espn, espn2, espn3 and espnu

For local weather/sports, i have a hd antenna

7/2/2013 11:03:59 AM

Yeah...the HD antenna could work for the NC State basketball games and such (as well as college and NFL football).

I can't remember, but last time I had this discussion someone was recommending an HD antenna that is basically a sticker you put on your window. I remember the Amazon review for the product were stellar.

Need to find that again...

7/2/2013 11:38:44 AM

I think this is it...the Mohu:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004QK7HI8

7/2/2013 12:12:11 PM

^^^ yeah, so just the main ones only? damn

7/2/2013 1:14:42 PM

That antenna is phenomenal never had an issue (mine isn't hooked to Apple TV though). It's pretty amazing that I never had to shift it to get all the channels in perfect quality and no issues and is very easy to hide.

7/2/2013 4:04:42 PM

Do you have it stickered to a window?? My den has all the wires hidden and I'd have to run this wire across a small hallway in order to get it to a window. Trying to keep that "clean" look in the room. Although I guess there's another route I could take with the wire...I would just need a really really long one.

7/2/2013 5:01:13 PM

Mine isn't near the window, I actually have it pseudo-mounted to the back of the TV. I'm a stickler for keeping wires out the best I can and share that feeling. It has worked great when it was 20+ feet from a window and also mounted to the back of the TV. I can attempt to take pictures later if necessary. It's incredibly light and comes with command strips or the equivalent so it's pretty easy to do.

(right now it's near the window, but worked great in the center of my condo)

7/2/2013 8:21:28 PM

All of the user uploaded photos of that thing look ghetto as hell. I guess any time you have an antenna you have to deal with some aesthetic issues.

Also regarding ESPN, i might be wrong but i think they black stuff out occasionally on wifi vs cellular.

[Edited on July 2, 2013 at 8:27 PM. Reason : ok not ALL of the pictures. just a lot. the back of the tv option sounds pretty dope]

7/2/2013 8:25:09 PM

Watching Sportscenter live on the AppleTV right now...it's beautiful.

Just have to make sure the in-laws never cancel their Timewarner so I can keep using their login info.

7/11/2013 9:28:49 AM

Quote :

"Mine isn't near the window, I actually have it pseudo-mounted to the back of the TV. I'm a stickler for keeping wires out the best I can and share that feeling. It has worked great when it was 20+ feet from a window and also mounted to the back of the TV. I can attempt to take pictures later if necessary."

You mind taking pictures of how your Mohu is mounted? I just read that they recommend you not putting it behind electronics or metal objects.

I don't really have anywhere else in my den that I could hide it. Behind the TV would be the best location.

7/11/2013 2:19:11 PM

For anyone that has an un-jailbroken Apple TV (even the 3) and wants to do an XMBC-like thing on it:

http://lifehacker.com/plexconnect-gives-your-plex-on-your-apple-tv-no-jailbr-511416686

after installing Plex Media Server: https://github.com/iBaa/PlexConnect/wiki/Install-guides

Works great on my ATV3.

7/11/2013 4:57:58 PM

Cutting the satellite out this month. I've got the Mohu set up so the fiancee can watch her local news (and I can watch local sports). Already have a Netflix account. I've got the sis and bro-in law's log in to watch ESPN and HBO Go. Hulu Plus is the next step...and I think I'm good.

Forgive my noob-ness...but what's the purpose of jailbreaking/XMBC and stuff like that ^? Since I'll be using the AppleTV most of the time now, I definitely want to optimize the experience...so what do these things to do to make AppleTV better?

7/15/2013 7:35:38 PM

The main thing it does it allows you to watch videos that you've downloaded to your computer from other sources (for most people this means torrents). It's entirely possible to automate the download process of every show you watch and then use xbmc or plex as pretty much so a front end for all the content. Then it basically becomes similar to a DVR.

