MTNL IPTV iControl (Delhi) Review

MTNL had started a scheme by offering iptv only for Rs. 500 registration charge, set top box lifetime rent free,6 months viewing free& 6 months Video On Demand (Movies) free.The offer was irresistable for me, so at the next instant i called them up and booked a connection.The lady at the other end was polite and said that they would come and install it within 7 days. I was eager to get it and waited whole seven days ,but to my surprise nobody came. The next day i called them up and asked about my connection status, they assured me that the installation will be done the next day.The next day they did come but this was the day my nightmare started.My internet speed was reduced to 256 kbps from 2Mbps.

As the iptv was installed the video was not smooth and there was a lot of freezing . The guy who had come to install the piece of shit said that there are too many breaks in my telephone line thats why its freezing.

After two months and hundereds of complaints later the iptv started working with 'viewable' picture quality, about which i was told that i am not within three kms from the local exchange.


IMPORTANT NOTE
If you are in Delhi and want mtnl's iptv which should work properly then you should yourself check the following things before booking ,-
1.You should be within 2 to 2.5 kms (to be on the safer side) from the local exchange or
2.Your line attenuation should be less than 30 dB.

if your line attenuation is more than thirty and you have taken iptv then you are screwed bcoz the iptv delhi system does not support line attenuation above 30 and you will get ocassional freezing.

Ok now coming to the review, they are offering 150 channels (channel list) ,more than 100 movies ,timeshift tv (select free to air channels) all free for 6 months under the offer.The set top box is from UTstarcom and is cool looking.
utstarcom set top box 1088l

Menu options

Video On Demand

Unlike satellite tv services like dish tv ,tata sky ,where they play movies at different times of the day,in iptv you can watch any movie just at the press of the button,instantly.You can even pause,rewind & fastforward the movie which is not possible in tatasky or dish tv.The collection of movies is good but some movies have various audio problems.

Timeshift Tv
This is a great feature which allows you to watch programs upto three days old.but whats the use ,there is no electronic programming guide EPG.

Games
There are three games on the iptv but none of them work.
karaoke
Does not work

Settings
you can view your usage & change settings here.
favourites
you can set your favourite movies here.


Downside
1. you cannot watch more than one channel at a time and there are no active services.
2. No coordination between various departments so getting a problem fixed is impossible.
3. Not reliable - iptv in the whole of delhi goes down for 5-6 hours every weeek.
4. Lineman or people at the exchange do not know about functioning of iptv yet.

Final Verdict
If you are in delhi and want to take up iptv then you should not as it has various problems assosciated with it.If you are in any other part of the country then you can consider taking one as it is handled by iol netcom which is better than Aksh (delhi) which handle iptv operations.