Fibe, Questions..

410490 Views 1146 Replies 247 Participants Last post by elyk, 7 mo ago

Boavista

Discussion Starter · Aug 2, 2010

Im thinking of ditching bell tv after 5 years. Love the service, prices are good but sick of satellite tv losing signal in bad storms. The new Fibe tv service is available in my area.I currently have the fibe25 internet. Ive read that its a max of 4 set top box's. My question is i have 5 tvs. I want to change to fibe tv and i obviously want to watch my 5 tv's so i need 5 set tops. The most set top box's that will ever be on at once is 4 ( 3 sd and 1 hd). Now is it possible to get a 5 box install in this case? the 5 tvs will NEVER all be used at once. Unfortunately this is a deal breaker for me.. I need the 5 tvs or ill have to either settle for bell tv or make the swap back to robbers. I'd call be all ask but i already know ill call 5 times n get 5 different answers so i always come here first

Thanks in advanced folks.

141 - 160 of 1147 Posts

annayya

· #141 · Oct 1, 2011

Fibe TV Connection questions

I have Bell Satellite currently and I want to get some info before I switch to Fibe TV.

My internet is Fibe 25 with 7 Mbps upload. If I switch to Fibe TV I will be downgraded to Fibe 16 on paper, but would still have 25 mbps connection. Can I also have 7 Mbps upload (do I need to pay $5 for that)?
Am I always guaranteed to have 16 Mbps whether I watch TV or not. And when I am watching TV or recording, does the speed automatically get limited to 16 Mbps or will it still try its best to use what's available of the 25 Mbps limit.
Can we pause, rewind, record any program from any receiver in the house?
I know we can set up the recording from a computer outside, but can we also access the recorded content from PVR on the computer ?
Is the video and audio quality really better than Satellite TV? Not sure if it makes a difference but I live in a detached home (bungalow). I know satellite quality is better than cable as I experienced both.
Are the receivers wireless or do they need to be connected to each other or to the modem by a wire?
Can I add an external hard-drive to increase the recording capacity. If not, will there be a future firmware update that would allow this, since I can do it with my current receiver.

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betterthancable

· #142 · Oct 1, 2011

My internet is Fibe 25 with 7 Mbps upload. If I switch to Fibe TV I will be downgraded to Fibe 16 on paper, but would still have 25 mbps connection. Can I also have 7 Mbps upload (do I need to pay $5 for that)? Yes
Am I always guaranteed to have 16 Mbps whether I watch TV or not. And when I am watching TV or recording, does the speed automatically get limited to 16 Mbps or will it still try its best to use what's available of the 25 Mbps limit. No and Sort of
Can we pause, rewind, record any program from any receiver in the house? Yes
I know we can set up the recording from a computer outside, but can we also access the recorded content from PVR on the computer ? Not yet
Is the video and audio quality really better than Satellite TV? For the most part, vdery much so Not sure if it makes a difference but I live in a detached home (bungalow). I know satellite quality is better than cable as I experienced both.
Are the receivers wireless or do they need to be connected to each other or to the modem by a wire? They need to be connected to your home network either by twisted pair or coax
Can I add an external hard-drive to increase the recording capacity. If not, will there be a future firmware update that would allow this, since I can do it with my current receiver. Not yet, but there is a USB port on the receivers, maybe in the future

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annayya

· #143 · Oct 1, 2011

Thanks a lot for the prompt reply.

Can you please clarify what you mean by No and Sort of
I won't be getting even 16 Mbps all the time .... or as soon as I turn on a TV or record the 25 Mbps limit falls to 16Mbps automatically?

betterthancable

· #144 · Oct 2, 2011

You may get more than 16 when watching (or recording) one standard show. As soon as you have two shows SD+HD you'll go below 16 and from what I have seen go as low as 12. When the TVs are off I have been able to get 25+ consistently.

annayya

· #145 · Oct 2, 2011

One last question. Is the speed limit set for the TV to use unlimited. The reason I am asking this is because based on a speed test by a bell technician directly from the wire coming to my house, with his machine he said I am getting 68 Mbps although they can't sell a number above 25Mbps just yet in Toronto.

So, if the TV speed limit is unlimited I would assume I can enjoy a 25 Mbps internet constantly regardless of recording two HD shows (I will probably never record more than two shows at the same time). Do you know how many mbps on average an HD show requires?

you say you get 25+ ... is that a significant + or just about 1 or 2 mbps. I currently have 25mbps but get 26 mbps constantly which makes me happy even though its just 1 Mbps

I pay over $200 to Bell (TV, Homephone, Internet, cell phone) and internet speed is very essential to me and I don't mind paying $10 to $20 more for that.
Bell is the best in all services in my opinion, the only thing I HATE about them is the stupid bandwidth limit. I wish we can have unlimited BW like we did 6 or 7 years ago.

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betterthancable

· #146 · Oct 3, 2011

One last question. Is the speed limit set for the TV to use unlimited.
It's not unlimited, as the tech says it's around 25 mb

So, if the TV speed limit is unlimited I would assume I can enjoy a 25 Mbps internet constantly regardless of recording two HD shows (I will probably never record more than two shows at the same time). Do you know how many mbps on average an HD show requires? No, I don't

you say you get 25+ ... is that a significant + or just about 1 or 2 mbps. I currently have 25mbps but get 26 mbps constantly which makes me happy even though its just 1 Mbps sometimes up to 3

rainey

· #147 · Oct 3, 2011

I have been with Videotron forever and have not had any issues with customer service. However; I am seriously thinking of making the switch to Bell Fibe because of the HD station selection and overall english tv channels Bell has versus Videotron. I live in Montreal and am curious if anyone has switched from Videotron to Bell and what there thoughts are.

Dr.Dave

· #148 · Oct 3, 2011

Do you know how many mbps on average an HD show requires?

I have a note that someone said 5.5 Mbps for an HD stream, but I'm not sure if that is accurate. I use Mediaroom with MTS TV and we use 6.8 Mbps and I know Telus uses 5.6 Mbps, so it would be in that general range. MTS uses 2.7 Mbps for SD and Telus uses 2.25 Mbps.

wm_cheng

· #149 · Oct 3, 2011

Well, I was promised that when I wasn't using my HD TV streams that I would get 25Mbps downloads even though I had to switch to Fibe6 - it was sold to me as an added benefit of the FibeTV system. After 3 months, Bell sent a letter to all of us in the Toronto Beaches neighborhood that we would now be capped to 6Mbps regardless of whether the TV streams are being used or not. So I wouldn't count on Bell giving anyone a free ride for long.

ainyul

· #150 · Oct 3, 2011

^i was initially a videotron customer; and albeit the customer service has been somewhat prone to transfers the technical aspect of BELL FIBE was the reason i moved; better channels, more choice, better quality, and the numerous ways ion which you can apply new tech (apps, web use, streams, programme recordings via web, mobile tv) made my choice easier;

ALSO; keep in mind to avoid CSR foul ups ALL calls for info are directed to a dedicated FIBE customer service dept so as to offer added value;

IN short; i am happy with my move and highly recommend to all!!

annayya

· #151 · Oct 3, 2011

wm_cheng said:
Well, I was promised that when I wasn't using my HD TV streams that I would get 25Mbps downloads even though I had to switch to Fibe6 - it was sold to me as an added benefit of the FibeTV system. After 3 months, Bell sent a letter to all of us in the Toronto Beaches neighborhood that we would now be capped to 6Mbps regardless of whether the TV streams are being used or not. So I wouldn't count on Bell giving anyone a free ride for long.

Why are so many people saying Fibe 6. I see clearly that you can have Fibe 16+ with Fibe TV

pshine

· #152 · Oct 3, 2011

@annayya - when Bell Fibe TV was introduced (at least in the Beaches) you were able to get up to 25 Mbs even though you were paying for Fibe 6. After a few months Bell capped the speed so that Fibe 6 was simply that - 6Mbs.
You can still get up to 25Mbs but you'll have to pay for it with Fibe 16+.

Not sure about other people in the Beaches but the tech made it clear when I got Fibe TV last year that they would cap the speed after a few months.

annayya

· #153 · Oct 3, 2011

Thanks "betterthancable" and Dave for the info.

Hopefully I can convince the technician to give me at least 30 Mbps

I don't understand why they cant simply put the limit of TV seperately at 40 mbps and put a limit on my internet for 25 mbps. This is totally possible as the tech said I have around 68 mbps coming on my line.

This way, I can pay full price for Fibe 25 and also have Fibe TV with no effect on the internet speed as I turn on the TV or record.

jmateus123

· #154 · Oct 9, 2011

Vonage

Thinking about switching from Cogeco cable to Bell Fibe TV once it becomes available in my area; Oakville. Currently I have Bell Fibe 12 for internet with Vonage as the telephone service; VoIP; very happy with Vonage.
My question is if I switch to Bell Fibe TV would I be able to continue to use Vonage?.

Dr.Dave

· #155 · Oct 9, 2011

jmateus123, I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work, but it would be nice to hear from someone that is actually doing it.

cinergi

· #156 · Oct 30, 2011

Thinking of switching to Fibe - DSL modem question

Hi,

I'm thinking of switching to Fibe from Videotron but I have a question regarding the DSL modem/router provided with the Fibe Internet service: is it possible to completely bypass the routing functionality and just use the modem/router as a simple bridge-mode DSL modem providing a public IP address to my own router? I have a dual-band router running DD-WRT firmware with a lot of cool features so if I can't use it, that's a deal-breaker for me.

If it is possible to bypass the Bell router, how is this configured? Is it a separate bridge-mode Ethernet port on the modem, or via the Web GUI?

Thanks
cinergi

smlunatick

· #157 · Oct 31, 2011

Yes, you can by-pass the Internet "router" of the Fibe "unit." It will respond to the PPPoE "login" process from your own router. However, it still will use its built-in PPPeE "client" for the TV network.

smlunatick

· #158 · Oct 31, 2011 (Edited by Moderator)

4 streams verse 6 TV.

I find that the 4 stream (3 HD / 1 SD) seems to limit the TV section to up to 4 TVs. How can Bell say you can have up to 6 TV?

hugh

· #159 · Oct 31, 2011

What they say is "Record up to 4 shows at the same time and play them back from up to 6 TVs in your home."

cinergi

· #160 · Oct 31, 2011

smlunatick said:
Yes, you can by-pass the Internet "router" of the Fibe "unit." It will respond to the PPPoE "login" process from your own router. However, it still will use its built-in PPPeE "client" for the TV network.

Thanks smlunatick! Do you know if the IP address given to my router by PPPoE will be a public or private address? I'm trying to avoid having 2 layers of NAT (one in the Bell modem/router and another in my own router) since this can create issues for some Internet applications.

Thanks
cinergi

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