Shaw vs. Telus Cable TV

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by theonlywhiteout

The freezing can be any number of issues, and from what I understand from some experienced shaw techs they have no idea where in the network the black screen and noise anomolys are coming from.

I hate to think that the experienced Shaw techs you have talked with have not read Rovi's known issues list cause it says it right there. There are huge HDMI handshake issues. My DCT PVR upstairs has real problems on my Visio TV (because it's cheap probably due to a poor HDCP implementation and magnifies the issue) but I didn't have huge problems on my Aquos asid from the occasional dropout.

I-Guide A28

-Intermittent blank-screen dropouts when using HDMI

-Longer HDMI handshake on TV power-up

-Occasional blank channel after HDMI handshake (guide works, but no channel audio/video until channel changed, then changed back)

-Occasional channel info pops up on the hour, sometimes not even for the current channel (possibly info from other tuner?)

-Favorites list resets at the top of the channel list when exiting info screens.

-If you are tuned to an SD channel that has an HD version available, a popup will appear for several seconds when a new HD program starts, even if you are actually watching an unrelated recording.

-When starting to play a recording, or after stopping playback, the audio may be muted. (Pause, then Play, will usually restore audio.)

-Sometimes after a tuner swap, or stopping a recording playback, the audio and video will continuously cycle on and off.

-VCR-style manual recordings (channel, start-time, end-time) that are set to repeat weekly will not record past midnight.

Also, 1080p as for home tv is a long way away. THe bandwidth requirements are high and I don't see telus/shaw/bell/rogers in any hurry to increase the bandwidth per station.

Which is what I said. The Moto box is capable where as the Cisco box is not. The Moto box has a faster processor i.e. Shaw's Moto STBs don't suck, Rovi sucks.

The problem is that these kinds of fixes and releases aren't just a couple months of coding, it's a huge ground up network change. Shaw has proven themselves to be a dinosaur in upgrading their tech, am I to believe now all out of the blue they're going to be the cutting edge in tv service?

Again, it is firmware, middleware and software. Shaw has a few choices that will work with their current network infrastructure and STBs. Implementation and testing could have started awhile ago, who knows. This information came from Shaw's own Q1 '11 results conference call.

Frankly, on a side note, I'd rather cancel all my TV and just get 35~ stations of high def thru another source. All I watch, really, are hte major networks, TSN, sportsnet and SN1, and hte occasion showcase/a&e. For the pleasure of watching 10 stations in high def I get to pay shaw 75 bucks (classic cable 60 bucks or so +15 for all high def), or, wow, imagine the coincidence, telus 75 bucks (your pick HD with all the hd included) . It's as if there's some type of price fixing in place!

I agree.

[Mtt48]

I know this thread is for TV, but Shaw apparently has introduced hard bandwidth caps with 1$/2$ per GB over the limit. I looked through the last couple pages and didn't see this mentioned.

Apparently, if you go over your cap one month you will not be billed extra but then shaw will note it on your statement and then offer you the choice of adding bandwidth (which is pretty expensive imho) or paying the overage charge. This suuucckkkssss.

I had Telus before and I hated them but maybe I'll change if this turns into trouble. Just a heads up for people considering which to get their bundle from.

[MickMcGeough]

Originally Posted by Mtt48

I know this thread is for TV, but Shaw apparently has introduced hard bandwidth caps with 1$/2$ per GB over the limit. I looked through the last couple pages and didn't see this mentioned.

Apparently, if you go over your cap one month you will not be billed extra but then shaw will note it on your statement and then offer you the choice of adding bandwidth (which is pretty expensive imho) or paying the overage charge. This suuucckkkssss.

I had Telus before and I hated them but maybe I'll change if this turns into trouble. Just a heads up for people considering which to get their bundle from.

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthr...shaw+bandwidth

[HotHotHeat]

We're thinking about moving to Telus after only a few months with Shaw (Bell before that). Shaw's guide is a piece of garbage that in 14 years has gone from tan to blue (at least aesthetically). I talked to Telus today about switching, and Shaw about cancelling. The CSR at Shaw said they are releasing new PVR and guide updates in 'late spring'. I think I'm already sick of waiting.

[theonlywhiteout]

my optik installation is set for friday, ill post some results and comparisons while i have both shaw and telus hooked up

[lucky1]

has anyone here made the switch from Shaw Direct (aka Starchoice) to Telus OPTIK?? any regrets?

[MickMcGeough]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

We're thinking about moving to Telus after only a few months with Shaw (Bell before that). Shaw's guide is a piece of garbage that in 14 years has gone from tan to blue (at least aesthetically). I talked to Telus today about switching, and Shaw about cancelling. The CSR at Shaw said they are releasing new PVR and guide updates in 'late spring'. I think I'm already sick of waiting.

