Social Feed

W
Last reply · posted in Cable Television and Fiber Providers
Hi All,

Does anyone reading this forum know anything about FIOS status for central Marlyand? I hear that they are laying lines in Anne Arundel and Howard Counties, but what about Baltimore city and County? Has Verizon even started franchise negotiations with these municipalities (for TV). My dish buyback plan with Comcast ends in May (bye bye low prices). I don't want to unnecessarily commit to satellite for a year (but I will return to Satellite if I see that FIOS won't hit Baltimore City before next next fall). At least I could be reunited with my old Voom stations on the bright side. I emailed Verizon customer service without response. Any news??? Thanks!
Wayne
2 Replies · 1564 views
jgantert
No idea. They dug a little bit in our neighborhood a few months ago, but I haven't seen any digging in months. And Verizon FIOS still not available here yet (Columbia in Howard County).

-John
rkolsen
I hope they install FIOS in central MD as well. I want a blazing fast internet connection.
dishstaller
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
Videos like this can make you appreciate the things we take for granted.


View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/a2cgQidHQJI
5 Replies · 136 views
Bobby
Videos like this can make you appreciate the things we take for granted.


View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/a2cgQidHQJI

That brought tears to my eyes.
  • Like
Reactions: NYDutch
dishstaller
That brought tears to my eyes.
Really...REALLY hate to do this to you Bobby, but....


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsOo3jzkhYA&pp=ygUed29tYW4gaGVhcnMgZm9yIHRoZSBmaXJzdCB0aW1l
  • Like
Reactions: NYDutch and Bobby
dishstaller
Okay....if you think you can take it....this one brought tears to my eyes when I first saw it and did again just now.


View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/i5UCDwHMatg?feature=share
  • Like
Reactions: NYDutch and Bobby
dishstaller
This came up in my suggestions probably because of the video I posted. I had NO idea exactly what being color blind actually was. Now I understand why that man was so blown away with seeing the trees......a lot of color blind people see green as brown, so grass, trees, etc all look brown.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i18_RngKJDQ
Juan
Its a shame nobody told him orange was blue and red was purple etc etc etc
b4pjoe
Pub Member / Supporter Cutting Edge
Last reply · posted in Computers and Gadgets
15 Replies · 322 views
harshness
Given that Tubi is one of the hottest FAST services out there, I don't expect it to go anywhere. Building up intolerance for ads takes a while, and as long as the advertisers are willing to foot the bill, why not?
Neutron
Another reason I'm glad we are swapping or Rokus out for Apple TVs. I was already planning on ditching the Rokus earlier this year and had been waiting on Apple to announce the new one last month. Our Rokus have had issues the last year or so with freezing video and reboots, and one with an HDCP issue randomly.
  • Like
Reactions: AZ. and navychop
dishstaller
Building up intolerance for ads takes a while, and as long as the advertisers are willing to foot the bill, why not?
That is what I have to explain to customers all the time. They want it free with no ads :facepalm
  • Like
Reactions: navychop
TRG
TRG
Another reason I'm glad we are swapping or Rokus out for Apple TVs. I was already planning on ditching the Rokus earlier this year and had been waiting on Apple to announce the new one last month. Our Rokus have had issues the last year or so with freezing video and reboots, and one with an HDCP issue randomly.
Hmmm... I don't have any of those problems with my Roku devices. I have 3 of them.
  • Like
Reactions: reubenray
navychop
I suspect Fox will make me consider 2-3 more Apple TV STB purchases.
Jimbo
Hmmm... I don't have any of those problems with my Roku devices. I have 3 of them.
I have the Roku's, 2 or 3, I just rarely use them ... I prefer the Google/Android Sony set up.

People tell me that the Apps on the TV will end thier usefulness as they age ... They are doing ok for me so far ... I also have the TV take the App Updates whenever possible ... then again, I don't know how often App updates come to it.

So, so far, I'm doing ok, but if they start to get sluggish, I'll eventually change to a Roku ... I don't want to, but eventually ... (Or buy another new TV :eeek:shh:clapping:biggrin
R
I suspect Fox will make me consider 2-3 more Apple TV STB purchases.
As long as my Roku Ultra works I will use it. I use it for all of my streaming apps except for Prime. I read that Prime works best with Android TV's.
navychop
Hmmm. Not watching much Prime, but it would be on our Apple TV STB.

You know of any drawbacks using Ultra and Prime?
osu1991
Hmmm. Not watching much Prime, but it would be on our Apple TV STB.

You know of any drawbacks using Ultra and Prime?
Prime seems to have a problem passing the DV/HDR metadata to Roku and Apple devices, but no problem with their Fire devices.
Juan
That is what I have to explain to customers all the time. They want it free with no ads :facepalm
The ads are boring and repetitive...same ad over and over...bring back 1970s ads..might not be as big an issue
Scott Greczkowski
Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!

So let the game continue!

The last song was added by Bobby who posted...

