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

[Jetranger]

VanRob; Well, it seems my 'imagination' has got the better of me yet again. If the Gateway is putting FM interference into the system then a MoCA filter likely wouldn't solve the problem anyway(unless you were to split off the FM lines before the MoCA filter). Interesting none the less.

From the sound of it, you do need the amp and I would try the online chat to schedule a service call. You should be sure to have the CSR add notes to the booking that you will require a single outlet amp.

If you have at least 2 services with Shaw you can sign up for 'Shaw Friends' and use the 'Concierge Chat' that is supposed to get you someone even faster than regular chat so you don't have to wait on the phone for so long.

[sibble-comp]

I'd be inclined to leave it overnight without the amp and see where things stand in the morning, but in principle, I'd agree you definitely have some issues Shaw needs to resolve.

As to the Shaw Friends thing, doesn't seem to work, I choose signup, log in to my account where it defaults to one of my easyown accounts, allows me to view the T&C's but not sign up. Just takes me back to the same info about the service.

If I switch to the main account which has my phone and tv, the options to view/signup for Shaw Friends disappears. It actually only shows up when I choose my gateway easyown account. Actually it shows up in the menu bar on the left for all my easyown accounts, but does NOT show up when I switch to the main services account.

how odd.....

[sibble-comp]

Curious about the internal hard drive on the gateway.....

if that drive is pulled from the gateway and put in an external enclosure, a new drive is put in the gateway and the os loaded or whatever. Will the data in that external enclosure be available and accessible as if it were in a regular enclosure and the data had been written to the drive in the enclosure.

Curious as I noticed my gateway is making a bit of a knocking sound which reminds me of the sound some hard drives make before going belly up.

Anyway I was thinking along the lines of, (if this were even possible) replace drive now, put old drive in enclosure, watch as much as possible before/if/when the drive dies.

I know DRM plays a big part in this, but since it would be attached to the same physical box.....

Though I'm guessing each load of the os probably generates installation specific security keys which wouldn't match up with what's on the old drive and therefore the data would NOT be accessible.

[Jetranger]

Cracking into the Gateway would likely void your Shaw warranty so I wouldn't recommend it. Since Shaw offers a 3 year warranty on new equipment and lifetime if you sign up on Shaw Friends so why take a chance on getting a free replacement?

[sibble-comp]

So I don't lose all my recordings of course ;-)

given that I have a 1tb external and total storage was at 95% a few days ago, but now down to about 86%, that's a fair bit to lose.

If there was a way to transfer that data to the external enclosure, that'd be great, but given that those shows wouldn't be playable on a new gateway replacement unit, it makes being able to keep the existing unit running all the more important.

As to voiding the warranty, whether I'd be willing to go down that road would depend on the previous questions. WAF being what it is and all....

I understand the need for DRM, copyright an all that, but losing 1.5tb of data if the gateway has to be replaced is pretty uncool IMO.

[downbeat]

Hi all,
Just a friendly reminder relating to the over-use of quotes.
Please do not quote an entire post. Rather, use only a short excerpt to help put your own message in context.
Additionally, please do not quote the post immediately preceding your own. It makes threads harder to read.
Thanks for your understanding and your co-operation.
Cheers,
downbeat
Moderator — Shaw Cable and Internet forums

[GWNorth]

I currently have a 3400 and the secret sale has made purchasing a gateway system somewhat tempting to gain:
- whole home pvr features
- ability to remove channels from guide
- extra tuners
I know there are more features over the 3400 but those are the only ones that would affect a purchase decision for me right now.

Unfortunately, from reading current users experiences it seems I would lose some reliability of core pvr features that I'm used to with the 3400 (except when the 1 sec recording issue was present). I could live with the odd minor bug for a while (the 3400 has a couple itself) but if I can't depend on recordings to actually record and playback without problems or if rebooting the system is more than a pretty rare occurrence, the new gateway probably isn't for me at any price.

