Rogers HD PVR unit - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

superlite · 2007-08-15, 08:28 AM

Hello all,
I am looking for a Rogers HD PVR and i have 2 questions.
The first is how is the reliability on these units? I've heard mixed reviews.
The second is when is the best time to get a killer deal on one? do they ever go on sale?
Thanks

coghlan · 2007-08-15, 08:58 AM

The firmware was buggy (attempt to play a recorded show and get grey screen, requiring another show to be played first before your show will etc.) but some of these problems have been fixed with automatic firmware updates.

The LEDs on my rental have a few dead segments, so I should probably swap for a new one or offer to buy this one.

Cap · 2007-08-15, 09:18 AM

no problems here, 2 years old, and lovin it..

57 · 2007-08-15, 10:00 AM

I've had mine (SA8300HD) for almost 3 years without issue. Some minor bugs still exist in the firmware, but few people would trade in their PVRs once they have them. See the SA8300HD-specific forum, under Rogers forum for additional information.

The units went on sale for $300 a while back, but they sold out quickly and haven't been that low since.

awebber · 2007-08-16, 12:42 PM

Does the non-HD PVR ever go on sale? It's $400 and it never seems to be a sale item (obviously the purpose of selling the HD version is to sell HD TVs [for the retailer] and HD programming [for Rogers]).

Thanks!
=aw

coghlan · 2007-08-18, 11:29 PM

My guess is they're going to phase them out. For another hundred bucks or so, why not buy the unit that will work with the new format?

SensualPoet · 2007-08-19, 10:05 AM

... plus get double the record space, HDMI and other goodies that may last you into your next TV.

jem · 2007-08-20, 03:47 PM

I love mine. I've had it for almost 3 years, with no hardware related issues (yet). I hate the IPG, like 99% of owners, but other than that, I wouldn't give mine up.

hugh · 2007-08-20, 03:59 PM

If youre looking for it onsale, keep an eye on the Digital Deals forum.

jlet · 2007-08-21, 01:51 PM

I love my SA8300HD PVR. I bought it 2 years ago and added the following complementary toys: External Drive (500G), UPS, and a cooling Fan.

macemuscle · 2007-08-23, 11:10 PM

Between my parents and I, we have 4 HD PVRs and a 400Gb HDD on one of them. Highly recommended!

Wayne · 2007-08-24, 12:15 AM

I am surprised that people love their SA8300HDs so much. There is NO choice if you want to record HD. It is still very buggy, used to be EXTREMELY buggy (that kicking you out to Live TV when a show ended was ridiculous as was the very slow FF/REW) and has a lousy UI, horrible search functionality, no way to save recorded shows to folders, no way to stream shows to other units or over the internet, no way to offload content to a PC or DVD, no way to remotely schedule recordings, no 30-second skip, etc.

Compared to every other PVR I have used (TiVo, MCE, BeyondTV) it is dead last - and it is not even close. The only redeeming features are that it is the only way to record HD in Canada (other than OTA HD), is easy to add hard drive capacity and it has two tuners.

57 · 2007-08-24, 01:02 AM

Wayne, although you're correct about the PVR's many failings, most people simply use it as a glorified VCR and are quite happy with it. The advanced functions that you mention are simply not missed by people who don't have access to a TiVo or HTPC, which is most people. (ie, if you don't know about those functions, you don't miss them)

Bplayer · 2007-08-24, 08:19 AM

My PVR is used quite a bit and I view it as a tool that does the job. I use the poor search maybe once every week or two, and agree that it could be better.

Like most electrical equipment there can be reliability problems. I suspect that the number of reports are overblown due to people returning equipment because of software problems with the previous version of the O/S and signal strength issues.

There are two bugs that hit me from time to time and they are inconveniences only. The first is a 1 minute recording at the start of a program, usually on CBS (also issue with FOX), and a freeze with on demand channels is the PVR has not been rebooted in a while.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely, as there are no alternatives in the cable market.

coghlan · 2007-08-24, 11:53 AM

It's the only way to watch TV these days, thanks to its commercial-skipping ability. You can condense most 1-hr shows into about half that amount of time, if they're news programs/documentaries etc.

I can sit down at 11 pm. for an hour and cram in the day's Lou Dobbs, CTV news and The Daily Show.

I'm sure advertisers hate these things, but they're the future of TV watching. Now, if they only could come down to the $300 price range.

2007-08-15, 08:28 AM	#1
superlite Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Barrie Posts: 52	Rogers HD PVR unit Hello all, I am looking for a Rogers HD PVR and i have 2 questions. The first is how is the reliability on these units? I've heard mixed reviews. The second is when is the best time to get a killer deal on one? do they ever go on sale? Thanks Last edited by hugh; 2007-08-20 at 03:58 PM.

