Copying my Uverse post / review over from DM.

[AT&T Uverse is AT&T's foray into TV over IP (delivered over fiber / VDSL). This is being rolled out in test markets now]

I got Uverse installed two weeks back in Cupertino. Since they gave 2 months free, I kept my Comcast HD service / DVR to compare the two.

The AT&T techs ran a new coax line from the outside box to the TV.

Thoughts so far:

- HD Picture is a bit softer than Comcast. Uverse has more compression so not quite as sharp. Have to be picky to notice however - my wife would never notice.

- Uverse gives you a huge DSL modem / wi-fi router. Haven't customized config yet, but if / when this router is powered off, TV does not work. Not sure why.

- Uverse DVR can record 1 HD & 3 SD programs simultaneously, while Comcast DVR can record 2 HD channels at the same time. I prefer 2 HD channels.

- Uverse channel flipping is fast, but with ~400 channels you won't flip much. The overall Microsoft UI is slow on the DVR.

- Those negatives stated, I'm likely to keep the Uverse service. I've gone through 4 Comcast DVRs over the year - horrible boxes. Each has had different bugs / tuning problems. Comcast techs checked the signal levels at the homes and still have problems. Current box gives me 'Green Screen' which indicates HDMI handshaking errors daily.

- Other plus - more HD channels than Comcast.

Uverse is likely to be a bit more expensive as I had a $99 Comcast voice / TV / internet bundle + 25 for HD & DVR. Uverse TV / Internet will be $135 including all premium channels.

I'll pay a slight premium to avoid the Comcast DVR headaches.

Uverse VDSL service is fast 8-9 Mbps down 800k up.

Also, if I stick with Uverse, I'll have to sell our Tivo Series 2 as I'll lose analog cable. Tivo will be useless with Uverse.

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when this router is powered off, TV does not work. Not sure why.

Because the video is coming in over your DSL connection. That's why you can get up to four channels simultaneously, it's just video streaming over IP. You can' t have two HD streams because there isn't enough bandwidth.

Channel flipping is fast because there isn't a decoding delay, the only delay is cause by the latency of the connection between your house and AT&T's distribution center. You press a button on the remote, a message is sent from your box to AT&T, and the server instantly streams different video.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/24/2007 04:14PM by MGS_forgot_password.

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MGS_forgot_password

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when this router is powered off, TV does not work. Not sure why.

Because the video is coming in over your DSL connection. That's why you can get up to four channels simultaneously, it's just video streaming over IP. You can' t have two HD streams because there isn't enough bandwidth.
.

While the video is coming in over the DSL, the coax to the Uverse STB is direct from the outside junction. Pretty sure the STB is not getting video over WiFI from the router. There is no physical connection between the router & the STB. LIkely the router is providing some upstream authentication to AT&T's backend which is required for the downstream video signal.

Also, 3 SD channels will use as much bandwidth as 1 HD channel, so fairly sure bandwidth isn't the issue. I believe the Moto DVR only has enough CPU / chips for 1 HD decoder.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/24/2007 04:23PM by bhaveshp.

More details on the UVerse DVR would be nice.

Does each room need a Set top box?

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bhaveshp

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MGS_forgot_password

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when this router is powered off, TV does not work. Not sure why.

Because the video is coming in over your DSL connection. That's why you can get up to four channels simultaneously, it's just video streaming over IP. You can' t have two HD streams because there isn't enough bandwidth.
.

Also, 3 SD channels will use as much bandwidth as 1 HD channel, so fairly sure bandwidth isn't the issue.

Researching this further - sort of a bandwidth issue - How AT&T is choosing to allocate the bandwidth. They promise more HD streams later in the year:

[www.uverseusers.com]

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Ken Sp.
More details on the UVerse DVR would be nice.

Does each room need a Set top box?

Yes, each room needs a STB as there is no analog service. The plans include 1 HD-DVR and 3 non-dvr STBs.

The DVR is a Motorola box with 120 gig or 160 gig HD in it. It is physically much smaller than the Comcast STB boxes ~ half the size.

It runs Windows CE based OS with slick fade in / out graphics, but this likely contributes to the slow UI feel. So far in two weeks the box hasn't had a glitch or needed rebooting. Many more details on the uverseusers forum linked earlier.

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bhaveshp
- HD Picture is a bit softer than Comcast. Uverse has more compression so not quite as sharp.

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bhaveshp
They promise more HD streams later in the year:

So, another provider choosing quantity over quality. Sounds like they aren't interested in offering us anything better than cable and sat in the end, but instead a different flavor. Thanks for the info.

Neither is HD!!
Both are compressed Crap.

BGnR

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