Beeline digital television program program. Internet and television from Beeline for home

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We examined the possibility of connecting home digital television using the example of the Moscow provider OnLime. OnLime provides its services for broadcasting digital television, supplying the signal to the subscriber directly through a public home antenna - this is its main feature. In this case, the home antenna plug is connected not to the TV, but to the subscriber receiver - STB (Set-top-box). STB is a digital receiver that receives a digital signal, decrypts it and converts it into analog for further transmission directly to the television receiver.

Today we will consider another option for the appearance of digital television in an apartment, using not a public home antenna, but the networks of an Internet provider. However, a digital receiver will also be needed here. Only this time it will connect directly to the Internet. The main difference between IPTV (IP Television) lies precisely in the “IP” (Internet Protocol) prefix, which means that an Internet cable must be present in the apartment.

It is not surprising that IPTV providers are usually the Internet providers themselves, because they have the opportunity, using their networks, to provide subscribers with access to digital television in addition to Internet access. One of the largest Internet providers and at the same time a supplier of television content in our country is the VimpelCom company (Beeline trademark). Using Beeline TV as an example, today we will look at all the pros and cons of using IPTV at home.

To connect to Beeline TV Home Digital Television, you need to purchase or rent a set of equipment, the basis of which is the same digital receiver, or, simply put, a set-top box. The kit comes in two types: with or without a built-in hard drive. This determines whether the subscriber will be able to use services such as recording and subsequent viewing of recorded programs, as well as the ability to pause the program being watched. All these functions will be available only if you have a built-in hard drive in the set-top box. However, upon initial connection, the subscriber is given a set-top box with only a hard drive. Kits without a hard drive are used to connect additional TVs in the house. Of course, a kit with a built-in hard drive costs more.

The equipment will be delivered to your home free of charge by the company’s specialists and connected themselves, however, the subscriber must already have a universal payment card purchased in advance. It will not be possible to pay for the first month of use in advance, because it is the installers who give the new user his personal account number when connecting.

To be honest, this is not a very convenient scheme. With this scheme, even if you have the opportunity to pay, for example, via the Internet with a credit card, this cannot be done. It will not be possible to pay the bill either in advance or later - payment must be made exactly at the moment the installers appear in your apartment. For example, OnLime has thought out this process much better, and installers, upon arriving at the apartment, connect the equipment only in “test” mode. After this, the new user has several days to slowly pay the bill in any way convenient for him. Of course, such a problem (if it can be called a problem at all) will not affect regular users of the Beeline Home Internet service, who already have a personal account and money on it. Everything is simple: just check the box next to the new service in your Personal Account and select a channel package. However, in this material I would like to abstract from the knowledge that regular Internet users already possess and consider Beeline Home Television as a separate service.

So, as already mentioned, a set of equipment called “Beeline TV” is available for purchase from the provider in two variations: with and without a built-in hard drive. Let's consider a kit with a more functional set-top box inside, which is equipped with a built-in 320 GB hard drive.

Contents of delivery

• Decoder with recording function and hard disk (TV set-top box)
• Multi-function remote control
• RCA to RCA cable
• HDMI-HDMI cable
• Ethernet Switch
• 2 Ethernet cables
• Subscriber directory
• Device operating instructions

Having opened the Beeline TV box, the buyer will find everything necessary for connection; there will be no need to purchase anything additional. By the way, the packaging itself has not only a utilitarian, but also an informative function: the box with high-quality printing is “decorated” with brief user instructions in pictures. In addition to the receiver itself, the box also contains a switch (splitter), two Ethernet connecting cables and two cables for connecting to the TV - HDMI and RCA (tulips). The equipment is maximal, there is nothing more to add to the kit.

Appearance and connection

The console itself is small - its physical dimensions are only 290x200x55 mm. Such compact dimensions allow it to be placed anywhere and in any combination with other equipment - there is no need to allocate a separate shelf for it. You just need to remember the need to ensure sufficient outflow of warm air, because the set-top box gets slightly warm during operation. The heating, however, is not strong, so there is no need to take special cooling measures.

The decoder is manufactured by the world-famous leader in the production of network solutions - Cisco. By the way, we recently talked about how the company set up the production of these set-top boxes in our country. At the same time, Marketing Director of VimpelCom Moscow region Anatoly Smorgonsky said that Beeline TV is one of the largest customers of this equipment in Russia.

