Chromecast 2nd Gen Wifi Test

What prompted me to purchase the second generation of the Chromecast was to see if the promise of better Wifi reception would improve the one pain point that I had with the original Chromecast not being able to stream Vudu HDX (1080p) video. I had the original Chromcast plugged into the side HDMI port of the TV and it could not overcome a crowded 2.4 GHz band and possible interference from the TV and being mounted to a wall.

So I hooked up the second generation Chromecast to the same HDMI port and I did some basic traffic monitoring tests to see how the throughput was better the original and second generation.

 1st Gen Chromecast on 2.4 GHz Band

 The movie could not maintain a steady connection and would buffer multiple times during the sample run.

2nd Gen Chromcast on 2.4 GHz Band

 When I hooked the second generation Chromecast to the 2.4 GHz band I was able to stream Vudu HDX video without any buffering during the short test run. The graph shows a more constant connection with no major valleys.

 2nd Gen Chromecast on 5 GHz Band

 The 5 GHz band also passed with flying colors with no buffering during the test and a higher throughput than the 2.4 GHz band. 
Google did deliver on its promise that the second generation Chromecast will provide a better Wifi experience. The new device was able to solve the main pain point that I had with the original not being able to stream 1080p video to the device and I say it is worth a look if you are in a similar situation.

HD Frequency Cable Cutter Antenna

When I was doing research for what indoor antenna to buy when I cut cable in late 2013 on the articles that played a role in my purchasing decision was from thewirecutter.com. At the time the recommendation was the Mohu Leaf but I noticed that the article was updated on January 26th 2014 and a new antenna was now the top recommendation, the HD Frequency Cable Cutter Indoor/Outdoor HD Digital TV Antenna.

Not being familiar with the product or the company I did some quick research and turns out that the HD Frequency Cable Cutter Indoor/Outdoor HD Digital TV Antenna was first announced on Kickstarter and failed to fund on August 29, 2013. Luckily the company released the product anyway and you can read about the company and the two antenna's that they sell here, http://www.hdfrequency.com.

The HD frequency Cable Cutter antenna is a premium product priced at $99.00 so how does it compare to my current antenna,Terk HDTVa?

Unboxing and First Thoughts

When I opened the delivery from Amazon the antenna arrived in a plain white box that proudly proclaimed that it was made in the U.S.A as pictured below.

The contents of the package includes:

• Antenna
• 12' white cable 
• Getting started guide
• Command hook to hand on a wall or window if installing inside

Priced at $99.00 and while the packaging just comes in a white box the antenna itself is well built with no flexing or bending. This antenna is large measuring at 20 inches by 19 inches and should hold up well if the antenna is mounted outside. 

HD Frequency Cable Cutter Performance

I ended up putting the antenna in multiple positions in the room to ensure that I was getting the greatest signal strength to compare the two antennas.


The green cells represent a solid signal and the yellow I could get the channels but due to the direction design of the Terk I had to adjust the position of the antenna to receive an OK to good signal.

Verdict 

Number of Channels: Tie

Both antennas where able to pull in 27 channels with the Terk's directional design needing more fine tuning to pull in the stations in yellow.

Picture Quality: Tie

Both antennas where able to pull in strong signals and doing an A/B test I could not  tell a difference between signal strength of the two antennas.

Winner: Terk HDTVa

The winner of the antenna shoot out comes down to price. The Terk HDTVa is only $39.99 vs the $99.99 premium for the HD Cord Cutter. The performance of the two antennas are very similar indoors except that the omnidirectional design of the HD Cord Cutter allowed all 27 channels to be picked up by the HDTV without having to play around as much with antenna position.  So sorry thewirecutter.com I will be sticking with the Terk HDTVa a bit longer.

Aereo vs. Indoor Antenna - Quick Thoughts

So before Aereo entered the Detroit market I was using the Terk HDTVa indoor antenna to receive my local stations. I wanted to give some quick thoughts on how Aereo compares to the Terk HDTVa antenna.

Channel Lineup 

Winner: Tie

Looking at pure numbers the Terk antenna does pull in seven more channels but this is the case of quantity over quality. The seven channels that Aereo does not provide are a mixture of religious, shopping and a duplicate feed of an HD channel. Choosing Aereo or an indoor antenna will provide ABC, CW, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, and the major independent channels in my area.

Picture Quality

Winner: Terk HDTVa

The Terk wins in both picture quality and less interference in the picture. An uncompressed over the air HDTV signal is noticeably sharper than the high setting on the Aereo Roku app. I did notice that Aereo has a tendency to buffer while watching a stream. The only time I run into problems with the Terk is if there is severe weather.

Final Thoughts

If you are cutting the cord I would recommend an antenna over exclusively using the Aereo service due to the following advantages an antenna provides.

•  In most instances you will get more local channels than Aereo. It feels like Aereo picks and chooses what channels to deliver to you. I was hoping that CBC would be picked up by Aereo due to the fact that the Terk is an indoor antenna and the CBC signal is too weak in my location. I wonder if this omission is due to potential legal issues.
• It is easier to switch channels with an antenna. Aereo will only let you pick and choose from a guide and when that program is done the steam will stop.
• The OTA signal is less prone to interference and the picture quality is noticeably better than the internet stream that Aereo provides.   

Aereo feels more like a complement to your existing antenna as a DVR solution or if you needed local channels in a room that does not have antenna access. 

Aereo is Now in the Detroit Market

I just received my email and set up my account on October 23rd 2013.

We've arrived!

Thank you for pre-registering for Aereo. To show our appreciation for your early interest, we're excited to offer you exclusive access to Aereo before it becomes available to the general public in Detroit.
Ready to record and watch live TV online? There is no long-term commitment; cancel anytime during your free month and you will not be billed. We hope you enjoy it! 

Tip: To get the best video for your network speed, adjust the Video Quality option in the Settings menu. "Auto" is always a good choice.

Plus tax. Data rates may apply. Aereo is currently available in very limited markets. See aereo.com/coverage. Users can only access Aereo in their home market. Compatible device required. Subject to capacity. See aereo.com/faqs for details. Consumer creates a recording when viewing live to enable pause, fast forward and rewind. Questions? Comments? Please email support@aereo.com.