Telstra T-Box PVR (preview)

The T-Box shines when used when connected to high-speed Telstra BigPond Internet and has some excellent content available

Good Gear Guide

The Telstra T-Box is a personal video recorder (PVR) with a 320GB internal hard drive and two high-definition digital television tuners. The T-Box, due for release later this month, also has access (when connected to the Internet via Telstra's BigPond service) to seven IPTV channels and BigPond Movies on Demand. A smooth and good-looking interface makes the device easy to use without any prior experience, and download speeds are excellent. If you're a Telstra BigPond customer, you're in for a treat. If you're not, the T-Box is far less inviting.

Pros

  • Smooth and intuitive interface, super-fast buffering and downloading (on Telstra BigPond cable and ADSL2+), wide range of content on BigPond TV and BigPond Movies on Demand, low initial price

Cons

  • Requires a BigPond Internet connection to access BigPond online content, new release movie content is slightly expensive

Bottom Line

The Telstra T-Box PVR is a viable alternative to the TiVo and other set-top box offerings, and its movies on demand and linear streaming channels provide a compelling value-add option for anyone looking for reasons to switch ISPs to Telstra BigPond. It is only appealing to those with Telstra BigPond Internet, though - users of other ISPs will be unable to access most functions.

Would you buy this?

  • Price

    $ 299.00 (AUD)

The Telstra T-Box is the telecommunications giant's attempt at bringing its BigPond TV IPTV channels and BigPond Movies on Demand service to your television screen. Connecting to your home network via 10/100MBps Ethernet or 802.11b/g/n wireless, the Telstra T-Box's 320GB hard drive is split up into two segments — you'll be able to use around 200GB for storing recorded free-to-air television, while the other 120GB is devoted to BigPond Movies downloads and caching for BigPond streaming IPTV.

You must have a Telstra BigPond Internet connection to be able to access the BigPond TV and BigPond Movies on Demand content on the Telstra T-Box. If you don't, these features will be unavailable and the T-Box loses most of its appeal.

Telstra T-Box: design and connectivity

The T-Box is quite attractive for a PVR. Its glossy black and brushed black aluminium fascia has only a USB port and a power LED. Head to the rear of the unit and you'll find an antenna jack, Ethernet port, HDMI output and break-out for composite and component analog video connectors. SP/DIF optical audio and stereo RCA analog audio output allows a home theatre system to be connected.

In the retail package of the Telstra T-Box you can expect to find an aerial cable, HDMI cable, break-out analog video cable and Ethernet network cable — everything you'll need to get the T-Box hooked up and running. The unit we tested was connected to a 30 megabit Telstra BigPond cable connection and a Samsung television via HDMI.

Telstra T-Box: interface

The graphical user interface of the Telstra T-Box is one of the best we've seen on a standalone personal video recorder (short of buying a media centre, which allow a huge range of customisation). The interface is vaguely reminiscent of the PlayStation 3's XMB style in that it uses both horizontal and vertical scrolling — after navigating through a vertical list of options in the main menu, you can scroll horizontally to find the specific content you're after. Animations are smooth and the on-screen icons are brightly coloured and easy to read. Menus are also laid out intuitively, and often there is more than one way to access content — one example we saw was the ability to access rented movies via My Rentals the main menu, but also via the rentals option in the BigPond Movies menu.

Read more on these topics: home entertainment, PVR, set-top boxes, Telstra,

User Comments

1

Marni SpicerWed 08/12/2010 - 11:50

I would just like to say that I have recently had the displeasure of getting a telstra t box. I have now had it for about 2 weeks, and when I first tried to download a movie it told me that my television (which is only a few years old) was not capable of downloading and watching the movie through a HDMI lead, so I then had to connect it with the AV leads, which then of course displayed a much lower resolution image. Apart from the fact that every time I want to use this function I need to disconnect teh HDMI leads and connect the unsightly AV leads. I have also set the T Box to record some programs and each time it misses the ending, which was most frustrating. I also find the menu system extremely frustrating, if you are seconds away from wanting to watch a particular program it will not just play the channel but it will tell you that the program has not started yet, and would you like a reminder...(no I bloody well do not, I just want to watch the god damn thing). The menu makes it extremely difficult to see what's on at what time, it's crowded with mostly inappropriate imagery and gives you a rubbish view of the over all programme giude.
So all in all when I received the T Box, it looks like a piece of junk, feels like a piece of junk and IS a piece of junk. I would definitely recommend looking into an alternative solution such as SKY or cable. Unfortunately I am now tied into a contract and have no option to get out of it.....so I will just have to wait another 2 weeks for a new T Box because the piece of s---t one that I have got now has broken down and they need to send me a new one. Joy of joys!

