Shaw Cable analogue to digital migration

195870 Views 490 Replies 123 Participants Last post by Dr.Dave, Feb 1, 2016

Shootmaster_44

Discussion Starter · Mar 16, 2011

I received a notice from my apartment building, who bundles basic cable into my rent, and was told that Shaw needs to install digital boxes to remain receiving basic cable. Makes no difference to me since I already have a HD PVR, an HD box (awaiting a new TV to hook it up to as it is a rental) and a SD box. But here in Lloydminster are they phasing out analog cable altogether or did my apartment building make this decision?

If so, does this mean that Lloydminster will finally receive all the channels Shaw offers elsewhere such as Canadian Timeshifting and Superchannel? I would assume this would be a solution to the finite capacity issue as I understand that digital has a higher capacity (possibly infinite like IPTV) and could carry all of these channels without a capacity issue.

41 - 60 of 491 Posts

Digital79

· #41 · May 31, 2011

Only the basic cable channels will work, the extra channels in Tiers 1,2,3 will no longer work without a box, but I think shaw is giving free boxes to those customers.

CRTC is talking about the over the air switch for those with tv antennas,
the tier 1,2,3 switch is for Shaw cable only.

ShawViewer

· #42 · May 31, 2011 (Edited)

The quote from the CRTC refers to Over-The-Air local stations such as CBC, CTV, and Global etc

They are implying if you don't have access to Cable TV or Satellite services, etc or if you

use "rabbit ears" to receive your local stations. Back to the topic. Currently, you can subscribe

to tiers 1/2/3 without a Set Top Box by simply connecting the coax directly to your TV. Sometime

after August, Shaw will require 'a customer' to purchase/rent an Set Top Box to continue to receive the

channels in Tier 1/2/3 if the 'customer' does not already have one.

See less See more

shawguy

· #43 · Jun 1, 2011

When the TIERS are moved to digital is that when I am going to lose my Cable FM as well or does shaw plan on leaving that for now?

bigoranget

· #44 · Jun 1, 2011

I wouldn't count on FM cable being available for much longer. Most cable companies in Ontario have done away with FM cable and are using the frequencies for low viewership channels such as TVA, CPAC and Ontario Legislature (Channels 95-97).

j0dest3r

· #45 · Jun 1, 2011

ShawViewer said:
After August, Shaw will require 'a customer' to purchase/rent an Set Top Box to continue to receive the channels in Tier 1/2/3 if the 'customer' does not already have one.

So what is going to be left on good ol' analogue cable after this? Everything on Basic 2-22? with a couple others speckled in?

How will this affect hotel rooms that use Shaw?

shawguy

· #46 · Jun 1, 2011

Very True. I forgot about all the hotels that have regular cable and there own in house services...interesting. I too wonder how this will play out.

tux

· #47 · Jun 1, 2011

Also, what about the hospitals that charge you $12/day to receive "Premium TV service" (rebranded Shaw Basic123) through their Hospitality Network? They seem to provide analog cable (Basic T123), would they just be reduced to analog Basic, or will they actually switch to digital?

57

· #48 · Jun 1, 2011

I'm pretty sure that businesses (hotels, hospitals, etc) can put appropriate equipment at the demarcation point and some sort of analogue distributor to simulate what they had before, if that's what they want to do.

Something similar is done for apartments, hotels, etc that have satellite which has always been digital.

downbeat

· #49 · Aug 2, 2011

So … August 2011 was to be the month when Phase 2 of the expansion of Shaw's Internet offerings comes into effect. This goes hand-in-hand with tier reclamation. Is there an exact date when people will notice certain analog cable TV stations disappearing?

jericho

· #50 · Aug 2, 2011

I wonder if it is even still happening this month. They haven't made any announcements nor do I think they are handing out free boxes to those that would be affected which I believe they are supposed to be doing, correct me if i'm wrong.

mike10

· #51 · Aug 2, 2011

I got a letter about this about three weeks ago
and they mailed me a digital box

jericho

· #52 · Aug 2, 2011

I guess I didn't get any letters because it doesn't affect me, ha. Anyway, good to hear Shaw is moving ahead with this and hopefully we'll have a bunch of new channels in the next couple of months. Shaw picked a bad time for this because their tier reclamation along with the end of OTA analog signals at the same time seems to be confusing the hell out of out some people, lol.

