[TelstraClear] Telstraclear HD PVR

Forums › Vodafone New Zealand › [TelstraClear] Telstraclear HD PVR - Part 2

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Reply # 197976 25-Feb-2009 12:21

I for one have installed Freeview HD, and dropped TCL's digital TV service.
Fewer channels, but better picture, and no ongoing costs.
I watch too much TV as it is - cutting back on channels is a good thing in my case!

kind regards Andrew TD

BurningBeard

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Reply # 197978 25-Feb-2009 12:35

Yeah more channels isn't necesarrily a good thing. Just a bigger pile of garbage to sift through.

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ninja911

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Reply # 198248 26-Feb-2009 18:12

The lack of update from TCL in the last months has been really poor IMHO. With no imminent release or even a good indication of availability or product features the brand is taking another hammering at the moment.

The website still says "The team will update you in early 2009" ... that isn't even committing to a date to announce a date of release. C'mon guys throw us a frickin bone here.

Screeb

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Reply # 198266 26-Feb-2009 20:54

Guys, I've finally figured it out! TelstraClear isn't really an ISP - that's just a front for its real business - palentology! That's why they never throw us a bone, and why they still have their fossilised cable network!

I'm so, so, sorry :P

BigMal

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Reply # 199523 5-Mar-2009 22:20

I have to laugh, I rung up Telstraclear to cancel my TV subscription as I'm getting SKY HDi installed this weekend. Anyway I was passed on to the "Retention Team" and the conversation went like this:

TC - "I understand you'd like to cancel your Digital TV service?"
Me - "Yes please"
TC - "If you don't mind may I ask why?"
Me - "I'm switching to SKY"
TC - "Is that for the HD capability?"
Me - "Yes"
TC - "Ah, that's understandable"
Me - "Any word on when Telstra will be getting HD?"
TC - "It's supposed to be this year. Hopefully you'll switch back to Telstraclear when we do launch"
Me - "Maybe"

They totally rolled over and had nothign to offer. Such a shame.

On an even suckier note my Telstra Digital TV Service can't be cancelled and I have to keep paying until the "technician" has collected the decoder and modem from my house. The only weekend appointment I could get from a tech is two weeks time so I have to keep paying for a service I won't be using - B@STARDS.

AndrewTD

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Reply # 199571 6-Mar-2009 08:49

BigMal: ...
On an even suckier note my Telstra Digital TV Service can't be cancelled and I have to keep paying until the "technician" has collected the decoder and modem from my house. The only weekend appointment I could get from a tech is two weeks time so I have to keep paying for a service I won't be using - B@STARDS.

Excactly the same things happened to me - had to wait two weeks till they had a timeslot on a weekend (Saturday) when they could come pick up the decoder & modem.Then the b@st@rds killed off my internet connection by mistake! Even though I had asked them to pay particular care not to do that.Though they did manage to get it back up and running again within a short time of me ringing them - and the techo on the phone was intelligent (a pleasant surprise when that happens these days.)
I find these days I watch very little (Freeview HD) TV. I have joined Fatso to get DVDs, which is also saving me money since I no longer buy every new movie I want to watch. I seem to find much more worthwhile things to do with my time at night.
I'm very happy that I ditched the TCL cableTV,and am defintiely enjoying my much reduced monthly bill from TCL.
Am now thinking about ditching the analog phone line in favour of 2Talk. But, my internet connection is not completely relaiable, and I still spend a little bit of time on occasion checking out IP PBX FXO capabilities, so for now will probably keep the one analog line I have from TCL.

kind regards Andrew TD

davidcole

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Reply # 199575 6-Mar-2009 09:06

Hmm, I was offered a prepaid courier ticket so didn't have that problem.

But in saying that a week after I'd disconnected I was still getting emails on my paradise email address, and was told I had to email them and cancel it. I was like "Um, but the fact that I said DISCONNECT ME" wouldn't that imply email as well.

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Reply # 199604 6-Mar-2009 13:22

AndrewTD:
Am now thinking about ditching the analog phone line in favour of 2Talk. But, my internet connection is not completely relaiable, and I still spend a little bit of time on occasion checking out IP PBX FXO capabilities, so for now will probably keep the one analog line I have from TCL.

I have been using VFX for over a year now on Telstra cable and would never go back. Not sure for other IP phone services but we use the option that will divert calls to our cell phone if the internet is down for any reason.

