Topic: been without cable for a year now
squeegee started this discussion 12 years ago #38,584
and i don't even miss it. i might consume shows a mere 6 hours later than cable subscribers but that's not worth the extra 100+ bucks a month thay want. i should have cancelled years before, best decision regarding my entertainment services evar.
Anonymous B joined in and replied with this 12 years ago, 2 minutes later[^] [v] #515,152
Aw, here you go buddy.Anonymous C joined in and replied with this 12 years ago, 1 minute later, 3 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #515,154
Why 6 hours? Popular stuff is online minutes after it finishes airing.
(Edited 25 seconds later.)
Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx joined in and replied with this 12 years ago, 12 minutes later, 16 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #515,156
!KansasxqvM joined in and replied with this 12 years ago, 14 minutes later, 30 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #515,158
@OP
What do you watch shows on now? I've got a frankenstein system with different devices in each room. Some folks have sweet setups with a central NAS and automated downloading.
What do you watch shows on now? I've got a frankenstein system with different devices in each room. Some folks have sweet setups with a central NAS and automated downloading.
Anonymous C replied with this 12 years ago, 11 minutes later, 41 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #515,162
@previous (!KansasxqvM)
Not OP but, IMO the best setup is:
Have 1 machine/server in your home that will be turned on (as good as) 24/7. On this machine install a torrent client with an API (I like Transmission), SickRage (This is a SickBeard fork to work better with torrents, will download your TV shows when they're released), optionally CouchPotato depending on how much of a movie buff you are. Also install Plex on this server, and point the catalogues to your SickRage/torrent client output folder. Now TV shows will be downloaded to this server when available, and become available through Plex.
Plex can be accessed through in several ways. For PC just use the web interface, IP_OF_SERVER:32400/web/ or sign up on plex.tv and go to plex.tv/web to access it outside of your network too. Many devices, such as the Roku, also have native Plex apps to fully integrate. If your device does not have a Plex app then your content can still be accessed through UPNP.
On top of that, I recommend installing https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/remote-transmission-%20%20/kfbocdnicmioodheiciijiegbmfoliim?hl=en if you use Chrome (I'm sure there are similar plugins for firefox) and https://code.google.com/p/transmisson-remote-gui/ too. This makes interacting with transmission a bit nicer, and lets you easily add torrents to it from any machine (within the LAN, WAN too if you forward ports).
Oh and don't forget to also configure a samba share for your torrent client output so you can also easily use it for other content than media files, and then just grab those through windows explorer. (or sshfs if you're a loonix fanatic)
Not OP but, IMO the best setup is:
Have 1 machine/server in your home that will be turned on (as good as) 24/7. On this machine install a torrent client with an API (I like Transmission), SickRage (This is a SickBeard fork to work better with torrents, will download your TV shows when they're released), optionally CouchPotato depending on how much of a movie buff you are. Also install Plex on this server, and point the catalogues to your SickRage/torrent client output folder. Now TV shows will be downloaded to this server when available, and become available through Plex.
Plex can be accessed through in several ways. For PC just use the web interface, IP_OF_SERVER:32400/web/ or sign up on plex.tv and go to plex.tv/web to access it outside of your network too. Many devices, such as the Roku, also have native Plex apps to fully integrate. If your device does not have a Plex app then your content can still be accessed through UPNP.
On top of that, I recommend installing https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/remote-transmission-%20%20/kfbocdnicmioodheiciijiegbmfoliim?hl=en if you use Chrome (I'm sure there are similar plugins for firefox) and https://code.google.com/p/transmisson-remote-gui/ too. This makes interacting with transmission a bit nicer, and lets you easily add torrents to it from any machine (within the LAN, WAN too if you forward ports).
Oh and don't forget to also configure a samba share for your torrent client output so you can also easily use it for other content than media files, and then just grab those through windows explorer. (or sshfs if you're a loonix fanatic)
!KansasxqvM replied with this 12 years ago, 29 minutes later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #515,163
@previous (C)
Saving this thread to my notepad. I can only imagine all the time it took to figure out what exact setup works best in practice. I will put together something like this someday. Thanks for sharing your configuration.
Saving this thread to my notepad. I can only imagine all the time it took to figure out what exact setup works best in practice. I will put together something like this someday. Thanks for sharing your configuration.
(Edited 40 seconds later.)
squeegee (OP) replied with this 12 years ago, 19 minutes later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #515,164
@515,158 (!KansasxqvM)
i have a PC on my TV and i just use that. nothing fancy, just a rig with all my old parts in it. i don't download torrents usually, i'll watch streams.
