July 13, 2009
Hey guys!
We have a problem that we can't solve and I thought you guys or someone might be able to help us out. It's 'sort of' computer/internet related & you guys have been them the most helpful in the past so here goes.
We eventually want to ditch DISH [when the contract is finished] and go to total internet streaming. I know there's a few contraptions to hook up to the TV to get streaming internet as well as game consoles. We have DSL broadband with wifi. Which is best device or does it vary depending on location, equipment, etc.? How do you control the 'surfing' on the internet via the TV without a TV remote?
On a side note, I have a DVR full of saved movies & TV shows which I now discovered are coded for DISH only so they cannot be transferred directly to another DVR or hard drive and remain viewable. Is there any way around this, perhaps recording the shows from the TV instead of the DVR [play them and record them from the TV?] What is the best external recording device, a new DVR or new external hard drive or something else? I would love to not keep buring DVDs all the time, but have it all on a digital device I can easily access.
Thanks again for any and all help, advice and direction! 
Marci
August 7, 2011
Marci,
I haven't "cut the cord" yet, but I've given the idea much thought of late and I'll pass along some general advice. You did leave out a few details, but I can assume you have HD televisions and you're probably thinking of connecting everything wirelessly.
Start small! This will allow you to dip your toes in the stream (pun intended) before you jump in. The ultimate streaming device would be a small form factor PC, which can play any local content (including DVD/BluRay) along with stream anything you can find in HiDef, but cost adds up quickly if you have more than one viewing location. The second option are one of the myriad of set top boxes being sold to stream content to the TV, but their are dozens to choose from and not all of them are created equal in their abilities to deliver the content you want at the quality you want.
Things are different when all of the media you consume is streamed. You can't count on any one service to have everything you want to watch. It's just the nature of the beast - everyone wants their own piece of the pie, or wants to micromanage their content. So, while you're thinking "drop cable and stream netflix" the actuality is drop cable and stream, Netfilx, ESPN, HBO2Go, buy some shows on Amazon, etc.
What I would suggest is starting small and experimenting before cutting the cord. This will allow you to see if streaming will satisfy your entertainment needs. Probably the best solution would be something like a <a href="