And, speaking as a customer, I think in 4 years of Shaw availability with an HD PVR, I have watched less than 10 hours of SD programming. An HD-only program package, like is now available in the U.S., would be something I desire. Why should I have to pay a subscription fee for all those SD channels that I never watch?
That's not Shaw's fault though. They can't offer an HD only package. Talk to the CRTC about that one.

I am extremely frustrated with Shaws service or lack of. Ontop of all the other issues described in these forums regarding audio/video issues. I have noticed the past few days a SYNCHING issue with CIVTD channel 210.

About 3 months ago I switched from watching the news on GLBHD channel 217 for the same exact reason-SYNCHING issues. Now CIVTD has it. By the way shouldn't the channel name be CIVHD?

What gives??? Sorry for the frustration.

I'm geting no sound...zero...none at all on NBCHD (as of 8:35 PM). The other HD channels are fine and turning any of my TV/PVR/AVR off and on doesn't fix it. Add to that the ghosting on the standard channels that's started coming and going, my non-functioning HDMI port, and the delayed reaction from the remote. I'm calling Shaw tomorrow to get my PVR box swapped ASAP. A refund would be nice, too.

and i do not exaggerate, jet..i honestly thought the service call issue was "the way it was with shaw"..i was none too happy to find out they'll do a call on a saturday in airdrie..they were not only specific (3:30pm) but showed up at 3:25pm.
I talked to the Manager I know inside Shaw tonight about your specific situation and was told Shaw does have some areas where they have a severe shortage of 'qualified' techs. The 'high standard' they look for when hiring often prevents them from having enough techs to go around. However, it was also suggested that you ask for a 'Senior' tech to come and look into your problems as so many of the younger techs simply don't have the experience. I hope this helps and you should be able to get a better 'appointment time' from a Senior tech. Calgary does deal with complaints from Lethbridge and they are well aware of the problems down there.

good information, jet. i will do that when i next schedule an appointment. they had emailed me back with a typical "between noon and 5pm" on a day i don't want to take off (a thursday..i'd rather do a monday or friday). so i kindly thanked them but told them i will call them when i want to schedule an appointment, or if they want to move forward with a call next thursday, then can come anytime between 4 and 5pm and i'll be happy to take the service call:)

When Shaw was here yesterday to replace the HDPVR (they couldn't do it, apparently it would mess with the phone number carryover, as we're switching phone and internet too)
they installed new lines to the house (the neighborhood cable repeater is right behind my house) and apparently my signal is much better and I can tell the difference. The picture looks a lot better.

StarNoChoice;
Can you explain that a little more? A Shaw Tech wouldn't swap out your HDPVR because it would mess up your phone? The two systems have nothing to do with each other except that they come in and out on the same cable. One does not affect the other, or at least that is what every Shaw Tech has ever told me about their system.

To explain this a bit more. If Shaw needed to change out the equipment an order would have to be put through on the system. If StarNoChoice has an order on the system already to add phone service then they would have 2 options:
1) don't do the swap and swap everything when the phone order gets completed.
2) cancel the phone order, do the swap, and then have to wait up to 10 days all over again if he is porting his phone number from Telus. Telus takes up to 10 business days to allow a number to be brought over from their service.
Hope that explains it. It's all about the outstanding order.

That's asinine!

Just one more example of the ridiculous processes in place at Shaw. They would make so much more money, as a company, if they would just fix their problems and stop sending out so many techs to do basically nothing all day long. Talk about the left and right hands not know what each other are doing.

I'm geting no sound...zero...none at all on NBCHD (as of 8:35 PM). The other HD channels are fine and turning any of my TV/PVR/AVR off and on doesn't fix it. Add to that the ghosting on the standard channels that's started coming and going, my non-functioning HDMI port, and the delayed reaction from the remote. I'm calling Shaw tomorrow to get my PVR box swapped ASAP. A refund would be nice, too.

So I had my box replaced today. He checked the signal strength both at the service and at the outlet and said both were fine. Since I only have three outlets with active devices, he switched the 4-way splitter in the outside box to a 3-way, just for good measure. I'm also now on the "All Digital" map (I erroneously thought since I still have an analogue TV that changing would make that not work).

