Digital WatchItFree.TV
“Answers to Common Questions ...”
Question ZERO: Lets cut to the chase! Show me what I can get ..."
Q1: NON-TECHNICAL?- I'm not a techie nerd. Can someone like me easily use this without getting frustrated?
Q2: JUST PARTS?- Can you just sell me some parts, and let me install everything myself?
Q3a: LOCAL TV?- I live in the Greater Toronto Area. I don't have Internet, and I only want to watch the local news, weather, and maybe some TVOntario or PBS. Is there a solution for me so I don't have to waste money every month on cable or satellite?
Q3b: CABLE?- I live in North Bay. I have Internet, AND cable, but my cable bill is way too expensive for me. I'm looking at your installation as an alternative to save money. To get the channels that have stuff that interests me (like Discovery, A & E, Food Channel, History Channel, etc) I pay a fortune with cable! Satellite is no better. Can WatchItFree.TV offer me a solution that's any better? Or even just cheaper?
Q3c: SATELLITE?- I live in central Ontario, and they still don't have affordable or fast Internet here, so we have to use a satellite service (X###net). It's expensive, but it works reliably. Can your system work properly with these types of satellite Internet connections?
Q4: LEGAL?- Is this legal?
Q5: CABLE?- Can I still keep my cable / satellite service, even if I use your digital system?
Q6: EVERY TV?- Do I need a separate controller from you for every TV in my house?
Q7: LANGUAGE?- My parents only speak Italian (or French, Ukrainian, Greek, German, Arabic, Cantonese, Urdu, Farsi, or whatever). Will WatchItFree.tv let us get programming that they can enjoy, in their own language?
Q8: APPS?- If you're already using the Internet to put stuff onto my big-screen TV, can you also put Google, Yahoo, Facebook, Netflix, eBay, Amazon, and those kinds of things onto my big TV?
Q9a: TIME?- How long does the installation take?
Q9b: OTA?- How long does the installation take for an OTA system?
Q9c: HOLES?- Is it absolutely necessary for you to drill holes in my walls or floors?
Q10: SPECIFIC?- If I have a keen interest in a specific subject, like cooking, or history, or science, can you connect things so I see a lot of those types of programs or movies?
Q11: FIND?- What if I can't find a particular movie or a TV series or episode, or a sports program I want?
Q12: SUPPORT?- Can I get support if I have a problem using your system after it gets installed?
Q13: BLANK SCREEN?- Yesterday, everything was working fine. Today, I only have a blank TV screen with the message “no input” flashing. What happened?
Q14: DAMAGE TV?- I have a very high quality, very expensive big-screen TV. Is your system going to cause damage to my TV, or harm it in any way?
Q15: TV SIZE?- My “big-screen TV”; is a puny little 24”; wide-screen TV. Will it still work with your system?
Q16: DIFFERENCE?- what's the difference between one of these “OTA” systems you install, and one of the “digital systems” you install?
Q17: SATELLITE FIX?- This is really off the wall here, but I'm going to ask anyway. You seem to know a bit about TV reception, and I have an 18" satellite dish that used to work really well. Now, half the channels are missing and are really “chunky” and blocky. The satellite folks are less than helpful, and tell my it's my problem. Can you do anything to help me with “my problem”?
Q18: QUALITY?- Exactly how good is the video quality of your systems?
Q19: OBSOLETE?- Can you guarantee that your system won't become obsolete?
Q20: OPERATING COST?- How much electricity does this stuff use? Is it going to be like another fridge, and run up my hydro bill?
Q21: PARENTAL LOCK?- We have young kids. Do you have any safeguards or filters to protect what they watch?
Q22: SENIOR?- I'm a senior. Do you have a senior's discount?
Q23: DOWNLOAD?- What if I just want to download these movies and TV shows, and view them later. Can I record anything, or is it just “view it once and it's gone”?
Q24: MUSIC?- Sorry, but I'm fed up with TV. But, I really do like listening to music. Does your system also deliver any music or radio stations?
Q25: COTTAGE?- Can I get your digital service on my boat? At my cottage? At my camp? At my winter place in Florida? Q26: SLOW?- I have s-l-o-w Internet (less than 6 MBps), and can't get better/faster service in the near future (I already asked my Internet Service Provider). Is there any way that you can make your service work with slower Internet speeds??
Q27: BURNED AT THE FLEA MARKET!- I bought a box like yours at a flea market. It looked like a really good deal! But most of the things on it don't work in my home. The seller says it's my Internet, or my service, or anything else they can think of. It's all "my problem". I don't think he understands much about how to solve any problems with these devices, and they keep changing their answers. I'm out the money, and now I'm stuck with this turkey! Even though I didn't buy this from you, can you help me?
Q28: SNAKE OIL?- I'm a senior, and I have a friend who says he knows all about your technology. He claims that this is "snake oil", and that you're selling "the sizzle without the steak". But he also says that those magic jack thingies use telegraph wires and they don't work very well, so I'm not very confident he's very up-to-date. Can you please comment?
Q29: FOREIGN- I just came from my neighbours' house. I bought something similar (I thought), but mine has no where near the number of sources his system (that you installed) does, and most of the things on mine are for India, China, or England. Most of them don't work, either. I'm looking for North America content. What can you do to help my family?
Q30: INTERNET?- Your system uses the Internet, I get that. But how much more of the Internet does your system use every month? Am I going to go broke paying for added Internet usage?
