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Cutting the cable Bill - help needed

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If you are in an area with only a cable provider, it's harder to get the bill down. When there is Fios/Cable in the same area it is much easier to negotiate pricing as you are considered a "competitive" area. In those areas the residential sales rep will sometimes knock on your doors with offers and they have the most competitive pricing to offer you. Having multiple set top boxes will usually raise the bill pretty quickly too. You're looking at roughly $10 a box per month with the cable company. 

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Ok so were paying $220 month for cable. Fios is $180 for basically the same thing. Wife is scared that when we cancel cable that they rip everything out and then if we switch back we have to pay for the install. is this true? Shes also called comcast several times to threaten to leave and they basically say ok have a nice day. 

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Ok so were paying $220 month for cable. Fios is $180 for basically the same thing. Wife is scared that when we cancel cable that they rip everything out and then if we switch back we have to pay for the install. is this true? Shes also called comcast several times to threaten to leave and they basically say ok have a nice day.

No, when canceling all the want back are the settop box.

 

 

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Ok so were paying $220 month for cable. Fios is $180 for basically the same thing. Wife is scared that when we cancel cable that they rip everything out and then if we switch back we have to pay for the install. is this true? Shes also called comcast several times to threaten to leave and they basically say ok have a nice day. 

 

 

Fios is fiber optic cable until it reaches the white ONT box, which is mounted either on the outside of your home or typically in the basement. After that, whether it is cable or Fios, its all the same coax cable and can be used by either provider. Typically the only pieces that need to get changed out are splitters, sometimes the fittings if they are junk. 

 

Fios ONT unit stays with the house, that doesn't get returned. 

 

You will typically have to pay an installation fee even if your home is prewired, sometimes you can negotiate it down.

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Ok so were paying $220 month for cable. Fios is $180 for basically the same thing. Wife is scared that when we cancel cable that they rip everything out and then if we switch back we have to pay for the install. is this true? Shes also called comcast several times to threaten to leave and they basically say ok have a nice day. 

"Sometimes" the cable guys try to get "fresh" with customers and cut phone lines etc in the house / basement. Do NOT let them do it. If they want their box, you give them their box - thats it.  They are not touching any other junk. 

 

I am confident that you can negotiate with Fios, specially when you tell them you have Cable now and just investigating alternatives. 

 

Cut the cable, pocket that $40 per month, see how they crawl back to your door with offers in another year or so. Apparently, the sales guys at these companies want "new accounts".  If you are cut them out for certain period (3 months, I think), suddenly you are new customer and they have incentive to bring you back into system. 

 

I am no handyman or electrician, but I traced all my phone lines inside the house, know where the incoming line should be connected. I also have my own router for wireless network. This way I can switch provider in and out without every having to worry about reconfiguring my computers or phones etc. 

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Ok so were paying $220 month for cable. Fios is $180 for basically the same thing. Wife is scared that when we cancel cable that they rip everything out and then if we switch back we have to pay for the install. is this true? Shes also called comcast several times to threaten to leave and they basically say ok have a nice day.

In my experience, when you cancel, all they want is their set top boxes returned, no one comes to your house to remove anything. Why would they bother? You're canceling. As far as installation costs, that can be negotiated whether it's with a new company or if you ever go back to who you have now. When I moved into my current apartment, Fios waived my installation fee simply because I have an excellent credit score.

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"Sometimes" the cable guys try to get "fresh" with customers and cut phone lines etc in the house / basement. Do NOT let them do it. If they want their box, you give them their box - thats it.  They are not touching any other junk.

 

When I was terminating service with Comcrap in NJ, I actually disconnected all the boxes myself and brought them to their local office in my area. No tech ever visited the place, and I didn't have to deal with any "retention specialists."  :D  

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When I was terminating service with Comcrap in NJ, I actually disconnected all the boxes myself and brought them to their local office in my area. No tech ever visited the place, and I didn't have to deal with any "retention specialists." :D

Same. We've renegotiated with Comcast over the years and take the boxes and remotes to the local office. You rent the box. You own the Rg6 wire.( unless you rent the house/apartment).

