Just joined..so hope I'm in the right place. I'm thinking of purchasing a BEV 9200, but read that it is equivalent to the Dish DVR942 which will be unable to receive the new high def channels that will be coming out in the next year or so cause the receiver is not compatible with the new MPEG-4AVC format. I cannot get a straight anwser from Bell as to whether or not they will be using the MPEG 4 and if that will render the 9200 obsolete. My preferred choice is to buy the 9200 if it is upgradeable, otherwise I don't know whether to rent the 9200 or just go with illico's pvr ( which I also subscribe to ) . Any info would be much appreciated.

Good question Proactive. I'm wondering the same thing.

Here's my conspiracy theory:

Bell has begun offering the 9200 for purchase and still continue to offer it for rent. They have a quantity of these units in stock as well as open PO's for additional units. They have figured out that the number of units they have in the field on rental agreements will be paid off X number of months from now through the profits on the rental. These profits will also helpt o offset the cost of deploying additional rental units up until cutover. The units for sale will help to deplete their current inventory plus nibble away at incoming PO's. They may also have an agreement to purchase a limited number of additional units should there be an abnormal increase in demand. After X number of months they may start to swap out the rentals with the new MPEG capable units so they can switch over their technology. At the same, the poor guy who bought the unit is out of luck. Of course, they may not decide to switch to the new format until much later.

Thoughts?

First of all, the 9200 is not upgradeable to support MPEG4. Echostar has two new receivers which were just released to Dish Networks a few weeks ago. My guess it will be months at least before we see Bell using these new models, if at all.

Dish has to switch to MPEG4 to fit all the Local HD channels they are required to carry. We don't have that problem here in Canada. Bottom line is if you need a HD PVR from Bell today, the 9200 is it. Unfortunately Bell hasn't revealed its future plans other than a new satellite in 2008.

-Mike

I finally broke down and bought a 9200 at Bell World in the St. Laurent shopping Centre to replace my old 6000. Hopefully, I've waited long enough for Bell to get the bugs out. I'll run another coax feed tomorrow and start the installation process.

As I already have a 20" dish with an SW44, I'm guesstimating that reselling the new dish, SW44 and my old 6000 via eBay should mean that the upgrade will cost me somewhere around $150.

For those still looking for a source of 9200s, I can tell you that this particular store has 9200s sitting all over the store, and piled in every corner. The CS told me that their last delivery was for 75 units!

RonK,

I too was in the Bell World in Kanata and they had a bunch of 9220 systems as well. I quizzed the guy about the mpeg4 thing but he had no idea what I was talking about. So I stopped at that.

The guy also told me that the dish in the 9220 system had only one LNB and that I would have to use the LNB from my current dish to complete the system. He said if I was a new customer, Bell would supply the second LNB at no charge. Did you get 1 or 2 LNBs in your package? Makes it hard to sell my old dish and receiver without an LNB.

Thanks,
Congo

My kit has 2 dual LNBs. One is packed in the box with the dish, the other is included in the bigger box, along with the SW44. I now have to decide whether I want to sell the complete package (6000, dish with 2 dual LNBs and powered SW44) or piecemeal them. 6000's are going for between $375 and $500 ($US), dishes for around $75 and SW44s for between $60 and $85. Hell, I might break even on this!

The 9200 system I purchased at the end of December (marked for 'existing customers') had two dual LNB's in it. The package is identical to the 9220 system for new customers - so it has to have both.

Hello all,

I posted this at 9200 Installation 101, but perhaps this is a better spot. Basically I was given the runaround by Bell when trying to purchase a 9200. Have any of you also experienced this:

I phoned Bell to purchase a 9200 and check if installation would be free, and after talking to two different Bell reps, they told me that I can't buy the 9200 through Bell over the phone, I can only only rent it! I'd much prefer buying the unit rather than renting as the rental costs are indefinte. They told me if I wanted to buy one I'd have to try and find one at an authorized dealer, but apparently there aren't many out there.

They seemed to think I could buy one online from Bell, but that it would be sent to an installer, who would come to my house and install it. However, since I'm an existing customer, there would be an installation charge of between $75-125. I don't need an installer as I did the existing installation myself and can do this one as well, but if that's the only way I can buy one, I guess I'll pay the installation fee. Sooo, I looked at buying it online, however you have to sign either a 1 or 2 year contract. Why would I have to choose a contract when I'm already an existing customer!

Has anyone heard of this before? Are the 9200 units that difficult to find? I checked online at BestBuy, FutureShop and The Source, and there was nothing.

Anyway, the whole thing seems ridiculous to me.

Thanks,
Steve

I've been finding 9200's all over the place (Hamilton/Niagara). The Bell store I was at had about eight of them sitting out on the floor the other day. I've also seen them at Best Buy and Future Shop.

-Mike

I've seen quite a few 9200 systems in Calgary as well, for sale to existing customers only. Two friends wanted to purchase the 9220 system, but were told that they could not sell to new customers at Best Buy stores.

Various Best Buy, Future Shop and Source stores locally said they were now only selling rental contracts to new Bell customers. London Drugs said they would sell equipment (as of two weeks ago) but they had just sold their last 9220 when called. Visions had equipment for sale at two locations in Calgary.

One friend picked up a 6120 and 9200 system at Visions. The other bought a 9220 at Bell, then later a 6100 receiver at Visions. Visions was the only place in Calgary we could find the 6100/6120 for sale at all. The fellow who purchased the 9220 at Bell was told they would not sell him a 6100 (rental only) when he went back to purchase one from them a week later.

Bell again lists equipment for sale on their website to new subscribers (after removing that option at one point). It looks like they're forcing the retailers into rental only - even it they wanted to, will stores like LD and Visions be able to get new stock to sell outright?

