I have no idea how to Foxtel

[Surrufus]

Hi All,

My better half and I are huge F1 fans, and after spending Sunday's Chinese GP in a noisy Sports Bar, we've decided to look into Foxtel again.
This is simply because pretty much the only way to watch all of the races, from the comfort of our own home.
Also helps, that we spent more than a month's Foxtel bill at the pub for one race.

Does anyone know how Foxtel service works?
How it is acutally provided?
I do not have cable ( I believe that this used to be the way it was provided ), I do have FTTN nbn though.

The Foxtel by Telstra bundles mention a $2 pre-paid sim card, what the hell is that for?
Are there on-going charges applicable to that?

Also, the $100 installation fee seems ridiculous given I'm sure I can plug the Foxtel box into the power, tv, and network port.
How hard can it be?

Thanks in advance,
Michael

[AllTerr]

Ours comes to the house via a small satellite dish mounted on the roof, then through cables run in the walls, then the coaxial outlet on the walls. The boxes then plug into those.

[Pub247]

Personally i wouldnt go the internet route. Because if your nbn like mine and is terrible and dropouts and slows down your not going to able to watch foxtel.
Go the satellite route.

[theresanothersteve]

...Does anyone know how Foxtel service works?
How it is acutally provided?...

Foxtel can be provided over cable (rare but better) or via satellite.


...The Foxtel by Telstra bundles mention a $2 pre-paid sim card, what the hell is that for?...

My Foxtel is by Foxtel, not Telstra, so I'm not sure. Foxtel likes/ wants you to have a return to base pathway. Satellite does not have that technology, so they must want to use the mobile network. Original foxtel installations needed to be connected to a phone line, so I'd guess that's what's going on here. I don't have a return path, but have connected my box to the Internet. You can also interact with the Foxtel box, including ordering pay-per-view, using the phone apps (iPad, iPhone, Android etc).


...Also, the $100 installation fee seems ridiculous given I'm sure I can plug the Foxtel box into the power, tv, and network port...l

That'd be because someone has to install and align the satellite dish. I'm also guessing they want to make sure it works first up, although upgrades are available as a self-install option (we just went HiDef, and the box came in the mail).

HTH

[Surrufus]

Thanks guys!

I figured that cable would be the best option, unfortunately cable is not available in my area.
I asked Foxtel for clarification about the internet service, and they can only provide Foxtel over FTTP ( I have FTTN ).
Stuck with Satellite!

The return to base makes sense.
The IQ3 box is wifi capable and so I hope that internet access would be good enough for that need.

Thanks,
Michael