Cutting The Cord (Continued)

Cutting The Cord Continued

Cutting The Cord (Continued)

Time to Order Data

So, now that I was committed to DirecTV, I called IQ Fiber and ordered their “1GIG” service. We had never had good wi-fi coverage throughout our home with Comcast. At best, it was barely adequate even after I upgraded to one of their fastest data tiers. In their defense, our house is difficult to cover due to its concrete block construction with two room editions that have the original concrete-block walls between the original construction and the room additions. When I complained to Comcast about the poor wifi signal in a large part of the house, they sold me a $200 pair of wifi extenders. They helped a little but it was still far from perfect.

Our experience with IQ Fiber was great! I even posted a review of the installer on Google where I gave them 5 Stars and said

IQ Fiber Installer came at his appointed time after calling to let me know he was on his way. I gave him a tour of our home that has always has a problem getting wi-fi signal throughout the house. Our former provider sold us two wi-fi extenders that were supposed to fix the problem, but they never were adequate. He recognized our issue and explained his solution. After I agreed, he went to work and connected the line to the house’s interior and ran a line to the other end of the house to connect an additional hot spot. He worked for over 3 hours on our unusual setup. When he finished the installation, he showed me how to install the IQ app on my iPhone and connect to my network. He showed me how I can view and manage my network with that app. He was very thorough. When we tested the wi-fi, and my connected devices, we were connecting and getting excellent speeds. Before he left, he cleaned up after himself. I would give him more than 5 stars if that was an option. I am very, very satisfied with the installation.

Time to Order TV

After I committed to canceling Comcast/Xfinity and ordering IQ Fiber data service, I researched the many available TV streaming services that have become available in the past few years. I knew that we needed a service that included a cloud-based video recorder and local TV channels. I looked at “Hulu with Live TV,” “YouTube TV,” and others. Another feature we wanted was the ability to pause live TV like we could on Comcast. We had learned to depend on the ability to pause what we were watching to allow us to answer the phone, leave the family room for a few minutes for any reason, and pick up where we left off when we were ready.

I saw this cute commercial on TV during the time I was researching our cable replacement described as

“You can stream DIRECTV without a satellite, our pigeon pals will need to get a new place to land. But they see they can still watch their popular shows, all that chirping might just stop.”

Watch these clever 30-second commercials from two pigeons in “Meet Bobby & Frank.”

Further research led me to DirecTV because they offered TV remotes that offered a cable-like feature. Also, the video quality of DirecTV is considered the best in the industry.

I ran into this six-minute video that explains the “Gemini Air” remote that is offered by “DirecTV via Internet.” I knew that we would need those devices for the household TVs that the family uses because they are so accustomed to Comcast’s remotes. “DIRECTV Gemini Streaming Stick – Worth It? (Local Channels, On-Demand, and MORE)” shows the use of those devices.

I planned to use my Apple TV 4K devices on the televisions in my workout room and office where I am the only user. Apple describes this device as

“Apple TV 4K unites your favorite Apple services with all your streaming apps in our best-ever picture and sound quality — thanks to the blazing-fast A15 Bionic chip.”

I ended up with “DirecTV Via Internet.” I had always thought of DirecTV as a satellite provider. I have never considered satellite TV service as a viable alternative where cable is available. Over the years, I have spent too many nights in hotels whose television service was provided via satellite service. I remember the frustration of weather conditions interfering with the satellite connection. I even missed the end of an exciting football game due to a storm coming through the area and messing up the satellite signal where I was staying.

DirecTV has three services described as follows:

DirecTV Via Satellite: requires satellite dish installation, requires monthly ARS fee, requires contract, includes 1 box free (additional boxes available)

DirecTV Via Internet: requires an internet connection, requires monthly ARS fee, requires contract, includes 1 Gemini device free (additional boxes available.) Read about and compare the Gemini device HERE.

DirecTV Stream: requires an internet connection, no ARS fee, no contract, no box included (Stream is an exclusively “bring-your-own-device” service)

As noted, Stream is exclusively a bring-your-own-device service (or watch through your computer). For your TV, you can use a Roku, Google, Android, or AppleTV device, or you can try and purchase a DirecTV “Osprey” box from eBay. DirecTV does not directly sell or lease a device for use with Stream.

I opted for the “DirecTV Via Internet” version. I would have preferred not to have a subscription but I wanted two Gemini Devices. They offer a fourteen-day trial before the subscription continues for two years. If you cancel and return the equipment before the end of the trial, it costs you nothing.

DirecTV sent us two of their Gemini devices. We wanted one in our family room TV and one of our bedroom TVs. I connect to DirecTV using Apple TV devices on my office and workout room TVs. The Gemini devices are great for pausing and restarting live TV as well as recording television shows and movies in the cloud to watch later. We enjoy fast-forwarding through the commercials. I believe the Gemini devices do it better than the Comcast remotes.

I believe we have our perfect setup!

We have added a couple of premium video-streaming networks to our plan and have all the shows and movies we want. One nice thing about the added networks is there is no contract with them. We can add and subtract those networks if we no longer want them. Almost all can be subscribed to and canceled on a month-to-month basis.

Conclusion

Now, after over a month of service with IQ Fiber and DirecTV Stream via Internet, I am overjoyed with our setup. We have a strong, fast, and reliable wi-fi connection throughout the house. With TV streaming, it is important to have a good wi-fi connection. We have that now. I also need fast service in my office for my computers. It is better than ever now!

