STREAMING
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WHAT IS STREAMING
When you play video or audio that is retrieved from a remote server as it arrives from a constant stream of data, this is called streaming. WHY STREAM To access content from your TV provider. To be able to watch when you are away from home. To get programming that you like better than what is being offered from your TV provider. To get premium commercial-free content Rent movies. |
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WHAT YOU NEED
A high-speed internet connection at your streaming location. A streaming device such as a :
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INTERNET SPEED
Streaming needs a solid internet connection with a high data cap. An audio stream takes about 329 Kbs while HD Video requires a realized speed of 7Mbs. Video streaming uses: SD video 1 GB per hour HD video 3 to 5 GB per hour, 4K video 20 to 30 GB per hour Audio streaming 144 MB per hour |
STREAMING PLAYERS
Streaming used to be computer friendly, you could stream from your internet browser. Now most streaming services are not browser friendly, they require a dedicated app. There are only a handful of premium services that have an App in the Microsoft app store. Tablets and SmartPhones offer better streaming options than a PC.
If your preference is watching on the big screen, you will need a Smart TV, or a TV with an HDMI port connected to a dedicated streaming device or a gaming console or a BluRay player or a DirecTV Gemini Box.
DIRECTV GEMINI BOX
Vista Royale's Multi Dwelling Unit (MDU) DirecTV service includes up to 3 set top boxes. DirecTV does not require these boxes to stream but they are required if you want to order pay-per-view content directly from DirecTV. What is special about these DirecTV boxes is the remote control for DirecTV. The remote has numbers, a home button and a guide button making the streaming much more cable like. The remote also offers voice control for the DirecTV app.
Your DirecTV Gemini box runs the DirecTV app by default but also can run many apps from the Google Play store.
The DirecTV boxes delivered in January 2026 were manufactured from 2020-2023 and run the Android 11 TV OS that was released in 2020. Android 14 TV OS is the current version. Many of the apps I have downloaded from the Google Play app store won't run on Android 11 but run perfectly fine on a 2024 Chromecast running Android 12. Many of the apps that do run are missing the latest features. Hoopla doesn't offer the Bonus Borrows and the Sling app doesn't include the apps full list of guide categories like Sneak Peak, Español and International.
Dedicated Streaming Sticks
Generally dedicated streaming devices are faster and have more updates than devices that have a streaming player integrated with other functionality such as Smart TVs, BluRay Players and Gaming Consoles. There are four major players in dedicated streaming, the Apple's AppleTV, Google's Chromecast, Amazon's FireTV, and ROKU.
There are a lot of models of these streaming devices. They vary in features. I strongly recommend looking for a streaming device that have TV volume and power controls and a voice search button on the remote. Streaming devices like the Amazon Fire Stick, the Roku Sticks, and the Chromecast, that are designed to hang behind the TV don’t have an IR eye to work with a universal remote. So sticks don't respond to universal remote controls and if the stick's remote does not control the TV’s volume you need to juggle remote controls.
Purchasing a Streaming Device.
When selecting a streaming device make sure it has an app for the service you want to view. Make sure it supports dual band WiFi or has an Ethernet port. This is an important consideration for Vista Royale, since the 2.4 GHz WiFi band is often too slow to stream in our overcrowded WiFi environment. The 5GHz band is faster and doesn't suffer to much from the overcrowding. Make sure the streaming device is a current model because no matter how much you paid for your smart device, typically within 6 years there will usually be some changes that make it obsolete. It will be dropped by some services, and new products won’t offer support for older operating systems. So an older model year at a bargain price is not a bargain! Make sure the included remote supports TV control so you can control the TV's volume.
Selecting SmartTVs
Smart TVs are a nice option because you don’t have the clutter of an additional device and an extra remote, and if it becomes obsolete you can still add a dedicated streaming stick at a relatively low cost. The DirecTV app on a smart TV may have very limited features, depending on which OS your TV runs on. DirecTV's Sports Central features were all missing on my Samsung TV which runs the Tizan operating system. Check to make sure the TV has a tuner for use with an antenna. Many TVs don’t have a tuner anymore, instead they are just big computer monitors. Having a tuner becomes important if you ever want or need to cut the cord. Does the streaming service you want to access have an app for the TV’s operating system? And finally check to see if the TV has an adequate number of HDMI ports so that you can add a dedicated streamer in the future if needed.
Streaming used to be computer friendly, you could stream from your internet browser. Now most streaming services are not browser friendly, they require a dedicated app. There are only a handful of premium services that have an App in the Microsoft app store. Tablets and SmartPhones offer better streaming options than a PC.
If your preference is watching on the big screen, you will need a Smart TV, or a TV with an HDMI port connected to a dedicated streaming device or a gaming console or a BluRay player or a DirecTV Gemini Box.
DIRECTV GEMINI BOX
Vista Royale's Multi Dwelling Unit (MDU) DirecTV service includes up to 3 set top boxes. DirecTV does not require these boxes to stream but they are required if you want to order pay-per-view content directly from DirecTV. What is special about these DirecTV boxes is the remote control for DirecTV. The remote has numbers, a home button and a guide button making the streaming much more cable like. The remote also offers voice control for the DirecTV app.
Your DirecTV Gemini box runs the DirecTV app by default but also can run many apps from the Google Play store.
The DirecTV boxes delivered in January 2026 were manufactured from 2020-2023 and run the Android 11 TV OS that was released in 2020. Android 14 TV OS is the current version. Many of the apps I have downloaded from the Google Play app store won't run on Android 11 but run perfectly fine on a 2024 Chromecast running Android 12. Many of the apps that do run are missing the latest features. Hoopla doesn't offer the Bonus Borrows and the Sling app doesn't include the apps full list of guide categories like Sneak Peak, Español and International.
Dedicated Streaming Sticks
Generally dedicated streaming devices are faster and have more updates than devices that have a streaming player integrated with other functionality such as Smart TVs, BluRay Players and Gaming Consoles. There are four major players in dedicated streaming, the Apple's AppleTV, Google's Chromecast, Amazon's FireTV, and ROKU.
There are a lot of models of these streaming devices. They vary in features. I strongly recommend looking for a streaming device that have TV volume and power controls and a voice search button on the remote. Streaming devices like the Amazon Fire Stick, the Roku Sticks, and the Chromecast, that are designed to hang behind the TV don’t have an IR eye to work with a universal remote. So sticks don't respond to universal remote controls and if the stick's remote does not control the TV’s volume you need to juggle remote controls.
Purchasing a Streaming Device.
When selecting a streaming device make sure it has an app for the service you want to view. Make sure it supports dual band WiFi or has an Ethernet port. This is an important consideration for Vista Royale, since the 2.4 GHz WiFi band is often too slow to stream in our overcrowded WiFi environment. The 5GHz band is faster and doesn't suffer to much from the overcrowding. Make sure the streaming device is a current model because no matter how much you paid for your smart device, typically within 6 years there will usually be some changes that make it obsolete. It will be dropped by some services, and new products won’t offer support for older operating systems. So an older model year at a bargain price is not a bargain! Make sure the included remote supports TV control so you can control the TV's volume.
Selecting SmartTVs
Smart TVs are a nice option because you don’t have the clutter of an additional device and an extra remote, and if it becomes obsolete you can still add a dedicated streaming stick at a relatively low cost. The DirecTV app on a smart TV may have very limited features, depending on which OS your TV runs on. DirecTV's Sports Central features were all missing on my Samsung TV which runs the Tizan operating system. Check to make sure the TV has a tuner for use with an antenna. Many TVs don’t have a tuner anymore, instead they are just big computer monitors. Having a tuner becomes important if you ever want or need to cut the cord. Does the streaming service you want to access have an app for the TV’s operating system? And finally check to see if the TV has an adequate number of HDMI ports so that you can add a dedicated streamer in the future if needed.
STREAMING SERVICES
- Watch with cable services
- Free ad-supported services
- Premium subscription services $$
- Online movie rental services $$$
- Cable replacement services $$$$$
- Online purchases of movies and music $$
DIRECTV
Now that we all have DirecTV we can stream our service anywhere in the U.S.
Now that we all have DirecTV we can stream our service anywhere in the U.S.
DirecTV App for mobile devices
There is a DirecTV app for your Smartphone and tablet, Roku, Firestick, Chromecast and on most newer smart TVs. The DirecTV app allows you to stream live TV and On Demand shows on your phone or tablet. The DirecTV app on some devices limits you to the small screen, it will not play video while mirroring or casting to a TV. The DirecTV app for the phone and tablet offers live streaming, on demand streaming and access to your cloud based DVR.
There is a DirecTV app for your Smartphone and tablet, Roku, Firestick, Chromecast and on most newer smart TVs. The DirecTV app allows you to stream live TV and On Demand shows on your phone or tablet. The DirecTV app on some devices limits you to the small screen, it will not play video while mirroring or casting to a TV. The DirecTV app for the phone and tablet offers live streaming, on demand streaming and access to your cloud based DVR.
WATCH WITH CABLE SUBSCRIPTION STREAMING APPS
The DirectV is a true streaming service. It covers all your channels, but you may find that using a channel's dedicated streaming app gives you a better On Demand experience than is available via the DirecTV app. These popular channels in your DirecTV Choice package all can be streamed with their own app using your DirecTV billing credentials.
The DirectV is a true streaming service. It covers all your channels, but you may find that using a channel's dedicated streaming app gives you a better On Demand experience than is available via the DirecTV app. These popular channels in your DirecTV Choice package all can be streamed with their own app using your DirecTV billing credentials.
Many of these apps also offer an additional login, to keep track of your progress on various shows and to create lists of things that you might want to watch in the future.
Some of these apps bundle many channels together.
CBS app includes: CBS WPEC-12, CBS News. CBS Sports HQ, ET, and Inside Edition.
ESPN app includes: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPN News, SEC and ACC channels
FoxSports app includes: FS1, FS2, and Big Ten Network.
goHGTV app includes: HGTV, American Heroes AHC, Animal Planet, The Cooking Channel, The Discovery Channel, The Food Network, ID, Magnolia Network, Motortrend, Own, The Learning Channel, and The Science Channel.
NBC app includes: NBC WPTV-5, NBC Sports, Golf, NBC News, Bravo, CNBC, E!, Oxygen, Syfy, Telemundo, Universo, USA.
WEBSITES
Some of our DirecTV package channels On Demand content can only be streamed from a website. This means you can stream them on your computer, tablet or smartphone. This might be okay if you want to watch by yourself, but it really is not ideal if you want to watch the show with someone else. Apple's iOS prohibits video mirroring from both the DirecTV app and websites. If you are viewing these websites on a Windows PC or an Android device sometimes the content to be mirrored to streaming devices or smartTVs, but it is less than ideal since it requires your computer, tablet or phone to be used elusively and some of the Android devices have compatibility issues with mirroring, requiring a lot of work to get them to mirror to most streaming devices. When mirroring from an Android my mirroring was extremely choppy.
SundanceTV.com - the Sundance Channel
ABC.com As of September 23, 2024, ABC pulled the streaming apps for ABC, DisneyNow, FX, FreeForm and, NatGeo. These channels can still be streamed through a browser using your TV login credentials.
AUTHORIZATION.
Authorizing your device to view content with these apps is an easy process. For most apps, you just visit a website, enter a code that is displayed on your screen, and then select your TV provider, and enter your TV provider billing id and password. To see an example for authorizing the TCM app click here. To see an example of authorizing the ABC website click here.
PLUS VERSIONS
In the past few years many of the cable apps came out with PLUS versions that require a separate premium subscription. This additional charge tmy provide more content, sometimes with fewer or no commercials, or sometimes they bypass the requirement of a TV provider subscription. AMC+, BTN+, Bally+, Disney+, ESPN+, HGTV+. Paramount+, Peacock and SundandceNow are some examples of plus versions..
FREE VIDEO STREAMING
There are lots of apps that offer free ad supported viewing. Many titles are available on multiple apps, but the number of ads, the video quality and audio quality will vary greatly between one streaming service and another.
Some of the channels like AXS, BYU, CW, TBN and PBS from our U200 package don't require a TV provider. Some other channels like ION, Circle, Grit... do not have their own app, but are bundled in free ad-supported services.
The CW app includes about 50 channels including CW, CW Gold, Ion, Ion Plus, Ion Mystery, The Gameshow network, Hallmark Movies and more and Bounce XL.
Check out these free platform independent services FREEVEE, HOOPLA, PLEX, PLUTO TV and TUBI. Other apps were developed exclusively for a specific brand of hardware. For example Samsung has the Samsung FreeTV app available for their smartTVs, tablets and phones.
PREMIUM VIDEO STREAMING
Subscriptions Amazon Prime, Apple+, Disney+, HBOMax, Netflix, offer bulk access to commercial free TV shows and movies. Most offer some original content exclusive to their platform. Most of these services offer a month by month subscription, that can be cancelled at any time. Some offer a price break if you subscribe for a year, and an early termination fee if you don’t continue. But sometimes it Is cheaper to pay full price and rotate services in an out.
Other subscriptions like FanDuel, BTN+, ESPN+, MLB, YES offer access to more sports.
Video Rentals and purchases
If you are looking for newer content or a specific show you can rent it from a number of streaming services. Some services even let you buy a title for unlimited viewing.
CABLE REPLACEMENT PACKAGES
Cable replacement packages are a class of paid TV providers that only deliver content via streaming. Services like DirecTV, Fubo, Hulu, Philo, Sling+, and YoutubeTV are examples of cable replacement services. Some are cheaper than traditional cable, simply because they offer fewer channels. These services typically have a cloud based recording option and a program guide and all of your live streaming can be done under one authentication. They also offer access to the individual channels apps to get your OnDemand content. Changing channels takes fewer clicks than watching items under different apps, but my experience with both Hulu and DirectTV is that every time you change the channel a commercial played before your show starts streaming. There is a lot of convenience in having all of your paid channels under one app, but it comes at a cost. If you want a cable replacement package that includes a full sports package with regional sports the minimum you are going to pay about $90 a month + internet, and if you want to add the convenience of a premium proprietary stream box that has a remote that includes numbers on it, you can add another $15 dollars per month for each TV. It soon adds up.
OVER THE AIR ANTENNA TV
When considering cable alternatives, you should think about what is available to watch over the air. Broadcast TV Over the air TV has changed dramatically this century. Most of the VHF airways were sold off and most of the OTA (over the air) channels are now broadcast UHF. This dramatically shortens the range of the signals, so many homes will be totally out of range of broadcast TV. If you are in range, you will find a lot more content than there used to be because the new digital type signals provide for sub-channels. Here in Vero Beach there isn't much available OTA, just ABC, CW and a few independents and their sub-channels. But in my northern residence I went from 7 watchable OTA channels in 2010, to 70 watchable OTA channels in 2022.
The nice thing about viewing OTA content, is the familiar way of changing the channels and finding something to watch. There are even OTA DVRs that even act like your cable DVR where you can set up to record off the OTA guide. The Tablo is an OTA recorder that you can access over your home network. However that may all end in 2028 when ATSC 3 with DRM may start to encrypt channels, and force many people back to paid services.
Streaming your Vista Royale package to your summer home
Some of these apps bundle many channels together.
CBS app includes: CBS WPEC-12, CBS News. CBS Sports HQ, ET, and Inside Edition.
ESPN app includes: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPN News, SEC and ACC channels
FoxSports app includes: FS1, FS2, and Big Ten Network.
goHGTV app includes: HGTV, American Heroes AHC, Animal Planet, The Cooking Channel, The Discovery Channel, The Food Network, ID, Magnolia Network, Motortrend, Own, The Learning Channel, and The Science Channel.
NBC app includes: NBC WPTV-5, NBC Sports, Golf, NBC News, Bravo, CNBC, E!, Oxygen, Syfy, Telemundo, Universo, USA.
WEBSITES
Some of our DirecTV package channels On Demand content can only be streamed from a website. This means you can stream them on your computer, tablet or smartphone. This might be okay if you want to watch by yourself, but it really is not ideal if you want to watch the show with someone else. Apple's iOS prohibits video mirroring from both the DirecTV app and websites. If you are viewing these websites on a Windows PC or an Android device sometimes the content to be mirrored to streaming devices or smartTVs, but it is less than ideal since it requires your computer, tablet or phone to be used elusively and some of the Android devices have compatibility issues with mirroring, requiring a lot of work to get them to mirror to most streaming devices. When mirroring from an Android my mirroring was extremely choppy.
SundanceTV.com - the Sundance Channel
ABC.com As of September 23, 2024, ABC pulled the streaming apps for ABC, DisneyNow, FX, FreeForm and, NatGeo. These channels can still be streamed through a browser using your TV login credentials.
