Living in rural areas has many benefits, but there are always a few sacrifices too. We are extremely fortunate to have internet access. When we developed it, we made a good decision to install fiber, which allows us access to high speed internet. However, cable television is not available in the area and satellite TV alternatives are not typically available due to our high concentration of mature trees. Satellites must have unobstructed view in a specific direction at a specific angle.
Fortunately, there is a perfectly acceptable alternative: streaming services. There are a many options when considering streaming. Most streaming services work well with as little as 10 MBPS. Our internet service has been tested and shows download speeds over 40 MBPS, which is more than adequate for television viewing.
Most think of streaming services that offer only on-demand viewing, but others offer live television as well. Below are just a few streaming solutions available to you here in the Enclave.
Streaming is quickly becoming the preferred alternative to many, even in areas where cable is available This is due to the typical high cost of bundled packages and little flexibility in media sources. If you have a smart phone, you’ve probably streamed video content before. So, how do you get that same and other content on to your television. Well, there are several options. Many television already have built-in streaming technology options, which means you can stream directly from your phone or built in services available with your television. This includes common services such as Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and Amazon Video etc. If your TV does not have streaming built in, there are still inexpensive options available such as XBox, Apple TV, ChromeCast, Roku, and many others. Simply connect those devices to your television, change the video source, and you’re on your way.
If you happen to be a satellite TV subscriber already, you’re in luck. Both DISH and DirectTV offer online accounts only and allow you to watch anything from a digital device that you can see from your satellite solution at home. If you’re not a satellite subscriber, they’ll set you up with an account anyway – minus the dish. There you can watch anything any dish user can watch.
There are other solutions as well. For example, Sling TV and Fubo offers both on demand and live TV viewing options that will stream to any device.
So, rest assured, there are wonderful alternatives to big cable. We think you’ll find them more enjoyable and convenient than what you’ve come to expect from your cable provider.