CNET to the Rescue Ep.#27: Cutting the Cord

I've -- -- great human welcome to CNET in the rescue weekly podcast we tell you the truth but tech products and answer your tech questions. In this week we're talking about cutting the cord. Dumping your expensive cable. -- satellite connection replacing it with free over the air Internet services or lower priced or ala -- streaming stuff like that. We have a special guest today to discuss this very Mary. Interesting issue something I'm deeply that in. David Katzmaier is joining us from -- New York office David thanks for dialing in. X -- I -- I'm doing well I'm. And I think we got the connection finally working here so -- David you're doing exactly lists and for -- you are listening David is is in the middle of a diary. Story. Called. Diary of the court -- so again thanks for joining us before it gets started I wanna remind everybody. If you have a tech question -- to the rescue. Calls with your questions to get on next week's show 8774386688. Again 8774386688. Or send an email to rescue. At cnet.com no question is too basic. If you got tech problems getting on your skin send it along -- Now we're we're -- to bash the questions -- particular issues right now we're doing today via court cutting last week that storage. I don't know -- to be doing it -- but then your question in and doubt we'll get on the air. -- write to David. -- -- Did -- tell us why you it decided to do the whole court having thing and how it's been going -- -- getting them to be Pillsbury for a listeners. Race is usually the main reason is money really. Excited that -- -- looking at what we want it -- -- -- -- City underdogs on what's really nice things aren't -- that's what I would say the bios all packaged. Triple play with the TV Internet -- or cut -- -- just. In an -- phone and the process. And -- news about a hundred bucks -- I figured it that's when I can you get free TV so we or the streets TV and I'm not and I'm setting -- was antenna I live up forty miles from god the broadcast -- city here -- state of church and so I've read that that's a pretty fine no way -- -- any locations. Such a manner that worked out pretty well. And then of course a supplement that with ED Internet solutions are or should you -- to get ITT programs all -- descriptions style Netflix plus. Over the Internet so I've been pretty -- those. Never -- -- and you that I could manage so between you -- I thought it would be pretty easy to -- and I get pretty much all the program. Now. Now. -- -- So. One of the things about. Doing a project like this is you take a interface that everybody understands -- the cable box in the remote and you replace it with. Especially constitute streaming over the Internet. Something else something generally more technical and you have to deal with what is called we've in my house the spousal approval factor. How did that go first of -- was your wife for your family bought into this project and did they did they. Where they happy if things. Progress. So right now it's it's my wife and and luckily -- don't have to. Run things are eighteen month old daughter yes she get. You. Streets armed but. Really I I talk I like you know we we we lead up to that we decided to do it I do we really didn't exterior meant -- armed you know. Not using -- -- call because. She couldn't -- -- just do it -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Which -- Three and and -- all the -- by strokes at -- it was a pretty great answer send it to work -- well but I've raised the spouse acceptance factor is big hurdle so far. You know best is that during the day and work she. Does watch more T -- -- special. It turned out to be a little bit more difficult to get all shows -- used to. Learning in UT ER is on our next -- -- -- as. But this particular DVR -- scheme all I -- at each recordings should we also had some issues with. Reception where -- My location worked for CBS. Ironically I checked yet CBS -- channel that doesn't mean clearly antenna. So and of course -- -- CBS or heard -- program. So there was definitely. Some some kind of late -- asked questions based cold water this is in a -- here we're -- to watching it DOT VR or service and -- -- CT a whole new system. We noted that. Necessarily doesn't work quite as well as cable. At least our experience -- -- challenge. So you described now you had to go up on your roof and put the TV the antenna up there the aerial. You who have. Installed new -- on your PlayStation you gotta PC somewhere I don't I didn't. Yet whether that's direct connected or as the server. Any other hardware you need and how do you control right and I have the nationality of your set up here very festive looks like. Science fair experiment. -- you control all that stuff and in his it's stable. Yeah that's picturesque and that's actually a laptop connected TV which is the most bootleg -- to my normal system has its its. In serious is easy because it's all -- -- and we always use our remote so that he controls a lot easier that would be otherwise. On so I have the -- controlling my PlayStation RI out. Bluetooth IRI. -- adapter. Cord and my wife is an actual keys that wasn't too bad but navigating through the menus are you ready to utilize this content on play on scripts or she is a lot more difficult armed and -- you you to scroll your current -- or better yet -- this court should DVR. So there's that issue of course