Foxtel recently announced a 4K channel to their lineup. In addition a new set top box - the IQ4 is now available. Foxtel have been upgrading existing subscribers on HD Entertainment or HD sport, or higher packages for free from their IQ3. In some cases even IQ2 users have had a discounted upgraded.
Simply call Foxtel on 131999 and state you'd like to upgrade to the IQ4. They put through a faulty box request and you'll have your new IQ4 within a few days!
Although since I don't have a 4K TV I wonder if there is much improvement besides the obvious capabilities.
Edit—deleted link as I misread
IQ4 is satellite only. 4K content is not available via cable. In fact by 2023, Foxtel loses access to the cable network to deliver Pay TV so everyone needs to eventually migrate over to satellite and get a satellite installed on their roof.
get a satellite dish installed on their roof
There's a world of difference between a satellite and a satellite dish!
You must be fun at parties…
@flashi007: I don't know I haven't been to a party since I became a full time carer for my mother.
I did, back in my student days, killed a joke made by a theoretical physics professor stone dead when he ignored Newton's second law and Galileo's experiment.
@flashi007: I don't fathom the meaning of those negs. Am I being negged because I have no time to go to parties? Am I being negged because I should not provide care to my mother? Am I being negged because I killed my professor's joke in 1988? Am I being negged because Newton discovered the second law in 1686 and Galileo performed his experiment in 1589-92? Am I being negged because I am educated?
None of the above, you're being negged because you're acting like a pure fanny.
For what it's worth i agree with your comment on the satellite dish. :P
@alvian: Lets be honest - 100% of people using ozbargain and reading this thread are aware it is a satellite DISH and not a satellite that gets installed on a roof
@flashi007: If you are honest then you must admit that you cannot prove your conjecture.
All that I have written before (except my reply to KRM123) were facts and not opinions, generalisations, or wild guesses. I do not see how correcting an oversight in a comment makes me a pure fanny. I do not want to judge another person's character simply because s/he voted down my comments, or made negative remarks towards me. However it appears they hold no such qualm reciprocally and that says more about them than me.
OzBargain requires a justification to accompany a negative deal vote but not to a negative comment vote, and I think this system is flawed. For this reason I place very low values on negative comment votes.
We are getting off-topic so I will discontinue this discussion now. Neg my comments all you like, I don't change my attitude to accommodate anonmyous neg votes.
I can't divulge the secrets of the pure/impure fanny.
All i can say is this. Move to Scotland and you will become enlightened on all types of fannies.
Satellite only, but in some special cases Foxtel have been upgrading cable connections to satellite
This was posted the other day and I think moved to the forums
I didn't neg, but that deal was pretty much only an announcement of the 4K channel hence would have been moved to the forums. This seems to be a deal if you can upgrade to the new box, which wasn't mentioned last time.
In some cases even IQ2 users have had a discounted upgraded
So IQ2 users have to pay?
A user on another forum bargained them down to $70 install for an IQ4 down from $125
I don't know the difference between the boxes but this is pretty frustrating since I signed up for foxtel when the IQ3 box was out but they only would give me a IQ2 for some reason.
Any details on the cost for the IQ2 to IQ4 upgrade?
Saw someone write $200 somewhere. Not sure if that's correct though.
Best I could do was $75 to upgrade IQ2-IQ4 ..still said no :/
I'm still on IQ2 due to the horrendous reports about IQ3. Is IQ4 any better?
We got a 'free' upgrade to iq3 when our iq1 box died… Cool interface but the bluetooth remote is shocking if you're sitting more than 2 metres away :(
Touchwood my iq3 has been flawless since I got it few months ago. Remote hasn't had any issues either
The IR remotes work better than the iq3 remotes. If youre having issues with the remote try the onlder style remote if you still have it
Wait, the IR remotes work still?!
Oh my god. You've made my day!! Just tested the old remote and working great
IQ3 works great
We recently "upgraded" 2 IQ2s to IQ3s and both IQ3s are buggy. (We only changed because the IQ3 includes FTA channels off the aerial - the Foxtel feed in this area does not include the local channels)
The IQ3 is much slower to respond than the IQ2 (irrespective of which remote we use). I'll push a button - wait - push again - and then it will do two actions! There is a lot of lag on both machines. It also hangs a lot more than the IQ2 requiring a hard restart.
Push the info button and you might get the information on the selected program…. one you looked at yesterday - or one you have never looked at. If you then hit the play button, you might get the one you can see on screen or maybe the one you originally selected.
The advantages of the IQ3 are that it:
- can record off the aerial;
- record more programs simultaneously;
- activates the green "record me" button on recorded programs (IQ2 only does that on live programs); and
- holds more video - bigger hard drive.
