This post was shared with the Rivals network by the Publisher of the West Virginia site. A lot of great information
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One of our tech geeks ( @WVUPharm2007 ) wrote this for our premium board because it's perhaps the most frequently discussed topic during the off-season. You may want to share part or all of it once you've removed the West Virginia references.
-----------
I've had several requests for this, so I thought I'd put together a guide for everyone.
Before I start, I just wanted to note that if this is too long and complicated, my personal recommendation is at the very end under "Overall recommendations."
Section I - What is Cord Cutting, IPTV, and How Does It Work?
What is cord cutting? What the heck is IPTV?
Starting in the mid 2010s, internet speeds common in most locales began to become fast enough to allow high quality, high definition video to be reliably streamed to the extent that the quality could meet or exceed that of traditional terrestrial cable (i.e. Comcast, Verizon, Spectrum, Frontier, etc) and satellite (i.e. DirecTV, DISH) services. Using cutting edge video compression, it is now possible to provide "internet protocol TV" (IPTV) that looks just like video from a cable box.
Several companies including Sony (Playstation Vue), Disney (Hulu Live TV), and Google (YoutubeTV), as well as traditional companies like Dish (Sling) and DirecTV (DTV Now), have begun offering high quality, affordable, and flexible products that compete with traditional cable subscriptions.
For the first time ever for many consumers, a choice of traditional cable and broadcast television content provider became a reality after years of having a local cable company monopolize their community. As such, consumers have been leaving the cable and satellite providers in droves to save money and enjoy the other features of IPTV.
The purpose of this guide is to serve as a reference for WVU basketball and football supporters in their journey towards cutting the cord and kicking the cable company to the curb. I understand that some people also need certain channels for family members. Or also like other sports franchises. And these content needs should be part of choosing the correct path in cutting the cord. I will not address the minutiae of each of these individual needs in this guide. It is strictly written as a guide towards enabling WVU fans to watch WVU sports content with IPTV services.
So how does this work?
I think it is easiest to explain this using analogies to a cable subscription, because it basically works the same way.
For cable, the process is pretty simple.
The signal starts from a feed wired into your house from the cable company. This feed then goes to a cable converter box you rent from your cable company (which averages $7.50 a month per box to rent from the company). The feed is decoded by this box and made into a signal your TV understands. You then hook an HDMI cable from the converter box to your TV. TV content then becomes available.
Well, with IPTV, it's pretty much the same thing.
Instead of a cable feed from your cable company, you use an internet connection (which, yes, might be from your cable company.) You then connect a media streaming box (Roku, FireTV, etc) to the internet. This can be using a hardwired ethernet cable or wireless via wifi. This media streaming box decodes the compressed video signal into a signal your TV understands. You then hook an HDMI cable to your TV. TV content then becomes available.
It is NO MORE complex than what you are currently doing. You are just swapping like for like components. That's all!
Section II - Why do I want to do this? Why not just keep cable?
There are numerous reasons. I'll outline them below.
Cost
IPTV that will provide access to all WVU Tier I and II games (more on the "tier" thing later) can be had for as little as $45 a month. And that's $45 out the door. Because...
Fees
There are no fees. No gov't fee. No box rental fee. No RSN fees. No CEO yacht fee. The price you see is out the door. You own the equipment.
Free DVR
All of the services I will highlight come with free "cloud DVR." Instead of having a physical hard drive at home, IPTV services work a bit differently. They basically record their entire subscription package at their server location. You can then choose what shows to "record" and they just beam it straight to your TV on demand when you want to watch it later.
Cancel anytime
Unlike cable and satellite, you can cancel all of these at any time. And there is no 800 number to call. No groveling retention department sleazeball to deal with. You log into your account. You go to you subscription management. You click "Cancel Subscription." That's it. If you hate it, you aren't married to it. They all will give you a free trial as well.
Section III - What are the caveats? Might regular old satellite or cable just be better for me?
So the next logical question is "Does this make sense for ME?"
You have to consider the potential pitfalls of going to internet only TV. The two most common are the most obvious - internet cost and internet speed. And then a third, more insidious one.
Internet Cost
This is another example of where the cable companies are at their grimiest. So you're thinking to yourself. "Man, I pay $140 a month for this stupid cable! I could replace it for $45 a month? Sign me up!" Well, slow your roll. The #1 thing you need to do before even considering switching is inquiring as to how much you need to spend for JUST INTERNET from your internet service provider. In some cases, the internet company will jack up the internet rate so high that you won't save much money. This is usually in rural areas where there is no competition for them. Add up how much internet costs plus the aforementioned $45 and that will get you at your total cost.
