....Why not get a 505 for now?...an amazing HD receiver for cheap....

....Then, once one or more of these happens....buy a PVR
1. the 530 becomes more stable
2. the 530 drops substantially in price
3. StarChoice launches a 2nd generation PVR

...At this point, I'm waiting for #3.
505 a good deal, for sure!

As for 1, 2 & 3, the box stability is alledgedly THE main focus for the next release, rumoured to be March sometime.

When that happens, there is no compelling reason to drop the price as it will work much closer to what it should be, so no additional discounts required.

Given the reserve capabilities of the unit and the long development cycles, I think a 2nd generation unit is not even on the radar screen.

I'd much prefer they stick with it, get it right, enhance some features and preserve MY investment rather than orphan it and start anew like the 921, then 942, and now some MPEG4 942 wahtever it's called etc that some others have chosen.

Since he is a new *C customer, he will get basic install of 2 receivers or 1 DVR530 for free.
Basic install of 2 receivers:
If you get 2 DVR530's upfront, both will be installed for free.

I would like to see StarChoice/Shaw just throw a few hundred thousand dollars to hire a dedicated programming team, start the firmware from scratch, and get it working. They've been screwing around with the same firmware since the DSR500 in December 2003, and while its gotten better, its still not good enough.



I thing you right, It's incredable such a big compagnie like *.C can't leave the "merchandise". How many are we ? How many bought the 530 ? Are we "loco" to have buy it and make such of confidence at *.C ?

Something telling me that these something not going well with the compagnies ! Why ? Because we can't get an reasonable answer !!! All we have is people speaking of What should happen... My guest is we had pay a big price for such a machine that does'nt give the results...........

I still have A8 so is better that the A4 before....after almost a year. But if a MP3 machine at 75$ can have a software working well, Why don't *.C does'nt go and collect there staf to work with ?

Someone how waiting mean put off................

Last night I had four resets within two hours.

The first one was imediatly after turning the machine on.
Didnt do anything to it, just turn it on.

The second was a couple minutes after it rebooted, when I tried to switch to another channel.

The third one was again a couple minutes after when I tried to play safe and opned the dvr list... mistake...

Finally the fourth one was an hour or so after, watching a recorded event and I tried using one fo the trick modes and it crashed... after that I decided to go to bed. :)

I think I am going to finally get the 530 although my Pioneer DVD Recorder has worked flawless for me but it does not record HD. I do have one question though, can I use the second tuner for my Cable instead of two SC inputs?

I think I am going to finally get the 530 although my Pioneer DVD Recorder has worked flawless for me but it does not record HD. I do have one question though, can I use the second tuner for my Cable instead of two SC inputs?
At the moment, 1 tuner is dedicated to Display (and Live record) and the 2nd tuner for Record. If you do not connect Tuner2, your timed records would not work.

At the moment, 1 tuner is dedicated to Display (and Live record) and the 2nd tuner for Record. If you do not connect Tuner2, your timed records would not work.

Too bad....thanks for the reply.

Note: Opinions expressed herein are soley the opinion of the author of the posting and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of anyone else.

These are my thoughts on the DSR530.

I do not own a DSR530 DVR however, I would like to own a DSR530 DVR . I have read the information on this and other forums and the problems that many people are encountering have keep me from purchasing this unit.

While some members of this forum seem to be holding out hope that this unit will work well given time, I wonder how much time one must wait. I find it amusing that some users of the DSR530 say the number of lock-ups depends on how you use it. Well to me that is like buying a new car, driving off the parking lot, making three left turns, two right turns and pressing on the brake too fast and the car cuts out right in the middle of traffic. Only then to have someone tell you that you are using it too much and to not make three left turns and two right turns or you’ll have problems! Would any normal person stand for that?

I think you have to look at it for what you were told the product was capable of performing and using that information to base you’re buying decision on. If the unit had some type of End-User License Agreement (“EULA”) which is a legal agreement between you and StarChoice stating that if you open the box of the DSR530 you agree to the terms of this license.

