Seeking opinions on streaming services.

[mac5155]

Sign me up. I'd pay $5 more if I could get Root Sports Pittsburgh.

[DelPen]

That sounds great (Sling TV), except I have every device OTHER than what will work at launch: Chromecast, Sony Bluray, PS4.

I guess I could (Chrome)cast the Sling TV tab via PC?

Should be able to, I've had good success doing that with regualr Hulu and CBS. Just wish this would be good to use for all devices behind the same public IP address so I could watch on multiple screens at once.

[nocera]

I know a few of you have discussed using Hola and VPNs to watch Netflix. Beware:

Netflix is starting to block subscribers who access its service using VPN services and other tools that bypass geolocation restrictions. The changes, which may also affect legitimate users, have been requested by the movie studios who want full control over what people can see in their respective countries.

http://torrentfreak.com/netflix-cracks- ... es-150103/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

why would someone want to do this? (using VPN to watch netflix)

Because different content is available depending on the country. For example, as I understand it, the UK Netflix does not nearly have the same amount of US TV as the US Netflix.

What bothers me is these people (myself included as I used a VPN for Game Center) are PAYING for a product and are getting shut out simply based on where they happen to live.

[DelPen]

I know a few of you have discussed using Hola and VPNs to watch Netflix. Beware:

Netflix is starting to block subscribers who access its service using VPN services and other tools that bypass geolocation restrictions. The changes, which may also affect legitimate users, have been requested by the movie studios who want full control over what people can see in their respective countries.

http://torrentfreak.com/netflix-cracks- ... es-150103/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

why would someone want to do this? (using VPN to watch netflix)

Because different content is available depending on the country. For example, as I understand it, the UK Netflix does not nearly have the same amount of US TV as the US Netflix.

What bothers me is these people (myself included as I used a VPN for Game Center) are PAYING for a product and are getting shut out simply based on where they happen to live.

It's like games blacked out on center ice and gamecenter that are being shown on NHL network with the local team's feed. Biggest reason I use unblock-us is to get everything I pay for and it's a few $ cheaper than adding the sports tier with TWC to get them.

The netflix region switcher is just a bonus, bit I uspend my account in April for unblock-us once the NHL playoffs start. Funny thing is HBO blocks me on Android behind their DNS but works with everything else and there's no additional content. Very odd.

[nocera]

I used a DNS because the NHL decided that I was too close to Pittsburgh to be considered "out of market" but too far from Pittsburgh to be considered in the region. Therefore, I couldn't get Root on DirecTV, but the Pens games were blacked out on Center Ice/Game Center. Without unblock-us, I'd have been screwed.

I went ahead and used the DNS to sign up for Game Center getting me a substantial amount of money off (something like $50). It was my reward for dealing with their crap.

[mac5155]

You could've paid a small fortune for Root on DirecTV, right?

[nocera]

You could've paid a small fortune for Root on DirecTV, right?

I could've added the Sports Package, which would have added Root. But, the Pens and Pirates games were blacked out. Believe me, I tried.

[Digitalgypsy66]

Yeah, if you signed up for Gamecenter using a Romanian or Russian (!) ISP via unblock-us or Hola, it was substantially cheaper than doing so in this country. Not sure why they charge a different price for other countries, but there it is. (The deal expired BTW).

[dodint]

Yeah, I ordered Root when I was in NC. All it was good for was In The Room because the games themselves were blacked out. Major butthurt on my part, ended up getting Center Ice.

[nocera]

Yup. I would even get the pre and post game shows blacked out. Because only those in Pittsburgh should get the privilege of watching Jay's telestrations.

Thankfully I moved to the city. It's now my pleasure not to watch his telestrator with the rest of Pittsburgh.

[DelPen]

Yeah, if you signed up for Gamecenter using a Romanian or Russian (!) ISP via unblock-us or Hola, it was substantially cheaper than doing so in this country. Not sure why they charge a different price for other countries, but there it is. (The deal expired BTW).

I don't know how unblock-us works but I'm paying 5 payments of $19.99 for gamecenter when i renewed last year and this year behind their DNS which is awesome.

[Pitt87]

I recently added PlayOn to my configuration. For $50, I extended the life of my Google TV (Sony Blu-ray... still on Android 3.1) a few years. I also ditched the DVR in favor of being able to pick up last nights shows directly from NBC, CBS, ABC, and a host of cable channels, including AMC.

It was on sale when I got it... as I get a little deeper with it, I'l post some updates.

Look forward to hearing about this. Do you have to run it through your pc then to google tv, roku, etc? I wasn't quite sure how that worked. I almost bought it over break, but read some reviews about the bad video quality.

Yep, runs a server on an old laptop that still has some hefty specs. Video is great... some issues with loading, but that was before I wired the server to the gigabit port on my router. This eliminates an up/down wireless bottleneck.

[Pitt87]

For $50, I extended the life of my Google TV (Sony Blu-ray... still on Android 3.1) a few years.

Do you use Plex? I believe that bluray player was one of the few GTV boxes that supported DTS-MA bitstreaming. It would make a great digital movie player with Plex.