Hope that helps Pantera

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If you have business connection though Comcast it is slower than Residential Fios. If you need the speed and can switch to Fios do it today. You will be happier. I'm also guessing the TV package is a business package? I had a similar tv package at my office that was $18/month, but no one ever had time to watch it so I dropped it.

 

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My internet is through FiOS.

My TV is through Comcast.

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Yea I tried to negotiate with fios with a tech online but they said they couldnt drop it lower than $180 month. I could save $10 month going from 150 to 50 internet speed. All I do is surf the web and download songs, and watch an occasional movie. Would 50 mbps be fine? Would it cause my computer to run slower?

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Same. We've renegotiated with Comcast over the years and take the boxes and remotes to the local office. You rent the box. You own the Rg6 wire.( unless you rent the house/apartment).

Hope that helps Pantera

 

Well, in the case of my former NJ residence, there is a "trap board" in the main utility closet (where electric meters, water cut offs, etc. exist - residents aren't allowed in there). If they wanted to, they could disconnect the feeder cables at that point (ie. that lead to the outlets in the walls), and there's nothing the unit owner could do about it. But that's not the same thing as visiting the unit itself. There would be no need for a unit visit if the cables were disconnected there, unless they also needed to collect the boxes, etc.

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Yea I tried to negotiate with fios with a tech online but they said they couldnt drop it lower than $180 month. I could save $10 month going from 150 to 50 internet speed. All I do is surf the web and download songs, and watch an occasional movie. Would 50 mbps be fine? Would it cause my computer to run slower?

Go to Fios main page and look for any promotional rates. Check the cable provider in your area for their deals. Call and ask for the retention dept. Tell them you're happy with the service, but it's too expensive to keep. I can get similar service from xyz Cable for $xx.xx a month. See if they bite. I'm probably making the same call today.

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Yea I tried to negotiate with fios with a tech online but they said they couldnt drop it lower than $180 month. I could save $10 month going from 150 to 50 internet speed. All I do is surf the web and download songs, and watch an occasional movie. Would 50 mbps be fine? Would it cause my computer to run slower?

I have the 50/50 Fios package as far as internet, and run my iPhone/iPad/laptop/smart TV/Sonos speaker system all on the same network and have had zero problems. Granted, I live in an apartment and my router is close to everything, but if $10/month is enough to get you to change it, I'd go for it. You can always go back to 150.

 

What are you getting for $180? What does your bundle cost before you add additional costs such as boxes/DVR/etc? Is the router yours or theirs?

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Well, in the case of my former NJ residence, there is a "trap board" in the main utility closet (where electric meters, water cut offs, etc. exist - residents aren't allowed in there). If they wanted to, they could disconnect the feeder cables at that point (ie. that lead to the outlets in the walls), and there's nothing the unit owner could do about it. But that's not the same thing as visiting the unit itself. There would be no need for a unit visit if the cables were disconnected there, unless they also needed to collect the boxes, etc.

Condo?

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I have the 50/50 Fios package as far as internet, and run my iPhone/iPad/laptop/smart TV/Sonos speaker system all on the same network and have had zero problems. Granted, I live in an apartment and my router is close to everything, but if $10/month is enough to get you to change it, I'd go for it. You can always go back to 150.

 

What are you getting for $180? What does your bundle cost before you add additional costs such as boxes/DVR/etc? Is the router yours or theirs?

Well its $161 but with taxes and fees its $180 total. That includes the bigger dvr, 3 pay channels, 150 internet. 

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Curious...how do you cord cutters watch live tv or sports? That's the one thing preventing me from cutting the cord.

 

When I was installing my antenna.....

 

DB8e.jpg

 

The first thing I saw was a news report on Scalia's death.  I was thinking for a moment, was I listening to some alternate universe broadcast.  Sadly.. that wasn't it.

 

Mine is in the attic, directed toward NY generally via a gable window.  I may move it outside in the spring.  Then get a second VHF antenna.

 

 

A resource for Antennas and other info.

 

https://www.antennasdirect.com/

 

 

A resource to see what available OTA.