There are other things that xbmc can do as well. One of the biggest new features is live TV, meaning if you have a TV tuner card in your PC, it can access that and allow you to treat that as an actual DVR. Plus you can add all sorts of plugins to pull content from all over. If you spend the time configuring it to work, there's really not a lot that it can't do. But most people just use it to catalog their pirated movies and TV shows.

7/15/2013 8:00:03 PM

^ Thanks.

If I don't plan on integrating my laptop with my AppleTV (just using the ipad for now), then it seems there isn't a point in using XMBC/Plex...correct?? We're big on de-cluttering our entertainment section, so I don't plan on having my laptop front and center so that I can access any torrent/videos/pics from it. Or would these things allow me to stream/transfer stuff w/o having to use my laptop every time?

7/16/2013 10:07:59 AM

Yeah thats the whole point. I have my ATV2 in the living room running XBMC. On my computer in the other room I have all my shows/movies. XBMC just streams them over the network and provides a nicer looking front end then the ATV with a little more versatility in what can be played.

7/16/2013 2:17:35 PM

Thanks guys.

^^^^^So in relation to the PlexConnect up there...I've gone through all the steps...but my "Trailers" section on the AppleTV doesn't look like it does in the example. Either I'm not doing something right (I'll work on it again tonight), or I have a different version/update.

7/17/2013 5:59:46 PM

Alright...finally got my PlexConnect up and running. Only having one problem/issue...

So manually entering the DNS that allows my AppleTV to connect to the Plex server takes away my AppleTV's ability to connect to the internet. As it stands, once I'm through watching whatever I have on my Plex Media server...if I want to go back and watch Netflix or HBOGo on my AppleTV...I have to go back into settings and change back to the original DNS.

Is there a way around that or am I missing something. Kind of a small pain in the ass.

7/18/2013 6:34:57 PM

Really? My internet continues working as normal.

You have to leave the computer you're streaming from on all the time. You're routing all internet requests to that machine. If you turn it off you won't be able to connect to the internets

[Edited on July 18, 2013 at 7:05 PM. Reason : moar]

7/18/2013 7:01:04 PM

It worked the second time around.

Bye bye directv!

7/19/2013 7:52:57 AM

Nice!

Now that you mention it I remember having a similar issue when I initially configured it, but when I came back to it the next day the internet was working fine on the ATV, with no changes by me.

7/19/2013 8:25:17 AM

ATV flash is so worth the 29.99 price tag. I wouldn't know what to do without it.

Streaming over PS3/XBOX sucks so hard.

7/19/2013 10:20:13 AM

Aside from the web browser, what does ATV Flash do for $30 that XBMC/Plex won't do for free?

I tried out an early version of ATV Flash and wasn't impressed at all.

7/19/2013 3:59:31 PM

Little disappointed that Hulu Plus for appletv doesn't have all the content as if you were on your PC. Was really hoping to avoid streaming for the majority of our tv shows (we watch a lot of hgtv and chopped on the food network).

7/19/2013 3:59:33 PM

^ Is there another channel for Plex that might fill the gap?

http://leapbit.com/2013/02/24/16-essential-plex-channels/

7/19/2013 10:40:50 PM

^^ fwiw apple tv has nothing to do with that... that's just hulu vs hulu plus (which i've always found incredibly shortsighted)

7/20/2013 1:29:12 AM

^ Plz explain.

You can get certain programs on your PC with Hulu Plus that you can't get on your ipad/iphone/appleTV...also with Hulu Plus. On the Appletv, the program just doesn't show up. But if you browse the HGTV website and and click on House Hunters Hulu Plus...it will say something along the lines of, "this program isn't supported on mobile devices...".

^^ I'll check that out.

7/20/2013 4:30:22 PM

in general hulu and hulu plus have been essentially two separate services... all the "free" (ad-supported) shows on hulu usually aren't on plus, and vice versa. that may have changed. as for desktop vs mobile strictly for hulu plus -- i wouldn't be surprised at all if there are discrepancies... assume that's all license/formatting nonsense

7/20/2013 4:48:07 PM

Pretty satisfied with "life w/o cable/satellite" up to this point. The Moho antenna has been working pretty well, although there has been a time or two where the signal can get pretty glitchy. I'm interested to see how well it will do when football season starts and I want to switch back and forth between games and WatchESPN on the AppleTV. I can see that being frustrating.

