MLB Extra Innings

[NCCubFan]

So I looked at Direct Tv's operations today. For all those saying that switching is easy to, I was one of them until now. Their menus are impossible to navigate easily, to access the DVR is like trying to figure out VCR + and their menus are impossible to read - terrible font choices.

I had their TIVO DVR, which was easy to operate. Unfortunately it recently went bad. I have their DVR protection plan so they replaced it at no cost, but the replacement is their own DVR (they no longer offer the TIVO DVR), and I don't like the new one at all. Frequent recording errors (such as starting early and ending late), harder to operate the programming guide (you can't go directly to a specific day), much harder to set up a season pass (oops, I mean series link), and other complaints.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I had their TIVO DVR, which was easy to operate. Unfortunately it recently went bad. I have their DVR protection plan so they replaced it at no cost, but the replacement is their own DVR (they no longer offer the TIVO DVR), and I don't like the new one at all. Frequent recording errors (such as starting early and ending late), harder to operate the programming guide (you can't go directly to a specific day), much harder to set up a season pass (oops, I mean series link), and other complaints.

 

I have the TiVo receiver in my living room, and the DirecTV DVR in one of the bedrooms. I hate their DVR and was pissed when I found out that wasn't going to be a TiVo unit. Plus their remote has no logical flow, and how do I get the GD guide to just pop up without having to select options (pressing guide then selecting all channels)?

[Derwood]

the DirecTV DVR doesn't bother me at all, but then again, I've never used the Tivo one. I think it's super easy to record. Go to the guide, pick the program, push R. Want the whole season? Push R twice. NOT BRAIN SURGERY

 

As for EI abandoning cable....maybe they realize that DirecTV is the future and that cable is a dying dinosaur. Can't blame them if they want to get with the winning team

[Soul]

*sigh*

 

I'm almost afraid to ask. I hate being a cheerleader for DirecTV, but I'm baffled by the big deal everyone's making here. You've already got a dish. If EI is that important to you, why wouldn't you just switch?

 

Well, there are a few factors, nothing REAL big.

 

* I have been a Dish Network customer for about 6 years, now - and I have been extremely happy.

 

* I am locked into some pretty good deals with Dish Network.

 

* There is a totally different channel scheme between the two dishes. This is a problem that would go away when we learn all the new channels, but after years of knowing where to go, it would be a royal pain in the arse to relearn hundreds of channels.

 

* DirecTV has already served me a BAD taste. They called me telling me lies like Dish Network was shutting down, and I would never get a deal like the one they were offering me. I asked them if they could give me all of the programming I had with DN, plus the EI package that I had already paid for - and they said absolutely.

 

The DirecTV contractors came out and took down our old dishes and put in theirs, then when they called in to activate the service, the DirecTV operator told me that my monthly bill would be almost $30 MORE per month, and I had to pay for the EI package AGAIN if I wanted it with them. We got the original salesman on the phone, and he crawfished - then admitted to offering me those rates (even though it was impossible).

 

I told them "no deal" and made the contractors pull down the DirecTV stuff and reinstall my DishNetwork stuff. Quite the ordeal. I did tip the contractor for all his work, though. Wasn't his fault.

 

Believe me, I will give switching a good look regardless.

 

Whoa. That's bad news man. You actually had some DirecTV salesman on the phone telling lies about package pricing?

 

Wow. I had no idea anything like that was going on. Strange, too. DirecTV doesn't really need Dish subscribers that badly. They already far outpace them in sales.

 

I looked at the Dish network channel lineups once, and discovered I couldn't get the channels I wanted without going with a higher-priced package. That + the fact that DirecTV offers Sunday Ticket clinched it for me.

 

I've never had any of these issues some are reporting here. In fact, the service I personally have received has been far, far better than the Time Warner guys and the Charter guys I dealt with.

[wekse]

From what I've heard today on Basebal Beat with Charlie Steiner, regarding MLB TV MLB is supposed to be doubling the resolution of the MLB TV. I know it's not on the TV but it there is an easy fix get an S-Video card for your computer or if you have an HDTV plug you desktop or laptop in to your S-Video port or your VGA port. It's half the price of MLBEI so I'll go that route this year.

 

That actually sounds like a good idea to try, if you have a laptop or easy connectivity between your comp & TV.

 

Just put the player to full screen and sit back and watch, if you had webtv then it would be perfect, do they still make webtv?

 

 

my brother and i did this two years ago...subscribed to mlb.tv and ran the video through the tv....clarity wasn't that great then but they've made substantial upgrades to the video on mlb.tv....i'll probably be going that route again this year...plus i'll be able to watch on my laptop at the office, hah.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'm a DirectTV and EI subscriber. I do have a question. Has anyone ever uses slingbox. How easy are they to install and use?

[CubsLadyinSTL]

I have been a subscriber to mlb.tv for 3 years. When I was working for the Cardinals we had no TV's in our office so we just logged on to the computer to watch the game. It was great too, because if there were multiple games on that we were interested in, we could use the same log on information and watch all of them (we had a 6 computer set up for work purposes). I just hope the people at MLB.com didnt figure out to monitor how many times one user is logged on.

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

I have been a subscriber to mlb.tv for 3 years. When I was working for the Cardinals we had no TV's in our office so we just logged on to the computer to watch the game. It was great too, because if there were multiple games on that we were interested in, we could use the same log on information and watch all of them (we had a 6 computer set up for work purposes). I just hope the people at MLB.com didnt figure out to monitor how many times one user is logged on.

 

Last I checked it was one login per IP address. I would be suprised if you are able to login more than one time per game while still logged in on the original IP.

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

I'm a DirectTV and EI subscriber. I do have a question. Has anyone ever uses slingbox. How easy are they to install and use?

 

Very easy to setup, personally the older models leave much to be desired. However, their new PRO version is pretty sweet from what I understand. I have yet to purchase it, but will provide a review once I get it installed.

[CubsLadyinSTL]

I have been a subscriber to mlb.tv for 3 years. When I was working for the Cardinals we had no TV's in our office so we just logged on to the computer to watch the game. It was great too, because if there were multiple games on that we were interested in, we could use the same log on information and watch all of them (we had a 6 computer set up for work purposes). I just hope the people at MLB.com didnt figure out to monitor how many times one user is logged on.

 

Last I checked it was one login per IP address. I would be suprised if you are able to login more than one time per game while still logged in on the original IP.

 

When did you check??? I had used my same user id to login to multiple computers (anywhere from 3 to 6 computers were running games with my ONE user id) all the way up to game 5 of the 2006 WS. We did that almost every game.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'm a DirectTV and EI subscriber. I do have a question. Has anyone ever uses slingbox. How easy are they to install and use?

 

Very easy to setup, personally the older models leave much to be desired. However, their new PRO version is pretty sweet from what I understand. I have yet to purchase it, but will provide a review once I get it installed.

 

Please do. I've considered getting one so I could watch my EI package from work or while I'm out of town on someone else's computer. (Like the in-laws.)

 

I think one of those could be my next big purchase, but I'm not really adept at installing electronics.

[Garwilly]

For the low admission price of sharing a six pack, or bag of chips. You can come by me and watch anytime. Problem solved.

[BigbadB]

Out of curiosity, and I'm not saying I would do this, but........

 

Can you have DirecTV and cable at the same time? Not necessarily every tv, but maybe one tv hooked up to DirecTV and all the others still on cable.

 

And if this can be done, can you go with the smallest cable package and still get MLB EI?

[BigbadB]

For the low admission price of sharing a six pack, or bag of chips. You can come by me and watch anytime. Problem solved.

 

Where are you located? If you are in the western burbs, I'll consider it. If you are IN Chicago, the drive might be a bit too much. In other words, I'd do the drive if it was 35 hours, but not 36. :D

[Derwood]

Out of curiosity, and I'm not saying I would do this, but........

 

Can you have DirecTV and cable at the same time? Not necessarily every tv, but maybe one tv hooked up to DirecTV and all the others still on cable.

 

And if this can be done, can you go with the smallest cable package and still get MLB EI?

 

sure, they just need to run on different sets of coaxial cable in your home.

 

as for what cable package you'd need to get EI, I don't know

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

I have been a subscriber to mlb.tv for 3 years. When I was working for the Cardinals we had no TV's in our office so we just logged on to the computer to watch the game. It was great too, because if there were multiple games on that we were interested in, we could use the same log on information and watch all of them (we had a 6 computer set up for work purposes). I just hope the people at MLB.com didnt figure out to monitor how many times one user is logged on.

 

Last I checked it was one login per IP address. I would be suprised if you are able to login more than one time per game while still logged in on the original IP.

 

When did you check??? I had used my same user id to login to multiple computers (anywhere from 3 to 6 computers were running games with my ONE user id) all the way up to game 5 of the 2006 WS. We did that almost every game.

 

Suprised you accomplished this. Perhaps you are behind a firewall that broadcasts out the same IP. My understanding is that your login ID sync's with the IP address on the computer logged in. However, if you are behind a firewall, MLB's servers may see you as 192.168.x.x etc... Not sure, maybe others with a better understanding of IP Addressing and general connectivity can chime in.

 

Again, I would be shocked if 1 username could populate several computers. If that is the case, I will buy a NSBB username and share it with everyone!

[Garwilly]

For the low admission price of sharing a six pack, or bag of chips. You can come by me and watch anytime. Problem solved.

 

Where are you located? If you are in the western burbs, I'll consider it. If you are IN Chicago, the drive might be a bit too much. In other words, I'd do the drive if it was 35 hours, but not 36. :D

 

Irving and Kedzie, in the City, but the Northwest side. Sorry.

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

I'm a DirectTV and EI subscriber. I do have a question. Has anyone ever uses slingbox. How easy are they to install and use?

 

Very easy to setup, personally the older models leave much to be desired. However, their new PRO version is pretty sweet from what I understand. I have yet to purchase it, but will provide a review once I get it installed.

 

Please do. I've considered getting one so I could watch my EI package from work or while I'm out of town on someone else's computer. (Like the in-laws.)

 

I think one of those could be my next big purchase, but I'm not really adept at installing electronics.

 

I'll put up seperate post or PM you. I plan on picking this up before the end of Feb.

[CubColtPacer]

I have been a subscriber to mlb.tv for 3 years. When I was working for the Cardinals we had no TV's in our office so we just logged on to the computer to watch the game. It was great too, because if there were multiple games on that we were interested in, we could use the same log on information and watch all of them (we had a 6 computer set up for work purposes). I just hope the people at MLB.com didnt figure out to monitor how many times one user is logged on.

 

Last I checked it was one login per IP address. I would be suprised if you are able to login more than one time per game while still logged in on the original IP.

 

When did you check??? I had used my same user id to login to multiple computers (anywhere from 3 to 6 computers were running games with my ONE user id) all the way up to game 5 of the 2006 WS. We did that almost every game.

 

Suprised you accomplished this. Perhaps you are behind a firewall that broadcasts out the same IP. My understanding is that your login ID sync's with the IP address on the computer logged in. However, if you are behind a firewall, MLB's servers may see you as 192.168.x.x etc... Not sure, maybe others with a better understanding of IP Addressing and general connectivity can chime in.

 

Again, I would be shocked if 1 username could populate several computers. If that is the case, I will buy a NSBB username and share it with everyone!

 

When I read her post, that's what I thought. All of her computers are on the same network, so the site will treat them all as the same (there's probably just one line actually going out to the outside world-the computers only get differentiated after the information comes to the access point inside their network). She probably couldn't do it for both her home and her work, but all her work computers would be able to watch.

[Garwilly]

I have been a subscriber to mlb.tv for 3 years. When I was working for the Cardinals we had no TV's in our office so we just logged on to the computer to watch the game. It was great too, because if there were multiple games on that we were interested in, we could use the same log on information and watch all of them (we had a 6 computer set up for work purposes). I just hope the people at MLB.com didnt figure out to monitor how many times one user is logged on.

 

Last I checked it was one login per IP address. I would be suprised if you are able to login more than one time per game while still logged in on the original IP.

 

When did you check??? I had used my same user id to login to multiple computers (anywhere from 3 to 6 computers were running games with my ONE user id) all the way up to game 5 of the 2006 WS. We did that almost every game.

 

Suprised you accomplished this. Perhaps you are behind a firewall that broadcasts out the same IP. My understanding is that your login ID sync's with the IP address on the computer logged in. However, if you are behind a firewall, MLB's servers may see you as 192.168.x.x etc... Not sure, maybe others with a better understanding of IP Addressing and general connectivity can chime in.

