Is there a Villages Cord Cutters Club?
 

Does anyone have any information regarding this topic? I thought there was a person or club here in the Villages where they would give people who were interested factual information on the topic?

The reason why I'm interested is because as people move to the Villages, we are seeing a different generation of individuals who already stream and only need internet service vs a cable box system. But there are still many who come from a generation of cable TV with cable boxes, want to reduce their monthy bill and need help understanding what streaming is and how to make the transition if they want to.

You will always need internet service. Check around for the best deal. We go rid of the Cable TV part but still wanted to get network channels (ABC NBC CBS etc). That is were it will get more expensive. YouTube TV is your best choice but after the specials expire it will cost you $90 tax incl a month. That said it is great service and unlimited DVR recording. If you have a Smart TV you need nothing else or you can use a Roku device or Fire Stick. You can run YouTube TV on all your TV sets at no extra charge. If you don’t care about the major Networks there are lost of choices that are free or very low cost. Bottom like is that cord cutting will save you some money but not a ton of money.

There's nothing complicated about it.

"Cable" or "Internet Providers" provide the access, other sources provide "content".

Picture it as a company puts a 8" conduit under your land and you pay for that and you get to put as many "wires" through it, as you want. Internet provides the "conduit" (you pay for it), then you pay for whatever other wires (content) you want or need.

The only thing that changes from your previous "cable provider", is your content comes over the Internet, instead of a physical cable.

Various providers offer "packages", just like your old Cable company did. YouTube, Hulu, Sling, Peacock, Amazon Prime, Netflx.

Agree that there is a lot of information out there. Club for this? Don't think so.

Like everything else in our world technology is taking over. Have 3 vehicles and one has a transmission shifter on the steering wheel stalk, another has the old style automatic floor shifter and the 3rd vehicle has a push button shifter.

Bet today that the younger/tech savvy people will give you too many choices and that can change next week.

Not that complicated, even a caveman can do it. Ask your kids or grandchildren.

Exactly, ask the grandkids. We only have internet service. The grandkids explained apps we can add to our smart TV or phone. Tubi, a free app, provides us with free fox news.
The app also has hundreds of movies and older TV shows to choose from.

We pay $4.99 for the CBS (Paramount) app. This is primarily for a second source of daily news. Much needed during hurricane season.

We downloaded the ABC and NBC apps plus a few others. We do not pay for these. The current shows on these apps are free a few days after original airing. We usually are not home to watch much TV. We do not mind the wait.

I aways had a television antenna from the time I got my first home. I also only use FREE streaming.

You should be able to do a search on here to find most of your answers as I know it’s been discussed vs. needing a club. Many seem to like YouTube tv. The best way to learn is to take the cable box back and go explore. Do you have a smart phone? It’s the same concept only a larger version of it. You will need a smart tv or if you don’t have one then a simple fire stick or Roku.

The internet is full of factual information. If no club use the internet. It’s easy, if you do need help there are “tech guys” you can hire.

Cutting the cord is easy. Simply drop the cable service.

Then get internet only from a provider. Now stream content, research your options for the type of programming you desire.
Depending on the apps installed on your TV you may need a device such a Firestick & ROKU.

Just one website. There’s others, including some excellent YouTube videos. No club needed.

Cut the cord: Your guide to canceling cable and streaming TV online | Tom's Guide

Just me

Cable vs streaming
 

I agree with all the replies. Just beware that if you lose your internet service you will also lose your tv viewing. Be sure to have enough mbps or the streaming will buffer.

Exactly..
 

Really, it is not complicated.
1) Get " basic internet only" from your lowest cost provider of your choice.
2) Add a ROKU stick or Fire stick or ONN stick etc to an HDMI port of your TV. (OR, if you have a smart TV, use your Smart TV Apps if you prefer; your choice.)
3) Select "Apps" to install on the "Stick"; many are preinstalled, many have free content. Many provide Network Tv content; some are also free.
Subscribe to fee based Content only if you need to. Favorites seem to be Netflix, Peacock, Paramount+, Hulu, Sling, literally hundreds available.

I don’t know if there is a club, but you can search this forum for more information. We had John’s Antennas in Ocala install and aim our antenna. We are in Linden and reception is great. Some of the fancy channels are missing, so we can stream utube, Hulu, peacock if we want. You tube allows you to pause your account btw. We use that frequently.
The downside of the antenna is we may need to re-aim it after extremely high winds. Also, there may be changes in ota signals in the near future. Give John a call if you are antenna oriented. He can fill you in, and installs good equipment for a reasonable price.

Ota!

I’ve been streaming content over 20 years. I stream content to my cars so I don’t need Sirius/xm.
A couple of points:
1) it’s a fallacy o think you can save money by streaming. You need internet whether you stream or not so forget about those costs. Any streaming service costs is over and above your internet costs.

2) it’s also a fallacy that a single streaming service will provide you with all the content you will need.

