A new (and likeable) cable provider

[r2021t]

.......Apple can offer a low cost bundle that might be of interest to younger folks who aren't current subscribers.....

If my kids (young adults) and their friends are any kind of barometer for this I don't like Apple's chances. They don't want to pay anything for content.

Ron

 

[modhatter]

I've been test driving "Vue" this week (on a one week free trial) as a possible substitute for my current U-verse TV service. They have three levels of programming. I chose the middle level: 70 channels for $35/month. But, no local Channels. It has almost all the channels we ever watched on our 300 channel U-verse service.

I streamed Vue through an Amazon Fire Stick. It worked well, but took a while to switch stations. I suspected that it was a memory issue, since the Fire Stick has very small amount of memory. So, I upgraded and got an Amazon Fire TV shipped to me overnight. Hooked it up and, wow, what a difference. All the channels loaded with very little delay.

Quality of the picture is excellent, even though I'm using the Fire TV wirelessly over Wifi. I still plan on running a network cable to the Fire TV, which should provide an even better signal.

My plan is to ditch U-verse after I decide on an OTA solution. My current thought is to buy a 4 tuner Tablo for OTA channels, which will also stream through the Fire TV. $299 plus the cost of a hard drive to store the programming.

I should be able to save over $100 per month as compared to my current deal with U-verse.

Anybody else out there using Tablo? If so, I'd sure be interested in hearing your thoughts on it.

Didn't know they had a 4 tuner unit. Looked it up on Amazon. Reviews are quite mixed. http://www.amazon.com/Tablo-HDTV-Antennas-4-Tuner-Wi-Fi/dp/B00MWLZR0I

I would like 4 tuners. Right now I have a computer hooked up to my TV and use it to record, using Media Center. Works great but would like additional tuners. Everyone seems to want to air their best shows at the same time on Sunday night.

The cost of internet by itself is up to $75.00 a month now with Cox. Soon it will cost just as much as a TV package used to.

 

[Dawg52]

The cost of internet by itself is up to $75.00 a month now with Cox. Soon it will cost just as much as a TV package used to.

Very possible. Although mine is less than half that at the moment. But when it does get to $100/mo down the road, I may just go with OTA channels and my limited data with my phone service. I don't have internet service at my vacation condo and I do fine with phone data service only. I don't use it as much as I do with my home internet, just check emails and a few sites. Which is probably a good thing as I don't get sucked into staying inside sitting on the sofa.

I'm simply not going to let the cable companies hold me hostage to high monthly cost on something that is not necessary for my life. Now when I get to the point I'm too old to get outside and do things, I will have no choice. But as of now I do.

 

[txtig]

Didn't know they had a 4 tuner unit. Looked it up on Amazon. Reviews are quite mixed. http://www.amazon.com/Tablo-HDTV-Antennas-4-Tuner-Wi-Fi/dp/B00MWLZR0I

I noticed the mixed reviews too. That's why I was hoping that someone on this forum would chime in on their experience. I'd hate to drop $400 on equipment and find out that their DVR service sucks and DW is pissed because her favorite shows didn't record. But, on the other hand, I'm about ready to take the leap so that I can start saving over $100 per month on the dang cable bill.


Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum

 

[tulak]

I noticed the mixed reviews too. That's why I was hoping that someone on this forum would chime in on their experience. I'd hate to drop $400 on equipment and find out that their DVR service sucks and DW is pissed because her favorite shows didn't record. But, on the other hand, I'm about ready to take the leap so that I can start saving over $100 per month on the dang cable bill.


Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum

We've had a 2-tuner Tablo for about nine months and it's mostly used by DW. This replaced a Windows Media Center PC that we were using as DVR for local channels. I would have been happy to completely ditch local programming, but DW likes to watch local evening news when she wakes up in the morning. We're using the Roku app and haven't had any recent issues. I gauge how well it works based on feedback from DW. When we initially had the Tablo/Roku setup, DW would occasionally complain that it wasn't working. About 4 months ago (and after firmware/app updates) I realized I haven't heard any complaints. I asked her if it's been working ok and she said yes. At this point, it's working seamlessly for us, for which I am very grateful.

I occasionally use it from my iPad and I think their iOS support is better. I'm looking forward to their Apple TV app, since I want to eventually ditch the Rokus and standardize on Apple TVs in our house.

I also don't subscribe to their programming guide. This means I can only manually program DVR recordings, which for our usage is sufficient. Keep in mind that the amount of content we watch on the Tablo is small, so there might be minor annoyances that would bother a heavy user vs us. For example, sometimes it seems to take awhile for the app to sync/display the program guide.

But at this point I'm very happy with the Tablo. It's the first solution I found that allowed me to ditch the PC and most importantly, it works, which means DW is happy.

If you want any more details, let me know.

 

[modhatter]

I noticed the mixed reviews too. That's why I was hoping that someone on this forum would chime in on their experience. I'd hate to drop $400 on equipment and find out that their DVR service sucks and DW is pissed because her favorite shows didn't record. But, on the other hand, I'm about ready to take the leap so that I can start saving over $100 per month on the dang cable bill.


Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum

The most liked and simplist DVR for recording OTA channels is the Tivo Roamio. They offer it once or twice a year with lifetime subscription for guide for either $299 or $399. I can't remember which. They had on Amazon about two months ago for this price with lifetime subscription. Otherwise, if you just buy it without lifetime subscription, you pay $15 a month for it. ($180 a year)

http://www.amazon.com/TiVo-Roamio-S...0OLDNNRO/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_sims?ie=UTF8

There's also the Channel Master, but it only has two tuners, and you have to add a hard drive. Reviews are a bit better.
http://www.amazon.com/Channel-Maste...r=1-1-spons&keywords=channel+master+dvr&psc=1

 

[GTFan]

Ditto on the Tivo Roamio (Basic or OTA), and the sale price with lifetime has been $299 on Amazon, shipped. So use that as a benchmark for what to pay for a good DVR (4 tuners, 500GB drive).

 

[txtig]

If a TiVo plus lifetime service is available for $299, that would appear to be a great deal. However, I'm concerned as to how TiVo actually works. If I have more than one TV, do I need multiple TiVos? One TiVo for each TV? With Tablo, I can stream to multiple TVs with just a single DVR.

 

[modhatter]

If a TiVo plus lifetime service is available for $299, that would appear to be a great deal. However, I'm concerned as to how TiVo actually works. If I have more than one TV, do I need multiple TiVos? One TiVo for each TV? With Tablo, I can stream to multiple TVs with just a single DVR.

Yes the least expensive Tivo Roamio is usually for just one TV. I believe you can hook up a Tivo Mini with it. That cost another $100 and $6.00 a month extra for programming or $150 lifetime subscription. (so basically $250 more)
But you can also access it on-line and on mobile.
https://www.tivo.com/quick-links/welcome-center-roamio/beyond-the-basics


The Tablo is cheaper if you have multiple TV's you need to hook up, but the Tivo interface is really good and probably very stable. On the other hand, the cheapest Roamio comes with a small hard drive 500 gb, but I understand you can change out the drive, but would need to check into that as far as how it is done.

Do you have a spare computer with Windows 7 that your not using any more? If so, you can buy a HD Home Run Tuner and with Windows Media Center with DVR and guide available on Windows 7, you will have another DVR.

 

[tulak]

Do you have a spare computer with Windows 7 that your not using any more? If so, you can buy a HD Home Run Tuner and with Windows Media Center with DVR and guide available on Windows 7, you will have another DVR.

I would go with Tablo instead of Windows Media Center. I was happy to ditch my Windows Media Center. Plus, Microsoft removed it from Windows 10 so eventually you might start having problems because it's not supported anymore.

 

[GTFan]

Yes the least expensive Tivo Roamio is usually for just one TV. I believe you can hook up a Tivo Mini with it. That cost another $100 and $6.00 a month extra for programming or $150 lifetime subscription. (so basically $250 more)

Tivo got rid of the service fee for Minis, so they are about $100 each all-in (often less with refurb sales at woot and elsewhere).

A Tivo Roamio with Minis is an excellent whole-home DVR setup, with all the popular streaming services to boot. I have a Plus with 3 Minis.

 

[Texas Proud]

What people often forget with Apple products is that they have resale value.
I paid $1100 for my macbook air, 3 years ago.
I could sell it easily for $700. So total cost for 3 years is $400.

A comparable PC laptop would've cost $700 or so and it'd be worth $200 or so.

YMMV but resale is important and I've done this many times. After buying my dell laptop for $1400, sold it for $75, 4 years later.

That would assume you would want to sell....


I have never sold a computer that I have bought... they either have something go wrong with them and I do not want to fix an old computer or they get old and cannot support the new software or OS...

My current computer is 6 to 8 YO and works OK for me... I have been having some video problems on and off, but as long as it is not very often I can live with it....

But I am sure the value is almost nil....

 

[mpeirce]

A Tivo Roamio with Minis is an excellent whole-home DVR setup, with all the popular streaming services to boot. I have a Plus with 3 Minis.

You can also use various devices as remote viewing devices.

I set up my DM with a TiVo Bolt for receiving OTA broadcasts and it's hooked to her one TV. Works great.

But she also uses her iPad to watch her morning news show at breakfast. No need to have a TV for that.

Minimizes the need for multiple TVs around the house.

 

[GTFan]

Yep there's a Tivo app for the Amazon Fire which apparently works well too. The advantage of using (relatively) cheap Minis is that it gives you the full Tivo experience at any TV, the app is more limited but works well for simple playback and as you said provides for good portability.

Note that the Tivo app does not work well out of home for many folks, there is a ton of network-related bugs with it. But in-home it's pretty good.