Just installed Eye TV NetStream Sat - Satellite TV over IP.

[DivideBYZero]

Really interesting product. I've now got all free to air Sat TV channels, including HD streaming to devices on my home network.

I have a Satellite dish with a four port LNB, with all cables coming into the house. My two HD sat boxes use two connections each, so the less used box has been put into single port mode (to prevent issues when recording), so that I can use the second feed to connect into the NetStream.

So far so good. Even my Aspire One netbook can handle SD (not tested HD on the netbook), and my Dell E6400 plays HD channels perectly. No stuttering or choppy picture so far.

I have a 200Mbs Powerline network device at the NetStream, then another next to my router. Wireless G seems to be fine with transfering 20+mbs streams of HD.

If I can get my PS3 to read the m3u playlist for the device that would be cool, but also pointless as my main TV has the other dual feed HD sat box, but it's fun to try these things out anyway...!

Client apps are available for Mac, iPad, iPhone, PC and Linux is supported via the m3u playlist method (not tested).

Any questions?

 

[Unheard]

So are these coming via air, or over the innertubes?

 

[MustISO]

Are there a lot of channels that are free on Satellite? Is this all legal?

 

[DivideBYZero]

Answer 1: These are coming 'over the air' as normal to my satellite dish, then the unit converts the video stream into IP for my local network.

Answer 2: Yep, lots of channels, including free HD ones (this is in the UK) and it's 100% legit.

 

[SunnyD]

So wait... does this work in conjunction with a pay satellite service like DirecTV? Can both be active at the same time? Or is this just if your service is dead and you have a dish laying around?

 

[DivideBYZero]

So wait... does this work in conjunction with a pay satellite service like DirecTV? Can both be active at the same time? Or is this just if your service is dead and you have a dish laying around?

I have a dish mounted on my house with four feeds. Normally these go into my two Sky HD systems that I pay £42 a month for. I've taken one feed and put it into the NetStream for the sake of testing it. So yes, it can run alongside a paid subscription, you just need a multi LNB with a spare feed.

As for the free to air channels, you get these:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free-to-air#North_America

I get these:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_free-to-air_channels_at_28E

 

[SunnyD]

I have a dish mounted on my house with four feeds. Normally these go into my two Sky HD systems that I pay £42 a month for. I've taken one feed and put it into the NetStream for the sake of testing it. So yes, it can run alongside a paid subscription, you just need a multi LNB with a spare feed.

As for the free to air channels, you get these:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free-to-air#North_America

I get these:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_free-to-air_channels_at_28E

Looks like it'll suck in the US for the most part. You euro folks get a SHITLOAD of channels.

 

[zerocool84]

So this is like an alternative to Slingbox?

 

[DivideBYZero]

So this is like an alternative to Slingbox?

It's only really for in the home, as far as I can tell. Even SD streams are hitting over 10mbps (they look great), so even if I come in on my VPN I won't be able to watch even SD as my upload is 8mbps max. Slingbox compresses for distribution outside the home, AFAIK.

 

[uli2000]

Looks like it'll suck in the US for the most part. You euro folks get a SHITLOAD of channels.

We get a shitload of channels here as well, just not nearly the quality. Most FTA satellite channels over here are either religious or foreign language. Also, they are spread across many satellites, so you need a dish with a motor and a sat box that can control the motor to put the dish in the right spot for the right channel. They have a big FTA section over at Satellite Guys thats pretty informative.