Shaw Internet - Magical New Speeds and Lots-o-bandwidth, fickle geeks appeased - Page 36 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

llama64 · 05-26-2011, 08:34 AM

Bravo Shaw! They exceeded my expectations and I will gladly continue subscribing with them. These plans flat out embarrass the competition.

They properly priced the internet and will reap massive market value from it. And echoing the above two posters, I will likely upgrade my existing plan from Extreme to the new sexy Broadband 100. I'm liking the roll up to the next plan if you go over - very simple, easy to understand and doesn't unfairly punish people who have spiky bandwidth.

I was expecting to pay more per month as a result of these changes, but I wasn't expecting to get improved service as well.

Now if only the Telco's would get their heads out of their rears and follow suit.

sclitheroe · 05-26-2011, 08:35 AM

From what I've read, if you go over in a month, you jump up to the next tier now with Shaw. That's a form of UBB I can get behind, and seems completely reasonable since their caps are fairly generous.

This has me eyeing my Telus modem like Old Yeller now...maybe it's time Yeller, maybe it's time.

Jimmy Stang · 05-26-2011, 08:42 AM

As an aside, Shaw mentions that they are freeing up network capacity by converting everyone to digital. I'm not familiar with the technicalities, but I can assume that analogue signals are inefficient and take up more than their fair share of the capacity.

Just this week, ironically, I noticed that Shaw's TV packages now provide an option to go to "Digital Basic" with your usual HD which is perfect if you're not a heavy TV watcher and/or you pretty much stick with the 200's an up for the HD. It essentially chops "classic cable" tiers 1, 2, and 3 from your plan (channels 23-49) and reduces your bill by about $27. Since some of those channels are available in HD anyway, and many are just fillers in the cable tier pricing scheme, I'm doubtful that I'll even miss them.

I realize that this is not the TV thread, but because Shaw sites the move to digital TV as a way of expanding internet capacity, and because most of us are wrapped up in bundles for TV and Internet, this is indirectly related. You might want to help the process along and save $27 in the process. I'm sure that once Shaw has everyone on a digital terminal, they'll find a way to re-serve those channels digitally, but in the mean time, why pay for them?

Here's a link to a channel lineup PDF to see what you'd be missing:
http://www.shaw.ca/uploadedFiles/Cus...yLineup_v2.pdf

Raekwon · 05-26-2011, 08:47 AM

[2] Shaw didn't announce a stand-alone price for the new plans, but didn't rule it out. I wouldn't hold your breath though. --dangerbell May-25-11 9:38:57 PM

Of course the catch is that they are only offering the new services bundled with a cable package. Small price to pay.

Rathji · 05-26-2011, 08:54 AM

I heard about this last night from a friend who works for Shaw. She didn't know all the details but it looks even better than she was saying. Extreme Internet capped at 250, which is more than reasonable for a normal user, even if there is heavy streaming (ie Netflix).

I am on Warp now, but mostly for cap reasons. I will probably be moving back to Extreme soon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raekwon

[2] Shaw didn't announce a stand-alone price for the new plans, but didn't rule it out. I wouldn't hold your breath though. --dangerbell May-25-11 9:38:57 PM

Of course the catch is that they are only offering the new services bundled with a cable package. Small price to pay.

As it stands now in the market, you need to have a very good reason for not bundling your services. Even the fact that Shaw gives unlimited warranty for users with all 3 services means there is enough reason for me to keep the phone around, when I could probably get by with an increased cell plan.

kermitology · 05-26-2011, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

As an aside, Shaw mentions that they are freeing up network capacity by converting everyone to digital. I'm not familiar with the technicalities, but I can assume that analogue signals are inefficient and take up more than their fair share of the capacity.

Analog is a huge bandwidth hog. Each signal is a carrier, you can embed multiple digital data signals on a single carrier.

Meelapo · 05-26-2011, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

As an aside, Shaw mentions that they are freeing up network capacity by converting everyone to digital. I'm not familiar with the technicalities, but I can assume that analogue signals are inefficient and take up more than their fair share of the capacity.

Just this week, ironically, I noticed that Shaw's TV packages now provide an option to go to "Digital Basic" with your usual HD which is perfect if you're not a heavy TV watcher and/or you pretty much stick with the 200's an up for the HD. It essentially chops "classic cable" tiers 1, 2, and 3 from your plan (channels 23-49) and reduces your bill by about $27. Since some of those channels are available in HD anyway, and many are just fillers in the cable tier pricing scheme, I'm doubtful that I'll even miss them.

I realize that this is not the TV thread, but because Shaw sites the move to digital TV as a way of expanding internet capacity, and because most of us are wrapped up in bundles for TV and Internet, this is indirectly related. You might want to help the process along and save $27 in the process. I'm sure that once Shaw has everyone on a digital terminal, they'll find a way to re-serve those channels digitally, but in the mean time, why pay for them?

Here's a link to a channel lineup PDF to see what you'd be missing:
http://www.shaw.ca/uploadedFiles/Cus...yLineup_v2.pdf

They must be quite inefficient if the jumps where you can go from the minimum of 7.5 (excluding the 1 Mbps) to 50 Mbps. That's a significant jump.

Jimmy Stang · 05-26-2011, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kermitology

Analog is a huge bandwidth hog. Each signal is a carrier, you can embed multiple digital data signals on a single carrier.

Someone actually mentioned this idea at the consultation I was at. He obviously had more knowledge than myself in the area, but he suggested getting everyone on digital TV - even if it meant subsidizing the necessary hardware - as it would allow Shaw to add more value in other areas like Internet. Although I can only assume that Shaw had considered the idea previously, it is nice to see that they have moved beyond the cap and gouge model and are actually finding ways to improve the network's efficiency. This can only benefit everyone.

mykalberta · 05-26-2011, 10:03 AM

One problem I can foresee is allt he TV's at gyms would now need a digital box. I am sure there are alot more examples of how it would be difficult ti implement it.

The Yen Man · 05-26-2011, 10:07 AM

Wow, my cap for Shaw High Speed went up from 60 gigs to 125 gigs? Man, that's sweet! That's all I really wanted as my range is around 80 gigs a month. Good for you Shaw. You've retained me as a customer. Now you better stick to it and not drop it down back to 60 gigs again.

photon · 05-26-2011, 10:17 AM

I didn't expect anything nearly this good, very surprised.

And pleased

photon · 05-26-2011, 10:20 AM

So can you sign up for the Phase I stuff yet, or do you have to wait until June?

Bob · 05-26-2011, 10:40 AM

Color me blown away.

Fire · 05-26-2011, 10:42 AM

The only thing I don't like is instead of paying $39.00 a month I will have to pay $59.00 a month.

secol · 05-26-2011, 10:55 AM

great stuff....once my student plan expires i'll probably hop aboard shaw for the long term (or short if they don't give me some discounts)

Jimmy Stang · 05-26-2011, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fire

The only thing I don't like is instead of paying $39.00 a month I will have to pay $59.00 a month.

I believe that you can stay with regular "high speed" for $39, even after the new phases are introduced. Unless I'm misinterpreting it. The current tiers seem to be the general plans for the majority of people, but if you want something extra (like more speed and/or more data usage), you can go to one of the new "broadband" ones. I don't see the new broadband plans as replacements to the current plans, but rather options for those who want something more.

Bob · 05-26-2011, 11:06 AM

I like the fact that with the new plans, $10/month grants an additional 250 GB/month. That's 4 *cents* per gigabyte (granted, it's already costing you a fair bit, but still ...)

Blows what Bell was saying completely out of the water. I get the impression this is largely directed at both Telus & Bell. Lots of people must have jumped ship or threatened to move to Telus when this first blew over.

Crazy Bacon Legs · 05-26-2011, 11:07 AM

Hmm. Unfortunately, this means I may have to abandon my "tell Shaw to STFU and GTFO" plan.

If my Extreme data cap is gong from 100 GB to 250 GB per month, I may just keep my service. I run about 120 GB per month, and that's why their original overage plan ticked me off so much.

Good on Shaw for re-evaluating their position and listening to their customers. I'd like to think my vitriolic yet witty email diatribe played a small part in this. It seems they have gained a potential lost customer back (???)

Yamer · 05-26-2011, 11:13 AM

This pleases me.

Bob · 05-26-2011, 11:14 AM

It'll be interesting to see if they can maintain throughput at the node level and backbone level if multiple people hop on the 100 megabit train and start pulling down data left and right. I like the idea of a 100/10 connection, but I'm just not sure I'm going to see much in the way of those speeds without serious congestion at peak hours.