Seeking opinions on streaming services.

[dodint]

I spent the first half of this year in Afghanistan, so I got to watch every race on Sky/BBC up until September. What an experience that is, no commercials so the tension just builds and builds. I can remember sitting there the whole time on the edge of my seat fighting off the urge to step away to go to the restroom. Really great stuff.

I knew when Speed was folding that it would be bad for F1. I'm hoping Varsha makes the jump when his contract is over, but that certainly won't cure it. Leigh Diffey is great for sportscars and should do well with Tudor coverage, but he doesn't have a voice for F1. And you're right, the dumbing down is awful, particularly when they broadcast on NBC and try to soak in competely new viewers.

[npv708]

I have a Chromecast and I think its awesome. Its still early in app development, but it supports Netflix, so its good for me. We have a ps3 in our living room, which we use for Netflix, but didn't have any way of watching it in bedroom, so we got chromecast. Easy to use from either phone or computer, plus once all apps are available, could be really powerful device and for 35 bucks, you can't go wrong.

[mac5155]

http://tvfool.com/ is great for finding out which HD channels you can realistically get, based on your address and the height of an antenna. I was urging my Mom to get one in Latrobe instead of paying the extra $6/mo per TV with Directv. If I didn't live in the sticks here in NC I'd do it myself, but I'd only get three channels out of it.

Trying to figure out this site. its not very user friendly.

[dodint]

It has changed some since the last time I used it a few weeks ago. They're trying to be slicker.

Go to http://www.tvfool.com/index.php?option= ... &Itemid=90" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and put in your address. Street alone should be fine if you're worried about privacy. When the map loads, on the bottom right you'll see the list of channels you get, under "Digital" the key is at the bottom. If you already know how high your antenna will be you can put it in there under the map and it'll adjust it for you. Chimney mounting an antenna will obviously get you more signal than rabbit ears, and varying degrees between. If you click on "Make Radar Plot" on the top right page that pops up is actually the old version and is easier to read. The one below is for my Mom's place in Latrobe:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapp ... 9ab0aeaa9e" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

*Edit* Yeah, the "old" version is here, use this instead it's a little more straightforward: https://www.tvfool.com/index.php?option ... &Itemid=29" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mac5155]

Think I figured it out. Should be able to get NBC and ABC no problem. Might have to move the antenna up to get others. However I am pretty confident those channels will be available via coax since my ISP is Armstrong.

[dodint]

Yeah, this is really only if you want to be off the grid entirely when it comes to live TV. I have some friends in Derry that do this just to get Steeler games, they have no other need for paid cable. Since my Mom is getting DirecTV and they charge $6/mo for extra TVs, I recommended that I mount an antenna for her and run cable to guest bedrooms/garage/kitchen/wherever and just have the DTV in her living room and bedroom. It's a cool tool though, I've been using it since I worked at RadioShack in Latrobe about 10 years ago when people were setting up their systems.

[pittsoccer33]

pittsoccer33 does a good job of demystifying a lot of things.

Thanks. I'm just an a/v nerd.

So I think for now, I will see how the PS3 can work on the main TV. Are you just against Chromecast for the reasons above, or is it truly an inferior product to something like Roku/WDTV?

I guess you just need to have a proper expectation. Out of the box it does very little - Netflix, Hulu, Youtube, and Google Play. You still need something to control it since it doesn't come with a remote. Thats where using your phone comes from. I don't like using a touch screen as a remote - you have to actually look at it.

A Roku can natively access dozens of other things and has a simple remote. If your phone or laptop breaks you can still use it. The nicer ones can play locally stored files (WDTV is much better at this).

[dodint]

I have a Harmony One hybrid touchscreen, I couldn't do an entirely touchscreen interface either. I need some tactile feedback.

[mac5155]

Its kind of sad how good i've gotten at texting on a touch screen without looking.

I think I am going to try out Chromecast for the bedroom TV. If it sucks I'll just return it.

[npv708]

Its kind of sad how good i've gotten at texting on a touch screen without looking.

I think I am going to try out Chromecast for the bedroom TV. If it sucks I'll just return it.

Check out the subreddit on Chromecast at some point. A lot of helpful tips.

[GaryRissling]

Within the next few months, Aereo should be available in Pittsburgh, which should make it much easier to cut cable. Basically, what they do is set up antennas all over a certain broadcast area then allows users within that broadcast area to stream local networks for (I think) about $8/month with a dvr-type service. They've been winning all suits which have been brought against them so far.

[skullman80]

Just a heads up on the chromecast, please realize that it needs to plug into an HDMI slot AND either a USB port or a ac outlet. It's not powered on its own by HDMI. On most newer tv's this isnt an issue as USB ports are usuall near HDMI, but on some older TV's you may be plugging it into an ac outlet to get power to it.

I like mine alot, but they dont' really show you that on the commercial.

[mac5155]

Just a heads up on the chromecast, please realize that it needs to plug into an HDMI slot AND either a USB port or a ac outlet. It's not powered on its own by HDMI. On most newer tv's this isnt an issue as USB ports are usuall near HDMI, but on some older TV's you may be plugging it into an ac outlet to get power to it.

I like mine alot, but they dont' really show you that on the commercial.

They definitely do not. I didn't realize that, thanks. I don't think I have a USB on the TV I'd like to use it on.

[skullman80]

They give you a cord and an ac adapter to use(basically a usb cord that plugs into an adapter head that goes into the wall much like most cell phones these days)... it just makes it more cumbersome with wires than it needs to be haha.

[mac5155]

Many thanks for the heads up. They make it look a lot simpler.

[knives of ice]

Just a heads up on the chromecast, please realize that it needs to plug into an HDMI slot AND either a USB port or a ac outlet. It's not powered on its own by HDMI. On most newer tv's this isnt an issue as USB ports are usuall near HDMI, but on some older TV's you may be plugging it into an ac outlet to get power to it.

I like mine alot, but they dont' really show you that on the commercial.

They definitely do not. I didn't realize that, thanks. I don't think I have a USB on the TV I'd like to use it on.

usb is just a possible option. all you need to do is charge it, it has the exact same port as most phones micro usb port so you just need need an oulet near the tv to power the chromecast which you probably have since your tv is plugged in.

why the chromecast is really good is if you have a powerful computer you can cast flawlessly any chrome tab - so you can cast online streams of sports or anything else you may find to the big screen.

if you have armstrong you are out of luck with a qam tuner - everything is blacked out now as i'd expect nothing less form those scumbags.

if you get a amplified HDTV antenna - around $25-50 for a decent one and live within 60 miles of pittsburgh you'll definitely be able to get channels it just depends on how hard you want to work for it. back in the day before HDTV was readily available on directv i had to use an antenna to get my locals in HD. it took awhile but i finally found a sweet spot on top of a bookcase that i would get all the locals perfectly.

[mac5155]

I was about to pay my parents some $$ to add hbo so I can get hbogo but I noticed Armstrong doesn't offer that, either. They suck

[knives of ice]

I was about to pay my parents some $$ to add hbo so I can get hbogo but I noticed Armstrong doesn't offer that, either. They suck

one option that i know that some people do is get satellite and then just share it amongst a family. buy a dish off ebay or craigslist and set it up yourself at a 2nd location. i'm not saying its not against policy, moral, etc etc but it is definitely an option to share service if you would want to go that route and there is little/no chance of getting caught from reading various satellite forums. they know its a common practice and after years of FTA piracy of their signal they are happy someone is paying imo.

[ExPatriatePen]

Hey Mac, you don't have a "cap" on your Internet data plan do you?

[mac5155]

I think its like 250 GB.

[ExPatriatePen]

I don't know how much you're currently using, but you may want to consider that

[tifosi77]

Out of the box it does very little - Netflix, Hulu, Youtube, and Google Play.

And nearly everything you can access on the internet via the Chrome browser.

A Roku can natively access dozens of other things and has a simple remote. If your phone or laptop breaks you can still use it. The nicer ones can play locally stored files (WDTV is much better at this).

While it's certainly true, I think it's kind of an odd thing to put in the 'con' column that if your phone or laptop breaks you can't use the Chromecast. For a couple reasons; 1) You can install the Chromecast app on multiple devices, and the risk that they'll all fail simultaneously is not great (I think we have the app on 6 devices in our house, all synched to the one Chromecast). 2) You can say the same thing about the Roku... if it breaks, you can't use it.

The consideration about being 'eyes down' to operate the remote holds more merit, imo. But there are a fair number of high-end remote systems (like for dedicated media rooms and whatnot) that are touchscreen based. I think that's just the way of the future. However, in practice I have not found this to be an issue.

Cloud based content vs local storage seems to be the way the innernet is moving. That can be a good thing, or a bad thing, but it does appear to be becoming more and more prevalent.

[pittsoccer33]

Out of the box it does very little - Netflix, Hulu, Youtube, and Google Play.

And nearly everything you can access on the internet via the Chrome browser.

My point is that I don't want Chrome browser on some of my computers, and I don't want to have to use a computer or a telephone to watch television. I don't want them in the same room while I'm watching television.

The consideration about being 'eyes down' to operate the remote holds more merit, imo. But there are a fair number of high-end remote systems (like for dedicated media rooms and whatnot) that are touchscreen based. I think that's just the way of the future. However, in practice I have not found this to be an issue.

My remote has a touch screen too - its very good for mapping bizarre buttons, devices, and commands like turning up my air conditioner or turning down my light dimmers. But I still have pause, play, skip ahead, select, etc as real buttons.

[tifosi77]

It seems like those are specific complaints stemming from the way you use the tech rather than a fault with the tech itself.

I don't know I'm making a big deal out of this.

[skullman80]

It seems like those are specific complaints stemming from the way you use the tech rather than a fault with the tech itself.

I don't know I'm making a big deal out of this.

Yeah I agree with ya. Pitt seems to be very specific in how he wants his media streamed. That's fine. That being said Chromecast works very well for 35$, and I'm someone who would always have a phone or tablet or laptop near by if im watching TV so Chromecast works great for me.