Telstra T-Box. BigPond finds another use
Filed under: broadband, consumer, customers, entertainment, gadgets and gizmos, innovation, lifestyle, networks, T-Box, technology
I was invited to test drive the new Telstra T-Box. Having seen one in passing at the local Telstra Shop, my initial reaction was: ‘not for me thanks – already have FOXTEL at home’.
Then I thought: ‘why not give it a go – after all not everyone has FOXTEL, and the reports I have read are quite positive’.
So, here is my review – I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
The promise
“Here’s Telstra T-Box. Now one exciting device is all you need to integrate internet and free to air entertainment and information, so you can watch what you want, when you want, on your TV”(from the T-Box sales brochure).
Now I am intrigued. What is this T-Box and how is it going to integrate my BigPond, free-to-air TV and other things on my TV screen? And more importantly, what is it going to do to my monthly internet usage allowance?
Before you set up your T-Box
Setting up the T-Box is simple. Before you start, make sure you have the following:
- An eligible BigPond broadband connection
- Wi-Fi (if your TV and BigPond modem are not close by) or Ethernet connection to your BigPond broadband service
- An external TV Antenna (digital)
- TV (preferably HD Ready or full HD TV)
- Credit/Debit card details (for BigPond Movies sign up)
- About 10 – 15 minutes
Menu
Seeing the setup menu in action really evokes the “wow” factor. When the T-Box searches for the free-to-air stations, I admit I had a grin on my face. It was a good show – dropping the stations in one by one. If you are already connected to the internet, BigPond TV stations will also be included in the TV Programme Guide.
All reviews I have read on the T-Box echo my thoughts that this menu system is second to none.
Navigation through the menu is performed via the remote control (yes that’s right, another one…..)
Security
The T-Box offers two levels of security – one covers your movie rentals and most of the other content is covered by parental control. Both of these are important, and you must remember to keep these PINs in a safe place.
Register your T-Box.
Registration allows you to get the full benefit from your T-Box. Make sure your computer is connected to the internet, and follow the prompts at telstra.com/boxsetup. During this process you will be able to join up with BigPond Movies.
So what does your T-Box give you?
Through your BigPond Broadband connection, you will receive the following UNMETERED stations:
- BigPond News
- BigPond Racing (TVN)
- BigPond Sports News
- BigPond Footy (AFL)
- BigPond League (NRL)
- BigPond V8
- BigPond Music Channel
All of these stations, over your BigPond connection, and NO impact on your monthly usage!
You can also get BigPond Videos – BigPond’s video-on-demand service. Access thousands of videos whenever the mood hits you. Forget about waiting for session times. You chose the video, the starting time, and how you watch it (quarter screen vs full screen).
Video categories include Sport, News and Entertainment. On-screen prompts allow you to set the features – e.g. full screen, quarter screen (while you browse other videos to watch) etc. The number of videos in the catalogue is growing, so there is always something to watch.
And to top it off, BigPond Videos and BigPond Movies are also UNMETERED. This means you do not pay for the data used to download these movies or TV shows — just the rental fee associated with them. (This is where your credit / debit card is required).
Once again the menu system is great
An advantage of being connected to the internet is that you can access YouTube on your TV. A word of warning – this content is METERED, meaning it will contribute to your monthly BigPond data usage allowance. This is probably a good place to use the Parent Control feature! Given the wide variety of content on YouTube, you can block any inappropriate content using YouTube filtering or block the whole application using the parental control feature.
Personal Video Recorder (PVR)
The T-Box allows you to record, pause and rewind free-to-air TV, and store over 100 hours of standard definition TV. Basically, you control what you watch, and when. The Programme Guide allows you to plan up to seven days in advance. And, you can set the T-Box to “Series Record” to automatically record each episode of a series.
If you manage to fill the internal 200GB storage, you can attach an external hard drive or flash memory via the USB port on the T-Box, allowing you to offload free to air programmes, one at a time, to this external storage. I look forward to the day this port also allows the T-Box to become a media player, so that I can play my home movies through it.
The Verdict:
I like it. Why? It’s simple and it works well.
If you find your Wi-Fi signal strength is not as strong as it could be and you can’t use an Ethernet connection, there are several options to boost your signal without having to move your router or TV.
Telstra carry one that I saw, and there are others on the market that works through your power points. There’s also an excellent long-range wireless solution from Rukus called the MediaFlex 7000. The Rukus system provides long-range transmission of IP-based video and attaches to a Telstra home gateway and T-Hub via Ethernet adaptors.
