FIRST LOOK: The New ITVN!

I got my ITVN receiver. Setup was very very easy. Basically plugged it in to my router and downloaded the firmware. So far checked out MavTV and found it pretty much worthless except to test the streaming capabilities of live tv. The music videos are pretty good. I checked out some of the classic movies and i'm amazed at how good the VOD is. It's quicker than if you were to do it via comcast I believe. Does anybody know when the Radio bit will be available? I'm looking forward to using that and I couldn't find it in the menus.
Fantastic technology and all it needs now is more content and it's arrived.
 
If they just had a News Package with maybe CNBC, CNN, FoxNews, MSNBC, CSPAN and maybe Bloomberg they would probably make a serious dent in satellite sales since so many people just want news to complement their local stations and save money over a bloated DTV or E* package...
 
OK, I got my demo unit up and running. Question....

I am on Verizon DSL with the lower package. I think they tout 678k or something like that. I thought at one point I read the ITVN needed 500k, at another point I thought I read it needed 700k, and in the manual or website it said 1.5 MB recommended. About the only thing I CAN watch without a constant buffering is some "adult" channels that appear to be sent in lower bit rates. Most of the movies seem to be streaming at 700k or so, and it is causing severe issues. It wont allow me to lower the rate like it does on the "adult" channels, which seem to allow lowering the rate to about 300k or so. Is there a way to lower the rate even lower on the other channels?

Also, similar to when you try to play a media file in Windows and it stops, stutters until it catches up. When this happens, you can usually let play all the way through (while skipping, stuttering, etc) and then when you play it a 2nd time all is fine. Is there a way to apply this method to the ITVN for the lower bandwidth issues?

Lastly, I have never seen so many "adult" channels in my life. For those of you who are selling these, are you actually comfortable doing so w all this porn? I personally love the Starz VOD feature. More movies than satellite ever has access to. Just not sure about pushing the sales with my normal customers knowing it is a porn machine if need be:) Speaking of which, maybe Im naive, but how do they legally get away with this, as many of the channels seem similar to the basement cellar type internet sites that take advantage of young naive women by flashing cash in their face.
 
I think you will need to upgrade to the higher verizon package. I too had the 768 download package until a month ago. It's just not fast enough for ITVN. So far with the "up to" 3mb package i've only had a buffering problem with 1 on-demand Encore movie. "Down periscope". for some reason this comedy will not stream with me. No idea about the porn but I would imagine they sell porn because it sells :) It's what helped make VHS king over Betamax right?
And parroting what bumblebee said, if they could offer any sort of news package this would be a real option for many people. Hell even a cnn-headline new would do.
 
I think I read a while back that 1.5mbps ISP was a recommended minimum. That would should allow you to opperate IPTV along with VoIP and basic net surfing without issues.
 
comparision of ITVN and E Starz channels

I have ITVN now, a bit disappointd with the PQ of Setanta,may drop that and keep the Starz/Encore...the differences between Dish's Startz and ITVN I think,pls. correct me...ITVN has the demand feature, a few more channels for $15 per month, Dish has a few less channels, NO DEMAND (?) right? but better PQ and how much does Dish charge per month? Thanks.
 
From the dish website - Starz Moviepack
CHANNELS:
Starz InBlack
Starz Cinema (East)
Encore (East)
Starz Comedy
Starz (East)
Starz Kids & Family
Starz (West)
Starz Edge
Starz HD

With Dish AT120/AT180/DishLatinoDos/DishLatinoMax $20 extra per month for any 2 movie packs.
 
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FabianC said:
:) :D :) :D

PLEASE SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS - THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT!!

:) :D :) :D

Having never used VOD before other than ITVN, this may be a silly request. But being use dto dish and DTV, I am used to just changing channels by hitting the channel up or down button. With ITVN, you have to press stop (which takes you back to the guide), arrow up or down to the next channel in the guide, hit "ok", and wait for the aquisition again. The interface would be a lit nicer if you could simply hit channel up or down. Are all VOD's like this, or is it just ITVN?

I only have the onbe "live" channel, so I dont know if the entire interface is like that, or if its just the VOD.

