Telus TV Complaint & Rant Thread

[WontonNoodle]

could TElus add Encore Avenue HD to its channel selection??
Shaw has this channel.

[Kid Wicked]

why is it that some of the 3D movies that come out on VOD don't appear until a week or 2 after the same movie comes out on SD and HD?

and while i'm at it.......

why is it that some of the movies that were 3D in the theater don't come out in 3D on telus?

and why is the volume on the SD channels so dramatically lower then the HD channels?

and is there any news on a fix with the hdmi cable problem?

[scorpion]

Kid Wicked,

What problem are you having with your HDMI cable? I've been using it since day one and have never had any issues.

[WontonNoodle]

its not HDMI cable but the stream itself
the picture looks like garbage
washed out black levels
washed out colours

[scorpion]

That's what I don't understand.....a lot of other people have mentioned the same thing as you. I've always used the HDMI connection and my black levels look great, picture is sharp on almost every channel and the colours are amazing. I'm not sure what I am doing that is different than everyone else. I'm no expert when it comes to this stuff but I know what looks good and what doesn't.

[mellaby]

I'm using HDMI also with no problems. I do have a 42" panasonic which has never had HDMI handshake problems. My component feed looks about the same quality, I did have to calibrate my Panny's HDMI before it matched the quality of ShawDirects STB on component.

[Wiremonkey]

The black levels on my Bravia (on HDMI) are the same as the 'piano black' bezel around the screen. I've heard alot about these 'bad black levels', but I honestly haven't noticed them on any of my installs and haven`t recieved a trouble for this issue. I haven't heard back about this issue from any of my customers either. Perhaps those with bad black levels should try the advice of mellaby and try calibrating your TVs picture. Either that or try component.

All HDMI issues I get as troubles are handshake related or the customer has selected the wrong input source and got a black screen.

There ARE issues with HDMI on the new Sharp Aquos Quattron TVs. The HDMI seems to have annoying issues on these TVs. Loss of picture is a common complaint. Component is the solution at this time. I have no personal exp with them yet though, haven`t had a Quattron install.


- another TELUS tech

[WontonNoodle]

i contacted telus, and they said they HAD the problem on their bulliten or whatever but was taken off. so they sent a tech to come look at it and yup, he agreed that our picture has hazy and black levels were way off

he said he couldn't do anything and that it was software side..............

[Password]

I'll add my comment about HDMI - I've been using it since day 2 on Minerva then Optik.

The t.v. is a Panasonic plasma with the black level set at "dark".

When I was on the 6 mo promo with Shaw I still had a 27" crt t.v. that I plugged the digital box into and plugged the pvr into my HD 24" computer monitor.

Watching Survivor on both - the black levels on the crt were far better than the lcd monitor especially during the tribal council where the background was really black. The lcd was like a fairly black curtain behind the "actors" with no detail.

The way I describe it is comparing a color photo with one laser-printed on plain paper and the other on glossy photo paper from an inkjet. The glossy has so much more depth.

That was the final influence in buying a plasma.

I find the plasma to be like the glossy inkjet.

But as for HDMI - all my cables are $8 computer store cables - no $100 plutonium coated monster cables.

[joudbren]

Just got a royal run around from several Telus CSR's and effectively they are telling me my speed drop (uploads) cannot be fixed. I got the Optik Turbo service in December with 3HD streams and other than a bit of pixelization on the TV once in a while it's been pretty consistent for the most part. 25Mbps down and 2 to 2.5 Mbps up. Worked like that for 5 or 6 months and absolutely consistent.

I noticed over the last few weeks that my upload speed is now consistently at 1Mbps and called Telus (also called re: wireless issues and dropped connections). After being passed around to various CSR's over the last week and phone calls not being returned I finally got to speak with a level 2 support guy today. He's telling me that's just the way it is now as everything looks normal from their end. What?

My Actiontec modem used to train up at 31Mbps down and 3Mbps up and absolutely consistent. Now out of the blue the modem trains up at 1Mbps down and they say it's normal. Download speed remains the same as before, just upload is affected. Totally unacceptable.

Anyone else seeing this? Anyone else made the switch back with the new plans that Shaw is offering? Just curious and apologies for the rant but hey, it is the Telus rant thread.....

James

[temo]

I'm wondering if the black levels have been fixed on mine. One typically easy way for me to check is to watch 4:3 shows in HD. The vertical bars would be greyish rather than black.

However, today they're all actually black.

I know the washout colour/black issue would inconsistently appear, but this is the first time I can remember not finding it anywhere. I've actually turned my black levels up to where they are for when I watch Blu-rays. The colours don't pop like they do on Shaw or Bluray but it's definitely an improvement.

[Xanthor]

I think the black level issue may have been resolved too. I used to really notice the difference between the black vertical bars on SD channels and the letterboxing of hd programming on those same SD channels. I don't seem to notice it anymore though.

... on another note, Telus was in my area doing upgrades a couple weeks back. I've checked the website and it shows I'm now eligible for the 3hd/1sd service. I'm sure I've read the answer to this question somewhere, but I can't find it now, so I apologize, but is this an automatic upgrade? Do I need to call to move up to the 3hd/1sd service, and does it cost extra?

[Wiremonkey]

Originally Posted by Xanthor

is this an automatic upgrade? Do I need to call to move up to the 3hd/1sd service, and does it cost extra?

The answer to these questions are;

1.) Maybe

2.) If the upgrade is not done automatically, it sometimes is (see first answer), but only if you have an Actiontec. If not then you will have to call and see if they will send you an Actiontec, then do the upgrade.

3.) No 3HD/1SD does not cost more. Unless you want the OptikTurbo service. It has additional cost.

- another TELUS tech

[joudbren]

Well, rebooted the Actiontec modem (again) and now no DSL light and no connection. I've been telling Telus for weeks that the modem was getting flaky and they said everything was normal and disregarded my concern. Now they've tested again from their end and say a tech has to come on site. Well duh...

Kicker is that the tech can't be here until Friday so we are without Internet AND tv for two days! How's that for emergency response to a total failure... Telus doesn't tell you with Optik TV that you have a single point of failure for both Internet and tv if the Actiontec croaks. Ridiculous.


EDIT: Ok, unplugged the router for an hour to let it cool right down and voila, I have a DSL connection again. My upload speed is also back to 2Mbps during a quick test so the router is getting flaky from overheating it looks like. It sits out in the open so not sure why it runs so hot but looks like they'll definitely have to replace the Actiontec as something inside of it doesn't seem to like the heat. Hopefully it will stay connected until Friday.

James

[xray]

Do you have the Actiontec sitting vertically on the stand or horizontally on the feet? It should work either way if it's not in enclosed but having it vertical should allow it run cooler until they can replace it.

Are the vents clean?