SaskTel Max HD vs Shaw HD - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

jeff1960 · 2006-10-19, 05:23 PM

I'm currently a Shaw HD (6200, non-PVR) user. Now that SaskTel has HDTV capability I'm wondering if anyone has done a detailed comparison of features/channels and pricing between the two? I've had Shaw for many years, including internet, so it would have to have some kind of advantage for me to switch.

I know I can't be the only one in this boat.

Anyone??

catrain13 · 2006-10-19, 06:03 PM

The advantage would be in being able to bundle your phone/internet/TV services. That will be the money saver.

As far as HDTV quality goes, it will be hard to say until the service is available. They are starting to book installs on 1 Nov.

bigoranget · 2006-10-19, 06:15 PM

Keep in mind that Sasktel sources their HD feeds from Bell Expressvu, this means that the simsubs that Bell Expressvu performs will passthrough Sasktel's system.

robblesworth · 2006-10-29, 03:55 PM

In a picture quality comparison done between expressvu, shaw, accesscomm and star choice, Sasktel's HD service was rated number one... Sasktel is really doing it up the right way for once! Its also a heck of a lot cheaper than any of the companies out there

987654321 · 2006-10-29, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robblesworth

In a picture quality comparison done between expressvu, shaw, accesscomm and star choice, Sasktel's HD service was rated number one...

Which is really impressive since they are receiving the Expressvu signal from satellite and redistributing it.
What's the next post? "Sasktel HD has fewer HD simsubs than Expressvu"??

walker18 · 2006-10-29, 04:44 PM

Who did this comparison?

catrain13 · 2006-10-29, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robblesworth

In a picture quality comparison done between expressvu, shaw, accesscomm and star choice, Sasktel's HD service was rated number one... Sasktel is really doing it up the right way for once! Its also a heck of a lot cheaper than any of the companies out there

Since you obviously work for SaskTel, how about answering a question for me.

I was sent a letter from SaskTel telling me that the PVR player would be out in Oct. So, what happend to that? It was suppost to out before the HD settops.

westmanguy · 2006-10-29, 06:40 PM

Sasktel is just copying all of Bell's feed so:

Shaw HD channels available currently:

Free Channels:

CBS Seattle HD
NBC Seattle HD
ABC Seattle HD
FOX Seattle HD
PBS Seattle HD
CBC HDu

$9 / month

CTV Toronto HD (no other subscriptions)
Discovery HD (requires Tier II)
A&E HD (requires Tier I)
TSN HD (no other subscriptions as is in Basic cable)
Sportsnet HD (no other subscribtion as is in Basic cable)

TSN HD & Sportsnet HD are available seperately at $2.99 / month

Movie Central 1 HD (free with a Premium movies pack)

Sasktel HD channels that will be available:

Free Channels:

CBS Boston HD
NBC Boston HD
ABC Boston HD
FOX Boston HD
PBS Boston HD
CBS Seattle HD
NBC Seattle HD
ABC Seattle HD
FOX Seattle HD
PBS Seattle HD
CTV Toronto HD
CTV Vancouver HD
CBC HD
Citytv HD
Global HD

Free with specific theme pack (which is not that great)uu

WGN - CW HD (need Movie Mania)
TSN HD (need Sports Package)
Sportsnet HD (need Sports Plus Package)
Raptors TV HD (need Sports Plus Package)
A&E HD (need Entertainment Package)
Movie Central 1 HD (need Movie Mania)
Movie Central 2 HD (need Movie Mania) Coming Soon

$9.95 / month (pricey!)

Treasure HD
Oasis HD
Rush HD
Equator HD
Discovery HD

Sasktel has more programming but has different arragements for HD packaging then BEV as you can see (also missing SRC HD and it says "coming soon" for Movie Central 2 HD)

Both providers have there flaws with forcing to to sub. to the theme pack or cable tier counter-part to get the HD version.

Sasktel wins in programming, price depends on what you want, and the other factor is:

No HD PVR with Sasktel yet. Shaw has one available - Dual tuner HD PVR
We do not know how Sasktel vs. Shaw PQ in HD would be like yet.

Anyways Shaw if putting Saskatchewan on the back burner IMO, and they need to step it up, before Sasktel crushes them. Why doesn't Shaw have Digital Phone in SK yet!!??

Also here is the info on Access HD service:

5.95 / month

CBS Detroit HD
NBC Detroit HD
ABC Detroit HD
FOX Detroit HD
PBS Detroit HD
CBC HD
CTV Toronto HD
Global HD
Sportsnet HD (no extra subscription required as is in Basic cable)
TSN HD (requires Tier I)
Discovery HD (requires Tier II)
Movie Central 1 HD (requires Premium Movies Pack)

Anyways my work is done compare for yourself!