@515,154 (C)
that's how long it takes for stuff to hit streaming sites give or take. quality isn't always great so i may wait for a better copyto be uploaded which can take weeks/a month or more depending. it doesn't actually bother me enough to torrent anymore.
@515,162 (C)
interesting. i'll probably never go through the trouble to do all that, but that sounds pretty nice.
also i do have netflicks and a roku box and i'll watch netflicks on a ps3 sometimes too.
i'm just finding cable to be pretty obsolete given all the net options available.
also most network shows go up on their website within a few days to a week, so i watch network tv that way if i ever want to watch that kind of stuff.
i have a PC on my TV and i just use that. nothing fancy, just a rig with all my old parts in it. i don't download torrents usually, i'll watch streams.
@515,154 (C)
that's how long it takes for stuff to hit streaming sites give or take. quality isn't always great so i may wait for a better copyto be uploaded which can take weeks/a month or more depending. it doesn't actually bother me enough to torrent anymore.
@515,162 (C)
interesting. i'll probably never go through the trouble to do all that, but that sounds pretty nice.
also i do have netflicks and a roku box and i'll watch netflicks on a ps3 sometimes too.
i'm just finding cable to be pretty obsolete given all the net options available.
also most network shows go up on their website within a few days to a week, so i watch network tv that way if i ever want to watch that kind of stuff.
!KansasxqvM replied with this 12 years ago, 39 minutes later, 2 hours after the original post[^] [v] #515,165
@previous (squeegee)
XBMC with add ons is great for streaming shows if you're not put off by lower quality. A lot of the movies have fine quality but many of the shows are pretty low. The best add ons are probably ice films and primewire/1Channel. primewire/1Channel can be set up to auto-sort and play sources - it's pretty sweet when it works. For streaming movies I just use popcorn time, though I don't steam often. I've been burned too many times streaming (lose place in movie/show etc). XBMC has a really slick interface and many themes, if you haven't seen it in action go check it out.
XBMC with add ons is great for streaming shows if you're not put off by lower quality. A lot of the movies have fine quality but many of the shows are pretty low. The best add ons are probably ice films and primewire/1Channel. primewire/1Channel can be set up to auto-sort and play sources - it's pretty sweet when it works. For streaming movies I just use popcorn time, though I don't steam often. I've been burned too many times streaming (lose place in movie/show etc). XBMC has a really slick interface and many themes, if you haven't seen it in action go check it out.
Anonymous C replied with this 12 years ago, 2 minutes later, 2 hours after the original post[^] [v] #515,166
@515,164 (squeegee)
What kind of streaming sites? I tend to just use torrents since those are up literally minutes after the show finishes and will have excellent speeds when they're in their prime.
@515,163 (!KansasxqvM)
It honestly didn't take that long. Transmission was my long time favorite torrent client for linux, and it has bonus points because amazing API and a nice web interface. The alternative is pretty much rtorrent, but it's more obnoxious to set up.
SickBeard is the go-to if you want to automatically download your TV shows without subscribing to a bunch of different RSS feeds (eztv used to have an rss service, I dont know if that is still up. There may be others), but SickBeard is primarily developed for newsgroups and the torrent support is sub-par. Enter SickRage, a fork of SickBeard that focuses on torrents.
CouchPotato is also the go-to for movies. Don't really know any alternatives there.
Plex was a tricky one for me, I've tried a bunch of different things there and for the longest time I just accessed the downloaded files directly over samba, but that wasn't fancy enough. Then I discovered Plex, and it's just amazing. You can point it at an unstructured download directory containing a ton of tv show files and it'll organize it nicely internally, download metadata, handled subtitles, etc. The setup isn't that complicated once you figure out which programs you want to use for what.
What kind of streaming sites? I tend to just use torrents since those are up literally minutes after the show finishes and will have excellent speeds when they're in their prime.
@515,163 (!KansasxqvM)
It honestly didn't take that long. Transmission was my long time favorite torrent client for linux, and it has bonus points because amazing API and a nice web interface. The alternative is pretty much rtorrent, but it's more obnoxious to set up.
SickBeard is the go-to if you want to automatically download your TV shows without subscribing to a bunch of different RSS feeds (eztv used to have an rss service, I dont know if that is still up. There may be others), but SickBeard is primarily developed for newsgroups and the torrent support is sub-par. Enter SickRage, a fork of SickBeard that focuses on torrents.
CouchPotato is also the go-to for movies. Don't really know any alternatives there.
