TV/Cable for the boat

[JPGator]

From reading this site and THT there are lots of opinions and input on TV on the boat. The more I read about KVH and sat TV it seems that is slowly going away. Buying a hotspot for the boat is another way but streaming channels doesn’t always get all the channels.
For my family and I we can stream out of the contiguous US with a VPN but in range I want all my main channels especially during college football season.

any current suggestions that solve this little riddle?

 

[KevinC]

From reading this site and THT there are lots of opinions and input on TV on the boat. The more I read about KVH and sat TV it seems that is slowly going away. Buying a hotspot for the boat is another way but streaming channels doesn’t always get all the channels.
For my family and I we can stream out of the contiguous US with a VPN but in range I want all my main channels especially during college football season.

any current suggestions that solve this little riddle?

Many streaming services are shutting down access via public VPNs. You can still probably use a VPN if it is back to your own home or office.

Outside of regional restrictions based on location you should get all the same channels on your streaming services regardless of location. I am now using YouTube TV.

On my boat I installed a computer that handles streaming via wifi and also stores downloaded media for when you're not in a good mobile data area.

I use the Hotspot on my phone to provide internet when local wifi is not available.

-Kevin

 

[bbwhitejr]

Like yourself, I am a college football addict. Our Glomex pulls in the major OTA networks and using my iPhone as a hotspot connected to am Apple TV(4) handles the apps-ESPN, CBS Sports, FOX, and anymore you want.

Bennett

 

[dtfeld]

I use a hotspot (Netgear LB1121) powered via a 12v to PoE injector thatI put up in my arch. I get unlimited data from OTR Mobile for $60/month (Really..Unlimited with no throttling!). I have YouTube TV and it’s gets about every channel and sporting event we want. My wife wanted the Tennis Channel and even that’s included. We canceled cable and this is how we watch TV now. I’m pretty sure this (streaming) is the future of onboard entertainment.

In addition to the house I can watch anywhere live or DVR anything and watch it on a phone or iPad. Only limitation so far is I can’t download and watch later.

 

[JPGator]

Many streaming services are shutting down access via public VPNs. You can still probably use a VPN if it is back to your own home or office.

Outside of regional restrictions based on location you should get all the same channels on your streaming services regardless of location. I am now using YouTube TV.

On my boat I installed a computer that handles streaming via wifi and also stores downloaded media for when you're not in a good mobile data area.

I use the Hotspot on my phone to provide internet when local wifi is not available.

-Kevin

Hey Kevin

we have Comcast so when I travel international I use a VPN and I can watch most of local channels except for the big networks. It works but isn’t the optimum solution. That whole “in house WiFi” crap is BS and difficult to get around.

 

[JPGator]

Like yourself, I am a college football addict. Our Glomex pulls in the major OTA networks and using my iPhone as a hotspot connected to am Apple TV(4) handles the apps-ESPN, CBS Sports, FOX, and anymore you want.

Bennett

Hey Bennet. It looks like $4.99 a month once you buy the Apple TV kit. Anything else or that simple? Can you split the signal or one box, one TV?

 

[JPGator]

I use a hotspot (Netgear LB1121) powered via a 12v to PoE injector thatI put up in my arch. I get unlimited data from OTR Mobile for $60/month (Really..Unlimited with no throttling!). I have YouTube TV and it’s gets about every channel and sporting event we want. My wife wanted the Tennis Channel and even that’s included. We canceled cable and this is how we watch TV now. I’m pretty sure this (streaming) is the future of onboard entertainment.

In addition to the house I can watch anywhere live or DVR anything and watch it on a phone or iPad. Only limitation so far is I can’t download and watch later.

This is what I was considering originally. Just getting a dedicated hotspot for the boat. Depending on the service I was hoping to attach a camera like Nest or something as well.
next time you’re at the boat can you take a pic of your set up?

 

[JPGator]

I use a hotspot (Netgear LB1121) powered via a 12v to PoE injector thatI put up in my arch. I get unlimited data from OTR Mobile for $60/month (Really..Unlimited with no throttling!). I have YouTube TV and it’s gets about every channel and sporting event we want. My wife wanted the Tennis Channel and even that’s included. We canceled cable and this is how we watch TV now. I’m pretty sure this (streaming) is the future of onboard entertainment.

In addition to the house I can watch anywhere live or DVR anything and watch it on a phone or iPad. Only limitation so far is I can’t download and watch later.

ok so I just looked at their site. Looks like you buy the device and the service could be $80 month unlimited like you said. Have you monitored your upload/download speeds? Any issues with buffering or does the TV stream nicely? What is the injector for? Can you run multiple wireless TV’s? Sorry for all the questions but I do appreciate the help.

 

[KevinC]

Hey Kevin

we have Comcast so when I travel international I use a VPN and I can watch most of local channels except for the big networks. It works but isn’t the optimum solution. That whole “in house WiFi” crap is BS and difficult to get around.

If you can VPN into your house you can probably get around it. Ubiquity makes a home based solution - look at their AmpliFi line.

To get around this I use YouTube TV (YTTV) in my house and boat (previously Playstation Vue until they shut down) for TV and everything I get at home I can get on my boat. I love it - no cable boxes at home as I use FireTV Sticks and a computer on the boat. I can also use when travelling - only thing is it is IP location based may give out of town locals depending on where the WIFI is registered out of.

