624 replies to this topic

[johnjet]

I finally got an answer back from Foxtel and I have been assured 100% with alll certainty that the output of the HD channels has not be altered.

When I told the guy that I can notice the drop in quality and that people with a third party device can get the bit rates of the channels and also that even lyngsat lists the transponders as having 7 channels on each, that's when things got very interesting.

First he told me that "You can't access Foxtel via a third party device". He insisted it was impossible. When I told him well that is the case, he said that is in "violation" of their TOS and that anyone found using a third party device for Foxtel can be prosecuted. I pretty much tuned out at the rest of his rantings.

Then he said "Lyngsat is no way an accurate reporting service". He again tried to reassure me that the quality has not dropped as Foxtel are not broadcasting 7 HD channels on one stream. But then he added this little gem "That our satellite service is such that we have enough capacity for 10 Channels of HD per transponder and it won't effect the output". Serously. I'm not that tech savvy but I even know that is impossible.

And then the final insult which resulted in me asking to be put through to a supervisior and lodging an offical complaint, he told me "Sir, I think you may want to get your eyes tested. You may be having eye problems."

Now I am just wating for someone to ring me back.

I'm so over this crap now. The second I get a phone call I'm dropping HD and changing to basic, and will spend that extra money buying Blu-rays in glorious HD.

[pc9]

johnjet, on Oct 20 2011, 04:02 PM, said:

I finally got an answer back from Foxtel and I have been assured 100% with alll certainty that the output of the HD channels has not be altered.

When I told the guy that I can notice the drop in quality and that people with a third party device can get the bit rates of the channels and also that even lyngsat lists the transponders as having 7 channels on each, that's when things got very interesting.

First he told me that "You can't access Foxtel via a third party device". He insisted it was impossible. When I told him well that is the case, he said that is in "violation" of their TOS and that anyone found using a third party device for Foxtel can be prosecuted. I pretty much tuned out at the rest of his rantings.

Then he said "Lyngsat is no way an accurate reporting service". He again tried to reassure me that the quality has not dropped as Foxtel are not broadcasting 7 HD channels on one stream. But then he added this little gem "That our satellite service is such that we have enough capacity for 10 Channels of HD per transponder and it won't effect the output". Serously. I'm not that tech savvy but I even know that is impossible.

And then the final insult which resulted in me asking to be put through to a supervisior and lodging an offical complaint, he told me "Sir, I think you may want to get your eyes tested. You may be having eye problems."

I'm so over this crap now. The second I get a phone call I'm dropping HD and changing to basic, and will spend that extra money buying Blu-rays in glorious HD.

Now I am just wating for someone to ring me back.

Had a similar exchange with Austar today. They answered my call by stating that I had a problem with the HD channels so I retorted that it was their problem due to the compression caused by the provider Foxtel adding additional HD channels on the same transponders.

I'm noticing some enhancement on FTA HD lately, Mate and One native HD is quite watchable.  Ironically, GEM here in Cairns has upped their bit rate again and are approaching a reasonable HD quality. There was a Euro Cup soccer match on SBS hd this morning and it was legit 720p, bloody spectacular - better than ESPN hd. The gap is definately closing and I'm hoping that this will motivate people churn away from pay TV and their excessive rippoffs.

[BamBBBam]

Well it is a breach of Foxtel's T&C to use the card in a third party box, and users here have suggested it may actually be breaking the law. Doesn't stop lots of people doing it though.

And he is right about lyngsat too - it's often months out of date.

[chewygumby]

BamBBBam, on Oct 20 2011, 07:55 PM, said:

Well it is a breach of Foxtel's T&C to use the card in a third party box, and users here have suggested it may actually be breaking the law. Doesn't stop lots of people doing it though.

And he is right about lyngsat too - it's often months out of date.

NOT breaking the law breaking the T&C yes law no

[doodlefeatures]

Do you need to put the Foxtel card in a 'third-party box' to see the bitrate of the channels though?  Couldn't you still see the bitrates if you have the software on your PC, just the channels would be scrambled?

[barkaz88]

Hey davmel, can we please get another foxtel hd bitrate update, that would be great, thanks

[pc9]

doodlefeatures, on Oct 21 2011, 07:59 AM, said:

Do you need to put the Foxtel card in a 'third-party box' to see the bitrate of the channels though?  Couldn't you still see the bitrates if you have the software on your PC, just the channels would be scrambled?

No you don't - most good quality linux based satellite receivers will load up the encrypted channel and provide all the peramaters. Hopefully Davmel can provide the latest update on this.  There seems to be some odd things happening, eg Fox Sports 1 HD, WHD, Starpics 2HD definately seem compromised.  Most of the movie channels also look a bit washed out but not as bad as the above 3.

[BamBBBam]

chewygumby, on Oct 21 2011, 05:26 AM, said:

NOT breaking the law breaking the T&C yes law no

I'm really not sure about that, I've heard both sides. davmel has previously suggested that it may be a breach of copyright laws, i.e. viewing programs outside the legal broadcast area.

(Not that I have ever heard of anyone being arrested or charged with that!)

Edited by BamBBBam, 22 October 2011 - 09:53 AM.

[peterca]

At first I wasn't convinced that the HD quality had decreased but after flicking through the HD channels recently I think you guys are right, the quality has definitely fallen away.

