After watching your video I decided to give it a try. So I dropped my cable back in Aug. and bought an outdoor antenna I have to tell you that I don't miss it at all. I'm saving about $105 a month on cable bill. I can pick up about 32 channels on my antenna. I got all of the major channels (ABC, CBS FOX) in HD cystal clear picture. I thought for sure that I would miss my sports but I don't. I can watch pretty much any TV show or any sports my computer. I just wanted to thank you for getting me started, I'll NEVER go back to cable.
Melinda thanks a thousand stars. Us Seniors are trying to get on the bandwagon with stepping it up to can the cable. You have help me under the hook ups more clearly. Thanks again.
This is the best thing that happened to me. I have Clear internet, Roku (Amazon, Hulu, Netflix) , Chromecast all for $65 per month! I will never go back!!!! I am looking to upgrade my antenna. Love your system.
Hi Melinda, Thanks for your cogent commentary on this subject. You have an accent just like my wife. The ignorance some so called sophisticated people have about accents never seems to amaze me. Please keep making RUclipss.
Some great suggestions, however, if you hook your PC up to your TV, there's no need to buy a roku. You can get most of that stuff on your computer. Especially the top three, Netflix, amazon, and hulu plus. Heck you can stream hulu's free content without signing up.. the roku can be great for other TV's in the house though. I put my old roku in my daughter's room where there's no cable outlets. It's also very portable. If you have digital copies of movies, etc on your PC, you can stream them to the TV through newer roku models, and some if not all have USB ports that you can stick a flash drive in loaded with your favorite pictures, music, and videos to view on demand as long as they're in a proper format. Most bluray players also have netflix, RUclips, hulu, amazon prime, etc. Thanx for the video. I applause you standing against the money grubbing monopolies in home intertainment- good job, good research, good upload!
seventhson73 You're absolutely right for many it's not an option but notice I did put a little smiley sign behind that comment:) I dropped my cable TV 4 yrs ago tired of paying the high price but was very aware of all the streaming and use of OTA broadcasting back at that time. It's amazing how many people bought their HDTV's and got caught up paying for the HD hoopla and still to this day think they can't enjoy their HDTV investment without paying the satellite or cable company. I was one of those people that over the years didn't think I could live without cable...like since the middle 80's until 4 yrs ago I had uninterrupted cable service for the entire time. Enough was enough. LOL
true, as long as ya got wifi. however you can still watch tons more free stuff on regular PC than the majority of lame channels on Roku. Even alot of the pay stuff sucks on roku. hulu plus, and amazon prime are about the only channels other than netflix worth paying for. and crackle is pretty much the only descent free channel. i do like that you can now stream popular media formats from your pc to roku now though.
-- I've been hopng that there were someone who could show me EXACTLY what you have here. I heard that with the following kinds of set ups you benefit in this way: • A computer gives you the most control, the most options, & the least convenience. • A Roku-like device gives you some control, some options, & some convenience. • An antenna-only hookup gives you the least control, the fewest options, & the most convenience. -- YOU SHOWED ALL THIS. Thanks. That really helped!
Hey Melinda...Thanks so much. You gave me the last tips I needed to make my decision. Bye Rogers....this is the end of an 8 long years relationship where you were the winner. At the end Rogers Cable, It wasn't me. It was you.... ;P
It's been a few months now since I've got my Roku, thanks to you taking the time to post this video, my wife and kids love it,we dumped tons of money with cable before, now my monthly bill is only $40 for some decent internet,and I have ten times what the $179 cable offered. We pushed our savings further paying $1 per month for home phone through "Magic Jack Plus". Thank you so much, I've got four kids and saving a couple hundreds per month sure helps. May God bless you.
Very helpful. I'm paying $200.00 a month for cable, internet and phone with Time Warner! I'm going to do more home work. Thanks for getting me started! Peace!
Cut that cable! I cut the cable about three years ago and never looked back. I was also paying about $200.00 per month and I went to Radio Shack and put an one time fee antenna on the house and I get 45 free local HD stations in the Detroit area and with Roku and an Xbox 360 subscribing to both Netflix and Hulu Plus we have more content options than ever for $64.00 per month.
Thank you for the comment. Sounds like a good plan. You're saving some serious cash! I did buy an Apple TV. Now, if we could find a place to view HBO? That's the tuff one for us. Any advice on HBO? Does Netflix or Hulu Plus carry it? Thanks again.
No, HBO now that's a hard case, they don't want to give up viewing rights unless they are getting paid so unless you have a cable subscription it's not happening. Maybe someday, but not today lol!!
I'm thinking hard on this one, lol! We stopped going to the movies every weekend. Now, we are taking baby steps to free up more cash. We have a package deal with Time Warner...cable, landline and internet. I know we lose the land line, but what do you do for internet? Thanks for sharing!
Very good, last week I cut my time warner BILL from $100 to $53. I used to have Internet+HD TV, now I have better Internet speed and BASIC CABLE. I have NETFLIX in every tv in my hause.
But Melinda , you still took the time out to help millions of people who can not afford even local TV .... times were tought back then and even getting harder on man people now . and if this little bit of free knowledge can help people to pay their bills and enjoy a little free TV. .... Something my MOM & DAD had for FREE in the 50's - 70's ..... then i think you have done a wonderful thing ...... i for one am looking foward to your non-pro video ! Your new fiend , Jon & Salvador pup
You are really knowledgable! This was good stuff. I dumped cable over 2 yrs ago: tired of being raped by these monopolies. All my friends were like, "You're crazy. I couldn't live without cable, etc". ok. That's a sweet setup you have there but for myself I don't even need the cable "replacement" setup. I had Netflix for a year and rarely watched it. I'm probably in the minority but I have all I want to entertain myself with just my laptop and the Internet. Great video! Thanks!
It's now been over a year and a half and I'm still without cable and I STILL don't miss it. Since my last post I've now added XBMC so I can pretty much watch anything I want. For people who are still curious just give it a try. I for one can tell you that it will save you money. So long cable, FOREVER!
Thank you so much for this. I think more of this is relevant than you think. If you updated this I would watch it for sure. You did a very good job of explaining everything and this video is extremely useful.
Thanks for this!!!! That's a lot of cords but it's worth it to save the money! I only need one of these for my 5yr old to watch the occasional cartoon so I may just get the HDMI cord and a router and see how that works first. Thanks again!
