[sdirv]

My internet speed consistently tests at 35 mbps and it still takes forever to download one HD OnDemand movie

Which brings us all back to a conversation I've seen here a bunch....

Although a speed test will indicate your speeds during that test, which is normally a short period of time, there exists a big difference in services and how they are able to sustain speeds over time while loaded with data.

Most providers will test close to their advertised speeds, they have to or their customers would be screaming bloody murder. But outside of that test, while streaming quantities of data (like a movie) over a sustained period of time, where does the speed go?? Some ISP's throttle, some don't, some just don't have the infrastructure to maintain test speeds over time, some do.....it's nowhere near a "standard" out there.

Another issue faced in the marketplace is the perception of the end user of what internet service he has, and that perception is driven by the provider's advertising. I've got what I consider to be high speed internet, 20mbps. There are faster services available. My dad will tell you he's got high speed internet too, his provider tells him he's got high speed internet. He's got 768kbps DSL. I don't consider THAT to be high speed, and surely isn't fast enough to stream movies, or use D*'s VOD in any sort of efficient manner.

But...what are ya gonna do?????

 

[CCarncross]

Don't forget that it wasnt that long ago that large majorities of the country had access to nothing but dial up speeds. 768kb/s is a huge improvement over 33-56kb/s speeds. Before fiber starting going in for residential installs, most didnt have access to anywhere near the speeds that some providers claim to offer today.

 

[raott]

A confusing mess??? Are you just adding the channels to your guide, or are you selecting the "On-Demand" menu item?? The "On-Demand" menu choice is very slick and easy to use.........

Not wanting to start anything personal here, but the things you've said lead me to believe that you don't know how D*'s PPV and/or VOD works, and you seem to not want to know. :nono2:

User shouldn't have to figure out how it works, it should be intuitive. I'm fairly technical and I find it a confusing mess. Want to watch a kids movie? Go to On Demand > Kids > movies only to get hit with an alphabetical list of a several hundred movies. Some are already downloaded, some are free, some are pay, and many, many of which are on channels I don't subscribe to.

No listing of what new movies there are, no listing of what's "hot" etc.

The interface is terrible when compared with D*'s competitors. Go to Vudu to see how it is done right. But the proof, at least at my house, is what the average non-tech person chooses to use. My wife and daughter won't touch D*'s PPV, but have no issues with Netflix or Vudu.

 

[kirchnrd]

Don't forget that it wasnt that long ago that large majorities of the country had access to nothing but dial up speeds. 768kb/s is a huge improvement over 33-56kb/s speeds. Before fiber starting going in for residential installs, most didnt have access to anywhere near the speeds that some providers claim to offer today.

Exactly. I just got upgraded to 1.5 mb from 768. I have downloaded a few items, but takes hours to do so. All in all, I prefer PQ over speed. I can watch HBO GO live, so maybe a perfect world solution would let you pick the PQ... I know, world isn't perfect

 

[hilmar2k]

I actually said exactly that in the second half of the post of mine that you quoted......:lol:

No, you said that the title must download to the HDD before it can be watched. That is incorrect, or at least, misleading. Very little of the title needs to be downloaded prior to watching. In my case, less than 30 seconds worth.

 

[CCarncross]

Lets just say that most have to wait to start watching until there is enough of the show downloaded so that the download finishes before playing back in realtime would completely catch up. If someone doesnt like the way the current model works, they have a choice of choosing a cable type provider that can provide more immediate playback of on demand content.

 

[Eddie501]

VOD seems like something DirecTV has just so they can say they have it. But in reality is almost useless. I suppose it works okay for PPV, but barely at all for all other programming.

For instance, I was wanting to catch up with Being Human before the new season starts on SyFy. And they have episodes 6-10 only on VOD from a 12 episode 1st season. In standard definition.

AMC has big banner for two of their high profile series when you tune to their VOD channel. But only has the first three episodes of season 2 of Walking Dead and the last two of Hell on Wheels. Again, only in standard def.

In fact, most of their non-PPV, non-premium channel content is in SD. I suppose if you want to watch random episodes of stuff on a 27" tube TV then VOD is appealing. For the rest of us, it's just not there yet.

 

[hilmar2k]

VOD seems like something DirecTV has just so they can say they have it. But in reality is almost useless. I suppose it works okay for PPV, but barely at all for all other programming.

For instance, I was wanting to catch up with Being Human before the new season starts on SyFy. And they have episodes 6-10 only on VOD from a 12 episode 1st season. In standard definition.

AMC has big banner for two of their high profile series when you tune to their VOD channel. But only has the first three episodes of season 2 of Walking Dead and the last two of Hell on Wheels. Again, only in standard def.

In fact, most of their non-PPV, non-premium channel content is in SD. I suppose if you want to watch random episodes of stuff on a 27" tube TV then VOD is appealing. For the rest of us, it's just not there yet.

The content is controlled by the individual channels, not DIRECTV.

I agree, though, the content can sometimes leave a lot to be desired.

 

[Laxguy]

There will be skips, misses and glitches- not necessarily due to DIRECTV® in VOD. It was invaluable to me to catch the first 5 or 6 eps of Homeland after I read people here raving about it. It made my TV year!

I don't even look at SD offerings. I find VOD a lot more than cosmetic, however far from perfection it may be.

 

[Red Orc]

User shouldn't have to figure out how it works, it should be intuitive. I'm fairly technical and I find it a confusing mess. Want to watch a kids movie? Go to On Demand > Kids > movies only to get hit with an alphabetical list of a several hundred movies. Some are already downloaded, some are free, some are pay, and many, many of which are on channels I don't subscribe to.

