US alternatives to cable & satellite TV
Discussion
belleair302 said:
Got friends still in the UK. If so how about a slingbox? Otherwise I dont think Apple TV etc allow access to many realtime channels. I would love to dump Brighthouse but cannot get Verizon Fios or Dish yet. Love my Slingbox from the UK.
I googled Slingbox and found they sell them at Best Buy. But after going to their website I still don't really understand how they work or what channels I can get.Please can you explain how the equipment would hook up and what I can actually watch.
I probably ought to add that if I want to watch films I could subscribe to Netflix or do what I normally do - get them free from the local library. But I don't really get time to watch them anyway. I just want to come home, watch whatever is broadcast at that moment on a few select channels, just pay only for what I want to watch and not pay a fortune for tons of content I don't care to watch.
Gavin,
I'm with you. I live in SE Florida, and with a decent antenna in my attic i pick up about 40 stations. I have been doing this for the 22 years I have lived in this house. The antenna that worked for analog also works with digital. My flatscreen is 52" and everybody that sees it is amazed at the excellent quality. This is probably because I receive the signals directly, without them being reworked and sent out through a cable or via satellite. Of course I don't get the scrambled ones, but it's not my goal to be a couch potato.
And of course it's free, as TV should be!
Wilf.
I'm with you. I live in SE Florida, and with a decent antenna in my attic i pick up about 40 stations. I have been doing this for the 22 years I have lived in this house. The antenna that worked for analog also works with digital. My flatscreen is 52" and everybody that sees it is amazed at the excellent quality. This is probably because I receive the signals directly, without them being reworked and sent out through a cable or via satellite. Of course I don't get the scrambled ones, but it's not my goal to be a couch potato.
And of course it's free, as TV should be!
Wilf.
Slingbox uses the web to allow you to watch tv anywhere in the world, so long as the Slingbox is attached to a cable or satellite feed somewhere. For instance you could persuade a friend to attach it to their Cable box(es) and you can watch whatever you wish wherever you wish, ie pad, notebook, cellphone or TV if connected correctly. I use mine for watching TV from the UK via a decent web speed connection.
Most of the on demand services show films, and tv shows but not news or sports. Apple TV will give you Sky News, HBO Go, WSJ TV, Smithsonian and ESPN, but no Velocity and no additional news or entertainment. Content is the daddy of web TV and at the moment the content providers are not allowing much real streaming.
Most of the on demand services show films, and tv shows but not news or sports. Apple TV will give you Sky News, HBO Go, WSJ TV, Smithsonian and ESPN, but no Velocity and no additional news or entertainment. Content is the daddy of web TV and at the moment the content providers are not allowing much real streaming.
belleair302 said:
Slingbox uses the web to allow you to watch tv anywhere in the world, so long as the Slingbox is attached to a cable or satellite feed somewhere. For instance you could persuade a friend to attach it to their Cable box(es) and you can watch whatever you wish wherever you wish, ie pad, notebook, cellphone or TV if connected correctly. I use mine for watching TV from the UK via a decent web speed connection.
Most of the on demand services show films, and tv shows but not news or sports. Apple TV will give you Sky News, HBO Go, WSJ TV, Smithsonian and ESPN, but no Velocity and no additional news or entertainment. Content is the daddy of web TV and at the moment the content providers are not allowing much real streaming.
OK, so let's suppose my sister buys a slingbox and it gets attached to her TV aerial and internet service provider in the UK. Most of the on demand services show films, and tv shows but not news or sports. Apple TV will give you Sky News, HBO Go, WSJ TV, Smithsonian and ESPN, but no Velocity and no additional news or entertainment. Content is the daddy of web TV and at the moment the content providers are not allowing much real streaming.
Do I then need an special equipment here in the USA? How do I control the UK slingbox so that I can watch BBC1 one minute and switch to whichever channel is broadcasting The Professionals? Or have I got this all wrong please?
Two things to keep in mind:
- if you get a slingbox, keep in mind the time difference...
- With a PC connected to a TV, and a VPN (say $30/year), you can access things like the BBC iplayer, and I believe the equivalent from ITV, etc. Of course this requires you to be paying your TV license in the UK.