Q31: BENEFIT?- Exactly how much benefit is there IN REAL DOLLARS, compared to paying every month for cable TV or satellite TV? Can you show me a comparison in real numbers, please?
ANSWERS
Q1: NON-TECHNICAL?- I'm a computer dummy. Can someone like me easily use this without getting frustrated?
ANSWER: If you can: spell; use a remote control; type your name on a keyboard; use a mouse, or turn on your TV, then you already know everything! The hardest thing is probably spelling the name of a movie you're searching for !
Q2: JUST PARTS?- Can you just sell me the parts, and let me install everything myself?
Answer: We prefer to do things the right way the FIRST time, so we do all of our own installations. To ensure that your WatchItFree.TV system works properly, we test, evaluate, and select what we consider to be the best equipment possible. But letting someone else struggle to put everything into proper operation, only to have them fail, causes frustration for everyone. We don't sell “the parts” separately because we don't want self-installers telling their friends that the equipment "doesn't work", when it's actually just improperly installed. We don't want to burn hours of tech support time trying to diagnose a faulty installation with a "self-installer" who can't understand the technical questions we need answered. By doing it ourselves, we can maintain a level of quality and satisfaction that's a better experience for everyone.
Q3a: LOCAL TV?- I live in the Greater Toronto Area. I don't have Internet, and I only want to watch the local news, weather, and maybe some TVOntario or PBS. Is there a solution for me so I don't have to waste money every month on a cable or satellite bill?
Answer: Yes, in most cases there is. We have several flavours of our “Over The Air” package. It's intended for people in the GTA with the same situation as yours (no Internet, and very basic viewing requirements). Depending on a few more details, we can probably provide you with reception of 9 or more digital English HD channels. In ideal locations, we've even been able to get stations as far away as Jamestown NY. This solution is NOT available in the area beyond an arc running from Pickering to Markham to Brampton to Oakville. Exceptions may exist because of your height above sea level or local obstructions (buildings, trees, etc).
Q3b: CABLE?- I live in North Bay. I have Internet, AND cable, but my cable bill is way too expensive for me. I'm looking at your Digital system as an alternative to save money. To get the channels that have stuff that interests me (like Discovery, A & E, Food Channel, History Channel, etc) I pay a fortune with cable! Satellite is no better. Can WatchItFree.TV offer me a solution that's any better? Or even just cheaper?
Answer: Perfect Question! You're our ideal customer! First, a bit about those channels you mentioned. Cable companies and TV broadcasters usually don't make their own content (programming). They access it from other sources, and then assemble it into a string of programs, and you see it as a “TV Channel”. Of course, they started adding advertising a number of years ago, too. Instead of following that TV Channel model, we provide an opportunity for you to view that content in any order, and any time, YOU want. You won't have to view shows you don't like, and you'll be able to watch more shows that interest you. Even content from specialty channels, even content from other countries! You may also find that much of that content comes from places that have many more shows that interest you, but were never shown on that “specialty channel” you used to think was so great. In other words, you can watch the content you want WHEN you want. You'll be able to do this without needing a cable TV provider or a satellite provider, and regardless of who your Internet service provider is.
Cable TV and satellite have only so many channels to use to get their content to you. Imagine the Internet limited to the same number of websites as there are cable channels. That would be something like 500 web sites! That would never work! Instead, we let you connect directly to the source, so you build/ create/ own your own TV channel. You decide what to watch - and when. This method also means that millions of people can each have their own “specialty channel” that plays what interests THEM! Don't worry about how this gets done, just watch and enjoy. Like the Internet, you don't have to understand how it works just to be able to use it.
Q3c: SATELLITE?- I live in central Ontario, and they still don't have affordable or fast Internet here, so we have to use a satellite service (X###net). It's expensive, but it works reliably. Can your system work properly with these types of satellite Internet connections?
Answer: We're getting a lot of requests from customers in central Ontario with only satellite Internet service. They're motivated to find "another way", because they pay multiples of what customers with conventional Internet connections pay for Internet access. We HAVE successfully installed our system on a few satellite Internet connections, and it works to the satisfaction of the viewers, BUT (and this is a BIG BUT) ... it can be very expensive. You have to decide what its worth to you to watch the content. One hour-and-a-half HD (1080p) movie will use about 3 GB of your monthly download cap. Some people only have a 2 GB monthly download limit, and then have to pay $20 for the next 1 GB. If you're willing to pay that to see one movie, then using our system is possible. Of course, watching lower-resolution (like cable-TV quality) content from a TV episode is different. A thirty-minute TV episode on cable or satellite is actually 20 minutes in our system (NO commercials!), and our experience (yours may vary) is that the resolution on most cable or satellite connections is less than our 480p. So, you could watch our better-quality (480p) TV episode in less time, and only use about 250 MB for a 20 minute episode. Also, because of a concept called latency, you may have to wait from several seconds to several minutes before you start to view what you want. But whatever way you look at it, satellite Internet is considerably MORE expensive that the in-town alternatives, no matter where you live.
Q4: LEGAL?- Is this legal?
Answer: This is probably the one question that everyone is afraid to ask, but really want to know. The answer is simple. Have you ever watched a video on YouTube? Ever watch a movie through the Internet? Ever watch video segments to your computer, cell-phone, DVR, or even VCR and watch them later? This is no different. Using this system to access information that's publicly available on the Internet uses the same legal concepts. You aren't breaking into anyone's computer to take anything. Every country has a different set of laws, and what's legal here might not be legal there, and vice versa. If you ask lawyers for their “opinions”, the legal profession stays in business by arguing opinions on both sides of the fence. We aren't lawyers, and this isn't “legal advice” (we have to say that so lawyers won't complain that we're giving out legal advice). But there are now MILLIONS of people using this system worldwide, and tens of thousands of sources of content, including many national and international TV networks. You be your own judge!
