Forum Discussion

bowler1's avatar
bowler1
Explorer
Apr 28, 2018

Streaming Video Options vs. Sattelite Dish???

Hi,
Okay this is a follow-up to my post asking about satellite dishes. Someone brought up a good point that is worthy of a separate discussion. What about options for streaming video vs. a dish?

I don't know much about them, but I know that there are options like Apple TV, Amazon Fire, etc.

Might those be a good alternative to a dish? I know that a campground with WiFi probably would not provide fast enough speeds and reliable enough connection to support this option, but what about using your phone as a hotspot (assuming you get an unlimited data plan)? Seems like it might be an option as long as you were not way out someplace where you had no cell signal.

But I really don't know much of anything about streaming options and don't know how reliable it is. Also don't know how well it would work with a phone with an unlimited data plan. I have been told that with an unlimited data plan you only get so much data at the fastest speed and then after that any data you have remaining is at a much slower speed which might not allow it to work reliably.

Thoughts?

Thanks again for your help

Matt
  • Bill_Satellite's avatar
    Bill_Satellite
    Explorer II
    Apr 28, 2018
    This will work......well, sort of. What are you going to have to pay to get enough data from your cellular service to allow you to stream the amount you would like. Videos are data hogs and you will run through many, many GB's in no time if that's your only source of TV. You are correct that most campground WiFi will be unusable as even the "good" wifi services will block streaming to keep the good wifi good.
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Apr 28, 2018
    To stream you need a strong internet. How do you expect to get that out in the boonies?
  • Dutch_12078's avatar
    Dutch_12078
    Explorer II
    Apr 28, 2018
    We've streamed our DishAnywhere service even on a slow 3G cell signal at times, although there's more frequent buffering not surprisingly.
  • MDKMDK's avatar
    MDKMDK
    Explorer
    Apr 28, 2018
    Free high speed wifi would be your best option. If you stayed at a campground that had that available to it's guests, you would probably be able to stream live TV through your phone or laptop using a service like Shaw Free Range TV. I've watched live TV at McDonald's and Starbucks on my phone in Canada, simply by logging into my Shaw account and accessing the FRTV part of their website. It's that easy.

    However, since free high speed wifi connections aren't always readily available when on the road, that's the weak link in the chain for viewing live TV away from home without using a cable TV connection or a satellite dish.
    Reality makes the rules.
  • Isaac-1's avatar
    Isaac-1
    Explorer
    Apr 28, 2018
    I use a Roku set top box (well pack of cards sized box velcroed to my TV cabinet, which lets me view Netflix, Amazon Prime, ... as well as free services like CW, CW Seed, etc..

    For the internet connection side, if the RV park does not have a robust wifi system (which few do), I have an AT&T Mobley with the now discontinued "unlimited" plan they offered last year for $20 per month, it may be throttled after 22 GB per month, though most users report no active throttling even then they exceed 22 GB per month by a wide margin.

    Standard definition streaming consumes about 750 MB per hour, depending on the service, some compress down to about 450 MB per hour for lower res viewing, though full HD takes 2+ GB per hour. Even sticking to that 22 GB per month number this allows for about an hour of SD television per day, which is about what I average when traveling.
  • MDKMDK's avatar
    MDKMDK
    Explorer
    Apr 28, 2018
    I now believe that I misunderstood the OP's question on this topic.
    I was thinking about the other topic about Canadian TV in Florida, where the OP on that topic wanted live/real time TV streaming, like sports events, and news.
    I have no experience with Netflix, Roku, or any other pre-recorded content. I don't use them at home, or on the road.
    Sorry for the confusion.
    My bad.:R
  • bowler1's avatar
    bowler1
    Explorer
    Apr 28, 2018
    Thanks for all the info. I now realize how much I did not know! I guess that I did not realize that the stuff from Netflix was considered "pre-recorded" and was not considered streaming. Is that the case with Apple TV as well?

    I could certainly live with "pre-recorded".

    Would that route work reliably with campground wireless systems or using my phone as a hotspot?

    thanks
    Matt
  • BobKrogstie's avatar
    BobKrogstie
    Explorer
    Apr 28, 2018
    Please, do me and your fellow campers a favor and don't try to stream anything on campground Wi-Fi. Bandwidth hogs are not looked upon favorably.
  • kerrlakeRoo's avatar
    kerrlakeRoo
    Explorer
    Apr 28, 2018
    To add one more method of use, we download entire seasons of shows when we are somewhere with good wifi. A library, restaurant, anywhere we stop we check. My current tablet has about 12, hour long episodes of a showtime series and a couple of movies from Showtime. Last month we had HBO the same way.
    For variety we use Amazon Prime, and then will add one of their channels for a month or two, right now its Showtime, next month it will be something else. We end up paying about $8 a month for the add on service and then cancel and change to a new one as we finish their currently interesting content.
    With the quality setting on good, which is about 480 p we can download a couple episodes while we shop or have lunch, and then watch at our liesure.
  • Dutch_12078's avatar
    Dutch_12078
    Explorer II
    Apr 28, 2018
    bowler1 wrote:
    Thanks for all the info. I now realize how much I did not know! I guess that I did not realize that the stuff from Netflix was considered "pre-recorded" and was not considered streaming. Is that the case with Apple TV as well?

    I could certainly live with "pre-recorded".

    Would that route work reliably with campground wireless systems or using my phone as a hotspot?

    thanks
    Matt

    Netflix, etc, is very much "streaming", just as live viewing of sports, etc., is. Both use considerable amounts of bandwidth and can easily overload many RV park WiFi services with multiple users.

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