nothing can beat Starchoice's $20 package plus your own antenna to get local stations.
I think HD channels are only available with Essentials, not the $20 basic.

I think HD channels are only available with Essentials, not the $20 basic.

I cheaped out and downgraded to the $20 basic for the summer. There are still all the HD channels. That's all I watch these days anyway. Where else can you get all the HD channels and a bunch of CBC/CTV/Global SD channels for $20? It's a great deal during a season that we don't watch TV too much.

HD is not supposed to be included in the Digital Basic package. You probably just got a CSR who didn't know what they were doing, so enjoy it while it lasts - don't be surprised if next time you downgrade its not included.

HD is not supposed to be included in the Digital Basic package. You probably just got a CSR who didn't know what they were doing, so enjoy it while it lasts - don't be surprised if next time you downgrade its not included.

Really? Wouldn't it be dependent on the package and not on the CSR? The CSR said that HD channels are "free" no matter what package you get. She wouldn't have had the authority/ability to customize the digital basics just for me, would she? Anyway, I've got them. I guess in retrospect $20 is a pretty awesome deal for that.

Copied from the *C web page for high definition...

+Must be subscribed to Essentials Package as a minimum to receive High Definition channels. Must have an HDTV, an HD receiver and an elliptical satellite dish to receive and view HD channels.

This is good for my laugh of the day. A "poor student" buying at least a 46" TV and spending $50+ a month on programming. LOL
Yeah, that's right... I am a "poor student". I've been working my balls off 60-65 hours/week since classes ended, and will be doing the same for the rest of the summer, to have enough money saved at the end of summer to cover everything I need, plus an extra $2000 or so, if I can spare it, for a new TV, which will be the first new television set I've ever owned. And the programming will be split at least 3 ways, depending on how many roommates I have in the fall.

Back to the topic...

I'm a Flames fan, so I'm wondering:

a) Does NHL Center Ice have much in the way of Flames games (is it basically NFL Sunday Ticket for hockey, where there's a large number of channels so you can see any game on a given night?)
b)Does NHL CI have any HD programming at all?
c)Since there's 4 Sportsnet channels in canada, covering all 6 canadian NHL teams, should I assume that approximately only every 6th Flames game broadcast on Sportsnet will also be on SN HD? Or is it gonna be a lot less/more often?
d)Can I get Flames PPV on either SC or BEV or both? I know I can on Shaw's Digital Cable.

Oh, and I'm also somewhat of a CFL fan, and the last few seasons the games have all been on either TSN (for the most part), or, occasionally, CBC... How often are the CFL games on TSN HD or CBC HD?

Thanks,

-Biggie!

Copied from the *C web page for high definition...

+Must be subscribed to Essentials Package as a minimum to receive High Definition channels. Must have an HDTV, an HD receiver and an elliptical satellite dish to receive and view HD channels.

Well, I guess I flew in under the radar. It's really wierd, though. I've talked to Starchoice several times since (both CSR's and Techies) about both programming questions and hardware (I've got 2 DSR500's and one DSR505) and even had techies ask me to check my signal strength on 280 and 287 to make sure the dish was aligned properly. Anyway, enough said.

Yeah, that's right... I am a "poor student". I've been working my balls off 60-65 hours/week since classes ended, and will be doing the same for the rest of the summer, to have enough money saved at the end of summer to cover everything I need, plus an extra $2000 or so, if I can spare it, for a new TV, which will be the first new television set I've ever owned. And the programming will be split at least 3 ways, depending on how many roommates I have in the fall.

Back to the topic...

I'm a Flames fan, so I'm wondering:

a) Does NHL Center Ice have much in the way of Flames games (is it basically NFL Sunday Ticket for hockey, where there's a large number of channels so you can see any game on a given night?)
b)Does NHL CI have any HD programming at all?
c)Since there's 4 Sportsnet channels in canada, covering all 6 canadian NHL teams, should I assume that approximately only every 6th Flames game broadcast on Sportsnet will also be on SN HD? Or is it gonna be a lot less/more often?
d)Can I get Flames PPV on either SC or BEV or both? I know I can on Shaw's Digital Cable.

