19 replies to this topic

[basketballer999]

dose anyone know how closer optus is to changing over to digital like foxtel as ages ago i read they are going to change over but wondering how close to this happening

[CamG]

basketballer999, on Jun 30 2005, 03:51 PM, said:

dose anyone know how closer optus is to changing over to digital like foxtel as ages ago i read they are going to change over but wondering how close to this happening

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

apparantly september 21 is the launch date..
but theres no mention of anything anywhere - no one has contacted current subscribers, there has been absolutely no mention in the optus tv magazine and if you call them about it you can't even find out a date/cost/etc.

rumours are going around though that current subscribers off contract will not be forced into a new contract - something foxtel should have thought about.

[mgaleano]

CamG, on Jul 1 2005, 09:41 AM, said:

apparantly september 21 is the launch date..
but theres no mention of anything anywhere - no one has contacted current subscribers, there has been absolutely no mention in the optus tv magazine and if you call them about it you can't even find out a date/cost/etc.

rumours are going around though that current subscribers off contract will not be forced into a new contract - something foxtel should have thought about.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Interesting.... I hope they just switch over free of charge! I'm with optus now and hanging out for it.

[The Master]

What citys will optus cover

[DannyR]

tas tv man, on Jul 4 2005, 11:22 AM, said:

What citys will optus cover

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Same as they currently do, most parts of Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.  Usual problems of getting connected if you live in a unit/apartment, or you live in an area with underground power.

It would be good if Optus offered digital TV via satellite.

Danny.

[GregA]

DannyR, on Jul 4 2005, 09:41 PM, said:

It would be good if Optus offered digital TV via satellite.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That was also part of the deal they made with Foxtel.

Optus will sell Foxtel programming on its digital cable, and resell the Foxtel Satellite PayTV product. Satellite will only be available where Foxtel is available (not in Austar areas).

[mgaleano]

GregA, on Jul 4 2005, 10:12 PM, said:

That was also part of the deal they made with Foxtel.

Optus will sell Foxtel programming on its digital cable, and resell the Foxtel Satellite PayTV product. Satellite will only be available where Foxtel is available (not in Austar areas).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm disappointed that Austar is cheaper than foxtel. I think Austar is $46.95 a month. But still for the discounted installation costs you have to pick a package above the minimum and be on a 24 month contract.  Where foxtel basic package is 49.95.  I wonder if Optus will force a contract upon us .

I think it also sucks telecommunication companies gives incentives to go on direct debit systems.  It is ok when things are good but when mistakes happen it hard to fix. We have been paying for someone elses phone bill for ages as optus's billing system is so cumbersome to actually phyiscally stop direct debit is a lot of work between departments.  I really think for these pay TV companies to give discounts for direct debit and no statements isn't good. When things go wrong they can effective steal money from your account and only way to stop it is to close your account.  Without statements its hard to prove anything... The ACCC help but it does take time! I think that practice should be illegal & to save trees they can send invoices via email.


My mum has analog foxtel will they force a contract on her once the switch off analog ?

Matt

[mgaleano]

This maybe old news but just to confirm.  This is from optus TV.

Dear Mr Galeano,



Thank you for your email dated, 08/07/2005,  in relation to Digital TV enquiry.

At present, Optus does not offer a digital television service.  However, on April 7, 2005, FOXTEL and Optus announced they had reached an agreement for Optus to commence selling the FOXTEL Digital service.

Under the agreement, Optus will offer its customers the full complement of services within FOXTEL Digital including the FOXTEL Digital guide and the FOXTEL iQ, the recently-launched FOXTEL personal digital recorder.

        
At this time, FOXTEL and Optus have yet to announce a date for Optus to commence FOXTEL Digital resale.  Once an announcement is made, existing Optus Television customers will be notified.  In addition, details will be posted to our website.

[mgaleano]

Hello!

I got this great deal with foxtel digital which means I'm only on a 12 month contract. And I get two months free. The installation costs in low as well.  Optus would not give me concrete answer on when they will convert. I don't think it will be as good as the deal i have with foxtel anyway.

Just a question to people who got foxtel digital installed, how many AV outputs do you have from your foxtel box? Do you have the normal RF cable (I think thats the term (ie the aerial type socket) ? This was what I used with optus. I'm getting it install in about a weeks time.

I have only a mono video player is it possible to get a mono sound going to my video player?

Matt

[loc]

There are 3 different models of foxtel digital stu - they all have 2 x scart output (tv and vcr) and then different models have either a full set of 3 rca sockets or a x rca and a 3.5mm stereo/optical socket for audio.  They all have the rf output as well but that is the last resort for interconnection.

So ultimately they have a pile of options for interconnection - and they can plug into the mono vcr ok, just use the left audio (generally used as the mono input when available)

[mgaleano]

loc, on Jul 19 2005, 07:33 PM, said:

There are 3 different models of foxtel digital stu - they all have 2 x scart output (tv and vcr) and then different models have either a full set of 3 rca sockets or a x rca and a 3.5mm stereo/optical socket for audio.  They all have the rf output as well but that is the last resort for interconnection.

So ultimately they have a pile of options for interconnection - and they can plug into the mono vcr ok, just use the left audio (generally used as the mono input when available)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for your reply. Is it possible to listen to the foxtel radio and to the TV at the same time. I was think I could connect my stereo to the set top box.

Also is it similar my digital set top box where you set it to letterbox mode. So you can watch wide screen on a non-wide screen TV.