Hazzard · 2006-10-29, 08:19 PM

I haven't seen it mentioned in this thread, and this is very important, that Sasktel can only provide HD to one set top box in your house.

Therefore, you can now have Max on up to 4 TVs, but only one of them can be HD.

That, along with the absence of an HD PVR for the foreseeable future are potential deal breakers in my opinion. But thats just my opinion.

So, getting back to Jeff's original question I would offer this:

If a PVR hasn't been important to you yet, and you have no need or desire for HD on more than one TV in your house, then Sasktel might be the option for you.

Finally, if high speed internet is important to you, you might want to check out Shaw vs. SaskTel comparisons in that department. But thats for another thread.

westmanguy · 2006-10-29, 08:30 PM

If you wanted HD on more than 1 tv couldn't they string you down another line.....?

painter · 2006-10-29, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robblesworth

In a picture quality comparison done between expressvu, shaw, accesscomm and star choice, Sasktel's HD service was rated number one... Sasktel is really doing it up the right way for once! Its also a heck of a lot cheaper than any of the companies out there

Since Sasktel's HD service hasn't launched to the general public yet,I'd like to know where and when this survey was done.It's not that I don't believe you but who has rated it number one,since only Sasktel employee's have access to it before Nov.1st.

Hazzard · 2006-10-29, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by westmanguy

If you wanted HD on more than 1 tv couldn't they string you down another line.....?

Someone far more technically minded than me would be better to answer that, but my understanding is that since HD is being rolled out to communities that have undergone FTTN (fiber to the node) upgrades, bandwidth, although greater than before, may still be constricted.

johnny_marin · 2006-10-30, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by westmanguy

If you wanted HD on more than 1 tv couldn't they string you down another line.....?

Theoretically, yes you can do this and is being looked at along with other solutions like shorter copper loops by splitting of service areas. Shorter loops allows for higher bandwidth (up to 50 Meg) with VDSL2 and one simpler (re: cheaper) gateway in the home versus a two pair bonded solution. Also, the next step in the access evolution will be fiber to the home and shorter loops will allow this happen faster.

John

jeff1960 · 2006-11-02, 04:04 PM

I spoke with a SaskTel rep today and basically it looks like SaskTel Max HD and Shaw's Digital Cable HD with high-speed internet are similar in price. I'm probably going to stay with Shaw since I already have a DCT6200 and it's a few dollars cheaper per month.

If I didn't already have the DCT I'd probably be going with Max HD since you get the $89.95 package for $59.95 for the first 4 months, with more HD channels than Shaw offers. Also, bundling with their cell-phone service, alarm systems, etc. could bring the Max cost down even more, but I don't have those services from SaskTel.

So, case closed . .. .. . for now.

westmanguy · 2006-11-02, 09:11 PM

Off topic: SaskTel is the last province crown-crop Telco, MTS was one before going Private. Will the gov. keep ahold of this for a long while yet or is it possible to see it eventually go private?

Just wondering, westmanguy.

2006-10-19, 05:23 PM	#1
jeff1960 Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Saskatoon, SK Posts: 489	SaskTel Max HD vs Shaw HD I'm currently a Shaw HD (6200, non-PVR) user. Now that SaskTel has HDTV capability I'm wondering if anyone has done a detailed comparison of features/channels and pricing between the two? I've had Shaw for many years, including internet, so it would have to have some kind of advantage for me to switch. I know I can't be the only one in this boat. Anyone?? __________________ Jeff HiDef DLP . . . and lovin' it!!

