CLOSED — Shaw Gateway: Code update to iS2 & iS2+ (See final post)

[jdawg]

@Jetranger - I have had the same issues for a few nights now - the split recordings; plus I have had deleted recordings (that show only 6 mins recorded) come back the next morning as full 2 hour 6 min recording (basically the same show recorded twice).

It's a real pain in the butt as I'm nervous to leave for an evening as its been 3 nights and the same problems seem to be happening. I've been lucky so far as I've found the same show on at a later time and recorded it then; but if I'm gone for a night or two I'm sure I would have 4 recordings of the same show.

It really only seems to happen when I have 3+ things recording at the same time, if I only record 1 or 2 HD shows the problem doesn't happen - I'll keep testing and playing to see if this is for sure; but it seems to steam from bandwidth problems maybe?

[cavu]

Check THIS out for a peek into the possible future of gateway services.

[jdawg]

Very interesting, thanks for finding that - seems the system can do A LOT more then Shaw initially introduced!

[Reboot]

VOD "featured" which used to be Free Zone I believe, you could stream free video and shows now I get Error:Networking.

[Reboot]

Originally Posted by cdncableguy

Any one else have the problem with vod knocking out the other portals?

Yes, I am in Chilliwack, I am watching a VOD program and I just turned on the other Portals and they say "Signal loss detected. Please check your cable connection or call Shaw at 1-888-472-2222."

I actually lost connectivity to all three Portals even the one I was watching the VOD video on, to get my system back on line I had to power cycle the Gateway...

[cdncableguy]

If I remember correctly, Chilliwack was one of the affected systems. Fernie too and a couple other ones. I do know that it is being worked on for a hopeful fix soon.

[Reboot]

Speaking with second level tech support this has not been a reported issue here

[Jetranger]

LOL! You can always say it HAS been reported on Digital Home so clearly Shaw knows about it! That should get the attention of the person you are talking to.

[Reboot]

You bet I told them, he was aware of Digital Home, I guess by now all the Techs are aware of this forum, he said he would read up so anyone out there with the VOD issue SPEAK UP

I will be getting a call on Sunday to follow up, I couldn't try it when I was talking to the fellow as I have recordings underway until The CFL game ends at Rogers Arena, once that is over I will try to duplicate the problem.

[darranmartin]

JohnnyCanuck

The remote is the one that came with the Shaw portal box.
As I understand it, the issue is the port on the back of the portal box is actually an IR blaster for outputting IR signal. To use an IR flasher to receive a remote control signal you need an IR extender (or IR receiver) port to plug into, not the IR blaster. Correct me if I'm mistaken though.
I was told by someone in tech support at Shaw that this port is an IR blaster port, not an extender. What use is an IR blaster for operating a portal box, is it enabled and does it work through the IR flasher supplied with the portal? If it doesn't work, why is the IR flasher included with the portal box?

[jdawg]

Well the techs came yesterday, weren't able to find anything wrong - so they are sending a senior tech on monday - however the tech said October 6 they are pushing another update through - I asked him how as they just did one - he said he was told October 6 was another one - I am doubtful though....anyone else hear this?

[JohnnyCanuck]

darranmartin, now I understand what you're trying to do.

My understanding (but I would default to Jetranger's knowledge) was that the IR extender ability just wasn't activated yet. Your post was the first I heard that it was an output port. I'm surprised by that because the portals are not designed to control any other appliance so an IR output is completely unnecessary and I can't imagine what Moxi/Arris engineer would get that so completely backwards.

I just assumed you weren't using the Arris remote and were using a universal product like URC or even Harmony. With a URC remote with base station, the base station would take an RF or IP signal from the remote and output the IR through a flasher mounted to the front of the portal. There are certain Harmony remotes with this functionality as well, but I will never recommend Harmony product to anyone so there are others who could probably give you guidance if you wanted to go that route.

[Reboot]

Got a chance to further play around with VOD this morning. Yesterday I could not get any Portals back on line and had to power cycle the Gateway to restore service. I tried all three Portals, in all cases accepting a video caused the cessation of service to the other two Portals. On two occasions I was able to restore service by ending the video and menuing to a TV program, the service restored on the other Portals.

This has got to be in the cabling and how my Portals are running off a splitter , somehow the VOD signal is interfering with the TV signal and blocking access.

[Jetranger]

jdawg, there is another update coming but it will be going to Shaw testers first, just as the last one did. This means we won't likely see it for 6-8 weeks after it goes into testing by Shaw. As a side note: I did hear the next 'update' code will also contain the software necessary to enable more features on the Gateway. As with the Expander option being enabled, the next set of features might not be enabled right away but at least the option to do so will be there once the next release comes out.

JohnnyCanuck and darranmartin, I can't understand why there would be an IR 'out' port on the Portals either, unless maybe they figured people might want it to program their VCRs? Maybe it is part of the chipset and these were available at a 'too good to pass up' type of price when the first run of production boxes was ordered; who knows? It is one of the strangest things about the initial offering and I know it has been switched to an IR 'input' on the next model. This will allow for an IR Extender Eye to be connected and placed more discretely than having the Portal sitting out in the open.

As for why some people got a remote eye in the box with the Portal, that's likely ignorance on the part of the people at the Shaw warehouse I'm told. I didn't get any with mine but some people in different regions did. The explanation I got was that 'practices are different at every warehouse'. I'd say it's a bonus if you did get them as now you are ready for the next gen box if they either forget to include the eye or if it happens to be a dud. Just trying to be optimistic here.

Until then, and I can't see it taking anything more than 6 months at the most for the second generation to come out, the only solution, as JohnnyCanuck suggests, is to purchase a 'repeater' system that uses it's own 'remote blasters' that you place on the face of each component you want controlled by the system. A couple of big pluses with a repeater system are the option to go with an RF remote and that you could also have multiple legacy Shaw boxes controllable in the same room. Given this thread is about the Gateway and people will likely have one or the other(Gateway or Legacy) and that the two do use different remote codes, the latter point is probably moot.

For new readers, 'Legacy' equipment is anything Shaw offered before the Gateway system as it is a leap in technology and is unlike anything Shaw has offered previously.

[RobBob]

Originally Posted by cavu

Check THIS out for a peek into the possible future of gateway services.

Great, more vaporware. Shaw and Arris need to get this version working properly first before making more promises.