| High Speed 50/Optik 50 FAQs Just to save people some time calling TELUS, I've put together the following FAQ to answer any questions you may have about the new service.
** the speeds are off the top of my head, I'll update them if they are wrong, but those are what I remember
High Speed 50
Speeds - 45.0 to 50.0Mb/s down, 5.0 to 10.0Mb/s up
- test this on wired, don't call in once you get it stating that you're not getting 50Mb/s on wireless)
Optik 50
Speeds - 25.0 to 50.0Mb/s down, 5.0 to 10.0Mb/s up (fair warning, that's what I recall initially, but seeing on the TELUS site now if I change my service, it just says Up to 50.0Mb/s down
- again, see note above regarding testing this speed
- DSL ONLY depending on your train rate, there's enough overhead to offset watching all streams while using your internet for it to not be adversely affected (eg. I train at ~73Mb/s, if I watch all TV at once [3HD + 1SD] it would leave me 73Mb/s - (3x 6.0) - 3.0 = ~52.0Mb/s, where as before, if you were on Optik 25, you would see speed loss once you invoked a 2nd HD or SD stream (33.304Mb/s - 25.0Mb/s = 8.3Mb/s = less than 2 streams, so the 25.0-50.0 range is pretty generous, but again, that depends on what you train at
Cost - $75.00/month, less any bundle discounts you receive.
Bandwidth Cap (either plan) - 500.0GB/month
As of Feb 1, 2013, this will change to 250.0GB/month. 
(Don't shoot the messenger. I'm not happy about this either, however, TELUS may change their minds. In all honesty, I thought for HS/Optik 50 that we would get 1.0TB of bandwidth. Woe is me...
Requirements
If you're on ETTS or GPON, stop, advance to go, collect $200, and be happy that you qualify automatically for the new service. Call and book it.
If you're on copper (ie. DSL) things are a bit trickier.
TELUS will prioritize service on a single line. If that single line can sustain the necessary train rates (~52-55Mb/s down, ~10-12Mb/s up) then see the Single DSL Line section. If not, then jump to the loop bonding section.
Single DSL Line
- officially, you will require an Actiontec V1000H or V2000H (bonding only,) however, I get Optik 50 working fine on my ALU + Netgear setup. If you don't have one of these gateways, one will be provided to you during install.
- for those who can sustain those speeds on the one line, TELUS will book a field tech, however, it may just require a software order (ie. flip a switch.) However, if it's not a software order, a tech will come to your place if you require an Actiontec, or a VDSL POTS splitter (if you were on an ADSL profile prior to the upgrade.)
- if you call in for this and TELUS says no, ask what the maximum 17a profile speed is. This must be at least the numbers listed above.
Loop Bonding
- if your one line (clearance) can not sustain the train rates required above, if you have a second clearance to your place, we may be able to bond your lines to achieve that.
- generally, you'll only have a second clearance to your place if you live in a house. Most condos and apartment buildings don't have a physical second line going in. If you're not in a house, you most likely won't be able to get bonding, short of getting another line run to your unit/suite.
- as of Dec 1, 2012, loop bonding is only available in Edmonton, Alberta or Prince George, British Columbia. Sorry for those who don't live in either city, however, this rollout will change.
- loop bonding doesn't guarantee HS/Optik 50, but will guarantee HS/Optik 25 (3HD/1SD/25,) those on 2HD/1SD/15 or 1HD/2SD/15 rejoice.
- loop bonding for HS 25 requires minimum ~25-27Mb/s down and ~2.5-3.0Mb/s up (train rate.)
- loop bonding for Optik 25 requires minumum ~33Mb/s down and 2.5-3.0Mb/s up (train rate.)
- loop bonding requires a technician visit and you can only use an Actiontec V2000H.
- if you call in for this and TELUS says no, ask what the maximum 8b profile speed is (again, only if you're in Edmonton or Prince George. If you're not and you call in for bonding, I will be a sad red panda.) The max 8b profile speed will dictate if you can get HS/Optik 25 or 50.
That's all I think we need for now. I'll add more to this, and update this thread once Loop Bonding is out in more communities, in addition to adding new info and fixing errata.
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I may work for, but do not necessarily represent the views and beliefs of TELUS Communications. |
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| said by anhloc:Cost - $75.00/month, less any bundle discounts you receive.
Bandwidth Cap (either plan) - 500.0GB/month
As of Feb 1, 2013, this will change to 250.0GB/month.
Is Telus going to start charging for BW over the limit? Or is that not decided yet? |
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| reply to anhloc
Thanks for the info!
