I will never lose bilingual programming. Bell TV is available and offers it. I'm sure SC will not drop it either.

I just went to change my programming online and was surprised to find that it now preselects my existing package\themes\extras that I am currently subscribed. Nice to see they have finally figured this out! :D

yea its not perfect yet though ( online programming changes). It missed one of my channel packs.. good thing i found it or else i would have lost those channels. I had to change my American locals so i get the most football games on sunday on without sunday ticket.:D

I just checked again and see that it missed preselecting the Sports theme that I currently have. So I have to reselect that one. At least, they're getting there... :D

Just tried it, but doesn't work for me.
I guess it's because I have bilingual programming...

Just finished contacting SC customer service this evening because audio was out on 291 so didn't get House and Fringe audio. Great I can't read lips. :mad:

Anyway went throught the same spiel phone number, full address includin PC???? I said I'm tired of the same thing and going through my whole address and the guy came back with "What's wrong with that! What would you suggest?" In WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU TURKEY? tone. Well asking for an address is not exactly a secure method od determining a true customer. Phone number and password would be a little shorter and better.
I just received a replacement 530 today and one for the other 530 earlier this year. And now I experience no audio on two programs I wanted to record.

He admits they had an audio problem but still displays "attitude". Time for some more CS training!
Happy to have the warrantee on the 530's but it is ridiculous that you need it more than annually on 2 machines!
SC needs to improve customer service and then some. Price is the only thing keeping me.

I'm glad I PVR'd Fringe of Fox W...

I can't complain too much, because *Choice is sending me a replacement DVR for free + s/h.

However, when I called in, it was a Saturday morning. Typically, I do not like to call in on the weekends. The first guy asked me why I was calling, I told him and he transferred me. My personal information was not requested.

The second girl asked me why I was calling, I told her and she transferred me. My personal information was not requested.

The third girl asked for all of my personal information first. (I think asking for you account number would be more progressive that my mailing address).

My issues were these:

1) my entire taped programs list disappeared overnight
2) the machine would "record" (meaning blue lines cycled) but nothing would show up on the DVR list
3) channels would freeze up and not allow me to switch to another channel

I had attempted four soft reboots before calling

She had me switch the cables on the back. No difference. We attempted two factory resets. The machine caught up on the first factory reset. She performed a second factory reset, there was no change.

What I found frustrating about the process, was that it did not seem that she knew what she was doing. She would have me enter screens and then backtrack, without doing anything. Also, she would ask me to do something or check something and, when I reminded her that was the problem that I was calling in about, she would admit that she had forgotten. This happened more than once.

After being on the phone for 45 minutes, she told me that they would replace my machine for free + s/h. She said that she should have just done that in the first place.

I found the TSR to be very nice. She was never rude. But, I do not think she was at all confident with what she was doing.

Quinsbjody,

I had the same thing happen to me, refreshing didn't work, had reciever rehit, etc. nothing seemed to work, but what ended up working was unplugging the reciever, and leaving it unplugged for a while. Then when it was plugged back in, everything magically reappeared, full list, figured that out myself though.

Try it, won't hurt and will be easier then having to get and send back a reciever, Good Luck!!!

When ever a CSR, or even field support can't answer your troubleshooting questions they simply solve the problem by hanging up the phone! Then you have to start all over again, calling back, waiting on hold etc, and no notes have been made on the account file by the previous CSR/TSR troubleshooting just a 1/2 hour before. This has happen to me twice now in the last 2 weeks despite being very polite on the phone, and I still don't have a functioning multiswitch. Added to the situation is after a visit by an *C installer, he agrees that the multiswitch is toast and that he'll have a replacement 5X8 within a couple days....no return visit 2 weeks later. Call *C, get hung up on...what the...?

I am still waiting to get my replacement DVR. I called and got the Purolator tracking number today. Normally, it takes two days to arrive, and it has been five days today.

The woman was very nice, gave me the tracking number and then even went to the Purolator site for me.

According to Purolator's records, they have tried to deliver it five times, since Tuesday!

I say, that is impossible. My work place is open all day long. Oh, she says, they are trying to deliver to your home (an apartment building).

Meanwhile, when the TSR had placed the order, I had specifically requested that it go to my work address. She read it out loud to me TWICE. And still, it was shipped to the wrong address.

And Purolator sucks, because they never left me any notice!

Now I have to drive out after work tonight (and it is on the outer reaches of town) to get it, because Purolator said it would take until Monday to deliver it to me.

Too frustrating.

A more positive note for a change.

I just had my 3rd 505 installed here in Calgary. I didn't bother with installation on the first two as they replaced old receivers, but I finally needed a 3rd line from the dish.

First, SC installed the line for free (I've been a customer for over 5 years now, paying on time, etc).

Second, the install went VERY well. I had a bit of a sour taste in my mouth from the installer that originall set up the dish in 2005 (move program) as he wasn't very accomodating and did as little as possible to get it set up. This new installer was head and shoulders better. I had somewhat of a rat's nest of cables the former owner installed, but he figured out the mess, added all the ends and had it all done in about 30 minutes.

And on top of all that, when I opened up the 505 box, it had a DVI to HDMI cable rather than a DVI to DVI. :)

I have to say, I'm very pleased with SC lately... perhaps that's just because I don't have a 530.

With the latest F2 update causing HDCP problems and the solution being to go back to analog cables, after 10 years of being with Star Choice, I decided to go with Bell. When I phoned to cancel the Star Choice service, I got to talk to a second line CSR. The end result was he offered me a 530 with lifetime warranty and free installation for $200, after rebates. I took the deal. I hope I don't regret it.

Bad:

DSR 530 got bricked last week.

Spent 3 hrs on hold over various fone calls to get thru to a TSR to register my replacement receiver.... Granted, it wasn't the same fone call, but the 1st fone call gave an estimated hold of 15 minutes.... hung up after 30minutes as I was going to put the kids to bed...

I hung up after the 2nd call announced that the wait time was >60 minutes... I guess they don't implement the call back schedule in the evenings if it's going to be late getting back to u.

- my replacement DSR 530 has misc. splash marks on the inside.... like on the label of the Seagate 160gb HDD. Definitely a refurb.

Good:

Called SC on Sunday evening , and the new 530 arrived on Wed.

$13.99 shipping charge seems reasonable.

We have had Star Choice for 9 years. While not perfect, they certainly beat out the cable companies I have dealt with in the past.

They have replaced defective sat boxes for free or at a nominal fee. Plus when I call & say I have received offers from the other Sat company & what can they offer me, they give me a bunch of free movies!

More recently, I wanted a High Def box and asked what can you do for a loyal customer? Got $50 off and $50 of free movies. Not a bad deal! :cool:

Yeah, the wait times are a pain...that is why I phone at 7:00 in the morning & chat about the weather in Calgary for a minute ;).

So, on the whole, a happy Star Choice customer.

My parents found a DSR317 at a thrift store for $10 while they were dropping off some donations, the box was dead but Starchoice to their suprise sent a new replacement.

I have had my moments with Starchoice but when it comes right down to it their Calgary based customer service is excellent.

Yesterday morning, our 530 worked fine. Went out to visit for a while, it was locked up when we got home. One advantage to it dying on Christmas Day - the service was fast! When I called, I got the callback offer, that took maybe 10 minutes, the girl I spoke to had no idea how to handle a dead HD, offered to transfer me to "Level 2", that generated another callback offer, which took perhaps 2 minutes.

Spent 20 minutes with agent in Montreal, very friendly, but put the machine through lots of hoops to prove the HD really was gone.

It was and a new 530 (my 4th I think) is on its way for no charge, plus 2 PPV credits to replace the one that was sitting un-watched on the hard drive.

Now we'll see how long it takes to get here this time of year. At least it still works enough to watch TV, but wow do you ever get used to pausing (and miss it when it doesn't work).

I cancelled my service in Oct. After many, many calls, the box showed up at Christmas to send the receiver back. I sent the thing in; they lost it and demanded that I paid for the receiver and my final bill. Then they send a collection agency after me.

So I phone again yesterday and Star Choice finally found the receiver and deducted the deposit from my bill but refused to send me a final statement. They don’t do that the guy says. Everyone I had talked to said they would send a final statement so I could pay the bill off. He finally agreed to do this.

I call the collection agency back to tell the lady that Star Choice had finally adjusted my bill and I soon could be done with this. She asked me if the guy had verbally informed me what my bill would be I said yes and that he would mail me the statement and then I would pay it. She told me that was going to take too long and I needed to pay this last night. Then she accused me of stalling?????

Star Choice never sent me the freaking box and won’t give me a bill, what I am supposed to do with this? How do you pay a bill when they won't send one? And the “ CSR person” blames me for this screw up??

Unreal

Threaten both with small claims court. I went through something similar with Telus a few years back.

I had the same issue where Starchoice didn't send me a final statement. I didn't know I still owed them until the letter from the collection agency showed up.

(Granted, I paid that one immediately, but it was still a surprise).