CableVision Makes DVRs Available
At long last, CableVision is making Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) available to its customers.
The model being offered is the Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300 MR. It has an 80GB hard drive, enough to store up to 50 hours of programming, can record up to two different channels simultaneously (while watching a third pre-recorded show) and lets you pause live TV. In addition, the device allows other cable boxes in the house to simultaneously access, watch and control up to four pre-recorded shows on different televisions.
I've been testing an earlier model for CableVision for over a year now, and while it's not without the occasional problem, I can no longer imagine life without it.
Some Bermudians have managed to get TiVos running here, but the less technically inclined may find CableVision's offering the easier option. The DVR is available to either rent for $30/month or to buy for $850. In both cases CableVision will charge an additional $5/month service fee. Those interested should call CableVision at 292 5544.
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What's your commission rate?
Posted by SmokingGun on 10.08.05 at 19:54
Cablevision is pure CRAP
FIRST THEY HAVE IMPROVE BOTH THE CHOICE OF MATERIAL AND IMPROVE THE PICTURE QUALITY.
Would love to hear from other viewers as I cant remember when I saw a decent movie I had not seen 20 times before.
I dont like baseball basketball or car racing or rap videos,American sitcoms or permanent commercials which means limited viewing.
Also wrong programming so you patiently wait for a program and its something else.
Posted by Bill Cook on 10.08.05 at 20:09
Heah Billy da Kid try watching the BBC on ZBM...too many people losing their life infront or in the box....go antique Read a good book...Who cares about tivo or digital recorders...Try living in anolog...might actually make a real friend!!!! Later off to check out Scorpio in the West...I just love real stars...Turn off the set and get funky with nature!!!! ^..^
Posted by Big Bad Wolf ^..^ on 10.08.05 at 20:58
Wolfie
I dO watch BBC boxing track tennis when available.
But I enjoy a really good movie Agatha Christie mysteries and saw great little movie with Omar Shariff as an Arab shopkeeper last decent movie I saw.
Its nice for a little escapism if its intelligent or at least a little bit.
Read a lot mostly the mags I subscribe to about 5 plus some heavy stuff I actually read more than I watch tv, its a life long habit.
If there were no more books I may turn to crack !!
Posted by Bill Cook on 10.08.05 at 21:46
SmokingGun - lol. Alas, no commission.
Bill - Try watching HBO or the pay-per-view movie channels... that's 90% of my viewing... And if you have poor picture quality, it could be a problem with your aerial - we had the same issue. Worth getting CV to take a look.
Posted by The Limey on 10.08.05 at 23:13
Hey Limey,
What is the price of this box?
I see their sister company wants to offer 12 month contracts for phone service.
read
Posted by read on 11.08.05 at 00:16
Limey,
I will have that checked I dont have an Aerial but the cable line
The puzzle is that some programs are very clear while others are blurred ie the tennis on 22 is blurred but as its also on 49 and crystal clear there !
I'm thinking of re evaluating and reducing the channels and that is what many of us should consider,as we are being ripped off with garbage,but like good Bermudians tolerate it.
I would agree that it seems like fewer and fewer good movies are being made which is noticable when one watches the older ones.
Check the older version of Robin Hood with Erroll Flynn and see the costumes and the work of the stuntmen extras etc. It holds up well even today and that was back in 1930's !
Posted by Bill Cook on 11.08.05 at 07:06
Bill - Sorry, said aerial, meant cable line.
Does the cable line go straight into your box or via a splitter first? Ours went via a splitter that had some kind of problem with it - changed the splitter and everything cleared right up (though it's still far from the quality we used to enjoy on British satellite TV).
Posted by The Limey on 11.08.05 at 08:11
We have a Coby 515. It works great. It does everything all the others do. I have a splitter that carries performance to our 12 TV's, one in each room.
My Wife and I are having a real problem though, and need your help in solving it.
Question:-?
Whilst recording 5 differant events/shows and running around the house looking at 12 televisions and slipping and slidding on Bannana Peels, how the hell can we watch them all. I can only focus on one at a time. We have all this stuff but can only watch one thing and consentrate.
Mabe Dr. Phil can advise us.
Have to run, see ya.
WHOOPS, slipped again. I knew I should have taken that sex change and become a ^..^. At least they don't slip and slide on all that bloody meat.(^.^)
Posted by Monkeyman on 11.08.05 at 08:30
My question, can you record the footie matches on channel 53 which they kindly switch to 52 at kickoff? NO! Because cablevision provide us with Fox Soccer Channel without the soccer. Ie, the Fox Blackout with Occasional Rugby Channel. Lets hope it gets better...
