Better choices for TV/Phone/Internet?

[sfreeman8]

I have bundled services: TV, phone and internet. It's convenient but it's expensive. I pay $170 a month for all 3 services and need to do something else. That doesn't include HBO, Starz, Movie Channel, etc. It includes only the lower cost package with channels we don't watch or watch rarely. I think it includes 90 or 100 channels and we only watch about 10 or 15 of those.

 We're kinda stuck with our cable service as it is a monopoly in this area. There is no competition.

I've questioned people in my area about Dish and DirecTV and they all say there's no service during bad weather. I've read about different other services but we bought our current TV 2 years before the flat screens came out and it works perfectly, so there won't be any newer TV until this one dies according to hubby. My old Sylvania worked for 25 years. The "new" TV is a Toshiba and has lots of connector dohickeys in the back but don't know what they're for.

1.  Is there any kind of "free" or nearly free TV service I could use on this TV? 
2.  Is Ooma, Basic Talk, Magic Jack, or other thingabobs a better option for phone?

Any suggestions or help?  Thanks.

[lvstephanie]

I know some of my friends just get some type of internet service and then use that for their other needs: Netflix for TV, Vonage for phone, etc. Although the internet service might be a little more expensive if just gotten by itself, the other on-line services are usually much cheaper, so in the end they save more money than trying to bundle. And you don't need a smart / flat screen TV to watch it on-line; there are certain devices that you can use to connect your computer to the TV such that the computer acts to translate the on-line signal from Netflix and then the device will allow you to output that feed onto a TV.

[sgluckadoo]

I dropped land line over 10 years ago, but recently switched from my major cell carrier to Straighttalk and have not regretted it one bit.

[texasmom32]

Look into AT&T, they are trying to get business away from Cable companies and have some great offers right now.  We just signed up to get internet and phone for $62/month (and it's the fastest internet they have, so it could be even cheaper I'm sure!).  We have Direct TV and pay $32/month for that.  If we weren't in a contract with Direct TV we would have looked into TV from AT&T too, that probably would have saved us even more.

[southernhorizons]

I dropped land line over 10 years ago, but recently switched from my major cell carrier to Straighttalk and have not regretted it one bit.

I have Straight Talk too, and so far it's been really good. For under $50 a month, I get unlimited text, talk, and 2.5g data, which is more than adequate for my needs.

[o2bnocn]

Some people have Netflix and don't even have Television.

[Liquidfire_43]

I don't do the 3 service combo from my provider since I only use one service.... I  would only pay for the internet service and watch tv shows from my computer (or hdmi to a tv box)

[patti4me]

I just cancelled my Directv because the price just kept going up.  I bought a digital antenna to plug into the back of our tv for the local channels plus a few others.  When the weather is bad it definetly affects the reception but I only paid 34.95 for the antennae and now there is no monthly charge.  I did add Netflix thru my Wii but that is less than $10 a month so I'm glad to be saving $90 a month!!  I just switched my landline home phone from AT&T to Straight Talk and I'm really pleased with that.  I was paying $60+ a month to AT&T and Straight Talk is just $15 a month for unlimited long distance and several other features.  The quality is just fine with Straight Talk.  Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[potluck6]

We have xfinity/comcast it is expensive .we got rid of showtime and hbo saved a little. Great speed on the pc and love ondemand tv service we have a dvr but only good in one room.

[Freebase]

i take internet through wifi hotspots and don't pay for anything (i watch tv online its free) but awhile back i had AT&T phone & DSL there pretty cheep (i don't know about there TV)

[sfreeman8]

i take internet through wifi hotspots and don't pay for anything (i watch tv online its free) but awhile back i had AT&T phone & DSL there pretty cheep (i don't know about there TV)

Watching TV on line would be great if it was just me but I only have a 17" monitor and two people can't sit at a desk and watch the programs at the same time.

My son brought me a computer that he used to use with his flat screen TV and I thought maybe it would work with our TV, but our TV is a dinosaur at least 12 years old (bought it a year before flat screens came out) and he said it wouldn't work. So it's back to the drawing board.

BTW, since I am not a techno guru anymore, my son is going to check out a few suggestions you all made and see which would best fit our needs.

[Freebase]

a PS3 can do as well i have a dinosaur of a TV also (i point the PS3 out my window and use its wierless to scan for hotspots though theres a down side its flakey because of wether & radios & bandwidth) also you can enhance your wifi by a cantenna or tin foil. (youtube is wonderful source of information)