Topic 'Basic cable - rep say digital box required... Huh?' in forum 'Shaw' - dslreports.com

Re: Basic cable - rep say digital box required... Huh?

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 15:53:46 EDT

spock posted : Smart move going to OTA. It was a hard switch for my wife and 3 kids initially but I built a great HTPC using windows 7 and media center. I have a full guide and the ability to record 2 shows and watch 1 at the same time. My wife now loves it. The picture is better than anything you will get from shaw. Netflix picks up some of the shows the kids miss.

Not sure what the future of OTA will be but I can see the shaws of the world trying to kill it if they could, especially since they own some of the network stations that provide it.

Re: Basic cable - rep say digital box required... Huh?

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 14:15:22 EDT

analog andy posted :

said by Inate :

The switch over to all digital will be happening in the future as it is a much more efficient method of signal transport and ends up opening up more bandwidth for cable services.
Analog will go the way of the do-do sooner rather than later, it just takes some time for everything to switch over.

Find a cheap shaw cable box on your local classifieds or via ebay if you don't want to pay to rent one or buy a new one and you still want tv.

Already cancelled my Shaw cable, last day should be Jan 1ST :) The only thing left is building the OTA antennas for local news. I got two WD TV live and an HTPC on the main tv. Unotelly, Hulu Plus, Netlfix and Crackle got the moves and shows covered. The main thing will be getting cooking shows for the wife. Will have to do some downloading for a bit to get them.

Funny thing about a week ago some guy calls late at night and says he's from Shaw and started talking about me disconnecting my cable. (I also ordered Cable Internet 3 days before from a local ISP (Lightspeed) He was asking why and how for a special price he can hook me up with basic cable for $24.99 for 6 months or even basic cable for like $19.99 or something. WTF? OK? Then started to try to sell me cable internet. I said I didn't want cable or internet anymore. Anyways he said if I changed my mind here's my phone # and call me if I change my mind.

Re: Basic cable - rep say digital box required... Huh?

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 13:43:03 EDT

anon posted : The switch over to all digital will be happening in the future as it is a much more efficient method of signal transport and ends up opening up more bandwidth for cable services.
Analog will go the way of the do-do sooner rather than later, it just takes some time for everything to switch over.

Find a cheap shaw cable box on your local classifieds or via ebay if you don't want to pay to rent one or buy a new one and you still want tv.

Re: Basic cable - rep say digital box required... Huh?

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 22:59:05 EDT

anon posted :

said by jarrycanada:

27 channels, we only get 22 here in Edmonton with out a box... Grr.

You should get 2-22, 51, 70, 119, 120, 122, 123 or something like that.

Re: Basic cable - rep say digital box required... Huh?

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 18:13:53 EDT

ravenchilde posted : As a side note, all other methods of TV require boxes: DSL and Digital Satellite. Cable will likely go all digital as well to use spectrum more efficiently. Spectrum is expensive.

Re: Basic cable - rep say digital box required... Huh?

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 18:03:51 EDT

jarrycanada posted : 27 channels, we only get 22 here in Edmonton with out a box... Grr.

Re: Basic cable - rep say digital box required... Huh?

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 17:42:52 EDT

analog andy posted :

said by Inate :

The $41 price is with the digital cable box rental($3.95) and taxes.

A lot of places have gone under a total digital upgrade, which means that you cannot access the analog signal any longer as they are only pushing digital in that area.

But the first digital box rental is suppose to be free.

Re: Basic cable - rep say digital box required... Huh?

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:34:47 EDT

analog andy posted :

said by kevinds:

Business internet, comes with the analog basic stations, for new customers too...

@analog andy, which speed of internet do you have?

Sorry I don't have internet with SHAW anymore. I got rid of that two years ago as the lines in my house are old and instead of running a new line they just kept on giving me splitters. After the third guy came in to install a new line it was raining a little and I guess he didn't want to get wet so my daughter said he told her this yet another splitter will fix the signal issues. Well obviously nothing happened and the internet and digital cable would go down every 15 min. So I canceled the internet and returned the digital box next day.

You wouldn't need to pay for/buy 4 OTA antennas, one would do, and a 4 way splitter :)

Yah looks like I'll need a signal booster. I'll get that set up this weekend.

Re: Basic cable - rep say digital box required... Huh?

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 13:12:51 EDT

analog andy posted :

said by Inate :

I'm still get up to channel 27 (Surrey area) but I guess I'd better start building that OTA antenna and get Netflix/Hulu ready. Got the living room HTPC all ready

Re: Basic cable - rep say digital box required... Huh?

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 13:08:57 EDT

ErikRP posted : It was my impression that the areas that were getting the upgrade to 250Mbps service were ones that had moved to all digital or mostly all digital subscribers. I think that's why the transition is taking longer than anticipated, surprisingly not everyone wants to pay for a digital box if they are getting a perfectly good analog signal now.

Re: Basic cable - rep say digital box required... Huh?

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 11:57:15 EDT

anon posted : The $41 price is with the digital cable box rental($3.95) and taxes.

A lot of places have gone under a total digital upgrade, which means that you cannot access the analog signal any longer as they are only pushing digital in that area.

Re: Basic cable - rep say digital box required... Huh?

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 03:43:17 EDT

kevinds posted : Ok, I hadn't gotten confirmation either way.

Re: Basic cable - rep say digital box required... Huh?

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 03:19:58 EDT

ravenchilde posted :

said by kevinds:

I don't think they are allowed to remove all the analog stations, otherwise I am sure they would have...

Actually they can. There is nothing stopping them.

Re: Basic cable - rep say digital box required... Huh?

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 22:41:52 EDT

kevinds posted : Business internet, comes with the analog basic stations, for new customers too...

@analog andy, which speed of internet do you have?

You wouldn't need to pay for/buy 4 OTA antennas, one would do, and a 4 way splitter :)

But yes, the basic package still exists, but for some reason, you have to 'know someone' in order to get it...
--
Yes, I am not employed and looking for IT work. Have passport, will travel.

Re: Basic cable - rep say digital box required... Huh?

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 20:58:06 EDT

analog andy posted : Well that's kind of weird as someone people just feel ripped off not being able to downgrade unless they take a box. If the analog is still there I don't need a box or want to pay the $3+ for other boxes.

I'd have to be paying $50+ for poor ass basic cable. At that rate in the long run its cheaper to buy/build 4 OTA antennas, buy 3/4 WD live boxes, pay for the DNS service and pay for Netflix/Hulu/Etc...

Re: Basic cable - rep say digital box required... Huh?

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 20:49:59 EDT

anon posted : I don't know for Shaw, but a lot of cable companies won't offer analog cable anymore for new customers. Analog cable is still available on there cable plant, but a customer with extended analog service who wants to downgrade to basic service can't, cause analog basic service isn't for sale anymore, he have to subscribe to a digital package. New customers can't subscribe to analog either.

The goal is to tranfer a maximum of analog only customers to digital, so it will be easier for the company when they will stop analog broadcast on their cable plant, cause most of their customers will already use digital cable, less fees for the company (less cable box to give for free to analog only customers).

Re: Basic cable - rep say digital box required... Huh?

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 20:49:53 EDT

analog andy posted : All I wanted to do is get the lowest possible package, mostly for news and Wheel/Jeopardy for out 92 year old grandma :) while the rest of us watched netfix/hulu/internet

So whats this package »www.shaw.ca/television/personal-tv/ ? It say 19.95 for "new" customers and $34.90 regular price/excisting customer. I wasn't even sure why she said $41+

This is from their site

»www.shaw.ca/television/digital-n···stomers/

In order to continue watching channels such as A&E, TLC, Discovery, CNN, The Score and Food Network, you will need a Digital Box for your TV.

Your Basic Cable channels (like Global, CTV, CBC, NBC, etc.) will still be available on any TV not connected to a Digital Box.

Re: Basic cable - rep say digital box required... Huh?

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 20:40:22 EDT

kevinds posted : Personal TV on their site says $34.90 (needs a box)
I can't find basic TV though.

»www.shaw.ca/television/digital-t···l-basic/
I found this for Digital Basic, which I believe is basic with the free digital channels, so it probably is $41.95, seems a little high too to me too...
--
Yes, I am not employed and looking for IT work. Have passport, will travel.

Re: Basic cable - rep say digital box required... Huh?

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 20:35:59 EDT

analog andy posted : I thought it was kinda weird to say I can't downgrade unless I take the box? I just wanted to get the basic but after hearing that I just told her to cancel my subscription on top of that she said it was going to be $41+ which is kinda insane for 27 channels.

Re: Basic cable - rep say digital box required... Huh?

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 20:17:10 EDT

kevinds posted : I don't think they are allowed to remove all the analog stations, otherwise I am sure they would have...
--
Yes, I am not employed and looking for IT work. Have passport, will travel.

Re: Basic cable - rep say digital box required... Huh?

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 20:13:26 EDT

zod5000 posted : I think the long term plan is to eventually remove all channels from analog. Maybe they're trying to hook everyone up with digital boxes to make that step easier when it happens.

Re: Basic cable - rep say digital box required... Huh?

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 18:02:02 EDT

analog andy posted : Ok so the csr was lying when she said I couldn't downgrade unless I took their digital box and paid for other boxes if I wanted to use other tv's.

Basically I phoned in to downgrade down to basic why pay for the other channels when I can't see them. I have 4 tv in the house and had no desire to pay extra money for 3 box rentals might as well get OTA for news and media players for the rest of the tv entertainment. Wanted to keep the basic to keep the off cable transition smooth.

Re: Basic cable - rep say digital box required... Huh?

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 17:50:49 EDT

fan13027 posted : Not true, at least here in Winnipeg. I tested this personally as little as 1 month ago. Cable from wall straight to flat panel TV - worked just fine.

Re: Basic cable - rep say digital box required... Huh?

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 17:50:01 EDT

kevinds posted : If you just have basic cable, then no box is required, as you witness now...

Find another rep...

Basic cable - rep say digital box required... Huh?

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 17:16:48 EDT

analog andy posted : Last week when all but 27 channels disappeared I phoned and requested that my account be put down to basic cable (to reduce cold turkey side effects when I go cable free shortly). I was told I still need a box even with the basic cable and I can't downgrade unless I get the digital box. I was like what? So you're saying I need a digital box no matter what, rep says yes.