By Stew Bottorf
For this week’s newsletter, I am choosing to present an edited version of a presentation that was done by one of our late members about 6 years ago. Stew was just a wonderful guy who loved his wife and loved his community. Cutting the Cord group at our club was very successful. When his wife passed away this year, he was heartbroken. Now they are together forever.
Why I Cut Cable
Our cable bill was $153 per month. I don’t watch much TV, but my wife relied on it daily. To successfully cut cable, I had to ensure she could still easily access her programming. After working on this for over a year, I’ve saved over $1,200 annually while gaining more content.
The Antenna: Biggest Savings, Smallest Cost
An antenna provides 30+ free channels in most areas. Visit TVFool.com to see which channels you can receive at your address. Even in our crowded office complex, I got 20 channels. Our club president’s wife receives 78 channels at her home.
Costs:
- Basic antenna: $10
- Quality antenna with amplifier: $100
- Professional installation: minimal
Annual savings with antenna only: $1,836
Use TitanTV.com for free TV guides. Recording devices from Silicon Dust or Tablo cost more but offer DVR functionality.
Internet Considerations
Everything beyond antenna requires internet. My cable company wanted $75/month for existing customers but only $45 for new customers—a $30 loyalty penalty. You can disconnect for 30 days and return as “new,” switch providers, or explore alternatives.
Streaming Services
Choose based on how you watch:
Real-time viewers: Sling, YouTube TV, PlayStation Vue, AT&T TV ($25-$85/month)
On-demand viewers: Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu ($10+/month)
Free options (100% legal):
- Pluto TV: Movies, news, sports, CNBC
- Earthcam TV: Worldwide live views
- Newsmax TV: News programming
Streaming Hardware
Amazon Fire Stick (my choice – $30-$50):
- Uses Android operating system
- Allows side-loading apps
- New remotes control TV power and volume
- One remote simplified things for my wife
Nvidia Shield ($139-$179):
- Best performance
- Uses Android TV
- More expensive but excellent
Avoid cheap Chinese boxes – they overheat and fail quickly.
VPN: Essential Privacy
A Virtual Private Network encrypts your internet traffic, preventing your ISP from seeing your activity. This protects privacy and adds security for all online transactions.
Private Internet Access: $40/year for 5 devices
IPTV: Cable TV Reimagined
Internet Protocol Television delivers 1,000+ channels in HD for $5-$25/month. This includes premium sports packages (MLB, NFL, NHL) and channels like HBO, Showtime, and Starz—all for under $20/month.
Requirements:
- VPN service (recommended)
- Compatible hardware
- Some technical skill
Find providers through:
- YouTube (search presenters: Electrical Andy, Troy Point)
- Check video descriptions for links
Providers I use:
- Gears Reloaded: $18.75/month
- Area 51: $5/month
- Players Klub: $5/month
My Complete Cost Breakdown
What I pay monthly:
- Internet (PC for People): $11-$18
- IPTV services: $29
- VPN: $3
- Total: $43-$50/month
Old cable bill: $153/month
Annual savings: $1,225-$1,300
Three Months Later: Still Married!
My wife adapted well and actually enjoyed the project.
Challenges encountered:
- Learning curve (keeping cable initially helped troubleshooting)
- Buffering occasionally occurs (having multiple services solves this)
- Slower speeds only matter for large downloads
- Would like better cell signal options
Advantages:
- Beats any commercial internet pricing
- Support works for any location
- Compatible with Windows, Apple, Linux, Chromebooks, Android, gaming systems
- Could attract gamers needing affordable unlimited internet