Thinking of Cutting the Cord? (Part 2)

In my last post, I talked about the why people might choose to get ride of their cable/satellite subscription (aka "cut the cord") and a few options for getting content, including over the air broadcasts and streaming services like Netflix, Hulu+, and Amazon.  This post will focus more on some of the options to get that content onto your TV screen.  This consideration really depends on which streaming services you plan to use and if you will be incorporating over-the-air channels.

Apple TV
It's no secret I'm a bit of an Apple fanboy (ok, maybe more than just a bit of one) but they make a great product.  We have an Apple TV and there is a lot to love about it, especially if you have a Mac, iPhone, iPad, or all of the above.  The interface is great; simple and elegant. Airplay, which is the ability to send content from your Mac/iOS device to your TV can be quite useful. Most people have their music library in iTunes and Apple TV let's you play the library directly from your computer via home sharing and/or play the songs you've purchased from iTunes directly from the cloud.  You can use Apple TV to stream both Netflix & Hulu+ and you can purchase and rent movies/shows through iTunes.  I highly recommend the Apple TV as a streaming device, especially for those with iOS devices, but if you are cutting the cord, I don't think it would make a good choice for your primary streaming device.  Sure, you can get Netflix, Hulu+, iTunes, and more, but it is lacking a lot of other content options provided by other devices.  However, if you have the budget ($99), and have iOS devices, it is a nice addition to your media options.  You can read more about Apple TV at Apple's website.

Roku
While I don't think the interface on Roku can compete with Apple TV it has way more content.  Not only does it have Netflix, Hulu+, Blockbuster, Vudu, and Amazon, it has over 700 more channels worth of content including multiple free movie channels. With all of that content, you are sure to find something to watch. We have a Roku HD in our bedroom and it does a great job of delivering a wide range of options, and from what I've seen, the interface on the new Roku 3 is much improved.   Roku also gives you the ability ability to play songs and display photos from your smartphone on your TV.  If you are doing over-the-air as part of your cord cutting strategy, I can't recommend Roku as your primary device, but if you have the budget ($99), it can make a great addition to your streaming options due to all the extra content it provides.  If you don't care about over-the-air DVR functionality, then I believe this is your best option for streaming devices.  You can read more about Roku at their website.

Boxee TV
Boxee TV takes the basic streaming device and adds support for over-the-air channels. It supports a few different "apps" (services) including Netflix, Vudu (for on-demand movie rentals/purchases), YouTube, Vimo, MLB.tv and Pandora. You can't access Hulu+ content at this point, so if you plan to subscribe to that service, then this may not be the device for you. For $10 a month, you can add on the Boxee TV cloud DVR service and record unlimited over-the-air content and to watch on your TV or on your smartphone/tablet anywhere you have internet access. That is a great feature, but, unfortunately, the Cloud DVR service is only available in eight major metro areas right now. Given the lack of DVR availability and limited content options, the Boxee TV will not be a good choice for most people. However, I think they have a great concept and as content options and DVR service availability expand, this device may become a great option.  You can read more and view market availability of the Cloud DVR Service at Boxee.TV

Tivo Premier
Like Boxee TV, the Tivo Premier takes a streaming device and adds a DVR and guide for over-the-air channels. Unfortunately, there is a monthly subscription fee of $15 which might cause you to shy away from this option. Unlike Boxee, the DVR is built into the device on a local hard drive and can store up to 75 hours of HD content. That should be more than enough for your over-the-air content.  While the Tivo Premier doesn't support anywhere near the amount of content that the Roku does, it supports the streaming services you are likely to care about most. Netflix & Hulu+ content are available for those who subscribe to those services. On demand content may be purchased and/or rented from providers like Amazon and Blockbuster. YouTube is supported, as are multiple music streaming services. Tivo has integrated search that allows you find content and understand your options for viewing it (over-the-air channels, subscription services, or on-demand rental/purchase). I have decided this is the primary streaming device we will be going with. For us, an over-the-air DVR was an important consideration and the ability to do an integrated search should help us easily locate content we are interested in.  We already have a Roku in our bedroom, but may find spending an additional $99 to add one to the family room will complement the great options the Tivo Premier provides.  You can read more about the Tivo Premier at the Tivo webiste.

Other Options
Some other common options for streaming include gaming systems (such as Wii, PlayStation, and Xbox), Google TV, as well as many blu-ray players and Smart TVs. I wouldn't recommend these options for cord cutters as they have limited content options, but if you already have one, it certainly would be a budget friendly approach.

In the end, it really depends on your needs as to which of these devices would be best for you. At this point, my recommendation is Roku for those who don't require over-the-air DVR functionality and Tivo Premier for those who do.  Of course, if your budget allows, adding a secondary device can increase your content options.   Once we "cut the cord" and have been cable/satellite free for a bit, I'll write a follow-up blog to let you know what I think of the experience.

September 2013 Update:  Boxee is no longer an available option and I've written a follow-up post that discusses my experience with TiVo and some new over-the-air DVR options.  You can read more here

Fluoridation Statement

At our February meeting, the OPUD board voted 3-2 to discontinue fluoridation of the water supply in Olivehurst in Plumas Lake.  First 5 Yuba asked the board to reconsider our decision and we did so on 3/21.  After hearing from public on both sides of the issue, and receiving a petition signed by 130+ residents urging us to strop fluoridation, I read this statement:


At previous board meetings I've indicated that my decision to vote to stop fluoridation was not an easy one as the issue is very complex and not black and white.  However, the more time I spend considering this topic, the more black and white it has become for me and the more I believe my vote was the right one.

