ᐅ Planning TV setup for a new build. Cable TV, satellite, or IPTV?

Hello everyone

I used the search function but unfortunately didn’t find any helpful information.
So I’m throwing this question out to the group.

We are planning (with an architect) a new build scheduled for completion at the end of 2013 / spring 2014.

What would you choose?
- Cable TV
- Satellite
- IPTV
?

I’m currently leaning towards IPTV, meaning TV over the Internet.

I expect that wherever there are LAN outlets, I can easily connect a TV, and that I can save myself the satellite system along with its cabling and related outlets.

What would you tend to choose?

What should I pay attention to regarding IPTV, in your opinion?

Or am I completely off track with this way of thinking?

Thanks in advance for your input.

Good luck

Zuendler

Hello!

Cable and IPTV have the major disadvantage that you are dependent on a single provider. On one hand, you have to pay significant fees, and on the other hand, they can decide what channels to provide or not. I still clearly remember how our cable operator back then removed our local channels and replaced them with some intrusive shopping channels. I canceled the service afterward and installed a satellite system. The costs were recovered in less than two years.

For the new build, I have installed satellite connections and network cabling at all relevant points. This way, you remain flexible for all options...

If I didn’t need satellite TV due to local conditions, I would never use it again. To put it bluntly, I find it extremely inconvenient and frustrating.
Channel lineups are constantly changing, scan processes take a long time, and setting up channel lists takes hours—at least for five TVs in the house—not to mention the supposed program variety.
They claim to offer 3,000 channels. Of those, at least 1,500 are duplicates. Of the remaining 1,500, around 1,000 are in foreign languages. The last 500 consist of chat, dating, shopping channels, and other content nobody really needs. In the end, you watch exactly the same channels you had on cable before, just with much higher technical effort.

Opinions vary so much. I am currently still with Kabel Deutschland and I’m looking forward to my satellite system.
I pay 11€ per month for HD channels that I haven’t even been allowed to record for a few weeks now, and timeshift doesn’t work anymore either. On top of that, the HD quality is really poor compared to satellite.

The few channels are set up quickly; for many TVs there are also programs for the PC to handle this.

For my new build, it will look like this:

Satellite dish on the roof with cables running down to the basement
From there, a multiswitch with star cabling to all rooms
LAN wiring to all TVs
Cable connection for the internet

This setup allows me to use satellite, but also cable or IPTV if needed.

Boergi schrieb:

In my new build, it will look like this:

Satellite dish on the roof with cables running to the basement
From there, a multiswitch with star wiring to all rooms
LAN cabling to all TVs
Cable connection for the internet

I did the same and can highly recommend it. Especially the cable internet connection is very valuable. In our case, we have a 50,000 connection instead of a 6,000 one from the telecom provider (even though the neighbors all have 16,000, there is apparently no guarantee from the telecom that you’ll get 16,000 as well). It only costs an additional 200 to 250 euros for the house connection in a new build.

Check in advance what you are allowed or able to do. In our area, the cable provider did NOT install any cables in a new development with 400 units. So that option is already off the table. DSL is only available at 6k, which makes IPTV quite unlikely, unless LTE can handle it. That left only satellite dishes. In other developments around here, satellite dishes are completely prohibited. So: first clarify the legal and existing conditions.