Shaw’s DCT700 – In Depth Review

[brgnewman]

Shaw’s DCT700 – In Depth Review
Photo gallery: http://www.flickr.com/photos/5940703...57594457050448

After purchasing a new Toshiba 27” TV for the Lower Level of our house I wanted to get a Shaw DCT for down here. I didn’t need any PVR, HD or combo box; just a regular box, but $298 for a DCT2500 seemed a little steep for me and we already had a DCT2500 that we bought during the summer for the Main Level TV. As soon as I heard about the $98 DCT700 I thought that is an awesome deal and I wanted to get it.

Today we drove up to the Shaw Barlow Building, went through the drive-thru, got the DCT700 and took it home. I opened it up and was blown away how small it was; like it was tiny compared to my DCT2500!

I connected it all up, turned on the TV and the DCT700 and then was greeted by a blank black screen. Checked all the cables, turned it on and off, unplugged the power, etc but no, nothing brought a picture up. I really just ignored the fact there was no picture or sound and phoned Shaw to have it activated. It was a normal activation; it turned off, the box’s lights flashed and then it sat there; he then told me to turn it on and he said “Do you see anything or is it a blank screen” and once again it was blank. He said to me “That’s normal; it just takes a while to download the menu, guides, etc. Within 10 minutes you can watch TV and within 30 you should start to get your guide”.

He was right; I played on the Wii to pass time and then switched video inputs to find I now had picture and sound (w00t!). Another interesting thing was I could change channels but when I hit guide, info, menu, etc nothing appeared on the screen but within 10 minutes of getting picture the guide appeared and started to download. The picture and sound was very clear on the DCT700 due to it was an “all-digital” DCT. I’ve got to admit that I am not using the COAX cable they provided me for hooking it up to my TV; I am using regular composite (RCA A/V) cables (, not included) due to it just provides a better quality.

One thing I found quite funny is the fact the S/W Version (73.24) and the Firmware (03.17) on the DCT700 is the same as our DCT2500. Even in the settings I can choose if I want the clock or current channel as my front display and if I want the AC Outlet on the back to be switched or unswitched……uhhh there is no Display or AC Outlet on this DCT but okay…? Another important fact about the DCT700 that many people don’t know it has is a “Picture-in-picture” guide like the DCT2500 and the new HD boxes and PVR boxes; I was pretty surprised to find this feature.

Personally I am blown away by this box; for only $98 it’s a great deal! The picture and sound quality is amazing, it has a speedy menu and guide, and channels load quickly (even the info on music channels). There are a few issues on the DCT700 that I believe will be able to be fixed quickly. The one main issue that has been discussed in the forum is the menus on Shaw Video On Demand are corrupted and display strangely; I do believe that this will be fixed soon though. Another minor issue I am having is in the full screen guide or menu sometimes there will be a random bar that appears for a split second and disappears; this can also easily be fixed and you never really notice it unless you stare at the screen waiting.

Pros:
- Low cost DCT
- Picture-in-picture Guide (Unlike the DCT2000)
- Good picture & audio quality (fully digital)
- Small size
- Includes the new Shaw PVR Remote

Cons:
- Minor Issues with Shaw VOD and the Menu
- Lack of outputs compared to the DCT2500 or higher up models
- No Composite Cables included, just a COAX cable

Final Verdict:
I believe this box is worth it! For $98 I recommend it to anyone with just a regular non-HD TV (I don’t know how it would look on an HDTV but I’m pretty sure the HD DCTs would be a better choice). Those minor issues I mentioned could easily be corrected in a Firmware update before the final release (To other areas other then Calgary, Edmonton & Vancouver).

If you have a TV in your house that you don’t have a DCT on, yet use it a lot, get the DCT700; it’s well worth it. And I will keep you updated overtime with my DCT700.

Make sure to check out my Flickr Photo Gallery for pictures of the DCT700 and if you have any questions feel free to post them here.

[hugh]

nice thread. Thanks for contributing to the forum. It's always nice when folks give back to others.

[theendsnear]

does going to the DCT700 increase your monthly bill. thanks

[MacTVJunkie]

Originally Posted by brgnewman

One thing I found quite funny is the fact the S/W Version (73.24) and the Firmware (03.17) on the DCT700 is the same as our DCT2500. Even in the settings I can choose if I want the clock or current channel as my front display and if I want the AC Outlet on the back to be switched or unswitched……uhhh there is no Display or AC Outlet on this DCT but okay…? Another important fact about the DCT700 that many people don’t know it has is a “Picture-in-picture” guide like the DCT2500 and the new HD boxes and PVR boxes; I was pretty surprised to find this feature.

Nice review, brgnewman. Thanks for posting it. With respect to your comments about features/options above:

The DCT700 is essentially a DCT2500 with no analogue tuner. Therefore, it uses the exact same firmware and software versions as it's bigger brother. Thus, you get the options that aren't really there like front panel display and AC power outlet.

