[TelstraClear] Is TestraClear STB for real

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › [TelstraClear] Is TestraClear STB for real

duncanwilliams

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Wannabe Geek

#16981 7-Nov-2007 00:00

I have just had my DTV installed today and totally shocked in terms of what I have got

Firstly the STB only has a composite signal and on my Sony Bravio LCD the picture is dreadful quite blurry and pixelated - using a DVD through Component is fantastic.

Then there is a separate cable modem (next to the one I am using for broadband) for the EPG I think. so my questions?

1. can i get a better STB with component output? Better still a PVR - although I see from other posts it looks like that is never going to happen (they may offer network based service)

2. can i plug the stb direct into my ethernet hub?

I have not had a great experience (customer service wise) with TCL - however the net and phone seem fine - but i think its time for sky and keep the rest - anyone done the same?

cyril7

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#94032 7-Nov-2007 06:08

IMView the current Telstra Digital service is a complete sham, however as the other current thread shows there is an upgrade in place that will sort the issue regards very poor picture quality and at least take it to the same as they get off the Sky satellite streams. Essentially at present they have a bank of Sky decoders and decode all the sky channels down to composite and reencode them onto the DVB-C services. I understand they are changing that to a proper transcode service that maintains a full digital pass through, time will tell (ie sometime early next month).

Yes the box only has composite, complain as they do have some boxs with S-Video aswell but no component, so only marginal improvement for digital panel owners where a clean component internconnect is really the go.

The modem is required for the EPG and is tuned to a carrier that is only connected to a private address space for the TV service, so no its of no use to you, you will require another cable modem for Broadband services from Telstra. Some months ago I mentioned who this was a lame solution as most overseas cable operators used STBs with inbuilt cable modems that also supported Broadband for the home in one box. I was told that I had no idea what I was talking about and those one piece boxs were far to dear for a small operator like TCL.

Cyril

davidcole

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#94036 7-Nov-2007 07:59

BTW the calbe modem is only needed for the long range epg and pay per view, if you don't mind seeing just the program information and the next programme (when viewing a channel) then no modem is required.

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digitalepsilon

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#94054 7-Nov-2007 11:02

cryil's dead right with the mention of the fact that the S-Video output option offers little in terms of quality improvement.

I had to check that for myself a few months back. I have TCL cable running directly into a DVB-C PCI card tuner in my system (with a CAM and my decoder's SmartCard) and have seen what the native MPEG-2 digital signal looks like in Windows. It's a real disappointment. The pixelation you speak of is very much there, and DivX files look significantly better in my opinion.

I, for one, hope that the current upgrade allows TelstraClear to (a) get rid of the recompression infrastructure they currently have (that cyril mentioned) and/or (b) increase the MPEG-2 bitrate for the channels they transmit. Using H.264/MPEG-4 would be even better, but one thing at a time... maybe when they go HD at some point.

lchiu7

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#94059 7-Nov-2007 11:26

TCL has never been known for their PQ (unless it's for their poor PQ!). The analogue service sometimes is better than the digital one! It has become even more obvious of late with the advent of Freeview and the ability to compare Freeview 16:9 transmissions with the 16:9 TCL ones. The differences are glaringly obvious.

I use a box with s-video out but I doubt that makes much difference over composite given the poor PQ of the source. After November 15 or whenever they improve the service it will be interesting to compare. But if they retain the same boxes then no matter how good the picture going down the cable is, we are going to be limited by the bandwidth of the s-video connector and I haven't seen anything to suggest that a box upgrade is in the works.

Larry

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kevthesparky

79 posts

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#94134 7-Nov-2007 19:33

Cyril7
Some months ago I mentioned how this was a lame solution as most overseas cable operators used STBs with inbuilt cable modems that also supported Broadband for the home in one box. I was told that I had no idea what I was talking about and those one piece boxs were far to dear for a small operator like TCL.

Your are so right it is a silly operation and an absolute pig to install as the signal has to be split more since there are 2 componants with the digital tv service and if you have broadband and another decoder well there you have it even more signal issues. As an x TCL employee I can assure you that most of the technicians were not liking the idea of the current scheme but with most telco's you can imagine that everything is sales driven and they know best and how a system like this really operates... Yeah Right!!! "there's the Tui add.

If you are looking for good PQ's then I suggest getting a DVB-S service (Sky or Freeview) There decoders are heaps better and offer more in the way of outputs.

Although it will be interesting to see how DVB-T turns out when it rolls out next year. If you have line of site to a transmission tower I would wait for this one. As for Movies stick to DVD's...

cyril7

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#94166 7-Nov-2007 21:22

If you are looking for good PQ's then I suggest getting a DVB-S service (Sky or Freeview) There decoders are heaps better and offer more in the way of outputs.

Although it will be interesting to see how DVB-T turns out when it rolls out next year. If you have line of site to a transmission tower I would wait for this one. As for Movies stick to DVD's...

Totally agree Kev, if it was me I would be getting TCL for BB and phone and Sky for TV, its a bit more pricey solution, but the best of whats going at the present..

Down side of the DVB-T solution is that you cannot compare 10 or so channels to 60odd on Sky. Once Sky are doing HD for sports and movies exactly where is FreeViews DTT's advantage. Not trying to be a pain here, but programming selection outwins technical qualities for 99% of the population.

Cyril

kevthesparky

79 posts

Master Geek

#94175 7-Nov-2007 21:49

I do agree Cyril about programming selection over technicial qualities but there is still nothing to watch on tv hahaha. I wonder if they will bring food tv out in dd5.1 lol.