like you mentioned the PC running -- -- serving as the server. Is going on the Internet and I personally to browse and explore and play on it and going to different video web sites -- nose -- and shooting them Wilbur -- on a wired connection from my computer upstairs down -- -- -- by its research there's a lot going on -- are PCBs all the time. -- -- -- turn it on -- -- -- -- -- or -- -- -- Orange City. -- there's a lot -- -- that are sent up was you know. Lot of wires. All ten gets a bit but at the end of the day on the Internet portion with -- on -- to be a little too complex -- I've had too many failures made -- Ten. Not work. Time. Percent -- Our experience so we recently decided to get rid of that -- easy to -- on PlayStation 3 system and go actually -- excited. Couple days ago to try Tivo so T Rowe ostensibly offers a lot of that content to just gotten us. -- at Netflix rent a bunch of other services in an interface that you know media has a better wax except this packet then what I always use the I -- -- of course you also. You know -- DVR or ten so I'm you know I'm I'm I'm pretty excited that he gets it on route. Twenty dollar month subscription TO we -- -- and -- into -- our top. -- -- Well we've talked that I wanna talk more about equipment here and of well actually the -- and this is he just did mention the antenna factor one of the questions I have my byline appears. How fragile is the set up by mean you set up the DVR or cable Boxee plug in QQB and you don't have to mess with that -- power cycle hoping for a month. Or a year. With this set up with your multiple interconnected content boxes and your antenna and all that virtual on the roof how robust -- your set up at the moment. You know antenna connection and patent and find out -- -- states and now some people just can't get it -- its options and I think an antenna sixty. Lots nutrient good reception -- consider cutting core. How about the stability of the rest the system from a current -- reboots to crashes -- -- com. With the Internet it's again I think cling on was for me I'm not the best solution. That's called navigate. Content that -- it was a little less than perfectly stable and testing kind of need that -- TTVs she used table so I had very good experience. That's testing roku which is a little box cost sixty blocks that can at least I can go out and again -- -- -- march T nets are Netflix and you want to. Add to excrete cluster. Cash and so when you have those on your roku box it doesn't work very well on those are also -- PlayStation exception Amazon so I -- -- you really wanna get Rogue is getting. Similar. Three on and I'm -- problems stream Netflix or PS3. Plus works very well. Boxed versions so I think I was a little complicated start out -- armed you know that that the bonuses that. Set expectations -- expertise. -- Okay now one of things we haven't talked about much for yet more hardware is content. So. With cable or earth satellite you know what you're getting and -- pretty sure you're gonna get it. So -- -- with these alternate methods over the air -- Internet streaming plus subscription. Are you seeing the shows that you and your family want to and expect to see or are you missing stuff can -- executives from a content perspective. Yet that's that's really the main questions -- west media are mainly because. It turns out that the sports so I was I am. -- and next both of those sports franchise baseball basketball are only available basically at all. By on your local cable -- -- the next round -- to make sense from armed. At the end of the day they make things really get it. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- You know -- -- three. -- It'd be great -- these things are offer a legal. It it's sports that that. My wife are and she really sees most of the program and are all current she -- -- it's pretty much all there are you know. All the networks are obviously -- antenna on the Internet side you get -- much you know and -- Current TV show. -- Site like you are Conti. I'm before the current show appears on the web. Networks use except encourage people who keep their regular -- odd but she is -- a little -- divorce yourself idea. Watch the show right now and we were pretty much -- -- -- media. And that wasn't really crawl it you don't get all the shows on and it's nice you can we teach you a marathon -- attach up we do text. Editor are IT. Yes the school also you know. In a way there's a lot more content. Available cable -- out all that all these. And you know it's really cool I received a little bit -- issue. And I have a big issue with video call these. Streams you know what you need to call for example some of the picture quality is not that great -- -- Hulu plus. Actually pretty darn good audio quality streaming it I guess what shows I'm of course is not doesn't looks -- -- -- did not but you still passable for. People. And of course the other issue is commercials so you know -- -- online streaming services that -- she's. You may be beautiful particularly you have to wash -- -- Show that you haven't received your music. There are more you do watching regular TV of course or we agrees to -- because that's minority -- out now that's not an option. What the DVR has given. The Internet has taken away and speaking of which we have to take an advertisement break right here in will be back. In just the second talk about some more of the hardware and that content choices for cutting the -- -- -- -- You wish. That's -- we're talking about you're talking about getting TV in your Internet in your TV heating your Internet every one of flights at. And we're back with David Katzmaier talking about cutting the cord. There are several products out there that are important for cord cutters and I wanna go through a couple of them David and and see what your impression -- -- -- first of all you talk about using your PlayStation as eighty. Some form a set top box. What are you using what -- -- people use is a game console a good replacement for cable box. Yeah its it's a very -- replacement rates com. The PS3 and Xbox-360. 22 -- -- our you know we used to stream. Media services Netflix. On the net are directly from the box to -- so depending on the contents that you want to look at you can get it or sometimes all -- York and other PS3 -- It -- plus -- there's an excellent job marketplace or on hand they'll all on the Xbox Zune marketplace and dairy you know these guys a lot selection even -- we can do Netflix -- I think we're gonna see a lot more active eucharist and to deal with -- that's -- looks like service TT. -- treat cleese -- scramble each armed. To actually run the XRC sixty has set top so you could get an Xbox you don't need to set -- from now you can just get your TV streets Xbox should I think that's gonna be something now you -- Microsoft Sony. Aren't ports and try to make these these kind of deals like magic eight -- -- -- -- due out in a long story -- these these. Game boxes are a lot -- Can be pretty darn -- -- here. What about Boxee for a little product we've heard a lot about. -- world that the Boxee box -- aren't really ready for prime time our review it. It doesn't have these services acted yet on its real strength right now is something that it's very well is you -- street idols and its files. Delete she is very good at your local files and mass murderer or PC. In your house and certainty. Is pretty darn good -- com but when it comes to getting I. Saw that the Internet we still -- the roku is the best -- -- -- -- the roku and how it stacks up against the new Apple TV. The roku has -- generally more content. -- to -- that Netflix Apple is more of ala carte method. Forgetting stuff -- Or TV shows movies whereas roku is kind of case description. Atoms and which has an excellent answer you do go ala carte route to get stuff I'm on so Hulu plus in our group was also aren't broken as a lean -- -- -- its. Unique all your T. Black -- again they're also hockey. So there's a couple of these extra services on -- -- Are available course -- -- -- -- iTunes collection. And -- kind infested iTunes store already and the nine dollar. Product. Of course the big news of late was the announcement of Google TV now you can get a -- tech box that runs -- the Avian get Sony TV that has Google TV built in. Is that a good solution for court -- Right now it's not on the main problem PDAs that sort of a broken process we thought to TV it you know again -- all of these things get a web. Easy cash. Or its Zune -- it is right now little east program. Devices with Google TVR they're they're just actively block. Access -- so he goes he can't do it who -- a lot oddities broadcaster web sites including some Comedy Central is sort of aren't certain what he be. And and you just get a big -- is a chance. Are so you know Google is working on these are -- its I I think that there was -- chair and -- your probably a separate. -- format yes describe I think it's this time just gets on -- just updated the Netflix interface geese there's progress but against sorely Boxee product we consider a little bit -- -- right. Google -- it. Now people talk about Netflix of course has as a good solution for getting content either by dvd yours or stream. Both movies and series -- television series. Amazon. Amazon video -- that solution for that and we've talked a little that. Hulu and Hulu plus -- these are different products Hulu Hulu plus. How useful and how comprehensive are they for. Television show watchers. That's a really good question -- kind of more original -- was I got my gosh this little web site has you know all this content from fox and ABC. You know these are in arts and easy so the only one is not on right now CBS arm and CBS -- their website -- -- our streets CBS Cox but if you have those networks if you aren't sure in this three networks sparks BC NBC it's there. Are using it really did recently is they took Hulu plus a beta of Hulu plus is there. Com product data subscription product -- screen -- -- street videos sent Hulu plus years 79 months and -- get act. Access to. A lot at the same programming content acts it is more content. One of the ways of differentiating its use that there's only five current bill will. Be shows rest of us you get all the current episodes and a lot of -- -- -- -- catch up which is really cool thing to -- future two series it's great to just watch these. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- It's and I think the more this goes -- who's gonna gravitate more away from an cluster biding its successful course that's the real problem people are. Plus. It does have had still some -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- He shows. Itself between the two services it's kinda nice original -- that they get both are you gonna choose. Okay so. In a nutshell I gonna wrap up this part out and take a couple quick question for people who wrote in about cutting the -- What is kind of -- the bare minimum. Set up the you'd recommend for first from a hardware perspective and it from a services perspective what what do you need to get started to -- -- -- court. Would if you just starting out and you're you're you're cables are right now I reckon -- Which is minimal investment about sixty bucks it's a little box sits on your TD. Acts like a cable box but once you've familiarized itself with constant L all on air and you -- -- subscriptions. Plus for Oracle C asserts sees this shows that you want -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Okay looks thanks David thanks very much to -- a couple questions from people. That that that though oil queued up we got out of voicemail from Richard -- question about network ability MPV. Richard compiled. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- I get -- and I wanna know how important it is. -- -- -- -- -- I only go to the new model yet to -- network or assuming that what -- -- -- -- no. Should I not -- -- spending the extra money. Interesting question is it worth it to get a TV that has an ethernet or Wi-Fi eight function built into it. When you think. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- That owner more than sixty dollars out take that into account figure out what exactly want to do with those networks feature is I'm you know sometimes it's nice hat and TV it -- whether or streamed directly -- and heated it -- separate boxed in general exodus are. Right okay good thanks. We got -- a question from Vernon Japan has said. I'm a longtime listener been listening. In various countries and I'm in the navy my question is about -- network attached storage it's. Can -- connect an external hard drive to -- Apple time machine and use it to stream all my media files on my computers hooked up to this is -- this is not a living room questions so much but. The issue is. How do you move your files around and watch -- both of the files you have wherever you are. Well in general aren't really familiar with the time machine all the current it might not be our choice for NASA -- but the good news is that it -- if you do how a lot of policy wanna watch genetically especially on TV are a network attached storage device is actually really -- wait to act on a lot of these devices like the closest to mention or XR sixteen inch tapping into -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- I know you sort all get to stream these services rights and televisions via PS3 or even some TV's built in what's called -- any capabilities they can communicate -- terrorist networks. I'd finally a question from Adam said I've wondered if you can explain the whole cable card technology thing which is supposedly on its way out. -- the all that adapter that -- supposedly the next big thing. I know there was an FEC rule passed recently that supposed to mean -- -- people -- cable card. But it seems to not take effect until mid 2011 -- those view or listen to this the idea of cable card -- the post that he. That you could go to -- -- ever by a television or a DVR or whatever and then you have this little piece he -- I think you just plug into it and that is your cable box would no longer have to rent cable box from media. Cable company. This is technically possible today that's not nearly as widespread as we all hope that it it would be David in a nutshell what is the latest with that form of technology. Yeah -- that's still like a lot of things in Washington still being decided. Instantly lobbied against. You might imagine those guys. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Doesn't work quite as well I and -- -- -- switched digital video -- to be deployed is being deployed I certain places and that's a new cable technology that sort of and everything. And that you -- After -- -- but doesn't. Work quite as well and of course there is supposed to be the successor to cue cards on but again see -- taking rules anytime soon and when it does. It might subject he's similar sorts that you know sort -- restriction. That people with it now on the site is really nice you use your Tivo with. -- you -- But it's not the best of both worlds experience that should be and you know in the week that it -- out our. CNET change. -- it. -- right David we are at a time thank you so much for joining us telling -- cutting the court for all you guys are listening out there you wanna know more about the experience and the advice from you know -- TV. Expert on how to do this check -- diary of the cable TV court that are there and several entries already it's on the crave blog blog crave at cnet.com. You can follow -- all his trials and tribulations there and he is still married even after doing -- with pour -- -- Thanks again for joining us -- -- brought it to if you have questions -- -- -- -- -- to rescue at cnet.com or call them into 8774386688. You can also catch past episodes and answers and all the links he would want and all the stuff we talked about. At cnet.com slash rescue. Don't forget follow me on Twitter that at -- RA FE -- of the latest show and elements and other show on Friday. Reporters roundtable which this Friday will be all about the future of Internet advertising. -- -- yet. Aren't a few guys all next Wednesday for another thing that the rescue thanks much --