Gave Neon a go, picture ok but crap sound (using chromecast)

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rugrat

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#215420 26-Jun-2017 20:19

I finally decided to get rid of Sky basic which will happen at end of week.

With multiroom $75 a month for channels full of adds, and stuff even being written over the top of picture, just doesn't seem worth it, and lack of HD,

Zone channel going and a lot of content being moved from there to SD channels it's starting to look like to me that sky is taking the p*ss out of everyone.

Thought I'd give Neon a go since better movie content then Netflix, connected chrome cast to TV connected to Amp, low and behold can only get sound from centre speaker, I miles as well just play sound through TV speakers. Oh Dear, what are they smoking at Sky. It's a shame because Neon look like it had protential.

I tested with Chromecast and Netflix, Netflix doesn't do DD5.1 through chromecast either (using iphone to cast), but at least they do Stero sound so can get sound from more then one speaker, plus they have applic for LG TV which does full 5.1.

Most of stuff I watch ends up on Lightbox or Netflix, I'll just be a season or two behind like the expanse and the Americans. Even light box does stero sound.

I like the hardware of myskys so will try and rent at around $18 a month each for freeview,( I paid $600 at start for mysky so don't pay extra for having record ability) but if they won't play ball then I'll go looking for freeview unit. $18 with two decoders comes out at $36, where with basic just under $75, the way they do basic not even prepared to pay $39 more.

Apple TV does pay per views better then Skys on Demand PPV (more content and just about every movie available in HD) and with the sky on demand free stuff to download the ones I've downloaded are crap picture quality and I can hear a lot of clicking sounds in the sound. (sorta like a scratched record sound)

It's taken a long time for me to wake up, always hoping they'd change for the better, but with removal of HD zone channel know there a long way off learning, and with box sets guessing they'll be old programs with heaps of promo interuptions, and who has the drive space to record an entire season in one night.

Rant over lol, guess I just came to same realization that others came to years ago.

jonathan18

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#1807357 27-Jun-2017 08:42

I've made the same comment re Neon sound quality via AirPlay (iPad to Apple TV). Just completely destroyed the whole experience of watching quality programming for me.

We're probably half way through our three month free trial of Neon, but we've not used it in weeks; certainly won't elect to pay for it after the trial's up.

rugrat

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#1808359 28-Jun-2017 16:43

Rang them up, got to keep recording and both decoders for $38 a month, plus two basic channels thrown in, which change each month.

What doesn't make it to Netflix/Lightbox I'll just wait for box set to come out in shops if I really want to see it, like Game of Thrones.

MurrayM

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#1810677 3-Jul-2017 08:51

I've just signed up for three months free trial on Neon via a Vodafone offer and I must say I'm very disappointed. I'm watching via a Chromecast on my TV and the sound seems to constantly stutter, ie it plays for a second then there's a a half second of silence and then it plays again for another second and this repeats. This happened on the 2 movies and 3 TV programs that I tried watching.

Also as soon as the video starts playing on my Chromecast the app on my phone pops up a message saying "Hmm we seem to be having trouble playing that for you."

My Chromecast can play Youtube videos just fine.

Any ideas?

rugrat

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#1811150 3-Jul-2017 17:51

It went better then that for me, just it was mono sound.

Through a plasma TV and just using TV speakers it was fine, good as a live TV broadcast, so for non action programs, drama type programs

it is probably fine for, just I was interested more in movies which benefit from extra sound.

I used iphone to connect to chrome cast and on a fibre connection.

I got the oops message first time tried to play something, but that was straight after signing up, then it came right.

MurrayM

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#1812326 4-Jul-2017 08:05

They've got a message in their support pages that there's a problem with playing on the original Chromecast, which is what I've got, and that they're working to fix it. So maybe that's the problem that I'm seeing. Not a good start to a free trial as I can't test it properly with my TV and I don't want to watch on my phone.

Wash

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#1812609 4-Jul-2017 14:31

There are a few threads around about problems playing back on the early Chromecast 1 devices. Is it worth checking the suggestions in here?

https://www.reddit.com/r/Chromecast/comments/5ifn2j/the_reason_why_the_chromecast_stutters_with_some/

From what I can gather, there are two hardware revisions of the Chromecast 1. The first ones are based on a single core Marvell chipset while later ones are a dual core (maybe more similar to the Chromecast 2?). As such, they get different firmware and the problems seem to have started occurring recently which suggests a problem with these older models and later firmware versions.

