I can't say that things are worse since the update. They have made an overall improvement. I will say that there are still issues that need to be fixed. The update is certainly not a cure all, as Shaw Direct is making out to be.

Some things are improved but now when I can't depend on a recording anymore. May reboot, may freeze, may be blank recording, and those weren't problems before. I would say it may be an improvement for you but not for some of us. I would like to go back until they get it right:rolleyes:

Maybe it's time to call in Mike Holmes to "make it right". :rolleyes:

Not sure if this was noted or not but just saw this on the SD website.


http://starchoice.ca/promotions/english/softwareupdates/default.asp?WT.mc_id=m1_softwareupdates

We're making your Shaw Direct experience even better!

Starting August 30, 2011, Shaw Direct will be updating the software on all Essential HD (600), Advanced HD (605) and Advanced HDPVR (630) receivers. The update will take place over a couple weeks and will occur automatically at approximately 2:00 AM local time. During the update, you may see counting numbers, flashing lights, or a download message on your TV screen. The update will complete within approximately 60 minutes and you TV service will be back to normal.

What's New

Background Recording and Reminder Planning
Scheduling now occurs in the background, allowing you to continue to navigate while your recording and reminder priorities are saved.
Shortened Guide loading time
In the event of a power loss or reboot, all 14 days of Guide data will reload within 30 minutes.
Improved Title and Interests Search
We've improved the speed and precision of the Search tools, making it easier to find a program to watch or record.
Smart PVR Recording for Movies (Advanced HDPVR only)
Movies can now be recorded like a series! Just tell the PVR whether you want the title in HD, standard definition, or from a particular channel, and it will automatically be recorded at the first available time.
Watched Programs in PVR List (Advanced HDPVR only)
Programs that you've watched past 80% now appear with a checkmark in the PVR List, making it easier to manage your collection of recordings.
Smart PVR Technology Enhancements (Advanced HDPVR only)
Smart PVR Technology has been enhanced for better usability, consistency, and performance.

For more information on these features and how to use them, check out the PDF helpful user guide (4.64 MB) .

What's Next

Our software development, engineering, and product teams are hard at work to continually enhance your Shaw Direct experience! Stay tuned for details as we get closer to the next software update.

last night. Probably due to a timer conflict. I wish that the conflicts were flagged somehow! The 'smart redord' did not automatically schedule the conflicted timer at another time. Strange.

:confused:

The update will complete within approximately 60 minutes and you(SIC) TV service will be back to normal.
That's SNAFU in military terms. It looks like Shaw's spelling is about as good as their firmware coding. Just sat through two hours of programming (two 1 hour shows recorded from different stations on different nights) that had dropouts every few seconds. It sure was annoying due to dropped dialog. Some parts of the shows hardly made sense because parts of sentences were missing.

I had my first situation that required a front panel reset since the new upgrade. Was on channel 257 and switched to 511, major pixilation to the point the screen went blank. Changed to several different channels that all worked well, except 511 which remained blank and silent. A front panel reset fixed the problem..

Too many bookmarks...too many versions of this forum. Anyways...

First time I came to this realization...

I am all too familiar with the background channel sometimes causing pixilation on the channel you are watching or recording...

HOWEVER...

Sunday night I recorded a couple of shows and when I got around to watching them I made this discovery (okay, probably old news to the rest of you)...

Family Guy recorded on FOX (well, the Global simsub for FOX) at 9. Same time, I recorded Lost Girl on Showcase. SD channels.

Played back Family Guy first... pixilation on and off throughout.

Then played back Lost Girl. Pixilation UNTIL 9:30 when my Family Guy recording would have ended... and then it was smooth sailing for the remaining half hour.

So.. perhaps the problem is not so much with the background channel as it is with the recording software?

Again, I apologize if this is already obvious to everyone else... it was a bit of a revelation to me. Hopefully SD is taking notes.

Yes, I've seen this also. I was thinking that the receiver switches the tunner to recording channel and when it finish it switches back to the one it was before (so the pixelation stops). Just my 2 cents, I don't know how the software is implemented. If it does not do this is like you say.It may be a different problem with the same effect related to recording.

This pixelling is becoming a real pain in the ass. Was watching the Noon news on CTV Ottawa from noon to 1pm... No pixelling. As soon as my 630 started to record something on Dejaview at 1pm pixelling started up. Got really bad on CTV Ottawa, the Scheduling thing showed up in the top right corner. I then switched over to CTV HD and the pixelling continued. Switched to CBC HD and that was pixelling. Very strange that this pixelling started right at 1pm when my 630 started to record something.

