Satellite TV or No?

[JVM225]

Apple's lightning AV adapter works flawlessly with both my iPhone and my ipad for hooking am HDMI cable to the TV. It also provides an additional port so you can charge the iPhone or iPad while using the AV adapter to watch TV.
I tend to use the iPad so I don't have to interrupt things if I get a call on my iPhone. I also like the size of the iPad as a controller.
Another advantage of the iPad is iBooks. I've been able to download everything I need that was originally in Sea Ray's owners packet for my boat. The owners packet is now stored at home which makes more room for stuff on the boat.
But if you don't have an iPad and don't want to get one, the iPhone works just as well with the AV adapter.

 

[sdleo26]

Check out sling box . Probably the best 200 bucks I ever spent. You can watch the tv that is in your home anywhere where there is an IP connection. I use it all over the world and it works flawlessly. Put the app on your phone or tablet and mirror to any TV thru HDMI or any of the devices nowadays, some described here. You will need unlimited data or a larger than normal data plan for your phone if you do not have access to wifi. Other than that, is pretty simple and there is no monthly cost; one time cost for the hardware and that's it.

 

[Docjason]

My wife and I were considering the same thing for our 320. We just upgraded to unlimited data on our cellular devices and are going try live streaming for the season through Amazon Prime and our home cable app. We also plan on upgrading the TVs to receive digital over the air programming.

We boat mostly in an urban area with good cellular coverage. I know coastal Carolina may not be the same, but it might be worth considering if the marinas you use have good cell reception.


Curious us if anyone else has experience with this set up? We have a hard time justifying the satellite setup for the limited TV watching we do onboard.

We do streaming with smart TV with built-in ROKU. Use hulu, netflix, vudu, and sling. Works great

 

[JVM225]

Check out sling box . Probably the best 200 bucks I ever spent. You can watch the tv that is in your home anywhere where there is an IP connection. I use it all over the world and it works flawlessly. Put the app on your phone or tablet and mirror to any TV thru HDMI or any of the devices nowadays, some described here. You will need unlimited data or a larger than normal data plan for your phone if you do not have access to wifi. Other than that, is pretty simple and there is no monthly cost; one time cost for the hardware and that's it.

What app and equipment are you using on the boat?
I am considering a Sling Box M2 to hook up to FIOS TV service at home, and then streaming through my iPad on the boat using my unlimited data plan to the boat TV through an Apple AV adapter.
I stream other content this way and it works flawlessly.
My hesitation now is the lousy reviews the Sling Player App has in the App Store.
I stream other content this way and it works flawlessly on the boat. It would be nice to add everything My FIOS package has to my options.
I don't have wifi access anywhere near my dock so that isn't an option.

 

[Aguyindallas]

Our greatest use of the KVH on our boat is watching baseball and football games on the hook. We don't use it every time we go out, but I would say 50% is very realistic.

 

[sdleo26]

What app and equipment are you using on the boat?
I am considering a Sling Box M2 to hook up to FIOS TV service at home, and then streaming through my iPad on the boat using my unlimited data plan to the boat TV through an Apple AV adapter.
I stream other content this way and it works flawlessly.
My hesitation now is the lousy reviews the Sling Player App has in the App Store.
I stream other content this way and it works flawlessly on the boat. It would be nice to add everything My FIOS package has to my options.
I don't have wifi access anywhere near my dock so that isn't an option.

I use IOS devices (iPhone, iPad etc. ). I have no issues using the app at all; you just need to buy the lightning to HDMI out for your IOS device in play or stream it to Apple TV or a chrome stick to your television on the boat.

 

[JVM225]

I use IOS devices (iPhone, iPad etc. ). I have no issues using the app at all; you just need to buy the lightning to HDMI out for your IOS device in play or stream it to Apple TV or a chrome stick to your television on the boat.

I have the Apple lightning to HDMI out A/V cable already that I use to stream from my iPad to the boat TV and it works flawlessly.
Are you using wifi or cellular data with the Sling Player App?
My only option is cellular data, which works great for streaming other content. I'm just wondering if the negative reviews for the app are from users who are only using it with cellular data like I would have to do.

 

[sdleo26]

When I am on the hook I am on cellular as well, but you are going to need LTE or a really strong 4G signal

 

[seabud]

I've done it in reverse. I have directv on the boat and stream at home. I justify a really high speed internet at home where I can connect my smart TVs and Apple II TV via Ethernet. Marina wifi has and seems to continue to be overrun by demand.
Gotta have my NFL on the boat. Apple II TV allows you to download all the network and movie channel apps


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Alegria]

I was curious about sling this year and saw a good deal on an M1. But saw screen shots of the adds they force in the app and decided to wait. That is a feature I don't want!

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

 

[Magic34]

I had satellite on my last boat. On this boat, the KVH box was dead when I bought the boat. I was going to replace everything, but $2000+ had me wondering if we'd miss satellite or not. We primarily stream movies from Netflix to the TV and I'm no longer upgrading the satellite at this point. We're streaming everything, I just need to get dialed in on live TV streaming for sports.

 

[sdleo26]

I was curious about sling this year and saw a good deal on an M1. But saw screen shots of the adds they force in the app and decided to wait. That is a feature I don't want!

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

Weird, I never got one ad on the app; wonder if it has something to do with M1 versus the wireless version

 

[Magic34]

Check out sling box . Probably the best 200 bucks I ever spent. You can watch the tv that is in your home anywhere where there is an IP connection. I use it all over the world and it works flawlessly. Put the app on your phone or tablet and mirror to any TV thru HDMI or any of the devices nowadays, some described here. You will need unlimited data or a larger than normal data plan for your phone if you do not have access to wifi. Other than that, is pretty simple and there is no monthly cost; one time cost for the hardware and that's it.

Never considered this, just looked at it online. This seems like the way to go for sure. Thanks for the recommendation.

 

[gerryb]

There will be a day when we see 'old' boats with these big, plastic weird domes on the arch and shake our heads at what the old-timers had to do to watch TV on a boat.

Kind of like what I feel like when I see some older boats with those radar screens that show the green lines/dots?

BTW. I did the same analysis awhile back and shopped out all the necessary equipment to conclude this is all outdated technology and not worth the investment. Just my .02.

 

[bbwhitejr]

I had satellite on my last boat. On this boat, the KVH box was dead when I bought the boat. I was going to replace everything, but $2000+ had me wondering if we'd miss satellite or not. We primarily stream movies from Netflix to the TV and I'm no longer upgrading the satellite at this point. We're streaming everything, I just need to get dialed in on live TV streaming for sports.

The "Watch ESPN" app on Apple TV works perfect for this provided you have WiFi or internet conncectivity.

Bennett

 

[CliffA]

There will be a day when we see 'old' boats with these big, plastic weird domes on the arch and shake our heads at what the old-timers had to do to watch TV on a boat.

i starting to feel that way now even though i am one of the 'old timers'.....with smartphones and tablets and apps there is really no need for radio (stereo) antennas, TV antennas, Satellite antennas, GPS antennas, or even radar sweepers on the arches any more......

cliff

 

[romanservices]

I'll have to agree that satellite is becoming a bit out of date. It came with my boat and I've never turned it on or tested to see if it works. I have a direct tv subscription at home so really all I need to do is bring my receiver to the boat. That being said I get all my direct tv content on my devices both wireless and cellular. being on AT&T direct tv content does not count towards my data useage. while at home my smart tv has the direct tv app so I don't even need a receiver or dish antenna there either.

 

[tdschafer]

There's lots of really interesting info here. It seems tech is shifting away from the need for a Satellite dish to get solid entertainment on the boat. The caveat being, you need either a strong wifi or cellular signal. I get neither of these on Fire Island, where I primarily boat. Also, I got approximately 3 fuzzy channels on the Glomex before I removed it. The satellite is still my best option.

Sent from my SM-J320V using Tapatalk

 

[saopm]

I have a unlimited data plan, slingbox connected at home, and the apple AV connector. Also have Amazon and Netflix subscriptions. There is no need for a Sat system unless you are out at sea or in a remote area.

 

[CliffA]

if you are going to a remote area that does not have wi-fi or cell service you can plan ahead and download movies or TV series or whatever to a smartphone or tablet.....then with a MHL adapter and HDMI cable you can watch the downloaded material on any HDTV in full resolution.....I have a 128GB SD card in my phone which will hold a LOT of downloaded shows.....for example a two hour HD movie downloaded in the 'Best' resolution setting from Amazon Prime only takes around 2GB of storage......

cliff