Vodafone T-Box Service Withdrawal (incl DOCSIS 2.0 & 3.0 Modems)

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#2630853 5-Jan-2021 22:41

Oops thought I had deleted the last paragraph re speed before posting. Using the Oopla App instead of the browser changed the readings.

KaroriPete

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#2631083 6-Jan-2021 11:23

Should all T-Box users have received a letter by now?

I've had a T-Box since day one, but have not received a letter. I'm wondering if it's because I took the option to buy my T-Box outright rather than rent it. I'm hoping that because Vodafone don't own my T-Box that they won't exclude me from an offer of an alternative service. Aside from the disastrous introduction of the T-Box, and some appalling experiences with the Customer Support and Billing departments, I've actually been pretty happy with the products themselves, and would be inclined to move to one of the alternatives offered. If I have to pay to transition to another product though I'll be forced to look into all the alternatives in the market.

Currently I have the triple service (Internet, TV and Landline) and wonder what other non Vodafone options I have available. I only have the VF Cable connected to my house but assume if I got a Chorus fibre connection I'd have a lot of internet / TV options, but what about options for a landline? Is Spark the only alternative in which case I'd have to get another connection and separate account just for the phone?

It's a much more complex landscape than when I originally subscribed to Saturn/TC/VF, so any thoughts appreciated.

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#2631091 6-Jan-2021 11:57

KaroriPete:

I've had a T-Box since day one, but have not received a letter. I'm wondering if it's because I took the option to buy my T-Box outright rather than rent it. I'm hoping that because Vodafone don't own my T-Box that they won't exclude me from an offer of an alternative service.

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#2631096 6-Jan-2021 12:04

Eva888: @sansom

Thank you for taking time out of your holiday to give such a lengthy response which understandably favours the Vodafone point of view.

The VTV box you will provide is replacing the means of delivering the product we are already paying for and ultimately belongs to Vodafone therefore it’s not free, or a bargain saving us $300.

The My Sky offering is a sensible option until it’s ultimate extinction and this could become an enticement depending on how sharp the pencils are and no enforced contract.

Finally, no matter how great in your option the new box is, current Vodafone internet speeds at least for me are atrocious and unlikely to stream it efficiently. Technicians twice have 'improved' it to 48.40mbps download and 4.6 mbps upload as of yesterday.

Hi @Eva888,

As part of this Tbox to VTV replacement programme we are also upgrading all Tbox customers on HFC to unlimited Ultrafast HFC broadband (using DOCSIS3.1 technology) with no increase in monthly subscription for the broadband. When Tbox stops working we will also be relinquishing ("re-farming") all the cable TV spectrum used by the Tbox signals which will further increase broadband capacity and speeds for everyone on HFC.

I see you've had some excellent assistance from @nztim who established your speeds are fairly slow at 48Mbps. If you take up the VTV offer the installer will also remove the splitters that @nztim found that will be rendered unnecessary when the tbox is removed. VTV only needs 8Mbps per high definition stream, so with Ultrafast HFC broadband you should also experience at least a tenfold increase in your broadband speeds with this offer...

In terms of the VTV box : Ownership of the VTV box provided as a Tbox replacement will reside with you, the customer. You will own it and we are not requiring you to sign up to any new contract term for your broadband either. You can also cancel any Sky subscriptions and just watch Freeview for free, so there is no requirement for an ongoing subscription either. So it's genuinely a free box that has a RRP of $179. We are also paying for new HFC routers if you require them, and a home visit by a professional installer that doesn't cheap (unless you're lucky and @nztim gives you a special visit!). So it's actually a lot more than $300 of value in this offer, I was low-balling it.

Vodafone no longer sells/no longer resells Sky's satellite service. Instead, we now offer Sky content through VTV exclusively. An offering to replace your Tbox with Sky satellite / MySky will need to come from Sky and I can't say whether they will be offering a better price or if it will not come with a contract. We will be following up with those customers who don't take up our offer of VTV and asking if they want us to introduce them to Sky so that Sky can take it up from there. You're welcome to proactively contact Sky yourself prior to this, of course, to see what they can offer you.

