Sling adds Fox Sports North

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

For some reason the Brewers games were just blacked out for me, but I was able to watch the Nationals games this weekend.

Weird.  It sounds like they had to black out some of the hockey playoffs -- maybe Twins games were collateral damage for you?  If it happens again, do let them know, and be very clear about your location (both your city and your IP address) and that you shouldn't be blacked out (I assume you are in Minnesota).

[HitInAPinch]

Thanks for posting all the info for Sling.  I too am contemplating dropping DirecTV.  1/3 of the cost is renting the box.  And WAY to many channels that I'll NEVER watch.  I've been a customer for 12 years   

 

I already have Amazon Prime [ $9 a month (?) ], Netflix [ $8 ] and VidAngel [ pay as you go, rent movies for $2 HD ] via Roku 3. 

 

[South Dakota Tom]

I have now successfully connected a VPN (CNET Cheapskate had a lifetime VPN for $40 a month ago, so I bought it before I even knew what it did).  Therefore, mlb.tv works great for me for any blacked-out games in South Dakota.  And between mlb.tv, Netflix, and Amazon Prime, I'm still running at about $300 per year, but only receive a few OTA channels through an antennae.

 

Am now experimenting with Slingbox (not Sling TV) as a relative has cable and wants to be able to watch it at my home when they are there (frequently) with my youngest.  There are limitations (and maybe mostly my limitations) but they only had one set-top box with component inputs at their home (the TiVO/DVR box) and when I hooked up through that one, I got to watch what they were watching when that TV was on, and that felt a little creepy as well as being very limiting.

 

So now I'm getting them to go get another set-top box for an unused cable connection in a spare room and will test that option tonight. 

 

The hope is that I won't have to subscribe to mlb.tv in future years, just utilize the Slingbox from that cable system.  There are drawbacks, however - the one mentioned above, where if they are using that cable box, you cannot independently control the "slinged" signal.  Two, the interface is an app for your phone (which costs $15 if you want the one without ads), which we placed on both my wife's and my phone, as well as the relative's. 

 

The "new" cable box is supposed to be coming today, so I will report on the progress of this side-door option. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I have now successfully connected a VPN (CNET Cheapskate had a lifetime VPN for $40 a month ago, so I bought it before I even knew what it did).  Therefore, mlb.tv works great for me for any blacked-out games in South Dakota.

If anybody else wants to try the VPN route, I heard that the "developer version" of the Opera web browser now has a built-in free unlimited "VPN" (although technically it is really just a proxy):

 

https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2016/04/25/opera-adds-a-sort-of-vpn-to-its-browser/

 

That said, I wouldn't exactly trust the security of any data going out over a free VPN/proxy.  If I used one, I would change my MLB.TV email and password to something completely different than my normal online accounts, and I'd only use Opera for MLB.TV and nothing else.

 

But still, it's probably easier than dealing with free proxy lists and manually configuring them on your system.

[Badsmerf]

This is exactly what I've been waiting for. They offer 3 months paid ahead and a free roku 2. If i kept it i mist likely would buy a roku 3 though.

[Otto von Ballpark]

This is exactly what I've been waiting for. They offer 3 months paid ahead and a free roku 2. If i kept it i mist likely would buy a roku 3 though.

If you search there is a deal for $50 off any device at Best Buy with 3 months paid Sling subscription. So you could get $50 off a Roku 3 that way, and skip the Roku 2.

[Badsmerf]

I have 2tvs anyway, so I'll need another.

[zenser]

For the cord cutters out there, is sling the way to go for FSN?  How about football?  Any one use sling or vue for local networks?  My local CBS, ABC, and Fox tower is about 70 miles away so a small indoor HD antenna isn't the best option.  I may try a bigger attic mount HD antenna.  I am just curious that the rest of you use.

[Mr. Brooks]

For the cord cutters out there, is sling the way to go for FSN? How about football? Any one use sling or vue for local networks? My local CBS, ABC, and Fox tower is about 70 miles away so a small indoor HD antenna isn't the best option. I may try a bigger attic mount HD antenna. I am just curious that the rest of you use.

You'd be surprised how far you can reach with the indoor HD antenna.

I'm about 50 to 60 miles out and I get all the locals and I didn't even buy the one with the longest range.

You just have to play around with positioning.

