August 17 | Track 2 | 1:00 PM
How I fired my cable company �and still enjoy TV, Internet and a home Phone� �Stew Bottorf, Dunedin, FL
I wanted to save money by cutting cable. �I don’t watch much TV and for many years I paid my cable bill using all their bundling services for TV, Internet access and a wired home phone.
My TV watching wife became an expert using the cable remote. When all else failed, she even learned how to reboot the cable box. To cut cable, I must allow her to feel comfortable accessing the TV.
My last cable bill was $153/mo.
Cutting quickly became my new passion !�
How I fired my cable company �and still enjoy TV, Internet and a home Phone
Television Programming
Internet, Networking & Google Phone
A Club Opportunity ?
How I fired my cable company �and still enjoy TV, Internet and a home Phone�
Television Programming
July 25, 2018
September 7, 2018
September 14, 2018
July 23, 2019
September 2018 (afternoon) & repeated November 2018 (evening)
Hewie Poplock, Central Florida Computer Society �Windows SIG leader; APCUG Representative
There are many reasons to cut the cord. Most do so to save money. Others do it to have better choices and just to be able� to fire their cable company.
Hewie talked about many over the air and over the Internet services, including Broadband and Internet home phones.
”TV as we know it will disappear in the next few years.”-
“Cut the Cord, Things to Consider Before Firing Your Cable Company”
November 3, 2018
Items I initially considered:
Antenna
Smallest cost with the greatest saving
�Almost everyone in Pinellas County is within Tampa antenna coverage�
Transmission is from Riverview �(~ 45 miles away across the bay)
Average more than 30 channels
105-109 degrees (ESE)
105-109 degrees (ESE)
Antenna
Pat Hagen gets 76 �local digital TV channels
Also made by: -- TiVo -- Tablo -- Amazon -- Air TV
Antenna math
Present cost of cable $153 / mo. ��
Savings $153 / mo.� or $1836 / year
� One-time Antenna cost = $10 - $200_
Everything else requires �an Internet connection
You may need wireless? �Fair Internet cost = $40 - $50 per month ??� �
Where do you buy your Internet?
Both of our local cable companies penalize present customers
� Solutions:
Internet �& Antenna� math
Present cost of cable $153 /mo.
Internet-only service $50 /mo.�
Savings $103 /mo.� or $1236 / year
Streaming: How does your household watch TV
Free Streamers
PLUTO�Movies�News�Sports & more� SLO-TV� NewsMax
ABC News�CBS News�NBC News / CNBC�YouTube / TED�EarthCamTV�Special interest, religious and shopping networks�(Remember, this requires a wireless Internet connection)
White Area
Paid Streamers�
White Area
Antenna +
Internet + Youtube TV�math
Present cost of cable $153 /mo.
Internet $50 / mo.�YouTube TV $50 / mo.�
Savings $53/ mo.� or $636 / year
One-time hardware cost: $30 - $200_
Antenna �+2 Services math�
Additional services may exceed the present cable cost !
Present cost of cable $153 /mo.
Internet $50 /mo.�YouTube TV $50 /mo.�Amazon Prime $12 /mo.�
Savings $41 /mo.� or $492 / year
One-time hardware cost $30 - $200_
Depending on your TV, streams may require wireless Internet plus an add-on device�
IPTV Hardware
Android TV Choices
$40, $50 and $179
Sometimes @ $139
Amazon Firestick
Amazon Firestick 4K� Amazon Android
Nvidia Shield
Android TV
Were $15 & $25
$30/� $50
-Avoid these… check their ratings-
Free Streamers
Free movies, archived TV Shows and some live TV.� �May also be viewed on phone or computer.