So to update my summary, our Tbox replacement offer for HFC customers:

- Free VTV box, yours to own (in exchange for as many Tboxes as you have currently)

- Unlimited Ultrafast HFC (with new DS3.1 modem if required) offering download speeds of up to 700-900 Mbps , and upload speed of up to 90-95 Mbps in good conditions

- Free Home visit by a professional installer to install VTV, upgrade your broadband modem and wiring (if required), integrate your telephone wiring (if required), and provide a quick introduction on how to use VTV

- all for the same monthly price you pay today for broadband and Sky (if subscribed) and no need to sign any contract given you've been loyal to Vodafone for so long

Hamish

sansom

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#2631103 6-Jan-2021 12:19

KaroriPete:

Should all T-Box users have received a letter by now?

I've had a T-Box since day one, but have not received a letter. I'm wondering if it's because I took the option to buy my T-Box outright rather than rent it. I'm hoping that because Vodafone don't own my T-Box that they won't exclude me from an offer of an alternative service. Aside from the disastrous introduction of the T-Box, and some appalling experiences with the Customer Support and Billing departments, I've actually been pretty happy with the products themselves, and would be inclined to move to one of the alternatives offered. If I have to pay to transition to another product though I'll be forced to look into all the alternatives in the market.

Currently I have the triple service (Internet, TV and Landline) and wonder what other non Vodafone options I have available. I only have the VF Cable connected to my house but assume if I got a Chorus fibre connection I'd have a lot of internet / TV options, but what about options for a landline? Is Spark the only alternative in which case I'd have to get another connection and separate account just for the phone?

It's a much more complex landscape than when I originally subscribed to Saturn/TC/VF, so any thoughts appreciated.

Hi @KaroriPete,

I'm the person at Vodafone leading this replacement programme. We have only just written to customers in Miramar, Wellington and near New Brighton in Christchurch so far. We are rolling the replacment programme out suburb by suburb so that our installers can focus their attention/reduce travelling distances. More letters to be sent in January, February and March. I'm guessing you're in Karori?

We will be contacting you whether you own your Tbox or not. Your Tbox will stop working, and so we're offering to provide you with a VTV to own at no cost. Please refer to my earlier post for a summary of the replacement offer as it also includes a substantial upgrade to Unlimited Ultrafast HFC broadband if required and installer services.

Note that the traditional phone line service is gradually being replaced with VoIP services, with Spark also.

Our objective is to do all of this for no increase in cost to you, if possible.

Hamish

nztim

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#2631107 6-Jan-2021 12:34

sansom:

I see you've had some excellent assistance from @nztim who established your speeds are fairly slow at 48Mbps. If you take up the VTV offer the installer will also remove the splitters that @nztim found that will be rendered unnecessary when the tbox is removed. VTV only needs 8Mbps per high definition stream, so with Ultrafast HFC broadband you should also experience at least a tenfold increase in your broadband speeds with this offer...

Hi Hamish just to clarify she is paying for 100/10 and getting 100/10 the 48mbps speeds observed were on the iPad web browser not the speed test app which delivered the 100/10

The issue is latency is around 200ms making browsing sluggish - I am guessing this is due to splitting

Also carrying on from my post yesterday to the split is as follows:

Incoming Cable -> upstairs/downstairs, then upstairs has a split Broadband/TV, TV is split again EPG Modem/T-Box

So actually her signal will be 50% of the downstairs flat

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

nztim

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#2631111 6-Jan-2021 12:43

sansom:

Note that the traditional phone line service is gradually being replaced with VoIP services, with Spark also.

People need to realise Spark is shutting down their NEAX switches and you are shutting down your DMS-100 switches this old power hungry 80s technology belongs in Te Papa

The only way to retain copper voice is to go with an RSP which will deliver it by BasebandIP and even that has a ticking time bomb in areas that have Fibre as chorus will be looking to shut down the copper network in the next 5 years

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

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sansom

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#2631119 6-Jan-2021 13:06

nztim:

sansom:

Note that the traditional phone line service is gradually being replaced with VoIP services, with Spark also.

