Thinking about dumping sat/cable.

[tywest]

After getting a notice from DTV saying they are raising the rates, I said this is silly. I have been a long time customer of DTV and have for the most part been satisfied. What I discovered is, we watch like 5 % of the available channels. Most of we watch are network stations others are Discovery, AE, HGTV, etc.

Currently we will be paying $1175.16 a year with the newest increase. I look at that number and think its kind of crazy.

Im hoping to drop that to about $129 a year with an OTA antenna and an hd Tivo box.

The only thing i will have trouble with are some sports. Take the Brewers on FSN for example. Are there any other ways to see the brewers besides FSN? I looked at the MLBtv deal but that looks like most, if not all, games will be "blacked out"

I also have an Apple tv and am thinking about doing a kind of, a la carte type of deal when it comes to some of the cable channels we do watch.

Is there anyone else who dumped cable and returned to the old school antenna?

[Bebop]

Dropped all paid services over a year ago and I didn't missed a thing.

You can get something from Elgato and use your MacBook Pro to record OTA.

http://www.elgato.com/

You can even stream live OTA or recored shows to your Touch.

I would have gotten a Tivo, if they didn't charge a monthly subscription fee of $13. I use my Mac Pro and HDHomeRun (dual tuner) for all my OTA needs.

[klwillis45]

You're in the Brewers home market so all the games on FSN will be blacked out on mlb.tv. Thanks archaic blackout rules.

[tywest]

We are about to get a new imac. Can you tell me a little more about how you have the software and HD home run set up?

[Bebop]

The best software for OTA recording on the Mac is Elgato's EyeTV.

http://www.elgato.com/elgato/na/mainmenu/products/software/EyeTV3/product1.en.html

They also sell their software with a tuner, but none of them is dual.

Here's a 10% of code for Elgato purchase. http://www.retailmenot.com/view/elgato.com

HDHomeRun is a dual tuner that will work with EyeTV. It plugs into your router, so any computer that connected to the router can access the tuners.

http://www.silicondust.com/products/hdhomerun_atsc

It was on sale for $90 at one time, now it's back to about $150.

[ScottyB]

We dumped cable a long time ago, but I must admit - the Brewers on FSN is what I miss the most.  (Okay, really the only thing I miss.)

I would pay for MLB TV if I could watch the Brewers, but sadly, no.  Blacked out.

I don't know why they just can't air the FSN broadcast via MLB TV.  I would think they would get more from my subscription than the piddly amount they would get if I subscribed to cable again.

On the bright side, there are about 15-20 games you can still watch locally.  And listening to the game on the radio allows me to get a lot more done than when I'm plopped in front of the tv all summer.

Still, dumping cable is the best thing I've ever done.  With Netflix and everything available online, we still have more to watch than we have time for!

Scott

[jkane]

Don't know about "Cry Baby Millionaire's Who Play With Their Balls" (r) , but as for TiVo and OTA, you might want to wait a little to buy new. TiVo is coming out with a new model that can get internet feeds also.  I know they do it now, but this new model is supposed to have a new interface designed more around getting content from more sources than the video in ports.  If you have high speed internet, that will soon be an easier source for finding entertainment via streaming video.

[tywest]

Yes, i was about to buy a new tivo but yesterday they announced the new model. It looks like we have to wait a month for it.