2006-10-29, 06:40 PM	#8
westmanguy Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Brandon, Manitoba Posts: 1,128	Sasktel is just copying all of Bell's feed so: Shaw HD channels available currently: Free Channels: CBS Seattle HD NBC Seattle HD ABC Seattle HD FOX Seattle HD PBS Seattle HD CBC HDu $9 / month CTV Toronto HD (no other subscriptions) Discovery HD (requires Tier II) A&E HD (requires Tier I) TSN HD (no other subscriptions as is in Basic cable) Sportsnet HD (no other subscribtion as is in Basic cable) TSN HD & Sportsnet HD are available seperately at $2.99 / month Movie Central 1 HD (free with a Premium movies pack) Sasktel HD channels that will be available: Free Channels: CBS Boston HD NBC Boston HD ABC Boston HD FOX Boston HD PBS Boston HD CBS Seattle HD NBC Seattle HD ABC Seattle HD FOX Seattle HD PBS Seattle HD CTV Toronto HD CTV Vancouver HD CBC HD Citytv HD Global HD Free with specific theme pack (which is not that great)uu WGN - CW HD (need Movie Mania) TSN HD (need Sports Package) Sportsnet HD (need Sports Plus Package) Raptors TV HD (need Sports Plus Package) A&E HD (need Entertainment Package) Movie Central 1 HD (need Movie Mania) Movie Central 2 HD (need Movie Mania) Coming Soon $9.95 / month (pricey!) Treasure HD Oasis HD Rush HD Equator HD Discovery HD Sasktel has more programming but has different arragements for HD packaging then BEV as you can see (also missing SRC HD and it says "coming soon" for Movie Central 2 HD) Both providers have there flaws with forcing to to sub. to the theme pack or cable tier counter-part to get the HD version. Sasktel wins in programming, price depends on what you want, and the other factor is: No HD PVR with Sasktel yet. Shaw has one available - Dual tuner HD PVR We do not know how Sasktel vs. Shaw PQ in HD would be like yet. Anyways Shaw if putting Saskatchewan on the back burner IMO, and they need to step it up, before Sasktel crushes them. Why doesn't Shaw have Digital Phone in SK yet!!?? Also here is the info on Access HD service: 5.95 / month CBS Detroit HD NBC Detroit HD ABC Detroit HD FOX Detroit HD PBS Detroit HD CBC HD CTV Toronto HD Global HD Sportsnet HD (no extra subscription required as is in Basic cable) TSN HD (requires Tier I) Discovery HD (requires Tier II) Movie Central 1 HD (requires Premium Movies Pack) Anyways my work is done compare for yourself! Last edited by westmanguy; 2006-10-29 at 06:48 PM.

2006-11-02, 04:04 PM	#14
jeff1960 Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Saskatoon, SK Posts: 489	I spoke with a SaskTel rep today and basically it looks like SaskTel Max HD and Shaw's Digital Cable HD with high-speed internet are similar in price. I'm probably going to stay with Shaw since I already have a DCT6200 and it's a few dollars cheaper per month. If I didn't already have the DCT I'd probably be going with Max HD since you get the $89.95 package for $59.95 for the first 4 months, with more HD channels than Shaw offers. Also, bundling with their cell-phone service, alarm systems, etc. could bring the Max cost down even more, but I don't have those services from SaskTel. So, case closed . .. .. . for now. __________________ Jeff HiDef DLP . . . and lovin' it!!

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

2006-10-19, 06:03 PM	#2
catrain13 Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Moose Jaw Posts: 441	The advantage would be in being able to bundle your phone/internet/TV services. That will be the money saver. As far as HDTV quality goes, it will be hard to say until the service is available. They are starting to book installs on 1 Nov.

2006-10-19, 06:15 PM	#3
bigoranget Veteran Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Hamilton Posts: 3,024	Keep in mind that Sasktel sources their HD feeds from Bell Expressvu, this means that the simsubs that Bell Expressvu performs will passthrough Sasktel's system.

2006-10-29, 03:55 PM	#4
robblesworth Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2	In a picture quality comparison done between expressvu, shaw, accesscomm and star choice, Sasktel's HD service was rated number one... Sasktel is really doing it up the right way for once! Its also a heck of a lot cheaper than any of the companies out there

2006-10-29, 04:44 PM	#6
walker18 Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 100	Who did this comparison?

2006-10-29, 08:19 PM	#9
Hazzard Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Saskatoon, SK Posts: 155	I haven't seen it mentioned in this thread, and this is very important, that Sasktel can only provide HD to one set top box in your house. Therefore, you can now have Max on up to 4 TVs, but only one of them can be HD. That, along with the absence of an HD PVR for the foreseeable future are potential deal breakers in my opinion. But thats just my opinion. So, getting back to Jeff's original question I would offer this: If a PVR hasn't been important to you yet, and you have no need or desire for HD on more than one TV in your house, then Sasktel might be the option for you. Finally, if high speed internet is important to you, you might want to check out Shaw vs. SaskTel comparisons in that department. But thats for another thread.

2006-10-29, 08:30 PM	#10
westmanguy Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Brandon, Manitoba Posts: 1,128	If you wanted HD on more than 1 tv couldn't they string you down another line.....?

2006-11-02, 09:11 PM	#15
westmanguy Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Brandon, Manitoba Posts: 1,128	Off topic: SaskTel is the last province crown-crop Telco, MTS was one before going Private. Will the gov. keep ahold of this for a long while yet or is it possible to see it eventually go private? Just wondering, westmanguy.