Details

Cord Cutting For Dummies


Cord Cutting For Dummies


1. Aufl.

von: Paul McFedries

10,99 €

Verlag: Wiley
Format: PDF
Veröffentl.: 26.04.2021
ISBN/EAN: 9781119800972
Sprache: englisch
Anzahl Seiten: 224

DRM-geschütztes eBook, Sie benötigen z.B. Adobe Digital Editions und eine Adobe ID zum Lesen.

Beschreibungen

<p><b>Cut the cable television cord and cut your monthly bills</b></p> <p>Are you one of those people who have 500 television channels to choose from and you can never find anything to watch? Maybe it’s time to cut the cable cord and take full control of what’s on your television. All you need to get started with this popular money saving strategy is an Internet connection, a device to stream to, and the advice in this book.</p> <p>With <i>Cord Cutting For Dummies</i>, you go from evaluating if cord cutting is the right choice for your budget to acquiring the technology to get the programming you actually want. You’ll discover the technology you need for streaming, select the service or services that fit your needs, and make the components of your setup work together—all within your budget. <i>Cord Cutting For Dummies </i>offers the steps to going from wired to wireless, including:</p> <ul> <li>Deciding if you need to upgrade your Wi-Fi equipment and service.</li> <li>Evaluating your current devices.</li> <li>Adding a smart TV to the mix.</li> <li>Choosing the best streaming services for you—including some free options</li> </ul> <p>When you’re ready to untether yourself from the cable or satellite, <i>Cord Cutting For Dummie</i>s shows you, step by step, how to break free. Pick up a copy and you’ll be watching your favorite movie or TV show in no time!</p>
<p><b>Introduction</b><b> 1</b></p> <p>About This Book 1</p> <p>Foolish Assumptions 2</p> <p>Icons Used in This Book 3</p> <p>Beyond the Book 3</p> <p>Where to Go from Here 4</p> <p><b>Part 1: Some Cord-Cutting Basics </b><b>5</b></p> <p><b>Chapter 1: </b><b>Why Cut the Cord? 7</b></p> <p>What’s So Bad about Cable? (Let Me Count the Ways) 8</p> <p>Cable TV is expensive 8</p> <p>You still get bombarded by commercials 9</p> <p>You probably watch only a teensy fraction of what you pay for 9</p> <p>Bundles are (usually) bad 9</p> <p>Long-term (read: loyal) customers pay more, not less 10</p> <p>You’re getting nickeled-and-dimed 10</p> <p>You’re dealing with a near-monopoly 11</p> <p>Customer service is pretty much non-existent 12</p> <p>Technical support is a pain in the you-know-what 12</p> <p>Those darned contracts! 13</p> <p>Some Reasons Why Cutting the Cord Might Not Be for You 13</p> <p>Your savings might be less than you hoped 13</p> <p>You might still have to deal with channel bundles 14</p> <p>You might still see commercials 14</p> <p>TV watching will become more complex for you 15</p> <p>You’ll use way more Internet bandwidth — and perhaps pay for the privilege 15</p> <p>Your monthly Internet bill will probably go up 16</p> <p>The quality of the streaming video might be poor 16</p> <p>You might have to wait a long time to watch new shows 16</p> <p>You might never see some new shows 17</p> <p>The Benefits of Severing Your Connection to the Cable Company 17</p> <p>You save money 18</p> <p>You’ll probably be happier in the long run 18</p> <p>You unshackle your TV 18</p> <p>You unshackle yourself 19</p> <p>You’re in control 19</p> <p>Surveying the Cord-Free Landscape 20</p> <p><b>Chapter 2: Snip, Snip Your 7-Step Plan to Going Cord-Free </b><b>23</b></p> <p>Step 1: Deciding What You Want to Watch 24</p> <p>Option A: Going with just your “must see” TV shows 