Good news - our head tech told me yesterday that he'll be testing a few boxes with new Prevue Guide code that supports 5.1. This code has apparently been released, and there should be no reason that companies like Cogeco or Shaw cannot get and use it.

I have this box. Don't remember seeing any outputs for Dolby Digital (coax or toslink).

You might not have the box with the right features. It needs Option H or option L... Those each offer a coax digital connection, I believe.

Option K has coax Dolby Digital out. My STB is labelled as DCT2224/1261/ACDEK and has a coax Dolby Digital out.

The L Option is supposed to have an optical Dolby Digital Out.

DUH. Yeah, I meant K.

Good. It is about frigging time.

20 bucks though says cogeco doesn't get their ass in gear to get it working.

I've been itching to post something on this to see what the status is.

Thanks for the scratch!

Update: Code is loaded, seems to be working... So, don't let Shaw or Cogeco tell you it can't be done!

This is great news if you are lucky enough to have a version K or L Motorola set-top from Cogeco and Shaw. Unfortunately, with Shaw being the early mover with Motorola digital set-tops in Canada, many of their early version DCT 2000's are not version K or L. I believe this case to be similar for Cogeco for those people who purchased their 2000's early on when Cogeco began selling them in earnest.

If you do have a version K or L, welcome to the club (finally), because DD 5.1 programming sounds great through a good home theatre system!

travisc - what version of firmware and software is running on your DCT2000?

As many in this forumn, I have been waiting for DD5.1 on my DCT2000 forever. I was actually told a very long time ago by a technical manager from Shaw that the software was in their hands, being tested and should be distributed within the next 2 months. This has got to be well over a year ago, if not closer to 2 or 3 years. He mentioned that it would be a new version of software and you'd be able to tell because the audio settings page would have additional settings on it, IOW - he had been talking to an actual technician who was testing it.

That never materialized, however every month or so I keep dropping them a line or email in hopes that they will actually give me what I'm paying for and stop mangling the signal from the broadcaster. I've had several contacts/email with Shaw reps who have told me that 'it already exists', 'dolby pro-logic is the same thing', 'it will be coming', and 'there are no plans to get dolby digital'. Almost everytime I've had to educate them on this technology.... but I don't think that this is news to anyone here :-?

Shaw will not be providing DD5.1 on the DCT2000 at this time. They now have a new model, the DCT2500, which has DD5.1, more memory and a faster menu.
http://broadband.motorola.com/noflash/dct2500_dct2600.html

Shaw will not be providing DD5.1 on the DCT2000 at this time. They now have a new model, the DCT2500, which has DD5.1, more memory and a faster menu.
http://broadband.motorola.com/noflash/dct2500_dct2600.html

Are you an actual Shaw CSR? I've not posted much in this forum but read quite a few posts - don't you feel a little intimidated posting here, with all the negativity about cable companies?

Without trying to seem rude... taking all things into consideration - I'll only believe that when I see it - that is; actually delivering anything other than PCM format from the coaxial SPDIF or maybe optical.

And now _if_this_is_the_reality - then it would be my sincere hope that since Shaw has touted the DCT2000 HT as being capable of delivering the Home Theatre experience - that absolutely being S-Video and the Dolby Digital 5.1 outputs - they will upgrade every customer who has purchased one - without any inconvenience and no additional cost. In all honesty - DD5.1 is the one of two reasons I bought the unit - I would be very disappointed otherwise and would not hesitate one bit letting Shaw know this. I'm sure alot of others would to.

What confuses me with your tidbit of information (or misinformation) is that if Shaw actually has the software to enable DD5.1 on any other box, why wouldn't they upload it to the existing DCT2000 line?

- Shaw wants to make the customer absorb the cost of software through the purchase of a new box?

- the DCT2000 was originally designed by GI (now Motorola) for DD5.1 output AND advertised by Shaw for this purpose - is this design actually flawed? - but that would mean that other people are making false claims about it working.

- Shaw just wants to increase sales of digital cable boxes.

I'm not sure but something doesn't seem right. The new model may be faster and better - but don't you honestly think people want to see the devices they currently have work the way they are supposed to? I mean - they were advertised - I say again ADVERTISED - to work this way. Its unlikely that me alone could get any satisfaction complaining to Shaw - however I wonder if a group of people - maybe that come together in some group - like on the Internet - got together and somehow acheived a voice - a voice of the consumer - who were always getting promises but never much more - in a market that is mostly monopolized - you know, maybe then.... ahhh, who am I kidding - I've been asking Shaw the same question for how many years - nothing's come of it.

