Does the EE TV Box Pro use the internet to stream live channels?

Joe1503 · ‎10-08-2024

Hello there!

I have recently ordered the Fibre67 broadband through EE. Along with it, I also got the EE TV Box Pro with a Big Sports package and an HD + 4K addon. I predominantly want to watch HD football on TV and use my broadband for everyday work.

My question is simple and possibly a bit stupid: Will my tv box use broadband internet to broadcast live channels or will it use aerial cable?

Basically, assuming if TNT Sports is on channel number 100 and there is live game ongoing, will the internet be activated when I flick my box to that channel?

I ask this question because of two main reasons:

1. Some research of mine shows that streaming apps essentially broadcast their content for smaller screens. Regardless of the quality that you chose on your app (4K, 1080p, etc.), the output is designed for viewing on a tablet or phone and not on a 65 inch QLED screen.

I have personally experienced this lower quality of a football game being streamed on a LaLiga app compared to the same match streamed on the Movistar Plus+ channel through cable, back in Spain.

2. A lot of houses/flats in London have satellite dishes installed out of their windows. Related to my observation in the earlier point, can I "opt" to install a satellite dish for my tv box and not be compelled to depend on the internet for my tv? If yes, what are the factors that I need to consider before I make this decission?

Apologies for the long question and hope you could answer.

DarrenDev · ‎10-08-2024

It depends on the channel. If it's a Freeview channel and your aerial was connected when you set up the box, then it'll use the aerial.

For TNT Sports, that's only ever available via the internet. If you have the HD add on then it'll be available in HD, or up to 4k for some matches, when selected from the TV guide. If you don't have the add on then it'll be available in the discovery+ app in up to 4k (subject to broadband speed), regardless of whether you have the add on or not.

Using a satellite dish to receive channels is an entirely different product - not an option for EE TV.

Profile closed · ‎12-08-2024

@Joe1503 wrote:
My question is simple and possibly a bit stupid: Will my tv box use broadband internet to broadcast live channels or will it use aerial cable?

For the sports channels, they are all delivered via the internet using a technology called multicast.

@Joe1503 wrote:
Basically, assuming if TNT Sports is on channel number 100 and there is live game ongoing, will the internet be activated when I flick my box to that channel?

The channels are always being streamed 24/7, the EE TV Pro box just "tunes in" when you select an IP delivered channel.

@Joe1503 wrote:
I have personally experienced this lower quality of a football game being streamed on a LaLiga app compared to the same match streamed on the Movistar Plus+ channel through cable, back in Spain.

The channels delivered over broadband to your TV boxes are designed for the big screen and use really good amounts of fixed bandwidth accordingly.

@Joe1503 wrote:
A lot of houses/flats in London have satellite dishes installed out of their windows. Related to my observation in the earlier point, can I "opt" to install a satellite dish for my tv box and not be compelled to depend on the internet for my tv? If yes, what are the factors that I need to consider before I make this decission?

Not for your EE TV Pro box, but you can swap the LNB on a satellite dish and plug it into the back of most smart TVs to receive the Freesat range of channels.

YouTube is your friend for guidance.

Lastly, you need to understand (perhaps you do, hence the questions), that if you are watching TNT Sport Ultimate, recording another IP delivered channel on the Pro Box all whilst someone else is watching Netflix in another room, the amount of bandwidth available to you for a Zoom call, general web browsing etc, may be significantly less than you need on Fibre Essentials 67.

DarrenDev · ‎12-08-2024

@Joe1503 wrote:
Basically, assuming if TNT Sports is on channel number 100 and there is live game ongoing, will the internet be activated when I flick my box to that channel?
The channels are always being streamed 24/7, the EE TV Pro box just "tunes in" when you select an IP delivered channel.

I just want to clarify on this one - the channels are being streamed across the core network the whole time, but they don't enter your home unless a box joins the stream. The bandwidth to your home isn't affected until you tune to a channel (either to watch or record).

Joe1503 · ‎13-08-2024

Understood and thank you.

One question: If I realise that the Fibre67 is not sufficient for both work and tv viewing (someone on a video call from one room and someone watching F1 in UHD with HDR in another room), can I opt for aerial and thereby "separate" both services? And if yes, are you aware of how much that costs?

Joe1503 · ‎13-08-2024

Thank you for the targeted replies.

On your last point on the speed of Fibre67, I do not understand how advanced tv technology is actually compelling users to depend on a broadband service to watch live tv.

Call me nomadic but if EE expects users to use its broadband for its TV, pay for each service separately, and then designs its technology in a way that it is totally interdependent, then why charge them separately?

Moreover, Fibre67 is the highest speed that EE offers.

My research shows that there are other broadband providers that offer significantly higher speeds (at roughly the same price) in my location but EE TV would not work on any other broadband. So EE bundling its 4K+HD TV with their "insufficient" broadband defeats the purpose(?)

I believe that a TV source should be independent of the internet. In essence, you should not be compelled to use "apps" to watch live tv.

Consider this a rant because I have already chosen EE and begin my subscription in a few days.

DarrenDev · ‎13-08-2024

@Joe1503 EE offers up to 1.6Gbps broadband, based on the services available at your property. If it's only offering you Fibre67 then it means unfortunately the Openreach line to your property is only capable of that. That is fast enough to offer up to 4K video streaming though, so you'll not be missing out. If you want to double check the speeds for yourself, you can use the address checker here: https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL

If you connect the aerial to your TV Box Pro then it'll not use the Internet for the Freeview channels, but it will still use it for the subscription channels. There's no additional cost for this - it's just a decision you need to make when you set up the box (if you change your mind, you need to factory reset the box to switch between modes).

You don't pay for Internet and TV separately - they're on the same bill. You pay for Internet, and then TV is an optional product on top.