I told people years ago that they would be happy for digital tv, aka ATSC. Uninformed people were complaining about full screen and wide screen, blu-ray and dvd. Glad people realize that it has improved their lives. And thank you for informing them on how to get it free.
After being downsized and losing a chunk of my income, dumping Cable and DirecTV was a first resort to conserve. Your video here is AWESOME, a few channels I always watch you just showed as being available on here. This is great! Thank You for the unprofessional video, you have helped me out greatly!
Yo, peeps. It's Melinda here. I can't believe this video is still here, kicking around. I made this YONKS ago. Most of it isn't even valid anymore. But I'm not going to update it because I don't know what I'm doing (obviously). I'm not a videographer and this quality sucks. For those you you who don't like it: That's OK. We are all entitled to our opinions. I guess I just don't understand how some people can get so angry at my stupid video. But whatever. For those of you who do like it: Thank you. Glad you got something out of it. For everyone: Have a great day and happy travels in your daily lives! Melinda
+Melinda Pfeiffer Thanks for trying to inform folks of their options to ditch Cable. Back when you did this video, it was alright and yet now that I watched it again, it seems very "grainy" in some areas for some reason. I really appreciate folks like yourself that take time out of their buisy schedule to Try to inform people of "Options" they may have available to "cut the cord". Presently I'm thinking of getting Roku 3 and either Amazon Prime or Hulu, and maybe Netflix. I cut Cable TV about a year ago, and to be Honest, I don't really miss it with all the "Free" options available online. My Cable bill was around $120 per/mo. for High speed internet and Cable TV. I'm still weighing my options vs Price (value) because where I live (Central Mass.) the Cable provider has a Monopoly on the whole area. Again, Thanks for taking the time and stay Blessed! (and informed!) : )
Hey Melinda, I love this video. It doesn't matter if its out of date. I'd love to see you do some more reviews of things like this, for everyday people, which isn't a flashy complicated affair. This video is unique in its style and as you can see it has over 1 MILLION views! That should tell you just how good you are. Please do some more videos, on anything you like. Photography, technology you have, things you've bought, you are an inspiration.
Hi Melinda: Thanks for taking the time to document and share your setup. As a fellow cable cutter, I agree that you can lots of money and increase your flexibility! I've got a similar setup with: Westinghouse 1080p HTDV, Apple TV, Mohu Leaf Antenna and Windows PC running as iTunes Media Server. I've also got two Mac Mini's but they are connected only by wireless. I get very good performance connecting via Ethernet on AppleTV and Windows PC.
ingenious! Never would have thought of using an antenna to pick up over the air stations! Wish I had these 13 minutes back. Unbelievable what folks put up on youtube.
good job. I wish my cable bill was only $72 more like $120 for cable and internet and phone. I had to pay $40 for a backup battery less than 9 months ago and now Comcast says their modem is outdated and I should get a new one and buy another $40 battery. They disconnected my phone internet and on demand without our knowledge because they heard noise on our line, so they put a filter on at the pole and it took over 3 weeks to figure it out. No phone. Sick Sick of Comcast. We are research your option now. We use wd live boxes and are looking at a whole house antenna. You did an excellent job and this seems very easy.
I cut the cable and I'm saving over $100 a month! I installed a $40 HD attic antenna (for broadcast TV) and a router (for internet). Since my wife and I don't watch very much TV, it's wonderful. We were able to watch the Olympic games for free and since we watch movies far more than TV we just use Netflix, Amazon and your tube. Looking into ROKU as well. Tell the cable crooks you are jumping ship! I did and I don't miss any of it!
I too have successfully ditched cable tv. I use Roku and a wifi connection from my computer, as well as an indoor antenna. Loving it, I get 23 channels! My only "entertainment": bill is internet now, woohoo!
God bless you, Melinda! A very nice presentation letting me know what I can do without paying way too much for very little broadcasting. As technology has moved forward, I am sure you have as well. Am going to look for a follow up video from you. I am just now realizing that I can say goodbye to DirecTV and Verizon, this video helped me to realize that with the right equipment, I can do without those overpriced gluttons. I have been paying so much for so little. No more.
Thanks for sharing this!! This is the new wave that cable is forcing us into! I can see internet costs skyrocketing and Directv & Comcast crossing into streaming content online.
Thank You ! I just ordered a new tv and it came with a free Roku stick ,I am one that dose not want to pay for cable ... haven't paid in many years but not much to watch so been watching more on my lap top . it will be nice to watch on a TV again
Thank you! This is very helpful! We're tired of paying through the nose for our cable and are looking for other options. Your video is a very informative resource. Thanks again for taking the time to do this...very much appreciated!! :o)
Thank you Melinda, especially for the info on PlayOn and connecting a digital antenna. We use a WD Livewire Powerline AV Network to extend our network throughout the house. It carries signals up to 200 Mb/s and audio, to the TV, in full surround. Like the Roku, its inexpensive and a snap to install. Thanks again; and, keep up the great work.
Thanks a lot for the inspiration. This is something I'd been considering for sometime. I am hoping to connect it into the cable feed so this content could be available in all rooms. Great video.
Just a note Melinda, Mad Men wasn't/isn't on HBO - it's an AMC show. Maybe you don't have regular cable or Fios either? You are giving a lot of good information with this video, thanks.
I love you! I did the same exact thing about 6 month ago. Yup! Roku, local broadcast and HDMI to the tv through the desktop or laptop. I don't miss the $210.00 a month bill either! Loved your down to earth video! :)
Thank you very much for going out of your way to explain the additional options, we here in Australia are for the most part always slightly behind the US when it comes to technology ect but we do have theses apps available and also something very similar to the Roku, beats forking out large amounts of money for a cable subscription! once again thanks.
Melinda, Could you describe the extender device and converter box for me and where you got it? I already have most of which you have as I was about to do what you have done. Thanks,
You have to setup the extender hardware through a computer as it needs to be logged into your current router, but the extender can be put anywheres within range of the origional wifi router after setup. So lets say you cant get wifi signal into your basement. Once the extender is setup, leave your wifi router where it is and move the extender into that general area within range and it will transmit wifi into that area for dvd players, roku, laptops, cell phone tablets whatever. Personally, I would just get a really good wifi router.
Good job! Alot if good information to those that don't know how to set there tvs up. I basically did the same thing you did. What kind of antenna did you buy? Please! I live 50 miles from the nearest broadcast tower.
