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- Thread starter Mac
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scarletmike
Researching the Magic!
Somehow I think I get less sports channels after switching back to Spectrum when we moved than I did with PSVue, despite buying an extra sports package for BTN. At least if I get annoyed enough there's no contract I'm locked into so I can just go back to internet only and PSVue.
Actually, my wife may decide she wants to make the switch for the Olympics, since Vue has the Olympic Channel and we would need to buy yet another package on Spectrum to get that channel.
Actually, my wife may decide she wants to make the switch for the Olympics, since Vue has the Olympic Channel and we would need to buy yet another package on Spectrum to get that channel.
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Cut the cord today and took all the equipment back! I kept the internet. We have Netflix and Amazon Prime. I'm going to give Sling a shot I think. I see they are offering a Roku device with it for two months of payments. If I have internet TVs do I need the Roku device for anything?
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If your TV picks up streaming channels like Netflix (I don't have a newer "smart" TV, but I think they do?) then I'm not sure what you'd use the Roku for that you don't get otherwise. I primarily use mine for Netflix, Amazon, Pluto TV, sometimes Pandora music. And the Gorilla Channel, of course.
If you don't really want the Roku, you might compare Sling to Vue to see which one you like better. If you do go with Sling, I'd be interested to hear how their new ala carte menu thingy works out for you.
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Thanks for the tip on VUE, I didn't realize they did that without having the PS. I see they carry BIG network along with most other channels I want under the Core package. I'm comparing that to the combo Orange/Blue on Sling. I think Sling is $5-10 cheaper, but I don't see the BIG on there. Everyone seems to lack CBS.
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Smart TVs are a gimmick to fool you into paying higher prices for a built in streaming box that is usually below average streaming boxes like a Roku and are more comparable to the limited low end models.
Now they've been around so long that they're pretty pervasive and cheaper, but a lot of mistakes have been made in earlier years, overpaying by hundreds for built in functionality that is worth about $15-20 and would rarely be satisfactory if purchased as a standalone item.
In the end, cord cutting sounds nice but only if you actually do that and cut out most tv. If you steal your friends or parents' TV login to watch certain programming, you just had them pick up the tab.
If you're cutting the cord then also buying streaming tv service, especially as a sports fan, chances are you aren't saving much if anything compared to the sale price of big TV provider bundles . What you are saving is compared against the ludicrous sums charged out of contract, which require threats and cancellations.
There's no scenario for well rounded tv watching where we save money long term. We even consider Netflix (or Hulu) a separate category now formerly reserved for premium channels. Just wait till Disney gets their streaming network off the ground and they gut their offerings on other services.
There's also the matter of how much bandwidth you now need from your internet service and how many screens you need for services like Netflix, increasing your bill.
I highly recommend trying to cut the cord. Just notice how expensive all of the rest adds up to be, and decide if it's worth the cost compared with an occasional threat or cancellation with the big TV providers.
We cut it for multiple years and had Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and infrequently something like sling (for football season). In the end, I'm happy to be back to Spectrum for $100ish for high end internet and TV (and unused voice). When the prices climb I'll threaten or actually leave. I can always come right back to them or DirecTV.
Now they've been around so long that they're pretty pervasive and cheaper, but a lot of mistakes have been made in earlier years, overpaying by hundreds for built in functionality that is worth about $15-20 and would rarely be satisfactory if purchased as a standalone item.
In the end, cord cutting sounds nice but only if you actually do that and cut out most tv. If you steal your friends or parents' TV login to watch certain programming, you just had them pick up the tab.
If you're cutting the cord then also buying streaming tv service, especially as a sports fan, chances are you aren't saving much if anything compared to the sale price of big TV provider bundles . What you are saving is compared against the ludicrous sums charged out of contract, which require threats and cancellations.
There's no scenario for well rounded tv watching where we save money long term. We even consider Netflix (or Hulu) a separate category now formerly reserved for premium channels. Just wait till Disney gets their streaming network off the ground and they gut their offerings on other services.
There's also the matter of how much bandwidth you now need from your internet service and how many screens you need for services like Netflix, increasing your bill.
I highly recommend trying to cut the cord. Just notice how expensive all of the rest adds up to be, and decide if it's worth the cost compared with an occasional threat or cancellation with the big TV providers.
