becks_r

I am right by Lake Ontario - but nowhere in my garden can a satellite get a clear line of sight to get a signal - just too many trees

Guindalf

We are Amazon Prime subscribers, so we have the Fire TV boxes, which work well. We also have subs to Hulu, Netflix and Britbox (on a small Roku device), all on top of a substantial DirecTV package! Our bedroom TV is 4K HDR and there is plenty of programming on Prime to keep us happy. Netflix charges an extra $2 a month of 4k, so that'll wait until we have to update the living room TV.

We have the lowest possible package from DirecTV that includes NBCSN (NBC's sports channel) that carries just about all Premier league games as well as Formula 1. I hope to wrangle the NFL package again for free if I can. I usually do but missed out last year through my own failure to negotiate, but I hope that'll change when I call them in a few days' time.

becks_r

I will have to ask my OH why he thinks we need Roku rather than Fire TV as we also have Amazon Prime.

I think DirecTV has a slightly better line up than Sling for us, as I will be able to watch British Superbikes with DirecTV. I just wish DirecTV already had a cloud DVR. Or if there was a way to plug in my own DVR to record everything coming to the TV.

I think the plan is to start a trial of something this weekend and we will see how it goes....

Thanks for all suggestions, been very helpful

lansbury

If you get, have got a Roku, use this link for a 30 day free trial of DirecTVNow. By the way you can get Amazon Prime on the Roku. It's a case of what you prefer Fire or Roku.

https://www.directvnow.com/roku

becks_r

To be honest, I don't know the difference between Roku and Fire and if one is better than the other. I suppose we will find out in the next few weeks. We haven't watched TV for about 3 weeks now, I am getting quite twitchy about what I am missing!

mrken30

A couple of guys a work with like Vue a lot. One of them records sports, apparently it has some sort of DVR facility.

becks_r

Oh that is good to know - thank you

Guindalf

I’m not sure one is -better than the other, just different. We have both because there is no app for BritBox on Fire as yet.

Also worth noting, I didn’t watch last week so i’ve Only just noticed, that while there’s a good number of footie games on NBCSN and NBC, they’ve changed the streaming to a pay model at $50 for the season. I guess it’s not a bad price, but it stings after being free all this time!

Chesten

Can I ask a question related to this thread?

Does one actually need a set top box? Currently we have a cable package with Spectrum, basic but (as noted numerous times by others) at eye-watering prices and inferior to the VM multiroom HD + TiVo we used to have. We don't watch much live TV though I have some ABC morning stuff on in the background sometimes. But I've more or less decided to ditch the cable. Will our 4K Sony TV apps work wirelessly without a box of any kind (like they do on my phone?) so Netflix, Prime etc will work fine and I can watch iplayer and other UK catch up stuff when it's connected to my Mac (via VPN)

I'm trying to figure out what ROKU/ Fire etc would give me. Is it just a means to stream live TV and other subscription services? Is one necessary? (And since we have 2 TVs, are two necessary?)

lansbury

If your smart TV has apps for all the streaming services you want, there is no need for anything else. My Samsung has Netflix, YouTube, Amazon, Hulu and a few others. It doesn't have BritBox, NBCSN or ESPN app for ESPN3, I have a Roku for those. Roku and others have a lot more streaming apps that Samsung TV, so I'll guess probably most other makes of TV.

My Roku box is about 6" x 6" and you will need a box for each TV, or move one box around as needed.

lansbury

Was a bit below the belt that move. Trying to work out how long the games are available for viewing after they were played. Previously I recorded them and watched during the week.

Chesten

Thanks for the info.

becks_r

Is that just for footie? Or are the expecting payment per season for other sport?

lansbury

It was several sports. Rugby, cycling, motor cross, track and field and Premier League. Each has a subscription for a season.

PeterFrank

Youtube tv is better than PlayStation Vue

Has the main channels NBC CBS ABC etc and sports

Tried both for last 2 months. Plus you get a free Chromecast.

I don't need cable and youtube is $35.