Wondering what to do with old Foxtel box? Well, we’ve prepared the best options you’ve got!
If you’ve upgraded your TV box and are now wondering what to do with an old Foxtel box, know there are more options than you would imagine.
This short guide combines them all to explore everything that can be done with an old Foxtel box.
There are several things you can do with an old Foxtel box, including Return, Trade/Sell, Repurpose, Donate or simply turn it into a DIY project. However, verifying that you don’t need to return your box to Foxtel is essential.
So, let’s begin with checking whether you need to return your old Foxtel box!
Do I Need To Return My Old Foxtel Box?
You don’t have to return the equipment if your Foxtel box is iQ3 or older.
You can hold on to the box if you decide to reuse it in the future or take advantage of the best options we’ll share in this guide.
With an iQ4 and later model of Foxtel box, you’re required to return your equipment.
| Return | Keep |
iQ4 | iQ3 |
| iQ2/IQHD | |
| IQ1 | |
iQ5 | Standard NDS |
| MyStar, MyStar2 | |
| Standard Irdeto |
If you own an iQ4 or iQ5 box, return the equipment to Foxtel within 7 days of disconnecting or upgrading your box.
The first option from the guide below will help you return your box quickly!
What to Do With Old Foxtel Box? – 6 Best Options
1. Return the Foxtel Equipment
Reminder: You don’t need to return your Foxtel iQ3 or older!
If your old Foxtel box is an iQ4 or iQ5, you must return the equipment to Foxtel.
This is a simple procedure, but reading the steps below guarantees a smooth process.
Things to Know When Returning:
- Add a label if you’re returning multiple boxes.
- Use the original packaging if you still have it.
- You must have the Foxtel Account Number.
- A willingness to provide your contact details.
Tip: You can find your account number in one of your Foxtel bills, welcome letter/email or contact Foxtel directly to acquire it.
How to Return Equipment to Foxtel?
- First must navigate to the Foxtel Return page.
- Enter your stream name and suburb (Required).
- Select a Return Option (availability may vary).
- Then, pack the Foxtel box in a durable satchel.
- Include the original power supply (cable/adapter).
- Remove any old labels from the box’s packaging.
- Pin and attach the label Foxtel provides to you.
That’s it. It’s easy to return your Foxtel box. If you have an older box, there are options for you!
2. Trade or Sell Your Foxtel Box
If you’re not required to return your old Foxtel box, you can trade or sell the device to someone who can benefit from its features.
Considering Australia’s vibrant second-hand market, you can use online platforms such as Facebook Marketplace and quickly find a buyer for your old box.
However, a couple of necessary steps exist when selling an electronic device, such as your Foxtel box.
You’ll need to verify that you’re signed out of your account and that the Foxtel box is factory reset, which is going to be naturally expected by the buyer.
Also, when selling an old Foxtel box, you must include a working power supply unless your deal doesn’t require it.
We also recommend being transparent about the actual condition of the TV box and all the wear throughout the years.
Tip: Cleaning your old Foxtel box before taking the pictures is a good idea!
3. Repurpose Your Foxtel Box
If you’ve asked yourself, “can I use an old Foxtel box,” the answer is Yes!
If you’re an enthusiast, you can repurpose your old Foxtel box into something else that will be a great addition to your home.
Your old Foxtel box can be a hub, opening endless possibilities, so we’ve got some pretty cool recommendations for you.
Media Centre
You only need a non-smart television with your old Foxtel box, and viola! You can repurpose the old Foxtel box into a media centre for streaming any app.
Feel free to explore third-party apps and what they provide to find a way to fit your media centre in your home.
To name a few apps that still work on an old Foxtel iQ3 box, we can mention Netflix, ABC, Vevo, Prime Video, and more.
Implementing your old Foxtel box with one of these streaming apps will allow you to stream content from a secondary source in your home.
Music Station
If your old Foxtel box supports the YouTube app, it supports everything! Well, everything that YouTube contains, which is a lot.
This provides you with the option to turn your old Foxtel box into a music station, wired to a soundbar, and blast your favourite tracks.
You can use everything as an output monitor with an HDMI input port.
The setup is simple, and from there, you get the most out of your old Foxtel TV box without disposing of it.
Viewing Hub
If your old Foxtel box supports a USB port, you can store your movies, music, and images on a USB flash drive.
So, by keeping your old Foxtel box connected to your TV via HDMI, you can view the contents from the USB drive anytime.
Tip: Many more options are available, such as exploring smart-home integration, remote control and accessibility.
4. Donate Your Old Foxtel Box
Giving away is good.
If you don’t need the box and it’s not worth your time to sell or use for something else, there is undoubtedly someone who will benefit from its features.
Giving away something for free is easy whether it’s a friend, family or someone you don’t know.
It would help if you also considered local organisations that may benefit from your old Foxtel TV box, such as charities, schools and other facilities that may accept electronic donations.
Note: Donating a non-working-old Foxtel box is not recommended.
5. Turn Box into a DIY Project
If you’re into electronics, perhaps your old Foxtel TV box can become an excellent DIY project by turning the box into something else.
- Educational Purpose – You can disassemble your old Foxtel box with educational purposes for your children by observing buttons, lights, and circuits. Such an approach can be an excellent electronics learning session.
- Salvaging Components – You can salvage many working components from your old Foxtel box, such as the power supply, main board, cooling system, connectors, ports and much more salvageable hardware.
- Automation – Many old Foxtel box hardware components can be repurposed into something else, considering everything that includes. A few suggestions would be the fans, buttons, switches, capacitors and transistors.
Let your imagination loose, and instead of having an old Foxtel box, tomorrow, you can have something entirely new.
Feel free to explore ways for your Foxtel box to become a valuable addition to your home.
Pro Tip: Remember to use the box’s power supply for a compatible device!
6. Recycle Your Old Foxtel Box
If you’re still wondering how to dispose of old Foxtel box, recycling is another great option!
If your old Foxtel box is beyond repair or repurposing, we advise recycling the electronic waste to minimise the environmental impact.
Properly disposing of your Foxtel box is recycling, guaranteeing that the hazardous materials will be handled correctly.
To recycle your old Foxtel box, locate and contact a local electronic waste centre, and you’ll be guided through the steps you must undertake.
By recycling your old Foxtel box, you contribute and prevent this waste from ending up in the forests/fields.
Thank you for recycling!
What if I Don’t Return My Equipment to Foxtel?
As mentioned, you don’t need to return the Foxtel iQ3 box or older.
However, if you have the iQ4 or iQ5, you must return the equipment within 7 days of upgrading/disconnecting.
Otherwise, you will be charged with an unrecovered equipment fee that you can learn more about here.
If you’ve been charged the fee and return your old Foxtel box later, Foxtel will refund the charge once received.
For more information or consultation, get in touch with Foxtel support directly!
Quick Recap:
What to Do With Old Foxtel Box? If you have Foxtel iQ4 or iQ5, you must return your equipment to Foxtel.
If you have a Foxtel box iQ3 or older, you can Trade/Sell, Repurpose, Donate, Recycle, or simply turn the box into a DIY project.
We hope this guide was informational. Follow us for more!
Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.