Okay - I'm done venting now, I hope that wasn't too sarcastic :roll:

........ of course I'd never thought of this, but I suppose if I were Shaw Communications, and didn't want to fork out the money to upgrade the software on all the existing DCT2000 models to work (as it was advertised), yet wanted to seem like the good guys and save the day, I could just tell all the people who have already paid for their DCT2000 with digital audio output (of course expecting DD5.1) that they had reversed their decision on supporting DD5.1 on the DCT2000 line, the software will become available shortly and that it is probably a technical thinggy that is holding it back. Yeah, that would probably work - unfortunately that is pretty much the same thing they've been saying since DD5.1 broadcasts started isn't it?

I think Bell ExpressVu has an inexpensive unit that actually does S-Video and DD5.1 properly. You think someone from Shaw reads this stuff?

The thing is, the software upgrade shouldn't cost Shaw a thing. Didn't cost us anything.

The thing is, the software upgrade shouldn't cost Shaw a thing. Didn't cost us anything.

Is it compatible with the VOD software that Shaw now has on its STB's? My understanding is that the DCT2000's and DCT5100 are supposed to support VOD in those areas with that service.

Okay so what's new - one rep tells ya one thing and another tells a different story. The latest story is below - I removed the CSR's name because - well he just works for Shaw and I don't want to single anyone out. I requested info the other day and attached is the reply I received. The fact is - this has been the same story over and over and over.... of course throw in a few of the "Shaw will not be providing DD5.1 on the DCT2000 at this time" inbetween from leondiggler (whose profile states he's a Shaw CSR) and voila - still unable to get a believable answer.

What is the truth? Jeesh, I wonder if there is an SDK available for the DCT line - it might be easier to simply re-write the code. It seems it might actually be faster anyway. How hard can it be technically - I mean the device was develloped to provide DD5.1 out the digital output - would GI (now Motorola) actually throw a design into mass production without testing that? Really, this shouldn't be a software update - it should be called what it is - A BUG FIX.

==============================================
There are still some glitches in the system here that we are trying to work
out with Motorola. Once these problems have been solved and our systems upgraded properly, we will be able to transmit the 5.1 audio format on our system.

We have been working diligently to get this done as soon as possible and do hope that everything will be working very soon. We do appreciate your
patience while we have things taken care of.

If you have any further questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to either contact your local office or reply to this email.

Thank you for choosing Shaw!

Customer Service Representative
SHAW) Cablesystems G.P.
eService_Winnipeg@Shaw.Ca
http://www.shaw.ca

Shaw will not be providing DD5.1 on the DCT2000 at this time. They now have a new model, the DCT2500, which has DD5.1, more memory and a faster menu.
http://broadband.motorola.com/noflash/dct2500_dct2600.html

Are you an actual Shaw CSR? I've not posted much in this forum but read quite a few posts - don't you feel a little intimidated posting here, with all the negativity about cable companies?

Without trying to seem rude... taking all things into consideration - I'll only believe that when I see it - that is; actually delivering anything other than PCM format from the coaxial SPDIF or maybe optical.

And now _if_this_is_the_reality - then it would be my sincere hope that since Shaw has touted the DCT2000 HT as being capable of delivering the Home Theatre experience - that absolutely being S-Video and the Dolby Digital 5.1 outputs - they will upgrade every customer who has purchased one - without any inconvenience and no additional cost. In all honesty - DD5.1 is the one of two reasons I bought the unit - I would be very disappointed otherwise and would not hesitate one bit letting Shaw know this. I'm sure alot of others would to.

What confuses me with your tidbit of information (or misinformation) is that if Shaw actually has the software to enable DD5.1 on any other box, why wouldn't they upload it to the existing DCT2000 line?

- Shaw wants to make the customer absorb the cost of software through the purchase of a new box?

- the DCT2000 was originally designed by GI (now Motorola) for DD5.1 output AND advertised by Shaw for this purpose - is this design actually flawed? - but that would mean that other people are making false claims about it working.

- Shaw just wants to increase sales of digital cable boxes.

I'm not sure but something doesn't seem right. The new model may be faster and better - but don't you honestly think people want to see the devices they currently have work the way they are supposed to? I mean - they were advertised - I say again ADVERTISED - to work this way. Its unlikely that me alone could get any satisfaction complaining to Shaw - however I wonder if a group of people - maybe that come together in some group - like on the Internet - got together and somehow acheived a voice - a voice of the consumer - who were always getting promises but never much more - in a market that is mostly monopolized - you know, maybe then.... ahhh, who am I kidding - I've been asking Shaw the same question for how many years - nothing's come of it.