 

Again, I would be shocked if 1 username could populate several computers. If that is the case, I will buy a NSBB username and share it with everyone!

 

When I read her post, that's what I thought. All of her computers are on the same network, so the site will treat them all as the same (there's probably just one line actually going out to the outside world-the computers only get differentiated after the information comes to the access point inside their network). She probably couldn't do it for both her home and her work, but all her work computers would be able to watch.

 

Three years ago my buddy in Arizona, another friend, and myself would all ust it at the same time (we would discuss ongoing games). For the last two years that didnt work as well, one person loggin on would bump the other users about half the time, or after an hour or so. But there were certainly times we were both using it last season.

[wekse]

I have been a subscriber to mlb.tv for 3 years. When I was working for the Cardinals we had no TV's in our office so we just logged on to the computer to watch the game. It was great too, because if there were multiple games on that we were interested in, we could use the same log on information and watch all of them (we had a 6 computer set up for work purposes). I just hope the people at MLB.com didnt figure out to monitor how many times one user is logged on.

 

mlb.tv is going to let you watch up to 6 games at any given time this year by breaking them up on your screen.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/subscriptions/mosaic.jsp

[BigbadB]

Suprised you accomplished this. Perhaps you are behind a firewall that broadcasts out the same IP. My understanding is that your login ID sync's with the IP address on the computer logged in. However, if you are behind a firewall, MLB's servers may see you as 192.168.x.x etc... Not sure, maybe others with a better understanding of IP Addressing and general connectivity can chime in.

 

Again, I would be shocked if 1 username could populate several computers. If that is the case, I will buy a NSBB username and share it with everyone!

 

It has to be something to do with the fact the computers are networked. However, I've never tried something like that.

 

I can say that each networked computer does have it's own IP address.

 

I would think it would be possible to purchase a game to view on one computer and then be able to view that game throughout the network.

[BigbadB]

Yeah, I'm guessing that the difference here is "the network". It's one line coming in, but all those computers are tied together by that one line.

 

I would find it reasonable that I would be able to watch the same thing on all of the computers on my network by accessing the computer that is showing that game, which is easily done on my network.

[CubColtPacer]

Suprised you accomplished this. Perhaps you are behind a firewall that broadcasts out the same IP. My understanding is that your login ID sync's with the IP address on the computer logged in. However, if you are behind a firewall, MLB's servers may see you as 192.168.x.x etc... Not sure, maybe others with a better understanding of IP Addressing and general connectivity can chime in.

 

Again, I would be shocked if 1 username could populate several computers. If that is the case, I will buy a NSBB username and share it with everyone!

 

I can say that each networked computer does have it's own IP address.

 

 

That's both true and not true. It is true that each computer is assigned it's own IP address, but the outside world might not know that IP address. For example, a local school that I helped them with their network. Inside the network, each computer had a specialized IP address, and they were running a Class B network. To the outside world, they were running a Class C network, and they had 1 server. I've had rejections from places like yahoo when working on 2 different computers in one of their labs, based on the objection from the outside world that they are the same IP address (for example, 2 people trying to create 2 different fantasy teams in the same league). That's how it looks to the Internet, but obviously on the network all of them are assigned different addresses in order to know what information to send to which computer.

[BigbadB]

That's both true and not true. It is true that each computer is assigned it's own IP address, but the outside world might not know that IP address. For example, a local school that I helped them with their network. Inside the network, each computer had a specialized IP address, and they were running a Class B network. To the outside world, they were running a Class C network, and they had 1 server. I've had rejections from places like yahoo when working on 2 different computers in one of their labs, based on the objection from the outside world that they are the same IP address (for example, 2 people trying to create 2 different fantasy teams in the same league). That's how it looks to the Internet, but obviously on the network all of them are assigned different addresses in order to know what information to send to which computer.

 

Well, I won't win any contests in computer speak. After networking my computers to share program files on XP Pro, I don't care to ever have to deal with anything that involves networks ever again. If Bill Gates was in the room at the time, I would have punched him in the face.

 

Since I have never attempted to access a site from two different computers within my network at the same time, I can only assume whether it can or can't be done.

 

But, I'm imagining that one computer is actually accessing the site and the others are logging in as the computer that is accessing the site. Therefore, ony 1 actual login to the site. But, maybe that's not right either.