advice for streaming netflix etc

[AceSwiftShooter]

Hi guys

I've been thinking of cancelling DSTV and going the online streaming route. I have read a bit about it and have a fair idea of what i need to do. I currently have the standard 2meg uncapped account with mweb, and quite frankly, not happy with it and I think it will be too slow for streaming anyway. I know Mweb's premium accounts are far superior, but also costly.

Will I be better off with the 4meg premium or will the 4meg standard suffice? The 6mb standard is also within budget.

Will the FON router give me problems?

I currently pay R1079 (mweb R339 + DSTV R740). If I could end up paying +-R800 for internet access and streaming services I would be happy.

Thoughts & comments plz!!

 

[noswal]

FYI I stream Netflix with iburst, which is less than 1meg connection

 

[Jimmy]

FYI I stream Netflix with iburst, which is less than 1meg connection

I'm guessing you buffer a lot then?

 

[IguBu]

Uncapped accounts are never great for streaming - as to what you need? for "HD" streams (Netflix/Itunes etc") a 4Meg account should be ok 80% of the time - depends on the provider. If your exchange supports stable higher speeds (no congestion iow) then sign up for 8Megs/10Meg (about R120 pm more) and stick to a capped acount if your usage allows - I'm a happy Afrihost capped account for a long time now - and honestly 60Gb's or so is R129 I think.

Just short recap of what else is required:

1. Some DNS solution that allows you international access - unotelly/unodns works well. (4$ p/m)
2. Sign up for whatever service you want.
3. If you are keen on sports - this site works very well - http://www.ntv.mx/ - subsription based as well but for around R200pm you can get all sports etc in HD.

Hope it helps!

 

[Dubes]

I have no problem streaming Netflix and Hulu with a 2Mbps line on an MWeb 2meg standard uncapped account. I watch on a 42" Plasma. Picture perfect for me. I have no need for HD viewing.

 

[AdrianH]

Hi guys

I've been thinking of cancelling DSTV and going the online streaming route. I have read a bit about it and have a fair idea of what i need to do. I currently have the standard 2meg uncapped account with mweb, and quite frankly, not happy with it and I think it will be too slow for streaming anyway. I know Mweb's premium accounts are far superior, but also costly.

Will I be better off with the 4meg premium or will the 4meg standard suffice? The 6mb standard is also within budget.

Will the FON router give me problems?

I currently pay R1079 (mweb R339 + DSTV R740). If I could end up paying +-R800 for internet access and streaming services I would be happy.

Thoughts & comments plz!!

I am extremely happy on my 6meg standard (threshold is about 150gb per 30days). Streaming is excellent all times of the day and night. Got Netflix, BBC, Rdio, Xbox Live. NZB downloads sometimes drop between 200 to 300 kbps during working hours, but full speed other times. I also have a Afrihost Capped account which I use when I need to download a lot of stuff. I've noticed that the performance of Afrihost is erratic on both browsing and streaming. The afrihost account is definitely not as good as Mweb.

Don't have FON router, so can't give you any advice.

Also, the only difference between standard and premium is the threshold. I haven't noticed any performance difference between the 2 accounts.

 

[AceSwiftShooter]

Thanks for all the input and advice. I'm busy investigating IPTV through XMBC on my PC. not sure what its all about but i seem to be able to watch.
SO many different options regarding streaming, I think I need to do more research.

 

[fruitbat]

Thanks for all the input and advice. I'm busy investigating IPTV through XMBC on my PC. not sure what its all about but i seem to be able to watch.
SO many different options regarding streaming, I think I need to do more research.

My experiences were a little different... my goal was also to replace DSTV... and almost got there.
I didnt enjoy the Netflix or hulu experience. So I cancelled my subscriptions either within the trial period or within he first month. I was on a 4mb line at the time with TI, but that didn't really influence my decision, they just didn't do it for me. I found most of the shows on them were either crap or they required you to have a satelite / cable sub (Hulu specifically).
I do have a Roku 3 which I have setup as a UK device, and have UnoTelly running for my DNS, this allows me to watch the UK streams from BBCIplayer / ITV / C4 / 4OD. These streaming services are free - on the Roku. Not sure about other devices? I also have the NZB / Sickbeard setup running to get all the "cool" shows for the family. And having the NZB's local does mean there is zero buffering and you can get maximum quality.

