Let me just say up front that I hate Qwest.

Today's Phrase That Pays is pain in the ass Internet Bandwidth.

I currently have Qwest 1.5Mbps DSL. Hey, don't mock me. Problem is, I can't seem to get Hulu to acceptably stream. I am also considering one of those Samsung Netflix-ready BD players (since I do not yet have ANY BD player). I'm sure I would need more bandwidth for that, too.

I am trying to leverage my existing resources (so I don't want to hear about Roku boxes or any other seductive hardware).

To get a faster connection, Qwest won't let me keep my existing ISP (I have to join the evil empire). Bastardy bastard-coated bastards in bastard sauce. Fine.

(is there a question in there somewhere?!?!)

I envision the following uses, and want good fidelity:
1. Netflix streaming over computer (currently doable but very poor quality)
2. Hulu
3. Netflix streaming to a compatible device (like the Samsung BD-P2500 or BD-P1600).

Does anyone have experience or opinions as to whether 7Mbps DSL would be adequate, or whether I would need a higher speed? I can also get 12Mbps (or higher) DSL, but I really don't want to spend the money.

Are there opinions about DSL v. Comcast?

Are there ANY other viable options?

Thanks for your always profoundly helpful geekitude.

When you say Hulu and Netflix have poor PQ, do you mean on your PC?

I have DSL at home and Hulu and Netflix play fine on my Mac. The Hulu HD is acceptable. Perhaps it might be your browser config? Or a video/graphics limitation of your PC? Have you tried other machines just to validate this theory?

Netflix on my Tivo is choppy, I never get the HD stream.

I am actually considering moving to Comcast cable but I think (unfortunately) each has their own pluses and minuses that (for me) are almost a wash. I can get DSL up to 6 Mbps but only 728Kbps up, cheaper than Comcast but not that fast. Comcast is faster but the cost is almost double. But w/ faster speed, I can get Netflix HD on my Tivo. The cheapest route (for a year) is to do the triple deal from Comcast.

My friend lives in the city in condo complex. They have a fiber installation and a 3rd party company that supplies a full fiber line to his building. He can get fiber access for $40/mo. Then he can go full online TV, VoIP, etc and ditch ATT, Comcast, DISH, etc. I wish I could do that.

Hi Tom,

I have the Roku Netflix player, which works just fine (for the most part) for SD content on my SD TV over my 1.5-3.0MBit (read 1.5MBit) DSL connection, for what that's worth.

I was at 1.5 Mbps, and would fall 1 notch short of full quality on Netflix. I upgraded to 22 Mbps and everything is good now. Really though, 3 Mbps is what Netflix says is needed to get full quality.

EDIT: That 3 for SD.

Thanks, guys.

Yes, trying to stream Hulu and Netflix on my PC now. PQ is poor on Netflix, and unacceptably choppy on Hulu. Multiple computers. One is newish E8400 processor with 3650 video card. I think it's the bandwidth.

Maybe the squirrel chewed through your wires?

Netflix is much better with dedicated devices. Well, and not on HD screens... which is sort of a prerequisite with computers--any computer screen is higher res than SD, and many are higher res than 720p or even 1080p.

Incidentally, that's what cracks me up about all the HD craze--game at HD resolution! Thanks, I've been doing that for 8 years...

Yeah, my computer monitor is 26", 16:10, 1200p (1920x1200), but I still prefer to game in my living room (50" 1080p with 7.1 surround). Actually, I hate gaming on a PC. My job involves working on computers; I game to relax. I don't want to trouble shoot drivers, and search for updates; that seems too much like work. I just want to put a disc in and play.

Well, I decided to give Comcast some business. I am hoping for the best.

I will probably kill off Qwest altogether; I no longer need the DSL and it might be satisfying to abandon my land line.

Which got me to thinking...

If I can stream Netflix and Hulu...

And If I could get OTA HD from an antenna...

And if I could figure out MediaPortal or something as a computer-based DVR...

I might not need to retain D*TV, either.

Who/where is the authority on OTA HDTV Computer-based DVR?

I use something from El Gato. It's a USB-based HDTV tuner for ATSC and NTSC, including ClearQAM encrypted cable. Works fine on my G4 Mac Mini and uses TitanTV and TV Guide for EPG (guide) info. It can scan my Comcast analog/digital channels (HD too) and my OTA channels. Works great and automatically converts to MP4 and other formats and can also automatically add shows to iTunes in the background. I got it at Macworld for about $120 or so.

There's a PC version from a company called Hauppage (SP?). If you want to go all out, I believe there's a handful of Cablecard ready PCs that you could use w/ MediaCenter. You might want to check out the HDTV podcast on iTunes. They've reviewed many products like this in the past.

If you get a Mac Mini or similar sized-PC, you can use that as a Media Room PC. The newer Mac Minis can also go from mini-display port to HDMI. I'm using the DVI to my plasma. Then you can run Netflix and Hulu on either of those machines. You can also try Boxee or Plex if you have a Mac.

We stream Netflix to the XB360 over wireless and most movies start off with good PQ then a few minutes into it, it says our connection has slowed and we wind up with YouTube PQ. Thinking about running a hard line to XB360 and see what happens...

Scott

I have had mixed results. My connection right now (from speedtest.net) is about 15 megs down and 4 megs up. Sometimes I can stream movies in HD flawlessly, and other times the 360 shows my netlfix as only having "one bar" of connection speed and it looks awful.

What function does a media room PC have? What kinds of things can/ does it do or add to the HT experience. I have an older Powerbook laying around. Would that work? My wife has an old IBM laptop laying around too.

your old powerbook only has vga out, so it's not exactly up to the task.

Likewise with the thinkpad. Why does Lenovo still do that?

I already have a Vista PC in the living room, and the Tuttle Family Technology Czar refuses to either increase the acquisition budget or support multiple platforms.

I have copper; the only things that are on the wireless are periodic uses of the laptop and the Wii (because it seems to work this way without me spending the money on the USB-to-ethernet dongle).

You guys are not giving me great confidence that Netflix streaming via 15Mbps Comcast cable is going to be "satisfying".

I guess my question remains... How would I - in a networked Windows environment - best provide DVR functionality and an elegant user interface for OTA HD?

I looked at the El Gato products (thanks!). They seem pretty Mac-centric. Is AVS the best place to learn about such things?

My Roku is over wireless, and I haven't seen drop outs on my 1.5MBit like others are describing.

So, I guess it depends on the device AND the bandwidth. Harumph.

OTOH, I've not watched all that much stuff on it, and I only ever get 3 dots out of 4. I can't imagine that the Roku is more powerful than the XBOX 360!

15Mbps should be MORE than enough for a good Netflix stream. My coworker moved from DSL to Comcast, granted he gets crazy rates of 20 Mbps down and 10 Mbps up (yes, you read that right). Using Netflix on his Series 3 Tivo, he can get full 'HD' streaming according to the Netflix meter. You should be fine.