Have a cord-cutting query? We now have solutions

As somebody who writes a weekly column and newsletter about cord-cutting, I are likely to get a variety of questions from readers.

More often than not, I reply to them in personal, however this week I wished to do one thing a bit totally different. I requested readers to ask me something about cord-cutting, regardless of how primary, and made plans to reply my favorites right here on this column. (Longtime readers would possibly recall a similar exercise from a few years in the past.)

In response, I acquired dozens of questions, lots of which might be of curiosity to people as nicely. Listed below are my finest makes an attempt to reply them:

How can I discover the place reveals and films are streaming?

Tony asks: What’s the most dependable method to discover out who’s streaming a present or film you need to see? I need to go to 1 place, kind within the identify of the film or present, and get my reply.

I like to recommend both Reelgood or JustWatch for this. Each websites supply a search operate that appears up motion pictures and reveals throughout dozens of streaming companies. In addition they have apps that you should use on iOS, Android, Fireplace TV, Android TV, and Apple TV units. Reelgood’s cellular app even has a neat method to launch videos on Roku players.

Jared Newman / IDG

Most streaming TV units supply common search features the place you possibly can search for motion pictures or reveals by identify, sometimes by utilizing your voice. That’s value attempting first if you happen to’re already in entrance of the TV.

How typically do streaming reveals expire?

Robert asks: Dash gave me free Hulu with my plan, and I added a number of Nickelodeon TV collection to my watch record final yr. I see that a number of collection will expire this week. Is it regular for collection to run out and if that’s the case, how typically does this occur?

Departures are certainly a daily incidence within the streaming world. Hulu and different companies license a variety of content material from TV networks (akin to ViacomCBS, which owns Nickelodeon), and when these preparations expire, the networks would possibly take their reveals elsewhere. We’re additionally seeing networks transfer their hit reveals onto their very own streaming companies, as we’ve seen lately with The Workplace transferring from Netflix to Peacock or Buddies transferring from Netflix to HBO Max.

The excellent news is that this seldom occurs with unique programming, so Hulu originals like The Handmaid’s Story and Little Fires In all places in all probability aren’t going anyplace. Reelgood, which I simply talked about above, additionally has a handy list of upcoming departures from main streaming companies, so you possibly can ensure you gained’t miss something.

Jared Newman / IDG

What is the deal on pirated video containers?

Kathy asks: A pair years in the past, my handyman mounted me up with a G-Field. I acquired all the main channels and didn’t pay something for streaming besides web. Now the field doesn’t work. I’m assuming it was not authorized to start with. Is the field trash now?

Your assumption might be right. Lately, a cottage industry has formed round “totally loaded” streaming containers operating pirated video sources, and Hollywood studios have been enjoying whack-a-mole attempting to close these companies down. Shopping for considered one of these containers at all times comes with a threat that the free journey will ultimately come to an finish.

With sufficient technical know-how, you would in all probability discover one other service to make use of on the field as a substitute, however that’s not an space of recommendation that I get into.

Can I watch C-SPAN with out cable?

Dave asks: What are some solutions on discovering C-SPAN with out cable? We will’t depart Spectrum due to the dearth of C-SPAN elsewhere.

Proper now, the one method to watch C-SPAN channels with out cable or satellite tv for pc TV is thru AT&T TV, which begins at $70 per thirty days.

However if you happen to’re keen to make do with lower than the total cable expertise, C-SPAN’s website provides reside streams of all federal authorities occasions together with the Washington Journal interview program. Amazon’s Fireplace TV units have an internet browser you should use to navigate to the C-SPAN web site and watch the reside streams, although the expertise is admittedly much less ultimate than a correct app.

One different notice: Spectrum does supply cheaper streaming service to its internet-only subscribers, with C-SPAN included. Should you can reside with C-SPAN’s web-based workaround for a short time, you would possibly be capable of get again on board with Spectrum’s streaming service for lower than what you’re paying now.

Do I would like Wi-Fi if I’ve a wise TV?

”Paris” asks: With all these streaming companies on TV, do you require Wi-Fi even if you happen to’re paying for the service itself?

Quick reply: Sure, you do want web service at dwelling to entry streaming companies.

Lengthy reply: Along with web service, you’ll additionally almost definitely want Wi-Fi, which lets your units entry the web wirelessly as a substitute of by ethernet cables. Should you’re solely paying for TV service now, including web and Wi-Fi simply to chop the wire will in all probability be a wash. (I nonetheless don’t suggest using your phone as a hotspot for cord-cutting, as a result of knowledge caps will severely limit how a lot you possibly can watch.)

Jared Newman / TechHive

What’s one of the best ways to get low-cost web service?

MJ asks: I’ve tried to ditch Comcast, however web alone prices about $100 per thirty days. As soon as I begin to add streaming companies, the fee will get pushed as much as virtually what I’m paying with a less complicated strategy. How do folks get simply the web for an inexpensive value?

It’s true that dwelling broadband competitors is notoriously missing in the US, which suggests you may be caught with costly web suppliers like Comcast even if you happen to drop TV service.