Q5: CABLE?-
Can I still keep my cable / satellite service, even if I use your system?
A: Sure! Keep it for as long as you like! Just remember that you're paying for them every month, and one of the many features of this alternate method of watching content is that our's is free. But, suit yourself. You're the one who has to pay the bills.
Q6: EVERY TV?- Do I need a separate controller for every TV in my house?
Answer: Just like digital cable and satellite, YES. But here are a few tips... When we do an installation, we don't have to install a monster power-sucking device on the wall of your basement. Think of our installation as requiring the same power as your cell phone charger. Let's say that you had just 1 cell phone charger at home. You'd probably move that charger around everywhere. When we do an installation, we can also configure it so you have the ability to move our system around to any TV you want. It's the size and weight of a paperback book. It will require a few extra cables and perhaps an extra wire or two, but we can set it up so that you can move the small controller box to any TV that's been provisioned to use the service. Then you can have the ability to watch all this new content on whatever TV you happen to be close to. Watch it in the living room in the afternoon, and on your bedroom TV at night. Watch it in your recreation room when you have friends over for movie night, or just watch on a small TV in your kitchen when you're preparing supper. That's still “one box per TV”, but you see how it's just like having one cell phone charger in your house, even though you might want to use it in several different outlets. Oh, and the cabling you use to connect our controller to your TV only fits in 1 place, one way. Like trying to place square pegs into round holes, it's almost impossible to connect improperly. Of course, if you'd rather NOT move anything, we can also provide and install additional controllers, too! That's usually the case if you have teenagers (they ALWAYS want to watch something else!), but it has nothing to do with requiring additional units for additional TV's. The big questions is how many TV's will be in use at one time!
Q7: LANGUAGE?-My parents only speak Italian (or French, Ukrainian, Greek, German, Arabic, Cantonese, Urdu, Farsi, or whatever). Will this let us get programming that they can enjoy, in their own language?
ANSWER: Yes, of course! In fact in many cases, they will probably be able to watch the national network of their country - in real time! So, they can pick and choose what programs they want to watch based on what they used to watch before they came here. Not only that, but if you want your young child to develop some feeling for your native language, you'll appreciate them being able to watch cartoons in that language. Note that the French content generally available, is the Parisian version of French, not the Quebec version. There is probably 100 times more unique content from France than from Quebec, just like there is 100 times more content from the USA and UK than there is from Canada. From a world perspective, Canada just isn't as big as we think it is when we live here.
Q8: APPS?- If you're already using the Internet to put stuff onto my big-screen TV, can you also put Google, Yahoo, Facebook, Netflix, eBay, Amazon, and those kinds of things onto my big TV?
Answer: Yes, you can. In fact, some customers tell us that we should be explaining more about this feature. We provide the capability of using popular services like eBay, Skype, Netflix, Amazon, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, etc. on your big screen TV. This gets you out from behind a desktop display in a small room in your house, and back in front of that expensive HDTV entertainment center you bought. Now, you'll be able to watch programs that everyone in the family will enjoy and not worry about breaking the bank after one Saturday of Pay Per View movies. You'll also be able to all sit on the couch and video-call your kids out of town, your parents in another part of the world, or your favourite neighbours who moved away last month.
Q9a: TIME?- How long does the installation take?
Answer: BIG Question - long answer! Every installation is slightly different, but here are some guidelines for time and cost of our DIGITAL installation package.
FOR DIGITAL INSTALLATIONS: First, (together) we make sure that we can properly provision YOUR existing devices for this capability. We make sure you have a suitable TV (we can work from some of the old clunkers to most of the newest sets), that you have suitable inputs on your TV (some sets may have all their inputs already “in use” by other devices, some may only have lower-quality inputs available). We always aim to provide the best quality you can watch, but our hardware is only as good as your TV can display. In many cases, we're capable of several quality levels higher than what your TV can display.
Next, we check your Internet speeds and the connections that affects your quality. Some people still use a dial-up Internet service. That might allow you to download content, but its quite impractical for TV viewing. Slow “lite" Internet speeds are not much better. Many people enjoy WiFi at home. Even though we can use a WiFi connection, we'd be less than honest if we told you that WiFi was OK. It's not! Simply put, the WiFi that most people use at home is neither reliable, nor robust, nor consistent, nor private. We strongly advise that you use a hardwired connection. Why try to siphon water through a straw, when you're already paying to get it through a fire hose? If you don't have that hardwired network cable or connection, we'll install one for you. If you want this wiring in 3 different rooms, it affects the installation time (and price). If you had old-style land-line phones (remember those!) after your house or apartment was built, they ran those wires along the baseboard. That's the cheap and fast way, and we can do that. But we do everything possible to make sure that you never see any wires. We provide SECURE hardwired network connectivity, and 99% of the time you never see any holes. Also, you need to have an empty Ethernet jack to plug that network wiring into. Does your modem/ switch/ router have a spare Ethernet (RJ-45) jack?
