SIS - MLB.TV

by bbjones on May 10, 2011 12:33 AM EDT

So, I took the big leap this year, abandoned Extra Innings, and got MLB.tv. Before I did it, I had some trepidation.

As it stands, I have mixed feelings. There's some good, and some bad. Also, there's still things I'm figuring out about how to make it go the way I think it should.

Seriously important, then, is that we share some tips and tricks to get it to do what we want. Also, this being RR, we should rant a bit about what it would have been if it had been done properly, and what Chris Carpenter will tell his kids when the game is blacked out in their region.

If you are so inclined, share with us your MLB.tv experience, your computer/bandwidth, and what you think. I'll go first, after the jump. I've always wanted to write something after the jump.

So, I got a Dell Zino to put next to my HD TV, so that I could watch baseball from the couch, instead of having to sit at my computer which seemed not so much like watching baseball. I got the premium account, because HD makes a big difference on a TV rather than a monitor. Plus it wasn't that much more money, and still cheaper than Extra Innings.

I have AT&T U-verse, with "up to 12 Mbps" download. Speed tests on my TV computer indicate that I'm getting about 11.5 Mbps consistently (I'm running that computer wired). That should be plenty for HD streaming; most things I've read say that 6 Mbps is plenty.

It definitely comes in in HD, which is to say that it is in 720(p or i, not sure). However, the bit rate is quite a bit lower than, say, ESPN. That means that you end up with little blurry spots pretty often. The bit rate is not constant, either: sometimes it gets really good for a while, then not so good. While it's a bit annoying, it's certainly not unwatchable.

The player leaves something to be desired, IMHO. Here's some stuff it needs:

"Jump back 10 seconds" button, like the one on every DVR on the planet. If I was catching junior as he hurled himself off the couch towards the wall while carrying a drum stick when Arroyo hit a home run, I want to click back and see it. I'll patch up the kid afterwards.
Skip the commercials. When watching a game a bit delayed (hey, I'm on the west coast!) you should be able to skip through the innings breaks. I have not been able to do that successfully. Clicking on the inning you want seems to have inconsistent results.
Hide the score past where you are currently watching! The whole point of watching the game delayed is that I don't want to know what's going to happen until I see it! I want to CONTROL TIME! Mmmmm-wha-hahahahahaha!
Come on, Bud. Up your bandwidth and stream a bit higher quality.
It's very hard to know how much behind real-time you are. Not quite sure how to fix that, but that's why I'm not a software guy.

Here's something I just learned you could do. I used to think it was impossible:

If you click on "pitch tracker" or whatever it's called in regular view, THEN click the full screen button, you get to keep the pitch tracker. If you go to full screen first, you can't get it. It's cool to get the robot's opinion on calls you think the ump blew.

Et tu, RR?

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I had it set up on a small HD tv through my ps3

Worked well on the cheaper mlb.tv version. Some days better than others, just like my internet connection. Works much better wired instead of wireless.

Now that PS Network is still down im screwed. If its still down by the end of the month im cancelling Mlb.tv. I dont think I can cancel mid-month.

by JPGs on May 10, 2011 7:21 AM EDT reply actions

Hiding the inning score would be great

What I did before was just take out my contacts when trying to find the game.

Theyve improved light years, the only real correction i have besides is having a “vin Scully announcing this game” button.

Let's not kid ourselves. It's really, really, bad.

by Cy Schourek on May 10, 2011 10:37 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

I have Mlb.tv in the DC area

I’m stuck with Comcast. I don’t have cable but I do have a pretty fast internet connection – up to 20 mps or whatever. Most of the time it’s above 15 mbs – even during heavy traffic hours 8pm-10pm when the Reds games are on. I really wish I could get Fios, but my apt complex isn’t exactly the place for new technology – or new anything. I was thinking of getting a Roku to stream but currently I either watch it on my computer or connect to the HD tv via HDMI.

The quality is fine for me. HD comes in great…although at times it’ll stall and if there are other devices on my wireless the picture will sometimes regress to something less than HD. But overall I’m satisfied with it. Considering I get to watch/listen to Reds game out of market, I’m not complaining.

Bart: "Dad, what's a Muppet?"
Homer: "Well, it's not quite a mop, not quite a puppet, but man... (laughs, then pauses) So, to answer you question, I don't know."

by ChiDa on May 10, 2011 11:09 AM EDT reply actions

You can use QoS to prioritize mlb.tv traffic on your router so other computers/applications don't slow it down

If your stock router firmware doesn’t support QoS you can probably install DD-WRT or Tomato firmware.

I added the netmask priority 12.130.102.0/24 and the quality drops are far less frequent.

by Neuge on May 10, 2011 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions

This sounds awesome

unfortunately I really don’t understand anything you wrote

Bart: "Dad, what's a Muppet?"
Homer: "Well, it's not quite a mop, not quite a puppet, but man... (laughs, then pauses) So, to answer you question, I don't know."

by ChiDa on May 10, 2011 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions 6 recs

Here, let me interpret

Da shin bone connectin’ to da thigh bone.
Da thigh bone connectin’ to da leg bone.
Da leg bone connectin’ to da CMOS 1056.4v applet.
And dat da word of de lawd.

One way or the other – there is no middle ground on BCB – either you are in a coma from drinking the kool-aid or you are holding a cute sign while waiting for gravity to kick in…

by johnu1 on May 10, 2011 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

If you tell me your router model number I can prob walk you through it.

by Neuge on May 11, 2011 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Wow, what language was that-Geek?

I kid, I kid-I’m in awe of people who can do more on a computer than check their email and tweet.

Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get. ~Homer Simpson

by Hawkeyegirl96 on May 11, 2011 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions

I use Boxee...

When I am watching the mlb.tv on my TV, I use Boxee from my HTPC to watch. It lets me just use the remote, and the quality is very acceptable. You can’t use the advanced features like PitchF/X or anything, but for just watching a game live or delayed, it’s great.

Also, Boxee is free to install on any Windows, Mac, or Linux machine… great program.

by tntaylor17 on May 10, 2011 11:53 AM EDT reply actions

My MLB experience has been mixed

I get too many stalls on it to suit me and my ISP speed is considered “acceptable.” My computer is about 2 years old. It works. The picture itself ranges from good to decent to sometimes not so clear.

There are some other peculiar glitches in the process but it’s good enough overall. I like the idea I can get the p-by-p from both teams.

Now for blackouts, I have a screwjob going. I live in Chicago market but the Reds claim the territory where I live so I am blacked out there too. I have won the battle by calling mlb.tv and whining about that. They reset my Zip code on their end so I genuinely cheat the system with their help.

I have had to call them four times to fix this and they are very good about it, the call wait time is minimal and they are understanding when I say I’d not have the package if I’d known I couldn’t get the Reds.

For now that works. It’s up to my ISP to fix my location but they can’t do that. It drifts. So it’s manual, either way.

I do like the condensed games concept. Highlights? Meh, they suck.

One way or the other – there is no middle ground on BCB – either you are in a coma from drinking the kool-aid or you are holding a cute sign while waiting for gravity to kick in…

by johnu1 on May 10, 2011 12:28 PM EDT reply actions

Condensed games are cool

But I wish they showed every pitch, just really quick. It’s hard to get a sense of how the pitcher was throwing.

Unless it’s Chappy, then you can assume it went 102 mph and no where near the zone.

"The USA despite its flaws and corruption and overall messiness is still a great and powerful instrument of freedom and hope for the entire world." - Madville

by bbjones on May 10, 2011 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions

#firstworldproblems

Baseball worshiped here.

by Daedalus on May 11, 2011 12:21 AM EDT reply actions

absolutely.

That’s what makes it SIS.

"The USA despite its flaws and corruption and overall messiness is still a great and powerful instrument of freedom and hope for the entire world." - Madville

by bbjones on May 11, 2011 1:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Isn't that pretty much all we ever talk about on this site?

by andromache on May 12, 2011 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions

Doesn't the standard account have HD quality now?

The mlb.tv chart says so. The only thing it really lacks is the ability to choose away broadcasts.

As I’ve mentioned once or twice here, I bought a roku for mlb.tv and Netflix. It was $60, and I now also use it for hulu plus to watch the few shows I keep up with on NBC, Fox, and Comedy Central. Oh, and since it’s hooked up to my stereo I stream Internet radio through it. Well worth the $60, definitely.

As for mlb.tv on it, it was hit or miss at the beginning of the season but seems to have improved significantly. I haven’t noticed any skipping or dropped connections in the past week or so. For a while though, I was having more trouble with mlb.tv than with netflix or hulu.

Still not a candidate.

by Gray on May 11, 2011 2:34 PM EDT reply actions

yeah they have a basic HD option

I think with the premium you get some additional higher quality HD options, but I’m not sure. with how slow my internet is I have to bump it off HD anyway, but If I finally join the rest of the world and get an HD TV, I might add some speed to my internet to enable the use of the HD function.

The biggest difference for me this year is that I haven’t had any games blacked out, literally none even the local FS broadcasts. I dont know if mlb.tv has changed anything or if I’m just getting lucky (I think the latter) since it detects correctly where I am when I first log in. I keep expecting it to change, but man do I hope it doesnt. I heard bay area games were blacked out in Hawaii, which to me seems bat shit crazy. Supposedly that is to force the local cable company to pick up the FSN bay area broadcasts, which they still hadnt when I read about that.

by pack_fan on May 13, 2011 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions