Official New 8642 PVR from Rogers - Page 5 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

wprager · 2010-03-11, 03:44 PM

I'd say you'll have to wait a lot longer to be able to swap a rental unit for one of these, than to wait for someone to figure out how to add an external drive.

Can anyone explain why there are still *new* PVRs being produced, with HD capabilities, and only a 160 GB drive? That just makes absolutely no sense at all.

whitbyterry · 2010-03-11, 03:50 PM

Someone mentioned recently that it is because they buy large quantities of drives at very cheap prices. They probably bought thousands of those drives for a few dollars each and will keep using them as long as they have them.

I agree, it makes no sense to put that size of a drive in an HD box. The minimum should be 360 with 500 or 1 TB options.

MCIBUS · 2010-03-11, 04:27 PM

Is this unit smaller then the 8300 or the same size?(not hard drive, but box ityself)

whitbyterry · 2010-03-11, 05:29 PM

I could find the size specs for the 8300HD but they are in the guide for the new dvr.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/coll...13/7017062.pdf

whitbyterry · 2010-03-11, 05:31 PM

The product guide indicates you can purchase the SARA software for 1, 2 or 3 year license terms. I wonder if that is for Rogers or if that applies to customers? That would not be good if you had to buy a license extension later on.

taro808 · 2010-03-11, 05:34 PM

Does anyone have any screenshots of this new PVR's GUI? There's nothing in the marketing materials. I have the current generation 8300 and the GUI is like circa 1985 - absolutely horrible. Nothing like buying a new 52" HD LCD panel only to be using a menu you could drive a bus between the pixels on.

If this new one has at least a full wide-screen interface and a relatively contemporary menu layout I'd drop this POS 8300 onto Craig's list in a heartbeat.

gzero · 2010-03-11, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitbyterry

The product guide indicates you can purchase the SARA software for 1, 2 or 3 year license terms. I wonder if that is for Rogers or if that applies to customers?

It's for the service provider.

rgboulay · 2010-03-11, 06:36 PM

According to the Rogers blog

Rogers_Richard says: Thanks for your feedback. We are currently working on updates to our IPG, with plans to roll out both enhancements and technology upgrades later this year.

Guess we'll have to wait and see...

whitbyterry · 2010-03-11, 09:29 PM

I suspect that means the IPG will be the same as it is on the 8300HD for now.

jvincent · 2010-03-11, 09:36 PM

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Let me turn on my Rogers to English translator.....

"We are currently working on updates to our IPG, with plans to roll out both enhancements and technology upgrades later this year." =====> Quick Start Guide.

hugh · 2010-03-12, 08:43 AM

Posts removed. This thread is to discuss the 8642. Please use the shopping forums to discuss where you can buy it, best deal pricing etc. and leave this thread to discussing the hardware.

Proteosome · 2010-03-12, 10:22 AM

From the PDF:

Quote:

1080p/24 or 1080p/30 output formats are available on HDMI, if those formats are presented to the set-top box at its input. Incoming video formats will not be converted to either of these for output. Output of these formats is under software control.

Does that mean it will not upconvert to 1080p?

mark_in_2k · 2010-03-12, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Does that mean it will not upconvert to 1080p?

Sounds like it won't, just as the 8300 doesn't. It's your TV that will be upscaling to 1080p.

OldTivoUser · 2010-03-12, 05:39 PM

Since no one has one, I doubt anyone has an answer to this yet. But, the writeup indicates that this supports home networking. Since I see a network interface on there, I assume cat5e - and I assume then that means these won't be able to network with the older boxes. But - wondering what functionality it provides. I assume you can watch any recorded show on either box.

I'd love to try this - but $1K to take the plunge. I'd really rather rent these. I know I've spent $900 over the past 3 years renting the 8300, but I've been through 5 of those so I think I'm still ahead of the game.

doingnothing · 2010-03-12, 07:20 PM

initial thoughts on the new 8642 - was using the old SD PVR for the last 4 years

current max res 1080i

in store buy - 5 minutes in out (had plenty on display)
on phone activation 5 minutes
waiting for system to initalize 10minutes maybe

HD is SATA and look relativity easy to change.