Great job Melinda. I'm a TV junky (News) and still have my cable (Need my NASCAR,). But I've too added a ROKU and a FTA Satellite system which gives me over 300 stations (mostly foreign broadcasts, but the whole system can be had for less that $300 with no monthly bill).... I'm going to get an OTA digital antenna like yours next. Currently have a main TV in the "mancave" and 3 smaller ones, tuned to Fox News, CNN Intl, Press TV, and Al Jazeera (or sometimes Russia Today)..
Thank you for having this video. I only have a few questions. 1) when the providers learn of this work around, do you think they will mobilize to remove this option? 2) Once the providers have closed this door, would it be okay if I told you a story, or maybe you tell me one - WARNING - user may encounter original content. All in all- thank you for giving me a hint as to how to put $77 of my own dollars back in my own pocket. And if the after dinner landscape turns to a dried up desert, then I'll tell you a story- or read a book. I am employed, educated, and with mortgage- and I just can't afford to pay for .... that I don't even watch. Sorry I am so boarder line poor- but I can't afford to do the pay thing anymore...
We've installed an antenna in the attic and receive 26 channels. 45 miles northwest of Nashville TN in Clarksville TN we're thrilled to turn off the local cable and still get HD quality. We connected the laptop computer and have all the internet content plus the antenna channels all for $35.00 for internet fee. We due use Hulu and Netflix.
Very much appreciated video Melinda, Thank you.. Thank you all who commented as well. I learned so much, I had to take notes! We all need to pass along our own idea's/ways, of saving money. It's about time we stop the GREED!!
I like your review. My husband and I have also stopped getting cable for a while and really just went with Netflix, Crackle and Hulu plus, BUT, all reality is that they show OLD shows and not up to date shows like what is streaming LIVE on cable and satellite TV. If there is any device or software to help people like you and me to download live shows, and WE GET TO CHOOSE WHAT NETWORKS, like "a la carte" style, then I will definitely pay for something then. For now, cable is outrageous. Thanks!
Thanks Melinda for posting this. I have the same model mac like the one in the video and I keep getting the wrong adapter. Can you tell me what kind of adapter you got for your MacBook Pro and where you purchased it?
Good video. Lots of info. I think a lot of people are afraid to cut the cord because they have to control several devices, but I'd save the money every month! PlayOn now has PlayLater, so you can record for later viewing.
Thank you so much for making this video. It's really helpful that you give us a few options. By the way, if you break up your video into a few segments...you can re-edit using RUclips Video editor. It's a simple, easy tool to use for editing purposes. Again, Thank you for posting your video!
This video was great I just this past weekend picked up the Roku 2 HD and I wanted to keep researching on how I could get regular TV stations and and get Hulu Plus and netflix and so on. This was a great explanation. Which plan did you get and are you happy with it? Do you have the Play later? I'm really glad I happened upon your video.
Please clarify the Internet connection for me. Do you get your Internet through your antenna or through the Roku? And to understand even better, does the HDMI cable connected to your TV give you automatic Internet connection without paying a monthly fee to a cable or satellite company?
Hi Melinda, Thanks for the info, no matter how old it is. Too funny though- I have the same antique cabinet as you do! I believe it was an old TV cabinet? It belonged to my husband's grandmother. :)
This is great! Thank you for sharing. What type of internet access do you use? For instance, I was considering losing my Century Link (Qwest) Broadband and going with my cell provider, Verizon. The cell phone modem would save me $ but I'm afraid I would not get good power. Any comments?
Hi Melinda. I would recommend a logitech remote and key board. Check out their higher end stuff at any major store in the area. They are universal, and they make keyboards with track balls or touch pads. You provided a lot of good info, i do the things you do minus the extender. Playon's lifetime set up is a steal especially considering some of the more interesting third party. Streamfree has private apps for Roku and Playon. Good stuff there.
Melinda, though I am nowhere near Raleigh, I can fill in the gaps for you about the TV signals. WUVC 40 is the Univision (Spanish language) station. It was English independent WKFT. WLFL 22 was the Fox station, then WB now CW. WRAZ 50 is Fox. And 50.2 is MeTV, one of the classic TV channels, along with ThisTV and Antenna TV found on WRAL 5.2 and WNCN 17.2 respectively. And 28 is MyNetwork's WRDC-TV (formerly NBC affiliate WPTF-TV)
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I have been frustrated with pay services for a while, (had U-verse and dumped it for our local Coax cable service, still frustrated!) and have been doing research about this lately myself. Want to "Cut the Cord"! Would you mind telling us what antenna you went with?
Thanx Melinda - Almost a REAL nice video. Point off for not having your face in the whole video. And you pointed to boxes and gave tidbits of info but not enough for me to know what to go get. I have a couple old CRT tvs - do I need seperate hardware for each of them? What's the make of the antenna? What about the digital to analog converter for a CRT tv? So many questions. I'm in Durham.
I also live in Raleigh and cut the cord in August of 2011. In the Raleigh area there are about 35 over the air stations you can pic up with the digital antenna. Also a big part of cable bundles is phone service. I went with Ooma. There is also Magic Jack Plus. Google those two for more info. Good video.
Very informative video - i saw you had a Bravo plug in; how did you get that? that's one channel I want to make sure we have. I was looking on PlayOn's site and did not see it listed as a channel. thanks in advance for your help!
Hi. I recently bought Roku and was excited to see that you have PlayOn. However, I searched Roku and don't see it available... how did you get it downloaded on your Roku? Thanks
Jp, I think its cool people experemnt with electronic gadgets , seems like shes pretty intellegent and I enjoyed learning a few things about stuff i didnt know about before! :)
We do this all the time, and I have not noticed any slowdown or any problem. I have a pretty fast Internet connection, though. Good luck! I just spent my weekend watching the US Open over my HD antenna, and the picture was as good or better as my sister's, who has Time Warner Cable. But MY experience was free. YEA!!!
Very Smart woman, Likes to stay up to-date on things and does a very good job at it. I also love your review this is really great'' I just have one question would you choose the Roku over the Sat-light Direct ? the new 3,000 channels i herd it was worth it. Just was wondering what you would pic if you were to buy over again for instance. Roku or Sat-lite direct. There is another one i herd about called direct stream but i herd its no good'.
Question: You are using your computer for RUclips, but thought youtube was available on the Roku.....I'm trying to decide which one to buy, b/c I want youtube on my tv w/out having to run my computer.
