DIRECTV Nomad

If all you want is live streaming, why not just get a Slingbox? It's been available for years, it's proven technology, and it has no monthly fees.

 

Yes, I know there are other alternatives, and I just might go with one of them if Directv doesn't come up with what I want... I had no need for something like that before, but probably will in the near future.

 

I've got Slingbox both on my Droid and my PC but what I want now is Directv Recordings on my PC so I can watch in the airport or on the airplane as I am flying to Hawaii or Europe.

 

Streaming is highly limiting, not to mention unreliable in many locations.

Having the ability to offload any recordings from your HD DVRs, and view them on all sorts of portable devices (laptops, iPads, smartphones, etc.) would seem to provide you with more options.

NOMAD is approaching, and will be here *in the near future*

 

I too favor the "transcode/copy" approach, when possible, but I would imagine streaming would come in very handy for folks out of town who, e.g., want to catch their favorite teams on their local RSN's or simply want to watch a show their DVR recorded while they were away.

Based on my own testing, 250/350 kbps is all that's required for good/very good quality MP4 video on a 4" Droid or iPhone screen, so certainly do-able. Just my .02.

 

With having a Slingbox here...I've tested while traveling in at least 15 airports and 50 hotels...and 100-200Kbps is about average...so still very unstable and insufficient for quality streaming purposes in many places. I actually get better results with my Verizon aircard than WIFI.

 

And 250/350 kbps is the "Best" I get at my Marriott Vacation Villas and sometimes it is less than 250 kbps and my Slingbox Pixellates and has Macro Blocking so I may opt for the Virgin MiFi 2200 which is the Only Unlimited 3G Air Card out there that I know of.

The Verizon Air Card has a Limit of 5 GB now, Bah Humbug.

 

But of course unlike your other options named...it works.

 

I'm wondering what Nomad can do that Slingbox can't too? Because to me, this sounds like they're trying to reinvent the wheel.

 

They will be a great deal different.

Sling is predominantly designed for offsite real-time streaming.

NOMAD is for HD DVR offloading of content (mobile) to other devices for playback (laptops, iPads, smartphones, etc.). There may be a streaming capability with NOMAD as well, but that is yet to be determined.

 

And with Slingbox dependent on a reliable connection, it doesn't appear to be as consistently good as watching a downloaded recording.

 

Also don't forget a third option. A streamed "copy" that you could download to your device, and then watch locally.

Re: real-time streaming vs. copying, I would only try to RT stream shows recorded after I left home, or to watch live TV on a local channel that is unavailable in my new location. Otherwise, I'd love to leave home with a Droid or iPhone filled with transcoded recordings from my playlist.

 

Well you make Nomad sound like something that should be part of every DVR.

 

Not sure where you got that idea...but having it PART OF every DVR seems silly...since it will be optional and would raise the cost to those who don't want/need it. Not a good strategy.

 

Well I prefer a single piece of equipment rather then a wire nightmare.

Just ask any CSR how many TRs they get because of a loose connection.

 

!rolling

Yeah...one or two wires is really complicated. :lol:

 

Agree. The less connections, the less chance for physical errors. That said, I assume DirecTV wants to make this product available to the widest possible audience, so to support the millions of existing HR's in the field, it would need to be an "add-on", IMHO.

 

Just some thoughts...

It would be nice if Nomad were almost like a streaming router that can access all DVRs and remotely access the recorded programs.

If DTV wanted to take it a step further they could also create an interface where you can manage all of your Series options from a central location and remove duplicates.

If the box was a the central point in your home, you might be also be able to watch live programs and possibly multiple sports shows at the same time using more than one receiver at once; This way you can access all of the programming you pay for while on the road.

I would love to see an application for game systems like XBox 360 where you can access your shows in another home and still be able to watch them on a TV.

 

Some neat ideas...but not likely what NOMAD will be about the primariy goal is taking your recordings mobile.

 

That makes sense. And 'add-on' offered turn into 'on-board.'