Fifty Plus (50+) - Free TdF Viewing -- Tips for Cheapskates

OK, I'm a tightwad -- unwilling to pay the $30 or $50 to get Versus on the computer or cable.

Yesterday, I was able to watch and record the entire day's coverage from the links on this page:

http://www.steephill.tv/tour-de-france/#live

It wasn't super high def, and there were numerous pauses of a second or two, but it was still quite enjoyable to watch.

Today, however the links are different. The CastAmp.com link worked for a while, but then shut down. Other links that worked yesterday no longer work today.

Currently, this link:

http://www.fromsportcom.com/v-2/10/16/v-301618.html

works fine, but it's in French.

I could mute it, and run an English audio stream, but the link for an audio stream on the above page doesn't work, and I haven't found one that does.

Has anyone gotten some free viewing working?

you are not a tightwad TromboneAl...... Versus rarely has anything I like except le Tour. Fortunately it is in my cable package.

you are not a tightwad TromboneAl...... Versus rarely has anything I like except le Tour. Fortunately it is in my cable package.

At night,, they go from TDF to fishing tournaments, or rodeos, or some other memorable manly stuff.

The only reason I have Versus is TdF and bull riding.

OK, I'm a tightwad -- unwilling to pay the $30 or $50 to get Versus on the computer or cable.
Those Cali cable companies must be ripping off everyone. Versus has been included in the basic package around here for the last hundred years.

Those Cali cable companies must be ripping off everyone. Versus has been included in the basic package around here for the last hundred years.

Not just Cali. I've got Charter Communications cable with extended basic and HD, and it still doesn't include Versus. Ironically, I was able to watch the Giro live free from my roof antenna on Universal Sports, which I think is affiliated with NBC.

We'll have to make you an honorary Scotsman, Al! I do not even have cable TV -- just DSL for the computer and an outdoor mast-mounted antenna w/ a 26dB head amp. As long as I get KPBS and UCSD-TV I am happy.

I end up watching the highlights on YouTube. I dont see it real time and I dont get it all. But I get enough to follow along.

I have Versus as part of the extended cable package, with all the other included channels I figure Vs is about $2 a month. Phil Ligget and Paul Scherwin are so worth whatever the cost, they are a treat to listen to for the TdF. I'm a happy camper here!!

Thanks for the link

We are tightwads too. We don't have cable and usually go to a friends house to catch some stages of the TdF.
Last year we finally got DSL internet (after having free or super cheap dial-up for a long time). I've been able to talk Qwest into only charging us $15/mo for the DSL.
Last week we hemmed and hawed over subscribing for the $30 all access online from Versus. We both ride our bikes to work most of the time and have saved more than $30 on gas already this year :)
So we signed up and so far we have been loving it.

Isn't NBC carrying some of it? They had yesterday's time trials.

Edit - looks like just the first two stages was all.

Today I recorded the whole thing (with English commentary). I'll watch it now, and it will put me to sleep.

Don't fall asleep before the finish.

here's another tip, if you find a link don't post it anywhere or else it will go away.

I have Versus as part of the extended cable package, with all the other included channels I figure Vs is about $2 a month. Phil Ligget and Paul Scherwin are so worth whatever the cost, they are a treat to listen to for the TdF. I'm a happy camper here!!

That's fine if the channels you get in the package are all ones that you want, what I usually find is that I don't mind paying extra for 10 channels, but they tend to do it this way around here:

You get the channel you want, along with 9 channels you don't want and in another package is another channel you want with 9 you don't, so by the time you get the 5 channels you want it's an extra $150 a month. If they had a package where you could pick any 10 channels for $30, or 5 you want and 5 your wife wants, I wouldn't mind....

I'm not a big 'sportif' person. Spectator sports just dont move me like they do some. I don't choose to invest a lot of time or money in watching sports, so the pay-per-view options are kinda lost on me.
It isn't that I'm not interested - I am. I think the TdF is awesome.

But I don't really follow pro-cycling as routine, so most of the intrigue, personalities and details are lost on me. I don't know one chap from the next, except for a few names like Contador, Hushovd, Gilbert, Cancellara, Schleck - those guys. And I've only heard of them BECAUSE of the TdF. I wouldn't know them if they ran me over.

So, for me, a daily round of the various highlights is usually enough to tide me over. If I want to learn more about something or someone, I can dig a little from there.

If it weren't on Versus, I probably wouldn't watch it. I watch more for the scenery than the race(40 lashes). I'm not that big a cycling fan. I like to ride...for me. Don't really care to watch someone else ride.

It's been working well to record from the computer every morning, and watch it later.

However, on some days (like today), there are a lot of pauses in the video. The commentary continues uninterrupted, but the video will frequently pause for a few seconds. Other days, there are no pauses at all. I assume this is just my Internet connection (cable) not keeping up with the streaming.

Any way of reducing this problem? Rebooting, computer, rebooting cable modem, reconnecting, closing all other apps?

On this page, http://www.steephill.tv/tour-de-france/#live, there are three links for viewing. Do you think that one link might have fewer pauses than another?

It's been working well to record from the computer every morning, and watch it later.

However, on some days (like today), there are a lot of pauses in the video. The commentary continues uninterrupted, but the video will frequently pause for a few seconds. Other days, there are no pauses at all. I assume this is just my Internet connection (cable) not keeping up with the streaming.

Any way of reducing this problem? Rebooting, computer, rebooting cable modem, reconnecting, closing all other apps?

On this page, http://www.steephill.tv/tour-de-france/#live, there are three links for viewing. Do you think that one link might have fewer pauses than another?
I notice video pauses too, which I suspect are either at the server or somewhere in between, but not likely in the last mile of wire to my house. Cable is more prone to shared bandwidth issues, however, so that could be a factor for you. I have DSL.