Assassin said:

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anybody try set TV? $20/mo for a bunch of channels including ESPN

curious how and if it works. Appears to be something you can add to Firestick pre-Kodi. No Kodi app yet. Or you can buy a SetTV box complete with its own remote.

https://www.setvnow.com/#5942d9f18ec27

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For those without cable, this works pretty well. All the NFL games were on that I looked for, even the more regional ones this past Sunday. Its IPTV but from what I understand, they have their own servers that bring the links in and re-fine them - not piggybacking directly off someone else.

Doesnt give you PPV events but I did get NFL GamePass and a bunch of others

greatdivide said:

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Initial impressions of Vue over Roku Ultra.

Paid $48.70 after tax in DFW for the Core package. Seems to work but I can definitely see how other configurations would be better. The Roku app for Vue is very weak. Does not include the guide and some other features that other devices support. Streaming through the Vue app is also weak compared to streaming Netflix, Amazon and YouTube (not YouTubeTV) on the same Roku. Picture quality is average with most Roku apps however picture quality sucks for the Vue app over wifi. Also lags which is not something that happens with the other Roku apps. I will probably use the native ESPN and FOXSports apps on Roku to watch games. I did that even when I had Uverse. Native apps seem to work better than the Roku Vue app in general but I have found that not all networks have deals with Vue and it is kind of a pain to activate for each network on both of my Roku devices. And some networks only have their content available for short periods of time (ex: AMC).

Based on this thread, Vue through the Amazon products sound better especially if directly connected.

One other annoying thing is the Roku Ulta has to be manually restarted or restarts on its own daily. Major bug. I have spent WAY too long troubleshooting the issue but I do not have the same issue with my Roku 3. Seems to be a Ulta "feature".

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update to this post.

Vue released a new version of their app for Roku and it includes a guide. Significant improvement. And the streaming has improved.

Keyser Soze said:

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Applemac_G4 said:

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All roku here. Cable is going the way of Oldsmobile and the eight track.

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loved my HS ride

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Drove a brown over brown at Baylor.

Assassin said:

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For those of you concerned about IP security issues, IP Vanish is pretty cool. Makes your IP vanish so that your activity cant be tracked.

For those working/living in other countries that have sites blocked by that country, set your servers to any US ones and it appears that you are in the USA.

PC Mag has a good deal on it, $62. a year https://signup.ipvanish.com/?aff=pcmag

Easy to install on Windows, my Android phone, FireTVs and Firestick

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This worked up until two years ago.

Limited IQ Redneck in PU said:

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Assassin said:

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For those of you concerned about IP security issues, IP Vanish is pretty cool. Makes your IP vanish so that your activity cant be tracked.

For those working/living in other countries that have sites blocked by that country, set your servers to any US ones and it appears that you are in the USA.

PC Mag has a good deal on it, $62. a year https://signup.ipvanish.com/?aff=pcmag

Easy to install on Windows, my Android phone, FireTVs and Firestick

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This worked up until two years ago.

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? Still works just fine

I used two vpn's in Ruwais. They both worked great as far as the government censors were concerned. After 6 months I lost the use of Netflicks. NF's said they used to overlook it but since they had just signed a contract to bring services to the UAE they cracked down. They tried to sell me the UAE licensed version but it was much less product for the same price. About a year after that I lost Amazon. They too said they had long overlooked it but were starting to crack down.They claimed they could tell by the device that was used. For example, the service went down for me and two of my friends using a sony receiver. Amazon told me no matter what device or service i used they would eventually shut it out.

So it still works in Waco?

Limited IQ Redneck in PU said:

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I used two vpn's in Ruwais. They both worked great as far as the government censors were concerned. After 6 months I lost the use of Netflicks. NF's said they used to overlook it but since they had just signed a contract to bring services to the UAE they cracked down. They tried to sell me the UAE licensed version but it was much less product for the same price. About a year after that I lost Amazon. They too said they had long overlooked it but were starting to crack down.They claimed they could tell by the device that was used. For example, the service went down for me and two of my friends using a sony receiver. Amazon told me no matter what device or service i used they would eventually shut it out.

So it still works in Waco?

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Works in Waco, Dallas, Houston, Corpus, Kingsville and Los Angeles as I've traveled to all of those and had no problem.

With IP Vanish it adds Scamble onto the mix for restrictive countries. You can also rotate every 45 minutes if you like. http://www.vpnspblog.com/ipvanish-scramble-android/

With IPV you can add it to your Router also to make it one rotating IP but I dont have the correct router so I auto-load it on each device. Right now I'm "in Monterrey, Las Vegas and Miami" (got lots of computers)

Amazon is looking at the MAC address of your device I'm sure. IPV spoofs it during its rotation to from what I understand.

There are servers in UAE for IPV. They also have 40,000+ IPs on 950+ servers in 60+ countries

https://www.ipvanish.com/servers/

It could also be the VPN service you were using. Free VPNs are just that, free. Dont expect much. Also could be the device. It you are on a device thats you cant see the VPN to adjust it, that might be a problem.

Will this change? You bet. Each side is counting on the other to do just that. But for now I'm very happy.

BTW - I also added IPV to my cell phone. Seems to be working just fine.

If you need help, you know my phone and email

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) just creates an encrypted tunnel over an existing network from your machine (or router) to the VPN provider's machine(s).

Every IP address (the actual way your machine is identified on the Internet out of all the others) is tied to a general location. That's a natural consequence of how data has to be routed. By asking where your IP address is from, services like Netflix and Amazon can tell what country you're in.

Now, since a VPN creates an opaque tunnel from your machine to the VPN server's machine, any traffic exposed to Netflix or Amazon looks like its coming from the IP address associated with the VPN server. VPN servers can either be physically located in a different country (creating quite a long encrypted tunnel), or usually use some handy spoofing tricks to pretend like they are.

It's not that tough to tell what's going on. Even if a VPN service has 1000 servers (not actual servers, just interfaces, but that's beyond this post), Netflix and/or Amazon could easily just list those interfaces as "cheaters" and refuse service to them. Since there's only like 50 credible VPNs, this wouldn't even make a network engineer break a sweat. If a new one got added, and became popular, the increase in traffic to a set of interfaces would immediately trip an alarm.

Like has been mentioned, the bigger services have known what's going on, but the problem was so minimal that they didn't feel like risking the bad PR or loss of clientele to combat it. However, adding more content from increasingly more squeamish providers has caused them to address the problem. Similarly, not all countries just accept you using Netflix. Countries that restrict content insist that Netflix only stream "approved" content. If it doesn't, that country will simply ban Netflix from entering its network (or fine it in International Court).

It's another game of network whack-a-mole.

Mr Tulip said:

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A VPN (Virtual Private Network) just creates an encrypted tunnel over an existing network from your machine (or router) to the VPN provider's machine(s).

Every IP address (the actual way your machine is identified on the Internet out of all the others) is tied to a general location. That's a natural consequence of how data has to be routed. By asking where your IP address is from, services like Netflix and Amazon can tell what country you're in.

Now, since a VPN creates an opaque tunnel from your machine to the VPN server's machine, any traffic exposed to Netflix or Amazon looks like its coming from the IP address associated with the VPN server. VPN servers can either be physically located in a different country (creating quite a long encrypted tunnel), or usually use some handy spoofing tricks to pretend like they are.

It's not that tough to tell what's going on. Even if a VPN service has 1000 servers (not actual servers, just interfaces, but that's beyond this post), Netflix and/or Amazon could easily just list those interfaces as "cheaters" and refuse service to them. Since there's only like 50 credible VPNs, this wouldn't even make a network engineer break a sweat. If a new one got added, and became popular, the increase in traffic to a set of interfaces would immediately trip an alarm.

Like has been mentioned, the bigger services have known what's going on, but the problem was so minimal that they didn't feel like risking the bad PR or loss of clientele to combat it. However, adding more content from increasingly more squeamish providers has caused them to address the problem. Similarly, not all countries just accept you using Netflix. Countries that restrict content insist that Netflix only stream "approved" content. If it doesn't, that country will simply ban Netflix from entering its network (or fine it in International Court).

It's another game of network whack-a-mole.

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From what LIQR said, I suspect his issue was them recognizing his MAC addy, something pretty common with cheap or free VPNs. Now MACs are 'hard coded" although a decent tech can change it - but you better know what you're doing.

As for the right or wrong of VPNs, I've used them for years in business. They're gonna be here for a long time. And things will change. They always do. Just like software. As soon as you learn Server 2003, then R2 comes out, then 2008, then R2. As soon as you learn them 2012 is upon us, then 2016. Then you have to go back and re-learn 2003 when you go into an office that never upgraded. Doesnt take into account Debian or Red Hat or any of the other bad boys out there.

For right now, this particular VPN is working pretty good. Gives you a lot of security with hackers and so forth. So far, I'm pretty darn happy. Will this change? Almost certainly. Everything does

I canceled too but bothered with Kodi addons. Using Live Net TV APK... It has more than 800 live tv channels with HD link option. Covers almost all football channels.

Just canceled cable today. Trying Playstation Vue this weekend. Anyone who uses PV can you tell me how to record a single college football game...say the Baylor one this weekend? When I tell it to record the game it goes and records EVERY college football game...

I haven't been bold enough to cancel my DirecTV, but I did finally ax all of my premium channels, including the NFL Sunday Ticket. The latter makes Sundays tough because they always show the games I'm least interested in, other than the Cowboys, and the Cowboys make it tough, too. But I always used to have a second TV on with the best of the other games. Now it's just other crappy games I don't care about.

The premium movie channels just became a total waste. They hardly even show movies any more, and the movies they show are total crap. So much political garbage, and that's often what I'm trying to get some relief from. The original shows are not good any more, mostly just plain terrible. I won't get to see the final season of Game Of Thrones, one of the few watchable things left on HBO. But it wasn't that great any more anyhow. I'll see it eventually.

I really don't miss all the stuff I axed, other than the luxury of NFL games out of area. I can live without that now.

Even if there were things worth watching by alternative means, streaming options are pretty much out of the question because my DSL internet is total crapola for video.

I just need to find better things to do with my life, spend some more time outside, maybe try to do some art work again.

Been using Area 51 IPTV. Cheap, $5 per mo per 2 devices. I have half a dozen devices but log out when I'm finished. Keep two licenses as I have as roommate.

Covers thousands of stream. About 115 US types from Bravo to Animal Planet to Discovery plus network and any others. Other countries so UK and Canada. You can set up your own favorites.

Lots of other streams on it

One cool thing. While you can prepay, you can also go month to month. Decent customer service. Its pretty turnkey. Really easy to use