Good News Installed Airtel Xstream Fiber+IPTV in Bangalore

[Sparker0i]

So I've finally gone ahead with installing Airtel Fiber+IPTV in my Bangalore house.
I've oped for the Rs 1599 plan with 300 Mbps speed and a bunch of OTTs for which I paid a total of Rs. 2500 deposit.
I wanted to go for the 1 Gbps plan - for the thrillz - but the security deposit of Rs 14k made me step back (I do plan to change to this after three months tho. Why will be made clear below)

It appears they have given the Wi-Fi 6 Router to me.

Speeds are constant 300-310Mbps. Gaming still has the same pings as before, but seeing lesser rubber banding effect in FPS games.
Browsing appears to be faster than Jio. The initial page loads don't take much time.

Now coming to the IPTV part, I am slightly disappointed here.

When the channel initially loads up, there is pixelation for 30s, and then only the channel becomes HD.
Moreover, Sports programs are neither 25fps, nor 50fps. It is somewhere in between, and also not as bad as Hotstar quality. It is clearly visible on the same TV where I have installed both Airtel IPTV and Tata Play during Cricket highlights on both Ten 3HD and SS1 Hindi HD.

Then comes the Airtel (no)Thanks app. On my iPhone, when I try to add alacarte, it crashes just like with normal DTH section.
Which also brings me to the lack of customizability in creating the packs. There's no option to have no base pack, no options for broadcaster packs. One base pack of 350 has to be selected, and any more alacartes on top of that will cost me separately.

In short, happy with the Fiber, extremely disappointed with the IPTV. But overall this helps me reduce my bill by only paying for Fiber+IPTV instead of separate JioFiber and Tata Play DTHs.

 

[Bapun]

Congratulations on getting the Airtel Black connection bro!

You've got their Zyxel AOT-5221ZY router that is wifi 6 compatible and latest one.

I wanted to go for the 1 Gbps plan - for the thrillz - but the security deposit of Rs 14k made me step back

I thought every plan requires only 2500 initial security deposit. I didn't know the 1 Gbps plan requires a higher amount 14k as security deposit!

But overall this helps me reduce my bill by only paying for Fiber+IPTV instead of separate JioFiber and Tata Play DTHs.

This was also among my reasons why I also moved away from JioFiber & Tata Play to Airtel Black (Fiber + IPTV). I agree that Airtel IPTV experience is mediocre.

A major con I found on Airtel IPTV was the remote buttons requires harder pressing after a few weeks of usage. It is very annoying issue and I believe it was also faced by @TechXpert bro. It spoils the overall STB navigation experience.

 

[dino29]

Hi @Sparker0i bro Just to help u out with removal of base pack issue I would like to share a makeshift solution which u can do on ur own

Open Airtel Thanks App > go to ur DTH Account and Select Box ID on which u want to make changes > Scroll down the page and select update account option > now on top there will be a 'go back to main page' tab , click on it > now Old UI page for packages / channels updation will open and from there u can add or remove base packs, broadcater bouquets or individual chs

 

[Sparker0i]

One another thing I noticed. The remote is not universal, unlike other Airtel DTH remotes before. Big L

 

[Bapun]

One another thing I noticed. The remote is not universal, unlike other Airtel DTH remotes before. Big L

It has HDMI CEC support which means you can control TV power and volume/mute etc. from it but AV source switching option is not present on the remote.

I do agree that Tata Play and Jio remotes are better from this aspect.

 

[Sparker0i]

Open Airtel Thanks App > go to ur DTH Account and Select Box ID on which u want to make changes > Scroll down the page and select update account option

Which option are you referring to

 

[dino29]

Which option are you referring to

It seems u r not getting update account option ... Try pressing transaction option

Did u select Box ID after entering DTH section?

Try updating the app as u should get Update Account option below the transaction option

 

[Sparker0i]

Did u select Box ID after entering DTH section?

Yes

It seems u r not getting update account option ... Try pressing transaction option

Nope nothing there

 

[Bapun]

It seems u r not getting update account option ... Try pressing transaction option

Did u select Box ID after entering DTH section?

Try updating the app as u should get Update Account option below the transaction option

That update account option is removed after recent app updates. Till April month I also used to get the old UI by following same steps, then Airtel removed/hidden it totally.

I don't think such workarounds are foolproof solution anyways.

 

[dino29]

It has HDMI CEC support which means you can control TV power and volume/mute etc. from it but AV source switching option is not present on the remote.

I do agree that Tata Play and Jio remotes are better from this aspect.

It must be a universal remote buddy, u can can pair volume up/down, mute, stb,available buttons on XStream Box remote with TV remote.... Can u please post pictures of remote and read on box package carton or user manual as it must have mentioned mention universal remote