The T-Box has some great features – including, but not limited to, an easy to use menu that is second to none, a compelling range of programmes that are unmetered, no contract, and it’s a personal video recorder that can hold many hours of content.
This is just the beginning of what this product will be capable of.
My tbox has jumpy channels..
No solution.
Tried resets, re scanning channels etc.
nothing works.
I tried to contact someone at Telstra today to get some technical information regarding the firmware and the Gnu Public License compliance. (Which although they claim compliance is untrue. The code is not freely and publicly available.)
To on-sell crippled third party hardware seems mindless in the extreme. The T-Box was out of date long before it was released in it’s current configuration.
No-one at the entire organisation seems to have a clue past what is in the brochure.
Telstra do themselves a huge dis-service not even vaguley understanding the hardware they sell.
It’s downright annoying that a company which claims to be a lading telecommunications provider is so obviously incompetent at even running their own internal communications.
If you have BigPond Internet, I can not justify not having a T-box (Unless you already have FOXTEL). This is a genuine entertainment device which is cheap. I am looking forward for the FOXTEL on T-box. Hoping its not going to be as ridiculously expensive as FOXTEL.
The T-Box is not a genuine entertainment device. It’s an overpriced paper weight that lacks key functionality that one should expect from such a device. There are key flaws in the design of this product, and does not come close to been an entertainment device by any stretch of the imagination.
If Telstra address some key issues, then it has potential, but in it’s current format it’s a pile of rubbish (been polite about it). I have even invited Telstra to address these questions, both on this forum and off, but they simply don’t seem interested.
Telstra have really stuffed up with this product.
Well, I got my first fault today, 7 months after getting my T Box.
My remote gave up the ghost. Battery still puts out 3 volts, but no activity would revive it.
Spoke to tech support, took 5 minutes and a replacement is being sent.
3-5 working days seems a tad long, so I think this period needs to be fixed, unless this is a “customer expectation setting”, and it turns up by Friday.
I’ll follow up and report on wether or not I experience what others have with dodgy remotes.
The Foxtel content has been promised for May, this has now passed. I have registered my interest. When will the Foxtel content be released and what channels?
We didn’t get our T-Box that long ago and the memory is already full. My old LG DVD recorder has a much bigger memory and doesn’t cut the start and end of recorded shows off. I am thinking of going back to that one.
Ginny, with free to air programing quite often shows dont go to air at the scheduled time. If you go into settings from the main menu to recordings you can change the pre-record and post-record times for upto 5 to 30 minutes before a show is scheduled to air.
Telstra made a press release that Foxtel was coming to TBox in May. That time has come and passed. I believe they need to make another press release to advise when this matter will progress as an act of good faith to the consumers who have taken up the TBox. Otherwise they are demonstrating that they are unreliable on important timeframes/media releases.
Sure, that was my comment from yesterday. The silence is deafening. Perhaps as a sign of good faith, Telstra should provide 3 free months to the services. I believe that the X-Box service is up and running with one month free. Let’s see Telstra apologize for missing the deadline and support their platform better than X-box and what they have to date.
Hi David, thanks for your comment. We have experienced some delays but expect to launch very soon. Thanks for your patience.
Not the first time they have broken a commitment with the TBox. They also promissed streaming. I’m sure they have broken consumer law here.
I’m quite happy with my Tbox although I also have been waiting and waiting for the promised Foxtel but for now I’m wondering if anyone has a clue what format I need to replay my recorded content on the usb stick to my pc.
I agree, Foxtel, as well as iView etc (even though iView would be counted) would be a welcome thing.
I just hope that being in an “Austar area” doesn’t preclude getting Foxtel on the T-box.
Rod – In terms of playing back movie content from your USB. There is more than one issue here. These issues perform part of the core reason why I don’t like the TBox. It is clearly an issue on functionality that it should deliver but fails.
1) Computers have different file systems. The most common (with windows machines) are called FAT32 and NTFS. FAT32 is quite old, an limits an individual file size to 4GB. The drive on a FAT32 system can be big, but you can’t have any one file larger than 4GB. NTFS is the modern day windows file system. The TBox only supports FAT32. If your USB drive is NTFS, then the TBox will not recognise it. Chances are if your drive is 250GB or greater, then it’s NTFS, any smaller then it really could be either.
2) The TBox will only recognise the format as copied across from another TBox. Telstra in their infiinite wisdom seem to encrypt the FTA recordings when you copy them to a USB drive. These are a ‘ts’ (timeshift) file. As these are an encrypted ‘ts’ file(s), you can only play them back on another TBox. Other formats (such as AVI, MPEG, etc) are not supported. Why Telstra have done this is beyond me.
If you have a highquality movie (avi or mpeg), good chances is that it will be on an NTFS drive (as it’s size will most likely be over 4GB). Given this, as per my first point, the drive won’t be recognised anyway.
These are two fundamental design flaws in the TBox that impact on the supported file formats and external hard drives. I hope that answers your question.
Got my replacement remote this morning.
This one is one of the 2 battery models.
Setup took less than a minute, and the cool thing is, my T-Box had still recorded the stuff I had scheduled, even though I had to do a “short reset” in order to prove the old one had died – I was concerned that it might have lost schedules.
As I suspected, the 3-5 working days for the replacement remote was probably setting an expectation. Getting it 2 days later is a bonus.
I wonder if Telstra has thought of having spares at the T-shops.
Hi Brenden
Please advice why i should sign up for Foxtel via the Tbox when it finally gets installed. My Tbox is currently just a glorified PVR, because the internet channels have streaming problems. Now before you suggest solutions i’ll give you background info. Brand new thompson tg782t, brand new line filters, distance from home to exchange 576m line of sight, connection speed down avg 20 000 kbps(from the modem) and an avg wi-fi signal of 50%, latest firmware update on the box and modem. PERFECT RECIPE FOR THE TBOX. But here is the kicker, during the day no streaming issues, however come night time, hello streaming issues. Weirdly testing the speed via the bigpond technical support download i’ll get an avg of 200 bits per second during the night and during the day an avg of 1900 bits per second. Now i have been on to tbox support and bigpond support and yet both can’t fix the issue. Reasons ie. there is no congestion at the exchange, yet the facts speak for itself, and another and the best “your line speed is in range/specification bigpond gaurantee a speed between 110 bits per second to 2000 bits per second” which i replied to so i’ll pay between $20 to $100 a month for my service. Obviously i am very frustrated, as i am very interested in foxtel on tbox, but the there is no chance of me getting foxtel if you can’t “gaurantee” i will have no streaming issues. Please please please help, i want a person who will fix this and not another person giving me excuses. If you can’t fix this just tell me, i am not a child, and offer to take the tbox back as a sign of good customer service.
regards
chris p
Hi Chris, I’ve emailed you asking for your details. Please respond or use this form to send me your contact and account numbers.
I am on my THIRD Tbox….when it works I L O V E it…..
New two battery remote seems to work much faster, so that is a bonus.
GINNY>>>>> I swore I would never buy another LG, mine has just started having the same error (been fixed twice) but when I phoned it was two weeks out of warranty and they said they only allow a FIVE day grace period. SO again NEVER will I buy a LG Home Theatre product. The Tbox has a pathetically small Hard Drive with Telstra bloat on it.
As to the cutting short, you can adjust the prerecord and post record settings in the settings menu under recording settings.
I am having an issue though I am not sure if it is Tbox or TV. On a couple of scheduled recording I get a few seconds of BLACK/Blank recording area!! On one recording it was just he adds, but the other was the last ??? seconds of Downtown Abbey so I don’t know what happened and will have to watch on catch up TV
Other than that the new Tbox is working well. My one gripe is that even though it has a Dual Tuner it doesn’t record TWO programmes and the same Netgem as a raw product DOES.
The only good thing for me about the T-box is unmetered downloads – but the bad thing is it doesn’t work – its be sent back twice and it simply keeps fails its crap ! We have both a TiVo and a T-Box , we are now buying another TiVo they just work and work good !
Thanks Andrew for your comprehensive reply to my question, you have confirmed my suspicions that I was hoping beyond hope for a resolution and like you I wonder what was going through the head of the folk that designed the TBox to stymie such convient access to other loops.
No worries.
I have had enough of it. It simply does not do what is reasonably expected of a dual tuner PVR. I am working through at trying to return it. It does not do what I need it to do, nor what I was told of it’s capabilities.
The worst thing is, Telstra people don’t even know the product. I walked past a TBox stand the other day, I asked the guy when Telstra will fix the issue of not been able to record two channels at the same time.
The guy I asked told me that is did record two channels at the same time.
