I'm currently a Shaw HD (6200, non-PVR) user. Now that SaskTel has HDTV capability I'm wondering if anyone has done a detailed comparison of features/channels and pricing between the two? I've had Shaw for many years, including internet, so it would have to have some kind of advantage for me to switch.

I know I can't be the only one in this boat.

Anyone??

The advantage would be in being able to bundle your phone/internet/TV services. That will be the money saver.

As far as HDTV quality goes, it will be hard to say until the service is available. They are starting to book installs on 1 Nov.

Keep in mind that Sasktel sources their HD feeds from Bell Expressvu, this means that the simsubs that Bell Expressvu performs will passthrough Sasktel's system.

In a picture quality comparison done between expressvu, shaw, accesscomm and star choice, Sasktel's HD service was rated number one... Sasktel is really doing it up the right way for once! Its also a heck of a lot cheaper than any of the companies out there

In a picture quality comparison done between expressvu, shaw, accesscomm and star choice, Sasktel's HD service was rated number one...

Which is really impressive since they are receiving the Expressvu signal from satellite and redistributing it.
What's the next post? "Sasktel HD has fewer HD simsubs than Expressvu"??

Who did this comparison?

In a picture quality comparison done between expressvu, shaw, accesscomm and star choice, Sasktel's HD service was rated number one... Sasktel is really doing it up the right way for once! Its also a heck of a lot cheaper than any of the companies out there

Since you obviously work for SaskTel, how about answering a question for me.

I was sent a letter from SaskTel telling me that the PVR player would be out in Oct. So, what happend to that? It was suppost to out before the HD settops.

Sasktel is just copying all of Bell's feed so:

Shaw HD channels available currently:

Free Channels:

CBS Seattle HD
NBC Seattle HD
ABC Seattle HD
FOX Seattle HD
PBS Seattle HD
CBC HDu

$9 / month

CTV Toronto HD (no other subscriptions)
Discovery HD (requires Tier II)
A&E HD (requires Tier I)
TSN HD (no other subscriptions as is in Basic cable)
Sportsnet HD (no other subscribtion as is in Basic cable)

TSN HD & Sportsnet HD are available seperately at $2.99 / month

Movie Central 1 HD (free with a Premium movies pack)

Sasktel HD channels that will be available:

Free Channels:

CBS Boston HD
NBC Boston HD
ABC Boston HD
FOX Boston HD
PBS Boston HD
CBS Seattle HD
NBC Seattle HD
ABC Seattle HD
FOX Seattle HD
PBS Seattle HD
CTV Toronto HD
CTV Vancouver HD
CBC HD
Citytv HD
Global HD

Free with specific theme pack (which is not that great)uu

WGN - CW HD (need Movie Mania)
TSN HD (need Sports Package)
Sportsnet HD (need Sports Plus Package)
Raptors TV HD (need Sports Plus Package)
A&E HD (need Entertainment Package)
Movie Central 1 HD (need Movie Mania)
Movie Central 2 HD (need Movie Mania) Coming Soon

$9.95 / month (pricey!)

Treasure HD
Oasis HD
Rush HD
Equator HD
Discovery HD

Sasktel has more programming but has different arragements for HD packaging then BEV as you can see (also missing SRC HD and it says "coming soon" for Movie Central 2 HD)

Both providers have there flaws with forcing to to sub. to the theme pack or cable tier counter-part to get the HD version.

Sasktel wins in programming, price depends on what you want, and the other factor is:

No HD PVR with Sasktel yet. Shaw has one available - Dual tuner HD PVR
We do not know how Sasktel vs. Shaw PQ in HD would be like yet.

Anyways Shaw if putting Saskatchewan on the back burner IMO, and they need to step it up, before Sasktel crushes them. Why doesn't Shaw have Digital Phone in SK yet!!??

Also here is the info on Access HD service:

5.95 / month

CBS Detroit HD
NBC Detroit HD
ABC Detroit HD
FOX Detroit HD
PBS Detroit HD
CBC HD
CTV Toronto HD
Global HD
Sportsnet HD (no extra subscription required as is in Basic cable)
TSN HD (requires Tier I)
Discovery HD (requires Tier II)
Movie Central 1 HD (requires Premium Movies Pack)

Anyways my work is done compare for yourself!

I haven't seen it mentioned in this thread, and this is very important, that Sasktel can only provide HD to one set top box in your house.

Therefore, you can now have Max on up to 4 TVs, but only one of them can be HD.

That, along with the absence of an HD PVR for the foreseeable future are potential deal breakers in my opinion. But thats just my opinion.

