Watch Optik TV on the Xbox 360

[nabors]

I've tried the included SD and HD cables with the Xbox, as well as my own HDMI cable. All the same.

I've tried all the different video settings. But not the HDMI color references, as it was also occuring with the component and rca connections.

This is the 250gb Xbox 360 that came with the Telus optik offer.

[CentaurChester]

Have tried on different TV or LCD monitor just confirm it is 360? HDMI will connect to most new LCD monitors too..
you'll have no sound but good quick way confirm its bad 360..
Yeah that does not sound right.. Sound like Faulty 360 I'd say.

So you have 2 option I'd say
1) Call Telus and complain that you have faulty 360..
They probably tell you
a) send out to Ms to be fix/repaired/replace
b) Telus or Ms would send you new/another one..
which you'd have to wait what another 2 weeks? (I think, but I'm just guessing )

2) Go buy your own 360 from either best buy or any other local tv/video/game shop or store.. Sometime you maybe able find one that has them on sale for bit cheaper price..
I'd payed $299 Cnd for my at Wal-mart 250gig

Perhaps one Telus tech here can give you more info/idea what is involved for getting that 360 fixed/replaced,
Then you can decide if better get fix/repaired/replaced or
just buy your own..

I just bought my own and and Happy I did. I use for gaming/renting movies/watching dvd's/Netflix.
Keeping 360 cool helps too. Even new ones still run hot. So I bough cheep clip on side fans to keep it cool.

[Wiremonkey]

Originally Posted by nabors

Is this an issue that telus should be fixing, such as bringing me a replacement xbox? Or would I have to send it into microsoft for repair? I would think that Telus should be responsible for the xbox as they supplied it, and I would be without the STB feature until it was repaired.

The X-Box is provided as a promo for your 2 year SA on your internet. It is your property and your responsibility. Allowing you to use your X-Box as an OptikTV STB doesn’t mean TELUS is responsible for maintaining it or servicing it should it fail.

It is no different than if you bought your STBs and then one failed. TELUS only assumes responsibility for replacement of faulty or failed rental STBs.
If you own your STBs they are your responsibility if they fail. You must arrange for shipment and repair or service from the manufacturer.

TELUS does not provide loaners for purchased STBs or failed or faulty X-Boxes, as they are customer owned equipment.

If customers don't want to risk being without an STB due to failure, then renting them is the only answer (apart from buying spares).

You should contact Microsoft regarding your X-Box. They provide the warranty for it.

- another TELUS tech

[Jroc26]

Hi guys, got my Optik TV installed on wednsday and so far really like it but I do have a question.

I got the free Xbox 360 as part of my package deal which the tech brought with him, I asked if we could use my 4 gb xbox instead as my bedroom stb as I wanted to use the 250 as my gaming unit in the living room and use the one that I have now strictly for tv in my bedroom. He said he was pretty sure that it had to be the one that he had with him that we used for tv, I didn't really buy it but went with it and figured I would try after he left. Anyways I got the software installed on my other xbox but the registration code won't work since its in use, my question is if I uninstal the optik software off the new xbox will that free the registration code up or do I have to get a new one?

Thanks for any and all replies, I appreciate it. Also what are you guys getting for results from speedtest.net for your internet? Mine seem low and the tech did tell me that my attenuation was pretty bad, around 21 so I am wondering if that has anything to do with it.

[Dr.Dave]

@Jroc26, the specs at the beginning of this thread state that an Xbox with a hard drive is required, so the 4 GB Xbox won't work.

The info about the registration code matched to the Xbox with the 250 GB hard drive is stored on the Telus servers, so uninstalling the software from the Xbox won't release the registration code.

Take a look at the following thread to understand how internet speeds work with Optik TV and post any followup questions in that thread.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/show...28#post1122628

[Wiremonkey]

Any X-Box with a HDD may be used as an OptikTV STB. You do not need to use the X-Box you received from TELUS. You do not need to receive one from TELUS either, you can request to use one that you currently own if you like as long as it has a HDD. There is always a $50 one time licensing fee to use an X-Box as a STB (forwarded by TELUS to Microsoft), but you have already been charged this fee so there should be no further charges applied for this type of change.

If you would still prefer to use your other X-Box (and if it has a HDD) you could call TELUS and ask them to 'release' the current X-Box as an STB so that you can register your new one. The current X-Box STB must be `released`in the OptikTV system so that your other X-Box may be registered using the same number. This is a simple task and takes only a moment. Then you can move your other X-Box to the STB spot and install the software on it so that it will be the STB. You will use the same registration number as your current X-Box STB uses to register your new choice as an STB. Make sure you ask for this number while on the phone to TELUS if this information isn’t written on the sleeve the OptikTV software came in. If you forget to ask PM me and I can retrieve your registration number for you.

