Is the Internet "FTA"???

[Dishman Dan]

Some of us have FTA cards on our PCs to receive FTA. Is it possible to receive "FTA" on the internet with great quality and a picture bigger than a stamp??? I am assuming that all of the hype about "free satellite tv" software on Ebay is just a scam... Did anyone try any of it??? I have a nephew who watches all kinds of stuff on the internet including a lot of old shows that I like! A lot of the stuff he watches is what I used to see on some of the Equity channels that are now gone. I have a decent "high speed" internet connection through the cable company with NO cable tv service in my house. My nephew has the fastest service available through cable and perhaps that is why he can get decent "tv" online! He is not around long enough to explain where he goes online and how his computer is set up. Does anyone have any input on this???

 

[ikki]

> "free satellite tv"

Most of it is a scam, I will say this. Stations like RT (Russia Today) do have web streams which are the same as on FTA satellite, as does NHK. So yes it is possible to do this on your own. That said if your looking for domestic programming like HBO and the like, your out of luck.

My advice same some money and buy an FTA receiver. A SD unit should be around 50 dollars used, and if u look around you might be able to find a dish for free.

I do not like relying on the internet for any thing. If times get tough internet will be the first thing I drop to save money. With FTA once its paid for its FREE.

 

[N5XZS]

Here's the website's links.......

Watch live online TV channels broadcasting on the Internet.

Just click on British's flag, for English listings bunch of different countrys and just click on any countrys and you will get bunch of TV stations listing.

Some are live 24/7 and some are taped delayed.

 

[Sadie]

Most of what is on Ebay is a scam nothing that you can't find for free with a little bit of work with Google

If your in the US try Hulu.com

Outside the US try Blinkx Remote most of this material is legit but some links look suspicious to me

You won't find much in the way of live sport, for that you will have to go feed hunting.

I'm really interested to see what the quality is like I'm supposed to be getting high speed soon, (if you believe government promises) at 1.5Mbps

If you check the data rates PBS Montana is 650KBps not Kbps, It would be around 5200Kbps, this is a broadcast quality link.

Most of the consumer quality stuff on Dish is 150-300KBps or 1200-2400Kbps Nasa and ION are around this rate.
These data streams use MPEG2 compression, the newer codecs like MPEG4 can cut the data rate in half or better so my promised 1.5Mbps connection "should" be able deliver a picture at least as crappy as Dish standard definition. Should be OK on a small 20" TV but I wouldn't want to try it on a 42" set

Hulu support say their data streams is 480 or 700 Kbps they recommend a 1000 Kbps downstream speed, although I see they also have a so called High resolution 1,000 Kbps, H.264, 480p stream for some videos.

It depends on a lot of links working the way they "should", it will be interesting to see if it actually works

 

[Jim S.]

See also this thread:

http://www.satelliteguys.us/iptv-discussion-forum/185744-any-tvu-player-users-nice-free-program.html

 

[Dishman Dan]

Thanks for all the feedback!

This does look like it is worth looking into further! I might have to upgrade the computer (replace!) for better video which would help. :up

 

[digiblur]

There's also Netflix for $10 a month. You get one DVD in the mail out at a time, plus you get unlimited instant streaming of a ton of movies, tv series, etc. A Roku box with all the SD and HD outputs you need will stream over CAT5 or wireless to your TV. Video quality is excellent too!

 

[Lachesis]

> "free satellite tv"

Most of it is a scam, I will say this. Stations like RT (Russia Today) do have web streams which are the same as on FTA satellite, as does NHK. So yes it is possible to do this on your own. That said if your looking for domestic programming like HBO and the like, your out of luck.

My advice same some money and buy an FTA receiver. A SD unit should be around 50 dollars used, and if u look around you might be able to find a dish for free.

I do not like relying on the internet for any thing. If times get tough internet will be the first thing I drop to save money. With FTA once its paid for its FREE.

This is abit off-topic but is does that Russia Today have its own channel or satellite? I've watched it on the now digital WQPT channel along with other programs about foreign countries. Good stuff.

 

[Jim S.]

It's on 97W.

 

[Lachesis]

Roger that.

 

[avg1joe]

Is it possible to receive "FTA" on the internet with great quality and a picture bigger than a stamp???

You bet it is. Are you looking for live programming or on demand shows and movies?

I know this is sacrilege on this site but I rarely turn my satellite box on anymore and even more rarely watch any local broadcasting. I stream almost everything over the net for free. There are a number of sites that are free with tv shows and movies. They range from having very legitimate programming to obviously pirated. Usually there is someplace you can click to make it full screen. Picture quality varies widely once you blow it up to fullscreen, but its free. Some of the quality is as good or better than many of the satellite channels.

My internet speed is about 3 Mbps and is sufficient. Your hardware plays a big role as well. Video memory and a decent processor help but you don't need to get carried away. Cables are available to hook your computer to your tv but which one to get depends on your outputs and inputs. I use a laptop that is about a year and a half old with an s-video/headphone jack -----> composite cable (for under $20) connecting to a 50" projection tv. Does 50" count as bigger than a stamp?

Check out Hulu, Veoh, WB, CW, and CBS websites to get you started. Hulu is a good place to start because they have a lot of the NBC, SCI-FI, FOX and ABC content there. Make sure you have the latest Flash player installed.

For live content there are some sites which link to a feed of channels you may recognize from satellite. WWITV is an example. There are also programs you can download and install to your computer like TVU or MIRO.

 

[Dishman Dan]

There's also Netflix for $10 a month. You get one DVD in the mail out at a time, plus you get unlimited instant streaming of a ton of movies, tv series, etc. A Roku box with all the SD and HD outputs you need will stream over CAT5 or wireless to your TV. Video quality is excellent too!

This sounds like a good way to go for movies! I have been checking into it! From what I was told by the Netflix rep is that whatever is on "Starz" is available too but is in progress and not on demand like the thousands of other Netflix movies that are available.

The Roku box is available with free shipping and a 30 day trial too. The other option is to get a BluRay player that is capable of streaming Netflix.

 

[digiblur]

This sounds like a good way to go for movies! I have been checking into it! From what I was told by the Netflix rep is that whatever is on "Starz" is available too but is in progress and not on demand like the thousands of other Netflix movies that are available.

The Roku box is available with free shipping and a 30 day trial too. The other option is to get a BluRay player that is capable of streaming Netflix.

Yep, saw a Netflix capable Blu-Ray player at Wal-Mart the other day for around $180.

The Roku has a few other pluses to it... they are constantly working on adding "channels" to the Roku. It currently has Netflix, Amazon, and MLB. Plus it is very small and portable.

 

[Dishman Dan]

You bet it is. Are you looking for live programming or on demand shows and movies?

I am looking for both! I originally took interest after the fall of G10 when Equity went under and we do miss the old shows! Another reason is the cost of my 4DTV package is rising and getting out of reach!

This is looking more interesting and exciting than I thought it would be!!!... Thanks!

 

[Dishman Dan]

The Roku has a few other pluses to it... they are constantly working on adding "channels" to the Roku. It currently has Netflix, Amazon, and MLB. Plus it is very small and portable.

Do you think that the Roku is more "Idiot proof"??? I seems like the firmware upgrades on the BluRay players are just about every day! Without the upgrades the Netfllix might be affected too?!?!?!

 

[empiretc]

Here's the website's links.......

Watch live online TV channels broadcasting on the Internet.

Just click on British's flag, for English listings bunch of different countrys and just click on any countrys and you will get bunch of TV stations listing.

Some are live 24/7 and some are taped delayed.

FYI, this is the same as several downloadable programs. They offer a wide variety of X rated channels, movies, and BIG events.

If you look into it, you will see what I mean. A lot of the material here is what you would find via torrents or web streams (ustream, justin, etc..). These are not FTA. There may be some, but don't kid yourself.

When the next BIG fight comes up, you will find it there. And you will see movies listed that are still playing in the theater.


If you want truly legit, stick to Netflix, Hulu, and the actual programming websites.

 

[Dishman Dan]

Is there a legal way to stream channels like History or Discovery???

Someone mentioned that on some websites current shows are available but I am assuming they meant the stuff like on Hulu.

 

[empiretc]

Is there a legal way to stream channels like History or Discovery???

Someone mentioned that on some websites current shows are available but I am assuming they meant the stuff like on Hulu.

Exactly.

Legal way, pay big bucks. This is why they have those disclaimers that always state "without express written consent".

 

[Conky]

better check your ISPs fine print for any bandwidth caps

 

[Tron]

better check your ISPs fine print for any bandwidth caps

I've heard Comcast is really bad about this. I suck up plenty of bandwidth here on Cox, but have never had them complain.