Shaw PVR Questions

[Iceman90]

My Mom wants to get a PVR for Christmas. She uses Shaw Cable as her provider. She doesn't have digital cable, just standard cable.

I want to get her a PVR for Christmas. If I buy one from Shaw, will she need to upgrade to Digital Cable or HD first?

Do I need to buy a PVR from Shaw for it to work? I find their model a little expensive, and would be interested in looking around for some 3rd party alternatives if they'd work. If so, any suggestions?

[ken0042]

Getting a Shaw PVR pretty much also gives you digital. I think the entire city had digital coverage now; Shaw may just have to come out to flip a switch at the box outside the house.

I wouldn't bother with a 3rd party PVR. It won't have the same interactive guide and features.

[Iceman90]

I heard from someone that if we just get a digital cable box, we can plug a hard drive into that, and use it as a PVR.

[CMPunk]

Never heard that...I've heard of plugging in a hard drive to a PVR to expand it, not a cable box

[FlameOn]

I believe Iceman is right, you can get the Pace system as just a HD box and buy the shaw PVR expander for it afterwards and use it as a PVR then.

[FireFly]

You don't have to pay more for service if you don't wish to. You will get additional digital channels and additional HD channels regardless at no extra cost (except for the cost of the box, that is).

There are two options for purchase right now. The Motorola DCX3400 which has a 500GB internal memory or the Pace Summit with Expander which has an external memory of 1TB. Both options can be purchased directly from Shaw for $348 dollars right now. I'm not certain what other retails are selling them for although someone told me yesterday that they were cheaper at Visions by about $20.

[Iceman90]

Is the PVR expander some special piece of hardware, or just a standard external hard drive? Could I go to Memory Express, buy a 1TB drive, plug it into a PVR, and get the same function?

[FlameOn]

Its not anything special hardware wise and is just really an external HDD, however shaw is done something in the firmware to lock the boxes to use only their extenders IIRC.

[Yamer]

I have also been looking into getting a PVR/HD terminal for Shaw. However, I have heard that the boxes that they retail are quite buggy/glitchy. It doesn't seem to happen to everyone, but the chances of it happening to me (with the luck I have) has really made me hesitant to pick one up for $350.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by FlameOn

Its not anything special hardware wise and is just really an external HDD, however shaw is done something in the firmware to lock the boxes to use only their extenders IIRC.

This is not correct. You can use almost any external drive with the Motorola boxes. I have had 4 different PVRs with my external drive andnthey have worked. I have not tried a Pace box, so I cannot say for 100% sure, but a little bit of googling will probably confirm that they can to. The Pace boxes can just have the hard drive plugged in if a one time purchase of PVR is not optimal so you can split payment over a little while, otherwise I would go with the Motorola DCX 3400, which is the newest PVR model and has a 500GB internal HDD. If I was buying a box, that is the box I would buy.

Appears it is on sale at memory express for $350 http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...29791(ME).aspx, and it normally $400.

Another thing to note is that the DCX3400 has some sort of internal modem which IIRC will allow it to eventually (with new firmware) function in the same manner as Optik TV and showing content on more than one TV. I just heard this kind of 3rd hand though, so who knows how accurate it is. I have read some rumblings that seem to confirm it on digitalhome.ca forums so it might have legs.

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by Yamer

I have also been looking into getting a PVR/HD terminal for Shaw. However, I have heard that the boxes that they retail are quite buggy/glitchy. It doesn't seem to happen to everyone, but the chances of it happening to me (with the luck I have) has really made me hesitant to pick one up for $350.

There is a 3 year warranty on all devices and if you have the triple play (phone, internet and cable) you have warranty for as long as you have the bundle.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Yamer

I have also been looking into getting a PVR/HD terminal for Shaw. However, I have heard that the boxes that they retail are quite buggy/glitchy. It doesn't seem to happen to everyone, but the chances of it happening to me (with the luck I have) has really made me hesitant to pick one up for $350.

2 of the 5(?) Pace boxes that they have were pretty bad. One was recalled by the manufacturer. I was told by a friend who works at Shaw to avoid the Pace boxes if you can, so I have done so and it has worked out well. The advantaged to them, as I understand it, is you can buy the box and then add the PVR storage afterwards if you decide you want it later.

Originally Posted by FireFly

There is a 3 year warranty on all devices and if you have the triple play (phone, internet and cable) you have warranty for as long as you have the bundle.

I can confirm this. Our PVR started to die (hard drive was grinding) so we called in and they booked a service call to send out a replacement box. We asked them if we could get a DCX 3400 instead of our current box and they were a little difficult about it but I am pretty sure we paid a little out of pocket for the upgrade (not sure, the wife handled them).

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Iceman90

Is the PVR expander some special piece of hardware, or just a standard external hard drive? Could I go to Memory Express, buy a 1TB drive, plug it into a PVR, and get the same function?

I did this last year, so things may have changed. This is also for HD.

You don't have to use the expander, but there are restrictions you have to be aware of. For my Pace DCT, it had to have an eSata connection, only 7200 rpm HDDs (officially - I've heard 5400 rpms have worked as well) and it must stay on when powered (stay away from "power saving"). Also worth noting that PVR external hard drives may have cooling systems specially designed for home theatre environments, though this isn't really a big thing to worry about. I ended up buying the terminal from Futureshop and the HDD and HDD enclosure from TigerDirect (I think) and saved a few dollars over buying from Shaw.

My advice: wait for Boxing Day. HDDs, enclosures and external drives will be cheap, and you may be able to get a PVR/Terminal on sale as well.

[accord1999]

Originally Posted by Iceman90

Could I go to Memory Express, buy a 1TB drive, plug it into a PVR, and get the same function?

Given the current pricing of HDs, I would recommend you get a 2TB drive and have enough storage for ~300 hours of HD for the Pace 758D. HD video doesn't require very high transfer rates so slower, quieter drives like the WD Green or Seagate LP are more than adequate.

While initially the Pace did have some annoying bugs, recent firmware updates have improved it a lot and I don't think it's any worse than the Motorola 3400 at this time.

[FireFly]

Just wanted to let you know the Pace Summit has been reduced in price to $198.

[STeeLy]

Originally Posted by FireFly

Just wanted to let you know the Pace Summit has been reduced in price to $198.

Hey FF, any idea if the PVR (not the expander, but the motorola digital box and PVR) is going to be on a bigger sale come boxing day?

[Boblobla]

Originally Posted by Rathji

This is not correct. You can use almost any external drive with the Motorola boxes.

I have the new Motorola box and I was having issues with the external HD that I used for my previous Motorola box. It kept freezing and I would lose recordings so I am just using the 500gig HD that comes with the box.

[Clarkey]

I've got the DCX 3400 PVR, what do I need to get access to my PVR library on another tv in my house? I know Telus offers the x-box for a secondary tv. Can I just buy something like that?

I've got all these movies and saved tv shows on the PVR but I can't watch them upstairs.

[fundmark19]

Nope that is what sucks about shaw. You can get a slingbox that would allow you to do that though

[Antithesis]

Anyone know anything regarding whether Shaw will be bringing over the PVR-anywhere ability that Telus Optik currently has? I really wish they had it.