Comments on: 90 days (and counting) without cable TV

By: Official Tech News » Screw the Recession: How to Spend Less and Get More [Prof. Dealzmodo]

Thu, 21 May 2009 21:50:43 +0000

[...] that I could get by without making a huge sacrifice. Engadget contributing editor Ben Drawbaugh has found success in ditching cable for over-the-air TV and Netflix, along with internet-based extras. Four months and [...]

By: fuzzymuffins

fuzzymuffins — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:19:28 +0000

oh it can be done. i’ve gone almost 9 YEARS without cable TV in my home. do people really think they’re life will end if they don’t have it?

By: John

John — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:34:56 +0000

Yikes! The truck rolls have gone up since I got my 2 regular cards a couple years ago. I think I only paid $25 then. Thanks for the info.

By: Ben Drawbaugh

Ben Drawbaugh — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:20:12 +0000

I got the M-Card to test the Moxi, the availability depends on the old stock of S-Cards at your local FiOS office. The card is $4/mo, so since FiOS would charge you $75 for a truck roll, even if you could get one, it would take you a year and a half to break even on it.

By: John

John — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:16:36 +0000

Ben,

I see from one of your recent Twitter posts that you got a FiOS M card. I didn’t know they were available. How much is it per month? Did they charge a ridiculous price for the install? I’ve got 2 regular cards for my TiVO right now and I’d like to go the single M if it’ll save a little money.

By: Ken P

Ken P — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:42:17 +0000

I tried, and enjoyed, your DVRMSToolbox addition for the downloading and automatically converting shows to dvr-ms. I have stopped using it for premium content. I didn’t feel guilty downloading the premium content, but I got spooked about the legal ramifications. I realize the chance of getting caught is VERY slim, but with my luck I would end up being one of those “examples” we hear about from time to time! I ordered HBO.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:57:05 +0000

I went through something similar but then just decided that the amount of money I was saving was not that much and it was just easier to keep cable. I would miss sports the most. Plus if you bundle you all your services, it helps bring the price down. I think Fios is a pretty good deal. I am paying more for two iphones than internet, TV, and landline service.

By: Ben Drawbaugh

Ben Drawbaugh — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:07:19 +0000

Netflix Watch Now movies are only a few gigs, so it’d take more than a few to blow through your cap.

Personally I’m a big fan of surround sound so that means I’m not a big fan of watch now anyways. So with by mail Netflix coming out cheaper per movie than any of the download sources with surround sound, the cap wouldn’t bother me. Especially because I’m a turbo type customer anyways.

Luckily it doesn’t matter for me though, as I do live in a FiOS ‘hood.

By: Dallas Knox

Dallas Knox — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 00:45:54 +0000

Ben,

Recently made the switch as well. I was getting raped for over 80$ a month for basic DirecTv due to an Apartment Contract Monopoly.

I was wondering if the move by Time Warner Cable (I know your on FIOS) to limit their Download Speed will impact your decision to remain OTA. My wife and I are moving back home to your area (Clearwater) and the house we are looking at might not have FIOS available untill 2010. Time Warner will be our only option. A couple Netflix Watch instantlys and we will have blown through the cap. Any thoughts?

By: Ben Drawbaugh

Ben Drawbaugh — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:08:12 +0000

Frakln,
Yes, I up’d my Netflix as well.