[RuralRouter]

How does Shaw erase recordings when the PVR is disconnected from the satellite? Just curious.

Interesting subject. I guess that if a Shaw Direct DVR is no longer on an active account, Shaw might send a code to disable the electronics in the receiver that is used to read the hard drive recorded shows. I guess reactivating the receiver from the same customer then allow the DVR to access the recorded shows. If the DVR was sold by the user to second person, I guess the new client would get an erase show command download or would the new owner be able to see the recorded shows? Just wondering...

 

[ExDilbert]

I doubt it erases recordings, it just won't decrypt them for playback. That's true of a lot of services and devices that rely on licensing to decrypt content or enable features.

would the new owner be able to see the recorded shows? Just wondering...

That depends on the implementation. Some PVRs tie the decryption of recordings to the hardware and others to the account. The correct way is to tie them to the account so that failed hardware does not mean all recordings are lost and copyrights are protected when hardware is sold. From what I've seen, Canadian BDUs tend to get it wrong.

 

[fatkev78]

You don't seem to be getting an answer. Since they say USB2 or USB3 I imagine since esata is faster than usb2..a cable should work.

Yes, I went ahead and got the cable and it worked. Thank you

 

[LONSat]

@ExDilbert @RuralRouter I have bought used PVR's before for Shaw Direct. Any content on the drive (internal) was watchable when I activated on my account. It seems that Shaw Direct has the ability in authorizations to block the playback of content on the external drive if the account is not active or not in good standing.

 

[k801809]

ExDilbert is mostly correct here - they don't get deleted, but the HDPVR will no longer be able to look for an external drive, and therefore play any recordings from it.

The enablement of the external hard drive comes with a special code that we've included in all accounts by default - if the account is no longer active, the code is no longer active and therefore the external drive won't work (it's works like a programming subscription really).

 

[skifan]

I have just been upgraded by SD to an 830 from my old 630. I was hoping that I could easily transfer my recording reminders (not actual videos) from the 630 to the 830. I thought that using the User backup and restore function would enable this but it does not seem to be working for me at least. Does anyone have any background on this or am I doomed to re-enter all of my recording settings?

Many Thanks

 

[gzink]

Reenter I believe. I took pics of the screens to do similar.

 

[bpsmicro]

Does anyone have any background on this or am I doomed to re-enter all of my recording settings?

Yep, been there, done that. Let the clicking begin...

What's worse is that in order to enter a recording, the show/movie/whatever actually needs to be in the guide. So if you're like me and have about 40 series programmed in, only the currently-active ones can be re-added. So you'll need to make a list and go back every month or so for a year or two until they eventually show up again.

 

[RickBH]

My new 830 is about as unimpressive as it could be. If I had a choice I would never pick it as a utility for me. Even as a free 'upgrade' from a 630 it disappoints. It may work at recording but appears as a cheap replacement and would certainly not encourage me to change to Shaw Direct.
I guess they see that there is little future in satellite TV so why invest in something better. I will be working towards alternatives more now that I have been upgraded.

 

[k801809]

Hi @RickBH - is the HDPVR 830 giving you issues? It should be at least a bit of an improvement from the HDPVR 630, just in the processing time alone (and the 1 TB hard drive is an upgrade). The overall user interface is 85% the same (the 830 has a few extra features than the 630) so curious to know what's going on with your experience. Happy to help if something particular is off for you!

 

[RuralRouter]

My new 830 is about as unimpressive as it could be.

I like the 830DVR. It is a big improvement over the 630.

The 830 is much faster to handle guide, recording events, and general processing. I was always bumping up against the HD storage limit with the 630. The 830 fixed those problems. My only beef with the 830 is that it lost the digital display of time and function on the front face of the receiver, but I can live with that.

 

[RickBH]

Yes, the 830 does record and is a little quicker to respond than the 630. However, the nice items like clock, lack of signal indicator and recording lights have been removed. The overall appearance is a cheap box. As to the larger storage, I did not have a problem with the 500G SSD that I put in the 630. The only positive that I see is that I now can repurpose the SSD.
So, for me it is not an upgrade. I appreciate that it did not cost me anything, probably because I have been with Shaw Direct since 1992 (Starchoice when they promised satellite Internet access) and have had 3 PVR630 and 2 600 units at one time. I expect that this is typical of progress these days and I am just too old to see the 'positives'.

 

[goalsgo]

Yes, the 830 does record and is a little quicker to respond than the 630. However, the nice items like clock, lack of signal indicator and recording lights have been removed. The overall appearance is a cheap box. As to the larger storage, I did not have a problem with the 500G SSD that I put in the 630. The only positive that I see is that I now can repurpose the SSD.
So, for me it is not an upgrade. I appreciate that it did not cost me anything, probably because I have been with Shaw Direct since 1992 (Starchoice when they promised satellite Internet access) and have had 3 PVR630 and 2 600 units at one time. I expect that this is typical of progress these days and I am just too old to see the 'positives'.

Yes it's hard to see how removing the clock, signal and recording lights on the from panel is considered an "improvement". Agree the 830 is quicker and larger capacity. But why remove those other features? To save a couple of bucks?

 

[Bayguy]

LOL about the clock! We had to get rid of our Shaw rcvr and we keep looking below the TV for the time but it isn't there! @k801809 please tell your ppl to think about that when they make new rcvrs!

 

[tvmaster]

Yes it's hard to see how removing the clock, signal and recording lights on the from panel is considered an "improvement". Agree the 830 is quicker and larger capacity. But why remove those other features? To save a couple of bucks?

Not to mention losing component outputs and the analog hole…

 

[RuralRouter]

If the 830DVR model stays reliable with increasing age, I expect that it will be in service until most of the installed units start to fail with old age and not as a problem with the replaceable hard drive. At that point Shaw Direct will have to consider many factors.

 

[fatkev78]

Unbelievable that they removed the clock, signal status, recording status AND you still need 2 lines in. I already have an external HD, so the internal upgrade isn’t that big a deal. I’d trade it for any of the above.

 

[k801809]

Appreciate all of the feedback given, thanks everyone! You can implement a signal status for the front panel, it's just a bit more obvious than the old red light on the front - go into Settings > Preferences > scroll down to Hardware Settings > Change "Signal Status LED" to "Enabled". This will cause the front panel light to blink when there is no signal.

Hope that helps a bit!

 

[goalsgo]

Appreciate all of the feedback given, thanks everyone! You can implement a signal status for the front panel, it's just a bit more obvious than the old red light on the front - go into Settings > Preferences > scroll down to Hardware Settings > Change "Signal Status LED" to "Enabled". This will cause the front panel light to blink when there is no signal.

Hope that helps a bit!

@k801809 Thank you for the tip. Now can SD send us a tape over clock we could stick on the front panel? Sometimes the"old" is better than the "new". I know because of all my "new and improved" Apple devices.

 

[ExDilbert]

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