The Cisco ISB-7031 is a horizontal all-in-one, covered in a black metal casing with multiple ventilation holes. The front panel contains only the most necessary navigation elements. All keys are mechanical and they duplicate the main functions of the remote control in case the latter is absent. Here, in addition to the “Power” and “Menu” buttons, you will find only a four-way “joystick” with an OK key inscribed inside, confirming the entry of information. But the “Back” function was completely forgotten here, so navigation can only be done in one direction without room for error. Otherwise, you will have to start your journey through the menu items again. This is completely inconvenient, so it is recommended to control all functions of the set-top box only from the remote control.

In addition to the keys, on the front panel you can find several more indicators that notify you about the operating modes of the system, as well as a USB input. However, it serves exclusively official purposes, which is clearly stated even in the instructions. So you won’t be able to connect any external media to it. Neither the hard drive formatted in NTFS, nor the flash drive in FAT32 were read. Yes, in fact, there is no corresponding menu section where you can select your files either. The internal hard drive of the set-top box itself, modified by Cisco ISB-7031, has a capacity of 320 GB and is manufactured by Western Digital.

The rear panel of the Cisco ISB-7031 contains the following connectors:

• Ethernet - network port
• USB connector is used for service purposes
• HDMI - connecting the receiver to the TV using an HDMI cable
• YPbPr out - component connector for video transmission
• S-Video - video output
• eSATA - port for connecting external drives
• RCA (tulip) - outputs for video and audio signals
• Optical Audio - S/PDIF audio output
• Power - power supply input connector

Unlike the decoder of the same OnLime, which receives the signal through a public antenna, this set-top box connects directly to the Internet, because it works with IPTV. Consequently, if a user wants to use not only a TV, but also a computer, then he will have to build a small cable system. To do this, using two complete patch cords and a switch, the signal is branched in two directions and supplied to both the computer and the receiver. After all, no one will lay a second Ethernet cable in the apartment specifically for TV. As a result, the process of installing a Beeline TV set-top box turns out to be a little more complicated, but still quite feasible by the user himself. But the user receives two services at once over one cable. The only thing that can upset you during the installation process is the need to occupy two electrical outlets instead of one, because the switch also has its own separate external power supply. The set-top box is connected to the TV itself using the supplied connecting cables. If your TV has an HDMI input, you should connect the receiver using an HDMI-to-HDMI cable to ensure the best picture quality. If not, then all that remains is to connect using RCA-RCA “tulips”, again included in the kit. Turning on is done by pressing the Power button on the front panel, and a reboot can be done by using a switch embedded in the power supply cord, turning the device off and on again. Everything is quite clear and quite logical - you can figure it out without instructions.

Menu

The two largest and most frequently used buttons on the Beeline TV remote control are GUIDE and MENU. By the way, all the keys, both on the remote control and on the console itself, have only English-language labels, symbols and icons - you can’t find a word in Russian here.

The Main Menu is extremely extensive. However, it has a well-thought-out branching system of points and sub-points, which are quite easy to navigate without the need to study the manual.

All main work with TV channels is summarized in the items in the “TV Channels” section of the main Menu. Here you can not only find the program schedule, but also in a few clicks select channels of interest by topic, search for content by letter, block individual TV channels or add them to Favorites.

Here in the main menu there is also “Video Rental” - a section where you can independently select a film or program and order them for viewing for a fee, which will be debited from your account. Sampling and searching can be done by a variety of characteristics, from “hit” or “new” to a specific movie title, or even by standard or high definition broadcast format. There was even a separate list of programs with 3D images, but it is still practically empty. The price of renting one film or program for a day varies from 50 to 100 rubles.

A separate menu item includes the option to subscribe to TV series. In this section, for a fixed monthly fee, you can subscribe to series, programs and popular TV shows of three entertainment channels: STS, DTV and Home.

The section called “Interactive” is interesting. It is of greatest interest to those who cannot tear themselves away from communicating on their favorite social networks even while watching TV. For such lovers of social entertainment, there are built-in clients for the most popular social networks Facebook, Twitter, VKontakte and Odnoklassniki. They allow you to view friends' posts directly while watching a movie or program in a separate window that opens. Right here you can “like” something, where would you be without it?

