Bell Fibe or Rogers Digital

[james t kirk]

I currently have Rogers Cable. Just the Joe Schmoe cable package up to channel 60. No HD, no anything. Rogers has been consistantly creeping up the bill every year like clockwork by 2 or 3 bucks a year. It now runs me about $73.00 a month for fuck all frankly.

I have been receiving a LOT of Bell Fibe propaganda in the mail. They will give you a free PVR (I still have a VCR), and the Fibe service for $23.95 per month for 6 months, after which time it bumps up to $35 a month.

Whatever.

By the time you add in the channel packages you want, up she goes.

Anyway, I currently have Sympatico Internet 16 meg internet service with Bell, my cell phone and my land line. In some ways it makes sense just to ditch Rogers and consolidate everything with Bell.

I'm wondering if the peanut gallery has any advice on which system is better.

Rogers?

Bell?

Those are my 2 options.

I don't want any dish on my house, nor any whacky off-shore internet package and then use torents - blah blah blah.

Just the question is - Bell or Rogers?

 

[LazMan]

I currently have Rogers Cable.

I'm wondering if the peanut gallery has any advice on which system is better.

If you are in an area where Fibe is actually available - technically, it's much superior to Roger's offering...

If you've got more then 2 or 3 TV's, then stick with Rogers, because that's about all Fibe can support smoothly right now (I believe they advertise supporting up to 4 - don't believe it...), otherwise, I'd switch in a heartbeat.

The interface is much nicer, IMO - there's less/better compression on the HD streams, so picture quality is improved. Microsoft Mediaroom (the software running in the back end) is also used on TELUS TV out West, and UVerse in the States... It's based on newer hardware, and the STB's are nicer then the crap Roger's is using.

 

[jiiimmm]

I currently have Rogers Cable. Just the Joe Schmoe cable package up to channel 60. No HD, no anything. Rogers has been consistantly creeping up the bill every year like clockwork by 2 or 3 bucks a year. It now runs me about $73.00 a month for fuck all frankly.

I have been receiving a LOT of Bell Fibe propaganda in the mail. They will give you a free PVR (I still have a VCR), and the Fibe service for $23.95 per month for 6 months, after which time it bumps up to $35 a month.

Whatever.

By the time you add in the channel packages you want, up she goes.

Anyway, I currently have Sympatico Internet 16 meg internet service with Bell, my cell phone and my land line. In some ways it makes sense just to ditch Rogers and consolidate everything with Bell.

I'm wondering if the peanut gallery has any advice on which system is better.

Rogers?

Bell?

Those are my 2 options.

I don't want any dish on my house, nor any whacky off-shore internet package and then use torents - blah blah blah.

Just the question is - Bell or Rogers?

Had the exact same package as you and looked into moving to bell fibe with some movie package for about 90/mth. Called up Rogers since they need 30 days notice for cancellation. Fist thing they asked was why I was cancelling. I told them exactly why and they threw everything they had, sports, movies, 3 boxes, free install all for the same $75 I was paying for the next year. I took it and will re visit the switch next year when this deal expires. Rogers digital is very good. the boxes are huge and an eyesore. Not sure if all boxes are this big. Give it a shot, see what deal they offer you.

 

[james t kirk]

^^^That's laughable.

Or shows how dumb I am. (Paying the same as you for fuck all.) I've been a good Rogers customer. Always pay my fucking bills on time, never bitch about anything, never called them up once in 15 years. Just this last increase was finally the straw that broke the camel's back. That and frankly of the 60 channels that Rogers currently provides for me, at least 20 are fucking terrible. I mean the Home Shopping network?? Or the religous channels? Come on.

But you did raise one interesting problem.....

Does the Bell Fibe require those big stupid "cable boxes" as well too?? I have 1 TV in my kitchen that is crammed into a special opening, there is no room for any dumb box of any kind.

I'd like just a RG-8 wire coming into the back of my TV and that's it.

I currently have 2 TV's, but with plans for 2 more, maybe 3 more - but frankly only 2 of them will ever be on at one time.

 

[fun-guy]

Let's just say with Rogers, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. i've heard from many Roger's customers who threatened to cancel to go to Bell and each time Rogers matched or better the Bell offer.

 

[GPIDEAL]

^^^That's laughable.

Or shows how dumb I am. (Paying the same as you for fuck all.) I've been a good Rogers customer. Always pay my fucking bills on time, never bitch about anything, never called them up once in 15 years. Just this last increase was finally the straw that broke the camel's back. That and frankly of the 60 channels that Rogers currently provides for me, at least 20 are fucking terrible. I mean the Home Shopping network?? Or the religous channels? Come on.

But you did raise one interesting problem.....

Does the Bell Fibe require those big stupid "cable boxes" as well too?? I have 1 TV in my kitchen that is crammed into a special opening, there is no room for any dumb box of any kind.

I'd like just a RG-8 wire coming into the back of my TV and that's it.

I currently have 2 TV's, but with plans for 2 more, maybe 3 more - but frankly only 2 of them will ever be on at one time.

They don't reward loyal customers by being pro-active with savings. They continue to rape us FFS.

Threaten to leave (you have quite the incentive having everything else with Bell) and squeeze them for the most.

In fact, we all should do this with all our electronic carriers, be it phone, LD, internet or TV.

My problem is, even if Bell Fibe is better, my condo fee includes a base digital package with Rogers (PVR & extras are paid by me). I'm sure Bell has an answer for that, but to me, it would have to mean giving me a lot for free.

 

[james t kirk]

I have no love for either Rogers or Bell.

But one thing about Bell, they don't keep increasing my bill every year like clockwork while decreasing service.

Part of me thinks that up-selling HD TV is a scam, that all TV signals should be HD TV and I don't understand why they need these damn cable boxes. Why can't the sets just be good to hook up directly for HD.

 

[LazMan]

I have no love for either Rogers or Bell.

But one thing about Bell, they don't keep increasing my bill every year like clockwork while decreasing service.

Part of me thinks that up-selling HD TV is a scam, that all TV signals should be HD TV and I don't understand why they need these damn cable boxes. Why can't the sets just be good to hook up directly for HD.

There's a couple reasons why STB's are needed... Technically, to allow switched video (cram more channels down the wire then would otherwise fit...), and access to PPV/On-Demand services. Economically (and this is the biggie, obviously) to allow billing control, and make sure you only get the channels you pay for... Some US CableCo's allow what's called a "cable-card" to be used - it's a smart-card, about the same size as your average credit card, that slots right into the TV, and provides the same features, but doesn't require a STB.

For Bell TV (Sat or Fibe) - a box is required for every TV... For Rogers, depending where you're at, you can still get analog channels without a box, although that's changing region by region, and they are now requiring a (free) DTA box to convert digital signals down for analog TV's...

As for it being a scam or not... That's one of those philisophical questions, I suppose. LOL

 

[groggy]

get rid of cable altogether and get a digital antenna.

 

[LazMan]

get rid of cable altogether and get a digital antenna.

That's great, if you live in an area where it's an option...

If I cut the cord, and went to OTA - I'd be down to about 3 channels. For someone in a lake-view condo in Toronto, that could pickup US stations from Buffalo or Rochester, in addition to the local Toronto content; it could be a very viable way to go...

 

[charmer]

That's great, if you live in an area where it's an option...

If I cut the cord, and went to OTA - I'd be down to about 3 channels. For someone in a lake-view condo in Toronto, that could pickup US stations from Buffalo or Rochester, in addition to the local Toronto content; it could be a very viable way to go...

Oh? have you tried it? I live in the far north eastern burbs...20 channels with absolute clarity from an table top antenna that cost $30.00. As for Bell or Rogers...Fibe is by far the better technical choice. Rogers HD signal is shit.

 

[Don Draper]

get rid of cable altogether and get a digital antenna.

Oh? have you tried it? I live in the far north eastern burbs...20 channels with absolute clarity from an table top antenna that cost $30.00. As for Bell or Rogers...Fibe is by far the better technical choice. Rogers HD signal is shit.

That's how I get my TV. Free and easy.

One less bill to pay a month and I get Melanie Ng in HD!

 

[Rockslinger]

and they are now requiring a (free) DTA box to convert digital signals down for analog TV's...

I got one of these free boxes and get the weird feeling that Rogers is watching me. Hee, hee, hee. BTW: Why do guys who pay $1,000 an hour for an SP worry about a $73 cable bill?

 

[LazMan]

Oh? have you tried it? I live in the far north eastern burbs...20 channels with absolute clarity from an table top antenna that cost $30.00. As for Bell or Rogers...Fibe is by far the better technical choice. Rogers HD signal is shit.

Yeah... I have. I'm about 65 miles NNW of Toronto, and in a bit of a valley. Even with a 30' tower (pre-existing) - I was able to get CTV2 out of Barrie, the Global re-transmitter, and if I held my arms the right way, CityTV.

