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OT: board experiences on cutting DirecTV for streaming?

YeOldeCup

YeOldeCup

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Jan 27, 2005
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I'm a 20 year DirecTV subscriber and my bill has grown to just under $200/month (granted I have a high end package with local channels and 4 receivers). However, now being an empty-nester (one at VT, one at UGA), I have no need to tolerate that burden. I'm getting ready to test the PlayStation Vue Ultra Slim package using the new Roku Ultra, along with an HD over-air receiver for local channels. Apart from the initial investment in hardware, this takes me down to $65 per month. Among many other channels, it includes HBO, Showtime, BTN, and SEC networks. I get over 200Mbps on my internet connection, so not at all concerned about performance.

Anyone else made the transition and can share their experiences?
 
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YeOldeCup said:
I'm a 20 year DirecTV subscriber and my bill has grown to just under $200/month (granted I have a high end package with local channels and 4 receivers). However, now being an empty-nester (one at VT, one at UGA), I have no need to tolerate that burden. I'm getting ready to test the PlayStation Vue Ultra Slim package using the new Roku Ultra, along with an HD over-air receiver for local channels. Apart from the initial investment in hardware, this takes me down to $65 per month. Among many other channels, it includes HBO, Showtime, BTN, and SEC networks. I get over 200Mbps on my internet connection, so not at all concerned about performance.

Anyone else made the transition and can share their experiences?
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We pay $75 for extended basic cable plus 10 HBO stations with internet. Not sure what you're looking for, but with netflix we are set for $85/month. We just use a friend's password for chromecasting channels we don't have (not everyone has that luxury though).
 
DirecTV is coming out with its own streaming-only package this fall. Not many details yet except it'll have ESPN and the base plan will be $35 for about 100 channels.
 
I was going to do Playstation Vue. Called DirecTV to cancel and they brought my price down to $30/month for a year's commitment. I have second to highest tier of channels and a DVR (Genie) on one TV. Given this, I opted to stay with DirecTV. I'll cancel after a year if the price goes up.
 
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hereforthebeer said:
www.slingtv.com

Note the sports add-ons. You can change or drop your subscription anytime at no cost. Unfortunately, no B1G network and very few places get locals.
Click to expand...

Playstation Vue has B1G network and locals (live or on demand, depending on your location) for only $10 more. PS Vue's stability seems to be better from reviews. (Disclaimer: I have neither but plan to cut the cord in February).
 
I cut over to Playstation Vue in June. I originally used the Roku 3. The user interface and searching options were less than ideal. I since started using my newly purchased PS4 and the experience was 100 times better.

I pay $35 a month for the "middle" package which includes the BTN and others. We also pay $10/mo for Netflix. Lastly, we have a ditital OTA antenna for local network feeds.

Disclaimers: Different markets have different availability for Vue. Pittsburgh only has local CBS affiliate on Vue. Pittsburgh does not have an ABC agreement with Vue. So you would need to make sure your OTA antenna can pick up the notoriously tricky ABC feed.

Overall, we are saving about $120/mo with this setup. It's been about 4.5 months and we don't miss DirecTV one bit. You will be fully adjusted in 2 weeks. Good luck!
 
Expect this market to heat up quickly. DirectTV is coming out with their own streaming package. But since their #1 priority is not cannibalizing existing customers, I expect it will be more expensive and less desirable than the rest. Google is working on one as well that will be released later this year or early next year.
 
massimoManca II said:
aving a boatload and have found other things to do than stare at American Pickers and Flip or Flop
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Flag for mentioning Flip or Flop and not posting this:

BP_HFORF205H_talent-posed_322513-910075.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.1280.1920.jpeg
 
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Question for the cord cutters

I've got DirecTV too; like the menu and features, but getting tired of spending $160/month or so
One feature we like about our current arrangement is the ability to record (multiple) shows and watch later
How does this work, or does it, with some of these other setups?
 
royboy said:
Question for the cord cutters

I've got DirecTV too; like the menu and features, but getting tired of spending $160/month or so
One feature we like about our current arrangement is the ability to record (multiple) shows and watch later
How does this work, or does it, with some of these other setups?
Click to expand...

It can be much more complicated with other setups.

Playstation Vue and most others offer some degree of on-demand capability, but are usually limited by time constraints (i.e. 28 days for favorite shows on PS Vue).

It's also possible to setup a DVR on your own for OTA channels but it's rather complicated and not the most user-friendly thing in the world.
 
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dwiz said:
We pay $75 for extended basic cable plus 10 HBO stations with internet. Not sure what you're looking for, but with netflix we are set for $85/month. We just use a friend's password for chromecasting channels we don't have (not everyone has that luxury though).
Click to expand...
That's a good rate, dwiz. Where is your general location? And who's the provider? Thanks.
 
royboy said:
Question for the cord cutters

I've got DirecTV too; like the menu and features, but getting tired of spending $160/month or so
One feature we like about our current arrangement is the ability to record (multiple) shows and watch later
How does this work, or does it, with some of these other setups?
Click to expand...

