After I picked up the 505 and found it didn't "handshake" with my Dell LCD HDTV I did what any sensible husband would do. I bought another LCD HDTV that it would handshake with. Best Buy is selling the new Toshiba 20" 16:9 HDTV for $849 and includes HDMI. I picked up a DVI/HDMI cable and will try it out when everything arrives. You gotta love free delivery.

My wife suspects this was a sinister plot from the beginning to upgrade another gadget in the house. I guess she's right (again).

...
3) Try to set up the remote control to use a key sequence that removes the popup message if it's there and doesn't screw up anything if it's not.

I'm not sure if #3 is even possible, but I thought I'd throw it out there.

Good thinking Bob... sometimes the simplest solutions are the most difficult to see. Though I haven't tried it yet myself, there should be a fairly simple workaround. Have your PVR program always insert an "enter" command after tuning to the channel to be recorded. I believe most software packages allow you to do this, as some set top boxes require the "enter" after the channel key sequence. If the popup isn't there, worst case scenario is that something may happen briefly with that on-screen program info that comes up after tuning to a channel.

And actually, there may be an even simpler solution. I've never tried just leaving it to see how long the pop-up stays on. Perhaps it disappears after a short time, and if that's the case then there is nothing to worry about. I'm going to try this tonight to see where I get.

I purchased my 505 from BB this month for $199 with $50 PPV credit. It works fantastic with my newly purchased Tosh 52HMX85, using DVI to HDMI. I just came back from BB getting a $70 plus tax refund. I only found out about the $129 price tag from these forums, so THANK YOU! What a bargain!

Okay folks, I picked up a shiny new 505 after work yesterday for $129 at Best Buy. Can't hardly wait to get it installed!

Thanks for your replies to my questions. They are very helpful. Can't wait to see how it all works once it's all set up, especially with the "enter" remote command after tuning a channel.

It was fun going into Best Buy knowing more about the receiver than the sales reps did. You'd never hear about firmware issues from them. :p

They seem to be selling on Ebay for like $100 when I last looked at this one

http://cgi.********/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5819740060&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1

They seem to be selling on Ebay for like $100 when I last looked at this one

http://cgi.********/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5819740060&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1


Why do people say their "selling for $$$$" when the auction isn't even over? It wont sell for $100, theres still a full day left. Sorry just annoys me.

Not to mention the guy is charging a hefty $40.00 shipping charge.

I picked up the receiver tonight for $129 at Future Shop after they price matched it to Best Buy. They changed the price on their computers, at least at that location, to reflect the price and match Best Buy.

As a bonus, I had a $100 credit for Future Shop (visa points) and Star Choice has also offered us $100 against our bill (we didn't want any free movies) because we said we were considering Rogers. So it's free with some change left over for us!! :)

I picked up the receiver tonight for $129
because we said we were considering Rogers. So it's free with some change left over for us!! :)

Was it the deal that made you decide to stay with *C?

Was it the deal that made you decide to stay with *C?

Yes not to mention that Rogers was going to be more expensive.

My husband got a deal a while ago with Star Choice with the selection of channels that he picked out. If he cancels the service, he'll never be able to get that price again. At least if we change our minds and decide eventually we don't want Star Choice we can easily switch to Rogers. So considering the box is free it's a win-win situation for us.

Rogers was also quite a bit more expensive then Star Choice and I'm only willing to pay so much for watching tv.

I just got one. My buddy has one working here in S. Fla, and it is fine! I did not realize that I needed a different LNB. I was using the one for the 110/119 satellites. I will follow it up for you when I locate a proper LNB.

Hey , couple questions about the 505.

I was looking on the *Choice website and it says for connections it only has DVi , S-Video , Composite and RF. I'm thinking it would be pretty stupid not to have component and guessing it's just a mistake on their website. Could anyone clarify that for me? Also what type of video cables does the reciever come with? I know our 530 came with some component ones.

I also checked back a few pages and saw that you can buy this for $129 new but couldn't really figure out where. Bestbuy is showing it on their website for $199 so was it a sale that has ended? Futureshop has it on for $149 right now with a $50 instant rebate. Starchoice has it for $199 with $50 PPV credits. Does anyone know if the $50 rebate at Futureshop is just the same PPV credits or if it is actually cash off the price? I just want the lowest price , or at least programming credits off our bill and not PPV ones. If there is any other stores that have it lower with rebates or programming credits I'd love to know.

Yes, it has COMPONENT and comes with a COMPONENT cables.

From what I can tell, Future Shop's price is a $50 instant rebate, seperate from the $50 PPV credit that all customers are supposed to get when they activate the receiver.
It has been $129 at both FutureShop and BestBuy in weeks past. $149 however certainly isn't a bad price...I paid $149 for my Nav405 less than 1.5 years ago!

I just picked up a 505 at BB for $129. (Oct 20/05)

When I called in to StarChoice to activate the unit, they asked me if I had purchased it from a retailer. When I said yes, they gave me a $50 PPV credit and 90 days to use it. (She told me it didn't apply to special events or adult programming).

Great deal!

Hmm whats the biggest, if any difference from the 505 and 500 model receivers?

Cause thats a cheap price for HD receiver IMHO.

Same basic feature set, but newer version of the hardware.
Closer to a 530 without the Hard Drive.
500 had USB 1 and 505 has USB2 if they ever use that.
500 had front panel inputs, 505 does not, but who cares
early 500 had no 720p support, while later and 505 does
505 has DVI digital output, currently not 100%
Will like see the revised code befoer the 500 with 12 hour clock and dim display like 530.

Bargain priced due to collapse of VOOM and availability of many common parts.

Great review! Clear and concise. Thanks.

Why is the guide better in the 505 opposed to the 500? Does anyone have a "screenshot" of the 505 guide?

Thanks

505 Guide is identical to the 500 guide, which is identical to the 530 guide, except there is no option to record the program.
Tiny Picture - 500/505/530 Guide:
http://www.starchoice.ca/images/store/dsr500_picture_in_picture.jpg

The 500 and 505 guide are a tiny bit behind the 530 that is in active development.
That said, sometime in the next 6 months, the 500 & 505 should get the same guide as the 530 with all the latest tweaks and twiddles to make it more usable.

I can't wait, my 500 is looking a little dated right now.
I really need the 12 hour clock and dimmable display.