Next, we discuss what level of our hardware you want (or need). Our basic package includes 1080p capability, a pre-programmed controller (updates are free and automatic; upgrades AREN'T the same as updates!) with the latest software and sources, a basic remote controller (looks like a small version your TV remote, and we know exactly how much you're looking forward to getting another remote controller!), 6 ft of each type of interconnection cabling to get the picture and sound onto your big TV. We'll provision, program, install everything (but you need to be there!), and then we'll spend up to 30 minutes showing you how it works. (We say “up to 30 minutes”, because most people don't need that much time to learn to use it, they just want us to show them all of the thousands of sources they can now watch ... and that takes more time than we have before we get to the next installation!) In all, we expect that a baseline installation should take 90 minutes or less.
If you want extras, we're happy to provide them in the time we have booked, at our standard prices, and based on their availability. These options DON'T involve content, and they are optional. All the content you can get is free. It's only the provisioning that has optional extras. They include hardware, wiring, extra controllers, etc. If you book optional extras when you book your installation, there's a better chance that we have the extras in stock. We'll also let you adjust the installation date to when we have your extras ready for you.
Q9b: How long does the installation take for an OTA system?
FOR OVER THE AIR INSTALLATIONS: Once you provide us with the address where you want the system installed, we employ satellite imagery to determine whether you're a suitable OTA candidate. (Nothing to do with your personality! Just your location! Ha!) Some locations may have obstructions in the way, and some are too far away from the signal source. If you ARE a suitable candidate, we'll determine what equipment you may require as a minimum. The further away you are from the transmitter(s), the more sensitive the equipment we need to install. We've been successful in getting sufficient signal even from a weak transmitter more than 100 km away, but these conditions aren't common.
Q9c: Is it absolutely necessary for you to drill holes in my walls or floors?
For digital installations, usually, NO! We DO employ some magic we've learned over the years to provide you with a hardwired connection without always having to drill holes (or perhaps holes you'll never see). But we definitely DON'T use WiFi. Our intention is for you to have a reliable, long-term, trouble-free and happy experience. Not an intermittent, problem-filled nightmare that someone talked you into to save fifty cents. We say "Do it right, or don't do it at all". Anyone who tells you that this type of system can work reliably using WiFi simply doesn't understand what they are doing, or how things work.
Remember, there's no extra charge for a hard-wired network connection to our WatchItFree.tv box. It's included as part of a normal installation.
For Over The Air systems, its a very different story. You get to choose whether we drill holes or not, but cables are a requirement FOR SURE.
Q10: SPECIFIC?- If I have a keen interest in a specific subject, like cooking, or history, or science, or vintage cars, or renovating homes, or stock market investing, can you connect things so I see a lot of those types of programs or movies?
Yes... but... there are so many sources of material to watch, that even WE don't know them all! We'll show you where to start looking for some excellent content for your interests. Better yet, we'll show you how to go “exploring" for new content that might interest you. But please don't think we know where EVERYTHING is! We don't. Besides, in a few weeks you may know more about interesting sources of content than we do.
Q11: FIND?- What if I can't find a particular movie or a TV series or episode, or a sports program I want?
ANSWER; With thousands of sources for content, it's a VERY rare day when you can't find something you want. BUT ... what you might experience is that SOME sources for one particular movie might not work today. You may have to go to another source of that same movie because some sources are too slow, some have moved today, some just plain aren't working because the Internet can't find them. When this happens, we suggest you simply try a different source. Think of it like buying a particular chocolate bar at the store. If you can't find your favourite at the first store, just go to another store. In the rare event that it's temporarily out of stock everywhere, you may just have to wait a few days.
Q12: SUPPORT?- Can I get support if I have a problem using your system after it gets installed?
ANSWER: Yes, we warranty the hardware and we're happy to provide technical support. We'd also like to make sure that you have realistic expectations and that we're clear about our capabilities. First, if your hardware fails from normal use under warranty, we'll repair or replace it. No question. There's no hardware cost for that replacement. If you want us to travel to your location to diagnose something then we have to charge for our time and mileage. After all, we have to pay for gas and our time isn't free. If you'd prefer, we'll provide you with a mail address where you can ship back a piece of your hardware. If you include a prepaid mailer, you'll get the replacement quickly. If no faults are found, we'll ship your same unit back to you and verify that it tested OK, and perhaps suggest where to look next inside your home. If we find faults and are unable to repair your unit, we'll send you back a replacement. You just pay the shipping. If your system is out of warranty, we can either provide you a replacement unit for a fee or arrange a service call to come and replace it (at current rates) at your convenience. We'll discuss that with you in advance. So far, we haven't had ANY field failures of our units under normal operating conditions. Events like lightning strikes, melting in a house fire, and nuclear events aren't covered under our warranty. Grin!
Because we use top-quality equipment, most of our “support calls” or email, are actually for questions like “Where can I find the movie (or program) XXX?” Frankly, we'd only know the answer by searching for it just as YOU could search for it. We don't expect to know where EVERYTHING is. Ever! It's a very big world. Our support is centered on keeping your hardware running properly, not in knowing where to find the latest Wrestlemania spectacular, or a soccer match in Bratislava. We hope you agree.
If you lose your (for example) remote control, we'd be happy to replace it at cost (or suggest an alternative to use). Losing part of your system isn't covered by any warranty. That's just common sense. Replacing your unit because you accidentally stepped on it, because your dog chewed it, or because someone spilled their milk on it, isn't covered under any warranty, either. If you're looking for more/ better/ different sources of content, we're happy to connect you with a lot of other VERY happy users who like to share their discoveries with others like you. Discoveries not just about WHERE they found something, but also with WHAT they found. In summary, we warranty the hardware and we're happy to provide technical support for it. But technical support doesn't include being a personal TV guide.
Almost forgot! We don't "lock up" anything inside your hardware. If you'd like to "re-program" anything, feel free. But re-programming errors aren't covered under warranty.
Q13: BLANK SCREEN?- Yesterday, everything was working fine. Now, I only have a blank TV screen with the message “no input” flashing. What happened?
ANSWER: We used to get this question a lot! In simple terms, your TV is trying to tell you that it doesn't have a signal going into the connector you've selected at the back (or side) of your TV. How can you solve this problem? Simple!
First, as dumb as it sounds, make certain that every piece of equipment has lights on, showing that it really does have power and is turned on. Oh yes, it's really important that you are using the same AC adapters as were installed with your system. Even with the same power ratings, they don't all perform the same. Surprisingly, this solves more than 60% of problems.
Second, go back and verify that every cable is really plugged in (all the way!) to its proper connector. This solves about another 20% of problems. Yes, the cables WERE plugged in yesterday and there is no explanation of why they aren't connected today. Who cares! We just want you to be working again. Let's not wonder why.
Third, most TV's have numerous inputs. Each one allows you to send a signal from a different device into your TV. These inputs are controlled like switches, and only 1 switch can be on at one time. There's usually an “input” button on your remote control for the TV, or a MENU button that will show those input choices, or some other means of telling the TV which input connector it should turn on. If you have the picture and sound from WatchItFree.TV going in to the “HDMI” connector, but you've told the TV to only turn on the “Video” connector (that's unused), then of course the TV will tell you that it has no input and nothing to show you (literally, “no input”).
To correct the problem, just use your remote control to select the correct input for the WatchItFree.TV signals. It will be HDMI-something. This covers (so far) the last 20% of problems. That's 100%. If NONE of those directions get you back in operation, you need to contact us for escalation. Please fill in a Tech Support Request Form here.
Q14: DAMAGE TV?- I have a very high quality, very expensive big-screen TV. Is your system going to damage to my TV, or harm it in any way?
ANSWER: No, OUR equipment won't damage your TV ... but YOU might “wear it out” a lot sooner! You'll probably find that you'll be watching a LOT more TV than before (and getting a lot more enjoyment out of it). Or, you might just prefer to look at it as getting 20 years of entertainment out of your TV, in just 10 years! Other than that, our hardware conforms to the same display standards as the people who make big-screen TVs, DVD players, video cards, etc.
Q15: TV SIZE?- My “big-screen TV” is actually only a puny little 24" wide-screen TV. Will it still work with your system?
ANSWER: Of course! If you have any of the wide-screen TV's (Plasma, LCD, LED) or TV projectors or rear-screen TV projectors since the late 1990's, it would be very rare that we wouldn't be able to install one of our digital systems to work with your display. For our OTA (Over The Air) system installations, the requirements are quite different. You'll need a display with a built-in (or external) ATSC tuner, so it can tune in all those new digital channels you'll be able to receive. Any video display with NO tuner is called a “monitor”, and any video display WITH a tuner is called a receiver. If you have a “monitor” for your OTA system, we can add an external tuner, but you can buy a small HDTV with the tuner built in for the same cost as the outboard tuner alone!
Q16: DIFFERENCE?- What's the difference between one of these OTA systems you install, and one of the digital systems you install?
ANSWER: Good question! OTA systems are designed for people who live in large metropolitan areas and their immediate suburbs (like the GTA). They allow customers to view locally-transmitted signals without having to pay a monthly cable bill. The OTA systems don't have the same value in smaller centers (such as Sudbury or North Bay), because there aren't many local channels to watch. (We can still install an OTA system even if there's only 1 channel to watch.) In some cities, they don't have ANY local TV broadcasters, so the OTA system would be useless. But the digital system we install is designed to provide content from all over the world, not just your local environment. It's a completely different product. If you live in a large city (Toronto), you could choose either system. The OTA is cheaper, but the digital system gives much more content. If you live where there are no local TV stations, the OTA system has little value, because there are no local stations to watch. That's where the digital system has all of the benefits. Neither system requires any monthly payments. You buy it, we install it, and that's it. Regardless of what you watch, there are no more fees. Both types of system are more attractive than cable or satellite, because they have NO monthly cost. By the way, if you're really set on watching some ethnic programming that's on an open satellite channel, we can also install the appropriate satellite dish for you. We've been involved with TV satellite reception since 1980. Open satellite channels don't have any monthly fee, either.
Q17: SATELLITE FIX?- This is really off the wall here, but you seem to know a bit about TV reception, so I'll ask it. I have an 18" satellite dish that used to work really good. Now, half the channels are missing and are really “chunky” and blocky. The satellite folks are less than helpful, and tell me it's “my problem”. Can you do anything to restore my satellite reception, and help me with “ my problem ”?
ANSWER: Well YES actually, we may be able to help. We have instrumentation that allows us to diagnose most satellite reception problems. Some problems are simple to solve, others aren't. If you send an email to us (info@watchitfree.tv) and use "Tech Support Request" in the Subject line we'll discuss your situation with you in person.
Q18: QUALITY?- Exactly how good is the video quality of your systems?
ANSWER: Glad you asked! Our OTA systems are as good as the broadcaster transmits and you're able to receive at your location (based on your TV). If you've got a 1366 x 768 HD TV, the best you can view is 720P video; with a 1920 x 1080, the best you can watch is 1080p. The actual quality depends on the transmitter, and on the original quality of the content. Not all digital TV transmitters broadcast 1080p OR 1080i), even if the original material was 1080. But we make sure you end up with the best quality possible for your situation.
