technology erection

[jawnbc]

Telus has left the building. And what they left already seems like a beautiful thang.

We switched from Shaw about 7 months ago: the clincher was Shaw's insistence we either: a.) pay an exorbitant amount upfront for 2 new HD boxes (one a PVR); or b.) rent them for a stoopidly expensive amount per month. We upgraded both our TVs to HD over a period of a year (insane, we cant' miss this deals in both cases). To take advantage of HD was gonna cost us close to $700 out of pocket. Fuck.Dat.

So we decided to give Telus TV a go. TTV is cheaper and has a better channel selection--especially for French and multicultural programming. In terms of HD, once you are paying $15/month in HD charges, you get HD on every package you buy without paying any extra. There was two huge negatives though: the PVR did not allow you to watch live TV while recording another show...and we couldn't have HD on both TVs.

But Telus has upgrade both their DSL service and TTV in downtown Vancouver. The upgrade (to up to 19mbps) supports these two features. They've also upgraded their PVR firmware, which adds other kewl things too. So what we now can do is:

• Record up to two HD programs while watching a third on either set
• Record up to three HD programs while watch a fourth standard def on either set
• Watch HD on both sets and record another program in HD
• Watch any of the PVRd shows on either TV
• Get between 3 and 16mbps internet speeds, depending on what we're doing TV-wise

We are paying an extra 5$ a month for the speed bump I think. The channel guide is upgraded as well. The two installers spent a lot of time getting it all to work, and then more showing me how to operate things. Combined with them showing up an hour early, I'm pretty content.  Let's see how it all holds up though.

Comments

[mathan.livejournal.com]

I am looking forward to Bell bringing in VDSL to Toronto, which they have started.

Looking at Telus' offering - I think that is exciting. Especially the rebranding of Bell TV (ExpressVu) for areas where Telus TV over the phone line is not available.

Shaw simply sucks.

[jawnbc]

They do. But their speeds kick everyone's ass out here.

[bluebear2.livejournal.com]

I like how there's competition here. Not so much that there's no money in it but enough so that they're always trying to one-up each other.

[paterson-si.livejournal.com]

Erotic?

[jp5040.livejournal.com]

Jen ne parle Francais pas bien. Just so you know I won;t understand a goddamn thing properly if you write in French - I only know enough to get laid by a Frenchman (and for that there is little talking involved). LOL

K- Nice to meet you. Another BC boy is a good thing I guess so I added you. :)

Thanks for the add.

J

[jawnbc]

I cam across you in a special LJ community...then saw you were from these here parts. Thanks for friending me back!

[jp5040.livejournal.com]

I can guess which special group that was. LOL.