If it wasn't for the FTA programs I'd send them back.
Anyone with Foxtel from Telstra done this?
I just rang and they told me that I need to call back on the 21st to order it as it is only available to Foxtel direct customers at the moment. I'm guessing it won't be a free upgrade for IQ3 users too since, Telstra.
From what I've been told, if it's a newer IQ3 box (from April onward this year) it is a 4k capable box and the update will be pushed out to them when the time comes.
Ive been told to call back on the 21st as well. Rep confirmed free upgrade from IQ3…we'll see on the day. Problem is with Telstra they are inconsistent with their answers depending on which rep you deal with
So after confirming free upgrade the other day Telstra have done a backflip and the rep put zero notes on file. F you Telstra
Could you let me know which number you called please?
I’ve got a new install from Telstra coming. They wanted an extra $200 for the iQ4 box. iQ3 box is free. But they were worried it wouldn’t work, rightly so as it’s not for HFC where I am.
IQ3 seems ok now. I’ve ben using it for about a year and most of the bugs seem to have been ironed out.
I’d be reluctant to jump onto the IQ4 until they’ve had a chance to do the same. I’d also like to know if there’s any other improvements other than the 4K output.
I thought iq4 is a rebadged iq3 with a update for 4K
You’re exactly right. Just a software update essentially.
is satellite foxtel any better these days? i had it 2/3 years ago at my old house and literally any time it rained or was any slight wind/storm it would lose signal
Ive been on satellite for 10 years+ and the only time is cuts out is sometimes during serious storms (lightening and thunder)
I guess it depends a lot in where you live!
I've never had the signal cut out; even in storms.
Heavy rain knocks ours out - we also lose signal from planes going over a few thousand feet up.
I did this yesterday and they were going to charge $120 to upgrade my MYSTAR HD box. They would not budge on price
Which plan are you on? If I can ask
Movies sport entertainment HD and been with them for years
You've been a great customer, many years of continuous payments just like they want.
Can you upgrade to iq3 for free? There were doing that while back for mystar users
So users already with a newer IQ3 with newer features (like wifi) get a free upgrade BUT users who cost them less still on an IQ2 get shatfed? This is the sort of mentality behind why Foxtel are considered ass hats. Yes, i'm a disgruntled IQ2 user. :D If it were not for sports!!! shakes fist
Possibly because in most cases people have paid for the upgrade to IQ3. I've been on IQ2 for ages, and Foxtel wouldn't budge on the cost to upgrade to IQ3. Given all the bad publicity about the 3, I could never justify the cost to upgrade - but had I of upgraded, it would have sucked to have to pay again so soon to go to IQ4
We've had the IQ4 box since March. It was labelled IQ3.5 on the shipping label.
Works fantastic compared to the original IQ3 box we got 12 months prior.
The unit is a lot snappier.
"The unit is a lot snappier"
This will be the main initial benefit for me. Both my IQ3 units have been reliable (early 2017 install) but the responsiveness should be much improved with a faster processor as comes in the IQ3.5.
Just ordered me self-install upgrade now. It's a bit hit and miss with the Foxtel Support people - 1 I tried this morning was useless, the 1 just now was very helpful. I wonder how much advance training they given and indeed warning of an increase of incoming calls?
Mine arrived yesterday, haven't plugged it in yet though.
Want to watch some movies I recorded from when they gave the movie channels free last month before they deactivate the iQ3, sucks you can't transfer the recordings from box to box at the very least.
I was SUPPOSED to get IQ3 with my package, however they only gave me IQ2. I might hit them up now for the upgrade, insisting that I was supposed to get 3 initially.
Thanks OP, done. Complained the iq3 is slow and buggy (which is an understatement) logged as faulty. New IQ4 on the way.
IQ3 is rubbish. so laggy and random freezes. the remote unpairs itself randomly. select a recorded show and it displays another recorded show
Mine hasnt been like that for a year or so now. Have you done the updates? Mine works great all the time . I do however use the 1Q2 remote. as the bluetooth one is crap
exactly the same for us
Have been offered 199 upgrade but will be good off until they get poor sales on the iq4 turn will try again
Honestly, I wish they would upgrade a lot of the channels to HD first. Eg, Comedy, NHK, all the extra docco channels.
This would get my attention over 1 demo channel that everyone will watch for a week then realise it's drivel.
i think the main idea is that you want to get rid of the POS IQ3*
*iq4 might be equally or more crap
Its a rebadged iq3 it’s a marketing exercise
Also - people with IQ3.5 boxes have the new IQ4 - it will get a software update for 4K
Is there a way to tell iq3 vs 3.5?