No listing of what new movies there are, no listing of what's "hot" etc.

The interface is terrible when compared with D*'s competitors. Go to Vudu to see how it is done right. But the proof, at least at my house, is what the average non-tech person chooses to use. My wife and daughter won't touch D*'s PPV, but have no issues with Netflix or Vudu.

I agree. That is EXTREMELY irritating

 

[TheRatPatrol]

Whatever happened to those 20 push transponders that they put aside on D12 to push PPV/VOD instantly to your receivers?

*20 transponders that could have been used for more HD channels, but we won't go into that in this thread

 

[mikeny]

I'm not too happy that 'On Demand' Showtime shows I downloaded months ago won't play back now because I'm not subscribed anymore. Give me a break. I was subscribed when I downloaded them. Seems unfair.

Of course, if it was recorded off of the regular Showtime channel I would be able to play them now.

 

[CCarncross]

I'm not too happy that 'On Demand' Showtime shows I downloaded months ago won't play back now because I'm not subscribed anymore. Give me a break. I was subscribed when I downloaded them. Seems unfair.

Of course, if it was recorded off of the regular Showtime channel I would be able to play them now.

I believe all providers work this way, so its probably a stipulation from the channels, and not D*.

 

[Laxguy]

I believe all providers work this way, so its probably a stipulation from the channels, and not D*.

+1.

And while no one might like it, it's hardly unfair.

 

[mikeny]

+1.

And while no one might like it, it's hardly unfair.

That's your opinion. In mine, since I laid out 'x' amount of dollars in several months time to use their subscription and the on demand/download service, I should be entitled to view the show(s) that I downloaded. I could see not being able to go and download others but ones that I have already downloaded should work.

 

[sdirv]

No, you said that the title must download to the HDD before it can be watched. That is incorrect, or at least, misleading. Very little of the title needs to be downloaded prior to watching. In my case, less than 30 seconds worth.

You left out what I said AGAIN....here's my direct quote:

"I also realize that although D* calls it's VOD service VOD.....it's not streaming like is offered by some cable companies, or Netflix. Titles you choose to see must download to your DVR's hard drive before you can watch.

Doing THAT is then very dependent on your internet service/speed. Sounds like you've got very slow service. I've got 20mbps service and can select an HD movie from D*'s VOD and after just a few minutes of downloading the progress bar turns green and I can start watching without ever bumping up against the buffer."

You have referenced the first paragraph of what I said, ignoring what was said in the second paragraph twice now to misrepresent what I said.

 

[hilmar2k]

You left out what I said AGAIN....here's my direct quote:

"I also realize that although D* calls it's VOD service VOD.....it's not streaming like is offered by some cable companies, or Netflix. Titles you choose to see must download to your DVR's hard drive before you can watch.

Doing THAT is then very dependent on your internet service/speed. Sounds like you've got very slow service. I've got 20mbps service and can select an HD movie from D*'s VOD and after just a few minutes of downloading the progress bar turns green and I can start watching without ever bumping up against the buffer."

You have referenced the first paragraph of what I said, ignoring what was said in the second paragraph twice now to misrepresent what I said.

What part of this says anything other than what I said it did? You said titles need to be downloaded before they can we watched. That just simply isn't accurate.

Titles you choose to see must download to your DVR's hard drive before you can watch.

 

[sdirv]

User shouldn't have to figure out how it works, it should be intuitive. I'm fairly technical and I find it a confusing mess. Want to watch a kids movie? Go to On Demand > Kids > movies only to get hit with an alphabetical list of a several hundred movies. Some are already downloaded, some are free, some are pay, and many, many of which are on channels I don't subscribe to.

No listing of what new movies there are, no listing of what's "hot" etc.

Seems like we have different views of what is "intuitive".....I'm also fairly technical and on first use chose to use the system in a different manner than you.

Goto On Demand > Browse By Channel > (at this point I know what the kid channels are) > Nick

Now I see a menu that lists "Just Added" programs, "All" programming, a list of the top 7 programs on the channel, as well as a HUGE graphic (well it's on my 65" TV) of two of the more popular shows.

When I follow this same process of browsing by channel, I can go to HBO (for example) and I see selections split out by "just added", movies, series, genre, etc.

I guess it's just more intuitive to me, if I want to watch a movie that instead of selecting a list of every movie in the system..that I would want to choose movies by provider (like HBO, TMC). Makes it MUCH simpler.

The interface is terrible when compared with D*'s competitors. Go to Vudu to see how it is done right. But the proof, at least at my house, is what the average non-tech person chooses to use. My wife and daughter won't touch D*'s PPV, but have no issues with Netflix or Vudu.

I don't do PPV, but find VOD very easy to use....(shrug). In my home, my wife can barely operate a remote control, can't figure out how to play a DVD...:lol:.

 

[sdirv]

What part of this says anything other than what I said it did? You said titles need to be downloaded before they can we watched. That just simply isn't accurate.

You're making this personal.....you are cherry picking one sentence from a multi-paragraph post I made on a subject to misrepresent what I said...and claiming that I was being misleading......

I did NOT say that titles had to be downloaded COMPLETELY before they could be viewed.

Go find someone else to screw with......

 

[veryoldschool]

Whoa

The cable company owns the supply medium.
NetFlix reduces bit-rates/PQ to suit the connection speed.

DirecTV has chosen to keep the PQ & bit-rate high.

You don't need to completely download the whole program before watching and you only need to have a sufficient amount of buffer so you don't run out while you're watching.
This amount may be enough even while it shows red, but "YMMV" because DirecTV doesn't control your ISP.