Internet Speed
You will need a modestly fast connection. For most consumers, I would say that a 25mbps connection is the minimum recommended. 50mbps would be better. 75+mbps would be ideal. So if you are a DSL customer or old school satellite internet customer, IPTV may not be viable solution for your needs RIGHT NOW.
----
Keep in mind for those that either (or both) speed and cost problems -- within 3-4 years, SpaceX, Amazon, and a few other companies are going to be launching high speed, low cost low orbit internet satellite companies that will, eventually, provide high speed internet to everyone across the globe. So while it might not be best for you right now, it WILL BE possible in the near future. Keep an eye out for that: https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-amazon-spacex-space-internet-20190705-story.html
You are at the whim of your ISP's potential throttling.
With the killing of net neutrality by the FCC last year, your internet company can slow down or speed up internet traffic to any site or video service they choose. There is a potential that they can just make your viewing experience crappy on anything that isn't their product. This hasn't been much of an issue YET. It might be in the future if the cable companies keep slowly losing subscribers.
There is a modest upfront investment
You will have to buy a streaming media player. These aren't expensive for entry level devices. The most basic players by FireTV, Roku, and Chromecast are all under $35. On Black Friday/Prime Day, you can see these for as cheap as $15. The nicest, most advanced units can go up to $150. But for most people, the basic players are all you need.
If you live in the AT&T Pittsburgh Media Market, you can't subscribe to AT&T Pittsburgh via IPTV
This is a solvable problem, but I thought it should be included as a caveat.
If you live in WV, Western/Central PA, or parts of Eastern OH, you will not be able to watch the tier 3 WVU games for free on the school website as they do not allow people residing in the AT&T Pittsburgh market to stream the games.
These game will include JMU in football and a handful of mid major November and December home games in basketball.
There IS a way around this using something called a VPN. A VPN is a service that allows you to make the computer you are connecting to think that you are from another location. This will allow people in state to still watch the games for free. If this interests you, pay attention to the Android TV devices below.
Section IV - Ok, I think I'm ready. What exactly do I need to do to get this up and running? Step One - Buy a streaming media device.
Don't overthink this
You need to start all of this by deciding on a streaming media device. This is usually the part where people get confused by the numerous options. Over-analysis paralysis kicks in and they just stop here. I admit, it seems like there are a million options (it's more like 5 or 6), but they are all pretty similar.
I'll ease your mind right now and just tell you that all of the devices I will highlight are all high quality, easy to use, and, when combined with a good IPTV service, will give you a better experience than cable. This is why you get so many different recommendations for devices when you ask people which to buy. Everyone just bought one of the options randomly and they love it. And they become a proponent of that device because it works so well.
All in all, with the exception of one type of user (one that needs a VPN), it really doesn't matter which you buy. It really boils down to personal preference.
Two basic types of boxes.
There are two basic ways in which these devices send video to your computer. One is by direct control via an app installed on the device. So, for instance, you have a Roku. You install the Youtube app on the Roku. You open the Youtube app on Roku and start searching for videos. Select the one you want and you hit play. This is pretty easy to understand. Think of these things like your smartphone, but with a remote control and hooked up to your TV.
The other needs a bit more explanation. One device called the Chromecast uses a method called "casting." There is no remote control. What you do is load up an app on your phone or desktop and "cast" it to your TV. This is hard to convey in text, so I'll just show a video that walks you through it below when I get to the Chromecast. I assure you its easier than it sounds.
Ok..so what are my exact options?
So just like everything else, there are different platforms for each device. Apple, obviously, has their own little universe they operate in. Google has Chromecast. Android has an open source platform. And Roku has their own platform. And each of these have basic and more advanced units for sale. I'll go over each device briefly and give some pluses and minuses for them.
ROKU
For that type of person that wants their car radio to just be a car radio with a volume knob and a station select button. You're here to watch TV the easiest way possible at an affordable price.
Pros:
This is probably the most accessible device available.
Affordable ($35 for Roku Premier, $50 for more powerful Roku Streaming Stick+)
It is very easy to learn to use. The most computer illiterate people will "get it" in about 3 minutes.
There is an app you can download for both your phone and computer to control any Roku in the house.
