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Topic: OT - Cable Alternatives

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Cincydawg

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Re: OT - Cable Alternatives
« Reply #350 on: October 24, 2019, 10:28:36 AM »
Our extra cable box here (after one) is $7.41 a month.  I pay for one in the bedroom, fine.  The wife has a small TV in her office that I hooked up to an antenna.  I don't know how many channels she gets but it's enough for her she says.

She watches local news fairly often for weather.  I look at a weather app.  Local news here is a bit more relevant than it was to me in Cincy.

utee94

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Re: OT - Cable Alternatives
« Reply #351 on: October 24, 2019, 10:36:23 AM »
When the modulated signals within the RF carrier frequency switched from analog to digital, the efficiency of the use of the bandwidth was increased dramatically, and broadcasters were able to load a lot more data into the signal.  Consequently, many local broadcasters now support several "channels" within their overall signal.  So if you're acquiring the OTA signal, you can actually get many more "locals" than the cable/satellite providers give you on your settop box.

The locals use those extra channels for various things, some are non-stop weather or radar, some are reruns of vintage shows, and some (like PBS) are just more content from their back catalog, which is actually pretty cool.


betarhoalphadelta

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Re: OT - Cable Alternatives
« Reply #352 on: October 24, 2019, 10:37:39 AM »
Just an interesting point in favor of the antenna...

Way back in the analog days, using an antenna often led to a pretty poor picture, and spotty reception. One of the key selling points of cable at the time was picture quality. 

This has reversed. These days, both cable and satellite have bandwidth limits because they have SO many channels to carry on a limited-bandwidth coax [cable] or limited amount of wireless spectrum [satellite]. It's made even harder, because due to backward compatibility with older set-top boxes, they often have to carry the same channels in older MPEG-2 compression for their old boxes, and carry the same channels in MPEG-4 or HEVC for their newest boxes. They're trying to carry 10 pounds of potatoes in a 5 pound bag, and the only way to do that is to COMPRESS the hell out of the source.

This is also true of streaming and IPTV services, because they're optimizing for bandwidth as well. They have some advantages since they're point-to-point transmissions so they only need to send ONE signal, but they still try to compress it to reduce bandwidth use.

Digital broadcast doesn't have that problem. Each network has their own frequency, and they can broadcast a signal tuned for picture quality rather than tuned for saving bandwidth. And since digital is basically a "you have a picture or you don't" situation, rather than a progressive loss of quality like analog, as long as you are getting a signal, you're getting a 100% quality version of what was originally sent.

As a result, you'll often find that the network TV programming through your antenna actually looks BETTER than what comes across cable, satellite, or streaming. 

Although I now have Hulu Live TV, which includes my locals, I had put an antenna on the house when I used Sling. I actually use the antenna rather than Hulu for most live network sports broadcasts because the signal quality is so much better.

Cincydawg

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Re: OT - Cable Alternatives
« Reply #353 on: October 24, 2019, 10:41:22 AM »
Interesting, makes sense, and indeed cable "back in the day" had great quality (tube TVs) versus over the air.

Someday, someone is going to put together a "Sports Only" option OTA or cable or whatever and charge $35 or whatever.

I don't want those silly channels on my box.

utee94

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Re: OT - Cable Alternatives
« Reply #354 on: October 24, 2019, 10:51:56 AM »
Just an interesting point in favor of the antenna...

Way back in the analog days, using an antenna often led to a pretty poor picture, and spotty reception. One of the key selling points of cable at the time was picture quality.

This has reversed. These days, both cable and satellite have bandwidth limits because they have SO many channels to carry on a limited-bandwidth coax [cable] or limited amount of wireless spectrum [satellite]. It's made even harder, because due to backward compatibility with older set-top boxes, they often have to carry the same channels in older MPEG-2 compression for their old boxes, and carry the same channels in MPEG-4 or HEVC for their newest boxes. They're trying to carry 10 pounds of potatoes in a 5 pound bag, and the only way to do that is to COMPRESS the hell out of the source.

This is also true of streaming and IPTV services, because they're optimizing for bandwidth as well. They have some advantages since they're point-to-point transmissions so they only need to send ONE signal, but they still try to compress it to reduce bandwidth use.

Digital broadcast doesn't have that problem. Each network has their own frequency, and they can broadcast a signal tuned for picture quality rather than tuned for saving bandwidth. And since digital is basically a "you have a picture or you don't" situation, rather than a progressive loss of quality like analog, as long as you are getting a signal, you're getting a 100% quality version of what was originally sent.

As a result, you'll often find that the network TV programming through your antenna actually looks BETTER than what comes across cable, satellite, or streaming.

Although I now have Hulu Live TV, which includes my locals, I had put an antenna on the house when I used Sling. I actually use the antenna rather than Hulu for most live network sports broadcasts because the signal quality is so much better.

Definitely, my locals OTA in Austin look much, much better than any cable/satellite/streaming service I've ever used or seen.

