Decided to give Directv Now streaming service a try

[biosurfer1]

I had cut the cord for the past couple years and it worked just OK most of the time. I could find 99% of what I wanted including NFL games but it got very annoying having to go through 4-5 different services, devices, apps, websites to get what I wanted. On top of that, my wife could get to very basic stuff she wanted but usually I had to set things up for her too.

I never signed up for satellite because they usually had the same $xx price for 1 year during a 2 year contract, meaning they jack up the price after 1 year. I just happened to look, yet again, this past August at DirectTv and they had a 2 year price lock. I figured there was a catch but after looking into it, it actually was. Guaranteed in writing, your bill would not change for 2 years unless I change something. I'm now almost 7 months in and my bill is, to the penny, the same each month.

FYI, I get all the typical channels plus some expanded sports (i.e NFL Ticket and CSN Bay Area), HD, DVR and a mini box in my master bedroom that can access everything, plus 6mbs internet for $91.29 a month.

6mbs would be too slow, I thought, but so far havent had any issue streaming, but I dont have to use streaming nearly as much since stuff is just on TV if I want.

I'm all for cutting the cord again if prices rise but paying $36 for internet, $9 for netflix, $35 for DTV Now, $99/year for MLB.tv plus the inconvenience of it all and the switch back was an easy decision.

[cabmandone]

So far after almost 2 months I have no regrets. The only recurring issue has been some buffering which they acknowledge is an issue they're working on. I bought the fire tv box and went wired hoping some of the buffering would go away but it still occurs. They recently added HBO to my service for 12 months at no cost and the channel selection is good. With DTVNow and Prime my tv bill with internet is still lower than it was with Dish. I'm pretty patient with a new service so I'm not too worked up about the buffering and expect it to get better as the service grows.

[Halm]

Bumping this thread to see if anymore “DirecTV Now” feedback is available.

They have added 4K and Roku, which I plan to use, does now have an app. How is the buffering?

[stomachmonkey]

Timely.

Finally got around to cutting the cord officially today.

The Mrs was hooked on the home phone number which I don't get but whatever.

Ported it to T-Mobile prepaid then a week later to google voice. Put in an Obihai and that works just fine.

I've had a Ceton 4 tuner PCI card in a HTPC for a few years now to extend the cable TV offering to other devices using KODI and Raspberry PI's.

Side loaded KODI to my AppleTV 4 and banged my head against the wall for a week chasing an issue where a few HD channels, including our nightly News network where doing this funky thing where the video was in slo mo but audio was real time.

Thought it was a co/dec issue with the Apple TV but as it turns out a few of the channels have an abnormal interlace. And the versions of KODI for TVos and OSX have the processing feature disabled so can't toggle that.

Decided not to wait for the KODI folks fix it so picked up an HD Homerun Prime. Nice little unit. Highly recommend it if you are thinking of cutting the cord. You can dump down to the basic service which is pretty much antennae service plus some stuff. My providers basic is 100+ channels which I can't avoid paying for as it's baked into my HOA fees so I get it whether I want it or not.

Upped my bandwidth from 300 to 400 as the only option they offer without a bundle is 200 or 400. Was $10 bucks more so no big deal.

Picked up a SLING TV subscription, it's OK. It is missing one thing that I don't understand, the grid layout for the guide. Feature is only available on Android platforms right now and when I spoke to them they seemed meh about getting it implemented.

All in it looks like my bill will be half of what it normally is and I won't have lost a thing.

I'm still renting a cable card for $3.00 and the modem for another $12.00 but I'll probably pick up my own modem at some point.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Halm

Bumping this thread to see if anymore “DirecTV Now” feedback is available.

They have added 4K and Roku, which I plan to use, does now have an app. How is the buffering?

Service is still a little glitchy but getting better. Buffering after the latest software update is better but still occurs. I notice some picture quality issues occasionally. Overall I'm still happy with the service. I'm a patient person and for the cost of the service (I got in on the special new customer rate) I'm patient enough to wait for them to get it right. They keep adding channels and seem committed to making the service better.