*Tier 3: The WVU app is available and can be easily installed making tier 3 games easy to watch.
Cons:
It's clunky. It is far from elegant. It is the most spartan option.
It is generally the slowest to navigate with of all the options.
Chromecast
For that type of person that is a minimalist. They hate clutter. They really want to streamline their life.
So first off, here's a video that explain what "casting" is.
Pros:
There is no remote to lose.
You control everything with your phone. Volume, channel, play/pause, etc.
You can control every TV in your house with your phone.
Affordable ($35 Chromecast, $69 for Chromecast 4k Ultra)
Cons
If you like having a remote, there is no remote.
The non-tech savvy might consider this a foreign option.
*Tier 3 - Both the WVU phone app and the WVU website had casting tabs last year. I just loaded it up and it looks like it is no longer supported. I'll need to research this. If this is the case, I'm pretty disappointed and I'll be pretty angry. This was my preferred method of watching tier 3 games But if Chromecast isn't supported, then this looks like it might not be the best option for this academic year!
AndroidTV (FireTV, Mi Box S, ShieldTV)
For someone that knows their way around tech and wants a do-it-all solution. Also, for people in state that want to watch the tier 3 games with a VPN...this is the only platform giving you that option.
Pros:
The most versatile devices
Have native VPN support
Cost ranges from very affordable to very expensive (FireTV, $39, Mi Box S $59, ShieldTV $180)
*Tier 3 - You can watch tier 3 games. There is no app, but you can just use the web browser to watch the games.
Here's a video of how to do it.
You basically do the same thing you do with a computer browser. You just go to the browser and go to wvusports.com/watch. It will load up the upcoming and live video options. There was nothing live, so I went over to the archival video tab. I launched last week's soccer game vs Duquesne. You start the video up, expand the window, and you are good to go. It's that easy.
Now for VPN. I actually had my NordVPN active while I was doing the above video. I loaded up the Jacksonville State basketball game from last year. The VPN was connected to a server in Chicago. I can 100% confirm that NordVPN did work on my Amazon FireTV and it did load up the geolocked game. This means that if you subscribe to NordVPN, connect to the NordVPN app on the Fire, then load up the browser, you should be able to watch the JMU game next week. Now I make no guarantees. This is all backdoors and cheating the system. Use at your own peril, lol.
I'll briefly go over the features of each device AndroidTV device:
FireTV
The best selling electronic device on all of Amazon. Very easy to use. Very affordable. Comes with a custom version of AndroidTV. The big "con" is that you get a lot of Amazon-focus ads on the home screen. I've used mine so much that I kind of don't even register it being there. But a lot of people find it annoying.
Here's a quick overview:
ShieldTV
This is the best, most advanced streaming box on the market. Fastest processor, most RAM, best for gaming. This is for enthusiasts. I'll be honest...if you don't know if you need this or not...you probably don't. I don't really recommend this as a first device. If you really get into this sort of thing and want to get heavy into all the stuff this thing does, hey, go for it. But it isn't for novices.
Mi Box S
This is my little dark horse of a device. This is the most underrated one out of all of them. Nobody ever considers this device because it is made by Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi. While they aren't marketing their phones in the States, they are a very highly respected Android smartphone manufacturer in Asia. They make very solid, feature packed, reliable phones for cheap. And this looks like a solid, reliable streaming media box for cheap.
The big plus here is that while also being an Android TV box...it also has a 4k Chromecast BUILT IN. So you get a $69 Chromecast built into the $59 sticker price. It is a great value. Here's an overview:
To be honest, if I was to start brand new with no device, I would probably put this near the top of my list. The value and versatility of this one are off the charts.
AppleTV
You have an iPhone. You have an iPad. You have a Macbook. You cried when Steve Jobs died. You'll pay extra because Apple Computers made it. This is for you.
Full disclosure -- I am not an Apple fan. I am one of those people that just does not get it at all. I understand that there are a lot of very brand loyal people that will stand by Apple no matter what. And that's fine. Just understand that I've never used this device or ecosystem. So I'm going off of what people I trust say about it.
Pros:
High end device, you do get a premium experience
Very snazzy looking.
Easy to use.
If you are deeply entrenched into the Apple ecosystem, this will work well with all of that.
*tier 3 - There is a downloadable WVU app that you can launch and watch tier 3 games on.
Cons
Expensive ($150)
The features and user experience are not too far off from what you get from a $50 box.
No VPN support for all that money
And a brief video of what it looks like:
CONCLUSIONS ON DEVICES
So now you've read all that and are still confused. I'll give you my attempt at putting away my own biases and giving a quick, objective opinion. I actually spent some time really thinking about this and putting away what I look for out of a box and thinking more like what a technologically naive person that wants to test the waters might want. And that's not too much out of pocket to test the waters. And something that works well, but isn't too hard to learn.
If you are a complete novice or just want the absolute basics AND live out of the area, I recommend a Roku Premiere. It is easy. It is cheap. It works.
If you live in state and want to use a VPN to watch games WVU streams, get an Amazon Fire TV. It's almost as easy. It's cheap. It works.
If you are curious and want to know what I personally would go with, I'll be honest...that Mi Box S has too many features to ignore. If all of my devices broke today and I had to go out and buy something. That's what I get. It's two great devices (AndroidTV and Chromecast) in one.
Section V - Ok, I got my device hooked up -- which service do I select?
There are 5 major IPTV services that will provide you with all of the tier 1 and 2 games that WVU will play this season. They are Playstation Vue, Hulu TV Live, YoutubeTV, Sling, and DirecTVNOW.
I actually think that this is the easiest choice to make. Because with 3 of them, you can't go wrong. And 2 of them, you either pay far too much or don't get everything you might need.
So I'll start with the ones I do not recommend.
SlingTV does not offer local broadcast. No CBS or ABC. If the game is on either of those, you can't watch it. I suppose you could get an antennae, but why do that when other options are the same price, but better? Not recommended.
DirecTV Now has everything you need. But in order to get all of the channels WVU might play on (That's ABC, CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, FS1, FS2...and TBS, TNT, TruTV for March Madness)it is $70 a month! That's significantly more than the other viable options that run between $45-55/month.
So that leaves me with 3 good options. Hulu, Vue, Youtube.
Playstation Vue
psvue.com
To get all of the stations, it is $54.99. Here is the lineup:
Pros:
Per research firm Conviva, Vue has the highest bitrate (video quality) and lowest buffering rate (how often it has to stop to load) in the industry.
(https://www.mediapost.com/publicati...ystation-vue-outpaces-competitors-in-pro.html)
5 simultaneous streams allowed at a time
DVR unlimited shows in cloud.
Cons:
Most expensive of the viable options
DVR only lasts for 28 days from air date.
Note: Contrary to popular misconception, you DO NOT need a Playstation to use this. Any of the devices above will work.
HULU + Live TV
https://www.hulu.com/live-tv
To get all of these stations, it is $44.99
Pros:
The Hulu Library is included. That's a $5.99 value.
The cheapest of the viable options at $44.99.
Cloud DVR available. No storage expiration.
There is a $15 add on for unlimited simultaneous streams from same IP address. Ideal for the occasional family with like 10 kids. Or the average Blue Lot member in his mansion with 27 rooms.
Cons:
Not quite as high quality as Sony's Vue.
Only 50 hours of DVR time. For 200 hours, it's an extra $9.99/month.
Only 2 simultaneous streams included in base price.
YoutubeTV
https://tv.youtube.com
This is $49.99/mo and features the following channels:
Pros:
Unlimited DVR that expires in 9 months from air date
Cons:
Video quality slightly below Vue
Only 3 simultaneous streams with no upgrade option.
CONCLUSIONS, IPTV SERVICES
So I think this all boils down to what feature is the most important to you.
If you want a best-in-class DVR that stores shows for months, go with YoutubeTV.
If you want the best value for the money, it's hands down Hulu Live TV.
If you want best-in-class video streaming quality, go with Playstation Vue.
But I want to make it clear - these are all 3 excellent, high quality services that I would be perfectly happy with myself. What is the best really depends on what features are the most important to you. I care most about video quality, so I go with Playstation Vue. But that's just me.
Section VI -- OVERALL RECOMMENDATIONS
These are my takes on it all.
If you are a novice in IPTV and streaming devices and aren't going to mess with the whole VPN thing, I recommend you start with Roku Premiere. Do a free trial of each of Playstation Vue, Hulu Live, and Youtube TV. These services are very close in their overall package. Given that it costs nothing to try them, it would be a disservice to just pick one and not at least try them all out. Then simply stick with the one you like the most.
If you are in state and want to use a VPN to enable you to watch the tier 3 games, I'd get a FireTV, a subscription to NordVPN, and do the free trial of all three services as above.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One of our tech geeks ( @WVUPharm2007 ) wrote this for our premium board because it's perhaps the most frequently discussed topic during the off-season. You may want to share part or all of it once you've removed the West Virginia references.
-----------
I've had several requests for this, so I thought I'd put together a guide for everyone.
Before I start, I just wanted to note that if this is too long and complicated, my personal recommendation is at the very end under "Overall recommendations."
Section I - What is Cord Cutting, IPTV, and How Does It Work?
What is cord cutting? What the heck is IPTV?
Starting in the mid 2010s, internet speeds common in most locales began to become fast enough to allow high quality, high definition video to be reliably streamed to the extent that the quality could meet or exceed that of traditional terrestrial cable (i.e. Comcast, Verizon, Spectrum, Frontier, etc) and satellite (i.e. DirecTV, DISH) services. Using cutting edge video compression, it is now possible to provide "internet protocol TV" (IPTV) that looks just like video from a cable box.
Several companies including Sony (Playstation Vue), Disney (Hulu Live TV), and Google (YoutubeTV), as well as traditional companies like Dish (Sling) and DirecTV (DTV Now), have begun offering high quality, affordable, and flexible products that compete with traditional cable subscriptions.
For the first time ever for many consumers, a choice of traditional cable and broadcast television content provider became a reality after years of having a local cable company monopolize their community. As such, consumers have been leaving the cable and satellite providers in droves to save money and enjoy the other features of IPTV.
The purpose of this guide is to serve as a reference for WVU basketball and football supporters in their journey towards cutting the cord and kicking the cable company to the curb. I understand that some people also need certain channels for family members. Or also like other sports franchises. And these content needs should be part of choosing the correct path in cutting the cord. I will not address the minutiae of each of these individual needs in this guide. It is strictly written as a guide towards enabling WVU fans to watch WVU sports content with IPTV services.
So how does this work?
I think it is easiest to explain this using analogies to a cable subscription, because it basically works the same way.
For cable, the process is pretty simple.
The signal starts from a feed wired into your house from the cable company. This feed then goes to a cable converter box you rent from your cable company (which averages $7.50 a month per box to rent from the company). The feed is decoded by this box and made into a signal your TV understands. You then hook an HDMI cable from the converter box to your TV. TV content then becomes available.
Well, with IPTV, it's pretty much the same thing.
Instead of a cable feed from your cable company, you use an internet connection (which, yes, might be from your cable company.) You then connect a media streaming box (Roku, FireTV, etc) to the internet. This can be using a hardwired ethernet cable or wireless via wifi. This media streaming box decodes the compressed video signal into a signal your TV understands. You then hook an HDMI cable to your TV. TV content then becomes available.
It is NO MORE complex than what you are currently doing. You are just swapping like for like components. That's all!
Section II - Why do I want to do this? Why not just keep cable?
There are numerous reasons. I'll outline them below.
Cost
IPTV that will provide access to all WVU Tier I and II games (more on the "tier" thing later) can be had for as little as $45 a month. And that's $45 out the door. Because...
Fees
There are no fees. No gov't fee. No box rental fee. No RSN fees. No CEO yacht fee. The price you see is out the door. You own the equipment.
Free DVR
All of the services I will highlight come with free "cloud DVR." Instead of having a physical hard drive at home, IPTV services work a bit differently. They basically record their entire subscription package at their server location. You can then choose what shows to "record" and they just beam it straight to your TV on demand when you want to watch it later.
Cancel anytime
Unlike cable and satellite, you can cancel all of these at any time. And there is no 800 number to call. No groveling retention department sleazeball to deal with. You log into your account. You go to you subscription management. You click "Cancel Subscription." That's it. If you hate it, you aren't married to it. They all will give you a free trial as well.
Section III - What are the caveats? Might regular old satellite or cable just be better for me?
So the next logical question is "Does this make sense for ME?"
You have to consider the potential pitfalls of going to internet only TV. The two most common are the most obvious - internet cost and internet speed. And then a third, more insidious one.
Internet Cost
This is another example of where the cable companies are at their grimiest. So you're thinking to yourself. "Man, I pay $140 a month for this stupid cable! I could replace it for $45 a month? Sign me up!" Well, slow your roll. The #1 thing you need to do before even considering switching is inquiring as to how much you need to spend for JUST INTERNET from your internet service provider. In some cases, the internet company will jack up the internet rate so high that you won't save much money. This is usually in rural areas where there is no competition for them. Add up how much internet costs plus the aforementioned $45 and that will get you at your total cost.
Internet Speed
You will need a modestly fast connection. For most consumers, I would say that a 25mbps connection is the minimum recommended. 50mbps would be better. 75+mbps would be ideal. So if you are a DSL customer or old school satellite internet customer, IPTV may not be viable solution for your needs RIGHT NOW.
----
Keep in mind for those that either (or both) speed and cost problems -- within 3-4 years, SpaceX, Amazon, and a few other companies are going to be launching high speed, low cost low orbit internet satellite companies that will, eventually, provide high speed internet to everyone across the globe. So while it might not be best for you right now, it WILL BE possible in the near future. Keep an eye out for that: https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-amazon-spacex-space-internet-20190705-story.html
You are at the whim of your ISP's potential throttling.
With the killing of net neutrality by the FCC last year, your internet company can slow down or speed up internet traffic to any site or video service they choose. There is a potential that they can just make your viewing experience crappy on anything that isn't their product. This hasn't been much of an issue YET. It might be in the future if the cable companies keep slowly losing subscribers.
There is a modest upfront investment
You will have to buy a streaming media player. These aren't expensive for entry level devices. The most basic players by FireTV, Roku, and Chromecast are all under $35. On Black Friday/Prime Day, you can see these for as cheap as $15. The nicest, most advanced units can go up to $150. But for most people, the basic players are all you need.
If you live in the AT&T Pittsburgh Media Market, you can't subscribe to AT&T Pittsburgh via IPTV
This is a solvable problem, but I thought it should be included as a caveat.
If you live in WV, Western/Central PA, or parts of Eastern OH, you will not be able to watch the tier 3 WVU games for free on the school website as they do not allow people residing in the AT&T Pittsburgh market to stream the games.
These game will include JMU in football and a handful of mid major November and December home games in basketball.
There IS a way around this using something called a VPN. A VPN is a service that allows you to make the computer you are connecting to think that you are from another location. This will allow people in state to still watch the games for free. If this interests you, pay attention to the Android TV devices below.
Section IV - Ok, I think I'm ready. What exactly do I need to do to get this up and running? Step One - Buy a streaming media device.
Don't overthink this
You need to start all of this by deciding on a streaming media device. This is usually the part where people get confused by the numerous options. Over-analysis paralysis kicks in and they just stop here. I admit, it seems like there are a million options (it's more like 5 or 6), but they are all pretty similar.
I'll ease your mind right now and just tell you that all of the devices I will highlight are all high quality, easy to use, and, when combined with a good IPTV service, will give you a better experience than cable. This is why you get so many different recommendations for devices when you ask people which to buy. Everyone just bought one of the options randomly and they love it. And they become a proponent of that device because it works so well.
All in all, with the exception of one type of user (one that needs a VPN), it really doesn't matter which you buy. It really boils down to personal preference.
Two basic types of boxes.
There are two basic ways in which these devices send video to your computer. One is by direct control via an app installed on the device. So, for instance, you have a Roku. You install the Youtube app on the Roku. You open the Youtube app on Roku and start searching for videos. Select the one you want and you hit play. This is pretty easy to understand. Think of these things like your smartphone, but with a remote control and hooked up to your TV.
The other needs a bit more explanation. One device called the Chromecast uses a method called "casting." There is no remote control. What you do is load up an app on your phone or desktop and "cast" it to your TV. This is hard to convey in text, so I'll just show a video that walks you through it below when I get to the Chromecast. I assure you its easier than it sounds.
Ok..so what are my exact options?
So just like everything else, there are different platforms for each device. Apple, obviously, has their own little universe they operate in. Google has Chromecast. Android has an open source platform. And Roku has their own platform. And each of these have basic and more advanced units for sale. I'll go over each device briefly and give some pluses and minuses for them.
ROKU
For that type of person that wants their car radio to just be a car radio with a volume knob and a station select button. You're here to watch TV the easiest way possible at an affordable price.
Pros:
This is probably the most accessible device available.
Affordable ($35 for Roku Premier, $50 for more powerful Roku Streaming Stick+)
It is very easy to learn to use. The most computer illiterate people will "get it" in about 3 minutes.
There is an app you can download for both your phone and computer to control any Roku in the house.
*Tier 3: The WVU app is available and can be easily installed making tier 3 games easy to watch.
Cons:
It's clunky. It is far from elegant. It is the most spartan option.
It is generally the slowest to navigate with of all the options.
Chromecast
For that type of person that is a minimalist. They hate clutter. They really want to streamline their life.
So first off, here's a video that explain what "casting" is.
Pros:
There is no remote to lose.
You control everything with your phone. Volume, channel, play/pause, etc.
You can control every TV in your house with your phone.
Affordable ($35 Chromecast, $69 for Chromecast 4k Ultra)
Cons
If you like having a remote, there is no remote.
The non-tech savvy might consider this a foreign option.
*Tier 3 - Both the WVU phone app and the WVU website had casting tabs last year. I just loaded it up and it looks like it is no longer supported. I'll need to research this. If this is the case, I'm pretty disappointed and I'll be pretty angry. This was my preferred method of watching tier 3 games But if Chromecast isn't supported, then this looks like it might not be the best option for this academic year!
AndroidTV (FireTV, Mi Box S, ShieldTV)
For someone that knows their way around tech and wants a do-it-all solution. Also, for people in state that want to watch the tier 3 games with a VPN...this is the only platform giving you that option.
Pros:
The most versatile devices
Have native VPN support
Cost ranges from very affordable to very expensive (FireTV, $39, Mi Box S $59, ShieldTV $180)
*Tier 3 - You can watch tier 3 games. There is no app, but you can just use the web browser to watch the games.
Here's a video of how to do it.
You basically do the same thing you do with a computer browser. You just go to the browser and go to wvusports.com/watch. It will load up the upcoming and live video options. There was nothing live, so I went over to the archival video tab. I launched last week's soccer game vs Duquesne. You start the video up, expand the window, and you are good to go. It's that easy.
Now for VPN. I actually had my NordVPN active while I was doing the above video. I loaded up the Jacksonville State basketball game from last year. The VPN was connected to a server in Chicago. I can 100% confirm that NordVPN did work on my Amazon FireTV and it did load up the geolocked game. This means that if you subscribe to NordVPN, connect to the NordVPN app on the Fire, then load up the browser, you should be able to watch the JMU game next week. Now I make no guarantees. This is all backdoors and cheating the system. Use at your own peril, lol.
I'll briefly go over the features of each device AndroidTV device:
FireTV
The best selling electronic device on all of Amazon. Very easy to use. Very affordable. Comes with a custom version of AndroidTV. The big "con" is that you get a lot of Amazon-focus ads on the home screen. I've used mine so much that I kind of don't even register it being there. But a lot of people find it annoying.
Here's a quick overview:
ShieldTV
This is the best, most advanced streaming box on the market. Fastest processor, most RAM, best for gaming. This is for enthusiasts. I'll be honest...if you don't know if you need this or not...you probably don't. I don't really recommend this as a first device. If you really get into this sort of thing and want to get heavy into all the stuff this thing does, hey, go for it. But it isn't for novices.
Mi Box S
This is my little dark horse of a device. This is the most underrated one out of all of them. Nobody ever considers this device because it is made by Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi. While they aren't marketing their phones in the States, they are a very highly respected Android smartphone manufacturer in Asia. They make very solid, feature packed, reliable phones for cheap. And this looks like a solid, reliable streaming media box for cheap.
The big plus here is that while also being an Android TV box...it also has a 4k Chromecast BUILT IN. So you get a $69 Chromecast built into the $59 sticker price. It is a great value. Here's an overview:
To be honest, if I was to start brand new with no device, I would probably put this near the top of my list. The value and versatility of this one are off the charts.
AppleTV
You have an iPhone. You have an iPad. You have a Macbook. You cried when Steve Jobs died. You'll pay extra because Apple Computers made it. This is for you.
Full disclosure -- I am not an Apple fan. I am one of those people that just does not get it at all. I understand that there are a lot of very brand loyal people that will stand by Apple no matter what. And that's fine. Just understand that I've never used this device or ecosystem. So I'm going off of what people I trust say about it.
Pros:
High end device, you do get a premium experience
Very snazzy looking.
Easy to use.
If you are deeply entrenched into the Apple ecosystem, this will work well with all of that.
*tier 3 - There is a downloadable WVU app that you can launch and watch tier 3 games on.
Cons
Expensive ($150)
The features and user experience are not too far off from what you get from a $50 box.
