Play TV? - Page 11

danielf · 19-09-2007, 11:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by brundles

14Mbps is fine depending on what you're using it for. There have been indications that the STB would use anything from half a meg upwards on what little information we have from them so that is fine. There are faster versions but they get signficantly more expensive.

Provided you just connect a port on the router to the Homeplug then and the other Homeplug to the STB it shouldn't affect anything else you're doing. Assuming you buy a wireless router then you can use the laptop wirelessly on it. If it's not a wireless laptop/router then standard RJ45 cabling will do the job.

Presumably, the idea is to avoid wireless? I.e.: connect the router to the modem/STB using RJ45 and then connect the router and laptop with homeplugs. That way, you can use the laptop where ever you want, provided you stick its homeplug in a socket. You're suggesting connecting the STB to a port on the router when that is the signal you want to distribute through the house.

brundles · 19-09-2007, 11:42

arkwright123 wanted to avoid unsightly cabling everywhere.

I was suggesting having the router connected to the homeplug and another homeplug connected to the STB - no additional cabling other than between the powerpoints and boxes. Then using wireless for the laptop to avoid cabling there.

One other thought that you have given me though is that that 14mbps is probably distributed between all of the boxes on it - which means that 14mbps (by the time you've taken out overheads, collisions, etc) might not be enough to distribute a signal of 1mbps to much more than 2 boxes. That's just a guess though based on this review of the 200mbps Homeplugs only giving 50mbps throughput - I'm sure there are people on here with more experience of the home plugs.

BTW arkwright123 - did you get the Netgear product from the original Wiki link or was that the offering made by PlayTV?

danielf · 19-09-2007, 11:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by brundles

arkwright123 wanted to avoid unsightly cabling everywhere.

I was suggesting having the router connected to the homeplug and another homeplug connected to the STB - no additional cabling other than between the powerpoints and boxes. Then using wireless for the laptop to avoid cabling there.

Sorry, but I don't think that is going to work. If you connect the STB to a port on the router (as you suggested) you won't be able to stream the STB signal wirelessly. The STB needs to be connected to the 'line in' on the router. If you site the router next to the STB this will only require one short cable. You can then connect router and laptop (plus any other devices you want) using home plugs. If you move the laptop, you simply move the home plug with it.

brundles · 19-09-2007, 12:02

You've lost me now.

As this is an IP stream the router should be able to handle the wireless portion - if it needs to go wireless (but I don't think either of the STBs is capable of receiving a wireless stream). I'm assuming that multiple boxes actually means multiple streams coming into the house rather than having one stream coming into the house and being re-distributed.

Or am I completely misunderstanding the setup we're discussing?

arkwright23 · 19-09-2007, 12:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by brundles

BTW arkwright123 - did you get the Netgear product from the original Wiki link or was that the offering made by PlayTV?

It was a link from the homeplug.org web page that you kindly supplied.

edit: supplied by LSainsbury

danielf · 19-09-2007, 12:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by brundles

You've lost me now.

As this is an IP stream the router should be able to handle the wireless portion - if it needs to go wireless (but I don't think either of the STBs is capable of receiving a wireless stream). I'm assuming that multiple boxes actually means multiple streams coming into the house rather than having one stream coming into the house and being re-distributed.

Or am I completely misunderstanding the setup we're discussing?

Well, one of us is, and it could certainly be me

. I'm assuming the STB comes before the router (i.e. much like a modem). Am I wrong? If so, where does the lappie come in?

brundles · 19-09-2007, 12:15

I'm running on the theory that the STB is basically a Freeview box capable of receiving an IPTV stream. It then sits behind the router like any other IP box in the house - for example a PC that you could also watch IPTV on. It would also make sense for additional boxes to use IPTV for additional streams rather than some bizarre propriatory wireless stream between them.

As for the lappie, that's most likely the machine arkwright12 is using at the moment - and as he doesn't have a router I'm guessing that it's connected directly to the modem.

arkwright23 · 19-09-2007, 12:33

I merely asked what the router was for btween the broadband modem and the wall-plugged erthernet bridge and is it actually required. I used the laptop as an example, I'm sat at a desktop computer at home.

http://www.netgear.com/upload/produc...gram_xe102.gif

brundles · 19-09-2007, 12:35

Ah fair point - so despite our rambling discussion we still haven't really answered your question

Yes it is required. Without it the only thing that will have access to the internet is the STB. The router allows several things in the house to use the internet connection at the same time.

arkwright23 · 19-09-2007, 14:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by brundles

Ah fair point - so despite our rambling discussion we still haven't really answered your question

Yes it is required. Without it the only thing that will have access to the internet is the STB. The router allows several things in the house to use the internet connection at the same time.

So to summarise:

If I get playtv only I woudn't need a router, just 3 homeplugs, 1 for the modem and 1 each for the 2 playtv boxes.

if I were to buy a laptop then i would need the router as well.

If I were to decline playtv's kind offer and decided to get a laptop, I would only need a router presumably wireless.

So on to questions I need to ask playtv when they ring me in the morning (when they rise, in the morning when they rise, that's the time I love the best, as the song goes)

1 What Sky channels do I get (Sky sports 1, 2 and 3 and interactive (football first) and Sky movie channels a must)
2 Are they connected wirelessly
3 What is their channel lineup.
4 Cost of the boxes
5 Cost of installation.
6 Installation date and how long it takes.
7 Do they have a website (I know they do) where satisfied (or not) customers post their comments.
8 How many customers do they have.
9 other questions???

brundles · 19-09-2007, 14:33

If you want 2 boxes then you'll need a router - each box will want it's own stream. Even if you want just 1 STB and to be able to use your PC at the same time you'll need a router.

On the laptop side of things, you can connect it directly to the modem but again it depends on whether you want the laptop on at the same time as the desktop - or if you want the laptop wireless.

If Sky Sports and Sky Movies are must haves, then you've ruled PlayTV out completely - they don't offer either of them.

I'll be interested to hear of their responses to the other questions though

arkwright23 · 20-09-2007, 12:09

Well, Thursday morning been and gone and no phone call, ahh ce la vie

brundles · 26-09-2007, 21:54

It seems the website has been updated again - with an "invite" to an adults only show in October.

I wonder if this is what they meant by "go live"?

foreverwar · 26-09-2007, 22:25

Nice to see full information on their new, updated website.
"Full channel listings will be available upon launch and content will be available as free-to-view; video-on-demand (VoD) and pay-per-view (PPV)."

wendyk · 30-09-2007, 09:15

I got the call on 7th July. Signed up for 2 boxes. In August found £90 had been taken out of my bank account. Called PlayTV at great cost. They explained a service person would call within two weeks but I wouldn't be charged any more until it came on line. £15 of phone calls, promises of people calling back, new excuses all the time - postal strike x2; large volume of demand; the latest being they are getting more channels &it would be working by Oct 1st. Have been promised a call from service within 2 weeks, 5 times now. Am still waiting for the 'call back from my latest rant at someone. Am seriously thinking of asking for my money back but i do at least have 2 pieces of paper with service agreement numbers on them for the 2 boxes. Has anyone got one yet? Should I hang on/ HELP??: