Internet TV

Is anyone using an Internet TV service? I believe this will be the wave of the future soon replacing cable and satellite. I see there are a few services available. I was looking at these ones:

http://www.satellitedirect.com/?hop=mattar2011

http://www.satellitestreams.com/

Bob

Interesting links...thanks for posting.
The word "streaming" is enough to get me screaming. Buffer, buffer and more buffering is really annoying and makes it hard to watch anything UNLESS you have a really excellent and consistently good high speed internet connection. IMHO, that doesn't exist in Mexico YET.
The connections that do exist are excellent for downloading. We are using Graboid and are very happy with it...watch the programs we want and when we want...can pause with no problems. Somebody on another board said it was "downloading for idiots". Well, this idiot thinks it's the best program around. It's logical, current and provides a lot of info about movies or programs all in one spot. It was originally Tingting on TOB who wrote about it...can't ever thank her enough.
http://www.graboid.com There is a free trial period for those interested.
We hook up to the TV with an HDMI to HDMI cable...no commercials...just plain entertainment...easy as pie

Bob, you can watch many local channels, but not the network programs.

ferret wrote:Interesting links...thanks for posting.
The word "streaming" is enough to get me screaming. Buffer, buffer and more buffering is really annoying and makes it hard to watch anything UNLESS you have a really excellent and consistently good high speed internet connection. IMHO, that doesn't exist in Mexico YET.
The connections that do exist are excellent for downloading. We are using Graboid and are very happy with it...watch the programs we want and when we want...can pause with no problems. Somebody on another board said it was "downloading for idiots". Well, this idiot thinks it's the best program around. It's logical, current and provides a lot of info about movies or programs all in one spot. It was originally Tingting on TOB who wrote about it...can't ever thank her enough.
http://www.graboid.com There is a free trial period for those interested.
We hook up to the TV with an HDMI to HDMI cable...no commercials...just plain entertainment...easy as pie

Yes, you would need a fast connection speed to ensure buffer free viewing. I suppose the best way would be to save all the programs you want to watch to your hard drive and watch them after they have completely downloaded buffer free, just not live.

I'm going to check one of these services out in the next few months to see if it would be a viable (and less expensive) option to Shaw Direct.

I know someone with a Mac computer, gets internet TV and saves to his hard drive then watches when he wants. Some how he can't watch live TV - don't understand why or the technical problem. So that is the downside.

But we have some good vendors to set up Shaw from Canada and I love it. I get network stations from the locations I choose plus a huge amount of channels. Bring the equipment with you when you come down if you decide on Shaw. The receiver and dish are much cheaper in Canada then here.

Looks like a scam to me Bob. Have you looked into them any further?

http://www.ripoffreport.com/directory/satellite-direct.aspx

I use SeeOn to watch the major US networks, movies, and many cable channels. It's free and works (streams) reasonably well on my Telmex 2Mbps connection.
http://www.seeon.tv/channels

We have a Roku box and can watch free hundreds of programs, including Hulu,(which also has a for fee service).[url] http://www.roku.com/roku-channel-store?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email#1[/url]
The free stuff is down on the left of the page. Lizzy

Bartdude wrote:Looks like a scam to me Bob. Have you looked into them any further?

http://www.ripoffreport.com/directory/satellite-direct.aspx

No, I haven't looked into it any further. Thanks for the heads up Bartdude.

Check out the Slingbox before you come down Bob, it works pretty well for us, but it is somewhat limiting as we can only hook the laptop up to the TV, using HDMI cable, one at a time. So, no watching in both the BR and LR.

I will definitely check it out Juan. The company I work for sells these devices. I suppose the secret is having someone NOB who will let you hang on to their service and are somewhat tech savy to fix any issues from that end should they arise?

You should check out this device which would allow you to wirelessly transmit from your laptop to any TV in the house. If you were to get a receiver for each TV that may solve your problem.

http://www.aitech.com/products/pctvwireless.htm

Question John:

If one had WIFI capable TV - wouldn't they be able to watch in two different rooms?

CanuckBob wrote:I will definitely check it out Juan. The company I work for sells these devices. I suppose the secret is having someone NOB who will let you hang on to their service and are somewhat tech savy to fix any issues from that end should they arise?

You should check out this device which would allow you to wirelessly transmit from your laptop to any TV in the house. If you were to get a receiver for each TV that may solve your problem.

http://www.aitech.com/products/pctvwireless.htm

I've been watching the reviews for the product in the link you posted...over a year now. I have yet to find a review, even on cnet, that is positive. I think it'll get there eventually, but not at the moment. If the reception is bad and/or interfered with in NOB houses, just imagine what it might be like here. I'm not spending those kind of bucks to find out.

http://www.amazon.com/Aitech-Pro-Wireless-Converter-06-078-001-08/dp/B000BD68KM

Try this; http://www.hulu.com/ and then this one; http://www.crackle.com/

If you hook a DVD burner up to your computer you can record. There is a paid version, but you won't get much more.

Bob

CheenaGringo wrote:Question John:

If one had WIFI capable TV - wouldn't they be able to watch in two different rooms?

Not sure, I don't have a wifi enabled TV.
But, I am going to check out Bob's link