For what it's worth, cable TV in the US is super expensive and 99% rubbish, apart from Comedy Central. Having a PC with internet access + an antenna for OTA programs should cover most things.
- if you get a slingbox, keep in mind the time difference...
- With a PC connected to a TV, and a VPN (say $30/year), you can access things like the BBC iplayer, and I believe the equivalent from ITV, etc. Of course this requires you to be paying your TV license in the UK.
For what it's worth, cable TV in the US is super expensive and 99% rubbish, apart from Comedy Central. Having a PC with internet access + an antenna for OTA programs should cover most things.
Unblock.us is essential for me - works brilliants. Tunnelbear is great too but unblock.us works with Apple TV. Cuts out most of the rubbish workarounds.
We ditched cable and HBO and now just use Apple TV and an external HDD of stuff I've amassed over the years. Netflix works well, and with unblock.us you can swap regions as and when you like. Also means if you've a mate in the UK with a sky subscription you can use their Sky Go account.
Also if you go for the Apple TV, AirParrot is great for screen mirroring to it, or plex connect if you want to get a bit further into streaming from your library.
Certainly don't miss cable, I thought Sky was expensive but at least they offer something half decent for the cash.
We ditched cable and HBO and now just use Apple TV and an external HDD of stuff I've amassed over the years. Netflix works well, and with unblock.us you can swap regions as and when you like. Also means if you've a mate in the UK with a sky subscription you can use their Sky Go account.
Also if you go for the Apple TV, AirParrot is great for screen mirroring to it, or plex connect if you want to get a bit further into streaming from your library.
Certainly don't miss cable, I thought Sky was expensive but at least they offer something half decent for the cash.
Stu R said:
Unblock.us is essential for me - works brilliants. Tunnelbear is great too but unblock.us works with Apple TV. Cuts out most of the rubbish workarounds.
We ditched cable and HBO and now just use Apple TV and an external HDD of stuff I've amassed over the years. Netflix works well, and with unblock.us you can swap regions as and when you like. Also means if you've a mate in the UK with a sky subscription you can use their Sky Go account.
Also if you go for the Apple TV, AirParrot is great for screen mirroring to it, or plex connect if you want to get a bit further into streaming from your library.
Certainly don't miss cable, I thought Sky was expensive but at least they offer something half decent for the cash.
Watching last weeks BTCC now thanks to this post. So how does this work with Apple TV - I'm currently using this on my iPad, but would like something to work through the 50" TV I've bought with decent quality. Can I watch BBC iPlayer, etc with Apple TV?We ditched cable and HBO and now just use Apple TV and an external HDD of stuff I've amassed over the years. Netflix works well, and with unblock.us you can swap regions as and when you like. Also means if you've a mate in the UK with a sky subscription you can use their Sky Go account.
Also if you go for the Apple TV, AirParrot is great for screen mirroring to it, or plex connect if you want to get a bit further into streaming from your library.
Certainly don't miss cable, I thought Sky was expensive but at least they offer something half decent for the cash.
Viper_Larry said:
Watching last weeks BTCC now thanks to this post. So how does this work with Apple TV - I'm currently using this on my iPad, but would like something to work through the 50" TV I've bought with decent quality. Can I watch BBC iPlayer, etc with Apple TV?
A recently purchased TV will be wifi ready.You're gonna have to read the book
When the box comes up asking for password, put in the same one from house wifi.
That will allow your TV to link to your Wifi.
Viper_Larry said:
Watching last weeks BTCC now thanks to this post. So how does this work with Apple TV - I'm currently using this on my iPad, but would like something to work through the 50" TV I've bought with decent quality. Can I watch BBC iPlayer, etc with Apple TV?
Easiest way is just to switch regions on the ATV - http://support.unblock-us.com/customer/portal/arti...You can do it at router level if you want it for all devices. iPlayer you can airplay from iOS to ATV so yep.
Hi how do you find watching the BBC TV channels with no advertising? I found it difficult watching TV in the USA because of the constant advertisement breaks ,which, were far worse than the UK ITV Advertisement breaks, but on the up side boy could we have very regular coffee breaks .
Gassing Station | USA & Canada | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff