Even though I'm no longer associated with the DSR5XX program, I find it quite alarming at the increasing number of DSR530's being replaced.
Lets gather some information, on the long shot that it may help Starchoice, assuming somethere that can effect change is able to read this and share experiences leading up to and the resolutions afterwords.

First my take on the issues:
We know that code BC was a flash killer.
We know they added some 'chkdsk' routines in CC to address that.
Generally TOO many reboots/resets will toast the box.

When mine died after a year + of service it it had gone through the FULL spectrum of ALL software, even those not released and those 6 months prior to launch.

The fail symptons were:
1. Initially continious flashing blue light pipes.
2. Then finally NO lights, appears dead, but disk will spin up.

What we observed when connected to a development probe was a totally trashed flash filesystem.
It took several (20+) external chkdsk routines to clear the initial startup errors.
I haven't seen that since my old UNIX days when a disk went bad.
Then after formatting the flash and several attempts to reload the operating systems, VxWorks, it could boot.
A reload of the applications that makes it a *C PVR loaded but NEVER did boot.
After a day on the bench, it went to Moto for post mortem.

SO, for those of you that think it's the hard disk, its generally NOT.

This unit seems to suffer long term effects of previous BAD code.

It appears, and I'm only specualting and there is NO long term evidence to support my theory that REPLACEMENT units that ship with A0/A4/A8 code and receive CC in the first few days appear NOT to suffer the ill effects and I expect them to run a suitably long time.

I do know there is still a problems in certain chlkdsk routines in CC that have the POTENTIAL to be box killers, but the vastly increased stability appears to thwart that.

Fiannly, how was *C in getting a replacement?

Even though for many warranty has passed, there is the
"Jim Cummins" extended warranty promise to fall back on.
Jim is Senior V.P of Operations and the highest on the *C totem pole.
Only Peter B., Shaw President is higher.
The unofficial wording seems to be that the box is warranted for 1 full year after delivering stable code.
Today, that is taken to mean CC that was deliverd July 18th 2006.
I suppose some could argue that it might also apply to the next yet to be released version, I hope so.

There appears to be a couple of prices floating around w.r.t. replacement.
The flat $199 out-of-warranty fee, which while abargain for a 530 should not be the case for some time to come and the $13.99 shipping fee that includes returning the defective unit.

My BEST advice is to describe the history and current symptons and allow the CSR/TSR to reach their own conclusion that replacement IS required.
If he pulls the $199 card, remind him of the "Jim Cummins Extended warranty program", or that for THAT kinda money, BELL has got a sweat deal...
If he plays the $13.99 shipping card, so what, try and suggest that it be waived inlieu of all the recent problems or that you been a customer for years.

Great timing on this poll, my 530 just died yesterday. I had my unit since May 2005. I guess time, and all the various firmwares caught up with it.
The CSR was looking at her system to see the activation date, to see if it was out of warranty. I just mentioned the Jim Cummins warranty letter, and she said yes that's right, the warranty has been extended on all 530 units, and she mentioned that they have been having lots of problems with them.
So I'm going to pay the 13.99 for shipping. I don't mind, I think that's quite a reasonable deal. 7-10 business days for it to arrive. I bet they are busy with the Christmas season and the deal they have on the 530 now. Hopefully it'll be here before Christmas :)

I am now on receiver #4. #1 (new from May 05 )survived through A0,A4,A8, and then died from an "incomplete cc download". #2 ( a refurbished receiver) was replaced because of audio drop-outs and problems with messages telling me that the hard drive was full, when it wasn't, and the TSR was unable to do a factory reset and erase hard drive. All programs remained after a factory reset with erase hard drive option selected. That puzzled the TSR so it was decided it would be replaced. #3 (a refurbished receiver) arrived at the house and would not function at all. #4 (a new receiver) arrived yesterday, took cc download last night and I have every confidence that it will perform well. I think my experience is extraordinary, especially #3.

One of the things that would worry me about this is getting a refurbished replacement. You pay $800+ for something that breaks much sooner than it should, and then they send you a used one?

and then they send you a used one?

That happens with all replacements, ever since the legacy lines.

I have every confidence that it will perform well. .

You have the faith, man!

This is quite interesting. It would be interesting to find out how many of these units have failed. If the number is extraordinary, what position would SC take? Would they just keep replacing them hoping that the next code rectifies the remainder of the problems? Do they just hope for the best? Does Motorola foot any of the bill?

At what point does it become more economical to pull all the units? I suspect that this would never happen because aside from cost, SC's reputation would be damaged.

Is it possible that they are trying to flood the market with these units (promotion) to siphon out these problems? There must be a level of confidence somewhere for them to do this, either that the problem machines form a small minority or that the problems will be ferreted out for once and for all.

It would also be interesting to find out what Motorola has to say / is doing about this.

