• 4K TVs, 101–102

• 8K TVs, 101

A

• ABC, 42, 146
• access point (AP), 120–122
• adapters, 109
• aerial. See antenna
• AirPlay, 106
• AirTV Player, 89, 93
• a la carte TV, 172
• Alexa, 107
• Amazon Fire TV, 27, 104, 105, 107, 109, 111
• Amazon Prime Video
  • a la carte plan, 172
  • bandwidth usage, 124
  • features, 152–153
  • original programming, 17
  • subscription rates, 152
• Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card, 177
• American Customer Satisfaction Index for Subscription Television Services, 12
• American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card, 177
• amplifiers, 64–65, 80, 171
• Android TV, 104, 111
• antenna
  • amplifiers, 64–65, 80
  • bogus/exaggerated claims, 68–69
  • coaxial cables, 171
  • combiner, 67
  • connecting, 73–79
  • connector, 84
  • coupler, 67
  • direction, 49
  • form factors, 62–63
  • gain, 65
  • HDTV, 27, 59, 84
  • indoor, 63–64, 70–71
  • installing, 70–73
  • line-of-sight between transmission towers and, 49
  • multidirectional, 66–67
  • multiple, 171
  • outdoor, 63–64, 71–73
  • outdoor antennas, 71–73
  • over-the-air (OTA), 49
  • overview, 46
  • range, 49, 63, 69
  • reception, 79–80
  • saving money on, 170–171
  • signal amplifier, 171
  • unidirectional, 49, 66–67
  • VHF/UHF support, 67–68
• AntennaWeb, 56
• Apple Card, 177
• Apple TV, 107
• Apple TV+
  • a la carte plan, 172
  • features, 153
  • original programming, 17
  • subscription rate, 153
• apps, 181–182
• AT&T TV Now, 94
• ATSC 3.0 (Advanced Television Systems Committee), 44
• audio output jack, 107
• automatic downloads, disabling, 125–126
• automatic playback, disabling, 125

B

• baby monitors, 189
• bandwidth
  • cap, 123
  • checking, 172
  • defined, 122
  • history, checking, 33
  • reducing usage, 124–126
  • saving money, 171
  • unlimited, 15–16
  • usage, 123–124
  • using more, 15
• BBC, 42, 146
• Bluetooth, 106
• broadcast TV, 40
• buffering, 127–129
• built-in amplifier, 65
• bundles, 9–10, 14, 172–173

C

• cable outlets, 18–19
• cable-replacement services. See also paid streaming services
  • described, 151
  • fuboTV, 160–161
  • Hulu + Live TV, 161–162
  • overview, 29
  • Sling TV, 161–162
  • YouTube TV, 163–164
• cable TV
  • bundles, 9–10, 14
  • canceling, 32–36
  • channels, 9
  • commercials, 9, 14
  • contracts, 13
  • costs of, 8–9
  • customer service, 12
  • disadvantages of, 8–13
  • hidden fees and surcharges, 10–11
  • higher prices to long-term subscribers, 10
  • lack of competition, 11
  • live TV on, 40
  • pass-through fees, 11
  • simplicity of, 15
  • subscription prices, 10
  • technical support, 12–13
• canceling cable TV
  • checking bandwidth history, 33
  • checking contract, 33
  • gathering everything before calling the company, 33–34
  • getting ready mentally, 34
  • overview, 32–33
  • process in, 34–36
  • returning all equipment, 36
• canceling subscriptions, 174
• cash back, 177
• CBC, 42
• CBS, 42, 146
• channel guides, 43
• channels
  • in cable packages, 9
  • over-the-air (OTA) TV, 42, 48, 80–81, 86–87
  • real versus virtual, 54–56
  • scanning for, 80–81
  • surfing, 86–87
• Channels Plus, 90
• Channels software, 90
• Chromecast, 105, 107, 109
• Cinemax Go, 165
• ClearStream TV, 93
• coaxial cables
  • for antennas, 61–62, 171
  • doing away with, 18–19
  • lengthening, 80
  • replacing, 80
  • shortening, 79
• coaxial cable splitter, 61
• coaxial connections, 73–74
• coaxial splitter, 75–76
• commercials, 9, 14, 43, 150
• component connector, 84
• composite connector, 84
• computers
  • connecting antenna to, 77
  • connectors, 84
  • for over-the-air (OTA) TV, 58
• connecting antenna
  • coaxial, 73–74
  • to computer, 77
  • to mobile devices, 78
  • to multiple TVs, 75–76
  • to one TV, 74–75
  • to Wi-Fi network, 78–79
• content
  • choosing streaming service for, 25
  • deciding on, 24–25
• contracts
  • checking, 33
  • cons of cable TV, 13
• cord avoiders, 7
• cord cutters, 7
• cord cutting
  • cons of, 13–17
  • overview, 1
  • pros of, 17–20
  • reasons for, 7–13
  • steps to, 23–36
• cord haters, 7
• cordless phones, 189
• cord nevers, 7
• cord shavers, 7
• cord trimmers, 7
• Crackle, 138
• Crave, 160
• credit card cash back, 177
• CTV, 42
• customer service, 12
• CVC, 146

