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Plus you can only get it (at least in my area) if you subscribe to extra services that I don't need like VOIP. CableCard could've been a viable alternative and
by soylentcola 11y ago
Plus you can only get it (at least in my area) if you subscribe to extra services that I don't need like VOIP. CableCard could've been a viable alternative and spurred a market for DIY and third party cable tuner/decryptors but it was poorly implemented and support from cable providers is typically awful so for most people it's just not worth it.
I came close to ordering a Ceton CableCard tuner card several times so I could stick a small form factor PC in the entertainment system and get the nice setup I used to have before they killed off all of the unencrypted digital QAM channels. Unfortunately, the standard is so encumbered that hardly any software can support CableCard (one popular option was the now-deprecated Windows Media Center).
Back when QAM still came through unencrypted, I could pay for cable and hook it up to my cheapo Hauppauge card and use WMC as a great program guide and DVR setup. Even back in the Win Vista days it was vastly superior to anything on a cable box. Then they moved everything to encrypted and my tuner got repurposed for watching OTA stuff on my PC.
Now I just pay for cable/internet but watch everything streaming on legit sites or torrents. Yeah, I know...but it works better and I'm still paying for it so even if it's not legal, I don't feel that it's immoral.
- fluxquanta 11y agoMy HTPC is still running Windows 7 only for Windows Media Center (using a HDHomerun Prime decoder box and CableCard). Once the program guide information is no longer updated or Microsoft somehow forces me to get rid of Windows 7, I will in turn get rid of cable TV. The only reason I still have it is for basketball, but there are an increasing number of services (legal or otherwise) by which I can get all of that streaming online, so I may end up cancelling even sooner if given an excuse to do so (like if service goes down or they decide to jack prices again).
- redblacktree 11y agoYMMV, but I also have TV service (U-Verse) only for basketball, and it saves me a ton of money to turn it off/sign up twice a year. Since it's only 5-6 months of the year (college basketball), I always get the "new customer" rate, and often there are enticements like gift cards. Something to consider.
- edwhitesell 11y agoWhen I had U-Verse I would call every 3 months and say I was cancelling. Then they would give me whatever latest "new customer offers" were currently available. After 3 months those offers expired, I'd get a high dollar bill in the mail, so I'd call again... Wash rinse, repeat. I know multiple other people who did the same thing. Now I only have data with TWC and receive letters 2-3 times a month from to tell me all about the great TV plans they are offering.