Having said this - I do still have DSTV on a reduced subscription (R434) for E! and CeeBeeBee's for the Wife / Kids respectively? Why? A happy wife = happy life, and Ceebeebee's format on BBC allows it to just play ;-) Sport is not NB to me. I'm ok with watching it at a mates house or in a pub.

I did also try futubox (This linked to the iptv app on my samsung tv), and it was horrible - and buffered a lot! This was on Vox and on Telkom Internet Capped. I have not tried ntv.mx yet.

Anyways - take your time to investigate... the one thing that I have found useful no matter what I did was unotelly - and I went and did the annual subscription for that....

 

[Chevron]

Hi guys

I've been thinking of cancelling DSTV and going the online streaming route. I have read a bit about it and have a fair idea of what i need to do. I currently have the standard 2meg uncapped account with mweb, and quite frankly, not happy with it and I think it will be too slow for streaming anyway. I know Mweb's premium accounts are far superior, but also costly.

Will I be better off with the 4meg premium or will the 4meg standard suffice? The 6mb standard is also within budget.

Will the FON router give me problems?

I currently pay R1079 (mweb R339 + DSTV R740). If I could end up paying +-R800 for internet access and streaming services I would be happy.

Thoughts & comments plz!!

If you cancel DSTV you will have enough cash for 4Meg Premium.

With 4Meg premium 2 people can stream Netflix at the same time at DVD quality.

 

[simonbee]

My experiences were a little different... my goal was also to replace DSTV... and almost got there.
I didnt enjoy the Netflix or hulu experience. So I cancelled my subscriptions either within the trial period or within he first month. I was on a 4mb line at the time with TI, but that didn't really influence my decision, they just didn't do it for me. I found most of the shows on them were either crap or they required you to have a satelite / cable sub (Hulu specifically).
I do have a Roku 3 which I have setup as a UK device, and have UnoTelly running for my DNS, this allows me to watch the UK streams from BBCIplayer / ITV / C4 / 4OD. These streaming services are free - on the Roku. Not sure about other devices? I also have the NZB / Sickbeard setup running to get all the "cool" shows for the family. And having the NZB's local does mean there is zero buffering and you can get maximum quality.

Having said this - I do still have DSTV on a reduced subscription (R434) for E! and CeeBeeBee's for the Wife / Kids respectively? Why? A happy wife = happy life, and Ceebeebee's format on BBC allows it to just play ;-) Sport is not NB to me. I'm ok with watching it at a mates house or in a pub.

I did also try futubox (This linked to the iptv app on my samsung tv), and it was horrible - and buffered a lot! This was on Vox and on Telkom Internet Capped. I have not tried ntv.mx yet.

Anyways - take your time to investigate... the one thing that I have found useful no matter what I did was unotelly - and I went and did the annual subscription for that....

If you link your Roku to a pc running Plex, there is a Plex app for BBC which also allows you to watch a number of channels live, including cbeebies.

 

[bwana]

My experiences were a little different... my goal was also to replace DSTV... and almost got there.
I didnt enjoy the Netflix or hulu experience. So I cancelled my subscriptions either within the trial period or within he first month. I was on a 4mb line at the time with TI, but that didn't really influence my decision, they just didn't do it for me. I found most of the shows on them were either crap or they required you to have a satelite / cable sub (Hulu specifically).
I do have a Roku 3 which I have setup as a UK device, and have UnoTelly running for my DNS, this allows me to watch the UK streams from BBCIplayer / ITV / C4 / 4OD. These streaming services are free - on the Roku. Not sure about other devices? I also have the NZB / Sickbeard setup running to get all the "cool" shows for the family. And having the NZB's local does mean there is zero buffering and you can get maximum quality.

Having said this - I do still have DSTV on a reduced subscription (R434) for E! and CeeBeeBee's for the Wife / Kids respectively? Why? A happy wife = happy life, and Ceebeebee's format on BBC allows it to just play ;-) Sport is not NB to me. I'm ok with watching it at a mates house or in a pub.

I did also try futubox (This linked to the iptv app on my samsung tv), and it was horrible - and buffered a lot! This was on Vox and on Telkom Internet Capped. I have not tried ntv.mx yet.

Anyways - take your time to investigate... the one thing that I have found useful no matter what I did was unotelly - and I went and did the annual subscription for that....

From what I've learnt from my Hulu+ trial is that the cable/sat subscription insures that you get the latest episode of some shows sooner. Most shows however seem to be available within 24/48 hours of airing in the US.

Apart from two Rokus set to US I've got a NowTV box - basically a £10 Roku - that I use for all the UK channels I can't get on my other Rokus. This is pretty much for the kids because a NowTV subscription offers Sky's Disney and Nickelodeon streams but I enjoy some of the channels as well.

We've been DSTV free now since Feb 2013.

 

[fruitbat]

If you link your Roku to a pc running Plex, there is a Plex app for BBC which also allows you to watch a number of channels live, including cbeebies.

So not in the fashion of BBC Iplayer where it plays 1 show and then stops? It plays continuously?

From what I've learnt from my Hulu+ trial is that the cable/sat subscription insures that you get the latest episode of some shows sooner. Most shows however seem to be available within 24/48 hours of airing in the US.

Apart from two Rokus set to US I've got a NowTV box - basically a £10 Roku - that I use for all the UK channels I can't get on my other Rokus. This is pretty much for the kids because a NowTV subscription offers Sky's Disney and Nickelodeon streams but I enjoy some of the channels as well.

We've been DSTV free now since Feb 2013.

I guess i should have spent more time looking at Hulu+, I just found it frustrating...

NowTV was indeed very cool. I forgot about that.... i did enable that on my roku too. But i haven't got a subscription anymore...

The other show stopper for me disabling DSTV is E! channel and particularly . I need E!News lol. All of the shows i can get on newsservers... I did see something on nimbletv, but the price was rediculous when converting from $ -> ZAR. Also - the E! channel on Hulu+ was crap as well as the YouTube. And like i said - Im a happier person with a happy wife...

 

[Chevron]

Basically Hulu is if you want new stuff.
Netflix is if you want huge back log of complete seasons.

As such I prefer Netlfix as I hate waiting weekly for new episodes. All Netflix original shows come out 1 season at a time as well.

 

[Nerfherder]

Basically Hulu is if you want new stuff.
Netflix is if you want huge back log of complete seasons.

As such I prefer Netlfix as I hate waiting weekly for new episodes. All Netflix original shows come out 1 season at a time as well.

Hulu has ads.

If you want current content and don't mind paying extra then Amazon prime is the way to go.

 

[furpile]

I have been streaming Netflix for a few months now on a 2 Mbps line on both capped and uncapped accounts. Never had a problem with buffering during a show, just loads for a few seconds and then starts. Quality is normal SD for probably 95% of the time.

Just keep in mind if you go for a capped account, your data usage will scale with your line speed, so rather stick with 4 Mbps if you want to watch HD.

 

[AceSwiftShooter]

Thanks guys, will also have to speak to the gf as well, to make sure she is also satisfied in terms of series movies etc that she will be able to watch.

I have started another thread asking for advice to switch to another ISP and going capped. I think it could be a wise move. Mweb speeds and latencies are giving me grey ball hairs and I'm not too fond of that.

 

[Chevron]

I have been streaming Netflix for a few months now on a 2 Mbps line on both capped and uncapped accounts. Never had a problem with buffering during a show, just loads for a few seconds and then starts. Quality is normal SD for probably 95% of the time.

Just keep in mind if you go for a capped account, your data usage will scale with your line speed, so rather stick with 4 Mbps if you want to watch HD.

You can set the quality in your Netflix settings.

 

[Chevron]

Thanks guys, will also have to speak to the gf as well, to make sure she is also satisfied in terms of series movies etc that she will be able to watch.

I have started another thread asking for advice to switch to another ISP and going capped. I think it could be a wise move. Mweb speeds and latencies are giving me grey ball hairs and I'm not too fond of that.

Netflix offers a 30day trial and Unotelly offers a 14day trial. So you can try both for free.

Just don't forget that you can change Netflix regions with Unotelly. There's a site you can use to check which region the show you want to watch is in.

Www.moreflicks.com

 

[furpile]

Netflix offers a 30day trial and Unotelly offers a 14day trial. So you can try both for free.

Just don't forget that you can change Netflix regions with Unotelly. There's a site you can use to check which region the show you want to watch is in.

Www.moreflicks.com

I just bought the Roku stick, and if you activate it in December or January (I think) you get 3 months of Hulu Plus for free. Will test that out over the holidays.

 

[Dubes]

Mweb speeds and latencies

They may cause issues elsewhere but I've had no issues streaming on their accounts.

Many hate it but I like the fact I know what their softcap is and aren't left at the mercy of "shaped dependent on overall network congestion".

are giving me grey ball hairs and I'm not too fond of that.

Shave.