Legal alternatives to cable that work with NPVR

[jd1940]

One of the reasons I started the thread on IPTV was I am looking for a cable replacement. I currently pay in excess of $125 a month for cable (plus additionally for internet) but my wife and I watch less than ten channels. Three of those channels have OTA transmitters less than ten miles from me. What I'm looking for is a replacement for those five channels that will integrate with NPVR so they can be recorded. I know about Hulu, SlingTV, etc. but I have no idea whether they can integrate with NPVR. Does anyone have any thoughts about this or is this just a lost cause at this time. IPTV does this nicely but I'm well aware of the illegality of such services in the U.S. and would prefer to pay for something legal but more affordabe.

[sgilani]

You can get the local channels OTA and use NPVR for those. As for the legitimate IPTV sources, sadly it's not possible and probably never will be. Sling, YouTube TV, PS Vue, etc don't expose the streams for other applications to use, and have no incentive to do so because they keep everything controlled within their own applications that they provide.

The only viable alternative to cable you have is satellite. See if the Flex Pack from Dish Network works for you. Using a blaster is a bit hokey and capturing HD + Dolby digital from a satellite box isn't that stable, but it works.

[jd1940]

"Using a blaster is a bit hokey and capturing HD + Dolby digital from a satellite box isn't that stable, but it works."

Dish is obviously a logical alternative but I don't understand the term "blaster". How would I capture their channels into NPVR?

[pkscout]

"Using a blaster is a bit hokey and capturing HD + Dolby digital from a satellite box isn't that stable, but it works."

Dish is obviously a logical alternative but I don't understand the term "blaster". How would I capture their channels into NPVR?

You have to get Dish with a box and an analog encoder of some sort (I have a SiliconDust HDPVR). You have to connect the Dish Box to the analog encoder using component cables and a digital toslink cable (for 5.1 sound) and connect the analog encoder to a USB port on your computer (and some additional software). The encoder has an IR blaster that sends channel change to the Dish box as if it was a remote control.

It's not that simple, requires pretty consistent monitoring, and you can only record 1 channel at a time. But it does work. The question is whether it's worth all that hassle to save a few hundred dollars a year. That one is for you to decide.

[mvallevand]

Content is stupidly expensive now and on top of that still need to supplement traditional providers with other services like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu to get quality programming and just changing channels isn't an option. I know here in Canada that there isn't much difference in pricing between cable, satellite and encrypted commercial IPTV which is why unsuspecting people are paying $300 to the pirates for Android TV boxes in many of our malls, Kijiji etc and who knows how these buyers are going to be surprised. NextPVR now teases users too which worries me but at least people here are more aware of potential consequences. Personally I think Americans are lucky to be able to get cable card and not be forced into the STB's and blasters like we need in Canada but it doesn't mean those monthly bills are easier to look at

Enough of a rant, one cheaper option that may be possible is PlayOn. I used to use it to get Netflix and YouTube to my PCH many years ago now, and I even delivered that via NextPVR and the Univers plugin. it does seems to have more channels now. It isn't 100% legal because you likely need to disagree with some terms of service.

Martin

[jd1940]

OK, thanks. Something to think about.

[sub]

NextPVR now teases users too which worries me but at least people here are more aware of potential consequences.

I hear you.

As much as I wish it wasn't the case, there is an ever reducing number of people buying TV tuners, and more people watching TV online, so it only makes sense for NextPVR to move with the times. I stayed away from implementing support for IPTV in NextPVR until recently, when official streams became available for most of our main New Zealand channels. (I must say, I find it super easy to setup TV and guide here in NZ without any hardware, so I can see the benefit for users looking for that)

Hopefully IPTV support will attract a few more users. We all benefit from people staying interested, and helping keeping the project going. I'm not intentionally trying to court the users using pirate streams, but they'll certainly be some of them. There is also users of official broadcaster streams, or maybe those just adding a few extra free streams like NasaTV etc to go along side their regular TV tuner channels.