It looks like you have an apartment? If not, I would recommend a roof antenna and if you have an attic you can even put it in there if you don't feel comfortable going on your roof. Roof antennas are actually pretty cheap ($20 for a small one and up to around $150 for a very large one) and so if you can install it yourself, it would be worth it.
I've used the Roku for some time but finally switched to a media center pc using an Asus eeebox 1501. I stream all my video over gigabit lan from a 6TB server upstairs in our house... I run it over XBMC and pseudoTV. Works damn well and I set it up so I can seamlessly switch from XBMC to Hulu Plus. If I need something like live TV I do have an FTA satellite setup, I've just not used it yet....
I've noticed that most computers don't have an HDMI output:) In the rare case you have HDMI out of your computer, unless you have a laptop, you will be carrying your computer close to the TV to plug in your HDMI or have to run a very long HDMI across your room from your computer. Roku is wireless and also you don't have to turn on your computer to use it. Just change the input on your TV remote and you're good to go as the Roku links up to your modem wirelessly. They're always adding new channels to Roku. Also, unlike Apple TV, you can watch Amazon Prime instant stream movies with Roku. One other benefit is many DVD players have Roku built in these days so that allows for viewing from the bedroom TV too. Same thing, you set it up to connect to your home wireless setup. At the end of the day, whatever works for people is always better than paying the high fees every month for cable/satellite. It was 4 yrs this past September since I made the change.
Going on three years without cable tv. I have not missed at all. Thinking out switching to Roku, or adding to my blu ray streaming player. I don't get as many football games as I did with cable, how many games do you need to watch. NBC has a Sunday nite game, and FOX and CBS has a game or two(double header). If your local team is playing a Monday nite or Thursday nite game, you can usually see that game on a local channel.
with this in house antenna, do you have a metal roof?. many with a metal roof the only way to have good reception is to have a roof top antenna set-up. regards
Channel 22, WLFL--is a CW Network station--Channel 28--WRDC( Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill--MyRDC) is not NBC--it is Independant although somewhat affilliated with WLFL. I tend to agree with most of your points with one exception--If a person lives outside a Metropolitan Area, digital signals DO NOT propagate well...Raleigh and Durham Stations do not make it consistently more than 30 miles(approximately) outside of Line of Sight( DTV, signals are weak-Line of Sight transmission similar to FM Radio broadcasts) Viewers in remote areas( Viriginia Border for example) need an Outdoor Digital Antenna to receive signals consistently without a lot of pixellation and drop outs...I have found that Roku(and/or similar) are a better option for multiple channels on TV. As for computer..I find that watching Network TV View on Demand via "Watch shows online" the best(better) option to see movies/series that can not be received over the air. Still, thanks for your efforts in this reveiw.
I cut the cord on cable in 1992 and I don't miss it. You can pick up over 90 digital channels in my area with simple rabbit ears. My friend Dan always brags about his deluxe cable package. He pays almost $200 a month but I've noticed something about his viewing. Most of the stuff he watches is available on free TV. I told him he would be better off using that $200 to buy Blu rays. You can get used Blu rays for as cheap as five bucks at the used record stores.
Bought a Roku last summer from Amazon for $45. Been enjoying it ever since. Do you think I should dump DISH Network? I've been paying close to $68 a month, and ending up with no food at month's end.
Since I made the previous comment, I removed myself from DISH's Top 120, and went to a lower basic package. Now I pay less than $45 a month, and have a little more eatin' money.
My comcast bill was over $210 dollars for basic tv and internet. I have been waiting years to build up courage and cut the cord. One month into it...I dont miss comcast tv one bit. You have to have a plan before you do this. Here are my content sources: 1) buy indoor antenna to get free true HD network channels free, 2) Buy Roku box (I bought roku 3 because you can use ethernet straight from router to roku for best speed & quality. 3) Hit up your local library for free tv series & dvd. Ours has large selection. 4) Supplement the above three with netflix. My monthly comcast bill went from $212 dollars to $65 and I don't feel I am missing anything. One thing I did do was upgrade my network - purchased my own cable modem (zoom 5341J - its has IPv6 capability - you will need this soon), Asus RT-N66U dual band router (IPv6 capable and is able to operate on 2.4 ghz & 5 ghz bands - you will need this soon also).
I'm already subscribe to Hulu+, Netflix, and Acorn, watch only one hour of cable TV per day (or less), have a Roku 3, and can (torrent) download almost anything you can think of, and STILL don't have the courage to cut the cord. I hate Comcast and am paying them $170 per month. Geez, this addiction to CableTV is awful. BTW, you didn't mention if you're using an HD antenna or not?
I am using a leaf antenna (think it cost $30). It was surprising at first because network channels are being broadcasted in true HD. I didn't know what true HD looked like until you receive it over the airwaves instead of thru busy comcast data lines.
Great information...I just like to point out that when you sign up with Roku, they ask that you provide a credit card number or paypal account in order to use the device so that you can make purchases. It is very important that you add a security code to make purchases, that way you can avoid paying for something by mistake.
After watching your video I decided to give it a try. So I dropped my cable back in Aug. and bought an outdoor antenna I have to tell you that I don't miss it at all. I'm saving about $105 a month on cable bill. I can pick up about 32 channels on my antenna. I got all of the major channels (ABC, CBS FOX) in HD cystal clear picture. I thought for sure that I would miss my sports but I don't. I can watch pretty much any TV show or any sports my computer. I just wanted to thank you for getting me started, I'll NEVER go back to cable.
Melinda thanks a thousand stars. Us Seniors are trying to get on the bandwagon with stepping it up to can the cable. You have help me under the hook ups more clearly. Thanks again.
This is the best thing that happened to me. I have Clear internet, Roku (Amazon, Hulu, Netflix) , Chromecast all for $65 per month! I will never go back!!!! I am looking to upgrade my antenna. Love your system.
Hi Melinda, Thanks for your cogent commentary on this subject. You have an accent just like my wife. The ignorance some so called sophisticated people have about accents never seems to amaze me. Please keep making RUclipss.
Some great suggestions, however, if you hook your PC up to your TV, there's no need to buy a roku. You can get most of that stuff on your computer. Especially the top three, Netflix, amazon, and hulu plus. Heck you can stream hulu's free content without signing up.. the roku can be great for other TV's in the house though. I put my old roku in my daughter's room where there's no cable outlets. It's also very portable. If you have digital copies of movies, etc on your PC, you can stream them to the TV through newer roku models, and some if not all have USB ports that you can stick a flash drive in loaded with your favorite pictures, music, and videos to view on demand as long as they're in a proper format. Most bluray players also have netflix, RUclips, hulu, amazon prime, etc. Thanx for the video. I applause you standing against the money grubbing monopolies in home intertainment- good job, good research, good upload!
