[truedrewdawg87]

Money is tight in our house right now and my wife has asked me to consider getting rid of our Dish Network subscription since we've reach the point in our contract where there would not be a cancellation fee. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with Roku, Boxee, AppleTV or any other streaming tv boxes or alternatives to satellite or cable? I'm a huge sports fan and I'm incredibly hesitant to get rid of Dish Network. My wife is good about watching sports with me and the idea of having to hook my laptop to my flat screen all the time to stream sports or other tv shows is not something I'm thrilled about. I am quite familiar with several sites where sports are streamed for free, but the idea of having to use those to watch sports all the time instead of just as an alternative scares me quite a bit. I realize we could really use the money we would save but getting rid of Dish Network even though our bill is only about $60 a month. I was hoping someone could give me some advice on my best options, particularly for watching sports, and if this is something even worth considering. Thanks for your help.

[Purple Haize]

I have AppleTV and it's ok
My suggestion is switch Satellite providers. That gives you a year at an insanely cheap rate. I started switching every 2 years. That way I avoid cancellation fees and am eligible for the promotional rate. Although I'm not sure I wanna give up the Whole Home DVR feature of DirecTV!

[Sly Fox]

I use an old desktop to stream TV but there are a slew of new set-top boxes coming out. That was the buzz of CES recently.

I'm not a fan of AppleTV because like everything else they produce, it is just an invitation to squeeze more money out of your pocket.

ROKU works well and they supposedly have a new box coming out that makes ease of use considerably less of an issue.

If you are talking sports, this will be your new best friend ...

www.firstrowsports.tv

[RubberMallet]

we are thinking about it.

i'm probably at the point where i'm willing to give

espn3
hulu+
netflix

a year to see if i like that over dish.

[Sly Fox]

We have the Netflix streaming service and I'm having a tough time justifying the $8/month. It is great for old TV shows & documentaries but not much else.

And for the record, Netflix streams much better through a game console than through a browser on a computer.

[RubberMallet]

we have netflix streaming and the kids watch it all the time so we are good there.

[Sly Fox]

Have they discovered Liberty's Kids yet? My kids have watched every episode several times.

[Purple Haize]

We have the Netflix streaming service and I'm having a tough time justifying the $8/month. It is great for old TV shows & documentaries but not much else.

And for the record, Netflix streams much better through a game console than through a browser on a computer.

+1
I'm glad someone else feels this way. I would pay a little more if their streaming content was up to date.

[jcmanson]

We just recently went through this conversion since Christmas. It took about a month to get everything set up and we’re saving about $55/month. I was on Verizon FiOS for TV, but dropped it. My set-up is as follows:

Living Room – Built in Wi-fi Blu Ray Player which streams Netflix and Vudu, local channels through an antenna. This is used for kid’s watching all the cartoons their heart could desire on Netflix, and my wife and I watching Vudu movies if there’s something we want (rarely). Then whatever is on the local channels we want to watch (news, sports, etc.).

Bedroom – Xbox 360/w Xbox Gold. This gives me access to Netflix, Hulu plus, Vudu, ESPN3, etc.

My set-up costs: $70 for blu ray player after thanksgiving, $30 for Xbox live gold subscription, $7 for tv antenna, $38 wireless adapter for Xbox to connect to my home network

All of that and I save about $55/month. The only thing I miss so far is watching Sportscenter every morning, but I’m good. Just check ESPN.com every morning. It’s definitely worth the cost savings. I’ve already forgotten what life was like prior.

I’m looking now for a DVR w/ no monthly fee that could record shows on local channels. This market is nearly nonexistent. I think the best I can do is about $300 for a Tivo w/ lifetime paid subscription off Ebay. Not sure if I'm willing to drop that much on one though.

[ALUmnus]

I'm looking to do something similar. First, I need to convince Verizon to hook my street up with some DSL, so I can ditch Shentel altogether. Then, I'll get the HD antenna for the local stuff, and supplement everything else with Netflix, maybe Amazon Prime, and whatever else I can get online. I gotta figure out how to get espn3 on my TV without having to buy more equipment. I really won't be saving a ton, but it will be so nice to get rid of Shentel.

I tried out Amazon Prime for a month and now I'm trying out Netflix. The two almost mirror each other, so it might be a waste to get both, although Amazon Prime has way more benefits and they seem to be making better studio deals than Netflix.

[thepostman]

We just recently went through this conversion since Christmas. It took about a month to get everything set up and we’re saving about $55/month. I was on Verizon FiOS for TV, but dropped it. My set-up is as follows:

Living Room – Built in Wi-fi Blu Ray Player which streams Netflix and Vudu, local channels through an antenna. This is used for kid’s watching all the cartoons their heart could desire on Netflix, and my wife and I watching Vudu movies if there’s something we want (rarely). Then whatever is on the local channels we want to watch (news, sports, etc.).

Bedroom – Xbox 360/w Xbox Gold. This gives me access to Netflix, Hulu plus, Vudu, ESPN3, etc.

My set-up costs: $70 for blu ray player after thanksgiving, $30 for Xbox live gold subscription, $7 for tv antenna, $38 wireless adapter for Xbox to connect to my home network

All of that and I save about $55/month. The only thing I miss so far is watching Sportscenter every morning, but I’m good. Just check ESPN.com every morning. It’s definitely worth the cost savings. I’ve already forgotten what life was like prior.

