Ditching cable / satellite - TV on the road

[Jim Oaks]

I ditched my DirecTv. Vanessa and I want to travel, and we're looking for the best options for getting TV on the road.

We have Netflix and Hulu. Our travel trailer has a TV antenna mouthed on the roof. Unfortunately, I'm having trouble finding a way to watch recent episodes of American Pickers, and Fast & Loud.

Just wondering what other services others may be using to watch their favorite shows, or to stream programs to their TV's.

 

[hoosier1104]

How much data do you have on your phone? I know of a combo that will solve the problem.

Sent from the garage of the never ending projects.

 

[RonD]

Go to this site: http://tvfool.com/
And bookmark it

Where ever you are traveling you can see what the available local channels are via your roof antenna.
All TVs sold in North America after 2005 were required to have Digital Tuners built-in
You can also buy Recorders(DVRs) with digital tuners so you can record shows to watch later.
All free channels.
Any TV antenna is "digital", analog and digital are both on analog carriers, so older antenna is fine to use, size of the antenna matters, but not if it is an "HD" antenna, lol, that's a sales mans pitch

Most trailer parks will have Wifi, some charge for it though.
You can also get 3g/4g/lte routers with wifi, they can be added to your cell phone account, SIM card, and share the data on your account, so you don't have to tether your phone to have wifi link when one is not available.
Look here for examples: http://www.tplink.ca/en/products/list-4691.html

It is like any other router you have used, except instead of connecting it to a Cable or TelCom modem, it gets its internet access via a SIM card, like your cell phone does, and can be hooked to computer/media streamer via network cable or via it's built-in Wifi radio

Media players like Apple TV, WD Live, Roku or Google TV are made to hook to a TV and then stream TV shows via network cable or wifi.

Each has strengths and weaknesses, so see what you may want to stream before buying one.
Some can not connect to internet directly, i.e. you can't go to Google.com, so you can not search the web, they have preset APPS so you are limited to what they offer, most offer APPS like NetFlicks and Hulu.

 

[hoosier1104]

Download an app called TVMC from the web and put a chromecast unit on your tv. Only if you have Android.

Sent from the garage of the never ending projects.

 

[Jim Oaks]

How much data do you have on your phone? I know of a combo that will solve the problem.

Sent from the garage of the never ending projects.

This is something else I have to do. I use to have Verizon, and had a myfi (spelling?) for internet access. For the last few years I've had AT&T. I used my phone for a hotspot for my laptop when I was camping up around Wellsboro PA, but I need to go in to AT&T and see what they offer.

What combo do you know of??

 

[hoosier1104]

See my above post.

https://www.tvaddons.ag/tvmc-android/

Sent from the garage of the never ending projects.

 

[RonD]

I forgot to mention Slingbox.

If you have a friend or family member that will be keeping their Cable or Directv subscription, they can get another "box" added at their location, spare bedroom or ??.

Then you can add a Slingbox to that "box", a Slingbox encodes and streams the audio/video in SD or HD.
You can then login to that Slingbox from anywhere in the world, and you have remote control functions, same functions as having the remote in your hand.

Because of timezone changes when traveling the added "box" being a DVR is better so you can set it to record your favorite shows and then watch them when you want.

My wife can't miss her Coronation Street or Eastenders, so Slingbox on our DVR makes vacation time easier for ME, lol.

 

[Mark_88]

An easy way that may be cheaper...have someone burn them on CD's and send them to you at prearranged spots...

Jim, you have one of the biggest networks in North America right here...you can get all the shows you need from anyone willing to record things and meet up with you...just call it the TRS Media Madness/Banner Across North America...

Cost...pennies even if you pay for the disks and buy the people who burn them lunch...well, depending on where you buy them lunch...

TVFool is a good site like RonD mentioned...and Hoosiers ideas are good also...I installed tv towers and antennas for stationary purposes and most of my customers were very happy with 30 or so channels...but you cannot get most of the cable stuff without some subscription and free satellite doesn't cover most of that...as I learned later.

There is also this website...haven't been there for a while but they have some ideas and products that might give you other options...

http://www.saveandreplay.com/

This is a Canadian site but the products are probably available in the US with similar results...just need a satellite finder and you'd be all set with mobile satellite...free except for some initial fees...

 

[hoosier1104]

My way will give you current TV shows commercial free and movies that are still in the theaters as well. It is a fairly easy set up. I have watched Ted 2, Big Bang, Creed and one other recently that I cannot think of.

 

[fastpakr]

Why not take the satellite with you? You should be able to take a few minutes to realign it when you stop for the night.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Why not take the satellite with you? You should be able to take a few minutes to realign it when you stop for the night.

I've considered that. My DirecTv bill is just over $120.00 a month. I think I could get it down to $51.00. Just looking at all the possible options.

I've stopped paying the DirecTv bill. I've been watching shows on Netflix.

 

[Mark_88]

My way will give you current TV shows commercial free and movies that are still in the theaters as well. It is a fairly easy set up. I have watched Ted 2, Big Bang, Creed and one other recently that I cannot think of.

Interesting...

My only concern about anything like this (or any solution) is "Data" costs...I've never come close to my 500 MB data limit...but I could do it with a bit of effort...and I have heard of many "overage" charge situations that caused near fatal heart attacks...lol.

As long as you can hit WIFI spots (and many places have them with no limits) or have an extremely generous phone plan it would be no problem...

Just saying because I've been dinged with by my phone company in the early days and can't warn people enough to monitor their usage and/or upgrade to unlimited packages whenever possible...

If I had an android phone I would look into this too...but I'd have to upgrade to the BB PRIV for that and then bump my data plan to the max...which is expensive around here.

 

[RonD]

Word of advice about on-the-road satellite systems

get a tripod with dish...............

The automatic ones that bolt to the roof are great, except for one big problem........
All the TV satellites are to the South of us, they are above the Equator.
So for the automatic dishes to get a signal they must have a clear line-of-sight to the south, which also happens to be where the Sun is.
Park in the shade and you get no TV
Park in the Sun and you get TV, and you get hot or you run the AC all the time, lol.

The tripod and dish do take a bit of time to set up until you get the hang of it, but you can park in the shade and put the dish on the other side of the tree

 

[Mark_88]

Word of advice about on-the-road satellite systems

get a tripod with dish...............

that's actually good advice...lol...not that I expect anything less from you...but I've always been amazed by what lengths people will go through to make sure they get a tv signal...like parking their trailer in the sunniest place they can and then complaining about how hot the trailer gets and they can't sleep at night and blah blah blah...

But, then again, there are many places where finding a shady spot is next to impossible...says the child camping survivor...

 

[Jim Oaks]

See my above post.

https://www.tvaddons.ag/tvmc-android/

Sent from the garage of the never ending projects.

I can't figure it out. I downloaded it on to my laptop. Now do I have to download a program in to it to get TV programs?