I have delayed writing this for a few weeks now, but I cut the cable on cable one month ago this week. \u00a0My delay was really to see what the impact was as a result of our decision. \u00a0Here are the facts – my cable bill was $100 a month (after they raised it again without warning), the alternative total cost was $150, annual savings will be $1200, we are all still alive, and I have really not missed anything.<\/p>\n
Really, I had enough. \u00a0Like most people, I have and love my HDTV. \u00a0Honestly, I am not sure how I lived without the HD quality before it was available. \u00a0We had TV at our disposal. \u00a0With some 250+ channels we could be watching anything at any time.<\/p>\n
So I started researching alternatives last fall. \u00a0I found that you can mount a HD antenna and pick up all the over the air channels that are within your reach. \u00a0Those that broadcast in HD will be received in HD. \u00a0Additionally, I was trying to decide if I should invest in a AppleTV box. \u00a0My mind was made up last fall, but I delayed the change due to the death of, and subsequent book on, Steve Jobs. \u00a0Thinking that Apple may have some alternative to what I was about to do, I delayed my action. \u00a0Everything was put back in motion when Apple failed to give a solid alternative in their February announcement. \u00a0I did, however, get the AppleTV. \u00a0The cost of the AppleTV, since it was not necessarily a part of the solution, is not included in the $150 investment.<\/p>\n
Concerned about my investment and change, I made sure I could return the antenna if things did not work out. \u00a0My son and I gave it a try. \u00a0With him standing on the deck and me scanning the available antenna channels, I could see that there were 65 channels in my area that could be found. \u00a0Not every channel was showing up. \u00a0Several days later, I mounted the antenna on the house and most, if not all, of those 65 channels came in. \u00a0Some were Korean, some Spanish, some shopping, some radio – 65 channels!<\/p>\n
The first Monday of this past month I called my satellite provider and canceled. \u00a0They were very inquisitive as to why I wold make such a decision and offered to cut my monthly expense. \u00a0Since that had not offered to do that over the last four years, I said “no thanks”. \u00a0Today we have no satellite or cable TV.<\/p>\n
Honestly, my son is going through withdrawal. \u00a0I think he is counting the days until he can graduate high school, get a job, move to his own place, and have ESPN reconnected. \u00a0My wife misses some of her shows, but she has found many of them on Netflix or the internet. \u00a0Additionally, she has found some new shows that she is now hooked on. \u00a0For me, the loss of continuous news, weather, and sports have been noticed but far from missed.<\/p>\n
Once I found it would work, I bought a splitter to allow the signal to be split to three TV’s. \u00a0That may have caused an issue. \u00a0It seems that one of the TV’s will not pick up a weak signal after they come through the splitter. \u00a0After trying to adjust the antenna, I have lost a few channels on that one TV. \u00a0I need to re-adjust the antenna or I may be required to invest in another, separate, antenna for that one TV. \u00a0That may cost a little more, but I am still way, way, way under that $1200 annual charge to watch a screen that shoves commercials at me several times an hour.<\/p>\n
It does work! \u00a0you may want to give it a try.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I have delayed writing this for a few weeks now, but I cut the cable on cable one month ago this week. \u00a0My delay was really to see what the impact was as a result of our decision. \u00a0Here are the facts – my cable bill was $100 a month (after they raised it again […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,22,16,10,11,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-958","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-coaching","category-encouragement","category-life","category-personal","category-productivity","category-saving-money"],"yoast_head":"\n