"Anyone get their TV service through the phone lines?" Topic

Anybody get their TV service through the phone lines?

I am thinking of switching, but I am worried that the picture quality or some other aspect of the service will be a disappointment.

Anyone got any experience iof this service, positive or negative?

I do now that the networks are offering their shows online. Otherwise no.

I get my TV through fiber optics (AT&T U-Verse).

I like it quite a lot, although my PVR box's software can be a little flakey.

I used to use Comcast (Time Warner) digital cable, and U-Verse is better quality, since NONE of the channels are analog. (This could be a problem for you if you have a Tivo or some device that needs analog inputs btw!)

The response of the set-top box is a little sluggish compared to Tivo, but it has a really slick and pretty interface. The ability to record either shows or "series" is there, though it's a little more primitive than Tivo.

The program search is MUCH better than the Comcast box, and if they actually get their "record on one box, watch on any box" functionality working (which they've promised, but not yet delivered) it will be really awesome.

The main thing that got me to switch though is that it's a way faster Internet connection and fully digital TV (with up to 4 simultaneously recording programs) for a lot less than the Comcast/Roadrunner combo I had before. Yeah, the PVR part is a little flakey still, but once they get the "2.0" softwared done I suspect it will be a lot better.

It depends on what the physical medium delivers the signal.

If it's fiber optics, as Lugal is getting, you have the potential for very good picture quality and lots of channel capacity. The limiting factor with fiber is the choices your service provider has made as far as equipment.

If it's a copper telephone line, your picture quality will be very bad. Twisted pair copper doesn't have the available bandwidth to deliver video. For example, DSL runs over twisted pair and typically delivers 1.5 to 3 Mbps of bandwidth. The variation depends on how close you are are to the central office.

A standard definition picture for DVD quality using MPEG-2 encode is about 6 Mbps of bandwidth. An HD picture using MPEG-2 uses roughly 20 Mbps of bandwidth. Much more than the twisted pair in the outside plant can offer. And that doesn't include adds and leaves when you change the channel which is even more bandwidth.

There is also MPEG-4 encoding which can reduce the bandwidth stream somewhat but you trade off bandwidth for picture quality. To keep a decent picture you end up with about 60% of the bandwidth of an un-compressed stream anyway. And the service provider will have to use more expensive encoders and set top boxes, if they can find a combination of middleware, STB and encoders that work together.

The bottom line is, if your phone line comes in via fiber, you have the bandwidth potential for a good viewing experience. Potential because that doesn't necessarily mean the service provider is any good. If your phone line comes in via copper, you're highly unlikely to get good video quality.

TTFN
Preston

Optimum Online in my area (aka Cablevision) already delivers their "cable" signal through Fiber optic cable, like Fios or others. Ironically, I was skeptical about cable for Internet access when it first rolled out, waiting for DSL in my area (never happened)

I want Fios in my area to leverage my cable and Internet costs in the long term.

Otherwise, data is data across different transmission media.
In the mid-west, there are a couple of companies transmitting data over power lines…

I'm not quite sure how you can get a decent picture using NTSC… OR "Never Twice the Same Colour" as we UK TV Engineers often refer to it as.. :)

The UK has had a fibre optic backbone for… umm at least 10 years now. It carried analogue to start with. Use to be Telewest and NTL but now it's all owned by Virgin Media. Broadband up to 20megs in some areas, and all the TV channels you could wish for.

I have to put up with SKY TV though, 'cuz I live out in the sticks!

"If it's a copper telephone line, your picture quality will be very bad. Twisted pair copper doesn't have the available bandwidth to deliver video. For example, DSL runs over twisted pair and typically delivers 1.5 to 3 Mbps of bandwidth. The variation depends on how close you are are to the central office."

I get 8megs B/B on my twisted pair, but the exchange is just a few hundred yards away… :)

Great answers – Thanks guys thats just what I needed to know. I think the signal's coming in on copper wire, so I'll give it a wide steer.

I don't really need super fast broadband to send e-mail and check TMP so I'm thinking of downgrading my internet from cable to DSL to save some money.

While checking that out I thought of binning cable Tv for the phone company TV service to save even more and stick it to Comcast, but it looks like I'll have to hang onto cable telly unfortunately. I hate those guys.

But I do like the cable card.

And HD.

I switched from Bright House to Verizon FIOS (Fiber optic), and it has been a lot better. The picture is clearer than the Time Warner, and our internet has been a little faster, but not a lot.

We have HD TV, and Verizon has more HD channels than Bright House did. The standard channels are almost to the same quality as the Bright House HD channels.

I get my tv through the local Telco provider (Aliant in Nova Scotia, Canada). It is delivered through a DSL line. As far as quality and reliability goes, it is as good as or better than the local cable. Not HD capable but as good as cable.
Problems: Sometimes the sound and picture get out of sync but not often.
Problem(?): I believe this is a second generation implementation, which means the occasional outage, but not frequent or long (Again as good or better than local cable.).
Issue: Most providers use a set top box as a converter which means you can not tape one channel and watch another from the same box.

Future: Rumour has it they are coming out with a new set top which will have TIVO (PVR) like capabilities.