Tired of paying for cable? Cut the cord, connect to the internet (2024)

Getting Results

Step-by-step guide to your next home project

Erik von Ancken, Anchor/Reporter

Tags:Getting Results, Getting Results At Home

If you’re tired of paying for cable TV and have been wanting to cut the cord, here’s how to do it. Install an over-the-air antenna to receive local TV stations (like News 6) and connect your Smart TV to your wifi router.

We purchased:

Step 1

Cut the cord! Well, don’t cut your cable coaxial cord, just disconnect it from the back of your TV.

Step 2

Connect your antenna. Understand that local television stations are required to broadcast over-the-air digital TV signals to their broadcast area FOR FREE. News 6 broadcasts from towers in East Orange County and Ocala and those digital TV signals can be picked up with a digital antenna. We purchased a basic antenna for $15.99 that sits on a TV stand but you’ll want to buy the antenna that works best for you.

Some antennas are powered and plug into an outlet to improve reception

Some people who live further away from the local broadcast towers choose to mount antennas on their roofs:

Remember, digital antennas are only for local broadcast channels but a good antenna will pull in crystal-clear HD digital signals for free.

Step 3

Program your TV. You just added several new over-the-air channels to your TV so now you have to tell your TV to find them and store them. Find your original TV remote – if it’s a Vizio TV, find the Vizio remote (remember you can’t use your cable box remote anymore). Open the menu, look for the option to program channels, and choose search for digital channels. This should add the local channels like 2, 6, 9, 18 and 35 (and other local channels that you probably didn’t know existed!). Now when you change the channel using your TV remote, it will automatically switch from programmed channel to programmed channel. If you want to go directly to a channel like WKMG, type in 6-1 (push the number 6, the “dash” button, then 1).

Step 4

Connect your internet. This is the really fun part, connecting your TV to the internet opens up a world of programming! Newer Smart TVs have built-in the ability to connect to your wireless router. Bring up the menu on your TV, search for network, and connect to your router (you’ll need your router name and password). If your router is close enough to your TV, and your TV has a LAN cable port, you can plug your router directly into the back of your TV. If your TV is not Smart, you can buy a Roku Streaming Stick or Amazon Fire Stick to plug into your HDMI port. The streaming sticks connect to your router and then streams video from your router through your HMDI port to your TV.

Step 5

Select your streaming apps. If you used a streaming stick, switch your TV “source” using your TV remote to whichever HDMI port your stick is plugged into (i.e. HDMI1 or HDMI 2). If you connected your Smart TV directly to your router, then push the internet button on your TV remote. Then you’ll see all of the apps already installed. You can add more (like the WKMG News 6+ app) but you’ll have the basics - Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV, etc. All of these require some sort of monthly subscription (which is usually far less than the cost of monthly cable) but will give you access to premium content like movies and TV shows. But if you don’t want to pay for a subscription, you can still find free movies on some of the installed apps that usually include commercials.

Enjoy not paying a monthly cable bill!

Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.

About the Author
Erik von Ancken

Erik von Ancken anchors and reports for News 6 and is a two-time Emmy award-winning journalist in the prestigious and coveted "On-Camera Talent" categories for both anchoring and reporting.

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Tired of paying for cable? Cut the cord, connect to the internet (2024)

FAQs

How do I cut the cord and never pay for cable again? ›

How To Cut the Cable TV Cord and Save Money
  1. Make Sure You Have Adequate High-Speed Internet.
  2. Smart TV vs. ...
  3. Figure Out How You'll Watch Local Channels.
  4. Check Out the Free Streaming Content Available.
  5. Find the Cheapest Way To Watch the Cable Channels You Love.
  6. Assess the Streaming Market To Make Smart Decisions for Your Wallet.
May 15, 2024

Do you really save money cutting the cord? ›

For some, cutting the cord is about saving money—on average, $1,236 a year—and for others, it's about control and only paying for what you use. If you've wanted to cut the cord but don't know exactly how to go about doing it, we're here to help with this step-by-step guide.

How to watch TV without cable or internet for free? ›

Use An HD Antenna To Watch Over-The-Air TV

An HD antenna is an excellent option for watching Over-The-Air TV (OTA HDTV). To get started, select an indoor antenna compatible with your area and powerful enough to deliver the local channels you want.

Can I cancel cable TV and keep internet? ›

Can I cut cable but still keep my internet service from the same provider? Yes, you are not required to subscribe to a cable TV package or other services from your cable provider in order to get internet access.

Why are people getting rid of cable TV? ›

Rising cable costs and the thousands of options for shows and movies on various streaming services have been key factors in the popularity of cord-cutting. As long as streaming subscriptions are more affordable than cable for the average household, it makes sense to move away from cable.

Why do people still pay for cable? ›

Watching live sports on cable was the main reason that has kept Americans from getting rid of cable as of 2022, according to 19.5 percent of respondents to a survey. Second common factor was watching live entertainment events, such as the award shows, with around 11.7 percent of people interviewed.

How to lower cable bill for seniors? ›

The best way to scrimp on cable TV rates is to look for the basic or starter package your local service provider offers. You could also try to reduce your premium channels and extra equipment. If you need more than one service, it helps to look for deeply discounted bundled offers. Should I choose a contract-free plan?

Can Roku TV replace cable? ›

Once you purchase your Roku device, there are no additional equipment fees and there are no monthly fees for watching free channels. You'll only pay for subscriptions to apps like Netflix, cable-replacement services like Sling TV, or movie and TV show rentals from services like Prime Video or Apple TV.

Is it cheaper to have cable or streaming? ›

With this being said, cable often has a higher base cost than a single streaming service and it usually requires long-term contracts.

What equipment do I need to get rid of cable TV? ›

Must-have cord cutting devices

A WiFi extender (for larger homes); A streaming video service; A streaming device for your TV; And, most importantly of all, an incredible internet service to deliver all that streaming content to the multiple screens in your household.

How can I get cable completely free? ›

Over-the-air (OTA) TV, or broadcast TV, is a type of HDTV broadcast from local stations in your area. The signals are sent over the air, and you need an HDTV antenna to pick them up. Going OTA is one of the cheapest cable alternatives.

Does Roku work without internet? ›

Establishing an active connection to your Wi-Fi network is essential for your Roku TV to access its full range of features and content. Without an active network connection, the only feature available is the ability to stream live TV through an antenna. You may check our website to learn more about What is Roku.

How do I stop paying for cable TV? ›

Since most providers require you to call customer service to change or cancel service, the easiest way is to call in when you have some time set aside during the day. Once you get a hold of a representative, mention that you want to cancel your TV service.

How not to pay for cable? ›

If you're tired of paying for cable TV and have been wanting to cut the cord, here's how to do it. Install an over-the-air antenna to receive local TV stations (like News 6) and connect your Smart TV to your wifi router. We purchased: Over-the-air TV antenna.

What equipment do I need to get rid of cable TV without? ›

Must-have cord cutting devices

A WiFi extender (for larger homes); A streaming video service; A streaming device for your TV; And, most importantly of all, an incredible internet service to deliver all that streaming content to the multiple screens in your household.

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