Russian TV in USA & Russian Keyboards

[Jeff and Tatiana 0]

I have been surfing around the web and searching for Russian TV in the USA. I have found a few options, figured I would share with everyone and if they had other options then I am all open for that too!

Russian TV in the USA is basicly 3 choices, Satalite (independant PanSat), Cable (Dish, Direct TV) and IPTV. The pansat type of stuff (http://www.pansatusa.net/), where you use a mini dish, decoder box and such, in my case as the satalite I would need to hit is so far away, in Texas I cannot see it, if you are east coast, then you may be fine. Number 2 would be Direct TV or Dish Network or Cable whatnot, offering other language channels, they do have some Russian. But, they are limited and for the most part are limited rebroadcast of whatever they choose to show. Not what I am needing. So the 3rd choice, IPTV. Now, of course watching your shows on your computer is not the most ideal, but I have now found a few companies that are offering a IP/TV setup box. This is of course connected and configured to the IPTV network provider you have signed up with and you get darn near EVERYTHING!! It is great, just like a usual cable bill each month, you can choose from Russian, Ukraine and many others. The one I am thinking of using has even Russian Language Movies on demand! So it is probably the one I will go with. Here is the links:

http://larutv.com/ (One I will probably use)

http://nashdomtv.com/

I am sure there are even more than this, but the LaruTV is great value you just get more channels for the money and they offer a lot of packages.

Now my question to everyone else out there.

If your bride wants to "chat" with her parents online, she is used to using a Russian Character Keyboard. What brands, models, types have you found? Where did you buy them at? How does it actaully work? Do I have to just temporarly change the language on the OS to be Russian? I have found some stuff online myself, but I am a bit fuzzy as to how they actually work, so anyone who has practical knowledge please share!!

Thanks!!

[SMR 368]

I have been surfing around the web and searching for Russian TV in the USA. I have found a few options, figured I would share with everyone and if they had other options then I am all open for that too!

Russian TV in the USA is basicly 3 choices, Satalite (independant PanSat), Cable (Dish, Direct TV) and IPTV. The pansat type of stuff (http://www.pansatusa.net/), where you use a mini dish, decoder box and such, in my case as the satalite I would need to hit is so far away, in Texas I cannot see it, if you are east coast, then you may be fine. Number 2 would be Direct TV or Dish Network or Cable whatnot, offering other language channels, they do have some Russian. But, they are limited and for the most part are limited rebroadcast of whatever they choose to show. Not what I am needing. So the 3rd choice, IPTV. Now, of course watching your shows on your computer is not the most ideal, but I have now found a few companies that are offering a IP/TV setup box. This is of course connected and configured to the IPTV network provider you have signed up with and you get darn near EVERYTHING!! It is great, just like a usual cable bill each month, you can choose from Russian, Ukraine and many others. The one I am thinking of using has even Russian Language Movies on demand! So it is probably the one I will go with. Here is the links:

http://larutv.com/ (One I will probably use)

http://nashdomtv.com/

I am sure there are even more than this, but the LaruTV is great value you just get more channels for the money and they offer a lot of packages.

Now my question to everyone else out there.

If your bride wants to "chat" with her parents online, she is used to using a Russian Character Keyboard. What brands, models, types have you found? Where did you buy them at? How does it actaully work? Do I have to just temporarly change the language on the OS to be Russian? I have found some stuff online myself, but I am a bit fuzzy as to how they actually work, so anyone who has practical knowledge please share!!

Thanks!!

Don't know about TV, but Russian keyboards are the same as English keyboards. You just have to go into the control panel and change the language and regional settings. Add Russian as a language. Then you will be able to toggle the functionality of your keyboard by pressing Alt+Shift. On your task Bar you will see a blue box that displays the current language (EN for English and RU for Russian). You can also change languages by pressing this box and selecting a language option. (This is the standard setup for computers in Russia. Your wife probably is used to switching languages with Alt+Shift).

My wife and I have both just memorized the Russian keyboard and touch type. If you want, I'm sure you can get some stickers to put on your keys so you'll have a "Russian" keyboard.

[payxibka 10,045]

I bot overlay stickers off of ebay for a couple dollars... just placed them on the keyboard..

[Scott and Iryna 2]

I bot overlay stickers off of ebay for a couple dollars... just placed them on the keyboard..

I also bought the stickers on eBay for $2. Very simple and cheap. But, be sure to buy a few kits, because they wear out after several months, and the popular keys become faded and need to be replaced.

As for Russian TV, we opted for the IPTV. She liked it fine, and we also downloaded many Russian-dubbed movies. But I will warn you... like I did, you may regret doing this. I discovered that her progression in learning English was VERY slow. We have stopped the Russian TV and movies, and now only watch English, and her language is finally improving rapidly!

[baron555 934]

I am continually petitioning Comcast to add Russian channels in my area. Just a matter of time.

I used the stickers on the laptop that I brought to Kiev when we met. It has my Promt software loaded on it and we both used that when the conversation needed it.

