New Shaw digibox

[Julio]

As first talked about here in the Buy and Sell forum, Shaw is unveiling a new inexpensive ($98) digital terminal, the DCT 700
Anybody here know enough about the boxes to tell me the difference between this and the DCT 2500 Shaw makes you buck up $298 for?
Also, I'm a full analogue subscriber now...what extra channels do I get for plugging in the box? I've been searching through some of Shaw's info, but can't seem to get a straight answer to this. Nearest I can tell is that for an extra $2 over the amt I pay now for the full cable and internet bundle I get some US Superstations, digital music, and the ability to get PPVs.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by Julio

As first talked about here in the Buy and Sell forum, Shaw is unveiling a new inexpensive ($98) digital terminal, the DCT 700
Anybody here know enough about the boxes to tell me the difference between this and the DCT 2500 Shaw makes you buck up $298 for?
Also, I'm a full analogue subscriber now...what extra channels do I get for plugging in the box? I've been searching through some of Shaw's info, but can't seem to get a straight answer to this. Nearest I can tell is that for an extra $2 over the amt I pay now for the full cable and internet bundle I get some US Superstations, digital music, and the ability to get PPVs.

You get american networks from detroit so you can watch shows 2-3 hours earlier. You also get US superstations, another Teletoon, TLN, NFL network, Star and the ability to add individual digital channels a-la-carte for a couple of bucks each.

[fanforever1986]

this is really good news. the faster costumers switch to digital, the faster shaw can switch to an all digital line up, meaning more space for more HD channels.

at 98 bucks...nearly everyone can afford digital. About time shaw.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by fanforever1986

this is really good news. the faster costumers switch to digital, the faster shaw can switch to an all digital line up, meaning more space for more HD channels.

at 98 bucks...nearly everyone can afford digital. About time shaw.

At 98 bucks i will buying a second box for my TV in the den.

I also have friends who have stayed away from digital due to the cost of the box. Now they have no excuse but to pony up the dineros.

[Dion]

Here's a picture of the new DCT 700

[Dion]

An interesting read in regards to what cable suppliers are going to do about analog.

http://www.cedmagazine.com/article/CA476133.html

[JohnnyFlame]

Ok I need more info tech types. I buy this box and get more channels for my 2 bucks a month plus the $98 --Is that correct? I have 3 analog tv's so my picture won't be any better but I get more channels? I buy an HD capable TV and I'm all ready to roll or there is yet more expense hardware wise and for these channels?

[fanforever1986]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlame

Ok I need more info tech types. I buy this box and get more channels for my 2 bucks a month plus the $98 --Is that correct? I have 3 analog tv's so my picture won't be any better but I get more channels? I buy an HD capable TV and I'm all ready to roll or there is yet more expense hardware wise and for these channels?

some channels, such as movie channels, i believe are free with the purchase of the digital box (but check with them). You'll need 1 box per TV, and the picture should appear crisper even using an analog (where have you been? ) analog TVs.

Here's the part I wish stores that sells TV's would do a better job of...

Buying an HD READY TV means your ready to recieve the HD signals shaw (and other companies) have available IF you buy the HD digital box, which is different than the plain digital box. its around 300 bucks right now i believe, but always being lowered.

There's so many sports bars in this city that have spent money on plasma TVs, but then dont know there's a different channel (such as TSN) that makes it HD...*cough kensington pub*.

[Julio]

HD is a different animal from 'just' digital. An HD box is several hundred $.

[mykalberta]

Here is the info on the DCT700:

"The DCT700 is basically a 2500 without a clock, an analog tuner or multiple outputs in a package 1/10th the size. It has all the features - PPV, VOD, the on-screen guide with preview pane, a full set of menus, etc. They will retail for $98 plus tax but will not be available to rent."

Its a common misconception that Digital Cable equates to HD.

For HD signal you need a different HD box.

I have the HD PVR, I personally dont watch a whole lot on HD with the exception of Sports.

I couldnt live without the PVR functionality, I could live without the HD and the extra charges shaw is going to be tacking on.

MYK

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlame

I buy an HD capable TV and I'm all ready to roll or there is yet more expense hardware wise and for these channels?

Negative. Digital does not equal HD. But; just to confuse you HD signals are digital.

Digital is simply the delivery method. (OK, maybe a bit over simple) By using digital there are advantages like more channels on smaller space. Plus the ability to call Shaw and say "Hey, the Flames are playing in Montreal tonight, can I have RDS please." And they do. Then the next day you cancel RDS.

Other advantages include the on screen guide. I know people who buy a $1 newspaper once a week for the TV guide in it.

For those of you trying to get your head around compression; think of records and CDs. A CD can hold 1.5 times the music of a record, but it only takes up 1/3 the space. Now as a general rule a CD is capable of better sound quality, but as we all know an excellent quality record will always sound better than a poor quality CD. Same with digital TV; for the most part it is better; but some channels will still look better on analog.

Bottom line- get with the 21st century!

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by fanforever1986

some channels, such as movie channels, i believe are free with the purchase of the digital box (but check with them). You'll need 1 box per TV, and the picture should appear crisper even using

Be careful. Shaw said all along that the HD channels were free with the purchase of the HD box. Then they decided to add a premium tier to their HD lineup. Suddenly some of the HD channels, like TSN and Sportsnet, weren't free but part of a free preview that we were all enjoying thanks to the graces of Shaw. But come January you have to pony up extra to have those channels in HD.

But I digress...

[Crazy Flamer]

So just to get this straight, if I buy one of these new boxes, it won't give me an HD signal, but it should make regular channels look more crisper?

Yes I know, I'm very technologically impaired!

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by Crazy Flamer

So just to get this straight, if I buy one of these new boxes, it won't give me an HD signal, but it should make regular channels look more crisper?

Yes I know, I'm very technologically impaired!

I have never watched Shaw TV on anything but via Digital either in Edmonton or Cowtown, but for my parents local CableCo, there isnt much difference at all in picture quality, the sound is a definate improvement though.

The good thing about Digital is that it creates an ease of use with the PPV and different CableCo offerings.

You also have the guide which I could in no way live without - I could live with an easier to use Search function but thats just me.

MYK

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by Crazy Flamer

So just to get this straight, if I buy one of these new boxes, it won't give me an HD signal, but it should make regular channels look more crisper?

Yes I know, I'm very technologically impaired!

Not quite. It may just be a problem on my end, but I've found certain digital channels look worse than the analog channels shown on the same tv. In some cases, I've found the audio gets out of sync a bit on digital but have never seen that with the analog channels. Could just be my tv or my setup though.

Plus, if you have a plasma tv prepare for all of your non-HD channels to look awful. You get used to it but the shock of it all at first is frustrating.

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by fotze

Sort of like how interac was free for the first few years. They should called it Addiction Marketing.

It still is if you have the right account at the right bank. Like PC Financial. Just don't tell anyone about it or I'm sure they'll start charging too.

[fanforever1986]

Originally Posted by fredr123

Not quite. It may just be a problem on my end, but I've found certain digital channels look worse than the analog channels shown on the same tv. In some cases, I've found the audio gets out of sync a bit on digital but have never seen that with the analog channels. Could just be my tv or my setup though.

Plus, if you have a plasma tv prepare for all of your non-HD channels to look awful. You get used to it but the shock of it all at first is frustrating.

Its not your end, It's shaw compressing the signals 10 times the amount they are supposed to, because they're too cheap to improve their bandwidth. With Bell or Starchoice the picture on digital is much more vibrant than the analog or digital on shaw. Did i mention shaw sucks?

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by fotze

Sort of like how interac was free for the first few years. They should called it Addiction Marketing.

Hey, you could always just get an account where you pay 10 bucks a month and get unlimited transactions. Call it the methadone of banking.

[Julio]

Originally Posted by Reaper

Hey, you could always just get an account where you pay 10 bucks a month and get unlimited transactions. Call it the methadone of banking.

Or you keep money in your account and they give that to you for free, plus a free gold card, like I do @ TD Canada Trust.

[Eagle Eye]

Its amazing how little consumers and sales people understand about HD. A friend of mine just bought a TV with an HD tuner (not just HD ready) and the salesman told him that he does not need a shaw HD box (or any other provider). But what the salesman failed to tell him is that there are no OTA HD signals in Calgary as of today.