Back to the stone age I say

[cookiedough]

So, how many of you think can live without internet and a land line phone at home entirely?

I am seriously thinking of doing it come next week and dropping my internet/home phone provider, TDS, entirely after what went down today on the phone with them after download and upload speed test of literally .06 and .02 Mbsp  (that is NOT even 1/10 of one meg of service) which basically could not even open internet page even.

Like has been said before,  they won't get the hint until they loose 1,000's of customers and income, they just don't care.  I'm also going to file a complaint with better business bureau tomorrow on TDS as well as contacting a local news station to see if they are interested in doing a news story on the 1,000's of internet users in this area with TDS robbing customers monthly in our area overpaying for something for years that TDS is not delivering which is high speed internet.  Any other ideas??

Don't even get me started on the smartphone B.S. that is going on in my house right now as well.  I don't believe in  paying 212 bucks for 3 smartphones in our house vs. 3 basic cell phones costing 133 vs. 212 per month.  I can and will live without a smartphone all my life that I can guarantee don't need them and don't believe in them not worth the added expense monthly either. 

All that money wasted could be used for me to get drunk nightly big time!    

I need a drink or two or three now - rant off! 

[Tundra]

I imagine it depends on ones wants, needs, income. It's a personal decision which is different for everyone for different reasons. Smartphones can prove to be a very valuable tool, if one learns to use it for its intended uses. I see many just do mindless activities and viewing silly videos all day, streaming music all day etc....
 Smartphones can also be used against you for data mining/information gathering by big brother.
We are "cutting the cord" with unlimited landline $100.00 per month and Verizon FIOS TV $100.00 per month.
 Trying out Roku and Netfix and a digital FM antenna for local broadcast news, we have unlimited on Cell phones anyway. We just can't get our parents to call them...well we have to teach these old dogs new tricks. We are cutting back in many areas, most of which are easy and really not needed.

[Patrick]

Its always hard to give things up, but, after awhile you may not even notice its gone.

I have a couple friends that still use just an antenna, no cell phone or computer.

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

My smartphone only costs me $45 a month thru straight talk, but I hear ya. We lived without these things years ago and can live without if we choose too. It's a personal decision 

[Rams]

I don't have a land line in my home, we all have smart phones.   We also have cable with a 65 inch big screen hanging on the wall.    I sit here typing on my lap top using our household wifi.    Technology is not all bad but, there are those that take advantage of our desire to have that technology.   I won't tell you I don't enjoy the internet, I do but, it comes with it's own problems.   Could I go without it, sure.    But, if I didn't have the internet, I wouldn't know all the fine Valkyrie folks I've met through the internet.  

I could easily live without cable and go with an antenna but , I don't think the other person that lives in the house would buy off on that idea.    I'll be honest and tell you, I still love that big screen.   I could easily live without my "smart phone" and go with a basic cell.    I hate texting and often tell folks to save the effort and just call me, it takes a lot less time and it usually faster to get the same and more information passed.    My "smart phone" service is way too expensive for how I use it but, we're on a family plan and I doubt anyone else in the family is willing to give up that technology.

For years, even though text came with my service, I had the company turn it off.    As I said, I hate texting but finally gave in to the pressure to receive texts.   I rarely do more in returning a text than type "call me".    If you text me and don't get "call me", consider yourself a special friend.   I normally send texts asking if the person I'm texting is free for a phone call.

Is the technology worth the cost, as KY Dave said, it's a personal decision.    I do like the navigation apps that my "smart phone" offers that a basic cell doesn't but, I'm due to get a "free" upgrade for my cell, I'm thinking I'll be taking a step backward.    

[3fan4life]

I'm carrying four lines with AT&T (3 Smartphones and 1 home phone thing) for $150 per month.

My only option for home internet is a mifi type device. I recently switched it from Verizon to Intelos because Verizon was overcharging me for the data use. I went to Intelos because they offered unlimited data for $80 per month. Now I have the same problem with them that you have with your internet provider, their network is so slow that web pages refuse to load. Half of the time I have to hot spot my (AT&T) cell phone to use the internet.

