Bell or Shaw HDTV

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by liamenator

Anyone from Ontario care to weigh in on one's options there?
As far as I can tell its Cogeco vs. Bell... I'm moving to St. Catharines in about a month and will be looking to get the full HD+Centre Ice package set-up out there.

I'm not from ONtario but you should be able to pick up all the Buffalo HD stations with rabbit ears and Toronto with a Channel Master antennae. These OTA stations will give the best HD picture with no compression. Yeah you'll need a provider for TSN, etc. but do a scan on your HDTV for all the free stuff.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=129

[OilKiller]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

Shaw Calgary has 28 HD channels. Bell has 44.

We've been over and over this.

When it comes to regular, HD content providing channels, not PPV, not part time channels, not once-in-a-while sport channels, etc., BEV has a couple more channels (the ZOOM channels - Equator, Rush,etc. - that many, including myself don't care for the content). Other than that, it's pretty much equal content wise.

I'm sorry, but I fail to see how BEV is clearly the winner here.

Read Fotze's post for clarification.

And more doesn't always equal better.

[3 Justin 3]

I like BEV more than Shaw. The customer support is better with Shaw, as said, but in my area at least, the internet always goes down. Sometimes the cable goes out. For that reason I prefer Bell Express Vu, although Shaw internet is the best around from I have found, but that isn't being discussed. XD

[HotHotHeat]

Originally Posted by OilKiller

We've been over and over this.

When it comes to regular, HD content providing channels, not PPV, not part time channels, not once-in-a-while sport channels, etc., BEV has a couple more channels (the ZOOM channels - Equator, Rush,etc. - that many, including myself don't care for the content). Other than that, it's pretty much equal content wise.

I'm sorry, but I fail to see how BEV is clearly the winner here.

Read Fotze's post for clarification.

And more doesn't always equal better.

Are you actually trying to make the argument that bev and shaw are the same despite the fact that bev offers more services in better ways? Let's keep this conversation rational...


Shaw has clearly taken steps to improve their product, but as of yet they simply have not caught up.

[Draug]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Simple question, who gives better value?

For Bell, Im looking at the Essential Package.

For Shaw, Ive heard they offer student discount, anyone gotten it and know roughly how much discount can you get on home phone, digital tv, internet?

THanks

I cant let a thread about HDTV go by without complaining about compression. It is awful. The HD channels on my 65" look about like DVD used to on my old 29". Its gross compared to 5 or 6 years ago. The more consumers that know, and complain, the better our chances of ever getting a quality signal.

I have BEV and my brother has Shaw. Comparing the two, I think that Bell has slightly less compression, and therefor a better picture. However, the difference is far, far less than it used to be. With each mediocre and redundant HD channel Bell adds, the signal gets worse and worse. If your TV is 42" or less, or you dont watch HD channels, then I would say that signal quality is close enough it should not be a deciding factor for you.

Bell has that ATPN network aimed at the Native community, so that might interest you. It is an HD channel.

One thing that hasnt been mentioned yet is the Stamps broadcasts. So far each week this season, Bell has blacked out the home stamps games in Calgary. But, they have not been blacked out on Shaw. Huge factor if you are a big football fan. I've been heading to my brother's to watch the home games. Our theory is that it isnt blacked out because Shaw doesnt have the capability to distinguish Alberta regions that should have TSN blacked out from those that shouldnt.

[OilKiller]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

Are you actually trying to make the argument that bev and shaw are the same despite the fact that bev offers more services in better ways? Let's keep this conversation rational...

Yeah, that's what I'm doing. Go back and re-read my posts because you clearly have not read anything I've said.

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

Shaw has clearly taken steps to improve their product, but as of yet they simply have not caught up.

Ok then...again, go back and re-read.

[Saint Troy]

I've had Bell for years and the HD quality is better with the HDPVR than anything Shaw can deliver. I certainly do miss the convenience of cable though, especially trying to retrofit for multiple hdpvr's which is nightmarish.

[red sky]

I remember back a few months ago talks about a cheaper PVR coming out for Shaw. Does anyone have an update on this?

[GreenHardHat]

Originally Posted by fotze

Bell is like a hot chick who humps like a rabbit but then you find out she's a prostitute and you have herpes, by the end you want to bury her in the back yard after strangling her. Shaw is the girl you will likely marry, not a big time hottie but a good person with flaws like yourself who will be a good mother to your kid.

I've banged the bell slut and she was good to look at and good in the sack for a bit, but then you have to talk to her and that's when it goes downhill. Maybe you will get the rare girl who's had her larynx removed like rubecube or hothotheat, take your chances, the odds aren't in your favour.

Sorry to bring up yesterdays post, but kudos are in order. This analogy was amazing. Bravo fotze!

[OilKiller]

Originally Posted by red sky

I remember back a few months ago talks about a cheaper PVR coming out for Shaw. Does anyone have an update on this?

It's the Pace Tahoe 775D and you can add a e-SATA hard drive to it quite easily to extend the size of what you can record. I am assuming you were talking about the HD PVR right?

[red sky]

Originally Posted by OilKiller

It's the Pace Tahoe 775D and you can add a e-SATA hard drive to it quite easily to extend the size of what you can record. I am assuming you were talking about the HD PVR right?

Yes it was HD. I had heard it wasn't offered in Alberta yet. There is nothing on the Shaw website as of yet. Is this offered in stores?

[OilKiller]

Originally Posted by red sky

Yes it was HD. I had heard it wasn't offered in Alberta yet. There is nothing on the Shaw website as of yet. Is this offered in stores?

It isn't being offered "officially" in Alberta yet. Some people are getting this unit if they call and complain enough about their current unit 6412/6416. It's rare though. My understanding is this new Pace Tahoe unit will replace the Motorola 6416. Not just yet, but soon apparently.

[someguy51]

How is Bell's HD PVR compared to Shaws? I have the Shaw PVR and I have a feeling that its a power hog. If I go away for a while and I unplug my pvr I always have to call Shaw when I get back so they can "reset" it. It losses all of its pvr functionality if you unplug it (or if the power goes out) until its reset.

Does Bell have audio drops too? (there was a thread on this a while back)

[OilKiller]

Originally Posted by someguy51

How is Bell's HD PVR compared to Shaws?

All PVR's are subject to bugs, but Bell's HD PVR is better than Shaw's from everything I've read and seen. I've never owned a Bell HD PVR. They still are dealing with that "jump to live" bug apparently. It's been quite some time.

Shaw's HD PVR is much better than Star Choice's. I've had both. SC does not have "series" recordings and does not allow for two recordings to be done at once like Shaw's.

Shaw's is not perfect, but it's pretty decent. Again, Bell most likely has the best HD PVR overall, but what you have to put up with, with Bell was simply not worth it to me.

[HotHotHeat]

Originally Posted by OilKiller

Yeah, that's what I'm doing. Go back and re-read my posts because you clearly have not read anything I've said.



Ok then...again, go back and re-read.

Other than that, it's pretty much equal content wise

If you don't mean they're equal, maybe leave out comments like this.

[OilKiller]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

If you don't mean they're equal, maybe leave out comments like this.

Yeah, OK....Thanks for the advice.

Not interested in talking any further with an obvious Bell fanboy.

Thanks though...I've stated what is what between the two already.

[psicodude]

I have had Bell HD for a while now, and am actually quite happy with it. The PVR works great...pretty much a "must have" device in my house now. The only thing that bugs me is that the signal will go out whenever a big storm passes over, both in summer and winter.

Customer service really comes down to the person that answers the phone, IMO. I just think Bell has a few more idiots than Shaw does. *Insert French Canadian joke here*

Originally Posted by OilKiller

They still are dealing with that "jump to live" bug apparently. It's been quite some time.

Is that a well documented bug Oilkiller? It happens to me all of the time, and I assumed my PVR was starting to go. (It almost ruined the Affliction MMA thing for me last weekend!)

[OilKiller]

Originally Posted by psicodude

Is that a well documented bug Oilkiller? It happens to me all of the time, and I assumed my PVR was starting to go. (It almost ruined the Affliction MMA thing for me last weekend!)

Yep...I am amazed that they haven't fixed it yet.

BEV's HD PVR is pretty solid though. It's the one nice thing I will say about them, but with them using DISH technoology that has already been tested out on the huge U.S. market, it's quite easy to have better hardware than anyone else.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by OilKiller

It isn't being offered "officially" in Alberta yet. Some people are getting this unit if they call and complain enough about their current unit 6412/6416. It's rare though. My understanding is this new Pace Tahoe unit will replace the Motorola 6416. Not just yet, but soon apparently.

actually the Pace Tahoe is the only PVR offered in the Ft. McMurray area. there is a staff trial going on in Calgary as well but it's not being offered to the public yet down here

[Mayer]

Bump. Question about Bell. Specifically the 9242 PVR box.

For some reason when I watch TV, the sound cuts out periodically. Not for any length of time, but just every 30 seconds or so it cuts out for 3 or 4 seconds. It's really starting to piss me off. It hasn't happened in the first few days I've had it. Just started this morning. Could it be something with the TV? All the connections are tight. I can't figure it out.

Anyone have similar problems?