[TelstraClear] TCL Getting Faster & PVR Service

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Ben78

16 posts

Geek

#70230 10-May-2007 19:55

I haven't heard of anything like this, that's why I'm curious to see if anyone has any more details. Might just be I'm reading too much into the quote. It would make sense to host this centrally - the costs would be greatly reduced by having the hard-drive storage in a central repository rather than on a myriad of client-side PVRs. The content would then be streamed on-demand when you want to watch a previously "recorded" programme. Possibly all that is needed is a software update to the current STB to provide an interface to the central storage??? I'm just speculating, of course.

When I was living in the UK we had what the service provider was calling then DSL-TV, we had 8Mbits/2Mbit/s broadband (no cap) and Digitial TV all on the same copper as the phone. The set-top box plugged straight into the wall phone socket with a splitter for the phone, the internet service was provided via a cat5 cable from the LAN port on the back of the box directly to PC/Router. TV quality was very good and they stored the most popular TV shows on their central servers for 7days after broadcast, you then just selected from what was stored and watch it as you would if you'd recorded it yourself i.e. pause, forward, rewind. They also did this music videos and you could could set up your own play lists that would be stored until you deleted them.

Have only had TCL here in NZ for a few months and noticed the box I have also has a LAN port on the back - anybody know if this can be configured as I tried plugging it in to my LAN but nothing is picked up?

JonC

425 posts

Ultimate Geek

#70232 10-May-2007 20:01

The LAN port in the back of the set-top box is for connecting to a cable-modem. It uses the cable-modem to download programme guide information and also to do the pay-per-view channels.

I haven't heard of anyone doing anything with the STB by connecting it to a computer via a LAN.

Ben78

16 posts

Geek

#70235 10-May-2007 20:08

JonC: The LAN port in the back of the set-top box is for connecting to a cable-modem. It uses the cable-modem to download programme guide information and also to do the pay-per-view channels.

I haven't heard of anyone doing anything with the STB by connecting it to a computer via a LAN.

Thanks JonC, that would explain why the EPG always says there are no channels listed, shame the TCL engineer didn't bother to plug this in or even attach the second modem - just connected the set box directly to the socket he drilled through my floor into the basement!

Will go and connect it all now

JonC

425 posts

Ultimate Geek

#70236 10-May-2007 20:12

Ben78:

Thanks JonC, that would explain why the EPG always says there are no channels listed, shame the TCL engineer didn't bother to plug this in or even attach the second modem - just connected the set box directly to the socket he drilled through my floor into the basement!

Will go and connect it all now

Wow - that's a pretty slack installation. Unplug your STB, connect up the modem and start that up first and when all the lights are on then power-on the STB. The EPG will take a couple of minutes to work.

Ben78

16 posts

Geek

#70237 10-May-2007 20:26

JonC:
Wow - that's a pretty slack installation. Unplug your STB, connect up the modem and start that up first and when all the lights are on then power-on the STB. The EPG will take a couple of minutes to work.

Tell me about. EPG now working took a few minutes to come up but now I have a TV guide - many thanks.

jpollock

600 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#70327 11-May-2007 09:53

RE: Network Based PVR

In the US, Cablevision was looking to offer this service, they were quickly sued....

http://www.xchangemag.com/articles/527/75h717275317080.html

I would expect that a similar lawsuit is waiting for anyone attempting a similar service here in NZ.

As for how to do it? The systems that they are already using as STBs for their digital TV are capable of running java applications. Up to me?

1) configure a batch of channels to be used "on demand".
2) when the user requests a show from their recorded set, allocate a channel and inform their STB.
3) STB switches to that channel and bob's your uncle!

Or else, they could switch away from DVB-C and go to IPTV... Lots of fun with Microsoft over there.

Jason

Mutly

250 posts

Master Geek

#70387 11-May-2007 15:24

With the increase in bandwitdh, I wonder if they are looking at something along the lines of on demand streaming. For example: http://www.anytimeondemand.com/

I can't brain today. I have the dumb.

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JonC

425 posts

Ultimate Geek

#70442 11-May-2007 21:16

That article on nDVR was interesting - seems to match what the TCL marketing guy was saying. It seems CableVision are appealing the decision to block the service and are keen to launch if the appeal is successful. Are NZ's copyrights laws less stringent than in the US and therefore TCL's lawyers are happy to go with this sort of technology, I wonder? The article gives good reasons why a cable-TV provider would go for an nDVR solution over regular DVR.

Also saw an article further down the page that a DOCSIS 3.0 trial got speeds of 150Mbps - http://www.xchangemag.com/articles/527/75h109402668788.html. Good to see that there's plenty of life left in cable and FTTH won't really be necessary for quite a few more years. Whether the backhaul will cope is another matter, of course.

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