[kwlug-disc] Vmedia IPTV & MythTV

[B.S.]

Just remembered ...

I was able to go in to Canada Computer and play with the Vmedia box in their in-store kiosk.

- fast forwarding blanked the screen. Fast forward at commercial start, screen blanks ... no way to know when to stop. Next! i.e. I rejected vmedia, on that basis, alone.

Checking vmedia, you must purchase their internet to get their TV. Lowest package seems to be $48/month. FAQ, http://www.vmedia.ca/support/, "Can I get VMedia TV on its own?" "VMedia TV can only be provided with VMedia's internet service or internet service from one of our Transmission Affiliates. http://www.vmedia.ca/info/agents.aspx .   CRTC regulations and our channel suppliers require that the delivery of TV content is only over our internet service or that of an Affiliate."

Bell, like Vmedia, also now has 'cloud' pvr, ability to watch something you missed yesterday. (Vmedia goes back further than yesterday, IIRC.) Note: Neither let you record such. Bell won't let you fast forward during such - no commercial skipping. Going backwards is permitted, but you can't then go forwards.

I see an app on Vmedia, so their box must be remotely accessible / there must be an API.



Your note made me wonder ... I purchased Bell on sale, knowing that Skinny packages were coming. Essentially, I was betting that the Skinny pricing wasn't going to bring anything to my party. Your note reminded me to check if I made the right choice. (I did.) I see that Rogers skinny channels aren't listed, Bell's does not include the U.S. networks, while Vmedia does.


Switching to Bell was seamless. As was switching from Rogers to Acanac (cable internet). Entirely happy with all of them, but have only had 50/10 Bell for a month. My Bell deal guarantees the price for 3 years - when it's up, given the seamless transition, I will not hesitate to switch to the lowest cost provider, cable or VDSL, then. It will come down to STB functionality, particularly search ability, subtitles and fast forward/back frame advance/reverse. I see that Rogers has a new UI, Navigator, that includes search. I don't know if it's across channels, like Tivo, or not, like Bell.

- note, if it matters to you, and you're on cable, 50 VDSL requires both pairs coming into your residence. And they want the hub (modem) as close as possible to the STB - no tee's in the twisted pair permitted. This was unexpected / problematic for me / I had to quickly find a workaround, under the gun. (Curiously, though, being back with a real landline, I have the ability to fax, again. Not that I've ever needed it, for some years. Except ... I had to dispute a credit card item, and they would only accept documentation by fax, not e-mail/web/.pdf. Curious. Fortunately, didn't need it, but it demonstrated that fax is not as dead as I thought.)




----- Original Message -----
> From: B.S. <bs27975 at yahoo.ca>
> To: KWLUG discussion <kwlug-disc at kwlug.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 2, 2016 9:19 PM
> Subject: Re: [kwlug-disc] Vmedia IPTV & MythTV
> 
> Couple or 3 notes:
> 
> - for each provider, as I understand it, you must also purchase their internet.
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