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Hi - I am new to the forum and I am looking for advice on dealing with Rogers. I sense from some of the posts that I have seen here that they are not unanimously loved.
I live in an area near Ottawa, serviced by a 600 MHz feed. Because of this, we have a reduced channel set. Our HD service is restricted to 4 channels! We have no Rogers On Demand, either HD or non-HD. Our list of non-HD channels (not a huge issue to me but its the principal) is also restricted compared to what we would have if we had an 860 MHz service.
When I signed up for HD last year, no mention of these restrictions came up. No mention of me living in an area with "reduced service". But I only got 4 HD channels! The third service tech I spoke with finally understood and told me the reason I could not get the channels I thought I should get was the 600 MHz service. He also stated that this issue would be fixed in the spring when they could dig up the cables... Trust me!
When I check my address in their website, even today, it tells me I have "HDTV Service" - no mention of any restriction.
Well, spring has come and gone and I still have 4 HD channels. Calls to Rogers are frustrating to say the least - I am told this is the status, and they have no idea when it will change. Or if. Any suggestions?

Suggestions:

1. Call Rogers CSR and find out when their new "prediction" is on when the 860 MHz will be in your area. See if you can talk to a "second level" individual who may have more knowledge about what's actually happeing in your area. Although they may be off a few months, they are not usually off by years...

2. Based on their response, decide on if you will wait, or consider another service like Bell ExpressVu or StarChoice, or even OTA.

Craig, welcome to the forums. Forums always have lots of detractors. Overall I think most would admit that Rogers is one of the best performers these days.

My experience is that areas are upgraded prior to hitting the website so I am surprised. You may just be one of the unfortunate few at the edge of an area that is upgraded but some folks on the fringe don't get the benefits because of weird network engineering issues.

Having said that, I think 57's suggestions are the most prudent.

I just have a simple question about buying a STB at a local store.

So lets say I go and buy a STB at futureshop. Is that all I need in order to get digital cable? I mean, do all I have to do is plug it into the TV and all my current channels will become digital? Or do I have to call rogers, tell them I have a box and then have them come over to my house and hook something up? All I really want are my current channels in digital. I have chanels 2-42 and they are just fine. I really don't need any more. However it would be nice to have them all as digital instead of analog.

Oh, I live in Toronto,Ontario.

Thank you.

They don't have to visit after you buy, but they will have to authorize it on the network, I think there is a small access charge unless you take a certain amount of their premium digital offerings.

jmds,

When you go to buy the terminal you will get 60 days free it will give you a good taste of what its all about.The you go home hook it up and call rogers thats it.

Thanks guys.

Oh one more thing. I currently have chanels 2-42. When I get digital will those chanels be digital or will they remain analog? I read somewhere that the digital chanels are on channels 100+. I'm just a little confused about that.

Depend on your area and even building. Most likely they will all be digital.

I believe in most areas, the analogue channels are in the 800s, or "gone" on digital STBs. Channels 1-71? on the STB are digital.

Make sure you investigate DVRs. People love their DVRs.

Thanks a lot guys.
About DVR's, do they come with HDMI connections? Which STB's have HDMI? Better yet, is there a faq around here with all the STB's available?

Each service provider has their own STB. Rogers has the SA8300HD in Toronto. It has HDMI.

See the Digital Home FAQs for some more "general" and "specific" information.

When using a 3250HD STB with an EDTV that can display 720p and 1080i by downconverting to its native resolution of 480, what setting should be used? 480i, 480p, 1080i or passthrough?

The TV Im talking about is the panasonic 42PD50 EDTV.

Thanks

jmds, 480p.

Try the various settings. The TV may do a better downconversion than the STB. I would "guess" that 1080i (or passthrough) would be best, but try for yourself.

More questions. Hope you're not getting too annoyed with me.

I just purchased a Panasonic 42inch EDTV plasma TV and I want to get digital cable. I looked at the whats on HDTV and it hasn't really impressed me. My dilema is this.

Should I purchase the 3250HD or the standard 3200SD? I don't really plan on watching HD programing. Later on when HDTV composes at least 50% off all brodcasts (Im guessing 2-3 years down the road) I'll go HD. For now most of my TV watching will be SD. However, I want the best possable SD I can get. So my questions are this.

1. As far as quality of SD channels go, is there much of a difference between the 3250HD (using component) and the 3200SD (using s-video)?

2. If both used s-video, would one be able to see much of a difference?

3. Does the 3200 allow passthrough allowing my TV to upconvert the signals to its native resolution? If it doesn't, how well does the 3200 perform? Can it upconvert 480i signals into 480p?

4. Does the 3200 recieve EDTV signals (480p)?

5. Besides being able to display HD, is there much of a difference between the 3250HD and the 3200SD?

6. Any final thoughts

Thanks

3250 questions belong in the dedicated 3250, I recommend you review that thread and search for 3200 in the forums as plenty of threads about these units already exist.

1. As far as quality of SD channels go, is there much of a difference between the 3250HD (using component) and the 3200SD (using s-video)?

2. If both used s-video, would one be able to see much of a difference?

3. Does the 3200 allow passthrough allowing my TV to upconvert the signals to its native resolution?

4. Does the 3200 recieve EDTV signals (480p)?

5. Besides being able to display HD, is there much of a difference between the 3250HD and the 3200SD?
1. Probably not.
2. No
3. The 3200 only does SD, there is no "passthrough" since it only does 480i.
4. No. There are no 480P signals anyway.
5. Probably not.

3250 questions belong in the dedicated 3250, I recommend you review that thread and search for 3200 in the forums as plenty of threads about these units already exist.


Sorry about that I really should have put this in the 3250 thread. I did check the forums and searched for 3200 and 3250. I couldn't find any specific answers. I figured this was the fastest way to answer my questions. Just be thankful I didn't start an entire new thread :P

cheers!

Does anyone know if Rogers simsubs the timeshifting channels? If I'm watching Arrested Development at 11 p.m. EST on the FOX Seattle station, is the Global Vancouver signal simsubbed over the Seattle station?

Many thanks.