Starchoice,

At some point one has to see the glass as half full. :D

My 530 was replaced once and none of the symptoms contained in the poll applied to me. My problem was pixelation on some recorded shows and the service man who came a-calling immediately diagnosed it as a hard drive problem and phoned Star Choice and they sent out a replacement with 2 or 3 days. The new receiver has been working fine since. With regard to the previous poster's comment that all replaced machines are refurbished ones, I have my doubts. My replacement came with the A4 Code and all the accessories (cables, remote control, etc.) were packaged exactly as my original receiver was when I purchased it from the store. If a unit is refurbished, wouldn't it come with the CC Code already installed?

Nice timing. My 530 just packed it in yesterday:mad: . Blue lights cycle endlessly. They are shipping a new one at no cost but due to "labour shortage problems in Alberta", it could be 3 to 4 weeks I'm told.

After the CC code and a factory reset, it was quite stable up to now. I'm going to buy a better power bar (maybe the Belkin F9A833-10) for the new one. Can't hurt.

I finally got mine replaced for only the $13. But it was an entirely uphill battle to get out of the $199. If I did not have the email with the promise I would be out of luck.

They were very firm and not interested in my satisfaction.

Tom

Raymond,

I don't understand what a labour shortage in Alberta would have to do with you getting a replacement. The receivers are shipped from Ontario. As to the 3-4 weeks to get a replacement, did they actually tell you it would take that long. I received my replacement in just over a week and I am in Alberta. If you were told 3-4 weeks for a replacement I would think that you should be calling back and talk to someone else.

I am on #4 now.
I got my first 530 as soon as they came out.
First one had a fan that sounded like a bag of marbles after one day.
Second had a fan that sounded like a bag of marbles after a couple of months.
Third died a slow and painful death of ever increasing number of freeze-ups, and then finally would not re-boot ( CC code was running at that point).
Fourth one ran fine for a while and then very quickly deteriorated to constant freeze-ups. After last freeze-up, lost all my recordings and it won't record anymore, but at least it's stable. Only thing I get is rare black screen, but I can get my picture back by turning the unit off from the remote, and then turning it back on.
Never paid anything for replacement, not even shipping, even though its out of warranty now. The day I need to put another dollar into a DSR 530 is the day I won't be needing to return to this Forum.

Steve

Raymond,

I don't understand what a labour shortage in Alberta would have to do with you getting a replacement. The receivers are shipped from Ontario. As to the 3-4 weeks to get a replacement, did they actually tell you it would take that long. I received my replacement in just over a week and I am in Alberta. If you were told 3-4 weeks for a replacement I would think that you should be calling back and talk to someone else.


I believe they do have a warehouse in Alberta. When I had to return a warranty 305 some 3 years ago, the address was in Alberta, possibly Edmonton.

That was an expired arrangement they had with logistics provider Barrett Xplore and is no longer the case.
Given the size of Shaw/*C National warehouse in Calgary, you'd think they ship from an East and West location, but since repair units go to Ontario, that's were the replacements come from.

I've only seen new stock in Calgary, supposedly for retailers.

Am I the only one who thinks this seems like alot? 21 replacements on a small forum with only a few 530 owners...

Maybe the next poll should be "I have a 530 and it HASN'T been replaced" with options to list how long they've had it.

Guess I'll have to start calling my 530 grandpa. Got it on day 3 of it's arrival at Futureshop...I think May 12, 2005. I still have Lord of the Rings return of the king in high def...recorded May 25, 2005 on the harddrive. I'm wondering if I should erase the pre cc recordings. Mine was a rare one that operated pretty good on A8. In fact, I'd say I have more reboots on CC than on A8. I use this thing every day...record about 2-4 hours each day. I never turn it off.

For those of us who may need to use that Jim Cummins letter...can someone post it or link to it.

I see you responded in the poll you had a DSR530 replaced for a $199. And more than once AND for Lockups AND for flashing lights.
You're post history suggests that you have never had one.
Your sig lists evil Bell equipment.
We have to trust the integrity of the members here to be truthfull about their responses and if you never had one, then by particpating, you been naughty and can expect a lump of coal for Christmas.

The very nature of the thread suggest;
1. You have or do own a DSR530 AND
2. It's been replaced

There are plenty of other threads to discuss matters, but this thread is for qualifying members to discuss their replacement experience.

You tell him ARR. He is skewing the results by doing this although one would have to guage the results of such an informal poll with a grain of salt regardless.

My original pre-order batch 530 died last Saturday while *C was trying the factory reset and all the usual diagnostic steps they seem to follow. I knew it was going to fail, but I let the rep decide on the replacement after the machine wouldn't even power up anymore after being unplugged a couple of times. It was really toast at that point. He offered to replace it free without any prompting even after he claimed there was no extended warranty.

My replacement machine got to my local Purolator pickup point in Cochrane AB by the following Friday. 10 minutes on the phone this morning and the machine was up and running on A4. Mine sure looked like a new machine with all the factory style packing.

My other 530 which was new from Futureshop this summer has been working fine with a lot of HD viewing and recording. I have to say that the guide sure looks a lot nicer on a HD LCD screen than on a SD tv.

Even with all the problems and babying these machines need I wouldn't go back to a regular receiver or VCR again! :)