From reading the thread, it appears even with the latest update the gateway system has problems with core features so I may have to forgo any chance of these extra gateway features unless people can correct my impression and say the issues with core features are addressed. I may end up getting a second 3400 and give up on having gateway type features for a few years.

[JasonB]

@GWNorth

That's my impression too, though I've spoken with a few people who have it in my area and are not seeing any of the really problematic stability issues (just some of the UX flaws that are inherent to the new guide and remote).

I'm considering spending the $200 and running the Gateway in parallel with my DCX's for a while before biting the bullet. This may not be an appropriate test (the additional devices / splitters on my coax network may actually cause issues that I wouldn't see otherwise), but for me it's important to maintain marital harmony

[Reboot]

I kept my PVR for a couple of months when I installed the Gateway, no problem running both (I had too many recordings I didn't want to lose). They just split the cable and place the PVR outside the MoCA. For me it was a wise move, I had teething problems that left me without Gateway service for long periods, ending with new cable run to the house and a replacement Gateway box!

[Jetranger]

Since I have both Gateway/Portal and DCX3400, with Shaw 1TB Expanders on both, set up in my main TV viewing area, I can honestly say that I seldom switch to the 3400 for anything other than confirming the source signal on cable and to delete all the duplicate recordings I have already watched on the Gateway.

In the beginning, the 3400 came in very handy as a few series recordings were being missed for some reason but that hasn't happened in months now (I hope I didn't just jinx myself). There are some people who are still having recording issues so it would seem the bugs are not completely gone in that regard but another full code release, or two, are due in the next couple of months. This should bring some serious fixes to the most annoying current bugs.

I'm still not giving up my 3400 and I highly doubt having it connected via a splitter is causing any issues as I really don't have a lot of them that are truly 'serious'. Given the inability to watch stored recordings on other boxes, I like having the fully redundant setup that I have now. I paid $400 for the 3400 two years ago and $150 for the Expander so I'm not giving either one away anytime soon but I am really not using them otherwise.

The Gateway system has taken over as my primary viewing and recording tool on all TVs in my home, including all programs the other half watches. She still grumbles about the skip settings from time to time and how the 'connection lost' screen pops up but, for the most part, she too has adapted and I know she really appreciates the 'any room PVR' abilities as we often watch different programs in different rooms.

I wouldn't tell anyone to give up a 3400 but I also wouldn't tell anyone to stay away from the Gateway system any more. I firmly believe it will be a solid system in the next few months and, even if it isn't, the way it is now is really not that bad.

FULL DISCLOSURE: The preceding message is from a non-biased owner of the aforementioned equipment and has not been compensated, in any way or by anyone, for his opinions.

[bevster]

I have been running the gateway for a couple months now and I have not missed a recording and have the 1tb expander as well. minor glitches here and there but all shows intact. I think the major problem was with people setting their recordings to overlap, which I havent done, which has caused some issues for people. since I had the line to my house fixed, for signal issues, I have not even had to reboot the gateway.. Just works for me. ( knock on wood ) lol
in fact its better than my old pvr setup because there are more tuners now, where as before we had to decide what we were going to miss because of only having 2 tuners =)
I wouldnt go back with the way my setup has been running, love it.

[TechGuy8]

Has anyone loss all recordings in the expander connected with the gateway similar to PVR?

[Reboot]

I lost about 40% of my recordings last week, but following cavu's advice I power cycled the Gateway and Portals and the shows are slowly reappearing - magic!

[JasonB]

@Jetranger awesome response. Having watched your experience with the system from the beginning, it's encouraging to know that you have reached a level of acceptance with it.

[Jetranger]

Thanks, JasonB. I am pretty quick to criticize when things go wrong and am always harsh on Shaw but I also have to be honest about my daily experiences with the current equipment.

I realize each person may have their own level of satisfaction, or dissatisfaction as the case may be, but it's only fair to explain all circumstances the best I can and then it's up to the individual to decide for them self.

For the price they are offering this weekend, I'd suggest 'jumping in' if you are at all interested in 'testing the waters'.