[7cal]

Optik noob questions

I am planning to pull the trigger and switch from Shaw to Optik in the next week or two. I've been browsing the forums but haven't found the answers to these questions: should hopefully be easy and any Optik user can answer them.

1) The install: I understand they put in their router or whatever near a phone outlet and connect it to a coax outlet, and then every coax outlet in the house becomes 'active' for Optik. Does every TV then require a 'set top box'. Is this like a box that takes the signal from coax and then gives component / HDMI output?

2) How many set top boxes do you get with an Optik install?

3) How many remotes do you get? No real issues with the Harmony One that anyone is aware of? (I did see this thread, but don't know what flavor of Harmony remote)

Thanks and sorry if this info is posted elsewhere- it seems so basic but I couldn't find it.

 

[Dr.Dave]

Hi 7cal,

1) Telus Optik TV is an all-digital system, which means that you will need a Set-Top-Box for each TV. The STBs can communicate using Cat5 Ethernet or coax for network connectivity. There is no analog signal on the coax cable. The STBs are all HD (HDMI, component, optical audio) and also contain S-Video, composite and analog coax for SD TVs. The STBs are smaller than the Shaw HD STBs.

2) You can order up to 6 STBs. You can get a free PVR rental with a 3 year contract. Here are all the hardware prices.

3) You get a remote with each STB, which can also be programmed to control other devices. If you prefer to use a Harmony One, those work as well.

 

[zapperman]

Note that the hardware prices may be different - the website above lists the standard $199 and $399 prices (for the STB and PVR, respectively). I got mine for $149 and $249 a couple weeks ago on their "limited time offer". They may still honour this if it's not still in effect. Worth your while to ask for it.

 

[7cal]

Great, thanks for the help

 

[MarshMalo]

Just a couple questions I have that I've searched but just need some clarification on;

1) When it says 3 shows can be recorded at one time. Does that mean if I had 4 boxes in my house I could only use 3 at the same time? Or am I confusing myself? lol I know you can have up to 6 boxes but can they all work at one time on different channels?

2) Currently I am a Bell user and am quite pleased with picture quality but from what I can search
people are saying Optiks quality is great. Any ex Bell users here or anyone else know of accounts of others who think Telus is equal or better than Bell quality?

I'm pretty much sold from what a read and my house is set with cat5 so I'm excited for the move. I just don't wanna run to any problems or disappointments now that my beloved football is back!

Thanks in advance, love the site very helpful.

 

[ae_collector]

You get the capability of either 3 or 4 channels (depends on your area)streaming to your house at any given time. This is the limit of the adsl bandwidth at this time. You can have all 6 boxes watching the same channel and will be using only one of the streams. Have 3 different channels showing on any combination of the 6 boxes and you are using all of your streams (unless you are in an area that gets 4 streams at once).

Remember that anything recording is using a stream although that stream can be watched on any box at the same time as it records.

If all 3 or 4 streams are in use by the PVR or set top boxes, you can't turn on another box to watch something that isn't currently on one of the 3 or 4 streams currrently in use but you can watch anything that is already recorded on the PVR. Watching fro mthe PVR is not using a stream to the house.

 

[MarshMalo]

Awesome, had a feeling that's what it was but just curious and had to be sure. Is the 3 or 4 streams just on location or cost as well?

 

[Dr.Dave]

Telus will give you the maximum number of streams that the technology allows at your location. The price is the same regardless of the number of streams.

 

[MarshMalo]

Thanks for the help AE and Dave...

Can anyone comment in regards to quality with Bell? Seems everyone posting transfered from Shaw but I'm just wondering on impressions from ex Bell customers?

 

[akirawut]

I had bell a few years ago and I would say the quality is about the same as I remember it. With both Bell and Telus appearing better than Shaw on my TVs.

 

[Volks]

Need help from Dr Dave

I have been a Telus phone and high speed internet customer for eons.
Am thinking of adding Optik TV.
Have some installation concerns, and I think some were just answered, however, each install is slightly different I'm sure.
In my case, I have shaw cable running to 2 tv's, one in the kitchen and one in the basement. Also a shaw cable running to my stereo.
I have a dedicated telus line running to my office for high speed internet modem, hence no filters for my four phones.
What is involved and what will change if I add Telus Optik TV ?
I do not want to place an order for Telus Optik TV until I can get a bit of clarity.
Thanks for any input.

