Bell TV exchanging old HD receivers.

[Vulcan]

Bell TV is moving over to MPEG 4 on their HD stations, so receivers 9200 and 6100 will no longer be able to work for HD channels.

Bell is doing a free receiver swap for these receivers. If you have a 9200 I would suggest you phone Bell to arrange the swap. They may try to give you a 9241 in exchange, but if you are smart you will hold out for the 9242 which is better in every way. (Has an OTA tuner, will do PIP and operate a second TV).

If you have a 6100 receiver Bell will exchange it for a 6131. This is an upgrade as the 6131 has HDMI out instead of DVI and the 6131 can use an external HD making it a PVR. The only downgrade with the 6131 is that it has no OTA tuner and the remote is not UHF but you can ask for a remote kit.

You can wait for a letter from Bell but I suggest you don't wait if you want a 9242 as a replacement. When you phone, if they ask you if you have received your letter, say yes.


http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=146515

[Ryan Coke]

And when they ask if you output to 2 TV's, also say yes---then they are supposed to give you the 9242 instead of the 9241.

Got mine coming in the next few days.

[Vulcan]

One other thing, don't buy any 9200 or 6100 receivers as Bell won't activate them as they will soon be obsolete. There could be a glut of these on the market as people realize what is happening and some subscribers are being told to keep these old receivers and decide to make a quick buck.

[Draug]

Thanks Vulcan! You saved my bacon.

I need to get the 9242 to replace all my 9200's, so I am very grateful for the heads up. Since I pretty much stick to CP these days for all my worldy updates, I likely would have missed the chance to get in on this while there were 9242's left.

[Kipper is King]

My Bell HD reciever says 6131 on the front. Is the model # elsewhere?

[ken0042]

That is your model number; so you already have what they are swapping people into.

The only receiver I have that will be affected is my 6100- nice to have the PVR option on it now.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Generally when it comes to MPEG 4 and providers - do we know if the intent is to use the superior compression to offer more channels, or to offer higher quality picture/audio? Have any of them indicated anything one way or the other? I know Shaw, for example, offers Centre Ice and Sunday Ticket only over MPEG 4 channels, but the other HD channels are available on old receivers. With the transition already happening for Bell and inevitable for other providers, what will consumers see coming from it?

[Vulcan]

Well Bell has recently added 5 HD channels in MPEG 4, that can't be seen on the old receivers. These aren't must have channels by any means. Mostly CTV2 channels in Halifax, Montreal, Victoria,Winnipeg, as well as a station in Hamilton but it could be that Bell adds more HD channels and improves the picture quality. Right now I'm mostly happy with the picture quality on Bell since they went to 8PSK, but it hasn't always been so.

The official story for Bell moving to MPEG 4 is that they have to add 43 new SD channels by next summer that I believe the CRTC ordered them to. I think Shaw Satellite is in the same boat.

[Vulcan]

It seems that those requesting a 9242 receiver are often getting a 9241. Bell claims it's just a mix up by inefficient CSRs. Anyways if you get sent the 9241, I hear the best thing to do is not accept the delivery and get on the phone.

If anyone wants to check on what receiver they have coming, check this link.

https://secureo.bell.ca/mybell/vucar...ewAccount.page

What I had to do was go to this link and sign in and than go to it again with the same link.

Okay that isn't working. Use the link, sign in and click on 'change my pin'. After that click on 'Manage My Account'.

[TurnedTheCorner]

"Those requesting a 9242 are often getting a 9241..."? Or is this alarming because Bell is efficiently responding to its customers?

[sparky69]

i just called yesterday and the two 9200 that I own, they are sending my two 9242 to keep and I also get to keep the 9200. the 9200 that i rent, they are exchanging it for an 9242. when you call them, you have to make sure you tell them that you are using your 9200 for two tv, then they well sent you an 9242

edit: I guess i will find out when they sent me the new receivers

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

"Those requesting a 9242 are often getting a 9241..."? Or is this alarming because Bell is efficiently responding to its customers?

Yeah a typo, thanks and I edited it so it makes sense.

[Vulcan]

Well I picked up my 6131 today that replaces my old 6100, I already have a 9242. What I liked is that I didn't have to phone BEll to get it working. After you set it up, you sign in to Bell and click synchronize programming (on the right side of page), say yes and follow the instructions. My programming came on line in about 15 minutes.

[T@T]

How do you do the exchange? take your old recievers to a bell store or do the mail them to you?

[Edit] I have 6 recievers, one 9200,four 6100's and an old 4200 in the kids room...will the 4200 still work?

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by T@T

How do you do the exchange? take your old recievers to a bell store or do the mail them to you?

[Edit] I have 6 recievers, one 9200,four 6100's and an old 4200 in the kids room...will the 4200 still work?

Your 9200 and your 6100s will be exchanged. You can either wait for a letter or phone Bell before the 9242s are gone. Bell will send out new receivers to you via Canada Post or Purolater. For the 9200 you will get a 9242 or a 9241 and for the 6100s you will get 6131s.

It seems Bell doesn't want your old receivers back and suggests you dispose of them. I don't know how long they will be active but by next summer they won't work for HD anymore.

[Draug]

I just used the Bell Chat to initiate my receiver exchange. I now have, in writing, that I'll be getting two 9242's to replace my two 9200's. Hopefully they come correctly.

Thanks again Vulcan.

[zarrell]

I've tried with 2 different CSR's and they both straight up told me they don't have any 9242's to give out. Just the 9241's. What gives?

[ken0042]

When were you calling? If you call during the week late morning you have a much better chance of getting a Canadian CSR. My other trick; if you can pull it off- press "2" for Frech, and then make no attempt to hide your English accent. Most of the French speaking CSRs speak pretty good english.

When they ask, tell them you find the French speaking CSRs much nicer to deal with.

I have only tried that last on once.

[psicodude]

I just called tonight and got a 9242, although the CSR girl told me they had less than 100 left. She told me they get them in shipments of a few hundred at a time, so they go pretty quick.

I think it should be mentioned that Bell is doing a really good job of handling this, IMO. I was literally on hold for zero seconds and the entire thing was hassle free. The CSR floated the idea of sending me a 9141 and a 5000 something, but when I said I don't want that junk she just laughed....sort of like she knew that I knew what the score was.

[TorqueDog]

Shaw Direct has a similar trade-in offer for those wanting to upgrade from the old StarChoice receivers.

Traded in my HDDSR-505 for an HDDSR-600 for $49.