PVR's and multiple room/tv service

[nkay]

I'm currently with Bell satellite TV, and they recently mailed me to say my current 9200 PVR won't work anymore soon and they are sending me a replacement. However, what they want to send is does not have the 2 TV/multiple room option which is a no go for me. They want to send me two separate PVR's for each TV.

Do Rogers PVR's have this capability of multiple room/TV options from one receiver? I checked their web site, and from what I understand, you can but you still need another PVR or the HD box on the other TV to make it work which doesn't help me either.

I've always found Bell's PVRs to be much more reliable and easy to use the Rogers PVR's, but it's been many years so I have no idea how they stack up against one another nowadays.

[57]

Rogers doesn't have what you want (a 9200-type device). I assume you know that you are not getting HD signals out the TV2 port of your existing PVR. If you want HD you'll need to get a separate STB or PVR or split the signal from one PVR and watch the same thing on both TVs.

[nkay]

Yes I understand that, my second TV is over a fireplace in my living room, and there's nowhere to put a receiver. That's why I have it running from the 2nd TV feed from the Bell 9200 receiver in the basement, but yeah it's not an HD signal, that is a drawback.

Rogers has some decent promotions right now for the Nextbox PVR which also includes an extra HD terminal free rental for 3 years, and also the free terabyte PVR extender.

Just deciding if it's worth it to change if Bell can't help me out with my current situation. When I tried Roger's PVR's several years ago, they had a clunky interface and were unreliable in terms of missing recording shows etc.. But my home phone and Internet are already with Rogers so could be able to save with the full package deal.

[57]

There are several threads (stickies) in the Rogers PVR forum regarding the NextBox and the new IPG. Make sure you check those threads out. Each provider has advantages and disadvantages.

If you want HD at the fireplace TV, you'll need to find a spot for a STB and of course a different connection like HDMI.

[craig_1]

I cannot recommend any Rogers product at this point. If you really want to try them, then go the rental route WITHOUT a contract.

I expect you'll decide to cancel their service (or more accurately LACK of service) once you experieince it first hand.

[yyzlhr]

Aside from Nextbox being kind of garbage, it doesn't really address your situation. You'll still need to have an STB to power the TV over the fireplace. If you don't have room for a Bell STB, you won't have room for a Rogers one either.

[nkay]

Thanks for the comments guys. I guess I will pray that Bell can get a hold of a 9242 for me as a replacement for my 9200 with the two-room capability. It really is a great feature if you don't want separate boxes to worry about, and like to share the same PVR recorded shows between tv's.

At some point I'll have to rearrange things and update my technology, would eventually like to get HD and streaming capabilities to all my TV's. Tired of being stuck between Rogers and Bell for everything.

[57]

If you have the room where the 9200 currently is, you could easily add the 5900 with Bell (another cable to the 5900 may be required, but you should be able to negotiate that with Bell in light of your situation). Or you could go with a STB/NextBox solution with Rogers (STB controlled say with an IR blaster) Of course if you don't change the connection from RF-coax to the TV, you'll still have SD instead of HD. You really should look into an appropriate HD solution.

[nkay]

Gotta surprise package from Bell yesterday with my 9242 replacement receiver so I am very happy they hunted one down for me and I don't have to change anything.