Okay - I'm done venting now, I hope that wasn't too sarcastic :roll:

I am an "actual" CSR, but I don't feel intimidated posting on here. As you all are aware of and understand is that I have no part in any of the decision making, so I don't take any responsibilty for the lack of certain features/services. That being said, I do feel responsible for helping educate others on things we have actually have available or 'real' reasons for lack of other items being available.
What I said was that Shaw will not be providing 5.1 on the 2000 at this time. I also know that past history says that I shouldn't say it will definitely be done at some point.
Now as for the 2500, it does have optical output and more memory...items that weren't a physical part of the 2000, so there are other advantages to it. I also think it's safe to say that Shaw isn't making a large profit on the DCTs (if any at all) so it wouldn't be a great business idea to bring out another box 'to get more sales' for the sake of it. If the software is free, then it certainly would make sense to stay with an older (cheaper) model, upgrade the software (basically free) and provide 5.1 to many thousands of existing DCTs... unless there were other forces at play. Makes sense, right?
Everyone complains about Shaw's reach in the marketplace and how they have so much 'control' over the market...but they got there with good business ideas...so one shouldn't expect them to forget everything now.

Yeah, but the thing about the software upgrade is that it's free, and it works. A previous generation of the upgrade did not work properly, and perhaps it made them gun-shy, but there's no reason why they shouldn't upgrade the 2000 now.

I am an "actual" CSR, but I don't feel intimidated posting on here. As you all are aware of and understand is that I have no part in any of the decision making, so I don't take any responsibilty for the lack of certain features/services. That being said, I do feel responsible for helping educate others on things we have actually have available or 'real' reasons for lack of other items being available.
What I said was that Shaw will not be providing 5.1 on the 2000 at this time. I also know that past history says that I shouldn't say it will definitely be done at some point.
Now as for the 2500, it does have optical output and more memory...items that weren't a physical part of the 2000, so there are other advantages to it. I also think it's safe to say that Shaw isn't making a large profit on the DCTs (if any at all) so it wouldn't be a great business idea to bring out another box 'to get more sales' for the sake of it. If the software is free, then it certainly would make sense to stay with an older (cheaper) model, upgrade the software (basically free) and provide 5.1 to many thousands of existing DCTs... unless there were other forces at play. Makes sense, right?
Everyone complains about Shaw's reach in the marketplace and how they have so much 'control' over the market...but they got there with good business ideas...so one shouldn't expect them to forget everything now.

Well I suppose I must give you credit to wade into these waters.

I suppose one reason that maybe in my particular case I'm complaining about Shaw is that I've had my DCT2000 HT since August 1999 (just sifted threw my bills). So I've had this device for over 4 years and one of the primary functions it is supposed to provide has not worked a single day. Granted, I must concede that DD5.1 broadcasts did not exist at that time - however Shaw has had 4 years (in my view) to get this fixed. I was anticipating the last guide update because I had hoped it included the DD5.1 fix - but it did not. 4 years is a long time - how many new STB have been developped since then?

I can honestly not see any straight forward logical reason why I have not had DD5.1. Now this may seem like a petty argument - however Shaw sold the box claiming it has a SPDIF digital output for DD5.1 broadcasts when they start - however it wasn't true.

There must be other forces at play - albeit they have yet to show themselves, maybe that's why people get frustrated. Can you give me a logical reason as to why it has not yet been implemented?

4 years - my 5 year warranty will be up soon!

The DCT2500 has some more too it than the DCT2000 - that may be great - but I think if Shaw wants to start having a good relationship with those of us who are annoyed (at the fact that you sold something that doesn't work as advertised) you should:

- apologize for misleading the public
- apologize for misleading LOYAL CUSTOMERS
- provide a FREE trade from the DCT2000HT to the DCT2500 for those who request it
- re-start the 5 year warranty on the trade-up DCT2500

The trade up and the 5 year warranty would put the apology into the realm of sincerety, anything else would simply be marketting. It really isn't too much to ask considering the the plain and simple fact - the DCT2000 HT model was sold under false claims. That would be simple to prove in a courts - however do customers need to do that, let alone have to resort to even mentioning it. What kind of relationship does Shaw have with me, am I a valued customer, do you respect how I feel about the service you provide, do you even care?

Yeah, but the thing about the software upgrade is that it's free, and it works. A previous generation of the upgrade did not work properly, and perhaps it made them gun-shy, but there's no reason why they shouldn't upgrade the 2000 now.

Maybe it isn't free to them - maybe you have a better agreement than they do. Is it possible that your business is more valued by the vendor?

:lol: