Anyone using AT&T U-Verse for TV?

[BoomerD]

If we sign up for the bundled U-Verse package including:
Home phone with all our existing features PLUS many more
AT&T Fiber Optics Internet (6.0 down, 1.0 up)
U-Verse Television package which ranges from 100 to 320 channels
(we'll probably go with the 100 channel package)

At a small but decent savings over my current AT&T phone and DSL Pro (3.0 down, 512 up), plus our Dish Network package.

Just wondering if anyone has their television and/or fiber internet and what you think of it.

Thanks.

 

[Duddy]

Best implementation of TV/Internet to exist!

U-Verse is the bomb! It's got soo many features! I would TOTALLY recommend it!!!

 

[BoomerD]

We've been pretty happy with Dish over the years...ANYTHING is better than ComCrap here. I think we'd buy a roof antenna and watch just the local channels before we'd go back to those morons.

I kind of like the fiber-optics for television and internet...and the much faster intarweb? WOOHOO! Plus, saving about $30-$35/ month on top of it...

Could be a WINNAR!

 

[Preyhunter]

Just had it installed. Seems to be a pretty good package with 3 HD receivers (one being DVR) included and no commitment. The only thing is that I thought the fiber would come all the way to the house, but it's copper from the CO. Fiber only runs to the box that services the neighborhood (in this instance, at least). Kind of a pain to get my router working with their gateway, too. Got it all up and running now, tho.

 

[BoomerD]

I STILL haven't upgraded my old Sony Trinitron CRT TV. We've talked about it a few times, but it's hard to justify the $$ just for some HGTV or Cooking shows...and that's most of what the wife watches...I watch very little. There are a couple of shows I watch semi-regularly, but not many. The BIGGEST reason I'm even considering this is because (1) I get much faster internet, and (2) it saves money.

 

[uhohs]

internet not fast enough, they need fios speeds for me to consider it.

 

[ric1287]

anyone know if the tv service has cablecard options like fios?

edit - nvm, iptv doesnt work i guess god i hate comcrap

 

[LS21]

very good, except their box (motorola) is a slow POS. picture quality is off the charts

 

[AlienCraft]

We're getting a 30 day trial, and we're going to compare it to the Comcast package in an A/B test.

 

[ScottMac]

Most markets now have 10/1 Internet service available (since Feb 1).

Existing structures are fed "FTTN" Fiber to the Node (Neighborhood) Which is fiber to the neighborhood DSLAM then copper to the home.
With pair-bonding and some other new, neat tricks, this can be pushed to well over 100Mbps, even on relatively long copper spans.

New construction, new neighborhoods are being rigged with "FTTH" Fiber to the Home, which is essentially the same thing as FIOS, except Verizon uses "Overlay" (same old BB cable TV on a different lambda (wavelength, one of three fed to the home)) whereas AT&T is using IPTV (IP packets in one of several VLANs).

 

[BoomerD]

Scott, I have no idea what most of what you said even means, but yeah, they've mentioned the 10/1 DSL...at quite a premium price over what I pay for 6/.750)
I understand the part about fiber/copper, and fiber to the houses, and that the full fiber connection will have the capacity to be MUCH faster,
We're still kicking this around, but most likely are gonna make the switch. The wife has a few "favorite TV programs/channels" that won't be included in the basic 100 package, so we're probably gonna have to upgrade to the 200 channel package. (gawd forbid she should miss "Cash in the Attic!")

 

[ScottMac]

The DSLAM is where the signaling to your home changes to VDSL from (in this case) Gigabit Ethernet coming from AT&T.

The "pair bonding" thing means that they can put 25Mbps (minimum) per pair (typical is four pair) to your home, and the bonding effect also permits a longer reach.

For new construction, the fiber is taken all the way to the house, like FIOS. The primary difference is that U-Verse is pure IPTV, and FIOS is essentially the same signal, with the same limitations, as their non-FIOS digital cable (it just happens to ride a 1550nm light beam).

Overall, it's pretty cool. 2+2 is also rolling out about now (2 HD + 2 SD streams concurrently).

 

[Dirigible]

Originally posted by: LS21
very good, except their box (motorola) is a slow POS. picture quality is off the charts

Yup. I had it. Box was a slow POS. Couldn't get Tivo to control their box, which was almost a deal killer on its own. We had frequent TV outages. One of the three boxes died and after several phone calls it still wasn't replaced. Decided enough was enough and canceled.

Might go back if they get their act together and better boxes. It was good price-wise, the TV signal was good when it worked. My dad still has it and doesn't seem to have the problems we did.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: ScottMac


The "pair bonding" thing means that they can put 25Mbps (minimum) per pair (typical is four pair) to your home, and the bonding effect also permits a longer reach.

Pair bonding can also be used to increase distance as well. Two 13 meg pairs would drastically increase the reach of their current 25/2 profile.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: Dirigible

Originally posted by: LS21
very good, except their box (motorola) is a slow POS. picture quality is off the charts

Yup. I had it. Box was a slow POS. Couldn't get Tivo to control their box, which was almost a deal killer on its own. We had frequent TV outages. One of the three boxes died and after several phone calls it still wasn't replaced. Decided enough was enough and canceled.

There were a couple updates this year that have the moto boxes quite responsive. It is without a doubt greatly improved since they first started rolling these boxes out.

 

[Auggie]

I have U-verse. It's alright. For whatever reason, our configuration doesn't allow for either of the two non-DVR boxes to retrieve recorded shows from the main living room box, which I think its pretty lame.

 

[ScottMac]

The Scientific Atllanta (Cisco) STBs are out now too. They're rumored to be a bit better.

Auggie: "Whole House DVR" will be out a little later this year.

 

[RichieZ]

Originally posted by: Auggie
I have U-verse. It's alright. For whatever reason, our configuration doesn't allow for either of the two non-DVR boxes to retrieve recorded shows from the main living room box, which I think its pretty lame.

WHDVR is supposed to come later this year. I've had UVERSE for about a year now. $100 including tax for 2 HD receivers + 1HD/DVR , U300 pkg and 6/1 internet, i'm on the charter membership package

2HD/2SD pkg is live in STL and some places in texas.

 

[austin316]

Originally posted by: RichieZ

Originally posted by: Auggie
I have U-verse. It's alright. For whatever reason, our configuration doesn't allow for either of the two non-DVR boxes to retrieve recorded shows from the main living room box, which I think its pretty lame.

WHDVR is supposed to come later this year. I've had UVERSE for about a year now. $100 including tax for 2 HD receivers + 1HD/DVR , U300 pkg and 6/1 internet, i'm on the charter membership package

2HD/2SD pkg is live in STL and some places in texas.

At least where my parents are at, you get as many HD receivers as you want, but you can only tune ONE in at a time. Also, for those in the Midwest, they carry all the Big Ten Networks, which is HUGE.