pacer265 Posted October 31, 2004 Posted October 31, 2004 I currently have regular Foxtel and have booked in the 'free' digital installation which will happen in late November. I have a front projector on the way (Panasonic AE700) and am really keen to use the component out feature metioned in various other threads. I realise the firmware update has been rolled back, but assume this is temporary and will be re-released at a later point in time (let me know if this assumption is wrong). I also realise that Pace STB's are in short supply and Foxtel are installing UEC's which do not have (or eventually will have) the ability to output component video. This means I may not have the ability to ouput component and would need either an additional cable run (RGB) to the AE700 or a RGB to component convertor. I have called and written to Foxtel to ask nicely if I could get the Pace STB but am not holding my breath and am looking at other options. I have the noticed the self install kits are still available for sale at $130 and assume contain the Pace STB's. What I'm thinking is to buy one and put in the cupboard until after the Foxtel upgrade. If they give me a Pace STB, no prob, I can set it up in another room and swap cards between units depending on where we want to watch Foxtel. If they don't give me a Pace STB and a give me UEC instead, I can do the same anyway, setting up the UEC in the spare room. My question is - does some sort of activation need to occur when a foxtel card is inserted in an STB or will it work straight away? If yes, is this a simple call to Foxtel? Would Foxtel have any problems with me having two STB's and swapping the card between the two? Thanks
boxhead Posted October 31, 2004 Posted October 31, 2004 Bad news i'm afraid, The boxes are married up to the card. But more importantly i'm pretty sure the diy box only has the remote, not actually the stu. Good luck with the pace. Brett
DannyR Posted October 31, 2004 Posted October 31, 2004 Bad news i'm afraid,The boxes are married up to the card. But more importantly i'm pretty sure the diy box only has the remote, not actually the stu. Good luck with the pace. Their are some newer self install kits that actually include the STB and from what I remeber, a wireless phone jack extender. So that would be the reason you can't pick one up for free. Pitty, because yeah, It would be a good way to guarantee a Pace box. I am really quite supprised how many of these crap UEC boxes they seem to be installing, I was under the impresssion that they were going to be a backup only for issues with the pace and secondly, I though they were only for satellite, but I have seen a few cable ones now. They really need to work with UEC to provide a Component output via Scart on these boxes too. Danny.
xdZ Posted October 31, 2004 Posted October 31, 2004 has anyone actually tired to do a card swap between 2 machines? or are we going of foxtels word?
BigBobOz Posted October 31, 2004 Posted October 31, 2004 Very good question. I'm about to get 3 units installed next week at my place. Can try then. Got me Sh!t scared that I might get 3 UEC units! Hey the guy on the phone said the pace boxes already of HDD in them but not activated. Is that true? When I looked up the specs for the box, there was no mention of HDD...or PVR capabilities... Thanks, Rob
DannyR Posted November 1, 2004 Posted November 1, 2004 Very good question. I'm about to get 3 units installed next week at my place. Can try then.Got me Sh!t scared that I might get 3 UEC units! Hey the guy on the phone said the pace boxes already of HDD in them but not activated. Is that true? When I looked up the specs for the box, there was no mention of HDD...or PVR capabilities... Thanks, Rob <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thats complete rubbish with the HDD being inside the current pace units. You will definately get a different STB when the PVR option comes online. In the UK, its about $450 for the STB and extra montly sub too. However, in the UK, you own your Sky Digital equipment, so Iits up in the air as to how they are goign to charge here. I rekon it will be about $30 a month extra on top of your package. Danny.
dvduser Posted November 1, 2004 Posted November 1, 2004 This means I may not have the ability to ouput component and would need either an additional cable run (RGB) to the AE700 or a RGB to component convertor. Try the RGB/Component converter and SCART Cable avaialble from Hantrex http://www.australiandigitaltv.com.au/acce...ies/rgbcomp.htm - both had great reviews from Toppy owners using them.
pacer265 Posted November 2, 2004 Author Posted November 2, 2004 Thanks for your replies. I must admit, I'm still leaning towards one of these given the cost of the other options vs the purity of a straight through component connection. I'm thinking of cancelling the upgrade and just perform the self install myself. I found in some older threads that Foxtel at one stage (June?) were giving the self install kits away for free. From what I could find, it seemed to be to pilot group or a select group of customers. Can anybody confirm Foxtel no longer do this?
DRB1503559766 Posted November 2, 2004 Posted November 2, 2004 This means I may not have the ability to ouput component and would need either an additional cable run (RGB) to the AE700 or a RGB to component convertor. Try the RGB/Component converter and SCART Cable avaialble from Hantrex http://www.australiandigitaltv.com.au/acce...ies/rgbcomp.htm - both had great reviews from Toppy owners using them. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I tried this with a UEC and I got a fantastic picture but it was RED Definitely worth a try but with the UEC it's a lottery! Dave
Paul1503559514 Posted November 3, 2004 Posted November 3, 2004 Any idea who stocks the DIY upgrade kits in Sydney? Using this method, I assume the contract length is 24 months.
jkipsd Posted November 5, 2004 Posted November 5, 2004 hi all ,who has received the digital uec box recently. i have signed up and received this sub standard av sound box to my disgust. foxtel advertise the new box on there website and make no mention of this old box. also in your package you receive 14 channels with 5.1 dolby , but clearly you dont get it with foxtel's uec refurbished box. i would like to talk anyone not happy with there situation as i am in the early stages of takin them through the legal processes based on their deception's and bad customer relations. scott Bad news i'm afraid,The boxes are married up to the card. But more importantly i'm pretty sure the diy box only has the remote, not actually the stu. Good luck with the pace. Brett <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
DannyR Posted November 7, 2004 Posted November 7, 2004 All, Just out of interest today, I called foxtel to see if you can get a self upgrade kit for free seeing as its free install at the moment. I was told definatly not. Quite unbeilvable. Some freinds of mine decided to take up the free install offer. They already have analogue cable, I told them about the upgrade kit and that you can just get one from Harvey Normans and just plug it in and your done, but foxtel still want to charge $129 for it even though installation is currently free. Unbeliveable that they would rather send out a technican for free but charge you $129 to DIY. Danny.
pacer265 Posted November 7, 2004 Author Posted November 7, 2004 All,Just out of interest today, I called foxtel to see if you can get a self upgrade kit for free seeing as its free install at the moment. I was told definatly not. Quite unbeilvable. Some freinds of mine decided to take up the free install offer. They already have analogue cable, I told them about the upgrade kit and that you can just get one from Harvey Normans and just plug it in and your done, but foxtel still want to charge $129 for it even though installation is currently free. Unbeliveable that they would rather send out a technican for free but charge you $129 to DIY. Danny. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Agree - I got the same answer during the week via HN. I asked the HN rep if the DIY would be a bit cheaper given the current 'free' upgrade offer by Foxtel. They called their Foxtel rep there and then and the response was similar - 'it would be cheaper for you to go with the free install' i.e, no discount on the DIY kit. Hard to understand their thinking.
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