Watching the Rangers after cord cutting

[Profet]

My original point was how no one sees the irony in only supporting the team by posting on message boards when they don't attend games, purchase bootleg apparel, and in this case, don't purchase NHL sanctioned streams.

In terms of the high horse, people can do whatever they want, but I think the sour responses are those who got the whiff of the irony.

Actually your original point came off as anyone looking to ditch cable tv is looking to break the law and steal content.

This couldn't be further from the truth. I'm looking to LEGALLY stream content after killing the $150/month cable bill that I can't justify for only watching the Rangers.

All the other "television" i watch is easily streamable via legal channels. So I really am only paying cablevision for NY Rangers coverage. Just seems like I'm paying a lot for very little.

 

[sbjnyc]

Which box do you have? How is the quality?

Need to figure out something since I don't think I'll make it home in time from work. Debating slingbox vs. hockeystreams. Any input on a comparison on both desktop and ipad would be greatly appreciated.

I have the 350. It works pretty well and the quality is pretty good even though my internet is just 7mbps DSL. It's relatively inexpensive if you can get it on sale (around $100?). Bear in mind that the iphone and ipad apps cost extra and you pay for each one (I have both and they can be handy). If you have an apple tv you can watch it on a regular television. You can probably find other ways to watch on a tv either through cables or wifi but I haven't seen any TVs or settop boxes that support slingboxes natively.

The big plus with the slingbox over hockeystreams is that you can watch anything that's on cable. The slingbox has DVR capabilities but I never used them. I presume there would be a way to record a game and watch it later but I'm not sure.

I don't think there is a way to use a slingbox with multiple simultaneous users but you can provide other people with guest access (you can kick them off when the ranger game starts).

 

[patnyrnyg]

Wife and I are selling our apartment and buying a house in the next few months. Already have a buyer, thankfully. One thing we were thinking of doing was not getting cable in our new place. Wondering if anyone ever hooked up a laptop to a tv via HDMI and then watched the game using this service? I did it once at my brother's using a slingbox and thought the quality was good enough. However, didnt need the slingbox other than that day, so I returned it.

 

[patnyrnyg]

I have the 350. It works pretty well and the quality is pretty good even though my internet is just 7mbps DSL. It's relatively inexpensive if you can get it on sale (around $100?). Bear in mind that the iphone and ipad apps cost extra and you pay for each one (I have both and they can be handy). If you have an apple tv you can watch it on a regular television. You can probably find other ways to watch on a tv either through cables or wifi but I haven't seen any TVs or settop boxes that support slingboxes natively.

The big plus with the slingbox over hockeystreams is that you can watch anything that's on cable. The slingbox has DVR capabilities but I never used them. I presume there would be a way to record a game and watch it later but I'm not sure.

I don't think there is a way to use a slingbox with multiple simultaneous users but you can provide other people with guest access (you can kick them off when the ranger game starts).

A friend of mine has an older model slingbox, which has multiple tuners (I think 2). He set it up at his mom's. She lives in South Jersey, he lives in North Jersey. He is a fan of all the Philadelphia teams and watches using his mom's cable. However, she can watch something else, while he is watching the game.

 

[patnyrnyg]

Secondly, does anyone know of a similar service for the NFL?

 

[g3cko]

A friend of mine has an older model slingbox, which has multiple tuners (I think 2). He set it up at his mom's. She lives in South Jersey, he lives in North Jersey. He is a fan of all the Philadelphia teams and watches using his mom's cable. However, she can watch something else, while he is watching the game.

I'm going to try to sell the wife on the slingbox when the contract runs out on directv. My parents have cablevision with a pretty fast UL speed and my DL speed is 15mbps which should be plenty.

 

[patnyrnyg]

Registered yesterday and was approved this morning. Meant to buy a week trial, but accidentally bought a month. Yes, went to my billing center and disabled automatic renewal. Watched some of the outdoor game against the Devils and was VERY impressed with the quality. Watched on an LG Smart tv, used the internet browser. The HD did freeze up a few times, once for a few minutes. Tried rewinding, fast forwarding, pause, play and still stuck. Shut it down, brought it up again used the time toggle to go to the same point. Played, but then froze again about 3 minutes later.

