New software was push this morning So Manhattan 2.5.066. I hope we have Sata now!

New software was push this morning So Manhattan 2.5.066. I hope we have Sata now!

Very possibly -- there's a new parameter listed in Diagnostics -- "SATA Status" -- and it's marked "Authorized." My CC was zapped during the same "upgrade" session between ~6:30 and 7:30 this morning.

Had to push SYSTEM POWER to start up my 8300HD this morning after an apparent firmware update (S. Manhattan); (only the time was showing, and I've set the option for channel-only display). Not sure, but perhaps NYC's TWC update, if that took place, is similar to this Columbia, SC update (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8519123&&#post8519123) detailed by a local TWC rep on that thread. -- John

Does anyone know what new features this upgrade brings?

So I got the new update (Passport 2.5.066/PowerTV 6.14.34.1sp) here in Manhattan as well, and noticed a mixed bag of things thus far:

First the BAD:
The digital audio option from the previous update has been REMOVED! This means that I can no longer choose "HDMI", "Dolby Digital", or "Two Channel" for my sound. And worse yet, it's stuck on whatever you last had it set as -- and I had it last set on "Two Channel", which means that I have no way to reset it to Dolby Digital and get 5.1! (My reciever indicates that it's getting a PCM signal.) No change after rebooting (even cold booting). THIS REALLY SUCKS -- it's a feature that I used often to switch between PCM and Dolby Digital out of the box. UGH. :(

Programs that I set a "manual" recording for (i.e. I didn't click on the program guide, but instead set a time range to record), are all listing as "Unknown Program" (or something to that effect).


Now the Good:
There is a double confirmation when you try to delete something. I like this, since I have, at times, deleted things that I didn't want to by pushing the wrong button, or being too quick on clicking delete out of habit.

There is a new "program reminder" function -- when you click on a program that you want to record, in addition to the usual "record this program" option (and others), there is a "remind me about this program" option that, I guess will pop up a reminder when the program is about to start.

There is a "play from beginning" option when you click on a program that you'd previously recorded or are recording.

And of course, there is the new "SATA" (and Multi-Room DVR) menu in the diagnostic screen. So, who's going to be the first on this board to try hooking up an external SATA drive? :) (And, given Time Warner's history, have it stop working 6 months down the line when they push a new update? ;) )

It also eliminated the ability to set the box to Widescreen/Stretch for SD channels and Widescreen/Sidebar for HD channels. Previously, the box would automatically change depending upon which channel was being viewed. Now you are stuck with using only one setting.

Also - one of my boxes was acting very weird following the upgrade. When I switched HD channels, I got an all static picture but had audio. When I switched from a regular channel to an HD channel, I also got static. I rebooted and it seems to be better but I am not convinced it is okay.

When switching channels, it is also taking longer.

I believe that the previous software also had a Play from Beginning option for a recording as well as the double confirmation when deleting.

So far, I am not pleased.

Anyone else experiencing problems with ABC and NBC tonight? They've both lost signal. I'll get individual frames on each, occasionally, but mostly a grey screen. Fox has been glitching, but is at least watchable.

I'm on the UWS, and this is only happening to the 3 networks. CBS is fine, as are most of the other HD channels.


I'm in forest hills and have had massive HD Local channel probs since saturday, good to see someone else noticed.

Lately mianly on FOX but it spread to all locals in the past few days, i thought it may be my wiring, who knows.

It also eliminated the ability to set the box to Widescreen/Stretch for SD channels and Widescreen/Sidebar for HD channels. Previously, the box would automatically change depending upon which channel was being viewed. Now you are stuck with using only one setting.
This doesn't bother me much, as it's SUPER easy to swich the setting using the pound ("#") key on the remote. And I don't usually use stretch or zoom mode anyway.

Also - one of my boxes was acting very weird following the upgrade. When I switched HD channels, I got an all static picture but had audio. When I switched from a regular channel to an HD channel, I also got static. I rebooted and it seems to be better but I am not convinced it is okay.
My guess is that it was an HDMI handshake issue, and that after the reboot, all should be OK.

When switching channels, it is also taking longer.
Didn't notice this on my system at all. During a quick test on my system, it seemed faster to me.

I believe that the previous software also had a Play from Beginning option for a recording as well as the double confirmation when deleting.
Not the version that we were running in Manhattan. It was a passport 1.x version (still Pioneer Digital on the boot screen) -- it could only play the last hour of whatever you had recorded (couldn't go back to the beg), and only had a single delete confirmation.

Scott

So far, I am not pleased.[/QUOTE]

This doesn't bother me much, as it's SUPER easy to swich the setting using the pound ("#") key on the remote. And I don't usually use stretch or zoom mode anyway.

It bothers me because it is much easier for my non-tech family to just change channels without having to stretch the picture to protect against burn in. Having the ability to set the automatic stretch only for SD channels was a help.

Not the version that we were running in Manhattan. It was a passport 1.x version (still Pioneer Digital on the boot screen) -- it could only play the last hour of whatever you had recorded (couldn't go back to the beg), and only had a single delete confirmation.

Maybe I am misunderstanding you. I am in Manhattan and had the option to Play from Beginning for any recorded show. Not quite as sure regarding the delete confirmations.

I believe that the previous software also had a Play from Beginning option for a recording as well as the double confirmation when deleting.

Lisa, I’ve had this new software for several weeks now in Queens and I think that with my previous version, regarding the Play from the Beginning feature, it was listed in the prompts, as you noted. However, as Scott mentions, it would never play from the beginning. It would play within the buffer period, or go live. With this new upgrade, this feature actually plays from the beginning regardless of how far it is into the recording. This is very valuable to me.

Also, as you said, I recall a double delete confirmation too on the previous software but now the new upgraded double delete feature is on a future or series recording. Now, when you want to delete a future recording, the stated recorded show goes form red to black but is still set up. This is where you have to delete again to really cancel the recording.

Got it. Thanks for the clarification.

Right now, at least two of my boxes are still pretty screwed up. When I switch channels, I sometimes get full screen static which will only go away by turning off the tv and box and turning it back on. I called TWC who said that all of this is due to the upgrade which is still in progress until 7 pm. Apparently the boxes may reboot again during the day today and the remaining issues are supposed to straighten themselves out by 7. Somehow, I doubt that.

Woot! Ill plug in my azio encased 500 GB WDC as soon as I get home!

Some of the update features found were also mentioned by the TWC insider who posted in the Columbia, SC, thread I linked earlier. So perhaps there are other clues. Here's her entire post:
Background - while there are DVRs with the model number 8000 and 8300 on the front of all DVRs, some of the 8000's are actually 8010's. You can't tell by looking at them if you have an 8010 - only by looking them up in the DNCS.

Last week we added a software patch to the 8010s to alleviate a black screen SDV bug. We were not told by SA the features of version 1.4.3 were in this patch (1.88) - so when some of you started talking about upgraded features, I started asking questions and found this out. Tonight this upgrade will be applied to all remaining DVRs.

Here is the full extent of the features involved:
1. Firewire Port (IEEE 1394) is active on all model 8300 HD units. Previously only 8300 HD Units manufactured after July 18, 2005 had this port active.

2. Between 1:00 am and 6:00am, the DVR hard drive will power down if no remote control activity is conducted for 2 hours. Previously the entire DVR unit would power-down.

3. Customers who wish to view a program currently being recorded will have the option to “Play from beginning”. Previously they had to rewind back to the start of the show if they wanted to perform this function.

4. A fourth, Fast-Forward and Rewind speed has been added.

5. The “Live” button is now active to take a viewer from a recording playback directly into Live TV. Previously customers had to channel off to quickly achieve this result.

6. Auxiliary inputs are now active for camcorder, VCR or gaming systems.


No mention in the documentation about the kick to live feed at the end of a 'recording show' so I don't think you got that one. Hope you enjoy what is included. Your equipment will receive a forced reboot during the maintenance window to achieve the download.

When I switched HD channels, I got an all static picture but had audio. When I switched from a regular channel to an HD channel, I also got static. I rebooted and it seems to be better but I am not convinced it is okay.
Did you cold boot or soft boot?

I would try a hard boot if you haven't already tried that.....

I did two hard boots - same result each time. Interestingly, it is only happening on one of my dvrs. Previously, my cable box would turn on when I turned on the tv. Now I have to manually turn it on. Very weird.

Some of the update features found were also mentioned by the TWC insider who posted in the Columbia, SC, thread I linked earlier. So perhaps there are other clues.

The TWC Columbia, SC system is running SARA, not Passport; any feature similarities between its latest firmware "upgrade" and ours are entirely coincidental.

No sound when you go with HDMI from 8300HD box to TV. How can you fix this?? This is with the new update.

Previously, my cable box would turn on when I turned on the tv. Now I have to manually turn it on.
Yeah, I noticed this too -- this and the fact that the cable box would turn *on and off* with the TV (actually, these 2 features were both introduced with the last software update -- it had never done this for me before) -- both of these "features" are gone.....

No sound when you go with HDMI from 8300HD box to TV. How can you fix this?? This is with the new update.
Yep, this is clearly related to no longer having the menu option for HDMI, Dolby Digital, or 2 channel sound...

The TWC Columbia, SC system is running SARA, not Passport; any feature similarities between its latest firmware "upgrade" and ours are entirely coincidental.
Well, maybe not 100% concindental -- Passport and SARA are both built upon the PowerTV OS that the box has on it (and seems to get updated every time Passport gets updated), so changes to the underlying operating system will affect both platforms.

Yep, this is clearly related to no longer having the menu option for HDMI, Dolby Digital, or 2 channel sound...
So is there any thing we can do? :confused:Why did they do this??? :(

Like Scott, I'm not overjoyed by 2.5.066. I had thought they'd fix the most egregious bugs before they rolled it out in Man. Instead, except for the SATA feature, I'd love to roll back.

