[TelstraClear] TelstraClear HD PVR in November?

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#180978 28-Nov-2008 22:00

TC still claim to be "working long hours" on delivering the PVR & that they will "update you early in 2009 with further information" (whatever "further information" - or what "early in 2009" may mean) http://www.telstraclear.co.nz/residential/inhome/digital-tv/high-definition-and-personal-video-recorder.cfm.

Then again they promised to provide an update by end of Oct 2008, which passed without explanation. I guess promises do not mean a lot to them.

If they have already put the project on hold, the website claims look like deliberate mis-information. If the same quality of information was given to the stock exchange ...?

ninja911

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#181228 30-Nov-2008 13:38

Early 2009 for an update now? So we're looking at ... hmm... February for an annoucement, and March/April/June for product release?

I've been a long-time Telstra customer (with a low 4-digit customer number) with full product uptake, and this is the first major disappointment. But every month that passes with no news or meaningful update is very frustrating. Xmas is coming up fast, and a new MySky HDi is looking pretty good for a Xmas pressie to myself.

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#181246 30-Nov-2008 18:23

Same here. I have Telstra TV, Phone and Cable internet. If we don't get some solid info soon then I'm going MySKY HDi.

martyyn

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#181293 1-Dec-2008 08:13

Me three. Ive had 'the works' for over four years now and for the first time Im seriously considering moving everything.
My phone calls are already Skype, the digital tv picture quality is poor and althought cable is nice and fast they are its longer the fastest and the cap is nowhere near the biggest.
For the first time I can remember it would actually save me money to move my phone to telecom, broadband to snap and get sky hdi, which would also give me free national calls, 50% more of a cap and HD sport.
Sort it out Telstraclear, skyhdi for xmas is looking incredibly tempting

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#181297 1-Dec-2008 08:45

I disagree that the digital picture quality is "poor". Sure the s-video output of the curent boxes is limited compared to component but and TCL do have no HD programming but most people forget that the quality of most Sky channels is extremely poor with very low bitrats. This also applies to TCL since a lot of their their programming comes from Sky. A new decoder isn't going to fix this.

There are now plenty of Sky users (particularly those who have MySky HDi and 50" TV's) who now fianlly realise how poor the quality of Sky's SD programming is once they experience HD content.

Previously TCL used to re-encode the Sky transmissions which caused a significant drop in picture quality, once the last of the changes is made this week that will no longer be occuring.

If you put a 40" TV side by side with a Sky box and a TCL box I'd say that 90% of people would be unable to spot the difference between both signals.

I'm not defending TCL and their efforts for TV have been very much a slow catchup. I just disagree that their picture quality is "poor" because when compared to Sky it's certainly not the case - 6 months ago I would have agreed with you.

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#181302 1-Dec-2008 09:21

I too have the triple service and HD PVR is what I'm keeping on to see what is TCL's offering. Although, breaking out from TCL to other ISP+phones and sky would certainly make my life a wee bit harder and cost a bit more... but it would at least give me HD PVR too... but who knows...

As for picture quality, we had one of the older one without S-Video and it broke and got replaced. And the instance it was changed over to use S-Video connection, the picture and colours are much better.

Like internet connection where you can get great speed between your computer/modem and the local ISP, but your international connection is at the mercy of other routers in the world. With TCL's digital tv, the mercy is at/with Sky.

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#181303 1-Dec-2008 09:22

Will be really interested in an "official response" as I don't think TCL have anything to gain from stringing customers along. With MyFreeview coming along they may be able to keep a few people because their base package is cheaper for accessing Sky Channels.

I might do a MyFreeviewHD and TCL combo with sky channels being recorded on the DVD/HD recorder. Does have its limits in terms of only being able to watch one Sky channel at once but that is not such an issue for me unless I want to watch 2 sports channels at once which I don't normally. The key is the missus watching Desperate Housewives and me being able to set it to record the series.

All depends on the cost of MyFreeviewHD though. Think Sky are being an arse in not releasing Prime to Freeview but understand why they are doing it ... TVNZ really should remove TV1 and TV2 when the contract expires next from Sky's programming if they continue to do this though.

