Shaw Gateway - How does it work?

[willystyle]

I am looking to purchase a new TV in the next few days and I came across Shaw Gateway. Can someone walk me through on how it works?

How can I record up to 6 shows and watch it in a different room? How is the Gateway setup? Will I incur extra monthly cost if I purchase the terminal?

I currently have the following setup with Shaw:

1 HD in Kitchen
1 HD in Living Room (soon)
1 HD in Bedroom
1 SD in Master

TIA!

[TOS'd]

Someone else may know more but from what I gather, for your set up you would need 1 Shaw Gateway and 3 extra terminals(each of which cost extra $$). And in your setup you can record up to 4 shows and watch them all in different rooms. Maximum of 5 extra terminals gives you the "up to 6" recordings at once.

[Soundy]

The Gateway doesn't actually connect to a TV - think of it as a media server. It does all the actual recording and tuner functions.

Each TV needs a "Portal" box that communicates with the Gateway through the cable. As far as I can tell, they're little more than a "dumb terminal", operating like a streaming media player. With your above setup, you'd need four Portal boxes.

The Gateway can record up to 6 programs simultaneously on its own, regardless of the number of portals.

The Gateway is actually capable of WiFi and DLNA playback (meaning you can stream content off your home media server as well), although that functionality isn't enabled yet.

Shaw's deal right now lets you rent-to-own the Gateway at $6/mo. and each portal at $4/mo, so you'd be looking at $22/mo. for the hardware for your setup. AFAIK you CAN purchase the hardware outright, and I don't believe there's any extra monthly charge per terminal.

We have a Gateway and two Portals... it works fairly well, although the interface pauses now and then, and the included remotes are hideously laid out. There's supposed to be a new update coming soon for the interface that redoes the whole thing in HTML5, which will supposedly allow you to view your guide and program your recordings via remote computer or through your smartphone.

Good way to contact Shaw and ask them is actually to tweet a DM to @Shawhelp - I got WAY faster response than using their online chat or sitting on hold on the phone.

[willystyle]

Thanks, I think I'll just stick with the free swap (SD -> HD) or buy a HD Dual Tuner PVR receiver.

I don't like the idea of renting portals and running ethernet cables all over the house.

[Soundy]

No ethernet cables required - they all communicate via the TV cable.

I traded in my HD PVR for the Gateway/Portal... makes way more sense if you have multiple TVs... plus if you record a show, you can then watch it on any TV in the house.

Edit: looks like you can purchase the Gateway outright for $200 and each portal for $150.

[Hondaracer]

IMO they cheaped out big time thinking 500GB was enough when allowing the gateway to record up to 6 HD shows at once, thats not nearly enough storage..

also imo the gateway looks pretty ugly even compared to the Motorolla PVR's, i know the gateway system enables a whole much of functionality and integration with PC's etc. but when they normal 500GB motorolla PVR's are selling for $145 on boxing day, you might as well just pick up a single PVR for each one of your TV's instead of the Gateway plus each $150 portal..