Source decisions

Channels DVR Server
#1

I'm still kind of old school. Spectrum subscriber with all the premiums (cablecard+tivo) and never subscribed to a streaming service other than netflix. I've got an antenna+HDHR that is/was mainly the hurricane outage backup but it works great for the locals.

Is there any benefit migrating to an HDHR Prime over using Spectrum TVE alone? Can I record the premiums from either source? (they do seem to work on watch.spectrum.net) Seems like there may be some DRM grief.

I switched away from Spectrum internet (for gig fiber) and just recently noticed that they gimped the available channel streaming... I get the " Connect to Your Spectrum Internet for More to Watch" banner at the top of the page. Grrrr

Trying to appease my viewers with simplicity... both younger and older :slight_smile:

Maybe it's time to just break up with Spectrum lol

#2

Maybe, but you need to check what's available with TVE based on your provider:

No. There is no recording of any premium content.

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#3

Thanks for the input! Yeah it seems that Spectrum Streaming is also doing some secondary checking to see if you are also on their internet. Figures! Some of the stations that say they work do not work for me.

#4

When using TVE, it shouldn't matter what network you are on. Spectrum is a pain to get working due to concurrent login restrictions using TVE for some channels. After adding Spectrum to Channels DVR, you have to scan each channel separately to get them to authorize (HGTV, Discovery, etc.). When I was using Spectrum for TVE, I would scan the individual channels and after about three successes, I would run into "too many connections" error. I'd wait a few hours and scan the next two or three. Repeat until they all authorized. The channels do work, but setup is a bit of pain and not instant.

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#5

So it may be worth picking up an HDHR Prime and using my sub and using TVE to help me get my concurrent tuner count up to a respectable level. There are times where my Roamio Pro's 6 tuners are all recording.

I'm overdue with changing the way I get premiums... too often I watch the same movie just because it happens to be on.

#6

The hdhomerun prime won't work due to DRM. But you can still use TVE without any extra hardware (beside your dvr server).

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#7

Thanks! HDHR Prime won't work at all or just not for premiums?

#8

It would work for locals only. Everything else is usually DRM on Spectrum.

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#9

I am in this exact same situation, though I also have internet through Spectrum. I have the Prime, but most channels are DRM. I think I ended up with around 30-40 channels that are unprotected that Channels can use out of almost 280. I live in the Lexington, Ky market, but I’ve heard that the amount of DRM can vary widely from region to region. Unfortunately there is no way to know that I know of except to hook it up and see what you get. I tried asking customer service when I was trying to get the cable card and they were like “you should get everything” which is obviously not right. So, set your expectations accordingly. I keep the prime in place because it is another source of my locals and some other channels, and it’s only $2 per month for the cable card, and allows me to not pay way more for their crappy receivers. Spectrum TVE support is generally very good, although you will run into the max connections error when you first add it. It’s a bit of a pain to go back and scan the channels until they all succeed, but this is a one-time thing, so it’s not too bad.

#10

The Prime I have recorded my one movie channel I had fine, it just would not play back on anything but the box here the prime was using on the network to tell it what to do. IF you had a approved extender like a Xbox you could register it and watch the DRM movie channel there as well. My open cable tuners could no longer watch or record the normal HD and local channels they carried when they Encrypted everything.
If they fully lock your signal down you might not be able to record or watch anything without the box/DVR they rent you but so far I've been OK here.
They play so many DRM games lately it's hard to have a rule that applies to everyone but I'm pretty sure my ChannelsDVR can record the non premium channels here too. So far I've only used it with OTA atsc 1.0 and 3.0 stuff but it sees all my HD HomeRun boxes and the channel lineups and can use the non encrypted ones.

#11

Thanks for all the input!

Seems like as I migrate from TiVo, I should also migrate from Spectrum. I've enjoyed the one stop shop of all my content on the TiVo (but not enjoyed the $200 Spectrum bill) heh. It probably makes more sense to choose one of the big four (YTTV, Hulu, Philo, Sling) since it sounds like TVE is a breeze with them, and then pick and choose premiums on an as needed basis.

Glad I got the HDHR Prime input before I picked one up!

Side project... going to have to move my mobile phones away from em too! :slight_smile:

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#12

You will have to spend some time determining what channels you need for everyone and pick the best service. I found I was subscribing to a service for really just the Discovery networks and after Discovery+ with no commercials I am way happier and ok with paying the monthly. We use Channels to record all of the go to shows on ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox via Locast now and for a while had a TVE lineup and everyone loves and it and says it is the best DVR we ever had.

For the phone service take a look at Visible they are also on the Verizon network like Spectrum and with their party pay you only pay $25 per month per line with unlimited everything. There is no fall back to 3G just LTE and 5G going forward and not international roaming. There International piece is not a huge deal for me most of the time and then I will probably just use a GoogleFi SIM for the trip and then turn it off. Just getting started with it but so far other than a higher latency everything is working pretty well. As I side note a joined a larger Party pay so I hopefully did not have to worry about how many lines I had, but if you have 4 then you get the $25 price and I would create your own. You can also get other people to sign up and they will give you a month for $5 instead of $25.