[TelstraClear] TBox - Should I wait a little longer?

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › [TelstraClear] TBox - Should I wait a little longer?

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BarTender

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#476953 2-Jun-2011 09:48

KiwiNZ: Routers need reboots or you end up with collisions and other network issues. Hmmm 500+ days on a Linux Desktop??? I helped start and Administered the Ubuntu Support Forum that claim pushes credibility a Tad.

'Nuff said really :). Most of the RHEL, SLES and Solaris boxes I work on which would have very sigificant customer impact making the headline news have been up for well over a year.

A weekly reboot is a sign of a poorly developed platform which has a lot of memory leaks.

Not something I would expect in a box I was paying a monthly subscription for that I couldn't do any tinkering with which helps to reduce the stability.

mrbluesky

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#477000 2-Jun-2011 11:46

Our MySky HD box is the duck's nuts. The remote acts a little wonky every now and then, but then again so did the old Sky box. I would NEVER use a Telstra Clear product.

Fog

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#477101 2-Jun-2011 14:46

I have never rebooted my Router since installed two years ago. I have only had T-Box for three weeks and if I find I have to continaully reboot it then it is not doing its job and will need to be replaced. You don't expect to pay for a service that you are not getting. I have my fingers crossed that I don't have that trouble.

Beccara

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#477103 2-Jun-2011 14:52

KiwiNZ:
BarTender:
KiwiNZ: Why are people so anti reboots ? Do you reboot your Computers?

It takes from memory approx 2 - 5 minutes mainly due to the EPG update and load, have a cup of coffee or walk in the fresh air while it does this and guess what the T-Box will love you for it.

Me, I don't reboot my computer. My Linux workstation at work has had 500+ days of uptime, our Windows 2003 Terminal Server averages 60 days of uptime before it gets patched and needs to be rebooted. My Dreambox which ran our home PVR when I was with TCL which also runs Linux had at least 1 1/2 years of continual use, apart from when we go on holiday or there was a power cut it never needed being touched. These are all boxes I manage and maintain and have root / admin access to so I can do what I want.

Whereas a TBox is a provider box, since you are "paying" for "service" I would expect you shouldn't need to reboot it yourself. Much like a Cable Modem, or Router, or any other embedded device I would expect to only need a reboot when the supplier upgrades the firmware.

A reboot more frequent than every 2-3 months just speaks volumes to me about the quality of the box/platform.

Routers need reboots or you end up with collisions and other network issues. Hmmm 500+ days on a Linux Desktop??? I helped start and Administered the Ubuntu Support Forum that claim pushes credibility a Tad.

We'll theres your problem, Linux shouldn't need a reboot unless it's for a kernel change. Our radius server hasn't been rebooted in nearly 4 years! If the TBOX needs rebooting once a week then something is very very wrong with it. Decent routes dont need rebooting. Infact once you get out of the Windows space very few things need reboots apart from the odd wonky box that goes weird but even they are rare. Pretty sure we got a vm box here that hasn't been rebooted since ESX 2 came out and has just been vmotion'd around the world a few times

Most problems are the result of previous solutions...

All comment's I make are my own personal opinion and do not in any way, shape or form reflect the views of current or former employers unless specifically stated

Fog

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#477104 2-Jun-2011 14:52

On two occasions in the past three weeks we have lost sound on the TV which was restored by turning the TV off and on again. I presume that this is a concidental problem in the TV and nothing to do with the T-Box.? Can someone enlighten me please.?

BarTender

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#477129 2-Jun-2011 15:57

Beccara: We'll theres your problem, Linux shouldn't need a reboot unless it's for a kernel change. Our radius server hasn't been rebooted in nearly 4 years! If the TBOX needs rebooting once a week then something is very very wrong with it. Decent routes dont need rebooting. Infact once you get out of the Windows space very few things need reboots apart from the odd wonky box that goes weird but even they are rare. Pretty sure we got a vm box here that hasn't been rebooted since ESX 2 came out and has just been vmotion'd around the world a few times

+1

Since I still have a fond memory of Netware, there were some impressive uptimes of Netware servers.

quickymart

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#477166 2-Jun-2011 17:57

KiwiNZ: Why are people so anti reboots ? Do you reboot your Computers?

