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Is Apple TV (or other IP Streaming TV service) for you?

Yahoo Message Number: 64011
Thinking of adding Apple TV to the coach. Since most coaches came with an Over The Air (OTA) TV antenna, I won't belabor the point.

OTA Pros:

Gets local weather, news, some network channels Digital and some HD
Free

OTA Cons:

Must be in range of local signal, usually near a metro area
I have DirecTV with a Motosat HD 5-LNB dish, not in-motion. I currently pay approximately $1200 per year for 225 channels, HD service, DVR service, plus 1 premium movie channel package.

Satellite Pros:

Lots of TV channels, many in HD
Premium movie channels

Pay per View movies ($6 each)
Can record shows with DVR

Satellite Cons:

Must be in view of the southern sky, no trees or obstructions $200 for large receiver that gets very hot $1700-2500 for roof-top dish antenna $100 per month to subscribe to service Heavy rain and snow affect TV signal, dish wiggles in high wind

Apple TV

Apple TV Pros:

Small (4" x 4" x 1")
Cheap ($99.00)
Silent and cool
HD content

Movies, TV shows, Music, & Pictures No monthly fees (for the unit itself) Not affected by weather, no external (outside the motorhome) parts or antenna All movies and TV shows on demand (free and per show rentals) Netflix-compatible (Unlimited streaming of TV shows and movies for a $9 monthly fee) Easy to move (Set on table outside with portable TV and stream via WiFi)

AppleTV Cons:

Need Internet signal, wired or WiFi, high-speed is better Must pay for most non-Netflix content from Apple iTunes (99ยข TV shows and $4-5 movies)
I usually always have Internet access (cellular modem or RV Park/local business WiFi) and the new 4G data cards are coming in months from all the major carriers. Is this the wave of the future for motorhomes?

Al

2006 Allure #31440

Re: Is Apple TV (or other IP Streaming TV service) for you?

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64012
Hi Al,

Great research and analysis. I too am trying to determine if the new Appple TV is worth buying. I'm very intrigued and I was going through some of the same comparisons trying to determine what I would get with the Apple TV that I don't get now.
I would be interested in hearing from anyone that has bought and is using the Apple TV.

Rick,

04 Allure, 31018

Re: Is Apple TV (or other IP Streaming TV service) for you?

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64027
Gordo here. I've been using Apple TV for 4 years now. Not sure it would replace an HD Satellite system in a MoHo (I have deluxe service with all the bells). Apple system is more of an added extra in my world.
Apple TV will NOT work as well, with anything but the highest of internet speeds. Unless you don't mind downloading movie and watching it 70 minutes later or downloading from your mac (at home) and streaming to Apple TV via mac to apple TV. The newest Apple TV unit looks cool (and run even cooler) then the older big white versions, I own (2-one at home and one in MoHo).
For now, I mostly use it when I want to show trip photos and non stop music while in da MoHo. Latest movies are a waste of time for me, due to parks download speeds. Besides I get all I can digest via HD Satellite system ASAP ;o) As for G4 service? Good luck finding a hot spot. Yes, in time, but for now G4 isn't happening in very many places. Even @ G4 speeds Apple TV falls flat on it's downloading face!
Also understand very little is FREE on Apple TV. iTunes charges you for everything. Not sure, I want my account floating around with my CC# at any RV parks internet service. Again long downloads! Gordo

99 Allure 30344

Re: Is Apple TV (or other IP Streaming TV service) for you?

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64033
Allen,

The RV Park/Resort WiFi users (and the park owners) will not like you taking most of the often limited bandwidth for your videos. Some have only 1 or 2 mbps to share among the users. Most commercial access points can report how much bandwidth each person is using. The resort might come knocking on your door. I have had to do that on a 30 customer WiFi system I was operating.

Herb

Forum Moderator

Re: Is Apple TV (or other IP Streaming TV service) for you?

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64038
I just installed Apple TV yesterday on my home HD TV. Installation was super easy. You just have to remember your network passwords or you'll have to look it up via "keychain" on you Apple PC. Pic quality is very good. One negative is that some times it seems to take a long time to start/download a movie from Netflix. Also while there are a bunch of instant "play" movies on Netflix, I noticed that a lot of great movies are not available for instant viewing. Hopefully that will change over time, but I've not seen anything from Netflix about a big push to increase that number.

Does anyone know more about this????
One other big benefit that I like is that I can now play thru my TV any song or playlist that is stored via itunes on my laptop. I can also see any photos that are in my iphoto or in my case Aperture library and have these photos run as a slide show with background music from my laptop library. Lastly I've got a collection of home movies that I converted over to .mov files. I can view these videos which are stored on my laptop on my TV.
I just downloaded a free Apple app. "Control" (I think) to my iphone. It allows me to control my AppleTV from my iphone. It's just an "OK" controller because it sometimes ignores a command several times before it finally takes effect. But it does provide the added benefit of "wireless" control versus the direct line of site required for the AppleTV IR remote controller.
I'll probably move it into the coach before we head south for the winter.

All-in-all, I'm very happy with my $100.00 investment.

Den 2001 Affinity, 42' Bed&Breakfast # 5972