In addition, the section also contains obviously useful applications, such as Yandex widgets, for example. Weather forecasts, traffic jams or exchange rates can now be viewed on the TV screen without having to look at the computer. In order to kill time, there is even an elementary game - Sea Battle.

View

When you turn on or change a channel for the first time, the name of the TV channel and its number are displayed on the TV screen for a few seconds. By default, the channels themselves are numbered in a special sequence, where each hundred has its own theme. There will also be a 500th and even an 800th channel, but the numbering order can be changed at your discretion. To do this, use the menu for changing the list of channels and sorting them. You can even create your own list of channels available for viewing.

While watching, you can press the INFO button and see a brief description of the program being broadcast, the start time of the broadcast and the time remaining until the end of the show. In this menu you can also change the broadcast language or subtitles. Here you can select all related programs of a cycle or all episodes of one show in a separate list, which is convenient. Then you can program them all to record in one motion, after which the set-top box will begin to turn on and conscientiously record each required episode day after day.

The second most important button on the remote control after the Menu is GUIDE. Clicking it opens the TV guide window - a TV program for the week ahead, containing detailed information about all programs on all channels with the time of their broadcast and the ability to preview current ones. Clicking on any cell in this huge table will again open INFO and allow you to view information or immediately put a program that has not yet aired for a future recording.

An interesting feature called Video Wall. This is a navigation function that allows you to monitor what is on air on 4 channels simultaneously. That is, in addition to the main window, three more auxiliary windows open, and the interface helps you select channels by genre. This makes it possible to quickly find programs and movies of interest with previews in these three additional windows.

While watching any program or movie, you can use the Pause function and calmly step away from the TV for a while. In this case, the set-top box will continue to record the entire broadcast to the internal disk.

Upon returning, the user will be able to unpause and continue watching as if nothing had happened, with the ability to fast forward and rewind. The function is very convenient and will allow, for example, not to miss a single important moment during the broadcast of a football match. The maximum duration of the pause can be one and a half hours.

Recording and playback

Using the built-in video player, you can record up to four TV channels simultaneously and at the same time watch something else, for example an old recording. To start recording, simply press the RECORD button while watching. “Recording” will briefly appear at the top of the screen, and the red LED on the front of the set-top box itself will light up. Recording will stop automatically when the current program ends, or you can stop it at any time by pressing the STOP button.

To program the recording of multiple programs at different times and on different channels, you can use the manual recording function with the ability to select the channel, time, date and storage duration. If you run out of hard disk space during the current recording, recording will still continue by deleting the oldest recordings. For records that are especially dear to your heart, you can set the storage mode “until I delete it myself.”

To find a recorded fragment, you need to enter a special menu with a list of previously recorded programs through the general menu or by pressing a separate RECORDED TV key. A list of recorded files will open, with those currently being recorded marked with an icon. Viewing recordings can be controlled by standard actions: Forward, Stop, Pause, Rewind.

Settings

The system settings menu is not too extensive; the path there is from the main menu. Here you can select the style of displaying the TV program in the form of a grid or list, change the audio language, select a picture display format suitable for the TV and configure the audio output to stereo or surround sound. From the same menu you can configure various locks or reboot the system using software.

Connection of packages and tariffs

When you first connect to a TV viewing service, you must choose one of two main packages: Basic or Maximum. The number of channels appearing in Beeline TV broadcasts is constantly growing - literally in November last year, Beeline announced the launch of another 20 new TV channels for Home Digital Television. And although the website still shows figures of 104 and 172 channels, in reality the basic package has already grown to 134 channels, and the number of channels in the Maximum package is now 199. The bulk of them are broadcast in standard definition (SD services), and 22 are transmitted in high definition (HD services). HD channels can be connected as a separate package for an additional fee, as well as several other packages, which are collected by topic: Children's, Cinema, Music, NTV Plus, Sports and so on. There is even a special package for adults with erotic content channels - Night. The choice of packages is wide and will satisfy any sophisticated TV fan, but the prices for individual packages are not cheap: from 95 to 650 rubles, with an average price of 300-400 rubles per package. This pricing policy clearly indicates that it is cheaper and easier to connect to one Maximum package and not be tricky. Because if you add the base cost to the price of a couple more interesting packages, it will become more expensive. The contents of the basic package alone are not very interesting, but this is a matter of personal preference.