Or get a smart TV:)
seventhson73 You're absolutely right for many it's not an option but notice I did put a little smiley sign behind that comment:) I dropped my cable TV 4 yrs ago tired of paying the high price but was very aware of all the streaming and use of OTA broadcasting back at that time. It's amazing how many people bought their HDTV's and got caught up paying for the HD hoopla and still to this day think they can't enjoy their HDTV investment without paying the satellite or cable company. I was one of those people that over the years didn't think I could live without cable...like since the middle 80's until 4 yrs ago I had uninterrupted cable service for the entire time. Enough was enough. LOL
true, as long as ya got wifi. however you can still watch tons more free stuff on regular PC than the majority of lame channels on Roku. Even alot of the pay stuff sucks on roku. hulu plus, and amazon prime are about the only channels other than netflix worth paying for. and crackle is pretty much the only descent free channel. i do like that you can now stream popular media formats from your pc to roku now though.
-- I've been hopng that there were someone who could show me EXACTLY what you have here. I heard that with the following kinds of set ups you benefit in this way:
• A computer gives you the most control, the most options, & the least convenience.
• A Roku-like device gives you some control, some options, & some convenience.
• An antenna-only hookup gives you the least control, the fewest options, & the most convenience.
-- YOU SHOWED ALL THIS. Thanks. That really helped!
Hey Melinda...Thanks so much. You gave me the last tips I needed to make my decision. Bye Rogers....this is the end of an 8 long years relationship where you were the winner. At the end Rogers Cable, It wasn't me. It was you.... ;P
It's been a few months now since I've got my Roku, thanks to you taking the time to post this video, my wife and kids love it,we dumped tons of money with cable before, now my monthly bill is only $40 for some decent internet,and I have ten times what the $179 cable offered. We pushed our savings further paying $1 per month for home phone through "Magic Jack Plus". Thank you so much, I've got four kids and saving a couple hundreds per month sure helps. May God bless you.
Thanks Melinda for taking your time and sharing this video. Great job
Very helpful. I'm paying $200.00 a month for cable, internet and phone with Time Warner! I'm going to do more home work. Thanks for getting me started! Peace!
TW sucks Big Time !
Cut that cable!
I cut the cable about three years ago and never looked back. I was also paying about $200.00 per month and I went to Radio Shack and put an one time fee antenna on the house and I get 45 free local HD stations in the Detroit area and with Roku and an Xbox 360 subscribing to both Netflix and Hulu Plus we have more content options than ever for $64.00 per month.
Thank you for the comment. Sounds like a good plan. You're saving some serious cash! I did buy an Apple TV. Now, if we could find a place to view HBO? That's the tuff one for us. Any advice on HBO? Does Netflix or Hulu Plus carry it? Thanks again.
No, HBO now that's a hard case, they don't want to give up viewing rights unless they are getting paid so unless you have a cable subscription it's not happening. Maybe someday, but not today lol!!
I'm thinking hard on this one, lol! We stopped going to the movies every weekend. Now, we are taking baby steps to free up more cash. We have a package deal with Time Warner...cable, landline and internet. I know we lose the land line, but what do you do for internet? Thanks for sharing!
Very good, last week I cut my time warner BILL from $100 to $53.
I used to have Internet+HD TV, now I have better Internet speed and BASIC CABLE. I have NETFLIX in every tv in my hause.
You are the first video who made this " dropping cable" make sense to me....
But Melinda , you still took the time out to help millions of people who can not afford even local TV .... times were tought back then and even getting harder on man people now . and if this little bit of free knowledge can help people to pay their bills and enjoy a little free TV. .... Something my MOM & DAD had for FREE in the 50's - 70's ..... then i think you have done a wonderful thing ...... i for one am looking foward to your non-pro video ! Your new fiend , Jon & Salvador pup
You are really knowledgable! This was good stuff. I dumped cable over 2 yrs ago: tired of being raped by these monopolies. All my friends were like, "You're crazy. I couldn't live without cable, etc". ok. That's a sweet setup you have there but for myself I don't even need the cable "replacement" setup. I had Netflix for a year and rarely watched it. I'm probably in the minority but I have all I want to entertain myself with just my laptop and the Internet. Great video! Thanks!
It's now been over a year and a half and I'm still without cable and I STILL don't miss it. Since my last post I've now added XBMC so I can pretty much watch anything I want. For people who are still curious just give it a try. I for one can tell you that it will save you money. So long cable, FOREVER!
Thank you so much for this. I think more of this is relevant than you think. If you updated this I would watch it for sure. You did a very good job of explaining everything and this video is extremely useful.
Thanks for this!!!! That's a lot of cords but it's worth it to save the money! I only need one of these for my 5yr old to watch the occasional cartoon so I may just get the HDMI cord and a router and see how that works first. Thanks again!
I told people years ago that they would be happy for digital tv, aka ATSC. Uninformed people were complaining about full screen and wide screen, blu-ray and dvd. Glad people realize that it has improved their lives. And thank you for informing them on how to get it free.
After being downsized and losing a chunk of my income, dumping Cable and DirecTV was a first resort to conserve. Your video here is AWESOME, a few channels I always watch you just showed as being available on here. This is great! Thank You for the unprofessional video, you have helped me out greatly!
Yo, peeps. It's Melinda here. I can't believe this video is still here, kicking around. I made this YONKS ago. Most of it isn't even valid anymore. But I'm not going to update it because I don't know what I'm doing (obviously). I'm not a videographer and this quality sucks.
For those you you who don't like it: That's OK. We are all entitled to our opinions. I guess I just don't understand how some people can get so angry at my stupid video. But whatever.
For those of you who do like it: Thank you. Glad you got something out of it.
For everyone: Have a great day and happy travels in your daily lives!
Melinda
+Melinda Pfeiffer Thanks for trying to inform folks of their options to ditch Cable. Back when you did this video, it was alright and yet now that I watched it again, it seems very "grainy" in some areas for some reason. I really appreciate folks like yourself that take time out of their buisy schedule to Try to inform people of "Options" they may have available to "cut the cord". Presently I'm thinking of getting Roku 3 and either Amazon Prime or Hulu, and maybe Netflix. I cut Cable TV about a year ago, and to be Honest, I don't really miss it with all the "Free" options available online. My Cable bill was around $120 per/mo. for High speed internet and Cable TV. I'm still weighing my options vs Price (value) because where I live (Central Mass.) the Cable provider has a Monopoly on the whole area. Again, Thanks for taking the time and stay Blessed! (and informed!) : )
Where did you think the video was going to go?
