Telstra TV users were left high and dry when Telstra bricked their Roku boxes instead of serving a firmware update that would make them a smart TV set-top box.
Whatever Telstra’s reasons, apart from screwing their users even more, it left many people asking what to do. Telstra’s answer was to buy a Hubbl or a Fetch 4K and subscribe to those digital services. BTW – if you complained enough and took your Telstra TV box to a Telstra store, we understand they would give you a Hubbl or Fetch if you subscribed through Telstra.
But Telstra missed the point on two major counts.
- Many users were using Telstra TV to add digital free-to-air via its antenna socket and digital TV channels (digital versions of 2, 7, 9, 10 and SBS) to older TVs, giving them a new lease on life.
- The big one was that there was no monthly subscription charge to use the service.
Option – Free-to-Air (no smart TV)
If you want to add free-to-air digital channels to an old TV, Laser offers the STB-9000-675 Digital Set Top Box HD with USB Recording and HDMI Output for $49.95 (Harvey Norman).
Pro:
- Simple to use – Plug the antenna into the box and an HDMI cable (or RCA for older TVs) from the box to the TV.
- Straightforward on-screen setup: Select Australia, DVBT channel scan
- Record TV to USB
- Pass-through antenna port allows you to watch TV and record another channel.
- Numeric keys to select a channel instead of wading through an electronic program guide.
- No spyware or personal data (many generic Asian boxes data harvest).
Option – Add digital TV channels and streaming services (no Free-to-air over antenna)
The most popular TV ‘dongle’ is Google’s Chromecast with Google TV in HD ($59) and 4K ($99 4K works with older TVs), but it will shortly be phased out (it is still worth buying). Plug the dongle into a HDMI port on the TV and provide USB-C power.
Pro:
- Easily the simplest to set up. Requires email account
- The most extensive range of digital TV and streaming services – bar none!
- Google TV is easy to use but does require some learning
- Movies and TV shows for free or latest releases for rent or sale
- Can be OK Google voice-controlled
- No monthly subscription – only pay for streaming services if you use them.
- Can Chromecast smartphone screen to the TV screen.
Con
- Needs internet (at least 25/5Mbps)
- No Free-to-air TV (only digital versions)
- Google knows what you watch
Amazon Fire TV 4K Max stick or Cube
Amazon Fire TV 4K Max stick ($119) is its version of Google Chromecast, and the Cube ($219) is a more fully featured device. It is only recommended if you are in the Amazon ecosystem. Our reviews (2022/23) give the full feature set.
Pro
- Does very similar things to the Google TV dongle
- Easy to use but requires some learning
- A comprehensive but more limited range of streaming services
- Movies and TV shows for rent or sale
- Can be Alexa voice-controlled
- No monthly subscription – only pay for streaming services if you use them.
Con
- Requires an Amazon Account
- Needs internet (at least 25/5Mbps)
- No Free-to-air TV (digital versions)
- Amazon knows what you watch, and recommendations focus on Amazon products/content
Option and winner – Fetch Free-to-Air, digital TV and streaming services
Fetch is the closest substitute for Telstra TV. You can buy the box outright and connect an antenna and HDMI to the TV for free-to-air and digital TV channels. If you use streaming services, Premium channels and pay-per-view, these are at an extra cost
Fetch has the Fetch Mini 4K ($199) and newly released Fetch Mini 4K (G5 – $149) – specs here.
Pro
- Replaces Telstra TV functionality – FTA antenna
- No subscription for Free-to-Air and digital TV
- Easy to use but requires some learning
- A comprehensive but more limited range of streaming services
- Movies and TV shows for rent or sale
- Can add more Fetch boxes and services
- Has numeric TV channel selection buttons
Con
- No Foxtel, Kayo or Binge (these are Foxtel channels)
- Needs at least 25/5Mbps internet for streaming services.
- Fetch knows what you are watching.
The new 4K G5 (review Fetch Mini G5 – loads of untapped potential) is available now from Telstra, iiNet, JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman and The Good Guys.
Option – Hubbl Digital TV and some streaming services
Hubbl ($79) is a digital streaming box by Foxtel. It has all Australian Digital TV services and a limited number of streaming services. You buy the box and can use digital TV services for free. Everything else requires a subscription. Setup requires home internet (Ethernet or Wi-Fi) and an HDMI cable between the box and the TV.
Apps you can subscribe to
- AppleTV
- Prime Video
- Paramount+
- Disney+
- Netflix
- Stan
- Optus Sports
- Kayo
Foxtel channels requiring a subscription
- Binge (Foxtel channel)
- Lifestyle (Foxtel Channel)
- Flash (Foxtel channel)
- You can stack and save with a Netflix subscription
Pro
- FTA antenna
- Digital TV use is free
Con
- No Foxtel access
- No numeric buttons for TV channel selection (use Electronic Program Guide)
- Stack and save is limited to Netflix and up to three Foxtel channels.
- Minimal streaming service selection – least featured option
- Needs internet (at least 25/5Mbps)
- Hubbl knows what you are watching
CyberShack’s view – Fetch Mini 4K G5 seems the best Telstra TV users substitute
The Fetch Mini 4K G5 not only performs the Telstra TV functions but is the first Fetch to run RDK-Android that opens up a vast Android TV app library (this is not exactly the same as Google TV – both are based on Android TV).
Let’s just say it is the only lower-cost, no-subscription way to replace my two bricked Telstra TV boxes and keep older TVs going for my aged mum and friends.
18 comments
Danielle
I followed this advice and purchased a Fetch Mini 4K G5 to replace my Telstra TV. It is a terrible user experience and is nowhere near as good as the Telstra TV. I’d advise people to check the many, many bad reviews on Product Review and look for something else.
