[paimon.soror]

Ahhh gotcha. My boston games used to be on 'Comcast Sports Net' but then i think NBC took it over. Lucky for cases like this

[mbanks21]

You can always try an offair antennae for local sports. In my area I get Fox, CBS, and ABC through PSVue but not NBC. But there's an On Demand NBC app I can always watch stuff a few days later.

[c1pher]

Originally Posted by amgraham

I have an old, old Iomega NAS. I've helped a number of friends install and set up Synology and QNAP (My two go-to brands) NAS boxes for home. I highly recommend them. (...and system architecture at a cloud level is my thing so...)

Problem is... Unless you get one of their higher end units, you may have trouble transcoding HD material. They simply don't have the processing power.

The way I've avoided upgrading my NAS is... I bought a decent but "broken" HP All-in-One off CL. Literally a $1200 machine but Best Buy told this guy it wasn't fixable. With the Beats Audio, all that.

I put an SSD in it, installed Windows. Works perfect. Who knows. Anyways... Instead of upgrading my NAS, I use that as a third PC in my office simply to watch TV, listen to music and be a Plex server. It's an older i7, 8GB, etc. But.... I've got a gb hardwired connection to the NAS. It transcodes better than a new Synology or QNAP NAS would.

Problem is that ONE TV. The Plex app is problematic. Playing Plex through that via the Fire box... no problem.

That's my one-source argument. I don't want me, the wife, the kids to have to switch between inputs or apps. To a point, you need to with Fire and PS Vue or Hulu but... it's one button to "home".

Correct. I made sure my QNAP can handle UHD video and I am using link aggregation to double the speed. For the home line you need the TS-251A for two drives or the TS-451A if you want four bays. I went with the 251A. I host all my photos and music from it. I also have my own private iCloud which is nice to share files or other media. I also use it for my computer backups of course.

[paimon.soror]

Welp, we decided to try youtubeTV last night... immediately cancelled lol.

Had none of the channels my wife wanted that Hulu had (ID, TBS, some other randoms).
No Roku app yet

So far hulu is our front runner by a mile.

Going to try DTV next

[Fatty Duckets]

I did a 7 day free trial of Direct TV Now, and was surprisingly happy with the service, despite some tough oline reviews. They just recently added my favorite MSG, which is the network that shows the NY Knicks and NY Rangers. Of all the streaming offerings, I feel that DTV has the best selection.

[kscarrol]

Seriously leaning towards Direct TV Now as well. Checks most of the boxes except local channels. Hopefully a good HD antenna will cover that.

I started the early thread about cutting the cord because until recently we were stuck with Cox for high speed internet. 100GB internet plus cable is $200 a month plus taxes. AT&T recently added fiber and I can get 1000GB for $80 a month. Add in the Direct TV Now for $60 a month and I'm saving $40 a month. The only real question mark for me is the reliability of AT&T's fiber. Internet through Cox sucks, wildly varying speeds and frequent loss of signal.... Anybody have experience with AT&T fiber?

[paimon.soror]

So of course the "package" that my wife "needs" to have for DTV is the $60 one plus no DVR yet means its a no no . I think after all is said and done, the only viable choice for us is going to be Hulu. But hey, the great thing is that you can always go a few months with one, and then change to another at will lol.

The only concern now is going to be data caps with Cox internet.

[bimmer456]

What do you guys do for DVR or do you do without? Seems the cost isn't much cheaper. I'd cut the cord if it was like $15 a month with all the channels I get and DVR. Also would be nice if Netflix, HBO and Prime video is included.

[kscarrol]

We don't use a DVR so lack of one from any of the services is not an issue.

[tracer bullet]

Originally Posted by MGM135is

Correct. I made sure my QNAP can handle UHD video and I am using link aggregation to double the speed. For the home line you need the TS-251A for two drives or the TS-451A if you want four bays. I went with the 251A. I host all my photos and music from it. I also have my own private iCloud which is nice to share files or other media. I also use it for my computer backups of course.

I did the 251+, Black Friday deal at Newegg for $250. Love it. I went this route along with a Sony 4k blu-ray player (also Black Friday, for about $150), and I use that to do the transcoding work, and it streams Netflix, etc. of course as well. Total of $400 or so and it's been bullet proof, plays everything I throw at it. And of course I have a NAS I can use for PC backup (in addition to an offsite backup, but that's a whole new and different subject). I used to go the HTPC route but over time I've decided I prefer simplicity.

But this is for a single TV, not much use for Plex, kids on phones, etc. But it's maybe an option for some to look into.