One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters

CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!

Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game

Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.

Example:

Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow

Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio

Another example:

Ride the Lightning -- Metallica

Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne


Get it?


An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
68770 Replies · 2687257 views
  • Like
Reactions: c-spand
long_time_Dish
Really Wanna Know You - Gary Wright
  • Like
Reactions: RaiderPower
H
Don't WANNA KNOW-Maroon 5
harshness
I Want to Know What Love Is - Foreigner
Bobby
Oh What A Night For Dancing - Barry White
sdfntx
It's a Good Night for Singing - Jerry Jeff Walker
dfergie
Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU!
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
Stumbled across this ... http://www.gaspricewatch.com/USGas_ZipSearch.asp
I found no local prices, although it did show stations at my location...
Added these to this post...
USA National Gas Temperature Map
State By State Gasoline Taxes
Gas Buddy

Ethanol Free Stations

5569 Replies · 462441 views
Bobby
Regular$5.459​
Premium$5.899​
Diesel$7.999​
at Costco, Rohnert Park.​
  • Like
Reactions: harshness
dishstaller
Billboard along I-10 had reg at $3.81 and diesel at $5.54
Bobby
Regular$5.399​
Premium$5.899​
Diesel$7.999​
at Costco, Rohnert Park.​
osu1991
$3.55
R
$3.45 in Jane, MO.
K
Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Pub Member / Supporter Cutting Edge
Last reply · posted in DIRECTV Programming Forum
https://www.directv.com/insider/mysports-changes-the-game/
https://streamtv.directv.com/mysports/ (You might have to logout or open a private window to see the details)
As of now this is only available for streaming customers in select markets. Existing streaming customers can switch to it for $69.99, but they are not eligible for the $20 off for 3 months discount. More genre-specific packages will launch during the first half of the year.


At launch, MySports includes 40 sports and broadcast channels and is initially available in 24 metro areas, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, and others. Click here for more information and the list of initial launch markets. The availability of MySports will expand into additional markets as DIRECTV adds more local stations to the package.

The streamlined MySports package includes national and local channels in select markets, as well as live news channels.

National sports channels immediately available through MySports include ACC Network, Big Ten Network, DIRECTV 4K Live, DIRECTV 4K Live 2, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2, Golf Channel, MLB Network, NBA TV, NFL Network, NHL Network, SEC Network, TBS, TNT, TruTV and USA Network. Local channels will initially include any stations owned and operated by ABC, FOX, and NBC, with additional stations coming online soon.

Additional networks, local stations and ESPN+, will be included in MySports at no extra cost in the near future.

Consumers who sign up online for the contract-free package before Feb. 28, 2025, can receive MySports for $49.99 monthly for the first three months, a $20 monthly savings. After the free trial, it auto-renews monthly, and consumers can cancel anytime.
75 Replies · 8268 views
K
They recently split the news channels off of MySports, so CNBC, CNN, FBN, FNC and MSNOW are no longer part of it.

MySports was decreased to $64.99, and a new "MySports+MyNews Duo" pack is $79.99, which will also give you Bloomberg, CNBC World, CNNI, the C-SPANs, i24 and Newsmax.

Tennis Channel also joined MySports at some point over the past year.
C
They recently split the news channels off of MySports, so CNBC, CNN, FBN, FNC and MSNOW are no longer part of it.

MySports was decreased to $64.99, and a new "MySports+MyNews Duo" pack is $79.99, which will also give you Bloomberg, CNBC World, CNNI, the C-SPANs, i24 and Newsmax.

Tennis Channel also joined MySports at some point over the past year.
AMC+ now included in MyEntertainment Pack. I guess we know why the $8 price increase.
K
Here's the Insider article. Shudder is now part of MyCinema and Fanatiz1 was added to the Spanish packages last Friday. PX Sports was also added a few weeks ago.

It's not just AMC+ driving the price increases on the genre packs, the rest of the AMC Networks (AMC, WE, IFC, Sundance, BBC America), along with Paramount/CBS, Hallmark, Weigel and others joined since they debuted last year.
K
MySports now has some CW affiliates, and MyNews now has some CW affiliates and the MyNetworkTV O&Os.

At quick check, it looks like the CBS and Sinclair owned CW affiliates are missing.
C
MySports now has some CW affiliates, and MyNews now has some CW affiliates and the MyNetworkTV O&Os.

At quick check, it looks like the CBS and Sinclair owned CW affiliates are missing.
No Hearst owned CW in Orlando
osu1991
Pub Member / Supporter
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club

The number-one US state for EV growth, according to the June 22 Yardi report?
Oklahoma.


:eek


It has no ZEV mandates and "minimal" incentives, Yardi says, but also has cheap electricity, high multi-car household rates (so, for example, a non-Lightning Ford F-150 pulls their trailers), and a consumer base willing to switch.
121 Replies · 1320 views
osu1991

The Cybertruck was supposed to make the F-150 obsolete. It wasn't supposed to be boring, like a Ford or a Chevy. It was supposed to be "more truck than truck." It turns out, people just wanted trucks that were trucks, and CEO Elon Musk announced on X earlier this morning is that the Cybertruck is dying.


