I Need Some Advice On T.V. Service In My Van

[mpruet]

Oh yes - about T-Mobile. They have a history of changing your plan without any prior notification. Personally I’d stay clear of them. Just aren’t trustworthy.

My experience. I jumped on the T-Mobile bandwagon back in 2016 with a deal having true unlimited data and for and extra $25/month that was extended into Canada. Then they added a clause in my contract stating that if the majority of my usage in a three month period was roaming, then they would disable roaming. Of course it’s kinda difficult to use the device in Canada without roaming, and it’s kinda difficult to achieve the in-system limits when going to Alaska since that’s more than a three month trip and there are no in-system T-Mobile towers in Alaska.

Then this past year, I discovered that they had moved me into a deal which had a 20 Gig limit of data per month - period. That was not what I signed up for, so dropped my service as soon as I got back into the lower-48. And no, I never received any communication from T-Mobile about a change in my service. I refuse to deal with any company that pulls a stunt like that.

 

[Jim D]

This is an exact statement from the Visible web site which means they do "Throttle" users. When they say your data may be slower it means you are, "Throttled". What Don't You Get About This Statement?

On the Visible+ plan, you will receive 50GB of premium data each month, which covers your usage on the 5G Nationwide and 4G LTE networks. After 50 GB of premium data on the Visible+ plan and for all data usage on the Visible plan and the Visible Unlimited plan, in times of traffic, your data may be temporarily slower than other traffic. Video is delivered at SD (480p) quality.

 

[user 22017]

This is an exact statement from the Visible web site which means they do "Throttle" users. When they say your data may be slower it means you are, "Throttled". What Don't You Get About This Statement?

I'm no expert, but throttling is done on purpose. That "contention" thing he mentioned (never heard that word used to describe it) is referring to the physical space available in the cables to move all that data (being used by all those users in a specific location).

Think of it as a 5-6 lane highway and the cars/trucks represent data. At some point they are going to exit the highway and if traffic is heavy you end up with a bottleneck. (Slow internet that was not necessarily throttled).

I could be wrong, but that is how bandwidth was explained in 1999 Throttling came later. See Net Neutrality.

Looked up contention. This article is from 2012, but it explains contention well.

 

[mpruet]

This is an exact statement from the Visible web site which means they do "Throttle" users. When they say your data may be slower it means you are, "Throttled". What Don't You Get About This Statement?

Not quite true. When capacity is reached due to high contention of the tower, then you can’t pump more data through the system. Throttling is done to prevent reaching capacity and usually as part of your plan. (i.e. After 50 Gig, your performance will be throttled by reducing your throughput.). When it states “in times of traffic” it’s talking about the total tower/network capacity, but is not talking about your specific usage within your plan causing your performance to degrade (i.e. be throttled).

I really don’t understand why you’re having such difficulty in understanding the difference between capacity limitations and throttling.

A common occurrence in Quartzsite in January is how bad Verizon performance is. Yet in September it’s great. It has absolutely nothing to do with throttling in January, but with contention on the Verizon towers as the place becomes full of folks in RVs using Verizon. It’s physically impossible to pump more bits through the system in January as all of the RVers arrive.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Yes, throttling is done on purpose: when you have reached the limit of your high speed GB allotment you get slowed down (on unlimited plans). That limit should be specified in your contract.

Deprioritization is slowing you down when a cell tower is crowded; and it happens in a defined order. Sub-contracted plans are first to be bumped and emergency services get the highest priority.

If one needs a large quantity of data you need to pay it.

 

[Jim D]

Oh yes - about T-Mobile. They have a history of changing your plan without any prior notification. Personally I’d stay clear of them. Just aren’t trustworthy.

My experience. I jumped on the T-Mobile bandwagon back in 2016 with a deal having true unlimited data and for and extra $25/month that was extended into Canada. Then they added a clause in my contract stating that if the majority of my usage in a three month period was roaming, then they would disable roaming. Of course it’s kinda difficult to use the device in Canada without roaming, and it’s kinda difficult to achieve the in-system limits when going to Alaska since that’s more than a three month trip and there are no in-system T-Mobile towers in Alaska.

Then this past year, I discovered that they had moved me into a deal which had a 20 Gig limit of data per month - period. That was not what I signed up for, so dropped my service as soon as I got back into the lower-48. And no, I never received any communication from T-Mobile about a change in my service. I refuse to deal with any company that pulls a stunt like that.