People need to realise Spark is shutting down their NEAX switches and you are shutting down your DMS-100 switches this old power hungry 80s technology belongs in Te Papa

The only way to retain copper voice is to go with an RSP which will deliver it by BasebandIP and even that has a ticking time bomb in areas that have Fibre as chorus will be looking to shut down the copper network in the next 5 years

You're right, but I'm not sure many would visit Te Papa to see DMS-100 or NEAX! An operational decadic dialling switch on the other hand, now that would be a thing to see (or more importantly, a thing to hear: I remember the noise those things made!)

Hamish

Eva888

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#2631182 6-Jan-2021 14:22

sansom:

Eva888: @sansom

Thank you for taking time out of your holiday to give such a lengthy response which understandably favours the Vodafone point of view.

The VTV box you will provide is replacing the means of delivering the product we are already paying for and ultimately belongs to Vodafone therefore it’s not free, or a bargain saving us $300.

The My Sky offering is a sensible option until it’s ultimate extinction and this could become an enticement depending on how sharp the pencils are and no enforced contract.

Finally, no matter how great in your option the new box is, current Vodafone internet speeds at least for me are atrocious and unlikely to stream it efficiently. Technicians twice have 'improved' it to 48.40mbps download and 4.6 mbps upload as of yesterday.

Hi @Eva888,

As part of this Tbox to VTV replacement programme we are also upgrading all Tbox customers on HFC to unlimited Ultrafast HFC broadband (using DOCSIS3.1 technology) with no increase in monthly subscription for the broadband. When Tbox stops working we will also be relinquishing ("re-farming") all the cable TV spectrum used by the Tbox signals which will further increase broadband capacity and speeds for everyone on HFC.

I see you've had some excellent assistance from @nztim who established your speeds are fairly slow at 48Mbps. If you take up the VTV offer the installer will also remove the splitters that @nztim found that will be rendered unnecessary when the tbox is removed. VTV only needs 8Mbps per high definition stream, so with Ultrafast HFC broadband you should also experience at least a tenfold increase in your broadband speeds with this offer...

In terms of the VTV box : Ownership of the VTV box provided as a Tbox replacement will reside with you, the customer. You will own it and we are not requiring you to sign up to any new contract term for your broadband either. You can also cancel any Sky subscriptions and just watch Freeview for free, so there is no requirement for an ongoing subscription either. So it's genuinely a free box that has a RRP of $179. We are also paying for new HFC routers if you require them, and a home visit by a professional installer that doesn't cheap (unless you're lucky and @nztim gives you a special visit!). So it's actually a lot more than $300 of value in this offer, I was low-balling it.

Vodafone no longer sells/no longer resells Sky's satellite service. Instead, we now offer Sky content through VTV exclusively. An offering to replace your Tbox with Sky satellite / MySky will need to come from Sky and I can't say whether they will be offering a better price or if it will not come with a contract. We will be following up with those customers who don't take up our offer of VTV and asking if they want us to introduce them to Sky so that Sky can take it up from there. You're welcome to proactively contact Sky yourself prior to this, of course, to see what they can offer you.

So to update my summary, our Tbox replacement offer for HFC customers:

- Free VTV box, yours to own (in exchange for as many Tboxes as you have currently)

- Unlimited Ultrafast HFC (with new DS3.1 modem if required) offering download speeds of up to 700-900 Mbps , and upload speed of up to 90-95 Mbps in good conditions

- Free Home visit by a professional installer to install VTV, upgrade your broadband modem and wiring (if required), integrate your telephone wiring (if required), and provide a quick introduction on how to use VTV

- all for the same monthly price you pay today for broadband and Sky (if subscribed) and no need to sign any contract given you've been loyal to Vodafone for so long

Ok. You win a little...so we get to keep the box even if we leave Vodafone. That’s pretty generous admittedly. Unfortunately it will still have the hard to read dull grey screens that so many dislike.
In our case, the same monthly price is about $15 more for broadband than some of the other ISP's so you may need to hone that down a bit.

