Windjammer
Well-Known Member
Dish Network is not any better...every year or so, they wanna double the rates.
Are you mad at Direct TV because of no NFL?
- Thread starter Gofirstclass
- Start date
- Jun 5, 2016
- 5,553
- Boat Info
- 410 Sundancer
2001
12" Axiom and 9" Axiom+ MFD
- Engines
- Cat 3126 V-Drives
I dumped xfinity cable phone and internet, replaced with AT&T fiber at the house and added an unlimited data plan at the boat. I use youtube.tv now. Can watch what I want where I want even on the road via an iPad.
And I estimate about $3500 saved over next 3 years.
And I estimate about $3500 saved over next 3 years.
I did this samething you have to get to the cancel person.... She was quick to get me down to $50/month for 12 months.
JVM225
Well-Known Member
I’m looking to cut the cord at some point too. Just need to find a streaming service that has the right combination of channels to keep everyone happy.
What are you using on the boat with the unlimited data plan?
I’m using my iPad with my unlimited plan. It works really well, but I’m always looking for the next best thing.
- Jun 5, 2016
- 5,553
- Boat Info
- 410 Sundancer
2001
12" Axiom and 9" Axiom+ MFD
- Engines
- Cat 3126 V-Drives
I have a full network on the boat with a Netgear LB1121 (PoE powered) cellular modem in the arch connected to a wireless/wired router in the cabinet above the TV. I tried Verizon, but 15 Gb with hard throttle limits isn’t enough data.
I found a website. Rvmobileinternet.com that rates various resellers, but basically you can buy monthly unlimited data with no caps or throttles. I have an AT&T sim that so far has allowed a couple weekends worth of tv watching.
I think these can be turned off any time, but I figure the worst case is I’m out 1 months subscription, $60-$75 max and I have to find a new vendor.
Longer term, looking at adding a pep wave modem router to simplify the install and get a more robust installation that would include external antennas.
I found a website. Rvmobileinternet.com that rates various resellers, but basically you can buy monthly unlimited data with no caps or throttles. I have an AT&T sim that so far has allowed a couple weekends worth of tv watching.
I think these can be turned off any time, but I figure the worst case is I’m out 1 months subscription, $60-$75 max and I have to find a new vendor.
Longer term, looking at adding a pep wave modem router to simplify the install and get a more robust installation that would include external antennas.
JVM225
Well-Known Member
Sounds great! I envy your tech skills.
I think DirectTV is going to stop providing service for my KVH M3 soon and I probably wouldn’t invest in another satellite system. Not worth it with other options available.
I think that once I find a streaming plan that suits our needs and cut the FIOS cord at home, I may cancel DirectTV on the boat and look in to getting myself a Glomex Web Boat. Hopefully by that time 5G will become more available.
In the meantime:
I’ve got my iPad added on with the 4 cell phones in the family with AT&T. The iPad and all of the phones have unlimited data plans. They charge me $15.00 a month for the iPad.
I use it as a mobile hotspot on the boat and the smart TV’s to stream Netflix and Amazon Prime Video by connecting to it.
It works pretty well and I’ve never experienced any kind of throttling.
I like having the iPad with me because I’ve got most of the boat manuals saved on it. It’s also great for streaming XM to the Bluetooth in the Fusion Head Unit, and it comes in handy for email and other internet needs.
I heard they just sent up their last transmission satellite the other day.....so I think you have a bit of time...
- Jun 5, 2016
- 5,553
- Boat Info
- 410 Sundancer
2001
12" Axiom and 9" Axiom+ MFD
- Engines
- Cat 3126 V-Drives
I don't have a satellite system, and even if I did, I would have to have a dock mounted antenna to use it under the covered dock.
The steaming services all have their limits, but the cost is much more reasonable. We discussed that cable provided way too much "junk" and the alternative, streaming, meant that we all had to give up something in terms of channel selection. We made a list of must haves and choose based on that. I think all in all a great trade off. Youtube has the best football selection, Tennis and HGTV.
In the end, we can always turn the TV off and walk down the dock and socialize, a much better use of my time anyway.
The steaming services all have their limits, but the cost is much more reasonable. We discussed that cable provided way too much "junk" and the alternative, streaming, meant that we all had to give up something in terms of channel selection. We made a list of must haves and choose based on that. I think all in all a great trade off. Youtube has the best football selection, Tennis and HGTV.
In the end, we can always turn the TV off and walk down the dock and socialize, a much better use of my time anyway.
JVM225
Well-Known Member
I hope so, but I was at the local transient Marina last weekend and a guy noticed my M3 and asked if I still had service. I told him I do.
M3 is standard definition and the newer equipment is all HD.
He told me that he turns his service off every winter and restarts it in the Spring. When he called to turn it back on again this past Spring DirectTV told him they couldn’t do it unless he got a new satellite system because his M3 is obsolete.
I leave my service on through the winter. That might be why they are still providing me with service.
I think the M3 gets signals on a band that they’re going to stop supporting soon.
JVM225
Well-Known Member
Covered dock? I’d gladly give up the satellite for a covered dock.
In order to cut the cord at home:
Our mutual must haves are Fox News, Weather Chanel, DIY and HGTV
She has to have the Hallmark and Lifetime Channels so she can watch crappy movies all year.
I’ve got to have Fox Business, Motor Trend, Discovery Channels, History Channels, A&E, Destination America and Nat Geo.
I can get all the football I need from local broadcast stations because the Giants are always on one of those channels.
Sorry I thought you were talking about HD...I heard Eventually they will get out of satellite altogether
JVM225
Well-Known Member
I think you’re right. Seems like satellite TV is a dying industry these days. That’s why I would be very hesitant to invest in a new satellite system if my current one stops working. That's the situation the guy I spoke with last week is in.
- Jun 5, 2016
- 5,553
- Boat Info
- 410 Sundancer
2001
12" Axiom and 9" Axiom+ MFD
- Engines
- Cat 3126 V-Drives
YoutubeTV gets us 75% of that list, and we agreed to do without the other stuff. You can augment with a Netflix or Amazon prime or about 20+ other streaming services and still save a ton of money, and have access to a huge repository of REALLY CRAPPY movies.
Initially my wife wasn't too excited, so we tried it for a couple of months and now we just dont miss all that "extra" crap. We knew we would give up some things, but have found other ways of accessing what we want. The Ipad is excellent for weather and reading.
Over all, saving enough to pay about for 3 months of dock fees each year.
- Jun 5, 2016
- 5,553
- Boat Info
- 410 Sundancer
2001
12" Axiom and 9" Axiom+ MFD
- Engines
- Cat 3126 V-Drives
WSJ had article about AT&T and Direct TV this week...seems like its in trouble...
JVM225
Well-Known Member
I saw that. Not too encouraging. They were hard selling me on DirectTV Now for at home a year or two ago but that died down. I thought about it for a minute or two but they didn’t have a channel package that suited us and since the DirectTV Now is a streaming service I would have still had to pay for the DirectTV satellite account on the boat. Dumb!
Their TV customer service reps are terrible too and it’s hard to get consistent or reliable info from them. That turned me off.
When I got this boat with the equipment already installed I tried unsuccessfully to activate service through them. They kept asking me for an address they could send their installer out to. Zero knowledge of mobile systems. Very frustrating. Finally had to have KVH handle it for me.
If AT&T really wanted to get their wireless customers signed up for TV service:
Instead of outsourcing the TV CS to somewhere in Asia they should have kept it all in house and educated their existing wireless personnel enough to where they didn’t have to hand you off to some moron who only knows what’s on the script in front of them.
Anyway, I think satellite TV will go the way of the VHS tapes and players within the next 5 years.
At the condo we have YouTube TV, fire stick(showbox), Amazon prime and an antenna... That's all you need to replace cable as far as I am concerned
- Jun 5, 2016
- 5,553
- Boat Info
- 410 Sundancer
2001
12" Axiom and 9" Axiom+ MFD
- Engines
- Cat 3126 V-Drives
I would agree satellite tv is going away except for niche markets. With the advent of 5G, I think tv delivery will be streamed wired or wirelessly to most of the country.
I found a guy on Facebook Marketplace that sells what he calls a "pre-loaded" Firestick and he provides a streaming service for $15/month with no contract and no auto or CC payments. I pay through PayPal. The firestick was $50 and that includes the first month streaming service and free shipping. I get 4800+ channels. Now, approximately 1500 are foreign language channels but I mainly bought it for football so I could watch the Seahawks here in SE Louisiana. Week 1 I watched Seattle play the Bengals from a Cincinnati CBS station. Week 2 I watched the game on the Seattle affiliate. It works perfectly and the guy swears it's legal....unless you record for resale.
Anyone want the contact info? a Fast internet connection and an available HDMI port are needed.
Shawn
Anyone want the contact info? a Fast internet connection and an available HDMI port are needed.
Shawn
wyrman
Well-Known Member
- Jul 12, 2012
- 1,921
- Boat Info
- 2007 310 Sundancer
- Engines
- Twin 350's, V drives
2003 Fisher 17 aluminum
90hp Honda 4 stroke
The jail broke fire stick isn't legal.
I bought one and jail broke it, but you can get in trouble.
I got my fire stick for $30, and the software is free.
Takes about 30 minutes to do.
I bought one and jail broke it, but you can get in trouble.
I got my fire stick for $30, and the software is free.
Takes about 30 minutes to do.
I guess I'll just keep this info to myself then. Actually I keep getting conflicting info. It's legal....its not legal....its OK as long as you don't record for resale. I have seen a number of people selling this service.
