Cord cutting still subpar

[george99]

I have been with directv for over 10 years.
I decided to cut the cord and try the streaming companies. I put my directv on hold and not cancel just in case I didn’t like it.
I tried every major service out there.
Directv now
Sling
PS vue
Hulu
YouTube Tv
Fubo

With directv I was a “mover”. I live in Florida but “moved” to New York to get the New York locals.
Using a fire tv which does not have location services, and a dedicated VPN router just for the fire tv, I was able to get NY locals with directv now. Chanel wise, they definitely have the largest selection of all the other streaming companies. So after trying all, I went with them. Especially since they are the only ones that have yes, sny, msg, mlb network, and nhl network. The others have some but not all.

I am not too picky about the other channels. Just give me the mainstream channels and I am happy.

But unfortunately the user interface of dtv now sucks. The DVR is an absolute joke. It is just a royal pain to watch tv and quickly change channels.
This is made worse by amazon and apple, etc obsession with minimalism. The lack of buttons makes it a real pain to do things. Lots of presses to get what I want. I can’t just enter a chanel#. I can’t just go straight to the guide. I can’t just hit record. The list goes on and on. Eventually the remote will have one button. Click it 1743 times to record a show. Click it 643 times to mute....

The other services I tried all have better user interfaces than dtv now, but they still aren’t very convenient to use.

I can’t rewind live tv either.

I know all these things can be built into the software for these apps, but it isn’t.

The streaming services have much better prices, easy to set up, etc. but the real directv or cable, etc still beats the streamers hands down. That’s why they can get away with charging much more.

Just my opinion.

 

[spencer7779]

Hdhomerun Premium tv is the best blend of Streaming and Cable features.

 

[harshness]

Just my opinion.

You made it clear why you hold that opinion so your review is valuable.

 

[harshness]

Hdhomerun Premium tv is the best blend of Streaming and Cable features.

Do you have some supporting information to support that claim?

HDHomerun Premium doesn't address many of the channels that george99 sought so for him, it isn't even a reasonable choice. It doesn't matter how good your apps are if you can't get the content you want and by the same token it doesn't matter how good the content is if you can't get the app support that you need.

 

[spencer7779]

Do you have some supporting information to support that claim?

HDHomerun Premium doesn't address many of the channels that george99 sought so for him, it isn't even a reasonable choice. It doesn't matter how good your apps are if you can't get the content you want and by the same token it doesn't matter how good the content is if you can't get the app support that you need.

Yep, The only OTT that can record locally and it meets most of the op concerns. Did you even read the original post. The OP wants basic content.

 

[Bruce]

The streaming services have much better prices, easy to set up, etc. but the real directv or cable, etc still beats the streamers hands down. That’s why they can get away with charging much more.

You may be right, certain Cable/Sat. Services may be better but I ( and others) have decided those extra services are not worth the extra $$$$.

By moving to Vue I no longer have extra Box Fees ( I would need 5), Broadcast Fees, Local Sports Fees, DVR Fees.

My Programming Package (Core) is just right, DVR never fails ( do not use it that much), easy to use guide and it only costs me $50 a month along with $70 I pay for Broadband, that is less then what a lot of people are paying for TV alone.

 

[DWS44]

This is made worse by amazon and apple, etc obsession with minimalism. The lack of buttons makes it a real pain to do things. Lots of presses to get what I want. I can’t just enter a chanel#. I can’t just go straight to the guide. I can’t just hit record. The list goes on and on. Eventually the remote will have one button. Click it 1743 times to record a show. Click it 643 times to mute....

I had to chuckle at the way you stated that, especially the last part...but I also agree 100%.

Sometimes it feels like the oversimplifying and idiot-proofing of everything in this day and age isn't doing much more than breeding more and more idiots.

 

[Zookster]

I

The other services I tried all have better user interfaces than dtv now, but they still aren’t very convenient to use.

I can’t rewind live tv either.

In two-plus years, I've never had a problem rewinding live TV with either PlayStation Vue or YouTube TV. In fact with the latter I can go back to the beginning of a show in the last channel I've been watching even after hours of having the app closed or switching devices. PlayStation Vue's 5-minute live TV buffer does leave a little bit to be desired (unless that's been addressed in the past six months). To Vue's credit, however, one of the best remote/user experiences I've had with OTT live TV services is watching Vue on a PS4 with a PS4 media remote (lots of shortcut buttons for almost every menu function).