Does the bandwidth decrease include HS25 as well? |
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| I am interested in this service but I have no idea how I will even know if its available in my area. I love telus but this is what drives me nuts about them, i have to be prepared to battle to get an informed answered.
Last year when turbo 25 was available it took about 4 calls of arguing before getting someone who finally said, yes you can get turbo 25. |
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| reply to anhloc
There are still a couple of DSL options if they do start enforcing the monthly cap. One is a business line: for $85 a month you get unlimited usage, and the above speeds.
TekSavvy also has an unlimited 25/2 package in AB.
Speaking of which, my "max" line speed in the upstream direction (on the 50/10 package) is well in the 45000 kbps+ range. Is it going to be relatively easy to add more upload speed in the future? |
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Onetwo
join:2009-04-14
Medicine Hat, AB | reply to e_phils
Re: High Speed 50/Optik 50 FAQs This is what were all wondering, since he works for telus he might know... I hope he can respond soon. |
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| reply to anhloc
I hope they decide to at least keep optik/high speed 50 at 500gb per month. 250gb is fine for 25mbps but not enough for 50mbps. |
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| reply to anhloc
If Telus cuts the cap to 250gigs per month on the HS50/Optik 50 plan, I will expect them to cut the price to $37.35 per month.
I have no problems dropping all Telus services if they do so choose to cut the bandwidth cap down to 1/2 of current.
I also have no problems of filing a CRTC and Industry Canada complaint against Telus if they so choose to cut the cap by 1/2.
I signed up for the Optik 50 service based on the allowable bandwidth cap.
And yes I am rambling.
Netflix and similar services suck up alot of bandwidth per month when you have 4 people in the same household using the same internet connection |
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| reply to anhloc
This is totally dependent on TELUS enforcing the cap.
I'm not in Governance so I don't get to make those decisions, however, I can say again personally that the halving was a bit drastic. Mind you come February, this may change.
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I may work for, but do not necessarily represent the views and beliefs of TELUS Communications. |
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Onetwo
join:2009-04-14
Medicine Hat, AB | reply to anhloc
Thanks when you say dependent on telus enforcing the cap, does that mean basically you are unaware if it will be enforced or not? |
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| The cap lowered and UNCONFIRMED as of this moment if it will be enforced. To date Telus has never enforced caps. |
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Reviews:
 ·Shaw
| said by Bauwoo:The cap lowered and UNCONFIRMED as of this moment if it will be enforced. To date Telus has never enforced caps.
There was that short stint around '06 during the Telus Strike  They dropped it pretty quick, pretty much when they started to roll out adsl2 tech. |
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jtl999Classified CEO
join:2012-11-24 | reply to anhloc
Will Optik 50 support using your own router in any form? |
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| Read my post (first one.) My ALU + Netgear works fine with Optik 50. |
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jtl999Classified CEO
join:2012-11-24 | I read that but is there any other way to use your own router. I am thinking of switching to Telus and it's hard to obtain a ALU modem. |
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 JammerMan79Premium,VIP
join:2004-05-13
Prince George, BC
kudos:10 | reply to anhloc
one note to the FAQ...
Customer service reps (the ones who can actually do orders) will no have any idea what you're talking about when it comes to 17a or 8b profiles. The qualification system they use does not use those terms.
The tech support teams may know that information however customer service will not be able to override regardless.
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I may work for, but do not necessarily represent the views and beliefs of TELUS Communications. |
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Nas1
join:2011-10-05
Camrose, AB | Your absolutely right Jammer, I called in asking what my attainable rate on 17a was and all I heard was crickets lol. I was then transferred to tech support and he was confused as well. He did inquire with someone in the know however and concluded that I could only get ~ 31 Mbps on the profile. This surprised me a little since I'm around 600 m from the Dslam, I however don't know my loop length. Either way I'm setting my hopes on bonding to get me there. |
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| reply to JammerMan79
Could have sworn the CARE peeps used SAQ/LQ?
It lists max 8b/17a speeds. Depending on which one is higher will dictate max service.
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I may work for, but do not necessarily represent the views and beliefs of TELUS Communications. |
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JammerMan79Premium,VIP
join:2004-05-13
Prince George, BC
kudos:10 | ahh... yes they do and yes it's there.
That was not there previously.
AFAIK it has not been communicated or explained - reps would not know where to look for it or know it exists.
90+% of the reps don't know how to interpret the results other than "Qualified" or "Not Qualified" (red or green - when it comes to yellow or orange they're lost)... and most of the time they don't need to.
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I may work for, but do not necessarily represent the views and beliefs of TELUS Communications. |
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