Just an update... watched what I had recorded this afternoon and not a single bit of pixelling on the recorded show. It was just the live channels that were heavily pixelated.

the picture quality is poor sometimes. I wonder if this will be solved?

Doubtful. The receiver is underpowered. I warned you.

I wonder if I should just return the device? How would that even work: the dish has been installed, the service hooked up, etc.?

This pixelling is becoming a real pain in the ass. Was watching the Noon news on CTV Ottawa from noon to 1pm... No pixelling. As soon as my 630 started to record something on Dejaview at 1pm pixelling started up. Got really bad on CTV Ottawa, the Scheduling thing showed up in the top right corner. I then switched over to CTV HD and the pixelling continued. Switched to CBC HD and that was pixelling. Very strange that this pixelling started right at 1pm when my 630 started to record something.

Just an update... watched what I had recorded this afternoon and not a single bit of pixelling on the recorded show. It was just the live channels that were heavily pixelated.
almost every recording I make on CTV HD has some pixelation. surprisingly, if CTV is doing a sub on a US net, there's no pixelation on the US channel, which makes absolutely no sense

almost every recording I make on CTV HD has some pixelation. surprisingly, if CTV is doing a sub on a US net, there's no pixelation on the US channel, which makes absolutely no sense
What you may not realize is that CTV HD is on Anik F1R @ 107.3W and the US channel is on Anik 2 @ 111.1W. Your signal strength is probably lower on the TP13 at 107.3W which has CTV HD. Do a comparison and see if that is the case.

Well just adding to the obvious here but last night I was watching the Leafs game on SN On. Game started at 7:00pm and was picture perfect until 9:00pm. I had set up a recording at 9:00pm on CBS E. When the recording kicked in the pixellation on Sports Net was so bad that it became unwatchable. I then went back to my recording which is now subbed to CTV HD. I stopped the recording and went back to SN and now it is picture perfect again (no recording taking place). This is pure BS when you cannot do what the 630 is supposed to, that is, record a program while watching something live. In answer to my own statement, only record when nothing is being watched live.:confused:

Well just adding to the obvious here but last night I was watching the Leafs game on SN On. Game started at 7:00pm and was picture perfect until 9:00pm. I had set up a recording at 9:00pm on CBS E. When the recording kicked in the pixellation on Sports Net was so bad that it became unwatchable. I then went back to my recording which is now subbed to CTV HD. I stopped the recording and went back to SN and now it is picture perfect again (no recording taking place). This is pure BS when you cannot do what the 630 is supposed to, that is, record a program while watching something live. In answer to my own statement, only record when nothing is being watched live.:confused:
I sent this quote (email) to ask Jim at Shaw. I received a call from a tech (minutes later) and discussed in length the problems I have had with the 630. He had me do a factory reset while preserving my recordings. He also asked me how the receiver was getting power and I told him that it was plugged into a surge protected power bar. He told me that I had to plug it directly into the wall outlet because the bar could be causing all my problems. He said this step was mandatory to see if this was the problem. So, reset done and now plugged directly into wall outlet, as per techs' instructions. Will do some testing tonight to see if problem with pixellation will be replicated. He said he would call back in one week to see if problems persist. If not he said a factory reset with purging all recordings will be necessary. The saga continues, will report back.

He told me that I had to plug it directly into the wall outlet because the bar could be causing all my problems. He said this step was mandatory to see if this was the problem.


So...SD response is to risk ALL of our electronics?...wow, just wow....I have everything I own going through surge protection first...including two 630 units...

So...SD response is to risk our ALL of our electronics?...wow, just wow....I have everything I own going through surge protection first...inclusing two 630 units...
Several years ago, I was having a problem with my now departed 530. The SD 'Tech support' person wanted me to move the unit into the Kitchen and plug it into an outlet on the stove since that was apparently the cleanest power in the house. LOL. . I tried to keep a straight face and not burst out laughing when I asked when they could stop by and help me move my 55" rptv into the kitchen and re-install the dish in order to watch the thing.

Bottom line, as long as your system is properly grounded ( 3 conductor house wiring and a good ground on the coax runs) a quality power bar will not cause a problem. I certainly would not remove the power bar, in fact I personally use a UPS to further protect my expensive equipment.

The real issue, I strongly suspect, is that the 630 does not have enough processing power (depending on the content being watched) to handle the job....thus the pixelation.

The real issue, I strongly suspect, is that the 630 does not have enough processing power (depending on the content being watched) to handle the job....thus the pixelation.

I am sure you are correct. They can't fix it.