Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-23-2018, 09:26 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Marengo Il
Posts: 122
My solution to no cable

I have a 21fbrs with a tv/entertainment setup. I purchased a roku device which works well when wifi is available. More often than not wifi is not available. So the problem is how to watch tv when there is no cable or wifi or satellite.



My solution.
Since my trailer is equipped with a wifi range extender (basically a router) I turn that on and connect my roku to it as well as my cell phone. Now the roku and cell phone are on the same network. I can use my cell phone and mirror psvue (local channels plus) playing on my cell phone to the roku and see it on the TV. Granted this will eat up any cell phone data plans pretty quickly but I usually am only interested in local weather or news. I do have an unlimited data plan but I'm sure that at a certain point it will be throttled.
tdiller is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2018, 09:33 AM   #2
Moderator Emeritus
 
Kaadk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,173
If you're just looking for local stations, wouldn't it be easier to just use the over-the-air antenna on the trailer? No data, and really, no fuss. Just set the TV to antenna, (if it's a crank up, crank up the antenna) turn on the booster, scan, and then you have local channels.

For local weather though, we just use the weather network app on the cell phone.
__________________
There's no use crying over spilt milk... unless it's on your keyboard.
Kaadk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2018, 09:40 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 597
Quote:
Originally Posted by tdiller View Post
I have a 21fbrs with a tv/entertainment setup. I purchased a roku device which works well when wifi is available. More often than not wifi is not available. So the problem is how to watch tv when there is no cable or wifi or satellite.



My solution.
Since my trailer is equipped with a wifi range extender (basically a router) I turn that on and connect my roku to it as well as my cell phone. Now the roku and cell phone are on the same network. I can use my cell phone and mirror psvue (local channels plus) playing on my cell phone to the roku and see it on the TV. Granted this will eat up any cell phone data plans pretty quickly but I usually am only interested in local weather or news. I do have an unlimited data plan but I'm sure that at a certain point it will be throttled.


I don't know what type of phone you have but most phones you can turn on the "hot spot" feature and connect directly to your phone and bypass the wifi extender, you can also download an app that will do the "hot spot".
wildcatter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2018, 10:27 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Marengo Il
Posts: 122
Quote:
Originally Posted by wildcatter View Post
I don't know what type of phone you have but most phones you can turn on the "hot spot" feature and connect directly to your phone and bypass the wifi extender, you can also download an app that will do the "hot spot".
Some cell phone services do not allow hot spots. I've tried. Straight Talk does not work with any hotspot application. They'd rather sell me a device and charge me for a data plan.
tdiller is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2018, 10:30 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Marengo Il
Posts: 122
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaadk View Post
If you're just looking for local stations, wouldn't it be easier to just use the over-the-air antenna on the trailer? No data, and really, no fuss. Just set the TV to antenna, (if it's a crank up, crank up the antenna) turn on the booster, scan, and then you have local channels.

For local weather though, we just use the weather network app on the cell phone.
Sometimes reception is very poor in campgrounds for OTA. And local news can be important like when we were in DC area with all the rain they had. weather app only mentioned heavy rain. Local news gave more location detail so we could avoid flooded areas.
tdiller is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2018, 10:59 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 194
I keep a small DVD player in the camper and usually remember to throw in a few DVDs before we leave. I've yet to be at any RV park that allows you to use what is almost universally bad wifi for streaming. Some claim they "monitor connections" and will kick you off if they think you're using too much of their bandwidth. (I think they're all full of it, lol) but I have never been able to keep my tablet connected more than 5 minutes straight let alone long enough to stream something IF the connection is even that strong. I use an OTA antenna and have an extender I can connect if necessary. The seemingly rarer times we get to connect to cable, there is usually very few channels and nothing we want to watch unless they have the weather channel for a few minutes. But for the most part, it's sitcoms on DVD when needed for emergency bad weather entertainment.
tlspencer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2018, 11:23 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Marengo Il
Posts: 122
Quote:
Originally Posted by tlspencer View Post
I keep a small DVD player in the camper and usually remember to throw in a few DVDs before we leave. I've yet to be at any RV park that allows you to use what is almost universally bad wifi for streaming. Some claim they "monitor connections" and will kick you off if they think you're using too much of their bandwidth. (I think they're all full of it, lol) but I have never been able to keep my tablet connected more than 5 minutes straight let alone long enough to stream something IF the connection is even that strong. I use an OTA antenna and have an extender I can connect if necessary. The seemingly rarer times we get to connect to cable, there is usually very few channels and nothing we want to watch unless they have the weather channel for a few minutes. But for the most part, it's sitcoms on DVD when needed for emergency bad weather entertainment.
Understand that this method does not use campground wifi. IT merely creates a network in your camper that connects to something like psvue or hudu across the cell service of your phone.
tdiller is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2018, 12:41 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 9,458
Straight Talk