Even with all of this frustration it would be hard to give up the convenience of technology.

A little over a year ago my wife was forced to a smartphone because her flip phone died and AT&T didn't offer any decent flip phones to replace it with. Now she wouldn't go back.

I too resisted the idea of texting, until coworkers that insist on it as their primary means of communication forced me to accept it. I still don't see it as a primary means of communication but must admit that it can be useful.       

[Rams]

I too resisted the idea of texting, until coworkers that insist on it as their primary means of communication forced me to accept it. I still don't see it as a primary means of communication but must admit that it can be useful.       

As I said, "Call Me" works.   

[BF]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooo.   

You might as well cut off my right arm. 

[dreamaker]

What they need to do is pull the plug on everything. Stop and think, what is necessary in our lives, probably save a truck load of money. May its time, just for an exercise, to sit down and with a piece of paper and write down what is necessary in our live and what do we really need to exists.  See if you can break your addiction to technology.

[Hook#3287]

We don't NEED any of it, but it sure makes much of my life more efficient.

I cut my phone land line over 10 years ago.  I've had a cell phone since 1988.

I hated texting also, until I got my first "smart" phone.

Now, I use it daily to send and receive info that, if I wrote it down on paper, I'd probably just lose it.  And a lot of the time, I don't want to, or have the time to, talk.

Before I got my I-pad, I used my smart phone to look up info and pictures to help customers make decisions.  

I use that technology as a tool, not for entertainment.

Now, if I could figure out how to get the Internet, NHL and the other HD programs I record, on my 55" flat screen, cheaper, I'd cut the cable in a second.

But, if I didn't have the internet, I wouldn't know all the fine Valkyrie folks I've met through the internet.  

Not to mention the amount of Valkyrie knowledge, we have all learned from each other, via the Internet.

[f6john]

What they need to do is pull the plug on everything. Stop and think, what is necessary in our lives, probably save a truck load of money. May its time, just for an exercise, to sit down and with a piece of paper and write down what is necessary in our live and what do we really need to exists.  See if you can break your addiction to technology.

Well let's see,

1. Do I really need a Valkyrie to exist?

[Valkorado]

Now, if I could figure out how to get the Internet, NHL and the other HD programs I record, on my 55" flat screen, cheaper, I'd cut the cable in a second.

Chromecast with the free app Localcast.  You can stream your locally stored videos directly to your TV via wifi (as well as internet video and music).

[Jess Tolbirt]

where i live i have only 2 options, satellite or dsl, the dsl sucks with att. exceed is the satellite service i think i am going to get because they have late night free zone and you can schedule your downloads..
my smart phone is 45 bucs a month through att go phone and if you sign up for auto mated billing it drops 5 bucs every time it reloads so it runs me 40 bucs a month unlimited everything...

[Jess from VA]

I live pretty cheap, and have cut down most expenses to bare bones.  I do have FIOS for TV, phone and net.  Besides a small mortgage payment (and food), it is my highest regular monthly bill.  Since I do live cheap, the TV and internet are my principle entertainment (besides reading books and riding bikes), and well within my budget.  Never had any kind of C-phone, ATM, debit card, laptop, kindle, mp3, ipod, etc.  But the biggest savings of both money and sanity is my abandonment of women for the duration.... not as friends, just as any form of steady entertainment.

You don't really want the stone age.  I lived in the middle east for a few years, and out in the boonies, that is about as close to the stone age as you will find.  No electric, no indoor plumbing or toilet, no phone, no car, riding donkeys for transportation, finding sheep to be attractive.  

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

I live pretty cheap, and have cut down most expenses to bare bones.  I do have FIOS for TV, phone and net.  Besides a small mortgage payment (and food), it is my highest regular monthly bill.  Since I do live cheap, the TV and internet are my principle entertainment (besides reading books), and well within my budget.  Never had any kind of C-phone, ATM, debit card, laptop, kindle, mp3, ipod, etc.  But the biggest savings of both money and sanity is my abandonment of women for the duration.... not as friends, just as any form of steady entertainment.