24</p> <p>Option B: Going with just a few streaming services 25</p> <p>Option C: Going with OTA live TV 26</p> <p>Step 2: Figuring Out the Equipment You Need 26</p> <p>Step 3: Making a Streaming Services Budget 27</p> <p>Step 4: Trying Out Lots of Streaming Services — for Free! 29</p> <p>Step 5: Subscribing to Streaming Services 30</p> <p>Step 6: Doing a Cord-Cutting Test Drive 31</p> <p>Step 7: Cutting the Cord — Woo-Hoo! 32</p> <p>Check your contract 33</p> <p>Check your bandwidth history 33</p> <p>Gather everything you need 33</p> <p>Get ready mentally 34</p> <p>Know the process 34</p> <p>Return all equipment 36</p> <p><b>Part 2: Cord Cutting Made Easy with Over-the-Air TV </b><b>37</b></p> <p><b>Chapter 3: </b><b>Understanding Over-the-Air TV 39</b></p> <p>OTA? OTT? Live TV? What on Earth Is Everyone Talking About? 40</p> <p>What is over-the-air TV? 41</p> <p>The pros and cons of over-the-air TV 42</p> <p>How Over-the-Air TV Works 45</p> <p>The television station 45</p> <p>The transmission tower 46</p> <p>The antenna and tuner 46</p> <p>What Channels Can You Access? 48</p> <p>Understanding the factors that affect signal strength 49</p> <p>Checking the FCC’s digital TV reception maps 50</p> <p>Using TV Fool’s TV signal locator 52</p> <p>Real versus virtual channels 54</p> <p><b>Chapter 4: Choosing and Setting Up OTA Hardware </b><b>57</b></p> <p>What Equipment Do You Need? 58</p> <p>Choosing an OTA Digital Antenna 62</p> <p>Antenna styles 62</p> <p>Determine the range 63</p> <p>Indoor or outdoor? 63</p> <p>Amplified or not? 64</p> <p>Unidirectional or multidirectional? 66</p> <p>Look for VHF/UHF support 67</p> <p>Watch out for bogus or exaggerated claims 68</p> <p>Installing Your Antenna 70</p> <p>Installing an indoor antenna 70</p> <p>Installing an outdoor antenna 71</p> <p>Connecting Your Antenna 73</p> <p>Making coaxial connections 73</p> <p>Connecting an antenna to one TV 74</p> <p>Connecting an antenna to multiple TVs 75</p> <p>Connecting an antenna to your computer 77</p> <p>Connecting an antenna to your mobile device 78</p> <p>Connecting an antenna to your Wi-Fi network 78</p> <p>Improving antenna reception 79</p> <p>Scanning for OTA Channels 80</p> <p><b>Chapter 5: Watching Over-the-Air and Live TV</b><b> 83</b></p> <p>Watching Over-the-Air TV Using a Regular TV 84</p> <p>Changing the TV input source 84</p> <p>Watching over-the-air TV 86</p> <p>Where’s the TV guide? 87</p> <p>Recording over-the-air TV 87</p> <p>Watching Over-the-Air TV Using a Smart TV 91</p> <p>Watching Over-the-Air TV Using a Streaming Device 93</p> <p>Look, Ma, No Antenna! Streaming Live TV 93</p> <p><b>Part 3: Cable-Free Viewing with Streaming Services </b><b>97</b></p> <p><b>Chapter 6: </b><b>The Hardware You Need for Streaming 99</b></p> <p>Let’s Talk TVs 100</p> <p>Screen size 100</p> <p>Resolution 101</p> <p>HDMI ports 102</p> <p>Streamers: Set-Top Box or Dongle? 103</p> <p>Set-top box streamers 104</p> <p>Dongle streamers 105</p> <p>Set-top box streamer versus dongle streamer 105</p> <p>What to Look for in a Streaming Media Player 106</p> <p>Smart TVs for Streaming Media 109</p> <p>Setting Up Your Hardware 111</p> <p>Connecting a set-top player 111</p> <p>Connecting a streaming stick 113</p> <p>Configuring your streaming player 115</p> <p><b>Chapter 7: Getting Your Internet Access Ready for Streaming </b><b>117</b></p> <p>Investing in a New Router 118</p> <p>Extending Your Wi-Fi Network 121</p> <p>How Much Bandwidth Is Enough? 