Hey Melinda, I love this video. It doesn't matter if its out of date. I'd love to see you do some more reviews of things like this, for everyday people, which isn't a flashy complicated affair. This video is unique in its style and as you can see it has over 1 MILLION views! That should tell you just how good you are.
Please do some more videos, on anything you like. Photography, technology you have, things you've bought, you are an inspiration.
Hi Melinda: Thanks for taking the time to document and share your setup. As a fellow cable cutter, I agree that you can lots of money and increase your flexibility! I've got a similar setup with: Westinghouse 1080p HTDV, Apple TV, Mohu Leaf Antenna and Windows PC running as iTunes Media Server. I've also got two Mac Mini's but they are connected only by wireless. I get very good performance connecting via Ethernet on AppleTV and Windows PC.
great job of displaying the options -- thanks so much Melinda
ingenious! Never would have thought of using an antenna to pick up over the air stations! Wish I had these 13 minutes back. Unbelievable what folks put up on youtube.
good job. I wish my cable bill was only $72 more like $120 for cable and internet and phone. I had to pay $40 for a backup battery less than 9 months ago and now Comcast says their modem is outdated and I should get a new one and buy another $40 battery.
They disconnected my phone internet and on demand without our knowledge because they heard noise on our line, so they put a filter on at the pole and it took over 3 weeks to figure it out. No phone. Sick Sick of Comcast. We are research your option now. We use wd live boxes and are looking at a whole house antenna. You did an excellent job and this seems very easy.
save money by get a DD-WRT complaint router or modem.
What is the brand and model of your router extender? Also, can you get channels off of Apple TV, like on Roku?
I cut the cable and I'm saving over $100 a month! I installed a $40 HD attic antenna (for broadcast TV) and a router (for internet). Since my wife and I don't watch very much TV, it's wonderful. We were able to watch the Olympic games for free and since we watch movies far more than TV we just use Netflix, Amazon and your tube. Looking into ROKU as well. Tell the cable crooks you are jumping ship! I did and I don't miss any of it!
I too have successfully ditched cable tv. I use Roku and a wifi connection from my computer, as well as an indoor antenna. Loving it, I get 23 channels! My only "entertainment": bill is internet now, woohoo!
God bless you, Melinda! A very nice presentation letting me know what I can do without paying way too much for very little broadcasting. As technology has moved forward, I am sure you have as well. Am going to look for a follow up video from you. I am just now realizing that I can say goodbye to DirecTV and Verizon, this video helped me to realize that with the right equipment, I can do without those overpriced gluttons. I have been paying so much for so little. No more.
Thanks for sharing this!! This is the new wave that cable is forcing us into! I can see internet costs skyrocketing and Directv & Comcast crossing into streaming content online.
Thank You ! I just ordered a new tv and it came with a free Roku stick ,I am one that dose not want to pay for cable ... haven't paid in many years but not much to watch so been watching more on my lap top . it will be nice to watch on a TV again
Thank you! This is very helpful! We're tired of paying through the nose for our cable and are looking for other options. Your video is a very informative resource. Thanks again for taking the time to do this...very much appreciated!! :o)
Comcast just went up to 140 a month for the bundle package. I mean WOW, what kind of cable antenna do you have?
Nice! Concise and easily understandable. Great job Melinda!!!
Thank you Melinda, especially for the info on PlayOn and connecting a digital antenna. We use a WD Livewire Powerline AV Network to extend our network throughout the house. It carries signals up to 200 Mb/s and audio, to the TV, in full surround. Like the Roku, its inexpensive and a snap to install. Thanks again; and, keep up the great work.
Thanks a lot for the inspiration. This is something I'd been considering for sometime. I am hoping to connect it into the cable feed so this content could be available in all rooms. Great video.
Just a note Melinda, Mad Men wasn't/isn't on HBO - it's an AMC show. Maybe you don't have regular cable or Fios either? You are giving a lot of good information with this video, thanks.
I love you! I did the same exact thing about 6 month ago. Yup! Roku, local broadcast and HDMI to the tv through the desktop or laptop. I don't miss the $210.00 a month bill either! Loved your down to earth video! :)
Thank you very much for going out of your way to explain the additional options, we here in Australia are for the most part always slightly behind the US when it comes to technology ect but we do have theses apps available and also something very similar to the Roku, beats forking out large amounts of money for a cable subscription! once again thanks.
need to get this equipment will check with amazon to see need your help to figure this all out thanks
Melinda,
Could you describe the extender device and converter box for me and where you got it? I already have most of which you have as I was about to do what you have done. Thanks,
You have to setup the extender hardware through a computer as it needs to be logged into your current router, but the extender can be put anywheres within range of the origional wifi router after setup. So lets say you cant get wifi signal into your basement. Once the extender is setup, leave your wifi router where it is and move the extender into that general area within range and it will transmit wifi into that area for dvd players, roku, laptops, cell phone tablets whatever. Personally, I would just get a really good wifi router.
The lady have almost 500,000 views from just two videos! I give the lady her hand! (*clap *clap)
Good job! Alot if good information to those that don't know how to set there tvs up. I basically did the same thing you did. What kind of antenna did you buy? Please! I live 50 miles from the nearest broadcast tower.
Good info but did you actually save any money with all the contraptions that you bought along with their attachments?
Great job Melinda. I'm a TV junky (News) and still have my cable (Need my NASCAR,). But I've too added a ROKU and a FTA Satellite system which gives me over 300 stations (mostly foreign broadcasts, but the whole system can be had for less that $300 with no monthly bill).... I'm going to get an OTA digital antenna like yours next.
Currently have a main TV in the "mancave" and 3 smaller ones, tuned to Fox News, CNN Intl, Press TV, and Al Jazeera (or sometimes Russia Today)..
Thank you for having this video. I only have a few questions. 1) when the providers learn of this work around, do you think they will mobilize to remove this option? 2) Once the providers have closed this door, would it be okay if I told you a story, or maybe you tell me one - WARNING - user may encounter original content. All in all- thank you for giving me a hint as to how to put $77 of my own dollars back in my own pocket. And if the after dinner landscape turns to a dried up desert, then I'll tell you a story- or read a book. I am employed, educated, and with mortgage- and I just can't afford to pay for .... that I don't even watch. Sorry I am so boarder line poor- but I can't afford to do the pay thing anymore...