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#181305 1-Dec-2008 09:27

I am triple play customer also. I can recored TCL cable and FreeviewHD now using a PVR but can't watch FreeviewHD live since my PC can't cut it. Was thinking of getting a cheap FreeviewHD box from DSE for $250 but was holding off thinking that TCL would have their box before Xmas. Looks like they won't so $250 is looking attractive

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#181347 1-Dec-2008 12:45

Think its almost 6 years now I have been with TC Cable triple service in Chch. Like many I am disappointed in the lack of attention the TV area of their service gets. I understand it economically but just don't get it commercially.

Hopefully they will update with real information soon. I can see no reason for being secretive - at the moment they have no product and the opposition have advised or have theirs installed.

I like others have noticed the lack of changes to plans and pricing. I know TC spent the last year rebuilding but its long overdue they looked at people like myself spending in excess of $250 per month with them. We are not the standard residential customer and deserve better.

EDIT - Forgot to say that yes the picture is very very good now. The cricket playing on the plasma was very close to perfect quality (shame the NZ team were not).

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#181354 1-Dec-2008 13:06

I had a Sky door-to-door salesman try sell me Mysky the other week.

I said "No, I'm with Telstra thanks".

He said, "Yeah, WE KNOW" as if he was privvy to some top secret CIA shizz.

He went on to try to convicnce me Sky was the way to go.

Again, I said I'm not interested.

"But you're eating tea, I noticed you had to get up from the TV to answer the door. Wouldn't it be great to be able to pause it?"

I replied, "Not really, I'm not so hopelessly addicted to TV I can't miss it for 5 minutes. I don't have an HD TV, and I just don't like Telecom/Sky/Xtra in general, I'm very, very happy with my Telstra service."

Then he got all fired up, really took it as a challenge! Just woulnd't take NO for an answer.

In the end I had to puff my chest out, walk towards him, and point at my gate. Nearly had to man-handle the guy! Can you believe it?!?!?! I'm the most mellow, push-over guy you can meet and he stretched me to my very limit.

I've had pushy phone sales people but this guy took it to an all-time high.

A bit off-topic but thought I'd share it anyway.

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wellygary

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#181355 1-Dec-2008 13:30

BurningBeard: I had a Sky door-to-door salesman try sell me Mysky the other week.

I said "No, I'm with Telstra thanks".

He said, "Yeah, WE KNOW" as if he was privvy to some top secret CIA shizz.

As part of the deal to re-sell sky channels I woud bet that sky will want the locations of customers from Telstra.

It does sound like Sky have declared war on Telstra's cable customers and is trying to woo them over to buying from them directly.

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#181361 1-Dec-2008 14:02

Hi All and hopefully Telstra

I have had Telstra TV, Phone and Cable internet for along time, cable TV from way back when it was Kiwi Cable on the Kapiti Coast.

Hopefully if enough people keep on posting here they might aleast reply to the group with some more details?

I almost certainly are only waiting to January, for them to come up with some with firm details on their PVR or I will be off to Sky.

Cheers Paul

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#181365 1-Dec-2008 14:39

One of the areas that would make it hard for me to move to Sky is cabling. I have an existing Sky dish on the roof which I now use for Freeview (DVB-S). But there is only one outlet. OTOH for TCL cable I have outlets in 3 places, one which I connect a digital STB, one an analogue STB for the bedroom and one for the cable modem. If I went Sky I would have to find a way to wire up the bedroom so I could put a decoder in there also. And Sky charges a fair bit for the second decoder whereas TCL only charges (actually I think it's too much anyway) $9.95 for the second analogue decoder.

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#181368 1-Dec-2008 15:09

wellygary:
BurningBeard: I had a Sky door-to-door salesman try sell me Mysky the other week.

I said "No, I'm with Telstra thanks".

He said, "Yeah, WE KNOW" as if he was privvy to some top secret CIA shizz.

As part of the deal to re-sell sky channels I woud bet that sky will want the locations of customers from Telstra.

It does sound like Sky have declared war on Telstra's cable customers and is trying to woo them over to buying from them directly.

My guess is that when I cancelled Sky a couple of years ago, they must have asked where I was going and why.

I shouldn't totally knock door-to-door salespeople. Afterall, that's how I ended up with Telstra in the first place (the only time I've ever let them in my door) - and I'm glad, Telstra have been brilliant all-round. (mostly)

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#181370 1-Dec-2008 15:13

He said, "Yeah, WE KNOW" as if he was privvy to some top secret CIA shizz.

For cable customers is it not as easy as -

- is there an extra cable, lower than the power lines, running to the house from the street

- is there a green box outside with a yellow sticker and number on it.

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