[ManOfSteele]

I'm moving to a area of Redding that does not have cable so I'm going to have to retire my Roamio+mini hardware for something else. How does the TiVo OTA box compare to the DirecTV DVR? Is there a streaming only version of TiVo that could consider?

 

[trip1eX]

apples and oranges OTA Tivo to DTV dvr.

OTA Tivo isn't going to get you cable channels not even via streaming.

Tivo Stream 4k is a streaming box. YOU get a streaming peanut remote and a Tivo app that tries to aggregate Slingtv (aka cable over the internet) with other streaming services like Netflix etc in 1 UI. See the Tivo STream 4k forums for hands-on impressions.

You can run other cable over the internet services on the Stream 4k but they won't be part of the Tivo app.

 

[302481]

Make a list of your must-have channels, and pick the cheapest solution that has them.

Are you sure your Roamio can’t get OTA (the 4 tuner can, the 6 tuner Pro can’t)?

Since you can’t get cable, does that mean you can’t get internet either?

In any case, TiVo and DirecTV DVRs are functionally very similar. Both have a guide, can record things and play live TV, the basic things you’d expect a DVR to do.

A basic DirecTV package with DVR is going to be around $120/month after promos expire, close to $200 for the top package. OTA is free. Streaming is anywhere from $20/month to about $160 on top of your internet service cost.

I would try to cut the cord and do OTA only. If you can’t stand it, switch to satellite or streaming later.

 

[wizwor]

Excellent post. I may 'repost' it (without attribution ) in the future.

Make a list of your must-have channels, and pick the cheapest solution that has them.

Are you sure your Roamio can't get OTA (the 4 tuner can, the 6 tuner Pro can't)?

Since you can't get cable, does that mean you can't get internet either?

In any case, TiVo and DirecTV DVRs are functionally very similar. Both have a guide, can record things and play live TV, the basic things you'd expect a DVR to do.

A basic DirecTV package with DVR is going to be around $120/month after promos expire, close to $200 for the top package. OTA is free. Streaming is anywhere from $20/month to about $160 on top of your internet service cost.

I would try to cut the cord and do OTA only. If you can't stand it, switch to satellite or streaming later.

 

[WVZR1]

Since you can't get cable, does that mean you can't get internet either?

HSI - High Speed Internet I'd think determines very likely any decision!! Can or can't OR what's available for Internet services I'd think very important.

There's some very 'rural' folks near here that do very well with 'WISP' providers!

 

[HoTatII]

Also remember that if you choose to go with DIRECTV, they're most likely going to push you to take their "Genie 2" aka the HS17 headless DVR server and client(s) setup.

Which is fine, but (illogically) does not work with their OTA adapter the "LCC", or the now obsolete AM21.

So if OTA channels outside those provided by the DIRECTV satellites are important to you (such as secondary subchannels), then be sure to insist on the Genie 1 models such as the HR54 or 44, which are compatible with either of their OTA adapters.

Sent from my LG-H932 using Tapatalk

 

[ManOfSteele]

> Are you sure your Roamio can’t get OTA
> (the 4 tuner can, the 6 tuner Pro can’t)?

As far as I know the 6 tuner Roamio cannot do OTA. It's cable only.

> Since you can’t get cable, does that mean
> you can’t get internet either?

I can get internet, but it's satellite only at 12MB. That'll be a big step down from the 400MB I'm getting now but there are simply no other options. It's not like I'm moving way out in the boonies, in fact it's only 15 minutes from a 16 screen movie complex, but apparently it's too rural for Comcast.

>A basic DirecTV package with DVR is going to
>be around $120/month after promos expire,
>close to $200 for the top package. OTA is free.

DirecTV turns out not to be an option. They require a two year commitment and I'm only going to be in Redding for a year. You'd think they'd have other options.

So, I think I'm going to go with YouTube TV. They claim only 3MB download is needed so the 12MB I'll get with satellite internet should be sufficient.

 

[Bigg]

So, I think I'm going to go with YouTube TV. They claim only 3MB download is needed so the 12MB I'll get with satellite internet should be sufficient.

Not going to be practical. Satellite doesn't have enough data for basic stuff to being with, adding streaming TV to that is just going to make it far worse.

 

[ManOfSteele]

Sadly we have no other options in this area...

 

[Bigg]

Sadly we have no other options in this area...

That's not going to make YTTV magically work over satellite internet. Do you have any LTE reception? You could go with DirecTV, it's just going to cost you more.

 

[NashGuy]

DirecTV turns out not to be an option. They require a two year commitment and I'm only going to be in Redding for a year. You'd think they'd have other options.

So, I think I'm going to go with YouTube TV. They claim only 3MB download is needed so the 12MB I'll get with satellite internet should be sufficient.

You need to think about how much data you'd use in a month if you stream all your video via YouTube TV. When you look at the data caps imposed by satellite internet plans, combined with their high cost to begin with, you may find that it makes more sense to get DirecTV or DISH with a 2-yr contract and then just pay the early termination fee to leave after one year. I think both charge you $20 per month left on your contract to break it. (However, they may give you an option to move your satellite TV service to a different address when you leave Redding and thereby avoid the ETF.)

Alternatively, if you can get decent OTA TV reception of your locals there, you might consider Orby, which is contract-free satellite TV offering a skinny bundle of channels for $40/mo. But it probably won't suffice for you since it's missing channels owned by Disney, Fox and NBCU.

 

[NashGuy]

That's not going to make YTTV magically work over satellite internet. Do you have any LTE reception? You could go with DirecTV, it's just going to cost you more.

YTTV should technically work over satellite internet. The availability of a ~7 Mbps download speed from Viasat or HughesNet isn't the problem. It just may be impractical due to the cost of the satellite internet plan he would need (combination of speed + higher data cap).

 

[ManOfSteele]

I guess we'll just have to see how things go once we've finished our move. I'm getting a bad feeling about satellite internet+YTTV and you may be right that DirecTV may be our future.

 

[WVZR1]

It actually appears that there's likely WISP and LTE options you might want to consider.

 

[ThAbtO]

Did you try Googling for cable services in Redding?

I got Spectrum

cable redding, ca - Google Search

 

[WVZR1]

Did you try Googling for cable services in Redding?

I got Spectrum

cable redding, ca - Google Search

There's a thought!!! I would have guessed the OP had exhausted that option BUT ....................

 

[ThAbtO]

BTW, Redding, ca is not an urban area, rather a suburb.

 

[tommiet]

I've had both Dish and DirecTV. By far, Dish has a better DVR. And with the current issues @ AT&T.. You know they are not doing much of any updates to the hardware. But if sports are you thing.. your gonna have to pay up with AT&T and their hardware.

Maybe Starlink may help as the northern part of the US will be on line late this year.

Best of luck.

 

[302481]

Even if you move in a year, take Dish or DirecTV with you and finish out your contract where ever you end up. I personally prefer Dish to DirecTV, and their prices are a bit lower.

 

[ManOfSteele]

I had DirecTV for a period when they used TiVo for their DVR software. Then they dropped TiVo and had their own system, as you probably all know in this forum, and it was an absolutely terrible DVR. I switched back to TiVo and have never looked back. I understand DirdctTV has a much better DVR now, although I still have bad taste in my mouth from that previous DirecTV experience.