Official Cord Cutters Devices and Services Thread

[willizm]

There are various threads out on this subject but I figured we can make one focused on talking about all the options we use for cutting tv services out and what services and devices we use along with making it a continual discussion as we find new things to use.

I have a comcast internet only service that runs about $50/month for about 80-90Mb down. I use the following for digital services ranked in terms of most to least use and monthly costs

$0 - Kodi
$8 - Netflix
$8 - Amazon Prime TV (yearly at $99)
$15 - HBO Now (might get rid of this since everything is on Kodi)

Since cutting the cord i'm saving about $100-$110/month just by getting rid of TV services. Even when I had tv services I was paying for Netflix, HBO, and Amazon so to me thats almost a wash that I continue with those. The only thing that sucks for me is that if I want to watch a show live, unless it's on HBO Now I won't be able to until the next day. Not a deal breaker, but gets a negative mark for your typical sunday night show that you may want to watch. It just becomes a Monday night show now.

The devices i'm using are primarily the Amazon Fire and Fire Stick. I've also got an older Apple TV but it's getting used less and less over the Fire devices. My son's tv is setup with the stick and my main tv is the standard box. Both seem to operate really well especially with Kodi. If you don't know what Kodi is check this out. Basically if Netflix front end and ThePiratebay/Rapidshare had an illegitimate love child it would be Kodi.



Kodi Guides for Fire Devices
What I used to setup Kodi on Amazon Fire.
Install Kodi on Amazon Fire TV in a few simple steps

Then from there I used this guide to add the button to the home screen.
Create Kodi shortcut on Amazon Fire TV home screen

Then I used this guide to install the addons repository that seems to have most all of the big add ons for free movies and tv crap.
It installs everything super easy. There are three main packages, install all three and you are good to go.
Fusion Installer for Kodi

Click to read more...

 

[99PONTIACGP]

Likes this & subscribed.

TV is boring lately anyways and my 3 month trail period is done with movie channels, so i canceled that and saved $40 IIRC

 

[Angus]

We don't watch much TV anyways, but just have a chromecast with Netflix and Hulu. I pay $19.99/Mo for Comcast 30mb down.

I want to get an OTA antenna soon to catch games this fall and winter, though.

 

[Xfirez51]

Thanks for starting this read. This is a topic I have been mulling around for a long time. And every time I write a $200/month check to Comcast. I have the bundle w them and the landline doesn't work. Keep getting static and then a fax machine.
Anyway, I am considering getting a flat panel for the audio room and connecting to my audio system. Question is what alternatives do I have for content. Do I get another Comcast box, or setup an Apple TV blah blah blah. I hope this is the right thread for this type of question but I ask it because there's knowledgeable people on this forum when it comes to this topic. Thanks.

 

[willizm]

Honestly you'd be surprised with how much content you can get with a fire stick and kodi. I'm not sure what that means for higher end audio setups but for the general guy like me it works great. Just sucks that I haven't found a good means to stream live tv yet, but if I want to pop on a show or movie its super easy. I'd shy away from apple tv. It just is showing it's age and I believe Apple may have something in the works.

 

[99PONTIACGP]

So is Kodi similar to Netflix? better than Netflix? Just don't have the monthly subscription?

 

[ragingclue]

Raspberry Pi 2 w/ case, remote, etc... running OSMC was about $100

Kept Netflix, Prime, Hulu.

Was worried about sports after cutting the cord, but the Tigers suck this year so that saves me $25/mo or something like that, and NFL Sunday Ticket is only $200, NHL will be $105 I think. I can't remember how much we cut just by dropping Comcast cable, but the savings aren't insignificant, even when you consider the sports packages and service subscriptions that still exist.

I still have Comcast for internet as the only other option here is U-Verse.

 

[RICH17]

Better and Free!!!!

Have Kodi and love it. It can get annoying switching streamers if one starts to suck after a while but I watched Avengers age of ultron, Jurassic world, Fury, and the gunman on Saturday with no problem what so ever.

Netflix and the like is now worthless IMO one you use kodi. All the shows on Netflix can be had on Kodi.

 

[willizm]

So is Kodi similar to Netflix? better than Netflix? Just don't have the monthly subscription?

See below.

Better and Free!!!!

Have Kodi and love it. It can get annoying switching streamers if one starts to suck after a while but I watched Avengers age of ultron, Jurassic world, Fury, and the gunman on Saturday with no problem what so ever.

