Analyzing this theoretically a bit more. The problems being improved by network level upgrade for improved data dlow, limited reports of improvement leads me to conclude from a post about sound dropping is
- The post said multicast. I would lean to that and that involves a fairly deep foundational look at the engineering design
- I think there is an issue with buffer bloat, overflow, or loss of synch or memory kink most likely part of the airus 7802 box.
- Let's be honest here. It is basically an android TV box with a bell Fibe app. Based launcher.
- Apps run most efficiently on any streaming box when the app is minimalistic in design. Simple input structure in the app let the android TV is handled output configuration not the app, and the app merely turns those features on and off. Eg. Cc and descriptive video and FF rewind etc
- Discovery plus app has following inputs on playback. Pause play FF rw playback times and elapsed time and cc on off. That is it. 5 inputs and synched output of sound cc dv from os settings sound and video. Very simple I/O little demand on buffer, data markers, video CPU, on the box servers and all the way in between.
In conclusion, all hypothetical, but I think we are stuck with what we got. The box is 2 years old now and was probably first developed the year before current android version is 14 based on phone android released in 2023 and 14 TV came out in May last year.
Old version on 7802 is 10 now 12 10 was 2019 12 was 2020
So old
Maybe when a new box comes it will actually make it to 16 expected Oct this year but it will require a higher end box and not come cheap. Think of the lowest full functional smart phone price versus last years minimal function device. Boxes are the same. A current high end fire stick is 69 a low end is 49, but an apple TV box or no idea android box is in the 200 plus range.
To get reliable functionality back I believe is going to require a high end box a rethink of the basic multicast model better buffering memory management.
A simple design saves support costs for them and could allow them to move it all to virtual assistants, but they have to have valid troubleshooting and solutions first. That costs money time and high level skills.
Time and money is the key here I my opinion and I think getting a current and more stable fiber feed appears to have dealt with a lot of issues.
I may like the new design, but it does have more features than say live tv on gen which has a pure graphic guide not a grid design no fast forward no rw or restart you play you pause you exit with back, you turn on the two accessibility features and all others come from the android level.
So my conclusion the primary driving factors for this change was standardized design, outsourced totally, probably no user input except for perception and opinion based on forum and support feedback and what are industry standards. Aging box.
Reduced support costs due to less to learn and you can automate. Maybe with these savings they can produce more user guides to assist support, provide accommodations and make in multi language docs.
As they say money makes the world go round and I really don't want to pay more for tv. Give me the recording feature dump the box and we will use a supported device if our choice since with the upgrade it is no longer a full featured tv box it is an android device. Just to validate why Samsung can't run it, but apple, fire stick m, etc. They are all android at the core but Samsung and Roku are not and they limit the toe of device because they have to test and support Fibe TV on every device they approve. More devices, more cost.
Hope everyone here can learn to live with it or find an alternative media service mode.
Or alternative entertainment and education sources and news.
The simplest answer that Bell could give us this is what we gave you and we will prioritize all your concerns and time equipment availability and cost will determine what comes next.
Basic profit centre practices.
It is what is and time for me to move on.
It has been entertaining, fun, frustrating, and a great intellectual theoretical analysis and hypothesis building exercise with no way to test any of these.
Hope bell listens and in the next upgrade on newer equipment and backend and distribution we will see a full featured box again but like the full mechanical keyboard I prefer and need for my visual challenges and voice control is still too limited so I buy a Bluetooth keyboard and trackball solution with fold over stand /cover.
All the best everyone.
Bruce
Now if I could only easily run my own network bridge and router services and have reliable at least 4G I would be pleased.
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