StarChoice Replaces Motorola 505HD for $

[HDx2]

Received a telephone call from StarChoice Calgary the other evening, informed the Motorola HD 505 will not receive HD programming after sometime in August 2007. The 505 will still work for non HD programming she reports.

Advised my Motorola 530 PVR is not affected as it will accept upcoming changes in StarChoice HD programming as is.

Both my 505's however, must be replaced by a new Motorola HD receiver which StarChoice ships at a cost of $99.00 CAD$ each, with a $50.00 movie credit to account for each new receiver. This new receiver will list for $199.00 according to the rep.

Just 2 days later (today) new HD units arrived by Purolator, however we did not expect delivery and no one was home to accept the package.

Locally, I cannot pick up the receivers until Monday, June 25th so the new receivers remain a mystery.

The StarChoice rep said this change is to make possible as many as "hundreds" of HD channels.

Am I the first to know about this and does anyone have any further information about this change in receivers?

As an afterthought, I always thought of these receivers as Model 505, but I have just located the user manual that came with one, and I see it is referred to as a "500 series" I say this because the two being replaced in my home, might be an early model and perhaps that is why replacement is necessary.

[morikaweb]

That sound a bit at odds with my experience.

Just last week my 505 died. I lhad left it on and went away to do other stuff. When I came back the picture was frozen, and the sat single indicator on the front showed no single. It had been unstable (Crashing) for months though. Long story short nothing I or the rep on the phone could do would make the thing see the sat single.

So they shipped a replacement which I received just the other day. No charge for replacement.

Why would they replace my 505 with a new one (I'm positive it is brand new, and the manual has screen shots of the new guide) for free, if they plan on discontinuing them and charging for the replacement?

[Pornstar Choice]

This post has to be nominated for most uninformed of the year.

Starchoice is offering 505's as the replacement for 500 receivers. The 500's cannot handle the 8PSK upgrade and will not be able receive HD.

There are numerous threads in this forum already discussing this......mystery solved.

[morikaweb]

As an after thought though, the 505 I received is not the same as the 505 that broke. This one some kind of expansion port on the right hand side that my old one did not. It is also far lighter than the old one.

The remote is also different. It has an aspect button, an interactive button, and a bunch of color letter buttons. It is also slimmer, shorter, and is tecured differently (not slippery like the old one). IT is also lighter, and the battery compartment is sturdier.

[sabres12]

Wow. Usually being a first time poster, doing some research goes a long way. And I totally wasted my 200th post on this.

[HDx2]

The advice is helpful.

The sarcasm somewhat less.

Not everyone lives in Calgary next door to *C head office or spends their leisure time waiting for an opportunity to throw a spear.

However, I see now my "mystery" is resolved.

[jbracing24]

this one some kind of expansion port on the right hand side that my old one did not.

Even the reengineered 505A's have that port but that won't be needed with 8PSK. And two of my 505's came with "500 series" manuals.
I was also ready to jump all over HDx2 but, let's face it, no question is a dumb question. Only when it has already been thrashed out here on DHC and there is an evident failure to do a search beforehand do some of us roll our eyes.

[ARR]

Ah c'mon, it's all part of the initiation to the club, welcome just the same!

It's true, the new 505/530 remotes have the extra buttons and both have the expansion port on the right for the MPEG4 engine.

Both units have 8PSK tuners just needing a s/w tweak to work.

And the 500 vs the 505/530 cover vent holes are different and the 505/530 has OAT tuner slots on the back as well.

I suspect the REALLY uninformed person here was the agent that was easily confused, probably hadn't been run through technical training yet.

[morikaweb]

Even the reengineered 505A's have that port but that won't be needed with 8PSK.

That may be so but my 505 did not have that port. And it was a 505a not a 500 I just bought it last summer.

[dom r]

Originally Posted by morikaweb

As an after thought though, the 505 I received is not the same as the 505 that broke. This one some kind of expansion port on the right hand side that my old one did not. It is also far lighter than the old one.

The remote is also different. It has an aspect button, an interactive button, and a bunch of color letter buttons. It is also slimmer, shorter, and is tecured differently (not slippery like the old one). IT is also lighter, and the battery compartment is sturdier.

You mentioned that your new 505 reciever is much lighter then your older 505 reciever. Do you notice any possible difference in the picture quality with your new 505 reciever compared to your older 505?
For example,which reciever is slightly sharper?

[Tup]

So the original poster is getting his 505's replaced with new 505's?!?!?!

I think *C is going to owe you some money and you are going to end up shipping those new 505's back.

I got a replacement for my sidecar 201...a 505.

They must have thought he had the 500 model....Someone got confused somewhere.

[morikaweb]

You mentioned that your new 505 reciever is much lighter then your older 505 reciever. Do you notice any possible difference in the picture quality with your new 505 reciever compared to your older 505?
For example,which reciever is slightly sharper?

I have not noticed any noticeable difference with the pq of tv broadcasts. But the guide one the new one, well being the same guide as the old one, does seem to be slightly sharper and brighter. Also I notice a longer lag when loading the guide, well changing channels seem to be smother with a consistent lag between channels (As opposed to the old 505 which would take upwards of 5-10 seconds on some channel changes seemingly randomly).

Now having said that, keep in mind my old box was obviously screwed up. So I’m not sure which if any changes (Other than the physical ones obviously) I list here are a result of the revision to the 505, and what is a result of simply having a working 505.

[TJ77]

The first batch of 505's are running the 00.34 code, while the newest batch are running 00.37 to accomodate a slightly different chip. Any improved performance could be related to this.