After hearing that the 530 firmware update had been cancelled I sent an email to "Ask Jim" asking to confirm what had been reported here as well as any news about the 6XX series or ANY news about their PVR plans. I expressed my disappointment in the way SD has handled this and suggested they need to do a better job at communicating with their customers in a timely manner. This is the response I received after only 3 hours:
"Thank you for taking the time to email us at Shaw Direct and bring your concerns to our attention.
We’ve been working diligently to bring these features to the HDPVR 530 receiver. Ultimately, we have been unable to make the software perform to the standard that our customers expect and deserve. In light of the dynamic nature of the industry and unpredictability associated with software and hardware development we have chosen not to release the new software on the HDPVR 530.
Additionally, the HDPVR 530 currently has a feature set that our customers are familiar and comfortable with. Feedback from an extended Employee Field Trial of over 500 staff members has included consistent concerns about the “change” introduced by the new software, such as music channels being moved or the Browse Bar not being available anymore. In keeping with our vision of providing outstanding customer experiences, we have chosen not to fundamentally change the viewing experience of customers who may not want the change.
We are scheduled for an update regarding the new information for the upcoming PVR 630’s by the end of next week. With this announcement we will be able to provide more information regarding the release date and specifications.
Should you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us. Please include any previous correspondence with your replies.
Thank you for choosing Shaw Direct,
Ross – on behalf of Jim Cummins
Business Support - Ask Jim
Shaw Direct - Shaw Communications Inc.
24/7 Customer Care - 1-888-554-7827"
I wouldn't pay anything. The 530 is supposed to have the new features. Given the history of this unit, SD should replace the 530 with the new unit for anyone wanting it.
My Telus TV is being installed in just over a week from now (wiithout a locked in contract). I intend on keeping both Shaw Direct & TTV through the summer but not much longer.
If new receivers are released AND it is a good deal for existing 530 owners (I have 3 of them), that can only help convince me to stay with Shaw Direct. No new receivers OR bad trade in offer and I'm gone for good. I've been with SD for over 10 years, probably 12.
I think the only way you could get a deal is by waiting until the 530's are rendered useless for HD. You might see a small incentive for those who want to "upgrade" but why would you think that they would outright give you a new unit?
Best bet for current owners of a 530/505 is to wait until the signal change. Then you should see a swap out deal.
Speaking of which. I know this is slightly hijacking this thread, but does anyone have a date when the 505 and 530 will become able to do SD only? From what I understand the launch of the new receivers end of August doesn't also mean the switch to the new technology for HD at the same time? How long does my 505 and 530 have for shelflife for HD/
SD should consider a long term agreement for a free swap. I know it's not popular but I think it would be an interesting deal to sign a 2 year commitment and get a free replacement. I would gladly do it.
I have two 530 and one thing is for sure: I would never swap them both a the same time in case the 630 is a dudd.
Call me crazy, but I really think the 630 is going to work well. I'm not saying it'll be bug free, but Shaw knows they botched the 530 and they know it can't happen again.
I hear that preorders will be offered in a few weeks, but I can't confirm that.
BTW, does anyone know if it's actually going to be called the 630? I think we've just be assuming so all along.
As the starter of this thread I felt that I needed to follow up with SD as my response from them was that toward the end of last week there was to be an announcement that was going to give us all some concrete information about the features and the possible release date of the 6XX series receivers. What a surpise that no announcement from SD came out. With that in mind I sent Ask Jim a followup and asked specifically why there had been no announcement as promised. This is what I received:
Thank you for taking the time to email us!
We can appreciate your interest in receiving more information on the anticipated new PVR. At this time we do not have information on pricing, tech specs or a set release date. We will have more information on our website, once the receiver is released. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
Should you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us. Please include any previous correspondence with your replies.
So any talk about a pending announcement has been dropped - really it's a pretty lame response. I sent this out on Saturday so, thinking that it might have been answered by a weekend person I sent out a second inquiry about the annoucement status on Monday morning thinking that perhaps I might get someone more in the know during regular week day business hours. I basically outlined my earlier email and indicated that an announcement had been promised by the end of last week and that now it appeared that nothing was coming forth till the reciever is released. I indicated that SD needed to start following through with their promises and that news about the 630 reciever would be a good place to start. This is the response I received back:
Thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention. We understand your frustration with this and we are here to address your concerns. We would like to sincerely apologize for any inconvenience that previous announcements from us regarding the new software for HDPVR530 may have caused. We want to assure you that these were never intended to deceive our customers, but rather share the excitement we were feeling internally about the new software. These announcements were made with the best information available at the time regarding projected future progress. The prematurity of past announcements has shaped our current guidelines to take a much more conservative approach when it comes to discussing future releases.
