Playstation Vue Core Slim Package

[MelroseHawkins]

Our experience with PS Vue has gone pretty well so far. I am still able to log into WatchESPN and BTN from my phone, using PS Vue as my provider in order to gain access- I prefer this to streaming from the PS Vue mobile app.

My only problem is our shitty internet service provider, CenturyLink, who only has up to 20 MBPS in our area. The stream can get pretty choppy at times. Thinking we may have to switch over to Mediascum in order to get up to 50 MBPS, which should solve the lagging issues.

$34.99 per month with no additional fees. I get pretty much all of the sports channels (missing CBS sports network) and other channels that I need, except I due miss Comedy Central and WGN since they'll have some Cubs games I won't be able to catch.

Overall, I'm glad we made the switch. Our DirecTv bill was up to $130/month. Just ridiculous!

What about your DVR experience or watching shows at a later time. How does that work. Do you have problems taping/saving/whateveryoucallit shows or games, like if the broadcast is labeled "College Football". Will it tape and overwrite the previous since a generic title?

 

[MelroseHawkins]

The part of the DirecTv and Dish bills that are ridiculous is the monthy DRV fees. $15 for the first whole home DVR and then $7 a box. I mean for just 2 TV's it's $21 a month.

Agree! Getting sick of it. I like that the Vue bill will be $34.99 with no additional.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

I have Vue, $35/mo with no fees and haven't missed a Hawkeye game yet. The streaming can glitch a bit on occasion but is generally smooth.

Only thing might be if a game is on some oddball station, but I don't believe that's happened yet. No problem on football - note that CBS isn't included so I'm probably going to have to get myself an HD antenna for the big dance, selection show, etc. But local Fox, BTN, ESPN 1/2, ESPN U, etc. is included so the coverage has been good for all my sports needs.

I live in Tampa, FL so can't get Cubs games, since I get the Fox FL, Fox Sun Sports, etc. instead, but can't do much about regional coverage I guess.

 

[hawks23]

Any problem with too much streaming causing a person to go over internet usage? My wife and I mainly use one TV at night. We have mediacom at 50 mbps and 1 TB for usage. I'm guessing that is plenty.

For the people that have used it......anyone using ROKU, chromecast, or amazon fire stick? Any advantages over one or the other device? We have all 3.

Vue fits me perfectly for Hawks and Cubs. I don't care about much else except having ESPN and a few other channels.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

Any problem with too much streaming causing a person to go over internet usage? My wife and I mainly use one TV at night. We have mediacom at 50 mbps and 1 TB for usage. I'm guessing that is plenty.

For the people that have used it......anyone using ROKU, chromecast, or amazon fire stick? Any advantages over one or the other device? We have all 3.

Vue fits me perfectly for Hawks and Cubs. I don't care about much else except having ESPN and a few other channels.

I'm using Roku. I can't compare to other devices but it works fine for me.

 

[coreyzbizkits]

Any problem with too much streaming causing a person to go over internet usage? My wife and I mainly use one TV at night. We have mediacom at 50 mbps and 1 TB for usage. I'm guessing that is plenty.

For the people that have used it......anyone using ROKU, chromecast, or amazon fire stick? Any advantages over one or the other device? We have all 3.

Vue fits me perfectly for Hawks and Cubs. I don't care about much else except having ESPN and a few other channels.

I use Roku and Amazon Fire TV. I use amazon fire tv the most. Fire TV has the best experience outside of using PS4. The Fire Stick was too slow for my liking, so I returned it and got the fire tv. Roku isn't very intuitive because it doesn't have a guide for PS Vue, so it makes it hard to find programs. I have a chromecast but haven't tried it with Vue.

My internet provider is small town fiber optic. It doesn't have a cap. So I don't have any info on how much data it uses.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

Any problem with too much streaming causing a person to go over internet usage? My wife and I mainly use one TV at night. We have mediacom at 50 mbps and 1 TB for usage. I'm guessing that is plenty.

For the people that have used it......anyone using ROKU, chromecast, or amazon fire stick? Any advantages over one or the other device? We have all 3.

Vue fits me perfectly for Hawks and Cubs. I don't care about much else except having ESPN and a few other channels.

I suspect with the $85 savings a month from a dish co, that an individual could pony up for more usage and speed if needed. That's the good thing.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

I use Roku and Amazon Fire TV. I use amazon fire tv the most. Fire TV has the best experience outside of using PS4. The Fire Stick was too slow for my liking, so I returned it and got the fire tv. Roku isn't very intuitive because it doesn't have a guide for PS Vue, so it makes it hard to find programs. I have a chromecast but haven't tried it with Vue.