[magnet]

"Another important fact about the DCT700 that many people don’t know it has is a “Picture-in-picture” guide like the DCT2500 and the new HD boxes and PVR boxes; I was pretty surprised to find this feature. "

I apologize, I didn't read that this was possible.

These boxes seem nicer than my old DCT2000. I like the fact they throw in the Atlas PVR 5 remote. It is a very programmable remote control when you buy/ make a JP1 cable for your PC.

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Using the same firmware as the 2500 should mean shaw has no reason not to convert all 2500 users to digital in Calgary/ Edm/ Van...

[brgnewman]

Originally Posted by theendsnear

does going to the DCT700 increase your monthly bill. thanks

If you are adding it to an existing Digital Cable Package (With one DCT already activated), it is an extra $1.99 a month fee. If you open a new Digital Cable Package with Shaw (with no existing DCTs) you just have to pay for the monthly Digital Cable Package (no extra $1.99 fee).

Originally Posted by cgyclaytonmagnet

These boxes seem nicer than my old DCT2000. I like the fact they throw in the Atlas PVR 5 remote. It is a very programmable remote control when you buy/ make a JP1 cable for your PC.

------------------
Using the same firmware as the 2500 should mean shaw has no reason not to convert all 2500 users to digital in Calgary/ Edm/ Van...

A lot of my friends with DCT2000s are looking now at the DCT700 due to their DCT2000s are showing age and the DCT700 is so cheap but has new features.

I've got to agree with you; those remotes are awesome. I love how programable they are.

See! That's what I don't get to! It would be easy enough to switch the existing DCTs over in those areas. I actually had our DCT2500 moved to an "All Digital" signal back a while ago and have been loving the picture and sound quality.

[thecableguy84]

its all about the money.... Shaw doesn't want to take a huge hit replacing all 2000, 2500 with the 700's if they don't need to.

[brgnewman]

One more thing I just found out about the DCT700 is the Service Menu is accessed the same way as the DCT2500. For those who don't know, to access the Service Menu you have to be hitting OK (Select) as you turn the box off; then you are in the service menu. With the lack of buttons on the front of the DCT700, I found it easier to have two of the Shaw PVR Remotes; one to turn the power off and one to be rapidly hitting OK on

The menus are identical compared to the DCT2500; I was quite surprised to actually see it said DCT700 in the top of the Service Menu due to I thought maybe knowing Shaw and how much this box acts like a DCT2500, that it would say DCT2500 in the top

[wolfman]

Originally Posted by brgnewman

If you are adding it to an existing Digital Cable Package (With one DCT already activated), it is an extra $1.99 a month fee...

Try calling them to complain about the $1.99 charge for additional boxes. Shaw might remove the charge from your bill. Works very well here in Winnipeg due to the competion (Manitoba Telephone) not charging extra for any configuration up to four TV sets.

[brgnewman]

hmmmm, i might have to think about doing that. I don't agree with the fact they charge $1.99 extra a month for each extra DCT; it's already expensive enough!

[joshb]

Thanks for the really nice review.

[jfeap]

Originally Posted by brgnewman

hmmmm, i might have to think about doing that. I don't agree with the fact they charge $1.99 extra a month for each extra DCT; it's already expensive enough!

The reason for the $1.99 charge is for the services provided independantly to the box such as digital music, shaw on demand, pay-per-views.

[Camera.Ken]

Hi:

I'm looking at getting a DCT 700 to give us digital channels and the snazzier program guide on our second TV set.

The set has one input - RF only. And we have a VCR (so ancient, so quaint; but it does the job). And so little cost.

According to the Motorola User Guide: to record on the VCR, the DCT 700 must be ON and tuned to the channel you are going to record. If so, this is another unwelcome step in setting up a VCR recording, which is error-prone as it is.

My question is -- what happens if the DCT 700 is OFF? Does Shaw's RF signal still come through to the analogue tuner in the VCR? If RF comes through as before, then nothing changes.

I realize that there are limited analogue channels, and there will be fewer as time goes on. But this is true even if I don't get a DCT 700.

VCR playback is apparently the same as we do it now -- tune TV to channel 3, play back tape.

Thanks in advance.

Ken

[brgnewman]

This is an "all digital" box; it does not use an analog signal at all and no analog channels get into this box, it only accepts an all digital signal.

So this means if it is off and your recording something; your out of luck. I just tested plugging my DCT700 in via the COAX Output (I have it usually connected using the composite outputs on it due to it's a better quality) and when it was connected to the COAX Input on my TV and the DCT700 was off I got no picture at all.

So I guess just make sure it's on if your going to record

[Camera.Ken]

Hi brg:

Thanks for the info. Interestingly, I got the same results when I took the RF output from my DCT2000 and connected it to an RF IN on my TV set.

DCT2000 OFF? No picture on TV.

I think the VCR is headed for the big recycle depot in the sky.

Ken