Cutting the Cord: Life Without Television

[SG89]

we installed an OTA antenna today and we live fairly close to dfw so we picked up over 60 local channels with it and the wonderful picture quality shocked me. I will probably get sling tv as well. haven't missed having satellite TV one bit, especially the price.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

Another thing, another alternative, is to not have regular television or cable, and if there is a particular show you like, or movie, you can purchase it as a dvd or download, or watch it on the internet video sites like Youtube.com

[Ankerson]

I remember life before cable.

When I lived in MD we had like 60 channels over rabbit ears and that was until 1995 when we moved to NC.

Well in NC if you don't have cable etc you get like 6 channels and 4 of them are good some of the time.

I am not a huge TV watcher, and I find myself watching less TV shows as time goes on with all of the BS and PC fueled garbage that's on these days. Some of it just makes my stomach turn so I turn the channel and never watch that show again. But I do like movies and the Internet and I am not the only one who lives in the house and they are a big TV watcher. So we have cable TV with DVR's and Phone through the cable company.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

yeah that is a good point. I remember the rabbit ears.

If you were to speculate, what do you think will replace cable and optical fiber? Will the future be 100 percent wireless or will there always be a need for wired communications for reliability?

[Ankerson]

yeah that is a good point. I remember the rabbit ears.

If you were to speculate, what do you think will replace cable and optical fiber? Will the future be 100 percent wireless or will there always be a need for wired communications for reliability?

Can't really say for sure.

But I do believe all of those so called free or discounted stuff the cable cutters are using now will go away in the near future. I think that is in the works now if I remember right.

I do think wired connections are much more reliable and will always be needed.

[Mad Mac]

During one of the hurricanes in Houston, our neighbors were using our gas stove to cook the stuff thawing out in their freezers and refrigerators and using our rotary phone to communicate. They were the only things working, that and the radio in the car. No electricity and cell towers were down.

[Ankerson]

During one of the hurricanes in Houston, our neighbors were using our gas stove to cook the stuff thawing out in their freezers and refrigerators and using our rotary phone to communicate. They were the only things working, that and the radio in the car. No electricity and cell towers were down.

Ever notice when something happens the 1st thing to go down is Cell Towers?

Vastly unreliable.

The old hard line phones extremely reliable and worked even if the power went out.

[Midnightrider]

One month ago, I canceled telephone land line and Directv, my satellite TV provider. More and more tech savvy young people are "cutting the cord" using other devices and services. For an old timer like me (68) reaching for the remote is a reflex action, muscle memory, habit. So far, I've been making do with a smartphone, the Internet, Netflix and catching up on some reading. In general, seem to be getting more done, too. In a way, it's like being on vacation without leaving the house. Anyone else "cutting the cord?"

You're old enough to be my older brother but I have been without TV for about 20 years. Don't miss it except for TNN and stuff like that. Radio works...

I go without a phone or computer a few weeks a year just to prove to the disbelievers that it is possible and not harmful. I work in tech so it's refreshing to give the middle finger to the daily grind once in a while.

Highly recommended

[Ferris Wheels]

Cut the cord years ago and get by just fine with Cell Phone, Internet, Netflix and Amazon Prime. I HATE commercials and don't mind paying a small amount to get that amount of time/life back from the crap that passes for commercials and advertisement these days. I also get the benefit of living in the country and get my internet service from a local Co-Op which works out great since they aren't in business to make a profit, just provide a quality service to their customers and good jobs to their employees.