• The CW, 42, 146

• CW Seed, 146

D

• dead zones, 121
• digital cliff, 50
• digital converter box, 89
• digital TV tuner, 58
• digital video recorder (DVR)
  • recording for free, 88–89
  • subscription-based, 89–91
  • Tablo, 90–91
  • tuner in, 48, 58
• directional antenna, 66–67
• disadvantages of cable TV
  • bundles, 9–10
  • commercials, 9
  • contracts, 13
  • cost, 8–9
  • hidden fees and surcharges, 10–11
  • higher prices to long-term subscribers, 10
  • lack of customer service, 12
  • lack of technical support, 12–13
  • near-monopoly of cable companies, 11
  • unwatchable channels, 9
• discount, 31
• Disney+, 165
• distribution amplifier, 65, 76
• dongle streamers, 105
• download speed
  • checking, 180–183
  • enough, 171
  • glitch tolerance, 131
  • importance of, 129–130
  • live versus on-demand TV, 130
  • and number of devices, 131
  • overview, 129
  • streaming media problems, 129–130
  • and stream video quality, 16, 130
  • testing, 131–133
• DTV Reception Maps tool, 50–52

E

• electromagnetic interferences, 79
• Epix, 165
• equipment
  • figuring out needed, 26–27
  • HDTV antenna, 27
  • Internet modem, 26–27
  • streaming devices, 27
  • television, 26
  • Wi-Fi router, 26–27
• Ethernet
  • adapters, 109, 120
  • defined, 120
  • port, 107, 109
  • ports, 120
• extension nodes, 122
• external amplifier, 65
• external HDTV tuner, 77

F

• factory default, 185
• F connectors, 74
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 50
• Fire TV Recast, 88, 93
• firmware, updating, 188
• flat antennas, 62
• Fox, 42, 146
• free streaming services. See also paid streaming services
  • Crackle, 138
  • features, 137
  • Haystack News, 139
  • Hoopla, 139–141
  • IMDb TV, 141–142
  • Kanopy, 141
  • for kids, 145–146
  • overview, 21, 135–136
  • PBS Video, 142
  • Peacock, 142–143
  • Roku Channel Store, 143–144
  • on smart TVs, 147
  • truth about, 136
  • Tubi TV, 144
  • Xumo, 145
• free trials, 29–30, 151, 173–174
• Freeview, 50
• fuboTV, 95, 160–161
• full-power station, 46

G

• gain, 65
• Google Assistant, 107–108
• Google Chromecast, 105, 107, 109
• Google Maps, 53
• Google TV, 109
• gray (signal strength color code), 54
• green (signal strength color code), 54

H

• HappyKids.tv, 145
• HAUPPAUGE WinTV-DualHD tuner, 89
• Haystack News, 139
• HBO Max, 165
• HDHomeRun, 93
• HDHomeRun tuners, 59
• HDMI
  • cables, 103
  • connectors, 84
  • ports, 102–103
• HDTV antenna, 27, 59
• HDTV tuner, 77
• hidden fees, 10–11
• high-definition (HD) format, 46, 47, 101–102
• high dynamic range (HDR), 107
• high perceived value, 18
• Hisense, 111
• Home Shopping Network, 42
• Hoopla, 139–141
• horizontal resolution, 47
• Hulu
  • add-ons, 156
  • bandwidth usage, 124
  • features, 155–156
  • original programming, 17
  • subscription plans, 155
• Hulu + Live TV, 95, 161–162

