Cutting the cord soon (I hope). Need questions answered

[sfreeman8]

Since my bill for Comcast went up and I had to pay $217 this month and since my contract ran out, I need to go away from them if they don't give me a decent deal. So, can you all answer these questions for me,,,in language I can understand?   
1. How much internet speed do you need to watch TV?
2. Do I need a special box?
3. Do you use any special program for TV?   
4.  What about local stations. Is that an extra cost?
5. How easy is it to use these programs? Hubby is worse than I am at using tech stuff. He can't even change channels half the time.

We just bought a Roku TV a couple months ago. Comcast shows Hulu, Amazon Prime, Netflix, YouTube, tubi, Pluto,sports, and more. I have Amazon prime but I couldn't use it on Comcast. I couldn't sign in with it. (Like i said, I'm dumb on this stuff.)

I checked into stuff 2 years ago and I liked Sling. Today, I checked into 4 others: Pluto, Netflix, and 2 others and Pluto seemed to have what we watch, not all, but close. Two years ago, Sling had almost everything we watch but 4 stations.

[Mizzkizz7]

Since my bill for Comcast went up and I had to pay $217 this month and since my contract ran out, I need to go away from them if they don't give me a decent deal. So, can you all answer these questions for me,,,in language I can understand?   
1. How much internet speed do you need to watch TV?
2. Do I need a special box?
3. Do you use any special program for TV?   
4.  What about local stations. Is that an extra cost?
5. How easy is it to use these programs? Hubby is worse than I am at using tech stuff. He can't even change channels half the time.

We just bought a Roku TV a couple months ago. Comcast shows Hulu, Amazon Prime, Netflix, YouTube, tubi, Pluto,sports, and more. I have Amazon prime but I couldn't use it on Comcast. I couldn't sign in with it. (Like i said, I'm dumb on this stuff.)

I checked into stuff 2 years ago and I liked Sling. Today, I checked into 4 others: Pluto, Netflix, and 2 others and Pluto seemed to have what we watch, not all, but close. Two years ago, Sling had almost everything we watch but 4 stations.

Honestly, you need to cut the cord, that amount that you are paying is too much when you have Pluto TV which provides free channels, I would invest in CBS Access, and Netflix. If you're looking into news channels for your area, look into a affordable local streaming service, I would use CBS ALL ACCESS but I don't need to because my apartment provides satellite for free so I have local channels at hand. These cable companies are just to much now. You can save so much money.

[sdenimandlace1]

We have Prime and stream it through a blue ray player.  We get our internet Through a land line telephone provider $150, for next to fastest internet landline and local Tv.  We had no Tv at all for about 10 years.

[bretay]

roku has amazon prime on it...we have roku and firestick..amazon has a lot of movies...we cut the cord about 10 years ago when we got the firestick..we got the roku becasue it has redbox on it to rent on demand movies..but you can also rent from amazon..if i had to pay it would be the prime and netflix...we also have a freetv antenna..but he uses it in his workshop to get channels for when he is out there...

[mamatygress]

We finally did it.  The live services work well.  I think Sling is the most popular. 

[sfreeman8]

Do i only need the Roku TV and internet service plus Sling or services like that?

I really don't understand all this new stuff. I grew up in an era where 3 channels were all you got with cable and they didn't have cable if you lived outside a town.

So, ready to cut cord.

[countrygirl12]

1. How much internet speed do you need to watch TV?  Idk a number but you need something decently fast.  Esp if you plan to use your phone or laptop at the same time.

2. Do I need a special box? You need something to stream it through.  A Roku device, Amazon Fire Stick etc If you have a Roku tv then you already have what you need.  You have set the tv up if you have had it a couple of months.  So you know it has apps.  Do you know how the apps work?

3. Do you use any special program for TV?   No

4.  What about local stations. Is that an extra cost? You have to pay for some of the apps and some you don't.  Roku has an app with free stuff to watch.  There are several that do.  They do not have local channels though.  You can get an antenna to access your local channels.  One that goes outside is better than the thing that lays on top of your tv or plugs in to the tv.

5. How easy is it to use these programs? Hubby is worse than I am at using tech stuff. He can't even change channels half the time.    If you can use the internet you can do it.  If you have had the Roku tv for a couple months surely you have set it up and know how to use it.  Connect it to your wifi.  If you already have any streaming apps download them and sign in.  If not go to your Roku account and see what channels are available.  A lot have free stuff.  Then you have things like Netflix, Hulu, CBS All Access, Disney Plus and about a million other streaming apps and you will pay a monthly fee for that.

[countrygirl12]

roku has amazon prime on it...we have roku and firestick..amazon has a lot of movies...we cut the cord about 10 years ago when we got the firestick..we got the roku becasue it has redbox on it to rent on demand movies..but you can also rent from amazon..if i had to pay it would be the prime and netflix...we also have a freetv antenna..but he uses it in his workshop to get channels for when he is out there...

It has the Amazon APP but if you want to access it you have to pay for it. There are literally hundreds of apps you can download on a Roku tv.  But people need to understand that they are not all free.  It doesn't come with Roku.

[countrygirl12]

Do i only need the Roku TV and internet service plus Sling or services like that?

I really don't understand all this new stuff. I grew up in an era where 3 channels were all you got with cable and they didn't have cable if you lived outside a town.

So, ready to cut cord.

You paid for cable for only 3 channels?  That doesn't sound right.  Read my first post.  You can get some stuff free and some stuff you will pay for.  There are tons of streaming apps.  I do not pay for any of them.  I only use the free ones and my antenna which gives me about 30 local channels.

[killers2]

I hate how they do the packages so you keep cable.  Cable is really on it's way out in my opinion.  OVERPRICED!

[claudegrizzle]

We cut the cord more than 12 years ago. When we had to move 12 years ago, having cable no longer fit in our budget. We found that we did not even miss it. We still have a television, but have roku and it is great. We no longer even want to have netflix that got to be too expensive and you can find alot of free things to watch. Great not to waste so much time on watching shows and TV that does nothing to help you with life.

[tjshorty]

I pay only for internet.  I don't pay for cable or t.v. that way.  I do have amazon prime.  My t.v. is a smart t.v. so It has other options like pluto which is free.  I do like that net work. 

[mapiklfish]

I have cable internet but cancelled the tv portion.  I use Expedite on a firestick for my TV.  It's $24 a mo and has over 800 channels as well as movies on demand.  No DVR capability yet.  You can watch it on 5 screens at once including phone, computer, tablets.  I like it.  You can also get an antenna.  I bought one, off of FB, I think, for free and shipping.  Ended up being $10 and works great for getting all available local channels.

[metsrock69]

I have not had cable in over a year. But I do have free digital channels. What you do is take the wire coming in from the outside that was provided by your  cable or internet provider. Then connect it to your tv. hdtvs only work unless you have a converter. Also if this is your internet wire, you may have to use a splitter. Then on your tv, go to tv, then channel search and let it run . In my area I get a handful of free digital channels with locals. I hope this helps you.