I bought a dual labeled keyboard off of eBay just last month.

Windows allows you to add another language(s) as part of the basic program. Then you just flip a toggle on the taskbar and you are in another language mode. Works like a champ.

[payxibka 10,045]

Windows allows you to add another language(s) as part of the basic program. Then you just flip a toggle on the taskbar and you are in another language mode. Works like a champ.

I did the above with XP but cannot figure out how to do it on a Vista machine... When I tried, it said I needed to pay for and then install a multilingual user pack... any one do this on a vista machine?

[SMR 368]

Windows allows you to add another language(s) as part of the basic program. Then you just flip a toggle on the taskbar and you are in another language mode. Works like a champ.

I did the above with XP but cannot figure out how to do it on a Vista machine... When I tried, it said I needed to pay for and then install a multilingual user pack... any one do this on a vista machine?

Yeah, I have done this on my Vista Laptop. There are a couple different options and it doesn't help that they keep changing Windows. Try using the classic view in the control panel. Keep playing, it's there.

[Scott and Iryna 2]

I did the above with XP but cannot figure out how to do it on a Vista machine... When I tried, it said I needed to pay for and then install a multilingual user pack... any one do this on a vista machine?

I hate to say it, as if Vista doesn't already suck enough, I think your best bet is to upgrade to Vista Ultimate. With that version, installing the full Russian language support (MUI) is simple, and done with Windoze Update. The "lesser" versions of Vista do not support this, and you are forced to use what they call "LIP's", which are only partial implementations. I was also not able to find a Russian LIP, although I did see one for Ukrainian (go figure). Just pay Bill what he wants, and you will get what you want...

[Jeff and Tatiana 0]

Great information !! Thanks! I had seen those stickers before and as I touch type anyway, it is no big deal for me. Good to know I will have to buy a few sets of them.

Lucky for me, Tatiana speaks and writes / reads English fluently already.

So I don't have to worry much about watching her Russian TV and it retarding her growth in learning English.

Again thanks for the tips!!

[baron555 934]

Windows allows you to add another language(s) as part of the basic program. Then you just flip a toggle on the taskbar and you are in another language mode. Works like a champ.

I did the above with XP but cannot figure out how to do it on a Vista machine... When I tried, it said I needed to pay for and then install a multilingual user pack... any one do this on a vista machine?

I've got Vista Home version on both computers and did it just fine. What version you got?

[Jeff and Tatiana 0]

Windows allows you to add another language(s) as part of the basic program. Then you just flip a toggle on the taskbar and you are in another language mode. Works like a champ.

I did the above with XP but cannot figure out how to do it on a Vista machine... When I tried, it said I needed to pay for and then install a multilingual user pack... any one do this on a vista machine?

I've got Vista Home version on both computers and did it just fine. What version you got?

I did it on my Vista Ultimate Edition. Works fine, just need to buy some stickers!

[Jonathan Matthies 1]

I bought my stickers from http://www.latkey.com/ and Katya stuck them on while I was over there. I'm sure I could've referenced any number of keyboard layouts; but she knew where her keys should be so she did it in 1/2 the time. I had setup my netbook (with XP) to switch between russian and english by hitting Alt+shift. It made communicating really easy; just hand the netbook over and hit alt=shift and type into PROMT; then hit translate.

While her English is still descent, my Russian is horrible; so I imagine we'll be leveraging the netbook for months when she is finally over here. It beats trying to flip through a dictionary to find the proper word(s) you are looking for.

[payxibka 10,045]

Windows allows you to add another language(s) as part of the basic program. Then you just flip a toggle on the taskbar and you are in another language mode. Works like a champ.

I did the above with XP but cannot figure out how to do it on a Vista machine... When I tried, it said I needed to pay for and then install a multilingual user pack... any one do this on a vista machine?

I've got Vista Home version on both computers and did it just fine. What version you got?

I did it on my Vista Ultimate Edition. Works fine, just need to buy some stickers!

I will check when I get home but obviously not Vista Ultimate... Vista Home Premium is the version of the OS... $159 to Bill to upgrade to ultimate

Edited September 23, 2009 by payxibka

[BluesTraveler 0]

The one I am thinking of using has even Russian Language Movies on demand! So it is probably the one I will go with. Here is the links:

http://larutv.com/ (One I will probably use)

http://nashdomtv.com/

I use BestRussianTV.com. It is very reliable. I have the computer hooked up to a big LCD monitor and watch the programs in this manner. They have time shift and dvr capability. Have your wife figure out which one she thinks is best.

With the keyboard the best thing is to get the stickers, careful on which color you get. If you have black keyboard get the yellow stickers and if you have white keyboard get the red stickers.

[Ted and Marina 0]

There is also a program that sinses your keystrokes...

It can tell if your typing in English or Russian, and it switches automaticly.

It make a 'ding' sound, and you can bypass if your a bad speller.

You still need to add Russian in your computer setings as a option.

Get her a wireless keyboard, lable it Russian, and you use the wired keyboard...works great.