Why does btv link require phone home?

[parisology]

I am finding that btv link won't find my local btv service if I deny it an outside network connection to a an internet host in austin texas. I assume snapstream is monitoring my use of btv link for some reason. Why do this? And why then fail the local connection? Just wondering.

[rakeshagrawal]

Link does license checking, that's why it phones home.

[parisology]

This is a terrible design. Do the license checking locally.

I just tested this and can't connect to the btv server without internet access.
I thought at least if the internet was down I could make a local connection.

[parisology]

Not only that, I can't find any license agreement with the software or on the website. I am getting the impression that link is sold for single use only -- but I only learn this via old forum posts, in other words, rumor. If you want to use 2 instances of link at the same time, you have to buy a second copy. No problem with that, but I don't see this written down in a license agreement anywhere.

As far as installing multiple copies of link, you should handle this like other software vendors; detect other instances and shut down. Resharper for visual studio does this and it's a very practical solution. You don't want to require internet access for the program to work at all.

[raoul2]

Ah Crap!!! I am glad this thread was created. I was about to buy Link and setup another PC in another room. I do not have solid internet access. I worked out a deal with my neighbor to jump on his WiFi network once a week (he turns off the WAP) to download the guide for BTV. Does this mean that I cannot buy a copy of Link and have it work due to the license manager? I have no problem with buying multiple copies of Link if I want to expand further, but don't want to buy a single copy if it won't work for me.

tia

[parisology]

There's a free trial.
http://www.snapstream.com/download/b...k/Download.asp
I would try that first.

My tests showed that I couldn't connect btv link to the server without internet, but I could have made a mistake someplace.

[Crooze]

Although there is a big initial delay, both of my Link clients will connect to the BTV server when my internet connection is down.

[ZetaVu]

BTV and link will both work if the internet connection is down, they will not work if you have your firewall block access. Not a fan of phoning home but I don't see how else they could keep usage honest.