3) watch out for certain services if they are legal. Some of these you better be using vpn so your tv ip addresses cannot be tracked.

Every year for over a dozen years, I compare most streaming services to what I currently use. And to this date, I would be spending more money and get less functionality compared to what I have today, what I’ve had for decades. I can be anywhere in the world (if have done this for over a decade) and watch live tv or watch anything that I’ve recorded on my Terabytes of storage.

Before cutting the cable tv service, you need to sit down and come up with a list of all the channels your shows come on. My wife and I have a long list and it takes multiple streaming services to get what we want. I think it took 4 or 5 providers to get all the channels we like to watch. When you add all these costs up, it was more than our current service. For a couple decades I have negotiated a monthly cost for my tv channels. A couple years ago, we did switch to these 4 or 5 providers to get everything we watch and it cost more and it was a mess. We use Apple TV 4K boxes so every provider had an app so it’s easy to get to each provider and Apple TV devices have more smarts in them compared to your Roku or fire sticks. YouTube tv doesn’t provide everything but it’s a good start. So if you want to watch a different channel, you had to get out of the YouTube app and then get into say Hulu or shudder or paramount+ or Apple TV and others. Then you have to remember that this show is only on Hulu or it’s only on something else.
Then, the recording functionality of some of these providers don’t exist. Right now, I can record 15 different shows at the same time to a number of hard drives, a lot of the providers don’t provide recording and don’t buy off that you can always get to a show/concert because it’s online, because that’s also a fallacy. So after using many streaming providers for almost a year, we went back to our provider we used for ma y decades. I still have some streaming services because they are free from our cell phone provider, but overall, it’s a much simpler environment to use daily.

There is always an option to go with iptv to get thousands of channels for the cheap. If you do, you better use a vpn service for every tv or you could get a surprise knock on your door.

I was looking for someone to install an antenna. Thanks!

Step one Internet provider
Step two get a smart TV.. For us a smart TV with RUKU build in is the easiest.
On Ruku you have over 400 over the air channels.. We save a few from Orlando including all the major networks.

Then we also have a streaming apps. Netflix, Hulu, Discovery plus, and Amazon Prime comes with your Amazon membership.

Long story short for about $100 a month you have more entertainment options when you want them than cable could ever provide.

First buy a new TV if yours is more than 10 years old. They come preloaded with apps just like your phone does. Decide on an internet provider and have them hook up your main TV. All your other TVs in the house can hook up to the internet by Bluetooth (wireless). TV’s when turned on will look for it. Once internet is connected press any app like Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Amazon Prime and follow the directions to set up a new account. You’ll pay monthly for each service (App) you sign up for. Each app offers different live channels, movies, tv series, documentaries. You can sign up for as many or as few of these “streaming “ services you want. Each time you turn on your tv you will choose which app you want to”stream” (watch).

To compare the streaming services go to "Suppose TV". Suppose | Compare Cable, Satellite & Streaming TV Services

That’s on top of cost for Internet. What’s that cost you?

Also live At Linden. Installed a Antenna in the garage and have plenty of Channels. Switched to Spectrum and have Internet and phone for 50 a month. The hardest problem is Espn and espn+ which are controlled by Disney.

An antenna is always good to have and the cost is minimal compared to something like YouTube TV. The OTA signal used to be superior to streaming. Don’t know if that’s still true.

One word. Omnivision. It’s an Internet app that runs on a Firestick or Google ONN device connected to your TV. Up to five for $365/year, which you can use or give to your family members - even out of state. All local, network, sports incl major league and NCAA, PPV, plus hundreds-thousands of movies and TV series. Text Jody Ashley at (317) 402-5979. There is also a local rep here in The Villages.

If you chose against streaming and just used an antenna or paid for cable TV, would you drop your internet service? If not, if you would have internet service regardless of how you received TV channels, then that cost really doesn't factor into the conversation.

I pay less than $100 monthly for streaming services:
AppleTV - $0 (comes with T-mobile plan)
Prime Video - $0 (comes with Amazon Prime subscription)
Netflix - $20 (after T-mobile discount)
Peacock - $9
Hulu & Max - $31
Disney + - $14
Total for services: $75

YouTube TV - $92 (for the six months it is active) (okay, arguably $46 avg bringing my total to $120)
Internet - $30 (but I would have this regardless of streaming services)

Another word would be pirating and a third would be conscience.

Things I have discarded are commercial/cable television and landline telephones. The cost kept increasing, and it was not worth it. Internet access is essential, and you have to pay for that. Once you get away from the canned media outlets, you can pick and choose from alternative media what you really want. If you hate advertisements, you can get an ad blocker.

There was a Cord Cutters at one point.

Not seeing much in the way of saving by cutting the cord. Our Xfinity 400 MBPS internet with 200+ TV channels and home phones, also 2 Xfinity cell phones total $250.00 a month with all taxes and fees for everything.
Anyone have anything better than that? What am I missing?