Not everyone lives in the centre of the universe...

 

[justfor]

I am in an area not served by Bell Fibe; so I have Rogers for TV and my internet with a small ISP which apparently still uses Bell phone line for DSL. The Internet speed is never better than 1.4 MB/S.

I would like to have a higher speed for Internet, so I am thinking of switching to Rogers for Internet. Is this my only venue?

 

[fuji]

You can buy both the rogers and the bell fibe service from resellers like teksavvy, generally at a better price, and with fewer restrictions and no or reasonable caps. I have 25 megabit DSL from one of these resellers. The device they installed in my home says "Bell" on it, and the guy who installed it was a Bell employee. It's plainly the identical service resold. Their backhaul network is different, but fast, reliable and good.

Like some up thread I ditched cable TV entirely, and I also switched from a regular phone line to a VOIP phone. For video content I watch what comes in over the air, and what I can get online--which is a lot. I have one of those internet TV devices hooked up to my DSL so I can browse through channels, movies, netflix, my own content, etc., with a remote control.

As for which is better, it depends on where you live. If you live close to the CO for both, then the Bell service is better currently, if you go for the top tier 25 megabit DSL product, that's about the best residential service you can buy. However, it may NOT be the best where you live, even if it's available in your area. It REALLY depends on how much copper cable there will be between your modem and their fibre drop. If rogers is significantly closer, in terms of meters of copper, then YOU will get a better service from rogers. This is why they sell the service as "up to 25 megabits", YOU might not get that. I do.

For awhile I was running a rogers based service here--also though via a reseller to dodge the bandwidth caps. I found it to be unreliable, it was going down a lot. The reason was my home in particular is not close to the rogers CO and in fact there is a huge amount of copper between me and their termination equipment. I have a friend who gets a much higher quality signal from rogers and NEVER has a problem. So YMMV depending on where exactly you are in relation to their infrastructure. For me the Bell based services are much better, for my friend Rogers is much better.

Unfortunately the only way to find out which works better where you live is to try them both, or talk to your neighbours.

 

[oldjones]

That's great, if you live in an area where it's an option...

If I cut the cord, and went to OTA - I'd be down to about 3 channels. For someone in a lake-view condo in Toronto, that could pickup US stations from Buffalo or Rochester, in addition to the local Toronto content; it could be a very viable way to go...

I'm in a house in East York and would need two more stories to see the lake, but the 'oven-rack' OTA antenna just higher tan my roof gets me 18 channels.

 

[Petzel]

Let's just say with Rogers, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. i've heard from many Roger's customers who threatened to cancel to go to Bell and each time Rogers matched or better the Bell offer.

True that.

 

[bobistheowl]

I currently have Rogers Cable. Just the Joe Schmoe cable package up to channel 60. No HD, no anything. Rogers has been consistantly creeping up the bill every year like clockwork by 2 or 3 bucks a year. It now runs me about $73.00 a month for fuck all frankly.

I have been receiving a LOT of Bell Fibe propaganda in the mail. They will give you a free PVR (I still have a VCR), and the Fibe service for $23.95 per month for 6 months, after which time it bumps up to $35 a month.

Whatever.

By the time you add in the channel packages you want, up she goes.

Anyway, I currently have Sympatico Internet 16 meg internet service with Bell, my cell phone and my land line. In some ways it makes sense just to ditch Rogers and consolidate everything with Bell.

I'm wondering if the peanut gallery has any advice on which system is better.

Rogers?

Bell?

Those are my 2 options.

I don't want any dish on my house, nor any whacky off-shore internet package and then use torents - blah blah blah.

Just the question is - Bell or Rogers?

A service rep from Rogers came by recently, and gave me a 60% discount on my cable TV for 24 months. My apartment also has Rogers phone and Internet; I'm technically the subscriber for those services, but only because Rogers can't/ won't send two separate billings to the same address. I also have one PPV channel, most of the time.

I'm not sure why I got this discount, but I'm not complaining. My cable TV bill is now about $25 per month, (not including tax), and I have around 200 stations. I also got two months free of the movie stations from channels 301-309, but only because I spoke to a customer service rep, who told me of a current promotion.

I'm normally highly critical of Rogers, especially the bandwidth throttling/ minimal B/W caps at such a steep price, and I didn't get any discounts on the phone or Internet services, but I have no complaints about the cable TV at the moment.

 

[Rockslinger]

and I have around 200 stations.

How many channels do you actually watch?