I

• IMDb TV, 141–142
• independent stations, 46
• indoor antennas, 70–71
  • appearance, 64
  • cost of, 64
  • ease of installation, 64
  • installing, 70–71
  • versus outdoor antennas, 63–64
  • range, 64
• input ports, 107
• input source, changing, 84
• Insignia, 111
• intelligent band steering, 119
• interference, 189
• interferences, 79
• intermittent Internet connection, troubleshooting, 181
• Internet
  • bandwidth, 15–16, 122–126
  • intermittent connection, troubleshooting, 181
  • monthly bills, 16
  • monthly budget for, 27–28
  • overview, 117–118
  • plans, choosing, 172
  • routers, 118–119
  • saving money on, 171–172
• Internet modem, 26–27
• Internet service provider (ISP)
  • monthly bandwidth, 15
  • unlimited bandwidth, 15–16
• Internet speed
  • enough, 171
  • glitch tolerance, 131
  • importance of, 129–130
  • live versus on-demand TV, 130
  • and number of devices, 131
  • overview, 129
  • slow, 180
  • streaming media problems, 129–130
  • stream video quality, 130
  • testing, 131–133
• Internet TV, 40
• ION Television, 42

K

• Kanopy, 142
• KiddZtube TV, 145
• Kidoodle.TV, 145
• KidsFlix TV, 145
• Kids Movies by Fawesome.tv, 145

L

• Lego TV, 145
• LG, 111
• LG Channels, 147
• linear TV, 41
• line-of-sight, 49
• Live Channels, 88–89
• live TV
  • described, 40
  • Internet speed for, 131
  • signal types, 40
  • streaming, 93–95
  • watching with streaming devices, 21
  • watching with streaming services, 21
• local area network (LAN), 120
• Locast, 95
• low perceived value, 18
• low-power station, 46
• LTE filter, 50, 60–61, 79, 170

M

• Mbps (megabits per second), 16
• member stations, 46
• mesh network, 122
• MeTV, 42
• mobile devices
  • connecting antenna to, 78
  • tuners in, 59
• multidirectional antenna, 66–67
• multipath distortion, 67
• multiple antennas, 171
• Murdock, Iris, 173

• “must see” TV shows, 24–25

N

• NBC, 42, 146
• NBC Universal, 143
• Netflix
  • bandwidth usage, 124
  • features, 156–157
  • original programming, 17
  • subscription plans, 156
• network affiliates, 46
• network feed, 46
• newscasts, 42
• new shows
  • never seeing some of, 17
  • waiting time for, 17
• Next Gen TV, 44
• NoCable, 87
• non-linear TV, 41

O

• omnidirectional antenna, 66–67
• on-demand streaming services. See also paid streaming services
  • Amazon Prime Video, 152–153
  • Apple TV+, 153–154
  • described, 151
  • Hulu, 155–156
  • Netflix, 156–157
  • Paramount Plus, 157–158
  • Peacock, 158–159
• on-demand TV, 40, 131
• On TV Tonight, 87
• original programming, 17
• outdoor antennas
  • appearance, 64
  • cost of, 64
  • ease of installation, 64
  • versus indoor antennas, 63–64
  • installing, 71–73
  • range, 64
• overdriving, 59
• over-the-air (OTA) TV
  • antenna, 20, 46–48, 62–80
  • changing TV input source, 84–86
  • channels, 42, 43, 48, 80, 86–87
  • defined, 40–41
  • DVR setups, 88–89
  • equipment, 58–62
  • live TV, 26
  • overview, 20, 39–40
  • pros and cons of, 42–43
  • recording for free, 88–89
  • recording with subscription, 89–90
  • signal strength, 49–50
  • television stations, 45–46
  • transmission tower, 46
  • tuner, 46–48
  • TV guide, 87
  • watching, 86
  • watching with regular TV, 80–91
  • watching with smart TV, 91–92
  • watching with streaming devices, 93
• over-the-top (OTT) TV, 41
• owned and operated (O&O) stations, 46

P

• paid streaming services. See also free streaming services
  • add-ons, 151
  • availability, 150–151
  • cable-replacement services, 151, 160–164
  • combining, 25
  • commercials, 150
  • free trials, 151
  • on-demand, 151–159
  • overview, 21, 149–150
  • premium channels, 152, 164–165
  • simultaneous streaming, 151
  • types of, 151–152
• Paramount Plus, 95, 157–158
• pass-through fees, 11
• PBS, 42
• PBS Kids, 145
• PBS Video, 142
• Peacock, 142–143, 158–159
• perceived values, 18
• Philo, 95
• physical interferences, 79
• pixels, 47
• Plex, 90, 146
• Pluto TV, 95, 147
• Pocket.Watch, 145
• Pocoyo Kids TV, 145
• Popcornflix Kids, 145
• power over coax device, 76
• premium channels. See also paid streaming services
  • checking out, 164–165
  • Cinemax Go, 165
  • described, 152
  • Disney+, 165
  • Epix, 165
  • HBO Max, 165
  • Showtime, 165
  • Starz, 165
• premium plan, giving up, 177–178
• pros of cutting cord
  • being in control, 18
  • freedom from cables, 19
  • high perceived value, 18
  • saving money, 18
  • unshackling the TV, 18–19
• public access channels, 42

