[Hieremias]

I'm looking to sign up to a satellite TV provider, and trying to decide between Shaw Direct and Expressvu.

Shaw seems to have the channel lineup I want at a lower price, and right now they'll sell me the 505 receiver for $49 with free installation. Doing some research on here and I realized it's likely because they want to get rid of the 505 units before the 605 is released. I don't need a PVR so I'm not interested in the 530/630.

Are there any major problems with the 505 unit? I see it doesn't have an HDMI output, but are there any drawbacks to using a cheap DVI-to-HDMI converter?

 

[QCK]

Just that you need to add audio cable(s) depending on how you want your audio connected. There have been many bad things written about the 530 and oddly enough the 505 is about as solid a receiver as you can get. The problem will be for you in the future when they add channels that will only be broadcast in MPEG4 format, those channels will not be avilable to you with the 505 receiver.

 

[ralph_sinclair]

The 505 comes with a DVI-HDMI cable. If you need to route it through an HDMI repeating AVR, then you're stuck with component. If you will hook it straight to your TV, then you're all set.

For $49 I don't think you can go wrong. It might be a while before the 605 comes and the 605 will lose some of the 505's legacy connectors.

 

[Hieremias]

Cool, thanks. I read all the complaining about the 530 but didn't see anything about the 505, was worried that it was equally bad.

 

[QCK]

The 505 is as solid as a rock. You will just never be able to add a external hard drive to it. It is just a simple HD receiver with no frills.

 

[madhi19]

Don't worry too much about the MPEG4 thing considering how fast Shaw Direct roll out new technology you probably get a decade of use left on the 505!

 

[classicsat]

Some things:

The $49 is net (unless I assume otherwise), which is $99 off the full retail price, Shaw's usual practice for new subscriber. The way it works is you buy the receiver for $149, have it installed, and call up Shaw for activation, where $99 gets credited to your account.

The 505, as it seems, is no longer in software development.
The only major issue with it that I know is the HDCP bug described in this thread.

A moderate usage issue is its screwed up lockout/favorites system where channels are not skipped when you channel surf, which are locked out or on your selected favorites list. Unsubscibed channels bring up a screen which you must press select to get out of, and if you surf by locked out channels, they expect your passcode. That is not an acceptable system in my book.
Yes you can use a favorites list (I do), but that doesn't fix the issue, just insulates you from it, if you surf from the guide like I do anyway.

 

[ABM 111]

Dsr 605

Dsr 605 is coming in late 2010
http://www.canadasatellite.ca/Shaw-Direct-DSR-605HD-High-Definition-PVR-p/shaw-direct-dsr-605-hd.htm

 

[deanrw]

The guy I talked to on Wednesday said the DSR 605 SHOULD be out the beginning of Novemeber. He said he cant say for sure, but he figures the price will be $149.99.

 

[Vader]

The 505 comes with a DVI-HDMI cable. If you need to route it through an HDMI repeating AVR, then you're stuck with component. If you will hook it straight to your TV, then you're all set.

I somewhat disagree with this post.... I used a DVI to HDMI adapter into a Pioneer AVR (along with a digital optical cable for audio) and it worked fine most of the time. Every now and then I would get an HDCP issue but I just restarted the satellite box and it worked properly.

 

[57]

Vader, you're lucky then since "everyone" had issues going through an AVR, as discussed in the following long thread.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=91028