Question about High Def cable boxes

[huggzy]

Don't rail on me if this is a stupid question!!!

I've got a Motorola DCT 6416 III high def pvr box which was purchased from Novus when I was living in downtown Van.

I'm now living in an area that doesn't service Novus, so Shaw or Telus are my options. Shaw uses the DCT 6416 III as well - but they won't register the unit unless the serial number is that of a Shaw unit.

So my question for any of you techies out there...when I call in to Shaw to register my high def box, can I just simply call in a serial number to a Shaw DCT 6416, let them register it, and see if my motorola box would work? Or can Shaw actually "read" and check the serial number to my unit remotely?

Stupid question I suppose, but just wondered before I go out and spend another god-damned $400.

 

[badbadboy]

I have a couple of HD boxes from Shaw. One is the first PVR HD and the other has a 1 TB external drive.

Shaw does it all remotely and can tell you which box they are communicating with while you are on the phone. I own a rental condo in Victoria. Shaw had me on the phone plus the tenant and they communicated with the box in Victoria to reset its HD capabilities and upgrade its firmware. Pretty impressive.

Upside with Shaw is no contract and the downside is you either have to rent or buy from them. Downside with Telus is 3 year contract and upside is a free box. Either way it is gonna cost you and I highly doubt if Shaw will let you use a competitors box on their system.

 

[lonepooner69]

What badbadboy said. If anyone needs info on this kind of stuff, I highly suggest going to the digital home forum. They pretty much have it down.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=3

 

[bcneil]

It sucks how things work here, I remember my earlier hdpvr it was $700-$800.
And it only had room to tape 20 or so movies.
While my buddy in Seattle had a much better HD setup for much cheaper.

But just had it replaced for free, when I got the nhl centre ice pack.
With the new pvr with more memory, and 3d.

So anyone with the old one, might want to get the centre ice pack, you might get the box upgrade for
a 1-month subscription. I only signed up in early Feb.

But yeah they do know serial numbers on their boxes, they scan everything, and will know its not theirs.
Otherwise everyone would buy their boxes stateside.

 

[Chef99]

To answer your question directly, no you can't give them just any Shaw serial number. The number is actually used to communicate to the box. This enables the channel packages, downloads the correct software, the program guides, etc, etc... incorrect serial number = no communication