Quite a program they have going with these on again/off again web and retailer equipment sales; some equipment you can buy from Bell but not retailers, some vice-versa, and some is available from some retailers but not others. A clear policy statement would be nice - it would be difficult to confuse the situation any more if they worked at it.

I've seen quite a few 9200 systems in Calgary as well, for sale to existing customers only. Two friends wanted to purchase the 9220 system, but were told that they could not sell to new customers at Best Buy stores.

Various Best Buy, Future Shop and Source stores locally said they were now only selling rental contracts to new Bell customers. London Drugs said they would sell equipment (as of two weeks ago) but they had just sold their last 9220 when called. Visions had equipment for sale at two locations in Calgary.

One friend picked up a 6120 and 9200 system at Visions. The other bought a 9220 at Bell, then later a 6100 receiver at Visions. Visions was the only place in Calgary we could find the 6100/6120 for sale at all. The fellow who purchased the 9220 at Bell was told they would not sell him a 6100 (rental only) when he went back to purchase one from them a week later.

Bell again lists equipment for sale on their website to new subscribers (after removing that option at one point). It looks like they're forcing the retailers into rental only - even it they wanted to, will stores like LD and Visions be able to get new stock to sell outright?

Quite a program they have going with these on again/off again web and retailer equipment sales; some equipment you can buy from Bell but not retailers, some vice-versa, and some is available from some retailers but not others. A clear policy statement would be nice - it would be difficult to confuse the situation any more if they worked at it.


Thanks for your replies scrooloose and WestCDA. Yes, Bell indeed has a screwy sales program.They certainly would prefer you to rent rather than buy.

I actually found one last night at FutureShop and bought it. Apparently it was their last one. I couldn't find any at BestBuy or London Drugs and apparently The Source stopped selling them.

Anyway, it was a breeze at FutureShop. They were able to access my existing contract, and with the extended warranty there, you get a replacement unit should it fail.

Anyway, thanks again.

Anyone know where I can purchase a 9200 or 9220? Which is it for a new subscriber? Also I am looking in Ottawa? thanks.

Anyone know where I can purchase a 9200 or 9220? Which is it for a new subscriber? Also I am looking in Ottawa? thanks.

The 9200 system is the one i just bought at Bell world. $599, came with the dish and an SW44 Switch

Which is it for a new subscriber?

9220 - new subscriber
9200 - existing

All '20' series receivers are for new subscribers, and include a 20" dish. The '00' series receivers are for existing subscribers, and for the most part are receiver only.

The exception is the 9200, which includes exactly the same components (including dish, switch, etc) as the 9220 package.

Getting it installed today, found some at Ottawa Audiotronics, funny thing is they had a sticker over 9220 that just had 9200. Anyways for anyone looking they had some more.

Picked mine up at Bellworld this week as well. Tried another "Bell Authorized Dealer" first. They had a display of them on the floor so I walk up to the counter happy as a lark about my new toy and they tell me they are not allowed to sell them. Waste of retail space if they are choking it up with products they can't sell lol. I also asked about if they came with a HDMI cable. The guy replies "yes but a cheap one". Normally I keep but mouth shut but I was compelled to respond "yes but it's a 6 ft digital connection". I had checked the stores wall display and the 6ft HDMI cables were $125.

I bet dollers to donuts they make more money off that cable than they would on the receiver. In the end they were quasi right. The HDMI cable is not really a HDMI cable, it's a HDMI>DVI with an extra adapter which converts it back to HDMI. Would this be acceptable for HDCP anyway? I would assume so but correct me if I'm wrong but I thought if anything other than HDMI was used for next gen products you would experience downgrading and because the HDMI goes to DVI before it goes back to HDMI that it would be affected?

Hi,
I just purchased a second 9200 for my home @ futureshop in Edmonton. There was no problem with the purchase.

BUT! This is something that puzzles me......the new 9200 freezes the video and audio on playback from the PVR. I called CS at BEV and they told me that it was a software issue that was known to them.

Well, I told him that my other 9200 had none of these issues with the same software and I'd like them to replace the unit since it was all of three days old!!! After being on hold for ten minutes the CS guy come back and says my request was denied!!! :mad:

He proceeded to tell that it was "100%" a software issue that will be fixed and I'm stuck with this stuttering POS.

I feel that it is the HDD in the PVR that is faulty......any thoughts? I will try to take it back to Futureshop......but, that may be a bigger challenge than dealing with BEV. ??

Rick

Read the 'Flakey 9200' thread about this issue. They are using a different hard drive in later production units, and they flat out don't work.

I think Bell's on dangerous ground here, as they are fully aware of the problem. They are knowingly selling a defective unit that will not function as a PVR, and not informing the customers when they purchase it. Then when the customers complain, they tell them they are 'working' on a fix, and can't provide a date it will be available.

Anyone thinking of purchasing one of these should educate themselves on the problem. There is a chance that the 9200 you buy may have the working model of disk drive, but there is no way to tell (that I can see) by looking at the identifying numbers on the carton.

WestCDA,

Thanks for the reply!!!! Man----I just went through that thread. :eek: After using my old 9200 trouble free for so long I had never even thought to look to see if there were new problems.:mad:

I do feel that BEV should stop the sale of the 9200's since the problem is well known. I mean $25.00 credits is crap!!! I will be sending the link to consumer and corporate affairs and see what they think.

http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/inoca-bc.nsf/en/h_ca02036e.html

Rick

I am an existing expressvu customer. I would like to buy an additional 9200 receiver. Anyone know a good place to buy. The bell rep told me Bestbuy however when I looked online I saw rental option only.

Any help would be appreciated.