Tried the Standard feed, picture wasnt as good, but still not bad. Definitely watchable, and it didnt freeze at all.

Think for the season I will start with a month subscription, and so long as I like it, then get the year.

 

[n8]

Im assuming this is because NHL live games will be blacked out?

http://www6.hockeystreams.com/

Haven't tried this, and it is of a dubious legal standing, but it's usually what people point to outside of GCL.

is this service legal? sounds great

 

[Fitzy]

Secondly, does anyone know of a similar service for the NFL?

Since most NFL games are via Fox or NBC, you can usually get them with an antenna and converter instead of cable.

 

[Fitzy]

Because Cable has little competition, really the only way to move prices down is to have consumer preferences change. Many new customers aren't interested in paying extreme prices for channels like TLC running "Who the **** did I marry" and "Say yes to the dress" all day long. I watch 7 different channels (FOX, NBC, MSG, MSG+, ESPN, ESPN2, Al Jazeera) out of about 400.

In a way, internet streaming (legal or illegal) is opening up the market to new forms of competition, which is good for consumers.

We get to see games in HD with surround sound now for a fraction of the price of sitting in the nosebleeds at the arena.

 

[patnyrnyg]

Since most NFL games are via Fox or NBC, you can usually get them with an antenna and converter instead of cable.

Was thinking that, as was my brother who didnt get cable when he bought a house. He was told that the antennas do not work in Staten Island. I believe by a rep at either Best Buy or PC Richard.

 

[patnyrnyg]

Because Cable has little competition, really the only way to move prices down is to have consumer preferences change. Many new customers aren't interested in paying extreme prices for channels like TLC running "Who the **** did I marry" and "Say yes to the dress" all day long. I watch 7 different channels (FOX, NBC, MSG, MSG+, ESPN, ESPN2, Al Jazeera) out of about 400.

In a way, internet streaming (legal or illegal) is opening up the market to new forms of competition, which is good for consumers.

We get to see games in HD with surround sound now for a fraction of the price of sitting in the nosebleeds at the arena.

I'm of the same mind as you. Only shows my wife and I watch religiously are Big Bang Theory and Modern Family. We both have other shows we like, but could do without. Guess we could without Big Bang and Modern Family too. From what I understand, Big Bang and Modern Family are both available on either Hulu, netflix, itunes, wherever. My brother in law knows all about the stuff so will ask him. Other then that, I watch Rangers, Giants, NHL Network, NFL Network, occasionally the Mets. Watch a lot on History, NGC, and Discovery, but again, nothing I cant go without if I had to. Simply tired of paying $150/month.

Very impressed thus far with the hockeystreams site, think I even figured out the freezing issue when I watch via the internet on my smart tv (rewind 10 seconds seems to do the trick). Now trying to find a similar site for football.

 

[patnyrnyg]

Well said. The NFL model spoiled me but I'd still pay for GCL if I wasn't considered out of market. I use a slingbox so while legal I'm not sure it's any different than paying for a streaming service like hockeystreams.

Aside from being a STH, I do not have cable and, like you, have no desire to pay for a product that I only use 1% of. I understand why cable companies don't want to implement ala carte pricing but the way things are going they will eventually have to rethink their business model.

Slingbox is legal, because the "SPIRIT" of slingbox is that you are using it on your own cable subscription. The idea that since you are paying for the service, you should be able to watch the service anywhere you want. For example the person who travels a lot for their job. I once applied for a job where I was told I would be on the road about 1/2 the year. Sometime for a week, sometimes 2 weeks, sometimes a month. I didnt take the job, but would have been a real pain in the butt to pay for cable while I was away or keep canceling and restarting. However, obviously people are not always doing this. Boomer Esiason talks about how he got one for each of his kids when they went to college. Not quite sure that would be deemed legal, but I guess it is something the cable companies can not win in court.

