Update on Cord Cutting (Cable TV) - 2021 version

[Midpack]

We’ve got Disney+ and ESPN+ with our Hulu+Live subscription starting yesterday, for an extra $5/month (forced). Luckily DW wanted Disney+ anyway and there’s some stuff on ESPN+ we’ll watch. I realize that’s just a lucky coincidence for us, and eventually something will probably come up that makes us want to reconsider and maybe switch. Happened when PSV pulled the plug, but change is fine. Whatever is the best value for each of us…and we have more options/competition now than we did when cable/satellite owned us all…

 

[RonBoyd]

Quick-Start & Step by Step Guides for Plex Media Server
https://support.plex.tv/articles/200264746-quick-start-step-by-step-guides/

Also of interest: https://www.plex.tv/blog/year-in-review/

FWIW: I have used PLEX since around 2009. The history of PLEX is quite interesting, actually. KODI was/is an App that is quite similar. The owners/developers disagreed philosophically of how to market the product. One group wanted to keep everything proprietary and not allow user manipulation. The other wanted to make it open-source. The result was a split with the open-source folks splitting off to form PLEX.

 

[jim584672]

Tablo introduced ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) Quad HDMI DVR. Unlike the HDHomerun - this connects directly to your TV set.

 

[YB88]

Tablo introduced ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) Quad HDMI DVR. Unlike the HDHomerun - this connects directly to your TV set.

Yes, I looked at that and then said "Oh, so close". For some reason they're only selling this as the model that connects directly to one TV only. I have two TV's and would rather use a single DVR to watch on both.


They sell both versions of their existing models, so maybe they'll later come out with what I want. And, bonus, maybe by then they'll have worked out most of the bugs in this new model!

 

[JoeWras]

Yes, I looked at that and then said "Oh, so close". For some reason they're only selling this as the model that connects directly to one TV only. I have two TV's and would rather use a single DVR to watch on both.

They sell both versions of their existing models, so maybe they'll later come out with what I want. And, bonus, maybe by then they'll have worked out most of the bugs in this new model!

Tablo said the current reason they can't distribute the stream on the new 3.0 box is due to availability of codecs on streaming devices. I.e., they don't support Dolby AC-4. I'm going to assume that means there is a legal intellectual property issue, for now, and until everyone pays Dolby, this is going to slow roll out.

I really like my Tablo. But my picture standards are low so I'm happy with 1.0. The company is very engaging with their customers and puts out a newsletter once per week that is a good read more for the general world of cord cutting, but also a little for their products. Here's what they say about the new box. (TL/DR: it is for early adopters only.)

From their newsletter:

We did indeed announce a brand new Tablo Over-the-Air DVR model this week capable of supporting the latest ATSC 3.0 (aka NextGen TV) broadcast standard.

However, this Tablo is aimed specifically at early adopter consumers in areas where ATSC 3.0 test broadcasts are available. Even if you live in a place where NextGen TV signals are live, folks like Samir who are happy with their current Over-the-Air TV setup and don't feel the need to play with bleeding-edge technology don't need to worry.

Why? Current Over-the-Air programming broadcast in ATSC 1.0 will continue for many years and the flashy features NextGen TV promises — like 4K video — aren't even being used by broadcasters yet.

 

[YB88]

Interesting point about Dolby codecs --- I had not seen that.



Just to be really clear, if I already had a Tablo I expect I would be happy and pay no attention to this stuff until sometime down the road ATSC 1.0 started to be turned off by local broadcasters. But as I'm not happy with my current setup, I'm paying a bit more attention --- this announcement is so close to what I was looking for, but I'm just not keen on buying two of them, one per TV, and managing two different DVRs. And neither am I happy buying a DVR that relies on ATSC 1.0 when the anticipated time that ATSC 1.0 goes away in my area is --- just completely unpredictable.

 

[JoeWras]

Interesting point about Dolby codecs --- I had not seen that.

Just to be really clear, if I already had a Tablo I expect I would be happy and pay no attention to this stuff until sometime down the road ATSC 1.0 started to be turned off by local broadcasters. But as I'm not happy with my current setup, I'm paying a bit more attention --- this announcement is so close to what I was looking for, but I'm just not keen on buying two of them, one per TV, and managing two different DVRs. And neither am I happy buying a DVR that relies on ATSC 1.0 when the anticipated time that ATSC 1.0 goes away in my area is --- just completely unpredictable.

