iamrobyn
@surrey.ca
|  [BC] Shaw basic cable PVR
I don’t know much about TV’s or PVR’s, so forgive me if this is a dumb question.
I have basic shaw cable in my apartment (I don’t have an HD TV) and am looking to get a PVR. I’m a little confused about my options though.
From what I understand, there is nothing available through Shaw unless I get HD, which seems like a scam to get bump people up to HD. They told me that units like tivo won’t work with their cable. I was also told that the ONLY thing that works is a Motorola 3080, but I have to try and find it used because they don’t sell it anymore. Unfortunately I can’t seem to find one. Is what they’re telling me true, or is there some sort of substitute for the 3080 that works? Is there ANY unit that works for non-HD and basic cable? It seems odd that they wouldn’t have an option for people like me.
Any help would be MUCH appreciated! Thank you! |
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AnonShawUser
join:2006-06-17
Calgary, AB
| if you're looking at basic, non-digital TV, TiVo will work. If you want digital and to record, you'd need a 3080. Though I have had one customer who was able to rig up their TiVo to actually even record on the digital, through a mix of magic and cabling and RF blasters for control.
But likewise, if you don't want digital and just want a regular PVR for recording, you might want to look at rolling your own HTPC, if you're at all technically inclined with building computers. |
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iamrobyn
@surrey.ca
| reply to iamrobyn
I’m not sure I understand. Aside from that one customer who worked miracles, Tivo won’t record my basic cable shows? I actually don’t know if mine is digital TV or what... all I know is that I have the basic package from Shaw and I want to record.
Ugh. I wish I could find a 3080! It would make my life much easier. Do you know of any websites that sell used PVR’s? |
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chris420
join:2008-06-11
| reply to iamrobyn
Non-digital channels are channels 2 - 58 (on mine).
If your able to just plug the cable cord into your TV then you should be fine.
Anyways I have HD but for standard def channels I use a DVD recorded. You can pick it up really cheap and use dvd-rw's. You can connect it using the regular cable cord or for the digital channels using s-video to record from the digital box.
btw does Shaw even offer a basic cable option anymore? I wasn't able to find it on their website I saw the digital basic but do they even have the cheaper option which is just the channels 2 - 58? |
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iamrobyn
@surrey.ca
| reply to iamrobyn
Oh, ok! I only have channels 2-28 and 110-114... and I pay only $10/month for it, so you can imagine why I want to hold onto that! (I don’t think they offer it anymore)  I just plug in the cable to my TV and it works. So any DVR/Tivo will work with that? Lovely!
I looked into getting a DVD recorder, but it looks to be the same price as Tivo, so I may as well get that instead (since it has more features).
This whole situation is weird because the Shaw rep said that the ONLY thing that will work is a 3080... but everyone else is saying that a regular PVR will work! |
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Lesaonar
join:2000-07-25
Victoria, BC | reply to iamrobyn
Just build yourself a cheap HTPC. Should be able to come in about the same price as a TIVO and no monthly fees. I have no issues recording anything from shaw with my current TV card. |
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jarrycanada
join:2004-12-02
Schenectady, NY
| reply to iamrobyn
yes, is the answer you seek. you can buy a tivo and it will work with shaw cable. who ever told you that you can't is full of it. but you have to pay a monthly fee to use a tivo. so seeing that your getting such a nice deal with your cable. I wouldn't go there. if you want the menus and service, that is, mind you there are hacks you can do to most tivos but i don't know anymore about that then there are.
»www.amazon.com/Hacking-TiVo-Will···4&sr=1-7
A better site to ask questions about tivo type services, not hacking. is »www.digitalhome.ca/forum/
This site I have found is more focused on tv recording then DSLreports is. You could also look at a dvd recording devices with a tuner. that's what you want, one with a hard drive, some of those have tivo like features. but it's hard to find people who know anything about them.
What ever you buy or do. just do your own research. read reviews, goto amazon and Cnet and read those reviews. don't listen to people who work in a big box electronics store because if they knew anything, they wouldn't be working there. it's like going to McDonalds and asking them for some cooking tips. |
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tlhIngan
join:2002-07-08
Richmond, BC
| Actually, the best TiVo forum is the TiVoCommunity forums
»www.tivocommunity.com
which cover everything from the basics, upgrading TiVos (more storage), and even hacking them.
There are really only two DVRs out there - TiVo and Moxi, and there are "the rest" - the cable/satellite box providing DVR functionality. A lot of people go with their provider's cable box, which is fine, as they're cheap, and they work, more or less. TiVo and Moxi do more so you'll find people who have those tend to be a bit more passionate.
(I personally have 4 TiVos, and it's a pity Shaw doesn't support CableCARD, for I'd bother with high-def in that case. In the meantime, I use the cable box with one of my TiVos, and two others record analog TV just fine, straight from the wall. I dislike the Shaw PVRs - have them, really use them as cableboxes since I can't figure the damn things out... Note to Shaw: How about licensing the TiVo UI like several US cable providers do? They work with the regular Motorola boxes via OCAP, and work so much better than your UI...). |
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TiVoShaw
@shawcable.net
| reply to iamrobyn
Yep you can definitely hook up a non-HD Shaw cable connection to a TiVo unit.
I had a DCT-2500 run into my TiVo and then my HD projector just fine. No point hooking up HD with the TiVo's legally available in Canada last I checked.
I switched to a Pace HD Box which my GF was against due to the cost and now will only watch HD and says the other channels look bad. |
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