I'd be totally livid if somehow my set got "stuck" in a non-Dolby Digital mode... I run an optical to my AVR and if I lose that functionality, I'm screaming. Scott, old buddy, PLEASE let us know how you resolve this!

I have never seen the snow picture, but I've seen it now. No biggie, but before (black) was "better" (IMO).

I HATE the double confirm... especially as most of the time (so far) the confirm dialog appears and disappears instantly, leaving the recording. I have to again go into list mode and delete the thing. PITA. Don't think I ever did a wrong button press, that trick I've done many times when watching the buffer and doing something like checking the guide during a commercial then hitting the jump channel button instead of the exit button... poof there goes my buffer!

What really has me annoyed is that there are a bunch of stuff that I have series recording set for that don't have new and repeat episodes, they may all be repeats (like BSG in HD, Enterprise in HD). They repeat, so I juggle which episode to record based on a whole bunch of other things (other shows, where I'll be etc.). I manage my list of "programs to record" by deleting those instances where I do NOT want them to be recorded. Poof, they were gone. If I saw something in that list be gray with a circle/slash symbol, I KNEW it was the result of a conflict that I had to manually deal with. NOW, ALL the frakking additional episodes I delete show this way, so it's impossible by looking at the list to see where there's a real conflict or it was something I specifically turned off. This (to me) is so god awful, I may call and complain. It NEVER, EVER was a problem or an issue with 1.8.112.

I'm also annoyed that the calculations and marking of recorded shows that they are about to be deleted is anywhere near as accurate as it was. I have about 8 hours of SD and maybe 2 of HD and it's telling me that a few are going to go in one day, most in 2 days. I know it takes into account what is scheduled, but in the next 2 days I have maybe 5 or 6 hours of HD scheduled. This can NOT be right or correct.

So despite the fact that I was very anxious for SATA support, I'd MUCH prefer to go back to a stable release, 1.8.112. This SUCKS.

Yeah, I noticed this too -- this and the fact that the cable box would turn *on and off* with the TV (actually, these 2 features were both introduced with the last software update -- it had never done this for me before) -- both of these "features" are gone.....

Ha, so the 8300 would "sense" a live data connection and turn itself on... from day one I had set the "Master Power" switch on the remote to turn both devices on and off and it has worked fine since then.

So is there any thing we can do? :confused:Why did they do this??? :(
I'm not sure that they even know that they did this, or that they even knew about the sound options available in the previous version. Ugh.

I haven't called, but I know from experience that calling TWC about issues like this is like banging your head against the wall. Nobody there understands how the DVR works, and you can't get in touch with anyone technical -- just customer service reps who want to schedule an appointment for a tech to come out to your house during some 8 hour period that you have to take a day off of work for.....

I really wish that we could get a contact for a good/qualified tech on the inside somewhere in the TWC/NYC system. Does anyone out there have one?

Ha, so the 8300 would "sense" a live data connection and turn itself on... from day one I had set the "Master Power" switch on the remote to turn both devices on and off and it has worked fine since then.
Yes -- but only with HDMI. HDMI is a 2-way connection, so there is some handshaking going on where the TV sends the cable box a signal saying "I'm on", "I'm off", etc.

that trick I've done many times when watching the buffer and doing something like checking the guide during a commercial then hitting the jump channel button instead of the exit button... poof there goes my buffer!
Yes, I've done this too. :( I wish I could sometimes (when I'm buffering something or even 2 things) turn on a channel "lock" feature that would prevent me from changing channels w/o a confirmation ("Are you sure that you want to change the channel?").
What really has me annoyed is that there are a bunch of stuff that I have series recording set for that don't have new and repeat episodes, they may all be repeats (like BSG in HD, Enterprise in HD). They repeat, so I juggle which episode to record based on a whole bunch of other things (other shows, where I'll be etc.). I manage my list of "programs to record" by deleting those instances where I do NOT want them to be recorded. Poof, they were gone. If I saw something in that list be gray with a circle/slash symbol, I KNEW it was the result of a conflict that I had to manually deal with. NOW, ALL the frakking additional episodes I delete show this way, so it's impossible by looking at the list to see where there's a real conflict or it was something I specifically turned off. This (to me) is so god awful, I may call and complain. It NEVER, EVER was a problem or an issue with 1.8.112.
I don't get it. So, what exactly has chaned with the "future recordings" screen? I do the same thing to eliminate future episodes that I don't want to record.


I'm also annoyed that the calculations and marking of recorded shows that they are about to be deleted is anywhere near as accurate as it was. I have about 8 hours of SD and maybe 2 of HD and it's telling me that a few are going to go in one day, most in 2 days. I know it takes into account what is scheduled, but in the next 2 days I have maybe 5 or 6 hours of HD scheduled. This can NOT be right or correct.
This one I cannot prove or disprove. I NEVER use the auto-delete functionality. I always set all of my recordings to keep until I erase them. I do not like my programs to be erased before I have had time to watch them. And if it fills up (which happens often -- practically daily), it means that I can't record anything else until I erase something....which causes me to think long and hard about my watching priorities. :) .....At least until I grab myself a SATA drive! :) :) :)

So despite the fact that I was very anxious for SATA support, I'd MUCH prefer to go back to a stable release, 1.8.112. This SUCKS.
Which unfortunately we have no control over.

Hmm, I have seen the "play from beginning" many times under 1.8.112. Select a recorded show with the SEL button and get a dialog... one of the choices always has been "play from beginning" even when the "resume" item is enabled (i.e. you've watched some of it already).

It looks like in other areas of the country (Dayton, OH), the audio digital out option is still available on 2.5.066 -- see this post:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7860706&&#post7860706

Obviously this menu is something that TWC can control on a system-by-system basis, and has somehow been disabled locally.

I am still holding out the tiniest bit of hope that maybe when they finish whatever they're still doing (note that the VOD channels were all still "out" as of when I left for work), that they'll change something that will give us the option back. Like maybe they're still in the midst of whatever upgrade they're working on.

I completely agree. It's one thing to get a snow picture while changing channels which immediately goes away. It is another thing entirely to get stuck on complete snow which only goes away by shutting off the tv and cable box. This is very annoying.

I had been having a huge problem previously with losing DD every day or so. I would have to go in and manually reset it. Thankfully, the box was still outputting DD when the update occurred or I would be seriously pissed.

The Sata capability is great, if it works. But all of the disadvantages are a huge step backwards.

Edited to add: when I called TWC earlier, they said that the upgrade was still going on until 7 pm and to wait until then to see if all of my issues were resolved. I guess it is possible that some of the disadvantages noted in all of our posts could be fixed before the upgrade is complete.

The "future recordings" screen now shows ALL manually deleted shows that had been enabled via a "season recording" function. One could argue this is correct, but the problem is that this is the same marking as a show that has a real conflict... on 1.8.112 when I saw that marking, I knew it WAS a conflict because shows manually erased did not appear at all in the future recordings list. i.e. it is showing manually deleted recordings and conflicts in the exact same way.

I was talking about the indicators that showed you what might need deleting. Not about manually marking all recordings as do not delete. My issue is that it appears those markings had been accurate, but now they are not.

Yes I know I can't go backwards... i WANT to <g>!

I'm not sure that they even know that they did this, or that they even knew about the sound options available in the previous version. Ugh.

I really wish that we could get a contact for a good/qualified tech on the inside somewhere in the TWC/NYC system. Does anyone out there have one?

Calling would, indeed, be a wasted effort. All that I can suggest for this is an old solution: file a complaint with the NYC DoITT (http://www.nyc.gov/html/doitt/html/cable.html). TWCNYC is required to respond to both customers and the City when the agency forwards complaints that it receives. A knowledgeable TWC tech person actually did call me twice in the past when I filed technical (instead of service-related) complaints with DoITT.

And it certainly wouldn't hurt to email copies of complaints to the usual TWCNYC suspects whose names are so often brought up here, even though they're free to ignore communications received through that channel.

Fortunately, both my 8300HDs are now "stuck" in DD 2.0/5.1-mode after this wretched piece of software arrived this morning.

Hmm, I have seen the "play from beginning" many times under 1.8.112. Select a recorded show with the SEL button and get a dialog... one of the choices always has been "play from beginning" even when the "resume" item is enabled (i.e. you've watched some of it already).
Yes, the option was always there, but it only sorta worked -- if the program had been recording for longer than 1 hour and you told it to "play from beginning", it would ONLY show you the last hour (whatever was in the buffer). So if you were taping a 2 hour movie, or a sporting event, there was no way to get it to show you the beginning while you were still recording it. This version fixes that.

I completely agree. It's one thing to get a snow picture while changing channels which immediately goes away. It is another thing entirely to get stuck on complete snow which only goes away by shutting off the tv and cable box. This is very annoying.
I know that this is not really a solution -- but I am assuming that you're using HDMI (correct?)....is there any way that you can try removing the HDMI connection and using component cables instead? As we all know, there is some flakiness with the 8300HD's HDMI implementation.....

If the snow is related solely to HDMI, I would definitely be willing to use component instead of HDMI if it solves the problem and doesn't affect picture quality too much. FWIW, I just played with the set again and found that sometimes I get snow instead of a channel altogether but am then able to get that missing channel by trying it again. The whole thing is so stupid. If the purpose was to add SATA capability (which is great), why not wait to roll it out until the other bugs had been fixed? It makes no sense to screw up something which was otherwise working fine.