Anyway, I have sent a complaint to Foxtel.

[Slattery]

I too just sent a complaint to Foxtel. Fox Sports 1 HD has definitely dropped in quality. It was quite noticeable during the Green Bay Vs Minnesota NFL game this morning and now on the World Series Baseball game 3 as well...

[peterca]

Seems to vary greatly channel to channel. Last night the cricket on Fox2 HD was pretty good while the NASCAR this weekend on Speed HD was very ordinary.

Edited by peterca, 24 October 2011 - 11:07 AM.

[pc9]

peterca, on Oct 24 2011, 11:36 AM, said:

Seems to vary greatly channel to channel. Last night the cricket on Fox2 HD was pretty good while the NASCAR this weekend on Speed HD was very ordinary.

Yep - they're fiddling with the bit rates on a regular basis.  Fox Sports 1 has been down for a while yet tonight they've ramped it up for the Premier League.  Most of the movie channels look ordinary.  Very large monitors definately reveal the loss of resolution a lot more than smaller units.

[Wags]

Cricket from Sth Africa last night was only OK also IMO.

[laurie]

It could happen shortly that SD on Foxtel could look better than HD,now wouldn't that be funny  

cheers laurie

[Slattery]

I got a standard reply today. See below.

Thank you for your email to FOXTEL.

I appreciate the time you have taken to contact us regarding the NFL coverage on FOX Sports HD.  I have forwarded your concerns to FOX Sports to review their HD broadcast and to ensure the NFL LIVE feed is in fact HD.

Once more thank you for taking the time to contact us, you can leave your programming feedback http://www.foxtel.co...ack/default.htm or speak to our FOXTEL Representatives on 131 999.  They are available to talk to you from 7.30AM to 11PM (EST), everyday.

Yours sincerely

[Ralfi]

Slattery, on Oct 28 2011, 03:33 PM, said:

I got a standard reply today. See below.

Thank you for your email to FOXTEL.

I appreciate the time you have taken to contact us regarding the NFL coverage on FOX Sports HD.  I have forwarded your concerns to FOX Sports to review their HD broadcast and to ensure the NFL LIVE feed is in fact HD.

Once more thank you for taking the time to contact us, you can leave your programming feedback http://www.foxtel.co...ack/default.htm or speak to our FOXTEL Representatives on 131 999.  They are available to talk to you from 7.30AM to 11PM (EST), everyday.

Yours sincerely

What a joke.

Do they have a technical support line at all?

[peterca]

The picture quality of the Foxtel HD channels has been very good recently, don't have movie channels.

[laurie]

peterca, on Nov 12 2011, 01:47 PM, said:

The picture quality of the Foxtel HD channels has been very good recently, don't have movie channels.

What size is your display?

cheers laurie

[peterca]

laurie, on Nov 12 2011, 02:18 PM, said:

What size is your display?

cheers laurie

50 inch Pioneer 507.

[miata]

laurie, on Nov 12 2011, 01:18 PM, said:

What size is your display?

cheers laurie

I made comment on the PQ of the FINA Swimming (supposedly HD) from Singapore, the graphics were great but the action was definitely SD. They assured me that all their Sport on the HD Channels was HD. This was on Facebook, so obviously their Facebook person has no tech savvy.

[pc9]

peterca, on Nov 12 2011, 12:17 PM, said:

The picture quality of the Foxtel HD channels has been very good recently, don't have movie channels.

Don't agree.  They fiddle with the bit rates to suit. For example when they get a native sd feed from an international subscriber such as with the swimming championships it gives them a little extra room to up the bit rate on the other Fox sports HD channels.  Its very random and very evident on the larger panels. I am watching on a 55" LED and can definatley notice the loss of resolution on some HD services.

The whole exercise is very cunning on the part of Foxtel but the fact of the matter is that they are now sqeezing 7 HD channels on each transponder as opposed to 5 when the HD services were first introduced.

[laurie]

peterca, on Nov 12 2011, 03:15 PM, said:

50 inch Pioneer 507.

Well I assure you its very noticeable on my 60" Kuro Foxtel HD at the start was that good I had trouble telling the difference between their HD and Blu Ray now I can see the difference

cheers laurie

[jsk38]

Ralfi, on Oct 28 2011, 06:25 PM, said:

What a joke.

Do they have a technical support line at all?

I know what you mean.  It amazed me that Nat Geo HD would lose audio/video sync for days on end, and no one at Foxtel would notice.  Don't they watch their own programs??

[laurie]

jsk38, on Nov 13 2011, 10:19 AM, said:

I know what you mean.  It amazed me that Nat Geo HD would lose audio/video sync for days on end, and no one at Foxtel would notice.  Don't they watch their own programs??

It use to be quality at Foxtel for HD now its quantity  

cheers laurie

[SLE355]

miata, on Nov 12 2011, 05:21 PM, said:

I made comment on the PQ of the FINA Swimming (supposedly HD) from Singapore, the graphics were great but the action was definitely SD. They assured me that all their Sport on the HD Channels was HD. This was on Facebook, so obviously their Facebook person has no tech savvy.

Thats the same person that said they could do what there doing because of new technolgy.

I had a call from a lady at Foxtel 2 weeks ago regarding my complaint, she was ok with what i had to say and would pass my complaint on to the technical department.