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Post by dkennedy on Feb 6, 2006 13:38:20 GMT -5
The Sony DHG-HDD500 500GB HD Cablecard DVR is available at Tweeter at the Crossgates Commons for $249.99 new in box with full manufacturers warranty! This is a dvr that use to retail for $699.00 this past Christmas!
I own this dvr and all you have to do is send it to Sony to upgrade to the latest firmware release and a cablecard modification to avoid a 161-6 error. Sony has a special arrangement with the UPS Store and you can send this to them at a discounted rate. It's a 2 week turnaround. I picked up two today!
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Post by Skaggs on Feb 6, 2006 17:43:17 GMT -5
Listed at $699 on the Tweeter website. How does it get program guide data? Is there a monthly fee?
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Post by hurnik on Feb 6, 2006 18:19:32 GMT -5
Does it let you record one show while playing back a show it's already recorded? I know I'd looked at the Toshiba DVR and it could not do that (their HD symbio thingy).
Which is REALLY bad (nothing more than an HD VCR, IMO).
but I don't know if the Sony unit has the same thing.
May just want to wait another 6 months for Tivo to come out with their HD unit (maybe it'll be cheaper or same price)?
or wait until Verizon FIOS comes out with the Motorola DVR unit that can do first runs (unlike TW where it gets all episodes of the show).
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Post by Skaggs on Feb 6, 2006 19:03:05 GMT -5
I'd like it to be compatible with the next generation of CableCard that allows 2-way communication. It is rumored the HD TiVo will be in the $1000 range.
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Post by dkennedy on Feb 6, 2006 19:38:49 GMT -5
Listed at $699 on the Tweeter website. How does it get program guide data? Is there a monthly fee?
It receives program data from any PBS station. Guide data is free. You need to go to the Tweeter store or call for current price of $249.99 not many will be left at this price. |
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Post by dkennedy on Feb 6, 2006 19:39:41 GMT -5
Does it let you record one show while playing back a show it's already recorded? I know I'd looked at the Toshiba DVR and it could not do that (their HD symbio thingy). Which is REALLY bad (nothing more than an HD VCR, IMO). but I don't know if the Sony unit has the same thing. May just want to wait another 6 months for Tivo to come out with their HD unit (maybe it'll be cheaper or same price)? or wait until Verizon FIOS comes out with the Motorola DVR unit that can do first runs (unlike TW where it gets all episodes of the show). It is a single tuner but yes, you can watch a recorded show while it is recording another. |
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Post by dkennedy on Feb 6, 2006 19:40:36 GMT -5
I'd like it to be compatible with the next generation of CableCard that allows 2-way communication. It is rumored the HD TiVo will be in the $1000 range. It will need a firmware & hardware CC slot upgrade for CableCard 2.0 compatibility and may have to upgrade the remote control. I think if you purchase this unit you will need to be satisfied with Cablecard 1.0 for the long term. Because I doubt Sony will put in the support needed to upgrade the unit to CC 2.0. |
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Post by MasterFX1 on Feb 7, 2006 14:27:04 GMT -5
SOLD OUT!
dkennedy was right, they did indeed go fast. I went to the Tweeter located at Crossgate Commons at 1pm today. The salesman first said, "There's no way this $699 unit is $249." I asked him to humor me and check his computer. "We'll I'll be... you're right. Would you like one?"
"I'll take 4," I said.
When the salesman returned from the back he informed me that the one remaining unit they did have already has a sticker on it saying it was bought by a customer this morning from the Saratoga location which already sold out all its units.
Wow.
This very patient salesman then called practically every Tweeters location in the Northeast to find me the last 4 unopened models available... 3 from one store and 1 from another store. It took him about 10 calls. They should arrive Monday.
The saleman also mentioned that they are reluctant to sell the floor model because a print advertisment for the unit and its sale price will be out shortly promoting a President's Day Sale. It's illegal to advertise prices on things you do not have to sell, so they are quietly keeping the floor model for liability purposes. (That sounds wierd to me, I have to think if you walk in today with money in hand to buy the floor model, you will walk out with it.)
Big thanks to dkennedy for the heads up... I paid a lot more for my first Pro-Logic VCR 12 years ago.