The ghosting was because I had changed the 4:3 override to 480p. Putting that back to 480i solved that problem.

I don't know what the sound drop situation is yet but I'm now finding that just changing channels makes the sound disappear. I don't know what that is all about. I'm using the SPDIF connections. I'll think about connecting the L-R audio directly to the TV as a backup.

I haven't visited for quite a while. Contacting the CRTC, and griping on this forum, turn out to be nothing more than catharsis, but here I am again.

A guy from Shaw phoned me a couple of months ago to get my feedback on reception issues. It continues to amaze me how these characters assume we are all idiots. I tell him about my, everyone else's, ongoing problems, and make suggestions about what they might do to rectify them, and he gets all virginal and naive, as if he never heard such things. I finally got him to admit that the pixelization, or macroblocking, is due to lack of bandwidth. Of course, he made no commitment, on behalf of Shaw, to acquire more and improve things. He wanted me to give him occasional updates to let him know if any of their 'fixes' are apparent on my television. In fact, things have only gotten worse (what a suprise). I get macroblocking on more channels than before, and sound dropouts are more frequent. How's that for an update!

terrible news, melville..and if we're going into a recession, luxury items are first to go, and hd is a luxury item. i can't see if things need to tighten up as they would, shaw investing more money in infrastructure with the status quo remaining on cable competition.

Haven't posted in a while either...but have the same comments as melville2. I went through all the motions with Shaw, had techs, super techs and the HD guru tech at my house testing things out. They even brought their own TV to test out, but it had the same effect, they left looking defeated. Talked to {operations manager} on the phone (almost got brain washed but came to my senses). He just relayed a huge pile of BS. I was not impressed one bit by his call. In short, the HD channels I watch have more macroblocking than ever and I also have been hearing the same old sound drops (Heroes was bad last week on NBC HD). I phoned again lately to complain and got the 6 months of free rental on a new HD PVR with option to buy for half price. I dunno....I feel cheaped out by the whole HD TV "experience"....maybe in 10 years it will be better? One funny thing, when I went to pick up my new HD PVR downtown in Calgary at the Shaw building, they had an TV set up in the lobby. It had the same macroblocking I see at home....bunch of crooks.

PAD, just so you know, not every one has had your experience. Shaw does do some things right.

PAD, just so you know, not every one has had your experience. Shaw does do some things right.
Yep. Since Shaw has come by and tweaked a few things here, the audio dropouts and marcoblocking have decreased to almost nothing. It's not perfect yet, but so far the new season has been pretty decent on the HD channels here (Edmonton) anyway.

Well, I noticed a bunch of audio dropouts on the premiere of Heroes last week, and The Amazing Race was such a mess that I deleted my recording and downloaded it off the 'net so I could hear what was being said. I was getting pixelation every few minutes. Oh, the premiere of The Biggest Loser a couple of weeks was a mess for about half of the show. The worst part is the look my girlfriend gives me every time it happens, and the $200 Shaw bill I have sitting on the coffee table.

Gord

Don't pay it that all you can do, until they fix it.

I am in Edmonton as well and experienced the same thing. I just got my HDTV so I am not sure how often this occurs. Heroes was on last night and I experienced the same thing, but not as bad as The Amazing Race. I have had Tivos for over five years and am still using this as a backup in case the Shaw PVR doesn't work, plus I have the Home media option so I can watch the programs on other non HDTVs.

Do you think it makes a difference if you record the show in the east or west feed? Maybe because so many want to see the show earlier causes issues. I haven't tried that, but thought I would ask others if they are recording on an earlier time slot or a later one?

Thanks

Don't pay it that all you can do, until they fix it.
Dont pay for crappy HD or ask for a refund on HD... (they will give it to you for the first 3 months, then they will ask you to go to another provider... <-- what I did)

Audio drops seem to be on the rise.

Recorded Terminator on Monday and my DVR decided I didn't want to see 5 minutes of critical plot elements near the show's end. Somehow it thought I'd rather see a black screen. What I did get was loads of audio drops in the portion that did record.

First thing my girlfriend says when she gets home is "boy Discovery is looking extra macroblockey tonight."

She ain't kidding.