Introduction
In this Four Part Series, we will examine: Satellite TV for PC (PCTV)
• Part I: This new technology, what it is and how it works (briefly),
• Part II: How to buy this new technology Online (in great detail),
• Part III: What the implications of this new technology are (in broad detail) and finally,
• Part IV: What kinds of products are available (in serial installations).
The Series:
SatelliteTVSeeker.info Exclusive Reports: Satellite TV for PC: Part I: Satellite TV and Satellite TV on PC: Great Expectations. (Now Available!)
SatelliteTVSeeker.info Exclusive Reports: Part II: Satellite TV for PC: Buying Satellite TV for PC. (Now Available!)
SatelliteTVSeeker.info Exclusive Reports: Part III: Satellite TV for PC: Disruptive Technology. (Now Available!)
SatelliteTVSeeker.info Exclusive Reports: Part IV: Satellite TV for PC: Product Reviews. (Now Available!)
In previous installments: Parts I, II, and III, the stage has been set for actual Product Reviews, I include here, and in Reviews to follow.
If you missed one or more of the first three installments, you can easily catch up by visiting: www.satellitetvseeker.info Archived Articles Page.
In Part IV of the Series, we're going to evaluate (3) Solutions in a growing array of Products destined to bring PCTV fully into the World marketplace.
Here, over the course of a few weeks, we will look at a Software Solution Part IV-1, a Hardware Solution Part IV-2, and a Noware (No Software and No Hardware) Solution, Part IV-3.
Satellite TV for PC: Part IV: Product Reviews:
1. A Software Solution: TRACK 2 of 2
Continued from TRACK 1
Test 2: Following is a recap of my experience with (6) popular US-Based TV Channels, at my local StarBucks:
Fox (WVUE-TV): Same as Test 1.
ABC (ABCNEWS): Loaded in 1 minute or less.
Audio: [7] Good: Audible with Interface Volume 50-100%. Drop Outs after some minutes viewing.
Video: Small Screen
Colors: [5] Good: Pronounced Reds, Greens, Yellows, Oranges. Otherwise Muted: Like watching Tinted Black and White Video.
Graphics: [6] Good: Readable.
Resolution: [6] Good Video Images. Freeze Ups.
Video: Full Screen
Colors: [5] Good: Strong Saturated Blues and Blacks. Pronounced Reds, Greens, Yellows, Oranges. Otherwise Muted: Like watching Tinted Black and White Video.
Graphics: [4] Fair.
Resolution: [2] Poor: Jaggies apparent. Motion Blurring. Freeze Ups.
Synchronization: [4] Fair.
C-SPAN1: Loaded in 1 minute or less.
Audio: [4] Fair. Audible at Interface Volume 50-100%.
Video: Small Screen
Colors: [6] Good Flesh Tones. Strong RGB.
Graphics: [4] Fair.
Resolution: [4] Fair.
Video: Full Screen
Colors: [2] Poor. Blurred Blues and Reds.
Graphics: [2] Poor. Hard to read.
Resolution: [2] Poor. Jaggies. Motion Blurring.
Synchronization: [5] Good.
ESPN: (2) Attempted loadings: Buffering stopped at 17% Complete.
Audio:
Video: Small Screen
Colors:
Graphics:
Resolution:
Video: Full Screen
Colors:
Graphics:
Resolution:
Bloomberg: Same as Test 1.
QVC (British Version): Same as Test 1.
* * *
Scoring: Test 2: Out of a field of 6, 1 out of 6 Channels failed to load at all. Although CSPAN1 did load, the overall experience did not offset the poor performance (due to Freeze Ups) of ABCNEWS, which I found impossible to watch for any length of time.
As in Test 1, The QVC Channel was only available in the British Version, rendering the total useful USA Programming (3 Channels out of 6 Tested) at an abysmal 50%.
* * *
Overall Averaged or Ranged Ratings: Test 1: and Test 2:
Audio: Generally: [6] Good, though subject to frequent Drop Outs.
Video: Small Screen
Colors: [4] - [5] Fair to Good: Generally available in a Full RGB Palette, subtle Color combinations and pastels tend to wash out and become indistinguishable from adjacent Colors and Backgrounds.
Graphics: [2] - [5] Poor to Good. The wide range is partly due to the Graphics supplied by the program originator, which can account at least partially, for the wide disparity in Rating.
Resolution: The wide range: [2] - [5] Poor to Good, is probably a function of the quality of the original broadcast, and the means of transmission.
