Why? Won't rogers activate a Rogers-branded STB??

The vendor, who lives in toronto (a rogers-serviced area), guarantees Rogers will activiate it.

Seems reasonble Rogers should activate a previously activated STB for another customer in the same area... For example, suppose you buy a SD box then upgrade to HD later? Can't you resell your SD box and put the cash towards an upgrade purchase?!!

If that's not the case, then someone just spent $375 on ebay (plus shipping) for nothing! Ouch!!

If the box is a Rogers box, you get the appropriate numbers from the seller and check with Rogers that there are no outstanding charges, you'll likely be able to get the STB activated - check at the same time and get an e-mail or other written confirmation from Rogers, you can then purchase the Rogers STB.

What we are talking about are eBay (NON-Rogers SA STBs)

I wonder if they can make exceptions in areas like Ottawa/Gatineau where gov't employees might be reassigned from one side of the river to the other. For example, if someone working in Gatineau bought a Videotron box and then got transfered to Ottawa where there is only Rogers, it would be good if the box could be transfered as well. Both providers are SA-based so it would be possible.

Based on experience/feedback on this forum, Rogers MAY activate a Videotron STB, while Videotron is unlikely to activate a Rogers box.

The only way to find out is to contact the service provider, ask for a "second level" person, because the standard front line CSRs won't know and get confirmation from them in writing. You may need the "number" from the STB under consideration.

This thread is really about e-Bay STBs (US), not Rogers/Videotron, but the question was valid, so the above is my feedback.

The second paragraph is valid even when purchasing for use in the same provider. (I realize you're talking about "transfer", but I though I'd add the remark for clarity.)

Speaking of an STB purchase without Rogers Label, I don't think, Rogers is allowed by law to dictate, from whom one should buy a TV, AVR, STB or other electronics. If they claim verification is needed, they should offer it for a small fee, as its done with other products, like cars. Their mission - to provide programming channels. They can also sell suitable equipment, but can't monopolize such equipment sales acting as a sole distributor. Interesting, if there were lawsuite & class action reports about that? I don't think, independent statistics exists to support higher theft rates for STBs compare to other electronics. There are other known methods to deal with theft, apart from restricting all products use.

While they sell via a few authorized dealers in Canada, like Best Buy or Future Shop (owned by Best Buy), the STB boxes' prices are set by Rogers as the box supplier (to both dealers and end users), and they block activation of non-Rogers labeled STBs. This is true equipment monopoly - buy wholesale, sell retail through channels, lock the market to own products.

BTW, where Rogers says in Terms and Conditions of Service, or other published docs, what STBs can be used with their programming, and whether they restrict activation of outside purchased new and used STBs without Rogers Label, under what particular circumstances, and on the grounds of what law? May be its time for CRTTC to look at this?

Just as an FYI, this is the policy of most cable service providers in North America. In the US all the major cable providers (Comcast, Time-Warner, etc) don't even allow purchase, they only allow you to rent, although the rental costs are less than here.

Rogers have every right to limit which devices can connect to their system, since their system is in two-way communication with these devices and since they need to troubleshoot these devices (as necessary).

As I noted to you in the other thread, Shaw has recently reversed their policy of activating outside STBs on their system. They have cited that there are/have been problems with these outside STBs, therefore they will no longer be allowed.

Rogers do not set BB/FS pricing. The pricing on the FS/BB sites is lower than on Rogers - typically pricing ranges from $500-600. There was even lower pricing on occasion.

If you do not wish to use Rogers as a service provider, feel free to go to BEV or *C. You will find similar (or more) restrictions on their STBs.

It's not about what Cable Provider service one wants to use. It's about the legality of imposed restrictions, if equipment is eccentially the same, but purchased outside of the provider's distribution network. Yes, Rogers does set BB/FF prices, as it supplies Rogers labelled STBs to Best Buy / Future Shop as a sole distributor who owns the boxes.
BTW, any Class Action is not about "don't like it - don't buy / use", its about violation & abuse of consumer's rights aimed at gaining unlawful market advantage & extreme profit margins. Regardless, whether its done by a single provider, or a sindicate of providers, agreed to act in unlawful manner.

I'm not going to argue with you any more about this after the following remarks:

...extreme profit margins...Rogers margins on cable are not extreme - see their annual reports - you can download from their website. The margins on the STBs are also not extreme - if there is any margin at all. This has been discussed extensively on this forum. The prices for the STBs are "fair". If you want extreme margins, do a search for Mon$ter on this site.

The fact that all cable service providers who use SA equipment do not allow outside STBs would indicate that this is not illegal. The 10's of millions of cable customers in the US would have seen to that with their litigious society.

Arnyc, even if Rogers was willing, post #8 (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showpost.php?p=470539&postcount=8) above explains why it's very difficult to activate SA based equipment from a different cable system. Note: It's a lot easier with Motorola based equipment.

Be that as it may, I am still under a strong impression that 57 is always so protective of Roger$$ (not that there's anything wrong with that). I just don't understand why would anyone have the reason to defend such a monopolistic organization.

It really isn't about "if you don't like Roger$$, go to Bell". It is about the fact that the customers are not truly free to select the type of service that is best for their needs. In most cases, people have 2 options: living in Toronto, it comes down to Roger$$ or Bell (if you live in a condo or a rental building, and you want to have HDTV, you are pretty much condemned to Roger$$). Monopolistic market, in its worst shape!

As long as we have only 2 or 3 players in the game, we'll have all these restrictions:

- you cannot activate an STB, unless you buy it from us
- you can get your HDTV specialty channels for $8.95, but you have to give us another 30 or 40 bucks to upgrade to the "VIP"

and so on...

I am still under a strong impression that 57 is always so protective of Roger$$Sorry to give that impression, but I just try to state facts (perhaps sometimes with some bias). Nevertheless, as discussed in this and other threads, this is not a Rogers policy, it is a policy of any service provider that uses SA equipment.

It is also the policy of all major US cable service providers for Motorola equipment and Shaw have now also followed this pattern. This leaves only a very small proportion of cable service providers who will now allow outside STBs. (I believe that Rogers Atlantic still allow it, but it's rare that people make use of it and there are restrictions on compatible units).

As for the discussion of packages - which is off topic in this thread - those packages (and tie ins) are often mandated by CRTC, not the service provider.

For example, it would be illegal of Rogers to allow selection of TSN by itself under current CRTC rules, because other channels are tied to TSN to make them viable.

If I buy a used (or perhaps new) Rogers SD box,will I be able to just plug it in and I'm good to go (because I have a HD box running already)?
Thanks

No, you will need to get it activated and ensure that the previous owner (if applicable) has paid all his bills, etc. You can get the appropriate numbers off the box from the previous owner and check with Rogers before purchase.

Also realize that SD STBs are very inexpensive - can be purchased for $0-100 (after credits) and come free with digital VIP.

You need to get it activated on your account so that all STBs at your home get the same service that you're paying for.

Can anyone recommend a good place to buy a new unit (perhaps with a promotion or good $ credit)?
FS,BB,Rogers ?..they all seem to be $99 (but I'm not sure about credits)

Keep an eye out on the flyers from The Source, I've seen some pretty amazing deals on Rogers boxes from them, a lot better than FS or BB. A couple of months ago, they had the HD PVR listed for $199 after discounts and credits, but I couldn't take advantage of it at the time. I'm hoping they run that deal again once Rogers finalizes the buyout of Aurora Cable.

Hello,

I'm using Cogeco 4 years, and always bought my PVRs from eBay and Cogeco activated them with no problem. Each PVR was bought for approx. $80-120, eBay is good place to buy STB boxes.


Now I plan to move from Milton to Maple this summer, and will need to switch Cogeco to Rogers. I called Regers and told them that I would like to become their customer, and asked if they would allow to activate my own cable boxes. The answer was Yes, no problem. I even asked CSR to check with manager and he confirmed that Rogers will allow to have my own boxes, as long as they are supported by Rogers (i.e. models like SA 8000, 8000HD, 8300HD).

I don't want to buy anything less than 8000/8000HD/8300HD because I like to have PVR in every room. Without PVR it is not worth even to have digital cable because you cannot even go to washroom without loosing movie epizode :-)

I see that SA boxes are very good price right now on eBay. 8000 box (that has 80GB HDD) can be purchased under 100 bucks, and top-of-the-line 8300HD with 160GB HDD is just under $150. I don't even consider to pay Rogers $600 for their box if for this price I can get 4+ same PVRs.

So, my bottom line is: Rogers says they will activate outside box, no problem. Once I move to Maple and activate all my boxes that I will buy on eBay I will post success story here in this thread.

If you for some reason think that Rogers won't activate outside box post your message here. I spoke to Rogers and they won't mind to activate extra boxes. Why would they if I pay for cable service?

Thanks!

Although Rogers will activate your STBs, The STB must be purchased from Rogers or from an authorized distributor (or a Rogers customer who has done that). They will not activate an "outside" STB as has been discussed in this thread many times. They may have misunderstood your intentions and thought you were talking about a purchased STB from them or authorized distributor like FS or BB. See post 8.

If you purchase SA STBs from eBay, you will be stuck with a lot of doorstops.

I asked them whether or not they will activate cable box that I will buy from eBay, and they said Yes, we will. I know that sometimes you may get different answer from different CSR, but I aksed them very specifically and made sure that they understood my question properly.

Besides, if I buy from eBay, how they would know that? I can say that I bought from Futureshop or Best Buy, they have these models for sale. The won't ask me to show my receipt :-)

I'm sure Rogers will activate my boxes, and I understand that it may require another call to talk to another CSR in case first CSR will give me hard time. Same this I had couple times with Cogeco.

Call Rogers and see by yourself - they will activate the box from outside!

Thanks!

I'm sure Rogers will activate my boxes,I strongly suggest that you call them back and confirm (get it in writing). As indicated in post 8, Rogers can tell where the STBs come from and have certain assigned numbers in their system. If the number is not in their system, the STB will not be activated.

No service provider in North America activates outside SA STBs and no one has been successful at getting an outside SA STB activated. There are many threads on this topic in this and other forums. If anyone had been successful, we would know about it here.

You are not the first person to try this, there have been many, all ending up with doorstops. There is a distinct difference between SA and Motorola STBs. The situation is even changing with regard to Motorola - Shaw out west used to activate outside (Motorola) STBs and they no longer will.

This is partly because many of the STBs for sale on eBay are stolen and the providers do not wish to be part of this illegal trade (but that was more to do with Motorola since most people know that the SA STBs will not work "outside".)

I called Rogers again and had a long chat with the technical guy. He clearly said that Rogers won't mind to activate any cable box purchased by the customer on the side. He mentioned that in case any problems during activation will arise only boxes purchased from Rogers or through authorized partners (Future Shop, Best Buy, Source CC etc.) will be supported which is fair. He also said that Rogers does not have a secret list of boxes to be activated, although if the box serial number is still registered on another Rogers customer they will require that this box to be deactivated by the owner first which is also fair to prevent theft and non-returned boxes.

BOTTOM LINE: Rogers will activate any box as long as this box is compatible with Rogers.
Thanks!