Forum Discussion

RDMueller's avatar
RDMueller
Explorer
May 31, 2015

Streaming TV in an RV using a cellular data plan

Background- we are not actually going to watch much TV when camping, just want to have the option if the weather is bad for example. We seldom camp anywhere with TV hookups. Could do satellite but I'm leaning no on that, probably just wouldn't use it enough to justify the cost. I haven't had much luck with over the air, most likely due to the fairly remote and mountainous areas we usually camp.

So far we've mostly just watched DVDs, but that's a slowly dying technology. I haven't purchased a DVD in a long time. Blockbuster is basically gone. Redbox is usually the best option, but even that can sometimes be fairly distant depending where we are.

What I'd like to be able to do is stream Netflix or Hulu. We have a 10GB cellular data plan with plenty left over most months. But how to get it from the iPhone to the TV? I have Apple TV at home, but that requires a home network which is connected to our cable modem. I can create a wifi hot spot with my iPhone, but that doesn't use a router and Apple TV needs the router to work. I'm pretty sure that Roku works the same way. I've been looking at Amazon Fire TV Stick and it looks promising (they say you can use it in a hotel). Has anyone used it? Will it stream from a phone with LTE? Any other good options anyone can recommend? Thanks!
  • dan-nickie wrote:
    Get a Roku.
    Use your phone as a wireless hotspot.
    No 'router' needed.
    This is what I do.

    It will burn through your data in a short while.


    ETA: I would think you could do this with your apple tv and phone hotspot also without a router.
    Does apple tv have wireless built in?
    Try it at home and see.


    It does have wireless built in, but I thought it needed a wifi router connected via Ethernet to a modem. I'll give that a try though. Regarding burning thru the data, that's definitely a concern, I'm just thinking we won't use it enough to be a problem. I'm guessing maybe 1GB/hour. Does that sound about right?
  • Like previously advised. Turn on your Iphone hotspot and connect your Roku to it. Streaming HD movies uses about 1G per hour. You didn't say who your cellular provider was, but I have 15G (upped to 30G for free) from AT&T. No problem with streaming Netflix via Roku anywhere I've been....mainly in Texas.
  • jerem0621 wrote:
    We use VUDU and just download the movies to a phone or a tablet. HDMI cable to the TV and we have movies!

    But I have a large collection.

    Thanks!

    Jeremiah


    So you connect your phone or tablet directly to the TV with an HDMI cable? I'll have to look into that, didn't realize that option existed. Thanks!
  • We use VUDU and just download the movies to a phone or a tablet. HDMI cable to the TV and we have movies!

    But I have a large collection.

    Thanks!

    Jeremiah
  • Get a Roku.
    Use your phone as a wireless hotspot.
    No 'router' needed.
    This is what I do.

    It will burn through your data in a short while.


    ETA: I would think you could do this with your apple tv and phone hotspot also without a router.
    Does apple tv have wireless built in?
    Try it at home and see.
  • RDMueller wrote:
    I haven't had much luck with over the air, most likely due to the fairly remote and mountainous areas we usually camp.
    Streaming is easy with a strong 4g signal, but, since you said that, I wouldn't be relying on it working.

    Portable sat TV is your best bet.