So now that the new code is out, I think a new thread might be in order since, hopefully, many of the issues in the old thread are resolved.
I'm also of how existing owners would rank the DSR530. It seems, judging from the feedback on this forum that the DSR530 that this product was a dog when it first came out. (The fact that Star Choice called me repeatedly asking me to shut down the threads and posters also was a clue!)
So how would you rank the product now and what issues remain unresolved?
I hope it wasn't ARRs crystal ball you found because I don't think my DSR530 has much time or days left in it if I have to reboot it again. ARRs crystal ball sounds better than the one you found.
Wade
As this recorder (the DSR 530) cost me about $700 I thought erroneously that I could program it to record a program when I would not be home. This apparently is not the case. You must be at the recorder in a 5 minute window just before the program starts which defeats the purpose for which I purchased it. They told me that they were working fixing the the program to allow this but I have no idea when the programming will be upgraded.
I've had good results by using the 1800 number to pre-order movies, then set the timer for that movie later in the day. Can't order too far out in the future, but it's something.
Unfortunatly I guess I was not a good boy either and never receved the December code, and I'm chomping at the bit for the new one this summer.
Wow, that's fast service.... My 530 died Monday night, I phoned Tuesday morning and they said they would ship another one out that I should get in 5-10 business days. Well, I got woken up by the Purolator guy this morning (Wednesday a.m.) with my "new" (refurbed by the looks of it) receiver. Installed it this morning and I'm going again!!! One day shipping... nice!!!
The box would freeze up on me... couldn't change channels etc. Did the front panel power reset and that fixed it for about 30 minutes and then it froze again.... did the reset... froze again a short time later... did the reset again and the unit wouldn't come back on... tried unplugging it overnight and nothing in the morning. I had the BC code but the new reciever is back on A8.
There was no griping about replacing the defective unit even though it was out of warranty. It was the TSR that said he was gonna replace it. I only had to pay $13.99 shipping fee. I know some of you would have argued with the guy about that fee but I'm not like that.
Its hard to complian about $13.99 when they are sending you a replacement $699 unit that by all rights is out of warranty! (However, the software is flawed, it is not like you as a customer went in and reprogrammed it to die: THEY DID! They would have a difficult time justifying not replacing it due to its warranty status)
The 530 has not worked, from a software perspective, since day one. StarChoice is relying on the fact that their defective PVR is still significantly better than a perfectly functioning VCR and that competition from products such as MCE and TIVO, at least in Canada, is non-existent.
I have to wonder who bears the most responsibilty, the company that knowingly sold defective hardware/software or the consumer who, after discovering the truth about the defects, failed to return said hardware/software.
As a willing guinea pig in this experiment I continue to participate because there are no better options.
It is unfortunate we were not told of being guinea pigs, for that, shame on Starchoice!
I think they should follow the doctrine of "Informed Consent" if they try that again.
But like the end results of drug studies, the product is usually improved and we ALL benefit.
From a few members here I've spoken to that have had a sneak peak of the result, you patience is soon to be rewarded.
Its hard to complian about $13.99 when they are sending you a replacement $699 unit that by all rights is out of warranty! (However, the software is flawed, it is not like you as a customer went in and reprogrammed it to die: THEY DID! They would have a difficult time justifying not replacing it due to its warranty status)
I was told a couple of months ago that my warranty would be extended for 1 year past the date that satisfactory code was sent, i.e. 1 year from when it starts to work properly. I'm on BC code now. Although I've received nothing in writing, apparently it's on my lengthy file.
Since you seem to know the inside scoop. Could you bullet list what we may be looking at in the way of improvements with the new code. When does that code come out again?
There was a post here a short while ago with a cut & paste from another site that listed what was to be expected.
It was from an email for a V.P. there to a subscriber.
As best I can recall, thing of it a BC without all the crashes and dead box syndrome.
In a nutshell, a box that should have been there a year ago May15th.
I.E. Something actually usable.
Wow, that's fast service.... My 530 died Monday night, I phoned Tuesday morning and they said they would ship another one out that I should get in 5-10 business days. Well, I got woken up by the Purolator guy this morning (Wednesday a.m.) with my "new" (refurbed by the looks of it) receiver. Installed it this morning and I'm going again!!! One day shipping... nice!!!