Written on the bottom label.
Tl ; dr:
if it says "foxtel iQ3" on the left of the front bezel you need to get it upgraded for 4k
I wonder if i just say my box isn't working if they will send me out a IQ4… i think i have an IQ2 though.
neg they just offered the iq4 for $75
you can do pretty much anything if you complain enough.
I'd give it a go…
Say your IQ2 keeps locking up or it's slow or something… There is every chance you'll get another replacement IQ2 though. Bargain with them for a IQ4, threaten to terminate your connection. Get if you do quit, you can sign up again on a new contract.
Great reason to buy a 4k tv now, I have Foxtel from Telstra bundled with net expiring in October, perfect timing with FTTC NBN releasing around then for me as well. I haven't seen any great Foxtel direct deals lately, do you think they'd blitz the marketing for new installs (Mrs signup!) when the 4k channel releases?
Or is same address treated as a previous install window?
I think it’s done by name.
You would think they offer this to customers with iQ2 or lower boxes.
Rang up. They automatically assumed fault and ordered me an iq4. Most pleasant phone call like this I've made in years
Did you say it was faulty or you wanted to upgrade?
I said Upgrade and they just assumed faulty
Free software upgrade post-April 2018 IQ3, free hardware upgrade pre April IQ3, and $125 + 25 self install fee for IQ2 boxes.
I have an IQ3 on cable. Trying to get an IQ4 and they keep telling me I'm not eligible for Satellite
Yeah I did, which is what prompted me to try again. Still no dice. Got put through to 3 different people, all in an OS call centre.
Not sure how to get them to put me through to someone local. I asked for disconnections but it was still OS
Cable infrastructure has been sold to NBN. Foxtel need to get all their customers off it by 2023 or something like that
Is there any alternative to Foxtel in Australia for Satellite tv?
I would love to upgrade. But I would loose the 100hours+ of shows I have recorded that I will, possibly, eventually, maybe, watch someday.
Just upgraded for free the lady said they will be charging next week for the boxes !!!
Hmmm, very interesting. Reckon I’ll wait until the inevitable faults with this IQ4 get ironed out. Admittedly, that could be a few years/decades. I upgraded from IQ2 to IQ3 shortly after the IQ3 hit the scene, I am currently on my 4th, repeat 4th, IQ3. It’s been a case of one fault after another - pathetic! And, of course, each time a new IQ replaces an existing IQ all recordings are lost … requests/appeals for compensation fall on deaf ears. A continuous problem experienced with all the IQ3s I’ve had have been failures when the disk’s remaining space gets close to 40% and the response from Foxtel support is to tell me to delete some of my recordings. So, the 1TB of storage space that I’m supposedly provided with really only has a capacity of about 60%. That being the case, the boxes need to have 2TB, or more, to allow users to get somewhere near the recording capacity we pay for.
Does it still do free to air recording as well?
Rang up and said I wanted to upgrade to the new IQ4 from my IQ3.. No questions asked, Foxtel comfirmed it would be free, and was all processed in 5 minutes.
Thanks OP, was never quite happy with the performance of the IQ3.
Which number did you call?
I tried that but they told me I'm with 'Foxtel from Telstra' so I can't get an upgrade without talking to them 'in store'
A few things u need to have a 4K tv and be on satalite not available for cable
I just got upgraded for free ….
And make sure to ask to be on the platinum HD $88 deal
Iv been on it for over 5 years now
whats the platinum HD 88$ deal? I am paying 137$
I’m on the $88 deal and they said I couldn’t get the upgrade from 2 to 4 because I’m on that deal. Not for free, anyway.
My iq4 delivered tomorrow with free install
I just called and was told the deal was only for 5 days - that regardless of if you currently have an iQ2 or iQ3, you WILL now be charged for the upgrade. I was quoted a "discounted" price of $125 to upgrade from an iQ3.
I noticed when I login to the Foxtel page it says I still have an iQ3 (even though I upgraded) and there's a button to switch to iQ4 for $125.
They never really mentioned a "free period" but I did think it was pretty generous of them considering they could have been jerks and charged everyone from the beginning.
Thanks just called and sorted.
I just got my box today I installed it pretty easy to do but had trouble activating it 25 mins on the phone it activated went to record something later it didn't work one hour on the phone to tech support they said we can't fix it we will send you out another box in 2 to 7 working days!!!
I upgraded for free luckily they told me it would be an IQ4 they couldn't upgrade the software you would think they would of done that at the factory and I thought the IQ3 was quite buggy seems the new one may not be much better!!!
Is anyone else getting the upgrade required F0104 on 444 with the new box?
Do you know if the IQ4 box are for both cable and satellite connection?