Among the related services when connecting to Beeline Home Television, it is worth mentioning the possibility of renting equipment instead of purchasing it as a property, as well as the Multiroom option, which allows you to connect up to 4 TVs in an apartment to digital television for an additional fee.

It is worth especially noting another interesting offer from the operator, which is the ability to use the Xbox 360 game console as a digital receiver instead of the set-top box described in this review. However, you need to remember that in addition to the need to install additional software on the game console, you will also have to pay an annual subscription for using the Xbox Live service, and at the Gold level. The software itself can be downloaded from the Beeline website, burned onto a DVD and installed on the console. After installation is complete, this console will be assigned its own GUID.

Need I say that when connecting an Xbox 360 as a set-top box, you must already be a Beeline Home Internet user? In other words, no one will extend an Ethernet cable to your apartment if you express a desire to watch Beeline television via Xbox 360. It will only be extended if you are connected to the Internet, or if you purchase a Beeline TV set.

Results

During testing of the Beeline Home Television service, no malfunctions in the operation of the equipment, as well as “slowdowns” or “scattering” of the picture were ever noticed - the quality of the signal was not satisfactory. But the ease of control of functions and navigation through menu items are implemented a little doubtfully. Here you can recall the English labels for the buttons on the remote control: for people not familiar with the language, these keys will be difficult to identify without instructions. Also, perhaps, one of the disadvantages is the relative high cost of individual thematic packages, but their very presence and a fairly large variety are a definite plus. One thing remains absolutely clear: if watching TV takes up a significant part of your life time, then whatever digital television you bring into your apartment, it will undoubtedly eclipse today’s broadcast television in all respects. You just need to make your choice.

The mobile operator Beeline has been operating in the domestic market for a long time to accumulate a huge subscriber base. Over time, the company began to provide other services - Beeline TV and the Internet. Today they are offered to subscribers from many Russian cities, delighting consumers with a clear television picture and high-speed access to the World Wide Web. Let's look at these services in more detail, and at the same time find out all their features, advantages and disadvantages.

Home Internet from Beeline

High-speed Internet access means fast downloading of files and heavy multimedia content, quick access to torrents, high-quality video communication and the ability to connect several devices to one channel at once. Due to the use of one communication line, Beeline TV and the Internet are paired services, but nothing prevents you from connecting the Internet separately, without TV.

Home Internet from Beeline is connected via high-speed communication lines and allows you to access the network at speeds up to 100 Mbit/s. Pages open at such a breakneck speed quickly and without delays, which any user will be happy about. In addition to access to network resources, subscribers are offered additional services:

• Voluntary blocking is useful for those who are going on vacation, allowing you to save money by suspending access to the Internet. Duration – up to 90 days;
• Antiviruses – offered by Kaspersky Internet Security, Kaspersky Anti-Virus, Eset NOD32 Smart Security, ESET NOD32 Antivirus, DR Web. Duration of subscriptions – from 1 month for several devices at once (from 1 to 3);
• Fixed IP address – will cost 150 rubles/month;
• The promised payment is for those who cannot pay for Internet and television from Beeline right now, but will be able to do this in the coming days;
• Computer help - will help you solve any problems with your PC.

They also offer services for free moving from one address to another, the ability to connect to the Internet from Beeline with minimal disruption to the interior of the apartment (for housing with a steep renovation), the ability to temporarily increase speed to maximum, and much more. In general, a complete set of options and interesting “goodies” for the most convenient use of the Internet from the Beeline operator.

Home TV from Beeline

Digital home TV from Beeline is an opportunity to enjoy high-quality television with 230 channels. Select channels are broadcast in HD quality. The connection is made through the same channel through which Internet access is provided.

Additional options are also available:

• Multiroom - if there are several TVs in the house, each member of the household will be able to watch their favorite channel, regardless of the others. In total, you can connect up to four TVs;
• Video rental – don’t wait for certain films and TV shows to air, watch them at any time convenient for you (including in 3D and HD formats);
• Multiscreen – expanding IPTV capabilities from Beeline. Allows you to enjoy broadcasting from the screens of tablets and smartphones;
• TV program for 2 weeks - find out what will be aired in the very near future;
• Telesadik is a special package of cartoons and children's films.