That license agreement could state that the following items were not working at the time of release or sometimes worked as advertised. And that in the future they would address these issues. Also, that these units were not fully tested at time of shipping and that some new unforeseen problems may occur.

Then you as a consumer would be aware that the unit has problems and it gives you a choice to open and “agree” or return for a full refund. At least this would give the consumer and the company some protection. Or sell the unit below full cost because of this and have people test the unit.

Right now I would think someone could easily sue StarChoice for the unit not working as advertised and easily win a case against them. This could also lead to class action legal suits. Perhaps they haven’t pissed off the right person yet to take them to court!

It’s just that as consumers we tend to take too much from large corporations and always give them the benefit of the doubt. Did the company had prior knowledge that the unit did not perform as advertised?

P.S. How much does it cost to give subscribes some free PPV movies or rebate for the troubles all this has caused its loyal customers?........

Krazy Knuck

It’s just that as consumers we tend to take too much from large corporations and always give them the benefit of the doubt. Did the company had prior knowledge that the unit did not perform as advertised?

Except...of course...the unit *does* work as advertised.

It's a shame you've been put off by some of the louder complainers on here. I bought the 530 when it first came out, had some early problems when recordings were 'breaking' part way through, but since then have had very little trouble. I suspect that for the vast majority of the users, the vast majority of the time, the unit is just fine.

I can't imagine my SC experience without the DVR, particularly with the Olympics coming up this weekend. I can't wait to create my own highlight packages from the full daytime coverage instead of being subjected to the networks' edited highlights. I certainly wouldn't go back to my old 305 unit for anything.

Except...of course...the unit *does* work as advertised.

It's a shame you've been put off by some of the louder complainers on here... ...

Well herein lies one problem....who do you believe?

Krazy

Well herein lies one problem....who do you believe?

Krazy

Well, just use your own car example. For some, usnig their cars mean to drive 2 km to work in the morning, drive 2 km back in the evening, and never use it for anything else. Drives 12000 km a year. Not likely to have many problems.

Take another one who drives 20 km round trip to go to work, but also delivers pizza as a part time job in the evening, and frequently goes to site seing trips pulling a trailer on weekends. Drives 50000 km a year. More chances of havnig problems.

It applies to the varied comments of the 530. I myself, don't consider myself a power user, I do record a few shows, use the Live Pause feature, and do have a few issues. Those who say they have very few issues, probably don't use it a lot. There are definetely some documented bugs in the A8 s/w, that are reproduceable everytime. But for the light users who never use these features, they will basically say that their experiences with the 530 have been pleasant, etc, etc...

K.K. you better wait then.

Wait until the next release before Easter, re-evaluate it then.

Buy it from some shop with return priveleges and be aware of the *C cancellation policy and see it for yourself.

Relying on other peoples opinions is just that, Opinions. For me and many others, it's great, other not so.

Depends on the type of person you are wether you'll be satisfied or not.

I say this becasue Starchoice really doesn't want unhappy customers anymore than you do yourself, so I'f it's not for you, then walk away.
If it is, then jump on board, but DO your own homework and then you'll be better prepared to decide which side of the fence you'll fall on.

You are in a lot better position than those that bought blindly without awareness of the 'issues'.
If you knew the issues and bought it anyways, what you suggested earlier seems frivilous.
If you were genuinely wronged, then maybe.
As long as they continue to show me a commitment to improvement to the best of their efforts, then great I say.

I have owned the 530 since it was introduced.
Timers set for 8 times/week. I use the component output on a XBR450.
Works fine for me too.

It applies to the varied comments of the 530. I myself, don't consider myself a power user, I do record a few shows, use the Live Pause feature, and do have a few issues. Those who say they have very few issues, probably don't use it a lot. There are definetely some documented bugs in the A8 s/w, that are reproduceable everytime. But for the light users who never use these features, they will basically say that their experiences with the 530 have been pleasant, etc, etc...