Ray Shaw
Hi Danielle
I am currently reviewing a Fetch Mini G5 and I suspect your definition of terrible is different from mine. Its not as elegant as Teltra TV was but it is logical and works.The Mini G5 has only been out a few weeks so Product Reviews will not be for that. It does not have Kayo or Binge as Foxtel wants to keep these to itself and its Hubbl. But the G5 will (not yet) soon be able to side-load Google Android TV apps and it has pretty well every streaming service known. Personally I could not heartily recommend it but its one of the few with a FTA aerial and is vastly better than Hubbl for apps and services. The review will be up in a few days (just waiting on some feedback from Fetch on RBK Android) and I hope you will read it and comment. I repeat – if you want FTA and streaming this is pretty well it. Please return it for a refund and let me know if you find something better.
Richard Tibbitts
I still wish the Telstra TV facility still existed as it was a fantastic solution for watching TV including especially Sky News which my wife and help I both really miss. If anyone can help with an alternative solution please advise. Thank you and kind regards Richard & Ann (NSW Australia).
Ray Shaw
I am testing the Fetch Mini G5 and Sky News Australia is available via YouTube. Simply voice search for it and log in (requires a subscription) and it is there. Fetch say they are trying top get a native app but that takes time. So far the Mini G5 has been excellent finding FTA aerial TV, Digital TV channels and more. It also has subscriptions etc. https://www.fetchtv.com.au/features-and-packages
Ray Shaw
Hi Guys
The closest replacement is the new Fetch Mini 4K that we will have a review in a few weeks. But Sky News has an Android TV app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.accedo.ott.flow.sky.news.australia&hl=en_AU and you could use a Google TV streamer/dongle. I will see if it works on Fetch as we review it.
Loretta Sayer
My existing Telstra box has several programs that I have recorded and wish to keep as they are all have personal content ie my family story on Current Affair and also my husband, who is a WWII ex-Pow story that was shown on Channel 7 News etc
I there someway I can save these items from the Telstra Box to some other type of device as they are very special for me?
Will the any of the above suggestions allow me to record my favourite shows?
Ray Shaw
I don’t want to get your hopes up because I suspect the recordings only play on the Telstra TV box.
You will need to go to a Telstra store with the Telstra TV, remote, power supply, HDMI Cable and a USB-A FAT32 flash drive. They should do the transfer for you. Here is what I found in a manual.
You can view and access all your recorded free-to-air TV programs by choosing My Recordings from the Home menu. By choosing the appropriate menu option you’ll be able to see all your completed recordings, any scheduled recordings, series recordings, favourite recordings, and your remaining storage space.
There is also an option to schedule a new recording, which will give you access to both the program guide, and manual recordings.
Once you have chosen the menu option you want, use the right and left arrow keys on your remote control to browse through your recordings. When you want to view a recorded program, just highlight the tile and press OK.
Clicking ‘OK’ will also give you some other options, including exporting your recording to an external USB storage device for longer-term storage. Remember that you’ll need to connect a USB storage device to the USB port on the front of your T-Box first. Your USB device must be formatted with FAT32. Currently you can only export one program at a time.
George Batey
what if you want to watch the football on kayo?
Ray Shaw
Hi George – sorry you cannot get Foxtel on Hubbl or Fetch. You can get Kayo on Hubbl. Neither are smart TV streaming devices Read:
https://www.foxtel.com.au/now/about.html
https://www.foxtel.com.au/now/support/how-it-works/eligible-devices.html
You can get Foxtel Now apps for PS4, Sony Android TV, Hisense VIDAA, LG WebOS or Samsung Tizen Smart TV, Foxtel Now Box or casting / airplay. When out on the go watch with the Foxtel Go app on your phone, tablet or laptop within Australia. I don’t use it but I understand Foxtel Now is pretty ‘flakey’ on some devices.
It makes no sense at all for Hubble not to have it!
If you want to save money, I would buy the Laser STB (Free-to-air TV) and a Google Chromecast (Streaming)
Andrew
Hi guys, I received a email from Telstra back in April regarding the shut-down of Telstra TV and was offered a free Fetch box replacement I picked it up in store no problems the offer was to all existing customers that had a Telstra TV box so no need to bag Telstra on this issue.
Ray Shaw
Very few of our readers got that offer (including me who has two of these devices registered with Telstra) so we consider you lucky. Fetch is great except that it cannot get Foxtel.
Glen Killen
Unfortunately this review contains an error in relation to Hubbl. We have been using Hubbl since the day it became available and can assure readers that it does indeed include a FTA antennae.
We have reception issues with a couple of channels & the ability of being able to choose to set some FTA channels to draw their signal from the antennae while others use the internet has been a game changer.
My wife is a self described Troglodyte who never gets excited about technology, but she loves the simplicity of using Hubbl. Our device is connected to a 2023 Samsung Smart TV, but the only time we use the apps builtin to the TV is to watch the Samsung Plus TV channels – so 99% of the time we are using Hubbl.
Ray Shaw
Sorry – we did not review the Hubbl box and have corrected the mistake.
Wayne
I use the Telstra TV box to subscribe to Foxtel (Lifestyle channel only) once closed down I will have to cancel my subscription as I will be unable to access Foxtel via Fetch or Hubbl.
I can access via Foxtel Now via my tablet, casting and Chromecasting but is messy for kids and older people to access.
Ray Shaw
Yes it is a real issue that Hubbl does not have Foxtel.
Rodney Growder
Thanks so much for this Charlie. Was just in the contemplation mode as to what to do and lo and behold a smarter person that I has doe the contemplating.
Thanks
Rod
Rod Brayford
Hi, the fetch box Telstra GAVE me does not support Kayo or Bimge, the only two services I subscribe to, so no better off.
Ray Shaw
We will note that – Kayo and Binge are Foxtel channels.