OT - Cutting Cable

[Cybyassociation]

I have to have a GPON modem when I move to Norwalk. Not sure why. Is that what you were using from CL?

I have no clue. I'm not sure about the rest of Norwalk, but where we are, fiber optic is pretty much the only option. Beyond that, I know there's a box outside our house with a cable that runs inside to their modem/router which is hooked up to my router now.

 

[Tailg8er]

For awhile, I thought my streaming quality issue was either Vue or our PS4/AppleTV...then our CenturyLink modem mysteriously stopped working (our neighborhood and Norwalk in general have had atrocious luck with CenturyLink). Once their tech came out and unplugged and plugged something back in outside, I decided I had had enough with the router they forced on us and bought my own. Holy cow what a difference a halfway decent router makes. We've had no issues streaming. The quality is great, there is almost no buffer going from channel to channel on Vue, and 4K works excellent on Netflix.

What router are you using? I get great speeds with a direct line to the one I bought from CL, but the wireless speeds are complete garbage. Their only advice when I complain is to change channels..

 

[Cybyassociation]

What router are you using? I get great speeds with a direct line to the one I bought from CL, but the wireless speeds are complete garbage. Their only advice when I complain is to change channels..

Linksys AC1900

It was on sale for $130 a couple of weeks ago. There are other styles of the AC1900 around for cheaper and I'm pretty sure they have similar specs.

Another thing I like about it is the ability to hook up an external hard drive and have it act as cloud storage on the network.

 

[Bader]

If you haven't already, download the "Movies Anywhere" app and start syncing your accounts. This app is replacing "Disney Movies Anywhere" only it's a single service that links all your Vudu, iTunes, Disney Movies Anywhere, Amazon, and Google Play movies in a single platform.

I just did that last weekend and all my Vudu movies imported to my iTunes library like I already purchased the titles. I even tested Vudus "disc to digital" feature where you scan a Blu-Ray disc and pay $2 to own a digital copy - and those titles showed up in my iTunes library too. I was about ready to drop $80 for the Harry Potter box set on iTunes and instead I spent $16 in Vudu and now the movies are on both of my AppleTVs.

I had no idea this was a thing. I started redeeming digital copies on Amazon after doing it on iTunes for years and was annoyed about leaving those behind. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[3GenClone]

I had no idea this was a thing. I started redeeming digital copies on Amazon after doing it on iTunes for years and was annoyed about leaving those behind. Thanks for the heads up!

What's great is that I was able to do this all from a tablet - I didn't have to do anything special on my AppleTV. Just download the app on a tablet (or even your phone) and start linking your accounts. Everything just appeared in my iTunes library after a few minutes.

 

[Tailg8er]

Linksys AC1900

It was on sale for $130 a couple of weeks ago. There are other styles of the AC1900 around for cheaper and I'm pretty sure they have similar specs.

Another thing I like about it is the ability to hook up an external hard drive and have it act as cloud storage on the network.

Thanks! So can I just hook something like that to my current modem/router combo, or would that create a problem? Probably need a new modem, too?

 

[Bader]

Thanks! So can I just hook something like that to my current modem/router combo, or would that create a problem? Probably need a new modem, too?

You don't need a new modem. You would plug the router's WAN port into one of the LAN ports on your modem. You would also benefit from turning WiFi off in your modem with this setup.

If you have things hard-wired into your modem right now move those Ethernet cables to the LAN ports of the new router.

You'd also want to change everything's WiFi connections to the SSID of the router. If you turn off WiFi on your current modem you could just make the new router's SSID the same thing and everything will just start talking to the router.

 

[AmesHawk]

Linksys AC1900

It was on sale for $130 a couple of weeks ago. There are other styles of the AC1900 around for cheaper and I'm pretty sure they have similar specs.

Another thing I like about it is the ability to hook up an external hard drive and have it act as cloud storage on the network.

I picked up the AC1750 a year or so ago and it's amazing how much of an improvement it's made for streaming. Outside of a few problems/outages on Mediacom's end there have been no problems/slowdowns so far, even with every wireless device I own connected at the same time.

 

[AmesHawk]

Thanks! So can I just hook something like that to my current modem/router combo, or would that create a problem? Probably need a new modem, too?

If you don't own your own modem, I would suggest picking up a standard (non-wifi) one anyway and then getting a router like the one linked above. Easy way to save $60/year unless you're not paying for that currently.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

If you don't own your own modem, I would suggest picking up a standard (non-wifi) one anyway and then getting a router like the one linked above. Easy way to save $60/year unless you're not paying for that currently.

You save $120 per year with mediacom. Pretty easy decision to make.

 

[stateofmind]

Well DTV was still way too expensive so I'm sticking with PS Vue. Now, if I drop to the Access subscription for $39.99, can I still use my PS Vue log in to watch games on ESPNNews and ESPNU? I assume that they are just shown on Watch360 right?

 

[Tailg8er]

If you don't own your own modem, I would suggest picking up a standard (non-wifi) one anyway and then getting a router like the one linked above. Easy way to save $60/year unless you're not paying for that currently.

Oh yeah I bought it from them right when I signed up so I own it, the wifi just sucks with all of our devices connected.

 

[cyIclSoneU]

I'm planning to switch from Vue to Hulu Live TV. Anyone have experience with what Hulu offers? Especially their Roku or Xbox One interfaces.

 

[iowa_wildcat]

I'm not sure if I should post this in this thread or start a new thread.

I am having troubles with the reception of Fox while watching it with my over the air antenna. I first noticed it about a week ago, but I don't remember having troubles before that. All of the other stations seem to come in fine. It is sort of acting like there is snow on the dish or there is interference from weather. I am in Ames if that makes a difference.

Is anyone else having similar troubles or is it something with my setup?

Fox has had problems lately. It is not your setup. I have a great antenna and we have seen the same thing you have.

 

[BryceC]

Youtube TV is coming to Des Moines. Anybody use it?

 

[CY88CE11]

I'm planning to switch from Vue to Hulu Live TV. Anyone have experience with what Hulu offers? Especially their Roku or Xbox One interfaces.

I switched away from Hulu because they lump the live TV in with their regular app. Very frustrating to sift through a bunch of on-demand stuff to find live shows. They also only allow two concurrent streams.

 

[CycloneGamecock]

Youtube TV is coming to Des Moines. Anybody use it?

I used it for a free trial month back in the summer and I really liked it, great interface, DVR, and had the channels I wanted. My only problem was it didn't have a Roku app back then, don't know if they have one now though.

 

[ianoconnor]

Switching from Sling to Directv Now for a few months to get the free Apple TV 4K.

 

[stateofmind]

Youtube TV is coming to Des Moines. Anybody use it?

I tried to sign up for free trial but it says it's not available for 50021.

 

[clonebb]

New streaming service just announced called Philo. It is aimed for people with antenna and who don't want sports or news bloat in the bundle. It has the Discovery, Scripps, Viacom, and AMC / BBC stations along with a 30-day DVR for $16/mo.

The splintering of the cable bundle continues. Really interested to see what the ESPN+ streaming service will be priced at and include when it comes out next year.

Without sports or news, why have a streaming service.