Mine is just on 12 months old and it has decided to die every evening in the past week just as I sit down to watch something! Recordings I have tried to make on the previous evening are usually broken and any programmed for after that time just don't happen.
It locks onto the last channel tuned and responds to absolutely no input from the remote. Won't change channels, can't get to options or guide or even turn off. A hard reset from the front panel usually doesn't work but turning off the power for about an hour or more does get it back to the usual (poorly functioning) state.
However many times when it comes back on after the power off routine it says that by disk is empty! It is actually about half full. A front panel reset at that point will usually work and all my recordings reappear but it rarely works properly for more than a couple of hours before the complete lock up happens again.. The weather has been warmer than usual so it might be temperature related but *C tech support doesn't seem to think so. However they haven't offered me a new unit either.
On the "normal" operating front (when my 530 was working) I did discover the reason for my bad sound sync. I had changed my sound system to an new BOSE system that had optical input and I had connected that to the 530 optical sound input on aux on the sound system. I also left the normal sound input connected as well on the TV input to the BOSE. The sound quality was great on optical, but the 530 has an almost half second delay in the sound from the optical output when compared with the normal digital sound outputs. It is easy to demonstrate if you connect two sound sysyems one connected optically and the other a normal wired connection. I have reported it to *C but they claimed nobody else had complained.
Is it just my unit? Would anyone else with an optical connection please confirm. The DVI signal still drops out for a second or two every minute or so even when viewing the guide, so it isn't related to program content or reception issues! Apparently the 530 just fails to give a reliable continuous sync signal and the TV looses the DVI connection for a brief period. *C do know about this but I doubt there will be a solution offered even when new software does arrive.
Mine is just on 12 months old and it has decided to die every evening in the past week just as I sit down to watch something! Recordings I have tried to make on the previous evening are usually broken and any programmed for after that time just don't happen.
It locks onto the last channel tuned and responds to absolutely no input from the remote. Won't change channels, can't get to options or guide or even turn off. A hard reset from the front panel usually doesn't work but turning off the power for about an hour or more does get it back to the usual (poorly functioning) state.
However many times when it comes back on after the power off routine it says that by disk is empty! It is actually about half full. A front panel reset at that point will usually work and all my recordings reappear but it rarely works properly for more than a couple of hours before the complete lock up happens again.. The weather has been warmer than usual so it might be temperature related but *C tech support doesn't seem to think so. However they haven't offered me a new unit either.
On the "normal" operating front (when my 530 was working) I did discover the reason for my bad sound sync. I had changed my sound system to an new BOSE system that had optical input and I had connected that to the 530 optical sound input on aux on the sound system. I also left the normal sound input connected as well on the TV input to the BOSE. The sound quality was great on optical, but the 530 has an almost half second delay in the sound from the optical output when compared with the normal digital sound outputs. It is easy to demonstrate if you connect two sound sysyems one connected optically and the other a normal wired connection. I have reported it to *C but they claimed nobody else had complained.
Is it just my unit? Would anyone else with an optical connection please confirm. The DVI signal still drops out for a second or two every minute or so even when viewing the guide, so it isn't related to program content or reception issues! Apparently the 530 just fails to give a reliable continuous sync signal and the TV looses the DVI connection for a brief period. *C do know about this but I doubt there will be a solution offered even when new software does arrive.
I am getting sound dropouts on my 530 and I am using an optical connection. The dropouts are not constant and there seems to be no pattern to them. Some recordings are ok and others are almost unwatchable. A factory reset did not help. I recorded some boxing on TSN which was unwatchable and the next day recorded another boxing program and it was perfect. I think I will try disconnecting the Optical connection and use an RCA to see if that is the problem. The Surround sound system is a pioneer. The sound dropouts are evident on both the live and the recorded drives although I have not tried checking to see if they are related. (ie dropouts while watching the live program and then watching the same program that has been recorded).
Lester
ps I am listening to the music channel 936 while typing this and notice occasional sound dropouts
Just finished talking to a csr and she said that they just received an E-mail stating that the new code is going to start downloading tomorrow July 18th. Great news. Don't forget to turn your receivers off at night.
wade
After reading the announced new version I called a CSR to get the low down. She told me that an email came through and the new version is to begin distribution on the 20th of this month.
Hmmm, I figured I could wait 2 more days.
But... I see I am targeted for CC
Whooppeeeee!!!
Sometimes it's not so bad when the CSR's are wrong.
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