You don't really want the stone age.  I lived in the middle east for a few years, and out in the boonies, that is about as close to the stone age as you will find.  No electric, no indoor plumbing or toilet, no phone, no car, riding donkeys for transportation, finding sheep to be attractive.  

You found sheep attractive 

[Jess from VA]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 

[Willow]

Some of the anger at pricing is due to mislabeling.  What we call a smart phone is actually a full blown computer that as one of its functions includes telephone communications.

I pay too much for smart phones and internet access, but I'm not much tempted to give them up.

Settle for what you feel you need. Discard what you choose to live without.  Save your money.  I choose to not buy state-of-the-art automobiles.  I'm sure there's a pretty long list of what others find necessary that I do without.

I guess I do actually need the internet to give me the option of working sixty miles away from the office.

Do what you choose to do for yourself.  Be comfortable with your choices.

[Serk]

I too resisted the idea of texting, until coworkers that insist on it as their primary means of communication forced me to accept it. I still don't see it as a primary means of communication but must admit that it can be useful.       

As I said, "Call Me" works.   

Heh, and I'm the other side of that. Hate talking on the phone. Hate it hate it hate it... IM me, text me, Facebook chat me, but if you're calling me I'm assuming there's an emergency, and will answer, get the relevant information as quickly as possible and do everything I can to get off the call as quickly as possible.

[MarkT]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 

Be careful.  They might be eyeballing YOU.

[dreamaker]

Man! You had me crying on that one, I nearly fell out of my chair. LOL

[Jess from VA]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 

Be careful.  They might be eyeballing YOU.

I suppose for some, prayers are answered.

[cookiedough]

All good advice here indeed except for that pic above - YIKES!  ??? .

Can anyone of you call up my wife and 2 kids and tell them they do not need 3 smartphones,  netflix, and internet with a GB plan?  $212 for 3 smartphones per month, and even after calling another satellite or even US Cellular 20GB plan just for internet costing yet another 140 bucks per month,  those 20GB's will be used up since netflix livestreaming video I was just told will use up about 28 hours of std. definition streaming of video/netflix.  My kids watch netflix WAY too much would use up those 28 hours in 10-15 days of the 30 days per month.  At only 9 bucks per month I find netflix a great value, if it can run that is in my home.   I mean one movie is 2 hours long almost on netflix and know they are doing that and MORE near daily.  

My issue is not entirely with my family wanting it all (another heated debate I am loosing), but the location where I live having TDS internet paying for 5 megs when ONLY receiving on average is all 1/2 a meg of service since their eqmt. is over capacity with too many users for several years now and just keeps getting slower and worse.  I wouldn't mind getting 3 smartphones if my current TDS internet would work even 1.5 megs would be plenty of speed for netflix and other internet uses.  Not willing to spend over 350 bucks per month for just internet and 3 smartphones, that is crazy high.  OVER 4 grand per year on this stuff is a lot of money to toss out the window probably worse than cigarettes and drinking for most.  

[The emperor has no clothes]

I too resisted the idea of texting, until coworkers that insist on it as their primary means of communication forced me to accept it. I still don't see it as a primary means of communication but must admit that it can be useful.       

As I said, "Call Me" works.   

Heh, and I'm the other side of that. Hate talking on the phone. Hate it hate it hate it... IM me, text me, Facebook chat me, but if you're calling me I'm assuming there's an emergency, and will answer, get the relevant information as quickly as possible and do everything I can to get off the call as quickly as possible.

Ditto, glad to hear I'm not alone. Texting is so much more efficient.

[J.Mencalice]

A massive solar flare from our Sun or the arrival of the EMP storm of a distant, departed sun in another galaxy that exploded many light years ago would take care of the electrical grid of planet Earth...and all of those gizmos
Yeah, it COULD happen.

[dreamaker]

A massive solar flare from our Sun or the arrival of the EMP storm of a distant, departed sun in another galaxy that exploded many light years ago would take care of the electrical grid of planet Earth...and all of those gizmos
Yeah, it COULD happen.

 I recall hearing something about, it almost happened in 2012, but it miss us by a couple days????  Or something like that.