Easy... I've got a TiVo roamio OTA DVR that allows you to navigate/DVR/channel guide just like you do now (except it's better because it's tivo vs. proprietary DTV stuff they stole from tivo... Cost me about $60 for the hardware and we pay about $10/mo for the service... Think the Roamio has since been replaced by the more-expensive TiVo Bolt
 
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massimoManca II said:
Easy... I've got a TiVo roamio OTA DVR that allows you to navigate/DVR/channel guide just like you do now (except it's better because it's tivo vs. proprietary DTV stuff they stole from tivo... Cost me about $60 for the hardware and we pay about $10/mo for the service... Think the Roamio has since been replaced by the more-expensive TiVo Bolt
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What are you using to watch the PSU games, especially if they're on BTN or one of the ESPN's?
 
massimoManca II said:
Yeah- Christina makes ones netherregions tingle until she starts talking with that trademarked vocal-fry...
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Give me Joanna from Fixer Upper. She tingles both the nether and upper regions and she's got that mixed ancestry thing rocking, not to mention a former gymnast. Somebody post a photo, please. I don't know how on this Ipad contraption.
 
hereforthebeer said:
www.slingtv.com

Note the sports add-ons. You can change or drop your subscription anytime at no cost. Unfortunately, no B1G network and very few places get locals.
Click to expand...
Here in Rochester what I've heard with Time Warner Cable is that you can add the BTN package and then drop it. So if you want to watch a game you add it and then drop it afterwards. Customer service says you can do it, just as long as you don't abuse the privilege.

I've got DishNet and I imagine I could do the same thing. Haven't tried it yet but may this weekend.
 
RochLion said:
Here in Rochester what I've heard with Time Warner Cable is that you can add the BTN package and then drop it. So if you want to watch a game you add it and then drop it afterwards. Customer service says you can do it, just as long as you don't abuse the privilege.

I've got DishNet and I imagine I could do the same thing. Haven't tried it yet but may this weekend.
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That's what I've done, will drop it like a rock after bowls are done... Even as a "baby-boomer" I'm getting pretty used to watching football/programming on my iPad... Have not even bothered to hook a cable box up to my TV
 
massimoManca II said:
That's what I've done, will drop it like a rock after bowls are done... Even as a "baby-boomer" I'm getting pretty used to watching football/programming on my iPad... Have not even bothered to hook a cable box up to my TV
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Why do you mirror it from your iPad to your tv? Just asking
 
sluggo72 said:
Why do you mirror it from your iPad to your tv? Just asking
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It's just me watching, typically... My boys have just wrapped up their HS/modified football seasons and are both beat-up/burned-out on football (literally, my 8th grader in an arm-cast and my 11th grader with a torn PCL) - simply aren't watching as much CFB as in the past... On top of that - my weekends are mostly spent outdoors getting projects done around the house that were neglected in Sept/Oct during the season... So when i sit down I'll just pick up the device from time to time... The days of us camped around the TV listening to Beth Mowins and Ed Cunningham all day are over
 
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royboy said:
Question for the cord cutters

I've got DirecTV too; like the menu and features, but getting tired of spending $160/month or so
One feature we like about our current arrangement is the ability to record (multiple) shows and watch later
How does this work, or does it, with some of these other setups?
Click to expand...

Cord cutter here. Regarding PSVue you can record as many shows as you want at the same time w/unlimited cloud storage, only caveat is that you have 28 days to watch what you record. You can fast forward through commercials on shows you've recorded like a normal dvr.

If anyone would like more info on cord cutting feel free to ask. I have familiarity with Roku devices, PSVue, SlingTV, Chromecast, OTA, streaming sports and had been a DirecTv customer for a number of years prior to making the plunge.
 
Plan Ahaed said:
Cord cutter here. Regarding PSVue you can record as many shows as you want at the same time w/unlimited cloud storage, only caveat is that you have 28 days to watch what you record. You can fast forward through commercials on shows you've recorded like a normal dvr.

If anyone would like more info on cord cutting feel free to ask. I have familiarity with Roku devices, PSVue, SlingTV, Chromecast, OTA, streaming sports and had been a DirecTv customer for a number of years prior to making the plunge.
Click to expand...

How do you like the PSVue? Do you get any buffering, and how is the HD picture?

It's something I'm seriously considering for the future. I also have a Roku Stick and while overall I like it, it's not my favorite thing in the world. I got it for HBO Now and in preparation of the eventual addition of PSVue on it.....but opted to stay with DirecTV for at least a year.
 
Plan Ahaed said:
Cord cutter here. Regarding PSVue you can record as many shows as you want at the same time w/unlimited cloud storage, only caveat is that you have 28 days to watch what you record. You can fast forward through commercials on shows you've recorded like a normal dvr.

If anyone would like more info on cord cutting feel free to ask. I have familiarity with Roku devices, PSVue, SlingTV, Chromecast, OTA, streaming sports and had been a DirecTv customer for a number of years prior to making the plunge.
Click to expand...

