Options for internet TV
Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 11,737
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From: Toronto Canada eh!
Options for internet TV
I am wondering if you guys know what good options are out there to cancel current cable (Bell Fibe TV) and be able to watch TV shows?
I have an android box but it takes 5 mins or so to boot up a show sometimes.
I am tired of the $200 /month cable internet bill.
We have netflix.
Sling box tv looks like a good alternative but not avail in Canada.
I also have hd antennae inside but we often use pvr to watch at leisure and pause etc.
what are you guys using?
I have an android box but it takes 5 mins or so to boot up a show sometimes.
I am tired of the $200 /month cable internet bill.
We have netflix.
Sling box tv looks like a good alternative but not avail in Canada.
I also have hd antennae inside but we often use pvr to watch at leisure and pause etc.
what are you guys using?
Rennlist Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 7,291
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I went with an OTA antenna on the roof, with a TIVO box as the PVR. Small one for TO and a larger unit pointed across the lake.
I'm in Burlington and get 30 stations, from Toronto and Buffalo. Picture quality is better than any cable or satellite. Tivo subscription is $15 per month. And we supplement with Netflix.
My wife wants and android box and we will probably get one so we can see more sports and Colombian networks, but picture quality is crap IMO.
I don't know of any other way to get major networks.
I'm in Burlington and get 30 stations, from Toronto and Buffalo. Picture quality is better than any cable or satellite. Tivo subscription is $15 per month. And we supplement with Netflix.
My wife wants and android box and we will probably get one so we can see more sports and Colombian networks, but picture quality is crap IMO.
I don't know of any other way to get major networks.
Track Day
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Aurora, ON
Your best bet might be to wait for the telcos in Canada to offer their skinny TV packages and then supplement them with specific channels you want (ie. Sports, HBO and etc). The CRTC has mandated that TV service providers offer a basic package for $25/month and allow for more a la carte TV channels to be selected without taking on larger bundle of channels. It's suppose to kick in March 1 2017, not sure if that has changed recently
The 2 other solutions would be to get an OTA antenna + add a subscription for things you really watch (ie. NBA league pass, HBO OTT service, Netflix, NFL Sunday pass and etc) and stream it on a cheap android box.
Or get a subscription to Sling TV or AT&T's DirecTV Now Service and subscribe for a VPN service to re-route your IP address. Although you would need a US address to get a subscription as the service is only allowed within the US
The 2 other solutions would be to get an OTA antenna + add a subscription for things you really watch (ie. NBA league pass, HBO OTT service, Netflix, NFL Sunday pass and etc) and stream it on a cheap android box.
Or get a subscription to Sling TV or AT&T's DirecTV Now Service and subscribe for a VPN service to re-route your IP address. Although you would need a US address to get a subscription as the service is only allowed within the US
Rennlist Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,746
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From: Montreal, Quebekistan
I have OTA antenna, Netflix and Amazon. TBH I rarely use my antenna anymore unless it's for the odd hockey game.
For F1, Premier League or such I use Acestream...I get the links off Reddit, usually always the same host/link. SkySports/BBC/Channel 4 Stream in stunning quality on my 65" tv, better than what Bell could offer at 200$ a month. Cost? I'll donate £20 to host for F1 a season
For F1, Premier League or such I use Acestream...I get the links off Reddit, usually always the same host/link. SkySports/BBC/Channel 4 Stream in stunning quality on my 65" tv, better than what Bell could offer at 200$ a month. Cost? I'll donate £20 to host for F1 a season
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,309
Likes: 14
From: 1 hour from CTMP!
150$ a month only to find there was 'nothing on'
Apple TV and a digital antennae.
works for us for well over 12 years.
you'll be able to stream anything on the internet through airplay.
Apple TV and a digital antennae.
works for us for well over 12 years.
you'll be able to stream anything on the internet through airplay.
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Banned
Joined: Apr 2013
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We have run a Kodi for about a year. A buddy set it up for us and it is quite complex but well worth it. You might have trouble getting older, more obscure movies but for the most part it works fine. Helps to have a good router\modem.
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 28,469
Likes: 1,632
From: Cambridge Ontario Canada
skinny tv is already on offer and has been a disaster. No real value.. both bell and rogers got "stern letters" from CRTC but they really cant tell them what to do ( or wont under current provincial liberals ) . Lots of reports of skinny TV but "just a few channels" puts you back at your previous bill.
