Shaw Digital TV question - Can I buy the cable box off ebay?

[Hack&Lube]

Okay, I'm sure some of you remember my "bloody shaw" thread. Indeed my dad is moping about now since he doesn't have the golf channel to watch anymore so we'll probably transition to digital cable sooner or later.

He also likes watching nature so I guess Animal Planet and National Geographic would help since both Discovery and TLC nolonger show any nature shows with any regularity since they also bumped all their nature programming to those aforementioned channels. [insert bloody shaw or whoever owns Discovery and TLC comment here].

Now the Shaw cable box costs some $278 from shaw but I've seen much cheaper ones for sale on ebay, etc. Can I just buy one of these?

[Temporary_User]

Ive talked to a guy from shaw about this over beers one day. Apparently you can, but it has to be from someone from the same area as you.
So if you're in Calgary, make sure you buy it from someone from Calgary. I guess even the Shaw in Winnipeg has different boxes that wouldnt work over here.

[ericschand]

You should get the serial number off the bottom first.
Then phone Shaw and find out if it's valid.

Ebay is a source for stolen boxes, and it's highly suggested to
stay away from it. (At least when I was shopping that was
the internet opinion)

I thought you could find the box around town for $50 used
or $99 new?

ers

[freakinsaprikin]

You can buy boxes off ebay to use for shaw but you need to do the following first and I recomend doing this before purchasing the box:

1. Get the serial number and model number
2. find out where the box is coming from
3. If the box is coming from somewhere that is on shaw - you need the person to call and give the ok to transfer the box to your account.

Once you get the model number and serial number call shaw and have them check if that box is compatible with the shaw system. If this is ok have the person call if they are from a shaw area and transfer it to your account. If the box is not from a shaw area and is compatible then they should be able to transfer it to your account no problem.

Just make sure you do all this other stuff before you buy it because it would suck to be stuck with a box that you can't use.

[ken0042]

Some good advise so far.

I rarely do this but in this case I will shamelessly promote another site where I moderate. There was a very long thread about the woes and pitfalls of activating an eBay box. Very long read but better than throwing $100 down the toilet.
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=26417

Edit- also check your PM

[worth]

Yeah, digital home canada is a great forum and a great resource for all that kind of stuff.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

I did this myself a few years back with a box from Winnipeg and it was a bit of a hassle. They had to transfer the GI from Winnipeg to Calgary inventory. THis was for a never used box so the consent to release from previous owner was a non issue.

Ultimately, I suspect they may be a bit more stringent than they were before - it may not be worth the hassle for your, especially given the cost of non HD DCT terminals, after credits.