So, getting back to Jeff's original question I would offer this:

If a PVR hasn't been important to you yet, and you have no need or desire for HD on more than one TV in your house, then Sasktel might be the option for you.

Finally, if high speed internet is important to you, you might want to check out Shaw vs. SaskTel comparisons in that department. But thats for another thread.

If you wanted HD on more than 1 tv couldn't they string you down another line.....?

In a picture quality comparison done between expressvu, shaw, accesscomm and star choice, Sasktel's HD service was rated number one... Sasktel is really doing it up the right way for once! Its also a heck of a lot cheaper than any of the companies out there

Since Sasktel's HD service hasn't launched to the general public yet,I'd like to know where and when this survey was done.It's not that I don't believe you but who has rated it number one,since only Sasktel employee's have access to it before Nov.1st.

If you wanted HD on more than 1 tv couldn't they string you down another line.....?

Someone far more technically minded than me would be better to answer that, but my understanding is that since HD is being rolled out to communities that have undergone FTTN (fiber to the node) upgrades, bandwidth, although greater than before, may still be constricted.

If you wanted HD on more than 1 tv couldn't they string you down another line.....?

Theoretically, yes you can do this and is being looked at along with other solutions like shorter copper loops by splitting of service areas. Shorter loops allows for higher bandwidth (up to 50 Meg) with VDSL2 and one simpler (re: cheaper) gateway in the home versus a two pair bonded solution. Also, the next step in the access evolution will be fiber to the home and shorter loops will allow this happen faster.

John

I spoke with a SaskTel rep today and basically it looks like SaskTel Max HD and Shaw's Digital Cable HD with high-speed internet are similar in price. I'm probably going to stay with Shaw since I already have a DCT6200 and it's a few dollars cheaper per month.

If I didn't already have the DCT I'd probably be going with Max HD since you get the $89.95 package for $59.95 for the first 4 months, with more HD channels than Shaw offers. Also, bundling with their cell-phone service, alarm systems, etc. could bring the Max cost down even more, but I don't have those services from SaskTel.

So, case closed . .. .. . for now.

Off topic: SaskTel is the last province crown-crop Telco, MTS was one before going Private. Will the gov. keep ahold of this for a long while yet or is it possible to see it eventually go private?

Just wondering, westmanguy.

As long as the NDP stay in power there would be absolutely no chance of a Sasktel privatization, but given that is rumours of an election about this time next year and NDP are trailing the Saskatchewan Party, there's hope that Sasktel will be better suited to compete against private companies by joining the private sector. A Bell vs. Telus bidding war for Sasktel will be interesting.

I have been using Max as long as it has been available, and today I upgraded (after waiting patiently) to the Max HD service. Man I have to say, the picture and sound quality are great. I have never had HD on my set before (32" Sharp Aquos LCD) but I would say it looks as good as anyone could ask for. Finally having regular TV with 5.1 surround is really a treat as well.

The topic I'm interested in today is that of the ability to stream the channels through the computer using VLC media player. Since I subscribe to all the channels available, this is not stealing. I could always only watch two channels at a time between the computer, and two STB's.

Today with the HD installation and the new "Homenet" which is for some reason required with the HD instal, I have lost the ability to stream using VLC. This is a huge downside for me, as I regularly watch TV in my office while catching up on research / work / etc (basically surfing for info). I haven't had time yet to try to rectify the problem, but I would appreciate any insight anyone may have reguarding this change in protection / or perhaps just settings on my network.

Thanks for the previous posts, good info here.

WL

What is the new Homenet?
In the other thread (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?p=448332#post448332) Sonya wrote:My router & switch were replaced with two 2wire routers. I think one is for the HD line and the other is for internet and the 2nd SD box. Which router are you plugged into?

Could this have anything to do with the Widevine Technologies content security that was mentioned in press releases?

I beleive the homenet is what Sasktel uses to refer to any network which they set up in the home. My system is now set up using two modems, one dedicated for HDTV, and one for all internet and standard Max boxes. These modems remove the need for a switch as they have 4 ports built in.

This is probably the reason VLC can no longer stream the channels (at least not as it did before).

By the way, the service has been very un-reliable so far, requiring many many STB resets.

I would recommend holding off on an instal of HD until the bugs have been worked out, watching football today has been a huge pain, missing over 5 minutes at a time while the box resets. (has happened probably 15 times today)

Which football were you watching?

I found that the Rider game was almost unwatchable due to the sound constantly cutting in and out. The picture was also stuttering from time to time. However, the SD broadcast was fine and the other HD channels did not seem to be affected. Could this have been a CBC problem and not a SaskTel problem?

PS - I just noticed in another thread that someone was experiencing *Choice HD problems tonight too??