Internet / TV Question

[Fats25]

My question of the week:-

I made an offer on a place yesterday (Jumeirah Islands), which has been accepted. So today is all about getting cheques written, contracts signed etc etc. Fortunately I have a relocation company assigned to me, so they will deal with the DEWA connection, there is also a Chiller cost on the Islands that they will deal with, the Ejari, and finally they will deal with the Internet/TV connection.

I am being told that the Villa only has DU, rather than Etisalat connectivity. So that rather limits the options. The relocation company will deal with the connection, but is up to me to choose the package I want. I plan on getting this UKTVAbroad (Chilli - how is it going with them? Did you get it working?) over here, so assume I will need large data package for this. Thinking 24/6 package should be enough.

Question is on the TV and phone. I have found this that will help me decide on pricing:-

http://www.du.ae/athome/Tariff-guide

In the UK I don't even have a phone plugged in at home so not sure I need any "talk" packages. Unless someone can explain why I will need it over here. For the TV - do I need a basic TV package for anything that will not be picked up on UK TV Abroad?

A quick glance at the tariff above does not seem to make that much difference from a pricing perspective if I get basic package, but just want to ensure I am not missing anything.

Thanks

[6th Gear]

Hi Chris

I subscribe to the 24/6 package with the most basic TV channels (non of which I watch) and landline (which I don't use). The landline I was told is compulsory.

I watch TV via the UKTVAbroad box and movies on Netflix and iTunes via Apple TV.

The setup works well.

[Chilli]

Mate, I have the "expat vision" box and its brilliant. Watched 3 hours of Wheeler Dealers the other night. It's got dozens of sports channels, all the Discovery channels, and loads of others. It jumps/freezes when you first select a channel, but after that its like being back home. The only problem I've had is that the 'kin dof ate the remote.....2 weeks I've had it, 2 weeks.
Another one is on the way but I can use the basic functions off a PC keyboard.
Highly recommend it.......but not the dog.

[ezah]

It is correct that only Du are operating in that area. But they are the best ISP in my opinion anyway.

I take the 24Mb talk surf and watch.. although I hardly use the TV part, the land line is useful for working from home though, and you are not really paying extra for it as the bundle is well priced.

Keep in mind if whatever internet speed you order, in reality you can only get about half of it. but that's just the nature of UAE telecoms right now with 2 "monopoly" ISPs.

For all my UK TV needs I use a VPN to watch iPlayer online, or via various add-ons in XBMC, which you can run on PC, Mac etc.

[dxbtiger]

I've got Du, the 8mb plus landlind and full TV, with Bein sports added.

Internet is fast enough to stream SkyGo, iPlayer etc even when vpn is on, munches through any populate Pirate Bay stuff I want and between OSN Sports and Bein every single sport is covered.

I do like the sound of these UK TV boxed but the cynic in me says they won't work forever, like the dishes everyone had when I first arrived back.

[Fats25]

Thanks for the response guys. I also have Apple Tv with XBMC on it, and I will possibly VPN into UK as well so these are all good options.

The local option is a difficult one. Having spent the day in bed recovering from a horrendous hangover yesterday, I spent the day in front of BEIN, and apart from Andy Gray and the technology being from 1997 (Richard Keys would be welcome back at Sky though - he is still good), it was good to see the goals as they all go in, and having 3 games on a Saturday to watch. With more today, and tomorrow, is better that I would get from Sky.

Decisions, decisions.

Chilli - what is cost for the UKTVAboroad package, I cannot see that anywhere at the moment.

[TomV8]

I went for the 16/4 TV/phone/internet package, and it seems ok so far.

Make sure you get to du early though, the queues are lengthy and slow moving.

I've been in the middle east over 3 years and the bloke from du who came to configure everything is the first workman type bloke who's actually been on time!

[Chilli]

Chris, google expatvision. The box cost me 100 Euros and I pay 35 a month. Currently watching Motogp from Misano....perfect quality.