It takes from memory approx 2 - 5 minutes mainly due to the EPG update and load, have a cup of coffee or walk in the fresh air while it does this and guess what the T-Box will love you for it.

I'm not anti reboots...I just don't see why if I paid good money I should have to restart a set top box every week.

Sorry...most of the feedback I've heard about the T-Box is predominantly poor, and despite all the testing and delays launching it, your list of "fixes" still makes me think that it was rushed to market far too soon.

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MikeB4

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#477193 2-Jun-2011 20:22

quickymart:
KiwiNZ: Why are people so anti reboots ? Do you reboot your Computers?

It takes from memory approx 2 - 5 minutes mainly due to the EPG update and load, have a cup of coffee or walk in the fresh air while it does this and guess what the T-Box will love you for it.

I'm not anti reboots...I just don't see why if I paid good money I should have to restart a set top box every week.

Sorry...most of the feedback I've heard about the T-Box is predominantly poor, and despite all the testing and delays launching it, your list of "fixes" still makes me think that it was rushed to market far too soon.

Then reboot fortnightly, if you want a stable unit you need to just like your Home or work PC.

BarTender

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#477309 3-Jun-2011 09:23

KiwiNZ:
quickymart: I'm not anti reboots...I just don't see why if I paid good money I should have to restart a set top box every week.

Sorry...most of the feedback I've heard about the T-Box is predominantly poor, and despite all the testing and delays launching it, your list of "fixes" still makes me think that it was rushed to market far too soon.

Then reboot fortnightly, if you want a stable unit you need to just like your Home or work PC.

But I think you're missing the point.

A box that is provider supplied box that you don't own, you can't open up or mess with, can't access the content or do anything apart from watch / record TV. Should not NEED to be rebooted weekly, fortnightly or even monthly. It's a closed system and therefor I would expect it to be a stable platform.

But it's not. And the forum here proves that so.

So it gets a #fail from me.

MikeB4

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#477314 3-Jun-2011 09:40

BarTender:
KiwiNZ:
quickymart: I'm not anti reboots...I just don't see why if I paid good money I should have to restart a set top box every week.

Sorry...most of the feedback I've heard about the T-Box is predominantly poor, and despite all the testing and delays launching it, your list of "fixes" still makes me think that it was rushed to market far too soon.

Then reboot fortnightly, if you want a stable unit you need to just like your Home or work PC.

But I think you're missing the point.

A box that is provider supplied box that you don't own, you can't open up or mess with, can't access the content or do anything apart from watch / record TV. Should not NEED to be rebooted weekly, fortnightly or even monthly. It's a closed system and therefor I would expect it to be a stable platform.

But it's not. And the forum here proves that so.

So it gets a #fail from me.

Fine , I have no personal investment except to advise that my T-Box is very stable due to common sense house keeping.

I take it folks here don't service their cars , PC's (windows is closed) ..............

What was the saying my Mother used........ Don't cut off your nose to spite your face.

Also I am sure Telstra have more customers than the few that post here with issues , I think you will find it is more stable than you think. Ones impression of a device can be skewed by Online Forums.

prevaljo

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#477324 3-Jun-2011 10:13

I was skeptical about the T-Box particularly when it took so long to get to market. However our T-Box has been stable and performs well.

There will always be some "features" people don't like about a product and all products can be improved think iPad, iPad2 etc etc, and I'm sure the product development people at Telstra will continue to develop the T-Box.

ChristineNZL

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#478118 5-Jun-2011 22:34

Well we reboot ours all the time because we have problems and we still have problems and we don't have a lot of things on our hard drive. Also if we are meant to reboot why does that not come with the instructions?

quickymart

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#478151 6-Jun-2011 08:50

Exactly.

plod

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#478158 6-Jun-2011 09:30

T-Box should be treated like any other house hold appliance, plug in and leave it. Who wants to do maintenance on it. You wouldn't with your toaster, dvd player or VCR (except cleaning of heads) which is stated in operations manual. My modem, router and mac are left on 24/7, good enough for them, good enough for a T-Box

pacificsurfer51

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#478788 7-Jun-2011 22:56

I've had two T-Boxes for 6-7 months without to much issues. I myself reboot both boxes weekly as well as allowing good air flow form heat exposure.

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