R

• range
  • bogus/exaggerated claims, 69
  • checking, 189
  • determining, 63
  • extending, 122
  • indoor versus outdoor antennas, 64
• RCA, 111
• reception, improving, 79–80
• red (signal strength color code), 54
• resetting streaming devices, 185
• resolution, 47, 101–102
• restarting streaming device, 184
• RF channels, 54, 60
• Roku
  • Channel Store, 143–144
  • Premium Subscription, 172
  • Streambar, 108
  • streaming player, 27, 105
  • TV, 111
  • Ultra, 108
  • Voice, 108
• routers
  • bands, 119
  • buying, 118
  • defined, 120
  • intelligent band steering, 119
  • interferences, checking, 189
  • quality of service, 119
  • resetting, 188
  • speeds, 119
  • tri-band, 119
  • updating firmware, 188
  • upgrading, 122
  • Wi-Fi 6, 119
• Rushdie, Salman, 1

S

• Samsung, 111
• Samsung TV Plus, 147
• satellites (extension nodes), 122
• satellite TV, 40
• saving money
  • in cord cutting, 13–14, 18
  • credit card cash back, 177
  • free trials, 173–174
  • getting the smallest OTA antenna possible, 170–171
  • giving up premium plan, 177–178
  • on Internet, 171–172
  • overview, 169–170, 174
  • skinny bundles, 172–173
  • on sports streaming services, 178
  • by subscribing and canceling, 174
  • subscribing strategically, 175
• Sceptre, 111
• screen size, 100–101
• self-oscillation, 65
• set-top box streamers
  • connecting, 111–113
  • connecting to TV, 112–113
  • described, 104
  • versus dongle streamers, 105–106
  • positioning, 112
• Showtime, 165
• signal amplifier, 59, 171
• signal attenuator, 60
• SiliconDust, 59
• simplicity of cable TV, 15
• simultaneous streaming, 151
• Siri, 107
• skinny bundles, 172–173
• Sling Free, 147
• Sling TV
  • bandwidth usage, 124
  • features, 162–163
  • packages, 95
  • subscription plans, 162
• slow Internet connection, troubleshooting, 180
• smart TVs, 91–92, 109–111, 147
• Sony, 111
• splitter, 75–76
• sports channels, 25, 42, 178
• standard-definition (SD) format, 46, 47
• Starz, 165
• steps to cord cutting
  • budget for streaming services, 27–28
  • canceling cable TV, 32–33
  • deciding on content to watch, 24–25
  • figuring out needed equipment, 26–27
  • free trials of streaming services, 29–30
  • overview, 23
  • subscribing to streaming services, 30–31
  • test drive, 31–32
• stick, 105–106
• streaming
  • buffering, 127–129
  • live TV, 93–95
  • problems, 129–130
  • process, 126–127
  • wired, 108–109
• streaming devices
  • 4K support, 106
  • AirPlay support, 106
  • apps for, 181–182
  • audio output jack, 107
  • Bluetooth support, 106
  • checking download speed, 180–183
  • compatibility with existing stuff, 106–107
  • configuring, 115
  • connection speed, 181
  • dongles, 104–106
  • Ethernet port, 107
  • factory default, 185
  • features to consider in, 106–108
  • high dynamic range (HDR), 107
  • input ports, 107
  • overview, 27
  • remote features, 107
  • resetting, 185, 190
  • restarting, 184, 190
  • setting download speed, 181
  • set-top box, 104–106
  • troubleshooting, 189–190
  • unresponsive, 189–190
  • updating, 184
  • voice control, 107–108
  • watching live TV with, 21
  • watching over-the-air TV with, 93
  • Web browser, 182
• streaming hardware
  • dongle streamers, 105–106, 113–114
  • overview, 99–100
  • setting up, 111–115
  • set-top box streamers, 104–106, 111–113
  • smart TVs, 109–111
  • television, 100–103
  • upgrading, 191
• streaming media, 20
• streaming services
  • bandwidth usage, 124
  • budget for, 27–28
  • cable-like, 29
  • choosing, 25
  • combining, 25
  • configuring to use less data, 124–125
  • costs of, 25
  • disabling automatic download, 125–126
  • disabling automatic playback, 125
  • free, 21
  • free trials, 29–30
  • original programming, 17
  • paid, 21
  • subscribing to, 30–31
  • watching live TV with, 21
• streaming stick, 105, 113–114
• streaming video, quality of, 16, 130–131
• subscriptions
  • canceling, 174
  • combining, 25
  • credit card cash back, 177
  • discount, 31
  • overview, 30–31
  • premium plan, giving up, 177–178
  • saving money on, 175–176
• surcharges, 10–11
• S-video connector, 84

