cable cutters - do you have a DVR?

[pamela]

There are about 3-4 shows that we watch and can get over the air. Problem is, we aren't typically able to watch them when they air. Anyone have a subscription free DVR that they like?

[steph196]

We have a TiVo box. It is about $8 a month.

[pamela]

Feb 17, 2014 22:55:04 GMT -5 steph196 said:

We have a TiVo box. It is about $8 a month.

But if you stop paying, you also lose what you have recorded on there? I didn't understand what I was paying for with tivo.

[steph196]

You pay for the box and subscription each month. We only pay $8 to be able to record our network shows. I'm guessing that we would lose everything if we ever decided to stop paying for the subscription, but I don't foresee that happening. We are able to access Netflix through the TiVo box also, so that's nice.

[aurora]

No, but neither of us has ever had cable so we never really missed it. Netflix and Hulu have dramatically increased our viewing options compared to broadcast antenna alone.

[MadamePresident]

I didn't know that was possible. What shows do you watch that aren't available online?

[pamela]

Big Bang theory is the one we can't find.

[dbsk8dance]

No. We have hulu plus for that.

[curbsideprophet]

Not sure what the current calculations are but you can pay a lifetime fee for TiVo. When I got my first one we only needed to use it for two years before the lifetime fee was cheaper than paying monthly. The lifetime fee is good as long as the box continues to work.

[holly116]

We have a computer hooked up to our tv just to record shows and have for years. We use Windows Media Player.

(But we still have cable! Damn mlb blackout policy! But we do save $8 a month not having a dvr lol.)

[lillioness]

For some reason CBS is a pain in the ass. We can watch Big Bang on CBS.com on the computer, but you can't get it on hulu. It's annoying to have to drag out the laptop, vs just watching it on tv, but it's the only way I've found to watch it.

[DefenseAgainstTheDarkArts22]

We have something that is hooked up to our antenna tuner that records live tv to our computer. Since the house is networked we can watch it on our tv off the main computer. If you are actually interested I can find out the name/link.

[nomad100]

Feb 18, 2014 7:30:00 GMT -5 lillioness said:

For some reason CBS is a pain in the ass. We can watch Big Bang on CBS.com on the computer, but you can't get it on hulu. It's annoying to have to drag out the laptop, vs just watching it on tv, but it's the only way I've found to watch it.

Get Chromecast!  If you can watch it online in the Chrome browser, you can "cast" it to your TV.  www.amazon.com/Google-Chromecast-Streaming-Media-Player/dp/B00DR0PDNE

This is how I watched Sherlock via the PBS website.

ETA:  We have never had a DVR so having cut cable, we didn't need to find any type of replacement.

[sixtwelve]

We have a Tivo. I think we pay about $130 a year for the service (which is about what we used to pay per month for cable.)

[Deleted]

Feb 18, 2014 10:41:01 GMT -5 nomad100 said:

Feb 18, 2014 7:30:00 GMT -5 lillioness said:

For some reason CBS is a pain in the ass. We can watch Big Bang on CBS.com on the computer, but you can't get it on hulu. It's annoying to have to drag out the laptop, vs just watching it on tv, but it's the only way I've found to watch it.

Get Chromecast!  If you can watch it online in the Chrome browser, you can "cast" it to your TV.  www.amazon.com/Google-Chromecast-Streaming-Media-Player/dp/B00DR0PDNE

This is how I watched Sherlock via the PBS website.

ETA:  We have never had a DVR so having cut cable, we didn't need to find any type of replacement.

Is there a difference between Chromecast and Apple TV (in terms of streaming from your computer or other device to your TV) or do they perform the same function?

[nomad100]

Feb 18, 2014 11:38:47 GMT -5 @carmensandiego said:

Feb 18, 2014 10:41:01 GMT -5 nomad100 said:

Get Chromecast!  If you can watch it online in the Chrome browser, you can "cast" it to your TV.  www.amazon.com/Google-Chromecast-Streaming-Media-Player/dp/B00DR0PDNE

This is how I watched Sherlock via the PBS website.

ETA:  We have never had a DVR so having cut cable, we didn't need to find any type of replacement.

Is there a difference between Chromecast and Apple TV (in terms of streaming from your computer or other device to your TV) or do they perform the same function?

TBH, I have no idea.  I am not an Apple person so we never even looked at Apple TV. (and at $30 for Chromecast on Amazon right now, the price can't be beat.)

[aspentosh]

Check out PlayOn. It's $50 or $60 for a lifetime subscription and it allows you to record things (after they've aired). We watched Big Bang that way (along with every other show we watch). It's just like a DVR but no monthly fee.

[Ashley&Scott]

Feb 17, 2014 23:57:16 GMT -5 pamela said:

Big Bang theory is the one we can't find.

That's available on CBS.com.

[turtlegirl]

We don't have DVR. We just catch-up on the few network shows we can't watch live online. We watch HIMYM on cbs.com and Parenthood on nbc.com.

DH's laptop can be hooked up to the TV so we view it that way.

[Deleted]

Feb 18, 2014 12:21:22 GMT -5 nomad100 said:

Feb 18, 2014 11:38:47 GMT -5 @carmensandiego said:

Is there a difference between Chromecast and Apple TV (in terms of streaming from your computer or other device to your TV) or do they perform the same function?

TBH, I have no idea.  I am not an Apple person so we never even looked at Apple TV. (and at $30 for Chromecast on Amazon right now, the price can't be beat.)

You're not wrong about the price! We are getting the Apple TV though because we already have a ton of media on iTunes so DD1 can watch on the iPad when we travel

[lishie]

We've looked into cutting several times, have you found it saved you a ton. When we looked at cutting cable because we're not watching it much, we didn't find that getting rid of the cable saved much money compared to the price of high speed internet alone. I think the bundle of phone, cable and internet was only $10 more per month than the internet alone.

We were able to switch companies and save $50 a month, so I'm happy with that alone for right now. Baby steps

We have a chromecast, a roku and an apple tv. I like each for different things. I think overall we've found the roku the most univerally useful, and it was the clear winner in playing things we've taped with play on.

[pamela]

Feb 18, 2014 12:39:33 GMT -5 Ashley&Scott said:

Feb 17, 2014 23:57:16 GMT -5 pamela said:

Big Bang theory is the one we can't find.

That's available on CBS.com.

So Chromecast then?

Still need something to be able to record for football games though. DH likes to rewatch the good ones, or if we're on the road and have to listen to the game, he'll come home and watch the video even though he knows the outcome.

[Deleted]

What's the difference between Chromecast and just plugging your laptop into the TV? Can you use your computer for other things while playing something on Chromecast?

I dislike having to plug my laptop into the TV all the time, but the inconvenience isn't worth $30 to me unless it does something my laptop alone doesn't do.

Sorry to post jack. I have no suggestion for the OP that hasn't already been mentioned. I don't have DVR anymore since I just have very basic cable, and I do miss it but not enough to justify the cost

[womet]

Feb 18, 2014 13:08:55 GMT -5 lishie said:

We've looked into cutting several times, have you found it saved you a ton. When we looked at cutting cable because we're not watching it much, we didn't find that getting rid of the cable saved much money compared to the price of high speed internet alone. I think the bundle of phone, cable and internet was only $10 more per month than the internet alone.

We were able to switch companies and save $50 a month, so I'm happy with that alone for right now. Baby steps

We have a chromecast, a roku and an apple tv. I like each for different things. I think overall we've found the roku the most univerally useful, and it was the clear winner in playing things we've taped with play on.

We cut cable last year and now just have internet and phone. And our bill is now $70 (incl. taxes) a month compared to $160 for the bundle of all 3.

[nomad100]

Feb 18, 2014 13:55:31 GMT -5 @buckybells said:

What's the difference between Chromecast and just plugging your laptop into the TV? Can you use your computer for other things while playing something on Chromecast?

Yes, I can use my computer for other things.  Usually what I do is open up Chrome and go to the website that has the streaming show I want to watch, start it up, cast it to the TV and then open Firefox and browse other stuff.

I will say that we have lots of wireless devices and sometimes if I have my phone, laptop, Kindle, the TV and my DH sits down with his phone all in the same room, there are some issues.  This is also partly because the family room gets the weakest signal from our router (so we are planning on hard-wiring some signal extenders in the next month or so to deal with this issue).

It is kind of cool to be able to watch something while cooking dinner and then once we sit down to eat in the family room, casting it to the TV. 

ETA: While you can move the Chromecast device from TV to TV, we just leave it plugged in.  We have one for each of our TVs.  It is great for watching stuff from YouTube on the TV (like workout videos, etc.)

[juliabug]

Feb 18, 2014 12:39:33 GMT -5 Ashley&Scott said:

Feb 17, 2014 23:57:16 GMT -5 pamela said:

Big Bang theory is the one we can't find.

That's available on CBS.com.

Also, if you have an iPad, CBS has an app where you can watch shows. That's how I watch Big Bang Theory and HIMYM.