Quote:
Originally Posted by be236
Would why you need hardware to get IPTV? If they signal is via Internet should they simply make software program to decode the signal (assuming it's free/unecrypted).. and even if it's encrypted, then require some subscription in the software etc...
But dont think DSL is fast enough to watch these channels? I've watched some free TV off the net and it's so jerky and pixelated... not very enjoyable to watch...
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You're probably right on both points, if talking about live video. I was mainly trying to find out if there is consumer hardware in the works that encorporates the required software in a set top box or something. I was thinking something like my Roku box, to which I can send video in http or udp streams.
Re speed, I don't know how fast DSL or cable internet is (I don't have a high speed connection), but I think the key is that it may not be live. I now send regular live TS video across my lan, and can watch it either on my TV (via Roku) or on any of my computers (via VLC). I could sometimes watch SD on slow wireless net (I think that is like 5 mbps or so), but it usually breaks up. It goes through a 10 mbps lan OK as long as there isn't other activity. Low bitrate
HD will go through a 50 mbps wireless net, but high speed HD requires a 100 mbps lan. So this all seems too fast for most internet connections if it's live, even if compressed in mpeg4 format.
However, I think that this stuff is supposed to be sent prior to you watching it. Ie I may be wrong, but I think it's sent at whatever speed you have, and stored on hard drive until you start to watch it. So the hardware I was wondering about would be like a dedicated computer with hard drive, and decoding software, and a good video card that can output to a TV. But my deeper question, is whether in fact this IPTV is the same thing as video on demand , some of which is already being sent via IP/DVB on satellite, or if IPTV is something different. I thought that perhaps someone might produce a STB that could decode and store satellite VOD type signals in addition to regular TS video.
Ie, I'm really trying to find out just what IPTV is, and what kind of hardware is in the works, and if it is generic in nature or specific to each subscription service.