It is our goal to have the new HDPVR model ready for release sometime in late summer / early fall. This is a tentative timeline and could still change depending on the progress of final testing and development. We want to make sure this new HDPVR model will meet our customer’s and business standards. We cannot offer an exact release date for this at this time. With regards to hardware price, this has not been communicated yet. Once the receiver is ready for launch, we will communicate the information in our web site and other communication venues.
Should you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us. Please include any previous correspondence with your replies.
Thank you for choosing Shaw Direct
So there you have it, a slightly better response, but no real new information and no explination as to why the original annoucement never happened. This is starting to feel familiar doesn't it?
I think they should take the "Ask Jim" feature off their website since they can never answer any questions properly, which makes customers more frustrated (SEE this Thread). Or they need to get better script writers.
Just received my SD invoice this month and low and behold on the second page it has a blurb:
"This summer we're launching our best HDPVR yet. It's jam-packed with cool features like Smart PVR technology, HDMI connectivity and has more capacity, more control and more flexibility, like the ability to see what's on up to 14 days in advance with our enhanced On-Screen Guide. You'll hear more about this great new technology next month."
See there is action from SD..............
Plus the new bird will delivery over 100 HD channels in 2012 and they will be adding even more channels to their lineup BEFORE the new sat. launches.
Why does SD insist on giving out incomplete info on the new PVR. They make a "it's on it's way" statement & then when subs want more detail none is provided. They are really their own worst enemies.
The cost would have been known over a year ago well before they even embarked on a program. As for retail pricing, that may depend entirely on the timing of the release and any pending backlash they may anticipate, but if a release was imminent as in a few months, the pricing would already be set with marketing materials near ready and a NPI (New Product Introduction) kit would be well documented.
Tech specs!!!, then just what the Sam Hill are they testing? If they don't known by now, then some vendor is VERY good. And Shaw board of directors should be relieved of duty for buying a black box of unknown commodity.
If you closely examine the details and the posturing that is happening, my once hopeful jubilation to get it right is rapidly diminishing as all I see here is more of the same old tired misfires that got them into the state they are in now.
I'd frankly respect them more if they just said we screwed up big time, did it again, so because we love our customer so darn much, we are selling the unit to someone that can operate it properly as you all deserve.
Looking back at past rumours, I wouldn't expect a TELUS to come along with a bailout, as expectation they will take their cash and purchase debt ridden Bell once a few more wireless startups get a hold and the marketplace and politics are right in a few years and then they will bury SD and cable anyways with true state of the art terrestrial and space delivery of TV.
Back in 2003 (after researching both options at the time) I made the decision to go with SC. Now I'm on my 3rd 530, have 2 505's and a 315. I have stood by SD for the past 7 and faithfully paid over $100 per month. I paid extra for installation on the 2nd 505 and had to purchase a 4X8 switch to accommodate all the necessary lines.
Based on their past track record - late summer/early fall will probably turn into sometime next year. I was going to wait until they announced pricing for current owners of 530/505 models - but I'm not prepared to wait until next year only to find out that their offer was not worth the wait.
I'm afraid if I don't hear some good news soon, I will be left with no choice but to look at other options.
I'd like to know this as well. To me, the timeline of the DVB-S2 switchover is more important than the release date of the new 6xx series. When the new 6xx series comes out, I can decide if it's worth it to upgrade, BUT what I (we) really need to know is, if I don't upgrade, when will my 530 and 505's be rendered incompatible for HD signals.
As Moose57 stated above, does anyone know of this timeframe?
I am firmly in the wait till the switchover camp, but i see potential downside
It may be a situation where they announce 90 days (or even less) before they do it, and there will be a mad scramble for 6-series boxes, some people will be without boxes
and for anyone to poo poo this scenario, remember, this IS Shaw Direct we're talking about!
Insightful for sure, but the real downside is probably sticking around to find out which fiasco it will be, will it be door number 1 or door number 2.
What I foresee is the 6XX will be delayed ad nauseam, just like all the 5XX broken promieses, therefore the DVB-S2 will be delayed, so little to no new HD content.
So SD subs will leave in droves and all the BDU's that SBS has will also look elsewhere.
Unlike the disclaimer in investing, this is a case were past performance DOES dictate future performance. (at least until proven otherwise).
some features include
search by title, genre, music as well.
14 day guide
unsubcribed channels are grey colour on guide or you can hide them altogether.
upcoming airdates
set to record NEW episodes or all.
start early end late programmable option.
dual recording you can watch 3rd program off dvr list
supports component, dvi/hdmi and hdmi connections.
current version 00.12
Do you have a screen shot of this? Or can you attach it to the forum for all to see?
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