It’s clear that Telstra sales representatives don’t know the product well enough. People get lied to in a sale. I feel a letter to the ombudsman is on it’s way. It’s a disgrace.
My hope is that others understand the design flaws before they make the desicision to purchase a TBox. It’s an inferior product that simply does not do what a PVR should do.
Hi Andrew, Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with us. I would ike to pass this on to the store manager and the product manager. Would you mind sharing the store and the date you visited with me please so we can ensure we do a better job serving our customers. I will aso ask a rep to all you. You can use this form.
Telstra – still flogging a dead horse.
Well my 5th box was working ok, streaming worked & kids could purchase and download a movie. Now this one has started freezing and despite following all of the prompts that T-Box tech support have given me over time, I’ve given up so yes, it is an unattractive paper weight and will stay that way Don’t but one.
Setup the T-box today, a box that is part of my internet package and supplied in 2 days was pretty good. Setup took only minutes, it does what is promised and the extra free content is great. Menu easy to use, great clear picture on HD resolution, movie downloads and price is comparable with video rentals. Need to use the pin feature to stop the open access (Kids)
we are currently using Apple TV which is very unsatisfactory. Temperamental, klunky, and generallly user-unfriendly. I am also unhappy with my ISP because downloads are slow and they dont know why. So I might be in the market for the Telstra TBox. I need to know a few things that might sway me one way or other:
- Apple TV rentals are about $5 each, how does this compare with renting movies through TBox?
- Apple TV movie selection is limited mostly to safe Hollywood offerings, and v few art house movies. How is the movie selection from TBox?
- I have a DVD hard drive. Can I use this as memory space to augment that of the TBox (Ive read complaints that the 200GB is quickly used up)
- How easy is it to buy out of the TBox contract if it turns out to be a lemon?
Thanks in anticipation,
Maxco
Maxco,
Before you purchase the TBox, you should be aware of the following:
1) This dual HD tuner PVR will not let you record 2 channels at one time. It’s design is to to record one channel and watch the other. The ability to record two shows at once has been locked out and you can’t do it.
2) You can attach an external hard drive via USB, but there are serious design flaws with this functionality which restricts the ability greatly. Firstly – external drives must be formatted to FAT32, no other file system is supported. This will limit any single file to a 4GB limit. The drive itself can be much bigger, but FAT32 has a limitation of individual file sizes (due to the age of the technology more than anything).
Further to this, the TBox will not support AVI, MPEG, etc files. To clarify further, the TBox will allow you to extract FTA recordings on an external hard drive. The file format that these recordings are saved as are a ‘ts’ file format. In Telstra’s infinite wisdom, they have encrypted the files, so you can only play them back on another TBox. These files will not play back on a PC, or another PVR or media centre. In terms of playback capabilities, the TBox will only playback ‘ts’ files that have been exported from your TBox.
3) if you wish to stream movies from a media server, again, in Telstra’s infinite wisdom, have disabled this functionality. This was supposed to be part of the cornerstone, yet it can’t be done. The standard netgem box does it, but Telstra have prevented it.
Now I hope that has covered your questions regarding the hard drive. I’ll answer as many of your other questions as I possible can.
4) Movie selection – there are quite a few movies, but it is far from a complete list. There has been more than one occassion where I have been dissapointed because I was unable to download a movie I wanted, as it simply was not there. Also, be aware, that the downloaded movies do NOT have subtitles. Again, Telstra in their infinte wisdom have decided to descriminate against the hearing impaired.
5) In terms of buying out the TBox, you can buy it outright at a Telstra shop if you really want. That way you don’t lock into a contract.
If after reading this you still think that it’s the device for you, then go for it. If I had have known this before I got it, I would have never had gotten it. If you want a simple tuner with a hard disk in it, then it will probably work for you. If you want any decent functionality from a PVR, then I imagine (like me) you will be extremely disappointed.
At least you are getting some of the facts before going through the pain of learning the hard way (like me). Anyway, goodluck with your decision.
Andrew
Maxco – one last quite point – I am not from Telstra (you could probably tell), so I can’t be 100% sure if you still need to enter a contract if you buy it outright or not (as per my point 5 from the previous post). I know you can buy it outright, so my assumption is that this means you do not have to enter a contract.
Maxco here
Thanks for your comprehensive reply, Andrew. Im not sure if I am ready for TBox or, importantly whether it is ready for me.