[c1pher]

Originally Posted by tracer bullet

I did the 251+, Black Friday deal at Newegg for $250. Love it. I went this route along with a Sony 4k blu-ray player (also Black Friday, for about $150), and I use that to do the transcoding work, and it streams Netflix, etc. of course as well. Total of $400 or so and it's been bullet proof, plays everything I throw at it. And of course I have a NAS I can use for PC backup (in addition to an offsite backup, but that's a whole new and different subject). I used to go the HTPC route but over time I've decided I prefer simplicity.

But this is for a single TV, not much use for Plex, kids on phones, etc. But it's maybe an option for some to look into.

It's almost overwhelming how much functionality is built in to these. I am barely using maybe a quarter of everything it can do. I doubled up on the RAM which helps since I may run some VMs later on. I was going to run a firewall (Sophos UTM) on it, but it didn't work out. I ended up getting an Untangle small firewall appliance and love that thing too. I will probably start feeding logs to the QNAP from it so I can look back over a longer period of time. Just haven't had time to mess with it.

[Never_Enough]

Based on what I am seeing, cutting cable & going this route route is damn near the same price. I still have to keep Fios for internet...

[paimon.soror]

Yea you are really (at leaast for me) seeing about $30 average in cost savings ...

Im constantly asking myself "will the headaches {wife complaints} be worth that savings over a year?"

[Xtabi]

Originally Posted by paimon.soror

Yea you are really (at leaast for me) seeing about $30 average in cost savings ...

Im constantly asking myself "will the headaches {wife complaints} be worth that savings over a year?"

I'm in the same boat with a different wife.

[kscarrol]

^ The exact reason I have not pulled the trigger yet!

[Alfisti]

Telling you if you want sport, you cannot cut the cable. You don't save much because you don't get bundle deals on internet and you need MOAR internet.

[amgraham]

Originally Posted by paimon.soror

So of course the "package" that my wife "needs" to have for DTV is the $60 one plus no DVR yet means its a no no . I think after all is said and done, the only viable choice for us is going to be Hulu. But hey, the great thing is that you can always go a few months with one, and then change to another at will lol.

The only concern now is going to be data caps with Cox internet.

You haven't tried Vue? Our needs seem pretty similar and Vue is the first one we're trying with Hulu as a "backup". I've ruled out the others for one or more of the reasons you and others have stated.

[paimon.soror]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Telling you if you want sport, you cannot cut the cable. You don't save much because you don't get bundle deals on internet and you need MOAR internet.

Truth on the bundle deals, but I was fine with Sports on some of these plans (they had ESPN). Hulu was awesome because it gave me my regional sports channels as well.

Originally Posted by amgraham

You haven't tried Vue? Our needs seem pretty similar and Vue is the first one we're trying with Hulu as a "backup". I've ruled out the others for one or more of the reasons you and others have stated.

I will give Vue a shot next on the list

[Maestro]

I have been looking to cut the cord for a while now. I have been on DTV since 97, long time customer, they use to treat me nice, but can not get them to do anything anymore, I think I overstayed my welcome. Beside DTV I have Comcast for internet and Ooma for phone (can not beat them $3/month) and Netflix which originally replaces our Blockbluster subscription.

The reason I have not done it, is for the following reasons:

Live TV (live channel surfing)
Local TV
Time shifting (DVR functionality) could do without, if service has great on-demand content
Lastly, is mobile/remote access to content

I have 3 rooms in the house with DTV and whole house DVR and 4TB of storage.

I am think of going to DTV Now, since they account they will have DVR functionality. However, can anyone tell if you drop DTV for DTV Now can you still access other programing on a remote ATV or iOS device using your DTV login. Today my son at school watch TV using our DTV login information. DTV does not limit how many IP addresses can access content. I can also watch DVT on my phone at the gym and other places without issue.

I would drop DTV, install 3 apple TV and use DTV as soon as they offer DVT functionality. I also have NAS with 8 TB of storage which we have our movie library on and we can easily stream that content to any TV in the house. My NAS has the ability to be a DVR but not for cable content, it can record live local TV without an issue.

But as you can see this all become too complicate and does not pass the wife test, if she spend more than 10 second trying to watch TV she not a happy person. I have gotten my set up down to one remote to control everything and all 3 rooms use the same remote and are program the same way so turning on and watching what you want works the same way. I do not think you get this with any of these streaming services as of yet.

[paimon.soror]

FYI testing out PSVue now. Channel lineup is fantastic.. has everything the wife wants albiet at the 54.99 pricepoint

Willing to give it a go for a week

[turboawd]

no cable for a few years. just use an antenna for local stations and internet for anything else.

[paimon.soror]

i suspect you are either single, or your wife is awesome.

LOL