Rogers HD PVR - Deals or new models?

[howitts_done]

Does anyone have any idea how or where I can get a Rogers HD PVR cheaper? I found it for $299 at Audiotronic.ca.

The funny thing is Rogers Marketing sent me 2 certificates asking me to come back to them by trading in my Satellite receiver in exchange for a free HD PVR. The problem is I've been a Rogers customer for the last 2 years and therefore I'm not a new customer or eligible for the free unit :loco

In fact they also sent me the same deal in exchange for a HP netbook which again I'm not eligible for.... :flaming

On a similar note, does anyone know if they have newer models coming out that I should wait for?

[mazdaskit]

Does anyone have any idea how or where I can get a Rogers HD PVR cheaper? I found it for $299 at Audiotronic.ca.

The funny thing is Rogers Marketing sent me 2 certificates asking me to come back to them by trading in my Satellite receiver in exchange for a free HD PVR. The problem is I've been a Rogers customer for the last 2 years and therefore I'm not a new customer or eligible for the free unit :loco

In fact they also sent me the same deal in exchange for a HP netbook which again I'm not eligible for.... :flaming

On a similar note, does anyone know if they have newer models coming out that I should wait for?

i dont know the price but when i was at either best buy or future shop every 3rd person had a hd pvr on them check with there flyers

[PCLoadLetter]

Rogers has been using the same digital boxes for years. Don't count on a new model coming out anytime soon.

[SonicBoy]

Try this place (http://ggelectronics.com/). I believe there was a boxing day special. If not, they're normally got the boxes on cheap.

[AskClaudio.com]

I think Costco sells them?

[cwp_sedan]

I think Costco sells them?

They do, and I think they come with a bigger hard drive from Costco.

[S.F.W.]

The better way is to Call customer service, tell them you want to cancel, get over to retentions, and keep threatening to make the jump to Bell.

[cwp_sedan]

The better way is to Call customer service, tell them you want to cancel, get over to retentions, and keep threatening to make the jump to Bell.

+1. What was I thinking...lol. :loco

[hatthi]

Rogers has been using the same digital boxes for years. Don't count on a new model coming out anytime soon.

There's actually a new model on the way soon. I've got a friend that works for Rogers Cable.

[howitts_done]

There's actually a new model on the way soon. I've got a friend that works for Rogers Cable.

Sweet, any idea what the time frame is or what the specs might be?

[howitts_done]

Try this place (http://ggelectronics.com/). I believe there was a boxing day special. If not, they're normally got the boxes on cheap.

G & G Electronics is an awesome store but they are still selling it for $345.

[hatthi]

Sweet, any idea what the time frame is or what the specs might be?

I think it was within a few months. I'll contact him and see what the word is. This one apparently has more memory and is smaller as well.

[Ex-Rolla]

I heard there may be a new one coming out sometime over the next few months ;)

[thanu31]

The one at costco is 320 GB HD, which goes for $489 - and on sale for $409.99(which ended 31st)

The other stores have the 160GB HD PVR, which goes for $449, and was on sale for $349 (shitty deal)

As the current model has been out for a quite a few years, I heard the newer units should be arriving in the near future, and they would be capable of receiving 1080p signal, have a bigger harddrive then 160GB, and of course have a smaller design.

[mazdaskit]

id go with bell (since thats what i have) and i love it lol but it goes by hours unlike rogers in memory GB's

[Ex-Rolla]

id go with bell (since thats what i have) and i love it lol but it goes by hours unlike rogers in memory GB's


It's difficult to predict how many hours you'll get, as different broadcasters offer different bitrates, so a 2 hour movie is not set at, let's say, 4 gigs... it varies wildly. Ballpark figure for recording HD on a 160 gigger would be 25 - 40 hours. a combination of SD and HD would be roughly 80 hours.

[mazdaskit]

It's difficult to predict how many hours you'll get, as different broadcasters offer different bitrates, so a 2 hour movie is not set at, let's say, 4 gigs... it varies wildly. Ballpark figure for recording HD on a 160 gigger would be 25 - 40 hours. a combination of SD and HD would be roughly 80 hours.

ya i think bell have 80 hours HD and SD is like 250 or something its really high

[coriolis]

The better way is to Call customer service, tell them you want to cancel, get over to retentions, and keep threatening to make the jump to Bell.

