Question RE: Shaw's recievers in Vancouver

Hello all,
I am new and this is my first post. Just got my new HDTV the other day and am in the process of optimizing everything. My PS2 is hooked up via component and looks great. My DVD player is hooked up via HDMI and looks amazing (not BlueRay amazing but great).

Now my issue is the following and I have a couple questions:
About a year ago I subscribed to the Digital Cable package with Shaw and since I only had an older CRT TV, I just purchased the cheap receiver (the little one) and it does not decode HD and can only connect to my TV via coaxial or component.

Now that I have an HDTV, my digital cable signal looks horrendous... after fiddling with the settings a bit I have been able to get it looking ok, but my CRT tv still looked better... and I knew this would happen, my issue is what to do next and that is where I need advice and have a couple questions.

I plan on buying the HDPVR from Shaw, but will only be able to do so in February or March next year. In the meantime should I upgrade to the HD receiver that Shaw has (not the HDPVR but just the HD one)? I know I'll get some HD channels and will probably subscribe to the full HD package, but, will the regular digital and analog channels look better than using my little receiver as well? Besides having a component connection, does it do some kind of up converting? An/or what kind of signal does it send to the TV 480i, 480p, 720i, etc?

Because if there is no real difference in the quality of the digital channels then I may just hold off and wait until I can get my HDPVR which also offers a HDMI connection.

One last question... is there a difference in the signal pushed out from the HD receiver vs. the HDPVR receiver?? It seems like there might be as the latter has a HDMI output and the former does not.

Thanks for your help!!!
Ian

To really enjoy your HD TV, you need an HD receiver with HD programming.

no shit sherlock... now answer my questions.

For anyone on this crappy forum that was interested.... here is the official response from Shaw tech.

From: Shaw Internet Vancouver Help <van.help@sjrb.ca>
Date: November 14, 2008 7:49:09 PM PST (CA)
To:
Subject: RE: Cable/Digital Cable

Hello,

The HD Terminals provide the same quality of picture as the HD PVR models. While HDMI cables theoretically produce a better picture, this is also dependant on the Television model, and the perspective of the person viewing. Here in the office many of us prefer the Component cable picture, while others prefer the HDMI. Both cable sets have advantages, Component cables simply work, while HDMI has the HDCP content protection which can cause problems producing a picture.

There is no up converting done on any of the terminals, and it is likely that the picture quality will be very similar between all of the products on the Non HD stations.

We hope this helps, Thank you.