 

https://www.fcc.gov/media/engineering/dtvmaps

 

Also.. for DVR functionality.. I haven't bought this, but it seems like it would work.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Channel-Master-DVR-Bundle-subscription/dp/B00JGZQ17Q/ref=sr_1_12?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1484435877&sr=1-12&keywords=dvr+for+antenna+tv

 

Tivo BOLT is another for less money.  Not sure how well either works, but reports say they work if you are a DVR'ing person.

 

Issue for us is... or was... Not getting Fox News live... Megyn Kelly cured me of that.. and HGTV... but I am told that we can get these with a SlingBox account.   You pay for it.  I should look into it I guess.  Hasn't been a priority lately.

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Curious...how do you cord cutters watch live tv or sports? That's the one thing preventing me from cutting the cord.

In the attic I have a 2x4 with four modified wire coat hangers that are connected, via a BALUN to a ChannelMaster 7777 preamp (about $60) and about 20 meters of RG6 down to my TV.  I also have an FM dipole antenna up there to bring in ABC (Channel 6, WPVI) and PBS (Channel 12 WHYY) because they are in VHF band.

 

I am 48 miles from the Philadelphia broadcast antennas and I usually get pretty good reception.  Lately I have not been getting WHYY and some of the smaller indie broadcasters (WYBE).  Sometimes reception is bad due to thunderstorms, solar flares? and C-17 overflight from JBMDL.  I am sure that if I put a nice fringe antenna on the roof with a rotator that I would get much better reception and more channels.  But I get the major networks pretty reliably and I think it is a pretty decent ROI.

 

Unfortunately this does not include anything from ESPN so I was not able to get the college FB games that I really wanted--like the Peach bowl--so I had to settle with listening on SiriusXM.

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Got a second opinion on this. Ordered and ..... back ordered. Wife ckd it out. She is finally on board

I have no experience with this but a got I work with did a lot of research and bought this for himself.

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I have no experience with this but a got I work with did a lot of research and bought this for himself.

My nerd is(was) an ING server guy. Now cap one.

 

He hates, hates Comcast.! He's out of the middle of nowhere Salem co. No antenna for him. He's jealous of my proximity to Philadelphia.

 

What are friends for? Lol

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When I was installing my antenna.....

 

DB8e.jpg

 

The first thing I saw was a news report on Scalia's death. I was thinking for a moment, was I listening to some alternate universe broadcast. Sadly.. that wasn't it.

 

Mine is in the attic, directed toward NY generally via a gable window. I may move it outside in the spring. Then get a second VHF antenna.

 

 

A resource for Antennas and other info.

 

https://www.antennasdirect.com/

 

 

A resource to see what available OTA.

 

https://www.fcc.gov/media/engineering/dtvmaps

 

Also.. for DVR functionality.. I haven't bought this, but it seems like it would work.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Channel-Master-DVR-Bundle-subscription/dp/B00JGZQ17Q/ref=sr_1_12?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1484435877&sr=1-12&keywords=dvr+for+antenna+tv

 

Tivo BOLT is another for less money. Not sure how well either works, but reports say they work if you are a DVR'ing person.

 

Issue for us is... or was... Not getting Fox News live... Megyn Kelly cured me of that.. and HGTV... but I am told that we can get these with a SlingBox account. You pay for it. I should look into it I guess. Hasn't been a priority lately.

What would be better, from this site or a muhu leaf? I'd probably by the best (most expensive) option of either to get most channels.

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What would be better, from this site or a muhu leaf? I'd probably by the best (most expensive) option of either to get most channels.

If I were over 50 miles from Roxbury (the location of Philadelphia broadcaster's antennas) I would go for the DB8e and I'd get a pre-amp (such as Channel Master Titan 7777).

But I would first try a homemade "bowtie" antenna (http://buildadtvantenna.blogspot.com/2009/07/exact-step-by-step-homemade-dtv-antenna.html) placed in the attic if possible.

I have pretty good results with this setup and a decent pre-amp and I am almost 50 miles out!

It is a very low investment and will tell you if you really need a fancy store-bought antenna, and how much antenna to buy if you do.

 

I would not mount my home built antenna outside (it would not last long in the weather); However, a friend of mine made a weatherproof model using PVC instead of 2x4s and it works well.

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