See post #24 above. My T-Mobile 300Mbps internet with YouTube TV, the streaming services listed in the post, and two mobile phones with all taxes and fees comes to $307. Greater than $250 and no home phone but wouldn't want another number. Will let others determine how Xfinity's 200+ channels compares with YouTube TV's lineup.

Follow-Up to the replies posted so far
 

You'll need to do some homework before making any switch. First, create a list of all the shows and live programming you watch. Then do an Internet search of what streaming service(s) each one is associated with. Some services are bundled, some are attached to other things (i.e., Prime is attached to Amazon; Paramount+ is attached to Walmart; Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu as a package are attached to my Verizon Wireless plan).

Most streaming services also create their own original content. Both Apple TV and Prime have many excellent original series. No one mentioned Max, which is going to revert to its prior name of HBO Max in June. Hulu is connected to ABC, which means that current shows on ABC are available for streaming on Hulu the day after they first air. CBS is connected to Paramount+. NBC is connected to Peacock (another one no one mentioned).

Most, if not all, of these services have a basic version with commercials and an upgraded commercial version for a few bucks more a month.

Live sports are now filtered throughout various streaming services (NFL Thursday Night Football is on Amazon Prime, for example).

YouTube TV (not to be confused with YouTube) is probably the closest thing to cable TV as we know it. There's a whole list of channels, just like cable, but I'm not sure if you add the cost of YouTube TV and Internet that you'll see much difference in cost compared to cable.

There were a couple mentions of Apple TV. Apple in its infinite wisdom decided to call two entirely different things "Apple TV." One is a small hardware device that plugs into your TV to make it a smart TV. Roku and Firestick devices are competitors of that product. There's also Apple TV, the streaming service, that you'll pay a monthly fee for, whether you have an Apple TV device or Roku or Firestick.

Here's a way to really cut costs, but there's work involved. Every service is a month-to-month contract, and it's easy to cancel and restart subscriptions. A person could be vigilant, sign up for one or two services, watch everything on their list for that month, then cancel those services and repeat with another one or two services and keep rotating around. To make sure you don't forget to cancel a subscription, cancel it the day after you sign up for it. You'll have paid for the month, and you'll still have the service for the entire 30 days, and then it will automatically cancel. Like I said, this requires some work and notetaking, but if I really wanted to slash my costs and have all the viewing options I want, this is what I would do.

Lastly, the good old days of channel surfing are no more, I'm afraid. You can surf through each streaming service separately, but not everything together. I'm hopeful that someday we'll be able to scroll through everything together. However, the good news is that all your apps will keep track of where you are. Say you're working your way through The Wire or The Sopranos on Max, both of which have several seasons. The next time you want to watch it, Max will know exactly where you left off, even if you take a several-month break. And if you're watching a current show like Matlock on Paramount+, if you're caught up, you'll be alerted when a new episode is available. We do this all the time with movies. We'll start a movie, then it gets too late so we stop it and pick it up later.

Good luck with all your research. No matter what, you need Internet unless you're a total Luddite. Then an antenna might be your answer.

IPTV is the way to go. Educate yourself. You will be glad you did.

We have not had cable ‘ back up north’ since the 80’s and have rooftop rabbit ears that get 100 OTA stations from DC and Baltimore.
In TV we have one in the attic but may add a tower up top of the roof - while ‘the covenants’ in TV say no aerials , the FCC (for now) says sorry Mr developer , you can’t do anything to restrict deceiving a broadcast signal.
Same with our clothesline - the environmental departments of the gov say the developer can’t interfere with something that helps keep the planet cleaner ( and our clothing fresher)

...

Enrichment Academy
 

At one time -- don't know if it is still -- this was an offering via The Villages Enrichment Academy. That means a class you must pay for to attend (as opposed to a social group that will provide information for free). They were asking $50/person for residents.

The FCC doesn't quite say that. Better to check with Community Standards ahead of time - this is not a case where it is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

Why not stay "back up North", where you get free TV and your wants aren't in conflict with the community standards of The Villages?

True they can't stop you from installing an antenna but you need to get permission on where to put it, meaning the CCD or HOA can regulate where you can and can't put a dish or any other antenna. For example, can't bolt an antenna on the front window frame of your house but the side is probably fine.

Before Covid, there were a number of technology clubs that gave monthly presentations on various IT subjects. Cutting The Cord was a very popular subject. With Covid the presentations went away. Don’t know if they ever resumed. Check the club listings.

The FCC would disagree partially. A sat dish needs a clear view of the sky. If that path is blocked by neighbor's tree, it won't work properly. So location there is not possible.
A over the air antenna works best if there are no obstructions between you and the TV tower. If ARC says put is where it points directly into your neighbor's roof, that may not work properly. You have the FCC on your side because the law says you put it where it needs to go so that it works properly.
ARC cannot block locating it where it works best, no matter where that location might be. Even if that happens to be on a tall tower.