home theater, cord cutting, video streaming, a/v tech, and more!

Postby **tifosi77** » Fri Aug 10, 2018 1:43 pm

We bought a Samsung DLP off Amazon in 2009/10 or so. Thing got all of 100 hours of use in before it straight up died. We called Sammy tech support, and after a week they sent a guy out from a local shop; he said this or that was borked, and it would take six weeks to get the replacement part, and then another week or so before they could install it. So we were expected to go a nearly two months without a TV, all to end up with a refurb? Called Sammy tech support back and was on the phone for half an hour with some CS dweeb that was very condescending and snarky. While on that call, I contacted Amazon CS..... and within about 90 seconds I had a return authorization and confirmation that the replacement TV would be shipped.

Postby **Lemon Berry Lobster** » Fri Aug 10, 2018 1:45 pm

That's what you get for calling it "Sammy"

Postby **NTP66** » Wed Aug 15, 2018 10:43 am

I have 100/100 Verizon internet and I love it - I could re-up for another two years and pay the same price for 150/150 instead or another $10 more for gigabit connection - but that puts me near $150 a month, which I don't really want to do.

Was that $150/month after all taxes and fees? I ask because I just renewed my FiOS package a few months early, and my bill - for the 7th and 8th years in a row - will not go up a single penny. In fact, it's going down by like $.40.

Verizon Triple Play - $109.99
Internet 150 Mbps
Extreme TV HD
Digital Voice Unlimited Plan
2 - year agreement

TV Services - $14.97
CableCARD (3)

Discounts
$60 Fios Bundle Discount for 24 Months
$5 Fios Bundle Discount for 24 Months
Verizon Connections $10 Discount

Estimated monthly subtotal $124.96
Taxes, Fees, and Other Verizon Charges $16.22
Regional Sports Network Fee $7.89
Fios TV Broadcast Fee $4.49

Estimated monthly charges $153.56

Postby **Morkle** » Wed Aug 15, 2018 11:06 am

I'll have to check, I just got billed $132 for double play, tv and internet. which went up from $114 prior to the contract running out.

Postby **NTP66** » Thu Aug 16, 2018 9:05 am

My new package apparently doesn't start until Monday. The only item that actually changed was my internet, going from 50/50 to 150/150. Why I have to wait 5 days for something that's as simple as pressing a button is absurd. First world problems, I know.

Postby **Lemon Berry Lobster** » Thu Aug 16, 2018 9:12 am

Postby **NTP66** » Thu Aug 16, 2018 9:17 am

Exactly. Making the change would be as easy as shedding a tear.

Postby **tifosi77** » Thu Aug 16, 2018 10:47 am

The irony is that it would probably be easier to make the change to your account than it was for you to make the post complaining about it not happening.

Postby **NTP66** » Thu Aug 16, 2018 10:50 am

The irony is that it would probably be easier to make the change to your account than it was for you to make the post complaining about it not happening.

That's not a 'probable', that's 100% how it works. It's like selecting a radio button on your account, and the new changes are processed.

Postby **mac5155** » Thu Aug 16, 2018 10:56 am

"Alexa: Set NTP66's Internet Speed to 150/150"

Postby **NTP66** » Thu Aug 16, 2018 10:58 am

I just tried that. No luck.

Postby **dodint** » Sun Aug 19, 2018 3:26 pm

Is there still no Pens solution for in-market streaming other than illegal streaming?

Postby **mac5155** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:21 am

Curious also ^^^

(Is VPN illegal.......)

Postby **NTP66** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:26 am

Using a VPN is not illegal, no.

I'm wondering if gigabit internet is worth an extra $20/month.

Postby **skullman80** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:27 am

I've been tempted to do the gigabit fios thing... been holding off on pulling the trigger though. 150/150 has been fine for me... Gigabit seems like overkill haha.

Postby **NTP66** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:33 am

That's where I'm at. I just upgraded to 150/150 (for free, basically), and the only real benefits for me would be my online backup and when I download torrents, which isn't too often. Not sure that's worth $20/month.

Postby **NTP66** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:42 am

Aaaand I just read that my router only supports up to 750MB through the wired WAN. I'll pass then.

Postby **iamjs** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:44 am

Using a VPN is not illegal, no.

I'm wondering if gigabit internet is worth an extra $20/month.

I thought the use of a VPN fell into a gray area with sports streaming packages since you're using it to get around the local blackout rule.

That said, if somebody finds a way for this to work, feel free to share that info.

Postby **NTP66** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 10:48 am

Using a VPN is not illegal, no.

I'm wondering if gigabit internet is worth an extra $20/month.
I thought the use of a VPN fell into a gray area with sports streaming packages since you're using it to get around the local blackout rule.

That said, if somebody finds a way for this to work, feel free to share that info.

It's 100% legal to use a VPN for personal use. What you do with that connection is where there's grey area, because you're technically breaking the TOS for the sports streaming packages, etc. I have Center Ice, so I get all of the games, but I imagine for people who are currently blacked out, they can get around it by using a VPN to make it look like they're connecting from within the market.

Postby **Morkle** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 11:12 am

That's where I'm at. I just upgraded to 150/150 (for free, basically), and the only real benefits for me would be my online backup and when I download torrents, which isn't too often. Not sure that's worth $20/month.

Yea, on the phone with verizon right now, because I saw a deal last week that said $79.99 a month for double play, went to hit it today and it went back to what I'm being charged now. Why does all internet companies just need to be shitty? Why can't the thing just seamlessly work without them trying to just get anything they can.

Postby **NTP66** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 12:46 pm

That's where I'm at. I just upgraded to 150/150 (for free, basically), and the only real benefits for me would be my online backup and when I download torrents, which isn't too often. Not sure that's worth $20/month.
Yea, on the phone with verizon right now, because I saw a deal last week that said $79.99 a month for double play, went to hit it today and it went back to what I'm being charged now. Why does all internet companies just need to be shitty? Why can't the thing just seamlessly work without them trying to just get anything they can.

At least with Verizon you can mix and match each item in your bundle. Comcast now just offers very specific bundles that you cannot modify, which is just absurd. I had to go through this with my dad late last week.

Postby **tifosi77** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 1:16 pm

"gray area" lol

If you live in the blackout geography and use x-y-z tech to obtain the service, it is illegal, full stop. The thing that makes it illegal is your physical location, not the means by which you get the service. If conditions are met that trigger the blackout, the carrier does not have the legal right to transmit the broadcast in that location. If it is illegal without a VPN, it is illegal with a VPN.

Postby **NTP66** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 1:17 pm

Using a VPN is not illegal. What you access with that connection could be. That was what I said.

Postby **mac5155** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 1:21 pm

OK So if im illegal i might as well be free illegal.

Postby **Morkle** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 1:46 pm

That's where I'm at. I just upgraded to 150/150 (for free, basically), and the only real benefits for me would be my online backup and when I download torrents, which isn't too often. Not sure that's worth $20/month.
Yea, on the phone with verizon right now, because I saw a deal last week that said $79.99 a month for double play, went to hit it today and it went back to what I'm being charged now. Why does all internet companies just need to be shitty? Why can't the thing just seamlessly work without them trying to just get anything they can.
At least with Verizon you can mix and match each item in your bundle. Comcast now just offers very specific bundles that you cannot modify, which is just absurd. I had to go through this with my dad late last week.

So I actually just called, and for the 150/150 for free and am paying as I would 100/100. Just annoying I had to do all these hoops.