I’m looking now for a DVR w/ no monthly fee that could record shows on local channels. This market is nearly nonexistent. I think the best I can do is about $300 for a Tivo w/ lifetime paid subscription off Ebay. Not sure if I'm willing to drop that much on one though.

where did you get the wireless adapter for 38 bucks? Everything I see is 60. I have been wanting to get a wireless adapter for my xbox for a while to take advantage of xbox gold for espn3 since I can't get it since current isp doesn't offer it with just internet, I would have to have cable as well.

[jcmanson]

I think it was on newegg. Either there or ebay. Target & WalMart wanted $69 for it. ha. Here's one - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wifi-Wireless-N ... 3370f59e69 - that ends in less than 2 hours going for $33.

I also got the DVD remote control for the XBox for $1 on ebay. Target can keep their $20.

[LUminary]

Here is what I did about a year ago, and I haven't missed Direct TV much since. Granted, I live in an area with a fair amount of signals accessible, but I get along great with just a Terk amplified indoor antenna. Digital TV has really re-opened the door for considering an antenna and the cost is zero. It's hard to beat free. I get about 24 channels. My son lives 40 minutes from me and tops that with about 30. That includes all the "dot" channels. For instance, you no longer get just channel 12 but 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, etc. We get a movie channel, and a couple of retro networks in addition to the networks. And most of what we get is HD.

I supplement this with Hulu (free), ESPN3 (free) and other internet sites. I do miss some sporting events, but I like saving money better. Of course, if you live in an area where you can't pick up many stations with an antenna it might not be worth it.

If you want to spend a few bucks, another option might by SkyAngel. They have an offering of standard cable-type channels such as Fox News, Hallmark, NFL Network, etc. in addition to religious broadcasting. It's offered online, or internet protocol with a set-top box. Not in high def yet but I think they're working on it and it's not too pricey.

[jbock13]

I have DirecTV with pretty much just the minimum. I have MLB Extra Innings to get me through the summers when I'm not packed with schoolwork, plus I have the Sports Pack so I can watch WVU games.

[JDUB]

I use ESPN3, stream Netflix, and just go to friends or parents houses when I want to watch something. I rarely watch anything besides away Duke games, so it's not worth the money.

I also have Amazon Prime, but haven't got a way to stream it to the TV yet. I'll probably register for a blueray player that is Amazon compatible and then ditch netflix.

[Humble_Opinion]

We have Comcast and are about to get rid of it. I'll keep our internet though and just use the Xbox apps (Netflix, Hulu, etc.). Xbox is also developing an xfinity app, which plays on demand stuff. They also have already released Verizon FiOS app too. I haven't had the chance to check this one out but apparently it plays some sort of television shows.

[bradyfan]

We had DirecTV for the longest time but recently my family switched to Shentel. You can get internet, a phone line and tv for 100 per month. The internet is really fast too, it also has ESPN3, so you'd get a ton of sports programs.

[Hold My Own]

XBMC has the potential to solve every issue you have and blow every User Interface you've ever seen out the water. If you give any geek $50 they'll get you up and running off an old PC and you'll get pretty much anything you could ever want.


Boxee is good...problem is the picture quality. Apple TV and XBMC blow it out the water...but if thats not a huge issue I'd def do Boxee & PlayON which gives you about 200 channels including channels you wouldnt think of like TBS and others.


You guys are right about Netflix...I'm about to dump my mom's that I just set up for her on my old Apple TV. Worthless, they have nothing relatively new.

[Hold My Own]

XBMC has the potential to solve every issue you have and blow every User Interface you've ever seen out the water. If you give any geek $50 they'll get you up and running off an old PC and you'll get pretty much anything you could ever want.


Boxee is good...problem is the picture quality. Apple TV and XBMC blow it out the water...but if thats not a huge issue I'd def do EDIT: Roku & PlayON which gives you about 200 channels including channels you wouldnt think of like TBS and others.


You guys are right about Netflix...I'm about to dump my mom's that I just set up for her on my old Apple TV. Worthless, they have nothing relatively new.

[JDUB]

Has anyone tried Roku? I'm not very familiar with it, but it seems to be a device that streams all of the online subscription services to your tv. Any reviews or comments on that?

[Hold My Own]

Sorry I meant Roku in my last post....I just used their 2 latest models...walked away like "ehhhhh"


I'm just to used to 1080p to go to anything less than 420

[ALUmnus]

Has anyone tried Roku? I'm not very familiar with it, but it seems to be a device that streams all of the online subscription services to your tv. Any reviews or comments on that?

The problem I have with Roku is, sure you can get online content, but most of the free stuff is crap, and everything else you still have to pay subscription fees for. But, on the other hand, you do only pay for the channels you watch, so that's a plus.

This is just from the little I've read about it, I've never actually used it.

[RubberMallet]

my dad uses it. i programed the remote into his universal. its ok. kind of slow. but it does what he needs.

[prototype]

a book

[Purple Haize]

a book

EBook? I prefer Nook, but also have a Kindle app. Lol