If the snow is related solely to HDMI, I would definitely be willing to use component instead of HDMI if it solves the problem and doesn't affect picture quality too much.
The diff. between HDMI & component is not big (at least for me). Give it a try. Also doublecheck that your TV can support all of the video output settings that you have set up the DVR to output. It probably does, but it doesn't hurt to find out.

If the purpose was to add SATA capability (which is great), why not wait to roll it out until the other bugs had been fixed? It makes no sense to screw up something which was otherwise working fine.
I can say with near 100% certainty that the purpose of this release was NOT to add SATA capibility (from TWC's point of view), as they are still not supporting this feature. My guess is that there was a server upgrade that they installed (note the messages that say that they're upgrading the VOD channels until 7pm tonight) which required an update to all of the user boxes. This is a common issue with client/server computer systems (which digitial cable boxes, including our DVRs, essentially are). If you upgrade the server, it will often require you to update each individual client.

If I had to take a completely wild stab, maybe they're upgrading the VOD servers to be able present HD content (possibly for the Howard Stern HD on demand)? I'm not a fan, but I know that they've been saying that it's coming, and NYC is Howard's home-turf and largest market?????

Of course it could just as easily be related to some new hardware that they're adding that we'll never know anything about....

Another snow-related problem: I just watched a recorded program. When I deleted it, instead of defaulting back to the current channel being shown on the dvr, I had a screen of snow which would not disappear until I shut off the tv. Obviously screwed up.

I am going to wait until the 7 pm upgrade end time and then reboot again.

anyone have success adding an external SATA drive? i need to get one as i seem to be recording a lot of tv these days.

This option still exists on my 8300HD that was upgraded to 2.5.066 recently.

Ted

It looks like in other areas of the country (Dayton, OH), the audio digital out option is still available on 2.5.066 -- see this post:


Obviously this menu is something that TWC can control on a system-by-system basis, and has somehow been disabled locally.

I am still holding out the tiniest bit of hope that maybe when they finish whatever they're still doing (note that the VOD channels were all still "out" as of when I left for work), that they'll change something that will give us the option back. Like maybe they're still in the midst of whatever upgrade they're working on.

Are you in the NYC area?

(If not, it could just easily be a local TWC-NYC oversight....but how to get it cleared up would be the optimal question?) My guess is that the part of Passport that shows the advanced options is configurable on a system-wide basis, and we might've gotten an older version of it pushed with this release. :( Or maybe TWC just got tired of people complaining about its functionality in the last release ("I've set my DVR to Dolby Digital and it keeps switching back to PCM!")????

This option still exists on my 8300HD that was upgraded to 2.5.066 recently.

Ted

anyone else getting local hd channel problems? Mainly breaking up/pixelizing on Fox HD mostly, ABC HD as well?

How can i tell if i got my upgrade as well

Thanks fellas!

I just received my HDMI cable in the mail today and have been unaware of the Digital Audio selection option at all until now (as I have beein using the coax digital out to my receiver and never had any problems). I spent the past few hours on the phone with them trying to figure out why it was not on my menu and obviously after reading the forum here i now know why.

However, the rep i spoke with was actually decently helpful and has been working for a while calling me back every so often trying to get this fixed for me. The most recent info i have received is that they are aware of my problem (they mentioned nothing of it being a system-wide issue). I was given a ticket number and told the issue was being worked on by level 2 support and would be resolved in 24 hours.

So at least i may have someone trying to fix it.

I will keep all posted.

I just received my HDMI cable in the mail today and have been unaware of the Digital Audio selection option at all until now (as I have beein using the coax digital out to my receiver and never had any problems). I spent the past few hours on the phone with them trying to figure out why it was not on my menu and obviously after reading the forum here i now know why.

However, the rep i spoke with was actually decently helpful and has been working for a while calling me back every so often trying to get this fixed for me. The most recent info i have received is that they are aware of my problem (they mentioned nothing of it being a system-wide issue). I was given a ticket number and told the issue was being worked on by level 2 support and would be resolved in 24 hours.

So at least i may have someone trying to fix it.

I will keep all posted.
Nice job! Did you get a name/extension number for the service person who took your call? It'd be great for a bunch of us to call them....

I just noticed that the station logos are more detailed on the info bar & guide.

anyone else getting local hd channel problems? Mainly breaking up/pixelizing on Fox HD mostly, ABC HD as well?

How can i tell if i got my upgrade as well

Thanks fellas!
Well, beyond tuning ch. 996 (which will tell you the version of the software you're running), or going into the diagnostic mode, you can tell that you have the new version of the OS if/when you bring up your guide and press "C" for search, you just get the search screen and can begin selecting letters right there. In the old version, it would immediately pop up a little choice window for "Title" or "Keyword" search.

If you live in Manhattan, you surely got the update at 7:30 this morning. Not sure about the other boroughs.

Ok, attached the E-sata drive, 8300 detected it and asked if I wanted to format [yes=A].
I "think" it formatted the external drive, but I don't notice any more headroom, same about-a-day left for non-keep programs.

After my 7pm show finishes recording I'll go into diag mode and see what's what.

I have an SA3250HD box, not a DVR. It was also updated this morning at 7am (to Passport 4.2 build 070). Now, the DVI output defaults to 480P and I CANNOT reset it. Component is not affected: it can pass native rate.

Calling TWC was useless: they said they're having numerous problems because of the update, and asked that I wait it out!

Well THAT sort of sucked!

It seemed that the box FaiLED on soft reboot, and went to init, and now I dont have any of my saved programs, scheduled recs, NADA. ARRRGH...

still no idea if the sata's in play.....

<bangs head on mousepad>

OH, and nosound via HDMI, and per the complaints earlier no way to change sound i/os on the current menu.

Im on mega-tilt now......

Calling TWC was a waste of time. I finally got a supervisor who insisted that the snow was due to loose connections! She said that they have received no complaints about the upgrade and is sending a tech on Friday, which of course will be a waste of time. What a bunch of morons.

Calling TWC was a waste of time. I finally got a supervisor who insisted that the snow was due to loose connections! She said that they have received no complaints about the upgrade and is sending a tech on Friday, which of course will be a waste of time. What a bunch of morons.


What is the snow, is it breaking up of the picture or actual fuzzy interference? Seems like cable is wigging out all over

1800 directv, i'd call them back if they werent' completely HD incompetent

When I get snow, there is no picture at all - instead there is a full screen of white interference.

Are you in the NYC area?


No, I am in Durham, NC. Sorry to confuse. I was just pointing out that the option does in exist in 2.5.066, but seems to have been removed from the version NYC is getting.

Ted

Epilogue:

Got my sound, my HDMI, my SATA connection all squared away, somehow. My saved programs are nuked though. I swear the audio digital out preference was not there when all this started, but its there now with hdmi/two chan/dolby options.

On an unrelated note, Where TF is Adult Swim on Demand? I love that channel.

Glad to hear you resolved the SATA issue...although it's unfortunate your shows were lost. what size drive did you attach?

Where TF is Adult Swim on Demand? I love that channel.

It's on Cutting Edge Ondemand channel 1007

The audio option is back. Got my sound on HDMI

Angel

Well, they ARE slip-streaming (bad, bad practice whereby a new software version is installed without any change in version number). Last night, I noticed some of the issues I had seemed to be better (most noticeable, I can do 2 deletes from scheduled programs to really have them not be in the list, that did not work in the AM when I first tried it). Just checked this morning and bingo, the audio selection option is now back.

Hard to say, but it seems that channel changes are ever so slightly longer now... and yes, not 100% of the time, but mostly I also see the snow pattern when switching. Honestly, this is really mostly cosmetic; I'm far more concerned about functionality.

As for Howard... I saw a half hour show on HDNet (or maybe it was InHD), it was a clip kinda of show, heavily censored as if it was back on E, obviously marketing to help see the pay channel. Widescreen, HD, looking really, really good. Oh, but if one pays for it, I suspect they'll get 4:3 SD.

ramstone, I'm confused. Up until now, in Manhattan one could not use an external drive... I have not read about any "hacks" that could make that happen with 1.8.112. You said your saved shows got nuked... which I take to mean the ones on your internal drive. What am I not understanding here?

The audio option is back. Got my sound on HDMI

Angel
Yes, this showed up on my end just after midnight last night. WHEW! That was a close one. :)

On my system, channel changing seems ever-so-slightly faster.

And yes, I did notice that the icons for the channels are MUCH higher resolution with much finer detail.

Now I'm happy with this release. 8)

...I have about 8 hours of SD and maybe 2 of HD and it's telling me that a few are going to go in one day, most in 2 days. I know it takes into account what is scheduled, but in the next 2 days... This can NOT be right or correct.I've found that even when deleting recordings to free up space, that cursed "hour glass" is still unaware that there’s room.

I then have to re-boot to clear those “count down to deletion” timers.

This is all moot when it’s “right now” that I have two shows on that I want to record / watch and I know I have enough space but it tells me otherwise and I can’t re-boot because then I’ll lose at least one of my current recordings and the buffer of the other.

Yes, I've done this too. :( I wish I could sometimes (when I'm buffering something or even 2 things) turn on a channel "lock" feature that would prevent me from changing channels w/o a confirmation ("Are you sure that you want to change the channel?").The “lock” button that I use is just hit record. I always do this when watching something and pausing multiple times. I too have lost many buffers on current viewings :eek: to the point where I’ve considered upgrading my display because of nearly chucking the remote through it. :rolleyes: :D

The “lock” button that I use is just hit record. I always do this when watching something and pausing multiple times. I too have lost many buffers on current viewings :eek: to the point where I’ve considered upgrading my display because of nearly chucking the remote through it. :rolleyes: :D
This is a good strategy, if you've got the space (i.e. have hooked up an external drive); but I'm nearly always at or near capacity, so can't press record. When/if I grab myself a SATA drive and get it going, then I should be able (and in fact, will HAVE to, due to the bugs) press RECORD every time I tune to a channel.