There is a learning curve with a new TV service, but it was worth it. We are saving money, getting much better internet service, and having more TV channels than ever before. I guess you could say that we are “Happy Viewers.”

Image by brgfx on Freepik

”Cutting The Cord”

Until very recently, fiber-optic data hasn’t been available in Jacksonville Beach. However, in the past few months, a fiber-optic company, IQ Fiber has become available on our street

Why I’m ditching cable.

Comcast/Xfinity

We have subscribed to the same TV and Internet Service provider ever since the 1980s when the services were first offered here in Jacksonville Beach.

I think the first company was called “Beaches Cablevision.” They were later bought out by a bigger company, Continental Cablevision and finally by the nationwide giant, Comcast, a company that now calls itself “Xfinity.” The only alternatives to that giant have been two satellite TV providers and our local telecom provider, BellSouth/AT&T for their DSL (over-the-phone line) internet service.

Over the years, as technology has evolved, our requirements have increased and Comcast has kept up for the most part. Lately, their data technology has fallen behind the fiber-optic services being installed in many places in the United States. Until very recently, fiber-optic data hasn’t been available in Jacksonville Beach. However, in the past few months, a fiber-optic company, IQ Fiber has become available on our street. Now AT&T is in the process of installing fiber-optic lines here as well.

Comcast/Xfinity, having just about a monopoly on internet and television services, has increased its prices more and more. A little over a year ago, to save some money on an upgrade in our data speeds, I agreed to a two-year contract. They installed a new hot-spot router for their faster, better wifi service. When I complained that I was getting a poor signal in a large area of the house, they sold me a pair of wifi extenders for about $200. The extenders improved the signal away from the router slightly, but never even came close to the 1200 megabit service that was part of my new plan. (I seldom if ever got speed that high, even close to that router.)

That slow and unreliable wifi also affected our TV service. Although the TV signal from Comcast is sent through the cable and connected by cable to the TV, many of the streaming networks that are included in their TV packages are not on the cable. The subscriber clicks on a link shown on their TV and is sent to connect via WiFi. Therefore, when WiFi is slow, those networks are extremely slow to load. We experience that frequently on our main, family room television.

Despite being in a contract, Comcast is now increasing my subscription fee. I guess their contract requires us to stay with them but allows them to change the terms halfway through. (I probably failed to read the fine print.)

In any event, it’s time to “Cut the Cord!”

to be continued soon.

I guess I’ve been a “computer geek” since 1980 (UPDATED after Ten Years)

My first computer was the Radio Shack TRS-80, Model PC-1, in 1980.

Introduced in July, 1980, The TRS-80 was priced at $230, had 1.5k of RAM and stored data on an attached Cassette recorder.

This new TRS-80 Computer is another “first” from the company which brought you the best-selling, world renowned TRS-80. A truly pocket-sized Computer (not a programmable calculator). Of course it is an ultra-powerful calculator too… And it “speaks” BASIC – – the most common computer language, and the easiest to learn. You’ll soon be impressed by the phenomenal computing power of this hand-held TRS-80 – – ideal for mathematics, engineering and business application.
Radio Shack advertising

Next was the (first) IBM PC in 1982.

IBM Personal Computer (PC)

Model:	5150
Released:	September 1981
Price:	US $1,565 ~ $3,000
CPU:	Intel 8088, 4.77MHz
RAM:	16K, 640K max
Display:	80 X 24 text
Storage:	dual 160KB 5.25-inch disk drives
Ports:	cassette & keyboard only
	5 internal expansion slots
OS:	PC-DOS v1.0

(Note: Thanks to Steve’s Old Computer Museum for the photos and specs above!)

I borrowed $7,500 from my bank to buy the PC, a wide-carriage dot-matrix printer, spreadsheet, word-processing, and “Client Ledger System” (accounting for multiple businesses) software. My PC came with PC-DOS v1.3. (I still have the 5 1/4″ diskette and manual.) With this powerful machine, I was able to start my accounting practice.

Over the years since then, I have owned many DOS-based and then Windows PCs. When my accounting practice had grown to five employees, we had as many as seven PCs running. Now that it’s back to just me, I only have a couple computers in my home office.

My latest computer, (and by far the best ever!) is my iMac. After all the years and frustrations with Windows, I finally broke down and bought a Mac in 2009. What a joy it is to use a computer that actually does everything it is supposed to do. I do have to keep a Windows PC to run my tax software (and play an occasional game of software.) However, I am gradually moving everything else over to the Mac.

Oh, and I shouldn’t fail to mention my latest “pocket computer,” the iPhone 3G[S].

I have been unbelievably happy with both Apple products! I look forward to my next Apple, the iPad tablet?

Allen W. Forrest, December 13, 2009
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UPDATE!

Ten Years Later, September 3, 2019

In the past ten years, I have continued to use and love Apple products. I strayed over to Android mobile phones for several years, but continued to use iMacs and iPads. I still have a Windows PC for tax preparation, but I came back to Apple for everything else for communicating and computing. I own and love my iPhone XS Max, Apple Watch, iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, and I’m still using an iMac at my desk. I always look forward eagerly to the lastest and greatest announcements coming out of Cupertino. I guess you could call me one of Apple’s biggest “fan-boys.”

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