Yes, you are in the typical upgrade squeeze. Many of us have gone through this already with analog TV to digital, or LPs to CDs, and so on.

I expect this conundrum will be very serious about 10 years from now when buying a car (gasoline or EV?)

ATSC 1.0 still has a lot of runway. There are hundreds of millions of devices out there with only 1.0 support. The FCC says there is support at least until Feb 2023. OK, well, I'm pretty sure it is going to be quite a few years after that. But there will be a day where it will be an update crisis. My guess? About 5 years.

Let's say my guess of 5 years is correct. It still gives you thought about buying today! Heck, I have some 20 year old A/V equipment that serves me just fine because it isn't dependent on the FCC killing it. But here we have devices that can go obsolete by government decree.

 

[YB88]

Yes, you are in the typical upgrade squeeze. Many of us have gone through this already with analog TV to digital, or LPs to CDs, and so on.

I expect this conundrum will be very serious about 10 years from now when buying a car (gasoline or EV?)

ATSC 1.0 still has a lot of runway. There are hundreds of millions of devices out there with only 1.0 support. The FCC says there is support at least until Feb 2023. OK, well, I'm pretty sure it is going to be quite a few years after that. But there will be a day where it will be an update crisis. My guess? About 5 years.

Let's say my guess of 5 years is correct. It still gives you thought about buying today! Heck, I have some 20 year old A/V equipment that serves me just fine because it isn't dependent on the FCC killing it. But here we have devices that can go obsolete by government decree.

Your logic is clear and well thought out, with a caveat: the profit motive to eliminate ATSC 1.0 sooner. In two ways.

First, bandwidth is really valuable, based on the various auctions that we've seen, and my uneducated assumption is they'll free up some when ATSC 1.0 goes away (true? maybe someone with more technical chops in this arena knows and can educate the rest of us).

Second, ATSC 3.0 allows for targeted advertising, which suggests to me that there could be some pressure from advertisers to move everyone to the 3.0 standard.

I'm sure that you're right that it won't happen really soon, but another factor here is that a lot of folks seem to assume that streaming is the new norm, so perhaps they'll be seeing DVRs and broadcast TV as more a niche thing --- such that they can act with a bit more impunity.

I'm not certain of any of this, but it just makes me less inclined to buy hardware today that relies on ATSC 1.0. I fortunately never owned an 8-track tape player nor a betamax, but I've nevertheless collected my share of failed or outdated technology standards!

 

[JoeWras]

Your logic is clear and well thought out, with a caveat: the profit motive to eliminate ATSC 1.0 sooner. In two ways.

First, bandwidth is really valuable, based on the various auctions that we've seen, and my uneducated assumption is they'll free up some when ATSC 1.0 goes away (true? maybe someone with more technical chops in this arena knows and can educate the rest of us).

Second, ATSC 3.0 allows for targeted advertising, which suggests to me that there could be some pressure from advertisers to move everyone to the 3.0 standard.

I'm sure that you're right that it won't happen really soon, but another factor here is that a lot of folks seem to assume that streaming is the new norm, so perhaps they'll be seeing DVRs and broadcast TV as more a niche thing --- such that they can act with a bit more impunity.

I'm not certain of any of this, but it just makes me less inclined to buy hardware today that relies on ATSC 1.0. I fortunately never owned an 8-track tape player nor a betamax, but I've nevertheless collected my share of failed or outdated technology standards!

All good points. I surely do not blame you for hesitating about buying 1.0 equipment.

The shared bandwidth thing is different this time. They are actually eating into existing 1.0 bandwidth to pump 3.0. I'm sure stations don't want to do that forever. And yeah, the targeted ad thing can be a huge benefit for them, not us (more drug commercials based on my age? No thanks).

My market already has a lot of 3.0 broadcasting. This means the 5 year clock has started. Whether they pull the plug or not is unknown. I suspect Congress may have to intervene.