Well, they ARE slip-streaming (bad, bad practice whereby a new software version is installed without any change in version number). Last night, I noticed some of the issues I had seemed to be better (most noticeable, I can do 2 deletes from scheduled programs to really have them not be in the list, that did not work in the AM when I first tried it). Just checked this morning and bingo, the audio selection option is now back.


ramstone, I'm confused. Up until now, in Manhattan one could not use an external drive... I have not read about any "hacks" that could make that happen with 1.8.112. You said your saved shows got nuked... which I take to mean the ones on your internal drive. What am I not understanding here?

I bought the external drive stuff about three weeks ago, in anticipation of an upgrade. OK, thats a little bit of a fib. I misread a thread where passport 8300s were sata capable. Alas, didnt pick up on Manhattan being behind the curve till after the fact.

Anyway, I had it ready and able. Too bad I fubar'ed the install. I hope it was only my incompetance. There's regular disk i/o in the external (WDC 500 GB 7200). I doubt any actual content is on it yet. And of course, there doesnt seem to be a way to tell how much storage is being used without going to diag. Since accessing it last night may have caused the no digital sound thing, I may not access it again for awhile.

Though it does seem to be simply a coincidence, that they may have slipstreamed, as you say, the audio option feature *during* my adventure. Frankly I was doing so much in a panic, trying my s-video cable, cold/warm reboots, etc, that cause and effect kind of got lost.

No big loss, there's always ********** for the world cup matches i lost.

looks like FIOS is almost here:

http://www.newyorkbusiness.com/news.cms?id=14857

How long should it take Verizon to light up the city with a triple play?
Any educated guesses?

How long should it take Verizon to light up the city with a triple play?
Any educated guesses?

I would say the city would ok it sometime in early 2007 and Verizon would start rolling fios out in late 2007 outside manhattan, with manhattan coming in 2008.
that's my guess

anyone know if fios offers mlb/nba/nhl sports packages?

a nice looking box

http://www.pacemicro.com/media/americas/pdf/manuals/tdc775_manual.pdf

anyone know if fios offers mlb/nba/nhl sports packages?

they have the NFL Network-HD as a sports premium

a nice looking box

http://www.pacemicro.com/media/americas/pdf/manuals/tdc775_manual.pdf

yeah, at a quick glance it seems to have all the main features of the 8300HD.

looks like FIOS is almost here:

http://www.newyorkbusiness.com/news.cms?id=14857

A brand new day indeed for this welcome news. I love the final vote numbers too. All voting members supported this decision.

On the other forums I read my area's Central Office in Queens is getting work done to prepare for FIOS. Looks like 2007 is going to be a good year to come.

Watching NY Rangers games in uncompressed HD should be amazing.

I've found that even when deleting recordings to free up space, that cursed "hour glass" is still unaware that there’s room.

I then have to re-boot to clear those “count down to deletion” timers.

This is all moot when it’s “right now” that I have two shows on that I want to record / watch and I know I have enough space but it tells me otherwise and I can’t re-boot because then I’ll lose at least one of my current recordings and the buffer of the other.

Now that I have more than 24 hours working with 2.5.066, things are a little clearer. Indeed I did complain about the hour-glass. At this point, I'm pretty sure it was a part of "the first 24 hours" thing... i.e. there were MANY little screwed up things going on. I could rattle off several things about the software needing to stretch it's arms, to it needing to exercise before working right, but software doesn't work that way, so something got slipstreamed. I would say at this point, it's working the way they intend it to work until we go >066.

Still an issue: the need to delete twice to clear an entry from "scheduled programs." The confirmation dialog when deleting a recorded program sometimes goes away without a button press and sometimes the program IS deleted and sometimes it remains so it has to be manually deleted. Obviously, loss of proper buffer functioning (trick play) when using an external drive. AND WTF are we calling a basic feature of a DVR "trick play?" Pause, rewind and fast forward "live" TV is the basic initial selling point for a DVR, so why are we calling it "trick play?"

Still an issue: the need to delete twice to clear an entry from "scheduled programs."
I think that the first time you delete the entry, it does delete.....it just still remains (with the icon of a circle with a slash through it) as a sort of reminder that you cancelled it. Not so bad, IMHO. This seems to me to clearly be a "feature" that is in there as some sort of pre-support for the new Time Warner interface (if you haven't seen it, page back a few pages) that has a page that seems to help you to resolve recording conflicts. My guess is that it will appear in the conflict resolution screen as "user-deleted" or something.

If you *really* want to get rid of it from your future recordings list, just hit delete a 2nd time. But really is effectively deleted after the first delete.

AND WTF are we calling a basic feature of a DVR "trick play?" Pause, rewind and fast forward "live" TV is the basic initial selling point for a DVR, so why are we calling it "trick play?"
This is just the "standard" name for the sort of thing -- not specific to the SA8300 DVR. It's what allows you to do the "tricks" that one associates with a DVR.

If you read the posts carefully about people who attach the SATA drives, you only lose the "trick play buffer" features if you're not careful. If you want to get the trick play buffers working, just press "Record", and everything will work as normal. Not that big of a deal, it seems to me....

Forest Hills/REgo Park 11374/11375 update

Just had a tech out because my local HD's have been pixelizing, he apparantly has been around here all day/week. He tested one of the main lines and it was getting a -4 reading for digital signal, it actually should be getting over a +5.

Needless to say, he said the node wasn't working right and the whole area was being affected.

He concluded it should be fixed within 24 hours, if not , call back tomorrow.

Good to know there is one TWC tech that is damn good at his job, a really solid technician.

Forest Hills/REgo Park 11374/11375 update

Just had a tech out because my local HD's have been pixelizing, he apparantly has been around here all day/week. He tested one of the main lines and it was getting a -4 reading for digital signal, it actually should be getting over a +5.

Needless to say, he said the node wasn't working right and the whole area was being affected.

He concluded it should be fixed within 24 hours, if not , call back tomorrow.

Good to know there is one TWC tech that is damn good at his job, a really solid technician.

that's good info to know, now when a cable guy comes to anybody's house we all know what to look for in terms of signal reading.

Watching NY Rangers games in uncompressed HD should be amazing.

As much as I agree with you does FIOS even carry MSG-HD yet?

that's good info to know, now when a cable guy comes to anybody's house we all know what to look for in terms of signal reading.
In general -- excessive pixellation/dropouts is symptomatic of a bad signal -- whether in your apartment or outside your apartment.....

hey folks, I am sure this has been covered numerous times in the 285 pages before this, I have checked many of them for an answer to this question:

I have 2 pioneer boxes hooked up to samsung LCDs via component cables

on both of them, when tuned to an HD channel, the guide and info panels become very fuzzy and slow, when an SD channel is tuned, the problem goes away - the guide moves at a norml pace and the graphics seem normal.

is this a function of my settings? cables? can anything be done?

thanks

As much as I agree with you does FI could be wrong. I am no legal expert.IOS even carry MSG-HD yet?

Well, considering it is arguably a New York primary sports channel and home network of the Knicks and Rangers. I do not see how they cannot.

I doubt that Cablevision can withhold channels (MSG, MSG2, FSN New York) from Verizon even though they are the parent company who owns Madison Square Garden and the Dolan family owns the Knicks and Rangers. I think a telecommunications law would be violated somehow. I am sure we will see a deal in the works soon. Not like we have to worry about FIOS TV since we will not be seeing it in 2006.

The only channel lineup I have seen for FIOS is the Keller Texas one and they could care less for New York sports. YES Network did sign an agreement to have their channel on FIOS in Long Island.

The only channel lineup I have seen for FIOS is the Keller Texas one and they could care less for New York sports. YES Network did sign an agreement to have their channel on FIOS in Long Island.

Well I can't vouch for how recent this lineup is, but when I searched for New York Fios Channel List this is what came up:

http://www22.verizon.com/about/community/ny/ny_files/NY_NewYorkArea081706.pdf#search=%22new%20york%20fios%20chann el%20list%22

No MSG (HD or SD)

Now I would imagine they are likely to offer MSG-HD at some point...but until they do I can't pull the plug on TWC.

I would not worry about it right now. We will see what happens in 2007. All Verizon has to do right now is meet with the Mayor since the City Council approved the deal.

Once Bloomberg signs the franchise deal, I am sure Verizon will go after the popular local channels. Especially since MSG holds exclusivity rights to the Knicks/Rangers in the New York market unless there is a national broadcast.

a nice looking box

http://www.pacemicro.com/media/americas/pdf/manuals/tdc775_manual.pdf

That is a nice looking box. Who is offering this? Looks smaller than the 8300 from the picture drawing and size of the display clock.

I don't think we'll be getting fiber in manhattan. They don't have an MDU device for apts. I think they mayy go with fuber to the new MDU device and then copper to the home. Sucks, but that's what it is now. I think that you are extremely optimistic with those dates.
I would say the city would ok it sometime in early 2007 and Verizon would start rolling fios out in late 2007 outside manhattan, with manhattan coming in 2008.
that's my guess

Yes, fiber to an apartment is a way bigger deal than fiber to a house. I suspect there is going to be a lot of fiber to copper to get their service into apartments. I'm not so sure that's much of an advantage; I know that TWC has fiber to 1/2 block from me, then cooper. 2008 or later seems kinda right to me... but I think the real point is that it's competition and that's A GOOD THING!

Scott, I dunno, "trick" just implies to me something you get that's a quirk, not something you are entitled to. No big deal.