Maxco
Hmm, the basic Foxtel on T-Box is now being promoted as a pay for service, unlike how it was originally presented as part of the T-Box service much like other ISPs offer free cable TV channels.
I was expecting to pay for the “premium” channels and not have to pay for the basics.
The details are so fuzzy, I can only assume that Telstra is in a tizz with it’s Foxtel partners as to what to do.
I reckon the delays are all commercial and have nothing to do with technology.
Give us our free basic Foxtel like you alluded to!!!
I have just setup my Tbox and cannot get any volume??
Apart from turning itself off, freezing and lack of sound sometimes we haven’t had as bad a run as many seem to have had. The biggest improvement to our Tbox was getting a logitech universal remote.
As for Foxtel it’s quite dissapointing the lack of info plus the delay, why even announce it was going to be out in May? We are now mid June and still nothing. I hope it isn’t going to be expensive as I just wont bother, as I was under the impression that it wouldn’t be.
Well once again Telstra has managed to screw me, suprise suprise.
No Foxtel in th NT on TBox – no service as usual
What a over glorified black box of crap
Maybe there should be a class action against Telstra for all the untruths they used to sell this crap – what about truth in marketing?
Now they have signed up to the NBN for just a paltry $11b they might have some money to fix their service
Telstra you have lost me and my business
Hi Dale. I’d like to do what I can to help. I sent you an email today. Please ge back and let me know your details so I can organise a call.
Was just reading these comments as I have been offered a box for free as compensation for Telstra closing down their Bigpond Movies home delivered DVD service. I am hoping I do not have the issues other people seem to have had. Also am a little dissapointed that they are charging $3.99 per movie. As a DVD customer I got 10 movies,delivered,for $20 a month and could watch them wherever in my house I wanted to,now ….i will be paying twice as much per movie and will be restricted to watching it on the TV to which I have the box connected to. It certainly is nice to be offered the compensatory box but to charge twice the price for movies,delivered essentially in what is going to be a much cheaper way of doing it for Telstra,is a little dissapointing to say the least.
Hello Craig. The free T-Box option is one of three exiting options we have for our BigPond Movies DVD via mail customers. If you call 1800 502 502 someone will be able to talk you through these other options.
But wait Craig there’s more! The majority of movies are actually $5.99 each and even higher if you want HD versions… and there are no discounts, no bonus promotions, nothing.
And there are no subtitles.
So Brendan,I spent half an hour on the phone with someone already and am now wondering why these other 2 options were not explained. You have my e-mail address which is linked to my account,which has my mobile number attached to it. Mine is the 0409 one,and I might add they are with Telstra too lol,as I do not feel I should have to wait in line again to talk to someone again. Thanks. Alternatively you may e-mail me.
Hello Craig. Just heard back that Jamie-Lee has looked after you. I’m here should you need assistance in the future.
To top it all off, the selection won’t be as good.
At the end of the day, it’s a very basic set top box and not much more. As a PVR it fails to deliver. It really depends what you want out of a PVR. I want a fully functional device, and the TBox is not even close to what a good PVR should have.
If all you need is a basic PVR, then you may find that it suits your needs. There are some people on this forum that have been happy with it (granted on a few), but they clearly only need a device that is not full of functionality.
If you want streaming, export (to play on other deivces), playback from external devices, record 2 channels at once, subtitles, then forget it (to name a few pitfalls). It’s not going to meet your needs.
As it’s free, it’s the right price, I certaintly wouldn’t pay any more than that for it.
The ‘free T-Box is one of three exciting offers’ that Telstra has as part of the Bigpond DVD rental service changeover to Bigpond movies on the T-Box.
Hi Brendan,
You stated previously, “The free T-Box option is one of three exiting options we have for our BigPond Movies DVD via mail customers. If you call 1800 502 502 someone will be able to talk you through these other options.”
Well I called and was only offered a $150 credit on Bigpond movies. According to you, wasn’t I meant to have been offered two other choices? And if so, what were these meant to be?
Thanks.
Hi David. That’s disappointing to hear that you had that experience. I’ve passed on the feedback and please try this number. 1-800 008 846. It’s the direct number for the Bigpond DVD rental service changeover service.
I’m really p—– off Telstra is closing the Bigpond mail out service as well. I definitely won’t be getting a T-Box. I know of two people who have had the T-Box and said they are absolute rubbish and that Telstra should not even be still allowed to sell them. I will be changing to another mailout service like Quickflix, I’ve used them before, they charge about $5 more a month but overall provide pretty good service.