Quote:
Originally Posted by tdiller View Post
Some cell phone services do not allow hot spots. I've tried. Straight Talk does not work with any hotspot application. They'd rather sell me a device and charge me for a data plan.
Straight Talk does not permit "tethering."

However, their detection scheme is fairly simple: They use the information submitted by e.g., the web browser to determine what device is connected. From information they can determine your web browser, operating system, screen size, and a bunch more stuff. Don't believe it? Click here.

But there are a few things that aren't detectable:
  • Using your phone and a Chromecast device to "cast" audio and video to a TV.
  • Using your phone to tether a tablet of the same type (Android-to-Android or iOS-to-iOS)

Larry
Larry-NC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2018, 12:54 PM   #9
Moderator Emeritus
 
Kaadk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,173
Quote:
Originally Posted by tdiller View Post
Sometimes reception is very poor in campgrounds for OTA. And local news can be important like when we were in DC area with all the rain they had. weather app only mentioned heavy rain. Local news gave more location detail so we could avoid flooded areas.
I agree that the native weather app on the phone is usually too vague, but I've found the Weather Network's app to be fairly reliable. What I really like is it's push notifications of weather alerts. Like a couple of years ago when we had the first tornado in 40 years, the app pushed a notification to my watch in the middle of dinner, allowing me to quickly get the kids/dogs in the basement bathroom (only room with no windows in the house). Local news alone wouldn't have been able to do that for us.

Where the local news is handy though, is the news. You only get a few select stories online, and often, you have to hunt for those after somebody else informs you about it. But for us, usually the signal's good enough for anything local enough for us. If the station's not close enough to get us a signal, then it's not close enough to be considered local. But we're also fairly flat around here, so there's not much blocking a signal.
__________________
There's no use crying over spilt milk... unless it's on your keyboard.
Kaadk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2018, 01:01 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Chaplain Kent's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Milwaukee
Posts: 248
My solution to no cable is a good book, a camp fire and being with my wife.
__________________
Chummy V
2014 Forester 2501TS
Ford E-450
Chaplain Kent is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2018, 01:42 PM   #11
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 75
I record off of the Playon app to my laptop. mp4 format hardly uses any space. Cable from laptop to tv. Works great and no wifi needed.
izzaboomer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2018, 02:29 PM   #12
Member
 
mule's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Moore, OK
Posts: 84
Quote:
Originally Posted by tlspencer View Post
I keep a small DVD player in the camper and usually remember to throw in a few DVDs before we leave. I've yet to be at any RV park that allows you to use what is almost universally bad wifi for streaming. Some claim they "monitor connections" and will kick you off if they think you're using too much of their bandwidth. (I think they're all full of it, lol) but I have never been able to keep my tablet connected more than 5 minutes straight let alone long enough to stream something IF the connection is even that strong. I use an OTA antenna and have an extender I can connect if necessary. The seemingly rarer times we get to connect to cable, there is usually very few channels and nothing we want to watch unless they have the weather channel for a few minutes. But for the most part, it's sitcoms on DVD when needed for emergency bad weather entertainment.
I’m with you, a few DVD’s and the wife and I are good to go!
mule is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2018, 02:37 PM   #13
Empty Nesters
 
KenandCarol's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Santa Maria, CA
Posts: 361
Quote:
Originally Posted by mule View Post
I’m with you, a few DVD’s and the wife and I are good to go!
X3
__________________
2017 Sunseeker 2250 24' MH
KenandCarol is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2018, 02:46 PM   #14
Member
 
keegantimber's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 73
Just another option. ...for rainy days and nights. I have a smart tv and an old wireless router in rv. Router has no internet access but does create a wireless network inside rv. I download movies etc (at home) to my phone using amazon prime. I then mirror screen my phone to tv to watch downloaded movies.
keegantimber is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2018, 02:58 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
stormer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 236
If you have an appletv and an ipad... You can disconnect your appletv from "all" networks... then turn on blue tooth and connect your ipad/iphone directly to your appletv. Anything you have recorded on your ipad/iphone can play flawlessly to your big screen. As for live streaming... if you got an unlimited package with your cell provider you will find it nearly impossible to go full screen with any apps like googleTV or netflix or even streaming full screen for youtube. Don't know why but I think it may have to do with the limited bandwidth inherit with bluetooth. Maybe someone here would know why. But if I have downloaded movies from itunes, those play beautifully.


James
__________________
James & Aimee
----------------------------
2018 Rockwood 2906WS
2012 Ram 2500HD 6.7L Cummins
Equal-i-zer 4 Point Hitch
stormer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2018, 03:06 PM   #16
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Mississippi Mills, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 10
We just crank the antenna up if there are no stations we watch DVD's or something off of a thumb drive or you know read a book or two..
ramsaytwp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2018, 03:10 PM   #17
Moderator Emeritus
 
Kaadk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,173
Quote:
Originally Posted by stormer View Post
If you have an appletv and an ipad... You can disconnect your appletv from "all" networks... then turn on blue tooth and connect your ipad/iphone directly to your appletv. Anything you have recorded on your ipad/iphone can play flawlessly to your big screen. As for live streaming... if you got an unlimited package with your cell provider you will find it nearly impossible to go full screen with any apps like googleTV or netflix or even streaming full screen for youtube. Don't know why but I think it may have to do with the limited bandwidth inherit with bluetooth. Maybe someone here would know why. But if I have downloaded movies from itunes, those play beautifully.


James
Following this for a minute, in the TT I put in an AppleTV, an airport express as a in trailer router, and tried Airplaying an iTunes movie from my iPad to the AppleTV. No go. It needed to be connected to the internet in order to authorize the movie to be played. Ended up having to turn on the hotspot on the phone and connect the iPad and AppleTV to it just to be able to watch a locally stored digital copy of a movie. Never did get it to work with either a local network or a straight bluetooth approach. As long as it was an iTunes digital copy, it required to be connected to the internet to play wirelessly.

So when we got the fiver, I skipped the whole AppleTV approach and just stuck with using a lightning to HDMI adapter. This TV setup gives me room underneath the TV for a spot to put the iPad while it's playing, so it works. Much better than having to have my hotspot on the whole time. When playing over a wired digital adapter, it doesn't need to authenticate and just play.

However, the OP in this case wasn't looking for digital movies, they were sharing their way of getting local television stations.
__________________
There's no use crying over spilt milk... unless it's on your keyboard.
Kaadk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2018, 03:48 PM   #18
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 55
Apple Lightning Digital AV Adapter

We use a Apple Lightning Digital AV Adapter($35.00 on Amazon) and plug our tv’s hdmi cable in to it and plug into our cell phones. Whatever we can watch on our phone can now be watched on out TV! Works great. Used my Apple TV with my phones hot spot but ran out of data after only 2 movie! I have unlimited data on my phone so no problems!
Slinks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2018, 03:53 PM   #19
Member
 
Mrpsyko's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Savannah, Tennessee
Posts: 83
Talking No cable

I use a Android TV box, if wifi or cell is not available I have a 1 terabyte hard drive with over a 100 movies I can watch.
__________________
2017 Flagstaff Super Lite 26RBWS/2014 F150 XLT SCREW 5.0 V-8

https://www.forestriverforums.com/at...pic35767_3.gif
Mrpsyko is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2018, 04:04 PM   #20
jkoenig24
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Box Elder, SD (formerly NY)
Posts: 953
I was at the FMCA 98th International Conference last week. The "Free" WiFi was bad to completely non-existent. I have the best and latest WiFiRanger system and, was pulling in a GREAT WiFi signal BUT, with almost 2000 people attending the event, there was LITTLE to NO throughput (internet connection). I also have "Unlimited" data on my Verizon phone AND Verizon Jetpack AND on my T-Mobile phone. The single local tower must have been completely slammed/overwhelmed because most of the time, the cell signals were useless. NOTE: I was NOT trying to stream Netflix or other videos; I just wanted basic internet but, internet connectivity in Gillette, WY is a bad joke. OTA TV in Gillette wasn't much better either. Four channels, two of which were unwatchable due to static. The other two weren't worth watching. I too carry DVDs and programs on my computer so that I have something to watch on down days or during inclement weather. Sadly, universal connectivity is still a LOOOOOOONG way off (especially in Gillette, WY).
jkoenig24 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
cable

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:57 PM.