BizClown:

Did you take the OptiMax Internet 16 service? Isn't that around $80/mth? Bell has been very quiet about marketing the service.

For TV, the first four receivers are part of the free install, including all switches and wiring (there are maximums but assume you qualify for that much). If it were me, I'd have Bell do the complete professional install, even for the extra one or two receivers. Get it all done at once.

I don't see the point of having the same show on multiple TVs at once, but that's me. I'd want even a low end receiver on every TV and maybe a PVR (record a show for later viewing) in the main room. Note that the $10/mth PVR has only one tuner so you can't watch a second station while recording something.

Doesn't Videotron have a much better range of French channels? Perhaps that's not important to you. I know they offer more French HD should that become important.

I can see switching to Bell if they offer better picture, or more channels, or specific services you can't get on cable, or a lower price long term ... etc. But didn't you say it looked like overall the price was more and for fewer channels you wanted. Why are you considering switching at all?

I agree with sensualpoet, have the boxes installed professionally (unless all the wiring is already run from the last homeowner, but highly unlikely)
if you are not getting anything from the 82 satellite, you can pick up a 2 x 8 switch relatively cheap (dont buy it from bellworld!) look locally, or on the internet......
you may save a few bucks doing the installation yourself, but if anything goes wrong, then you are on the hook for a service call (around $80+ any additional labour to fix the problem, if it takes longer than an hour)
the free installation only applies to rentals as well i think, so keep that in mind as well, seeing as basic boxes will cost you $15/month for 5 (first is included, i believe...)
add PVR's into the mix, and add some more $$$

To Sensual Poet:
Did you take the OptiMax Internet 16 service? Isn't that around $80/mth? Bell has been very quiet about marketing the service.


Thank you for your reply.
Yes, the Optimax service is a done deal, as the Videotron equivalent for home users is only in test mode for 400 users or so.

To I Hate TV & Sensual Poet:

Thank you both, at this point I think we really have to look at the whole scenario.

If we go with the Essential package and rentals, we will be about $10.00 more a month with barely any movie channels.

If we upgrade to the Digital Extra, We will have great programming, and a hardware upgrade but with the price tag doubling up.

We could simply upgrade our Videotron hardware and be done with it. So will we change platform?

Got some thinking to do. If we do it offers the rest of the house better programming.

BEV's offer is great for people getting into it, but not so enticing for someone already on the Videotron Illico digital. They've taken a step in the right direction with the free install. At least now people can consider it.

Thank you both. I'll let you know our decision.

Dish care cost increased March 1st...it's now 6$ a month

You need to take it for minimum 12 months, if you cancel before that there would be a 35$ panalty

Yes dish care covers for all equipement, but only if they break under "normal condition of use". If it breaks du to a storm, or any wheather condition related problem you won't be covered.

Dish care takes affect 21 days after you suscribe, if there was a pre-exiting problem we woudn't cover you for that equipement

:cool:

Raj called from India to confirm our Tuesday morning install rendez-vous. The order didn't match... Things got worse. He had the multiplexer but not the fifth single. He said it should be on a separate order.

I told him we were still interested, but not unless they got it right and gave us the right info and choices.

We probably would take the Digital Extra and get them to install the whole thing in one shot. Unfortunately they didn't tell us about it. This would mean less channels and incomplete hardware setup. He said he couldn't change the order.

For now, we've cancelled the order. He said someone would call to follow up.

Thank you all for your support.

I believe that EV will only support 4 rental receivers. That is a cost of 4x$3=$12 for 4 basic receivers. After that, receivers and hardware will need to be purchased at the current cost for existing subscribers. I don't know if dual tuner receivers count as 1 or 2 receivers but they cost considerably more. I wouldn't trust any Bell company (EV included) to follow up on any verbal agreement. Get it in writing before ordering anything. :o

You can only have 4 Receivers on Rental on a NEW installation.

If you want and need further recievers then you can place a second order, I believe there has to be a minimum of 14 days between the first and the subsequent installation. This order can only be for a maximim of 2 receivers.

Therefore Maximum receivers on an account is 6. Total rental cost would be $18 per month (plus programming), for 6 basic SD units.

NOTE: First 4 receiver basic install if on a 2 year term is free of charge. The second order will be billable. In "I want my HDTV's" example, he is correct that rental fees would be $12 per month for 4 x basic SD receivers (these should be, if the Tech follows Express Vu's policy) 1 x 4100 and 3 x 3100's.

The second installation would cost $75 for the Service call, this would include the installation of 1 receiver (the 5th on the account), then a further $50 for the 6th receiver. Then comes the kicker, don't forget that in this example we are talking about Renting all the 6 receivers. There is a charge to the customer of $150 for the 8 way multiswitch. This installation can and should be done using 2 x 4100's.

Again this was all based on single sat reception. It gets more complex and expensive if HD or other Nimiq 2 reception is involved.

I could be wrong but my understanding is Bell counts "tuners" now, not receivers so 2 SD, 1 HD, and 1 HD PVR is not allowed -- that's "five" receivers as the HD PVR is dual tuner. Makes sense on a number of levels -- except to someone counting the actual receivers. This logic is followed on the online order tool (or was the last time I checked).

you are right sensual
even though on their OWN brochures, they list 4 receivers as the maximum good thing they proof read, before sending it to be printed, just like the previous brochures that had a father and son on the front, watching expressvu, with a ROGERS CABLE remote in his hand!!haha
it is 4 tuners, which is very easily confused by those at Bell

In cases where you have more TVs than potential TV viewers (which may apply to some of the examples in this thread, or not), it can sometimes be cheaper and/or more convenient to install one receiver per viewer, rather than the usual approach of one receiver per TV. This requires that you also install some sort of distribution system to enable any receiver to be viewed and controlled from any TV location. This approach is especially attractive in the case of PVRs, because it allows you to watch a recorded show on any TV, not just on the one or two TVs attached to the PVR containing the recording.

That's what I have done at my house, where we have four viewing locations (3 rooms with HDTVs and a theatre room with a front projector) but only two potential viewers (my wife and me). We have two 9200 PVRs ("his" and "hers") to each record our own favourite shows. We use an HDTV matrix switch (Key Digital KD-MSW8x4) to route component video and digital audio from either 9200 or a single DVD player to any of the four viewing locations. We have a universal remote (MX-500) at each location, programmed to control the matrix switch, both 9200s, and the DVD player, and an IR distribution system (Xantech) to deliver the remotes' signals back to the location of the source devices.

This approach does require a lot more types of equipment, wiring, and knowledge than the usual approach, which certainly limits its applicability. However, it can compare favourably to the cost and limitations of buying or renting and installing a whole bunch of receivers.