Project #10 - Move All Media Components Outside the Main Network

Having gone through a number of problems with the Main ActionTech router bogging down when updates are made, I have decided to move the Media components to an external unmanaged switch outside of the main vlan structure and just simply go through the router.

Bought a 16 port Netgear Switch

So I have bought a 16 port Netgear GS116E Switch to use in the place of the TP-Link switch that didn't give me what I wanted.  Since the user interface was similar, I had no difficulty in setting up the vlan ports on the GS116E the exact same way as the 8 port GS108T.  The footprint is slightly larger in width than the GS108T but seems to be able to fit in the space that I have.  I will need to move some mounting screws higher in order to have enough room over the power outlet to put cables.  There might be some additional things that I can do like mount it lengthwise to remove that limitation.  I need to further investigate.

I have not put the switch into position yet and I will report back this weekend as to how it went.  I am crossing my fingers that it comes off without a hitch since my media is flowing through it.

Update: the GS116E switch is in place of the GS108T switch and I couldn't be happier with its performance.  Install went without a hitch and by simply rebooting devices around it all connections are working flawlessly.  Good job Netgear!  This was way better than my experience with the TP-Link switch.

Switch Install Failure

As I said in the previous post, I took the time to install the TP-Link SG2424 24-port managed switch under the Verizon Quantum Gateway and setup a pass-through vlan so that I could check to see if the switch was going to work in the network.  I should have tried out some other things as well.

It turns out that the SG2424 and the Quantum don't like each other.  When I set up the SG2424 with the same settings as the GS108T, moved over the Ethernet lines and attempted to get everything running, the problems began.  Problem One: the SG2424 would not keep all of its settings between reboots.  I kept having to reset the IP address of the switch even though I made sure that I hit the confirm button.  It just would not keep the new IP address and kept reverting back to the initial IP address which conflicted with other elements in my network.  Problem Two: the SG2424 seemed to not like pass-throughs where the I came from a different switch (the GS1-08Ts) through the SG2424 to the Quantum Gateway.  Problem Three: it would take sometimes 5 to 10 minutes before the Ethernet activity would settle down between the SG2424 and the Quantum.  It appeared that the SG2424 kept resetting itself multiple times.  Problem Four: After multiple resets, the traffic for my media equipment which flowed through the SG2424 to the Quantum would refuse to come up.

I took the SG2424 back to Micro Center where I bought it.  I will review the Netgear GS724 and other switches like it to see if I can use it to replace the one GS108T.  Very frustrating!

CC #7 - Finally settled on a partial solution

I modified the FIOS TV setup - I now have reduced the Extreme package down to the Custom TV package.  In addition, I have dumped the FIOS DVR and STB rental for a TiVo Bolt and 2 TiVo Minis.  The Bolt serves as the DVR in my setup and the two Minis are able to stream the shows and set the tuners (4 on the Bolt vs. 2 on the FIOS DVR) to stream TV.  The entire setup is running on Ethernet (the Media VLAN) through my house.  This is actually predicted to run about $70 per month less than my current Verizon bill.  I also went from 25/25 to 50/50 on the internet.

Update: I have had a chance to get a couple of bills since I posted this.  The difference between what I was paying and what I am paying now amounts to about $80 since my bill was over $200 per month.  So I am reasonably happy now with the new setup - and the wife seems to be happy as well.  I'm not missing paying the Sports Fee every month.

CC #6 - Disappointed with SlingTV

I was in hopes that SlingTV would work out as a start towards cord cutting. I have been spending over $2400 per year on Verizon FIOS (TV - no movie channels, one STB, one DVR; land line; internet 25/25) and need to find a cheaper alternative.

The wife was very displeased with the results on SlingTV. First, there was the buffering on a couple of her favorite channels (I don't have the same buffering from Netflix on the same Roku 3) which was very disconcerting. Next, the lower volume levels on other channels like Food Network and TCM. The volume levels on ESPN and Disney were loud - but I don't watch ESPN or Disney, that is not what I wanted SlingTV for. Lastly, the user interface was abysmal and not that responsive even on a Roku 3. I was hoping the experience would have been better so I have cancelled the trial run, and will wait until Dish gets the bugs out.

 There was a thread on Reddit about this topic.

CC#5 - Going to try out some ideas over the weekend for Cord Cutting

So yesterday I signed up for SlingTv in an effort to look at things that I might use to do a little Cord Cutting.  In case you are mystified as to why I am doing this, consider that I will be retiring in as little as 2 years and I need to cut costs to my home budget.  I am currently spending over $2400 per year for FIOS.  That has got to change.  Fortunately, SlingTv has a 7 day trial offer on the table that really looks attractive.  The downside is that it is a single unit streamer and there is no cloud dvr capability.

I am not sure what I will be able to do with this since one of my "must haves" is to be able to record the Food Network.  I am aware that I can sort of get archived recordings but my wife likes to record the stream on our FIOS DVR and watch it later when we are not occupied with work or errands.  This is the nature of recording the shows, not that we are going to sell or trade the shows with someone, but that we are not around when the shows are on that we want to watch.  The networks end up penalizing customers who simply want to watch their shows in a different time slot when they prevent recording for personal use.  There is nothing illegal at all about recording for personal use, but the networks are using things like the DMCA to force everyone to use their business model. Well, I have to cut the cost or I drop everything - period.

So, this weekend the experiments are to:
(1) try out SlingTv to see what it has to offer and see how the streaming holds up on my internet connection.
(2) finish setting up Mythbuntu on a VM to connect to my OTA setup running through the HDHomeRun Connect system.  Need to figure out the connection to my upstairs tv though.
(3) potentially try out WMC using the OTA setup through my Ceton Echos.

More Later ...

CC#4 - Media VLAN has Changed to Support Cord Cutting

My Media vlan now looks like this:

The blocked out areas refer to equipment that is FIOS TV specific.  I am currently trying to figure out a scheme to get around having to use FIOS TV but still give me the things that I am used to using.  I still have the Windows Media Center, although it now only gets to the HDHomeRun Connect for OTA channels.  The Mac Mini will still be used as a Plex server in the arrangement.  I am going to use the WMC as the primary with the Plex server as the secondary use of media.  Note that I have a Roku3 in the mix now as I have removed the Apple TV that was upstairs due to Apple's insistence that they control everything.  Actually the Netflix control from the Roku3 box is much better.

So, the next actions to take include:

• Get the HDHomeRun Connect running through WMC7
• Install Ceton's WMC interface software
• Ensure that the WMC7 works with the Echos
• Get one or all of the iPads in the house to control the Ceton Echos in the house

That should give me a start.

CC#3 - Set up an HDHomeRun Connect on the Network

So, over the weekend I managed to setup an HDHomeRun Connect with a 50W OTA antenna.  I was able to scan the stations and display some of the OTA channels from the WMC7 box that I have in my network.  I was using the HDHomeRun Installer/Setup scripts to do this.  So far I have not ventured to attach the Connect to my WMC7 box because I already have a running HDHomeRun Prime setup that works.  I am a bit afraid to change it out in case I cannot get the Prime setup again.

I shouldn't be this cautious given all of the things that I have done with my network thus far.  I have gotten some sage advice from the Cord Cutters group on Reddit which I am about to try out.  I have a program which can selectively limit the channels on the WMC7 box.

CC#2 - Cord Cutting TV Items I Can't Do Without

I have been analyzing the minimal TV channels on Verizon FIOS TV that I have to have prior to cord cutting.  This is pretty easy since my wife is the one who watches TV the most.  As long as I get her the channels she wants to watch, along with the services that she wants, I am in the game.  However, women are fickle; especially my wife.  For example, even though I have a Windows Media Center setup she will not use it because of the way in which the channels are accessed (i.e., she doesn't like the interface or the remote that I have).

First of all, I don't mind spending money on technical items if in the long run it saves me money.  As I said in a previous post, I spend above $2400 per year on Verizon FIOS and I have to cut that amount in half.  I have a lot of the technical items that I have gathered in the last few years that should give me the ability to do just that.

But, back to the minimal channel thing.  These are the channels that I need (preferably with an HD offering).