2

Dave JohnstonWed 19/01/2011 - 15:46

The T Box is an absolute lemon. Every PVR I have ever seen leaves it for dead. The remote has limited options, and skipping ads on recorded shows is difficult. So very Sssllloooowwwww, if your in a hurry to catch something epxpect to miss the first few minutes. Always going into sleep mode is annoying.
And extra content? if you like footy & motorsport (which I don't) I'm sure its great, but even with the best internet speed I can get its stop start all the time.
AND, they said I would get it for free...what a scam, I'm paying it off over years as a hidden charge.
Good try Telstra, but its only a money spinner, not anything else.

3

ShaunFri 21/01/2011 - 08:24

We like the TBox when it is working! We had a lot of trouble early and made many calls to support which did not solve the problems. They finally replaced the modem and we are enjoying it. It is easy to record with and they have some good movies to watch.

4

John MorrisonMon 14/02/2011 - 19:35

Please who ever reads this under no circumstance get one of these T Boxes in short they are crap,do not fall into any sales pitch by any one from Telstra.You will be greatly disappointed by the product.

5

Craig JohnsonFri 15/04/2011 - 16:48

DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT!
The T-box is certainly a lemon. It's a nice concept, and is great when it works. The problem is that it rarely works.
I'm on my second t-box, and am looking at returning it. The first one kept on losing the remote control settings (requiring a reset twice a day). The current one crashes after about 2 hrs - and you only find out when you go to change the channel.

6

Graham DreverFri 15/07/2011 - 17:54

DON'T BUY
Bought this thing last year thinking we would have access to extra channels and on-line movies with the benefit of a hard drive recorder to boot.
The move from Optus (been with them trouble free for many years on cable) to Telstra was a bit of a pain and expense as we needed trenches dug and lines laid through the middle of our front yard. Then we discover Telsras ADSL2 did not have enough power to run the "free" chanels nor play hired movies. Our internet speed was around 25% of what we had with Optus. The T box regularly turns itself off. We often lose the tail end of a recording.
We managed to get out of the contract and went back to Optus which was even more hassle! OK at least we were left with a hard drive recorder. Then the remote packed it in and when I rang the help line (it has a 2 year g'tee)in the Philppines I was told they couldn't help me because I was not a Telstra customer!!!! Called in to the local Telstra shop who gave me a replacement remote.

7

BecMon 12/09/2011 - 14:48

I'm on my 5th t-box, and have had countless remotes. The first one I got didn't even turn on and have had different problems with all of them. I've just called to have this one taken and not replaced. I love the recording feature and that's about it, when scrolling through channels it skips, watching bigpond movies they stutter. I've had them turn themselves off randomly, remotes had to be held 30cm away to get them to work, had one freeze and when I reset it to factory it froze in the start up menu. The scheduled recordings always miss the end of the shows. And you can't record or watch recordings when the hard drive is doing whatever it does at the most inoptune moments

8

jackoFri 23/09/2011 - 15:05

I've had the T-Box for two weeks now and it rocks!!! My internet is superfast which gives me fast downloads and streaming each and everyday. The better movies are dearer that renting from the local video store but I guess the convenience of not having to jump in the car makes it worth it. The only gripe I had was the remote control was a dud from new which stopped me from setting it up properly, but a quick trip to the nearest Telstra shop supplied me with another one for free which solved the problem.

9

A.GregorySun 25/09/2011 - 15:49

We have had our T.Box for almost four months and have had heapppsss of problems with it!!
The remote had to be replaced after the first month, then the T.Box needed replacing, we are one week into our second and having the same problems as with the first, only now it misses the ends of movies when recording! Had sky the went with T.Box cos the Telstra sales guy said it was better and would be free but when our 3rd bill came through they had started charging us for it, he also told us we could get the sky channels with the T.Box at extra charge but when we rung to arrange it they told us you cant. Not happy with the T.Box so far....

10

ShannonSat 08/10/2011 - 23:38

I don't know who picks the music played on Bpm, most of it is crap. Friday and Saturday nights you say is party music, who for? I don't know half of it. Shouldn't party music be popular music. Get your $h;t together guys. No point having a party if the music isn't up to scratch. For instance on right now is the worst song I've ever heard. Hold the line by Major lazer. Don't play that crap again.

11

BeckSun 16/10/2011 - 19:09

Yes I agree with Shannon on the comment above. bpm is lacking good songs. More people should speak up of you agree.

12

JshannowThu 16/02/2012 - 19:05

Really? Really? Did you use it or just use the words Telstra gave you. Everyone
I know who has one, including us, has had nothing but trouble. Do not buy.

Make your own

Comment
Review
This will be kept private.
0.00
Users posting comments agree to the PC World comments policy.

Most Popular

What's the difference between an Intel Core i3, i5 and i7?
How do I connect my TV to the Internet?
Samsung Galaxy S III vs. HTC One X: Head-to-head
Apple iPad 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1: Tablet showdown
Laser vs. inkjet printers: which is better?

Best Deals on PCWorld

Home EntertainmentView all »
TVsView all »
ProjectorsView all »
MonitorsView all »
Digital VideoView all »

Latest User Reviews