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Old 11-15-2014, 02:38 PM   #1
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Netflix

Is it worthwhile having it.Pro'-con'.If your at a remote site will it work?Do you have to have a WIFI connection.Antenna?
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Old 11-15-2014, 02:49 PM   #2
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We like it, but you'll need at least a 5Mbps connection speed for a decent HD picture, and 25Mbps if you want real HD. Most cellular 4G connections with an antenna are in the 2Mb to 10Mb range -- 2 is watchable, 10 is much better in terms of picture quality. If you're in an area with poor cellular reception, then obviously the antenna will help, but your speed may be too low to watch it without alot of pauses and/or poor picture. Netflix's compression technology does a pretty good job of displaying a watchable picture even with a slower connection, but it will sometimes pause while the cache buffers.

If you're at an RV park that offers Wifi, the speed is usually sufficient to use Netflix, but the farther you are from the WAP, the slower your connection.

We probably won't use Netflix much on the road, but we do watch it often at home.
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Old 11-15-2014, 04:32 PM   #3
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I recommend a tv with built in dvd player, no connection issues then.
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Old 11-15-2014, 04:42 PM   #4
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Of course when the DVD player won't eject and has to go in for repair, you have no DVD player and no TV.
I have a very small cheap DVD player with its own 7" screen and a cheap 15" TV. If either needs repair, I'll just buy another.
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Old 11-15-2014, 06:38 PM   #5
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Saw stack of DVD players at WallyWorld today, $24.99 and that was $3 cheaper than the Sony. Hard to eject that price.
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Old 11-15-2014, 08:05 PM   #6
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Do you have to have a WIFI connection?
Netflix is a service which sends shows over the internet, so you need an internet connection. That could be wired, but that's unlikely to be available to you in your trailer. WiFi is an option, if available, but it isn't the only usable kind of wireless internet connection. "3G", "4G", and "LTE" are just some of the many terms used to describe standards of radio (wireless) connection which serve mobile devices such as your phone; you can use this if you have fast enough service, but video is a lot of data (that's why you need a fast connection) so make sure your rate plan allows an enormous amount of data (many gigabytes per month) if you expect to regularly watch full TV shows or movies.

Anywhere we've travelled, I wouldn't bother trying Netflix on either a mobile network or a WiFi network. Service certainly varies by location.
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Old 11-15-2014, 08:15 PM   #7
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Kind of disappointing to hear this. I don't have a TV and watch only streaming Netflix on my laptop. Was counting on that when I start traveling. Maybe by 10/15, there will be more and better options?
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Old 11-15-2014, 08:22 PM   #8
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You won't miss it. It's mostly white vans crashing through fruit stands and piles of cardboard boxes ( inexplicably empty and piled in a lane ) and then exploding in flames after rotating 270 degrees after hitting something more solid ( probably a Lexus ).
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Old 11-15-2014, 08:27 PM   #9
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Kind of disappointing to hear this. I don't have a TV and watch only streaming Netflix on my laptop. Was counting on that when I start traveling. Maybe by 10/15, there will be more and better options?
You'll be able to watch Netflix in alot of locations. I travel 3 out of every 4 weeks on average, and I spend alot of time in hotels. Their WiFi is usually pretty sorry, with a speed under 2 Mb. I can usually still watch Netflix, but it does pause and buffer more than at home of course. If you have a decent 4G signal (you can enhance it with an external antenna like the Wilson trucker) you usually have enough speed to watch it. If you're staying in an RV park, they may have WiFi which is fast enough to use it as well.
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Old 11-15-2014, 08:37 PM   #10
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I don't think I'll be staying in many RV parks--planning on state and national parks and lots of off-the-grid. Just Googled "Wilson trucker." Looks interesting. Ohhhh, so much to learn. Fortunately I have 11 more months to cram. Thanks!