MurrayM

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#1812633 4-Jul-2017 15:05

Wash:

There are a few threads around about problems playing back on the early Chromecast 1 devices. Is it worth checking the suggestions in here?

https://www.reddit.com/r/Chromecast/comments/5ifn2j/the_reason_why_the_chromecast_stutters_with_some/

From what I can gather, there are two hardware revisions of the Chromecast 1. The first ones are based on a single core Marvell chipset while later ones are a dual core (maybe more similar to the Chromecast 2?). As such, they get different firmware and the problems seem to have started occurring recently which suggests a problem with these older models and later firmware versions.

Thanks for the link, I'll give it a read.

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sen8or

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#1814279 7-Jul-2017 10:48

I keep an xbox360 in our lounge / HT for Neon through either a projector or plasma with full surround sound. Even then, its still only 2.0, even TVNZ broadcasts in 5.1ffs. I have tried airplay to the appletv in the living room, simply plasma speakers so not fussed on the sound, but it works ok. I suspect the only "technical problem" that Neon has with upgrading broadcasts to proper 5.1 is that the financial controller won't release the funds to do so.

I like the potential of Neon, better / more up to date movies than Netflix, I'm on 12 months free with Vodafone connection but would seriously have to consider if $20/mth would be worth it otherwise

MurrayM

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#1814321 7-Jul-2017 11:56

MurrayM:

Wash:

There are a few threads around about problems playing back on the early Chromecast 1 devices. Is it worth checking the suggestions in here?

https://www.reddit.com/r/Chromecast/comments/5ifn2j/the_reason_why_the_chromecast_stutters_with_some/

From what I can gather, there are two hardware revisions of the Chromecast 1. The first ones are based on a single core Marvell chipset while later ones are a dual core (maybe more similar to the Chromecast 2?). As such, they get different firmware and the problems seem to have started occurring recently which suggests a problem with these older models and later firmware versions.

Thanks for the link, I'll give it a read.

Well I tried the suggestions but they didn't improve anything. I guess Neon just doesn't like first gen Chromecasts.

Wash

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#1814358 7-Jul-2017 13:06

Hey.

As mentioned earlier, the Chromecast 1 comes in two hardware flavours. The first generation Chromecast 1 one with recent firmware is having this problem while later Chromecast 1 devices and Chromecast 2 and Ultra devices are ok. Google are working on the problem currently.

If you haven't already, get in touch with NEON support. They should be able to confirm if your Chromecast is one of the ones affected and help you in some way.

MurrayM

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#1814464 7-Jul-2017 14:47

Wash:

Hey.

As mentioned earlier, the Chromecast 1 comes in two hardware flavours. The first generation Chromecast 1 one with recent firmware is having this problem while later Chromecast 1 devices and Chromecast 2 and Ultra devices are ok. Google are working on the problem currently.

If you haven't already, get in touch with NEON support. They should be able to confirm if your Chromecast is one of the ones affected and help you in some way.

I've just sent Neon Support a message, we'll see if they can help me out. Maybe I should just take the opportunity to upgrade my Chromecast, I see they're $63 from PB Tech.

Wash

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#1814536 7-Jul-2017 16:15

If you do end up with a Chromecast 2, you'll find that it is much faster to startup and start playback than the Chromecast 1 :)

MurrayM

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#1821678 13-Jul-2017 10:42

Just to follow up on my experience with Neon:

I contacted Neon support and explained my problem with my Chromecast. They admited there were problems with using a generation 1 Chromecast with Neon and offered to send me a new generation 2 Chromecast. It arrived by courier the very next day and I now have it set up and I'm glad to say that everything is now working perfectly.

I think that's fantastic service from Neon, way above and beyond what I expected! I'm really impressed with their support.

netspanner

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#1821744 13-Jul-2017 11:47

I wish they would refresh their content, after a couple of months now I have watched everything I want to see. I am just looking all the time for something new.