How you live stream Big Ten Network content will change in 2019, here's how

Thought I'd bump this thread back up to the top. Now that Dish has dropped Fox Sports North (and all the Regional Sports Networks), it's time to move away from them, most likely to YouTube TV. My TV sets do not have built-in streaming (e.g., Roku), so I'll be using an external box. Based on the comments in this thread it seems that Apple TV is the way to go. Any advice you have as to which box to use is appreciated.

PlayStation Vue for the service
Amazon Fire Stick for the mechanism
 

Thought I'd bump this thread back up to the top. Now that Dish has dropped Fox Sports North (and all the Regional Sports Networks), it's time to move away from them, most likely to YouTube TV. My TV sets do not have built-in streaming (e.g., Roku), so I'll be using an external box. Based on the comments in this thread it seems that Apple TV is the way to go. Any advice you have as to which box to use is appreciated.

Roku and YTTV. Never once regretted getting rid of DirecTV.

One of the best parts is I just set the DVR to record all Gopher games and it does. I never have to extend the time or worry about long events either. Somehow it just automatically keeps recording until the end.


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Roku was built-in with my TV, but I’ve also used their sticks and they similarly work well.

I’ve only tried YTTV and DirecTV Now. The viewership experience on YTTV was far superior, and it’s what we have now.
 

Roku and YTTV. Never once regretted getting rid of DirecTV.

One of the best parts is I just set the DVR to record all Gopher games and it does. I never have to extend the time or worry about long events either. Somehow it just automatically keeps recording until the end.

Yep the Virtual DVR is great that way.

Though as a side note, I would recommend setting it to record the BTN in 60 showings. I find 60mins is a reasonable time commitment to sit and watch every drive of a game, as opposed to 3.5hrs.
 

Roku and YTTV. Never once regretted getting rid of DirecTV.

One of the best parts is I just set the DVR to record all Gopher games and it does. I never have to extend the time or worry about long events either. Somehow it just automatically keeps recording until the end.


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Thanks for the input -- much appreciated. Looks like Roku (and maybe Apple TV) with YouTubeTV is the recommendation. Has anyone tried Android TV?
 


I’m looking to drop Comcast completely. Tired of hassling with them each time they jack up the price.
Anyone have an opinion on how much download speed you need to run one of these streaming services? Thanks.
 

I’m looking to drop Comcast completely. Tired of hassling with them each time they jack up the price.
Anyone have an opinion on how much download speed you need to run one of these streaming services? Thanks.

Not much. Probably 10 for a single guy, 25 for a larger household. 4K — double that most likely. These are strictly rear end sourced stats but are a complication of things I recall reading prior to trying it out and running my own speed and range tests. Any higher is likely gravy. My WiFi throughput speed is about half my hardwired speed but router undoubtedly makes a difference in terms of both speed and range. Large houses will require good WiFi network and maybe extenders for casitas etc...apartments not so much.
 

Problem is, ISP service to your home is near monopoly in most places. You can only get it through the cable company or the phone company. Hope you have another good option!
 

Thanks guys.
Comcast says they’re up to 150. Need to check actual.
Only other option is century link who is 80 max.
Hopefully the actual on 80 service is enough.
 



Thanks guys.
Comcast says they’re up to 150. Need to check actual.
Only other option is century link who is 80 max.
Hopefully the actual on 80 service is enough.

If you’re just running one TV, both of those are way more than enough.

CL is gonna pull the same crap as Comcast, though. Raising prices, pushing you to bundle, etc.
 

Our furthest bedroom is at the extreme end of WiFi range and can stream 1080p at 10-15 mb/s in my testing. We run the tv nearest the router at 5 MHz and the further TVs at 2.4 MHz for range. Gamers seem to benefit the most from massive internet speeds to help rapidly download games into their solid state drives. Most of us can get by with 50-100 mbs or less with absolutely no issues.
 


... and Dish just dropped BTN. So, I'm going to drop Dish (should have done that many moons ago) and replace it with YouTube TV, and since I have a Google Home network, probably going to use Chromecast. Anyone have any thoughts on Chromecast?
 



... and Dish just dropped BTN. So, I'm going to drop Dish (should have done that many moons ago) and replace it with YouTube TV, and since I have a Google Home network, probably going to use Chromecast. Anyone have any thoughts on Chromecast?