[cookiedough]

A massive solar flare from our Sun or the arrival of the EMP storm of a distant, departed sun in another galaxy that exploded many light years ago would take care of the electrical grid of planet Earth...and all of those gizmos
Yeah, it COULD happen.

bring it on, I am so ready for that, at least only destroying the gizmos thingy.  

am sure all of us remember when cell phones were just coming out and was the latest and greatest able to make phone calls away from a landline phone.  It was all the rage and I was into that as well thought it was neat, but technology surely has surpassed my way of thinking as well as my wallet.

US Cellular 20GB plan is out just called them and won't even come close to using it for netflix for the kids per month will easily run out of 20GB for around 140+bucks per month in about  a 1/2 a month even on std. definition reception.  Am going to call HughesNET now being satellite internet, doubt that will be any cheaper or better.    

[MarkT]

A massive solar flare from our Sun or the arrival of the EMP storm of a distant, departed sun in another galaxy that exploded many light years ago would take care of the electrical grid of planet Earth...and all of those gizmos
Yeah, it COULD happen.

 I recall hearing something about, it almost happened in 2012, but it miss us by a couple days????  Or something like that.

Fried my ZUMO while I was on a trip and cost me $150 to replace it.

I'm using Netflix on the old exchange-DVD's plan, not chewing up bandwidth and it's lots cheaper.  You can sign up for nearly any number of discs out at a time - and some folks - not me of course - make their own copies from such plans, thereby time-shifting when they watch them.  Actual DVD's are still available but I'm pretty sure they will go the way of videotapes before long, supplanted by streaming.

Not to mention the possibility of downloading pirate flicks via torrents or the tor network... Again, not me.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

BTW - I told Dish I'm about to fire them and go to DirectTV.  They dropped my price by $20 per month, improved my equipment to a HD 4-tuner all with recording ability (now NTSC 2-tuner, 100 hr disc), large disk for storage & external disc connectivity, free install and protection plan, and the biggest channel plan, for 2yrs while I can opt out in 6 mo.  Still no word on Fox though.

[cookiedough]

MarkT,  I knew they would upgrade your eqmt. for free as well as give you a discount.  Your 20 off for 2 years is pretty good but I was offered 30 bucks per month for 24 months off my bill, but did not get the option to opt out after 6 months had to stick with dish for 24 more months.   You will like the new hopper DVR receiver is nice with the large recording DVR capability and having 4+ areas to record/watch live tv at the same time.

Anyways,  I have pretty much decided to NOT have a landline phone at all totally gone as well as no internet from TDS that just is too slow for netflix and youtube videos and pretty much any video to play, too slow.  Instead,  spending an extra 40 bucks per month just to get HughesNET 50GB plan and watch netflix movies for kids only on LOW definition TV.  Should be good for at least 3 of the 4 weeks in the month and if we run out,  HughesNET still offers internet usage after 50 GB real high speed internet UP TO 15 megs (am sure it will be more like 7-12 megs), but is better than .50 thru .70 megs now with useless TDS internet for like forever.  

The lies of TDS promising me fiber optic cables in our 1200 population town are done with they told me it was coming by Jan. 1st,  I think not!  All lies to get my money for near useless service for years.  

So, does anyone have high speed HUGHESNET internet and how many GB's of data usage and what is your speed?  I'd like to know even though I know it depends on install and more importantly location and plan you are on.  My plan is their ultra package for 90 bucks per month just came out last week being 15 megs tops with 50 GB's of data to use for internet per month with an additional 50 GB's to use between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m. for downloading larger videos thru netflix via their internet website. 

I'd really like any replies ASAP over the weekend on HUGHESNET internet since planning on switching next week - thanks in advance!

[BnB Tom]

       

[dreamaker]

A sincere, Happy New Year to everyone.

I got something for you to chew on, while back all kinds of crap was going on. Snow where it doesn't snow, tornadoes, mud slides, sink holes.  I was thinking about that guy in Florida laying in his bed, and the earth decided to swallow him up in a sink hole. Any way, I put together a bug out bag, back pack, everything I need to try and live where ever, including protection, three days of 3 meals, cranking and solar devices, and so on. If nothing ever happens, it it great for camping and I can strap it on the VAlk. One of the reasons I try to get healthy, so I can carry it. I know it sounds crazy, but is doesn't hurt to be prepared, what is the Boy Scout motto say.

