Idiot box thread

[O Really]

So RV parks in southern Colorado seem to be a bit, ummm "rustic" and make you glad you have your own tech for internet and satellite TV. Where we are now, there is no OTA TV and no cable. But hey, we've got satellite so what do we care? Opps. Big tree right in front of where the dish needs to aim. But we've got great cell and therefore internet service so we'll just be like "cord cutters" for the week, eh?

There's lots of entertainment through Roku, including Redbox if we wanted a somewhat current film, but it seems if you want current network programming, you've got a hitch in your cut cord. The networks have a streaming service, so if you wanted to watch the latest episode of "Debris" you can, but - big BUT - to access the networks through Roku you have to enter a code to link with your "TV service provider" i.e., cable or satellite. It's not difficult, it works, and it's free. But your cord is definitely not cut if you still have to have cable or satellite to get current network streaming.

Roku acts like it's part of their service that you can "access local network programming through your antenna" except that a lot of places, you can't.

So what do real "cord cutters" do? Live only in cities with good OTA reception? Not watch anything from networks until it gets old? Watch from the network website on a laptop, or cast the laptop to their TV? I could be wrong, but it seems like the hassle cost of cord-cutting is way higher than the cost of cable/satellite.

[GoCubsGo]

So RV parks in southern Colorado seem to be a bit, ummm "rustic" and make you glad you have your own tech for internet and satellite TV. Where we are now, there is no OTA TV and no cable. But hey, we've got satellite so what do we care? Opps. Big tree right in front of where the dish needs to aim. But we've got great cell and therefore internet service so we'll just be like "cord cutters" for the week, eh?

There's lots of entertainment through Roku, including Redbox if we wanted a somewhat current film, but it seems if you want current network programming, you've got a hitch in your cut cord. The networks have a streaming service, so if you wanted to watch the latest episode of "Debris" you can, but - big BUT - to access the networks through Roku you have to enter a code to link with your "TV service provider" i.e., cable or satellite. It's not difficult, it works, and it's free. But your cord is definitely not cut if you still have to have cable or satellite to get current network streaming.

Roku acts like it's part of their service that you can "access local network programming through your antenna" except that a lot of places, you can't.

So what do real "cord cutters" do? Live only in cities with good OTA reception? Not watch anything from networks until it gets old? Watch from the network website on a laptop, or cast the laptop to their TV? I could be wrong, but it seems like the hassle cost of cord-cutting is way higher than the cost of cable/satellite.

Sling or YouTube tv through Roku.

Wait a sec, you've got a dish? Move spots?

[O Really]

Wait a sec, you've got a dish? Move spots?

Not as easy done as said. Most parks are pretty well full now, so available sites to move to are scarce. And sometimes the empty ones are either reserved for some overlap during your stay or may have a tree or other issue of their own. It's not usually a problem, and we look at potential parks on satellite map as well as looking at their (never bad) park photos or maps. And sometimes, depending on the place and season, it's worth not having satellite TV for a few days so as to have some shade. This is just a "perfect storm" for bad reception in that there is that tree, no cable, no OTA.

We find the price of satellite worth it, but a lot of people seem to be complaining about cable/satellite prices and want to cut the cord. So I thought I'd see what we needed to do. Not impressed.

[GoCubsGo]

Wait a sec, you've got a dish? Move spots?

Not as easy done as said. Most parks are pretty well full now, so available sites to move to are scarce. And sometimes the empty ones are either reserved for some overlap during your stay or may have a tree or other issue of their own. It's not usually a problem, and we look at potential parks on satellite map as well as looking at their (never bad) park photos or maps. And sometimes, depending on the place and season, it's worth not having satellite TV for a few days so as to have some shade. This is just a "perfect storm" for bad reception in that there is that tree, no cable, no OTA.

We find the price of satellite worth it, but a lot of people seem to be complaining about cable/satellite prices and want to cut the cord. So I thought I'd see what we needed to do. Not impressed.

