CSA Online by Andrew Moore-Crispin Tech stuff you’re probably paying too much for This whole pandemic thing is pretty tired. I mean, we get it already, COVID-19. You can go away now. Figuratively speaking, belts are tightening as this ordeal drags on and people get more nervous. Literally speaking, belts are doing the opposite as gyms are closed and as healthy diets become somehow harder to follow. Or maybe that’s just me. Point is, COVID-19 sucks and we’re over it. No, sorry. The point is, uncertainty is not good for capitalism. Maybe you’re looking to save a few bucks. With that in mind, here are a few tech-related things you may be paying too much for. Internet service We all know the big internet service providers in Canada: Rogers, Bell and, to a lesser extent, Shaw, Cogeco and very few others. What you may not know is that there is a whole slew of other providers that have CRTCmandated access to the big providers' networks. These smaller providers offer breadth of choice at competitive prices. Where the “big guys” are an effective oligopoly and can decide the price everyone pays for home internet, the smaller players are a break-out and actually compete on price, choice and service. Some potentially recognizable names include: TekSavvy, Acanac, Distributel, Fido, Virgin and others. Some providers are provincial, some regional, some effectively national. Use a service such as findinternet.ca to see and compare what alternate providers offer in your area. If nothing else, it’ll arm you with some competitive pricing with which you can call your existing provider to insist on a better deal. Television Cable and satellite TV are cash cows for the same “big guys” we just talked about under internet service. Maybe you can’t imagine life without cable. That’s cool. If you’re open to alternatives, though, an antenna coupled with a few choice streaming services might get you everything you need. Yes, an antenna. There are models for outdoor installation but, if you’re anywhere near a major city (andmaybe even if you’re not), you’d be surprised at what you can pick up over the air (OTA), even with an easy-to-install and unobtrusive indoor antenna such as the Mohu Leaf. OTA TV is not just free, but most channels are also delivered in full HD. You can get local and affiliate news, CBC and many affiliate channels for prime-time programming. You won’t get any specialty channels, but you can access streaming services including Netflix, HBO+, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and others that more than fill in the gaps. Sports streaming services such as NHL Live, NBA TV and MLB.TV can give sports nuts their fill. NFL games are a little harder to track down in Canada, but youmay get Sunday Night Football over the air with your antenna. When you’re in the U.S., streaming options such as YouTube TV and Sling TV are practically an outright cable replacement delivered over the internet and offer 85+ and 50+ channels at $65 and $30, respectively. Both include DVR capability. Streaming services We mentioned streaming services as an augment to “cutting the cord” and getting rid of cable, thereby saving some money. However, the cost of streaming services can quickly add up. There are other options. If you’re an Amazon Prime member, paying for free and expedited shipping and several other benefits, you have the basic version of Amazon Prime Video available to you already. This service hosts a bunch of TV and movies, including some originals that you won’t find anywhere else. More to the money-saving point however, many local libraries offer streaming services such as Kanopy, with films, documentaries and more. Acorn TV streams TV from Australia, the U.K., NewZealand and others. Hoopla allows you to borrow films digitally, with your library card. Ask your librarian. Your branch may even have an intro to digital services session which you can attend. Probably virtually, given the whole pandemic thing. 48 | www.snowbirds.org
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