Am traveling at the moment. Knew Telstra was shutting down their DVD service, but am not sure of what the alternative options or offers that are being made to existing customers. Can someone please advise?
As said before, DVD service was much better in many respects: cheaper per movie, more titles, watch movies over & over, no download problems, and can watch anywhere you have a DVD player.
Be interested to see what offer they are giving their customers instead. But from what I’ve seen to date, Telstra does not unfortunately offer any discounts on it’s downloaded movies for loyal customers or a reward system after so many downloads.
Can someone please post the offer details?
Does anyone use the Ruckus Wi-Fi Home Network Extender to get their TBox on a second TV?
Hi Brendan,
If the merger between foxtel and Austar goes through will Telstra be allowed to offer Foxtel on the TBox to customers in the NT and Tas?
Hi Dale, I asked for you and here’s what I got. Telstra is always looking for ways to better the T-Box offering and give access to more consumers, however the initial deal has to go through first before any other negotiations can be made.
Brendan,
Thanks for trying but have your team taken lessons from politicans in how to speak and say nothing.
That was the most useless reply to a question I have ever seen in my life at the corporate level.
I expect it from government but not from a business
Thanks again
Dale
Hi, we’ve had the TBox for just a couple of weeks. ITs great, but every 0 minutes or so you can see that the sound doesn’t matcht the picture and then the sound goes static. Any ideas?
sorry Every 40 minutes no 0. Thnx
Brendan, kind of feel sorry for you having to bare the brunt of customer disatisfaction over such a shoddy product.
For everyone else I too foolishly signed on for a t-box after the wife, an other wise smart and intuitive lady, suggested it would be a good idea for saving money, stay at home watch movies you know the story, Foxtel tried using it as an ad campaign. Waited two months for the original t-box we ordered only to have a second unwanted one arrive shortly thereafter.
Cue the clown music.
I have spent the last 6 months trying to return the second t-box and then get recredited the fees we have been charged for it. Have just been recredited today for the second time and promised that we will not receive any further charges. Will let you know how that goes, but needless to say I am not holding my breath. Which leads me back to the original t-box. I believe the term paperweight and bookend have been referred to in earlier posts!!! Unfortunately it is a little wide to fit in my book case so I just keep it in a cupboard now. Found that was a better solution than constantly tearing my hair out over the endless freezing and the failure of scheduled recordings. I really love the MotoGP and I am yet to successfully record a single round. Luckily my wifes’ recordings seem to work occasionnally. Thanks for that Telstra, a double punishment me thinks. On a serious note for those prospective buyers… “Caveat emptor”
Please fix the issue with your website telstra.com/tboxsetup
Once on site and logged in as my telstra account, then select main Foxtel service and one add on entertainment service, then click confirm / submit, the site then errors saying External System Error please contact Telstra Support
I have tried for weeks now with many computers and internet connections, and I work in IT support as a job and always get the same error
Telstra say the telstra.com/tboxsetup website is the only way for T-Box owners to join Foxtel for T-Box
How am I able to if the error keeps appearing
I am currently on phone to Telstra and they have logged in as me and getting same error
Telstra you need to thoroughly test your products before releasing to public
The T-Box has been nothing but a pain in the ass since the start
When are you going to bring a better product out on the market?
Frustrated Telstra Customer
Just spoke to Kaylene in Team Telstra, she was helpful and found out from her manager that there is a known issue Re: issue with telstra.com/tboxsetup when trying to join up for Foxtel on T-Box
Also what is the special Bundle price for Foxtel on T-Box if a customer has all products with Telstra
Where’s the incentive Telstra for me to stay with you for all my products and services?
cheers
Marc, I agree with your “Caveat emptor” recommendation. I have had at least 4, maybe 5 boxes, no problems returning them in the recovery bags supplied but this latest unit worked ok for about two months, now it is likewise a great paper weight in a cupboard because it does nothing but freeze when streaming, or supposed to be streaming. I agree, sometimes on Bigpond News, there is a sound sync problem. Good luck all. Kevin
Hi Kevin. Can’t tell by your post if you need assistance with your current unit. Let me know if you need help.
Thanks for your offer Brendan.