Note: In particular, I found it especially difficult to watch programs which frequently were in and out of Focus, due to eye-fatigue.
Video: Full Screen
Colors: The wide range: [2] - [5] Poor to Good, is probably a function of the quality of the original broadcast, and the means of transmission.
Graphics: [2] - [5] Poor to Good. The wide range is partly due to the Graphics supplied by the program originator, which can account at least partially, for the wide disparity in Rating.
Resolution: The wide range: [2] - [5] Poor to Good, is probably a function of the quality of the original broadcast, and the means of transmission.
Note: In particular, I found it especially difficult to watch programs which frequently were in and out of Focus, due to eye-fatigue.
A/V Synchronization: The wide range: [2] - [5] Poor to Good, is probably a function of the quality of the original broadcast, and the means of transmission.
Note: I found it annoying to watch programs which had Poor Synchronization.
Software Programming Selection
Although the Online Advertisement boasts 2000 plus Channels available on the Elite Edition as tested, there are only about a dozen or so US-Based Channels that would be recognizable to the average American TV Viewer.
Likewise, if you enjoy British TV, you will be greatly disappointed by this Software. Only two popular Channels: BBC and BBC News, are actually operational.
And, sadly I was able to load only (3) Canadian Channels: CTV (Educational), The Stream, (Religious) and CPAC (Public Access News Media).
Access to World Sports on demand, is another ready market and a very good reason to buy this kind of Software. Unfortunately, I could not load any of the Live Sports the Software is supposed to deliver.
Additionally:
1. Only Fox News and ABC News Channels are offered. No regular Fox, ABC, CBS, or NBC Programming was available at the time of Testing.
2. There is no A&E Channel, Discovery or History Channels, or Cartoon Channels available. That, in itself is enough to turn off a huge market segment!
3. There are no choices for well-known Movie Channels like Bravo, HBO, TNT, AMC, USA, and TBS.
4. I could load no Sports Programming what-so-ever, not Live and not Recorded. ESPN failed to load in both Test 1. and Test 2. This also, is sufficient to disinterest another huge market segment devoted to following their favorite teams!
5. No Local Channels are generally available, except if you happen to live in or near a very big American city, like Los Angeles, New York; or London or Toronto. And notably, the Channels available in those large metropolitan areas, are extremely limited.
6. The vagaries of Delivery and Bandwidth on the Internet can contribute to a widely variable viewing experience. Just as I was unable to load C-SPAN1 at my Office at Home, possibly due to my fairly inexpensive link to the Internet, that Program loaded satisfactorily at StarBucks.
7. You will notice that “[7] Good” is the highest (Audio) I have rated any of my experiences with this Software. The highest Video rating was [6] “Good.”
If you will recall DVD/CD-ROM = Satellite TV MPEG-2, uniformly gets: [8] “Very Good” to [9] “Excellent” rating on both Audio and Video.
Technical Evaluation
In our simulation: DVD Standard Definition (SD) Average Quality = Standard Definition (SD) Satellite TV Quality, MPEG-2 as a Bench Mark, this Software Solution fails to deliver anything more than a Fair OTA performance overall, based on the (2) separate Trials of (6) Channels Tested.
As most everyone with a set of “Rabbit Ears” will be able to access OTA Channels right where they live, the only point in having this Software might be its portability.
The advantage of a Software Solution would be that anyone could conveniently carry the Software on their Lap Top Computers on vacation, or while traveling on work assignments, just to keep up with the news, weather, sports, and stock markets.
This presumes of course, you would have access to the Internet wherever you traveled!
10 Characteristics of Satellite TV
1. Satellite TV Audio: Most all Satellite TV Systems available today are rated at MPEG-2 or better. This means that the Viewer using equipment so rated, will almost invariably experience [8] Very Good to [9] Excellent sound feeds to their TVs.
Note: MPEG-2 doesn't guarantee beautiful sounds out of junky speakers. Visit: www.mpeg.org
2. Satellite TV Video: Most all Satellite TV Systems available today are rated at MPEG-2. This means that the Viewer using equipment so rated, will almost invariably experience [8] Very Good to [9] Excellent picture feeds to their TVs.
Note: MPEG-2 doesn't guarantee beautiful picture quality out of a junky TV Set. Visit: www.mpeg.org
3. Synchronization: Though there is a lapse in the Synchronization of a multiplexed Satellite Signal, to the average TV Viewer, it's almost imperceptible. Even when advised of this phenomenon, most TV Viewers I've polled, do not find this a significant issue.
