GuyNoir
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I'm exploring the world of cord cutting, and am looking for people here who are using the Sling TV streaming service. Good? Bad? In between?
Sling TV?
- Thread starter GuyNoir
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I gave Sling a try a couple of months ago, but wasn't impressed by the channels available. (YMMV)
Since there's not a long term commitment, it was easy to try for a month to decide. Canceling was equally easy - I give them credit for that.
Since there's not a long term commitment, it was easy to try for a month to decide. Canceling was equally easy - I give them credit for that.
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We've used Sling since July . I've been happy with service but am less happy with the Xbox One Sling app, which seems to constantly pixelate and stutter. The Roku app works great though. The "guide" is wierd and takes some getting used to.
On the plus side, fewer channels and options means we watch less TV.
On the plus side, fewer channels and options means we watch less TV.
Glad to finally find a real user. Sling has the channels I'd want to have in order to cut the cable.
My big question is, is it only "live" TV (programs available only when they would be shown at the same time as on cable) or can you build a Watchlist like you can on Hulu to watch a Tuesday night program on Wednesday or next week, for example?
Comcast keeps getting more expensive for fewer desirable channels and I'd love to drop them but really enjoy good TV like FX and AMC.
PBic
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I can't answer your question today, but will be able to in about 4-5 days. I ordered a Roku for delivery Sunday, and am going for DirectTV Now's basic package for live TV. It does include the networks you mention. Their website also claims some on-demand viewing after the initial broadcast, but they don't specify which programs it allows. I'm guessing it's on a program by program basis as contracts for those shows probably varys. PM me if you'd like me to test it out on specific shows and I'll let you know what I find. I'm on Comcast in Oregon.
Paul B.
Paul B.
dixontj93060
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I use it. I'm fine with it. Have Orange/Blue combined.
From the Ether...
From the Ether...
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As far as I've seen there is no "on demand" type service on sling. There is a DVR option ($5/mon?). Which can be setup to record a series.
dixontj93060
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They have movie channels that have a handful of on demand titles. Fandom, Reelz, HDNet. Of course you can also add movie channels that give you hundreds of active selections, e.g., EPIX.
From the Ether...
From the Ether...
billdz
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Where do you cord-cutters get your internet? I'd love to switch to Sling, DirectTV Now, etc., but all require a good internet connection. Here, Comcast has the best internet, and their internet bundled with cable TV is not that much more than internet alone.
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I use Comcast internet (200 mbps @ $85/mo) and of course when I dropped the TV subscription I got a hard sell to keep the TV. What I found was, to get the channels we wanted and could get from sling, it would add $40 a month to the bill but would jump to $80 in a year. Then you also have the additional $10/mo for cable box rent ($20 if I include a second TV). So while on the surface the TV is a cheap add-on, it found it didn't really work out that way.
Once we cut the [TV] cord, we added Sling and Hulu subscriptions for a total of ~$35/mo, which is lower than the promo rate Comcast was offering even before cable box rentals. We also use Netflix but I didn't include that since we used that even while we had cable.
Where I live, the internet is from Spectrum (used to be Bright House Networks, both are related to Time Warner). I cut the cord back in 2009 and haven't looked back since. I haven't bothered with Sling TV but would do so if I needed any of the channels they offer, long before I would ever consider getting cable TV/dish back. I record local stuff OTA to my home theater PC hard drive via SiliconDust HDHomeRun tuners, and get bluray discs from Netflix and 3dBluRayRental. Pepper in streaming from Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon, and I've got more content than I could ever watch, and can view any of it at the time that works for me.
Unfortunately, the demise of the net neutrality rules will likely mess up our ability to freely stream from our chosen content providers instead of whatever the ISP wants to shove at us, over time. Remember this next time you vote.
Marc
Unfortunately, the demise of the net neutrality rules will likely mess up our ability to freely stream from our chosen content providers instead of whatever the ISP wants to shove at us, over time. Remember this next time you vote.
Marc
dixontj93060
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If you are looking for some diverse entertainment, try PlutoTV. Definitely alternative programming, but I have found it enjoyable. If I haven't found a show to binge on Netflix, most stuff there and Amazon is boring. That's when I'll flip to Pluto. It has some obscure Sci-Fi, some great concert channels, old crime shows, "man" channels (and I don't mean porn), outlier sports coverage, etc.
From the Ether...
From the Ether...
RocketDestroyer
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What software do you use on your home theater PC? I don't mind paying a reasonable price once for a piece of software or hardware but I don't want to pay a monthly fee to record free TV. Otherwise you are only exchanging one ball and chain for another, albeit cheaper, one.
Terry
I use emby.
I've used emby and it's precursor, Media Browser (get it? Media Browser = M B = emby) since 2009. Check out the emby.media website for details. Here is how it works:
On a PC of some sort (Windows, Linux, Mac) you have emby server that runs all the time. It manages your media library, including performing recording from a network attached tuner such as the SiliconDust HDHomeRun Connect or Extend. The server DOES NOT have to be some big beefy thing. I ran on a PC I built in 2009 until about a year ago. It does need to have sufficient hard drive space or access to a network share with space, as an hour of TV will take up 6-9 GB. The server has a web interface you use to manage it, including setting up your recordings.
You will need a guide subscription. There are ways to scrape guide data for free, but trust me. Pay the $25/yr for the schedule from Schedules Direct. It "just works."
The Emby Server records TV and hosts whatever other media you put into it. There are MANY clients that you can use to watch your content. In my case, my server also is used as a home theater PC (HTPC) that runs Emby Theater (the windows client for viewing your media). It's a great interface; lots of people use it with just a remote but I prefer a small keyboard with trackpad. But you don't need to use a PC. You can use a Roku, an Android client, or any of numerous other clients.
The software is well supported and there's a great community around it with a pretty busy forum.
One warning: the free trial version of Emby is pretty limited. I never recommend using it. Pay the $5 for a one month subscription to Emby Premiere which unlocks everything. (Schedules Direct has a week or two free trial by the way). Spend you month with full $5 subscription to explore Emby and see if it works for you. If so, buy the lifetime license and be done with it. From there it's just the $25/yr Schedules Direct fee for getting your schedule data.
Good luck if you check it out!
Marc
hornet driver
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Well, I've been on the learning curve with cutting the cable for a few months now. Tried NetFlix but it really didn't have much to offer me. At the same time I got Hulu Live. Between the two I could manage but still was not happy. Also hooked up an antennae for over the air. I kept the antennae since I get about 25 local channels and some of them have good old stuff on including Star Trek--Battle Star--among others. I just got Youtube live for 35 a month and the selection is almost exactly what Spectrum(Time Warner-Charter-CROOKS) VERY happy with it so far plus you can record an infinite amount of programs--you don't need a box--you can set up separate accounts in your house --add all your devices--Hbo and that sort of thing are a little extra if you want them . You might want to look into it. The first week is free and you can quit anytime. So far the reception has been perfect , Hulu was giving us Buffering and reception quality problems.
dixontj93060
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I may give this a closer look. I got sidetracked a couple weeks ago when I first heard of it. Looks like a Sling alternative (or Sling killer). Will likely just wait until it it available on Roku: https://www.cnet.com/news/youtube-tv-delays-roku-apple-tv-apps-to-2018/.
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Last time I looked at Youtube Red I didn't see much of interest to me beyond my other sources, but may give it another peek in the next round. Hulu has several things I specifically want to watch so it's unlikely I would drop it.
hornet driver
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YouTube Red doesn't offer much for me . YouTube Live tv is a whole other story though. Make sure not to confuse the two!
Thanks. I did confuse them!