When I overcome the frustration, I will call T-Box tech support again, they are always helpful and have without any real debate sent another new box, it’s in my view the deficiency in the box functionality/firmware/architecture or whatever. I feel sorry for the tech support, they seem to pushing uphill. They have replace mine a number of times along with the unit I purchased outright for my daughter. I put my brother onto the idea, his box is still sitting in its cardboard packaging as I have said, there’s enough with one of us being frustrated with the bloody thing. Thanks again, not your fault, it’s a crap box.
I have a T-Box that has XML error when I try to download a movie I seem to have nothing but trouble with telstra and there products can anyone help me
Hi Heather. Sorry to hear you’ve been having issues with your T-Box. Please contact Technical Support on 1300 136 841 for assistance with your XML error.
Having been a member of the Bigpond Movie Rentals, I was disappointed that it is closing down.
I was offered the T-Box deal but after a few inquires and comments on this site I will not be taking up the offer.
I cannot see why the cost of the movies is higher considering there is no postage and also you cannot download Blue Ray quality movies!
I, like so many others, have spent money buying a good quality Home Theatre Systems and enjoy the Blue Ray experience so really this is a backward step.
Looks like Quickflix has another customer.
Hi,
something weird has happened to my T-Box.
Up to now I’ve been a very happy customer, but now when I start my T-Box it responds to the remote control for maybe 30 seconds up to 1 minute or so, and then freezes all together. Not responds at all anymore. Now basically the remote control is useless from that point forward.
Only way to use the T-Box again is to reboot it. This happens everytime. Drives me nuts. It started this weekend, yesterday actually.
Does anyone have the same problems and if so, any suggestions?
I was a very happy T-Box customer up until now. I hope someone can solve this issue very rapidly. Thanks.
Hello Peter, Sorry yo hear yout T-box is freezing. Please use this form to send me your account number and a contact number and I’ll have someone look into this for you.
I’m a mum of 5 from 9-18 living in country Vic and for us tbox is fantastic it changed our old tv to HD and cost less than pay tv and Internet package elsewhere we have home bundle plus tbox and mobile for less than $200 mth Inc paying off equipment I’ve reccommended it to heaps of others as it saved me a fortune and is perfect for my family it’s also saved me money and as a single mum it fits my budget
I hated telstra before but now am converted and very happy customer
Ps just wanted to add my tv works with only bunny ears on tv and t box no roof aerial and we always get 25 free to air channels clearly plus bigpond utube and movies with no major problems pretty good in a country area
Peter, I have exactly the same issue which developed a short time after I thought I was in for a trouble free journey.It appears that I have the latest firmware, I will one day call tech support again and see what they advise. Probably another new box? Still, I’m an old hand at de-registering and then registering the replacement. Cheers, Kevin
I’ve tried joining the Foxtel on T-Box and get greeted with “I’m not a Cable customer” oh yes I am, I upgraded a few months ago to cable from ADSL2+ as streaming wouldn’t work on T-Box with ADSL
Telstra PLEASE fix the website for T-Box
I’m about to cancel my service with you guys, it’s an on going drama that should be easily and quickly resolved
Please ask Kaylene in Team Telstra to follow this up and someone contact me
Hi Steven, I’ve asked for a team member to call you.
I am trying to add foxtel to my T-Box but it says i cant as i dont have broadband internet. Omg i have this. I tried doing it online and i still get a screen saying you currently are using adsl 2 and cant have foxtel as yet. Whats with this. What else do i have to do. I had Foxtel IQ here four years ago. .
Only available through Cable broadband at this point in time:-
http://www.telstra.com.au/tv/tbox/foxtel-tbox/eligibility/
http://www.telstra.com.au/tv/tbox/foxtel-tbox/adsl2eoi/
Hi there…cannot get access to program guide…keeps telling me that my tbox is not registered. have checked this online….all ok. Can someone let me know what to do to fix this and occasionally still have trouble with channel 11 jumping-most annoying.The Tbox has a habit of starting up twice each time it is turned on in the morning. Otherwise love the recording capabilities…..oh and still cannot permanently hide internet channels…nrl…afl….racing when i want to…..bev
http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/gadgets/5335028/TBox-users-far-from-happy-with-ongoing-problems
Telstraclear has admitted ongoing problems with its long-awaited MySky-rival the TBox, following complaints the personal video recorder often freezes and records the wrong channel.
Customer Christine Pover said the problems had been ongoing since she purchased a TBox just after its launch.
TelstraClear had replaced her unit after she complained about it freezing but that unit was still freezing and was at times recording the wrong channel.