My issue with the double delete revolves around the fact that I'm using the series manager a lot, and in a lot of cases, there's no "new" designation, so I have to set all episodes. Under 1.8.112, when I saw that designation in scheduled recordings I KNEW there was a conflict. With how it works now, when I review that section I would not necessarily know if it was a "real" conflict. However, I have discovered another thing. If there WAS a conflict, you can NOT delete the listing at all! Still prefer the old way!

Anyone else not able to enable 720p as a supported output format after the upgrade to 066? I was just messing around in the menus and noticed that only 480p and 1080i were enabled (before I had 480p, 720p and 1080i enabled; my display can't accept 480i over HDMI so that was never enabled). I can go in and select 720p but when I hit the A button to accept the change, it doesn't stick.

Kind of annoying since I have a 720p display. Would prefer to avoid the extra scaling on 720p channels.

Anyone else not able to enable 720p as a supported output format after the upgrade to 066? I was just messing around in the menus and noticed that only 480p and 1080i were enabled (before I had 480p, 720p and 1080i enabled; my display can't accept 480i over HDMI so that was never enabled). I can go in and select 720p but when I hit the A button to accept the change, it doesn't stick.

Kind of annoying since I have a 720p display. Would prefer to avoid the extra scaling on 720p channels.

Mine is working fine

Apparently if one hits the record button on a live event it gives you the option right away to extend the time or record as scheduled.

hi everyone,

long time lurker to this thread. I'm having a weird issue since the new firmware, and I wanted to see if anyone else was experiencing something similar:

since the new firmware (SA8300 on the UWS, usually connected via component), I've been getting constant low-level buzzing from the audio. I've tried using a different cable and connecting to a different set of components on the TV (and I connected the DVD player to the same inputs and had no issue) so by my logic that means its the box. Also, because of this I switched to connecting via HDMI and the buzzing completely goes away. However, if I could get rid of the buzzing I would prefer to go back to component because of the superior standard def PQ and much more responsive menus and channel changing. any thoughts?

thanks,

--dan

I've been having video issues since the upgrade but no audio problems. Have you tried a hard reboot?

My 8300 will not output 1080i over HDMI anymore. I just switched back to component and it now outputs 1080i. Anybody have any idea what's going on? I am in Brooklyn and I first noticed the problem about a month ago. It used to output 1080i over HDMI but now it acts as though my television doesn't accept that signal, so it doesn't allow me to select it in outputs. I have My HD DVD player putting out 1080i to my projector with no problem, same cord.
Thanks,
Jason

issue since update:
When I turn on the tv it no longer automatically turns on the box - connected by HDMI.
used to be power on tv, tv tells stb to turn on throught the hdmi, now i have to turn each on seperately.
Anyone else get this, is this a symptom of a larger problem?

issue since update:
When I turn on the tv it no longer automatically turns on the box - connected by HDMI.
used to be power on tv, tv tells stb to turn on throught the hdmi, now i have to turn each on seperately.
Anyone else get this, is this a symptom of a larger problem?

I noticed that too. When I used to power on my projector the 8300HD would turn on as well. Starting a few days ago (i guess it's the new firmware) that doesn't happen any more. Not a huge deal since I would generally reach for the cable remote anyway to change the channel or view the guide, but it's one more button press than before.

I've been having video issues since the upgrade but no audio problems. Have you tried a hard reboot?

thanks for the response. i tried a hard reboot. it made the component audio better, but not 100% better. I can still hear some buzz vs. hdmi. between this and the slowdown in the menus and having to hit delete twice to get rid of anything, this has definitely been a negative "upgrade" for me.

a conference with Glenn Britt - CEO of TWC

http://cc.talkpoint.com/GOLD006/091906a_cs/launch.asp?entity=timewarnercable&speakernum=5020&media=WMP

hope it works, very long

issue since update:
When I turn on the tv it no longer automatically turns on the box - connected by HDMI.
used to be power on tv, tv tells stb to turn on throught the hdmi, now i have to turn each on seperately.
Anyone else get this, is this a symptom of a larger problem?

Many people outside our area complained about this as well as audio choice issues on the 8300 thread (current page at http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=453804&page=168&pp=30) when their 8300HD boxes were updated several months ago.

-Mike

i'm trying to find a silver star antenna in the city but keep coming up empty, everyone seems to carry terk, but i don't need an amplified antenna and i've never had good luck with terk antennas. any tips on where i might find one?

EDIT: nm, even though circuitcity.com showed that they dont' carry the silver star i found one at the CC in union square this afternoon.

thanks for the response. i tried a hard reboot. it made the component audio better, but not 100% better. I can still hear some buzz vs. hdmi. between this and the slowdown in the menus and having to hit delete twice to get rid of anything, this has definitely been a negative "upgrade" for me.

I agree. Since the upgrade, I often get a full picture of snow and when I turn the channel to try and get rid of it, I get the audio from the new station but the video is still full snow. The only way to get rid of it is to power off both the tv and cable box. The double delete is annoying too.

I have noticed a number of strange and disappointing changes (I think) in my 8300 HD since the upgrade. I have a Sharp LCD.

First, I think only when I am on an HD channel, but when I press guide or list, the screen blanks out for a second before the menu comes up. Prior to that, it would flow into the guide or the list.

Second, it seems like the aspect ratio settings on the # key have changed the way they work. To get rid of the grey bars on the cable box, I used the stretch setting on the cable box. Prior to the upgrade, I don't think it affected the screen orientation when something was in 16:9. Now I think it does.

Am I imagining these things?

No such thing as "component audio." If you use component video cables, you generally have 2 choices for audio, analog and digital (via cooper or optical). If you use analog, it IS susceptible to interference that can cause buzzing (or hum).

Indeed the half second of snow that occurs when switching channels is kinda annoying, but it doesn't really impact or degrade watching stuff or operating the DVR. It does not "stay" in snow mode. If it does for you, I'd say you need a box swap... a neighbor has the same service level, same box, both off the same node, but her box always turns on with a big backwards black L that is cleared instantly by switching channels. This is a known issue (others experience it); the only real difference is that her box has a 12/05 manufacture date while mine is March 06.

The gray bars thing... works the same as it did in 1.8.112. It depends on the display being set for 4:3 for SD channels and remembering that setting. The method is that the cable box sends a stretched image that the display then horizontally shrinks. What I have found all along is that the display always keeps it's setting, but every now and then the cable box forgets it's in 4:3 stretch mode. Behavior seems identical between 1.8.112 and 2.5.066.

A tech is coming tomorrow due to my snow problem and I suspect he will change the box. I used to have the same problem that your friend did - turning on with a big black L - but was able to clear it by a hard reboot.

a neighbor has the same service level, same box, both off the same node, but her box always turns on with a big backwards black L that is cleared instantly by switching channels. This is a known issue (others experience it); the only real difference is that her box has a 12/05 manufacture date while mine is March 06.

Before the recent update I had this problem consistantly. Rebooting didn't help much. After the update the problem, so far, has been fixed.

Before the recent update I had this problem consistantly. Rebooting didn't help much. After the update the problem, so far, has been fixed.

It seems like the update fixed it for me too. It also fixed the handshake between 8300HD and my Denon AV no more HDCP screen. :cool: So far so good ;)

How do i know what version My 8300 has? Has Brooklyn been upgraded yet? What is the latest version? Great to hear about the Denon problem being fixed as my AVR 2807 is in the mail.
Thanks,
Jason

I wonder if us Queens customers have been upgraded as well?

I've recently upgraded to HDTV from TimeWarner so that I can enjoy hockey games in HD, especially the NYR. I was wondering if Vs (OLN) games are in HD on any of the special channels (708 or 712), or are they picked up by anyone else. I did see some ad on HDNet that they were showing some games in HD. Are these the same games that are being broadcasted on Vs (OLN)? Thanks.

I woke up this morning and one of my boxes is saying DL08 and counting. What does this mean

Just had the service tech here regarding my "snow problem" in which the video gets stuck full screen on snow and will not show a picture without turning the box on and off. He said that this is a known problem with HDMI connections due to the upgrade and that the IT department is working on it. I told him that many people here had HDMI connections and hadn't complained about it. He said that, in the last day alone, he had seen several people with the problem and were supposedly working on it. Apparently if I changed to component, the problem would be cleared up.

I've recently upgraded to HDTV from TimeWarner so that I can enjoy hockey games in HD, especially the NYR. I was wondering if Vs (OLN) games are in HD on any of the special channels (708 or 712), or are they picked up by anyone else. I did see some ad on HDNet that they were showing some games in HD. Are these the same games that are being broadcasted on Vs (OLN)? Thanks.

Versus - HD games "should" be shown on InHD 721 (they were last year)
http://www.versus.tv/nw/article/view/1367/?tf=NHLArticleWrapper.tpl

Any game with a * in the schedule is exclusive and won't be seen on any other network (note not all games will be HD - but it seems as of now all Rangers games are)

MSG-HD is channel 712 - all Home (and a some road) Games not exclusively on Versus or NBC Saturday afternoons later in the year. Note that the Knicks tend to get first dibs on MSG, even when they aren't going to be useing MSG-HD, so we can miss out on HD coverage once in a while if the game is on FSNY or MSG2 (not having FSNY is TWC's fault; a home game on MSG2 is their own scheudling f*ck up)

HDNet does their own HD coverage, although if they do a Rangers game, it's most probably on a local channel (MSG, FSNY, MSG2), so HDNet would be subject to local blackout

Picked up my 8300HD two weeks ago from TWC in Brooklyn (eventually got what I came for, but that place is a very very poor cousin to the office on the 23rd in Manhattan).

Don't know what revision was on the box when they gave it to me, but as of last week sometime when I first checked, I am on 2.5.066 - I assume the rest of Brooklyn is too (tune to channel 996 to check).

Running the box over component to a Sharp LCD. Very happy customer. Next step is the eSATA expansion.