Here's a pretty good article that discusses some of the issues such as shared bandwidth and the 5 year clock.

https://www.cnet.com/tech/home-ente...e-4k-tv-with-an-antenna-and-its-already-here/

 

[Dog Lover]

Finally Made The Move Away From DirecTV

Finally came to the end of my 2 year triple play DirecTV contract with AT&T. I won't go into the litany of issues I've had with the TV portion of our contract. I opted to drop only the DirecTV portion wich was costing $160/month. I signed up with YouTubeTV during their cut the cord promotion(2 week free trial and $10.00 off for three months). My savings just making this switch will approximately equal $1000/year @current rates. This will nearly cover the $105/month I'll be paying AT&T for gig speed internet and our landline.
I could save money on our landline by going to a residential VOIP service; but I'm leary of going that direction because:
1. Companies not totally transparent about hidden cost, and
2. Uses internet service possibly raise my internet bill.

 

[Davidhelp]

I saw a neighbor who has rabbit ears for his antenna.
Rabbit ears tv antenna - Walmart
https://tinyurl.com/2p83nne4

I have a MOHU tv antenna.

MOHU 30 mile
https://tinyurl.com/3ubkmhxt

Mohu antennas + others:
https://www.amazon.com/Mohu-Leaf-Antenna/s?k=Mohu+Leaf+Antenna

 

[Davidhelp]

#735 Get the FREE Pluto tv app for your smart device like the Roku 4 box.
You can also get the Youtube app. Go to the ROKU settings and System and do an update.
You will now see your new app.
On your pc go to Youtube and Subscribe to channels you like. On the ROKU you select Youtube and you will see the content.


Example I have: ROKU plugged into the TV using HDMI1 or the others HDMI2, HDMI3

 

[pb4uski]

...I could save money on our landline by going to a residential VOIP service; but I'm leary of going that direction because:
1. Companies not totally transparent about hidden cost, and
2. Uses internet service possibly raise my internet bill.

You might check out Ooma. VOIP that we use at home. $6/month for unlimited calling in the US ($6 is for taxes ony). One-time upfront cost of $80-$100 for equipment.

You can also upgrade to their Premier plan that has additional features for $10/month.

https://www.ooma.com/home-phone/plans/

 

[5Miler]

I recently got my January bill for Comcast with yet another $15 rate hike so the decision was made to check out other options. We currently use Windows Media Center with Comcast Cable for TV and Plex service throughout the home which I truly love. I'm just tired of being held up twice a year with rate hikes, now up to over $205/m for service only as I have no rental equipment and get a $10/m credit for customer owned equipment as I have my own tuners.

I too signed up for the Youtube TV special for $65/m but $10/m off the first three months. Also dropping Comcast internet (100mb service) and having AT&T Fiber hooked up Monday at 500mb service. New cost of internet will be $65/m plus $10/m modem rental (can't avoid that unfortunately) and $20/m new customer reduction for the first year so total charges of $55/m plus taxes. We are also AT&T wireless customers so qualify for $20/m discount starting in month 13 for bundled service.

Monthly charges move from the current $205/m to new charges of $120 per month plus taxes. I'm ignoring the three month discount for Youtube tv in this. Also AT&T included $200 Visa card for new customer signup, $100 Visa card for signing up online, $50 discount for coupon code I found and waived the $99 installation fee. No contracts anywhere.

I will still use Windows Media Center with my four over the air tuners for my local stations redundant to Youtube TV but with better DVR.

 

[John Galt III]

I got a blurb on my Jan, 2022 cable bill about some subsidy for low income households for internet. It is called ACP (affordable connectivity program) and is a federal program. I checked it out on the internet, and, (as usual!) I cannot find the answer to a very simple question. I have spent 2 hours searching. Stymied everywhere. Apparently the income max, to qualify, is about $25,000 for a single person household. But never it is described what is considered 'income'. My GROSS income is over $32,000 so I would not qualify, but my Adjusted gross income, from my 1040, is only something like $16,000 in which case I would qualify. Anybody know? Thanks.

 

[jim584672]

I got a blurb on my Jan, 2022 cable bill about some subsidy for low income households for internet. It is called ACP (affordable connectivity program) and is a federal program. I checked it out on the internet, and, (as usual!) I cannot find the answer to a very simple question. I have spent 2 hours searching. Stymied everywhere. Apparently the income max, to qualify, is about $25,000 for a single person household. But never it is described what is considered 'income'. My GROSS income is over $32,000 so I would not qualify, but my Adjusted gross income, from my 1040, is only something like $16,000 in which case I would qualify. Anybody know? Thanks.