Absolute must haves:

• ABC over the air
• TCM
• Food Network (she tapes this one)

Nice to haves:

• Other over the air channels like Fox, CBS, NBC
• Hallmark channel
• SyFy channel

Hmmm.  So what do I do with this information?  Fortunately, I am intelligent enough to put together some of my own solutions to resolve the issues with television signals and ethernet cables and devices that use them.  I have a working Windows Media Center (Windows 7) in the house; complete with connection to a HDHomeRun Prime with a Verizon FIOS cablecard.  In addition, I have a couple of Ceton Echo WMC extenders.  If I can get what I want to come up on the WMC, I will be able to control the same from anywhere in the house as well as afford myself the DVR capabilities that WMC provides.  I did pay out money for this equipment, but if I save $1200 per year I will recoup the cost rather quickly.

Some streaming solutions come to mind as well.  I can stream via Hulu, Hulu Plus, Netflix, Amazon Prime, or SlingTV.  I could put up a server for Plex, MythTV, XBMC, etc.  I have the hardware and the connections throughout the house to accomplish this.  So what do I do?  First up, how do I get to tape the Food Network stream?  Or, do I really need to.  Maybe the first question should be how to get the Food Network stream itself.  I know that I don't have the Food Network over the air.  There are pre-taped Food Network shows on each of the services above.  At last count the costs were:

• Hulu: $7.99 per month
• Hulu Plus: $7.99 per month
• Netflix: $10.99 per month (I have streaming and 3 DVDs plan)
• Amazon Prime: $90 per year (use it a lot for no cost shipping)
• SlingTV: $25 per month (given the shows that I want to watch)

To be continued ...

CC#1 - Setting up for Cord Cutting

In just a very short number of years I will be retiring.  I already have my mortgage paid off and I have dropped what I owe to a minimum in preparation for that event.  If you still have a mortgage when you get ready to retire, by definition you will not be able to retire unless you are making oodles of money.  I am not that way.  One of the things that I need to do is start cutting household expenses to a minimum.  I am also planning to run for a couple of years on "retirement income" levels to see how I fare.

One of the larger household expenditures that I have is my cable bill.  I have Verizon FIOS and I am spending over $2400 per year on that service.  I have FIOS TV with one DVR and one STB, no premium movie channels, a telephone land line, and internet (25 up/25 down).  I want to cut that expenditure in half.  The issue is that I have been a Verizon customer for a good number of years but find myself ineligible to participate in ANY offer that Verizon FIOS has.  Every single one of their offers to save money makes the blanket statement that only new customers are eligible.  That means that I will have to quit Verizon and go somewhere else if I am to lower my monthly costs to the level that I need.  My goal is to halve the cost for my cable bill; which means that the service cannot cost more than $100 per month.

So my choices are: (1) to go elsewhere for a period of time until the other service raises their rates and then come back to Verizon and get their offers, or (2) do a Cord Cutting measure and reduce my dependence on Verizon FIOS to internet only.  I can get internet from other sources, but I would prefer to stick with Verizon FIOS internet.

First on the chopping block is the landline.  I already pay AT&T a lot of money for keeping up three iPhones.  I don't foresee that changing for a while although I could back off and go to flip phones which would reduce the bill to a minimum (my granddaughter would not be happy though).  If I have internet service, I would be able to convert over to VOIP (which is what I get from Verizon anyway).  I have an Obi110 in my bag of goodies which I can use to get the landline moved to something reasonable.

Next on the chopping block is the Verizon FIOS internet service.  The service by itself is expensive.  In my area, 25/25 by itself is $45 per month and 50/50 is $55 per month, which is half of the $100 per month in my budget.  I am not sure at this point if I can get those prices if I drop my Verizon FIOS TV and Land Line since I am an existing customer.  I have heard rumors that they will only drop the cost to $75 per month if you drop the rest of the services in an effort to keep you on the whole till.  I will need to explore this

Next on the chopping block is the Verizon FIOS TV.

To be continued ...

Project #3 - Media vlan through the house

Run two to three virtual lans through the house to separate out the media related services from the day-to-day internet usage on laptops and iOS devices.