We cut it for multiple years and had Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and infrequently something like sling (for football season). In the end, I'm happy to be back to Spectrum for $100ish for high end internet and TV (and unused voice). When the prices climb I'll threaten or actually leave. I can always come right back to them or DirecTV.
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Also make sure your provider has streaming access on various apps, like watchespn, BTN2go, etc. This has improved a lot recently but that's still something to consider, as the limitations can be frustrating.
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It's been over a year since I used either one, but when I had it, none of the big three broadcast channels were available--maybe one of them had some on-demand shows, but no real time broadcast. If you look back at posts here, Mike said "ABC6 is on PSVue for the Columbus area now along with Fox28 and 10TV. The only thing missing is NBC at this point and it can't be long if ABC joined in...." but maybe network availability varies with location (10TV here is CBS).
There are other competitors out there now, too, which I haven's sampled--Hulu, and YouTube has something. Between Sling and Vue, I felt the streaming quality was much more consistent with Vue. It was also easier for me to set and use their dvr function (found it useful during football season.)
Vue usually offers a week or more of free trials, as does Sling, if you look around for offers.
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Granted, I live on a single floor plan, so it isn't far from my internet modem to my Rokus, but it works in the living room and my bedroom, and I've had megs as low as 2-4 in the past, and still picked up Netflix. Recently had WOW upgrade my 15 to 30 for the same price, but there is no noticeable difference. I only pay Netflix the minimum @$8/month, but then only one TV is in use at a time.
You must be better than I am at finding bargain packages, then, because around here the cheapest I'd been able to find would have run me around $120-130/month after all the extra taxes, equipment fees, etc. were added in. I have just phone & internet for $62/month. I could get Sling AND Vue before I'd match those charges, and have the luxury of cancelling them any time I pleased.
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Yes, I was paying almost $200 for internet and the Silver package on Spectrum. Heck just keeping internet is going to cost me $65 a month.
Right now I am trying to figure out if I go with Vue how I stream it to my Samsung Smart TV in one room. I have Chromecast on my other TV, so I am good there.
Sling says it works with Samsung.
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Does your Samsung display a list of streaming channels, like Amazon, etc.? If it's the same menu you get with Roku, the Vue app should be right there, and you just have to add it. I think you have to maybe go online and enter a code, or add your device on the Vue website (it's been a while since I did it). I seem to recall being asked on the website what devices I was going to use it on.
As someone who hasn't moved up to a smart TV yet, maybe they're trickier than I imagine. Do they tend to be quirky?
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I cut the cord a few years ago. TV is crap. Not worth the price at all to me. I watch Netflix, cable news, and find my sports programming online. Haven't missed it a bit.
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both of those are on the low end. The upload speed is also important. That said, I was thinking more of rooms where 2-5 people might be streaming or using up a decent chunk of bandwidth for some type of entertainment.
I'm paying $107/mo after taxes fees for spectrum, and that's with 120 down 12 up (this isn't required for most, but I upload many gigs of photos overnight at times).
This is what my spectrum account says
When I reach that point, I'll threaten to cancel and they'll cave, or they'll lose my business. It's quite easy to cancel TV service after March Madness.
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How long had you been a customer? Did you threaten to quit?
Internet was $70-80 for me (up from 60?), although I'm 20-30 higher due to my bandwidth. I called to cancel or get a better deal and was upgraded to a TV bundle (I think intended for new customers) of around $100.
If I stay in 2 years, I'm sure I'd be at $150-165, and that number would continue to rise. When I lived in Dublin, I hopped between DirecTV and TWC. They didn't value retaining customers enough so I just switched back and forth (obviously sticking with TWC for internet the whole time).
Invest in boxes that support all of the apps that you'll need. Roku definitely works for Sling. (all of them have certain blind spots with services that don't work due to proprietary contracts)
Using my Roku, I can watch my SpectrumTV on my bedroom TV without paying absurd box fees by using their app. It's a little slow (spectrum, not roku) but it does the job during the rare times I need to watch something in there. The rest of the time I just use Plex, Netflix, WatchESPN, BTN2Go in there.
A cheap roku stick is $25 (which is comparable to the bare bones system in most TVs). A used roku 3 is $35 on ebay. There are occasional sales for 4k roku boxes for $45.
random sidenote while checking the prices, Costco sells one with a roku built in a 55" TCL for $450:
Costco Members: 55" TCL 55S403 4K UHD HDR Roku Smart LED HDTV $340 + Free Shipping
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