Now, channel coverage is the confusing thing. Main players are YTTV, Hulu, Sling and FuboTV. YTTV just lost Sinclair and Fubo has not Disney properties (ABC, ESPN, etc) but if you can find a match it's great. I think Hulu had a more comprehensive channel offering but for my usage YTTV was fine and less expensive.

-Kevin

 

[KevinC]

This is what I was considering originally. Just getting a dedicated hotspot for the boat. Depending on the service I was hoping to attach a camera like Nest or something as well.
next time you’re at the boat can you take a pic of your set up?

Think about a phone for hotspot - depending on carrier and plan it may be cheaper to have a phone with high useage hotspot vs a hotspot device. On my TMobile account I have a grandfathered plan but it was 25/mo for hotspot upgrade on the phone + upgrade speeds internationally, etc. It was cheaper than getting the hotspot device and an heavy usage plan.

-Kevin

 

[JPGator]

Unfortunately it’s not a one stop shop. We can’t cut cable because it free through the association so my extra cable is just for the boat. When we’re on the boat I limit devices with my daughter and friends because it’s our fun time away from technology. Because I’m the “adult” I make exceptions for football season.

 

[KevinC]

Unfortunately it’s not a one stop shop. We can’t cut cable because it free through the association so my extra cable is just for the boat. When we’re on the boat I limit devices with my daughter and friends because it’s our fun time away from technology. Because I’m the “adult” I make exceptions for football season.

You can always get the streaming service just for football season. They are all month-to-month plans.

-Kevin

 

[bbwhitejr]

Hey Bennet. It looks like $4.99 a month once you buy the Apple TV kit. Anything else or that simple? Can you split the signal or one box, one TV?

Not sure about the $4.99/month. We do not pay anything. The gen 4 allows you up download your choice of apps.

Maybe uTube or other apps charge you.

Bennett

 

[ENstig8or]

Our marina provides basic cable down the docks. Their Wifi is terrible. I just called Comcast and they hooked up a modem and my internet speed is the same as it is at the house. While out on the water, I use my phone as a hotspot and the speed is fast enough for HD viewing.

 

[dtfeld]

ok so I just looked at their site. Looks like you buy the device and the service could be $80 month unlimited like you said. Have you monitored your upload/download speeds? Any issues with buffering or does the TV stream nicely? What is the injector for? Can you run multiple wireless TV’s? Sorry for all the questions but I do appreciate the help.

Soooo....

Got an email and read up on this on https://www.rvmobileinternet.com/. OTR Mobile made some big changes (This is one of the issues with getting data/TV this way...plans can change in an instant, even be canceled.)

OTR Mobile was selling an unlimited ATT plan for $60/month, but looks like they are swapping out to T-Mobile as their provider. Older plans are grandfathered in at $70/month, new plans are $80.

Its complicated, but depending on your mobile router/hotspot, you "might" have access to t-mobile band 71 (600 MHz) which is their long range frequency. T-Mobile is also using this 600 MHz frequency to deliver 5G service, but having access to Band 71, does not guarantee 5G service/speeds.

I'll have to make a decision, but will likely change over to the T-Mobile system (requires a new SIM card) for $70/month. I'll likely be doing some research to see if this is the best solution going forward.

 

[dtfeld]

This is what I was considering originally. Just getting a dedicated hotspot for the boat. Depending on the service I was hoping to attach a camera like Nest or something as well.
next time you’re at the boat can you take a pic of your set up?

This is whats currently in the boat. All items can be had on Amazon or Ebay and pretty cheap if you buy used.

The Cellular Modem is a Netgear LB1121 which is powered via PoE (Power over Ethernet) injector, so I can place it up in the arch with no separate power connection. I cant remember the output voltage but may be 48V so you'll need a 12VDC to 48V PoE injector...their all the same price...cheap. The little cheap antenna is aoptional, I'm not sure it helps much. YMMV on the antenna depending on where you boat, tower locations etc.

From there you plug it directly into a wireless access point or router to the WAN port. I have my LB1121 acting and a modem and router, and the Netgear R6220 is just an access point for both wired and wireless device connection. I have the little 5 point switch for additional wired connections. All power hard wired at 12VDC.

All my TV's and hard installed equipment is wired back to the R6220 or GS105 switch.

 

[JPGator]

That’s really interesting. It sounded like a very easy fix. I have ATT as my carrier but through work we use Verizon which has been pretty good. I may just pick up a hot spot.

 

[dtfeld]

This a basically what most people have in their house, but the internet comes in on a wire. This set up is probably about $250 in pcs and parts. I did confirm the PoE Injector I purchased is 48VDC.

This works for us, but were never very far from shore. If you travels take you further afield, you can get better equipment...modems (pepwave or Cradlepoint) antennas (Poynting) and boosters to get what you need.

I installed this last year as a test and have yet to clean it up, but its functional.

 

[JPGator]

Thanks for the pics. Helps a lot.

Why did you decide to hardwire everything? For the majority of our TV watching we are within a few miles from shore. When we head to the Bahamas its a different story. I haven’t found an acceptable solution that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

 

[dtfeld]

I use the modem for security cameras and boat monitoring...its on 24/7/365.

For less intensive usage, the ATT Nighthawks are fast, but you cannot really hard wire those, it is always using the battery.