Netflix and Lovefilm

MargaretR · 19-09-2012, 11:18

When I recently upgraded to (lower class type) of BT Infinity, my download/upload limit went up from 10gb to 40gb, and I thought - great! - can now watch films online.

I started with a month free trial at Netflix - watched about 8 films - but after the first 6 was disappointed. Maybe I expected too much, but repeats of TV series aren't my idea of 'film entertainment'. There was nothing left that I was willing to pay for so I cancelled a week before the free month expired.

So I am now on a 'Lovefilm Instant' free trial for a month.
I have watched 2 superb films which I rated 5*, and thought - great ! - this looks worth sticking with, because there were at least another six films that looked potentially enjoyable.

BUT when I checked the BT bandwidth monitor I had a shock. Those two films had taken my bandwidth use to over half of my monthly allowance, and I was only one third way into the month. They were HD films which use far more bandwidth.

I am not fussy about this 'HD thing' - (I can't see the difference in any case), so I wrote to Lovefilm to ask if the HD could be 'switched off' by the user (me), and this is their reply -

"Dear Margaret,
Thank you for your recent email.
Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused.
Unfortunately, there will be no option for you to select quality yourself. If content is available in HD and the your internet connection is fast enough content will be displayed in HD.
I would also like to inform you that a minimum speed of 4 Mbps (megabits per second) is required to play HD titles in 720p quality. A minimum speed of 12 Mbps is required to play HD titles in 1080p quality. The LOVEFiLM Instant system automatically selects the best quality of playback for uninterrupted viewing. So if your broadband speed drops while viewing, playback will seamlessly switch to, say, 720p or standard definition; it will switch back up, equally seamlessly, when your broadband speed increases. Best possible speed will be achieved by using an Ethernet cable to connect your device to the internet, rather Wi-Fi."

I find that a little ironic - if I didn't have (fast) Infinity, the film would automatically not be viewable in HD.

I am not willing to double what I pay to BT for the privilege of unlimited bandwidth, so I am back to watching youtube style free documentaries - I will be 'educated' rather than 'amused', which maybe is for the best.

Neil · 19-09-2012, 18:19

BT are a joke, you can have fast Internet but can't use it without having to pay more.

churchfcrules · 19-09-2012, 18:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

BT are a joke, you can have fast Internet but can't use it without having to pay more.

left em years ago, after having the row that i had "unlimited", they capped me, then told me, "it is unlimited, you can still download, just not as fast"

i pay for top whack virgin media 100mb unlimited downloads, but it aint cheap!

Neil · 19-09-2012, 20:05

Do you get 100mb though, my lad has it and he does

churchfcrules · 19-09-2012, 20:10

i d/load mainly from usenet eu servers, and generally id say bout 70

entwisi · 20-09-2012, 06:23

this might help you

NetBalancer - internet traffic control and monitoring tool

you can effectlvely limit the bandwidth available to the browser you are using to access Lovefilm to keep it under the HD switchover point.

its free for the low spec 5 process version so you can give it a go and see if it works for you.

As per teh other s though to sell you a super fast connection then limit it to as little as that when their own ads sell on the streaming video ability is criminal IMHO

Neil · 21-09-2012, 11:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by churchfcrules

i d/load mainly from usenet eu servers, and generally id say bout 70

This is his speedtest and yes he does like rubbing it in

MargaretR · 21-09-2012, 11:23

I have looked at Netbalancer but am reluctant to try it.
Thanks for drawing my attention to a possible solution.

Neil · 21-09-2012, 11:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by MargaretR

I have looked at Netbalancer but am reluctant to try it.
Thanks for drawing my attention to a possible solution.

Why are you reluctant to try it?

MargaretR · 21-09-2012, 11:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

Why are you reluctant to try it?

It looks like a complicated way of restricting bandwidth and I am not computer savvy enough to have confidence using it.

churchfcrules · 21-09-2012, 13:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by MargaretR

It looks like a complicated way of restricting bandwidth and I am not computer savvy enough to have confidence using it.

margaret, you could always ask someone you trust to remote in and do it for you, i am sure there are many that would oblige

lots of free software, that will aloow someone a one off connection to your system, you have to allow them to get on it, so its very safe

i use teamviewer, to connect to peoples system, its free and quite easy to setup.

just a thought!

churchfcrules · 21-09-2012, 14:04

bit of a thread wander, but only just discovered that virgin media have an online player, similar to skyplayer, you get what your subscribed to, if you no what i mean

MargaretR · 27-09-2012, 17:24

I have tried three more films on Lovefilm and was disappointed - subscription cancelled 10 days before free trial ends.