�
(Both sideload as Android apps)
I call this a “Less-White” Area
✽ To be safe, use a VPN ! ✽
Virtual Private Network
Sets an encrypted-tunnel from your home to an Internet source
Internet Service Provider cannot see inside your tunnel
ISP
Virtual Private Network
Sets an encrypted tunnel from device to Internet servers
Private Internet Access�Works w/ Android, Linux, Windows, �Chromebooks, Mac & routers�Cost $40 / yr. for 5 concurrent� connections
Internet Service Provider is inside the tunnel
Plenty of other VPN vendors�(some offer a lifetime fee / others free)
Internet Protocol Television
“Think of IPTV as cable television on steroids delivered through the Internet, but for a fraction of the price.“
Surface, � Deep &� Dark Webs��IPTV hides below the surface
� I doubt IPTV is� located in USA
IPTV Channels
IPTV Provider Plans
To select an IPTV plan, list your media needs and interface expectations
My needs:
2 Great YouTube Presenters
BEWARE: Google, Amazon and Facebook all limit online IPTV information. Links are difficult if not impossible to find in Google searches. My best links often come from YouTube guides (in notes below the videos).
IPTV is sold through resellers. Pay them month-to-month.
IPTV Providers
I’ve checked these services:
Others:
IPTV math
Internet +�Gears Reloaded + Area 51 �+ Players Klub�
Monthly Fees�Present cost of cable $153.00
Internet $50.00�VPN $3.34 �Gears Reloaded,� Area51 & Players Klub $28.75� Total $82.09� � Savings $70.91 / mo.� or $850.92 / year � One time Media Player Cost $30 - $200_
I receive additional program content !
Android utilities I’ve sideloaded on my Firestick
ALL OF THESE ARE FREE !_
Hardware I’ve bought �for my Firestick
How I fired my cable company �and still enjoy TV, Internet and a home Phone�
Cost of Internet Access
Internet Service Providers� Spectrum when I drop TV is ~ $75/month (month-to-month) � WOW new customer cost is ~ $55/month (2 year contract)� (FIOS is not available in my subdivision)
Debbie waited 30 days, new user, now pays $45/mo but it gos up in 12 months� Pat as a new user pays ~ $20/mo and believes it will not go up� Beverley pays $500/yr for Sprint / Calyx 4G Hotspot service (or about $42/mo)
�Can I find a way to pay even-less than these ?
“The Unlimited Discounted � Non-Profit Reseller Plan”
Clear Communications
Unlimited Discounted Non-Profit Reseller Plan
User Cost:
$500 / year
�$ 135 / year�$80 Hotspot
You get / How to qualify:
Hot Spot / SIM / Tee Shirt�Become a Calyx member�
Hot Spot / SIM�Non-profit or Income Eligibility
Mobile Beacon provides modems, the special Sprint plan and SIM card to those above.
The plan uses the Sprint 4G service with a Franklin R850 or a CoolPad Surf Hotspot
Unlimited Discounted Non-Profit Reseller Plans
Non-Profit Business
Franklin R850 Hotspot
Cell service in, wireless Ethernet out
No wired Ethernet ports
< 10 concurrent connections
Rechargable� Battery� < 10 hours
AC adapter & cable
Manual
Simple setup using a laptop, browser� and the Display Window
Detailed setup for Windows,� iPhone, Mac, Android� and Chromebook
Guest account
Sprint support�
Security Options: WPA2-PSK� WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK
�
Internet Portability
CoolPad Surf Hotspot
Cell service in, wireless Ethernet out
No wired Ethernet ports
< 10 concurrent connections
Rechargable� Battery� < 5 hours
AC adapter & cable
Manual
Smart color LEDs replace the� display window.
Detailed setup for Windows,� iPhone, Mac, Android� and Chromebook
Guest account
Sprint support
Security Options: WPA2-PSK� WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK
�
Internet Portability
February 2019 �My Firestick data use
Total 1079.63 GB�(1 terabyte)
On Spectrum Cable�
< 21 X Sprint Basic Plan
Hotspot notes:
Hotspot placement is critical for both networks� Near a window works best for me
The Hotspot just works 24x7� 10-14.5 Mbps down. 1.5-3 Mbps up� quite a change from 100Mbps cable Internet� but very usable for my Internet needs
Repurposed my old router into a WiFi range extender� benefit of gaining 4 wired Ethernet connections� connected my “Google” phone, desktop computer
Bought a new Wavlink WiFi Extender� for better signal into the bedrooms � using both 2.4 & 5 GHz bands
Google Phone:
Used my Obihai 202 VOIP phone adapter to reconnect my Google home phone using a wired connection from the repurposed router (WiFi Extender).
