How Fast Should Your Internet Be to Cut the Cord?
You typically describe internet speed in terms of megabits per second. It takes about 5 megabits to stream at HD quality, although realistically, you need about 8 megabits to do so smoothly. However, this leaves little room for doing much else on the internet. You’ll probably want at least 10 megabits if you’re the only one using the internet connection and 20+ for a family to stream video to multiple devices. It’s common for many internet providers to offer plans with 25 megabits per second or faster, which is plenty to stream video to multiple devices in your household. However, some rural areas may not have access to these speeds. You can check your internet speed on different sites.
Dongles: The Equipment You Need to Cut the Cord
The main piece of equipment you need to turn off cable is a streaming device. Luckily, most of us already have one. Many of the TVs sold these days are smart TVs that support various streaming services. Modern Blu-ray players also tend to have smart features, and if you’re a gamer, you can use your Xbox One or PlayStation 4 as a streaming device. If you’re serious about cutting the cord, you might want to invest in a less expensive solution called a dongle. Smart TVs are great, but technology updates so quickly that it doesn’t take long before the “smart” functionality becomes antiquated, and you probably don’t want to switch out your TV every few years. Dongles include:
Other Options Beyond a Dongle
You probably won’t want to use your smartphone as a substitute for your TV, but tablets make a great all-in-one solution. You can also connect an iPad to your TV. You can do the same with your Android device. You can use your game console, your tablet, and other devices as well.
Try Streaming a Stand-Alone Service
You probably already know about Netflix and Hulu, which may be what gave you the idea of cutting the cord in the first place. Dozens of options are available now; some consolidate services and others stand alone. Here’s a quick look at just a few of your stand-alone options:
Get Your Cable With Premium Services
Maybe having a streaming subscription that delivers all of the content over the internet is your cut-the-cord solution. There are definitely some advantages to going with one of these services over traditional cable beyond just taking the actual cable that runs into your house out of the equation. And chief among these advantages is the lack of a contract, so you can turn them on one month and off the next. Another huge bonus is the lack of rental fees for equipment such as cable boxes and DVRs. It’s easy to spend $30 to 50 a month in rental fees for traditional cable: Meanwhile, a Roku to stream one of these cable-over-internet solutions would cost you about the same as a single month of those traditional cable rental equipment fees. These streaming alternatives offer local channels in many metropolitan areas and often include a Cloud DVR, so you can “tape” (save) shows for later viewing.
YouTube TV: YouTube’s cable-over-internet service has a great interface for channel browsing and excellent video quality. It also ranks up there with DirecTV Now when it comes to local channel support. A bonus of YouTube TV is the ability to use it with up to five separate YouTube accounts within the same household, including roommates or family. It also offers free DVR with unlimited storage. Sling TV: Sling TV features slim packages. Sometimes, they are too slim, so if you want the full deal with local channels and sports channels, you are going to end up paying as much as you would for another service. Sling also charges for its cloud DVR service, which adds to the monthly fee. Sling TV still beats traditional cable, but it is best for those who are only interested in either their Orange or Blue bundles. If you want the whole package, you might be better off with a different provider. Hulu with Live TV: You can now get Hulu with live television. This package contains local stations in many areas along with the usual content when it comes to entertainment, sports, and news. The channel selection doesn’t quite reach what you can get on DirecTV Now, but because it basically comes with free Hulu, it can be slightly cheaper. Hulu with Live TV is great if you already subscribe to Hulu and want to save money, but extra fees such as buying more cloud DVR storage or expanding the number of screens you can watch the service on from the limitation of two for the standard service might eat up the initial savings. DirecTV Stream: DirecTV Stream offers a package that delivers a cable-like experience without the actual cable. However, it does have one of the worst interfaces, especially on Apple TV. It also lacks the ability to pause live television. One bonus of DirecTV Stream is access to cheap subscriptions for premium channels like HBO and Starz. However, while most of these services make it easy to cancel, DirecTV Stream follows a traditional cable route of forcing you to talk to an agent, making it confusing to cancel.
The Digital Antenna and How to Record on It
It’s still possible to pick up most major channels using a high-definition digital antenna. If the biggest thing holding you back from taking the leap is that you just can’t wait an extra second to watch that television show, a good digital antenna will do the trick. Digital antennae also offer good solutions for recording live television. The TiVo Edge includes the ability to record from an antenna, but you still need to pay TiVo’s $15 a month subscription. Tablo offers a cheaper solution, but it is still $5 a month. Last, there is Channel Master, which doesn’t have a monthly subscription.
Individual Channel Apps Are a Great Option
Most channels have an app these days. Many, especially ones like USA and FX, require a subscription to get access to the good stuff, but some still offer a fair amount of content on-demand without the need for a subscription. Other networks, like HGTV, Smithsonian Channel, and History Channel also offer varying degrees of access to content through their apps. PBS Kids is of special interest to parents. Cutting the cord doesn’t have to mean cutting out cartoons. PBS Kids has free access to a ton of entertaining and educational cartoons.
The Quick and Easy Set-Up
Thanks to all these options, you’ll have plenty to watch and a variety of ways to watch it. There’s a good chance you won’t miss having cable in your life. However, if you are confused after reading so many options, here’s a solid setup for getting started:
First, Buy a Dongle or Antenna (or Both) and Connect to Your Television
Next, Sign up for a Service (or a Couple)
Finally, Just Relax and Watch
You can add or remove services as you wish, so start watching to decide which ones you like best. Our advice: Take advantage of all the free trials available to help you decide exactly how you want to build your television experience.
