New Source of TV While on the Road

[Healeyman]

We've Had Dish Network Sat TV in the house for over 20 years.

Years ago, I'd take a spare dish and the home receiver and go through the pains of setting that up (aiming the dish) so that we would have more than the, wherever we were, local channels.

That was such a PITA that we almost totally stopped watching TV at all.

A couple of years ago after we both got new Samsung S8+ phones, I installed the "Dish Anywhere" app. At least then I could watch some TV programs on the small phone screen.

About a year ago, I got a long HDMI cord so that I could pipe video from my laptop to the TV. That was better.

A couple of weeks ago, it struck me "See if you can pipe video from our phone to the TV". I went to Amazon and bought a $12 cable that plugs into my phone and to an HDMI cable.

The cable just got here, so I plugged my phone into the HDMI and into the Living room TV. I loaded the Dish app. and BINGO! I got a bright, clear, full screen image, and sound, on the TV.

Now, with our Verizon unlimited data plan, from ANYWHERE, can access our home Dish Receiver to see any Dish programming LIVE or anything that we have recorded on the receiver's DVR. The phone DOES charge while plugged into the TV.

This is sure gonna beat having to buy a Sat dish and mess with the programming and dealing with changes to the Dish account.

We go out in the RV next weekend. I can't wait.

Tim

[Tom_M1]

I have used VLC for years and am using the newest version 3.0.8. It has never prompted me for a password. You can download the current version here:

https://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-windows.html

[Bill_Satellite]

VLC is the other I have tried but it requires some kind of log in and password for the computer and I have not been able to get information about what it needs or where I would find that information.
PLEX appears to have done a software update and I have not been able to use it since.

[MrWizard]

I can't offer specific advice about Plex
Too watch movies on my PC I use Video LAN Player
Better known as VLC player

When was the last time it worked correctly
Have you done any software updates on your PC?

[Bill_Satellite]

Maybe I should mention that these are .AVI files. In the past PLEX allowed me to load the files into the Plex Media Server on my computer. Easy Peezy. Now it keeps saying I need to download the server despite it being installed.
Not sure how to open and .AVI file in Chrome.

[Dutch_12078]

Bill.Satellite wrote:
Is anyone streaming programs from your computer to the FireStick? I have old episodes of Northern Exposure on my computer and I was using Plex to stream them without much trouble. Now Plex has changed something and I cannot get my files to load on the Plex Media Server. I tried VLA and that's way over my head. It says it's the easiest but keeps asking for log in information I have no idea how to answer.
No more hardware answers, please. I have a MiFi, a laptop and a FireStick (2 actually).

I routinely cast various stored videos from my laptop to one of our Firesticks by opening the file with Chrome and casting from there.

[Bill_Satellite]

Yeah, have no idea!

[MrWizard]

Can you revert back to the previous version of plex
By doing a restore on your PC
Or
Is this a plex Internet server problem

I have never used plex
All my saved video files are on external backup had drives here in the RV

[Bill_Satellite]

Is anyone streaming programs from your computer to the FireStick? I have old episodes of Northern Exposure on my computer and I was using Plex to stream them without much trouble. Now Plex has changed something and I cannot get my files to load on the Plex Media Server. I tried VLA and that's way over my head. It says it's the easiest but keeps asking for log in information I have no idea how to answer.
No more hardware answers, please. I have a MiFi, a laptop and a FireStick (2 actually).

[Dutch_12078]

We have two unlimited (never throttled, just prioritized on busy towers) data plans, one with AT&T at $20/mo using their Connected Car Plan with the SIM in a Netgear hotspot, and a Visible (a Verizon company) $25/mo "Party Pay" phone plan with tethering/hotspot support. We stream to our FireTVstick daily with one or the other plan when we're in transit between destinations, and almost as much at our longer term destinations even with our Dish sat service set up. We've yet to land anywhere that one or the other cell service didn't give us an adequate signal, although I'm sure those places exist. We do use a Maximum Signal Max Amp RV cell amplifier/repeater in fringe areas though.

[Bigbird65]

was_butnotnow wrote:
The big advantage is that watching TV this way uses NO data on my phone plan, therefore no additional cost.
Aren't you still downloading DTV content over the cell internet, thus using your data?

Yes you are still streaming DirecTV from a cell tower and no you are not using data on your phone plan. The only disadvantage is that you are tying up your phone while watching TV. Not a problem for me. This link should answer your questions. Let me know what you think.
https://www.att.com/directv/experience/watch-directv-app.html

[was_butnotnow]

The big advantage is that watching TV this way uses NO data on my phone plan, therefore no additional cost.
Aren't you still downloading DTV content over the cell internet, thus using your data?

[jerem0621]

I do something very similar but I download shows and movies to my mobile device. Works great and no problems with “throttling”.

I have the Base Verizon unlimited plan. I’ve read the fine print. Basically it starts to prioritize you depending on the network load. I have had issues trying to stream in densely populated areas but in rural areas I have never had a problem (as long as I have service). I would say we are heavy streamers as we do not have cable or satellite TV.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[jhilley]

Sling Blue is now $30/mo. It now has all the channels I want. They give you 10 hrs of free DVR. I have the Sling AirTV Duo connected to an antenna at home for 42 OTA channels that I can get anywhere with the Sling App on my ROKU or Fire Stick connected to TV.This allows us to watch local to our home news anywhere. The AirTV dhas a USB drive attached for 200 hrs of OTA recording viewable anywhere.

[Bumpyroad]

az99 wrote:

wanderingaimlessly wrote:
Using Sling for $25 a month instead of what dish charges you, and I got a free TV dongle for signing up for 2 months.

So for that $25 you get all the same channels as a Dish package? And locals? How about the DVR? How much is your unlimited data plan? I don't think you are comparing apples to apples. 🙂

I "assume" this works the same as my roku where I can get showtime/hbo/etc thru it but only if I have a subscription to hbo etc.
bumpy