July 18th: DSR530 Code CC Fixes, Features & Bugs

153657 Views 1045 Replies 167 Participants Last post by NO-CRTC, Jul 26, 2007

ARR

Discussion Starter · Jul 17, 2006

Check your target version tonight/tommorow.

As was posted here earlier and a C&P from another site that references a VP's response to a subscriber regarding the upcoming code:

The new feature set, if all passes, includes the following:

- Far improved operational stability for channel tuning (far few lock-ups during channel change -- in fact, so far we have seen none from that cause)
- Far improved timer performance for DVR recording, and for PPV recordings (again, so far no failures)
- Far improved performance for playback of DVR recordings (again, so far no failures)
- New sorting criteria for recordings
- A way to jump to identified times of recordings (i.e. 1 hour in)

For the majority of us that were on A8, this is great news as we'll finaly get the long sought after features that BC delivered to a selected few hundred.

For those of us on BC just waiting for the box to die after too many reboots, this should be a life saver.

Do check out all the new features in the beginning of the BC thread.

Enjoy the improved stability that CC brings.
Have faith that while not 100%, it's the closest the box has ever been and that new and exciting stuff is in the pipe.

From my experience in the past several weeks, what was quoted appears true for the most part.

Unfortunatly my source of information that gave me a closer view than most is no longer available.

Good luck and enjoy the efforts of many.

I'll still be around to help out as best I can.

281 - 300 of 1046 Posts

superbry

· #281 · Aug 25, 2006

Well, after many more lock-ups since the factory reset and another call to tech support, *C is replacing the receiver. The reason I was given for my needing a replacement unit is that they believe that I have an incomplete download of the CC code. I am unaware of any reasons why my receiver would not have taken the download properly, we were away from home and the receiver was powered down. I was told that the problems could not be fixed by a factory reset. The tech that I spoke to told me after reading her notice board that my receiver would be replaced because of the problems I have been experiencing. I was told of a few other persons experiencing similar problems to mine that were also receiving new receivers.

quimbysjody

· #282 · Aug 25, 2006

superbry said:
The tech that I spoke to told me after reading her notice board that my receiver would be replaced because of the problems I have been experiencing. I was told of a few other persons experiencing similar problems to mine that were also receiving new receivers.

Superby, how long have you had your machine? Mine was from the first shipment last May.

I received my "refurbished" machine today. It was loaded with A8. Whew.

However, it is targeted for the CC code.

I am finding it very hard to believe that the machine is the problem. However, time will tell...

superbry

· #283 · Aug 25, 2006

My machine was one of the first batch, I ordered it when they were first announced for sale. I had the noisy fan problem when I first received it. When I had the A8 code I would say that the receiver worked at about 95% of what it should have. Since receiving the CC code I would say that this machine is a piece of #$%*. I can only perform 2-3 commands with the remote before it locks up. Something new that it started today is that it will not stop recording the channel that I am tuned to. I have the Live Recording turned off, and somehow it will not stop recording. There are no timers set and yet it will just keep recording, even after a front panel reset, it starts up again.

I would say that it has officially crashed and burned!!!

superbry

· #284 · Aug 26, 2006

Sorry, I can see by re-reading my post that I was not very clear. My receiver will not stop recording the channel that I am viewing unless I have the Live recording feature turned off.

quimbysjody

· #285 · Aug 26, 2006

superbry said:
My machine was one of the first batch, I ordered it when they were first announced for sale.

Me too. And my machine had an equally disastrous reaction to CC. I thought it was interesting that you said the tech. you were speaking with read off of her notice board that your machine would be replaced. Is there something specific with that first batch, I wonder? And have they now made all techs aware of it? I had great results with A8 as well.

Anyways, CC downloaded last night. We shall see what happens!

aqualine

· #286 · Aug 26, 2006

question about updates

I received my new replacement 530 two weeks ago and it is still on A4 code. I'm wondering if anyone can tell me if it will get updated to A8 automatically or if I need to call *choice so they can target my receiver.

The A4 code still has the fan running on it. Other than that it seems to be working OK. Have only had two reboots in the two weeks with A4.

aqualine

· #287 · Aug 26, 2006

The receiver I was having similar problems with was also one of the first to come out as I preordered it when they first went on sale. Makes me wonder either they were a bad batch or they are programed to die when the warrenty runs out.

quimbysjody

· #288 · Aug 27, 2006

aqualine said:
The receiver I was having similar problems with was also one of the first to come out as I preordered it when they first went on sale. Makes me wonder either they were a bad batch or they are programed to die when the warrenty runs out.

Well, that's three then. I wonder if there is some truth to our theory?

As for the download, my refurbished machine came with A8. And when I called in to activate, he targeted it for CC (certainly without my asking him to!) It downloaded over night.

I find it odd that your machine came with A4, but even more odd that the tech who activated it for you didn't target it.

I wouldn't wish CC on anyone, but if you call in to get a newer code, I believe that CC is all that you can get. I was told that I could not go back to A8, so I don't believe that they could download that to your machine for you.

ARR

Discussion Starter · #289 · Aug 27, 2006

The machines in the warehouse were factory flashed with A4.
Since CC is ALL that is on the bird for 530's, you can ONLY get that or nothing.
And NO, they can't roll backwards, at least not easily.
The machine just activated, but not targetted will eventually get CC by itself within the next week or so as long as CC is tagged for general consumption.

quimbysjody

· #290 · Aug 27, 2006

Oh well, so much for the refurbished machine solving all of my problems. I have had the machine for less than 24 hours and it is already working exactly as the old one did. This morning I woke up to a locked up machine. It had attempted to turn itself on to record a timer at 3:30 a.m. and then it simply froze.