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AndrewTD

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Reply # 199610 6-Mar-2009 13:37

We are getting a little off-topic here, but yes I too think VFX is good. I have used all three ITSPs (iTalk, 2Tak, & WxC) over my TelstraCleasr cable modem. (I kow there are other ITSPs - just that those three seem to be the main ones.) 2Talk & WxC (aka VFX) were very good.
My problem is that the underlying TCL cable modem internet connection is not as reliable as a POTS line.
Now I don't for a minute expect that VoIP should be as good as POTS. It is after all a consumer grade, best efforts service. VoIP is cheaper for a reason - it's built on lower cost infrastructure, with a "new world" pricing paradigm.The old POTs world, with it's "five nines" reliability built throughout almost the entire infrastructure chain, was built on a much different, "old world" pricing/proft paradigm. The mindset of both the Telcos, and the buying public, was that it had to be "completely" reliable. These days, segments of the buying public have a different mindset. It's OK to be a bit unreliable - just so long as it is a lot cheaper.(end of off-topic musings)______
By the way, I think they only need to come on-site to retrieve their TV set-top boxes (and attached modem for the digital ones). I think it's just if you give up the cable modem internet connection that they get you to courier back the cable modem. But that is just conjecture/deduction on my part. :)

kind regards Andrew TD

davidcole

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Reply # 199612 6-Mar-2009 13:51

By the way, I think they only need to come on-site to retrieve their TV set-top boxes (and attached modem for the digital ones). I think it's just if you give up the cable modem internet connection that they get you to courier back the cable modem. But that is just conjecture/deduction on my part. :)

Don't think so, I was returning STB and two cable modems, one fo rthe internet, and the other was for the TV.

AndrewTD

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Reply # 199614 6-Mar-2009 13:59

I stand corrected

I have no idea then why they have the different modus operandi.
Did you close your entire account with them?I'm in Kapiti - where was yours? Maybe they behave differently in different locations.
I wonder whether it hay anything to do with making sure the cables are properly terminated after the equipment is removed? Not that I saw any evidence of them doing that when they picked up my gear. Just unscrewed the cable from the internal wall plate and left.
Perhaps someone from TCL could enlighten us.

kind regards Andrew TD

davidcole

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Reply # 199619 6-Mar-2009 14:22

No idea. I did ask if I could drop it off (I'm in Lower Hutt) and they said the only place was in courtney place....but when the courier ticket turned it it was actually going to seaview. So I could have.

The disconnection they did for me was at the node box, Telecom swapped the cables around so that I was back onthe Telecom copper, but no-one from TCL came around.

ninja911

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Reply # 199858 8-Mar-2009 08:57

TelstraClear website now states:

"Following on from a major upgrade to our broadcast facility last year, the team is now working long hours investigating an advanced set top box which has the future in mind for TelstraClear customers.

No confirmed launch date is available at this time."

So no longer "early 2009" ... so do I bother waiting or just make the switch to MySky HDi and be done with it.

Nety

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Reply # 199951 8-Mar-2009 19:23

I say you are damed if you do and damned if you don't. If you do switch you can be sure that they will anounce a release date that is sooner then any of us expected and for a good price.

If you don't then we will be looking at 12 plus months before we even hear a release date

I guess it comes down to how big a deal it is not having HD TV and keeping in mind that even if you switch to mysky HDi you will not have 1 or 2 in HD. But then it sounds like the TV 1&2 in HD on Telstra my have hit a snag anyway.

anatoki

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Reply # 202056 18-Mar-2009 23:28

AndrewTD: I stand corrected
I have no idea then why they have the different modus operandi.
Did you close your entire account with them?I'm in Kapiti - where was yours? Maybe they behave differently in different locations.
I wonder whether it hay anything to do with making sure the cables are properly terminated after the equipment is removed? Not that I saw any evidence of them doing that when they picked up my gear. Just unscrewed the cable from the internal wall plate and left.
Perhaps someone from TCL could enlighten us.

There's a couple of options with disconnections. 1) Meet a tech on-site. 2) Return the equipment to our retail store or offices. 3) Have a courier bag sent to your address. Options 2 & 3 mean you don't need to be home which definitely suits most people as Saturday times are usually always booked. Regardless of your choice, a technician is still sent out (disconnect at NTE/TAP).

As for the users mentioning lead times, there is a clause in the T&C that states you must give us at least 7 days notice of a disconnection. Most lead times for a disconnection are 1-4 days however as you would expect, Saturdays are snapped up pretty fast.

Compare that to the lead time for an installation of MySky.. I'm pretty sure last I checked it was 3 weeks in Christchurch and close to that in Wellington.

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