2007-08-15, 09:18 AM	#3
Cap Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Oshawa Posts: 497	no problems here, 2 years old, and lovin it.. __________________ 50PX75U, (rogers') 8300HDPVR, 42PD50, Macbook Pro Imac 3.2ghz, Apple TV2, Iphone4, Time Capsule, VOIP Line,

2007-08-15, 10:00 AM	#4
57 Moderator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Toronto, Rogers, 8300HD, eHDD, Panasonic TCP65S1, Denon AVR4310Ci; 8300HD, eHDD & Sony KDL40W3000 Posts: 50,301	I've had mine (SA8300HD) for almost 3 years without issue. Some minor bugs still exist in the firmware, but few people would trade in their PVRs once they have them. See the SA8300HD-specific forum, under Rogers forum for additional information. The units went on sale for $300 a while back, but they sold out quickly and haven't been that low since. __________________ 57's Home Theatre (Latest equipment & photos) 57's Optimization Services (Home Theatre Optimization)

2007-08-20, 03:59 PM	#9
hugh Member #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 47,492	If youre looking for it onsale, keep an eye on the Digital Deals forum. __________________ As of January 2012, I am no longer the owner of the Digital Home website. If you have questions about the operation of the site, please contact VSAdmin. For personal inquiries contact me at the Hugh Thompson website.

2007-08-21, 01:51 PM	#10
jlet Veteran Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Carleton Place, Ontario, Rogers Cable Posts: 1,733	I love my SA8300HD PVR. I bought it 2 years ago and added the following complementary toys: External Drive (500G), UPS, and a cooling Fan. __________________ SA8300HD; Panasonic TH-50PZ850; Sony STR-DA5ES; Tannoy: Arden, S8C, S8LR; SVS 16-46PC+; Oppo 971; Harmony 659/680

2007-08-15, 08:58 AM	#2
coghlan Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 202	The firmware was buggy (attempt to play a recorded show and get grey screen, requiring another show to be played first before your show will etc.) but some of these problems have been fixed with automatic firmware updates. The LEDs on my rental have a few dead segments, so I should probably swap for a new one or offer to buy this one.

2007-08-16, 12:42 PM	#5
awebber Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ottawa Posts: 222	Does the non-HD PVR ever go on sale? It's $400 and it never seems to be a sale item (obviously the purpose of selling the HD version is to sell HD TVs [for the retailer] and HD programming [for Rogers]). Thanks! =aw

2007-08-18, 11:29 PM	#6
coghlan Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 202	My guess is they're going to phase them out. For another hundred bucks or so, why not buy the unit that will work with the new format?

2007-08-19, 10:05 AM	#7
SensualPoet Veteran Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Downtown Toronto • Toshiba 52XL177 • HD DVD Toshiba • Rogers HDPVR Cisco 8642 Posts: 2,886	... plus get double the record space, HDMI and other goodies that may last you into your next TV.

2007-08-20, 03:47 PM	#8
jem Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 540	I love mine. I've had it for almost 3 years, with no hardware related issues (yet). I hate the IPG, like 99% of owners, but other than that, I wouldn't give mine up.

2007-08-23, 11:10 PM	#11
macemuscle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 357	Between my parents and I, we have 4 HD PVRs and a 400Gb HDD on one of them. Highly recommended! __________________ LC60E77UN, 8300HD+HDD, TX-SR876, TSS1200, PS3, Xbox360, DVP642, H880 LC46D62U, 8300HD+HDD, HT-TQ85, Wii, HOne

2007-08-24, 12:15 AM	#12
Wayne Veteran Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Scarboro Posts: 5,568	I am surprised that people love their SA8300HDs so much. There is NO choice if you want to record HD. It is still very buggy, used to be EXTREMELY buggy (that kicking you out to Live TV when a show ended was ridiculous as was the very slow FF/REW) and has a lousy UI, horrible search functionality, no way to save recorded shows to folders, no way to stream shows to other units or over the internet, no way to offload content to a PC or DVD, no way to remotely schedule recordings, no 30-second skip, etc. Compared to every other PVR I have used (TiVo, MCE, BeyondTV) it is dead last - and it is not even close. The only redeeming features are that it is the only way to record HD in Canada (other than OTA HD), is easy to add hard drive capacity and it has two tuners.

2007-08-24, 01:02 AM	#13
57 Moderator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Toronto, Rogers, 8300HD, eHDD, Panasonic TCP65S1, Denon AVR4310Ci; 8300HD, eHDD & Sony KDL40W3000 Posts: 50,301	Wayne, although you're correct about the PVR's many failings, most people simply use it as a glorified VCR and are quite happy with it. The advanced functions that you mention are simply not missed by people who don't have access to a TiVo or HTPC, which is most people. (ie, if you don't know about those functions, you don't miss them) __________________ 57's Home Theatre (Latest equipment & photos) 57's Optimization Services (Home Theatre Optimization)

2007-08-24, 08:19 AM	#14
Bplayer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Thornhill Posts: 640	My PVR is used quite a bit and I view it as a tool that does the job. I use the poor search maybe once every week or two, and agree that it could be better. Like most electrical equipment there can be reliability problems. I suspect that the number of reports are overblown due to people returning equipment because of software problems with the previous version of the O/S and signal strength issues. There are two bugs that hit me from time to time and they are inconveniences only. The first is a 1 minute recording at the start of a program, usually on CBS (also issue with FOX), and a freeze with on demand channels is the PVR has not been rebooted in a while. Would I recommend it? Absolutely, as there are no alternatives in the cable market.

2007-08-24, 11:53 AM	#15
coghlan Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 202	It's the only way to watch TV these days, thanks to its commercial-skipping ability. You can condense most 1-hr shows into about half that amount of time, if they're news programs/documentaries etc. I can sit down at 11 pm. for an hour and cram in the day's Lou Dobbs, CTV news and The Daily Show. I'm sure advertisers hate these things, but they're the future of TV watching. Now, if they only could come down to the $300 price range.

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