Back in the 2014, 2018 time period Sprint owned a big stake in in T-Mobile and other companies wanted a piece of T-Mobile too. Sprint and T-Mobile finally merged and that was finalized in 2020. I signed on with Boost Mobile when Sprint owned them and then Boost split from them. Boost put on data caps and people started to flee from them. I never watch T.V. through the internet so it wasn't a big deal to me until now.

We all run into B.S. from these big carrier corporations but now that Cox is starting up I think the data caps will start being removed due to competition. What happens is these carrier corporations either do the same things to squeeze us as a whole or they will get a break away that will do something different that will force all the rest to follow in order to keep up.

I'm thinking "Binge On" by T-Mobile may be a break away scheme and it will work. Binge On isn't on the T-Mobile network even though they state the unlimited video streaming is through their network. Binge On is on it's own network in the T-Mobile system so T-Mobile can attract more subscribers to their phone plans and keep the data caps in place. There's no internet on Binge On. It's strictly for streaming videos and T.V..

From what I understand If you stream from a non T-Mobile website partner you will get your data throttled. If you stream from a T-Mobile partner you can do it with no data caps and throttling. I'm still learning.

https://www.t-mobile.com/offers/binge-on-streaming-video
If it's the tower capacity that's causing the throttling then they need to add more capacity so the data caps can be dropped. If Elon Musk can put hundreds of satellites into space to operate "Starlink" then these greedy carrier corporations can increase capacity where needed and drop the data caps.

 

[tripper]

"Works Most Of The Time" are the key words. This means it doesn't work ALL of the time and you are getting throttled.

I appreciate all the input but I already know that if you stream video or T.V. programs it will eat up 1 GB an hour which is an extreme amount of data.

Sure, I'm here to learn but when you need 12 hours a day of online streaming which tallies up to 360 GB hours a month I don't think 35 to 50 GB a month adds up to a great streaming experience.

When they throttle you they slow your internet speeds which causes more buffering.

By most of the time I didn't mean throttling, has to do with the towers. Verizon towers it works fine on, but some times Verizon is using towers they don't own, and some of those won't work with visible. I have been a couple of places where phones on Verizon work but visible won't. It doesn't happen much. I've never noticed throttling, but have noticed congestion during peak times. Especially in Quartszite.

 

[aytee]

Here's an option - throw it away. I consider myself EXTREMELY fortunate to have spent my childhood in a country where there was no TV. How different my life would have been, and would be today. I feel very sorry for today's youth, nothing but a vehicle to transport a screen.

Imagine if everyone were free to let their thoughts wander where they will!

 

[Jim D]

By most of the time I didn't mean throttling, has to do with the towers. Verizon towers it works fine on, but some times Verizon is using towers they don't own, and some of those won't work with visible. I have been a couple of places where phones on Verizon work but visible won't. It doesn't happen much. I've never noticed throttling, but have noticed congestion during peak times. Especially in Quartszite.

Yeah, I've been reading a hell of a lot and listening to You Tube videos and what I'm getting so far if your in the town or city and your carrier cell tower gets busy everyone gets throttled. If your out in the desert and you are a long way from your carrier cell tower you get a weak signal. Some people say they get great signal strength when they are out in the desert or Toolies near their carriers cell tower.

I'm still learning. I have a long way to go until I find out what's going to be best for me.

I like T-Mobile because of the "Binge On" T.V. shows their members get to stream for free on the T-Mobile network. I like Visible equally well because of the unlimited T.V. streaming. I want T.V. and internet 12 to 15 hours a day without breaking my bank account. I'm not alone on this. I may end up with T-Mobile and Visible. I don't know yet but I want to stream T.V..

Here's an option - throw it away. I consider myself EXTREMELY fortunate to have spent my childhood in a country where there was no TV. How different my life would have been, and would be today. I feel very sorry for today's youth, nothing but a vehicle to transport a screen.

Imagine if everyone were free to let their thoughts wander where they will!

I myself am not young anymore and when I have to go live in my van for the first time I will be alone until I can make some friends. I'm alone in this house I live in now and all I have is T.V. and wine and alot of work getting rid of stuff.

 

[FlipperFla]

Yeah, I've been reading a hell of a lot and listening to You Tube videos and what I'm getting so far if your in the town or city and your carrier cell tower gets busy everyone gets throttled. If your out in the desert and you are a long way from your carrier cell tower you get a weak signal. Some people say they get great signal strength when they are out in the desert or Toolies near their carriers cell tower.

I'm still learning. I have a long way to go until I find out what's going to be best for me.