Regardless it seems your need to access regional channels you normally wouldn't be entitled to receiving will always limit your choices when it comes to live TV streaming options. It's like saying the experience with Netflix is subpar because they block you from illegally accessing the content available in Netflix's European markets.

 

[harshness]

So after trying all, I went with them. Especially since they are the only ones that have yes, sny, msg, mlb network, and nhl network.

Yep, The only OTT that can record locally and it meets most of the op concerns. Did you even read the original post. The OP wants basic content.

YES, SNY, MSG, MLB and NHL certainly aren't "basic content"; they're all premium channels and specifically why the TS chose DIRECTV Now over the other options.

 

[NYDutch]

I've noticed that the OTT network apps I have on my FireTVstick are apparently keyed to locations determined by my Internet connection. For instance if I use my AT&T cell hotspot, the live CBS station is from NYC. If I use my Verizon hotspot, it's from Kansas City, and if I use our cottage's Spectrum cable service, the local station is from Albany, NY, which is the actual DMA we're in. The same holds for the NBC, ABC, and Fox apps. Should be interesting when we travel south as the weather gets colder.

 

[george99]

Just to add to this. Of the systems that I tried, PS Vue and YouTube TV had the best interfaces. But not the channels I wanted.
One thing I found VERY INTERESTING and unique to PS. Ur that literally nobody else has, is the ability to not be in your home area, and still get your local sports networks. No need for a VPN. They specifically go out of their way to tell you something “we noticed you are currently away from your home area but don’t worry you will still get your home area sports channels, and get your current location broadcast networks”.
This is huge. All I needed to do was to take one of many credit cards and change the billing address to a friend’s house in New Jersey, and then the New York area became my home area.
So in Florida where I really live, I got the NY sports networks and the Florida broadcast networks.
Only problem I had with PS Vue was it didn’t have all the channels I wanted. But if they did, I would have definitely switched to them.

FYI you can use Apple TV with a VPN router, but apple still has their own built
In location service and dtv now uses it. So it still recognizes where you are. However, that ONLY affects the guide. If you search for a channel by typing in the channel name or even channel number from regular DTV, it will find it and work.
But anyway it works a lot smoother on a fire TV with a VPN router.

The straw that broke the camels back with me was just my wife saying that she hasn’t watched tv in two months since we switched. It’s just a pain to use their app.
I kept trying to convince myself that it was just a matter of getting used to it, but it just isn’t nearly as good of an experience as DTV.
Hopefully they will one day fix that. Although as I mentioned above, a lot of it is because of the obsession with minimalism.

 

[MrMars]

Just to add to this. Of the systems that I tried, PS Vue and YouTube TV had the best interfaces. But not the channels I wanted.
One thing I found VERY INTERESTING and unique to PS. Ur that literally nobody else has, is the ability to not be in your home area, and still get your local sports networks. No need for a VPN. They specifically go out of their way to tell you something “we noticed you are currently away from your home area but don’t worry you will still get your home area sports channels, and get your current location broadcast networks”.
This is huge. All I needed to do was to take one of many credit cards and change the billing address to a friend’s house in New Jersey, and then the New York area became my home area.
So in Florida where I really live, I got the NY sports networks and the Florida broadcast networks.
Only problem I had with PS Vue was it didn’t have all the channels I wanted. But if they did, I would have definitely switched to them.

FYI you can use Apple TV with a VPN router, but apple still has their own built
In location service and dtv now uses it. So it still recognizes where you are. However, that ONLY affects the guide. If you search for a channel by typing in the channel name or even channel number from regular DTV, it will find it and work.
But anyway it works a lot smoother on a fire TV with a VPN router.

The straw that broke the camels back with me was just my wife saying that she hasn’t watched tv in two months since we switched. It’s just a pain to use their app.
I kept trying to convince myself that it was just a matter of getting used to it, but it just isn’t nearly as good of an experience as DTV.
Hopefully they will one day fix that. Although as I mentioned above, a lot of it is because of the obsession with minimalism.

Will work in theory, but there is some restrictions

From: https://support.us.playstation.com/...layStation-Vue-Watching-Out-of-Your-Home-Area

First sign in has to be from your home zip code, you also must sign in from your home area every 60 days or the service will shut off. If you kept a VPN in NY and just signed in every month or so you would be fine.

No NHL games when traveling either but granted there is no MSG on Vue is a moot point if you use a NY address

 

[xfoneguy]

I have been with directv for over 10 years.
I decided to cut the cord and try the streaming companies. I put my directv on hold and not cancel just in case I didn’t like it.
I tried every major service out there.
Directv now
Sling
PS vue
Hulu
YouTube Tv
Fubo

With directv I was a “mover”. I live in Florida but “moved” to New York to get the New York locals.
Using a fire tv which does not have location services, and a dedicated VPN router just for the fire tv, I was able to get NY locals with directv now. Chanel wise, they definitely have the largest selection of all the other streaming companies. So after trying all, I went with them. Especially since they are the only ones that have yes, sny, msg, mlb network, and nhl network. The others have some but not all.

I am not too picky about the other channels. Just give me the mainstream channels and I am happy.

But unfortunately the user interface of dtv now sucks. The DVR is an absolute joke. It is just a royal pain to watch tv and quickly change channels.
This is made worse by amazon and apple, etc obsession with minimalism. The lack of buttons makes it a real pain to do things. Lots of presses to get what I want. I can’t just enter a chanel#. I can’t just go straight to the guide. I can’t just hit record. The list goes on and on. Eventually the remote will have one button. Click it 1743 times to record a show. Click it 643 times to mute....

The other services I tried all have better user interfaces than dtv now, but they still aren’t very convenient to use.

I can’t rewind live tv either.

I know all these things can be built into the software for these apps, but it isn’t.

The streaming services have much better prices, easy to set up, etc. but the real directv or cable, etc still beats the streamers hands down. That’s why they can get away with charging much more.

Just my opinion.

Good thoughts.... I guess that replacing cable or satellite with streaming TV is just not quite "ready for prime time" yet.... I really wish it were, as I need to cut the cord soon for financial reasons if nothing else. Being on a fixed income now, I've decided that I'd rather eat than watch TV. I've tried all the major players (with the exception of Sling, as they do not have my local networks, and that is non-optional for us. And unfortunately OTA is not possible where we live). It seems like we can't find any one service that has both the channels we watch AND a decent interface. So far, PS Vue comes the closest to having both. I really like the YTTV UI, but it's missing channels that are really important to us. We could go with multiple providers, but that seems like a royal pain.

Right now, I'm running DTVN alongside Dish (satellite), but it seems to have too many weird buggy issues. And as much as I need to save money, I don't know that I can put up with being forced to watch commercials again like "the old days". That seems really archaic. Anyway, watching this thing evolve is quite interesting, if nothing else.Thank you for your thoughts.

 

[endswell]

I recently dropped my Dish service and have tried the same list of streaming services that the initial post listed. I have to agree with his conclusions and especially about DTVN. I signed-up with DTVN and pre-paid 4 months so I could get the free Apple TV but I now regret having done that. I can't believe how bad the DTVN service is. I assumed (incorrectly, for sure!) that since DTV had been providing content for many years, including DVR, that they would have a decent system. It's amazing how bad the DTVN DVR is. The 15 sec FFWD feature is a joke. Sometimes it just hangs-up, sometimes it leaves me where I started. Every once in a while, it actually works!

I also agree with the channel comments. Why isn't there a "previous" feature of some type, so you can go back and forth between two channels? Why can't I simply bring the guide up when I want, instead of having to making three remote clicks to get there?

I regret having signed-up with DTVN and will probably try the PS VUE for a bit longer because they seemed to have done a much better job with their DVR. I hesitated with PS VUE because I thought their picture quality wasn't quite as good as DTVN. What do others think?

 

[Zookster]

I regret having signed-up with DTVN and will probably try the PS VUE for a bit longer because they seemed to have done a much better job with their DVR. I hesitated with PS VUE because I thought their picture quality wasn't quite as good as DTVN. What do others think?

I had PS Vue for 20 months before switching to YouTubeTV in February. I like YTTV more and plan on sticking with it as long as my grandfathered price of $35/mo continues (and they don't do anything else to mess things up). YTTV's platform is much more stable. I can count on one hand the number of buffers or outages I've experienced in eight months, whereas with PS Vue it would take more than one hand to count the number of buffers and outages in one month (and PS Vue is among the better services in that regard).

