Cord cutting for dummies / Paul McFedries.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

McFedries, Paul, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Internet television.

Streaming technology (Telecommunications)--Handbooks, manuals, etc.

Streaming technology (Telecommunications).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (227 pages)

Place of Publication:

Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc., [2021]

Summary:

Cut the cable televisioncordand cut your monthly bills 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 needto get started with this popular money saving strategyis an Internet connection, a device to stream to, and the advice in this book. With Cord CuttingForDummies, yougo fromevaluating if cord cutting is the right choice for your budget to acquiring the technology to get the programming youactually want.You'lldiscoverthetechnologyyou need for streaming, selecttheserviceor servicesthat fit your needs, and makethe components ofyour setupwork together-all within your budget. Cord CuttingForDummies offers the steps to going from wired to wireless, including: * Decidingifyou needtoupgradeyourWi-Fiequipment and service. * Evaluatingyour current devices. * Adding asmart TVto the mix. * Choosingthe best streaming servicesfor you-including some free options When you're ready to untether yourself from the cable or satellite, Cord CuttingForDummie sshows you, stepby step, how to break free.Pick up a copy andyou'll be watching your favorite movie or TV show in no time!

Contents:

Intro

Title Page

Copyright Page

Table of Contents

Introduction

About This Book

Foolish Assumptions

Icons Used in This Book

Beyond the Book

Where to Go from Here

Part 1 Some Cord-Cutting Basics

Chapter 1 Why Cut the Cord?

What's So Bad about Cable? (Let Me Count the Ways)

Cable TV is expensive

You still get bombarded by commercials

You probably watch only a teensy fraction of what you pay for

Bundles are (usually) bad

Long-term (read: loyal) customers pay more, not less

You're getting nickeled-and-dimed

You're dealing with a near-monopoly

Customer service is pretty much non-existent

Technical support is a pain in the you-know-what

Those darned contracts!

Some Reasons Why Cutting the Cord Might Not Be for You

Your savings might be less than you hoped

You might still have to deal with channel bundles

You might still see commercials

TV watching will become more complex for you

You'll use way more Internet bandwidth - and perhaps pay for the privilege

Your monthly Internet bill will probably go up

The quality of the streaming video might be poor

You might have to wait a long time to watch new shows

You might never see some new shows

The Benefits of Severing Your Connection to the Cable Company

You save money

You'll probably be happier in the long run

You unshackle your TV

You unshackle yourself

You're in control

Surveying the Cord-Free Landscape

Chapter 2 Snip, Snip. Your 7-Step Plan to Going Cord-Free

Step 1: Deciding What You Want to Watch

Option A: Going with just your "must see" TV shows

Option B: Going with just a few streaming services

Option C: Going with OTA live TV

Step 2: Figuring Out the Equipment You Need

Step 3: Making a Streaming Services Budget.

Step 4: Trying Out Lots of Streaming Services - for Free!

Step 5: Subscribing to Streaming Services

Step 6: Doing a Cord-Cutting Test Drive

Step 7: Cutting the Cord - Woo-Hoo!

Check your contract

Check your bandwidth history

Gather everything you need

Get ready mentally

Know the process

Return all equipment

Part 2 Cord Cutting Made Easy with Over-the-Air TV

Chapter 3 Understanding Over-the-Air TV

OTA? OTT? Live TV? What on Earth Is Everyone Talking About?

What is over-the-air TV?

The pros and cons of over-the-air TV

How Over-the-Air TV Works

The television station

The transmission tower

The antenna and tuner

What Channels Can You Access?

Understanding the factors that affect signal strength

Checking the FCC's digital TV reception maps

Using TV Fool's TV signal locator

Real versus virtual channels

Chapter 4 Choosing and Setting Up OTA Hardware

What Equipment Do You Need?

Choosing an OTA Digital Antenna

Antenna styles

Determine the range

Indoor or outdoor?

Amplified or not?

Unidirectional or multidirectional?

Look for VHF/UHF support

Watch out for bogus or exaggerated claims

Installing Your Antenna

Installing an indoor antenna

Installing an outdoor antenna

Connecting Your Antenna

Making coaxial connections

Connecting an antenna to one TV

Connecting an antenna to multiple TVs

Connecting an antenna to your computer

Connecting an antenna to your mobile device

Connecting an antenna to your Wi-Fi network

Improving antenna reception

Scanning for OTA Channels

Chapter 5 Watching Over-the-Air and Live TV

Watching Over-the-Air TV Using a Regular TV

Changing the TV input source

Watching over-the-air TV

Where's the TV guide?

Recording over-the-air TV

Watching Over-the-Air TV Using a Smart TV.

Watching Over-the-Air TV Using a Streaming Device

Look, Ma, No Antenna! Streaming Live TV

Part 3 Cable-Free Viewing with Streaming Services

Chapter 6 The Hardware You Need for Streaming

Let's Talk TVs

Screen size

Resolution

HDMI ports

Streamers: Set-Top Box or Dongle?

Set-top box streamers

Dongle streamers

Set-top box streamer versus dongle streamer

What to Look for in a Streaming Media Player

Smart TVs for Streaming Media

Setting Up Your Hardware

Connecting a set-top player

Connecting a streaming stick

Configuring your streaming player

Chapter 7 Getting Your Internet Access Ready for Streaming

Investing in a New Router

Extending Your Wi-Fi Network

How Much Bandwidth Is Enough?

Taking a look at streaming media bandwidth usage

Going on a bandwidth diet

Understanding How Streaming Works

The streaming process

More about buffering

I Feel the Need - the Need for Speed!

Why does speed matter?

How fast is fast enough?

Testing your Internet speed

Chapter 8 Checking Out Free Streaming Services

Is There Such a Thing as a Free Lunch?

What to Expect from Free Streaming Services

Some Free Streaming Services to Check Out

Crackle

Haystack News

Hoopla

IMDb TV

Kanopy

PBS Video

Peacock

Roku Channel Store

Tubi TV

Xumo

Free streaming apps for kids

A few more freebies

Chapter 9 Checking Out Paid Streaming Services

What to Expect from Paid Streaming Services

What Types of Paid Streaming Services Are Available?

On-Demand Streaming Services

Amazon Prime Video

Apple TV+

Hulu

Netflix

Paramount+

Cable-Replacement Services

fuboTV

Hulu + Live TV

Sling TV

YouTube TV

Checking Out Premium Channels

Part 4 The Part of Tens

Chapter 10 Ten Ways to Save Money in a Cord-Free World.

Get the Smallest OTA Antenna Possible

Don't Get Too Much Internet

Take Advantage of Skinny Bundles

Don't Commit Until You're Amazed at Your Luck

Watch New Shows on the Cheap

Subscribe Strategically

Keep an Eye on Your Subscriptions

Get a Credit Card Offering Streaming Cash Back

Give Up the Premium Subscription Plan

Save on Sports

Chapter 11 Ten Tips for Troubleshooting Streaming Woes

Check Your Streaming Device's Download Speed

Restart Your Streaming Device

Check Your Streaming Device for Updates

Reset Your Streaming Device

Check Your Wi-Fi Connection Speed

Reset Your Wi-Fi

Make Some Wi-Fi Adjustments

Troubleshoot an Unresponsive Streaming Device

Troubleshoot a Blank TV Screen

Upgrade Your Hardware

Glossary

Index

EULA.

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9781119800989

1119800986

9781119800972

1119800978

OCLC:

1249470601