My internet provider is small town fiber optic. It doesn't have a cap. So I don't have any info on how much data it uses.

Same deal. I have South Slope in North Liberty with no cap. Probably would up the speed if got it though.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

Funny now how I look to the R and have Mediacon ads plastered all over this site now.

 

[deanvogs]

Any problem with too much streaming causing a person to go over internet usage? My wife and I mainly use one TV at night. We have mediacom at 50 mbps and 1 TB for usage. I'm guessing that is plenty.

For the people that have used it......anyone using ROKU, chromecast, or amazon fire stick? Any advantages over one or the other device? We have all 3.

Vue fits me perfectly for Hawks and Cubs. I don't care about much else except having ESPN and a few other channels.

I would think 1TB would be plenty, but I can't be for sure. Your usage should be on your bill somewhere I am guessing.

 

[SpiderRico]

I've had Vue for about 9 months now. Moving to it from DirecTV was the one of the best decisions I've ever made. Here has been my experience with it:

1. It has pretty much all the major stations I ever watch....never missed a Hawkeye football or basketball game.
2. You will need an OTA antenna to be able to watch the locals. If you live in the Des Moines area, CBS is now a listed local in the guide....but still need the antenna to get ABC, NBC, and Fox.
3. Cubs fans gets CSN.
4. HBO is now an add-on package for those that want to add it for a short time for GoT...no need to get HBOGO from a different provider.
5. I've got 100MB speed with 1 TB usage. With 3 kids (21, 17, 12) that are using multiple devices and multiple streams, I've never had an issue. I typically average about 600GB of usage per month, so I've found the 1TB to be plenty.
6. Online DVR works pretty well....as long as you watch the show within 28 days or else it goes away. I've never had an issue with a football or basketball game going away earlier than that, but at the same time, I'm usually watching it later the same day or the next day at the latest, so I don't know if it goes away earlier than 28 days or not.
7. One of the things to get used to is that you don't really record an actual program. When you set the show as your "favorite", it records everything with that title. For example, if you want to record the Hawk football game on a Saturday, it will record all programs that are "College Football". You then just have to tab thru the games until you find the Hawkeye one. Not a big deal, but does take some getting used to at first.
8. I use a Playstation 4 in one room and Fire TVs in the rest of the rooms and find the UI to be pretty good. I've heard it's also now on Apple TV. Don't use it with a Fire Stick as the guide is too slow. With a Roku, I've heard the UI is pretty crappy.
9. I'm saving about $120 from where my DirecTV bill was at before I switched. I took $20 of those savings to up my internet to what I mentioned above, so I'm still saving over $1,000/year and missing absolutely nothing.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

I've had Vue for about 9 months now. Moving to it from DirecTV was the one of the best decisions I've ever made. Here has been my experience with it:

1. It has pretty much all the major stations I ever watch....never missed a Hawkeye football or basketball game.
2. You will need an OTA antenna to be able to watch the locals. If you live in the Des Moines area, CBS is now a listed local in the guide....but still need the antenna to get ABC, NBC, and Fox.
3. Cubs fans gets CSN.
4. HBO is now an add-on package for those that want to add it for a short time for GoT...no need to get HBOGO from a different provider.
5. I've got 100MB speed with 1 TB usage. With 3 kids (21, 17, 12) that are using multiple devices and multiple streams, I've never had an issue. I typically average about 600GB of usage per month, so I've found the 1TB to be plenty.
6. Online DVR works pretty well....as long as you watch the show within 28 days or else it goes away. I've never had an issue with a football or basketball game going away earlier than that, but at the same time, I'm usually watching it later the same day or the next day at the latest, so I don't know if it goes away earlier than 28 days or not.
7. One of the things to get used to is that you don't really record an actual program. When you set the show as your "favorite", it records everything with that title. For example, if you want to record the Hawk football game on a Saturday, it will record all programs that are "College Football". You then just have to tab thru the games until you find the Hawkeye one. Not a big deal, but does take some getting used to at first.
8. I use a Playstation 4 in one room and Fire TVs in the rest of the rooms and find the UI to be pretty good. I've heard it's also now on Apple TV. Don't use it with a Fire Stick as the guide is too slow. With a Roku, I've heard the UI is pretty crappy.
9. I'm saving about $120 from where my DirecTV bill was at before I switched. I took $20 of those savings to up my internet to what I mentioned above, so I'm still saving over $1,000/year and missing absolutely nothing.

Thanks so much Spider. I think I may do the trial after the NCAA tournament. Not sure my wife is going to have the patience as she likes things running smoothly.