 

[Trxjw]

Wife and I are selling our apartment and buying a house in the next few months. Already have a buyer, thankfully. One thing we were thinking of doing was not getting cable in our new place. Wondering if anyone ever hooked up a laptop to a tv via HDMI and then watched the game using this service? I did it once at my brother's using a slingbox and thought the quality was good enough. However, didnt need the slingbox other than that day, so I returned it.

I've done it several times and it looks fine. Not quite HD quality, but certainly better than standard-def.

I also got it to play on my bedroom TV which has a ChromeCast plugged into it. I cast my browser to it and it worked, but it was pretty choppy. Stuck with HDMI for the rest of the season.

 

[Trxjw]

Slingbox is legal, because the "SPIRIT" of slingbox is that you are using it on your own cable subscription. The idea that since you are paying for the service, you should be able to watch the service anywhere you want. For example the person who travels a lot for their job. I once applied for a job where I was told I would be on the road about 1/2 the year. Sometime for a week, sometimes 2 weeks, sometimes a month. I didnt take the job, but would have been a real pain in the butt to pay for cable while I was away or keep canceling and restarting. However, obviously people are not always doing this. Boomer Esiason talks about how he got one for each of his kids when they went to college. Not quite sure that would be deemed legal, but I guess it is something the cable companies can not win in court.

It's legal because you need to have cable service, and you need to have a dedicated box for the slingbox to pull from. Also, unless they've changed it, I believe only one IP can access the feed at a time, so Boomer would have needed two cable boxes and two sling boxes to provide individual service for the kids. Cable companies want the money for the service, and for the boxes. They couldn't care less where you're actually watching it from.

 

[patnyrnyg]

It's legal because you need to have cable service, and you need to have a dedicated box for the slingbox to pull from. Also, unless they've changed it, I believe only one IP can access the feed at a time, so Boomer would have needed two cable boxes and two sling boxes to provide individual service for the kids. Cable companies want the money for the service, and for the boxes. They couldn't care less where you're actually watching it from.

yes, but his kids went to BU or BC. I would think the companies in boston would have a problem with it.

 

[KreiMeARiver*]

FiOs installation tomorrow!

YESSS

Bye bye TMC you SUCK. Verizon is the Devil but at least their product is good.

 

[patnyrnyg]

FiOs installation tomorrow!

YESSS

Bye bye TMC you SUCK. Verizon is the Devil but at least their product is good.

When my building got wired for Verizon, I was very excited. Switched as soon as I could. During the first week, I pulled my tv out from the wall about 2 feet, and the wire popped out of the receiver box and my service went down. Took a week to get a tech to my place. Tech said the original tech did a lousy job. Gave me a wire that was flimsy and not enough slack. He installed a new wire that he said was stronger. A week later, my service went down again. No idea why, didn't pull the tv out, wire had not popped out of receiver. Called and was going to be a week before I could get a tech. I told them that wasn't acceptable and if they didnt send someone that night I would cancel my service. They didn't. I called TWC, they offered me the same package of channels as Verizon at the same price with no contract. Went to the TWC store, picked up new boxes and that was it. Returned the Verizon equipment.

 

[NYRKindms]

FiOs installation tomorrow!

YESSS

Bye bye TMC you SUCK. Verizon is the Devil but at least their product is good.

You may want to google verizon throttling netflix before you say that. They as recently as yesterday had their hat handed to them by a bunch of techs proving they were purposely throttling their network.

And I deal with verizon every day as part of my job. Good luck if you have technical issues.

 

[KreiMeARiver*]

You may want to google verizon throttling netflix before you say that. They as recently as yesterday had their hat handed to them by a bunch of techs proving they were purposely throttling their network.

And I deal with verizon every day as part of my job. Good luck if you have technical issues.

They can throttle and it'll still be better than Time Warner. Right now I'm getting 59 down 39 up. TWC gave me 8 down 2 up for same price. Plus the TV is light years better. I despise Verizon but it's a far superior product to TWC.