My guess would be MAGI without going through the law. 200% FPL is currently $13,590 x 2 = $27,180 for a one person house. $18,310 x 2 = $36,620 for a two person house.

 

[eytonxav]

DS gave us an Apple TV4K for Christmas, but it is still in the box as I need to purchase an ethernet and HDMI cable, but more so am unsure how to configure this box. I am a novice when it comes to streaming aside from what the TV itself has built in. There are so many different setting choices. I am wondering if there are any recommended basic settings to start off with. My TV is a Samsungs 65" JS8500 which is probably 8 or 9 years old and my internet achieves 50-60 MB. Does anyone that knows about Apple TV have suggestions on what settings to use for initial setup?

 

[cobbler]

RE: Income for Affordable Connectivity Program

Income. “Income” means gross income as defined under section 61 of the Internal Revenue Code, 26
U.S.C. 61, for all members of the household. This means all income actually received by all members
of the household from whatever source derived, unless specifically excluded by the Internal Revenue
Code, Part III of Title 26, 26 U.S.C. 101 et seq

From

https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-378999A1.pdf

 

[explanade]

DS gave us an Apple TV4K for Christmas, but it is still in the box as I need to purchase an ethernet and HDMI cable, but more so am unsure how to configure this box. I am a novice when it comes to streaming aside from what the TV itself has built in. There are so many different setting choices. I am wondering if there are any recommended basic settings to start off with. My TV is a Samsungs 65" JS8500 which is probably 8 or 9 years old and my internet achieves 50-60 MB. Does anyone that knows about Apple TV have suggestions on what settings to use for initial setup?

I found info about that TV here.

https://www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/samsung/js8500

Apparently came out in 2015 and supports HDR meaning it should support some 4K HDR streaming shows and movies on Amazon Prime, Netflix (you have to have the highest tier account), Apple + and Disney + services.

Here's some general info. about setting up your Apple TV 4K for HDR playback.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208074

You have to use the correct input and the correct types of HDMI cables.

There is a way to install the apps for Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney +. Apple TV should have the Apple + app already installed.

You can Google for Apple TV 4K setup and there should be some videos out there.


Main advantages is that the Apple TV 4K has a faster processor and so the picture should look great and the apps should be fast or responsive to the commands.

Apple is also better about privacy policies than the apps which come with your TV, which have been known to spy on you.

Disadvantage is that you have to switch input from your cable TV which means juggling the TV remote and the Apple TV 4K remote.

If your son gave it to you, maybe he has one as well and knows how to set it up?

 

[eytonxav]

I found info about that TV here.

https://www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/samsung/js8500

Apparently came out in 2015 and supports HDR meaning it should support some 4K HDR streaming shows and movies on Amazon Prime, Netflix (you have to have the highest tier account), Apple + and Disney + services.

Here's some general info. about setting up your Apple TV 4K for HDR playback.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208074

You have to use the correct input and the correct types of HDMI cables.

There is a way to install the apps for Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney +. Apple TV should have the Apple + app already installed.

You can Google for Apple TV 4K setup and there should be some videos out there.


Main advantages is that the Apple TV 4K has a faster processor and so the picture should look great and the apps should be fast or responsive to the commands.

Apple is also better about privacy policies than the apps which come with your TV, which have been known to spy on you.

Disadvantage is that you have to switch input from your cable TV which means juggling the TV remote and the Apple TV 4K remote.

If your son gave it to you, maybe he has one as well and knows how to set it up?

Thanks for that info. I believe my TV does have HDR, but it seems there are numerous versions of HDR and the info from Samsung is not very specific. I believe my HDMI cables are 2.0, so I assume that will be OK for 4K. I am not sure whether the TV even has a 4K setting. There are a bunch of other things like chroma, etc that also need to be configured and most of this stuff makes my eyes glaze over. Perhaps I need to experiment. DS has a new infant at home, so I did not want to bother him, plus I believe he has a newer TV and some other streaming device.

 

[RunningBum]

On YouTubeTV, I noticed that if the Olympics or NFL Playoffs were in the middle of recording, I could not go to my library and start watching it from the beginning, until the event was over. For the Olympics it was the NBC network, and the playoff game I missed the first half of was on CBS (Chiefs vs Bengals) so it's not just one network. I just tried this for an Olympic airing on USA network and there I could join it late and start from the beginning. I know this also worked for some college football games when I tried.

I'd really rather not wait until the game/event is over to watch from the start. Sometimes I'd rather wait and then catch up by fast forwarding over the commercials, and sometimes I just don't get home in time to watch the start but want to watch the whole game. How can I tell which events are like this, and which I don't have to be tuned in at the start?

 

[RonBoyd]

On YouTubeTV, I noticed that if the Olympics or NFL Playoffs were in the middle of recording, I could not go to my library and start watching it from the beginning, until the event was over. For the Olympics it was the NBC network, and the playoff game I missed the first half of was on CBS (Chiefs vs Bengals) so it's not just one network. I just tried this for an Olympic airing on USA network and there I could join it late and start from the beginning. I know this also worked for some college football games when I tried.

I'd really rather not wait until the game/event is over to watch from the start. Sometimes I'd rather wait and then catch up by fast forwarding over the commercials, and sometimes I just don't get home in time to watch the start but want to watch the whole game. How can I tell which events are like this, and which I don't have to be tuned in at the start?

I am unsure what you are asking. Are you expecting YouTubeTV to act like TIVO or SageTV? Or like a prerecorded Video On Demand (VOD) show. That be asking a lot for a "Live" performance.

I don't subscribe to Youtube but I am pretty sure none of the Live programs I watch would allow me to go back further than the moment I started watching.

Again, I may be completely off-base.

 

[RunningBum]

I am unsure what you are asking. Are you expecting YouTubeTV to act like TIVO or SageTV? Or like a prerecorded Video On Demand (VOD) show. That be asking a lot for a "Live" performance.

I don't subscribe to Youtube but I am pretty sure none of the Live programs I watch would allow me to go back further than the moment I started watching.

Again, I may be completely off-base.

Read what I wrote above, that I could do this for some college football games (not sure how many, but I never got blocked) and just this afternoon for the Olympics on USA network (not NBC). Perhaps this Olympics event was allowed because it was not actually live, but certainly the college football games were live. Any regular prime time show (sitcoms, dramas) also allow this.

While I'd like to always have the functionality to "catch up" on live games by starting later, at a minimum I'd like to know when it's not allowed so I can make a greater effort to catch the beginning.

 

[RonBoyd]

Read what I wrote above, that I could do this for some college football games (not sure how many, but I never got blocked) and just this afternoon for the Olympics on USA network (not NBC). Perhaps this Olympics event was allowed because it was not actually live, but certainly the college football games were live. Any regular prime time show (sitcoms, dramas) also allow this.

While I'd like to always have the functionality to "catch up" on live games by starting later, at a minimum I'd like to know when it's not allowed so I can make a greater effort to catch the beginning.

Okay. I apologize for interrupting.

 

[harllee]

On YouTubeTV, I noticed that if the Olympics or NFL Playoffs were in the middle of recording, I could not go to my library and start watching it from the beginning, until the event was over. For the Olympics it was the NBC network, and the playoff game I missed the first half of was on CBS (Chiefs vs Bengals) so it's not just one network. I just tried this for an Olympic airing on USA network and there I could join it late and start from the beginning. I know this also worked for some college football games when I tried.

I'd really rather not wait until the game/event is over to watch from the start. Sometimes I'd rather wait and then catch up by fast forwarding over the commercials, and sometimes I just don't get home in time to watch the start but want to watch the whole game. How can I tell which events are like this, and which I don't have to be tuned in at the start?

For most sporting events we watch on YouTube TV it asks us if we want to join in progress or go back to the beginning and I am pretty sure we did that for some Olympics last night but I am not sure which channel we were on. Have not tried for NFL playoffs. Maybe NBC does not want you to be able to do it because they don't want you to skip the commercials. For the Olympics we really like the way Youtube TV lets you tape every olympic event and then pick and choose which ones you want to watch. For example if you just want to watch one particular skater you can find that on Youtube TV.