[TelstraClear] Telstra in HD

Forums › One NZ (including Farmside) › [TelstraClear] Telstra in HD - Question(s)

NZJ

12 posts

Geek

#25190 14-Aug-2008 14:46

I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one in this situation. Like many on the Telstraclear network, I have their triple service package since Nov. 2005. I couldn't be happier, despite the recent Internet problems everyone's been having. Now however I find myself thinking about dumping one, two or maybe all three services.

I have a booking to install MySky HDi on the 31st of August, which means by that time, my Telstra TV connection will be canceled. To this day, I'm not 100% if this is the way to go, as Telstra might come up with a better HD solution. The problem is we don't have an ETA, or even an unofficial word about this. I wouldn't mind if they came out saying it'll take them a year or more to sort HD out, but at least I would know when to cancel and re-join!

As it stands, my TV connection is about to get canceled. I'm looking for ISP's with larger monthly bandwidth plans, even if the speed is slower. And I'm also researching the latest phone connection pricing. All that can be avoided with a simple hint. So, am I the only one thinking this negatively? Your thoughts?

1 | 2

292 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#156910 14-Aug-2008 14:57

I'd be interested to hear from telstraClear on that topic too.
My guess is it will be at least a year before they offer HD set top boxes.

One other option you could consider (and I am considering) is just to get Freeview HD. You could do that insteaf of, or as well as the TelstraClear offerring. Highish initial outlay on the UHF aerial and the Freeview HD set top box and a cable or two. But free to run. I had heard that there was about to be more models of HD settop box released/approved for the NZ market soon. May want to hold out for that.

kind regards Andrew TD

NZJ

12 posts

Geek

#156914 14-Aug-2008 15:08

I already got Freeview hooked up on the weekend, and it's stunning. If stupid TV programs look that good in HD, just imagine how the rugby looks! The other option I'm considering is delaying the HDi installation until October to see if Telstra can give us anything, but I wouldn't want to miss the end of year tour. I got a 28" LCD monitor to enjoy the HD goodness, but the downside of that is every SD channel now looks absolute crap.

I haven't heard anything about the different PVR/settop boxes, but that would be fantastic. From what I read in the HDi threads, the current box has its fair share of bugs and annoyances.

martyyn

1971 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 772

ID Verified

#156952 14-Aug-2008 16:14

Im considering my options aswell. Ive had all three with Telstraclear for the last four years but there are now a few other options and to be honest what kicked started all this was the tv picture quality.

Ive never bothered to go to digital because Ive had too many friends who jumped at it and have always regretted it, but after having gone to dvb-s with my HTPC and this week to dvb-t for the HD Olympics coverage Im gobsmacked at how bad the Telstra quality really is.

The main reason I have the tv (and Sky Sports) is for the English football, but to be honest I can download far better quality rips and even have the weekly roundup (and Match of the Day) sooner than they are shown here. So why pay $60 a month for only a couple of programmes a month? We dont want much tv at all so there is nothing else we would miss from the switch to freeview only.

Ive got bored of a 10mb connection thats rarely 10mb and Ive had a few problems with connections the last two weeks which has meant having to put up with the 60 minute wait times for the helpdesk. Ive also twice been promised a phone call the next day that has never happened.

With the basic home phone line now costing me over 50 a month, I think its time to look at other options and see how much I can save myself.

Telstra used to be the only option if you wanted all three, but those days have gone and there are plenty of options to check out.

magu

Professional yak shaver
1599 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 7

Trusted

BitSignal

Lifetime subscriber

#156954 14-Aug-2008 16:17

In your place, I would consider:

Freeview HD tuner (DVB-T)
Switch to an IP-based phone, like VFX from Xnet or something similar
Pay just one bill (the internet one)

"Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads." - Doc Emmet Brown

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#156958 14-Aug-2008 16:27

There could be conclusions drawn from the fact Pace do a decoder that's essentially identical to the new MySky but is DVB-C rather than DVB-S.

