Sun City Summerlin Computer Club Seminar “Cutting the Cord - 2020” Las Vegas TV and Internet Services - Exploring Your Options Tom Burt Agenda • What is Cutting the Cord? • Internet Services in LV • TV Services in LV • Digital Television Technology (For reference) 10-29-2020 Cutting the Cord - 2020 2 What is “Cutting the Cord”? • Being able to get entertainment, news and other TV programming without using a cable or satellite TV service. – Instead you use a high-speed Internet connection, possibly combined with over-the-air broadcast TV. – May include subscriptions to “video on demand” streaming services like NetFlix, Hulu, Disney TV+ or Amazon Prime. – Trade-off is that you don’t see most programming the day it first airs (but see Sling TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV Now). – Idea is that total your cost is less while keeping access to most of the programming you enjoy. • Possible to also get rid of your CenturyLink land line phone service – Cellphone Only – Voice over IP services (Vonage, Ooma, Magic Jack) 10-29-2020 Cutting the Cord - 2020 3 Typical Cord-Cutting Setup Cable or DSL Modem OTA TV or Phone Cable to Internet Antenna Smart HDTV PC Workstation HDMI For Media Server Cable Roku Streaming Box Wireless Access Point / Router Laptop w Wireless Network 10-29-2020 Cutting the Cord - 2020 4 Over the Air Antennas • Use them to receive local LV area channels – about 60 in all • Indoor, Attic mount or Outdoor (roof mount) – http://www.bestbuy.com/site/tv-video-accessories/tv-antennas/abcat0107004.c?id=abcat0107004 – https://www.amazon.com/s?k=tv+antennas&i=electronics&ref=nb_sb_noss_1 – www.MrAntenna.com - About $300 exterior (parts, labor & setup) – OTA Antenna $150 exterior, $100 Interior 1-888-364-6055 – More expensive indoor antennas are amplified. – If doing an outdoor mount, be sure to file an ARC application and get approval. Latest FCC rules allow roof peak/side mounts of satellite dishes and TV antennas on masts. – Best results with an omnidirectional outdoor antenna. • Broadcast TV antennas in LV located in Henderson – From Sun City - ESE (100 & 110 degrees) – About 25 miles away – Sun City TV reception can be spotty – especially on indoor antennas 10-29-2020 Cutting the Cord - 2020 5 Other HDTV Content Options (1) • Standard DVD movies (buy or borrow from Library or friends) – Best if played on an up-converting (to 1080p) DVD or Blu-Ray Disc player • Blu-Ray DVD movies (buy or borrow from Library or friends) – True 1080p output from player to HDTV – Need a Blu-Ray player; 3D comes only on Blu-Ray • Streaming HD Video from Internet – Many free and paid services (see upcoming slide) 10-29-2020 Cutting the Cord - 2020 6 Other HDTV Content Options (2) • Also consider Internet TV boxes or a “Media” PC: – Amazon Fire TV & Fire Stick – Roku & Roku Stick – Dlink Boxee Box – Google ChromeCast – Apple TV – Sony PlayStation • Useful if you do not have a late model “smart” HDTV • Many allow you to wirelessly “cast” the screen of a PC, tablet or smartphone to your HDTV • A PC that can run Media Server software (see upcoming slide) 10-29-2020 Cutting the Cord - 2020 7 Paid & Free Internet Streaming (1) • Many “Smart” HDTVs now have built-in wireless (and wired) connections to your home network router. • “Dumb” HDTVs need a HDMI feed from a PC, BD player or streaming device to a HDMI port on the HDTV. • Suppose.tv - Compares channel lineups for various services • https://www.wsj.com/articles/cord-cutters-beware-streaming-tv- prices-are-marching-higher-1536943821 10-29-2020 Cutting the Cord - 2020 8 Paid & Free Internet Streaming (2) • Popular Services – many with free trials: – NetFlix - https://www.netflix.com – Hulu - https://www.hulu.com/welcome – Vudu - https://www.vudu.com – Rentals – some free with ads – Amazon Prime - https://www.amazon.com/Prime-Video/b?node=2676882011 – YouTube TV - https://tv.youtube.com/welcome/ - Has local channels – Google Play - https://play.google.com/store – SlingTV - https://www.sling.com – AT&T TV Now - https://www.atttvnow.com – Has local channels – Disney TV+ - https://preview.disneyplus.com – November 12 – Apple TV+ - https://www.apple.com/apple-tv-plus/ - November 1 – Also many TV network websites. 