4. Remote: The primary control device of the Satellite TV Receiver is the Remote. Using this device, the TV Viewer can easily access all Set Up, Programming, and Troubleshooting Features by clicking through a number of On-screen Menus.
With this device “Channel Surfing” or rapidly changing from one Channel, to another and back, is almost effortless.
Using the Remote, the TV Viewer can also control basic functions of the TV, like On/Off and Volume.
5. Program Guide: Both DISH Network and DirecTV provide excellent means for Viewers to find out what is on TV. They have easily- accessed, On-screen Electronic Program Guides, which may be viewed while watching any Channel. (This is essentially Picture-in-Picture Technology.)
Categories like Movies, Educational Programs, and Sports arrive at a click or two of the Remote.
Today, Satellite TV Viewers can see as much as a week in advance, exactly what will be playing, and when it will play. This makes recording of future Programming ultimately easy.
6. Uniformity: Satellite TV is all digital, and because it is, that means all Channels arrive in your TV Set 100%, or not at all. It also means your viewing experience on one Channel to the next, and the next, is very likely to be completely homogenized.
While, an MPEG expert could likely distinguish slight differences in Audio, or Video Color, Graphics, and Definition, one Channel to the next, most TV Viewer accept these minor flaws without complaint.
Similarly, your experience, and that of your neighbor, and that of your friends, say on the East or West Coast, or at the Borders of the United States, is going to be very similar.
This is what is so appealing about Satellite TV. This also contributes to its rather high subscription fees.
7. Portability: Satellite TV can easily go where you go. Nearly any place you wish to be in the Continental US, Hawaii, Alaska, etc., you can take your Satellite TV System, set up, plug in, sit back and enjoy.
For this reason, Satellite TV Systems appeal to a growing number of full-time RVers, road warriors, truck drivers, etc.
8. Programming Variety: Right now there are hundreds of Satellite TV Channels offering thousands of quality programs, available to a World of Satellite TV Subscribers, on an astounding variety of subjects.
9. International Programming: Both DISH Network and DirecTV offer an ever-expanding assortment of programming, representing many of the major Cultures of the World.
10. Local Channel Access: Both DISH Network and DirecTV offer access to local networks,(in nearly all markets) which broadcasts arrive to homes in the same 100% digital quality as the nationally broadcast Channels do.
Comparisons and Contrasts
For the following, I have deliberately chosen to compare my Dish Network Satellite TV Service (as summarized above in 10 Characteristics of Satellite TV, and is in every way comparable to that of DirecTV) favorably to DVD/CD-ROM/OTA quality programming, and in turn to Satellite TV for PC Elite Edition: because:
a. I don't currently have a connection from my Dish Network Satellite TV Service directly to my HP PC,
b. DVD/CD-ROM/OTA is a very good, commonly available Bench Mark on which to base cross-platform comparisons, and
c. You may have never have experienced Satellite TV.
For the purposes of the following Comparisons and Contrasts, I have made Standard Definition (SD) Satellite TV Quality = Standard Definition (SD) Average DVD/CD-ROM Quality, rightly or wrongly, fairly or otherwise.
10 Characteristics of Satellite TV for PC:
1. Satellite TV for PC Audio: Not MPEG Rated.
2. Satellite TV for PC Video: Not MPEG Rated.
3. Synchronization: Though there is commonly a lapse in the Synchronization of the Original Satellite TV Broadcast, this lapse varies widely Channel to Channel, on the Software Solution Programming.
4. Remote: While there is no exact equivalent, the Computer Mouse has control capabilities somewhat equivalent to the Handheld Remote.
But on the subject of Channel Surfing with this Software: Forget that, as well as Picture-in-Picture Type Features (which would allow the viewer to simultaneously view two Channels, or a single Channel and Electronic Program Guide).
If you want to see what's on other Channels with this Software, you will have to stop the action on one Channel, select another and wait for that Channel to load.
This process can take (5) or more minutes depending on a number of variables!
5. Program Guide: I found the Program Guide provided with the Software completely inscrutable. It's published in Chinese!
6. Uniformity: While Satellite TV for PC is all digital, and therefore, all uniform, here is where the similarity between Direct to Home Satellite TV and the tested Software/Internet Delivery ends.
Your viewing experience on one Channel to the next, and the next, using this Software is very likely to be strikingly different.
