PVR on Homechoice vs BT Vision

olivier_wery

01-08-2007

Hi all, I had been a happy Homechoice customer for 3 years, but was getting annoyed at lack of pvr.
Happily jumped on the BT Vision bandwagon a few days ago only to realize that it was shambolic as you had to deal with 2 different departments (Broadband and Vision) and you still only had freeview which meant that you needed an aerial, which I don't have and never wanted to have (hence the homechoice choice many moons ago...) Now.... going through the motion of cancelling the BT vision and it is hell... But what about still not having a PVR?
Well homechoice twice in two days told me they were testing new boxes in september for release in october.... but unlikely to be free as Vision is now.... and a box is north of 100 quid.... so... two questions for you:
1. Am I right to stay with Homechoice? Is it still the most valid option?
2. Can you actually buy an 'off the shelf' HD recorder and make it record from Homechoice?
Thanks to you all.
Olivier

Peter We

01-08-2007

The choice is between VM and HC for you. As HC are getting the Sky channels and possibly HD I would wait for Homechoice's box and see what it offers. A normal PVR may lack some features - recording multiple channels or watching another while recording one that I expect a HC box to provide.

Tivo works with HC, but I stick freeview through my Tivo and depend on the on-demand services from HC. I am overwhelmed with choice with this setup.

Rufus Londinii

01-08-2007

So now we have to wait till October? Good Grief!

dpvod

01-08-2007

Originally Posted by Rufus Londinii:
“So now we have to wait till October? Good Grief! ”

I sympathise with Rufus but would rather wait and have a product that has been thoroughly tested before being brought to market..(a neighbour has the top up tv pvr installed and that has been an unmitigated disaster)

Peter We

01-08-2007

Same with BT Vision. Total disaster.

Rufus Londinii

01-08-2007

Originally Posted by dpvod:
“I sympathise with Rufus but would rather wait and have a product that has been thoroughly tested before being brought to market..(a neighbour has the top up tv pvr installed and that has been an unmitigated disaster)”

A good point well made but it's getting a bit wearing now. For the last couple of months the Technology mags have been hinting at a July launch (even having it in their Diary section at one point for July 5th) only to drag and drag and drag.

I've moved house but still have Homechoice/Tiscali TV at my old place for the moment. I want to have it at my new place but, before I transfer, I want to see what I am actually signing up for in the next 12 months. I can actually get Sky at the new place so that is going to be the main TV service but whether I pay £10 for multiroom or £15-24 for Tiscali TV depends on the answers I'm still waiting for. (You can see where the financial argument is heading...)

(I've just heard they might have tried to call me today - calling back at 8:30. I'll see whether I can get any more information (and whether I can report it back...)

Rufus Londinii

01-08-2007

Olivier_Wery - Before you make a decision I'd draw your attention to the threads lower down and particularly my post

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...d.php?t=590835

Originally Posted by Rufus Londinii:
“http://www.telsey.com/corporate/news...261KFR87&prg=1

Tiscali chooses Telsey as official supplier of Hybrid IP Set Top Boxes FS600

Telsey S.p.A. has won the call for tender set up by Tiscali and is today official supplier for Hybrid IP Set Top Boxes FS600 - one of the first STB integrating in one device IPTV connection and a double tuner for DDT and Personal Video Recorder - allowing the operator the most flexible service implementation.

Quinto di Treviso (TV), Italia - June 2007 - Telsey, leader in designing and producing access devices and solutions and broadband multimedia communication services, has been selected by Tiscali, one of the main independent European telecommunication companies, as the only supplier of Hybrid IP Set Top Boxes FS600.

During the next 15 months, Telsey will supply Tiscali with two versions of STB in order to fulfil the need of connections both in UK and in Italy. Both versions will allow users whether to access the Tiscali IPTV service, recently launched in UK and soon to be launched in Italy, and to access the DDT via an analogical (analogue - surely digital?)antenna. Part of the deal will involve a STB with an additional interesting feature, and will have 2 tuners DDT (Digital Terrestrial) and a PVR option, allowing users to record contents to be viewed later than the broadcasting timetable

The use of the Telsey Set Top Box Hybrid IP will make easy the usage of both services in one simple menu, through one single device.

"We are very proud to be selected by Tiscali as single supplier of Hybrid IP Set Top Boxes FS600 for their British and Italian markets. To succeed in technological competitions where aggressive and skilled device producers are working is to us a confirmation of the distinctive and unique value we are selling. We are sure that Telsey, with its expertise and product quality, will be in the position to accompany Tiscali in the best possible way of offering an innovative and cutting-edge IPTV service", says Andrea Bosio - Presidente & Chairman of Telsey S.p.A.

"Tiscali's approach has always been to offer immediate, user-friendly and high-value-added services. Therefore, the choice of Telsey and their STB is consistent with our policy and our development strategy", says Mario Mariani - CEO Tiscali Italia.

Information about Telsey S.p.A.

Telsey, an Italian company founded in 1993, is a leading provider of Access Gateway, IP STB and Home Networking solutions for the distribution of broadband interactive services on FTTx and xDSL networks. The completeness of Telseys broadband access offer has made the company a valued provider to leading European telecom operators. Telseys gateways and IP STBs enable end users to gain access to broadband services such as Video on Demand, Voice over IP and fast Internet which can be simultaneously distributed throughout the home thanks to Telsey's home networking solutions, based on powerline and WiFi technologies.

All very well but if they're launching this month shouldn't these already be with Tiscali???

Looks like the FS606 then (Thanks to Peter We for drawing my attention to this in the first place)”

We have not yet determined whether the Freeview Channels are going to continue to be available via the IPTV Stream or whether they'll rely on the DTT Signal to provide these like BT Vision (to allow space for other channels perhaps?)

kraduk

09-08-2007

I can confirm that the channels will always be available via ip. Freeview will be used as well though where possible. This is mainly due to the higher image quality. Using freeview doesn't really save bw on tiscali/vnl core as its all multicast. However it will save bw on ur dsl line as the h264 stream is ~ 3.5 mbit/s

Rufus Londinii

09-08-2007

Originally Posted by kraduk:
“I can confirm that the channels will always be available via ip. Freeview will be used as well though where possible. This is mainly due to the higher image quality. Using freeview doesn't really save bw on tiscali/vnl core as its all multicast. However it will save bw on ur dsl line as the h264 stream is ~ 3.5 mbit/s”

You talk with an air of authority!

If you do have some input into the situation then please do note the views of the original poster and a few other people on this forum. It is essential that Tiscali continue to supply the Freeview Channels via IP to help those who cannot receive Freeview.

dpvod

09-08-2007

the main reason I chose Homechoice/Tiscali was because of the dreadful freeview reception here in Islington.
If they removed the freeview channels then I would reluctantly join sky.