It is also possible to record live TV programs onto a hard drive.

Mobile TV

This service is provided for all subscribers using home TV from Beeline or cellular communications. Allows you to watch TV shows by connecting through any Internet access channels. More than a hundred channels are available for viewers to choose from, 22 of which are broadcast in HD format. The service also provides the ability to control home TV from Beeline, even if the subscriber is far from home.

Remote control is convenient because it will allow you not to miss your favorite TV show and watch it in a recording by activating saving in the set-top box in remote mode.

A total of 6 packages are available:

• Basic Plus - it includes up to 18 channels without a subscription fee;
• Starter – includes more than 80 channels for 5 rubles/day;
• Basic – includes more than 100 channels for 11 rubles/day;
• Basic for Apple TV – watch up to 50 channels on your Apple set-top box for RUB 379/month;
• Basic for Android TV - includes more than 50 channels for 329 rubles/month;
• Terrestrial – up to 26 free channels without a subscription fee.

Home TV from Beeline is convenient to use at home, but while you are stuck in a traffic jam or are idle at work, you can use mobile TV.

Tariffs for home Internet and television

We have already said that Beeline TV and the Internet are inseparable, like two lovebirds. They can be used separately, but using them together will be cheaper. Let's look at tariffs for digital television from Beeline and Internet tariffs in a single section:

• Basic – 139 channels for 345 rubles/month;
• Home Internet for 450 and Home Internet for 530 – tariffs offer access at speeds of 60 and 70 Mbit/s, respectively, for 450 or 530 rubles/month. A suitable router is purchased separately from Beeline. The TV service is also connected separately;
• Home Internet + Router for 550 – high-speed access at speeds up to 100 Mbit/sec with a router included for 550 rubles/month;
• Home Internet and TV + router for 650 – up to 137 channels Beeline TV and Internet at speeds up to 100 Mbit/s along with a router for 650 rubles/month;
• Home Internet and TV for 530 – up to 122 channels Beeline TV and Internet at speeds up to 60 Mbit/s along with a router for 530 rubles/month;
• Home Internet and TV for 630 – up to 122 Beeline TV channels and network access at speeds up to 70 Mbit/s for 630 rubles/month.

It is also possible to use television and the Internet from Beeline for free. To do this, you need to use one of the tariffs from the “All in One” line and get access to Beeline TV and the Internet for such ridiculous money.

More details about tariffs:

• All in one 2 – 12 GB of mobile traffic, 400 minutes of communication, intranet unlimited and 500 SMS, as well as home Internet at speeds of up to 40 Mbit/s and 25 mobile TV channels for 600 rubles/month;
• All in one 3 – 20 GB of mobile traffic, 1200 minutes of communication, intranet unlimited and 500 SMS, as well as home Internet at speeds of up to 50 Mbit/s and 25 mobile TV channels for 900 rubles/month;
• All in one 4 – 30 GB of mobile traffic, 2000 minutes of communication, intranet unlimited and 500 SMS, as well as home Internet at speeds of up to 100 Mbit/s and 25 mobile TV channels, plus 139 home Beeline TV channels for 1,500 rubles/month;
• All in one 5 - 30 GB of mobile traffic, 5000 minutes of communication, intranet unlimited and 500 SMS, as well as home Internet at speeds of up to 100 Mbit/s and 25 mobile TV channels, plus 139 Beeline TV channels and apartment insurance for 2500 rubles/ months

These are such interesting tariffs. It also offers rooms for families for an additional fee - this option is available on all tariffs except the first.

Connecting and disconnecting services

In order to connect the Internet and television from Beeline, you need to visit the official website and apply for connection. The application is processed as quickly as possible. If your home is connected to the provider’s internal network, they will call you back within three hours and coordinate the arrival of a technician, who will perform all the necessary connection work.

If you still have questions about connection, call the service number 8-800-700-83-78 and ask questions to a help desk specialist. In order to disable the mobile TV service on Beeline, visit your personal account. To cancel all services, call the helpline.