I like T-Mobile because of the "Binge On" T.V. shows their members get to stream for free on the T-Mobile network. I like Visible equally well because of the unlimited T.V. streaming. I want T.V. and internet 12 to 15 hours a day without breaking my bank account. I'm not alone on this. I may end up with T-Mobile and Visible. I don't know yet but I want to stream T.V..


I myself am not young anymore and when I have to go live in my van for the first time I will be alone until I can make some friends. I'm alone in this house I live in now and all I have is T.V. and wine and alot of work getting rid of stuff.

When you mentioned over the air analog TV, this is incorrect. All over the air is digital, analog is long gone. If you plan to be near any metro areas you should be able to get lots of channels. Now digital OTA each channel has sub-channels. For example analog channel 2 is 1 channel now it would be 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4………2-12. With OTA digital you get a perfect pix or nothing at all, no more fuzzy, snowy channels. If we are not too far out in the boonies I usually can pull in over 100 channels! 75% are junk, not in English, info commercials or religious. But once I block them I still have a pretty good variety of 25. We also stream thru T-Mobile thru a HDMI adapter, that plugs into your phone has a HDMI output that goes to your TV. They are on Amazon for around $30. With the combination of the 2 we have plenty of programming to watch. For us Verizon sucked, once we used up our data on their hot spot usually 1/2 way thru the month they would throttle us down so far you couldn’t even surf the net let alone stream video, ATT was the same.

 

[Happy Camper]

I'll post this for you. I do so even though you seem to be have a somewhat contentious attitude towards some trying to help. My background is 4 decades of tech including broadband, network, streaming TV, etc. I don't mind if you don't use my advice. It's my choice to spend the time looking it up and/or posting.

Here is the wording from the link that I posted above. That you obviously didn't read it before asking me what I don't understand means that I will probably refrain from trying to assist on this subject moving forward. Mods, if you find this post is too direct please let me know.

"Is Visible really unlimited?

Yes. You get unlimited data, talk, text, and hotspot in the U.S. on Verizon’s 4G LTE and 5G networks.

We don’t slow you down because you use too much data - ever! Happy streaming!"

I truly hope you find your best solution. And that you realize that everyone is just trying to help. Please try not to believe their efforts.

 

[Jim D]

When you mentioned over the air analog TV, this is incorrect. All over the air is digital, analog is long gone. If you plan to be near any metro areas you should be able to get lots of channels. Now digital OTA each channel has sub-channels. For example analog channel 2 is 1 channel now it would be 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4………2-12. With OTA digital you get a perfect pix or nothing at all, no more fuzzy, snowy channels. If we are not too far out in the boonies I usually can pull in over 100 channels! 75% are junk, not in English, info commercials or religious. But once I block them I still have a pretty good variety of 25. We also stream thru T-Mobile thru a HDMI adapter, that plugs into your phone has a HDMI output that goes to your TV. They are on Amazon for around $30. With the combination of the 2 we have plenty of programming to watch. For us Verizon sucked, once we used up our data on their hot spot usually 1/2 way thru the month they would throttle us down so far you couldn’t even surf the net let alone stream video, ATT was the same.

Yeah your correct but from what I read and didn't mention is that the T.V. stations still transmit an analog signal but it gets turned in to a digital signal somewhere along the way. This is just what I read.

I was looking to see open air channels and most were junk. Like you stated I could still watch some.

AT&T has their own streaming service now. From what I read AT&T let it's phone users stream T.V. for free like T-Mobile does with no caps. AT&T wants cash for their streaming now. AT&T streaming is "DirectTV Streaming" and just opened up in 2021.

https://www.directv.com/cf/stream/?...p.ds&msclkid=80fb66b6f34a1efa231e05cefec742bf

I'll post this for you. I do so even though you seem to be have a somewhat contentious attitude towards some trying to help. My background is 4 decades of tech including broadband, network, streaming TV, etc. I don't mind if you don't use my advice. It's my choice to spend the time looking it up and/or posting.

Here is the wording from the link that I posted above. That you obviously didn't read it before asking me what I don't understand means that I will probably refrain from trying to assist on this subject moving forward. Mods, if you find this post is too direct please let me know.

"Is Visible really unlimited?

Yes. You get unlimited data, talk, text, and hotspot in the U.S. on Verizon’s 4G LTE and 5G networks.

We don’t slow you down because you use too much data - ever! Happy streaming!"

I truly hope you find your best solution. And that you realize that everyone is just trying to help. Please try not to believe their efforts.

I understand this now. As I stated to everyone here I'm just getting to know these things and learn. Visible is good but I did find that 50 GB data cap passage on their web site.