For our digital systems, the basic systems are capable of 1080p video quality and our higher-end systems can display Ultra High Definition TV (UHDTV), or 4k resolution (3840 x 2160), although there are not yet any widely available sources for that resolution. Our digital systems are clever enough to calculate the highest quality they can reliable display. This means that if there is a 1080p source of content, but the digital delivery pipeline to your house is just too slow to reliably show that quality consistently, the system will drop down to the next-lowest video quality in the hope of providing a smoother viewing experience. If your home Internet speed is slow, you won't see the best quality. Even if you have local bandwidth of 1,000,000 MBps, but the source is only pushing it out 420p quality, you'll only see 420p quality. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, even in the digital world.
Q19: OBSOLETE?- Can you guarantee that your system won't become obsolete?
ANSWER: Nope! In fact, we can guarantee that it WILL become obsolete! But not until it's paid for itself many times over. Most people will recover the cost of our digital system (compared to a monthly cable TV expense) in about 2-3 months. But, you'll never recover the cost of your cable / satellite bill. So if you consider that this technology will be here for many years, you'll see how you never have to worry about obsolescence. After all, the old analog Over The Air TV system has been around since the 1950's, and even though some people call it obsolete, it's not (it still works as intended)! Digital (HDTV) TV started around 1996. We expect our digital system (because it auto-updates) to be vibrant for many years to come.
Q20: OPERATING COST?- How much electricity does this stuff use? Is it going to be like another fridge, and run up my "hydro" (electrical) bill?
ANSWER: Far from it! When our equipment runs, it uses 10 Watts of power. If you leave it always on, that's just a bit under $1 a month. Your cable TV or satellite box probably uses about 4x as much energy. If you're frugal, turn our devices off when you're not using them. It takes less than 90 seconds to re-start, and it will update itself in the background after that. That way you could probably save about 40 cents a month.
Q21: PARENTAL LOCK?- We have young kids. Do you have any safeguards or filters to protect what they watch?
ANSWER: Yes, we have embedded Parental Controls at the hardware level, similar to what newer TV sets have.
Q22: SENIOR?- I'm a senior. Do you have a senior's discount?
ANSWER: we now offer a 13% discount if anyone in the house suffers from a major physical disability (please inquire - the basic criteria is a situation that hinders someone's ability to enjoy the outdoors, or to go out to the cinema. If you're a Canadian military veteran or in active Canadian military service, thank you for your service. You get a 25% discount, and we'd be honoured to shake your hand.
Q23: DOWNLOAD?- What if I just want to download these movies and TV shows, and view them later. Can I record anything, or is it just “view it once and it's gone”?
ANSWER: Good Question, and certainly worthy of thinking this through just a bit more. First, you'd need more than a few truckloads of hard drives to hold everything! Of course, because you can watch anything as often as you want, that begs the question “Why would you want to record anything?” It's sort of like taking books out of the library and photocopying them. It's an expensive operation and a lot of effort, to capture something that's free! Watching something, and making/recording a copy of that same thing, are very different from a legal perspective in most jurisdictions Make sure what you want to do doesn't contravene any local laws!
Q24: MUSIC?- Sorry, but I'm fed up with TV. But, I really do like listening to music. Does your system also deliver any music or radio stations?
ANSWER: Actually, yes it does. We can't give you an exact count on the number of radio “stations”, but we can tell you that there are a LOT of stations. They come from more than 130 countries. Some countries (like Afghanistan) have only 1 station. Canada has 180 different stations to listen to on this system, and the USA has more than 1800 stations. There's no monthly cost to listen. Enjoy!
Q25: COTTAGE?- Can I get your digital service on my boat? At my cottage? At my camp? At my winter place in Florida?
ANSWER: Thanks for asking. The general answer is “You can use your equipment and this digital service wherever you have a fast, stable, and reliable Internet connection”. But, here's a detailed answer for each of your 3 questions, in order. First (the boat) ... while its technically possible for the system to work, it gets everything delivered by the Internet. If your boat has a hardwired Internet connection (perhaps dockside at a marina), then you're golden. If it's WiFi (more likely because it's the cheapest way to provide itinerant Internet access to email at marinas), you're probably out of luck because the connection will be s-l-o-w. Under way, or not connected to the Internet, we're afraid you're out of luck unless you have a robust and high-speed mobile satellite downlink. Second (your cottage) ... same rules apply. If you have the Internet and a stable and reliable 4+ Mbps connection speed, you can WatchItFree.tv at 720p quality. Thirdly (your camp/cottage) ... geographical location isn't important, but an Internet connection IS. If you're using a satellite Internet connection, you already know how expen$ive it is per GB of data. Our system CAN work with satellite Internet ... but a 2.5 hour 720p movie is about 3 GB. At 1080i, that same movie is about 6GB. Ka-ching, ka-ching, ka-ching!
Q26: SLOW?- I have s-l-o-w Internet (less than 4 MBps), and can't get better/faster service in the near future (I already asked my Internet Service Provider). Is there any way that you can make your service work with slower Internet speeds?
ANSWER: Actually, we do! As of Jan 2016, we've finished working on modifications to provide working WatchItFree.tv service to areas with less-than-ideal Internet services. This doesn't remove EVERY problem, but it does resolve the majority of issues.
If you've already checked and you're stuck with s-l-o-w Internet
(you can find out what your real speed is by using this safe, unbiased test),
or this one.
Check this speed yourself (about 7 PM), because its not uncommon for Internet Service Providers to tell you you're getting one speed when that's actually the theoretical maximum, not the actual speed. Also, if you get your Internet via a cable-TV company, they may not have told you that their connections are generally shared or sub-divided in a neighbourhood. If somebody is doing huge downloads or upoads between 5 PM and 9 PM, you'll have especially slow Internet speeds between 5 PM and 9 PM, even if it's OK in the morning. Imagine who uses the Internet at different times of the day, and you'll understand what the demand profile graph looks like. You might also want to check inside your own home, to out who is sharing music or movies, or doing interactive gaming with the rest of the world. WiFi channels ( there are really only 3 clear frequencies in North America for Wifi), and usage (meant for light duty)are also limited by your modem/switch/router. You can only have a few live WiFi connections at once, and they all add to the load. If someone in your home is Skyping with video, AND downloading tunes, AND online-gaming all at the same time, plus you realize that this could be happening at 7 other houses on your block, you'll understand why your Internet service may seem slow at those times! When people don't have to pay for something, they usually squander it. Internet use is no different. We use the analogy of tap water. If you are the only person with the tap on, water pressure (Internet speed) is great. But if you're in the shower and someone opens the neighbourhood fire hydrant, the water pressure drops considerably. A water pipe and your Internet service have a lot of similarities!
Q27: BURNED AT THE FLEA MARKET!- I bought a box like yours at a flea market. It looked like a really good deal! But most of the things on it don't work in my home. The seller says it's my Internet, or my service, or anything else they can think of. It's all "my problem". I don't think they understand much about how to solve any problems with these devices, and they keep changing their answers. I'm out the money, and now I'm stuck with this turkey! Even though I didn't buy this from you, can you help me?
ANSWER: Sure!
We talk lots of people who got burned buying a "hot deal, just for you, today only" something at a flea market, but got home and found out it didn't work like they were told (and in some case, not at all). This technology is all about computers. They aren't all the same! You can pay $50 or $250 for a computer. The power, reliability, suitability for the purpose, it's programming, and other factors determine which computer is appropriate. The price doesn't always define the performance, either. You get sold on the "shiny", and only too late do you suddenly remember that a shiny Yugo is NOT a shiny Cadillac! When you get it home, as those people find out, it's not "plug and play". Most of them were also told that they can use WiFi. Now they realize that doesn't work in real life. They don't get the support they need to get the system going, because the seller can't be bothered (and there is no money for after-sale support). In most cases, flea market vendors are resellers. They aren't technical troubleshooters. They simply re-sell a computer that was programmed in China (does yours have Chinese applications or programs on it, too?). It probably works great over there! Factory programming is also usually 6 months to a year old. Newer is better. Flea market deals are strictly cash, and we joke that they have a "30/30 warranty" ... 30 seconds, or 30 feet!
There are hundreds of technical differences , software versions, operating systems, installation settings, etc. If your purchase isn't working well (or never did) where do you go for help? You bought a cash and carry bargain, but who has the cash and where is the bargain now? We don't sell you a bunch of parts fresh off the boat. We spend several hours re-programming and testing every one of our units, so WE KNOW EVERYTHING WORKS. We come to your house and we install the unit, SO WE KNOW EVERYTHING WORKS. We install all the extra network connectivity, SO WE KNOW IT WORKS. Then we sit down with (one of) you and show you in detail how it works, SO WE KNOW EVERYTHING WORKS. That's our value proposition.
We can re-program MOST (but not all) foreign TV Boxes, and we may even be able to make SOME of them work like ours. There's one BIG difference, though. "We can't make a rocket out of a potato". If you were sold a cheap potato, there's no way we can make it into a rocket. We charge (in 20 minute increments) for the time we spend programming, and fixing your "flea market bargain". We do this as a paid service, not as a charity, and we do it as time permits. You get to decide in the end which method gives you the most satisfaction. Just send us a request, to "info@watchitfree.tv", tell us the make and model of any of your hardware (usually on the bottom), where you live, and the nature of your problem. If you include your name and telephone number, things go faster.
Q28: SNAKE OIL? I'm a senior, one of my friends says he knows all about this technology. He calls this "snake oil", and says you're selling "the sizzle without the steak". But he also says that those "Magic Jack" thingies use telegraph wires and they don't work very well, so I'm not very confident he's very up-to-date. Can you please comment?
ANSWER: Wow!
What an interesting question - and story!
Really? Telegraph wires? Ha!
Digital media technology has been in mainstream use for more than a decade. I remember the 1st digital MP3 player - from 1997! BILLIONS of people use digital technology worldwide, and all of OUR customers have no problem knowing what is, and IS NOT, “snake oil”. OUR system works VERY, VERY, WELL. It's certainly a lot better than cable or satellite and because we install everything and spend time with you showing you how and where to find everything, you don't have to be a technical or computer wizard to enjoy using our system. By your friend's comment, I guess he thinks Netflix™ is snake oil, too!
WatchItFree.TV provides a excellent turnkey solution.
We install a complete WatchItFree.TV system inside your home.
It's proven to you to work, right in front of you.
YOU'RE using YOUR system, inside YOUR home, before we leave.
Pardon us for asking, but “Where's the snake oil?”
Perhaps your friend's been talking to people who are trying to use something else, or who bought something on their own at a flea market. Or something that came with no installation, and no support (or from less-than-knowledgeable sellers). You know ... one of those resellers who tell you “It's easy! You just plug it in, and it'll work perfectly, every time. It even works with WiFi!”. Remember, LOTS of people (your friend?) claim to be a "computer expert" AS LONG AS THINGS ARE WORKING. But as soon as there's a problem, it becomes obvious why those "computer experts" work at other jobs during the daytime. Just because they paint houses or pump gas as their day-job, doesn't stop them from telling you they're a "computer expert" at night! In reality, perhaps your friend can't solve any more computer problems than you can. Unless, perhaps, they're "telegraph wire" problems! By the way, the LAST telegraph in North America was sent in 1999, to the White House in Washington, D.C. Telegraphy was replaced in the mainstream by "email" in the mid-1990's! Our our first email account was opened in 1982, more than a decade earlier, and it didn't use telegraph wires - even then! Here's an idea ... ask your friend what they think of that newfangled "email" thing that everybody's been talking about. We'd love to hear their opinion on that!
Q29: FOREIGN?- I just came home from my neighbours' house. They showed me the WatchItFree.TV system you installed in their home. I bought something similar (at least, I thought it was), but mine doesn't have the number of sources their system [that you installed] does. Most of the things on mine are for China, India, Sri Lanka, or Pakistan. Most of them don't work, either. I'm looking for North America content, but my system hardly has anything. After seeing my neighbour's system, I realize I got screwed. I paid less, but I got just about nothing! What can you do to help my family?
ANSWER: Yes, this question is similar to Q27, directly above. You get what you pay for. If you feel comfortable re-programming a computer or learning a new computer operating system, you might be able to overcome these issues. But for the majority of people, technology is only great when it works the way you want. Honestly assess your own computer and technical knowledge and abilities. If you don't know how to manipulate and set up computers (not simply "use" them), you know you'll be frustrated trying to make even small changes, or connect "apparently simple" things together. (Take WiFi, for example. Its simple to set up, so it's popular. But it's usually about as robust as a child's toy! That's why desktop computers use hard-wired connections, and not WiFi. More complicated to set up, but far faster, far more reliable, and vastly more secure. But can YOU set one up at home? Probably not. So you're stuck with WiFi.) Our approach is to take all the headaches and frustration away from the user. We install professional-grade products, not children's toys. We do all the complicated work. Once installed and properly working, we show you how to use everything, and everybody wins. After all, if YOU'RE not tuning up your own car, why should YOU be expected to tune up your own computer? It's your choice. But, if you're frustrated and you feel you got the losing side of your transaction, perhaps you'll consider having us put things in order for you. We charge a fair price (in 20 minute increments) for the time we spend programming, fixing the problems, and making sure your network connectivity is robust, reliable, and secure. But we do this as a paid service, not as a charity, and we do it as time permits between our regular installations of new systems. If you realize we can help you, just send a request to "info@watchitfree.tv". Tell us the make and model of any of your hardware, where you live, and the nature of your problem. When you include your name and telephone number, things go faster. We're always happy to help.
Q30: INTERNET?- Your system uses the Internet, I get that. But how much more of the Internet does your system use every month? Am I going to go broke paying for added Internet usage?
ANSWER: An excellent question!
Yes, all of our content is delivered to our equipment via the Internet. Different qualities of content, occupy different amounts of data space. For example, a "truly" HD movie (1080p) consumes about "1.5 GB per hour" of your monthly download quota. Lesser-quality content takes a lot less (a 720p movie consumes about 700 MB/hr), and most TV episodes consume a fraction of that. Many 1080P news sources compress their content to use less bandwidth and work with slower connections. There's also a savings in bandwidth because MOST content has no commercials. That means that TV episodes (for example) that take 60 minutes to watch on cable TV, only take 40 minutes to watch on WatchItFree.tv. You see the same program content, you just don't see the commercials! We don't take out or add any commercials, so don't thank us! Someone else does it. The end result is that MOST people who use WatchItFree.TV find they use about 100-150 GB a month (mostly because they get addicted to watching all the content they couldn't watch on cable or satellite). Many customers already had "unlimited" download capacity before they got WatchItFree.tv, so they see NO DIFFERENCE in their Internet bill. Some people had fixed download caps of only 100 GB a month, so they have either learned to watch fewer HD movies (or watch them in 720P) to stay within their limits, or to pay the extra $10 a month to upgrade to unlimited downloads. In any case, most customers are saving almost $100 a month over the previous cable bills, so the $10 Internet increase is a “no-brainer”. Some of our users now refer to their old cable bills, as "the monthly cable fine that the silly people pay". Your opinion may vary.
Q31: BENEFIT?- Exactly how much money IN REAL DOLLARS, do you claim your system can save me compared to paying every month for cable TV or satellite TV? Can you show me a comparison in real numbers, please?
ANSWER: Here's where "the rubber meets the road"! Sure we can show you, using real dollars. Just click here for a simple-to-use cost-reward calculator that will do all the arithmetic for you. Just plug in one number!
If you just want the numbers explained to you, here it is:
Let's suppose that you pay $125 a month for your present cable (or satellite) TV service. That's probably on the lower end of average for most families. Let's say that you have a WatchItFree.TV system installed on January 1st to replace that previous cable or satellite service. Just after the end of February, you'll be at the "break-even point". This is where you'll have paid the same for your former cable TV or satellite service, that you'll have paid for your WatchItFree.TV system. Even money! But by the end of March, (just 1 month later!0 you'll have saved almost $100. By the end of April, you'll have saved (that means "put into YOUR pocket") $215. By the end of the year, you'll have saved OVER $1200.00! What will YOU do with the $1200 you save?
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