[GregA]

mgaleano, on Jul 20 2005, 10:46 AM, said:

Thanks for your reply. Is it possible to listen to the foxtel radio and to the TV at the same time. I was think I could connect my stereo to the set top box.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You can connect the Foxtel box to your stereo and TV - but you can only tune in to one thing at a time.

So you could listen to the Foxtel radio and turn off your TV (or simply see a blue screen with the radio channel name).
OR you could watch a movie or TV show and have the stereo sound of the TV show coming out your stereo.

You mentioned you have a mono VCR. Do you have a stereo TV?

[mgaleano]

GregA, on Jul 21 2005, 09:16 AM, said:

You can connect the Foxtel box to your stereo and TV - but you can only tune in to one thing at a time.

So you could listen to the Foxtel radio and turn off your TV (or simply see a blue screen with the radio channel name).
OR you could watch a movie or TV show and have the stereo sound of the TV show coming out your stereo.

You mentioned you have a mono VCR. Do you have a stereo TV?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes my TV is stereo... I have a nicer hifi nearby so if I wanted to listen to the music on foxtel I could connect it to my hi-fi system. The sound would be better.

I also bought one of these transmitter things for putting my video and DVD pictures to my bedroom. Should I hide that when the foxtel guy comes to install? I concerned he may want to charge extra for having two TVs feeding the foxtel.

[markmac1]

mgaleano, on Jul 18 2005, 10:27 AM, said:

Hello!

I got this great deal with foxtel digital which means I'm only on a 12 month contract. And I get two months free. The installation costs in low as well.  Optus would not give me concrete answer on when they will convert. I don't think it will be as good as the deal i have with foxtel anyway.

Just a question to people who got foxtel digital installed, how many AV outputs do you have from your foxtel box? Do you have the normal RF cable (I think thats the term (ie the aerial type socket) ? This was what I used with optus. I'm getting it install in about a weeks time.

I have only a mono video player is it possible to get a mono sound going to my video player?

Matt

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Whats the great deal ?
Can anyone get get it ?

markmac1

[vidiot]

The offer we got in the mail is installation 29.95 and 2 months free trial, with a 12 month contract thereafter if you choose to continue (your choice of basic to platinum, usual rates). I presume because the place is already cabled, but we're subscribed elsewhere.

[Kermit100]

The company has no specific dates yet for launching digital TV. There is still a trial to go ahead first but it will be the same content as Foxtel (including IQ). There is rumour some channels though are to be broadcast in HD formats & with Optus on board channels 7 & 10 may also finally sign the digital agreement.

I should have more concrete information on Wednesday as I'll be attending a meeting regarding upcoming Optus technologies.

[mgaleano]

vidiot, on Jul 22 2005, 09:37 PM, said:

The offer we got in the mail is installation 29.95 and 2 months free trial, with a 12 month contract thereafter if you choose to continue (your choice of basic to platinum, usual rates). I presume because the place is already cabled, but we're subscribed elsewhere.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes this was the deal. 12 months I thought was OK , not as long as the standard 24 months.  This was a major reason why I didn't join foxtel from the beginning.

Another reason why I didn't get Foxtel was ,  I only wanted the basic pack and the installation cost was too high for this compare to optus , plus at the time optus was cheaper $43 vs $49.95. Although you get more channels on fox the main ones I want were fox sports.

After gettting this offer from foxtel , I rang optus to challenge them on when Digital Pay TV was coming in and ask if they could give me some clear idea when it will happen. They were so vague so I have made the switch to foxtel . I also find you have to wait at least 10 mins everytime you call optus TV.  Foxtel you don't have to wait. I have not been happy with the optus customer service on all services, I'm considering to switch all my services to telstra.  

Matt

[vidiot]

Your experiences mirror mine. Got basic optus for the same reasons, and really have just been waiting for near no-cost changeover, with a short contract.

While my girlfriend seems able to tolerate the crappy optus picture, I perform the dance of the remotes whenever something I actually want to watch appears on FTA (cricket, 24 at present).

If only FTA retransmission was up to scratch so I could let the other set-top box go......

I've booked in for the "free trial" - installation 2 weeks time.

[mgaleano]

vidiot, on Jul 25 2005, 10:22 PM, said:

Your experiences mirror mine. Got basic optus for the same reasons, and really have just been waiting for near no-cost changeover, with a short contract.

While my girlfriend seems able to tolerate the crappy optus picture, I perform the dance of the remotes whenever something I actually want to watch appears on FTA (cricket, 24 at present).

If only FTA retransmission was up to scratch so I could let the other set-top box go......

I've booked in for the "free trial" - installation 2 weeks time.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Are FTA on fox digital on analog?

I think optus picture is pretty bad. I would expect better. If the picture was as good as a good analog transmission you get with a normal aerial I would consider keeping it on until digital takesover. I find that sometimes you get these annoying lines that you can really see when the camera iso on sign on  billboard if you watch the sport.  It hard to describe without a picture. It like distorts the text. I did call optus on this and they said they can send someone but if they can't find anything wrong they will charge me so I didn't bother. It could be classed as "normal".  

Matt

[vidiot]

I'm pretty sure you're describing what I'm seeing, which I've also assumed is the nature of analog cable once you put it on a display of any size and resolution.

On the FTA, my understanding is that on digital cable, the FTA channels are retransmitted either from:

1)  the digital source (nine for example) in which case it's at least potentially widescreen, but not quite up to the quality of sd (lower bit rate?), OR

2) from an analog feed (ie seven), which is ordinary and  "fullscreen" (what a misnomer).

Is that what you mean?

Hopefully the backroom deals will result in seven etc coming to the party, but their target of commercial multichannelling of their own may conflict.......