Chromecast is fine if you're relatively tech savvy and don't mind running everything through your smartphone or laptop; including tv menus and such. If anyone else in your household doesn't like doing that and would rather have the menu on the TV (my wife and daughter), then it can be a show stopper.

Another downside compared to say using a Roku (which I love - have 4 of them), is that Roku has tons of apps dedicated to all kinds of streaming services. If you're using an Android phone, then there a tons of app choices too of course, but many of them might not have the Chromecast ability built-in. In that case, you need to mirror your phone screen to the TV via Chromecast which sucks.

For me, I only use Chromecast when I have no other way of watching the stream on TV (various internet items, etc.). Owning a Chromecast is a must in those cases...but it's also a last resort.

One more thing to throw in - if you're a YouTube TV subscriber, that works very well with Chromecast since both are Google.

I dropped Comcast months ago for YouTube TV and am generally a fan. The downside is if your family is heavy on streaming, you need to watch the 1TB data limit from Comcast and CenturyLink. That usually means reducing resolution below HD for most shows.
 
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... and Dish just dropped BTN. So, I'm going to drop Dish (should have done that many moons ago) and replace it with YouTube TV, and since I have a Google Home network, probably going to use Chromecast. Anyone have any thoughts on Chromecast?

Chromecast is "tougher" to use because you need to cast stuff from your phone. Not the best experience.

Spend $30-$50 on a Amazon Firestick and a remote or a roku box.
I have several chromecasts and don't enjoy using it much. All Roku and Fire-box fire sticks now.
 

No, but YouTubeTV has been really good for me on Roku. Would recommend to anyone. Very good quality. Virtual DVR works well.

Think it’s up to $50/mo now because they recently added Food Network, HGTV, etc others. Quite a lot of channels.

Cut Dish...got YouTube TV. Saved $100 a month.


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Recently bought a portable Dish setup for my RV. If I can't get Fox or BTN stuff, that system might as well be an expensive junk box. Craigslist here I come.
 

Personally I use HULU. When I was working in south Louisiana, Sling didn't have BTN, so I switched to HULU. You can pay cheaper for some of the HULU services, but I pay just under $60 a month, but have all the DVR capabilities (200 hours) and many movies and tv shows and can watch anywhere. At the house I used a ROKU Ultra with the HULU app, and loved it. Now I'm overseas and HULU doesn't work on my ROKU because HULU is only supported in the US (I know I can get a VPN). Somehow my computer still thinks I'm in the US and I get HULU on my laptop. I don't have a smart tv but use an HDMI cable from computer to TV and can watch anything live via WIFI. I only watch football that way, but it is an available option.
No experience with YouTube, or anything else, so cannot comment. All I can say is this still works and is a good option. Plus can record and watch anytime and can fast forward through commercials when recorded. I'm sure everything now offers that though.
 

I use Chromecast on both of my TV's and have relatively no issues with it...hasn't been very difficult to run as almost all apps/sites have an icon you simply just click to cast. When I set mine up I just named one upstairs and one downstairs for each of the TV's they're in. They also are nice for the rare event you stream something from a shady site (show, movie, sporting event, porn) where there isn't a cast option...just open it in google chrome and you can cast the full page to the TV.
 


I stream all the games from sites I find via reddit's CFB Streams section. It can be a little work to find a solid stream, but I have a few users that have become my go-to that have solid streams and not too many ads. I just connect my laptop to my TV and watch it that way.
 

I stream all the games from sites I find via reddit's CFB Streams section. It can be a little work to find a solid stream, but I have a few users that have become my go-to that have solid streams and not too many ads. I just connect my laptop to my TV and watch it that way.

Did this for many years as well. Work schedule too hectic now to keep doing it as I can’t watch most games live but can vouch this definitely works well
 

I stream all the games from sites I find via reddit's CFB Streams section. It can be a little work to find a solid stream, but I have a few users that have become my go-to that have solid streams and not too many ads. I just connect my laptop to my TV and watch it that way.

I used to do this as well...vipbox was my go to site...i'm sure its still around with a different domain.
 

Using YoutubeTV. I can watch from my phone if I'm on the go, and I can tell it to record so that if I am late I don't have to miss anything. The subscription I use supports up to 3 screens, so my brother and I share it, and we can both watch no matter where we are.
 

I would also recommend YoutubeTv. Quality is good, unlimited virtual dvr is nice. You can also share with five family members.
 


been with it now for a month and very happy.
 

Which of these streaming services has Fox Sports North? Can't find it in their sites.
 





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