Internet Access
Spectrum when I drop TV will cost ~ $75/month (month to month) �WOW as a new customer costs ~~ $55/month (2 year contract)
I bought through PCs for People:�My cost was $135 + $80 the first year ( $215 or about $18/mo.)� then $135 annually in later years ( $11.25 / mo.)
My Cut Cable Savings
�Stew’s “Cut Cable costs”
� VPN ...……………. $40 / year � Programming …. $360 / year Present Spectrum bill: $153.39 x 12� Internet ……....... $135 / year (TV Phone & Internet) $1840.68� $535 / year ……...………..………..….. $535.00�
My 2020 savings ….…. $1305.68� 2019 savings …...... $1225.68
I cut my cable 3 months ago and I’m still married !
Issues I’ve encountered switching to mobile Internet
Setup learning curve� Lucky I kept cable Internet for troubleshooting ( LAN & Internet )�
No Hotspot antenna data; �I’m limited to default-cell phone signal strength� It would be nice to have a greater cell signal� or I could attach an external mobile antenna
I’m still looking for help with a 4G cell-antenna or amplifier.
Issues I’ve encountered switching to mobile Internet
The bane of streaming is BUFFERING� Realize some problems are upstream ( out of my control )��
Much slower Internet speeds� Only a problem if I try to download 2Gb Linux ISO files
Two-streamer issues� At times 2 different streams appears to clog the � Hotspot, other times it’s okay
Slower speeds on some evenings� Then other nights it’s okay?? But it’s LIVABLE
Come to the “Cut Club”
1st Thursday @ 10 am (Self Help)
3rd Thursday @ 10 am (Presentation)
We’ll hold your hand and assist you in � “Cutting your Cable!”
We have a nice group of Streamers �who meet with me twice each month called the Cut Club. Together we combine our knowledge to pay less for cable / Internet and increase our ability to view video content directly from the Internet. Some of us are saving $1000 or more a year and enjoy the adventure.
What happens with 5G ? � �Will I be affected by the �Sprint-TMobile merger ?
What about upcoming scary streaming legislation
Unknown
If my Hotspot becomes outdated, I’ll still have saved $$ in 2019. Other cell carriers are now offering expanded data plans at more money (but none offer unlimited data).
Unknown, follow @ U.S. Lawmakers Push To Criminalize Streaming
How I fired my cable company �and still enjoy TV, Internet and a home Phone�
Opportunity for APCUG or local clubs ?
Opportunity for APCUG or local clubs ?
As nonprofits, your club can buy Hot Spots and Internet through:
Cost $215 the first year and then $135 in later years
Like Calyx, give-away Internet access to your more-generous members� @ $500 / year (realizing $285 / $365 profit each) = 5 to 7 members
10 members ($2850 / $3650 profit) = 50 to 70 members
100 members ($28,500 / $36,500 profit) = 500 to 700 members
or you might charge less
Opportunity for APCUG or local clubs ?
Check the Sprint coverage maps to be sure your area is covered
Advertise and grow your club -- you’ll easily beat all other local ISP plans
Your club’s support staff can support users at any location. Hotspots work with Windows, Apple, Linux, Chromebook, Android, even gamers.
You might assist other non-profits getting this affordable technology locally.
Additional information is in my Links
Questions?
“How I fired my cable company and � still enjoy TV, Internet and a home phone” �
This Presentation � Full Page PDFs� Hyperlinks Resource Page
�Tampa Bay Technology Center�Clearwater, FL
Stew Bottorf�sbottorf@gmail.com