Which setup do you recommend and feel works best? I am starting to really get into streaming sports and am really considering cutting the cord.
 
ThePennsyOracle said:
How do you like the PSVue? Do you get any buffering, and how is the HD picture?

It's something I'm seriously considering for the future. I also have a Roku Stick and while overall I like it, it's not my favorite thing in the world. I got it for HBO Now and in preparation of the eventual addition of PSVue on it.....but opted to stay with DirecTV for at least a year.
Click to expand...

The biggest benefit for me with PSVue (besides the BTN since we have so games on that network this year) is the access it gets me to other station channels within Roku. I've downloaded a number of channels on roku i.e. WatchESPN, DiscoveryGo, Animal PlanetGo, FX, FXX, FoxNow, ABC/NBC, BTN etc. I know that I can watch and record live tv through the PSVue, but I find myself more often using the roku channels that I can get access to to "catch up" due to the number of commercials on live tv. My internet is 155 Mbps and even when 2 roku boxes are in use in the house, plus my wife browsing facebook, the picture is HD with no buffering. When watching live rarely it will, what I call "glitch out", and return to the menu and say than an error occurred, but I just click on the program again and it reloads immediately. A number of networks also have several recent episodes of their shows on-demand within the PSVue system so you can watch them if you forgot to add the show to MyShows.
 
Plan Ahaed said:
The biggest benefit for me with PSVue (besides the BTN since we have so games on that network this year) is the access it gets me to other station channels within Roku. I've downloaded a number of channels on roku i.e. WatchESPN, DiscoveryGo, Animal PlanetGo, FX, FXX, FoxNow, ABC/NBC, BTN etc. I know that I can watch and record live tv through the PSVue, but I find myself more often using the roku channels that I can get access to to "catch up" due to the number of commercials on live tv. My internet is 155 Mbps and even when 2 roku boxes are in use in the house, plus my wife browsing facebook, the picture is HD with no buffering. When watching live rarely it will, what I call "glitch out", and return to the menu and say than an error occurred, but I just click on the program again and it reloads immediately. A number of networks also have several recent episodes of their shows on-demand within the PSVue system so you can watch them if you forgot to add the show to MyShows.
Click to expand...
every time I use my Apple TV box (same basic thing as roku) , and go to say ESPN, they ask who my cable provider is, so if I don't have that channel on cable how do I get ESPN?
 
Plan Ahaed said:
Cord cutter here. Regarding PSVue you can record as many shows as you want at the same time w/unlimited cloud storage, only caveat is that you have 28 days to watch what you record. You can fast forward through commercials on shows you've recorded like a normal dvr.

If anyone would like more info on cord cutting feel free to ask. I have familiarity with Roku devices, PSVue, SlingTV, Chromecast, OTA, streaming sports and had been a DirecTv customer for a number of years prior to making the plunge.
Click to expand...

Does PSVue work with Roku now? When I cut the cord I read that you couldn't use Roku with PSVue, but it was coming. I got SlingTV instead, but I am missing the BTN due to the games. I may look to see if they have a trial period so I can catch the game this weekend if you can use the Roku.
 
sluggo72 said:
every time I use my Apple TV box (same basic thing as roku) , and go to say ESPN, they ask who my cable provider is, so if I don't have that channel on cable how do I get ESPN?
Click to expand...

The device AppleTV / Roku / Amazon Fire gets you the ability to watch the channel, but not the permission to do so. To get that permission you need a service i.e. SlingTV, PSVue, upcoming AT&T/DirecTv streaming service. SlingTv is a popular option to get ESPN/2 because it's basically the cheapest way to legally do so. You also get access to ESPN3 through the WatchESPN app and that gives you the ability to watch almost any game broadcast on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPN on ABC.
 
Steviedpsu said:
Does PSVue work with Roku now? When I cut the cord I read that you couldn't use Roku with PSVue, but it was coming. I got SlingTV instead, but I am missing the BTN due to the games. I may look to see if they have a trial period so I can catch the game this weekend if you can use the Roku.
Click to expand...

Yes - PSVue is available on Roku, the channel was released just prior to the start of football season so I've been able to watch all BTN games at home instead of hitting the local watering hole.
 
bwifan said:
Which setup do you recommend and feel works best? I am starting to really get into streaming sports and am really considering cutting the cord.
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What works best depends on what you're looking to pay and/or what sports you're looking to stream. You need to research what channels the sports you watch are on and if there is a streaming service that provides them. Within the next half year it sounds like AT&T/DirecTv and Hulu will be coming out with streaming services in addition to PSVue and SlingTv so you will have more options if you wait. There are also things like MLB.tv & NHL.tv services you can sign up for and have channels on roku, but for anything you can't stream legally there is always Chromecast and finding a less than legal stream of the game online. Those sites can be found by googling.

So as far as setup I'd say:
1. Roku device / Amazon fire device (1 per television)
2. Streaming service with the channels and number of devices you're planning on streaming
3. High speed internet
4. Chromecast for everything else
 
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