Comments on: On monkeys, and why satellite service sucks.

by: Jackal

Sat, 09 Oct 2004 20:02:04 +0000

Don’t waste time and money with satellite TV services. They all stink.

by: Starvinder

Mon, 02 Feb 2004 01:55:55 +0000

Update on Tivo in Canada. I just purchased a Toshiba DVD player in Seattle yesterday with 80 hour TIVO harddrive built into to it. It totally works in VAncouver (I’ve been tivoing all day). You don’t have all of the functionality of true Tivo (i.e. no sesons’ pass etc) but there is no monthly charge because the DVD player comes with lifetime basic TIVO services. The TIVO itself dials into a vancouver number and downloads the seattle tv listings. So when you tivo, you have to know your channels to ensure you tivo the right program..but other than that it works brilliantly!..Best thing is that you don’t have to set up fake US addresses or anything because you don’t even need to activiate the service. There are only two dvd players right now with TIVO but more are expected in the fall. So anyone out there is really interested in having tivo, you can have it one afternoon.

by: Starvinder

Fri, 26 Dec 2003 02:41:24 +0000

I guess you can’t have your cake and eat it to!….

by: Greg

Wed, 24 Dec 2003 18:59:32 +0000

Yeah, but Starchoice has been talking about coming out with a PVR *real soon now* since 1999. Show me the hardware ;)

I’d love to get a directTivo, but it’s not legal in Canada, and I’d miss my Hockey Night in Canada too much ;)

by: Starvinder

Wed, 24 Dec 2003 18:50:40 +0000

If you are interested in TIVO now!..then you can order a DirecTV receiver with TIVO built in on EBAY, ship it to Canada and then order US satelittle services for prices comparable to Shaw ..plus you get HBO etc.

I also checked SC website, and a Dec 19 press release indicates a latter part of 2004 launch of their PVR which may be based on a TIVO platform.

by: Greg

Wed, 19 Nov 2003 02:54:07 +0000

Do they? Last I looked, it was still "coming soon."

Just checked - as of right now, there is no mention of PVR functionality on the SC website.

I had heard they were planning a Q4 release of a PVR, but I hadn't heard anything about it being a HD receiver too.

by: MDUGuy

Sun, 16 Nov 2003 21:54:26 +0000

Actually StarChoice now offers a receiver/PVR/HD decoder all in one. Nice box. I’ve done work for both EVu and SC, SC is by far the more superior product technology-wise. I do own both systems though :)

by: Greg

Thu, 26 Sep 2002 21:54:32 +0000

You mean SnapStream?

by: Arcanas

Thu, 26 Sep 2002 19:47:48 +0000

I’m thinking about that other solution you posted the other day. If something like that could be made to work, then I would probably get that setup and not worry about the Tivo or PVR :P

by: Greg

Thu, 26 Sep 2002 14:05:38 +0000

I was always under the impression that Shaw’s techs were based out of Calgary. I know they had some locals when they were getting @home going, but I thought they’d consolidated it all to Calgary since (No reason that I thought this, I just did)

As for Digital Cable vs. Satellite? I’d switch in a second if they could provide me with a better receiver than my 5100 (when it’s working) Right now, the 5100 is the only game in Canada, and the only competition in the US is DirectTivo and UltimateTV - both of which charge an additional monthly subscription for some odd reason. Supposedly it’s for the guide, but everyone who has a dish has a guide…