Plex was a tricky one for me, I've tried a bunch of different things there and for the longest time I just accessed the downloaded files directly over samba, but that wasn't fancy enough. Then I discovered Plex, and it's just amazing. You can point it at an unstructured download directory containing a ton of tv show files and it'll organize it nicely internally, download metadata, handled subtitles, etc. The setup isn't that complicated once you figure out which programs you want to use for what.
squeegee (OP) replied with this 12 years ago, 5 minutes later, 2 hours after the original post[^] [v] #515,167
@515,165 (!KansasxqvM)
i'll check it out.
@previous (C)
my goto site i check first is movie4k.to which is hit or miss quality wise. but it has all the earliest theater releases i've run across. those can be great if it's not a huge budget movie like interstellar or guardians of the galaxy. i think the studios try to disrupt as much as possible those sites with bootlegs. but after 4-6 weeks the high quality dvd copies get uploaded and are great.
with my service buffering is pretty good. i may need to let it buffer for 10 minutes and then it plays seamlessly. other times it's shit and takes a long time to buffer enough and i'll watch something else.
but most of the a- flicks are okay on the first day.
i'll check it out.
@previous (C)
my goto site i check first is movie4k.to which is hit or miss quality wise. but it has all the earliest theater releases i've run across. those can be great if it's not a huge budget movie like interstellar or guardians of the galaxy. i think the studios try to disrupt as much as possible those sites with bootlegs. but after 4-6 weeks the high quality dvd copies get uploaded and are great.
with my service buffering is pretty good. i may need to let it buffer for 10 minutes and then it plays seamlessly. other times it's shit and takes a long time to buffer enough and i'll watch something else.
but most of the a- flicks are okay on the first day.
(Edited 2 minutes later.)
Anonymous C replied with this 12 years ago, 1 minute later, 2 hours after the original post[^] [v] #515,168
!KansasxqvM replied with this 12 years ago, 27 minutes later, 2 hours after the original post[^] [v] #515,178
squeegee (OP) replied with this 12 years ago, 56 minutes later, 3 hours after the original post[^] [v] #515,194
Syntax joined in and replied with this 12 years ago, 8 minutes later, 3 hours after the original post[^] [v] #515,202
@515,178 (!KansasxqvM)
> Downloading copyrighted material may be illegal in your country. Use at your own risk.
LOL good its in Beta mode. If it gets popular then for those who do live in USA they damn well remember the last time(s) so many got letters in the mail from attorneys all looking for filling their wallets real fast with peoples cold hard cash. CBS TV was as I remember it on a roll over Showtime movies and CBS programs. Then there was that New Zealand Fat dude who is back in business again.
Understand his new service ends up streaming some very glitchy stuff - So far he has yet to figure out a way around Cisco router temp glitches LOL
> Downloading copyrighted material may be illegal in your country. Use at your own risk.
LOL good its in Beta mode. If it gets popular then for those who do live in USA they damn well remember the last time(s) so many got letters in the mail from attorneys all looking for filling their wallets real fast with peoples cold hard cash. CBS TV was as I remember it on a roll over Showtime movies and CBS programs. Then there was that New Zealand Fat dude who is back in business again.
Understand his new service ends up streaming some very glitchy stuff - So far he has yet to figure out a way around Cisco router temp glitches LOL
squeegee joined in and replied with this 12 years ago, 3 hours later, 7 hours after the original post[^] [v] #515,252
@previous (Syntax)
eh, i think they're pretty much over that whole "sue our content consumers" mentality of ten years ago. The flood gate was open and now the dam has completely burst, they know there's no stopping it. Media producers are actually starting to get on the band wagon, like, most network shows being added a day late to the website and music producers are sharing more media through services like pandora or even youtube and pulling in advertizing dollars instead of direct purchases.
Pretty soon all new content will be available ala-carte across all possible pay channels. So, stream it, download it, buy it, rent it, go see it or watch it on whatever, whenever. It'll be all about a high quality user experience and convenience.
But, until we get to that day they'll stagger releases across different media as they do today and they'll keep people on the pay-for-all content delivery system they are using now as long as possible. but, i think most of the big players recongnize that their industry changes so quickly that business models need to adapt just as fast, and what worked in the 1980's is just absolutely absurd in 2015. and if they don't adapt then they will go bankrupt.
edit: i'll put a fine point on it, when i was a kid i begged my parents relentlessly for cable, eventually we got it, but it was only after many, many, many years of telling them how lame they were. My brother has a couple of kids now and his son was telling him over thanksgiving how lame it is they pay for cable and don't have business class internet service... He wants them to cut the cable and get much better internet, and he's been begging for a while now.
times they are a changin'
eh, i think they're pretty much over that whole "sue our content consumers" mentality of ten years ago. The flood gate was open and now the dam has completely burst, they know there's no stopping it. Media producers are actually starting to get on the band wagon, like, most network shows being added a day late to the website and music producers are sharing more media through services like pandora or even youtube and pulling in advertizing dollars instead of direct purchases.
