How do I buy a Shaw compatible DVR

[KS666]

I have an older Motorola 2 channel DVR that I purchased at Best Buy. I want to move up to a 6 channel DVR so I can record more programs. Shaw won't sell me one. They will only rent me one. I find that incredibly frustrating.

I want to own my DVR. How do I go about getting one?

[bostonbob]

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@KS666 wrote:

I want to own my DVR. How do I go about getting one?

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Check craigslist out - here in Vancouver there's a ton of Gateways for sale.

https://vancouver.craigslist.org/search/ela?query=gateway

[mdk]

@KS666 -- [Shaw] will only rent me one.

If you sign-up for a two-year Value Plan, you get:

* no price-increases for two years,

* a new (or refurbished)  PVR, but note that the monthly "rental" fee will be matched by an offsetting "promotion" discount, giving you a net cost of $0.00 per month.

Given the trouble that some people on this forum have reported with the BlueCurve TV box, I think that it is best to "rent". This will allow you to swap it for a replacement, at no cost to you.

The disk-drive inside my "antique" PVR is showing signs of failure. Long ago, I paid over $700 for it. Now, I wish that I could get Shaw to replace it.

[rstra]

Given the trouble that some people on this forum have reported with the BlueCurve TV box, I think that it is best to "rent".

There is no option to purchase the Blue Curve system. 

The risk that some people have with going on a value plan is them losing their grandfathered packaging, so purchasing used is sometimes the best plan.

[mdk]

The reward for one friend for switching to a Value Plan was a different cable-modem, with stronger WiFi, 3X-faster Internet, the two-year exemption from price-increases, all for $1 less per month. YMMV.

[rstra]

Sometimes it is good to go to a VP, sometimes it isn’t. My dad just watches sports and does very little on the internet, changing his TV package and upgrading from internet 15 to a new VP would cost him money and his gateway.

[bostonbob]

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@rstra wrote:

Sometimes it is good to go to a VP, sometimes it isn’t. My dad just watches sports and does very little on the internet, changing his TV package and upgrading from internet 15 to a new VP would cost him money and his gateway.

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I'm not saying your Dad should or should not switch plans but I will say that when I switched my bundle deal in April I insisted on keeping my Gateway box which they finally agreed to. I think I got a pretty good deal as I went from Internet 15 to Internet 50, from Medium TV ( 8 theme packs ) to Total TV and kept the basic home phone. My bill only increased by $2.85/month so I'm happy but every case is different. 

[rstra]

I am more concerned about my renewal, I have small TV with internet 150. Total TV and Internet 300 would be a substantial jump in cost.

[mdk]

@rstra -- upgrading .. would cost him money and his Gateway.

When I signed-up for the Value Plan, I kept my Gateway, and its recorded programs. I did not take Shaw's offer for a rental of the BlueCurve, even at a "net" cost of $0.00/month after their promotional discount.

Times may have changed, since last year.

YMMV.

[rstra]

Ya, I have heard that this is an option, with some coaxing (pun intended), and something we will definitely look in to.