Anyone, given the proper circumstances, would be able to discern differences in Audio, (Drop Outs, Re-buffering, etc.) and Video Color, Graphics, and Definition, one Channel to the next.
Similarly, your experience; and that of your neighbor, and that of your friends, say on the East or West Coast, or at the Borders of the United States, is going to be very dissimilar, due to the above Variable Test Factors, including the vagaries of the Internet I noted above.
7. Portability: Like Satellite TV, Satellite TV for PC can also easily go where you go. Provided that is, that you can get on the Internet to access the Streaming at the required speed.
This fact should make PCTV increasingly popular for the same user groups and for the same reasons cited above for Satellite TV.
8. Programming Variety: While it is claimed that there are hundreds, and even thousands of channels available to Satellite TV for PC Viewers; in so far as the American, British and Canadian Viewer is concerned, there are actually a very few programs, in very limited variety of subject matter available.
Apparently, no “Live TV” as defined above, is available anywhere as delivered by the Software I tested.
9. International Programming: This is the strong suit for Satellite TV for PC, or should be. In its advertising, Satellite TV for PC offers 2200 Channels. A dazzling promise, numerically at least, of Programs of, for and by, the major Cultures of the World.
Apparently, no “Live TV” as defined above, is available anywhere on the Software I tested.
10. Local Channel Access: Sadly, using this Software, there is no Local Channel representation where I live. And unless you happen to be from Los Angeles, New York City, London or Toronto, you probably won't get any of your Local Channels either.
Apparently, no “Live TV” as defined above, is available anywhere on the Software I tested.
Results and Conclusions
Indisputable Fact Number 1
Despite the fact I that have indeed applied for a total refund $49.95 USD, which I paid for the Satellite TV for PC Elite Edition 2006 Software, this Solution delivers on its most basic promise: When connected to the Internet, it transforms my PC into a TV.
Indisputable Fact Number 2
There is no subscription contract or fee required to view Satellite TV for PC Elite Edition 2006.
Unfortunate Fact Number 1
The rest of the story is not so rosy: Despite advertising claims there is/are:
1. No Live News Available
2. No Live Weather Available
3. No “Live Sports Streams” Available
Unfortunate Fact Number 2
Despite “Channel Guide” Listings there is/are:
1. No MTV Available
2. No “PAY PER VIEW” Programs Available
3. No “Kids Channels” Available
You be the judge. Given the above analysis, would you have any interest at all in purchasing this kind of Software Solution?
A Bright Future?
Add about 100 more Popular US, UK, and CA Programs, including Live Sports Feeds, Popular Movies, Cartoon Channels, A Program Guide in English, or whatever your particular language happens to be, provide a Software product without tons of Chinese Advertising; and who knows, PCTV just might be ready for Prime Time!
Though this new Disruptive/Convergent Technology has the potential to unseat the predecessor, Satellite TV, if only in terms of popularity, DISH Network and DirecTV needn't be too concerned at the moment.
This Product, the Software Solution as tested, is a long way from constituting any real threat.
Still, the technology works! There should be no real reason why with a little cash influx… well… I get the eerie feeling that should Sir Rupert Murdock (DirecTV) and Charlie Ergen (DISH Network) get onto this, one of two things may happen, and very swiftly:
1. They, perhaps with the kind assist of Bill Gates, will come out with a much better version of PCTV Software.
2. They, buy it out as a technology, as they are capable of doing, in a successful effort to effectively stop its growth.
Time (and Money) will tell…
Best Regards,
Craig Guest
CEO, Satellite TV Seeker
stsinfo@satellitetvseeker.info
Fair Use Policy: This Article may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced in total, provided that the following resource is cited:
www.satellitetvseeker.info
Web Site: www.satellitetvseeker.info
Email: stsinfo@satellitetvseeker.info
Hi, Craig Guest here. The Satellite TV Business has been my occu-passion for the last six years. Looking back, it’s been an extraordinary journey. My favorite quote: "It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters in the end."
- Ursula K. LeGuin
Craig started as a Satellite TV installer and serviceman, and soon got involved in selling for both DISH Network and DirecTV. When Satellite Internet arrived on the scene in 2001, Craig took the plunge and got certified for StarBand, Pegasus Express and DirecWay as an installer and serviceman. High Speed Satellite Internet sales soon followed, and today his watchwords are: Anything Satellite.
Web Site: www.satellitetvseeker.info
Contact: stsinfo@satellitetvseeker.info |