122</p> <p>Taking a look at streaming media bandwidth usage 123</p> <p>Going on a bandwidth diet 124</p> <p>Understanding How Streaming Works 126</p> <p>The streaming process 126</p> <p>More about buffering 127</p> <p>I Feel the Need — the Need for Speed! 129</p> <p>Why does speed matter? 129</p> <p>How fast is fast enough? 130</p> <p>Testing your Internet speed 131</p> <p><b>Chapter 8: Checking Out Free Streaming Services</b><b> 135</b></p> <p>Is There Such a Thing as a Free Lunch? 136</p> <p>What to Expect from Free Streaming Services 137</p> <p>Some Free Streaming Services to Check Out 138</p> <p>Crackle 138</p> <p>Haystack News 139</p> <p>Hoopla 139</p> <p>IMDb TV 141</p> <p>Kanopy 142</p> <p>PBS Video 142</p> <p>Peacock 142</p> <p>Roku Channel Store 143</p> <p>Tubi TV 144</p> <p>Xumo 145</p> <p>Free streaming apps for kids 145</p> <p>A few more freebies 146</p> <p><b>Chapter 9: Checking Out Paid Streaming Services</b> <b>149</b></p> <p>What to Expect from Paid Streaming Services 150</p> <p>What Types of Paid Streaming Services Are Available? 151</p> <p>On-Demand Streaming Services .152</p> <p>Amazon Prime Video 152</p> <p>Apple TV+ 153</p> <p>Hulu 155</p> <p>Netflix 156</p> <p>Paramount+ 157</p> <p>Peacock 158</p> <p>Cable-Replacement Services 160</p> <p>fuboTV 160</p> <p>Hulu + Live TV 161</p> <p>Sling TV 162</p> <p>YouTube TV 163</p> <p>Checking Out Premium Channels 164</p> <p><b>Part 4: The Part of Tens </b><b>167</b></p> <p><b>Chapter 10: </b><b>Ten Ways to Save Money in a Cord-Free World 169</b></p> <p>Get the Smallest OTA Antenna Possible 170</p> <p>Don’t Get Too Much Internet 171</p> <p>Take Advantage of Skinny Bundles 172</p> <p>Don’t Commit Until You’re Amazed at Your Luck 173</p> <p>Watch New Shows on the Cheap 174</p> <p>Subscribe Strategically 175</p> <p>Keep an Eye on Your Subscriptions 176</p> <p>Get a Credit Card Offering Streaming Cash Back 177</p> <p>Give Up the Premium Subscription Plan 177</p> <p>Save on Sports .178</p> <p><b>Chapter 11: Ten Tips for Troubleshooting Streaming Woes </b><b>179</b></p> <p>Check Your Streaming Device’s Download Speed 180</p> <p>Restart Your Streaming Device 183</p> <p>Check Your Streaming Device for Updates 184</p> <p>Reset Your Streaming Device 185</p> <p>Check Your Wi-Fi Connection Speed 186</p> <p>Reset Your Wi-Fi 188</p> <p>Make Some Wi-Fi Adjustments 188</p> <p>Troubleshoot an Unresponsive Streaming Device 189</p> <p>Troubleshoot a Blank TV Screen 190</p> <p>Upgrade Your Hardware 191</p> <p>Glossary 193</p> <p>Index 203</p>
<p><b>Paul McFedries</b> is a technical writer who has been authoring computer books since 1991 and has over 100 books to his credit. These books include <i>Alexa For Dummies</i> and <i>Amazon Fire TV For Dummies.</i> You can visit Paul on the web at www.mcfedries.com.</p>
<p><b>Save money and expand your TV options</b></p><p>If you pay a huge cable TV service bill every month and still can’t find anything to watch, it’s time to cut the cord to your cable provider. Cord cutting has become a popular way to save money and get the programming that fits your interests. Follow the easy steps outlined in this book to evaluate your choices, upgrade your hardware, select the services that fit your needs, and make the components of your setup work together. You’ll soon be cable-free and binge-watching your favorite shows.</p><p><b>Inside. . .</b></p> <ul><b><li>Decide whether cord cutting is right for you</li><li>Set a streaming budget</li><li>Upgrade your Wi-Fi, TV, or antenna</li><li>Access free shows over the air</li><li>Give streaming services a trial watch before committing</li><li>Find budget-saving tips</li></b></ul>

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