Cutting the cable

A few weeks ago we decided to drop our Dish Network.  We enjoyed Dish.  I wasn't displeases with them, but we were spending over $110/month.  That money could be used in many other places.  And in my opinion we just didn't spend enough time watching it to justify the expense.

So, a couple of years ago, I found an interesting YouTube video on making an antenna to pick up the over the air signals.  So far it's not too bad.  But we've still not watched a lot.

Besides over the air, we have Netflix (disk and streaming) which helps a lot.  There are so many shows and TV series that I've either never watched, or never watched all of them.  Netflix alone can help fill in a lot of the gaps.

We also have a Roku.  A Roku 2 XD actually.  With it, there are tons of free programming we're able to get.  There are also pay channels we can get (like my MLS package which is great, but only if you like soccer).

Because I have a Playstation 3, I watch You Tube videos on our TV as well.  You'd be surprised at what you can find on You Tube.

Both the PS3 and the Roku allows access to Amazon on Demand.  Another great way to get movies or TV series that you might want to watch!

Several years ago, I had bought a piece of software called PlayOn.  It's a server that runs on one of my computers and will stream movies to it from websites (like ABC, NBC, Syfy, etc.), then serve them back up to a machine that can connect to the media server (PS3 and the Roku both can do this).  I've never used it much, but hope to now take advantage of it much more.

One other option is my laptop.  It has HDMI out which will allow me to stream TV shows from my laptop and watch them on the TV.  Which I plan on doing for Duck Dynasty if all goes well!

While the Roku and PS3 both cost money (one time fees), as well as some of the channels you can get (like my MLS channel which is a once a year fee).  I already had spent money on those items on top of our Satellite bill!

So, we're just a few weeks into it, and I like it.  And I love the money I'm saving!

Dish Network and Griffin Communications

For those of you that aren't aware, Dish Network is in yet another contract negotiation where service may be dropped (like they were with Fox Sports earlier in the year). This time it's with Griffin Communications (which is News 9, News On 6 and the Tulsa CW).

Since September, I've been considering dropping Dish Network and going to something else or Over-the-air and streaming. My wife didn't want to cause we'd lose most of the OSU football games. And seeing her point, we decided to keep Dish.

Well, during football season, Dish Network had their "negotiations" with Fox Sports and since they couldn't come to an agreement, stopped airing Fox Sports. I know I missed at least one football game to this.

Now they are threating to drop Channel 6.

I decided that I'd go ahead and write Dish Network a letter tonight and I figured I'd go ahead and share here.

I've been a loyal Dish Network customer since June 1988. But recent actions by your company have me strongly reconsidering my choice of provider. Earlier this year, there was a problem with Fox Sports and now with Griffin Communications.

Next week, if the 2 of you do not come to an agreement, I'll lose the ability to watch the the news channel I wish to watch and other shows my family enjoys.

I'm paying you for that channel, however, if you stop carrying that channel, I doubt you drop the cost of local HD channels. Which means this all comes down to money in YOUR pocket.

I strongly hope you two can come to an agreement before the deadline. If I lose this channel and have to find another way to watch this channel. It may be a permanent change.

The last time this came up, Dish Networks stance was they're trying to save the consumers money. I don't blame Dish Network for wanting to make a profit. That's how things go. Nor to I blame Griffin Com for it either.

I've been really close to dropping Dish. This just might be what it takes.

Bliss

I am in complete and utter bliss!

As many of you know, I've been wanting a Playstation 3 for, oh, since before they came out. Well, I've been saving and saving, and it always seemed like something always came up and I had to spend my saved money on other, more important, things.

Well, I picked up some extra work, and it paid for my PS3, and a couple games! My boy and I have been in 7th heaven!

I've played it and even watched a movie or 2. The upconverting from it to my HD TV is incredible. I can't wait till I get a Blu-Ray movie to watch!