Pretty soon all new content will be available ala-carte across all possible pay channels. So, stream it, download it, buy it, rent it, go see it or watch it on whatever, whenever. It'll be all about a high quality user experience and convenience.
But, until we get to that day they'll stagger releases across different media as they do today and they'll keep people on the pay-for-all content delivery system they are using now as long as possible. but, i think most of the big players recongnize that their industry changes so quickly that business models need to adapt just as fast, and what worked in the 1980's is just absolutely absurd in 2015. and if they don't adapt then they will go bankrupt.
edit: i'll put a fine point on it, when i was a kid i begged my parents relentlessly for cable, eventually we got it, but it was only after many, many, many years of telling them how lame they were. My brother has a couple of kids now and his son was telling him over thanksgiving how lame it is they pay for cable and don't have business class internet service... He wants them to cut the cable and get much better internet, and he's been begging for a while now.
times they are a changin'
(Edited 4 minutes later.)
Anonymous H joined in and replied with this 12 years ago, 1 hour later, 8 hours after the original post[^] [v] #515,271
I don't pay for television. I don't pay for content.
I don't pay to see what the King of the U.K. said...
If it's meant to reach these ears, I'll hear about it.
I don't pay to see what the King of the U.K. said...
If it's meant to reach these ears, I'll hear about it.
Syntax replied with this 12 years ago, 1 hour later, 10 hours after the original post[^] [v] #515,286
@515,252 (squeegee)
@previous (H)
The only reason I continue to pay for Cable is: Someone else is paying for it and really for the Business connection service Buttttttt I do NOT use Cox cable for play time. Cable systems all Suck technologically. Low bidder electronics and usually all at ground level so sun damages hermetic seals over time and then a simple storm can wipe out a hood. And those Nodes that mean if mass of people are using your so called 50 MB sec then its 50MB minus as new users climb on board. Statements like We offer you 50 end up with a full page of fyne print that says otherwise.
I live at the edge of Cox and Time Warner which will soon be Comcast the butt hole of Cable. Hate just hate that they currently own my former employer MCA/Universal studios - I no pay for Time Warner but my access is shall we say is er hummmmm suspect.
So for me its TVio and DVR's because GF's insist on storing a load of stuff I wood never watch - Lifetime and Hallmark channels stuff. Oprah channel etc. TW just made a change where they force all recording to be in HD which means a full change up of DVR's and the TVio changes as well which is a bytchhhh re having to download content b4 techs come out and make the switch. Tech from TW will be a contract person who will have no clue that I am not exactly legal because the Church rite next door to me is legal territory for TW - Like I am just feet from demark point.
I think Netflix and Hula paid works just great and one day may have to pay for those - Not to long ago my cash flow sucked and I looked at alternatives like Tor etc. Got lazy and cash flow improved so now its just the same old Cable with a slew of channels I wood never use. The best thing about cable currently is that they keep all on servers so one can at no cost grab something I missed and see it. Have NOT looked at time limits on how long they cache.
@previous (H)
The only reason I continue to pay for Cable is: Someone else is paying for it and really for the Business connection service Buttttttt I do NOT use Cox cable for play time. Cable systems all Suck technologically. Low bidder electronics and usually all at ground level so sun damages hermetic seals over time and then a simple storm can wipe out a hood. And those Nodes that mean if mass of people are using your so called 50 MB sec then its 50MB minus as new users climb on board. Statements like We offer you 50 end up with a full page of fyne print that says otherwise.
I live at the edge of Cox and Time Warner which will soon be Comcast the butt hole of Cable. Hate just hate that they currently own my former employer MCA/Universal studios - I no pay for Time Warner but my access is shall we say is er hummmmm suspect.
So for me its TVio and DVR's because GF's insist on storing a load of stuff I wood never watch - Lifetime and Hallmark channels stuff. Oprah channel etc. TW just made a change where they force all recording to be in HD which means a full change up of DVR's and the TVio changes as well which is a bytchhhh re having to download content b4 techs come out and make the switch. Tech from TW will be a contract person who will have no clue that I am not exactly legal because the Church rite next door to me is legal territory for TW - Like I am just feet from demark point.
I think Netflix and Hula paid works just great and one day may have to pay for those - Not to long ago my cash flow sucked and I looked at alternatives like Tor etc. Got lazy and cash flow improved so now its just the same old Cable with a slew of channels I wood never use. The best thing about cable currently is that they keep all on servers so one can at no cost grab something I missed and see it. Have NOT looked at time limits on how long they cache.
