Another failed NowTV recording and internet issues, after setting up Powerline Extender system

[MartinJSUK]

Having had frequent connection issues and failed recordings, a few weeks ago an engineer changed the port in my home. This didn't fix the TV-related issues, so after diagnosis that the connection from hub to BT Box was the bottleneck I received a Powerline Extender.  Reliability has generally improved, but I've had two issues today. First my internet connection went so slow (pages loading in primitive text-only forms) to the point that even the Speed Test page ironically would not load correctly. A restart did fix this, but I'll be watching out for it.

More concerningly, my attempt at recording the latter part of the Brighton v Tottenham match (Sky Sports Premier League, so an internet channel, again) partway through upon leaving the house at 5.45ish resulted in an unwatchable blank screen. I'm becoming more convinced that the boxes are fundamentally incapable of reliably recording programs partway through. Is it likely to just be a one-off issue?

[Mverte]

I am 99% sure you can’t record NowTV

[NigelB72]

You can record the NowTV channels via the EPG 

[gomezz]

You can record the Sky Sport channels via the EPG if you have an appropriate subscription. A NowTV subscription only allows you to watch via the app either live or catch up - no recording.

[naylor2006]

Powerline adapters have their place but I wouldnt be using it for EETV. Generally they are fine for Netflix, iPlayer etc, Browsing the internet and so on but the way in which Sky Sports is delivered to you is sensitive. Your subscription channels are a direct stream which does not have a buffer which can account for moderate interruptions in the signal, for example your internet could cut out completely whilst watching Netflix and then return a few seconds later, the buffer of content would hide this from the viewer.....in simple terms, your sub TV channels will just die.

EETV subscription channels will not handle drop outs of that nature and Powerline can often exhibit packet loss which generally wont be noticed by the average user doing the things I mentioned above (netflix, iplayer...). Powerlines can be effected by an event occurring one day that might not occur on another, electrical interference that isnt always present.

It would be my recommendation always to connect the TV box to the Smart Hub only via ethernet without any intermediatory technology, excusing switching of course. Alternatively MESH is an option which could yield better results but will still be limited by WIFI and of course a MESH system that supports the multicast delivery of the TV, I assume BT Complete WIFI supports it or the EE equivalent. Milage will vary on 3rd party systems.

I would be first looking to getting a better connection to the EETV box from the Router.

[Brucemeister5]

I know that powerline extenders are not recommended anymore, and I can understand why. However, we’ve been using them for over two and a half years for EETV now and have never had any issues that have been as a result of using them. 

[naylor2006]

@Brucemeister5 said:

I know that powerline extenders are not recommended anymore, and I can understand why. However, we’ve been using them for over two and a half years for EETV now and have never had any issues that have been as a result of using them. 

Thats the point though, for one person they do the job, for another they dont, all depends on ones own wiring and environment, when they work well they are remarkable and are so useful, getting connectivity to two corners of the house where WIFI cannot, its great. Also I found in my house that I was able to get them to work across ring mains, IE two separate ring mains in the fuse box and get around 80Mbps between the two, bit of packet loss here and there but worked fine for my NAS for a while, MESH was getting me around 500Mbps when I tried that and as you know eventually I just put ethernet in everywhere. The packet loss I was getting in my house wouldnt have sustained EETV on my powerlines.

But with any IPTV related issue, first we have to look at the layer transmitting the content, when its ethernet we can assume a fault most likely elsewhere, if its powerline, WIFI extender or WIFI or WIFI mesh we bring in variables that everyone will experience differently.

With that said, happy you powerlines are working!

[MartinJSUK]

They did actually send an improved cable to link the hub to the BT Box, but the lead wasn't long enough, there's over 10 feet between them due to the layout of my flat. They send the Powerline Extender system after that. Can anyone recommend a high-enough-quality cable of the right length?

The fact that the actual internet connection is still temperamental is a bit concerning too.

[naylor2006]

A basic cat5e cable will do 100Metres at 1Gbit so you'll be fine with one of those.

Yes other internet issues external to your own setup will still be an issue that needs resolving.

[MartinJSUK]

I would not be shocked to find that my existing cable is already cat5e and they've been stalling me this whole time, but is there any visual clue as to what signal strength a cable is?