The gray sidebars are annoying (why is this not an option like in other markets?), but there is an imperfect solution - letting the 8300 send 480p to the TV (but then changing channels get slow and 'blinky' as the TV resets itself for each new resolution). Choosing to live with gray for now.

Question - how much am I missing by using component instead of HDMI? From what I read, seems like the improvement with HDMI would be marginal if any, and would add other headaches?

Question - how much am I missing by using component instead of HDMI? From what I read, seems like the improvement with HDMI would be marginal if any, and would add other headaches?

If you are outputting both 720P and 1080i, the video sync with your display will be much faster with HDMI when switching form a 720 channel to a 1080 channel. As for PQ, I can't tell the difference.

Has anybody had success attaching a SATA drive? If so, what drive are you using and what is the procedure for setting it up?
Thanks,
Jason

my 8300hd box has been running 2.5.066 for the last 2 months in queens.

my 3250hd running build 029
for over 3 months

If you are sick of the gray bars, try using s-video and scale it to fit the 16:9 screen using the 8300HD aspect ratio settings. It's not bad

As for YPbPr, you're losing roughly 5% versus DVI or HDMI.

You get (about) 1804x1015 with component YPbPr and 1920x1080 with DVI or HDMI.

Paul



Picked up my 8300HD two weeks ago from TWC in Brooklyn (eventually got what I came for, but that place is a very very poor cousin to the office on the 23rd in Manhattan).

Don't know what revision was on the box when they gave it to me, but as of last week sometime when I first checked, I am on 2.5.066 - I assume the rest of Brooklyn is too (tune to channel 996 to check).

Running the box over component to a Sharp LCD. Very happy customer. Next step is the eSATA expansion.

The gray sidebars are annoying (why is this not an option like in other markets?), but there is an imperfect solution - letting the 8300 send 480p to the TV (but then changing channels get slow and 'blinky' as the TV resets itself for each new resolution). Choosing to live with gray for now.

Question - how much am I missing by using component instead of HDMI? From what I read, seems like the improvement with HDMI would be marginal if any, and would add other headaches?

I don't see a difference running HDMI or Component cables from my SA8300HD box to my TV, so I've kept it on Component so i can keep my HDMI connector freed up for more important stuff like my future Toshiba HD-XA2 1080p HD-DVD player due out for release in Dec 06' - Jan 07'!

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6377276.html?display=Search+Results&text=Dressler

I woke up this morning and one of my boxes is saying DL08 and counting. What does this mean
You are getting the new update 2.5.066. I got it last week. :cool:

A tech is coming tomorrow due to my snow problem and I suspect he will change the box. I used to have the same problem that your friend did - turning on with a big black L - but was able to clear it by a hard reboot.

Guess I should cross my fingers that my "snow" is fairly temporary and not like yours!

The backwards black L I got hit with (once, when I unhooked my box to run it on the set having the L issue), but a hard boot cleared it up like you. The neighbor was NOT so lucky (I tried numerous re-boots with no success), I told her she needs a box swap. Well, the 2.5.066 update cleared that problem!

Just had the service tech here regarding my "snow problem" in which the video gets stuck full screen on snow and will not show a picture without turning the box on and off. He said that this is a known problem with HDMI connections due to the upgrade and that the IT department is working on it. I told him that many people here had HDMI connections and hadn't complained about it. He said that, in the last day alone, he had seen several people with the problem and were supposedly working on it. Apparently if I changed to component, the problem would be cleared up.

I take it you didn't ask him if this issue would be cleared up by a software upgrade, or might you need to swap boxes? As it wasn't an issue previously, I'd doubt it needs a hardware swap. You'd think that running 2.6.066 for x months in SI and at least 2 months in Queens would prevent these stupid, obvious issues... but NOOOOOO.

Oh, I asked someone else on the same node as I about this as she has the same service/STB, but a Sony 40" LCD. She says no snow switching channels...

Just had the service tech here regarding my "snow problem" in which the video gets stuck full screen on snow and will not show a picture without turning the box on and off. He said that this is a known problem with HDMI connections due to the upgrade and that the IT department is working on it. I told him that many people here had HDMI connections and hadn't complained about it. He said that, in the last day alone, he had seen several people with the problem and were supposedly working on it. Apparently if I changed to component, the problem would be cleared up.
Which is, essentially, what I had said would fix your problem. Clearly it is a software update problem that probably has to do with your specific display (or some range of models).....

Seriously, the difference between component and HDMI is very very minor, except for the fact of having to run an extra set of audio cables.

The tech said that there is definitely a problem with HDMI and the software upgrade. He did not think that swapping boxes would help. He said that the IT people are trying to figure it out at the same time that the CSRs are saying that there are no issues. I find it interesting that it only affects some HDMI/panels and not others since everyone here who uses HDMI is not having the same issue.

Has anybody had success attaching a SATA drive? If so, what drive are you using and what is the procedure for setting it up?
Thanks,
Jason

For certain values of success, yes. When I attached the drive the 8300 acknowledged it, rebooted, and then flashed 'fail' for a few panicky minutes. two warm boots later, the system returned with SATA drive in place, although all my saved programs got formatted over. It's unclear whether I was the problem or it was just bad timing (there were a lot of glitches the first 24 hours).

If there's a step-by-step guide I would recommend following it to the letter, unless you dont care about your saved progs.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6377276.html?display=Search+Results&text=Dressler

Here's a funny quote from that article that Andy posted.

" An NFL Network spokesman jokingly said, “Maybe Mr. Dressler can bring his failed sports tiers into retirement with him.”

Ouch! LOL! :p

Maybe now we can get some fresh blo0d in there & they rethink their Sports programming? I highly doubt it~! :rolleyes: :mad:

No NFL Network for a while guys. :(

As always, thanks Andy!

For certain values of success, yes. When I attached the drive the 8300 acknowledged it, rebooted, and then flashed 'fail' for a few panicky minutes. two warm boots later, the system returned with SATA drive in place, although all my saved programs got formatted over. It's unclear whether I was the problem or it was just bad timing (there were a lot of glitches the first 24 hours).

If there's a step-by-step guide I would recommend following it to the letter, unless you dont care about your saved progs.


Did you get an enclosure with a SATA or eSATA connection? From what I can tell eSATA seems to be the format of the future...but is there an eSATA to SATA cable that would connect an eSATA drive to the SATA connection on the 8300?

500GB Western Digital SATA drives are available for $175 and I'm thinking about taking the plunge...just not sure what enclosure to get as there seems to be thousands of them out there.

TWC says it is upgrading (their language) and doing maintenance on the system.

They also are saying DO NOT RESET YOUR CABLE BOX OR YOU WILL LOSE INFORMATION AND CHANNELS

Typically, they do not say what it is that they are doing.

Typically, they do not say what it is that they are doing.

Creating opportunities to extract more money from us all!

Yes there are SATA to eSATA cables. Back 6 months ago, most external boxes had the internal, L connector on the outside. Eventually all external connectors will (should) be the eSATA, I connectors.

Odd, posts about folks losing what has been recorded on their internal drives seem to be something that is only showing up within the past week or so, at least that's my impression from following these forums for 6 months. As it seems to be a Passport/NYC kind of issue, one could speculate it's a bug in the 066 as delivered. And we have good indications they are slipstreaming corrections without changing version numbers, so one never "knows" until one tries. Seems reasonable to suggest one watches/clears all recorded programs before getting an external drive into the picture.

TWC says it is upgrading (their language) and doing maintenance on the system.

They also are saying DO NOT RESET YOUR CABLE BOX OR YOU WILL LOSE INFORMATION AND CHANNELS

Typically, they do not say what it is that they are doing.

Of course, who thinks to call TWC before trying to see if resetting their box makes it work? Not me. So now I have 2 boxes with no guide, no channels, no time of day.

Odd, posts about folks losing what has been recorded on their internal drives seem to be something that is only showing up within the past week or so, at least that's my impression from following these forums for 6 months.
I think that was only one person who admitted that he was a little cavelier in installing his drive....

And we have good indications they are slipstreaming corrections without changing version numbers
Actually, the settings menu seems to be a different appliction, outside of Passport. There *was* a version number updated when they sent the fix to the menu with the Audio Options returned -- it showed up on a different screen in the diagnostic mode -- there is a screen that lists the version and last update time of things like your Regions, Config, Movies On Demand, Guide, etc. And I noticed, when they shipped out the fix for the settings menu, the time, date, and version number under "Config" got updated.

This sorta makes sense, keeping the settings menu a separate sort of plug-in to the Passport OS -- this way a cable system can enable or disable certain options as they see fit. Now, if only they would add back the option for changing the color of the pillar bars! (That option is [or used to be] available on the non-DVR HD cable boxes running Passport)

Scott

Of course, who thinks to call TWC before trying to see if resetting their box makes it work? Not me. So now I have 2 boxes with no guide, no channels, no time of day.
This has happened to me a number of times in the past while they were working on the system. This is because they are working on the servers, and the boxes can't contact the server to download the channel list, logos, time, etc. When they come up in this state, they can only display the analog versions of the SD channels. Not pretty at all. Generally they only do this in the late night hours (and it was clear to me that things were in this state last night around 1AM, when my box couldn't update its guide for future dates). And I've learned to be very careful not to reboot my box when it's in this state.

Obviously they're doing some sort of upgrade and it must've run WAY beyond its scheduled time.

Upgrades are a good thing in the long run (generally)......