We've installed an antenna in the attic and receive 26 channels. 45 miles northwest of Nashville TN in Clarksville TN we're thrilled to turn off the local cable and still get HD quality.
We connected the laptop computer and have all the internet content plus the antenna channels all for $35.00 for internet fee. We due use Hulu and Netflix.
Nice clear presentation.What is the name or brand tv antenna?
Very much appreciated video Melinda, Thank you..
Thank you all who commented as well. I learned so much, I had to take notes!
We all need to pass along our own idea's/ways, of saving money. It's about time we stop the GREED!!
I like your review. My husband and I have also stopped getting cable for a while and really just went with Netflix, Crackle and Hulu plus, BUT, all reality is that they show OLD shows and not up to date shows like what is streaming LIVE on cable and satellite TV. If there is any device or software to help people like you and me to download live shows, and WE GET TO CHOOSE WHAT NETWORKS, like "a la carte" style, then I will definitely pay for something then. For now, cable is outrageous. Thanks!
Melinda
Thanks for this video, could you tell me where to buy the TV box and your antenna?
I live in Durham, NC
Thanks Melinda for posting this. I have the same model mac like the one in the video and I keep getting the wrong adapter. Can you tell me what kind of adapter you got for your MacBook Pro and where you purchased it?
Good video. Lots of info. I think a lot of people are afraid to cut the cord because they have to control several devices, but I'd save the money every month! PlayOn now has PlayLater, so you can record for later viewing.
Thank you so much for making this video. It's really helpful that you give us a few options.
By the way, if you break up your video into a few segments...you can re-edit using RUclips Video editor. It's a simple, easy tool to use for editing purposes.
Again, Thank you for posting your video!
This video was great I just this past weekend picked up the Roku 2 HD and I wanted to keep researching on how I could get regular TV stations and and get Hulu Plus and netflix and so on. This was a great explanation. Which plan did you get and are you happy with it? Do you have the Play later? I'm really glad I happened upon your video.
Please clarify the Internet connection for me. Do you get your Internet through your antenna or through the Roku? And to understand even better, does the HDMI cable connected to your TV give you automatic Internet connection without paying a monthly fee to a cable or satellite company?
Thank you. I just finally got a new TV and this is what I needed to know.
Great vid. I got antenna tv and I love watching the people's court and keeping up appearances. People think that's crazy.
Hey Sheri, Aint Nobody Got Time For That!
Hi Melinda, Thanks for the info, no matter how old it is. Too funny though- I have the same antique cabinet as you do! I believe it was an old TV cabinet? It belonged to my husband's grandmother. :)
This is great! Thank you for sharing. What type of internet access do you use? For instance, I was considering losing my Century Link (Qwest) Broadband and going with my cell provider, Verizon. The cell phone modem would save me $ but I'm afraid I would not get good power. Any comments?
Hi Melinda. I would recommend a logitech remote and key board. Check out their higher end stuff at any major store in the area. They are universal, and they make keyboards with track balls or touch pads. You provided a lot of good info, i do the things you do minus the extender. Playon's lifetime set up is a steal especially considering some of the more interesting third party. Streamfree has private apps for Roku and Playon. Good stuff there.
I really really do admire woman like you who do kinda geek stuff,you're amazing mel.cheers mate :)
Melinda, though I am nowhere near Raleigh, I can fill in the gaps for you about the TV signals.
WUVC 40 is the Univision (Spanish language) station. It was English independent WKFT.
WLFL 22 was the Fox station, then WB now CW. WRAZ 50 is Fox. And 50.2 is MeTV, one of the classic TV channels, along with ThisTV and Antenna TV found on WRAL 5.2 and WNCN 17.2 respectively.
And 28 is MyNetwork's WRDC-TV (formerly NBC affiliate WPTF-TV)
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I have been frustrated with pay services for a while, (had U-verse and dumped it for our local Coax cable service, still frustrated!) and have been doing research about this lately myself. Want to "Cut the Cord"! Would you mind telling us what antenna you went with?
Good Job,Melinda! Thanks!
Thanx Melinda - Almost a REAL nice video. Point off for not having your face in the whole video. And you pointed to boxes and gave tidbits of info but not enough for me to know what to go get. I have a couple old CRT tvs - do I need seperate hardware for each of them? What's the make of the antenna? What about the digital to analog converter for a CRT tv? So many questions. I'm in Durham.
I also live in Raleigh and cut the cord in August of 2011. In the Raleigh area there are about 35 over the air stations you can pic up with the digital antenna. Also a big part of cable bundles is phone service. I went with Ooma. There is also Magic Jack Plus. Google those two for more info. Good video.
Thank you Melinda for a very informative video. I learned so much.
This is exactly what I'm thinking of doing since I pay about $200 a month for my triple package with AT&T UVerse. Thank you.
Thanks for all the good info on how to still have a life and save money.
I like Ancient Aliens too but please get out once in awhile. Enjoyed the vid.
now, if only roku could show RUclips videos.... now THAT would be heaven!
Thanks Melinda, that was a great presentation.
Very informative video - i saw you had a Bravo plug in; how did you get that? that's one channel I want to make sure we have. I was looking on PlayOn's site and did not see it listed as a channel.
thanks in advance for your help!
Thanks for the info!!!
Does playon channel on requires a subscription?
Hi. I recently bought Roku and was excited to see that you have PlayOn. However, I searched Roku and don't see it available... how did you get it downloaded on your Roku? Thanks
If I just wanted a few channels like the first ones you showed would I need to buy anything other than the antenna? I don't have cable right now.
Jp, I think its cool people experemnt with electronic gadgets , seems like shes pretty intellegent and I enjoyed learning a few things about stuff i didnt know about before! :)
We do this all the time, and I have not noticed any slowdown or any problem. I have a pretty fast Internet connection, though. Good luck! I just spent my weekend watching the US Open over my HD antenna, and the picture was as good or better as my sister's, who has Time Warner Cable. But MY experience was free. YEA!!!
Very Smart woman, Likes to stay up to-date on things and does a very good job at it.
I also love your review this is really great'' I just have one question would you choose the Roku over the Sat-light Direct ? the new 3,000 channels i herd it was worth it.
