A: Bell Entertainment is an integrated broadband service that uses the power of Internet protocol technology to provide you with both next generation digital television and broadband Internet access.
Editorial addition: Bell Entertainment Service is Bell's revolutionary IPTV platform capable of delivering standard and high-definition television over a high-speed internet connection. BES utilizes both fiber-to-the-node and fiber-to-the-point technology to obtain download speeds of close to 25Mbps to the user's home. Bell is attempting to leapfrog current cable systems by offering features like a personal video recorder that can record up to 4 shows at a time and is programmable from any set top box, or a computer or cell phone (in the near future).
Q: How is Bell Entertainment service different from cable TV?
A: Bell Entertainment is delivered to your home via your existing telephone line rather than through a traditional cable. It's a new, fully-integrated video and data service that carries standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD) digital television signals over your regular phone line, making it possible to offer television service on a line already coming into your home with little or no change to existing wiring.
Q: Why is there a limit to the number of customers you can accept for Bell Entertainment service in a specific neighborhood?
A: Bell Entertainment service is being introduced in a highly contained beta launch, in order to ensure the highest possible quality of service a certain threshold of accounts in a given location is required at this time.
Q: Do I need to have a Bell Home Phone in order to be eligible for Bell Entertainment service?
A: No
Q: How many TVs can I get Bell Entertainment service for?
A: You can hook up to 4 TVs with Bell Entertainment service depending on your bandwidth qualification. The primary Entertainment Console is included in the package price. Any additional consoles can be rented for a monthly fee of $5. All entertainment consoles are HD ready and support HD programming.
Q: What equipment is included with Bell Entertainment service?
A: The equipment included in the package are a Bell Entertainment console, a wireless gateway and a remote control. Highly-trained Home Entertainment Specialists will deliver and install everything you need. In some homes, additional equipment may be needed.
Ed: The wireless gateway is an Alcatel-Lucent CellPipe 7130. It's a combined modem / IPTV gateway plus 802.11b/g wireless access point and 4-port 100 Mbit switch. The PVR is a Motorola VIP1216; it's actually very easy to use, quite intuitive, and it integrates with popular 3rd party universal remotes if desired.
Q: What will the wiring of the equipment look like?
A: While each configuration is different depending on the number of TVs you have in your home, our certified Home Entertainment Specialists will use the existing coax wiring in your home and provide a minimally disruptive set-up during the professional installation appointment.
Q: I don't have an HDTV yet. Can I watch digital TV even though I do not have a high definition television?
A: Yes. The Bell Entertainment console receives a digital signal and then converts it into a format that will work with your conventional television. When you make the leap to HD, just connect your new TV with HDMI or Component cables and enjoy the full viewing pleasure of your HD programming.
Q: If I have any support questions or technical problems, who should I call?
A: Our expert Bell Entertainment customer support team can be reached 1-866-247-5703. They will be able to answer your questions anytime Monday to Friday 9am to 9pm and on Saturdays from 9am to 5pm. For major technical issues outside these hours, a technician is on call for rapid response.
Q: Is there a bandwidth cap/quota per month?
A: Yes. The maximum download cap is 60GB/month. There is a charge of $1.25 per GB up to a maximum of $30/month.
Q: How fast is the Internet speed for PCs?
A: It varies but the theoretical maximum payload rate is roughly 30Mbps download and 15Mpbs/upload. In practice the speed is roughly 20-25Mbps down and the same up 5Mbps up. If the TVs are running/recording this will vary as each HD stream takes 5Mbps and SD takes 2-3Mbps. You can test your linespeed with this Bell.ca speed tester.
Here are the VDSL stats from one STB quite close to the Bell "box".
- Code: Select all
Downstream line rate 37424 kbps
Upstream line rate 18176 kbps
Bearer Downstream payload rate 30064 kbps
Bearer Upstream payload rate 15664 kbps
Downstream attainable payload rate 50832 kbps
Downstream attainable line rate 64688 kbps
Downstream Training Margin 21.0 dB
Downstream delay 7.7 ms
Upstream delay 7.5 ms
Tx total power 13.5 dbm
FE Tx total power 14.1 dbm
VDSL Estimated Loop Length 297 ft
G.Hs Estimated Near End Loop Length 165 ft
G.Hs Estimated Far End Loop Length 505 ft
