"Outside" SA/Cisco STBs work on Rogers (or Videotron)? (No!) See Post 1

[57]

I am still under a strong impression that 57 is always so protective of Roger$$

Sorry to give that impression, but I just try to state facts (perhaps sometimes with some bias). Nevertheless, as discussed in this and other threads, this is not a Rogers policy, it is a policy of any service provider that uses SA equipment.

It is also the policy of all major US cable service providers for Motorola equipment and Shaw have now also followed this pattern. This leaves only a very small proportion of cable service providers who will now allow outside STBs. (I believe that Rogers Atlantic still allow it, but it's rare that people make use of it and there are restrictions on compatible units).

As for the discussion of packages - which is off topic in this thread - those packages (and tie ins) are often mandated by CRTC, not the service provider.

For example, it would be illegal of Rogers to allow selection of TSN by itself under current CRTC rules, because other channels are tied to TSN to make them viable.

[weehaggis]

If I buy a used (or perhaps new) Rogers SD box,will I be able to just plug it in and I'm good to go (because I have a HD box running already)?
Thanks

[57]

No, you will need to get it activated and ensure that the previous owner (if applicable) has paid all his bills, etc. You can get the appropriate numbers off the box from the previous owner and check with Rogers before purchase.

Also realize that SD STBs are very inexpensive - can be purchased for $0-100 (after credits) and come free with digital VIP.

You need to get it activated on your account so that all STBs at your home get the same service that you're paying for.

[weehaggis]

Can anyone recommend a good place to buy a new unit (perhaps with a promotion or good $ credit)?
FS,BB,Rogers ?..they all seem to be $99 (but I'm not sure about credits)

[cdn_tbird]

Keep an eye out on the flyers from The Source, I've seen some pretty amazing deals on Rogers boxes from them, a lot better than FS or BB. A couple of months ago, they had the HD PVR listed for $199 after discounts and credits, but I couldn't take advantage of it at the time. I'm hoping they run that deal again once Rogers finalizes the buyout of Aurora Cable.

[alexgarin]

Hello,

I'm using Cogeco 4 years, and always bought my PVRs from eBay and Cogeco activated them with no problem. Each PVR was bought for approx. $80-120, eBay is good place to buy STB boxes.


Now I plan to move from Milton to Maple this summer, and will need to switch Cogeco to Rogers. I called Regers and told them that I would like to become their customer, and asked if they would allow to activate my own cable boxes. The answer was Yes, no problem. I even asked CSR to check with manager and he confirmed that Rogers will allow to have my own boxes, as long as they are supported by Rogers (i.e. models like SA 8000, 8000HD, 8300HD).

I don't want to buy anything less than 8000/8000HD/8300HD because I like to have PVR in every room. Without PVR it is not worth even to have digital cable because you cannot even go to washroom without loosing movie epizode :-)

I see that SA boxes are very good price right now on eBay. 8000 box (that has 80GB HDD) can be purchased under 100 bucks, and top-of-the-line 8300HD with 160GB HDD is just under $150. I don't even consider to pay Rogers $600 for their box if for this price I can get 4+ same PVRs.

So, my bottom line is: Rogers says they will activate outside box, no problem. Once I move to Maple and activate all my boxes that I will buy on eBay I will post success story here in this thread.

If you for some reason think that Rogers won't activate outside box post your message here. I spoke to Rogers and they won't mind to activate extra boxes. Why would they if I pay for cable service?

Thanks!

[57]

Although Rogers will activate your STBs, The STB must be purchased from Rogers or from an authorized distributor (or a Rogers customer who has done that). They will not activate an "outside" STB as has been discussed in this thread many times. They may have misunderstood your intentions and thought you were talking about a purchased STB from them or authorized distributor like FS or BB. See post 8.

If you purchase SA STBs from eBay, you will be stuck with a lot of doorstops.

[alexgarin]

I asked them whether or not they will activate cable box that I will buy from eBay, and they said Yes, we will. I know that sometimes you may get different answer from different CSR, but I aksed them very specifically and made sure that they understood my question properly.

Besides, if I buy from eBay, how they would know that? I can say that I bought from Futureshop or Best Buy, they have these models for sale. The won't ask me to show my receipt :-)

I'm sure Rogers will activate my boxes, and I understand that it may require another call to talk to another CSR in case first CSR will give me hard time. Same this I had couple times with Cogeco.

Call Rogers and see by yourself - they will activate the box from outside!

Thanks!

[57]

I'm sure Rogers will activate my boxes,

I strongly suggest that you call them back and confirm (get it in writing). As indicated in post 8, Rogers can tell where the STBs come from and have certain assigned numbers in their system. If the number is not in their system, the STB will not be activated.

No service provider in North America activates outside SA STBs and no one has been successful at getting an outside SA STB activated. There are many threads on this topic in this and other forums. If anyone had been successful, we would know about it here.

You are not the first person to try this, there have been many, all ending up with doorstops. There is a distinct difference between SA and Motorola STBs. The situation is even changing with regard to Motorola - Shaw out west used to activate outside (Motorola) STBs and they no longer will.

This is partly because many of the STBs for sale on eBay are stolen and the providers do not wish to be part of this illegal trade (but that was more to do with Motorola since most people know that the SA STBs will not work "outside".)

[alexgarin]

I called Rogers again and had a long chat with the technical guy. He clearly said that Rogers won't mind to activate any cable box purchased by the customer on the side. He mentioned that in case any problems during activation will arise only boxes purchased from Rogers or through authorized partners (Future Shop, Best Buy, Source CC etc.) will be supported which is fair. He also said that Rogers does not have a secret list of boxes to be activated, although if the box serial number is still registered on another Rogers customer they will require that this box to be deactivated by the owner first which is also fair to prevent theft and non-returned boxes.

BOTTOM LINE: Rogers will activate any box as long as this box is compatible with Rogers.
Thanks!

[nathan]

Actually, despite what the person you talked to said, the SARA headend software does indeed have a list of boxes it will authorize. Rogers purchases these in bulk from their supplier, and as per post 8, they *CAN* request a license, but they've never (or rarely) done so in the past, so I'm not sure why they would start doing so for you.

As 57 said, I would get it in writing (have the CSR fax you) since the person on the phone doesn't appear to have all the facts.

[57]

alexgarin: We look forward to your results, as you will be the first person in the world (well North America) to have done this.

We're not saying it's impossible, we're just saying it hasn't been done for anyone before. Good Luck, because if you're successful, Rogers will be deluged with people wanting to do the same.

[57]

I plan to move from Milton to Maple this summer,

alexgarin, have you moved. Have you been successful?

[alexgarin]

57, you were right. Rogers won't activate box if it was not sold from Rogers of one of its dealers. After I spoke to multiple technical people in Rogers and did some additional investigation in the internet I found that there is a big difference in the way how encryption keys are transferred to SA and Motorola boxes. When Cogeco or Rogers on the West activate Motorola box they send encryption keys over cable. Scientific Atlanta boxes do not have this capability and the key must be embedded on the factory. When Rogers order their boxes from SA (they buy in bulk) SA put Rogers-specific RSA encryption keys into box and put Rogers label on this box. At the same time box is added to Rogers database so CSR can find it when customer calls and ask to activate the box. Too bad. Now I have to sell all my SA PVRs. Good news that I bought them cheap and can even sell them with profit :-). Case is closed. Rogers cannot (even if they want to) activate non-Rogers box. Period. Thanks!

[57]

alexgarin Thank you for the feedback and additional information on "why" outside SA STBs won't get activated.