I have Kodi on my desktop and its a pain but I think for me the answer might be OTA and buy a powerful laptop with HDMI out so I can play movies via kodi. But this of course requires internet broadband which is next on the ripoff list.
I have Kodi on my desktop and its a pain but I think for me the answer might be OTA and buy a powerful laptop with HDMI out so I can play movies via kodi. But this of course requires internet broadband which is next on the ripoff list.
Track Day
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Aurora, ON
^ didn't realize the skinny tv stuff is already available. I am not surprised that the implementation of skinny tv isn't going well.
Kodi works well for any TV shows, movies or anything else on demand, but if the OP is looking for something to replace live channels I am not sure there's a great alternative out there. I don't think any of the add-ons on Kodi work well for live TV.
I have tried some of the P2P live channels as someone mentioned (acestreams and etc.) but haven't had great success with them (atleast not with using them through Kodi).
Kodi works well for any TV shows, movies or anything else on demand, but if the OP is looking for something to replace live channels I am not sure there's a great alternative out there. I don't think any of the add-ons on Kodi work well for live TV.
I have tried some of the P2P live channels as someone mentioned (acestreams and etc.) but haven't had great success with them (atleast not with using them through Kodi).
Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 11,737
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From: Toronto Canada eh!
My android box with kodi works well but takes a few minutes to find a good stream. I used and add on called phoenix and saw some live hockey in hd the other day. I am not sure if there are better add ons for finding better quality streams.
regarding broadband, tech savvy announced they are lowering prices in the new year
regarding broadband, tech savvy announced they are lowering prices in the new year
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,180
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From: Halifax, NS. Canada
Also can you get Amazon on Apple TV?
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 207
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From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
For OTA HD PVR, I highly recommend the DVR+ ChannelMaster
http://www.channelmaster.com/DVR_Plu...cm-7500tb1.htm
It has a free onscreen guide (no subscription) for US and Canadian channels. You can get the 16G version if you already have a spare 2.5 inch external drive. They keep adding internet channels to it, but nothing fabulous, unless you like RT news.
For netflix and watching downloaded movies, I tried various things through the years and the best functioning device, hands down, no crashes, always works is the Roku Stick 2016 edition. It's inexpensive, around $50 at staples.ca . The remote is small, simple and just works.
For movies, I have a linux server next to my firewall and NAS box in the basement. The linux box runs PLEX media server. PMS (Plex media server) just picks everything up in the directories and adds the images and video/tv/music descriptions. It's flawless with no messing around. I use the Plex app on the Roku Stick to watch the downloaded content, or stream to a chromecast on another TV.
But why stop at your cable subscription. I transferred my home phone number to fongo.com . I pay $5 bucks a month, including caller id, voice mail, forwarding, twinning, free unlimited calls, etc... and still use the regular phones in the house. I have been using fongo for a couple of years now, with no service degradation.
http://www.channelmaster.com/DVR_Plu...cm-7500tb1.htm
It has a free onscreen guide (no subscription) for US and Canadian channels. You can get the 16G version if you already have a spare 2.5 inch external drive. They keep adding internet channels to it, but nothing fabulous, unless you like RT news.
For netflix and watching downloaded movies, I tried various things through the years and the best functioning device, hands down, no crashes, always works is the Roku Stick 2016 edition. It's inexpensive, around $50 at staples.ca . The remote is small, simple and just works.
For movies, I have a linux server next to my firewall and NAS box in the basement. The linux box runs PLEX media server. PMS (Plex media server) just picks everything up in the directories and adds the images and video/tv/music descriptions. It's flawless with no messing around. I use the Plex app on the Roku Stick to watch the downloaded content, or stream to a chromecast on another TV.
But why stop at your cable subscription. I transferred my home phone number to fongo.com . I pay $5 bucks a month, including caller id, voice mail, forwarding, twinning, free unlimited calls, etc... and still use the regular phones in the house. I have been using fongo for a couple of years now, with no service degradation.
Captain Obvious
Super User
Super User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 22,846
Likes: 348
From: Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
Been using an Android box loaded with Kodi for a year. Yes you need to sometimes hunt for a working stream cut I don't care. Have unlimited internet with TekSavvy for $55 and is enough for what we need. 2 boxes and the odd laptop. Don't miss the BS advertising that cable TV littered with. Saves me 20 minutes from an hour and that a lot to me.