PlexConnect has been great. Have almost caught up on all of our Homeland/Breaking Bad/Walking Dead. Might finally get around to watching The Wire now.

Still disappointed in Hulu Plus offering more content on a PC than on mobile devices/Apple TV. Is there any reason to believe that it will change any time in the near future and that all content will be available on all devices?? We're big fans of Chopped and House Hunters...and right now we're airplaying that through the Macbook and the quality is disappointing. In response to this:

Quote :

"^ Is there another channel for Plex that might fill the gap?"

I've added the HGTV and Food Network channels, but they don't work. Only a few of the Plex Connect channels actually have any working programs.

So still a work in progress...but pretty pumped about not having that $100+ every month with limited content.

8/12/2013 8:56:09 AM

^ Can you hook your Macbook up to the TV via HDMI, and take the choppy (for me at least) Airplay out of the mix ? Don't most of those things have ports which have adapters for HDMI?

8/12/2013 9:04:34 AM

^ I can, but I'm being picky with having my laptop out and more chords. We've gotten rid of a big directv and blu-ray receiver and have now put the appletv and a/v receiver in a place where it's barely noticeable. Chords are hidden behind the wall as well. Last thing I want is a laptop sitting out with an HDMI chord in plain sight and having to get up off the couch to change things. At the very least I don't mind it in my lap or on the coffee table in front of me. Being able to have the laptop hidden in another room running Plex Connect is a huge bonus.

btw...this is the error message I get when trying to watch shows on the Plex Channels:

Quote :

"cannot load m3u8: 404 not found"

I'm going to do some research today and see if I can troubleshoot it.

8/12/2013 9:15:52 AM

Check out their forums too...pretty helpful.

8/12/2013 10:02:52 AM

New apple tv update killed that Plex Connect hijack:

http://www.cultofmac.com/242770/dont-update-the-latest-apple-tv-update-killed-plexconnect/

Found out the hardway last night while trying to watch Dexter. Luckily the quality on mirroring was pretty good.

Apparently there is a work-around...but this looks a like a little too much for me to be fucking around with:

http://langui.sh/2013/08/27/appletv-ssl-plexconnect/

That being said...if I were to jailbreak my appletv, how does that affect my regular AppleTV experience?

8/29/2013 10:02:13 AM

Shit do I need to change a setting or something to where it won't update? Has it already updated in theory? What indication do you get that it's broke?

Is the alternative stuffing everything into iTunes on my server computer and watching content like that? What are the drawbacks?

8/29/2013 10:15:34 AM

I found out last night because it wouldn't even open up the trailers app. I did a quick google search and a couple of articles similar to the one I posted above came up. They say you can avoid it by not updating your AppleTV...but I think mine did automatically (or my fiancee somehow did it).

I haven't tried to mess with it since last night.

8/29/2013 10:28:09 AM

Thanks for the heads up...going to see if I can have it not update. Probably not : /

8/29/2013 10:51:47 AM

If I jailbreak my AppleTV, can I still get the WatchESPN and Hulu Plus apps?? Can I get those on XBMC?

8/29/2013 11:19:39 AM

^ Got me. Is your version even jailbreak-able?

8/29/2013 12:07:10 PM

I think so. I've already found some "how to jailbreak" videos online. Just getting all my concerns out of the way before I move forward.

8/29/2013 12:53:43 PM

I've got the Apple TV 3 which I understand isn't jailbreakable, but I guess the 1 and 2 are [\newb assessment]

8/29/2013 1:22:38 PM

Yes only ATV 1 AND 2 are jailbreakable.


http://www.firecore.com Can pay for a jailbreak with the best or you can thumb around on some torrent sites and download it also.

I pay for it and its well worth it. All apps work along with being able to stream anything and everything you want.

