You do not need a smart TV. Any of the supported streaming devices - the whole list is here - will work. You don't need the AT&T streaming device, but if you subscribe to AT&T TV, one is included with the subscription anyway (not with AT&T TV Now). The AT&T device has some advantages - it provides a more "cable-like" experience, including channel numbers and easier ways to access some features than the other devices - but also some disadvantages (in particular, it supports fewer third-party apps).
No. The device supports WiFi (like all the other supported streamers), so if you get a good WiFi signal where you plan to use it, that’s fine. It does also support a wired (Ethernet) connection, which most of the others don’t. Of course, wired or WiFi, your internet service needs to be good enough, but for a single streamer 5 megabit speed is likely adequate, and 10 should be fine (depending on what other internet uses are running at the same time).
Why did I suddenly get an on-screen notice after I was watching that "content owner has made content unavailable to streaming" after I have been using the service for a month and am about to pay the next month's bill?
I spent 45 minutes on the phone with a "Customer Service" representative and never got the Streaming feed re-established. I was told a long convoluted story about my needed to enter my information into the television, which I never did when I started the service a month ago. The question is WHY DID THIS HAPPEN AT ALL? We are not pleased!
@RaymondPointer - the remote that comes with the AT&T branded streaming device uses Bluetooth to communicate with the AT&T streaming device and infrared to communicate with TVs and sounders (for on/off, volume, etc.).
As far as "content is not available to stream" - what content on what channel? Some content owners do restrict some content from streaming (for whatever reason - usually because they licensed it exclusively to some other carrier), but this is fairly rare (it is seen for some movies on TCM, some syndicated programming, some specials like Frosty the Snowman, perhaps some other things). Some content is also geographically restricted (that is, it is blocked in certain areas) - this can also be due to licensing issue, but is sometimes due to legal issues.
The programing was running as usual until 10:15 this morning. THEN the content/streaming display came on. After FOUR HOURS on the phone, and having to re-enter my user name and Password we FINALLY got the connection re-established. The question that was never answered was WHY this happened at all.
I asked to see if it was some specific programming because in that case it might well have been “normal” rather than a problem. If it happened to everything (on all channels) then clearly it was a problem. Most likely in that case it was a glitch in your account (their account database system seems a bit too subject to those) which temporarily locked it out. Their first level support people tend to not be capable enough on anything technically tricky to pick up on it (so they wouldn’t know why) and I’d guess there’s a huge likelihood that they don’t have direct access to the systems needed to fix it (so there’s a good chance it was fixed by backend support having nothing to do with your phone call).
BTW - the issues you raised had nothing to do with the topic of this thread. You’re much more likely to get useful assistance if you post to an on-topic thread or (probably evenbetter for something like this) start a new one.
I have AT&T Unverse and am thinking about changing over to DirectTV streaming. I understand that you need more internet power to stream it. Am I responsible for that or is AT&T providing that for me for the Direct TV?
Accepted Solution
Official Solution
Constructive
Employee
•
34K Messages
4 years ago
Yes DIRECTV STREAM is a streaming service over the internet
(edited)
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Accepted Solution
Official Solution
skeeterintexas
ACE - Expert
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28.3K Messages
4 years ago
AT&T TV requires high speed internet. Recommend minimum 24 Mbps for optimal viewing (min 8 Mbps per stream). Limit 3 concurrent AT&T streams.
AT&T TV
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Dcole22
New Member
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1 Message
4 years ago
Do you need a Smart TV to use the ATT TV device or does this device make your TV a smart one ?
If you do not have a smart TV can you get ATT TV through Roku or fire stick?
and do you need the ATT TV device
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Jrandomuser
ACE - Expert
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1.2K Messages
4 years ago
You do not need a smart TV. Any of the supported streaming devices - the whole list is here - will work. You don't need the AT&T streaming device, but if you subscribe to AT&T TV, one is included with the subscription anyway (not with AT&T TV Now). The AT&T device has some advantages - it provides a more "cable-like" experience, including channel numbers and easier ways to access some features than the other devices - but also some disadvantages (in particular, it supports fewer third-party apps).
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wjloeffler
New Member
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1 Message
4 years ago
Does the system need to be hardwired to the internet if you have the ATT TV box?
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Jrandomuser
ACE - Expert
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1.2K Messages
4 years ago
No. The device supports WiFi (like all the other supported streamers), so if you get a good WiFi signal where you plan to use it, that’s fine. It does also support a wired (Ethernet) connection, which most of the others don’t. Of course, wired or WiFi, your internet service needs to be good enough, but for a single streamer 5 megabit speed is likely adequate, and 10 should be fine (depending on what other internet uses are running at the same time).
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RaymondPointer
New Member
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4 Messages
3 years ago
Is my AT&T TV remote a Wifi device?
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Constructive
Employee
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34K Messages
3 years ago
no its infared
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RaymondPointer
New Member
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4 Messages
3 years ago
Why did I suddenly get an on-screen notice after I was watching that "content owner has made content unavailable to streaming" after I have been using the service for a month and am about to pay the next month's bill?
I spent 45 minutes on the phone with a "Customer Service" representative and never got the Streaming feed re-established. I was told a long convoluted story about my needed to enter my information into the television, which I never did when I started the service a month ago. The question is WHY DID THIS HAPPEN AT ALL? We are not pleased!
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0
Constructive
Employee
•
34K Messages
3 years ago
What does that have to do with your remote ?
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Jrandomuser
ACE - Expert
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1.2K Messages
3 years ago
@RaymondPointer - the remote that comes with the AT&T branded streaming device uses Bluetooth to communicate with the AT&T streaming device and infrared to communicate with TVs and sounders (for on/off, volume, etc.).
As far as "content is not available to stream" - what content on what channel? Some content owners do restrict some content from streaming (for whatever reason - usually because they licensed it exclusively to some other carrier), but this is fairly rare (it is seen for some movies on TCM, some syndicated programming, some specials like Frosty the Snowman, perhaps some other things). Some content is also geographically restricted (that is, it is blocked in certain areas) - this can also be due to licensing issue, but is sometimes due to legal issues.
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RaymondPointer
New Member
•
4 Messages
3 years ago
The programing was running as usual until 10:15 this morning. THEN the content/streaming display came on. After FOUR HOURS on the phone, and having to re-enter my user name and Password we FINALLY got the connection re-established. The question that was never answered was WHY this happened at all.
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0
Jrandomuser
ACE - Expert
•
1.2K Messages
3 years ago
I asked to see if it was some specific programming because in that case it might well have been “normal” rather than a problem. If it happened to everything (on all channels) then clearly it was a problem. Most likely in that case it was a glitch in your account (their account database system seems a bit too subject to those) which temporarily locked it out. Their first level support people tend to not be capable enough on anything technically tricky to pick up on it (so they wouldn’t know why) and I’d guess there’s a huge likelihood that they don’t have direct access to the systems needed to fix it (so there’s a good chance it was fixed by backend support having nothing to do with your phone call).
BTW - the issues you raised had nothing to do with the topic of this thread. You’re much more likely to get useful assistance if you post to an on-topic thread or (probably evenbetter for something like this) start a new one.
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Carterme33
New Member
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1 Message
3 years ago
Yes you need WiFi but no the system dose not have to be wired to the box via Ethernet cable
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benwadelee
New Member
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2 Messages
1 year ago
I have AT&T Unverse and am thinking about changing over to DirectTV streaming. I understand that you need more internet power to stream it. Am I responsible for that or is AT&T providing that for me for the Direct TV?
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