Devices needed if you want to cut the cord

Without cable, television fans will need to purchase some new electronic devices

It’s been a decision a long time coming, but you’re finally there: metaphorical shears in hand, you’re about to cut the cord that binds you to traditional cable TV. Oh, the money you’ll save.

Not so fast.

While there are certainly a lot of upsides to saying goodbye to cable and switching to digital streaming solutions, it requires investing in some new devices and technology.

If you’re ready to cut the cord, there are four gizmos that might help:

HIGH-DEFINITION OTA (OVER THE AIR) ANTENNA

If you’re truly ditching cable, this is one of the first things you’ll want to consider adding to your arsenal. The only catch is that access to over-the-air broadcast TV hinges on your geographic location: If you’re like me and live in Toronto with a view of Lake Ontario and the CN Tower, you’ll be able to pull in up to two dozen crystal-clear local and U.S. stations with a compact indoor antenna that costs $120 or less.

In, say, rural parts of the country, you might be limited to two or three channels from whatever transmitter tower you’re closest to, and it might require sticking an outdoor antenna on your house or in the yard.

Do a Google search for OTA channels in your area to get an idea of what to expect.

DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDER

Video recording is built into virtually every modern cable box, but once you get rid of the box, you lose access to this must-have feature. If you go the antenna route, it might be wise to invest in a DVR that allows you to capture and record over-the-air broadcasts.

I’ve had good success with the Tablo Dual ($289), a TV antenna DVR that records and organizes over-the-air TV broadcasts, then allows you to stream them to other set-top devices like an Apple TV or Xbox One, as well as any computers, smartphones or tablets on your home network.

WI-FI SIGNAL BOOSTER

Once you’re relying on your internet connection for all your entertainment needs, you’re going to want good Wi-Fi in all corners of your house. In an apartment or condo, the Wi-Fi built into your internet router might be enough, but larger homes will likely require something to boost the Wi-Fi signal so your Netflix stream doesn’t start crapping out in the middle of a show.

Google Wifi ($179 for one, $439 for a set of three) is a puck-like pod that act as a Wi-Fi network booster, blanketing your home in a strong, stable signal. It’s not the cheapest solution, but it’s by far the easiest to set up and works really well.

APPLE TV

There are lots of great set-top media devices available, but I like the fourth-generation Apple TV ($189) because it offers movies and TV shows for download through iTunes, as well as apps

for Netflix, YouTube and nearly any other streaming service you can think of. Plenty of iPhone apps and games have Apple TV versions as well, making it a wellrounded living room entertainment gizmo.

One caveat: The current Apple TV doesn’t do 4K, and rumours are Apple will announce a new, 4K-capable model later this fall. If you’ve already splashed out on a fancy 4K TV, you might want to hold off for a bit.