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GET ONLINE WITHOUT WIRES

• The Wireless Hotspot:
  
  
  You can buy a small box from the wireless carriers or secondary sources that accesses a cellular network and re-distributes the Internet through a Wi-Fi connection to several devices.
  
  
  
• Wireless Modem:
  
  
  This can be an external box or a small USB adapter that plugs in to your desktop computer or laptop. These plug-in devices can be moved among equipment and locations. Carriers and re-sellers offer special plans for these adapters, usually with Unlimited broadband usage with 4G LTE speeds.
  
  
  
• Wireless Home Phone + Internet:
  
  
  A single box connects your home phones and online devices through a wireless connection.   Connection to your computer and other devices is made through a wi-fi connection.
  
  
  
• Cellular-Enabled Devices:
  
  
  Many tablets offer the option of accessing the Internet directly, both at home and away. Many wireless carriers and re-sellers now offer special tablet plans with Unlimited broadband access often at 4G LTE speeds. While some devices need to have internal circuitry that will work with cellular broadband, others can accept just a SIM or USB plug.
  
  
  
• Your Smart Phone:
  
  
  You can use a Smart phone for all of your internet activities at home including accessing a printer and other conveniences. Some Smart phones offer "tethering" which enables you to connect a computer or similar device to the Internet through a Wi-Fi connection provided by the Smart phone. Some wireless plans and some carriers restrict tethering capability.
  
  
  
• Satellite Broadband:
  
  
  It sounds like it should be available anywhere but you still need a cellular connection for the uplink. It may work in a location where other things have failed and it can be bundled with satellite TV service.
  
  
  
• Shared Wi-Fi Access:
  Many of us have accessed a neighbor's Wi-Fi, at least until they password-protected the signal. Why not offer your neighbor a small fee to share their access codes? Also, they may be more willing to move their wireless router closer to you, improving your signal and possibly your download speeds.

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TV WITHOUT THE CABLE

• Get an Antenna:
  Yes, it seems silly, but you can get broadcast TV channels Free, often with the simplest antenna. Over the air TV is truly High Definition, usually better than heavily compressed cable and satellite channels. Many TV antennas are small enough to fit on a bookshelf or hung on the wall. Some outdoor TV antennas can be mounted discretely on the side of the house instead of on the roof. Since 2009, US TV signals have been digital and usually broadcast in HD. If you watch mostly news or network shows like "The Big Bang Theory," this may be all you need. Over-the-air broadcasts work with DVRs like TiVo, which nicely blends live TV and Internet streaming services. Your experience may vary depending on how far you live from broadcast towers. To see what an antenna can do for you, start by typing your address into the site tvfool.com, which plots what broadcast channels you should be able to receive and where to direct your antenna. You can start with a simple antenna based on your distance from broadcast towers. You may be surprised how many channels you can get.
  
  
• Connect with Your Smart Phone:
  Some 'cable' channels offer their video free over the Internet via apps or by simply visiting a web site. Those channels include many of your local broadcast stations, each of the broadcast networks and paid services.  In some cases, you can't get the service for free, or even paid, so on the your smart phone...you need a "Log in."
  
  
• Find a 'Log in'
  What about the channels that refuse to sell streaming access?  Many networks restrict Internet access to cable TV subscribers, locked behind a Login. Some claim the economics of selling direct online access doesn't work, although this is changing. Some cable cutters deal with this by "borrowing" logins. It's one of the moral gray zones of being a modern digital consumer. HBO and ESPN say their services are meant only for use by one "household," but they don't seem to be keeping people from sharing. Most channels allow at least three simultaneous streams. They don't check that you live together or cut you off for using it in different corners of the US. You may be able to legitimately use a Login from a second home, a subscribing organization or your employer. Logins are used by both cable and satellite TV providers.
  
  
• 3rd Party Sources
  Sometimes a subscription to one supplier gives you wireless access to another video service. As an example, subscribing to certain brokerage services give you Free access to business video streams such as CNBC.
  
  
• Look to the Sky
  
  
  Subscribing to satellite TV service is pretty much paying for cable without the cable. If you want to totally end your relationship with the cable company you can get both cable channels and Internet service from satellite. Satellite TV services are also available virtually anywhere which means you can get cable TV channels where cable won't go. You're still dealing with a "cable-like" company, but it's truly 'wireless', and there may be a bundle discount with your other wireless services.