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Tiscali+ Set top box
samridley90
24-10-2009
Hi there,

Planning on ordering Tiscali+ tommorow, just got a few questions for people that already have a tiscali+ box, since sales dont seem to know....

1. When using the TV on a DSL channel, like Sky1, does it have a big noticable impact on the broadband speeds?

2. Does the Tiscali+ box connect to the wireless router wirelessly, or via a cable? This might be a problem due to me spending most of my time in the loft converstion, and the only socket in the house is in the downstairs hallway, next to the main door...

Thanks in advance!
Sam
parthena
25-10-2009
Partial answer:

If you are in an area with good Freeview reception, you attach an aerial to your Tiscali+ box and it will receive the free-to-air channels via that, not down the phone line. I get problems with Crystal Palace transmissions at times (weather conditions? varying signal strength? I don't know) and when the Freeview signal is not available or very poor the Tiscali box changes to receive the affected channels down the phone line, great

If you can receive Freeview, then you can record 2 Freeview channels and one IPTV (say, National Georgraphic or FX) all at the same time. If you can't get Freeview, then all your channels will be via IPTV and you can only record one at a time.

My Tisc+ box is connected to a Thomson D8A13D router via a very long, extremely cheap, Cat5 cable, but my laptop's on wifi, it's showing 54.0Mbps whilst I'm watching TV. It doesn't vary much, signal strength usually shows as Excellent, sometimes down to Very Good. My brother has his laptop on wifi all the time as well, I think he does quite a bit of downloading.

I think it's a very good service, though there may be Customer Service failings in times of high demand.

A note re the Tisc+ interface - the EPG can be a drag to scroll thru, it's rather slow. I find it quicker to select the channel I'm interested in and press the button to display only that channel's programmes, it's must faster to scroll thru that list and set recordings.

E&OE!

parthena
billinge
26-10-2009
I can't say I've ever noticed a drop in broadband speeds while watching a DSL channel, and I often sit infront of the tv with my laptop.

The Tiscali+ box needs to be wired to the modem, into port No.1, then the other three ports and the wifi are available for other devices.

I would strongly advise, and Tiscali do also, having the modem plugged directly into the bt master socket for best performance.

The best thing then is to run a Cat5 cable to the Tiscali+ box. They often have cable if you don't have any so could wire this for you, but of course they won't drill through any walls or lift floors so check the route required and make the appropriate arrangements.

I decided to network my house when I got Tiscali+, so now have quite a complicated network via a switch/hub in the loft, but it does mean I get great coverage all over the house.
Logan_Wolverine
27-10-2009
On channels such as sky sports - or channels only available from Tiscali (ie not the freeview ones over the ariel)
my speed drops from ~6.5MB to ~4.5MB.
parthena
27-10-2009
I switched over to Animal Planet to test that out. Shortly afterwards my reported speed went down to 36.0Mbps but only for a minute, it soon went back up to 56.0

I'm not complaining.

parthena
Logan_Wolverine
28-10-2009
56MB is the WiFi speed to/from your wireless router & laptop - it should be unaffected.
The TV/Broadband Tiscali is 8MB max.

Try something like
http://www.my-speedtest.com/speedtest.htm
http://www.speedtest.net/
this will measure the broadband speed out to the internet.
parthena
28-10-2009
I wondered why tests didn't show the same as what it says on my lappy

Speedtest now reports 6707 download - only 483 upload, which is normal for Tiscali, I think.

Thank you Wolverine.

parthena
Jiveman
31-10-2009
I have my Tiscali+ box connected to a powerline ethernet adaptor that I bought from dabs.com (their cheapest model) and it works fine, no wires required between the router and the TV
parthena
31-10-2009
Originally Posted by Jiveman:
“powerline ethernet adaptor that I bought from dabs.com”

Is this the one? (Not in stock at the mo.)

http://www.dabs.com/products/linksys...ine%20ethernet

If not, are you able to post a link? Many thanks,

parthena
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