Freeview Internet TV channels via EE TV Box

[Oldvalues]

Have just joined EE . Prior to joining was told that TV Freeview  Channels were available via Broadband . After installation found this was not the case. Many channels were missing and none of Freeview TV Channels via Internet were available at all. Thought this was due lack Terestial TV arial so had one fitted and sure enough all the missing channels appeared in the EE TV box programme including internet based,  BUT the vast majority of the Internet channel's will not display. Only one that will is Talk TV. Can anyone advisd

[DarrenDev]

IP mode doesn't restrict channels due to Freeview Lite - it'll provide all the IP-available channels for that TV region.

[Oldvalues]

Hi Darren
Don't know all the ins/outs but what I can say is that I mentioned, in my complaint , some internet based and terrestrial tv freeview channels that became available only after EE fitted a terrestrial TV Arial.
These were . AL Jazeera (ch 251 now) . France 24 (th 255). NHK World (ch 272) . And yes I am somewhat of a News buff who likes to watch news reporting from different countries. All these channels now show on The EE TV Box program guide but will not show TV pictures.
The following are some programmes that became available after the TV Arial was fitted . GB News (ch 236) . TALK TV (ch 280) internet channel.

[Oldvalues]

Can understand and empathise with you scepticism Darren and in all likelihood you could likely prove to be correct .
But , unless these EE TV Box shortcomings are constantly highlighted and complaints submitted nothing will happen.
I have shown missing freeview channels are all available on the EE TV Box program guide , and some such as GB News and Talk TV are available with a TV Arial.
Ergo.? Why should they not be available on the EE TV box ? ?

Best regards

[Midnight_Voice]

@Oldvalues 

Because EETV aren’t collecting an aerial signal and putting it out as an internet stream - that’s not something they would be allowed to do, even if it were technically feasible (think regions) and so they are reliant on the broadcasters providing an internet stream to EETV for each channel available in IP Mode.

U and Talking Pictures don’t have live streaming channels - just catchup, organised by programme and not by what’s been on any live channel. Because YouView has the U app, you can usually deep-link from a programme shown on the EPG into the U App and watch it there.

But there’s no link from Talking Pictures into what would be the TPTV Encore app, if there was one and if YouView carried it.

So maybe get on to these broadcasters to come up with internet streams, and in the case of TPTV an app, so that EETV can carry them?

The other thing that’s been bemoaned is the lack of any +1 channels. But with the ability the Box has just to play the regular channel on catchup anyway - not just an hour later, but several hours, or even days later, if that’s what you want, EETV took the sensible decision not to spend any bandwidth on +1 channels.

As regards the 280-300 channels, YouView will show the couple that offer an MHEG stream. They have never shown the ones that are HbbTV only, not in 12 years, and aren’t about to start now. Despite their claimed, and demonstrated, expertise with HbbTV, their flagship product has never supported it. Cobblers’ children….. 😢

[fimitch10]

Following my initial comment: I contacted EE and luckily I am within my 14 day cancellation period. I have cancelled the TV. Sales are calling me on Tuesday to look at whether the Sky collaboration “Puck” will be another option, he was unable to say as they were due to have their training on this service on Friday. Having had the Sky puck for the last 18 months it isn’t perfect yet either but it continually improved over the time period. It will be interesting to see what the charges and conditions are.

I spoke to tech about the box, we tried with and without the aerial connection, he took control of the box. There was little change in the number of channels available. Another anomaly was trying ITV3 on channel No 10, it required me to register on the ITVX App before I could view from the general tv guide access. Very odd! 

[Oldvalues]

Hi Fimitch10

And I thought my EE TV Box had problems. Must say your ITV3 anomalies a good one for starters
Regarding Channels available using TV Arial verse EE Broadband ones only. Must say I was surprised you had no change\increase in channels . What local area does your Arial use ?
Mine is Newcastle Pontact Pike transmitter . Had a substantial increase in channels when connected to TV Arial . The Ee Tv Box Programmes Guide updated to include all of these. If only the box would actually now show all these TV channels, including the internet ones , would be happy
Had to do a factory reset prior to Connecting the TV Arial to the EE TV Box mind you. Not like a normal TV box where you just need to do a retune.

Best regards

[zulu17]

@fimitch10   When setting up your EETV box during that process  you should have seen a prompt  to  register with ITVX , ( you should have option to do then or later).  It is a requirement before viewing ITV channels in Internet mode on the EE TV Box.  Its step 26  of 

https://deviceguides.ee.co.uk/ee/tv-box-pro-proprietary-os/getting-started/start-using-your-set-top-...

i imagine it is necessary so that you agree to the specific ITV terms and conditions.

[Oldvalues]

Hi fimitch10

Can't recall exactly the set up on my EE TV Box.
Just plugged in the Arial and Ethernet cable then I initiated a factory reset.
Then followed the menu prompts to set it up. Was definitely no ITV X sign in prompts.

After this the EE TV Box updated its Programme Guide to include all the missing Freeview channels including the Internet ones , but , despite selecting them there's just a few that display that actual channels TV Picture.

To check the Freeview Signal to the EE TV Box. I connected a Manhattan Freeview TV Box Arial input to the Arial output from the EE TV box. In other words the Manhattan TV Box was Now seeing the EXACT same freeview Arial signal as the EE TV Box was.
I initiated a factory reset / retune of the Manhattan TV Box ! and lo and behold ! All the Freeview TV Channels including Internet based ones become available and worked !

Then contacted EE Technical Support and explained/ complained to them about this.
Was on the phone a good hour .
Now awaiting outcome.

[Midnight_Voice]

@Oldvalues 

Exactly what I warned you would happen 😢

Hopefully someone more knowledgeable at EETV will explain to the poor **bleep** you sent off on this wild goose chase that YouView does not provide those channels, has never provided those channels since inception in 2012, and will probably go to its grave without ever providing them.

As has been patiently explained to you above by a fair number of posters here 😢

[fimitch10]

I'd already signed into the ITVX App prior to this anomaly!

The area serviced is via a Relay Transmitter so don't know the main Transmitter source, could be 1 of 3 in North Highland, East or West Regions but commonly known as the central belt.