Ending production in middle of next year at gigatexas for cybercab production.
  • Wow
Reactions: dishstaller
dishstaller
IF they had made the cyber truck more like a conventional truck, more would have bought it. There is a REASON trucks all have a very similar layout....it's what people want AND it serves the purposes those of us who have a truck needs.
  • Like
Reactions: osu1991
harshness
There is a REASON trucks all have a very similar layout....it's what people want AND it serves the purposes those of us who have a truck needs.
As it is, most consumers buy trucks as comfortable transportation rather than commercial utility. The Cybertruck approach to that goal was way out in left field. It turned out to be more of an austere sedan with awful daily-driver attributes (visibility, parking). The expectations regarding truck durability were dashed early on.
  • Like
Reactions: osu1991
Neutron
Supporting Founder
Last reply · posted in Computers and Gadgets
Does anyone here use Apple Home/HomeKit with HomePods or Apple TV to automate smart devices in their house? We have had Amazon's Alexa set up in our house for the last 10+ years and I have been waiting to switch them out to Apple for a few reasons; We are already in the Apple ecosystem with our phones, tablets, and computers. I have never liked Amazon's stance on privacy and I really like that Apple has pushed for privacy for a long time.

I bought 4 of the new HomePod Mini 2 speakers to go in various rooms in our house and we have one of the new Apple TVs on preorder that will be the start of me replacing our Rokus. I have the HomePod Mini 2s set up and have an RPi that is running HomeBridge for our legacy smart devices that worked natively with Alexa but don't work with Apple Home natively. I had trouble with the older smart bulbs not keeping the brightness or light color consistent with what our routines were with Alexa despite trying every setting in HomeBridge with the bulbs just not shining very bright. I ended up replacing them with updated versions that are Matter compatible so they work in Apple Home natively. That in and of itself has been interesting to set up because I have my home network segretated with the IoT devices on their own vlan and wifi and pretty locked down. Matter requires IPv6 and due to how my home network is designed I had to do some digging with AI to figure out how to make it all work correctly.

Apple Home definitely has some shortcomings that Alexa does much better with but I am hoping Apple will continue to improve their Home products and introduce features that will bring it closer to the functionality of Alexa.
5 Replies · 88 views
b4pjoe
I tried HomeKit to be able to see my Ring cameras on my Apple TV as they are not supported natively on Apple devices. The best I could get was to be able to view the cameras live but I could not view any recordings. After the last major update version of HomeKit I could not even view the live cameras anymore. I gave up on it after that. If I were going to do it again I would only buy devices that can work on Apple devices natively as HomeKit didn't work well at all for me.
  • Like
Reactions: Neutron
Neutron
I tried HomeKit to be able to see my Ring cameras on my Apple TV as they are not supported natively on Apple devices. The best I could get was to be able to view the cameras live but I could not view any recordings. After the last major update version of HomeKit I could not even view the live cameras anymore. I gave up on it after that. If I were going to do it again I would only buy devices that can work on Apple devices natively as HomeKit didn't work well at all for me.
That's what I started doing after seeing legacy devices work hit or miss using the HomeBridge. At least Apple is following a standard now with Matter which is unusual for Apple. Looks like HomeBridge does allow you to see the live views but I haven't seen how to view past recordings. I'd really like to ditch Ring altogether due to their stance on privacy and if I had my choice I'd go with UniFi since that's what I use for my network and I like the idea of my camera recordings being all local and not in the cloud. UniFi doorbells and cameras are quite pricey though.

I'll try to access the Ring doorbells in Apple Home for now but I'll see if it's useful any.
Foxbat
I found that the IoT devices need to see the Apple TV to be able to use it as the HomeKit Hub. Unfortunately, that means being in the same IPv4 subnet.

I was thinking of getting a HomePod Mini for my Mother-in-Law to play music and set up HomeKit scenes, as well as make FaceTime Audio calls. When Apple announced their price rises due to RAMageddon, I kicked myself as they went up 50% in cost. I'll be curious to see the HomeView in person as this might not be a bad way to get her started on automation.

She asked about it because her friends have Alexa and they use it to control lights. But like you, I feel better putting in a HomePod or HomeView that's listening for commands instead of Amazon or Google.
b4pjoe
That's what I started doing after seeing legacy devices work hit or miss using the HomeBridge.
Homebridge is what I meant when I said HomeKit. Forgot the name of it.
harshness
I find that I don't interact with my home automation system (Hubitat Elevation) as much as I thought I would.

Apple made everything more expensive and less flexible with its "our way or the highway" approach. To be sure, a Homebridge server addresses some of the major deficiencies, but it seems like it will always be a battle to keep pasting things together.