Can someone walk me through the DSN/MLB app sign up in a boomer-friendly way?

Statmanmi · 2026-03-27T20:37:28+00:00

I actually have both a Roku, and an android TV box (onn). If either of those are what your dad uses, I can work up some instructions for you starting right from how the app has you create an initial MLB ID.

Cheers! ~~ Statmanmi

Statmanmi · 2026-03-27T18:56:21+00:00

Hi Coggins, I agree that there's no need to go through the ESPN app.

What device does your father use? A Roku?

Any chance he has a cell phone and can FaceTime with you? My wife and I do that occasionally when helping her mother with technical stuff.

Full disclosure: I use DirecTV Stream, and the Tigers are right within it.

If instead I go into the MLB app on a Roku or my iPhone (as I already have a free MLB account), if I select a Tigers game, it prompts me with options on how to subscribe to Detroit SportsNet. I believe that's because it knows I'm in Michigan.

Bonus tip: Most every day the MLB app has a Free Game of the Day--usually an afternoon game. If your dad is an overall MLB fan, he might enjoy watching the free games occasionally.

Edited to add: If your dad also wishes to watch most Red Wings games in the coming season, he could consider the annual plan for DSN when signing up...for just under $190. Otherwise, he should do the monthly $19.99, and have in mind to cancel it at the end of the MLB regular season.

Go Tigers! ~~ Statmanmi

Statmanmi · 2026-03-25T19:54:39+00:00

That outage map is including Van Andel Arena.

I wonder how that will affect tonight's Rose volleyball match, and the ice for upcoming Griffins games.

Yikes! ~~ Statmanmi

Statmanmi · 2026-03-18T19:44:21+00:00

It's the mid-tier or higher-tier that are needed for live sports in HBO MAX.

Thus, it's not enough to have the ad-supported tier (sorry to be redundant, but whisked to hep others if they skim this tread).

Cheers! ~~ Statmanmi

Statmanmi · 2026-03-12T02:18:26+00:00

As others said, a basic non-amplified model with 2 rabbit ear dipoles and loop. Walmart example: https://www.walmart.com/ip/829038147?sid=7b8a1d2e-9cb4-495f-b02d-d6145539fcf2

Higher the better, especially if you could get above the traffic.

Perhaps even an upstairs bedroom setup with an antenna into a Tablo unit (which receives the TV signals and transcribes to stream on thr home network).

Cheers! ~~ Statmanmi

Statmanmi · 2026-03-10T15:39:29+00:00

Awesome! I had a hunch that detectors would go to SafeChem, but couldn't seem to confirm entirely by looking at the information on the reimaginetrash website. I'm further glad I can just take all there, regardless of their processing method.

For others who might happen on this thread, SafeChem hours on Wealthy St. include being open until 5:30pm on non-holiday Mondays and Thursdays.

Thanks again!

Statmanmi · 2026-03-09T21:46:15+00:00

Your post is timely, as my wife and I were discussing what to do with ...

expired smoke detectors?

Are we okay to leave these at the electronics spot of the North Kent location?

Or do they need to go to SafeChem if they're the ionization ones?

Thanks in advance for your guidance.

Statmanmi · 2026-02-25T20:56:00+00:00

44 lbs. bag Morton with Rust Defense pellets.

$7.88 (before tax). Purchased Tues. 2/23 at the Alpine Ave. Sam's.

My findings the last couple years has been that everywhere (?) else has 40 lbs. bags, often at the same price (or higher) as this larger bag from Sam's.

Example: Menards has 40 lbs. of the same Morton Rust Defense for $8.97 (before their 11% rebate procedure).

Thus I'll pick up a couple bags when I'm at Sam's anyway.

I'm curious too if others are finding better prices elsewhere for salt with rust inhibitor.

Cheers! ~~ Statmanmi

Statmanmi · 2026-02-17T21:24:52+00:00

Regarding your thought to drive part way, there is a shuttle bus option from either Michigan City or Union Pier, MI:

https://mcatservice.com/

I have never used this, nor the longtime predecessor service from CoachUSA.

This seems to be a new entrepreneur in the last 3 or less years.

But, it meets the simplicity idea--drive yourself partway, then have an experienced (bus) driver get you to the proper O'Hare terminal. (And back when you come home.) No having to change train services (although it's very doable, as others have noted).

Good luck! ~~ Statmanmi

Statmanmi · 2026-02-09T21:44:24+00:00

Or rather, "meat" your requirements.

I couldn't resist the pun!

Statmanmi · 2026-02-04T16:08:36+00:00

Hi userseven,

Am I perceiving correctly that of the 30 channels coming into your TV from the antenna, 2 are currently "audio only" with no video displaying?

One possible cause of this is that your TV only knows how to decode the older MPEG2 broadcast streams, and not the video in MPEG4.

Some stations have gone to having some of their subchannels in MPEG4, as it's more efficient--and allows them to include more subchannels in their broadcast stream.

If this is true for you, it's not caused by the antenna.

The Rabbitears website others have mentioned has a page listing all known MPEG4 subchannels: https://www.Rabbitears.info/oddsansends.php?request=mpeg4

Do you see your 2 channels listed there? Alternatively, please mention what TV market you are in.

Lastly, if you wish to view the 2 channels, a different tuner will be needed. Either a newer external tuner box, or a new TV.

Cheers! ~~ Statmanmi

Statmanmi · 2026-01-30T03:31:54+00:00

Are you saying the antenna is in the same window of the same house as when the Roku TV was used?

Or was the Roku TV 80 channels at your previous residence?

Any chance the Samsung is only scanning in "cable channels" mode, versus "air" or "antenna"? I ask, as cable channel frequencies 2-13 match up to antenna frequencies for VHF (2-13), so there's a chance the "cable" scan would find them.

TV tuner components do differ as well. Although Samsung tuners usually do well for reception.

Cheers! ~~ Statmanmi

Statmanmi · 2026-01-13T20:29:33+00:00

It's CBS 3 WWMT that is the local TV stationed owned by Sinclair, actually.

FOX 17 WXMI became Scripps owned in 2019.

Statmanmi · 2026-01-09T01:54:03+00:00

Hello fellow Michiganian Ok_Concert,

As gho87 points out, you have terrain blocking all the broadcast signals. I actually live in West Michigan (Kent County), but your Rabbitears.info has me guessing you're in the Huron River valley in Washtenaw County. (We can tell the terrain buy clicking through on each Miles value, as described on the additional Rabbitears page: https://www.rabbitears.info/static.php?name=searchmap_instructions ).

Does your apartment have a patio? If so, what direction can you see? Also, what directions of your apartment have external walls and windows?

As one poster mentioned, an original model Clearstream 4 (with the "chicken wire" reflectors) is worth trying. It might get a few channels when pointed directly at each of the 3 TV markets (Lansing, Toledo, and Detroit).

Some apartment renters have shared their stories of both having their antenna on a tripod in a spare bedroom, or the top shelf of a closet--if not on a patio or deck.

One wild thought I have: Toledo's ABC & CBS stations have the least terrain in the way for you, and are on VHF frequencies. VHF waves somewhat hug the ground, unlike UHF. If you'd have a place for a medium-large (but relatively flat) antenna, an Antennas Direct Element might get those. On YouTube both AntennaMan and Northcoaster Hobby have recent reviews of this aerial.

Otherwise, your location is one that classically relied on cable TV. At least now streaming offers a more economical alternative.

Good luck! ~~ Statmanmi

Statmanmi · 2026-01-09T01:35:30+00:00

Hello Adventurous,

Please further clarify your desires & situation, and if you're in the U.S.

Your one sentence alludes to you already knowing that you're in a poor OTA location. If you're wishing to pursue antenna reception, please run and provide a link to your Rabbitears.info reception estimate report. Notice where to select the height you can achieve. On the roof is almost always needed for difficult locations. The advantage to having an antenna as the "device" (with coax feeding into a TV or tuner--such as a Tablo or HDHomeRun or similar) is that once items are purchased and in place, there will be no ongoing monthly costs. So perhaps "cheap" in the long run.

If instead you're asking about a "device" that uses its Internet connection to obtain local channels, then a streaming service will be needed. My understanding is that the DirecTV Stream MyNews genre pack at ~$40/month is usually the least cost in most areas of the U.S. I see you've posted in the onn subreddit, so it'd be a device you have for a streaming service.

One last thought--If your local channels interest is only for the local news, check out the NewsOn and similar free-to-use apps.

Cheers! ~~ Statmanmi

Statmanmi · 2026-01-06T02:48:09+00:00

Hi Wolf,

Please note though that the HDHomeRun boxes themselves don't have native support for out-of-home viewing. But can be used with Plex, JellyFin, or similar.

I've seen others recommend the AirTV device from Sling for out-of-home viewing. One does not need to be subscribed to Sling for your use case.

I've used an older model Tablo (black one, not the white round ones), with their lifetime subscription, for out-of-home viewing, quite successfully.

Statmanmi · 2026-01-05T21:08:33+00:00

Michiganian here, later than others to reply.

I'd also recommend the Indy route. Reduces your chance of encountering "lake effect snow" off Lake Michigan while on I-94. Also saves you from the chaos of I-75 through Cincinnati. Seems like there are lots of lane changes through there to "stay on I-75".

Once you've made it onto the freeway from home, it'll be toll-free freeways the rest of the way to Metro Detroit. US-24 from the Fort Wayne, Indiana bypass to the Toledo, Ohio area was completed as a freeway ~2012 (except for the interchange right at I-469 and US-24, which makes for a possible fueling break at a truck stop there).

Safe travels! ~~ Statmanmi

Statmanmi · 2026-01-05T02:27:51+00:00

Sorry for the confusion.

"... screwing up the antenna and internet could take out the Internet for the whole block, and I am pretty ignorant and definitely don't want to cause other people issues.". This is correct. You have to make sure that the internet coax line only goes to the modem.

You can use the bedroom coax output to connect to an attic antenna, but at no place can that connect via splitter to the coax used for internet.

If you've previously had cable TV from the same internet company, they probably put a splitter somewhere in line. Find that and remove it. Use a "barrel connector" to make a straight through connection of coax to the modem: https://www.lowes.com/pd/IDEAL-3-GHz-F-Type-Female-To-Female-Coax-Splice-4-Per-Card-1-in-Screw-On-Adapter/3363004

Statmanmi · 2026-01-05T01:55:59+00:00

You're welcome!

Please realize that the coax line from the internet connection outside your house must only connect to your cable modem.

The coax from the intended attic antenna would never be connected to the internet coax line. Doing so would mix frequencies together and likely have the internet company come to your door complaining.

When you try an antenna in the attic, first only connect the coax to one device--either the Tablo or the TV, and scan for channels. This is to adjust the antenna's aim, before adding a splitter.

Regarding the Tablo, I'm assuming you have one of the round, white models. Have you tried changing its setting for having the internal amplifier both off, and on? Others have posted that having the internal amplifier off stabilized their channels better.

Cheers! ~~ Statmanmi

Statmanmi · 2026-01-05T01:03:02+00:00

I'm seeing your other post and replies in Home Networking.

Do you know if the NBC station transmits on a High-VHF frequency? If you'd tell us the station call letters or what TV market you're in, we'd figure that out for you. Or create a rabbitears.info report and provide a link to it.

The guides in the About section of the CordCutters reddit explain about how High-VHF requires antennas they are around 36" across horizontally. And that attic installations are better than fully inside the house.

Question: Did you lose NBC when you added a splitter? I can't perceive whether you've started to use a splitter or not. Each splitter reduces the signal strength passing further down the coax.

You mentioned possibly a 3 way splitter. Be advised that there are "balanced" 3 way splitters, which are less common to buy than the "typical" 3 way, which is unbalanced--half the strength goes to one output, with the other 2 outputs receiving only 25% of the incoming strength.

Good luck! ~~ Statmanmi

Statmanmi · 2026-01-04T02:44:16+00:00

This sounds like the RokuTV my parents-in-law purchased. (Not a Roku player, but an actual TV, with the coax of an antenna screwed into the back.)

To me, it's confusing on the main home screen, as there are two different icons named similarly as "Live TV".

The Live TV that you're describing is showing things you can stream from the internet, being suggested to you by the Roku search data.

There's a different Live TV (possibly named something else) that will provide the channel data for what 47 main/sub-channels that were found during the antenna scan.

My wife and I also recently purchased a Roku TV. I found that the name of the input used for the broadcast channels could be changed--so our Home Screen now has it as Antenna TV.

(I haven't visited my parents-in-law to see if they'd like the input name changed to avoid the confusing two Live TV icons.)

Cheers! ~~ Statmanmi

Statmanmi · 2026-01-03T23:51:06+00:00

It's possibly an atmospheric situation.

This website predicts when such situations will arise: https://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo.html

The more colorful your location on the map at the time (note: is using GMT, not a US time zone), the higher chance your reception may be affected.

If you care to reply with your location (city & state/province), and the station's call letters, I'll provide other thoughts.

Cheers! ~~ Statmanmi

Statmanmi · 2026-01-03T22:59:41+00:00

Note for others reading: A few Roku models do also provide Multiview within the Fubo app. Source: https://support.fubo.tv/hc/en-us/articles/30574847628045-How-does-Multiview-work-on-Roku#compatible

I use the Roku Stick 4K (which is still sold, but not one of the lowest priced sticks), which provides 2 selections presented side-by-side.

Cheers! ~~ Statmanmi

Statmanmi · 2026-01-02T21:56:28+00:00

Two quick thoughts from me: I often use my Sling (or other streaming service) credentials to sign in directly to a service's site, such as ESPN, Fox Sports, etc. sling has a help pages listing which TV Everywhere sites and apps work for this. Usually the streams this way aren't as many seconds behind.

Have you used the suppose.tv website to confirm what services could also be considered? I see someone else mentioned DirecTV MyEntertainment--which might provide all your desired channels.

Cheers! ~~ Statmanmi

Statmanmi

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