HawkeyeDug
Well-Known Member
Very rare is it that I can't find what I want.
I disconnect Directv finally after 10 yrs.
- Thread starter atomicblue224
- Start date
zhawk
Well-Known Member
I currently subscribe to Sling Orange and overall I've been very happy with it. I'm thinking about adding the Sling Blue service to get the Fox channels, but there are a couple of things that have held me back. For one thing, even though Sling advertises that you can get over-the-air Fox and Fox Regional Sports Networks, that only applied to certain urban areas right now. NONE of that is available in Iowa, I've checked repeatedly. So you're basically just paying another $20/month to get FS1 and FS2 access, which doesn't seem worth it to me until the B1G contract kicks in.
ESPNU is on Sling's Orange package but it's in the Sports Extra package which is $5/month. You can log into WatchESPN just with the basic Sling Orange account — you don't need the Sports Extra package, I don't think. I'm pretty sure you can't get any BTN coverage from anywhere except Playstation Vue unless you have service with a qualifying cable provider, so you're SOL there except for the internet-only BTN Plus stuff which you can pay for on a monthly basis.
Chickenlounge
Well-Known Member
Does anybody know if you can connect your PlayStationVue or Sling service through a Tivo or something, so you could record live sports, news, etc. and watch it later? I would love to ditch DirecTV, but I need the college sports stuff, and the wife still likes to watch the nightly news for some reason...
zhawk
Well-Known Member
i found this thread on Reddit, where the consensus seems to be no, at least as regards Sling. There is one person who says that Playstation Vue comes with a cloud-based DVR built-in where you can keep shows for up to 28 days, but since I don't have PSVue I'm not familiar with whether that's true or not. On Sling you can watch a lot of shows "on demand" after they air, but not live sporting events.
https://www.reddit.com/r/cordcutters/comments/4han72/can_i_record_sling_tv_using_tivo/
I openly admit, I am lazy and I love Directv. I've had it for a long time, so I know where everything is. If I'm bored I can search for a show like Deadwood last night, and play it automatically one episode after another until the Cubs game came on. I call every year and get discounts and often free NFL Sunday ticket. My bill isn't terrible, I can afford it, and they do a good job of making my life easier.
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
Hasn't happened to me too much in the Des Moines area. Quite a few have been picked up on channel 23.
ClintonIAfan
Well-Known Member
I decided on PSVue and a long range over the air antenna. That seems to best deal at this time, and it is easy to change later if needed unlike dish or cable with their equipment and fees. I think the savings will be worth it.
I called to get a discounted Sunday ticket and they wouldn't let me so I cancelled. That's never happened before.
deanvogs
Well-Known Member
Some of us are uncomfortable stealing things.
deanvogs
Well-Known Member
My biggest issue with Playstation Vue and Sling TV is that you get One single stream for that money. At least that is the way it looks, can anyone confirm this for me that has either service? So if the wife is watching something, I can't watch anything it looks like, as you only get the one logged in device at a time.
ClintonIAfan
Well-Known Member
I believe that you can log into 2 devices at the same time. They also have options for multiple profiles.
deanvogs
Well-Known Member
After more reviewing, the Playstation Vue seems very viable. You get 5 streams, so that is good, you can watch on 5 different devices at a time. The $35 version has all the stations I would need (BTN, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN U, ESPN news, Foxsports1 and 2, AMC, Golf, CSN, Bravo for the wife and Nickelodeon for my son in the future).
I figured you'd need a PS4, but you can watch over a Roku, chrome, or fire devices if you want. If I were to cut the cord, I would also get a TiVO Roamio OTA unit. https://www.tivo.com/shop/ota-detail
It is a 1 TB DVR that you just plug an antenna into it and you can DVR all of your locals antenna channels. You can record up to 4 shows at a time, and you get the slick Tivo guide and functions. It is a one time $399 charge, then NO MONTHLY FEES. So i would buy $400 worth of equipment and pay $35 a month
Right now I pay $80 a month for 2 DVR's for a 2 year commitment or $2000 a year. In two years I would pay $840 for the Vue, plus equipment of $400 so I'd be all in for $1240 for 2 years. Then after that is when you would really be saving the money, as you are continually paying for those DVR boxes from DISH or DIRECT.
I might give this a free 7 day trial and see how it is. If I like it, when my 2 year commitment is up, I might switch full time.
I figured you'd need a PS4, but you can watch over a Roku, chrome, or fire devices if you want. If I were to cut the cord, I would also get a TiVO Roamio OTA unit. https://www.tivo.com/shop/ota-detail
It is a 1 TB DVR that you just plug an antenna into it and you can DVR all of your locals antenna channels. You can record up to 4 shows at a time, and you get the slick Tivo guide and functions. It is a one time $399 charge, then NO MONTHLY FEES. So i would buy $400 worth of equipment and pay $35 a month
Right now I pay $80 a month for 2 DVR's for a 2 year commitment or $2000 a year. In two years I would pay $840 for the Vue, plus equipment of $400 so I'd be all in for $1240 for 2 years. Then after that is when you would really be saving the money, as you are continually paying for those DVR boxes from DISH or DIRECT.
I might give this a free 7 day trial and see how it is. If I like it, when my 2 year commitment is up, I might switch full time.
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
Your reputation is catching up with you.
Chickenlounge
Well-Known Member
What make/model do you use for your "long range antenna", and where do you have it mounted? Do you have a chimney on your house? Are you on top of a hill? Do you have one of those old school metal towers for your antenna? I would love to do this, but I'm just not sure I'd be able to pull the Cedar Rapids channels since most of them broadcast from north of CR, and I live on the east side of Iowa City.
Appreciate any info you can provide...
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
Made me chuckle. He sure isn't shy about sharing that.
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
Nice breakdown. Thanks.
It's getting to the point that the cable and satellite companies are really going to have to evaluate and change their business models. Streaming has caught up to the critical point now. They should be lowering their prices to keep subscribers.
hawkeyebob62
Well-Known Member
It isn't even about--to me--:lowering their prices" or "adding more channels". It's about the fact that, with streaming, you can go "a la carte" or at least "streamline".
Hell, with Roku, they show you tons of streaming channels by genre, and have a listing of "free". And it's pretty clear what "free" channels "May Require Additional Fees". It's easy to add and delete channels. You can binge-watch forever, pick favorite channels, create watch-lists, etc.
As usual, cable companies drop the ball. Back in the late-1980s/early-1990s they had the infrastructure to jump HEAVY into the telecom side. Of course they were slow to the game. But make no mistake: once they DO decide to enter the streaming market full-bore, they will be their usual, anti-competition selves.
You can't hide being a sucker for long.