Anonymous H replied with this 12 years ago, 12 minutes later, 10 hours after the original post[^] [v] #515,290
@previous (Syntax)
Wouldn't cable be a lot nicer if they actually did stop for a moment... then realize it's no longer 1993 and they have a lot more customers these days? It could be put anotehere way, but donut want 2B too rude!
Wouldn't cable be a lot nicer if they actually did stop for a moment... then realize it's no longer 1993 and they have a lot more customers these days? It could be put anotehere way, but donut want 2B too rude!
Syntax replied with this 12 years ago, 56 minutes later, 11 hours after the original post[^] [v] #515,308
@previous (H)
I myself wonder wot the outcome will be. AT&T just told the FCC that if Obama gets his way with full net neutrality then AT&T sees no reason to build out their U-verse updated system. Odd that Google all of a sudden dumped even more money in2 their full fiber to home design. Currently both AT&T/Verizon in USA are Fiber to street and twisted wire to homes as old telco connection which I laff at
Cable is fiber to street as well but Coax to home. 500 MB/sec needs full fiber from server to home connect but in labs I see Verizon force feeding 500 to Street and still sticking with twisted wires to home and they say they can. Me not convinced
I myself wonder wot the outcome will be. AT&T just told the FCC that if Obama gets his way with full net neutrality then AT&T sees no reason to build out their U-verse updated system. Odd that Google all of a sudden dumped even more money in2 their full fiber to home design. Currently both AT&T/Verizon in USA are Fiber to street and twisted wire to homes as old telco connection which I laff at
Cable is fiber to street as well but Coax to home. 500 MB/sec needs full fiber from server to home connect but in labs I see Verizon force feeding 500 to Street and still sticking with twisted wires to home and they say they can. Me not convinced
Anonymous H replied with this 12 years ago, 3 minutes later, 11 hours after the original post[^] [v] #515,310
@previous (Syntax)
> Cable is fiber to street
... The question being... which street?!
fiber to ???, copper to ??? ...
NEW UPGRAYYED MONSTER NRGY FIBEREOPTICAL PRECOG-CABLES!!
($ USD(2.99) YEN(19.99)) SUBSCRIBE NOW (AND SAVE!!)!!!
FASTEST HOME WIFI AND CABLES TO DELIVER TO IT UP RITE!!
COMCAST/XFINITY IS FUTU'RE! JOIN (US) NOW! (c)(2012)
> Cable is fiber to street
... The question being... which street?!
fiber to ???, copper to ??? ...
NEW UPGRAYYED MONSTER NRGY FIBEREOPTICAL PRECOG-CABLES!!
($ USD(2.99) YEN(19.99)) SUBSCRIBE NOW (AND SAVE!!)!!!
FASTEST HOME WIFI AND CABLES TO DELIVER TO IT UP RITE!!
COMCAST/XFINITY IS FUTU'RE! JOIN (US) NOW! (c)(2012)
(Edited 4 minutes later.)
Syntax replied with this 12 years ago, 1 hour later, 12 hours after the original post[^] [v] #515,336
@previous (H)
> COMCAST/XFINITY IS FUTU'RE! JOIN (US) NOW! (c)(2012)
LOL if you live in Montana in limited area fiber all the way yes but very limited
New York more better
Odd how even when they do its sill not as advertised - Eu has speeds only USA talks about -Much like claims of one of my clients re speed. In ideal test conditions with few using the service in a very limited test area its fast as advertised. Just not anywhere else and FTC is threatening huge fines after the client has been fined many times now for false ads
New homes with fresh fiber installs or large building complex's are ideal for Verizon FiOS and Verizon put FCC on notice that they will stop offering the service if Obama gets his way
> COMCAST/XFINITY IS FUTU'RE! JOIN (US) NOW! (c)(2012)
LOL if you live in Montana in limited area fiber all the way yes but very limited
New York more better
Odd how even when they do its sill not as advertised - Eu has speeds only USA talks about -Much like claims of one of my clients re speed. In ideal test conditions with few using the service in a very limited test area its fast as advertised. Just not anywhere else and FTC is threatening huge fines after the client has been fined many times now for false ads
New homes with fresh fiber installs or large building complex's are ideal for Verizon FiOS and Verizon put FCC on notice that they will stop offering the service if Obama gets his way
Anonymous I joined in and replied with this 12 years ago, 57 seconds later, 12 hours after the original post[^] [v] #515,337
> 2014
> still using cable
> still using cable