Just was wondering what you would pic if you were to buy over again for instance.
Roku or Sat-lite direct. There is another one i herd about called direct stream but i herd its no good'.
Are you still able to watch playon and station channel one :) on the roku 3?
Question: You are using your computer for RUclips, but thought youtube was available on the Roku.....I'm trying to decide which one to buy, b/c I want youtube on my tv w/out having to run my computer.
+frugalshopaholicdiva Go Roku
It looks like you have an apartment? If not, I would recommend a roof antenna and if you have an attic you can even put it in there if you don't feel comfortable going on your roof. Roof antennas are actually pretty cheap ($20 for a small one and up to around $150 for a very large one) and so if you can install it yourself, it would be worth it.
I've used the Roku for some time but finally switched to a media center pc using an Asus eeebox 1501.
I stream all my video over gigabit lan from a 6TB server upstairs in our house... I run it over XBMC and pseudoTV. Works damn well and I set it up so I can seamlessly switch from XBMC to Hulu Plus.
If I need something like live TV I do have an FTA satellite setup, I've just not used it yet....
Very informative. Thank you Melinda. Hope all is fine in Raleigh. Go N.C. State.
i made the mistake of commenting prior to watching -- i will be purchasing play on this weekend.... thank you...
I've noticed that most computers don't have an HDMI output:) In the rare case you have HDMI out of your computer, unless you have a laptop, you will be carrying your computer close to the TV to plug in your HDMI or have to run a very long HDMI across your room from your computer. Roku is wireless and also you don't have to turn on your computer to use it. Just change the input on your TV remote and you're good to go as the Roku links up to your modem wirelessly. They're always adding new channels to Roku. Also, unlike Apple TV, you can watch Amazon Prime instant stream movies with Roku. One other benefit is many DVD players have Roku built in these days so that allows for viewing from the bedroom TV too. Same thing, you set it up to connect to your home wireless setup. At the end of the day, whatever works for people is always better than paying the high fees every month for cable/satellite. It was 4 yrs this past September since I made the change.
i had hdmi on my computer back in 2010 maybe youre talking about store bought pc
Going on three years without cable tv. I have not missed at all. Thinking out switching to Roku, or adding to my blu ray streaming player. I don't get as many football games as I did with cable, how many games do you need to watch. NBC has a Sunday nite game, and FOX and CBS has a game or two(double header). If your local team is playing a Monday nite or Thursday nite game, you can usually see that game on a local channel.
Thank you for your demo video, Glad you said play-on. Liked the apps. God Bless.
I like that white book shelf.. where did you buy that? hopefully this tv setup works for me i live in durham
Thank you for doing the research, and providing it to us in one video. This gives me much to think about. =)
with this in house antenna, do you have a metal roof?. many with a metal roof the only way to have good reception is to have a roof top antenna set-up. regards
Sweet vid! How much do you pay monthly for your 18Mbps and who's your provider?
Channel 22, WLFL--is a CW Network station--Channel 28--WRDC( Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill--MyRDC) is not NBC--it is Independant although somewhat affilliated with WLFL.
I tend to agree with most of your points with one exception--If a person lives outside a Metropolitan Area, digital signals DO NOT propagate well...Raleigh and Durham Stations do not make it consistently more than 30 miles(approximately) outside of Line of Sight( DTV, signals are weak-Line of Sight transmission similar to FM Radio broadcasts) Viewers in remote areas( Viriginia Border for example) need an Outdoor Digital Antenna to receive signals consistently without a lot of pixellation and drop outs...I have found that Roku(and/or similar) are a better option for multiple channels on TV.
As for computer..I find that watching Network TV View on Demand via "Watch shows online" the best(better) option to see movies/series that can not be received over the air. Still, thanks for your efforts in this reveiw.
I was looking into getting Roku but have yet to find anyone that says it's great. Hulu sucks btw. Is Roku worth buying?
I cut the cord on cable in 1992 and I don't miss it. You can pick up over 90 digital channels in my area with simple rabbit ears. My friend Dan always brags about his deluxe cable package. He pays almost $200 a month but I've noticed something about his viewing. Most of the stuff he watches is available on free TV. I told him he would be better off using that $200 to buy Blu rays. You can get used Blu rays for as cheap as five bucks at the used record stores.
Thanks, Melinda. Can you get closed captioning on your shows?
Bought a Roku last summer from Amazon for $45. Been enjoying it ever since.
Do you think I should dump DISH Network? I've been paying close to $68 a month, and ending up with no food at month's end.
lmao sorry to hear that
Joan Herrera It's OK. As long as I got enough change, I can still eat.
Since I made the previous comment, I removed myself from DISH's Top 120, and went to a lower basic package. Now I pay less than $45 a month, and have a little more eatin' money.
***** You are hilarious.
***** Lol I feel your pain. I do nearly the same with Comcast.
My comcast bill was over $210 dollars for basic tv and internet. I have been waiting years to build up courage and cut the cord. One month into it...I dont miss comcast tv one bit. You have to have a plan before you do this. Here are my content sources: 1) buy indoor antenna to get free true HD network channels free, 2) Buy Roku box (I bought roku 3 because you can use ethernet straight from router to roku for best speed & quality. 3) Hit up your local library for free tv series & dvd. Ours has large selection. 4) Supplement the above three with netflix. My monthly comcast bill went from $212 dollars to $65 and I don't feel I am missing anything. One thing I did do was upgrade my network - purchased my own cable modem (zoom 5341J - its has IPv6 capability - you will need this soon), Asus RT-N66U dual band router (IPv6 capable and is able to operate on 2.4 ghz & 5 ghz bands - you will need this soon also).
I'm already subscribe to Hulu+, Netflix, and Acorn, watch only one hour of cable TV per day (or less), have a Roku 3, and can (torrent) download almost anything you can think of, and STILL don't have the courage to cut the cord. I hate Comcast and am paying them $170 per month. Geez, this addiction to CableTV is awful. BTW, you didn't mention if you're using an HD antenna or not?
I am using a leaf antenna (think it cost $30). It was surprising at first because network channels are being broadcasted in true HD. I didn't know what true HD looked like until you receive it over the airwaves instead of thru busy comcast data lines.
Great information...I just like to point out that when you sign up with Roku, they ask that you provide a credit card number or paypal account in order to use the device so that you can make purchases. It is very important that you add a security code to make purchases, that way you can avoid paying for something by mistake.