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Paul McFedries. Cord Cutting For Dummies
Cord Cutting For Dummies® To view this book's Cheat Sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and search for “Cord Cutting For Dummies Cheat Sheet” in the Search box. Table of Contents
List of Tables
List of Illustrations
Guide
Pages
Introduction
About This Book
Foolish Assumptions
Icons Used in This Book
Beyond the Book
Where to Go from Here
Some Cord-Cutting Basics
Why Cut the Cord?
What's So Bad about Cable? (Let Me Count the Ways)
Cable TV is expensive
You still get bombarded by commercials
You probably watch only a teensy fraction of what you pay for
Bundles are (usually) bad
Long-term (read: loyal) customers pay more, not less
You're getting nickeled-and-dimed
You're dealing with a near-monopoly
Customer service is pretty much non-existent
Technical support is a pain in the you-know-what
Those darned contracts!
Some Reasons Why Cutting the Cord Might Not Be for You
Your savings might be less than you hoped
You might still have to deal with channel bundles
You might still see commercials
TV watching will become more complex for you
You'll use way more Internet bandwidth — and perhaps pay for the privilege
Your monthly Internet bill will probably go up
The quality of the streaming video might be poor
You might have to wait a long time to watch new shows
You might never see some new shows
The Benefits of Severing Your Connection to the Cable Company
You save money
You'll probably be happier in the long run
You unshackle your TV
You unshackle yourself
You're in control
Surveying the Cord-Free Landscape
Snip, Snip. Your 7-Step Plan to Going Cord-Free
Step 1: Deciding What You Want to Watch
Option A: Going with just your “must see” TV shows
Option B: Going with just a few streaming services
Option C: Going with OTA live TV
Step 2: Figuring Out the Equipment You Need
Step 3: Making a Streaming Services Budget
CABLE-LIKE STREAMING SERVICES
Step 4: Trying Out Lots of Streaming Services — for Free!
Step 5: Subscribing to Streaming Services
Step 6: Doing a Cord-Cutting Test Drive
Step 7: Cutting the Cord —Woo-Hoo!
Check your contract
Check your bandwidth history
Gather everything you need
Get ready mentally
Know the process
Return all equipment
Cord Cutting Made Easy with Over-the-Air TV
Understanding Over-the-Air TV
OTA? OTT? Live TV? What on Earth Is Everyone Talking About?
What is over-the-air TV?
LINEAR VERSUS NON-LINEAR TV
The pros and cons of over-the-air TV
WHAT IS NEXT GEN TV?
How Over-the-Air TV Works
The television station
The transmission tower
The antenna and tuner
What Channels Can You Access?
Understanding the factors that affect signal strength
Checking the FCC's digital TV reception maps
Using TV Fool's TV signal locator
Real versus virtual channels
Choosing and Setting Up OTA Hardware
What Equipment Do You Need?
Choosing an OTA Digital Antenna
Antenna styles
Determine the range
Indoor or outdoor?
Amplified or not?
Unidirectional or multidirectional?
Look for VHF/UHF support
Watch out for bogus or exaggerated claims
Installing Your Antenna
Installing an indoor antenna
Installing an outdoor antenna
Connecting Your Antenna
Making coaxial connections
Connecting an antenna to one TV
Connecting an antenna to multiple TVs
Connecting an antenna to your computer
Connecting an antenna to your mobile device
Connecting an antenna to your Wi-Fi network
Improving antenna reception
Scanning for OTA Channels
Watching Over-the-Air and Live TV
Watching Over-the-Air TV Using a Regular TV
Changing the TV input source
Watching over-the-air TV
Where's the TV guide?
Recording over-the-air TV
Recording over-the-air TV for free
Recording over-the-air TV with a subscription
Setting up a Tablo DVR
Watching Over-the-Air TV Using a Smart TV
Watching Over-the-Air TV Using a Streaming Device
Look, Ma, No Antenna! Streaming Live TV
Cable-Free Viewing with Streaming Services
The Hardware You Need for Streaming
Let's Talk TVs
Screen size
Resolution
HDMI ports
Streamers: Set-Top Box or Dongle?
Set-top box streamers
Dongle streamers
Set-top box streamer versus dongle streamer
What to Look for in a Streaming Media Player
WIRED STREAMING
Smart TVs for Streaming Media
Setting Up Your Hardware
Connecting a set-top player
Positioning the set-top box
Connecting the set-top box to your TV
Connecting a streaming stick
Configuring your streaming player
Getting Your Internet Access Ready for Streaming
Investing in a New Router
MODEM? ROUTER? ACCESS POINT? WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
Extending Your Wi-Fi Network
How Much Bandwidth Is Enough?
Taking a look at streaming media bandwidth usage
Going on a bandwidth diet
Understanding How Streaming Works
The streaming process
More about buffering
I Feel the Need — the Need for Speed!
Why does speed matter?
How fast is fast enough?
Testing your Internet speed
Checking Out Free Streaming Services
Is There Such a Thing as a Free Lunch?
What to Expect from Free Streaming Services
Some Free Streaming Services to Check Out
Crackle
Haystack News
Hoopla
IMDb TV
Kanopy
PBS Video
Peacock
Roku Channel Store
Tubi TV
Xumo
Free streaming apps for kids
A few more freebies
Checking Out Paid Streaming Services
What to Expect from Paid Streaming Services
What Types of Paid Streaming Services Are Available?
On-Demand Streaming Services
Amazon Prime Video
Apple TV+
Hulu
Netflix
Paramount+
Peacock
Cable-Replacement Services
fuboTV
Hulu + Live TV
Sling TV
YouTube TV
Checking Out Premium Channels
The Part of Tens
Ten Ways to Save Money in a Cord-Free World
Get the Smallest OTA Antenna Possible
Don't Get Too Much Internet
Take Advantage of Skinny Bundles
Don't Commit Until You're Amazed at Your Luck
Watch New Shows on the Cheap
Subscribe Strategically
Keep an Eye on Your Subscriptions
Get a Credit Card Offering Streaming Cash Back
Give Up the Premium Subscription Plan
Save on Sports
Ten Tips for Troubleshooting Streaming Woes
Check Your Streaming Device's Download Speed
Restart Your Streaming Device
Check Your Streaming Device for Updates
Reset Your Streaming Device
Check Your Wi-Fi Connection Speed
Reset Your Wi-Fi
Make Some Wi-Fi Adjustments
Troubleshoot an Unresponsive Streaming Device
Troubleshoot a Blank TV Screen
Upgrade Your Hardware
Glossary
Index
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
About the Author
Dedication
Author’s Acknowledgments
WILEY END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT
