Way way off topic

[BBCnorthants]

Guys, for the last year or so, I've been toying with the idea of buying an apartment in the US. Probably Florida, probably orlando, or somewhere close to it.

I'm trying to work out what my rough monthly costs would be for utilities etc, and I'm confused about what people call 'cable'

It seems cable means television, and I've been looking at a couple of websites - one called Comcast, the other called bright house, and while I can see the services they offer (tv, phone and Internet), the prices seem astronomically high, but my question is mainly about just the tv side of things

Is it possible in America to watch TV without this cable thing? And if so, how do you do it?

Real estate agents keep talking to me about cable cable cable, but if someone just wants a tv with ABC NBC CBS etc, do you still have to have this cable thing?

$100 a month sounds like a big pile of money to spend on something that might only be used for 6-8 weeks a year.

As far as Internet goes, is it possible to just connect to a 3G or 4G network wirelessly without having it wired into the apartment?

I have the money to pay for a condo, but it's the monthly utilities and stuff that seems very expensive, not to mention outrageously expensive

Told ya it was off topic

[Natedawg]

I'm sure someone will come along with a much more informed answer, but in the meantime:

Yes, cable TV costs in this country are ridiculously high. It's because your choice of cable TV providers is very low, so it's practically a monopoly.... We stopped subscribing to TV service a few years ago. Never looked back at those prices.

If all you are interested in is basic TV channels, buy yourself a small antenna to attach to your TV. There are basic and HD antennas, depending on your TV, of course. Preferably an indoor one, since your prospective landlord probably won't want you attaching things to his building.  
Examples (of course I don't condone actually giving BB money): http://www.bestbuy.com/site/TV-Video-Accessories/TV-Antennas/abcat0107004.c?id=abcat0107004 .

You can get local and network channels this way. Sometimes, in better quality than cable TV itself.
As for internet, you can use your mobile phone as a hotspot, if need be. There are wireless internet providers (ie Clearwire), but their service tends to be unreliable at times.

[BBCnorthants]

Thanks, great post and those were the kinds of things I was hoping to hear

[VoodooSyxx]

Natedawg pretty much covered it. Get yourself an antenna and you can at least get basic channels for free. Clear 4G service can be iffy, but I've had good service with them in the past. As long as it's a fairly large city, and somewhat near a major interstate, the coverage should be alright.

[BBCnorthants]

Sounds good to me. I've never even heard of most of the tv channels being offered with whatever 'cable' is, so I wouldnt want to watch them anyway. All I really want is to be able to connect to the internet, thats all I'd need. In the UK, I have an iPhone 5 and on the plan I have, I can tether devices to it for no extra cost, so I was hoping something similar would be available in the US too, and it sounds like it might be

[D.A.L.U.I.]

A couple of observations.  People who have second homes often subscribe to cable on a monthly basis and when they leave they take the box to the company, then reconnect when they return--it's done a lot around the Highlands, Cashiers area of NC.  One benefit to the States, I believe the UK imposes a tax on each set--not so here, you pay nothing, and for the most part broadcast television gives like in return.  If the condo association permits, you can mount a standard antenna on the structure and receive over the air that way. 

[BBCnorthants]

Oh the UK imposes a tax on everything. You cant even watch tv in the UK without buying a license, and if you do watch tv without a license, you get thrown into prison. Even if you just watch tv online, you still have to have a license, and its about 200 a year (pounds)

There is a specific apartment Im interested in, and the estate agent/realtor has suggested I speak to the housing association about communal cable etc, but I'd really rather just have an antenna and not have the worry or bother of this cable thing. I dont think we have cable in the UK, just satellite, but I could be wrong.

[Frontier Guy]

I think everyone covered it.

I'm in the Orlando area so if you want more Orlando-specific information (about this or anything else) send me a PM.

Condominium Associations often has a common antenna and distribution system so TV (whether cable provided by Comcast or Brighthouse) or satellite (Dish network or DirecTV) may already be provided to you as part of the Association fees.

If you think you may be interested in satellite service (and it's not already provided) be sure to inquire if it is permitted to have a satellite receiver at your individual units. Some Associations will not permit them to be attached to the building (and thus you end up with one on a tripod standing on the porch) and some Associations don't permit exterior dishes at all.

As was note above, cost is about $100/month. Comcast, I believe, has a "vacation" status you can engage if you will be away for an extended period of time.

[Mikekoz13]

I justt ditched my Dish Network because of cost to benefit.

I placed a roof top antenna on my house and ran a coax cable from the antenna, down the side of the house (tucked in behind the corner bead) and thru the wall near the base of the house. I then ran the cable down the inside of the wall and connected directly to the back of my TV. 
A quick channel scan yielded great results. I get ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX in crystal clear High Definition for FREE.
I then added a Roku box ($78 dollars at Wally World) and have Netflix ($8 per month). I'll be adding HuluPlus this weekend ($8 per month). The Roku has tons of free channels that you can also add (some good, some not so good).

This setup costs me $16 a month and saves me about $65(cable was about $82 a month). The antenna and coax cost me about $125. I'll recoup that in two months.

You won't be able to have a roof top antenna in an apartment or condo but do your research on antennas and get a GOOD indoor antenna. Set it up so that it is near a window or glass door. You should be good to go!

[bennett11]

Others have provided a lot of info.  Another issue to be aware of is digital vs analog.  The switch to digital broadcasting was made couple years ago.  TV has to be able to accept that. 

[BBCnorthants]

Thanks guys, thats all very helpful, and Frontier Guy, if I have any Orlando-specific questions, I'll let you know

For the apartment I'm interested in, I know the housing association fee includes water, but nothing has been mentioned about a communal tv connection so I'll definitely check that out.

In the UK, we basically have three types of tv connection: an antenna/ariel that you plug into the back of the tv and it picks up the main 5 channels if you can get a good enough reception. Then there's a box called Freeview which picks up the main 5 channels plus a few satellite channels, and then satellite tv itself, which picks up hundreds of stations (99.7% of which I bet nobody ever looks at), and I was concerned that 'cable' was an absolute requirement in the US, but its good there are alternatives.

[Gary~]

Oh the UK imposes a tax on everything. You cant even watch tv in the UK without buying a license, and if you do watch tv without a license, you get thrown into prison. Even if you just watch tv online, you still have to have a license, and its about 200 a year (pounds)

That is very steep and even if you only watch online.

Here I get 18 pretty good channels via satellite which is a free service provided by the Federal Government.

[Blitzed]

Don't let estate agents in Florida reel you in. The condo market there is nearly as dead as Marley's ghost and only slightly more attractive. Tell them what you want which is a condo already wired for whatever you want and for which you only pay a modest monthly fee to have whatever you want. I'm a believer in "land line" phones but then I'm in a part of the country subject to violent storms (by the way, Florida is the thunderstorm capital of the US) so the first things to go are radar and cell phone towers. Do not pay for what are sometimes shilled as "extras" such as parking, a pool and-I'm not kidding-access to the street; Just as they'll license everything in the UK in the US they'll try and represent everything as a luxury, an upgrade or an "extra". Stand your ground, demand EXACTLY what you want...keeping in mind that agents in Florida have hustled visitors from the UK so often it's a art form to them.

As to your utilities, have you figured in the cost of flood and hurricane insurance? Essential for almost anyplace but keep in mind that the "high point" in Florida is barely over 250 feet above sea level. And that's virtually on the border with Georgia.