Since I switched to Optik TV a few months ago, I have had one glitch with the PVR that required a hard reset (which formats the hard drive). I’m posting the steps here in order to start building a repository of user documentation for Telus’ Optik TV platform.
1) Pull your set-top-box out so that you can see the connections on the back of it.
2) Unplug the power (small black round connection) so that all of the lights on the set-top-box go off.
3) In about 5 seconds, reconnect the power.
4) On the front of the set-top-box, press and hold down the OK button as well as the down arrow button at the same time. When you see the “LINK”, “HD”, “RECORD” lights on the front of the set-top-box blink rapidly, then you can release the two buttons.
5) If done properly, on your TV screen you should see a grey single gear.
After a couple of moments, the screen should advance to display 2 gears and a loading bar near the bottom of the screen. This indicates that your set-top-box is re-downloading the software necessary to perform the reboot. This stage will take quite a while to complete (approximately 30 minutes). Once that is done, you should see a screen with 3 dots which means the software is installed and your set-top-box is finalizing the settings and initializing.
Once complete, you will have a factory default configuration on your Optik TV set top PVR. Any recorded programs will be erased. The nice part of the Optik TV platform is that you will retain your PVR timers and series timers, and if you have configured remote recording control from the iPhone or website, it will still work.
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The Mint.com blog offers up a great info-graphic explaining why you don’t need that $250 monster cable to go with that PS3 and HDTV. Its succinct and to the point, and if you have recently purchased an expensive cable, you need to take it back and buy the cheapest HDMI cable that you can find.
Budget Planner – Mint.com
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The Faster Times has a great article discussing the Canadian TV tax being considered by the CRTC (otherwise known as “Fee For Carriage”). Since I live in Canada, I am being bombarded with “Support Local TV” messages via the Global and CTV owned newspapers and news casts.
If you havn’t sent a letter to the CRTC yet, please do so, you can use the automated form at: http://www.stopthetvtax.ca/email-the-crtc/ as it only takes a minute to voice your opinion.
As of this writing, there are only six days left to provide your feedback to the CRTC! Say no to a tax payer funded bailout of CTV and Global.
apeman HDTV, news, tech Canada, crtc, CTV, Global, Taxes, TV TAX
With all of the recent changes on the Canadian television landscape, its hard to tell what is currently going on. On September 1st, the CRTC ruled that Cable, Satellite and IPTV services would have to remit a 1.5% fee to the new “Local Programming Improvement Fund”. At the same time, the CRTC also opened the door for “fee for carriage” which basically translates to around $6/month per household to pay for the channels that currently, and will continue to show commercials! So the recap, you will be paying more money per month for television service in Canada, but you will not bet getting anything in return.
Keep reading after the jump….
Read more…
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Hot on the heels of the 1.5% tax that consumers will have to pay to the Local Programming Improvement Fund, and fee for carriage that is sure to see our Cable and Satellite bills ballon even further, the CRTC has stuck it to the consumer once again. Effective September 1st, Canadian broadcasters are now allowed to air as many commercials as they want, previously, broadcasters were limited to 15 minutes per hour of advertising. I have a feeling that this slipped past the media as two of the Canadian broadcasters, Global and CTV own the newspaper and TV news outlets.
Read more…
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It looks like AMCHD is now available on Shaw digital cable. I’m not sure when it became available, but I believe that it was sometime in the last couple of days.
No word on what packages you need in order to get AMC HD, or of it’s just a preview. I’ll update the post as I learn more about it. If you have any info, please post it in the comments.
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If so, you will be receiving a new 6131 from Bell TV!
Starting on April 1st, Bell TV will be switching their transponders over to use 8PSK signaling, which will allow them to offer more HD channels. The change only affects the older first generation HD recievers, which is a nice gesture on the part of Bell since the early HD adopters paid the way for Bell to expand their HD services.
If you have a model 6000, then you should be recieving a letter from Bell (assuming you havn’t already). Simply call the number in the letter to arrange for the delivery of your new 6131, and the retur of your old 6000.
Stay tuned for updates on new channels once the 8PSK switch starts on April 1st 2009.
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