Posted by Lost in Flatts on 11.08.05 at 09:13
Oh and just reread the article, what would happen if you hooked up the box without paying the $5 fee? As I understand those things, all of the technology is in the box, nothing to do with the signal. That's how it works in the States anyway.
How will they charge you for what you should get free? I don't know, but Cablevision will find a way!
Posted by Lost in Flatts on 11.08.05 at 09:15
Actually, Cablevision is doing a decent job. My picture quality is quite good and the channel selection is the same as any US provider. Price, while higher than the US, is certainly not out of line given that everything is double here.
As for the DVRs. Any DVR is better than no DVR, but getting tivo to work is just as easy as getting it to work in the US now. Its very easy. Why pay 850 for Cable's DVR when you can get a tivo for 150.
What cable really needs to implement is cableCard. That will allow people with newer televisions (and the next generation of Tivo) to watch without a set top box altogether.
Posted by alex on 11.08.05 at 09:24
Phil welcome back. I was on the verge of LIB withdrawals so I am glad you returned.
"Record up to two different channels simultaneously (while watching a third pre-recorded show)".
I can't even think of two decent shows that are on Cablevision so the chance that they'll be on at the same time is pretty remote.
Posted by Two Cents on 11.08.05 at 09:43
Alex
The advantage of a CableVision DVR is the ability to record one program while wathcing another. As I understand it there are comparable monthly charges for Tivo.
Posted by Point on 11.08.05 at 10:33
"Oh and just reread the article, what would happen if you hooked up the box without paying the $5 fee?"
They don't authorise the box and you sit there watching a blank screen.
" As I understand it there are comparable monthly charges for Tivo."
Not if you apply any one of the simple hacks to avoid the $30.00 monthly fee.
PVR software has been available for years...costing much less then a Tivo, with no monthly fee.
A capture card with an MPEG2 encoder on board can be had for $20 - $30.00.
Posted by TVtech on 11.08.05 at 18:33
Try the website www.gbpvr.com for a home made solution. With some basic computer skills you can build your own PVR. As the files are mpg and saved to your pc hard drive there is almost no limit to the size of storage space and you can transfer/save files at will. Throw the author a few dollars and you have no yearly fees (besides the reg cablevision/wow fees).
If you get real brave take a look at the mediamvp at http://www.hauppauge.com/ then you can play back these files on any tv around the house.
I have had this setup running since last year and feel is far superior to any set top solution ie: my main HD is at 250gb of storage, go ahead and figure how many hours of programing that works out to.
Posted by Burnell on 12.08.05 at 16:48
Thanks for the info, Burnell. I'll be checking out the sites, as the tivo can be a pain in the ass if you don't choose to subscribe to the tivo service.
By the way: you may know a thing or two about PVRs, but I bet I can still kick your ass deathmatching ;-)
Posted by loki on 12.08.05 at 17:11
"go ahead and figure how many hours of programing that works out to"
tell us what rate you record at...the math is very simple ;)
Posted by TVtech on 12.08.05 at 18:46
Well, a year or so ago, I never could have foreseen that I would ever do this: I'm ditching my WOW system and signing up for digital cable. WOW just hasn't been able to deliver on it's promises, from the non-functioning channel guide, to the less than stellar, over-compressed picture. Anyone else fed-up with WOW?
Posted by loki on 22.08.05 at 15:43
Was down to sign up for Cablevision the other day and service was great. The fact that they have the sports packages (particularly NFL) is HUGE for me. Last year WOW teased us with an NFL launch for 4-5 weeks (with no sound) and then didn't give a full refund. I'm still pissed but stayed because I bought the gear. No more. I'll keep the gear and if they can turn things around I may come back. Competition is healthy and their entry into the market definitely gave cable a wake-up call. A year ago nearly half the letters to the editor were cable gripes! Exaggeration but it was pretty bad.
Posted by Which One's Pink? on 22.08.05 at 16:13
"Last year WOW teased us with an NFL launch for 4-5 weeks (with no sound) and then didn't give a full refund."
Same thing happened with me. After a while, I got so annoyed trying to explain to the brain-deads on the front desk there why WOW still owed me money, I just gave up.
Posted by loki on 22.08.05 at 16:36
If anyone uses TiVo, apparently the Bermuda line-up has been removed (see politics.bm). How am I going to cope with my TiVo??
Posted by Simon on 02.02.07 at 14:33