I had the VIP Package @ $58 for regular cable for the past 3 years(mainly cause other people in my family watch TV, me not so much), but I was interested in getting a HD Box cause I get free HD Channels anyways. So I called Rogers, told them I would cancel cause Bell had a cheaper package for the same channels, and they sold the HD PVRs for $100 with a $100 credit for every box. After a few minutes of simple negotiating(and trust me, I suck at it), I managed to get a free HD Box(she wouldn't budge for the PVR without extra $$), and a monthly rate of $55 taxes in, for the same plan and package.

So essentially, by calling it, I reduced the monthly bill from $64 to $55, plus I got a free HD Box to boot :hawt

[Noisy Crow]

FWIW, you can replace the hard drive in the Rogers PVR. I upgraded my 160GB one to 500GB. About a 15 minute job to swap the drives.... although if you want to move the data from the old one to the new one you need a bit of knowledge about cloning drives and a few hours to transfer the saved stuff.

[hatthi]

I heard there may be a new one coming out sometime over the next few months ;)


The latest I've heard is mid year 2010.

[thanu31]

FWIW, you can replace the hard drive in the Rogers PVR. I upgraded my 160GB one to 500GB. About a 15 minute job to swap the drives.... although if you want to move the data from the old one to the new one you need a bit of knowledge about cloning drives and a few hours to transfer the saved stuff.

was that a DIY or a shop did it for you?

[cwp_sedan]

FWIW, you can replace the hard drive in the Rogers PVR. I upgraded my 160GB one to 500GB. About a 15 minute job to swap the drives.... although if you want to move the data from the old one to the new one you need a bit of knowledge about cloning drives and a few hours to transfer the saved stuff.

Why not just add an external? What is the benefit from swapping the internal?

[Mty Mous]

I simply added a 1.0TB external HD onto the PVR and no fuss setting it up either, as soon as I plugged it in for the first time, the PVR wanted to format it, so I let it do its thing and haven't looked back since.

If its true that the new PVR's will record in 1080P, I might consider upgrading, but if its just a bigger memory and smaller overall package, I'll pass.

[Noisy Crow]

Why not just add an external? What is the benefit from swapping the internal?

The externals get picky about the order they are turned on, which means if there is a power blip you have to make sure you reset things manually. Plus it would have been more expensive. The swap is dead easy.... the most time consuming part was going to Princess Auto to pick up a set of security bits (for 5 bucks) so I could open the case.

[thanu31]

I simply added a 1.0TB external HD onto the PVR and no fuss setting it up either, as soon as I plugged it in for the first time, the PVR wanted to format it, so I let it do its thing and haven't looked back since.

People have told me the HD PVRs dont let you add an external harddrive that is any other then the one from Scientific Atlanta.
Thats good to know you can expand it with any harddrive.



If its true that the new PVR's will record in 1080P, I might consider upgrading, but if its just a bigger memory and smaller overall package, I'll pass.

Well Canadian broadcasters haven't started broadcasting in 1080P yet. But they have started it in the US. So im guessing the next model will definitely have 1080P capabilities.

[howitts_done]

The new HD PVR's have arrived!!


New Whole home HD PVR now available from Rogers

Posted by digitalhome on March 8, 2010

http://www.digitalhome.ca/2010/03/new-whole-home-hd-pvr-now-available-from-rogers/

Without any fanfare or public pronouncements, Rogers Cable this past week began selling the Cisco 8642 Whole Home high definition personal video recorder (HD-PVR) which should replace its aging 8300HD PVR.

Although roll-out plans for the new HD PVR have not been announced by Rogers, Digital Home believes the company will not formally announce the new set top box until it has cleared out its inventory of older PVRs.

The Cisco 8642HD Whole Home PVR was introduced by Cisco at the Cable Show in April of 2009. According to Cisco, the set top box features: dual tuners with hard disk drive storage ranging from 160 to 500 Gigabytes; 1 GHz Tuning which could allow Rogers to expand network bandwidth to provide additional services; MPEG-4 (H.264) decoding support; support for tru2way, personal media which enables display of photos and playback of video and audio from standards-based home network connected devices; Ethernet Connection; Whole Home PVR enables sharing and managing of video services throughout the home to other connected DVRs, set-tops and consumer electronic devices using standards-based connection and security technologies; Digital Transmission Content Protection over IP (DTCP-IP) provides encrypted content protection, such as “copy-one-generation” or “copy-never” based upon content copy control information (CCI), when output through an IP connection to an authenticated device; and optional Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) support.