The way I did it was run my auto scan in several different placements( to make sure you get all the channels), then through trial and error you can find a position that works for all of them- or at least the ones you watch.

It took me a few days messing with it here and there. One spot I'd get all but NBC, move it a bit and get NBC but not Fox, etc. until I eventually found a spot that worked for all of them. Haven't had to touch it since.

 

Luckily the spot that worked for me is behind the TV so I was able to tape it to the wall.

[Target Field of Dreams]

Sling is an awesome solution, especially for $20/mo. For $40 you can also get ESPN which is still a steal of a deal, but for me personally I went with the FSN package and use a HD antenna for locals and am able to watch pretty much everything I want and all Twins games. It really is a great solution.

[D. Hocking]

Thanks.  I have a Roku stick and have been toying with adding Sling for awhile.  This might put me over the edge (in a different way than last season put me over the edge).

[Vanimal46]

For Sling, you'd get your local Fox Sports channel, correct? So if I get it, I'd most likely get Fox Sports SouthWest down in Texas. 

[zenser]

Thanks for all the input!  This answers a lot of my questions.

[Loosey]

 

For Sling, you'd get your local Fox Sports channel, correct? So if I get it, I'd most likely get Fox Sports SouthWest down in Texas. 

Right.  

[Loosey]

I'm thinking about making the switch full time to Sling and cutting the cord completely.  My question is, does anyone know of a way to record to a DVR from Sling? I know I can get something to record Over the Air Channels from the Antenna, but what about Sling?

[nicksaviking]

 

Thanks for all the input!  This answers a lot of my questions.

 

Not me, I'm so lost. I don't understand any of this stuff. I'm going to need one of you guys to come over to my house and bring all the new gadgets and set this stuff up for me.

 

Also, no, I'm not old but I'd still prefer you stay off my lawn.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I'm thinking about making the switch full time to Sling and cutting the cord completely. My question is, does anyone know of a way to record to a DVR from Sling? I know I can get something to record Over the Air Channels from the Antenna, but what about Sling?

You can't record Sling. (Well, other than playing it in a web client while doing a screen capture, I suppose!)

 

You might want to look into Sony's Vue -- a service a lot like Sling, but with an added online DVR feature.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Another cool thing to check out is what networks/apps support logging in with a Vue or Sling account, like you could with a cable or satellite account. For example, Fox Sports Go, Watch ESPN, etc. Generally you get those channels in the Sling/Vue package, but then you're not necessarily tied to the Sling/Vue apps/interface.

 

DIRECTV is coming out with their own Sling/Vue type streaming service soon, which may also warrant an investigation. I hear they will be offering a free Apple TV box with 3 month subscription too, similar to the deals that Sling has run.

[Mr. Brooks]

Amazon is also in negotiations to add NBA, MLB, and NFL packages to their prime memberships.

That would be pretty sweet for those of us already paying for prime anyway.

[Loosey]

 

Another cool thing to check out is what networks/apps support logging in with a Vue or Sling account, like you could with a cable or satellite account. For example, Fox Sports Go, Watch ESPN, etc. Generally you get those channels in the Sling/Vue package, but then you're not necessarily tied to the Sling/Vue apps/interface.

DIRECTV is coming out with their own Sling/Vue type streaming service soon, which may also warrant an investigation. I hear they will be offering a free Apple TV box with 3 month subscription too, similar to the deals that Sling has run.

May have to wait to see what the DirectTV service looks like, Called DirectTV NOW.  It's is set to launch on November 28, next week.

 

Or I may just run with the 7 day free sling trial then see if DirectTV NOW has a trial and report back what I thought.

 

If you don't hear from me it means I got lazy and either didn't try them or just forgot to report back.

[brvama]

For the cord cutters out there, is sling the way to go for FSN?  How about football?  Any one use sling or vue for local networks?  My local CBS, ABC, and Fox tower is about 70 miles away so a small indoor HD antenna isn't the best option.  I may try a bigger attic mount HD antenna.  I am just curious that the rest of you use.

Just a point of interest. Any antenna can receive HD signals. I have been using the same outside antenna for the past 40 years and receive the HD signals just fine. Don't fall for the sales pitch for HD antennas. For an explanation go here: http://copradar.com/dtv/index.html

 

Now the streaming sources have me a bit confused. Does anyone have a simple explanation about that service and what's required? I'd be interested in going that route.