Folks ,

With the speed that the technology advances , I sure need some advise here ... Basically looking to watch some desi chanels on TV or Computer here in Canada ... What are my internet based options ?

a. Desi TV ... I belive they sell you a set top box and charge you monthly subscription .

b. Roku .. same as above but no monthly subscriptions .. ( or may be they do )

c. Jaadoo ... set top box .. 1 time cost $199/- ... Mixed reviews .

d. Western digital steaming boxes .. which perhaps connect to the internet and help you stream some channels ...

e. Then there s on the sly method of $20 / month .. Learnt that it was not working any longer ...

How do the streaming set top boxes work ..Do they just help us browse internet w/o a computer OR do they help us see actual TV channels through internet ... in which case ... assuming that there are websites for channels , can't we watch them directly on laptop or computer w/o having to use these boxes ....

Under any case , what are the best options we have for watching some Hindi channels on TV / Computer through internet ? I have some relatives who are threatening to return back if they don't get to see Desi Channels !!!

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fido.

hi
any streming medias will eat ur internet bandwidth, so if u have unlimited internet , think over it.
or
install dish ,buy Dreambox, buy code for year and enjoy.
Mac

-----------------------------------------------------------------
BE HAPPY KEEP HAPPY

Hi mrpandya ,

Thanks for your response . How much will be the approx cost for such an arrangements .

I don't mind upgrading to unlimited internet if I have a cost viable option there ...

Incidentally dishworld is giving a free Roku steaming player + 4 months Hindi channel for 89.95/- ..

http://www.dishworld.com/hindi/packages/hindi-mega/roku

Has anyone tried Roku or a similar internet based arrangement .. Please advise .

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fido.

Hi ,

Upon researching a little bit more have shortlisted to the following options :

Device : Roku or Boxee streaming media player ( $80 - $110)

Subscribe to : dishworld or yupptv for Hindi channels ... ($10 - $45 / month )

Is anyone using the above .. please share experience ..

Thanks ..

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fido.

This is what I did:

- Bought Netgear - NeoTV Max for $70 from Best Buy, US
- Subscribed to the Youtube Hindi channels for free.
- You can find almost all Indian channels on Youtube and the full programming that you can watch.
- Agree, it's not a live streaming, but in this day/age of PVRs who watches everything live? If you're already using PVR, you won't mind a day old episode of Parvarish on Sony TV Youtube channel. IT IS FREE!

Also note, this is the cheapest box available in the market. There are apps for live Hindi channels that you can subscribe to within this player, e.g. yupptv. There's an excellent app for live Cricket as well - Willow TV.

Plus, it plays the other online videos from my iphone/android to the TV through DLNA - direct to TV. There's an app for the player's remote control in android and iphone.

All in all, I am happy with this arrangement.

Thanks Febpreet .. your post is highly appreciated .. Does Best Buy US ship to Canada for free ( I noticed free shipping but assuming its for US only )

Also please advise whether the picture quality on You Tube is different from that on YuppTV and which (YuppTV or You Tube ) is more convenient for seniors ..

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fido.

I don't think Best Buy US ships for free, or at all to Canada. Tiger direct has it listed for ~$75:

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4910036

Picture quality is pretty good when I browse Youtube on this player. I guess, all other players are the same as well; and the difference would be how good/bad your internet bandwidth is. Besides, there exists on Youtube multiple versions of the same programming, i.e. Standard Def. and HD. It will transmit accordingly what you choose to watch.

I don't know about YuppTV as I am not subscribed to the one. It's paid (even the WillowTV), and by now you may have got that I am a 'freeloader' .

The biggest plus of these players is the availability of DLNA (Google it). When hooked the player to internet on the same Wireless Network as my iPhone and Android phone, this feature enables me to bring whatever I am watching on my phone to TV. Some players are good with this feature, while others not. I have two boxes from different companies (Neo TV Max from Netgear and Patriot Memory Box Office), but I found Neo TV Max is great for DLNA. This particular feature beats everything else. I can pretty much watch any video that's streaming on my phone/computer wirelessly on my TV. This includes free online Bollywood movies from the various sites.

Technology man! Technology! Does it really ever stop amazes me?