LETTER: VOD changing ... need to upgrade DCT2000

[Dogstar]

Received letter from Shaw (dated 2011-07-12) advising that "... we're currently upgrading our VOD functionality ... we need to replace your current digital box (DCT2000) with a new one, free of charge." I have two of these old boxes in secondary rooms so a free upgrade is nice, however, I'm hesitant to jump without a little advance planning. These Motorola boxes have been rock solid over the years & owe me nothing.

Anybody know what replacement box this technical upgrade is supposed to provide? The notice letter does not say. We all know that what is anticipated/expected & what is received is often dependent on Agent, stock availability, weather/sun/moon/tide alignment, etc. IOW YMMV.

Thoughts?

Thank you. Dogstar.

[Danster]

Go to the Motorola website and search for the DCT2000. You will see it's a very basic converter box. I'm not surprised they are changing it in order to comply with the more advanced cabling since the introduction of this box.

[jb_008]

Nice, because I got a letter from them too and they told me I would have to pay $2.95/month to get a new box if I wanted to have vod still. Nice to know Shaw is not giving the same promotion to everyone.

[hugh]

jb_008, I recommend contacting Shaw and let them know what you've read here. I'd be interested in their response.

[Emvious]

I got the letter too, and it mentioned the $2.95 rental rate. I suspect the most likely replacement would be the DCT700 (which happens to rent for $2.95/month).

[Shaw Champ]

Hi all,

So there are two letters that are going out to customers with the DCT 2000 series Set Top Boxes.

1.) Those that Own them
2.) Those that are Renting them

The situation is that we are improving our VOD service through upgrades. In order to be uniform for all our customers nationally we are upgrading customers who have this terminal.

Owners of the DCT 2000 series can continue to use the box to watch TV still (no problem), however, VOD service will not be available on Owners boxes due to the upgrade. We are offering owners a free replacement DCT 700 from which VOD services once the upgrade is complete will work just fine and owners can still keep their DCT 2000 but will not be able to view VOD on their 2000 series unit. We are offering this as we do not want them to loose out. Some owners prefer us to recycle the DCT 2000 as they watch VOD and after the swap it is basically a redundant box. Some owners are keeping it maybe for a spare bedroom, however, we have to be clear in letting them know that VOD will not work on it soon.

Customers that are Renting the DCT 2000 series *will* require a swap out to the DCT 700 as a rental box at $2.95. Nearly all DCT 2000 customers that are renting should be renting already at $2.95. So this is a straight swap.

The DCT 700 is smaller and more compact with newer "insides". The difference for considerations is there are less types of connection compared to a DCT 2000 at the rear of the unit and there is no front panel LED display (time or channge #). The DCT 700 still has Coaxial and RCA Audio+Video Connections but lacks Optical Audio and S-Video connections

Both letters to both types of customer detail that you can call us up and we will send a DCT 700 out by courier or a customer can come by a Shaw Retail location with their DCT 2000 and get a swap in the office. Once home a customer can either use our website to activate their DCT 700 or call tech support to activate.

If customers have any further questions they can also call the phone # on the letter and if anyone has any further questions the Shaw guys here are happy to help too.

[Emvious]

Thanks Shaw Champ. I own my DCT2000, not rent it. Yet, my letter (actually I got 2 letters) says that I need to pay the $2.95 rental. I'll probably need to call in about this, but thanks for the info.

[magnet]

Are the guts of the DCT2500 good enough for the new and improved VOD?

I have both a General Instruments DCT 2000 and a Motorola DCT 2500.

The large LED front display is the most used feature with my bedroom DCT.

Will shaw unlock the HD channels on DCT700's for those subscribers that also have a HD box? It would be nice to watch HDNet programming in standard def in the Bedroom.

[tux]

I wonder if VOD is the only reason for this swap. The older boxes happen to have both analog and digital tuners, whereas the DCT700 replacement boxes will are digital only. If they don't need to worry about customers with older boxes getting analog reception, it will probably simplify their digital migration.

@magnet: I don't think the DCT700s are capable of accessing the HD stations. The only SD box with that capability is DCT3080 (PVR), and only then if you're not watching it live.

[jericho]

You can't get HD channels on the DCT700s, only the sound on those channels last time I checked. I have 2 of those boxes, but I don't think i've seen any letters, may have to contact Shaw about that.

[Dogstar]

Shaw Champ et al.,

So I phoned in this afternoon with my "free upgrade" letter in hand & the Agent, unfortunately, seemed confused by the notice. Initially he said it was $2.95/mo rental then recanted & said it was fee free, however, the letter only applied to 1 x DCT2000 STB. I explained that I had 2 x active DCT2000's (plus a DCT3416 HDPVR) & was expecting, per the letter, a free replacement for each one to maintain VOD functionality with them both.

He confirmed the active STB's on my account but would not budge, noting that the 1st replacement would be free & the 2nd would be $2.95/mo. I reiterated that the letter does not state this anywhere, no fine print, nadda. I asked to speak to a Supervisor so he put me on hold, came back a few minutes later & reiterated that Supervisor states same. I asked to speak with the Supervisor myself to which he took my contact info.

I am still awaiting a call back. Hmmm, not good.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Dogstar.

[Shaw Guru]

I'm not as familiar as Shamp Champ is when it comes to the DCT 2000 for DCT 700 swap program. My understanding (and of course I may be incorrect) is that if you have a DCT 2000 (or more than 1) we would be able to swap it out for a DCT 700.

[chumchum]

If I elect to have it delivered to me, does that mean I get to keep my DCT 2000?

[TechGuy8]

I like the channel display feature on the DCT2000 series. The DCT700 does not have any.

[deaenforcement]

@tux,

For this swap program, it is purely for VOD purposes. The DCT2000 is become more difficult to support with VOD due to memory, MIPS restrictions and other hardware related things. As Shaw Champ mentioned, if you own the DCT, shaw is not requiring you to swap, we are still allowing you to keep the DCT 2000 to use without VOD functionality.

As far as mapping goes, pretty much all DCT's are on digital only maps, so this doesn't have anything to do with the digital migration. The Digital Network upgrde project affects TV's directly connected to coax without a set top box - Analog only.

Hope that clears up your questions.