Cold booted my 8300HD ~6 am twice to try restoring the complete lack of data in the guide/menu, then called CS. The voice message before reaching someone was NOT to reboot when maintenance was going on, throughout Manhattan, the CS rep said. As a result, only had channels ~2-79 for several hours this morning. Tried a warm boot before noon, the data downloaded, and everything seems back to normal. Over-optimistic speculation: they've finally installed switched-video hardware and it will kick in shortly. ;) -- John

Cold booted my 8300HD ~6 am twice to try restoring the complete lack of data in the guide/menu, then called CS. The voice message before reaching someone was NOT to reboot when maintenance was going on, throughout Manhattan, the CS rep said. As a result, only had channels ~2-79 for several hours this morning. Tried a warm boot before noon, the data downloaded, and everything seems back to normal. Over-optimistic speculation: they've finally installed switched-video hardware and it will kick in shortly. ;) -- John

happened to me 2 nights ago at 3:00am

the loading screen said APTIV digital instead of pioneer.

Was this only in Manhattan? I will not be home for several hours to test Queens.

Over-optimistic speculation: they've finally installed switched-video hardware and it will kick in shortly. ;) -- John
Or perhaps they're preparing to install the new Time Warner developed on-screen guide system?

Cold booted my 8300HD ~6 am twice to try restoring the complete lack of data in the guide/menu, then called CS. The voice message before reaching someone was NOT to reboot when maintenance was going on, throughout Manhattan, the CS rep said. As a result, only had channels ~2-79 for several hours this morning. Tried a warm boot before noon, the data downloaded, and everything seems back to normal. Over-optimistic speculation: they've finally installed switched-video hardware and it will kick in shortly. ;) -- John

This is pretty funny. We blew a fuse at PRECISELY the moment that this was happening. When the boxes didn't reset properly I then did a reboot. Hope nothing got lost.

I just thought of a way to test to see if it's "safe" to reboot your box or not --

Try to play something off of one of the free VOD channels. They won't work while server maintanance is going on. If you can play VOD, then it should be safe to reboot your box.

If you can't, then it's possibly not safe to reboot your box. (Of course, there could be any number of reasons that VOD is not working that are completely unrelated to server maintanence.)

TWC says it is upgrading (their language) and doing maintenance on the system.

They also are saying DO NOT RESET YOUR CABLE BOX OR YOU WILL LOSE INFORMATION AND CHANNELS

Typically, they do not say what it is that they are doing.


Absolutely fustrating -
my box reboots and goes to 12oclock
so I reboot
still no dice also stock on the blue loading 'just a moment' screen
reboot again
then call Time Warner
"maintenance upgrade bla bla bla DO NOT REBOOT"

thanks for the f-ing warning
I'll have to wait till I get home to see if anything is missing

Absolutely fustrating -
my box reboots and goes to 12oclock
so I reboot
still no dice also stock on the blue loading 'just a moment' screen
reboot again
then call Time Warner
"maintenance upgrade bla bla bla DO NOT REBOOT"

thanks for the f-ing warning
I'll have to wait till I get home to see if anything is missing
Unfortunately you'll be able to watch SD analog channels only until they're done with the maintenance.

Call and ask for a refund for the hours you couldn't watch. Hit 'em in the pocketbook -- that'll teach them to do upgrades during "prime time".

I mean, with the amount that we pay for our DVR/HD/DTV, it could be a few bucks.....not much, but still...You're paying for something that you're not getting.

Did you get an enclosure with a SATA or eSATA connection? From what I can tell eSATA seems to be the format of the future...but is there an eSATA to SATA cable that would connect an eSATA drive to the SATA connection on the 8300?

500GB Western Digital SATA drives are available for $175 and I'm thinking about taking the plunge...just not sure what enclosure to get as there seems to be thousands of them out there.

It's an Azio enclosure with eSATA and USB 2.0 . $40 shipped. Came with both types of cables too. Works fine but its the only one I've ever known so cant compare.

http://www.shop4tech.com/item5165.html

I think newegg was sold out when I went shopping for it a few weeks back.

happened to me 2 nights ago at 3:00am

the loading screen said APTIV digital instead of pioneer.

I've had this since day one of .066, about a week ago now. Am I missing something?

It's an Azio enclosure with eSATA and USB 2.0 . $40 shipped. Came with both types of cables too. Works fine but its the only one I've ever known so cant compare.

http://www.shop4tech.com/item5165.html

I think newegg was sold out when I went shopping for it a few weeks back.

Thanks for the info. So if I buy that I also need to get a esata to sata cable to connect it to the 8300, right?

Also, I notice that model doesn't have a fan...should that be a concern?

Thanks for the info. So if I buy that I also need to get a esata to sata cable to connect it to the 8300, right?

Also, I notice that model doesn't have a fan...should that be a concern?

It comes with both an eSATA and a nice usb cable.

Others on the forum have fan concerns with enclosures, though I'm not one of them.

It comes with both an eSATA and a nice usb cable.

Others on the forum have fan concerns with enclosures, though I'm not one of them.

but doesn't the 8300 have a Sata connection, not eSata? Guess i'm a bit confused, but i thought the two connections were different. does the enclosure run hot?

I checked and then rebooted my 8300 here in Queens and nothing like Manhattan members described happened. Guess we will be changing soon.

but doesn't the 8300 have a Sata connection, not eSata? Guess i'm a bit confused, but i thought the two connections were different. does the enclosure run hot?

Im assuming <-----note assumption that eSATA is backward compatible.

Enclosure is definately eSATA, and 8300 is labeled SATA. Everyone on AVS insists on ESATA, dont know if SATA alone works or not.

Actually, the settings menu seems to be a different appliction, outside of Passport. There *was* a version number updated when they sent the fix to the menu with the Audio Options returned -- it showed up on a different screen in the diagnostic mode -- there is a screen that lists the version and last update time of things like your Regions, Config, Movies On Demand, Guide, etc. And I noticed, when they shipped out the fix for the settings menu, the time, date, and version number under "Config" got updated.

Scott

Do you mean the BFS screen?

Im assuming <-----note assumption that eSATA is backward compatible.

Enclosure is definately eSATA, and 8300 is labeled SATA. Everyone on AVS insists on ESATA, dont know if SATA alone works or not.

Yes, from what I've read eSata is backwards compatible with Sata. But the connectors are different. So the eSata to eSata cable that comes in the box with an eSata enclosure won't connect to the 8300 as it has a Sata connection. So I was asking if you bought an eSata to Sata cable...or how you connected the enclosure to the cable box.

SATA and eSATA are slightly different connectors that DO THE SAME thing ( transfer data to and from a SATA drive). The only compatibility issue is you can't plug one connector into another. The 8300's connector is absolutely a eSATA variety (I even went and visually identified it!).

Yes ramstone, I like the Azio box... didn't know shop4tech carried it! 2 bucks more than newegg, but shop4tech does free shipping. BTW, I have bought all my blank optical media from shop4tech for 2-3 years now. I go brand (Ritech) for CD, but I like their Sonic, white printable, for DVD.

ok, thanks for clearing up the connector question. i'm going to pull the trigger on the Azio box...hopefully the lack of a fan won't come back to haunt me.

Thanks for the info. So if I buy that I also need to get a esata to sata cable to connect it to the 8300, right?

Also, I notice that model doesn't have a fan...should that be a concern?
I think that you definitely want to try to find an enclosure with a fan.....Unless your box is in a well-ventilated area, that is. And my guess is that most peoples' boxes aren't.

Do you mean the BFS screen?
I can't recall right now what that screen's called (but I don't think it's the BFS screen), but it has a bunch of features followed by version numbers and time/date stamps (one is the last time your box made a call out to get a program guide from the server, another is the last time it made a call to the server to download the channel list and logos -- which happens more frequently than you might think....; another is the last time it downloaded the VOD listings to your box, etc.).

EDIT: It *was* the BFS screen that changed when they delivered us the updated "confuguration" menu (with the Audio Digital Out options) -- the version and date under "Config" was changed. Makes sense to me.

BTW -- anyone notice that the system was down again last night (10/5 overnight) for more maintenence?

I checked and then rebooted my 8300 here in Queens and nothing like Manhattan members described happened. Guess we will be changing soon.
...or maybe they've already taken care of the maintenence out there

Does TWCNYC still give out Pioneer HD cable boxes? Does anyone have one?

Anyone know the status of Switched Digital Video (SDV) here in New York with TWC? I'm eager to get a series 3 TiVo, but some of the folks on the TiVo community forums from Austin, where SDV has been implemented, have reported incompatabilities with cable cards that sound pretty nasty (include being unable to get a digital signal for channels below 100 and having to suck it up and use the analog versions of those channels). If SDV is coming here anytime soon, I'm probably gonna pass on the S3 TiVo...

Anyone know the status of Switched Digital Video (SDV) here in New York with TWC? I'm eager to get a series 3 TiVo, but some of the folks on the TiVo community forums from Austin, where SDV has been implemented, have reported incompatabilities with cable cards that sound pretty nasty (include being unable to get a digital signal for channels below 100 and having to suck it up and use the analog versions of those channels). If SDV is coming here anytime soon, I'm probably gonna pass on the S3 TiVo...

It is supposed to be deployed, but no ETA and no real way to know when it's actually here.

I've aske Mr. Watson various times, with no response.

MSG-HD has some nice looking graphics, I hope they increase the amount of HD games they do.

"Unfortunately, we do not have any live games scheduled in the fall/winter. Our college football and basketball games will all be up converted to HD. All of our studio programming will continue to be offered in true HD. As for next year’s Mets games season, all of the home games will be produced in true HD, while it still has not been determined whether any road games will be produced in true HD. When starting a new network it takes time to add all of these features. In the interim, we ask that you remain patient as we work toward adding the away games in true HD."

Thanks again for your email.
SportsNet New York

My Hard Drive and enclosure are arriving today (ordered from NewEgg yesterday). Do i just plug it into the 8300HD or are there settings that need to be made as well?

