Community Forums

caheath · 02-16-2014, 03:42 PM

We're hoping to go full-time later this year and I'm wondering if we'll have to give up streaming movies from NetFlix?

Are campgrounds throttling WiFi to prevent video streaming downloads?

What are you using for internet connectivity? We are with Verizon on a 4GB data plan... I think streaming movies will eat up that allocation pretty quickly.

al2ride · 02-16-2014, 04:01 PM

Like you said, streaming burns up a lot of data and why campgrounds block it. Your best bet is to try and find an unlimited data plan. Verizon did away with it.

smiller · 02-16-2014, 04:03 PM

Campgrounds often prohibit steaming video in the rules and sometimes actively block it or limit a user to a data cap per day (depending on whether they have the technical expertise or not.) But even if it is not blocked campground wifi tends to be pretty sketchy and in most cases won't have adequate bandwidth to support reliable streaming, and even if they do manage to support a video stream or two it's generally considered very inconsiderate to consume that much bandwidth even if you can get away with it.

And as you have guessed video streaming will burn up most cellular data caps in short order if you watch very much. The only way it might work is if you had something like the Millenicom 20gb Plan, and even then you'd have to limit yourself to standard definition and watch you data cap carefully.

There aren't a lot of good solutions to streaming video while on the road, other than get the biggest data cap you can and monitor your usage carefully.

Other solutions to movies on the road are:

1. Pay-per-view via satellite and a DVR

2. Rent a DVD at a store or kisok, then transfer it to a laptop and return the DVD. Perhaps technically illegal, but ethical I think since you have paid the DVD rental fee.

3. Download a torrent file. Probably the best solution but that is even grayer legally so I don't think we're allowed to discuss such things on the forum.

caheath · 02-16-2014, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smiller

Campgrounds often prohibit steaming video in the rules and sometimes actively block it or limit a user to a data cap per day (depending on whether they have the technical expertise or not.) But even if it is not blocked campground wifi tends to be pretty sketchy and in most cases won't have adequate bandwidth to support reliable streaming, and even if they do manage to support a video stream or two it's generally considered very inconsiderate to consume that much bandwidth even if you can get away with it.

And as you have guessed video streaming will burn up most cellular data caps in short order if you watch very much. The only way it might work is if you had something like the Millenicom 20gb Plan, and even then you'd have to limit yourself to standard definition and watch you data cap carefully.

There aren't a lot of good solutions to streaming video while on the road, other than get the biggest data cap you can and monitor your usage carefully.

Other solutions to movies on the road are:

1. Pay-per-view via satellite and a DVR

2. Rent a DVD at a store or kisok, then transfer it to a laptop and return the DVD. Perhaps technically illegal, but ethical I think since you have paid the DVD rental fee.

3. Download a torrent file. Probably the best solution but that is even grayer legally so I don't think we're allowed to discuss such things on the forum.

I agree. I'm looking at RedBox as an alternative - they have a LOT of locations and a one-day rental is about $1.50. Sounds like something to do while overnighting at Walmart :-) We are not rabid movie watchers and so it's not a big a deal.

caheath · 02-16-2014, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by al2ride

Like you said, streaming burns up a lot of data and why campgrounds block it. Your best bet is to try and find an unlimited data plan. Verizon did away with it.

We've been with Verizon longer than a lot of people stay married, and don't want to give them up. LOL! Looks like we'll be "Redboxing" or some such approach.

B Bob · 02-16-2014, 08:38 PM

Another alternative that we have used in the last couple of months is Apple TV using my Apple computer. If you use a computer and not the little hockey puck Apple TV you are given the option to download the shows. I did that where I had a really good wifi connection and then played the 23 shows out over the next few weeks.

docj · 02-16-2014, 09:56 PM

We stream a lot of video and are fortunate enough to have a grandfathered unlimited Verizon plan to do it on. However, if you are careful with your usage you may find that streaming isn't all that hard on your budget. Netflix permits you to control your data rate through your account settings and many of the shows we like to watch are things like European TV shows that weren't in HD anyway. You can get a watchable picture and use as little as 1GB/2 hours. If your data plan charges you $10/GB over your allowance then a 2 hour movie would cost ~$10 which isn't all that much more than a pay per view on cable or satellite. A Red Box rental is less but not if you include the cost of gas if you decide to run off and get a new movie. How much you are prepared to pay for entertainment is your own decision but IMHO the cost of streaming is only somewhat more than the alternatives.

PyrateSilly · 02-17-2014, 01:17 AM

Most of the time it is not the campground that is actively throttling the data speed or limit. It is when you have people streaming video's or going on youtube or well you get the picture that is causing the speeds to go down and for everyone else to experience a hole lot of lag and not even be able to check email.

2Labs · 02-17-2014, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by docj

We stream a lot of video and are fortunate enough to have a grandfathered unlimited Verizon plan to do it on. However, if you are careful with your usage you may find that streaming isn't all that hard on your budget. Netflix permits you to control your data rate through your account settings and many of the shows we like to watch are things like European TV shows that weren't in HD anyway. You can get a watchable picture and use as little as 1GB/2 hours. If your data plan charges you $10/GB over your allowance then a 2 hour movie would cost ~$10 which isn't all that much more than a pay per view on cable or satellite. A Red Box rental is less but not if you include the cost of gas if you decide to run off and get a new movie. How much you are prepared to pay for entertainment is your own decision but IMHO the cost of streaming is only somewhat more than the alternatives.

The DW and I each have grandfathered Verizon unlimited plans. That is a good thing for us when we travel as we have used in excess of 60GB (combined) over a 30 day period. The problem with the grandfathered plans is that if you want to upgrade your phone, you have to buy it outright - in the range of $700 per replacement phone.

wa8yxm · 02-17-2014, 08:58 AM

Please do not even consider using park wi-fi to stream videos.. It is just too 'Bandwidth' hoggy.

Most parks have barley enough bandwidth to support the users as it is, If just a couple of members are streaming video, there is none left for others. Likewise do not use park Wi-Fi for work, if you are WORKING from your laptop. then you can buy your own connectivity and take it as a tax deduction (or at least part of it).

And if you bring your own.. Streaming video will quickly ram you up against the bandwidth limit of your provider. so be prepared to pay extra.

gmpartsvet · 02-17-2014, 03:32 PM

We have Dish Network with the Hopper at home and the rv. We record tv shows and movies on the Hopper at home and can transfer them to a laptop or tablet then watch them when we're on the road. I think there is a time limit they will be watchable on the laptop though, maybe 30 days?