On screen guide - one button press to get in, still only showing 90 minutes at one time. and using the classic format still looks sharper comparied to my old PVR

quick look around setting and menu I haven't seen option for media sharing, might look in the manual for this

2010-03-11, 05:34 PM	#66
taro808 Rookie Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1	GUI screenshots anyone? Does anyone have any screenshots of this new PVR's GUI? There's nothing in the marketing materials. I have the current generation 8300 and the GUI is like circa 1985 - absolutely horrible. Nothing like buying a new 52" HD LCD panel only to be using a menu you could drive a bus between the pixels on. If this new one has at least a full wide-screen interface and a relatively contemporary menu layout I'd drop this POS 8300 onto Craig's list in a heartbeat.

2010-03-11, 06:36 PM	#68
rgboulay Rookie Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 8	New IPG coming soon According to the Rogers blog Rogers_Richard says: Thanks for your feedback. We are currently working on updates to our IPG, with plans to roll out both enhancements and technology upgrades later this year. Guess we'll have to wait and see...

2010-03-11, 09:36 PM	#70
jvincent Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Ottawa Posts: 5,369	Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Let me turn on my Rogers to English translator..... "We are currently working on updates to our IPG, with plans to roll out both enhancements and technology upgrades later this year." =====> Quick Start Guide. __________________ Android rocks!

2010-03-12, 08:43 AM	#71
hugh Member #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 47,492	Posts removed. This thread is to discuss the 8642. Please use the shopping forums to discuss where you can buy it, best deal pricing etc. and leave this thread to discussing the hardware. __________________ As of January 2012, I am no longer the owner of the Digital Home website. If you have questions about the operation of the site, please contact VSAdmin. For personal inquiries contact me at the Hugh Thompson website.

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2010-03-11, 03:44 PM	#61
wprager Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Kanata, ON, Rogers Digital, 8300-HD Posts: 1,415	I'd say you'll have to wait a lot longer to be able to swap a rental unit for one of these, than to wait for someone to figure out how to add an external drive. Can anyone explain why there are still new PVRs being produced, with HD capabilities, and only a 160 GB drive? That just makes absolutely no sense at all.

2010-03-11, 03:50 PM	#62
whitbyterry Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Whitby, Ontario (Rogers Cable), LG 42PC3D, 8642HD Posts: 514	Someone mentioned recently that it is because they buy large quantities of drives at very cheap prices. They probably bought thousands of those drives for a few dollars each and will keep using them as long as they have them. I agree, it makes no sense to put that size of a drive in an HD box. The minimum should be 360 with 500 or 1 TB options.

2010-03-11, 04:27 PM	#63
MCIBUS Veteran Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ottawa Posts: 2,077	Is this unit smaller then the 8300 or the same size?(not hard drive, but box ityself)

2010-03-11, 05:29 PM	#64
whitbyterry Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Whitby, Ontario (Rogers Cable), LG 42PC3D, 8642HD Posts: 514	I could find the size specs for the 8300HD but they are in the guide for the new dvr. http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/coll...13/7017062.pdf

2010-03-11, 05:31 PM	#65
whitbyterry Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Whitby, Ontario (Rogers Cable), LG 42PC3D, 8642HD Posts: 514	The product guide indicates you can purchase the SARA software for 1, 2 or 3 year license terms. I wonder if that is for Rogers or if that applies to customers? That would not be good if you had to buy a license extension later on.

2010-03-11, 09:29 PM	#69
whitbyterry Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Whitby, Ontario (Rogers Cable), LG 42PC3D, 8642HD Posts: 514	I suspect that means the IPG will be the same as it is on the 8300HD for now.

2010-03-12, 05:39 PM	#74
OldTivoUser Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 40	Since no one has one, I doubt anyone has an answer to this yet. But, the writeup indicates that this supports home networking. Since I see a network interface on there, I assume cat5e - and I assume then that means these won't be able to network with the older boxes. But - wondering what functionality it provides. I assume you can watch any recorded show on either box. I'd love to try this - but $1K to take the plunge. I'd really rather rent these. I know I've spent $900 over the past 3 years renting the 8300, but I've been through 5 of those so I think I'm still ahead of the game.

2010-03-12, 07:20 PM	#75
doingnothing Rookie Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 5	initial thoughts on the new 8642 - was using the old SD PVR for the last 4 years current max res 1080i in store buy - 5 minutes in out (had plenty on display) on phone activation 5 minutes waiting for system to initalize 10minutes maybe HD is SATA and look relativity easy to change. On screen guide - one button press to get in, still only showing 90 minutes at one time. and using the classic format still looks sharper comparied to my old PVR quick look around setting and menu I haven't seen option for media sharing, might look in the manual for this