Community Forums

tommar · 08-31-2020, 09:56 PM

Can't stand DTV and now that Dish Network is blocking ABC TV on Scripps stations, as well as blocking HBO, I'm fed up! Charlie Ergen seems to have a big ego! So, at home at my S&B, I'm trying out YouTube TV which is a lot cheaper than Dish and has my locals too. Trouble is, how do I get it to work using my Smart TV in my MH? Any ideas? I know that my iphone would be involved in some way and I have no idea if I would need some kind of hot spot or additional equipment.

litzdog911 · 08-31-2020, 10:34 PM

Yes, you need a way to stream via internet in your motorhome .... phone/tablet hotspot or a dedicated internet hotspot.

docj · 09-01-2020, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tommar

Trouble is, how do I get it to work using my Smart TV in my MH? Any ideas? I know that my iphone would be involved in some way and I have no idea if I would need some kind of hot spot or additional equipment.

For starters, set your iPhone to operate as a WiFi hotspot. Then connect your TV to it.

Your TV may have a YouTube TV app already installed. If not there ought to be a away to download it.

In a worst case, purchase a Roku or Firestick and use the YouTube TV app available through those.

Joel (AKA docj)

chuckbear · 09-01-2020, 09:50 AM

Streaming in your RV involves a number of components and each has its cost. First, you need a device to get internet to your TV, a modem, phone, mifi or ????. Next is the cost for a subscription service, be it YouTube, etc. Make sure you look at the restrictions for YouTube for locals. Then there is the biggy. Data enough to allow you to stream for more than a day or two. Most "unlimited" plans do indeed have a data limit. Most are about 22GB and then you are throttled back to a point where just getting email is a struggle. You will use that streaming in about a day or two depending on how much you watch. Any more data than that will cost you much more than your sat service. Each streaming service has a limit on the channels and movies, etc. it carries. So they are not going to carry NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, CW and all the others that you had on your satellite service. So if missing ABC on Dish really bothers you, plan on having multiple subscriptions to cover everything. By the time you add it all up, you will be about the same or even more than your sat service. Some here shout out the advantages of streaming and yes there are some. But be sure you know the true costs and limitations. If you plan to travel outside your home area, expect that there are going to be lots of areas where streaming is just not going to work because of no or low data signals. That is unless you only camp near major metropolitan areas. Chuck

wfalch · 09-01-2020, 01:53 PM

I hear you and agree. If you read any of my post's you will see I am totally feed up with Directv. I tried Dish and could not get anyone my area to install it, sent it all back. Thinking of OTA and TIVO. Can not get the Batwing antenna to work. Now Directv is selling 50% of it. Cant wait until April 2021when we think we will leave. Time heals all wounds, or so I have been told.

Ron Postma · 09-01-2020, 02:59 PM

One major issue with streaming YouTube TV on the road. One you can only change your home location for "Local Stations" twice a year. Two you can only be out of your home area for 3 months before you lose you "Local Stations".

docj · 09-01-2020, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Postma

One major issue with streaming YouTube TV on the road. One you can only change your home location for "Local Stations" twice a year. Two you can only be out of your home area for 3 months before you lose you "Local Stations".

My experience last summer was that shows that you had designated to be recorded would still be recorded from your local channel feeds. You could watch them afterwards from your Library. Since you have an "infinite DVR capacity, there's no reason not to records just about anything you might watch.

All that appeared to have happened was that you couldn't watch them in real time. I don't know if this is still the case, but that's what we observed.

mike625 · 09-02-2020, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckbear

By the time you add it all up, you will be about the same or even more than your sat service. Some here shout out the advantages of streaming and yes there are some. But be sure you know the true costs and limitations. If you plan to travel outside your home area, expect that there are going to be lots of areas where streaming is just not going to work because of no or low data signals. Chuck

+1
I have three grandfathered unlimited hotspot plans "Verizon & ATT because - if you want to always have internet access you'll need at least two different carriers". The 3 cost more than my DTV plan. At my current location - only ATT is working - no signal for Verizon. Just depends what you will do without & where you camp.

The question is you never know what the signal will be til you get there - Verizon has listed our current location as 4g on their web site coverage map, but there is nothing even with a WeBoost.

tommar · 09-02-2020, 10:35 AM

Sure appreciate the input!

I now have YouTube-TV (YTV) at my S&B on a trial. So far, it compares very favorably to Dish. However, I do not get the Weather Channel or the History Channel with YTV. That's the only difference in programming. I am finding that navigating YTV is very clunky and very unintuitive. It works, however. And there would be no added fees whatsoever using YTV in my MH.

But!!!! The issue remains, how do I connect

! A cell phone, but in addition to that, would need a different carrier. I currently use Consumer Cellular so I would need to change that, would probably need some kind of cell booster (who knows, I don't), and lord knows what else. So, I shouting out to those of you who are already doing this in hopes you can tell me what equipment to buy and what costs to get internet connectivity. I don't think Hughes Net or Dish Net would work... so it's strictly cell I guess!

pduggs · 09-02-2020, 10:46 AM

I’ve used YouTubeTV in my RV for a year now. You do need a good cell signal. Download the YouTubeTV app to your iPhone and turn on the hotspot. You sometimes need to toggle airplane mode on for five seconds to reset the cell connection. Also I regularly toggle on and off the hotspot several times to get it to connect to my smart tv.

I have Dish on pause but probably will start it again, if we are somewhere where the cell signal is weak.

pduggs · 09-02-2020, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Postma

One major issue with streaming YouTube TV on the road. One you can only change your home location for "Local Stations" twice a year. Two you can only be out of your home area for 3 months before you lose you "Local Stations".

Very true. I use my tv antenna to pull in local stations.

I still have the old automatic amplified Sensar Winegard batwing on my coach. Recently we were camped on the beach at Grand Haven Michigan. I was picking up tv stations from Green Bay Wisconsin, which is about 125 miles away as the crow flies.

SNAIL1 · 09-19-2020, 04:36 PM

Things are not like they were !

We use Dish tv both on road and at home. I'll give Dish credit in that they refuse to accept the higher cost CBS that program sources are attempting to charge them and they then must pass on.

We installed an external antenna on our home--receive about 50 different channels--and called Dish and dropped local channels. The savings was $12/month. Reception is very good and no problems--like during storms.

docj · 09-19-2020, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckbear

By the time you add it all up, you will be about the same or even more than your sat service.

You're making the assumption that people don't stream video if they have satellite TV. We were streaming Netflix and AcornTV while we were still paying for DirecTV. We were maintaining two low cost unlimited cellular plans to support that viewing so our monthly costs were ~$140/mo

Therefore, it's a false equivalency to say that our streaming costs are the same now as they were with satellite TV since we were already paying to stream while also paying ~$150/mo to DirecTV. I seriously doubt that we were all that unusual.

Gammel · 09-24-2020, 11:54 AM

I'm glad I read this thread so I won't waste my time or money. Our 3 month old ORV has some black round thing on top but we've yet to even turn on the TV!