There are still some of us who remember what it was like to be subject to the will of traditional television channels: in the best of cases, you could hire a package that included all (or almost all) of the channels you liked, but forget about deciding what you want to see and what time do you want to see it. And if this is your situation, it is time to change. Today, thanks to on-demand content streaming services such as Disney Plus, Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video, you can decide what to watch and under what circumstances. Do you want more? You can also take advantage of live TV streaming services like Sling TV and ESPN Plus. As you can see, the difficult thing is not to cut the cable … the difficult thing is to choose between so many options!
Hit channels and series – once exclusively under the thumb of a cable subscription – are now accessible for a small monthly fee, with no contracts, equipment rentals, or disastrous customer service. Getting rid of cable or satellite service (and the accompanying bill) sounds great in theory, but it’s not something you should rush into.
First thing: how is your internet connection going?
You have to be very clear about it from now on: you need a broadband connection that allows transmission. Netflix and other similar streaming services suggest 5Mbps download speeds but trust us, you won’t do much with that either, especially if there are more people connected to the network in your home.
With 5Mbps you can get high-definition video streaming, but you may experience loading and buffering delays if your network is suffocating from any other data traffic. If you want to break into the big leagues to access the growing variety of 4K Ultra HD streaming content available on Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, and others, you’ll need to throttle your broadband speed – at least – to 25Mbps. You may also be interested in “Sky tv network” here Whatsapp Sky
We also recommend that you test your internet speed at peak times (between 6 and 10 pm on weekdays) to determine if your neighborhood has problems with heavy traffic. Fortunately, this is an increasingly rare problem outside of rural areas, but it is best to check.
Get yourself an HD antenna
Before canceling your cable or satellite subscription, you should research what is available through an HD antenna. For urban areas, a good HD antenna will probably get you all four of the major networks (FOX, ABC, NBC, and CBS), along with 10-15 other selections (PBS, CW, etc.) in HD resolution, and all free. There are numerous antennas available, such as the ClearStream Eclipse:
ClearStream Eclipse offers some of the best results. The antenna is powerful and surprisingly versatile. It comes in four separate versions: 35, 50, 60, and 70-mile variations, so you can pick up a model that best suits your location. The circular design of the antenna is unique, and it offers you the advantage of being better suited for picking up UHF signals (a type of high definition TV signal) than most other indoor antennas. Plus, it’s multi-directional, so finding an ideal setup where the signal is clearer is easy.
Leaf Metro
We like the Leaf Metro because its small profile is easily camouflaged, without sacrificing its functionality. Although its range is limited to approximately 25 miles, it is perfect for those who live in smaller apartments or rented rooms, especially in urban settings where over-the-air television signals are plentiful. To increase the versatility allowed by its small size, the antenna also comes in black or white, and can also be painted to match your interior. In addition, its coating adheres to almost any surface, being able to change its location with ease. An included 10-foot coaxial cable allows for a very flexible installation as well.
Switch to a real streaming device
You may have a Blu-ray player or smart TV with streaming apps included, and newer TVs from Samsung and LG have pretty good smart interfaces. But if you’re transitioning to a full-time streaming entertainment plan, you’ll need a device specifically designed for that job. These are our favorites:
Chromecast with Google TV
If you’re unfamiliar with previous Chromecast devices – perhaps due to the lack of remote control and an on-screen interface – then the newly created Google Chromecast with Google TV will be a breath of fresh air. Perfect for those looking for an alternative to “traditional” streaming devices like Roku, Apple, or Amazon, and for just $ 50 you can’t go wrong. It does everything that its predecessor, the Chromecast Ultra, did – among other things, it offers 4K HDR content and support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos – and even more. A full-featured Android TV streamer, the Google TV interface automatically pulls in all subscribed streaming services associated with your Google account without having to enter all individual credentials, and it has support for HDR10, HDR10 +, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos, all built-in. The remote control also supports voice commands as well.
Amazon Fire TV Cube
The Amazon Fire TV has gone through some updates, and it must be said that it has been improved with each of them. In fact, the current version is a true revolution in streaming services, it offers simple operation and also the ability to control your entire home theater system and smart home settings using your voice. This includes the ability to turn on and control basic operation on other devices, including not just your TV, but also your AV receiver and even your cable box. Amazon Fire TV Cube got a perfect score in our review.
Of course, voice control is only part of the package. Like almost all modern streaming devices, the Amazon Fire TV Cube supports 4K ultra HD images, and the latest version supports Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, HDR, and HDR10 +.
Regardless of whether you have your house full of Alexa devices or none at all, the Fire TV Cube is still a great option, especially for Amazon Prime subscribers, as all of your Prime music and video content will be available on the device. And if you like Fire TV but don’t need the added benefits of the Cube, the Fire TV Stick 4K is a great alternative.
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