HDTV box vs HDPVR box

[OBCT]

Good thread. I totally agree with the prevailing opinion about the PVR: when my family got our HDPVR it was truly a revelation. Absolutely worth it IMO.


With regards to component vs. DVI vs. HDMI, it is really up to you. Component video gives great quality, even for HD television. Of course, picking up that HDMI cable for $10 on monoprice isn't a huge expense, and doing so is likely to give you a single backwards-compatible audio/video cable for years to come (EDIT: some might debate the last part). This is a very informative article you should give a read.

The two main draws of HDMI are: less clutter (one cable for video and audio), and super high quality video transmission (has higher bandwidth capabilities than component video, though the maximum resolutions are identical between the two; differences are usually very minor, and are usually most noticeable on Blu-ray discs; see here for more). Other than compatibility with "HD audio" formats now and in the future (something you'd need a capable AV receiver and worthy 5.1+ speakers to make full use of anyways), these are the only two real advantages with HDMI.

DVI is essentially the same as HDMI, minus the audio. The confusing part comes when getting caught up in DVI's many forms (see here). With the right type of DVI cable, though, you can expect excellent picture quality. Even though it's digital & analog functionality makes DVI more flexible and functional than HDMI for some situations, it certainly also makes it less user-friendly.

[FlamesKickAss]

Originally Posted by ok, ok,....I get it

do you know why the US on will not work?

if its not on shaws system they wont activate it.

[Old Yeller]

Originally Posted by ok, ok,....I get it

sorry, I was not clear...say I buy a PVR or DVR in the us, can I use it here, or if I buy one at say best buy. Is it a case of ordering the package then pluging it in?

It used to be that way, now shaw won't activate it if you didn't buy from a licensed dealer.

Edit: horribly beaten...

[rubecube]

I agree with everything said about the PVR, but why go with Shaw? You can get 3 Bell HD PVRs right now for the price of one Shaw PVR. Bell>>>>>>>>>>>>>Shaw.

[ken0042]

Where are you seeing that Rube?

[CubicleGeek]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Bell>>>>>>>>>>>>>Shaw.

To each their own I suppose. Here are my gripes about satellite:

1. The 2-3 times a year that I experienced communication issues with the satellites was enough for me to ditch Bell once Shaw got Centre Ice.
2. Having to change your smart cards every once in a while sucks too.
3. Not to mention needing a phone line to order PPV via the remote blows for people that only have cell phones.
4. Also, if anything causes your receiver to reset (i.e. power outage), there can be a substantial downtime while it tries to resync with satellites. With cable, the only thing that might take a while to refresh is the guide, you can still access the channels immediately.

[ken0042]

Just to expand on OK's question about using a non-Shaw PVR on Shaw. First of all, the guys are mostly correct that you have to use a Shaw PVR. The exception is that you can buy a Tivo, but then to use it you have to pay Tivo a monthly subscription (so you might as well just rent a Shaw box.)

You can also buy a DVD Recorder that has a built in hard drive, however Shaw et al have stopped supporting them, meaning no guide or channel info. Plus with more and more channels becoming digital, you would need a Shaw box anyways for the tuner aspect, may as well get one that also acts as a PVR.

With respect to buying a box that looks like Shaw's elsewhere and getting Shaw to activate it- as others have said they will no longer do this. The short version of the story is every cable company subsidizes the boxes to a certain extent. If everybody buys a Comcast box and activates it on Shaw, the Comcast is now paying for Shaw's customers to have service. So it's either a case of Comcast telling Motorola "Tell Shaw to stop or else we will buy our boxes elsewhere." Or Comcast could even be locking down their own boxes; and Shaw wouldn't be wanting to hack them as I'm sure there are licensing agreements.

So it really comes down to a matter of buying the box from the service provider; or one of their authorized retailers.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by ok, ok,....I get it

do you know why the US on will not work?

The MAC address for the unit is only available in the original provider's database and this causes them massive issues trying to get the providers to cooperate with them.

Something like that at least.

[Prototype]

Originally Posted by ken0042

You can also buy a DVD Recorder that has a built in hard drive, however Shaw et al have stopped supporting them, meaning no guide or channel info.

A major reason I punted Shaw. Bell doesn't support the guide well either, but Shaw gave no warning when I was a paying client. Pissed me off, big time. I thought my 3rd Party PVR was ruined.

[Nage Waza]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

The other thing is that you can add an external hard drive to your PVR. If you get the movie channels you can record and store a huge library of HD movies over time.

How? My parents are on Shaw and would like to do this.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Nage Waza

How? My parents are on Shaw and would like to do this.

the new Pace Tahoe PVR's have the ability to connect an external hard drive, but currently the Motorola boxes do not. there is apparently a firmware update down the line to enable that function for the Motorola DCT's, but it's been "in the works" pretty much since the boxes first came out so i wouldn't hold your breath

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

I thought digital signals could go to 1080i or 720p?

K I just scanned the internet. I think you're right. If you're on a regular digital box, you get up to 480p on an SD signal. This is still better than your standard non-digital coax connection. HD channels can get as high as 1080i, but apparently that requires a lot of bandwidth unless it's a still image, so 720p is likely the signal you'll get. And then there's long rants after that about how Shaw compresses their HD signals a ton and how shaw sucks blah blah blah..but there's a whole other thread about that somewhere lol.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by CubicleGeek

To each their own I suppose. Here are my gripes about satellite:

1. The 2-3 times a year that I experienced communication issues with the satellites was enough for me to ditch Bell once Shaw got Centre Ice.
2. Having to change your smart cards every once in a while sucks too.
3. Not to mention needing a phone line to order PPV via the remote blows for people that only have cell phones.
4. Also, if anything causes your receiver to reset (i.e. power outage), there can be a substantial downtime while it tries to resync with satellites. With cable, the only thing that might take a while to refresh is the guide, you can still access the channels immediately.

I'm not going to get into the Satellite vs Cable debate but a few things.

1. In years and years of having Bell I have never had "communication issues" except during a Solar Eclipse for about 5 minutes.
2. I've had to change my smart cards twice in who knows how many years.
3. This does suck! No denying that.
4. What receiver did you have? Or what do you consider a "substantial downtime"?

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by HOOT

I'm not going to get into the Satellite vs Cable debate but a few things.

1. In years and years of having Bell I have never had "communication issues" except during a Solar Eclipse for about 5 minutes.
2. I've had to change my smart cards twice in who knows how many years.
3. This does suck! No denying that.
4. What receiver did you have? Or what do you consider a "substantial downtime"?

3. You can order PPV over the phone or on the net. You don't have to plug your phone in.

[CubicleGeek]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

3. You can order PPV over the phone or on the net. You don't have to plug your phone in.

You can file your taxes via snail mail as well, but isn't it easier using NetFile?

Anyhoo, just wanted to point out some of the things that pushed me away from satellite back to cable. Didn't really want to start a debate over this.

Originally Posted by HOOT

4. What receiver did you have? Or what do you consider a "substantial downtime"?

I can't remember the model number, I have just recently in the last 4 months moved back to cable, after using satellite for almost 3 years, so the model wouldn't have been older than 3-4 years. I had both a SD box and SD PVR as I didn't have an HDTV when I got the satellite. But typically, it could take anywhere from 5-10 minutes of scanning satellites.

Maybe it was just me, but on point #1 sometimes during bad weather, it would do that scan anywhere from briefly (< 1 min) to as long as an hour at the worst case. Really irritated me. Both receivers did that, so it probably wasn't a problem with the box.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by CubicleGeek

I can't remember the model number, I have just recently in the last 4 months moved back to cable, after using satellite for almost 3 years, so the model wouldn't have been older than 3-4 years. I had both a SD box and SD PVR as I didn't have an HDTV when I got the satellite. But typically, it could take anywhere from 5-10 minutes of scanning satellites.

Maybe it was just me, but on point #1 sometimes during bad weather, it would do that scan anywhere from briefly (< 1 min) to as long as an hour at the worst case. Really irritated me. Both receivers did that, so it probably wasn't a problem with the box.

Well I guess if 5 minutes is "substantial" to you then yes I guess it does take a long time.

As for the bad weather that comes down to installation of the dish, etc. I live on Vancouver Island where it rains a tiny bit around here and the winds can be pretty crazy living near the ocean. Not once have I had it go out due to weather.

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

the new Pace Tahoe PVR's have the ability to connect an external hard drive, but currently the Motorola boxes do not. there is apparently a firmware update down the line to enable that function for the Motorola DCT's, but it's been "in the works" pretty much since the boxes first came out so i wouldn't hold your breath

This is the only and a huge issue with the Shaw boxes, I have. If you start recording a few series, and so does someone like your wife and or kids, It'll fill up fast. I've been recording some shows to a laptop, but it is a PITA. I can't believe Shaw, who makes what avg. $100/per household X ???? households, doesn't have the ability to go to Motorola and tell them to get it together and provide the ability to expand your storage. Unless maybe Shaw, doesn't really care.
This would be a reason for me to consider going to Satellite.

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by Rathji

Not to mention being able to start watching a hockey game an hour late and be able to FF through all intermissions/commericals

How do you do this? I just bought an HDPVR ($428 brand new in the box still!).

When I turn the TV on and find out there is a game, I can't rewind it for an hour. It doesn't start recording until it's on

Am I doing something wrong?

[Titan]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

How do you do this? I just bought an HDPVR ($428 brand new in the box still!).

When I turn the TV on and find out there is a game, I can't rewind it for an hour. It doesn't start recording until it's on

Am I doing something wrong?

You have to take it out of the box and attach it to the tv.

[Titan]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

How do you do this? I just bought an HDPVR ($428 brand new in the box still!).

When I turn the TV on and find out there is a game, I can't rewind it for an hour. It doesn't start recording until it's on

Am I doing something wrong?

Sorry couldn't resist. I have tivo so ymmv.

Whatever channel was on will buffer for 30-60 min. You can go back an watch up to 30 minutes, unless you are actually recording the program. If you are actually recording you can go back to the beginning of the program, pause, etc.

For the flames I have a season pass that records automatically and then I start to watch the game about 45-60 minutes after it starts. No commercials, no intermission, no panago guy. Bliss.