The Ultimate Guide to Cutting the Cable Cord
Cutting the cable cord is a great way to save money and break free from cable companies. According to Fortune Magazine, “cord cutters averaged $85 a month in savings, even including the amounts spent for Internet service and streaming video providers.” Cutting the cord may seem overwhelming, however, we aim to make it simple to cut the cord and start streaming all of your favorite TV shows and movies.
Ensure that you have adequate Internet speed.
In order to stream reliably and without buffering, make sure that your Internet plan is fast enough to support streaming. For SD streaming, your download speeds need to be at least 3 Mbps. and for HD streaming, you need at least 5 Mbps. If you are looking to stream on more than one device simultaneously, make sure that you have enough speed for each device.
Choose a streaming device or smart TV.
Most newer TVs are Internet-ready, which means they are already equipped to stream all of your favorite streaming services. If you do not have a smart TV, there are streaming devices that you can purchase that hook up directly into the HDMI or USB port of your TV. Here are some of our favorites:
You can also use streaming services on a computer or mobile device such as your phone or iPad.
BONUS: Although this may seem old-school to some, with an HD antenna, you can also get most local channels. By purchasing and installing an over-the-air antenna, you can watch local channels such as NBC, FOX, ABC and CBS.
Subscribe to streaming services.
Once you have all of the necessary equipment, it is time to decide which streaming services to subscribe to. Make a list of all of your must-have channels and TV shows, so that you don’t miss a thing when you cut the cable! Here are some streaming services to watch favorite TV shows and movies:
- • Best for live TV – Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV, Sling
- • On-demand options – Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video
- • Keep up with sports – ESPN+
- • Perfect for kids – Disney+
Cancel your cable provider.
If you are wanting to take the plunge and cut your cable cord, the final step is to call and cancel your current cable service. Your provider might try to offer you a better deal if you decide to stay with them, but stay strong! Cutting the cable cord can be worth it to save money, and the hassle of dealing with a TV provider.
About unWired Broadband
unWired Broadband is the leading Internet provider for rural and underserved areas in Central and Northern California. Their network includes over 200 towers connecting communities that have been ignored by cable and fiber Internet providers. Since their inception in 2003, they have expanded their connectivity suite to also include redundancy solutions, a data center and most recently, fiber Internet.