No VPN support for all that money
And a brief video of what it looks like:
CONCLUSIONS ON DEVICES
So now you've read all that and are still confused. I'll give you my attempt at putting away my own biases and giving a quick, objective opinion. I actually spent some time really thinking about this and putting away what I look for out of a box and thinking more like what a technologically naive person that wants to test the waters might want. And that's not too much out of pocket to test the waters. And something that works well, but isn't too hard to learn.
If you are a complete novice or just want the absolute basics AND live out of the area, I recommend a Roku Premiere. It is easy. It is cheap. It works.
If you live in state and want to use a VPN to watch games WVU streams, get an Amazon Fire TV. It's almost as easy. It's cheap. It works.
If you are curious and want to know what I personally would go with, I'll be honest...that Mi Box S has too many features to ignore. If all of my devices broke today and I had to go out and buy something. That's what I get. It's two great devices (AndroidTV and Chromecast) in one.
Section V - Ok, I got my device hooked up -- which service do I select?
There are 5 major IPTV services that will provide you with all of the tier 1 and 2 games that WVU will play this season. They are Playstation Vue, Hulu TV Live, YoutubeTV, Sling, and DirecTVNOW.
I actually think that this is the easiest choice to make. Because with 3 of them, you can't go wrong. And 2 of them, you either pay far too much or don't get everything you might need.
So I'll start with the ones I do not recommend.
SlingTV does not offer local broadcast. No CBS or ABC. If the game is on either of those, you can't watch it. I suppose you could get an antennae, but why do that when other options are the same price, but better? Not recommended.
DirecTV Now has everything you need. But in order to get all of the channels WVU might play on (That's ABC, CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, FS1, FS2...and TBS, TNT, TruTV for March Madness)it is $70 a month! That's significantly more than the other viable options that run between $45-55/month.
So that leaves me with 3 good options. Hulu, Vue, Youtube.
Playstation Vue
psvue.com
To get all of the stations, it is $54.99. Here is the lineup:
Pros:
Per research firm Conviva, Vue has the highest bitrate (video quality) and lowest buffering rate (how often it has to stop to load) in the industry.
(https://www.mediapost.com/publicati...ystation-vue-outpaces-competitors-in-pro.html)
5 simultaneous streams allowed at a time
DVR unlimited shows in cloud.
Cons:
Most expensive of the viable options
DVR only lasts for 28 days from air date.
Note: Contrary to popular misconception, you DO NOT need a Playstation to use this. Any of the devices above will work.
HULU + Live TV
https://www.hulu.com/live-tv
To get all of these stations, it is $44.99
Pros:
The Hulu Library is included. That's a $5.99 value.
The cheapest of the viable options at $44.99.
Cloud DVR available. No storage expiration.
There is a $15 add on for unlimited simultaneous streams from same IP address. Ideal for the occasional family with like 10 kids. Or the average Blue Lot member in his mansion with 27 rooms.
Cons:
Not quite as high quality as Sony's Vue.
Only 50 hours of DVR time. For 200 hours, it's an extra $9.99/month.
Only 2 simultaneous streams included in base price.
YoutubeTV
https://tv.youtube.com
This is $49.99/mo and features the following channels:
Pros:
Unlimited DVR that expires in 9 months from air date
Cons:
Video quality slightly below Vue
Only 3 simultaneous streams with no upgrade option.
CONCLUSIONS, IPTV SERVICES
So I think this all boils down to what feature is the most important to you.
If you want a best-in-class DVR that stores shows for months, go with YoutubeTV.
If you want the best value for the money, it's hands down Hulu Live TV.
If you want best-in-class video streaming quality, go with Playstation Vue.
But I want to make it clear - these are all 3 excellent, high quality services that I would be perfectly happy with myself. What is the best really depends on what features are the most important to you. I care most about video quality, so I go with Playstation Vue. But that's just me.
Section VI -- OVERALL RECOMMENDATIONS
These are my takes on it all.
If you are a novice in IPTV and streaming devices and aren't going to mess with the whole VPN thing, I recommend you start with Roku Premiere. Do a free trial of each of Playstation Vue, Hulu Live, and Youtube TV. These services are very close in their overall package. Given that it costs nothing to try them, it would be a disservice to just pick one and not at least try them all out. Then simply stick with the one you like the most.
If you are in state and want to use a VPN to enable you to watch the tier 3 games, I'd get a FireTV, a subscription to NordVPN, and do the free trial of all three services as above.