[old2soon]

MarkT,  I knew they would upgrade your eqmt. for free as well as give you a discount.  Your 20 off for 2 years is pretty good but I was offered 30 bucks per month for 24 months off my bill, but did not get the option to opt out after 6 months had to stick with dish for 24 more months.   You will like the new hopper DVR receiver is nice with the large recording DVR capability and having 4+ areas to record/watch live tv at the same time.

Anyways,  I have pretty much decided to NOT have a landline phone at all totally gone as well as no internet from TDS that just is too slow for netflix and youtube videos and pretty much any video to play, too slow.  Instead,  spending an extra 40 bucks per month just to get HughesNET 50GB plan and watch netflix movies for kids only on LOW definition TV.  Should be good for at least 3 of the 4 weeks in the month and if we run out,  HughesNET still offers internet usage after 50 GB real high speed internet UP TO 15 megs (am sure it will be more like 7-12 megs), but is better than .50 thru .70 megs now with useless TDS internet for like forever.  

The lies of TDS promising me fiber optic cables in our 1200 population town are done with they told me it was coming by Jan. 1st,  I think not!  All lies to get my money for near useless service for years.  

So, does anyone have high speed HUGHESNET internet and how many GB's of data usage and what is your speed?  I'd like to know even though I know it depends on install and more importantly location and plan you are on.  My plan is their ultra package for 90 bucks per month just came out last week being 15 megs tops with 50 GB's of data to use for internet per month with an additional 50 GB's to use between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m. for downloading larger videos thru netflix via their internet website. 

I'd really like any replies ASAP over the weekend on HUGHESNET internet since planning on switching next week - thanks in advance!

         You are free to do whatever you want BUT lets just say if hughesnet was the last/only service available I WOULD NOT use them again under any circumstances. I had the wife and both daughters at home at the time-H N-and they were ripping thru our plan in a smidge more than 2 weeks. The plan we WOULD have needed jumped us from like $25.00 a month to around $150.00. And that was with one of their dishes in our driveway. RIDE SAFE.

[Jess Tolbirt]

A massive solar flare from our Sun or the arrival of the EMP storm of a distant, departed sun in another galaxy that exploded many light years ago would take care of the electrical grid of planet Earth...and all of those gizmos
Yeah, it COULD happen.

bring it on, I am so ready for that, at least only destroying the gizmos thingy. 

am sure all of us remember when cell phones were just coming out and was the latest and greatest able to make phone calls away from a landline phone.  It was all the rage and I was into that as well thought it was neat, but technology surely has surpassed my way of thinking as well as my wallet.

US Cellular 20GB plan is out just called them and won't even come close to using it for netflix for the kids per month will easily run out of 20GB for around 140+bucks per month in about  a 1/2 a month even on std. definition reception.  Am going to call HughesNET now being satellite internet, doubt that will be any cheaper or better.   

hughs net is 120 a month for 25 gigs, and you will eat that up in a few days,,satellite is not for streaming  even music...exceede has late nite free zone where you can download during the night and watch it later,,

[dreamaker]

I am a little lost here, I have a Motorola RAZR that I use for emergency, OK.  You guys talk about 20gb and 25gb, I assume it is for data,OK,  I don't understand, what is the data used for?

[Oss]

One Second After

Great Book

Its cold out   nothing like some scotch, a nice fire and a good book before the football game

I am not much of a tech dude, this was my gps till it fell off the Valk in Alabama

[Jess Tolbirt]

hey cookiedough dude,, i sent you a pm

[old2soon]

One Second After

Great Book

Its cold out   nothing like some scotch, a nice fire and a good book before the football game

I am not much of a tech dude, this was my gps till it fell off the Valk in Alabama

    I was taught at an early age the ART of map reading. I check mileages on MapQuest. I lay out my route with an old fashioned paper atlas. More than once I've been stopped looking at the atlas and folks have mentioned that I need a G P S. To which I reply-I have one that works without electricity.   And very rarely wrong!   RIDE SAFE.