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Post by dkennedy on Feb 7, 2006 15:30:45 GMT -5
Just as MasterFX1 informed you all, the Crossgates Commons Tweeter store is sold out! There are none left at the store, however, the manager has informed me that there are 15 units left in the whole region and he can get them but you will have to go to the store and put down 20% of the price ($49.99) as a deposit, he can have the units in by Monday.
Also, the manager has informed me that a member of this forum purchased 10 units from the store this morning. Happy ebaying to the lucky one!!!
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Post by Skaggs on Feb 7, 2006 16:06:38 GMT -5
Also, the manager has informed me that a member of this forum purchased 10 units from the store this morning. Happy ebaying to the lucky one!!! Seems like a smart move to sell them on eBay. I did a search of completed auctions and found that they have sold between $450 - $513 the last two days. |
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Post by dkennedy on Feb 9, 2006 7:07:22 GMT -5
Seems like a smart move to sell them on eBay. I did a search of completed auctions and found that they have sold between $450 - $513 the last two days. Yes it is. I just sold one of the two I have on ebay for $529. I paid $537 for two. And the popularity of this unit doesn't stop there, the same buyer has offered $550 for my other unit. |
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Post by Skaggs on Feb 9, 2006 10:50:53 GMT -5
Bought the last two available this morning from Justin at Tweeter. Justin didn't seem too pleased when I asked for 6 of them when I walked in. After saying, "Holy crap", he got on the phone and started calling the other stores. I walked around for 10 minutes and he came over and told me he could only get two.
The total price (including tax) was $537.84. The signs in the store still list this DVR as $999.99, with a "special" tag posted next to it listing the price of $699.99.
I said to Justin, "So, if anyone else come in asking for one of these they won't be able to get one?" He said, "That's right."
As he processed my order, he told me they would be here in Albany on Monday afternoon. He also told me he would call me if he was able to get his hands on any more.
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Post by Skaggs on Feb 9, 2006 10:52:52 GMT -5
I own this dvr and all you have to do is send it to Sony to upgrade to the latest firmware release and a cablecard modification to avoid a 161-6 error. Sony has a special arrangement with the UPS Store and you can send this to them at a discounted rate. It's a 2 week turnaround. I picked up two today! Justin never said anything about this. Do you have any documentation or a link to read up on the return policy? |
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Post by dkennedy on Feb 9, 2006 11:13:23 GMT -5
I own this dvr and all you have to do is send it to Sony to upgrade to the latest firmware release and a cablecard modification to avoid a 161-6 error. Sony has a special arrangement with the UPS Store and you can send this to them at a discounted rate. It's a 2 week turnaround. I picked up two today! Justin never said anything about this. Do you have any documentation or a link to read up on the return policy? It's not a return policy its a warrany issue. Sony has an arrangement with the UPS Store for all there equipment not only this DVR. Your local UPS Store should have the information (I use the one in Scotia) or contact Sony directly. You don't even need to go thru a Sony customer service representative if you want to send the unit in for servicing. All you need to do is fill out the online new repair form and it will have the instructions for the UPS Store: eservice.sony.com/webrma/web/index.doMake sure to state the following in the comments: 1 - I use this unit for OTA reception and Time Warner Cable with Scientific Atlanta Cablecard and I get a 161-6 error message on the screen. 2 - Please upgrade the units firmware to your latest release. 3 - I need to enter 4 digit channel numbers in the tv guide channel editor #3 above is a known issue that they are currently working on and I don't expect them to have a fix yet but it's good to mention. (The info that is downloaded from TV Guide includes HD channels with the old TW lineup and the channel editor doesn't allow you to enter a 4 digit channel number like 1869). Of course, this can be fix if TWC gave tv guide the new updated channel lineup. |
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Post by Skaggs on Feb 9, 2006 15:36:25 GMT -5
#3 above is a known issue that they are currently working on and I don't expect them to have a fix yet but it's good to mention. (The info that is downloaded from TV Guide includes HD channels with the old TW lineup and the channel editor doesn't allow you to enter a 4 digit channel number like 1869). Of course, this can be fix if TWC gave tv guide the new updated channel lineup. How would I record ESPN HD if I can't tune to channel 1869? |
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