Volks

 

[Cockroach]

You could in theory have Telus put in service on a separate phone line (assuming you only have the one office line for internet) but I am sure they will want to run TV service off your existing phone/internet connection. If you have two phone lines, the 2nd could be used for internet to feed the Optik system.

Not much will change. The tech will replace your existing modem with a D-link unit that is also a wireless router. If there is a co-ax outlet where your modem is located, the tech will probably run a co-ax connection through the HPNA connector and hook up the STBs to the existing coax wiring.

Using voice doesn't not seem to effect internet speed.

Your stereo won't be able to receive music unless it receives inputs from one of your 2 STBs or unless you get a 3rd STB. FWIW, I find the Galaxie music channels to be a bit grating (over-compressed in digitizing?)

 

[Dr.Dave]

@Volks, I'll just add a bit on the stereo. Since Optik is all-digital, you can use a STB to connect to your stereo using either optical digital or red/white analog RCA connectors. Telus carries a large number of radio stations in addition to the Galaxie music channels.

 

[Volks]

Cockroach and Dr.Dave, thanks so much for your input. Just to clarify, from the outside Telus box, I have one dedicated phone line running into the house and one dedicate internet line running into my office, where my 2 wire modem is. Unfortunately, I have no shaw cable running into my office, and the two TV's are at the opposite end of my house.
I guess the new modem will have to be further away from my PC, and I assume that it will not be a problem.
Anyway, your replies are very much appreciated.

Cheers

Volks

 

[ae_collector]

Unfortunately, I have no shaw cable running into my office, and the two TV's are at the opposite end of my house.
I guess the new modem will have to be further away from my PC, and I assume that it will not be a problem.
Anyway, your replies are very much appreciated.

How close is your office to the Shaw cable box on the outside of your house? A single coax from the HPNA output to the cable box can heat up the two existing coax feeds to your TV's.

 

[Volks]

The shaw cable box is actually very close to my office.
It's too bad that Telus totally refuses to send a tech person to my place to go over the installation before I sign up.

Volks

 

[mrsmack]

Hello. I have been a Bell ExpressVu owner for the last 5 years and switched to Telus Optik in JUly........
Here are my thoughts
1. The picture on Optik seems a lot softer to me the my Bell picture, I do notice this more in the HD mode and hoping this does not disappoint me during the hockey season
2. SD is better than the Bell on a non-plasma tv so my wife is pleased

Good luck on your set up

 

[thejoker]

new install today...

so, first off, the Optik guide is GREAT compared to Shaw..snappy!...got the 1HD 1SD profile....seems a little lame...with 2 tv's on, only get 4Mbps internet and .7 Mbps upload...does this sound right??
....in North Vancouver...anyone got the higher profiles in North Van out there??...ie. 2HD 1SD or something...seems like the bandwidth is a little weak...going from 15Mbps on Shaw to 4 is a bit of a joke...if the bandwidth was even 10 down, I'd be happy

Thanx!

 

[Dr.Dave]

@thejoker the lowest profile is 15 Mbps which allows 1 HD and 2 SD. You should be able to get close to 13 Mbps download speed when no TV streams are active.

Telus installs the highest profile it can at your location. It sounds like you may be quite far from the fibre-optic node which limits the line speed. Telus is in the process of upgrading to VDSL2 which probably will allow you to get the 19.4 profile (2HD/1SD).

Your Shaw speed test may be inflated by their Power Boost feature which gives a short burst of speed and then caps the speed based on your plan. For example, if you have the regular Shaw High-Speed, your download speed will be capped at 7.5 Mbps after the short burst and your upload speed is .5 Mbps max.

 

[insync44]

Just signed a 3 year Contract

Yesterday I had one of the Telus Salesman come and speak about the wonders of Optik. Anyway I signed a 3 year Contract for exactly the same service TV and Phone.

My Phone is with Telus currently.

PricewiseTV and Phone)

Telus: $110/monthly

Shaw: $150/monthly

Pricewise its a no brainer. But is the TV reception as good as Shaw in the HD Channels? Is the High Speed Internet as fast?
Is the PVR as good as my DCX3400 (new 0ne).
Any downside to Telus?

What happens to my @shaw.ca emails?

Thanks for any help. I've been a long time with Shaw.