Oh, and I'm also somewhat of a CFL fan, and the last few seasons the games have all been on either TSN (for the most part), or, occasionally, CBC... How often are the CFL games on TSN HD or CBC HD?

Thanks,

-Biggie!

NHLCI has 1000 games, or almost all games that are televised. On Bell it has 2 dedicated HD channels for NHLCI.

I don't remeber seeing any NHL in HD on SN, TSN did carry alot of HD games. (you will also get one game a week in HD and all the playoffs on Bell). I think SC carries TSNHD too now so this would not be different.

FOr the NFL fan Bell has 11 HD games on NFLST a week min compared to3 or 4 on Shaw's and SC's version, but you do pay more on Bell to get the extra to get this.

Total count right now is 34 vs 14 Bell vs SC, Bell has committed to add up to 30 more HD channels before the end of the year, not sure what Shaw's plans are, they are very tight lipped about things like this.

Total count right now is 34 vs 14 Bell vs SC, Bell has committed to add up to 30 more HD channels before the end of the year, not sure what Shaw's plans are, they are very tight lipped about things like this.

Wow -- 30 new HD channels in the next seven months. Any clues on what's comnig or when?

I've noticed a problem with the audio on my setup. I'm not sure if it's the 530 unit, Starchoice, or the providers. It's only on both HD channels CBC and TSN. The problem seems to be the "mix". For instance, when watching a hockey game on either channel, the announcers voices are great, but the crowd/ice surface audio seems to be very low. If I quickly switch to the SD version of the channel, the mix is much better, you can really hear the crowd roaring when they are into the hockey game. Has anyone else noticed this?
I'm not running any 5.1 audio, just straight stereo outputs to my LCD HD TV.

Thanks.

I can't get the HDMI connection to work. I get sound, but no picture. I have to resort back to colorstream.

Since the 505 uses DVI, there is NO sound there, only the other audio connections.

Make sure you have the RED Button set for either 720p or 1080i.
It's quite possible you are in a resolution either above or below what your display might handle.

Eg. if in native (0000) and your on an SD channel, then 480i might not be valid for your display over that connector.

2. You might be at 1080i, which is uncommon on many fixed pixel devices whoose digital maximum is 720p.

After that, try restarting things in a different order to resync the handshakes.

Hook everything up, leave the TV on, and hold down the power button on the front of the DSR505 for 10 seconds to restart it.

That should get you picture if the resolution (red button) is set right.

Any scuttlebutt on new HD channels for *C yet? Prior posts have indicated that June was a target date....of course they've have LOTS of target dates for different things. Let's hope we get Discovery Channel at the bare minimum.

I'll second that... I have my fingers crossed for Discovery HD and The Score HD. :)

Does BEV offer Score HD?

-Biggie!

Copied from the *C web page for high definition...

+Must be subscribed to Essentials Package as a minimum to receive High Definition channels. Must have an HDTV, an HD receiver and an elliptical satellite dish to receive and view HD channels.


So Essentials is $30.99 correct and you get the HD channels free. If you want Sportsnet HD you must get the Sports package in addition which is $4.99?

Thanks.

That is how it is supposed to work.

People here have said before that everyone gets Sportsnet HD, regardless of Sports subscription...I'm not sure if that is still true.

That is how it is supposed to work.

People here have said before that everyone gets Sportsnet HD, regardless of Sports subscription...I'm not sure if that is still true.

Absolutely true...

The only restriction on HD channels is with TMN-HD. You need to subscribe to the movies package to get this

Absolutely true...

The only restriction on HD channels is with TMN-HD. You need to subscribe to the movies package to get this

Granted the *choice brochure does state that you must subscribe to the Sports package in order to receiver SportsnetHD.