N issue. I ripped White Collar Season 1, which is one of the higher quality Blu-Ray discs out there today (it's a shame that they stopped BR support after season 1). It's 3.5/mbs with Handbrake. Streamed that to my bedroom (other side of house) while my wife was watching Hulu at HD settings. Hulu temporarily dropped to 480p and WC has to rebuffer for a full 2 minutes. After that, Hulu went to 720p, and WC was fine.

That wouldn't have happened if it were wired.

[copeys]

We only have OTA transmissions for TV. Free to air and paid. No such things as cable around here, for which I am somewhat grateful.

Never had pay tv, never will. Can not imagine paying all that money for something that I get for free.

[yuki]

I have not had pay tv or even bothered with free ota tv since moving out on my own many years ago. I find more enjoyments out of a good book or video game than the shit tv networks and movie studios have to offer. The last tv series i watched was my little pony and that is available by the studio on line , the last anime i watched was the first haruhi season. My gaming pc is connected to my tv if i need to watch anything or have an urge for it...

[sideways]

Well said Yuki. Likewise I have not had a TV in the time I've lived on my own. Actually I've never owned a TV in my life and even when I lived with the folks I rarely turned on the idiotbox. Who really needs 120 channels of noise and subliminal messaging?

buy our shit
buy our shit
buy our shit

[Confispect]

@yuki,sideways, 1+

[McDougal]

Interesting setup medion. And I don't have cable either, only Netflix.

[Satellite_6]

No one reads books, TV is now for old people, and the internet is now.

lol.

YAY FOR THE INTERNETS!

[IDvsEGO]

I havent had subscription TV for a while now. at least 2 years. I use the xbox to stream hulu+, netflix, and lots of espn content. I have my gaming PC hooked to a tv in my bedroom. I plan on getting a WD live plus to put in the living room once my HTPC goes in the crapper...whenever that may happen. That way I can stream the TBs of ripped content I have on my server. I don't get to watch everything, but I have plenty especially when you combine the gaming options and reading options I have available, its more than enough. I did buy an indoor antenna for watching NFL and it does OK. unfortunately I rent so I can't do an outdoor antenna.

[McDougal]

I use an old-school Wii for Netflix. Works OK on my Samsung HDTV. But seeing that the Xbox is compatible w/Netflix and Hulu+, I may finally be able to get one. Don't do much gaming, but the Xbox is still very appealing now.....

[medion]

Originally Posted by McDougal

I use an old-school Wii for Netflix. Works OK on my Samsung HDTV. But seeing that the Xbox is compatible w/Netflix and Hulu+, I may finally be able to get one. Don't do much gaming, but the Xbox is still very appealing now.....

Keep in mind that Netflix streaming over Wii is limited to SD only, so in addition to Hulu+ on your 360, you'll also be getting HD streams.

[McDougal]

Originally Posted by medion

Keep in mind that Netflix streaming over Wii is limited to SD only, so in addition to Hulu+ on your 360, you'll also be getting HD streams.

Hmmm.....that's odd. Most things I watch on Netflix thru Wii are full-screen HQ (newer shows). However, some are not full-screen (ex. older shows). Wouldn't they all not be full-screen if it was only SD?

[steinburger1109]

Originally Posted by McDougal

Hmmm.....that's odd. Most things I watch on Netflix thru Wii are full-screen HQ (newer shows). However, some are not full-screen (ex. older shows). Wouldn't they all not be full-screen if it was only SD?

My cable gets some 480p channels... G4 used to, I think, before my provider dropped them.

[medion]

Originally Posted by McDougal

Hmmm.....that's odd. Most things I watch on Netflix thru Wii are full-screen HQ (newer shows). However, some are not full-screen (ex. older shows). Wouldn't they all not be full-screen if it was only SD?

Full-screen doesn't necessarily mean HD. Here's a quick primer on television resolutions;

480i - 640x480 interlaced (this is SD, or standard definition)
480p - 640x480 (4:3) or 720x480 (widescreen) progressive, formerly known as ED (extended definition), but is now widely regarded as standard definition. This is what you get on DVD, and what you're getting on Netflix via the Wii.
720p - 1280x720, HD
1080p - 1920x1080, HD, "full HD," "True HD," etc.

Netflix on a Roku, 360, or PS3 will do all the way up to 1080p. Wii is limited to 480p, which as I said, can still be full (wide) screen.