One area that I believe isn't black and white is the benefit of  fluoridation verse the possible risks.  There are very passionate people and arguments on both sides of this debate.  Frankly, I think the benefit is less than is claimed by some on the pro-fluoridation side while the risk is less than that portrayed by some on the anti-fluoridation side.

What I believe is black and white is the argument that OPUD should not be adding a substance to the water that is used for a medical purpose, especially when there are alternative treatments and residents have approached this board and asked us to stop.  I believe our customers have a right to have water that is fluoride free.  Those OPUD customers who wish to add fluoride to their water have the ability to do so.  Those who want water without fluoride have no easy way to remove it. 

I would support donating the funding we spent on fluoridation to improve dental care for the economically disadvantaged in our community.  However, based on my experience on this board, I anticipate that doing so would be considered "a gift of public funds" and would not be allowed.  Interesting that it is ok for us to spend rate payer money on improving dental health as long as it is done through the water supply and not directly, where I believe it would make the most difference. 

I want to thank the citizens who have stepped up and made your desires and concerns on this topic known to the board, no matter which side you were on. While we received feedback from those on both side of the issue,  I personally heard from far more residents who wanted fluoridation stopped and I hope the board listens to our constituents and upholds our decision last month to discontinue it. 

After directors had an opportunity to comment, a vote was taken and the result was the same as the month before.  Essentially, a 3-2 decision to stop fluoridation.

Thinking of Cutting the Cord? (Part 1)

In 2012, for the first time ever, the number of cable & satellite subscribers in the US actually declined over the previous year. The number of channels available on cable/satellite continues to increase...but so does the cost. Many people stare at a guide with hundreds of channels and realize that there isn't anything on they are interested in. An increase in channels does not equal an increase in value if you don't watch most of them. Sure most of us have some regular shows we record and watch with our DVR but we are getting an increasing amount of the content we watch on our TV via streaming services such as Netflix. This is causing many people to "cut the cord" and rely on streaming services and over the air broadcasts for their TV content. We plan to join them. While there can be some serious savings associated with "cutting the cord" it isn't for everyone and there are plenty of things to consider.

The first is availability of content. While streaming services such as Netflix & Hulu+ have an amazing amount of movies and popular shows you can stream, as well as shows they produce, chances are they don't have current seasons of the shows you watch right now. Hulu+ is the exception and has many recent episodes from the broadcast networks but you are unlikely to find current seasons from cable channels like TNT, Discovery, History, etc. The good news is there is an alternative. You can purchase episodes of most cable network shows on Amazon (and iTunes) for $1.99 an episode. We watch several shows we will have to purchase from Amazon, but will still be far less than our current satellite bill.

If you are like us, you like to watch your local news and/or other live TV like sports from the major networks. For most people, "cutting the cord" doesn't have to mean giving this up. The major networks are still broadcasting their programming and as long as you are within range of their signal, you can get a crystal clear digital picture for FREE, which in many cases is in HD. To get an idea what channels you can get at your house, visit antennaweb.org and plug in your address. You can also get similar information from tvfool.com.

We are just over 50 miles north of the primary broadcast towers for the Sacramento area. It was clear from the research that we would need an outdoor antenna and one that could get both UHF and VHF stations. This is because in the Sacramento area both PBS (6.x) and ABC (10.x) are still broadcasting on VHF frequencies.  Something confusing about the digital transition is that broadcast stations now have virtual channels, such as 3.1, and an associated RF broadcast channel.  For example, KCRA 3.1 (NBC) actually broadcasts on RF 35.  If you want to pick up stations that broadcast on RF channels < 14 you will need an antenna that supports VHF as well UHF.  Otherwise, a standard UHF antenna will meet your needs.

Given our distance and need for both UHF & VHF, I went with the Clearstream 2V from Antenna's Direct. I've hooked up the antenna to test it out and I'm able to pick up ALL the major Sacramento stations crystal clear [3.1 (NBC), 3.2 (MeTV), 6.1 (PBS), 6.2 (PBS2), 6.3 (vME), 10.1 (ABC), 10.2 (ABC2), 13.1 (CBS), 29.1 (ION), 29.2 (Qubo), 29.3 (ION Life), 29.4 (Shop TV), 31.1 (CW), 40.1 (FOX), 40.2 (AntennaTV), 58.1 (MyTV), 58.2 (ThisTV)].

Yuba County is the northern boundary of the Sacramento TV market and by getting a multidirectional antenna, I hopped to pull in a few stations from the north of us as well.  Chico news sometimes provides more coverage of our area than do Sacramento stations.  I expected to get CBS 12.1 and possibly FOX 20.1 from Chico, but was unable to do so.  While the Clearstream 2V is able to pick up signals from the back side of the antenna, it can't do that with the same strength as the side I have pointed toward Sacramento...not to mention my roof is likely blocking the signal from the north.  This goes to show that your mileage may vary from what antennaweb.org says.  It depends on antenna placement, design, and what might be between you and the broadcast tower.

In a follow-up post, I talk about some devices you can use to stream your content and which one I plan to use.