Cable Alternatives

[canuck]

There is also FTA as an alternative as well. I used FTA receivers exclusively for many years, but never hooked it back up when I moved to my new house a couple of years ago. From my understanding, there is still some FTA receivers working fine for Dish Network.

[NASH]

FYI: if you still have Weaklink Internet service just connect a splitter before the modem and run a cable line to your TV. You'll get a few channels, which ones depend on the brand of filter they've put on your line when you disconnected cable but you'll always get at least several. I get about 15 or so including about 5 HD channels on a newer ATSC tuner TV. I get Global, A&E, TSN, The Movie Network and others along with about 60 digital music channels.

[RubberToe]

Ditto, that's what I do.

Sent from the brew timer.

[chalmers]

I was doing the same with Eastlink. I had about 50 channels, plus the digital music channels. No guide and weird numbering (Sportsnet was "65-12"), so I rarely used it.

My super-cool girlfriend bought me an Apple TV for XMas. AppleTV2, which means it's not really hackable, correct? So Netflix and streaming from an iTunes server in another room sounds like the way to go.

[sleepyjamie]

atv 2 you can jailbreak.
Atv3 you can't

[pvanberk]

I haven't tried this, but apparently if you pay for Eastlink Cable and then return the box to a store (and cancel it at the same time), they often don't send a technician to your house to install the filter. So you'll keep getting a variety of channels.

Has anyone tried this?

Also if you ask, Eastlink will give you their Watch, Surf and Talk bundle teaser rate ($99/month) for a year instead of 3 months.

Peter

[RubberToe]

I haven't tried this, but apparently if you pay for Eastlink Cable and then return the box to a store (and cancel it at the same time), they often don't send a technician to your house to install the filter. So you'll keep getting a variety of channels.

Has anyone tried this?

I've cancelled my cable like that several times over the years and every time someone has come to do the job.

[bluenose]

so... if you had a second box, then it would still be programmed?

I heard if you unplug the boxes and then call to cancel, then the signal eastlink sends to the boxes to tell them to stop the channels doesn't register with the box... when you plug in the cable box a day later it will show the signal

not sure if that's true

edit: you'd have to already own the boxes, or they'd want them back

[chalmers]

atv 2 you can jailbreak.
Atv3 you can't

Oh, I've probably got my numbering off. She bought me a new one, so probably ATV3.

Thanks

[sleepyjamie]

There are rumors that the App Store is coming to atv so once that happens you will see lots more content come to the atv.

[TJ Brew]

Recently purchased a new TV, a smart tv. Which means that I don't need to use my PS3 to access my DLNA type server (I was using XBMC with limited success). I switched to PS3 Media Server, works quite well. Converts pretty well any file type into something the TV can use. Not as pretty to look at as XBMC but I can now watch all of the file types that I have downloaded.

[jacinthebox]

Anyone ever figure out a way to get the us superbowl feed with commercials???

[mr x]

wiziwig

[jacinthebox]

Thanks...I'll check it out.

Have you used it?

[mr x]

yup, every weekend

http://www.wiziwig.tv/index.php?part=sports" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jacinthebox]

awesome...thanks dude...I plan on hooking the laptop via hdmi to my TV...it sucks watching robin's ads during the SB

[jacinthebox]

are there HD feeds?

[mr x]

no

[RubberToe]

So, does anyone know what XBMC video plugin I can use to stream the UFC?

[Jimmy]

Anyone running Hulu Plus? What are your thoughts and how did you do it?

I signed up tonight using the method described here - haven't had a chance to really look through it though.

http://support.unblock-us.com/customer/ ... hulu-plus-" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mr x]

I built myself a hi-gain Grey-Hovermann UHF-VHF antenna after spending a lot of time on this forum: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; There's tons of info about tv in Canada on that site. I used the plans found here: http://www.wuala.com/300ohm/Documents/S ... DF?lang=en" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. I had a commercial antenna and it was only picking up about 40% signal at my house - I'm in a forested area and on the wrong side of a large hill that blocks signal from the three broadcast towers that are in Clayton Park. I built this antenna and instantly got 100% signal on all 3 channels even with the antenna in my attic (same spot as the commercial one was). Cost about $80 in parts all found around town.

If you do go the antenna route, let me know, there are a lot of really helpful resources on that forum for building, mounting and aiming the antenna properly to get maximum signal strength all based on your specific location (using the lat and long of your house plus elevation)

I would like to know more about this. Could I build it out of copper?

[pvanberk]

Has anyone switch from Eastlink Residential to Eastlink Business? Almost the same Surf and Talk is $20 cheaper per month from Business.. too good to be true?

[gm-]

I use google chromecast for everything now. You control everything from your android phone (both of us have nexus phones), and it is very fast and convenient. We mostly watch netflix, but I also have plex media server set up on my PC where I have a bunch of TV series, music and movies that you can cast to your TV. Hard to beat for $39.