For what it's worth, I'd consider myself a fairly heavy user of the unit. We have multiple timers going off every day, often watch recordings in "chase" mode, use live pause/etc. on hockey games while my wife is recording another show on a different channel, etc. Still have very few issues.

That said, we're pretty diligent about cleaning off old recordings so the hard drive is never close to full and, probably more importantly, only ever watch in SD (don't have an HDTV...only bought the 530 for its PVR features).

Every night I constantly watch programs recorded from the night before and also use the chase recording option regularly. I have about 15 timers set each week and rarely have any issues. Going back to my old 405 receiver for me would be like going back to black & white tv!

Except...of course...the unit *does* work as advertised.I have to strongly disagree with you on that statement. The unit *DOES NOT* work as advertised, and you know what else? It has never worked as advertised since May 2005. Just as recent as 7 PM this evening I had to reboot my 530 for the 4th time this week. I don't call that a machine that works. There are timer issues, recording issues, lock-up issues, playback using DVI issues, and a variety of other miscellaneous items with the DSR530. StarChoice has done a great job at telling the customer that a fix is in progress and will be delivered to the machine soon. How soon is yesterday? I would love to have had a 100% working machine. Every other machine that I have bought for my TV or stereo works 100% each and every time. My VCR never gave me this much trouble, and my next door neighbour who has the Rogers PVR never has to reboot his machine - PERIOD. It does what it was intended and it does it correctly each and every time. It also has dual recording, something else StarChoice said we would get later on, but are now saying they are not going to offer it.

I believe whoever said the right person hasn't come along to sue *C is correct. All it will take is one person with the documented problems and the will to go forward with this.

For the rest of you who are displeased with the DSR530, I strongly suggested documenting each date/time that you call StarChoice with a problem. Each date/time that the machine locks up or does some other mind boggling thing like lose a recording. If enough documentation is presented on this crappy machine, any judge would favour the customer.

I can't imagine my SC experience without the DVR, particularly with the Olympics coming up this weekend. I can't wait to create my own highlight packages from the full daytime coverage instead of being subjected to the networks' edited highlights. I certainly wouldn't go back to my old 305 unit for anything.[/QUOTE]

How can you edit down a block of recorded material? I'd like to save a couple of Superbowl commercials ("Streaker" and Fedex's "Caveman")?
Thanks.

...It also has dual recording, something else StarChoice said we would get later on, but are now saying they are not going to offer it.

I don't recall it EVER being said they are not going to do it.
If it was said, consider the reliability of the source as well.
I think it will come in due time.
There are many request from consumers on the table, not the least of which is to minimize the bug count.
Then there are requested featues of which you mention just one of the many possibilities.
Which will come first, Dual Record, Searchable Guide, who knows?
Both are complex to do correctly and you'll see one before the other, but not likely both at the same time.

Based on your posts, we can see how unhappy you are.
Have you not considered going to where the grass is alledgedly greener? If not, why not?

What's keeping you with Starchoice?
Sometimes you need a life altering experience to realize that's life is too short fight everything all the time.
Find a provider and HD PVR that will make you happy, you'll live longer.

If you don't like their B.S., tell them so and get up and leave.
Like their old moto, "you have a choice"

Rogers, Shaw, Cogeco, Bell, etc.

But, me thinks you may well find some detractors there as well.
Read the DHC threads.

Krazy,

I think, like it's been stated several times here, you need to make your own infromed decision on the 530. I bought mine at Christmas, and although I'm not a heavy user I don't think I'm a light user either. My unit is on for at least 6 hours a day and I record about 10 hours a week. I've experienced less then one lock up a week. Although somewhat inconvient at the time, I am not about to launch a law suit, I can live with this for the short term. Personally I feel the pros far outweigh the cons.

Murray

Well said Smurfy71. I can't imagine not owning this unit. Don't get me wrong, I would love to have no bugs on the unit and I by no means suggest that SC should not address this immediately. However, I know several owners of the 530 who are very pleased with its performance. None use this forum to express their pleasure with the 530.