I would love for someone to post a picture of the new enhanced IPG on these boxes

 

I'd like to see what the new guide looks like too. My thought is that those that do have access to the IPG have been told not to disclose any information / pictures until it's actually released.

 

Considering Rogers track record regarding new or attempts to (slowly) improve technologies I would not hold my breath (Quick Start Guide, Remote TV Manager, RODO etc)...

 

they have spent all the money training the techs on the new system they will be launched soon!!!!!! mid feb ! i dont have anypics of the new ipg! @ this time if i can get my hands on a pic soon i will post!

 

You're right - under strict NDAs. Theres been a couple of rounds of beta testing (i.e. versions of the software) since early December.

 

If Beta testing started in December - it sounds like it is still far out..

 

why do you say that? there was a lot of improvements made in the second pass of download. is it ready for primetime? no - it's not. but I'd say it's close.

 

I would think that something like that to be rolled out to millions of customers would need extensive testing (more than a couple of months beta testing). If it is ready - that's great. Perhaps Rogers will (for once) surprise me.

 

Anything that will need a tech to touch anything on my network will not happen. I have too many things running on my network to have someone with a couple hours of training mess it up and then i have to fix it.

 

I would think that something like that to be rolled out to millions of customers would need extensive testing

You would think so but Rogers testing is essentially, give the box to some friends and families and let them play with it for a while. Nice to have "real world" testing but typically it's not rigorous.

Since it requires techs, it will probably only be installed in a few homes (i.e./ senior execs) and really won't be thoroughly tested until it gets into consumers hands.

 

To be honest Rogers testing is not so grand. Lets look back a little bit, Anyone still recall the HSUD (Hard Drive Spinning Up and Down) Issue with 8300's and now 8642's? Well it took them well over a year but they pushed new firmware for the 8300's that leaves the drive on all the time, was that seriously difficult to implement? I highly doubt it was that much effort to rework the firmware to leave the drive on all the time. As for the 8642 well that's another story as they haven't even acknowledged that it also has the problem as the 8300 (I own both and the issue still exists in the 8642)

Chances of Rogers getting this to work the first time is going to take 10 years, Look at the IPG same for almost 10 years? At least now the new series 8300,8642 at least got an update to the guide, it is better then nothing, but to be honest I will not be holding my breath for this new whole home PVR it will most likely be more problematic then anything else.

 

You are likely correct. The first adopters will likely experience bugginess with the firmware. Weird stuff will pop-up with the system, something that can't be tested for in the lab. Real world experiences will determine the real issues.

 

There are actual customers who are testing the system out. How many there are i'm not quite sure but they are under strict NDA, hence the fact that no images have surfaced on this forum yet.

 

So we know the people who are experimenting this so called "Rogers TV BETA" service are tight lipped, what about the people who have not signed a NDA? whats your opinion?

 

The people who are not under the same NDA as the beta testers do not have access to the new service so their opinions are based solely on what they see in the training videos.

I have seen pictures of the UI as my roommate is a rogers employee and I saw the training video she was watching. The UI looks pretty slick. There is a lot of Rogers branding so prepare for a lot of red colours on your screen. The IPG is now translucent so you can browse the guide and see the current channel playing behind it. ROD has also been overhauled and sort of has a cover flow feel to it. All the titles are displayed with their movie posters and apparently videos will start instantaneously . The search functionality is exactly the same as what you get on the TV manager app on your iphone or android device except the results are supposed to be much faster. There is also a weather network app built into the new STB software and other apps are apparently in development, although they didn't specify what in the video. I would assume facebook and twitter are in the works.

 

I know the 8642 and 4642 are IPTV capable, so I'm assuming they might be using some of that functionality to integrate Facebook, Twitter and other popular social media sites. Does anyone know if those boxes have built in Docsis 3 modems?? I'm assuming they do. I'm also curious if the Guide data will load using an XML file

 

 

So any idea if the "enhanced" 8642 box necessary is any different from all the 8642s already deployed?

 

Pretty sure they are calling it "enhanced" to differentiate it with the 8300s.

It has been a while since Rogers got me excited about something. I am very interested in seeing this!

 

I resent the $50 one time installation fee! Typical of Robbers!

 

Glad to hear this is finally coming. I've been wanting to get a TV for the bedroom and have access to what's been recorded already but I've been loathe to give up my unlimited bandwidth DSL to get Fibe TV with it's pathetic cap.

But with a current 8300HD that means I'm going to lose all my recordings. Again. For the umpteenth time. *sigh*

 

No, I was one of the first customers invited into their beta test program in December. Before that, only Rogers employees were eligible to beta test the new IPG and Whole Home PVR features.

 

What about if one has multiple 8642HD PVRs already? I have 3 in the house one for each TV. Can I network all of them?

The Flyer says up to 8 PVRs are compatible with the new system

 

The internal documents indicate you can only network up to only 2 8642s and up to 6 4642s simultaneously. However the website for customers seem to indicate otherwise :/

 

Will It Work in an Apartment/Condo Building?

Hi.

Silly question perhaps, but will the Whole Home PVR work for people in apartments/condos? i.e. Will Rogers be able to install the filters on a per unit basis, or do they have to contact the Property Manager?

 

They are asking people to call in after Feb 7th to book the install. I can just see the delays getting a hold of someone on that day. They should have opened up the appointments immediately. Also, the ability to book a slot online would seem a bit more like 2012. I personally like to enter details myself and see that it's been done correctly, rather than believing some CSR.

Oh, and I see someone else created a thread to talk about the new EPG which was quickly closed and redirected to this thread. I believe there should be 2 threads for this. 1 for Whole home PVR and one for the new UI/EPG. They are 2 different things, even though they involve the same boxes (8642/4642). Everyone will get the new UI/EPG automatically (without any additional fees), while the Whole Home PVR requires an install (and therefore a 1 time fee).

 

Filters

Do you need filter on each box or terminal in the home network.

 

sammey: the filter is a special filter and its installed in the main entrance cable feed in your home.

 

No, only one filter is required and they typically install it in the basement where the cable line comes into the house and is split off to the various rooms.