I will be interested in what the technicians have to say when they come because the last one told us because the flat downstairs had installed HFC with their own billing, we couldn’t have it in the main house upstairs and that Vodafone would only do one HFC per property. As property owners we weren’t consulted before that install.

Yes I feel very fortunate that @nztim helped me out as it’s been a never ending saga. I suspect he will keep his eye on future proceedings.

Thanks for your clear explanations.

Fog

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#2631186 6-Jan-2021 14:32

Hi Eva888

As a TBox user I am following this with interest. I note that you compare the picture as a "dull grey screen" compared to the TBox.

This is news to me as I have not seen any other comments to this effect.?

Lias

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#2631240 6-Jan-2021 15:28

Fog:

Hi Eva888

As a TBox user I am following this with interest. I note that you compare the picture as a "dull grey screen" compared to the TBox.

This is news to me as I have not seen any other comments to this effect.?

I think she's talking about the UI of the menus/guides etc. It's a 'dark' theme, so white on black/grey mostly.

I'm a geek, a gamer, a dad, a Quic user, and an IT Professional. I have a full rack home lab, size 15 feet, an epic beard and Asperger's. I'm a bit of a Cypherpunk, who believes information wants to be free and the Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it. If you use my Quic signup you can also use the code R570394EKGIZ8 for free setup.

Fog

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#2631246 6-Jan-2021 15:36

Lias:

Fog:

Hi Eva888

As a TBox user I am following this with interest. I note that you compare the picture as a "dull grey screen" compared to the TBox.

This is news to me as I have not seen any other comments to this effect.?

I think she's talking about the UI of the menus/guides etc. It's a 'dark' theme, so white on black/grey mostly.

OIC. Thanks. That clears that up.

Eva888

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#2631260 6-Jan-2021 15:55

Fog:
Hi Eva888

As a TBox user I am following this with interest. I note that you compare the picture as a "dull grey screen" compared to the TBox.

This is news to me as I have not seen any other comments to this effect.?

Yes, sorry I meant the menu guides are very grey and monochromatic looking so much harder to see than the Tbox which is colourful and has strong contrast. Maybe someone can upload a photo of the VTV menu page to compare with the Tbox picture I include so you can compare what it’s like.

We are not going to have a lot of choice and can only hope that when the next generation VTV box is designed someone will improve on this aspect of it.

sansom

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#2631277 6-Jan-2021 16:25

Fog:

Hi Eva888

As a TBox user I am following this with interest. I note that you compare the picture as a "dull grey screen" compared to the TBox.

This is news to me as I have not seen any other comments to this effect.?

VTV uses a "dark" UI like most modern TV UIs (eg Apple TV). While it looks good, some people don't like it. We have fed this into the designers to see if a setting can be added to brighten it up.

From: https://www.toptal.com/designers/ui/dark-ui

When Dark UIs Work Well

The majority of entertainment-related UIs (Smart TVs, Game Consoles, and TV and Movie Apps) tend to have dark-themed UI designs—for good reason. Most entertainment-related activities occur in the evening, are viewed from a distance of 6-10 feet, and are watched in dimly lit rooms—in other words, the screen matches the environment. Additionally, colourful content (e.g., cover art and promos), stands out dramatically on dark-themed UIs.

The aim is to match the context of the activity: “It’s getting dark, I’m relaxing, and I want to watch some TV.” Similar to thousands of tiny light bulbs, digital screens put out light wherever a bright pixel is present; hence, a bright UI would light up the room—an undesirable effect considering the activity. In this scenario, the UI design is trying to match the context: the device, content, activity, and environment.

Hamish

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#2631284 6-Jan-2021 16:51

Here's a video showing the UI in action...

https://youtu.be/HlIqzvX9dnA

Hamish

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