GCI Cable Internet and Roku box (TV internet streaming box)? (renting, movies)

[blin9465]

Where we live we only have cable internet (GCI) or DSL options so we chose GCI. We currently have both internet and cable TV. After our first month, we realized we need to upgrade to the 60GB usage package ($59.99) because we do quite a lot of Skype with family outside of AK. Then adding on the cable TV part of the bill...it total to about $100. There are a lot of channels we don't watch so a friend suggested "Roku". It sounds like a good idea and with $100 budget, we can upgrade our internet up to the 18Mbps cable modem (18MBPs download, 1.5 upload, with 150GB usage limit. I'm wondering if anybody uses similar devices to replace cable TV using GCI and if 150GB limit is a good estimate...Any feedback will be appreciated!

[globetraveler]

Originally Posted by blin9465

Where we live we only have cable internet (GCI) or DSL options so we chose GCI. We currently have both internet and cable TV. After our first month, we realized we need to upgrade to the 60GB usage package ($59.99) because we do quite a lot of Skype with family outside of AK. Then adding on the cable TV part of the bill...it total to about $100. There are a lot of channels we don't watch so a friend suggested "Roku". It sounds like a good idea and with $100 budget, we can upgrade our internet up to the 18Mbps cable modem (18MBPs download, 1.5 upload, with 150GB usage limit. I'm wondering if anybody uses similar devices to replace cable TV using GCI and if 150GB limit is a good estimate...Any feedback will be appreciated!

It will depend on your usage and the quality of the individual channels
For example watching Netflix will use approximately:
0.3 GB per hour for Good Quality
0.7 GB per hour Better quality
1 GB per hour Best quality
2.3 GB per hour for HD

You can change the quality settings through the NetFlix website.

Make sure you do your research. Channels such as NetFlix, HuluPlus, Amazon Prime Video, and others have a subscription fee. That will certainly eat into your cable savings.

I looked at the Roku box, however I ended up with the Apple TV and use it to access HuluPlus and NetFlix. With the added content available through the iTunes store, I was able to drop down to basic cable, which provided access to the normal broadcast networks for their shows, news, and sports. For certain shows I really missed, I purchased a season pass through the iTunes store. This made the break from cable less difficult. There are some advantages for me and the ability to move iTunes TV shows and Movies to my iPad and the ability to watch them when I'm not connected to the internet when I travel that makes the Apple options much more viable for me.

Don't get me wrong, there are some shows that I miss and haven't been able to find, however the longer I am doing this, the less that seems to be happening.

I recently dropped the NetFlix account as I felt I had seen most of the movies offered that were of interest to me and have gone to "renting" through the iTunes as they seem to have most of the movies available as soon as they go to DVD.

If you do make the jump, make sure you get familiar with the "check your usage" tab on the main GCI page. You will have log into your account, however once you do that, you will have access to your daily usage stats and where you are in regards to your monthly cap. You can quickly determine where you stand and can adjust your usage habits, if needed to avoid overage fees. I'm with a 100GB plan right now and it works fine, however it is just my wife and I.

[blin9465]

Thanks glovetraveler. I just got the Roku box today and completed the set up. I'm currently using the GCI 60GB plan and will see how my husband and I like the box. My husband is really into Discovery, History, NatGeo channels and it's a bit frustrating I have to search via "shows" instead of channels. We also do quite a few Skype calls with family out of State...adding all those up...but I am tracking our usage on a daily basis just to get an idea of how we should do this. We also are expecting a baby late April so maybe we won't watch that much TV...who knows...

[flyonpa]

Just as a reference my Internet usage with a Roku box runs around 100GB a month, sometimes more.

Normal web usage, Some skype'ing, work access, My son Xbox, and 2 Ruku boxes & ( netflix amazon prime, and hulu, but other streaming.

[tasha998]

Originally Posted by flyonpa

Just as a reference my Internet usage with a Roku box runs around 100GB a month, sometimes more.

Normal web usage, Some skype'ing, work access, My son Xbox, and 2 Ruku boxes & ( netflix amazon prime, and hulu, but other streaming.

Same, but often closer to 150GB. When we had cable in addition to streaming it was half of what we use now.

[roadfamily6now]

if you have access to ACS I'd switch.
We used to have GCI becuase it was the only option. We used a LOT of gigs!!!! and paid a lot of money.
We have since moved and choose ACS because they offer a TRUE unlimited package. We do not have regular TV, but only Netflix and Hulu Plus. We also have 2 computers, and 2 gaming systems. We have had it for about 5 months and only ONCE did we notice a slow down in internet speed.

[blin9465]

Originally Posted by roadfamily6now

if you have access to ACS I'd switch.
We used to have GCI becuase it was the only option. We used a LOT of gigs!!!! and paid a lot of money.
We have since moved and choose ACS because they offer a TRUE unlimited package. We do not have regular TV, but only Netflix and Hulu Plus. We also have 2 computers, and 2 gaming systems. We have had it for about 5 months and only ONCE did we notice a slow down in internet speed.

Unfortunately ACS is not available where we live (they are my preferred choice too)...We tried the box and really didn't like it all that much...I think the main thing is with our usage, we would have to upgrade again and that's just not worth the $. So we are looking into Dishnetwork instead of cable TV and keep the internet at 60GB for in case when we do want to stream some movies or channels we don't get on Dish...

[smokeyta]

Another option with ROKU is Playon. they have a lifetime membership for $89 that include a free ROKU player. It dropped Hulu-plus after seeing that playon has everything Hulu had without the monthly fee.