While talking to my wife about some details on setting it up. She commented that whatever I did, she didn't want any more remote controls. I guess needing 3 remotes just to watch TV was a bit much. Anyway, I did some looking and found the Harmony 550 remote control at Amazon for about $50. Harmony remotes are great. You can set them up to run just about any IR device, and if it doesn't have the device in it's database, if you have the remote, it will learn from it. Harmony's can get very pricey, but the 550 looked like it would do everything I wanted, and $50 wasn't too bad. Especially if it makes my wife happy.

Well, the remote came in the mail today, and I finally got it all set up. The TV, Satellite and Surround Sound are now all working off of one remote. One of the coolest features is I can turn on ALL the devices with the press of a button (well 2, the activate button and then "watch TV").
And all the devices turn off with the press of the power button.

Needless to say, I'm a very happy camper right now.

Olympics!

I love the Olympics, and I'm so happy it's that time. I finished watching the US Women play Norway in Soccer. Both teams played real well, but it took the US a bit too long to get into the game, and ended up losing 2-0. Both goals were made within the first 5 minutes. Crazy!

Anyway, Friday is the opening ceremonies (not that I care about that, but then games besides Basketball and Soccer will be on).

Hugo Blogs

Ok, so technically, that isn't true. Jorge Garcia (who plays Hugo) blogs.

His blog is called Dispatches from the Island.

One of the guys I work with sent me the link. I've read through several of his posts. Amazing! He is as down to earth as I am. And when I say that I mean normal. You know how actors can be.

So Jorge, if you happen to read this, you rock!

Everyone else? Go read his blog!

Lost

I love Lost. Have I mentioned that lately? No, I guess I haven't. But I do. Lost rocks. Plain and simple.

It is just so interesting how they do that show.

Wow, just wow!

Noodling

Ok, I'm sitting here this evening and doing some channel surfing to find something to watch. I stumbled upon a show on PBS on noodling.

PBS. Public Broadcasting... Noodling.

Something wrong about that having a show on PBS on noodling.

Did I mention its and hour long show?!?!?

Oh, and the name of the show? Okie Noodling

Lost

Here it is the end of September. The new shows and new seasons are coming on. But where is Lost?

I think it must be Lost. :)

I did some searching, and according to SpointerFix.com, it looks like we wont see Season 4 of Lost till Februrary.

Feb. 17, 2009

That is the day my friends.

The day that all the over-the-air broadcasts will go digital (AKA HD).

So, be warned if you are out buying for a new TV. If you get an analog (SD) TV, you'll need a tuner box after that date.

TV Update

After last nights surgery, the TV is doing great. I had noticed after I posted last night, that the picture seemed a bit grainy. It was disappointed, but happy that my work overall had been successful.

This evening, while looking at the TV, I realized I had done some re-wiring of my system to get the satellite to work on my replacement TV (it didn't have s-video). So, I looked at my wiring of my system, and tweaked it a bit, and my picture was crisp and clear!

While at work today, I thought I was going to have to still buy a new TV, but now, it looks like I'll be good for a while.

That is really what I wanted. I'd like to wait to till I've paid off our debt before spending the money for a new HD TV.

Surgery is over...

Right as the surgery began, I took this picture while waiting for my soldering iron to heat up.


I know many of you have been on pins and needles as the surgery has been going on. Initially, everything was going well, but while closing up, we had some problems which required me to open the patient back up.

After some more stressful moments, I was able to close. It appears the the patient will make full recovery. I'm not sure how much, if any this has shortened his life. I'm hoping this will make it till next year. Oh, and not only is it doing well, but Alton Brown was the first image my TV showed after the surgery. Isn't life grand? hehe


I'm really excited that I was able to replace those 2 parts. The solder job is probably really crappy, but no one can see it, and all it has to do is hold the parts together. Not trying to win a contest or anything.