I’ll level out, nonetheless, that you just would possibly be capable of spend much less on web than you assume. Comcast’s non-promotional value for 100Mbps web service is $81 per thirty days, which ought to be greater than sufficient for streaming TV. When you’ve lower the wire, you may additionally uncover new methods of saving cash, like cutting back on big TV bundles and sticking to cheaper streaming services akin to Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+. Greater than the rest, cord-cutting is about supplying you with some flexibility that wasn’t out there earlier than.

What’s the good thing about fiber optic?

Jim asks: AT&T has been digging up lawns on my avenue this week putting in fiber optic cable. What’s going to I achieve from this?

Should you learn my reply to MJ above, contemplate your self fortunate {that a} new high-speed web choice is rolling into city. Should you’re an AT&T DSL buyer now, you would possibly quickly be capable of get a lot quicker service.

And if you happen to’re not an AT&T buyer, you possibly can seemingly use the presence of a brand new competitor to barter a decrease invoice out of your present web supplier. (That’s what I did with Spectrum a pair years in the past, when Cincinnati Bell completed deploying fiber to my neighborhood.)

Martyn Williams / IDG

Why does my antenna reception worsen at night time?

Darren asks: We’ve simply lower the wire and purchased an outside antenna for native channels. Lovely reception—till the solar went down, and every part changed into a pile of steaming pixelation. I attempted a number of re-aim/re-scan operations to no avail. However then, within the morning, all is again to crystal-clear reception. Whaddya assume is up?

This one even stumped me, so I handed it alongside to Joe Bingochea, the president of Channel Master, who recognized a number of potential the reason why over-the-air antenna reception would possibly worsen at night time.

• Some sources of radio frequency interference would possibly solely be popping out within the night, together with HAM radios, mills, and presumably even some LED mild bulbs. And since
• Sign propagation additionally tends to be higher at night time, which suggests these sources may trigger extra interference when the solar goes down. For a similar cause, a person who overamplifies their OTA sign may find yourself with extra interference.

The overarching level right here is that over-the-air TV generally is a recreation of trial-and-error. Transferring the antenna, not utilizing amplification, or investing in an RF or LTE filter would possibly enhance your sign, however they only as simply won’t. Corporations like Channel Grasp cheerily level out that customer support is what separates them from bargain-basement antennas, as they’ll supply to assist when issues go fallacious. However I’ll additionally notice that not everyone needs an antenna to cut the cord within the first place.

Can I exploit TiVo with web video streaming?

Chris asks: I’ve stored cable as a result of I’ve a lifetime subscription to TiVo and document the nightly information. Is there one other method to simply use an web supplier and stick with TiVo? If not, is there one other equipment I may purchase to document broadcast TV?

It will depend on the mannequin. The newest TiVo Edge, for example, has separate cable and over-the-air fashions the place the enter supply shouldn’t be interchangeable. Most TiVo Bolt fashions help both cable or an antenna, however not the three TB variations. To see in case your mannequin works with an antenna, check this guide from TiVo.

Whilst you’re rethinking issues, although, I’d contemplate other over-the-air DVR options, just like the Tablo or Amazon’s Fireplace TV Recast. TiVo’s declining interest in the DVR makes it a much less compelling choice than it was once.

Jared Newman/TechHive

What’s one of the best ways to document from Locast?

Tom asks: What’s the finest and most economical method to document from Locast or different apps? What would I buy, and is it simple to arrange for somebody like me?

Locast, for individuals who aren’t conscious, is a non-profit group that streams local channels without cost in lots of cities (although it requires a $5-per-month donation to cease the stream from closing each quarter-hour). Whereas Locast offers no built-in method to document these channels, there are a pair workarounds.

A $5-per-month service known as Stremium offers a cloud-based DVR for Locast channels by its personal app, out there on Fireplace TV, Android TV, and Roku units. For individuals who are extra technically inclined, Channels DVR allows you to document Locast and a number of other different streaming sources for $8 per thirty days, although you’ll must arrange the server {hardware} your self on a PC, NAS field, Nvidia Protect TV, or Raspberry Pi.

Jared Newman / IDG

Ought to I persist with TiVo or turn out to be a cord-cutter?

Don asks: We’re a TIVO household and I just like the distant and DVR performance lots. We now have sufficient to look at and aren’t too delay by Spectrum’s month-to-month subscription (and despicable charges). Am I being an excessive amount of of a luddite to keep away from becoming a member of the streaming revolution, and sticking with what we all know?

Nope. Whereas reside TV streaming companies akin to YouTube TV and Hulu + Stay TV supply a cable-like expertise (grid information, DVR, and all), they’re nonetheless totally different in a variety of methods. As an example, you gained’t profit from TiVo’s capacity to routinely detect and skip business breaks, and the menu programs will take getting used to. Even the concept of getting to launch an app as a substitute of leaping straight into reside TV may be off-putting to some of us.

Whereas I typically come throughout as an advocate for cord-cutting, I’m a fair larger fan of doing no matter makes you happiest. If which means spending a bit extra to stay with what works, you’ll get no judgment from me.

Due to everybody who despatched in questions! If in case you have extra, be happy to succeed in out over email or on Twitter, and please contemplate signing up for my Cord Cutter Weekly newsletter.

This story has been up to date to make clear which TiVo fashions help cable and over-the-air enter.