I've been considering cutting cable for a while, however it's always taken a back burner to something else. That changed today.
Something about turning 30 last Friday must have clicked, because I called Comcast today and downgraded to 60/5 internet only today for $50 a month. I was paying $137 for my previous TV/internet package. I'm not thrilled about the speed, as I can get Century Link 1 gig fiber for $65 a month, however in reality 60 meg is plenty for what I do. I don't want to have to deal with appointments, running wires, having a tech out, etc. just to change providers. I own my own modem and router, so I've now got NO outside equipment in my house! It feels a bit surreal...
I currently have Amazon Prime and Hulu ad-supported, so I decided to add Sling Blue for $25/mo. There are a few networks I enjoyed watching, and Sling Blue offered all but one. I also plan on signing up for HBO Now come June, when Ballers starts again. On top of that, I prepaid 2 months of Sling and got a free Roku Express as part of the deal.
Unfortunately, none of my streaming devices supported Sling, so I stopped by Micro Center to pick up a Roku on my way home. They ended up having the Roku Premier (necessary for 4k) on sale for $29.99, $10 off the street price. Score! That, plus the free Roku Express will cover my living room and bedroom set's. The Roku box is great. It's tiny, and runs off USB power. I have mine plugged into the USB port on my receiver, it's almost impossible to see short of a soft glow from a white LED.
All in all, I'm very satisfied. I've used Roku units before, so I was already familiar there, but I've never used a live TV service before. Here's a very loose set of numbers I put together, just to see how my cost broke down:
$137 vs. $75 for internet and TV ($50 Comcast, $25 Sling) = ($62)/mo
$30 Roku Premier + free Roku Express ($29.99 value) = $0
OTA antenna on Amazon = $30, next day delivery
All in all, for 30 minutes on the phone and some time at the store I'd say it's a good change. I'm still figuring out a few remote commands and what not but that only takes a few days. The future is amazing, if I do say so.
Something about turning 30 last Friday must have clicked, because I called Comcast today and downgraded to 60/5 internet only today for $50 a month. I was paying $137 for my previous TV/internet package. I'm not thrilled about the speed, as I can get Century Link 1 gig fiber for $65 a month, however in reality 60 meg is plenty for what I do. I don't want to have to deal with appointments, running wires, having a tech out, etc. just to change providers. I own my own modem and router, so I've now got NO outside equipment in my house! It feels a bit surreal...
I currently have Amazon Prime and Hulu ad-supported, so I decided to add Sling Blue for $25/mo. There are a few networks I enjoyed watching, and Sling Blue offered all but one. I also plan on signing up for HBO Now come June, when Ballers starts again. On top of that, I prepaid 2 months of Sling and got a free Roku Express as part of the deal.
Unfortunately, none of my streaming devices supported Sling, so I stopped by Micro Center to pick up a Roku on my way home. They ended up having the Roku Premier (necessary for 4k) on sale for $29.99, $10 off the street price. Score! That, plus the free Roku Express will cover my living room and bedroom set's. The Roku box is great. It's tiny, and runs off USB power. I have mine plugged into the USB port on my receiver, it's almost impossible to see short of a soft glow from a white LED.
All in all, I'm very satisfied. I've used Roku units before, so I was already familiar there, but I've never used a live TV service before. Here's a very loose set of numbers I put together, just to see how my cost broke down:
$137 vs. $75 for internet and TV ($50 Comcast, $25 Sling) = ($62)/mo
$30 Roku Premier + free Roku Express ($29.99 value) = $0
OTA antenna on Amazon = $30, next day delivery
All in all, for 30 minutes on the phone and some time at the store I'd say it's a good change. I'm still figuring out a few remote commands and what not but that only takes a few days. The future is amazing, if I do say so.