re: Oh well. My cord cutting experiment is over.

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I mean, I respect the guys who are like, "sign up for this free trial" or "install this in your attic and take it down after the game," but I like just knowing that I'll get every game I want to watch without any hassle.

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To be fair, if you go through the trouble of installing an antenna in your attic, it'll be there forever, and forever you will receive crystal clear TV for free. If you want DVR for OTA, there are several options, and if you average the upfront cost over 5 years it's less than $10/month.

And yeah, it can be a little bit of hassle to switch apps when changing channels, but if you're like me and you usually pick a game and stick with it, it's not a big deal. Or, with my setup, I have the option of watching the network games on TV and the "cable" games on my tablet, or vice versa.

I'm starting my second football season as a cordcutter, and so far I haven't missed a game I wanted to watch. And whatever small hassle it's been, it's more than made up for by the approximately $1500 I've saved since last year.

I also like that I can watch OTA or "cable" TV on my phone from anywhere. Not sure any cable companies let you do that. Don't they mostly restrict your mobile device viewing to inside your home, for the ones that even have the capability?

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Not allowed to have an outdoor OTA

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Yes you can, and it does not matter what your HOA says unless they provide you a common antenna for everyone to use. Below is some light reading on the subject.

As directed by Congress in Section 207 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the Federal Communications Commission adopted the Over-the-Air Reception Devices (“OTARD”) rule concerning governmental and nongovernmental restrictions on viewers' ability to receive video programming signals from direct broadcast satellites ("DBS"), broadband radio service providers (formerly multichannel multipoint distribution service or MMDS), and television broadcast stations ("TVBS").

The rule (47 C.F.R. Section 1.4000) has been in effect since October 1996, and it prohibits restrictions that impair the installation, maintenance or use of antennas used to receive video programming. The rule applies to video antennas including direct-to-home satellite dishes that are less than one meter (39.37") in diameter (or of any size in Alaska), TV antennas, and wireless cable antennas. The rule prohibits most restrictions that: (1) unreasonably delay or prevent installation, maintenance or use; (2) unreasonably increase the cost of installation, maintenance or use; or (3) preclude reception of an acceptable quality signal.

Effective January 22, 1999, the Commission amended the rule so that it also applies to rental property where the renter has an exclusive use area, such as a balcony or patio.

On October 25, 2000, the Commission further amended the rule so that it applies to customer-end antennas that receive and transmit fixed wireless signals. This amendment became effective on May 25, 2001.

The rule applies to individuals who place antennas that meet size limitations on property that they own or rent and that is within their exclusive use or control, including condominium owners and cooperative owners, and tenants who have an area where they have exclusive use, such as a balcony or patio, in which to install the antenna. The rule applies to townhomes and manufactured homes, as well as to single family homes.

The rule allows local governments, community associations and landlords to enforce restrictions that do not impair the installation, maintenance or use of the types of antennas described above, as well as restrictions needed for safety or historic preservation. Under some circumstances where a central or common antenna is available, a community association or landlord may restrict the installation of individual antennas. The rule does not apply to common areas that are owned by a landlord, a community association, or jointly by condominium or cooperative owners where the antenna user does not have an exclusive use area. Such common areas may include the roof or exterior wall of a multiple dwelling unit. Therefore, restrictions on antennas installed in or on such common areas are enforceable.

This Information Sheet provides general answers to questions concerning implementation of the rule, but is not a substitute for the actual rule. This document is for consumer education purposes only and is not intended to affect any proceedings or cases involving this subject matter or related issues. For further information or a copy of the rule, contact the Federal Communications Commission at 1-888-CALL FCC (1-888-225-5322), which is a toll-free number, or 202-418-2120. The rule and Commission decisions interpreting the rule are available via the Internet by going to links to relevant Orders and the rule at the end of this Information Sheet.

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Cutting the cord complicates life.

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I disagree. Cable bills keep going up and up, forcing you to call them once a year or so to get a better deal. Compared to that, cutting the cord is simpler IMO. Streaming service pricing is simple and straightforward. I can add and drop services as I see fit, and I have yet to hear of anyone's bill increasing unexpectedly. It's a breath of fresh air, really.

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Trade one monthly bill for multiple bills

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Who cares with auto pay?

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In long run the economics may hardly improve as you add the various apps/networks' fees.

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Now we're speculating about future cord-cutting bills? It would take absolutely massive price increases for my bills to be on par with my old cable bill. SlingTV would have to more than triple their fees for Cox to be cheaper for me.

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Not sure what apps and network fees you are talking about.

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It's odd, but apparently people like to make up things to talk bad about cord-cutting.

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"install this in your attic and take it down after the game,"

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Who in the frick suggested to install an attic antenna and then take it down?

If you only need an antenna temporarily, just use a normal antenna or a window antenna. Nobody said to install an attic antenna, only to take it down.

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How was your cable bill $200?

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How is yours not?

For me to get the few channels I really need (plus internet), it would have been $160 with Cox, and that was a special rate for 12 months. It would have been near $200 after. They happily add about $15 to your bill every year, too, and blame it on networks bumping rates or some little "promotion" expiring that you had no idea you had.

Before I dropped them, they had bumped me up to $260. Now I have every channel I need plus internet for $95 total with Eatel and Sling.

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What other services are available in your area?

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AT&T has sent people through my neighborhood door to door a few times, but they can't match the speed of cable here. Aside from that, I have Cox and Eatel. Eatel doesn't lie to me when I ask a direct question, so I'm with them.

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At&T is running crazy bundle deals with internet and tv (with either directv or uverse)

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AT&T could pay me to use their service, and I still wouldn't use it. I have given AT&T too many chances, and they failed me every time. I definitely don't want to rely on them for all of my services.

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Do you know anyone with cox.

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I am not going to do the leach off of people thing.

The cord cutting thing just isn't for me yet. I rather spend the extra money.

The new problem is they've raised Cable Internet prices to ridiculous amounts to adjust.

I had cut the cable for years...7 years until last year when the following happened with Xfinity:

100Mbps Internet - $76
100Mbps Internet+ Basic Cable + HBO - $75

How is that even possible? It's obvious what I did, but I hate it. I want to move to 200Mbps speed but that's $90....the package I have, that same package from last year is $85. Again, they are making it worth it. Maybe next year if prices rise I'll go for 200Mbps, but for now, even though I don't watch cable, I have the package for HBO and Sports.