8/29/2013 9:43:52 PM

Quote :

"New apple tv update killed that Plex Connect hijack:"

Yup, mine is dead too. Fucking Apple.

Can I just load all this stuff into iTunes and stream it like that?

8/30/2013 9:39:17 AM

^nope

8/30/2013 9:52:35 AM

Oh well, guess I'll have to screw around with that link jlbrick83 posted (thx for that btw)

8/30/2013 9:59:14 AM

Quote :

"Can I just load all this stuff into iTunes and stream it like that?"

Quote :

"^nope"

Wait, what? Yes you can. That's the ONLY way to stream stuff to the ATV as far as Apple would have you know.

[Edited on August 30, 2013 at 7:26 PM. Reason : Well, that or Airplay, I suppose.]

8/30/2013 7:23:21 PM

do yourself a favor and get a Roku. no more headaches

8/30/2013 10:05:16 PM

It really depends on what you want to do with it. If all you care about is streaming Netflix, you're over 65 and your greatest technical achievement was figuring out how to change the ink cartridge in your printer that one time, then yes, the Roku might not be the worst idea in the world.

8/31/2013 4:41:42 AM

They both stream Netflix out of the box.

What apple can't do out of the box that Roku can that I appreciate:
Play from USB
A lot of great channels (PBS is the one I use the most)
Wireless audio

I'm a geek so it's not like I don't know how to get an AppleTV to do what I want. It's that the process is painless with a Roku and labored with the aTV

8/31/2013 9:54:09 PM

Like I said, it's a very dumbed down solution, for a dumbed down target audience. If all you care about are the basics, then a Roku might work out for you. I don't understand how anyone who is a self-proclaimed "geek" could blindly recommend the Roku for all situations however. The fact that you used the phrases "Play from USB" and "painless with a Roku" in the same post makes me question how many other devices you've tried out. If I'm being nice, I'd say USB playback on the roku is basic at best. If I'm being honest, I'd say using it is about as much fun as fucking your girlfriend while your parents watch. If you're going to list that as a benefit of the Roku, your credibility in this debate just went out the window.

"A lot of great channels" is a questionable argument as well, as 95% of the channels on the Roku are just rehashes of a youtube channel at best and a half-assed collection of 2 minute clips at worst, but then again since the Roku doesn't have a native youtube channel, I guess it's necessary to have individual channels for specific content. I'd imagine if you could get youtube on the Roku, the need for almost all of the "great channels" would go away.

The Roku has its place, and for a lot of people, it's going to do everything they need and then some. But to come into a tech related forum on a message board for 20-somethings (30-somethings, I suppose at this point) and blindly proclaim that a Roku will be the end-all solution to all their media center problems is an extremely ignorant thing to do.

9/1/2013 7:36:01 PM

you're either a shill or a troll because the only other possibility is that for the last 5 or so years I've been streaming media to my TV, I've just had other bad products off the line repeatedly

first i had a ps3 and I had to either make sure video files were formatted correctly or were native in the proper format for it to play
second i got an apple tv with the sole intention of jailbreaking it so it could run as a media center only to have the wifi drop out continuously or run sluggishly whenever fast forwarding or rewinding.

the roku's usb functionality is basic? it plays everything you throw at it! I never have to format even 1080p bluray rips. I can have the idea "I want to watch x..." and 2 seconds later I can be watching it on the Roku and through PS3 and aTV, there was an entire process and/or other hardware involved.

Maybe YOU have no idea what you're talking about and you're thinking of previous experiences with earlier rokus but the new Roku 3 is simply the greatest wave of relief I've experienced in my media center setup in years.

9/3/2013 2:06:59 PM

Quote :

"second i got an apple tv with the sole intention of jailbreaking it so it could run as a media center only to have the wifi drop out continuously or run sluggishly whenever fast forwarding or rewinding."

I doubt this was the fault of the Apple TV. My two Apple TVs perform flawlessly in that respect.

9/3/2013 2:11:49 PM