What is added by an HR20 connected to the net??

[gadgtfreek]

Im asking because I put a Netgear plug near my cable modem so I could send a Homeplug signal to the ViP722 to get away from the $5.00 fee monthly. I know D* does not have this fee and was wondering if anything other than VOD comes from having it connected to the net.

I prob would not use the VOD unless they had free movies becuase I get most of them from Netflix.

If there are any other good features, Ill need to buy a second unit to go behind the HR20, since it does not have Homeplug built it.

Thanks

 

[uncrules]

Besides the VOD, you can stream media content from any computer connected to your network to the HR20 and therefore onto your TV. I've heard talk that in the future the network connection may do away with the need to have a phone line connected to get PPV. Of course you can order PPV online and don't need the phone line anyway. The online DVR scheduler doesn't use the Internet conneciton on your HR20. That is done via the satellite.

 

[gadgtfreek]

Thanks. I think the online scheduler is a cool feature. Surprised you dont have to use the net.

 

[Bob Nielsen]

I haven't tried it, but PPV supposedly is already enabled via the internet connection. There are some other features upcoming which will use the internet--see the CE threads.

There are a number of free movies via On Demand, mostly older ones from FMC, TCM, etc. The selection is pretty meager, but growing.

 

[gadgtfreek]

Does the Vod have any free stuff like Comcast on Demand has free movies.

 

[atp1313]

Yes. For instance, The Smithsonian Channel has the largest supply of free HD content last time I checked. It's good stuff, if you are into the Smithsonian content. The VOD will only display or allow downloading of content for channels that are in your package. So if you have HBO, but not Showtime, you cannot access/download/view the Showtime VOD content, but the HBO On Demand stuff is there for the taking.

 

[gadgtfreek]

Very cool. Ill prob another powerline extender then for behind the tv so I can easily supply HSI to the hr20.

 

[uncrules]

So if you have HBO, but not Showtime, you cannot access/download/view the Showtime VOD content, but the HBO On Demand stuff is there for the taking.

Actually, D* doesn't have HBO/Cinemax on Demand. That's the biggest weakness with D*'s on demand content. But there is Showtime, Starz, Encore, The Movie Channel and Flix on demand channels.

 

[gadgtfreek]

Very surprised they dont have HBO.

 

[Jimbo]

I would imagine HBO will be there eventually, remember VOD is still very new for D*.

Jimbo

 

[gadgtfreek]

Yeah, Id just figured they pop up HBO first.

 

[atp1313]

Sorry for the confusion...bottom line: if you normally get a channel in your package, you can access/download content from the On Demand service for that channel.