I hate to say it but the SEC broadcasts on CBS over the air in my area, are the best-looking football broadcasts I've ever seen on television.  That's partly because the national CBS network puts a lot of broadcasting experience, expertise, and high quality technology into their broadcasts, and it's partly because the local affiliate concentrates specifically on delivering a consistent, high quality HDTV signal as part of their customer experience.  It all adds up to be a pretty breathtaking picture. 

But don't tell MDT, CD, or OAM I said that. SEC sucks, screw those guys, etc.

Cincydawg

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Re: OT - Cable Alternatives
« Reply #355 on: October 24, 2019, 10:56:30 AM »
Obviously, anything SEC is going to mean more, so they put their best efforts on that.  All the top tech is developed down here anyway, you know, like the cotton gin.

I was watching a thing on SEC N about the history of women's soccer in the SEC and the clarity and quality of the picture was incredible.

I've never had cotton gin, it doesn't sound very good.  The Aviation Gin was just OK.  I had a bit of Tangueray Ten last night with some ice and nothing else.  Excellent.




MrNubbz

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Re: OT - Cable Alternatives
« Reply #356 on: October 24, 2019, 10:56:50 AM »
 For those I have a really good rooftop Winegard antenna that brings in signals I never knew existed locally.
Around next May I will be pulling the plug on cable - is this an option I should look into?Not getting into streaming either F'em all.Will be picking up my own home phone sysytem also - I still have a land line as Cindy is here 2/3rds the time so it's relatively cheap.Next year I'll prolly just be paying for internet
Suburbia:Where they tear out the trees & then name streets after them.

Cincydawg

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Re: OT - Cable Alternatives
« Reply #357 on: October 24, 2019, 10:58:58 AM »
Be sure to buy the "OFFICIAL SEC ANTENNA" if you want the best reception.

utee94

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Re: OT - Cable Alternatives
« Reply #358 on: October 24, 2019, 11:04:18 AM »
Around next May I will be pulling the plug on cable - is this an option I should look into?Not getting into streaming either F'em all.Will be picking up my own home phone sysytem also - I still have a land line as Cindy is here 2/3rds the time so it's relatively cheap.Next year I'll prolly just be paying for internet

There are all sorts of antenna options.  I don't suppose you still have one of these lying around? :)



Just keep in mind that if you cut the cord and DON'T pursue a streaming option, you won't get BTN. ;)




Cincydawg

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Re: OT - Cable Alternatives
« Reply #359 on: October 24, 2019, 11:06:13 AM »
Ever post something in jest and wonder if it's real, and it turns out it is?

https://secantenna.com/




utee94

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Re: OT - Cable Alternatives
« Reply #360 on: October 24, 2019, 11:09:16 AM »
Never had cotton gin either.  I have had cotton candy beer, though.  It was... not good.

betarhoalphadelta

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Re: OT - Cable Alternatives
« Reply #361 on: October 24, 2019, 11:10:33 AM »
Someday, someone is going to put together a "Sports Only" option OTA or cable or whatever and charge $35 or whatever.
There are two hurdles:

  • Local networks
  • ESPN

The local networks basically charge cable/satellite/streaming retransmission fees for the content that they broadcast free themselves. And a LOT of sports, particularly the NFL [which is the crown jewel], are shown on local networks. So while the optimal solution [to reduce subscriber cost] would be to ask the subscriber to put up an antenna for their locals and use the streaming service only for non-broadcast sports, that becomes a highly unwieldy answer for the folks who want one clean solution.

The bigger problem is ESPN. ESPN has as their ENTIRE business model the idea that their content is indispensable and must be offered by any cable/satellite/live-streaming service on the basic tier. This way they get their carriage fee for the entire subscriber base regardless of whether those folks ever watch the channel. Same thing the BTN did with "in-region" providers. The instant they start allowing someone to put it on a "sports-only" tier it starts enabling beleaguered cable companies, who would gladly sell a service WITHOUT ESPN/sports to the cost-conscious folks trying to cut the cord. If they allow this, ESPN's subscriber numbers plummet, and their business model needs to change. It's also the reason ESPN hasn't offered their own stand-alone package--they worry they'll lose leverage over the cable companies--the risk is higher than the reward.

I do agree it will happen someday. But I think ESPN's current business model has to be fractured by other forces before they'll step up to this table, and without ESPN you're toast trying to offer this service.


Cincydawg

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Re: OT - Cable Alternatives
« Reply #362 on: October 24, 2019, 11:12:11 AM »
Cotton candy beer sounds like about the worst thing possible this side of Beer with Pyridine added.

I would take a hard pass on that one.

Everyone is trying to be cute with beer.  The wine industry went through this phase - some of it lingers of course.  The notion of making a quality BALANCED beverage was often lost.

We did a tour of Sweetwater Brewery the other day and a lot of their stuff is excellent.  IMHO.  Balanced, not weird.

betarhoalphadelta

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Re: OT - Cable Alternatives
« Reply #363 on: October 24, 2019, 11:13:20 AM »
Just keep in mind that if you cut the cord and DON'T pursue a streaming option, you won't get BTN. ;)
He's a Buckeye fan. They don't really play on BTN anyway, unless it's a game against an opponent they're favored by 20+. 

 

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