Telstra T-Box PVR (preview)

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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....

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.

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

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.

I have a TBox no complaints it is fantastic I've had it for over 1 year. Simple to use set up was easy it is connected to WiFi - main thing is make sure it is connected properly. I'm a female so if I can set up TBox anyone can do it-not that I'm putting us females down but many of us are not Tech savvy. Just commonsense if there is a problem ring TBox they are very obliging in Customer Service.

How can I connect my T box via the wireless 3G net work . I don't wish to use ADSL 2 or cable as I am in rental accomadation for 4 weeks.

I lost my AV cable for my tbox and you can't but them from Telstra... Does anyone have one I can buy?!
tick_the_box@hotmail.com

Thanks everybody for your coments Telstra alsmot had us sucked in for the T box a fool and his money is easly parted.
Maree

I have had my Tbox for two days now . It is workiking one minute the terrible the next . Freezing all the time and sound goes off and on . I went to watch a bigpond movie and had to turn it off because i was so angry with the sound and the speed , What a load of rubbish