Stingray?

[Marjorie2]

My elderly mother just moved into a facility and now that her services have been set up she says she can't get Stingray any more. She used a legacy Nextbox for years but now has to use Ignite. I live far away and don't use Rogers, so I'm not sure if this is something I can set up for her or if Stingray is a thing of the past. She listened to it all the time and misses it terribly. Someone she talked to at Rogers told her she'd have to get a cell phone, but she's never used one or a tablet and could never figure it out. Any suggestions? 

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[57 · Accepted solution]

@Marjorie2 : With IgniteTV, the Stingray "channels" are now available via an app on the set top box.  This was discussed in the following thread:

https://communityforums.rogers.com/t5/Ignite-TV/More-Stingray-Music-Changes/m-p/505535

There are several ways you can get to the app and the channel you want:

1. Hit the Rogers button, go to the apps menu button on the right and then scroll down to the music selections where Stingray can be found.

2. With IgniteTV it's very easy to use the voice commands, so simply hold the mic button and say "Stingray" and it'll take you right to the app.

3. If she knows the name of the channel you can say "Flashback 70's" for example when in the app and it'll take you to that (or any other) channel.  I believe you may even be able to say "Stingray Flashback 70's" (or similar) when watching regular TV and it should take you to the channel you want.  Good pronunciation helps

4. Hit the exit button to leave the app.

The voice commands can be very helpful to find all kinds of things like your favourite programme, or channel, or recent recordings, etc.  See tips below:

https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/voice-command-tips

5. You can also go the the guide in IgniteTV where the Stingray channels are located (Channels 370-409).  Select the channel you want, or type the channel number into the remote (followed by enter to make the selection) and you'll be taken to that channel in the app.  That may not work once Rogers realigns the channels though, so it's better to use the app/voice commands.

[Marjorie2]

Thank you very much for your reply. I'm going to try talking her through this when she gets back from dinner! Will update later.

[Marjorie2]

She got to the right channel (we tried Easy Listening) but it says something about there being no programs available at this time. I can see the Stingray channels listed in the "Your Personal Channel Line-Up" section of her account so she should have access. Does she need to press anything else to make it play? Wish I were there in person to see what's going on. I could hear the TV playing as she tried this, so she had the Easy Listening screen but audio from another channel, I guess.

[57]

1. I tried saying the voice command "Stingray Easy Listening" and it took me directly to that channel and there was audio.  

2. Try hitting the FF button as that will take you to the next "song".

3. Try a different Stingray Channel...

4. Make sure the volume is up on the TV (easy to confirm when watching another channel and you already confirmed you could hear something).

5. I'm assuming she's subscribed to Stingray channels at her facility.

6. She may not have "reached" the Stingray app and you were hearing another (incorrect) channel.

7. Perhaps someone at the facility can help.

[Marjorie2]

Thanks for your help. It may have to wait until I'm there in person or someone tech-savvy can help her out.

[57]

Easy Listening is channel 380. Have her punch 3-8-0 and Enter (the centre button of the remote) and she should be taken directly to the "channel" in the app.

Did she try the voice command "Stingray Easy Listening"?  You need to hold the mic button down the entire time while saying the words.

[Marjorie2]

Yes, the voice commands worked for her. First she went to the Stingray page showing all the channels, and then the Easy Listening page, but didn't have the audio. I'll tell her to try entering 380. Maybe the channels showing on her account aren't really part of her package or something. Accounts are all separate for each person, nothing to do with the facility itself. Possibly there's an aide who can assist. Thanks again.

[Marjorie2]

She did it! We went through all the steps again and tried a different channel. Now she knows how to access her top four or five favourites. Now we're trying to get her back to the baseball game. Give me strength. Thanks for the guidance. I'm glad she can still blast her awful music all day. 

[57]

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@Marjorie2 wrote:  I'm glad she can still blast her awful music all day. 

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😉 Good to hear she got it working.

[jays77]

Sadly it's getting far too complicated for non techies to easily access what has always been a simple way to get a couple hours of entertainment.  

[57]

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@jays77 wrote:  Sadly it's getting far too complicated for non techies...

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I'm not sure using an app is any more complicated than using a TV STB (Set Top Box). It mostly comes down to what you're used to and many people do not like anything new or different.

There is, however, no escaping the fact that fewer and fewer people are "watching TV" in the traditional way - sitting in front of a TV with a STB.  Most people now get their viewing through devices like phones and tablets.  Even those who "watch TV" may use streaming sites and devices or TV apps, which have a different interface.

This is similar to Home Phone. The number of people who primarily use a home phone is dwindling to almost zero.

There are some advantages to using the Stingray App on the STB (or device).  You can skip songs you don't like and you can view the timeline of the song, etc.  It comes down to what you're used to and if you're willing to make a small effort to use a new/different interface, which can sometimes have advantages.

There was probably a small learning curve with the switch from Legacy to Ignite and your learning should never really stop.  Voice Commands are (often) wonderful, saving numerous steps when searching, locating programming, etc.

Disclaimer - I am over 70 and still do watch all of my TV while sitting in front of my TV in my Home Theatre with a surround sound system for good audio.  I do, however, make an effort to learn new technology as it comes along and do use an iPad and iPhone in situations where those devices provide an advantage.  It helps keep me sharper.  I am also one of the few that primarily still uses a Home Phone.