Cisco 8642 Whole Home HD PVR

While all these capabilities are built into the set top box, it is unknown at this time which features Rogers will chose to enable.

Connections to the Cisco 8642 include Component output, digital and optical audio output, S-Video output, HDMI, USB 2.0, eSata, Ethernet and cable out (see website for more details)

The Cisco 8642 HD PVR is now available in select Rogers Video stores in a 160GB version for $499.

[STeeLy]

I have to ask.

I'm on a contract with rogers for basically all 4 (cell is with fido but it's really rogers) of the services they provide (eliminates the hassle of paying so many separate bills).

Anyway, I've been thinking about getting an HD-PVR, but I am not sure if I should go out and BUY one, or call up rogers and rent one from them. (I'm currently renting my HD box from them).

Would it be better to rent an HD-PVR? or buy one and return the rental to them?
(This package has an HD box and an SD box, I want to keep the HD one if I have to return one).

Any ideas?

[howitts_done]

I have to ask.

I'm on a contract with rogers for basically all 4 (cell is with fido but it's really rogers) of the services they provide (eliminates the hassle of paying so many separate bills).

Anyway, I've been thinking about getting an HD-PVR, but I am not sure if I should go out and BUY one, or call up rogers and rent one from them. (I'm currently renting my HD box from them).

Would it be better to rent an HD-PVR? or buy one and return the rental to them?
(This package has an HD box and an SD box, I want to keep the HD one if I have to return one).

Any ideas?

Rogers said I had to pay a monthly fee so I asked about promotions and they offered me a free SD PVR for 2 years. I'll be getting a new HD TV soon so I'll try to get this new one for free and if I can't I'll probably buy one because it can be cheaper from other vendors (see first post in thread).

[thanu31]

I have to ask.

I'm on a contract with rogers for basically all 4 (cell is with fido but it's really rogers) of the services they provide (eliminates the hassle of paying so many separate bills).

Anyway, I've been thinking about getting an HD-PVR, but I am not sure if I should go out and BUY one, or call up rogers and rent one from them. (I'm currently renting my HD box from them).

Would it be better to rent an HD-PVR? or buy one and return the rental to them?
(This package has an HD box and an SD box, I want to keep the HD one if I have to return one).

Any ideas?

these are the questions i answer at my job

If you were to rent one, its going to cost you $25 a month :S... Buying it would be $499 at regular price, but $349 on sale. Clearly its better to buy it at $349 rather then rent it. Only disadvantage is that you only get 2 years of warranty, rather then warranty for the life of your rental period.



Something im not supposed to tell customers..
If you want to save money for a bit
Call retentions and tell them you want to try the HD PVR for 1 year for free. This is very common that Rogers gives it out.

Im actually on my 3rd year for free:) (no i dont have hookups from Rogers, as im working through a third party company)

[STeeLy]

Thanks Thanu,

do you have any idea about returning the box at all?

[thanu31]

you can return it whenever you like
just take it to your local rogers store

[STeeLy]

Thans thanu!

[howitts_done]

What's the Rogers retention phone number?

[boogie]

Nice to finally see a new HD PVR being offered, but IMO 160GB just isn't enough. I have the older 8300 that has I believe 120GB, and I'm constantly having to clear stuff off to make room for more...LOL

[PCLoadLetter]

If you were to rent one, its going to cost you $25 a month :S... Buying it would be $499 at regular price, but $349 on sale. Clearly its better to buy it at $349 rather then rent it. Only disadvantage is that you only get 2 years of warranty, rather then warranty for the life of your rental period.
Rogers uses a system called SGI for managing cable services. I know for a fact that SGI lets the rep exchange a purchased box even if it's out of the warranty period. If you get a nice rep and say please, you can get a new box. :chuckle

[thanu31]

Rogers uses a system called SGI for managing cable services. I know for a fact that SGI lets the rep exchange a purchased box even if it's out of the warranty period. If you get a nice rep and say please, you can get a new box. :chuckle

lol thats true
theres a lot of things you can do to with Rogers if you know how to talk to them lol

[thanu31]

Nice to finally see a new HD PVR being offered, but IMO 160GB just isn't enough. I have the older 8300 that has I believe 120GB, and I'm constantly having to clear stuff off to make room for more...LOL
costco has been carrying 320GB PVRs for a while now $489, $10 cheaper then the 160GB :S loll