Plus I now get Al Jazeera..for some actual TV journalism.

 

[dstoffa]

Was thinking that, as was my brother who didnt get cable when he bought a house. He was told that the antennas do not work in Staten Island. I believe by a rep at either Best Buy or PC Richard.

What? Antennas not able to receive TV in Staten Island? Hogwash. If that were the case, you wouldn't be able to listen to FM Radio in Staten Island. FM and TV are, primarily, broadcast from the Empire State Building.

You might need a roof / outdoor antenna to receive TV in your location, but as long as your TV has an ATSC tuner in it (and all TV's made in the last 5 or 6 years are certain to have one), you can receive CBS, NBC, FOX, ABC, My9, PIX11, and PBS no worries.

And if you are down in Tottenville, and your rig is good enough and high enough, you might even be able to pick up stations from Philadelphia, which would introduce a whole second (maybe) set of games on FOX and CBS on Funday Football Sundays. (Assuming you aim your rig the right way...)

I can receive OTA in Nassau County, so whoever told you antennas don't work in Staten Island doesn't know what they're talking about.

Cheers!
-Doug

 

[dstoffa]

A friend of mine has an older model slingbox, which has multiple tuners (I think 2). He set it up at his mom's. She lives in South Jersey, he lives in North Jersey. He is a fan of all the Philadelphia teams and watches using his mom's cable. However, she can watch something else, while he is watching the game.

It's legal because you need to have cable service, and you need to have a dedicated box for the slingbox to pull from. Also, unless they've changed it, I believe only one IP can access the feed at a time, so Boomer would have needed two cable boxes and two sling boxes to provide individual service for the kids. Cable companies want the money for the service, and for the boxes. They couldn't care less where you're actually watching it from.

A slingbox doesn't have a tuner. A slingbox controls a device in your home, and allows you to watch the audio-video output of that device. The device can be your cable box, your Tivo, or your DVD player. An IR Blaster attached to the slingbox works as a remote for the device you hook up to it.

You need to pay and keep that device current. So having slingboxes hooked up to second or third cable boxes in your home allows you to watch what is on cable, out of market. If you hook up a Tivo, you can watch whatever is on cable, and whatever your Tivo recorded.

Cheers!
-Doug

 

[patnyrnyg]

What? Antennas not able to receive TV in Staten Island? Hogwash. If that were the case, you wouldn't be able to listen to FM Radio in Staten Island. FM and TV are, primarily, broadcast from the Empire State Building.

You might need a roof / outdoor antenna to receive TV in your location, but as long as your TV has an ATSC tuner in it (and all TV's made in the last 5 or 6 years are certain to have one), you can receive CBS, NBC, FOX, ABC, My9, PIX11, and PBS no worries.

And if you are down in Tottenville, and your rig is good enough and high enough, you might even be able to pick up stations from Philadelphia, which would introduce a whole second (maybe) set of games on FOX and CBS on Funday Football Sundays. (Assuming you aim your rig the right way...)

I can receive OTA in Nassau County, so whoever told you antennas don't work in Staten Island doesn't know what they're talking about.

Cheers!
-Doug

Thank you. I did some more research online and thought my brother was given false info. Was told by a Best Buy employee. I am not looking to move to Tottenville, but I am looking in Annadale, Great Kills, Eltingville, etc. So not too far from Tottenville.

 

[dstoffa]

Thank you. I did some more research online and thought my brother was given false info. Was told by a Best Buy employee. I am not looking to move to Tottenville, but I am looking in Annadale, Great Kills, Eltingville, etc. So not too far from Tottenville.

I just cited Tottenville becuase:

1. It's high
2. It's as close as you can get to Philly w/o going into Jersey.

Punch the address / zip code of where you want to live into tvfool.com to see what tv stations an antenna will pick up.

 

[broadwayblue]

I could swear there was a more recent version of this thread? Anyone have a link?