So do you watch TV live or is there a delay to view the stream. That is kind of confusing to me. Say I want to watch "Kevin Can Wait" (my go to show for now), can I watch it real time or do I have to wait for the stream to be ready like the next day. If so, this may be a deal breaker with wifey.

 

[hawks23]

That seems to help. Usage shouldn't be a problem for us with 1 TB. We can always try the devices we have and upgrade if needed. Thanks for the information from everyone.

 

[coreyzbizkits]

Thanks so much Spider. I think I may do the trial after the NCAA tournament. Not sure my wife is going to have the patience as she likes things running smoothly.


So do you watch TV live or is there a delay to view the stream. That is kind of confusing to me. Say I want to watch "Kevin Can Wait" (my go to show for now), can I watch it real time or do I have to wait for the stream to be ready like the next day. If so, this may be a deal breaker with wifey.

Shows are live. I have found with sporting events, this can be difficult because my brother will text me during games, and there may be a good play or a bad one, and I usually am behind by around 20-30 seconds. It really isn't a huge deal. Just my experience. Otherwise, shows are live. It has nothing to do with the streaming situation you are referencing.

 

[SpiderRico]

Thanks so much Spider. I think I may do the trial after the NCAA tournament. Not sure my wife is going to have the patience as she likes things running smoothly.


So do you watch TV live or is there a delay to view the stream. That is kind of confusing to me. Say I want to watch "Kevin Can Wait" (my go to show for now), can I watch it real time or do I have to wait for the stream to be ready like the next day. If so, this may be a deal breaker with wifey.

Is "Kevin Can Wait" on broadcast TV (ABC, CBS, NBC, or Fox)? Or is it on cable TV? If it's on broadcast TV, and you don't have an OTA antenna, you'll have to watch it on demand the next day. If it's on cable, you can watch it live or put it as your "favorite" and watch it later thru the online DVR if you can't get to it right that minute....

 

[MelroseHawkins]

Anybody have the Vue in teh North Liberty area? Was wondering what local stations would get in our area. Thanks.

Yeah, I have CSN on Dish, and the Cubs are a factor for me as well. As soon as my Dish contract is up, I'm moving to streaming. I watch the Cubs, Hawks, other sports, and just a couple shows. The wife needs Bravo and food network. Of course networks as well for news, etc. We just have so much crap/stuff that we never ever watch, and I will be saving $50 a month and I don't even have a crazy high Satellite bill ($85 a month or so).

Right now my DTV bill is running around $128 so it would be a $93 savings for me each month and around $1,100 a year. I just chatted with my DTV rep and asked what my buyout would be for my contract and was only $60. That is under my substantial savings each month.

 

[deanvogs]

Anybody have the Vue in teh North Liberty area? Was wondering what local stations would get in our area. Thanks.


Right now my DTV bill is running around $128 so it would be a $93 savings for me each month and around $1,100 a year. I just chatted with my DTV rep and asked what my buyout would be for my contract and was only $60. That is under my substantial savings each month.

I'd keep the DTV while you did the free trial. Just to make sure you like the service.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

I'd keep the DTV while you did the free trial. Just to make sure you like the service.

Yea. That was my next question and what I wanted to do.

So I have to set up 3 TV (Main, bedroom and wifey likes TV in basement). Would I just get two Roku Sticks for the other two TV's. I don't think my wife will want to have to keep plugging the Roku in back and forth from bedroom and basement.

 

[SpiderRico]

Yea. That was my next question and what I wanted to do.

So I have to set up 3 TV (Main, bedroom and wifey likes TV in basement). Would I just get two Roku Sticks for the other two TV's. I don't think my wife will want to have to keep plugging the Roku in back and forth from bedroom and basement.

You are NOT going to like any "stick" (Fire TV stick, Roku stick, Google stick, etc). They just don't have the horsepower to handle the GUI on the guide. Trust me on this. If you are just going to do a free trial, I would buy a Fire TV (the box) and trial it in one room. If you like the trial and cancel DTV, then buy 2 more for your other rooms.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

You are NOT going to like any "stick" (Fire TV stick, Roku stick, Google stick, etc). They just don't have the horsepower to handle the GUI on the guide. Trust me on this. If you are just going to do a free trial, I would buy a Fire TV (the box) and trial it in one room. If you like the trial and cancel DTV, then buy 2 more for your other rooms.

Now I have to Google Fire TV. This just gets confusing! Thanks for the heads up about the sticks. I don't think I'd have to buy a Fire TV just for the trial as my kids have a Playstation IV they got for Christmas. I'd just use that, correct, as the guide is fine on that.

So, if I liked it I'd be better off setting the other two up with Fire TV's because the guide is better, right?

Thanks.