[PPBART]

I've been a Cox Communications subscriber for many years, generally satisfied until their rates got so high that I dropped the cable and just kept the internet service. I bought a several Fire Sticks and now rely on YouTube TV for most of my video entertainment. That generally works well, but even YouTube TV sometimes exhibits an annoying misalignment between sound and picture, and channels others are virtually unwatchable; e.g., I've been trying to watch the series "Fringe" on IMDb TV and the misalignment is terrible! However, I've noticed that commercials are perfectly aligned! Any idea of how to address this problem?

 

[BigJim]

I've been a Cox Communications subscriber for many years, generally satisfied until their rates got so high that I dropped the cable and just kept the internet service. I bought a several Fire Sticks and now rely on YouTube TV for most of my video entertainment. That generally works well, but even YouTube TV sometimes exhibits an annoying misalignment between sound and picture, and channels others are virtually unwatchable; e.g., I've been trying to watch the series "Fringe" on IMDb TV and the misalignment is terrible! However, I've noticed that commercials are perfectly aligned! Any idea of how to address this problem?

We did the same thing, too much for cable TV and same old reruns most of the time. I can't tell you yet, as we just ordered a fire stick and it isn't here yet. We did buy an antenna so we can pick up local news and programs. We watch a lot of westerns right now, not much of anything else worth watching and then some of them run over and over. I hope we don't have that problem but if we do I will make a post.

 

[huesmann]

Google "fire stick audio sync" and see if any of the hits are of any use to you.

 

[diyorpay]

IMO it's not the Fire stick, it's the delivery over Youtube. Splicing in the commercials remains a challenge. You might try Hulu for its free trial. Costs a bit more for version with no commercials. Hulu+ is the streaming version with the cablelike channels.

I believe when 5G delivery gets popular and is hanging off every telephone pole (what's that?) or available delivery site, things will change a lot. Smart phone users won't see much of a difference except in faster download speeds. But those speeds will make streaming services (Sling, Hulu+ and more) competitive with fiber delivery.

That could mean that your new internet delivery provider will be very much pushing a new way to get you internet at very high speeds. But attractive bundles will include entertainment delivery as well. No studdering, no buffering.

Of course, the ones with owned content (Comcast, Time Warner etc) may have an advantage. (That's why you're seeing Xfinity and Spectrum pushing their cell phone service so hard.) Bad enough the smart phone carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile) have cells all over the place for their proprietary delivery but when 5G providers start to look for additional places to hang sender units, there will be mucho buildout. If only they could get together and establish one company to do the buildouts for all providers.

So your Fire Stick may not be needed then but that's a few years away. Delivery of your internet (all that anyone will need; bye bye traditional cable companies) will be from a "pole" within 1000 feet of your home. Privacy will be reduced because your specific entertainment streaming habits can be captured down to how many minutes you watched a show, if you binge watch etc. Not like a co-ax cable that had all content in it and the cable company had no idea what you watched. And we all hope 5G is safe.

 

[PPBART]

I asked one of the tech guys at local ISP (Cox). He rightfully pointed out that Cox did not provide support for Fire Sticks -- but added that he personally has some experience with the device and suggested that when the problem surfaces simply restart the stick. I've done that a couple of times and it works.