Terminology / Description:
Gateway = The central hub "Brain". Not sold separately, is not a standalone HD-PVR unit. The Gateway is typically installed maybe in a Basement or where the Cable enters the home. It contains the actual Hard Drive to make the system work. This communicates with the Total Home Portals through MoCA (Multimedia over Coaxial Alliance) technology.
Total Home Portal = The HD units that would connect to a TV in the home. These units are fanless and you need one of these to connect to the Gateway.
Cost Billing Clarification:
Gateway + 1 Portal = $598 or Easy Own option of $17/month over 36 months
Additional Portals = $178 or Easy Own option of $5/month over 36 months
Easy Own option is not a rent to own option - you own it right away
Warranty:
3 Year warranty offered on Gateway and Portal equipment
PVR Swap/ Trade Program Options:
Customers can do a 1:1 Swap of their current Owned HDPVR for 1 Total Home Portal. Available on additional Portals only (N/A on the $598 Gateway + 1 Portal)
Customers who own a Gateway and Total Home Portal can trade in up to 3 Shaw PVR's for additional portals. Only the following Boxes are eligible for the Trade up program:
DCT 3080 - Motorola Standard Definition PVR
DCT 6208 - Motorola HDPVR
DCT 6412 - Motorola HDPVR
DCT 6416 - Motorola HDPVR
DCT 3416 - Motorola HDPVR
DCT 3400 - Motorola HDPVR
Pace Tahoe HDPVR
Pace Aspen HDPVR
Pace Whistler HDPVR
Pace Summit+Expander HDPVR
Existing Equipment in the Home Compatibility:
Customers can continue to use any Shaw equipment they have in the home in conjunction with the Gateway. However, legacy equipment will not connect/communicate with the Gateway but will work independent as before.
Gateway Product Features [What can it do?]:
The Gateway can connect up to 6 TV's at one time.
The Gateway can support a total of 9 HD streams of content at any one time, meaning you can watch live TV on one TV, record 5 HD shows and playback 3 additional shows all at one time. Or you can record 6 HD shows and playback 3 shows at the same time.
500 GB Internal Hard Drive - Option of adding external Hard Drive. Gateway can Expand up to 6 TB + the Internal Hard Drive.
Smart/Trick Fast Forward / Rewind options - Customize to either 30 seconds, or 3,5,15 minute intervals optionally available on each TV.
Full VOD Guide Integration, Access to the Full Shaw VOD suite via the remote (this includes all the VOD titles we offer online)
Pause Live TV and move to another TV and pick it up
Set up recordings, pause, fast forward, and rewind live TV from any TV connected to a Total Home Portal.
12 on screen Video Games built into guide
Fully integrated Interactive Guide with Full Search functionality
Search Live TV, Video On Demand, Pay Per View, recordings option or mixture category search, EG just Video on Demand content.
Search for just HD content including what you have recorded
Search for just movies in SD and HD
Search for just news in SD and HD
Search for just kids shows in SD and HD
Search for just Sport in SD and HD
Search for just Music
All above search options also populate any matches in previously recorded content
Personalize your Guide Line up by removing channels you do not want in the guide or search to populate
Grid guide - full HD 3 HR view with PIP
See and search 12-14 days in advance on any connected tv
.
Full Series recording options -
Schedule Series recordings to either Start or Stop, 1,2,5 minutes early or later or start on time
Priority Recording available - Recording Priority of one show over another
Time Slot Series Recording - Pick your timeslot or All options. Eg 4-5pm or 10-11pm
Repeats and First Run options
Series Recording - Episode Limits - Record either 1,3,5,10,20 or unlimited episodes
Cancel a series recording anytime
Future Features coming to the Gateway:
Integration of Web Content into the Gateway, providing internet access through the TV
Home Sharing - Providing customers with the ability to connect to the main centre into their home network, allowing the sharing of pictures and videos to their TV.
Remote PVR Scheduling - meaning you will be able to set up recordings on the Gateway from online and handheld devices
Global Search options expanded to include PC files, Flicker, Shaw Photo Share etc
Ticker Feed - Customized Weather and News
Integration of social media, including Shaw Photo Share, Flicker, You Tube and Facebook
Launch dates:
Calgary : May 3rd
Edmonton: June
Vancouver: July
National Launch in all Fibre Fed area's: August
Summary - at a glance info:
Storage Capacity and Comparison: 500GB internal hard drive expandable to 6.5TB
Content Sharing with other devices: Yes - Summer 2011
Number of TV's that can be connected - 6
Max Number of Simultaneous Recordings - 6HD
Playbacks that can be watched Simultaneously - 4HD + 2SD
Can a program be rewound if the channel is changed and changed back again - YES
In Home Internet Speeds - Up to 100mbps
In-Home Internet speeds affected by TV use - NO
Will Legacy SD,HD,HDPVR boxes still work in my home - YES
Remote PVR Scheduling - Slated for Fall/Winter 2011
16:9 Aspect Ratio: YES
Dolby Digital 5.1: YES
3D ready: YES
Maximum boxes per house: 1 Gateway and 6 Portals
Arcade Video Games: YES
Watch TV while surfing the guide: YES
Parental Controls: YES
Installation Charge: NO - Free on all boxes
Ethernet connections inactive at this time
Backlit streamlined remote control
Pictures of front/back of the hardware showing connections of Gateway and Portal [technical]:
Album here:
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/album.php?albumid=750
Sizes:
(Not totally approx)
Portals
Width: 27.3cm
Length: 16.5cm
Height: 4.5cm
Gateway:
Width: 34.3cm
Length: 31.1cm
Height: 8.2cm