Dr.Dave

· #53 · Aug 2, 2011

Mike's experience corresponds with this earlier post:

ShawNick said:
The current plan for analog to digital conversion is to take Tier 1, 2, and 3 and move them to digital neighbourhood by neighbourhood starting in August of this year. We will be connecting with all of our analog tier customers in these areas to ensure they're taken care of.

After your neighbourhood is done, Phase 2 of our broadband plans will be available! Basic analog service will also remain available for the immediate future.

shawguy

· #54 · Aug 2, 2011

Got my letter today. States Sept 12 Analog TIERS will be shut off in Winnipeg.

For more info - http://shaw.ca/networkupgrade/

Schedule of Cities to be upgraded - http://shaw.ca/uploadedFiles/Television/Digital_Network_Upgrade/Digital-Network-Upgrade-Schedule.pdf

ShawViewer

· #55 · Aug 2, 2011

About Time. How come "Vancouver" is broken up into three areas in that document?

Vancouver - Rhodes
Vancouver - Cambie
Vancouver - Shaw Tower

Are they referring to "Cambie Street", and I guess "Shaw Tower" would

indiciate "Downtown Vancouver/City Centre", etc.

magnet

· #56 · Aug 3, 2011

In the letter- Shaw claims to be removing analog channels in order to increase bandwidth available for internet as well as more HD

The network upgrade is part of our continued efforts to provide you with a world class entertainment experience- now and into future.

We continually review our channel offerings with careful consideration to the viewing interests of all our customers. This Digital Network Upgrade will allow us to add more HD channels and content meaning more choice and a better viewing experience for your business.

It will also allow us deliver unparalleled Internet speeds with packages including up to 100Mbps download speed and an upload speed of 5Mbps.

Calgary Analog channels will be reduced to the following 34 stations:

Basic 2 TV Listings
Basic 3 CTV Calgary (CFCN)
Basic 4 OMNI - Calgary CJCO
Basic 5 ABC Spokane (KXLY)
Basic 6 CBC Calgary (CBRT)
Basic 7 Global Calgary (CICT)
Basic 8 CITY TV Calgary - CKAL
Basic 9 CBC French Edmonton (CBXFT)
Basic 10 Shaw TV
Basic 11 CMT - Country Music Television
Basic 12 CBS Spokane (KREM)
Basic 13 Access Alberta
Basic 14 PBS Spokane (KSPS)
Basic 15 CBC News Network / Voiceprint
Basic 16 NBC Spokane (KHQ)
Basic 17 Treehouse
Basic 18 Home & Garden Television
Basic 19 The Weather Network
Basic 20 YTV
Basic 21 TSN - The Sports Network
Basic 22 FOX Spokane (KAYU)
Basic 30 SCORE
Basic 50 CTV News Channel
Basic 51 CTS - Crossroads
Basic 70 BNN:Business News Network
Basic 118 APTN - West
Basic 119 MuchMusic
Basic 120 MTV
Basic 121 MuchMoreMusic
Basic 122 Vision TV
Basic 123 CPAC - House of Commons
Basic 124 RDI
Basic 125 TVA West Montreal
Basic 126 TV5

See less See more

Dr.Dave

· #57 · Aug 3, 2011

The channels affected for most cities will be similar, although the channel numbers and locals may be different. Anyone can check the channels included in Basic Cable (which will continue to be analog) by using this link:

http://shaw.ca/Television/Channel-Listings/

Be sure your city is correct in the top right corner.

The channels included in "Classic Cable" will be converted to digital-only.

I noticed that the upgrade schedule only goes to Sept. 12 and doesn't include some of the smaller cities. I wonder if these will be done or they just haven't been scheduled yet.

Also someone thinks that Moose Jaw is in Manitoba.

See less See more

tux

· #58 · Aug 3, 2011

Most of Saskatchewan's also not listed in that document (including Saskatoon). I understand that Saskatoon has already converted their tiers to digital. However, Saskatoon only offers internet up to 100 Mbps, and is not yet offering Phase 2 speeds of 250 Mbps. Is there any information on when Phase 2 internet will launch?

Digmor Crusher

· #59 · Aug 3, 2011

Checked the network upgrade link, didn't know that Moose Jaw was in Manitoba and Swift Currrent in BC, sad really. Also didn't see The Pas on there, attaboy Shaw, keep up the good work.

jericho

· #60 · Aug 3, 2011

Yeah they also think St. Vital is a city in Winnipeg as they have it listed Winnipeg/St. Vital or something like that, idiots. As for the Pas, perhaps it has already been converted. I know many smaller communities in Manitoba have already been converted before.

41 - 60 of 491 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.