Satellite tv question

Probably not much. I usually shut down for more than 10 and prefer to read. Occasionally I get stuck waiting a day or more between loads and would like the TV option. A few days ago I didn't even know about things like Directv Now which will save me hundreds in equipment costs. Snowwy's post was certainly an eye opener.

Frank

 

ALL tv services require internet as that's how they stream. There's no dish or cable box. Internet tv is going to be the future. Much like hulu and netflix. Now you have actual cable or satellite services via the internet. In other words. Yes. It only works with the hotspot. Unless you're using your phone, then it comes off your unlimited internet.

If you had ATT. Then directvnow wouldn't count towards your internet allotment. ON YOUR PHONE. You'd also get a discount and free hbo.

In order to stream the screen to your tv. You need a wifi setup. Either your mobile hotspot or home internet.

AS for HD. I THINK so. But i won't bet money on it. There's so many services and so much news going on I can't keep track of what's going on with who. Picture quality has been really good so i haven't even bothered wondering if it's HD or SD.

There's quite a few directvnow user groups on facebook. WHY i don't know. But look for the group that has the highest count. It's been around the longest. You could ask your questions there. I have the service but I haven't been using it like i thought I would like I used to watch tv. With all the on demand stuff. It's like tv has expanded in to 5 million different territories now. A lot more options then just live tv and dvr.

I signed up with the service along with hbo and started watching all 7 seasons of GOT. I've since cancelled hbo as i haven't really watched it for years. I also have netflix but again. Haven't used it lately. I"m thinking of cancelling.

If you get an amazon firestick for your samsung tv. You can install terrarium and watch movies AND tv shows. Current and past.

With all the options out there these days. There's really no more need for satellite in teh truck. The only drawback would be the internet. And hopefully that game will change once 5G starts lighting up.

I agree with the above post. I was usually driving. Had no time for tv. But there were those occasions where i ended up spending the night.

Keep in mind that a lot of it is still pretty new. So don't expect perfection. I left the road 2 years ago and sling and psvue were just getting started. Youtube and directv i don't think even existed.

One websight to keep an eye on would be cordcuttersnews.com. I wouldn't put stock in the sight but it does give an idea of what's going on.

 

You're overblowing the data useage.

If you stream in 4k you might blow through 25% of your 1TB. But there isn't a lot of 4k content to worry about that right now.

If you have settings you can change to SD. You really don't need HD.

When i was OTR. I had netflix and only 32gigs of verizon. That was plenty for me to watch netflix on the lowest bandwidth. Picture quality was just fine for me. I didn't see what the big deal was to have HD.

 

On demand basically comes for the app and the servers. It shouldn't have anything to do with your box at home.

I watch on demand and it comes from the app's. And their own servers. I have a TCL tv which is built with the roku software. And an amazon firestick. And an android mi box. I have no cable or satellite box of any kind.

I CAN mark my shows on a watchlist inside the directvnow app. And on demand them as they air on tv and arrive in the ondemand server. Or watch them through the app.

I also however, have what's called HDHOMERUN. It records my local channels as the only service that has ALL those is Youtube TV. In my area the only 2 streaming channels are NBC, and FOX. Unless i go with psvue then it's NBC and CBS. The HD setup records my shows on to a hard drive plugged in to my pc. So the pc has to stay on for the recording to work. If i use the app on my phone then it would upload via house internet to my phone internet.

The cool thing about the HD setup. Is if i hear a news story i want to watch. I can use my phone to set the recording for the news. Another thing is where my tv is at. Antannae sucks. My HD is plugged in to the internet model which is located in another room and has it's own antannae. It gets better reception where it's at. So i usually have to watch my locals through the HD app on tv.

I don't have xfinity so i have no idea how it works. Typically it shouldn't be uploading from home for on demand. But if that's the case. Then I'd be looking for an app for whatever channels you watch. Just about every channel has their own app these days. The only thing needed is your log in credentials for whatever home tv service your using. Then you'd be watching on demand through the app itself instead of through xfinity.

You can also look for the websight of such app. And watch on your tablet from their own websight. If websight is available.

The only problem with ondemand. Is waiting for show to upload to the server. Depending on app and method used to watch. Can take anywhere from 2 days to 14 days.

For instance. Ice Road Truckers. Would pop up on the history channel in about 3 days. 7 days before it becomes available on the directvnow watchlist. If i remember right.

 

No. I don't have any advice for internet. None of the plans I've been seeing lately from any carrier have been worth a crap. Tmo had the best deal. I don't know what they've got these days.

I wanted to get rid of the home internet and go completely wireless but at the moment. That's not feasible.

Hotspot devices have also been tough to find around my state lately. With phones having hotspot features. It makes no sense to sell hotspots anymore. Is the answer I keep getting from the carriers.

I've been looking myself for a gsm hotspot as cdma just isn't working out anymore.

If you can find a hotspot with internet that might suit your needs. Look for a dual channel hotspot. The 5 gigahertz channel is much faster then the 2.4 gigahertz channel.

I started with ATT. They once had a ZTE MOBLEY car connect device. It plugs in to your OBD2 port on the car and when the car powers it up. It provided unlimited internet for your car. And would connect up to 5 devices. Speed wasn't the greatest. But it worked. And was only $20 per month. Then someone turned me on to the netgear nighthawk hotspot. It's capable of 1 gbps downloads when 5G hits the market. It has dual channels. ATT don't like me having it as that wasn't the deal. And almost lost the $20 per month deal. But i tried to go back to my mobley and for whatever reason. It no longer recognizes the sim card. So they were nice enough to put me back on the car connect plan and keep the $20 pricing. Specially since i don't use a whole lot of internet. It's only used when I'm at work in the semi.

I"m local now. Home every night. From what I've been seeing of ATT coverage wise with the hotspot. It has a bigger footprint then sprint./verizon. And works in places I frequently visit. Whereas sprint/verizon are practically MIA. I just recently bought a very cheap phone from ATT to test the waters and it has better coverage then the hotspot. ATT will soon be my new carrier after spending my whole life with sprint/verizon.

ATT no longer sells the mobley or the $20 car connect plan. People are skirting the system and way over using.

If you're going to get a laptop. Cheapest thing you can find will work just fine. If you're watching directvnow. It only works on the chrome browser. I don't know why ATt got rid of other browsers.

LAST NOTE. If you're serious about an extra hotspot device. Don't keep your options limited to hotspot devices. Remember. PHones have hotspot feature also.

I bought my ATT phone to test the waters only and was planning on disconnecting it. But i might shutdown the hotspot instead as the phone is more portable to carry around. Untill such time i get rid of sprint. And go full time with ATT. Then everything will be shutdown except the ATT phone.

 

Y'all lost me, I have a set of rabbit ears from wally world. 8.99 and I can get 25 channels if I'm near a big city.