Whole Home PVR in Ontario Discussions (NEXTBOX2.0)

[chammer101]

Well I took the plunge, long time BEV user, just cancelled contract with Bell, along with 2 dual tuner PVR's and 2 HD receivers.

Signed up for Diamond package of Nextbox 2.0 includes Ultimate Internet extra 1TB PVR extender AND Galaxy Tab 10.1 for free!!!

Install is booked for Monday March 5th.

Will update if anything changes etc.

[VivienM]

So I called Rogers to order this whole home PVR thing...

The CSR said I'd be getting a free PVR extender.

That... doesn't sound right, since I'm not signing up for one of the new bundles. Or does it?

[yyzlhr]

Call back and make sure they didn't put you on a contract.

[VivienM]

Originally Posted by yyzlhr

Call back and make sure they didn't put you on a contract.

Contract?

The confirmation email just says that the changes being made are
a) a new rental nextbox 2.0 terminal (free!)
b) adding new outlet ($6.99, grr)
and it says my contract ends in October (which is right, since I last renewed with retentions in October 2011)

Interestingly, no mention of PVR Extenders in that PDF...

[Holmes108]

Originally Posted by chammer101

Well I took the plunge, long time BEV user, just cancelled contract with Bell, along with 2 dual tuner PVR's and 2 HD receivers.

Signed up for Diamond package of Nextbox 2.0 includes Ultimate Internet extra 1TB PVR extender AND Galaxy Tab 10.1 for free!!!

Install is booked for Monday March 5th.

Will update if anything changes etc.

I'm looking at this bundle too, as it's all the same products and packages I already have, but I'll get free digital terminal rentals for 6 months, but the extender and tablet.

One thing I couldn't find anywhere in the small print though, is if I'll have to activate the tablet on a rogers plan. I will if I have to, but I'd prefer not to, and as I said, I couldn't find anything suggesting it.

[Eug]

For those who are getting this activated, tell us the filter they install. I see on eBay they sell low-pass filters that filter out everything over 1.002 GHz, for under twenty bux. They're very small devices about 1.5" long, and the width of an F-connector, that gets installed in-line with the main line at the point of entry.

I wonder how much RF attenuation it will cause on the line. One that I saw online has these characteristics:

5 to 42 MHz: ≤ 0.25 dB
54 to 750 MHz: ≤ 0.75 dB
750 to 860 MHz: ≤ 0.75 dB
860 to 1002 MHz: ≤ 1.5 dB
1125 to 1550 MHz: ≥ 35 dB

So, for cable TV it causes as much as 1.5 dB worth of attenuation. Not good for those with borderline signal strength. I had problems with my signal strength until they installed RG11 to my house, and added a cable amplifier (+8 dB). Now I'm sitting at about 2-10 dB, depending on the channel frequency.

[yyzlhr]

Originally Posted by VivienM

Contract?

The confirmation email just says that the changes being made are
a) a new rental nextbox 2.0 terminal (free!)
b) adding new outlet ($6.99, grr)
and it says my contract ends in October (which is right, since I last renewed with retentions in October 2011)

Interestingly, no mention of PVR Extenders in that PDF...

To get the PVR extender for free they have to add the PVR extender product code to the account. Because it's technically a billable product, it should show up in any PDFs they send you regarding account changes. Chances are you got a rep who didn't read the articles correctly and just assumed everyone who signs up for whole home pvr will automatically get PVR extenders which is not the case.

[rhume55]

I read only today that there's a new service from Rogers called Next Box 2.0

The PVR in the photos like a Cisco 8642.

Does anyone know if this next system will allow me to automatically add an extra minute or two to every recording?

I currently have an HD 8300 PVR and I get a lot on pixelation squares on fast-moving content. Does anyone know if the 8642 (or Next Box 2.0) fixes this?

Thanks,
Rob

[57]

I believe I read earlier in this thread that it's possible to add 5 minutes automatically. Of course with the 8300 it's possible to add time to your recordings when you first set the recording or later by editing the scheduled recording.

Regarding the macroblocking, that is a fact of life with broadcast HD these days and doesn't change with the STB. A proper optimization may help minimize, but not eliminate it - most people have their TVs on the default settings and the sharpness is often set too high, among other things:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=76161

[Holmes108]

Originally Posted by rhume55

Does anyone know if this next system will allow me to automatically add an extra minute or two to every recording?

My 8642 allows me to currently record an extra minute or two on each recording (and I have to on several shows due to crappy running over time). I don't know if it's been confirmed in the new software, but I can't imagine it not being there. Unless I'm misunderstanding your question. Do you mean to add it to all recordings at once?

[robinwood]

since i have 2 8642 -is next box required or just a new label on the same box
thanks to anyone who knows

[wysiwyg]

NextBox2.0 is just a marketing rebrand of the whole home, plus additional services like wathing live TV on tablets, bundling with internet, etc...

I have been renting a 8642 since it was released and once they pushed the new firmware to my devices, the rental now shows up as a NextBox HDPVR rental (previously showed up as an Enhanced HDPVR rental).

This is why when I initially signed up for the WHPVR, they thought I needed a new PVR (they were likely looking for a nextbox on my account, rather than Enhanced).

They are both exactly the same boxes.

[wysiwyg]

Originally Posted by Holmes108

My 8642 allows me to currently record an extra minute or two on each recording (and I have to on several shows due to crappy running over time). I don't know if it's been confirmed in the new software, but I can't imagine it not being there. Unless I'm misunderstanding your question. Do you mean to add it to all recordings at once?

Yes, the new software allows you to add additional minutes by default to the end of all recordings.

[OshawaGuy]

it seems to me that the latest firmware (with the exception of a couple remaining bugs) is leaps and bounds ahead of the original release. a lot of the issues i am seeing here now are more like personal preference issues as opposed to actual bugs. I will be the first to agree that Rogers should not have released the software the way it was originally, but they did and i have to give them some credit for actually listening to the issues and fixing most of them relatively quick.

A question i have for anyone, i have been unable to find the sleep timer and believe i read that it is gone in the current version. Is anyone able to find where it is and maybe i am jus overlooking it?

thanks!

[viper359]

OshawaGuy A question i have for anyone, i have been unable to find the sleep timer and believe i read that it is gone in the current version. Is anyone able to find where it is and maybe i am jus overlooking it?

thanks!

Gone, same with turning the box off and on etc.

rhume55 Does anyone know if this next system will allow me to automatically add an extra minute or two to every recording?

Yes, you can set each recording to go over. Just remember, if you have two scheduled programs to start at 9pm, and you set an 830pm one to go over the 30 minute record time, it will cause an issue. How bad, not sure, haven't tested that yet, but I should!

rhume55 I currently have an HD 8300 PVR and I get a lot on pixelation squares on fast-moving content. Does anyone know if the 8642 (or Next Box 2.0) fixes this?

This sounds like a signal problem, not a PVR problem. I would have a Rogers field tech to your home to investigate. I had similar issues a few years ago, replacing the box did nothing, the cable line was the issue.