Official New 8642 PVR from Rogers

[wprager]

So can anyone confirm that the new box is running different software? As I posted earlier, I saw a parental block timer in the new one when playing with it at a Rogers outlet. I checked my 8300 and it definitely does not have this feature (and I could surely use it to force the kids to stop watching TV at a specific time).

[57]

Yes, I believe each model of STB has its own firmware. The differences between the 8642 and the 8300 have also been discussed in the owners thread.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=122118

[ottawa_ca]

Has anyone successfully hooked up the DLNA feature of the Rogers 8642 PVR? I'm would like to play movies from an XP computer and I was hoping to use the 8642 as the interface. I have searched the internet for hours and found nothing on the subject. I currently have the 8642 connected to my network without problems, however that is as far as I have progressed. I also installed a trail version of Mezzmo which appears to be a DLNA server. Any help would be appreciated.

[PeterK]

Just the thread I was looking for. Very dissapointed in the lack of rental option on this. When I spoke with the Rogers rep i asked if this was the model given to new customers? I was told "YES". Installer showed up with the 8300 HD. Not cool.

All in all its still a much better PVR than that POS Shaw Direct pawns off as a PVR

[torontodude]

I was just about to ask the same question. I would like to stream music using my cable box instead of firing up my PS3 every time. The Roger's promo page for the 8642 says:

The device also supports:
DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) - allows home entertainment devices to share their content with each other across a home network

It would be a shame if they advertised this feature but it was disabled.

[gzero]

The firmware that Rogers is using does not support DLNA. There was a post on Rogers Redboard about it a while back:

Rogers_Richard says:
April 19, 2010 at 4:45 pm
Hi Chris,

Thanks for your question and feedback.

At this time, it is not possible to network / share content between two PVRs. And while we are not disclosing specifics about what we may or may not have in the works, these devices are “Internet Protocol capable” for near-future enhancements including home networking and interactive TV services.

Cheers,
Richards.

[Jemin]

Looks like the rentals are slowly becoming available, just picked one up from the 730 Danforth location in Toronto

[wysiwyg]

Thanks Jemin for posting. I went to my local Rogers Video store and true enough, they had tons of 8642s for rent. I switch my 8300HD to that model which is a lifetime free rental (Old winback promo)

[leopard]

I was wondering if I can Poll a Survey on if enough people would want to go with the Rogers 8642 HD PVR instead of the Rogers 8300 HD PVR. Also if I got enough people that would want to rent the 8642 instead of the 8300 then Rogers would listen to the customers and allow rental of the 8642. Please let me know if I can or not. Thanks in advance.

[57]

Post moved to existing 8642 thread. The latest posts indicate that they are now available for rent.

[wprager]

wysywig, are you saying that they replaced your rent-free-for-life 8300 with the 8642 no questions aked or was there something wrong with the 8300? Reason I ask is I've got the 8300 on the same rent-free-for-life deal. There is at least one feature (the parental timer) I could find quite useful. Plus, it's a different firmware, whichlikely means there are some other feature differences.

[57]

I wouldn't be too quick to replace an 8300 if it's working well. Suggest you read the 8642 Owners thread since there seem to be a number of issues cropping up, and there's no Rogers Home Phone Call Display (yet) if I recall correctly...

[wysiwyg]

When I exchanged my unit, I told him to make sure that I wouldn't be loosing my lifetime credit. He said that it won't be lost as he just did a box swap. I will call Rogers though to make sure It's still showing in my account!

As for the new box, not too impressed so far, the biggest plus for me is that it is much quieter and it may go back to my bedroom now (the old would wake me up each night when it received the IPG updates in the early morning hours). I don't really care about the callerID as I used voip.ms for my home phone (my average monthly cost is less than what Rogers charges for their system access fee alone).

Edit: just spoke with Rogers, the box still is part of my lifetime credit. The CSRs are always surprised when they see that old promo :-)

[kibosh]

I have called several locations here in the east end (Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa) and they do not have them available for rent yet. In fact when I ask, several have told me they are not available for rent anywhere yet and they have no idea when they will. Communication at the store level seems to be lacking a little.

[Eluder]

Picked up a unit from the location at the head office in downtown Toronto.
The 8642 is definitely quieter than the 8300 (well, at least the HDD is much quieter).
It does seem to be slower in the guide and other menus, but that could just be me imagining things.

Hopefully they'll update the firmware soon to support TV Call Display, as I got used to having that.