I have finally come to the realization that I am paying way too much money for what I am getting from my DirectTV account, both at home and in the motor home. I realize that Hulu and other Internet streaming solutions won't work well for the motor home but I can survive with over the air and Red Box!! My main problem in both venues is that I really want, I struggle not to say need, to be able to put shows on DVR. When we do our seasonal work with Amazon I miss 3 months of programming that I regularly watch. Is there a solution that allows over the air reception to record and view later? Thank you.

here's what we did- dumped direct TV, there was nothing on it we really enjoyed. got a TIVO, paid the lifetime subscription and a ROKU for each TV. we can record off the TIVO for the local channels and the ROKU lets us stream Amazon and Netflix. the TIVO subscription paid for itself in 5 months and now we pay 8.00 per month for the Netflix and the Amazon is included with our prime membership. I find we watch less TV and better TV. we have brought the ROKU with us and have streamed off our Verizon jet pack, we rarely watch TV when we camp.JMHO

My bride and I haven't watched TV for over 40 years. We've saved a bundle, not to mention had lots more time for important stuff. Hey, does this mean I get to go buy that Lamborghini with the money we've saved?

We are doing pretty good with the OTA NATL BROADCAST setup from the local towns. usually picks up 6-36 full blown HDTV digital Stations just about everywhere we go using our BATWING antenna. Most of our trips are on the East side of the US which probably has more close-by local towns to deal with.If we want to watch the "cable" stations then have downstreamed them over the internet. If we wanted to get into this mode big time would probably get at least the 20GB DATAPLAN from MILLENICOM... My current 3GB DATAPLAN with Verizon MIFI will only do a few one hours TV shows a month before running out of my DATAPLAN.This same way of thinking is definitely on our horizon for HDTV at home as well.Roy Ken

rav wrote:here's what we did- dumped direct TV, there was nothing on it we really enjoyed. got a TIVO, paid the lifetime subscription and a ROKU for each TV. we can record off the TIVO for the local channels and the ROKU lets us stream Amazon and Netflix. the TIVO subscription paid for itself in 5 months and now we pay 8.00 per month for the Netflix and the Amazon is included with our prime membership. I find we watch less TV and better TV. we have brought the ROKU with us and have streamed off our Verizon jet pack, we rarely watch TV when we camp.JMHOHow do you stream Amazon and Netflix when in the motorhome??

We pulled the plug on DTV, last March when we sold our home. I own the receivers, and have auto satellite in the Motorhome. We did not reconnect due to several factors, social programming, crappy news reporting, talking heads that don't have a clue/propaganda, and cost of crappy programming.Flash back, don't miss it a day. We choose which crappy news reporting and headlines we want on the computer. Sometimes there are even well written articles that tells the entire story. We buy Blu-Ray movies as we choose, and have recorded all our privately owned standard dvd's onto an external hard drive (easy storage solution). We probably spend as much on dvd movies/internet access, but it sure is nice to choose our own programs. There is one series we liked that we will purchase as the new season ends and becomes available on dvd.Otherwise, the receiver and satellite collects dust and has become ornaments.Don't envision returning to satellite TV until they offer ala carte, is that like ala mode. So most likely will never return.When we visit family, we don't even watch their cable network. It's amazing how reruns of John Wayne is still enjoyable, Michenor's Texas, et. al. We purchase history dvds, which results in some great and interesting video.Kindle reading fills in the blank times.This was our solution.

Looking to Cut the Cord on Paid Television | Good Sam Community

1492
Moderator
Feb 01, 2014
I cut the cord on paid TV long ago. Not the result of just ever increasing monthly costs, but the nail in the coffin was HBO canceling three of my favorite series in a row. Still watch HBO current series, but buy the DVDs instead.

The Homeworx does work very well. It records in whatever rez the OTA program is being broadcast. I've attached a recycled '04 Maxtor IDE HD using an external USB enclosure to record programs or for DVR.
VE3ESN
Explorer
Feb 01, 2014
Just came across THIS ARTICLE. There are certainly lots of terrific suggestions in the thread from very knowledgeable folks. However, this link serves as a great tutorial for people like me who haven't kept up-to-date with the myriad of alternatives out there.
Fredzo
Explorer
Feb 01, 2014
docj wrote:
Redsky wrote:
We use the $8 Netflix streaming plan and stream in low def (same as normal pre-HD broadcase) and let the Blu-Ray DVD player upscale it for our 52" LCD screen and it works perfectly.

