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Help me say bye bye to Direct TV

B

Blackhatch

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 3, 2011
28
0
Can't stand the service.

How can I integrate something with Apple TV/Mac Mini, Hulu, and Netflicks to get rid of this abomination.
 
Not quite sure what you want us to tell you? Step-by step of how to set this up? What you should buy? We need more info too...are you out of range of the local TV stations? Do you even need live, local TV? Do you want to watch shows that aren't on iTunes or Netflix currently? Are you a big sports fan?

Long story short...dump DTV and then get an AppleTV for movie and TV show rentals...Netflix for same thing on the ATV2 box. (If you buy a refurb, it will cost you $85.) Antenna hooked to your TV for all local live TV. Easy-peasy.

(Be warned, when I tried to dump my DTV SD service they made me an offer I couldn't refuse: upgrade to HD DVR and most of the programming I was already gettting for $50 less each month!)
 
mstrze said:
Long story short...dump DTV and then get an AppleTV for movie and TV show rentals...Netflix for same thing on the ATV2 box. (If you buy a refurb, it will cost you $85.) Antenna hooked to your TV for all local live TV. Easy-peasy.
Click to expand...

Pretty much what I did - Roku box, Apple TV and a Terk HDTVa antenna. Done.

We're just as entertained as we were before, for hundreds less a year.
 
OK, try this

The new Dish Network HD receivers are Sling compatible. Plug in a Sling adapter to your receiver thats connected to the internet and you can watch live TV or your recorded DVR programs on any computer, laptop, iPhone, iPad anywhere in the world. You can also create timers , delete programs to free up space on the hard drive, just about anything you could want to do you can. The Sling adapter is $99. No monthly service fees or even a one time fee for the option to do this. Just buy the Sling adapter.
 
ibglowin said:
OK, try this

The new Dish Network HD receivers are Sling compatible. Plug in a Sling adapter to your receiver thats connected to the internet and you can watch live TV or your recorded DVR programs on any computer, laptop, iPhone, iPad anywhere in the world. You can also create timers , delete programs to free up space on the hard drive, just about anything you could want to do you can. The Sling adapter is $99. No monthly service fees or even a one time fee for the option to do this. Just buy the Sling adapter.
Click to expand...

But are you not still paying for Dish network under this plan.
 
I'm very close to doing this myself. I live near a big city, so I can get antenna signals. I couldn't give up "enjoying primetime during primetime." Dumping Time Warner seems great, and I really regret signing that price lock guarantee back in the day.
 
blevins321 said:
I'm very close to doing this myself. I live near a big city, so I can get antenna signals. I couldn't give up "enjoying primetime during primetime." Dumping Time Warner seems great, and I really regret signing that price lock guarantee back in the day.
Click to expand...

We dumped cable back in October, have not regretted it once. With the ATV, netflix, eyeTV and now the many AirPlay apps it has been great.

I put an antenna on the roof and we use EyeTV to record all of our "prime time" shows and then dump them into iTunes for viewing.
 
You could switch to cable and live with only having 300 channels like the rest of us middle class folk :p

To be honest I'm not sure what the question is asking.
 
I live in the "sticks" a bit and I am not sure what would be available via antennae.

I have satellite internet right now that is decent. They are upgrading the network very soon and I should be getting about 15-20MB down and 5MB up.

Figuring that my antennae signal is garbage, what combo can I use.

My wife primarily watches food network and the big networks (i.e. Diner Drive-ins and Dives, Glee, Mentalist, etc).

I am somewhat fed up with Pro sport (except hockey) at this point and could care less.

I like the Speed Network and HGTV.

I would like to have something for the family room and the gym so I could DVR and get on the recumbent bike.

I pay Direct TV like $70 for crap out here. I pay about $70 for my phone which I will be getting rid of except for a land line to dial out for the security system.
 
You may be surprised what an antenna will pick up for you but some of the shows you listed are cable only.

It sounds like you are limited with the Internet you have, have you talked to some of the cellphone companies to see what they can do with a broadband connection.

If there is no other way to get Internet except through the satellite then you are stuck, unless you are willing to go with over the air (Antenna = OTA) and then just use something like an ATV to watch DvD stuff.
 
I plan on dumping DirectTV this Friday, and having a go with just the AppleTV, Roku, Netflix and HuluPlus. I may end up spending more time at Hickory Tavern next football season but I'm just not seeing much value in keeping a satellite/cable provider (keeping cable for Internet though). If my cell reception wasn't so piss poor I'd dump my digital phone service as well.
 
From A Buick 8 said:
You may be surprised what an antenna will pick up for you but some of the shows you listed are cable only.

It sounds like you are limited with the Internet you have, have you talked to some of the cellphone companies to see what they can do with a broadband connection.