Speaking of which, mine is a demo/showroom unit. Should I be getting the regular channels that show up when you press "Channel Guide" from the main menu? All I get is a prompt to subscribe.

Thanks
 
Have Had It With Itvn,sending Mine Back!

I've been trying my ITVN service now for almost a week and am very disappointed with it!The past three night in a row, I go to watch Starz between 9-10pm and I can't ,I constantly get "negotiating,bandwith too small,etc." message. This is an interesting product and technology but as far as I can tell, it's time has not yet come.Frankly wished SatelliteGuys.Us hadn't pushed this item on their members!
Will just ad Starz via E and can count on a reliable signal.Why should we pay $15 per month to be ginea pigs.And Setanta picture quality sucks and I have Comcast cable service with up to 6,000 kbps download speeds.
 
Sorry to hear your having issues, mine is running great.

I would try giving ITVN support a call sounds like an issue with your router.

Yes Setena could look better, but as I have said before it looks identical to the Globecast feed (which is where I believe they are getting it from)
 
dfecarter said:
I've been trying my ITVN service now for almost a week and am very disappointed with it!The past three night in a row, I go to watch Starz between 9-10pm and I can't ,I constantly get "negotiating,bandwith too small,etc." message. This is an interesting product and technology but as far as I can tell, it's time has not yet come.Frankly wished SatelliteGuys.Us hadn't pushed this item on their members!
Will just ad Starz via E and can count on a reliable signal.Why should we pay $15 per month to be ginea pigs.And Setanta picture quality sucks and I have Comcast cable service with up to 6,000 kbps download speeds.

Sorry you had such a trouble. How do you have yours set up. Wireless or connected directly to the router or modem? Did you forward trigger the ports in the router setup? Give customer support a call and they will be willing to work with you to see what your problem is. This has been working for lots of people and I am sure your problems just need to be properly setup. Give a call to customer support they are very willing to work with you and make it work.
 
I agree with Scott, Sean, and riffjim4069 ...

9 of 10 times it's a simple tweak of your network and you're loving the ITVN service ... and if still you're not satisified, return it within 30-days for your money back.

:D
 
So Fabian,

I know your work for ITVN and your aim is to assist us and promote your product, which is perfectly fine.

However, you comment that you have thousands of subscribers - congratulations by the way.

Here is my point.

Each subscriber is (for the sake of argument) going to watch at the highest setting, of 1 mbps stream, correct?

So let's say that there is a big game on Setanta on a day where people traditionally are not working, ie a saturday. So now we have, again a number for the sake of making my point, 6000 subscribers all attempting to make 1mbps connections to your streaming server?

Through trials of my own, and reading other peoples comments on this, and other forums on the web, it is painfully obvious that ITVN's network infrastructure is too weak. 6000KB/sec upstream consistently is perfectly acheivable, but then lets add all those STARZ users, and the porn people... And this is all based on just 6000 people attempting to connect... I have no idea how ITVN has their network setup, whether you have more than one server farm or not, and what kind of connectivity you have, and whether you lease space in a data centre or have your own line in your Irvine, California offices.

Then again, your ITVN.com website is hosted out of an AboveNet POP in San Jose, California... now surely if your company were spending the dollars to have your own leased line to your premises, you wouldnt host your website with another provider? I mean, because your services are what I'd call 'mission critical' - no connectivity, no content can be streamed to your customers, and they walk.

I think what I'm trying to say here is... is it possible that perhaps ITVN need to increase their network connectivity? Maybe have seperate broadcasting servers all over the states, to help with load balancing?

Just an observation, not a criticism, I'm all for the technolgy, and what ITVN are trying to do here - its going to be the normal thing in 10 years time, I am positive.
 
I see Fabian replied, on the official ITVN forum. I dont know if I can post links here and I'm too lazy to go read the rules, so if anyone reading this wants to know the url then pm me, and ill privately send you the link.

It is a good answer, and couldnt expect more from the team at ITVN. I'm impressed at their honesty and the steps they are making to address the buffering issues some of us are having.
 
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