I have Sling for $35 a month. Couple of networks and most basic cable I care about, plus a dvr function. YouTube tv is $65 a month and I think has all networks and basic cable.function

Truthfully, I don't watch all that much network tv any more, less as we go into rerun season. Additionally, NBC, ABC, CW and such all have free streaming the day after a broadcast.

Also, Hulu has a live TV option if that's of interest. You can also bundle HBO max, ESPN, Disney and others with Hulu.


Bet it's more affordable than your dish.

[O Really]

I looked at Sling and they want $35/mo for one device and still don't have new network programming. YouTube TV does, but seems to want $65/month. That's in the ballpark or more than my satellite. Still don't see the appeal.

[Vrede too]

... But hey, we've got satellite so what do we care? Opps. Big tree right in front of where the dish needs to aim....

Would it sometimes help to have dish mounts at opposite ends of your rig? Or, even cables such that you could walk your dish to a far corner of your campsite?

[O Really]

... But hey, we've got satellite so what do we care? Opps. Big tree right in front of where the dish needs to aim....

Would it sometimes help to have dish mounts at opposite ends of your rig? Or, even cables such that you could walk your dish to a far corner of your campsite?

Thanks, but there is no "walking the dish." It's installed on the top of the rig and knows how to find its own satellites (except when its view is blocked)

[O Really]

My Dish bill is $66.23, which includes local channels (changeable wherever we go) one add-on package, Netflix, and Starz.

[O Really]

Good article on cord-cutting here, but I still don't see it for us.

https://www.cnet.com/how-to/cut-the-cor ... -cable-tv/

[GoCubsGo]

My Dish bill is $66.23, which includes local channels (changeable wherever we go) one add-on package, Netflix, and Starz.

That's pretty affordable.

I cut the cord earlier this year with at&t uverse. Every year for over ten years when the promotion expired I would call to and get a deal. They weren't playing ball this year (I think they're trying to prop up DirecTV). Just for cable was over $150 a month, plus internet and phone.
Nyet.

The secret to cord cutting is having trusted people you can share streaming platforms with. I'm paying $35 a month with more content than I can ever hope to watch.

FWIW, my sling gives me three devices for $35.

[GoCubsGo]

If anyone is a Friends fan, the reunion was really good.

[Ulysses]

I'm paying $31/mo (used to be $45) for just internet via Comcast cable. No TV. I get my TV from the roof antenna.

[O Really]

. Just for cable was over $150 a month, plus internet and phone.
Nyet.

I had no idea cable was up to that. Seems like when we last had cable a few years ago it was $80ish, HD, pretty much every channel you could think of, On Demand and PPV.

I'd probably be happy with OTA plus internet if we were in Oceanside or somewhere with good reception year round. But you'd be surprised how many places there are with crappy to non-existent OTA TV. And you don't have to get very far out of cities to find them. It used to be, way back in the day, that you could pick up a distant signal with your rooftop or rabbit ear antenna and you might get a snowey, staticky reception, but it might be watchable. Since they all went digital, you either get a great pic or you get nothing, separated sometimes by a pixelated mess. Our OTA antenna is pretty good - directional, with signal finder, but only close to cities does it get a usable wide range of stations. Interesting, though, PBS stations seem to have transmitters everywhere.

It would be nice to cut down the number of remotes, though. The Dish remote turns on/off the TV, controls volume, changes channels, and will work on voice. But if I want to switch input from satellite to OTA or internet, I have to use the remote that came with the TV. And then Roku has its own, too. I can control most of Roku with the phone app, but that's still another remote. First world problems, I know.

[billy.pilgrim]

. Just for cable was over $150 a month, plus internet and phone.
Nyet.

I had no idea cable was up to that. Seems like when we last had cable a few years ago it was $80ish, HD, pretty much every channel you could think of, On Demand and PPV.

I'd probably be happy with OTA plus internet if we were in Oceanside or somewhere with good reception year round. But you'd be surprised how many places there are with crappy to non-existent OTA TV. And you don't have to get very far out of cities to find them. It used to be, way back in the day, that you could pick up a distant signal with your rooftop or rabbit ear antenna and you might get a snowey, staticky reception, but it might be watchable. Since they all went digital, you either get a great pic or you get nothing, separated sometimes by a pixelated mess. Our OTA antenna is pretty good - directional, with signal finder, but only close to cities does it get a usable wide range of stations. Interesting, though, PBS stations seem to have transmitters everywhere.

It would be nice to cut down the number of remotes, though. The Dish remote turns on/off the TV, controls volume, changes channels, and will work on voice. But if I want to switch input from satellite to OTA or internet, I have to use the remote that came with the TV. And then Roku has its own, too. I can control most of Roku with the phone app, but that's still another remote. First world problems, I know.

I have one remote that works for everything.

My antenna picks up about 60 channels (30 are bible thumping).
Internet is $50

All kinds of free TV

I subscribe to about a dozen pay channels on and off, but no more than one or two at a time.

[O Really]

I have one remote that works for everything.

I've never been able to make that work. Seems there's always something that isn't available on the "universal" remotes.

I can filter channels I don't want to use. I think I'd filter about 30 of yours.

[billy.pilgrim]

I had a "professional" set this one up. It works with everything - tuner, DVD, cd, vinyl, TV,

MX-780

Yep, some channels are blocked

[O Really]

I had a "professional" set this one up. It works with everything - tuner, DVD, cd, vinyl, TV,

MX-780

Yep, some channels are blocked

That's quite the device, but for $200 I'd expect it to be. I'm guessing you set up each other device and assign numbers or buttons to specific functions? Too bad I probably couldn't get one of their "professionals" to come out and look at my stuff and see if it would work. It may be they just cobble too many unmatched devices together in motorhomes to coordinate smoothly. F'rinstance, in my main cabin I've got two TV's that can receive input from (a) an OTA antenna; (b) cable; (c) satellite; (d) DVD/USB. There is a controller box that lets you select the input you want for each TV. But you can't just change the selection on the controller box and be done. You may also have to tell the TV where it's getting it's signal, e.g., TV, HDMI1, HDMI2, etc. And if you select "TV" it wants to know if it's antenna or cable so it can go find the channels. To select the input for the TV, you press "Source" and then select the port. Then you have to go to "Menu" and select for channel finding.

So cable and antenna come in on "TV"; satellite and DVD comes in on HDMI3; Roku comes in on HDMI1. At least on one TV. On the other, satellite and DVD comes in on HDMI1.

Now most of the time, none of this is an issue. If we stay using the satellite, everything is controlled with one remote. On/off, volume, channel selection, hold/ff/back, record, etc. It only becomes inconvenient when you want to switch. So when would we want to switch? My satellite receiver won't let you record a show and watch another (it has only one tuner). So I might want to record a show on satellite and watch something else OTA. Or maybe the satellite is behind a tree and I want to watch a DVD or use Roku. Every damn device has controls that the supposedly "universal" satellite remote won't pick up. It won't recognize the DVD/surround sound device; it recognizes certain functions from the TV, but not all.

So, if you're still reading, do you think the MX-780 would work? I'd spring for the $200 if it would, but I'd hate to ante up for it, have the "professional" over for set-up, and still have to use additional remotes.

[Vrede too]

Pamela Anderson?

Spoiler:

No, Lily James as Pamela Anderson in the upcoming series, Pam & Tommy.
https://news.yahoo.com/sebastian-stan-l ... 16839.html

Does she have strap on boobies or the world's best push up bra?

Idk, but I'm not complaining.

[Vrede too]

Tonight:

College Sports, Inc.
New
9:00 PM - 11:00 PM ET ON VICE • TV-14 • Stereo • CC

Jeremy Bloom investigates the NCAA, the billion-dollar industry facing a seismic rules shift allowing athletes to make endorsement money.

Promo, paraphrased: Football and basketball players, mostly black, are the only students recruited solely for the purpose of making the schools money, a $14B/yr enterprise.

[Whack9]

Not mine. I seen't it on the internet