[Halm]

Cabmando, does DirecTV Now substitute a national feed for ABC, CBS, etc. when local broadcast have not been negotiated? Or are those channels just blank?

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Halm

Cabmando, does DirecTV Now substitute a national feed for ABC, CBS, etc. when local broadcast have not been negotiated? Or are those channels just blank?

No locals. I get my locals with an antennae. As far as ABC, CBS, NBC, as I understand it, larger markets have coverage or are being added. Small markets like mine, I have to use the antennae.

[dad911]

After fighting with xfinity for months (could only get 1 box to work in my house) Fed up, we're cutting the cord. Just received the 'free' apple TV, (Directvnow) have been using netflix anyway.

I might miss the DVR, but most of what we record for convenience is on-demand.

1st 3 months will be directvnow. Might add showtime when Shameless starts again, perhaps HBO for Curb Y.O., but I believe I can do each for a month and binge.

[Halm]

DTVN has just introduced DVR "beta" testing for Apple TV. As far as I can tell, they now have it for all platforms except Roku. So you might not be without recording for long.

[dad911]

Thanks Peter. I started with dtvn because of the Apple TV deal. My daughter has Hulu, so we'll try it.

I can change services as the mood fits. In HD without extra monthly charges. And I can take a streaming stick with me when we go to florida, and get the same service. I hated being locked into comcast/xfinity.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by dad911

Thanks Peter. I started with dtvn because of the Apple TV deal. My daughter has Hulu, so we'll try it.

I can change services as the mood fits. In HD without extra monthly charges. And I can take a streaming stick with me when we go to florida, and get the same service. I hated being locked into comcast/xfinity.

How is your service doing? I still get some buffering but the app itself seems pretty stable. I'm running on a 25mbps service but hope to be upgrading to 50 mbps this spring when the fiber optic service goes live.

[dad911]

It's been fine, just tested and got 160mb down, 12 mb up

I don't know why, but the AppleTV and Roku work much better than the tripple-play xfinity boxes.

[Rtrorkt]

anyone tried the youtube TV service?

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by dad911

It's been fine, just tested and got 160mb down, 12 mb up

I don't know why, but the AppleTV and Roku work much better than the tripple-play xfinity boxes.

I have a fire stick on a TV out in my barn and a hardwired fire TV box in the house. I seem to get some buffering. Are you noticing much of that or no buffering?
Max I'll be able to do in FIOS they're putting in is 100 mbps but I don't think I'll need that much.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Rtrorkt

anyone tried the youtube TV service?

I haven't. I have noticed though that Prime is offering channels as well as movies now so it looks like they're going to be a player too in live stream TV.

[dad911]

cab - no noticeable buffering with the AppleTV or roku. Maybe less ram in the firestick? My daughter uses firestick, I'll reach out to her.

My older roku is noticeably slower switching apps than the new Apple TV.

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by Halm

Bumping this thread to see if anymore “DirecTV Now” feedback is available.

Probably old news by now but for any ATT mobile users out there you get 2 free HBO channels (normal and "family") plus the "Audience" channel via DTVN.
After setting up your free DTVN account you then also have access the HBO "GO" site/app which seems to have a better interface and available titles than the DTV site/app.

[Ronbo]

Originally Posted by Halm

DTVN has just introduced DVR "beta" testing for Apple TV. As far as I can tell, they now have it for all platforms except Roku. So you might not be without recording for long.

I've been in this beta program for a while now and while the Guide is a huge improvement, the DVR is beyond horrible. I have yet to successfully record and watch a show despite many attempts. It seems like they're years away from offering even the most basic working DVR.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[plexiform]

Kodi - everything else is for suckers. Google it.

[Halm]

Originally Posted by Ronbo

I've been in this beta program for a while now and while the Guide is a huge improvement, the DVR is beyond horrible. I have yet to successfully record and watch a show despite many attempts. It seems like they're years away from offering even the most basic working DVR.

Really sorry to hear this. We are using Roku and were counting on all the bugs being worked out by the time we could try it.

Can anyone comment on the DVR functionality offered by Sling?