The electronic programming guide disappeared about once a week, and the only way to get it back was to reboot the unit.
TelstraClear had promised there would be a software update in June to fix some of the issues, “but the updates never seem to happen”.
It had offered to rent the unit free for six months as compensation.
“We’ll probably persevere with it only because we have our internet and phone with them and for us to switch to Sky would cost us more money.”
Paul LeBeau said he was on to his second TBox but its performance was still sluggish. TelstraClear spokesman Gary Bowering said updates had fixed some of the problems with the TBox software, and it was working with its software provider to address other issues.
The next two updates would fix freezing issues and improve the slow responsiveness of the unit which was due to its high-definition menu and user interface.
“The customer user experience is of great importance to us, and there is positive comment comparing our TBox picture quality with competitors’ products.
“We are working with our software supplier on incremental updates to address the other issues, and will issue updates to continue to improve the user experience over the next few months.”
Very few units had needed replacing. Customers experiencing problems should reboot their units to ensure the software was updated, Bowering said.
Sky customers also reported various issues with MySky after its launch.
TelstraClear planned to launch the TBox in 2008 but software glitches delayed its debut until September last year. Customers, including Telstra customers in Australia, have also complained of tinny sound and pixelated images.
Consumer New Zealand adviser Paul Doocey said the PVRs would be covered by the Consumer Guarantees Act, which requires goods to be of an acceptable quality and fit for purpose.
“If you keep getting [replacement] units and they’re not working then you could look at getting your money back and getting something else in the market.”
- The Dominion Post
Remote control does not work. Each time I ring up tech support, I get the same script, same process and they send me a new remote control. We are now up to the SIXTH remote control over the last 11 months or so. They concede that threre are problems and faults with these remotes, send me a new one which invariably after ~7-8 weeks stops working. What’s is the point of replacing a faulty remote with another new equally faulty remote that will need replacing again in a few months time ?
we have had a T-Box for a while. We never order movies from it, but decided to and it keeps coming up with a XML error. What have others done to fix this issue?
Hello Claire. Sorry to hear you’ve been having issues with your T-Box. Please contact Technical Support on 1300 136 841 for assistance with your XML error and try the new Telstra CrowdSupport forum. There is some new info on T-Box fixes.
Invalid xml? Not a problem.
From the main menu goto
Settings / tbox infomation/ reset options
Select remove movie licenses. Then reset program guide.
Hold the power button down till goes into deep sleep.
Then tap the reset. Located under the tbox. Once. Tbox should restart.
Hi Adam, I’m having the same trouble and followed your instructions, but it didn’t work
Any new advice? Thanks 
My Tbox is showing as unregistered on the actual box, however I have the confirmation email saying it has been.
Help please????
i have had my tbox for about 8 months and have had no problems with it until a few days ago. every now and then it would lose volume and after turning it on and off it would come back, but now it has gone and will not come back at all. i have looked in the settings menu, have reset a couple of times and still nothing????
Ben, I have had about 4 months with it, ie this one, working, particularly streaming but now, kapow, loses audio, freezes, pixilates. Have done the same. Pulled out the power, re-paired the remote and reset. Still playing up and I have the July firmware update. It really is a toy box isn’t it.
kevin, i rang the 1300 support number, the bloke was really helpful. did a test while on the phone and 5 minutes later said a replacement unit was on the way. new unit arrived today and hey presto no sound. rang them again and this time after testing same thing sending out a new unit. when asked what would happen if this one didn’t work? refund. i think the tbox is a good idea but i wish they had done a bit more testing before releasing it
Thanks Ben, similar story from my end – over now about 9 months. The Tech help desk people are helpful and courteous. It appears to me to be a box issue, they should ditch what they have and replace all with some better architecture and software. Kevin
Had a call from Telstra about my account and was asked about the t-box…also told me that at some time had been downgraded from ADSL 2+ to ADSL 1 – apparently T-box works best on ADSL 2+ hence have had issues. Since upgrade (free) again have quicker response to remote. Still some trouble with Channel 11 shudder. The manual record system does not work according to settings either but I like the ease at which recordings can be done even if program times are out of sync. Not too sure who is at fault. We feel all is done on purpose by networks to stop you from recording their programs and skipping all the ads. Oh yes those ads why would I want channels that only show advertising ….. we want to avoid them…..hello didn”t I just say that we skip them via the T-box recording system….get the ad channels off the T-box I think they are boring and a waste of time and energy.