AUTHORIZATION.
Authorizing your device to view content with these apps is an easy process. For most apps, you just visit a website, enter a code that is displayed on your screen, and then select your TV provider, and enter your TV provider billing id and password. To see an example for authorizing the TCM app click here. To see an example of authorizing the ABC website click here.
PLUS VERSIONS
In the past few years many of the cable apps came out with PLUS versions that require a separate premium subscription. This additional charge tmy provide more content, sometimes with fewer or no commercials, or sometimes they bypass the requirement of a TV provider subscription. AMC+, BTN+, Bally+, Disney+, ESPN+, HGTV+. Paramount+, Peacock and SundandceNow are some examples of plus versions..
FREE VIDEO STREAMING
There are lots of apps that offer free ad supported viewing. Many titles are available on multiple apps, but the number of ads, the video quality and audio quality will vary greatly between one streaming service and another.
Some of the channels like AXS, BYU, CW, TBN and PBS from our U200 package don't require a TV provider. Some other channels like ION, Circle, Grit... do not have their own app, but are bundled in free ad-supported services.
The CW app includes about 50 channels including CW, CW Gold, Ion, Ion Plus, Ion Mystery, The Gameshow network, Hallmark Movies and more and Bounce XL.
Check out these free platform independent services FREEVEE, HOOPLA, PLEX, PLUTO TV and TUBI. Other apps were developed exclusively for a specific brand of hardware. For example Samsung has the Samsung FreeTV app available for their smartTVs, tablets and phones.
PREMIUM VIDEO STREAMING
Subscriptions Amazon Prime, Apple+, Disney+, HBOMax, Netflix, offer bulk access to commercial free TV shows and movies. Most offer some original content exclusive to their platform. Most of these services offer a month by month subscription, that can be cancelled at any time. Some offer a price break if you subscribe for a year, and an early termination fee if you don’t continue. But sometimes it Is cheaper to pay full price and rotate services in an out.
Other subscriptions like FanDuel, BTN+, ESPN+, MLB, YES offer access to more sports.
Video Rentals and purchases
If you are looking for newer content or a specific show you can rent it from a number of streaming services. Some services even let you buy a title for unlimited viewing.
CABLE REPLACEMENT PACKAGES
Cable replacement packages are a class of paid TV providers that only deliver content via streaming. Services like DirecTV, Fubo, Hulu, Philo, Sling+, and YoutubeTV are examples of cable replacement services. Some are cheaper than traditional cable, simply because they offer fewer channels. These services typically have a cloud based recording option and a program guide and all of your live streaming can be done under one authentication. They also offer access to the individual channels apps to get your OnDemand content. Changing channels takes fewer clicks than watching items under different apps, but my experience with both Hulu and DirectTV is that every time you change the channel a commercial played before your show starts streaming. There is a lot of convenience in having all of your paid channels under one app, but it comes at a cost. If you want a cable replacement package that includes a full sports package with regional sports the minimum you are going to pay about $90 a month + internet, and if you want to add the convenience of a premium proprietary stream box that has a remote that includes numbers on it, you can add another $15 dollars per month for each TV. It soon adds up.
OVER THE AIR ANTENNA TV
When considering cable alternatives, you should think about what is available to watch over the air. Broadcast TV Over the air TV has changed dramatically this century. Most of the VHF airways were sold off and most of the OTA (over the air) channels are now broadcast UHF. This dramatically shortens the range of the signals, so many homes will be totally out of range of broadcast TV. If you are in range, you will find a lot more content than there used to be because the new digital type signals provide for sub-channels. Here in Vero Beach there isn't much available OTA, just ABC, CW and a few independents and their sub-channels. But in my northern residence I went from 7 watchable OTA channels in 2010, to 70 watchable OTA channels in 2022.
The nice thing about viewing OTA content, is the familiar way of changing the channels and finding something to watch. There are even OTA DVRs that even act like your cable DVR where you can set up to record off the OTA guide. The Tablo is an OTA recorder that you can access over your home network. However that may all end in 2028 when ATSC 3 with DRM may start to encrypt channels, and force many people back to paid services.
Streaming your Vista Royale package to your summer home