With all due respect, upscaling does not restore definition to a TV picture. An SD picture has less digital information than an HD picture. An upscaling Blu-ray player can provide an acceptable picture on a large screen HDTV but it does not restore the missing resolution; that is a physical impossibility. What the Blu-ray does is called interpolation which is another way of saying that it makes an educated "guess" as to what the missing pixels would be. But that's not the same as actually having them. If the picture is acceptable to you that's fine, but some people like actually having an HD picture.

Excellent,succint, post!
Fredzo
Explorer
Feb 01, 2014
My problem is that I live in the desert, north of Los Angeles, and in the shadow of the local mountains. We cannot receive any OTA stuff but one Mexican transponder, and we live more than four miles from our local Verizon switchroom (1.3MB Max!), so we're stuck with DirecTV.

Learned to live with it on the road, and it ain't too bad, except for the monthly sting. Ouch! $150!
MrWizard
Moderator
Feb 02, 2014
What is your internet provider
If you have dsl cable fiber optic, then you can watch Netflix HuLu Vudu etc
Jagtech
Explorer
Feb 02, 2014
In addition to my antenna-based Over-The-Air reception, I have been using FTA (Free-To-Air) satellite. My receiver has DVR capability, and while I can't receive all of the usual network programming, there's still lots of choice.
See the following for a listing of FTA channels:

FTA Channel Listing

And remember, FTA is 100% legal and free. It requires a one-time investment of around $200-300 for a dish, receiver / PVR, and dish positioner. And its a great hobby to get involved in!
Pirate1
Explorer
Feb 02, 2014
Jagtech wrote:
In addition to my antenna-based Over-The-Air reception, I have been using FTA (Free-To-Air) satellite. My receiver has DVR capability, and while I can't receive all of the usual network programming, there's still lots of choice.
See the following for a listing of FTA channels:

FTA Channel Listing

And remember, FTA is 100% legal and free. It requires a one-time investment of around $200-300 for a dish, receiver / PVR, and dish positioner. And its a great hobby to get involved in!
Is this packaged up? Where can one find all the required equipment and information? Thanks.
Jagtech
Explorer
Feb 02, 2014
Pirate wrote:
Jagtech wrote:
In addition to my antenna-based Over-The-Air reception, I have been using FTA (Free-To-Air) satellite. My receiver has DVR capability, and while I can't receive all of the usual network programming, there's still lots of choice.
See the following for a listing of FTA channels:

FTA Channel Listing

And remember, FTA is 100% legal and free. It requires a one-time investment of around $200-300 for a dish, receiver / PVR, and dish positioner. And its a great hobby to get involved in!
Is this packaged up? Where can one find all the required equipment and information? Thanks.

I found my equipment on Ebay, didn't really look for a "package" as such. I just bought a 30" dish, a FTA receiver/PVR and a dish positioner. There are books available on eBay:

FTA Manual

Also several really informative forums on the 'net. Its a bit of a learning curve. As I stated, its kind of a hobby with me....
az99
Explorer
Feb 05, 2014
I bought one of the iview boxes just to try as they were only $40. It works as advertised but still nowhere near as easy and convenient and less features than the DVR.
And that is why the average person will not cut the cord. FTA,recording OTA, Netflix etc. can give you something to watch and play with but they are truly not a replacement for subscription satellite with a DVR. Especially for my wife.
I wish there was a simple easy to use solution as I would love to tell DirecTV to stick their overpriced and grossly over advertised service.
az99
Explorer
Feb 05, 2014
Pirate wrote:
Jagtech wrote:
In addition to my antenna-based Over-The-Air reception, I have been using FTA (Free-To-Air) satellite. My receiver has DVR capability, and while I can't receive all of the usual network programming, there's still lots of choice.
See the following for a listing of FTA channels:

FTA Channel Listing

And remember, FTA is 100% legal and free. It requires a one-time investment of around $200-300 for a dish, receiver / PVR, and dish positioner. And its a great hobby to get involved in!
Is this packaged up? Where can one find all the required equipment and information? Thanks.
Don't waste your time and money. If you really want to watch TV there is little of interest compared to normal subscription satellite. If you just want a hobby of playing with the sat dish to see what you can find, it is good.
If I setup my FTA again and told my wife that was all she had to watch, there would be trouble. :)

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