Under:
What types of service plans does Visible offer who want broadband internet access services?

https://www.visible.com/legal/legal-disclosures
In paragraph number 4 it states after 50 GB of premium data in times of traffic your data may be temporarily slower that other traffic. This is what all the data carriers state in one way or another.

Anyway, I have 2 T.V. and Movie Streaming options now plus Visible.

I'm also learning why streaming is such a pain in the arse with these data carriers and it isn't coming out to be congestion with the towers.

 

[Happy Camper]

Analog TV is dead. It's only digital now. They took the analog bandwidth and have sold blocks of frequency to various companies. There are a lot of channels on digital, but it depends where you are, and the quality of your antenna what you'll be able to get.

Even professional wireless microphones using certain frequencies were outlawed because they would interfere with digital devices operating in that range. I had a number of amazing Shure mics that has to be put down. You weren't even allowed to sell them lol.

You have three options, depending on your needs and desires.

Digital TV and accept what you can get.

Download bulk shows and movies when you're able to use public Internet

Stream TV and work through the Internet situation.

You will have better options in a few years.

 

[Jim D]

Here's a website on the speeds everyone needs to get decent video. Some internet carriers will slow your speed to .05 mbps and a few streaming sites are good with this but the optimal speed you need is 3.0 mbps to get standard definition and is the standard with all the other streaming sites.

Verizon bumped up their throttle speeds to 3.0 mbps.

https://www.lifewire.com/internet-speed-requirements-for-movie-viewing-1847401

 

[dreamrunnerjt]

Here's an option - throw it away. I consider myself EXTREMELY fortunate to have spent my childhood in a country where there was no TV. How different my life would have been, and would be today. I feel very sorry for today's youth, nothing but a vehicle to transport a screen.

Imagine if everyone were free to let their thoughts wander where they will!

I have to ask, what country in today’s world does not have television? Or are we talking 50+ years ago?

 

[dreamrunnerjt]

Those more tech savvy than me, please correct this if I am wrong. I believe it takes less bandwidth to download than to do live streaming. If that is correct, then your best bet is to use the terrabite hard drive, down load a bunch of stuff and watch later. It seems to me that 5 terrabite hard drives are fairly easy to find and not too expensive considering the use you would get out of it.
The rest of this post is opinion and whining.

I stopped watching TV several years ago. I was tired of all the commercials. I also found I spent less money and was more satisfied with my life once all that high end merchandise was no longer in my face. A few years after that I stopped listening to the radio. Same reasons, same results. The down side to this is I am often ignorant of current situations. Fortunately my adult children are aware of my choices and will inform me of changes that may effect me.
I do have Netflix, Amazon Prime (which I rarely use), and more recently Disney and Hulu. I don’t care much for Hulu. I feel I should not have to deal with advertisements if I am paying a fee but I didn’t get the choice not to have it when I got Disney. Only got Disney for the Marvel Universe.
when I do see an ad or clip for a series I might like I consider the cost of a streaming service against the cost of buying blue rays a few years down the line. Usually the disks will end up being cheaper. Plus I will never exhaust the programming on Netflix. I am more likely to be listening to a audiobook I downloaded from the library.
HURRAY FOR OVERDRIVE AND THE LIBBY APP.
I have more books in my to be read list than I will ever get through in my lifetime.

 

[aytee]

I have to ask, what country in today’s world does not have television? Or are we talking 50+ years ago?

lol - I am long past childhood! I grew up in South Africa and it arrived in the country in my final year of high school, late 70s, and that only two hours a day, one in English and one in Afrikaans. We never missed it, really, not knowing any other way.

The only time I ever remember really wanting it was when everyone else was watching Neil Armstrong walk on the moon and we weren't.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Jim D, have you looked at Dish Network RV satellite dish?

A few hundred for the hardware and $60 to $100 a month and you can leave it on 24/7 if you want, as long as you have the power (shorepower, batteries, solar etc) to run the receiver and your TV.

That may end up being your limiting factor...depleted batteries trying to operate all your 'stuff'.

Good luck.

 

[Happy Camper]

Jim, I appreciate your sharing that. It helps immensely in trying to give you your particular answers.

How many hours of content do you want available at any given time?

Will you be close to anywhere with free wifi on a regular basis? Even if it's weekly, monthly.

Answers to those two questions will do a lot to determine what your needs are.

 

[jasper]

I camp in a number of areas in the US with no over the air TV channels available via an antenna. No cell signal either. These areas have made for no planning, almost empty campsites in peace and quiet. Other than rain or severe cold, I only sleep inside.

I'm a little concerned about Starlink or other technologies that would change that.