T

• tabletop antennas, 62
• Tablo, 88, 89–91, 93
• TCL, 111
• technical support, 12–13, 43
• television
  • 4K, 101–102
  • 8K, 101–102
  • blank screen, troubleshooting, 190–191
  • connecting antenna to, 74–76
  • connecting set-top box streamer to, 105–106
  • HD, 101–102
  • HDMI ports, 102–103
  • input source, 84–86
  • multiple, connecting antenna to, 75–76
  • for over-the-air (OTA) TV, 26, 58
  • resolution, 101–102
  • screen size, 100–101
  • troubleshooting, 190–191
  • unshackling, 18–19
• television shows, “must see”, 24–25
• television stations
  • external content, 46
  • independent, 46
  • internal content, 45
  • member, 46
  • network affiliates, 46
  • owned and operated, 46
  • types, 45
• terrestrial TV, 41
• TitanTV, 87
• Tizen operating system, 111
• Toshiba, 111
• transmission tower, 46, 49
• transmit channels, 54, 60
• trial period, 29–30
• tri-band, 119
• troubleshooting
  • blank TV screen, 190–191
  • overview, 179–180
  • resetting streaming device, 185
  • restarting streaming device, 184
  • streaming devices, 189–190
  • streaming device's download speed, 180–183
  • updating streaming device, 184
  • upgrading hardware, 191
  • Wi-Fi connection speed, 186–187
• Tubi TV, 144
• tuners, 46–48
• TV Fool, 25, 26, 52–56, 67, 170
• TV guide, 87
• TV Passport, 87
• TV Signal Locator tool, 52–56

U

• UHF band, 67
• UHF radio frequencies, 60
• ultra-high definition (UHD) format, 46, 47, 101
• ultra high frequency (UHF), 60
• unidirectional antenna, 49, 66–67
• Univision, 42
• unshackling
  • oneself, 19
  • television, 18–19
• updating streaming devices, 184
• upgrading hardware, 191
• US Bank Cash Plus Visa Signature, 177

V

• variable amplifier, 65
• vertical resolution, 47
• very high frequency (VHF), 60
• VHF band, 67
• VHF radio frequencies, 60
• video quality, and Internet speed, 16, 130–131
• virtual channels, 54–56
• Visio Watch Free, 147
• voice control, 107–108
• Vudu, 147

W

• weather, 50
• Web browser, 182
• web OS operating system, 111
• web server, 127
• websites
  • Amazon Prime Video, 152
  • AntennaWeb, 56
  • Apple TV+, 153
  • AT&T TV Now, 94
  • Cinemax Go, 165
  • Crackle, 138
  • Crave, 160
  • Disney+, 165
  • DTV Reception Maps, 51
  • Epix, 165
  • Freeview, 50
  • fuboTV, 95, 160
  • Google Maps, 53
  • Haystack News, 139
  • HBO Max, 165
  • Hoopla, 139–141
  • Hulu, 155
  • Hulu + Live TV, 95, 161
  • IMDb TV, 141–142
  • Kanopy, 142
  • Locast, 95
  • Netflix, 156
  • NoCable, 87
  • On TV Tonight, 87
  • Paramount Plus, 95, 157
  • PBS Video, 142
  • Peacock, 142–143
  • Philo, 95
  • Plex, 146
  • Pluto TV, 95
  • Roku Channel Store, 143–144
  • Showtime, 165
  • Sling TV, 95, 162
  • Starz, 165
  • TitanTV, 87
  • Tubi TV, 144
  • TV Fool, 26, 52, 67, 170
  • TV Passport, 87
  • Vudu, 147
  • Xumo, 145
  • YouTube TV, 95, 163
• Wi-Fi network
  • adjustments, 188–189
  • channels, 122
  • connecting antenna to, 78–79
  • connection speed, 181, 186–187
  • dead zones, 121
  • extending, 121–122
  • interference, 189
  • mesh network, 122
  • range, checking, 189
  • range extender, 122
  • resetting router, 188
  • restarting hardware, 188
  • routers, 119
  • shutting down other wireless devices, 189
  • updating firmware, 188
• Wi-Fi router, 26–27
• wired streaming, 108–109
• wireless access point, 120

X

• Xumo, 145

Y

• yellow (signal strength color code), 54
• YouTube Kids, 145–146
• YouTube TV
  • bandwidth usage, 124
  • features, 163–164
  • subscription rates, 95, 163