If YTTV didn't exist (or wasn't in my area or not on a device I wanted to own), I would still be with PS Vue, in spite of it now costing $15 more for a comparable channel selection. PS Vue's interface is better, especially using my PS4 media remote (there's a shortcut key for every function and menu screen). There is also less restriction when it comes to forced VoD of recorded shows. However, PS Vue is going in the opposite direction as YTTV in that regard. PS Vue now restricts on Fox and Fox-owned channels, whereas YTTV recently lifted those restrictions, and has said in a tweet they are working on the others (CBS and NBC-owned channels are the only ones still affected, along with the CW, which Vue doesn't offer).

As far as picture quality, I never had any problem with Vue, though I was using the service's "flagship" device, the PS4 (it would get new features and upgrades first and/or exclusively). YTTV is now 60fps on every channel and 1080p on many. So no issues there. At one point last weekend, I switched to watching the network's NFL game on antenna, but decided YTTV looked better, while allowing me rewind of live TV. YMMV.

 

[harshness]

There was a time when you could subscribe to just your locals through DISH. I'm not sure if that's still available nor if the HD channels are available.

 

[Zookster]

There was a time when you could subscribe to just your locals through DISH. I'm not sure if that's still available nor if the HD channels are available.

There was a time I could subscribe to my locals (networks, RSN, independents, public access) through my cable company for $12/mo (included HD). I did that when I had DISH just to get my RSN. That was so 10-15 years ago. lol

 

[xfoneguy]

I had PS Vue for 20 months before switching to YouTubeTV in February. I like YTTV more and plan on sticking with it as long as my grandfathered price of $35/mo continues (and they don't do anything else to mess things up). YTTV's platform is much more stable. I can count on one hand the number of buffers or outages I've experienced in eight months, whereas with PS Vue it would take more than one hand to count the number of buffers and outages in one month (and PS Vue is among the better services in that regard).

If YTTV didn't exist (or wasn't in my area or not on a device I wanted to own), I would still be with PS Vue, in spite of it now costing $15 more for a comparable channel selection. PS Vue's interface is better, especially using my PS4 media remote (there's a shortcut key for every function and menu screen). There is also less restriction when it comes to forced VoD of recorded shows. However, PS Vue is going in the opposite direction as YTTV in that regard. PS Vue now restricts on Fox and Fox-owned channels, whereas YTTV recently lifted those restrictions, and has said in a tweet they are working on the others (CBS and NBC-owned channels are the only ones still affected, along with the CW, which Vue doesn't offer).

As far as picture quality, I never had any problem with Vue, though I was using the service's "flagship" device, the PS4 (it would get new features and upgrades first and/or exclusively). YTTV is now 60fps on every channel and 1080p on many. So no issues there. At one point last weekend, I switched to watching the network's NFL game on antenna, but decided YTTV looked better, while allowing me rewind of live TV. YMMV.

I would likely go with YTTV were it not for the fact that they aren't carrying any of the Hallmark channels - gotta keep the wife happy too LOL

 

[Ronnie-]

I would likely go with YTTV were it not for the fact that they aren't carrying any of the Hallmark channels - gotta keep the wife happy too LOL

I stuck by that for a while, then we figured out that alot of channels we HAD to have, we really didn't .

Or we found alternate methods to get similar content.

Lol, cutting the "cord" isn't for everyone for sure.

But alot I think stick because of things they think they just can't do without. (Not saying that is you)

 

[Jhon69]

I stuck by that for a while, then we figured out that alot of channels we HAD to have, we really didn't .

Or we found alternate methods to get similar content.

Lol, cutting the "cord" isn't for everyone for sure.

But alot I think stick because of things they think they just can't do without. (Not saying that is you)

Who says you have to do without? We were in the same boat wanting Hallmark,but wanted to keep YTTV/wStarz and Philo.
Found out we could subscribe to the Hallmark Movies Now app for $5. a month when you subscribe to their annual rate.
Now we have access to all Hallmark's Series,Movies,Dramas,Mysteries,some may say $5. a month is too much and I just say there are no commercials at all on the Hallmark Movies Now app.