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You'll be able to watch Netflix in alot of locations. I travel 3 out of every 4 weeks on average, and I spend alot of time in hotels. Their WiFi is usually pretty sorry, with a speed under 2 Mb. I can usually still watch Netflix, but it does pause and buffer more than at home of course. If you have a decent 4G signal (you can enhance it with an external antenna like the Wilson trucker) you usually have enough speed to watch it. If you're staying in an RV park, they may have WiFi which is fast enough to use it as well.
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Old 11-15-2014, 08:38 PM   #11
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I don't think I'll be staying in many RV parks--planning on state and national parks and lots of off-the-grid. Just Googled "Wilson trucker." Looks interesting. Ohhhh, so much to learn. Fortunately I have 11 more months to cram. Thanks!
We'll be off grid quite a bit too. Just be aware that any streaming service like Netflix does use alot of data, so make sure you have an adequate data plan or you may see some nasty 'surprises' on your bill.
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Old 11-15-2014, 08:49 PM   #12
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Yup, that's something I really have to research. From what I've read so far, seems like Verizon might be the way to go with a 4G hotspot and then, as you say, enough data. Actually was just wondering if maybe I could even go that route now, in my condo, for my laptop and iMac. But haven't checked into any prices yet.
p.s. Seems like I see "surprises" regularly in my bill from AT&T.


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We'll be off grid quite a bit too. Just be aware that any streaming service like Netflix does use alot of data, so make sure you have an adequate data plan or you may see some nasty 'surprises' on your bill.
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Old 11-15-2014, 08:53 PM   #13
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Most RV parks frown on using Netflix or other heavy bandwidth eating applications. Using Netflix on a campground WiFi system can load the network connection to the point where you slow down the rest of the users.

As to using cell services, even with the 20GB per month plan I now have with Verizon (at $100.00 per month + taxes & fees) the typical Netfilx movie eats anywhere from .5 to 2GB. That doesn't add up to too many movies before you hit your data limit, particularly if you use the internet for much else.

Without a TV I still use 10-15GB per month while traveling. I admit I do quite a bit of graphics with my photography, but if you currently use Netfilx for movies, it might be better to use Redbox DVDs, library rentals, etc with a DVD drive on your laptop rather than waste the bandwidth. Even better, give up TV and read!!!
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Old 11-15-2014, 08:57 PM   #14
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I don't carry a TV either but can watch over the air stations on my laptop via a USB TV Tuner and the trailers roof top antenna. Works pretty well although you have to locate the local channels when you go to use it the first time in a new location, takes something like 10 minutes. That and Redbox do it for us, I brought along a small USB DVD/CD player. On a 5 week trip, we used Redbox twice when snowbound, and watched the morning news once under the same conditions. For the most part sitting in the trailer and watching TV isn't high up on our list of things to do when on a trip. I do have Netflix at home, I suspend both the home delivered movies and the streaming when traveling.
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Old 11-15-2014, 09:10 PM   #15
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I'm with Jon and Bob.

We don't even have a TV in the trailer. Although when I retire and we do more and longer trips we may change our ways and watch movies we bring along via our Mac
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Old 11-15-2014, 09:13 PM   #16
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Great information, Jon, that was exactly what I wanted to find out.
Thanks!
"Even better, give up TV and read!!!"
I WISH. My eyes get tired quicker by the year.
Have switched to audio books.
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Old 11-15-2014, 09:16 PM   #17
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I've never used Redbox. Don't the DVD's have to be returned the next day?

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On a 5 week trip, we used Redbox twice when snowbound, and watched the morning news once under the same conditions.
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Old 11-15-2014, 10:25 PM   #18
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I've never used Redbox. Don't the DVD's have to be returned the next day?
Yes, but not necessarily at the same location. We have rented late and the next day traveled down the road and dropped it off at another location.
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Old 11-15-2014, 10:30 PM   #19
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Ahh, ok, just Googled and see there's a Redbox app!
Thanks.

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Yes, but not necessarily at the same location. We have rented late and the next day traveled down the road and dropped it off at another location.
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Old 11-16-2014, 12:31 AM   #20
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Kind of disappointing to hear this. I don't have a TV and watch only streaming Netflix on my laptop. Was counting on that when I start traveling. Maybe by 10/15, there will be more and better options?
There's no problem streaming Netflix onto a laptop if you can get at least 2 or 3 bars of WiFi reception. I use a Straight Talk mobile hotspot and have streamed with 3G. An hour long show gobbles up about 300-400mb. No sweat. Battery doesn't last long so an inverter helps.

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