Even if they do release it in late spring, expect a period of growing pains. It apparently took Telus quite awhile to get their IPTV "right".

[PsnaP]

Originally Posted by MickMcGeough

Even if they do release it in late spring, expect a period of growing pains. It apparently took Telus quite awhile to get their IPTV "right".

Thats true. Ive had TELUS IPTV for 6+ years and seen a lot of changes and a lot of improvement. The current platform is by far the best.

[Hemi-Cuda]

so i took the plunge and ordered the Optik TV and high speed turbo, since i qualified for the 25 Mbps down service. it'll be my first time not using Shaw for internet or TV in my 9 years in Calgary, quite curious to see how Telus compares

[flambers]

Originally Posted by MickMcGeough

Even if they do release it in late spring, expect a period of growing pains. It apparently took Telus quite awhile to get their IPTV "right".

True however Shaw offers their services without a Contract.

Last time I checked, the folks who obtained the "Free PVR" with Telus signed a 3 year contract... I assume

I personally don't like the idea of 3 year contract...

[Coys1882]

Originally Posted by flambers

True however Shaw offers their services without a Contract.

Last time I checked, the folks who obtained the "Free PVR" with Telus signed a 3 year contract... I assume

I personally don't like the idea of 3 year contract...

I don't either really but I've been with Shaw since 1997 so I can probably handle 3 years with Telus.

[Ethaniel]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

so i took the plunge and ordered the Optik TV and high speed turbo, since i qualified for the 25 Mbps down service. it'll be my first time not using Shaw for internet or TV in my 9 years in Calgary, quite curious to see how Telus compares

Just did the same. Love how much Shaw (internet and phone) and Bell (TV) continually tried to explain to me why i should stay with them over Telus. A 5 minute cancellation call that takes 15 because they are trying to sway be back. Big install goes down on friday. Hopefully i am not disappointed, but Telus' offer is one I could not refuse and neither of the above even came close to it.

[HotHotHeat]

My install is Thursday! Can't wait.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by flambers

True however Shaw offers their services without a Contract.

Last time I checked, the folks who obtained the "Free PVR" with Telus signed a 3 year contract... I assume

I personally don't like the idea of 3 year contract...

i didn't sign a contract, they just offered it as an option if i didn't want to buy the PVR outright for $250. Shaw doesn't offer that as an option, they just make you either rent or buy the box (which is more expensive than Telus)

[oilyfan]

Originally Posted by flambers

True however Shaw offers their services without a Contract.

Last time I checked, the folks who obtained the "Free PVR" with Telus signed a 3 year contract... I assume

I personally don't like the idea of 3 year contract...

Yes they do offer their services without a contract. But lets be honest, buying a PVR from them for $749 (when they first came out and even now $499), you might as well call that a contract. Once you sink that kind of money in (I have approximately $2000 sunk in 4 Shaw PVR's) what kind of motivation does anyone have to switch? It is part of their strategy...

[flambers]

Originally Posted by oilyfan

Yes they do offer their services without a contract. But lets be honest, buying a PVR from them for $749 (when they first came out and even now $499), you might as well call that a contract. Once you sink that kind of money in (I have approximately $2000 sunk in 4 Shaw PVR's) what kind of motivation does anyone have to switch? It is part of their strategy...

To clarify, I was orginally with Bell (3 years ago or so), I was offered a free Shaw PVR for a exchange of any Bell product (not a PVR).

I also received a second free Shaw digital box for another Bell product. Of course that was without a contract.

Until Telus is willing to offer this type of a package I would not switch nor would I sign a contract.

[theonlywhiteout]

telus pvr is larger than shaws and sells for 250 new
it rents for 15, while shaw charges 20

and we even offer a contract for free rentals. when people complain about contracts i really question their motivations. dont want one? dont take it.

[Torture]

Originally Posted by oilyfan

Yes they do offer their services without a contract. But lets be honest, buying a PVR from them for $749 (when they first came out and even now $499), you might as well call that a contract. Once you sink that kind of money in (I have approximately $2000 sunk in 4 Shaw PVR's) what kind of motivation does anyone have to switch? It is part of their strategy...

You were so close too! It's a sunk cost, doesn't matter how much you spent, you're not going to get it back whether you switch to Telus or stick with Shaw.

[amorak]

If anyone here works for Telus, can you PM me? I know that my house is able to get the new vDSL2 service, but there are no open ports. Hoping someone can help get me in there so I can get turbo optik

[theonlywhiteout]

edit