10-29-2020 Cutting the Cord - 2020 9 Paid & Free Internet Streaming (3) • Free Streaming Channels (Movies & TV series with Ads) • Most have apps for Smart TVs, Roku, Amazon Fire TV. • You can also view content via your web browser. – Pluto TV – The Roku Channel (requires a Roku device and account) – Amazon Prime Video (requires an Amazon Prime account) – Stirr – Tubi – XUMO – Crackle – Hoopla – YouTube – Fawesome.TV (Free and Awesome TV) – NewsON 10-29-2020 Cutting the Cord - 2020 10 Paid & Free Internet Streaming (4) • Las Vegas Clark County Library District: www.lvccld.com Free Media Services – Register with your Library card number. – Acorn TV • Acorn TV offers unlimited streaming of world-class mysteries, dramas, and comedies from Britain and beyond, including a full slate of original and exclusive programming. – Great Courses • Start your journey of lifelong learning taught by the top 1% of university professors and experts from the Ivy League and other renowned schools and institutions. – Hoopla • Hoopla is a digital media service that allows you to borrow movies, music, audiobooks, ebooks, comics and TV shows to enjoy on your computer, tablet, or phone – and even your TV! – Kanopy • Kanopy is an award-winning video streaming service providing access to more than 30,000 independent and documentary films. – Kanopy Kids • Kanopy Kids highlights films and TV series that inspire and inform, helping children develop empathy, mindfulness, and self-esteem through entertaining and educational videos. 10-29-2020 Cutting the Cord - 2020 11 Estimated Cost Break-Down Example: Basic “Cut the Cord” Package (Assumes a “Smart” 1080P HDTV) • Cox Essential Internet Service (50 Mb) $40.00 / mo – Includes web surfing, e-mail, streaming • Over the air roof antenna ~$300 installed $ 5.00 / mo – Based on 5-year life; gets all local channels • Amazon Prime $10.00 / mo – free Amazon shipping, video on demand • Netflix (HD, 2 streams) $11.00 / mo – Vast archive of movies and TV programs + original programming • Internet + TV Monthly Total … $66.00 / mo 10-29-2020 Cutting the Cord - 2020 12 Home Theater Media Portals • Allow you to play media on your PC and stream it to your HDTV Yes, for this you need to be (or know) a techie nerd • 10 Most Popular Media Center Applications: – https://mediaexperience.com/top-10-most-popular-media-center- software-for-your-hdtv/ • KODI Entertainment Center / Personal Video Recorder app: – https://kodi.tv • Media Portal: – https://www.team-mediaportal.com/ • Plex Media Server / Clients – https://www.plex.tv 10-29-2020 Cutting the Cord - 2020 13 Internet Services In Las Vegas 10-29-2020 Cutting the Cord - 2020 14 High Speed Internet Service in LV • Cox Cable – Speeds from 10 to 940 Mbps • CenturyLink DSL (fiber / DSL hybrid) – Speeds from 10 to 100 Mbps (DSL), 940 Mbps (fiber) • Hughes Net (satellite) – subsidiary of Echostar – http://www.hughesnet.com/ – 25 Mbps - Various data limits: 10, 20, 30 or 50 Gbytes/mo – Target market is rural communities • 4G Cellular Hot Spot – http://sprint.com – Uses a 4g cellular wireless hot spot or modem to link to the Internet • 5G Fixed Wireless Access Internet Connection – Coming in 2020 / 2021 – Speeds from 300 Mbps to 2000 Mbps – Pricing competitive with Cox & CenturyLink 10-29-2020 Cutting the Cord - 2020 15 Cox Cable Internet • https://www.cox.com/local/residential/nv/las-vegas/internet • Cox offers high speed Internet access – various plans Pricing w 12-month contract: – Starter 10 10 Mbps $30 / mo – Essential 50 50 Mbps $40 / mo – Preferred 150 150 Mbps $60 / mo – Ultimate 500 Mbps $80 / mo – Gigablast 940 Mbps $100 / mo • You can get Internet-only service w/o TV – Better prices if you bundle with Cox TV or Cox Phone • Plans above Essential 50 feature “Powerboost” – increases download speed when doing large downloads • Preferred, & Ultimate plans require a DOCSIS 3 modem • Gigablast requires a DOCSIS 3.1 modem 10-29-2020 Cutting the Cord - 2020 16 CenturyLink DSL Internet • CenturyLink DSL – http://www.centurylink.com • Various speed options for Internet access – 10 Mbps $49 / month – 20 Mbps $49 / month – 40 Mbps $49 / month (rare in Sun City) – 100 Mbps $49 / Month (N/A in Sun City) – 940 Mbps $65 / Month (N/A in Sun City) • “Price for Life” lock • Can lease a DSL modem / wireless router combo or buy your own & save $10 / mo. • Price breaks for bundling with phone service and/or TV service • Watch out for activation and installation fees. 10-29-2020 Cutting the Cord - 2020 17 TV Service In Las Vegas 10-29-2020 Cutting the Cord - 2020 18 Digital TV Available in LV • “Over the air” (OTA) broadcast (local channels) – Use an indoor, attic mount or roof mount antenna. – Reception may be a bit spotty in SCS (transmitters in Henderson) – Primary network (.1) channel, plus several local side channels (.2, …) – More expensive units include an amplifier • Cox cable (fiber / coaxial cable hybrid) – Now digital only. Need a converter box for analog TVs. • DirecTV (satellite) – All digital, 1080P. Need a receiver box. Many channels. • Dish Network (satellite) – All digital. Need a receiver box. Many channels. • CenturyLink Prism (fiber / DSL hybrid) – Uses copper phone line from Node to home (DSL). 10-29-2020 Cutting the Cord - 2020 19 Cox Cable (1) • Cox cable TV has digital SDTV and HDTV options – http://www.cox.com/lasvegas/ – Various programming tiers