No, my GTV has a native DLNA reciever, so I opted for a free DLNA server (Serviio), but I also don't have a lot of local media. I have a Fire Stick that does not handle DLNA native, but once I root that bad boy I'll mostly my using Kodi anyway, which handles local media like a champ.

[Factorial]

What do you people without cable pay for your internet service? I'm bundled with Comcast cable (digital tier package and admittedly fast internet) for $135/month.

[eddysnake]

I pay Comcast $85 a month for internet, phone, and basic HD channels (2-20)

[tifosi77]

Because different content is available depending on the country. For example, as I understand it, the UK Netflix does not nearly have the same amount of US TV as the US Netflix.

What bothers me is these people (myself included as I used a VPN for Game Center) are PAYING for a product and are getting shut out simply based on where they happen to live.

That's not an arbitrary decision. The content creator who is supplying Netflix may not have the legal right for that particular show/movie/sporting even/etc to be shown in a certain territory. This could be really common with low budget films or TV shows where something like music licensing might only cover the U.S. and Canada. Or they may have a distribution deal that specifically excludes a territory for whatever reason.

[MalkinIsMyHomeboy]

all three with Comcast (25 mbps internet, good cable package with $10 sports package) for $124

[dodint]

I have internet only with Charter. Cable, $42/mo out the door. Very fast relative to my old Centurylink DSL.

[Factorial]

I pay Comcast $85 a month for internet, phone, and basic HD channels (2-20)

I could do without cable except for the Pens and Pirates. I'm guessing the subscriptions to NHL and MLB wouldn't save me much money if I were to downgrade.

[skullman80]

I pay like 60ish a month for Comcast Internet. I don't have TV service through them(I have DirecTV). I also own my own modem so I dont pay them a modem rental fee, factor that in and you are probably at 68$/mth. My company pays for the majority of my internet bill, so I only pay out of pocket about 10$ or so a month to them. They def charge a premium if internet is the only thing you have with them.

[DelPen]

I pay Comcast $85 a month for internet, phone, and basic HD channels (2-20)

I could do without cable except for the Pens and Pirates. I'm guessing the subscriptions to NHL and MLB wouldn't save me much money if I were to downgrade.

Its probably $30-40 a month to get both packages. And if you are in The Pittsburgh market everything is going to be blacked out unless you take extra steps to mask where you are.

[PensFanInDC]

I pay Comcast $85 a month for internet, phone, and basic HD channels (2-20)

What speed internet?

I lay $85 for blast internet alone.

[Pitt87]

I recently added PlayOn to my configuration. For $50, I extended the life of my Google TV (Sony Blu-ray... still on Android 3.1) a few years. I also ditched the DVR in favor of being able to pick up last nights shows directly from NBC, CBS, ABC, and a host of cable channels, including AMC.

It was on sale when I got it... as I get a little deeper with it, I'l post some updates.

Look forward to hearing about this. Do you have to run it through your pc then to google tv, roku, etc? I wasn't quite sure how that worked. I almost bought it over break, but read some reviews about the bad video quality.

A quick update...

I'm going to terminate my license and get a refund for PlayOn. Has nothing to do with the service -- its actually been fun to get a first-hand look into the development of tools like this -- but there are two main reasons its not the right solution for me:

1. The configurations are easier that I expected, and everything that comes from Media Mall work like a charm. The add-ons and plugins (i.e. third party, not sure if legal kind) are remarkably hard to find, and a little complex to actually implement. Once added, however, they work well enough, but only until they get shut down and you have to re-locate them. Seems to be a pretty constant chase. I am up for it, wife and kids are not.

2. When everything works, its great. Instant video, hundreds of sources... its freaking awesome. There is zero problem with the channels and plugins that you can get from Media Mall, but everything else has some issues that you need to resolve, and when you need to resolve it... you need to reset everything. Server, app, videos, etc. That happened about once a day, which is too much.

3. PlayLater has MASSIVE potential. But I never really got it to work on anything that wasn't a 'native' channel. I tried to capture a movie from a web app, but never really got it right. Too much user error, I guess.

TL;DR... Price reflects value. Not ready for primetime.

[Digitalgypsy66]

I pay $67.99 from Time Warner for Turbo internet: 20/2. No rental modem. No TV or phone.

It's funny, the default high speed service was 15/1 for $57.99. Two of us couldn't watch streaming video or play an online game at the same time, with this old speed.

Last month, we decided to increase the bandwidth, and now we can have 2-3 devices streaming video and I can play online FPS (which can be finicky when the LAN is "stressed" with streaming video) without issue. I would love to say the increased bandwidth helped out, but I really think Time Warner shapes packets/traffic depending on your subscribed Internet package. Nothing to corroborate this, just hearsay on places like dslreports.com and the like.

[eddysnake]

I pay Comcast $85 a month for internet, phone, and basic HD channels (2-20)

What speed internet?

I lay $85 for blast internet alone.

the middle one. Not the superfast and not the really slow.