TelstraClear

566 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 2

Trusted

TelstraClear

#157012 14-Aug-2008 18:54

I understand completely your positions on the HD/PVR question, and I have been considering for some time when to present what TelstraClear is developing for you. The reason I haven't done so, was I had no exact date for the delivery of our HD PVR.

It is my intention to always keep this forum up to date as soon as is possible, without over promising.

So here goes:

We have a serious amount of resource working on the development of what we believe will be the best PVR in the market.
HD is a part of the plan and we will have all New Zealand's HD content on the one set top box. ie you won't need a Freeview box / TV with Freeview and Sky set top box.
Our HD content catalogue will be deeper than other providers due to our ability to deliver on cable the high bandwidth needs of HD.
The PVR functionality is still being finalised, however we are planning at least the same recording capability as My Sky HDi.
The box will have a future path to some very cool applications and content breadth larger than any other STB in the market.
The launch will not be as long as 12 months away, however I can't confirm the exact date yet, and will advise this forum and all customer by late September.
You will notice some further Digital picture quality improvements on some current channels at the end of August, as we cut over to new IP equipment in Broadcast Operations. This is the last of the changes we talked about earlier in the year.

TelstraClear wants to get this right and deliver a solution which is able to perform to your high video and audio expectations. We have learned from our past and I will not compromise on this project.

Regards

Jeff Doyle

Market Manager - InHome Services

Lego

Shop now for Lego sets and other gifts (affiliate link).

BigMal

998 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 160

ID Verified

Trusted

#157027 14-Aug-2008 19:37

That's great to hear!

I'm on Telstra Triple play and was considering dumping Telstra TV in favour of SKY HDi but I think I'll hold off.

I've heard from 2 different Telstra sources that the PVR will be available before christmas but no official date.

It'd be great to have TVNZ and TV3 onboard in the one HD capable box too.

Why don't Telstra get into bed with Tivo and use their boxes? That'd be awesome! My series 1 Tivo is still a god send

Great stuff!!

blakamin

4431 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1306
Inactive user

#157050 14-Aug-2008 20:53

Certainly interesting to hear, but what sort of costs are involved?
After 5 years on the triple plan I'm thinking of switching to adsl and sky/freeview.
I'm pretty sick of being raped in the wallet monthly for a 20 gig cap and pathetic speeds on a 10mbit cable, not to mention the TV and phone!

And today they offer me a mobile... pfft

chiefie

I iz your trusted friend
5877 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 151

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#157058 14-Aug-2008 21:47

I too got the invitation to get TCL consumer mobile... shame it hasn't got the hip phones but I might consider getting 2 to just to secure my numbers on there *lol*... again this is just a thought.

Internet is my backyard...

«Geekzone blog: Tech 'n Chips Takeaway» «Personal blog: And then...»

Please read the Geekzone's FUG

benny

79 posts

Master Geek

#157086 15-Aug-2008 00:35

Oh bring on september! Can't wait to see what telstraclear is going to offer, sounds promising from the post above!

mattbush

784 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 102
Inactive user

#157087 15-Aug-2008 00:36

TelstraClear: Hi

I understand completely your positions on the HD/PVR question, and I have been considering for some time when to present what TelstraClear is developing for you. The reason I haven't done so, was I had no exact date for the delivery of our HD PVR.

It is my intention to always keep this forum up to date as soon as is possible, without over promising.

So here goes:

We have a serious amount of resource working on the development of what we believe will be the best PVR in the market.
HD is a part of the plan and we will have all New Zealand's HD content on the one set top box. ie you won't need a Freeview box / TV with Freeview and Sky set top box.
Our HD content catalogue will be deeper than other providers due to our ability to deliver on cable the high bandwidth needs of HD.
The PVR functionality is still being finalised, however we are planning at least the same recording capability as My Sky HDi.
The box will have a future path to some very cool applications and content breadth larger than any other STB in the market.
The launch will not be as long as 12 months away, however I can't confirm the exact date yet, and will advise this forum and all customer by late September.
You will notice some further Digital picture quality improvements on some current channels at the end of August, as we cut over to new IP equipment in Broadcast Operations. This is the last of the changes we talked about earlier in the year.
TelstraClear wants to get this right and deliver a solution which is able to perform to your high video and audio expectations. We have learned from our past and I will not compromise on this project.