Here is the page I found online while searching for "Phillips Magnavox tv burnt plastic". As I said in an earlier post, I found that the part they talked about in that page is the same on mine that was burnt. I also went ahead and replaced the resistor that was next to it since it had burnt it. I wasn't sure if the part was gone or not, but figured it was best to err on the side of caution, and since I already had the TV open, I might as well replace both parts.

I'm really rather excited right now.

Surgery Begins

The surgery has begun.

You can read more about the Death and Autopsy of my TV if you haven't already.

TV Update

I just ordered a capacitor and a resistor that hopefully will allow me to fix my TV and save me having to buy a new TV.

Don't get me wrong. I would LOVE a new TV. A nice LCD HD TV. That would be awesome!

But I really don't want to spend the money to go HD yet. And if you know me, you'll know it would be hard for me to get a HD TV and not upgrade the Satellite to HD too.

Anyway. The best part about this is? The parts with shipping only cost me $10.11. It would have been less, but I had to order 10 of the capacitor. I lucked out and was able to get just one of the resistors.

Once the parts come in I'll give you all an update.

UPDATE:
The parts cost 10.11, but once shipping was added, it cost $18.72. Still not a bad price if I can get it to work. Parts should be here Wednesday.

Autopsy

I got up this morning and decided to do an autopsy on the TV to make sure it was the same problem I had read about online. As you can see the behemoth's insides.
If you click on these pictures, you'll get a better picture, but below the back of the tube there are several metal "walls" where the capacitor is located.


Here is the culprit. Again, if you click on the picture, you'll get a much better view, but #2 is the capacitor that has gone bad and is sparking. You can see in this picture that #1 has burn marks on it from the sparking #2 has done. I hope this is easier to fix than it looks like it is going to be.

Death in the Family

A very dear friend of the family died tonight... Our 32" Phillips Magnavox TV.

I woke up about midnight and smelled something not right, but I wasn't sure what it was. I got up, and I'm sniffing the WHOLE HOUSE! (my house is over 100 years old so you never know).

Anyway, I could not track down the smell. I finally decided it was strongest in the living room. My daughter was still awake, so I had her come in and sniff it. (she thought I was sniffing something else if you know what I mean). But when she came in, she agreed it smelt like burnt plastic. It wasn't anything overwhelmingly strong, but I have a super sensitive nose.

Anyway, I started sniffing everything that had electric. When I got to the entertainment center (this took a bit) I heard a clicking as well. I moved the entertainment center out so I could see what was wrong behind it, but when I did, I found the clicking was coming FROM the entertainment center. Well, I tracked it to the TV. Which is where the smell of burnt plastic was coming from too.

From looking online, it appears that I've had a capacitor burn out.

Now I'm left with a difficult choice. Buy a new TV, or try to replace the capacitor. The capacitor will be cheap (if I can find one. Others that have had this problem said repair shops didn't want to part with it without installing it themselves and charging a huge amount), and a new TV will not be.

The TV is over 7 years old (but under 9). So it's lived a good and relatively long life.

Guess I'll go sleep on it. At least I know the house wont burn down. That would be a lousy present for my son right before his birthday.

Jim Giles.

Wow, I knew this day was coming, but now that it is here, it's hard to believe.

Jim Giles, has been the Chief Meteorologist on KOTV for the last 25 years.
He is now retiring on November 22.

He's by far one of the best meteorologists that I have ever watched.

You can read more about his career on KOTV's web page.

Almost Lost

That's right boys and girls. It's almost time for Lost to start back up.

That would be tomorrow night!

I'm so excited.

Happy Birthday Star Trek

The first episode of Star Trek originally aired 40 years ago today.

Hard to believe it's been around that long.

In it's 40 years, there has been 10 movies, 4 TV series, 1 cartoon, and books and comic books galore!
(and I've heard rumors of a new movie)

I can't imagine what life would be like without Star Trek.  It's had an impact on just about everything.

Lost - Season Finale

Wow.

Lost

Man what a show.