Netflix and the like is now worthless IMO one you use kodi. All the shows on Netflix can be had on Kodi.

I like Netflix just for it's interface on finding obscure items like documentaries. If there is a add on for kodi that shows all of netflix content when browsing then it would be worth ditching netflix. Kodi isn't perfect though and sometimes finding good feeds can be a pain, but it's absolutely free and you can find anything that is accessible on any other service.

 

[RICH17]

See below.


I like Netflix just for it's interface on finding obscure items like documentaries. If there is a add on for kodi that shows all of netflix content when browsing then it would be worth ditching netflix. Kodi isn't perfect though and sometimes finding good feeds can be a pain, but it's absolutely free and you can find anything that is accessible on any other service.

I meant to quote him


But you're right. you're not going to find obsure stuff. but I don't really watch enough TV to worry about it. Just catch up on my shows is all

 

[ragingclue]

I keep the subs for cases where the one Kodi box doesn't cut it (e.g. travel, multiple devices being used around the house, etc...).

 

[Primalzer]

Now that you can get standalone HBO, I'll probably be getting rid of Comcast shortly.

 

[EmersonHart13]

I'll be diving into Kodi once the weather gets colder and we watch more TV. For now it has proven to be an excellent source of porn though. I also watched a few movies on it but the quality was definitely not what I am used to.

 

[willizm]

I'll be diving into Kodi once the weather gets colder and we watch more TV. For now it has proven to be an excellent source of porn though. I also watched a few movies on it but the quality was definitely not what I am used to.

I've used some add ons for kodi that have more HD content like Yify. Watching Terminator Genisys right now in 1080. 1channel is really vast with movies and tv shows but the quality is a bit more all over the place. Fear the walking dead was in HD but other things like the tonight show are 480 or slightly better.

 

[Lord Tin Foilhat]

Honestly you'd be surprised with how much content you can get with a fire stick and kodi. I'm not sure what that means for higher end audio setups but for the general guy like me it works great. Just sucks that I haven't found a good means to stream live tv yet, but if I want to pop on a show or movie its super easy. I'd shy away from apple tv. It just is showing it's age and I believe Apple may have something in the works.

There's some good live TV apps on kodi. You can also pay I think 30$/M to get alot of US channels streaming or for free you can get the 7 basics. Kodi has a USTVNOW app. Still way cheaper then cable/dsl

USTVNOW.com is the website.

 

[EmersonHart13]

I know it is just the matter of finding the right media sources. Which we will. DirectTV isn't going away anytime soon so I have time to do that.

 

[RICH17]

I've been using Genesis for almost everything.

Yify I always used for downloading so I assume it would be good.

 

[cacicgtp7]

I would do this if there was a way to get the NFL network and NFL redzone without a cable contract...but I haven't figured that out yet.


Can you get ESPN without cable?

 

[willizm]

There's some good live TV apps on kodi. You can also pay I think 30$/M to get alot of US channels streaming or for free you can get the 7 basics. Kodi has a USTVNOW app. Still way cheaper then cable/dsl

USTVNOW.com is the website.

I've considered using USTVNOW but i'd be literally using it for AMC only. Thats the only channel where i'd want to watch TWD or Better Call Saul the time it's aired. If AMC made a $5/month app i'd buy it.

 

[Intel]

I would do this if there was a way to get the NFL network and NFL redzone without a cable contract...but I haven't figured that out yet.


Can you get ESPN without cable?

https://www.reddit.com/r/cordcutters/comments/2cstpa/nfl_20142015_guide

 

[cacicgtp7]

https://www.reddit.com/r/cordcutters/comments/2cstpa/nfl_20142015_guide

Thanks!

Wish NFL network would sell a standalone pass or something.

 

[Intel]

Yeah, I know this system works as my friend does it. I just find online streams of redzone when I want to watch it.

 

[cap42]

Subscribing,

I am also sick Comcast raping me each month for something I hardly use.

If there was something that still provided nfl coverage Comcast would have already been done.

 

[EmersonHart13]

You can get a lot of NFL with an HD antenna... Just no NFL network, redzone, etc specialized coverage.

 

[willizm]

I found an app called vdub25. It has a ton of live streaming. No account setup crap. Just install it in Kodi and you can fire up a ton of channels. AMC, CNN, Fox News, Sports, etc. The only thing that sucks is the few channels i've tried are in standard def. I guess it's hard to complain when it's free though.

Watching CNN to figure out what the hell everyone is talking about with this shooting.