[pais]

Happy New Year to everyone!
   Couple things for me to bi*^h about. All my years of traveling and working I relied on a good ole fashion map. Fast forward to 2014 and my "smartphone". Traveling Summer'14 with family and no map. Tunnels in WV. just before Va. on 77s are closed because of accident. Area is a traffic nightmare, phone keeps redirecting back to same place. Finally found a store with a map. Manager actually gave me the map. Said he could not remember the last time he sold one! Took a look and on the road we were. Found an old state route that was a literal corkscrew up and down two mountains. Signs were posted that if length of vehicle exceeded- I cant remember number. You were forbidden to use the road. 15 mile trip took us an hour in the family truckster. Need to dig out map because I would like to go back on the Valk. Don't want to do it again in mini van! I will never travel again w/o a map, hard lesson learned!
     Our household cut the land line about a year ago. I love not having a ringing phone in the house. Flip side I hate having to have my phone on me all the time. My job requires it. When Im on call I either have a cell or sit at home in case they need me.
    May '15 our contract will expire. It sickens me what I spend for 4 smart phones w/10gigs and unlimited talk/text-$270/month thru Verizon. Im 52yo and if my Dad was still alive he would be sitting at the kitchen table and telling me "you G^d D^*m dummy! I do not use it to its capabilities, daughter its a hand held jukebox, son its another video game and the wife uses it as a computer while the lap top collects dust. She by the way tells me she needs a new one (phone) because her battery wont make it thru the day!
     We recently switched from Time Warner Cable to ATT Uverse. So cable/internet is under $100 bucks for a short while. TWC was out of hand, when we quit we were around $180 a month with NO premium channels and 2 boxes. I would love to go to digital antenna , others in household wont go for that.
    Thanks for listening!

[Otus]

One Second After

Great Book

Its cold out   nothing like some scotch, a nice fire and a good book before the football game

I am not much of a tech dude, this was my gps till it fell off the Valk in Alabama

    I was taught at an early age the ART of map reading. I check mileages on MapQuest. I lay out my route with an old fashioned paper atlas. More than once I've been stopped looking at the atlas and folks have mentioned that I need a G P S. To which I reply-I have one that works without electricity.   And very rarely wrong!   RIDE SAFE.

Well O2S, I love my smartphone and its navigation app. Followed it to Minnesota taking two lane highways without a glitch. I can read maps and had them in my luggage with my route highlighted in case my technology failed me. I just find it nice not to be watching my odometer looking for my next turn pulling a map out in the wind to check my route when I could be just cruising along enjoying the scenery knowing that I'll be making a left in 183.3 miles and I'll be reminded of this when I get within a half mile of it

[Novavalker]

I'm spending about 180.00 per month for three smart phones and 200.00 for a bundle (internet ,cable TV and phone) from my cable provider.
I also have Netflix.
There is a free program call Hola http://hola.org/ that works well. It works with Netflix. I can switch countries and view content not available here at home. I watched Fargo TV series from Switzerland's Netflix.

[Woton]

Computers: Powerful desktop for speed, laptop for car travel, iPad (Wi-Fi only) for bike travel

Phones:  BikerGirl has iPhone w/ATT, I carry a Motorola KRZR dumb phone.  No Landline

TV:  DISH Newtork (Been discussing how much extra we'd be willing to pay them monthly to keep the Fox Channels off the air ) with 60" Pioneer Elite Plasma

Internet: Time Warner Cable Turbo

GPS: Low-end Zumo for the bike and car

Don't even want to add up how much I pay monthly for phone, satellite TV, and internet - but it's a bunch.  

If all these would disappear I would MOST miss: 1. my Big Screen TV,  2. Just looking things up online that come up during the average day, 3. GPS capability on the Valk or in the car, 4. Travel Planning via the internet, and 5. Electronic banking/bill paying

What I'd most like to see:  A La Carte TV Programming