Like so many other gearheads that have to try new stuff, we had ATT@T's Uverse service installed this past week. Our decision was also spurred along by repeated DirecTV equipment failures, problematic service issues, and the fact that we occasionally like to watch TV when it rains.
Install was a breeze, requiring only a phone line (to get the signal into the house). One CAT5 runs to the HDDVR downstairs, and another runs to a central residential gateway (fancy name for a modem). We used existing coax in the house to feed the other two TVs.
This service is really slick. Since each STB is essentially a media server device, all three boxes share information. That means anything recorded on the main DVR downstairs can be viewed on any of the other TVs. Although only the downstairs STB does the actual recording, any box can add programs to record, and any can play back recordings. Also, all three are HD-ready (with HDMI) out of the box. Interestingly, HD recordings are downconverted to the two analog sets we still have, providing excellent PQ on non-HD displays. Also, since most HD broadcasts carry a Dolby Digital audio stream, that remains intact on secondary TVs. Very cool.
Media Share is a recent function on the STBs that allow them to pull information from your computer (such as pictures, music, and videos, although I only do pix), and show them with intact folder naming on all three displays. My Xbox360 can do this, but slower, and I don't have one in each room.
As I type this, I'm running on 3Mb download/1Mb upload, also from Uverse. Internet and TV is allocated, so usage elsewhere in the home is not parasitic (in other words, if all three TVs are showing something, the internet doesn't slow down). I'm contemplating moving to 6Mb for only $5 more a month, for a total of $35. That's less (surprise) than what 4Mb cost us from Charter.
Essentially, with three TVs with DVR functionality and broadband will save us about $30 monthly vs the DirecTV/Charter combo we've been running for the past four years. For this, we receive excellent reliability, increased media sharing functionality, and superior DVR. I can recommend this to anyone that has access to the service. Call AT@T if you've been less-than-satisfied with your existing setup.
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