I am so completely and utterly FED UP!

superbry

· #291 · Aug 27, 2006

OH GREAT!!! I am expecting my refurbished machine this week. I guess all I can do now is cross my fingers that this new machine won't implode too when it receives the CC download.

GaryE

· #292 · Aug 27, 2006

I've been quite happy with my refurbed unit. It seems I'm going about 11 or 12 days between front panel reboots... which is much better than the once or twice a day I had to do with my original unit.

One thing I'm doing differently is I've decided to keep the glass door off the front of my tv stand. Let the air flow better and keep it cooler. Was running about 59C with the door on but now its down to 52C. I have heard others say heat is an issue so "quimby..." make sure your 530 isn't sitting on some other electronic components that create heat and that the vents on the side and top are clear.

quimbysjody

· #293 · Aug 27, 2006

Thanks Gary. I have about 5" clearance above my unit and about 8" clearance either side of it. It does not sit on any electrical components. I do have glass doors on the front, but it is not an option to remove them as I have a cat who not only sheds hair, but likes to squish in to warm places.

It could be a heat issue. I am not completely convinced. My machine has never had problems in the past with fans or heat. And when I got the refurbished machine, it worked fine on A8. It seems to me that the CC code is affecting the machine. Why I don't know. I have the simplest of hookups, red/yellow/white AV connectors. I don't even have S-Video and I certainly don't have HD. My requirements are the absolute minimal.

In the last four days with my old machine, I noticed that the machine would lock up when it needed to turn on for a timer recording. I didn't bother telling *Choice, because I figured a new machine was coming and they wouldn't really care. The new machine locked up again for the same reason. So, is there a bug in the software that pertains to the machine turning on to record? I don't know.

I had other lockups with the old machine, that happened at random, while I was doing nothing more than watching tv. So far, that hasn't happened.

We shall wait and see.

I did call *Choice this morning to report my problem and to ask if we could do a factory reset. I have been told over and over again that a factory reset will wipe out the "little bits" of old code that could be conflicting with CC. The tech told me that there weren't any "little bits" leftover and would not perform the factory reset for me.

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QualityIsJobOne

· #294 · Aug 27, 2006

quimbysjody said:
I do have glass doors on the front, but it is not an option to remove them .

....I don't think it's a great idea to have these PVR's in an enclosed space. What about putting it on top of your TV?

Kevin270

· #295 · Aug 27, 2006

Mine has never been in an enclosed space, and I seem to have experienced all of the problems mentioned above. I don't know if that has any more to do with the cruddy machine than slapping wooden spoons together before turning it on. Maybe I'll try standing on my head before turning the machine on to see if that helps.

quimbysjody

· #296 · Aug 27, 2006

QualityIsJobOne said:
....I don't think it's a great idea to have these PVR's in an enclosed space. What about putting it on top of your TV?

Too tippy.

My machine has been in an enclosed space since day one. Why would it start affecting the machine 15 months later? I am not saying that is not the reason. I am just not saying that it is either. These DVRs are a real mystery.

ARR

Discussion Starter · #297 · Aug 28, 2006

Here's a thought...

If it seems to be problematical when waking up for a timer recording, why not just leave it in ACTIVE mode and NEVER put it in STANDBY.

I know the Moto recomends for their cable PVR to leave it on as it has some goofiness when coming out of standby.

Since there is NO real gain w.r.t. energy consumption, leave it on.
The ONLY thing that happens in Standby is the light pipes go out and the video/audio gets muted.

See if that help at all.

Gemini36

· #298 · Aug 28, 2006

I just purchased the 530 and it was installed today, having been delivered Friday. The code is A4. When I noted connectivity problems to my new LCD which has HDMI, I questioned in their Dialogue Zone if *C was not actually doing a clearance rather than a "Customer Appreciation". From CSR, during telco, was told no - other models are being replaced with new models but from TSR was told that there was "rumour" of new machine in few months. I was also told that there was either going to be a major code download OR full machine replacement. Unfortunately, many calls over various issues gave me different answers. I question my decision even this early on. The manual is dated 2004 and dedicates about 2 lines to DVR. There is a somewhat better manual available for download BUT will my A4 coded machine relate. At this point the dollars spent equal my doubts that this was a "good buy" although have only been with *C for years and no problems with the 400 and 300 series receivers - in fact had better use of TV features with the 401!!

Glad to see I am not totally alone and can add my voice to a valid forum which just might get someone's attention at *C.

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canada45

· #299 · Aug 28, 2006

Thanks Guys for all the Great information, so are the new machines that are avilable in stores today any better? Or sould I keep a away from the DSR530 and wait for a replacement?

cellarboy

· #300 · Aug 28, 2006

There's really no evidence whatsoever that the 530 is going to be replaced, especially since the receiver is less than 18 months old. If what I hear is correct, Starchoice still have a boat load of these things sat in their warehouse from the first orders they made from Motorola. Personally, I think the timing of the discounts on the receivers was to stimulate sales prior to the 2006 TV season starting.

Of course, there may be other motivations involved such as trying to clear stocks of the 205 and 315 receivers which are being replaced this fall. The massive discount on the 530 may have also had something to do with the relase of the CC code, which I think everyone was hoping would be 'the one' that changed perception of the machine and stimulated sales. I think the jury is still out on that one.

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