[TelstraClear] HomeMedia PVR- Demonstrations available now.

Forums › One NZ (including Farmside) › [TelstraClear] HomeMedia PVR- Demonstrations available now.

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#328434 10-May-2010 11:21

lchiu7: The second box will cost you $10 (instead of another $15) but I forgot to ask if there is also another $10 (or less) for HD option on the second box. That actually is a nice price break since I pay $9.95 for a second analogue box on which I can't receive Food Network. I can ditch that and for the same have a second PVR.

Even if I don't go HD I might get the box since it outputs video over HDMI which has got to be better than the crappy video that comes out of the current box.

Sorry if I'm completely misunderstanding you here - are they saying that I can keep my current digi box and also have the PVR for $10 or are they saying that if I have a PVR for $15 I can have a second one for $10? Sky currently charge $25 for a second standard decoder!

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#328440 10-May-2010 11:31

StarBlazer:
lchiu7: The second box will cost you $10 (instead of another $15) but I forgot to ask if there is also another $10 (or less) for HD option on the second box. That actually is a nice price break since I pay $9.95 for a second analogue box on which I can't receive Food Network. I can ditch that and for the same have a second PVR.

Even if I don't go HD I might get the box since it outputs video over HDMI which has got to be better than the crappy video that comes out of the current box.

Sorry if I'm completely misunderstanding you here - are they saying that I can keep my current digi box and also have the PVR for $10 or are they saying that if I have a PVR for $15 I can have a second one for $10? Sky currently charge $25 for a second standard decoder!

I think what he said was

$15 for the first box (and $10 for the HD option)
$10 for the second box. (again didn't ask what HD on the second box would cost).

TCL currently charge $12.95 I think for the second digital STB.

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#328460 10-May-2010 12:32

lchiu7: I think what he said was

$15 for the first box (and $10 for the HD option)

Assuming this is like Sky's model, then remember thats $15 extra for the first box (and $10 for the HD option) over the price of a standard cable box, so if he said a second box is "$10" I assume he means "$10 extra over the price of a standard cable box.

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#328483 10-May-2010 13:35

sub:
lchiu7: I think what he said was

$15 for the first box (and $10 for the HD option)
Assuming this is like Sky's model, then remember thats $15 extra for the first box (and $10 for the HD option) over the price of a standard cable box, so if he said a second box is "$10" I assume he means "$10 extra over the price of a standard cable box.

Just been to have a look and ask some questions - sorry for the essay - thank you to the guys at TCL CP for putting up with me.

It's exactly as it looks in the photos and a little bigger than the current box - may need a move-around on the rack. The interface didn't look that sluggish moving between channels - not seen MySky cannot compare - although was slightly slower than the standard cable box it appeared acceptable.

The interface does look well designed and thought through. There are some nice features for grouping programs and setting/removing recordings as well as recording management. Recordings will be made in the definition broadcast - HD in HD, SD in SD - we could not find a way to drop the recording quality to save space. HD is abut 50 hours on the drive. Cleverly, he showed me the difference between Movies HD and Movies SD - I guess it depends on your TV as to how much the difference is. It was noticable but if you only every used SD you probably wouldn't miss is.

There is no way at present to 'move' content off the drive - he suggested hooking up a HDD/DVD recorder to the outputs but protection will prevent most of the copying of the things you would want to 'back-up'.

Not all the inputs are active including the second LAN and USB ports (first LAN is the EPG etc) - was unable to confirm if in the future DivX or network player capability but did allude to using the USB to rent movies (hire from shop, put on USB, expires after so long).

Pricing was confirmed as $15 for the first PVR and $10 for the second. Couldn't give any feedback for the use of SD box as the second. Watch out for the contract - minimum term is 24 months - unable to give details of early termination fees.

It's very unlikely that you will get the box for the world cup unless you are pre-registered - even then there is no guarantee. There is no way to re-register - that boat has sailed :(

Why get TCL DVR instead of MySkyHDi? - had to ask!
TCL goes to 1080p compared to 1080i - With a modern LCD tv does that make much difference?
TCL has a larger HDD at 300GB - I thought MySky HDi has a 320GB drive, it was only the older ones that had 160GB!
Package prices will be competitive - I guess probably - at the moment the TV part of my subscription costs $34 compared to $48 as I have phone and t'internet.
The box has a lot of future capability for expansion and new features. I guess that it doesn't mean that they will provide that functionality.
No Rain Fade - annoying but infrequent (unless NZ has a big problem with it).

Questions I wish I'd asked!
Will it output RF/Component and HDMI at the same time? If so I could re-distribute to the other TV's in the house that are not HD - I know this means we all have to watch the same stuff but that's okay.

Procrastination eventually pays off.

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#328485 10-May-2010 13:48

StarBlazer:
Questions I wish I'd asked!
Will it output RF/Component and HDMI at the same time? If so I could re-distribute to the other TV's in the house that are not HD - I know this means we all have to watch the same stuff but that's okay.

Yes it will. All outputs will show the current tuned channel/whatever you're doing on screen.

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#328486 10-May-2010 13:48

I also noted it has a seperate 13V PSU, so something else you need to tuck away along with the EPG modem and its PSU.

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#328488 10-May-2010 13:52

ZollyMonsta:
StarBlazer:
Questions I wish I'd asked!
Will it output RF/Component and HDMI at the same time? If so I could re-distribute to the other TV's in the house that are not HD - I know this means we all have to watch the same stuff but that's okay.

Yes it will. All outputs will show the current tuned channel/whatever you're doing on screen.

Thanks - it's making it quite difficult to choose between this and Sky. The world cup is my window of opportunity to convince the wife that the convenience of recording at the touch of a button is worthwhile - instead of setting 2 devices as I do at the moment which is to complex for her (yes of course she wears the trousers - I only earn the money!).

Procrastination eventually pays off.

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#328497 10-May-2010 14:13

StarBlazer:TCL goes to 1080p compared to 1080i - With a modern LCD tv does that make much difference?

It won't make any difference for regular TV. With a Full HD TV if you feed it a 1080i signal it has to deinterlace it internally anyway and make it a progressive scan signal for display on the panel. All that happens with this box is that it upscales to 1080p internally rather than relying on the TV to do this. This could be beneficial if VOD services were ever offered since 1080p content could be played back.

One thing I'm interested to know is whether the box outputs in native resolutions for all channels or is it fixed and everything upscaled to 1080p internally?

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#328516 10-May-2010 14:59

"minimum term is 24 months".

Now that is new & unexpected. What justification if upfront connection fee is paid. Sounds to be primarily an anticompetitive measure.

Does the same apply for MY SKY HDi ?

Some of the current Sky specials state "min 12 month term" but according to the website "Get a MY SKY HDi installed just for $99.00. Then pay only $15.00 per month to keep it as long as you like."

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#328520 10-May-2010 15:02

DS248: "minimum term is 24 months".

Now that is new & unexpected. What justification if upfront connection fee is paid. Sounds to be primarily an anticompetitive measure.

Does the same apply for MY SKY HDi ?

Some of the current Sky specials state "min 12 month term" but according to the website "Get a MY SKY HDi installed just for $99.00. Then pay only $15.00 per month to keep it as long as you like."

Sky will charge you $99 for installation but there is no minimum contract term. You can also sign up for MySky HDi through Harvey Norman and get free installation but then you're tied into a 12 month contact. Both options are better than TCL's 24 month contract!

StarBlazer

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#328533 10-May-2010 15:27

amanzi:
DS248: "minimum term is 24 months".

Now that is new & unexpected. What justification if upfront connection fee is paid. Sounds to be primarily an anticompetitive measure.

Does the same apply for MY SKY HDi ?

Some of the current Sky specials state "min 12 month term" but according to the website "Get a MY SKY HDi installed just for $99.00. Then pay only $15.00 per month to keep it as long as you like."

Sky will charge you $99 for installation but there is no minimum contract term. You can also sign up for MySky HDi through Harvey Norman and get free installation but then you're tied into a 12 month contact. Both options are better than TCL's 24 month contract!

Sky one time offered me $49 install 12 month contract. The early termination fee - which is what matters - was based on it really costing $299 to install. So if I cancelled 6 months into the contract it would be 299/12 * 6 = 150. I questioned it in the shop and the response was that this is not unusual for a phone contract!

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#328604 10-May-2010 17:00

amanzi: Sky will charge you $99 for installation but there is no minimum contract term. You can also sign up for MySky HDi through Harvey Norman and get free installation but then you're tied into a 12 month contact. Both options are better than TCL's 24 month contract!

I rang Sky today to enquire about signing up and was told that there is a 12 month minimum contract, despite the fact I had been told by another sales person that there was no minimum contract term. The lady I spoke to today said there were no special deals available or coming up soon.

I'm on hold to TCL now to enquire about cancelling my TV and phone service with them.

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#328608 10-May-2010 17:13

amanzi:
amanzi: Sky will charge you $99 for installation but there is no minimum contract term. You can also sign up for MySky HDi through Harvey Norman and get free installation but then you're tied into a 12 month contact. Both options are better than TCL's 24 month contract!

I rang Sky today to enquire about signing up and was told that there is a 12 month minimum contract, despite the fact I had been told by another sales person that there was no minimum contract term. The lady I spoke to today said there were no special deals available or coming up soon.

I'm on hold to TCL now to enquire about cancelling my TV and phone service with them.

Perfect opportunity to move to VoIP!

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#328616 10-May-2010 17:26

sbiddle: Perfect opportunity to move to VoIP!

That's the plan!

lchiu7

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#328649 10-May-2010 18:21

I have 6 phones in the house. If I want to move to VoIP then I need to find a way to get the PAP2T or whatever connected at the demarc so all phones are coming off it. Then of course I need to get Internet to the PAP2T. I guess I will be sticking to POTS for a while.

Just to get back OT, 24 months is a bit much in terms of commitment but that's not much different from on account plans with VF. I don't think it's great - it just seem to be SOP these days.

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