General information to keep in mind when using an X-Box as an OptikTV STB;
OptikTV will not run on an X-Box that is connecting using Wi-Fi, the X-Box must be hard wired to the Actiontec using either CAT5 or HPNA (coax). If coax is used a Motorola HPNA to Ethernet adapter is provided by TELUS. IF you have one of these HPNA to Ethernet adapters you need only unplug the current X-Box from the CAT5 cord leading into it and plug that into the other X-Box. No other changes to the HPNA adapter are required.

- another TELUS tech

[Jroc26]

Thank you wiremonkey thats exactly what I was looking for. I will call telus today and get that all switched around, I have read many of your posts and your knowledge is definately appreciated.

[Captain Semtex]

I'm getting Optik TV installed next week and getting my Xboxes also enabled. I'm very excited as Optik is the only solution capable of replacing my aging, standard definition, Windows Media Centre based system (my 3 Xboxes all act as Media Centre Extenders and all are connected to a wired network).

I have an original 20Gb Xbox, a 60Gb Xbox and a new slimline Xbox Arcade with a permanent 16Gb memory stick installed.

I've confirmed the 20Gb Xbox can be used... but how much actually HDD space does the Optik blade require? Also why can't my Xbox Arcade with 16Gb memory stick be used... or can it? No one can seem to tell me.

Thanks in advance.

[rob.bendig]

Okay - so I already have an XBOX Silver account, my XBOX is already connected to my Internet router via CAT5, I already have the XBOX HD cable connecting it to my TV and have the XBOX media center remote. How do I avoid paying for a bunch of stuff I already have? All I need is a disk and an activation code. Surely there's some way to avoid a tech visit for just that...

[Captain Semtex]

Got everything installed and originally paid the extra $50 to get one of my 3 Xbox 360 consoles added to Optik. As I also have all the cables, media remotes etc, I hoped the tech would just install the software and enable the other two. Alas no.

The tech has to call into customer support to get the additional registration codes and even though he explained I had all my own equipment and had already paid $50 to convert one Xbox the customer service person wouldn't provide any extra codes until I had confirmed I would pay the extra $50 for each Xbox :-(

Separately, having enjoyed Windows Media Centre for 7 years I'm a little disappointed with Optik TV. For example there is no "Movies on now/Movies on Next" option... or show all Movies by rating currently in the guide... nor does it show movie cover art. Even worse the guide does not colour code programs e.g. green = sports and purple = movies. Ch 2 on analog TV does that!! Yes you can filter the guide to only show movie channels... but it ignores the channels you have told the guide to hide and shows all channels including the ones you do not subscribe to :-(

Maybe WMC has spoilt me, but I expected Optik TV with Mediaroom to be an evolution of WMC. Alas no.

[TC498]

@Captain Semtex, Yes I too am a WMC veteran who hoped like you that it would be better. To get the best of both worlds, I have kept my WMC computer connected to my TV and use the guide there to find movies, etc. Then I can schedule them on the MediaRoom box. Another thing you can do is put the analog video and audio from the MR box to your WMC computer input. If you leave your MR box on, you can schedule WMC to record, assuming you still have the remote IR sender for your WMC remote receive box, so WMC can change the channel on the MR box.

[bugmenot]

Using the Xbox as a set-top box is coming to more internet/phone/cable service providers (in that lovely new Metro interface).



Verizon FiOS, Comcast Xfinity (video on-demand only), etc.

But one thing is rather unsettling. AT&T U-verse is going to require Xbox Live Gold for it.



As Telus Optik is essentially the same thing, is Telus going to require Xbox Live Gold for use as a set-top box? Are other service providers?

[andsoitgoes]

The new dashboard update is a major change to how US TV providers work.

Optik basically runs as an add-on to the Xbox system, turning it into a set top box. None of the features are run through the xbox at all, it simply emulates the MediaHome system.

As for this, it's directly integrated into the Xbox Dashboard, into the experience, not as an add on that runs and loads up software like Telus does.

That said, I have a Gold account, and I'd be very interested in the more in-depth integration into Xbox. I think that would be cool. However, honestly I'd choose not to have this if it meant others would miss out by not having a Gold account.

[david.walden05]

Question for someone here:
I am moving my services at the end of the month and when I called to move I asked that in addition to the 2 current cable boxes I have right now if I can "convert" two xbox 360's I have (one as part of the internet deal) into cable boxes.

My (noob) question is: the new place has been wired for HPNA but not for ethernet, my understanding is there would be some kind of HPNA to ethernet convertor to allow this to work but with that can I connect to xbox live or would I need to do that wirelessly?

If the answer to that question was yes addition to that can I use the convertor to plug it into a wired router to split the ethernet to run into some of my other A/V equipment such as an apple TV so I can access my home network of videos without doing it wirelessly?

I don't fully understand how this HPNA to ethernet Convertor works

[shoota]

We would use a stand alone HPNA adapter that would connect to your coax and then you'd connect that to your Xbox with ethernet.

The problem is, as far as I know we aren't doing Xbox installs any more. Our warehouse stopped stocking the Xboxes, HPNAs, Xbox install discs, remotes and component cables almost two months ago.