If there is no other way to get Internet except through the satellite then you are stuck, unless you are willing to go with over the air (Antenna = OTA) and then just use something like an ATV to watch DvD stuff.
Click to expand...

Satellite internet is through a different provider ISP and separate charge than Direct TV.

This is why I want to ditch Direct TV.
 
Blackhatch said:
Satellite internet is through a different provider ISP and separate charge than Direct TV.

This is why I want to ditch Direct TV.
Click to expand...

Then do it, you will find a workaround for about any show you want. We ditched cable back in October and have not missed it at all.

Do you have an iPad or an iPhone, if so you can watch AirPlay Hulu + to the ATV
 
From A Buick 8 said:
We dumped cable back in October, have not regretted it once. With the ATV, netflix, eyeTV and now the many AirPlay apps it has been great.

I put an antenna on the roof and we use EyeTV to record all of our "prime time" shows and then dump them into iTunes for viewing.
Click to expand...

Exact same thing we do and couldn't be happier! I put my Terk antenna in the attic though and it works great.
 
From A Buick 8 said:
Then do it, you will find a workaround for about any show you want. We ditched cable back in October and have not missed it at all.

Do you have an iPad or an iPhone, if so you can watch AirPlay Hulu + to the ATV
Click to expand...

I am going to have to PM you and chat with you about how you set this up.

Thanks.
 
Here's what I use:

Mac mini (2009) plugged into the TV with the following software:

-hulu desktop
-XBMC Media Center
-iTunes
-Safari
-Remote Buddy (or you could probably find other remote solutions, this one just works really well for me)

Other software to consider:
-Transmission
-Boxee
-Plex

I have no cable/satellite and no antenna, just an internet connection. I use my xbox 360 for netflix.
 
mstrze said:
Not quite sure what you want us to tell you? Step-by step of how to set this up? What you should buy? We need more info too...are you out of range of the local TV stations? Do you even need live, local TV? Do you want to watch shows that aren't on iTunes or Netflix currently? Are you a big sports fan?

Long story short...dump DTV and then get an AppleTV for movie and TV show rentals...Netflix for same thing on the ATV2 box. (If you buy a refurb, it will cost you $85.) Antenna hooked to your TV for all local live TV. Easy-peasy.

(Be warned, when I tried to dump my DTV SD service they made me an offer I couldn't refuse: upgrade to HD DVR and most of the programming I was already gettting for $50 less each month!)
Click to expand...
i tried doing the exact same thing. had my antenna up and ready to go. called the cable company and was just going to go with cable internet only no tv. and right there they dropped the price from $97 w/tax down to $62 w/tax and included 10mbps internet and digital cable tv with cable box etc. basically only $30/month for digital cable with box rental on top of the internet. not a bad deal.
 
another MAJOR addition is to add windblows to that mac mini and add in playon server, HOLY SHEEET BATMAN! talk about not needing a service provider!

try playon, pay for the premium license and just watch it all, my 2 favs:

tvlinks and ice films! wow they just have everything including live tv (on another script,) and all sorts of other options, you just have to download the scripts and put them into the correct scripts folders, and your golden, like a shower!

haha

and with xbmc installed you can pick up the playon server on the apple tv or the mac i believe?
 
I dropped DTV the day after the Superbowl and I could not be happier. I am using a late 2009 mac mini with Plex, a Harmony one remote and Remote Buddy. I have a better variety of news programs through Plex than I ever did with DTV. I watch the current days national news everyday as well as HULU.

I do not have an antennae but I'm not much of a sports fan other than N.F.L football towards the end of the season and playoffs. However, I might call my parents and get their Time Warner account info just to try ESPN on the iPad and see if I can stream it to my mini.
 
rmhop81 said:
i tried doing the exact same thing. had my antenna up and ready to go. called the cable company and was just going to go with cable internet only no tv. and right there they dropped the price from $97 w/tax down to $62 w/tax and included 10mbps internet and digital cable tv with cable box etc. basically only $30/month for digital cable with box rental on top of the internet. not a bad deal.
Click to expand...

Cable and satellite companies are ready to deal as they are hemmoraging customers like they have never before with the advent of internet delivery of content. It may not be too far away when cable/sat will be the cheapest option to get TV programming since ISPs will start charging more and putting limits on downloading.

It may become like what long-distance calling has become: In the 80s, it could cost you a dollar a minute to call a friend in another state, but today it's essentially free as part of your cell phone package. I can call anyone, anywhere as long as I don't go over my monthly minutes (I never come close btw). We may see nearly free 'cable-based' television as a bonus to subscribing for high-level internet services that cost upwards of $100 or so in the very near future.
 
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