Regards

Jeff Doyle
Market Manager - InHome Services

Jeff
Thanks for the above info. I guess you are saying that you have agreement with TVNZ to braodcast their content in HD whereas Sky does not? I have the SKY HD solution and whilst it is a vast improvement, Freeview coverage on the Olympics is superior.

One last comment Jeff, if you look at the TC forums you will see a lot of disgruntled customers of your cable broadband solution. I myself had major issues since November last year. As a customer focused organisation, do you have any comments as to why TC handled their customer complaints with ignore, and also you may like to comment on the delays (in peakish times) in getting help from your technical people?

Thanks in advance.

AliExpress

Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

benny

79 posts

Master Geek

#157090 15-Aug-2008 00:39

mattbush:
you may like to comment on the delays (in peakish times) in getting help from your technical people?

Would love to hear what the problem is here, although it has been a while since I last rung, not that I probably would if I needed to talk so someone.

Anyway should prob keep this thread about telstraclear HD w00t!

Iceni

109 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 4

#157104 15-Aug-2008 07:42

TelstraClear: Hi

I understand completely your positions on the HD/PVR question, and I have been considering for some time when to present what TelstraClear is developing for you. The reason I haven't done so, was I had no exact date for the delivery of our HD PVR.

It is my intention to always keep this forum up to date as soon as is possible, without over promising.

So here goes:

We have a serious amount of resource working on the development of what we believe will be the best PVR in the market.
HD is a part of the plan and we will have all New Zealand's HD content on the one set top box. ie you won't need a Freeview box / TV with Freeview and Sky set top box.
Our HD content catalogue will be deeper than other providers due to our ability to deliver on cable the high bandwidth needs of HD.
The PVR functionality is still being finalised, however we are planning at least the same recording capability as My Sky HDi.
The box will have a future path to some very cool applications and content breadth larger than any other STB in the market.
The launch will not be as long as 12 months away, however I can't confirm the exact date yet, and will advise this forum and all customer by late September.
You will notice some further Digital picture quality improvements on some current channels at the end of August, as we cut over to new IP equipment in Broadcast Operations. This is the last of the changes we talked about earlier in the year.
TelstraClear wants to get this right and deliver a solution which is able to perform to your high video and audio expectations. We have learned from our past and I will not compromise on this project.

Regards

Jeff Doyle
Market Manager - InHome Services

Will this mean I would be able to watch a programme while taping another programme?

AndrewTD

292 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#157141 15-Aug-2008 09:55

Personally, I just want to get access to HD viewiing of all the TV channels that support it, in the easiest, least cost way possible.
I'm not at all interested in having the ability to record anything - (although I recognise many others would want that)
[For me, life is too short to bother watching old TV shows! ]

I'd rather pay a lesser amount for an HD set top box without recording ability.

I am interested in the highest possible audio & video quality.

kind regards Andrew TD

DS248

1702 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 771

Lifetime subscriber

#157147 15-Aug-2008 10:15

TelstraClear: ...

TelstraClear wants to get this right and deliver a solution which is able to perform to your high video and audio expectations. We have learned from our past and I will not compromise on this project.

Regards

Jeff Doyle
Market Manager - InHome Services

If indeed delivered within reasonable time (hopefully much less than 1yr), the question remaining is, of course ... Price?
So many drawn out expectations stilled on WarpSpeed prices. A radical change in business model will be required to avert mass defections this time.

And the details ...

+ PVR functionality, time limitations on recorded material, ...
+ Gb lan?
+ IPTV / play online content?

1 | 2