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JBrockey · 12-26-2013, 05:46 AM

I must have been a GOOD BOY this past year, because Santa brought me a
"Smart TV" for Christmas for my coach. I was discussing the wiring of this unit into my current satellite system with my son-in-laws and they suggested that I simply "stream" my TV signal off the internet. My better half got an IPad and Hotspot from Santa and I am told this is the latest thing. Has anyone used this system and if so, how do you like it.
They are telling me to get a "Slingbox" for live TV and Netflix for movies.

I'm totally Old School, so this is all new to me. Apparently it beats the satellite systems, as you don't have to worry about getting signals, etc.

oweninthekey · 12-26-2013, 05:52 AM

If you are interested in streaming your live TV from home I would recommend a Monsoon Vulkano box. We have used ours for 3 years to stream our Directv signal to the UK while we lived over there. It is very simple to use as long as you have a internet connection on both ends. Slingbox is good but their customer service is non-existent. Now that we are back in the US we will use ours to stream our TV to the RV while we are traveling.

docj · 12-26-2013, 06:10 AM

A Slingbox is designed to enab!e you to view your own TV at another location using the internet. That is NOT what most people would call streaming video.

Streaming is watching video whose source is the internet itself, such as Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Huluplus, etc. Although smart TVs can stream, they are typically limited in the number of streaming sources they can connect with. A Roku is a far more powerful streaming device and can access literally hundreds is sources.

We stream lots of video and are fortunate to have an unlimited Verizon plan to do it on. You will find streaming difficult on campground WiFi and you will be unpopular if you do it.

JBrockey · 12-26-2013, 06:22 AM

Thanks for the feedback. I don't plan on using campground Wi-Fi to stream. We now have a "HotSpot" which will give us a separate Wi-Fi signal anywhere. (or so I'm told)

docj · 12-26-2013, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBrockey

Thanks for the feedback. I don't plan on using campground Wi-Fi to stream. We now have a "HotSpot" which will give us a separate Wi-Fi signal anywhere. (or so I'm told)

That's fine, but you need to understand that a 2 hour movie will use ~1GB of data or more. If you budget your viewing you will be fine, but you can end up with a big bill if you aren't careful.