Thanks,
Jason

Jason, find a post by pepar, go to his website, he's got a nice guide on getting it rolling.

I dare say 95% of the folks in NY would kill for SDV way more than the ability to spend a fortune for a TiVo3 (not knocking the product features, but I find it way overpriced compared to TWCs DVR service). It seems very much accepted as fact that deployment of SDV is our best chance at getting more HD channels.

I dare say 95% of the folks in NY would kill for SDV way more than the ability to spend a fortune for a TiVo3 (not knocking the product features, but I find it way overpriced compared to TWCs DVR service). It seems very much accepted as fact that deployment of SDV is our best chance at getting more HD channels.

Anybody out there wanna to take a crack at it and ask Bob Watson when SDV will be here and when they will take advantage of it?

Bob.Watson@twcable.com

My Hard Drive and enclosure are arriving today (ordered from NewEgg yesterday). Do i just plug it into the 8300HD or are there settings that need to be made as well?

Thanks,
Jason
My guess is that you should power it down fully (unplug), then plug in the SATA cable, then power it back up.

There is a thread on another forum specifically about hooking up a SATA drive to the 8300HD. Let us know how it goes -- I'm looking at ordering a drive soon.....

Scott

It is supposed to be deployed, but no ETA and no real way to know when it's actually here.

I've aske Mr. Watson various times, with no response.
Actually it would be obvious when it's based upon the diagnostics screens. The frequency that it's receiving the channel on won't change when you change channels (the way it does now).

There is a thread on another forum specifically about hooking up a SATA drive to the 8300HD.
Scott

Link?

Actually it would be obvious when it's based upon the diagnostics screens. The frequency that it's receiving the channel on won't change when you change channels (the way it does now).

I wonder what channels they would even have on SDV (SD, HD or a mix)
I think i read somewhere that the international channels would be put in SDV to then free up space

Link?
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=453804&page=171&pp=30

I wonder what channels they would even have on SDV (SD, HD or a mix)
I think i read somewhere that the international channels would be put in SDV to then free up space
I wouldn't mind if all channels were SDV -- in theory, we should get a better quality picture since TWC wouldn't need to "compress" the channels as much to squeeze more bits into the system.

Surely HD channels would be great candidates for SDV. Whether TWC decides to implement that way is a whole different question.

Anyone watch the baseball games yesterday?

I recorded the Yankees game on ESPN HD and the Mets game on FOX HD.
After watching the Yankees for a few hours on ESPN and then going to the Mets on FOX HD I have to say, to my eyes, the ESPN HD picture quality is far superior to FOX HD.
The center field camera on FOX HD was not crisp. Camera shots with quick pans or fast motions looked lousy.

Anyone else notice the difference between the two channels?

I notice too when watching Football games on Sunday that CBS HD and ESPN HD both look much better than FOX HD

Anyone watch the baseball games yesterday?

I recorded the Yankees game on ESPN HD and the Mets game on FOX HD.
After watching the Yankees for a few hours on ESPN and then going to the Mets on FOX HD I have to say, to my eyes, the ESPN HD picture quality is far superior to FOX HD.
The center field camera on FOX HD was not crisp. Camera shots with quick pans or fast motions looked lousy.

Anyone else notice the difference between the two channels?

I notice too when watching Football games on Sunday that CBS HD and ESPN HD both look much better than FOX HD

i didn't care for the pq on fox, it sometimes looked like a very good 480p rather than a lousy 720p.
i've seen better from them

Anyone watch the baseball games yesterday?

I recorded the Yankees game on ESPN HD and the Mets game on FOX HD.
After watching the Yankees for a few hours on ESPN and then going to the Mets on FOX HD I have to say, to my eyes, the ESPN HD picture quality is far superior to FOX HD.
The center field camera on FOX HD was not crisp. Camera shots with quick pans or fast motions looked lousy.

Anyone else notice the difference between the two channels?

I notice too when watching Football games on Sunday that CBS HD and ESPN HD both look much better than FOX HD


Fox was having technical problems last night... first hour was not HD but widescreen-SD - and after that when they go their HD feed working it seemed like the main centerfield camera was out of focus or something...

But it looked exactly like ESPN's coverage of Game 1 at Shea.... so no clue what the deal is...

Also, ESPN's Yankee game 2 looked like Fox's game 1...

I wonder what channels they would even have on SDV (SD, HD or a mix)
I think i read somewhere that the international channels would be put in SDV to then free up space


Here's an intersting article claiming that cable companies would have plenty of bandwidth if they persue SDV and removal of analog channels. Although article states nothing new, it does stress the importance of implementing these technologies very quickly, if they want to complete with services such as FIOS.

http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=105323&WT.svl=tease4_2

Here's an intersting article claiming that cable companies would have plenty of bandwidth if they persue SDV and removal of analog channels. Although article states nothing new, it does stress the importance of implementing these technologies very quickly, if they want to complete with services such as FIOS.

http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=105323&WT.svl=tease4_2


thanks for the link, it has some added info I didn't know about. I want more space for HD, but I must say doubling the internet speed sounds good as well.

"Each analog channel consumes 6 MHz of capacity (or roughly 1/125th of the total capacity of an upgraded cable plant). Re-claiming that channel slot frees up enough capacity to launch 2½ more channels in HDTV (each of which consumes about 2.4 MHz), or ten more digital channels (each of which consumes about 0.6 MHz), another ten QAMs, each capable of delivering an additional VOD stream, or another doubling of broadband [Internet] capacity (which today operates out of a single 6 MHz channel slot)."

http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=105323&WT.svl=tease4_2

I think I've read too many overly optimistic posts about when FIOS is really going to be available... knowing what it took TWC to get fiber laid around the city sure indicates it's going to take Verizon at least as long. I know it was a good 18 months after TWC had lower Manhattan fully equipped (and functioning) with fiber until it made it's way uptown, I read recently some posts from a guy who is a building manager about how he was starting to be contacted by Verizon for rights... kinda implying that maybe they get it installed and functioning by beginning 07; that means mid 08 up here. Seriously doubt TWC will be as bandwidth constrained that far out...

AND you have to add in some unknowns... like will it be fiber into your apartment or not? And if it has to go fiber to copper at the bottom of the building, won't we have a similar bandwidth issue like we have to TWC (plus, I know I have fiber to a half block away from TWC, if FIOS is fiber to my building, is the half block distance of copper going to make any bandwidth difference?

save this link as a favorite

TWC wants your input

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=733414

I'm trying to watch the Giants game on FOX HD (705) in the Upper West Side, but the signal keeps cutting off. Is anyone else out there having the same problem? Channel Fox SD (5) is fine

Same problem on the UES with the Giants game. SD is fine, but no reception on the HD channel.

same in gramercy -- pixellating like crazy. brilliant.

massive issues with audio & video on 705, unwatchable.

It's pretty crazy that we are paying for HD and and we can't watch our game in HD. These drop outs are driving me crazy. Is TWC going to increase the Bandwidth? Same thing happend watching Lost. Does it help to complain? :mad:

It was going on during the pre-game show as well. Very annoying--one day a week I get my Giants in HD. That's all I ask. And it's screwed up.

It was going on during the pre-game show as well. Very annoying--one day a week I get my Giants in HD. That's all I ask. And it's screwed up.

And I always think it's ME! :)
Now 705 is showing SD and it is STILL breaking up!

same thing on the lower east side. i'm thinking it is fox not twcnyc. right before the kickoff they switched to the green bay game for a second or two. then they were trying to throw the 4:3 sd feed thru 705. then it just cut to nothing. i really liked the star trek direct tv spot, too bad it was full of digital noise. i noticed they aired the spot again during the 1st quarter, and switched to 705, and noticed the 720p light on my sa8300hd, but no picture or video. aargh.

-c.

I just called and asked if this was a TWC problem or a FOX problem. CSR stated it was a TWC issue. I was told that I would have to call back and request credit, but only after the problem is resolved.

fingers crossed -- but seems stable now

FOX was having issues all over the place - wierd sattelite issues that can happen this time of year.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=733679
when something happens on one of these local HD channels - its rarely TWC's fault...

I just called and asked if this was a TWC problem or a FOX problem. CSR stated it was a TWC issue. I was told that I would have to call back and request credit, but only after the problem is resolved.

It's awful/unwatchable here TOO, in Queens. :mad:

Looks like we have someone new to ask our questions too as soon as Dressler retires.


http://www.multichannel.com/article...y=Breaking+News

"Time Warner Cable promoted Melinda Witmer to senior vice president and chief programming officer. She’ll succeed outgoing executive VP of programming Fred Dressler as the cable distributor’s top programming negotiator.

Witmer and Time Warner Cable senior VP of programming Lynn Costantini had been vying for Dressler’s spot after he said last week that he would retire at the end of the year.

Time Warner also said Friday that it promoted Costantini to the new position of senior VP and chief business-affairs officer. The company said Costantini will focus on building and expanding the role of the business-affairs group, working with the MSO’s advanced-technology and new-product-development groups."

http://www.multichannel.com/article...y=Breaking+News

there is nothing showing on 705 at all. just a blank grey screen. i even tried rebooting.

same here (Village). regular old SD chan. 5 is active though.

Sd fox is unwatchable in Brooklyn. No picture on 705 at all.

I'm on E 90TH ST and my 705 is down. At first (around 1pm) it was going back and forth between HD and SD...then was pixellating off and on. Then the box hung up and rebooted. Since then I only have a gray screen. Sucks that I missed out on basically the entire Giants/Skins game and now the Eagles/Boys.

No big deal, its only shaping up to be the game of the year :mad:

Is anyone experiencing weird audio issues on CBS-2 HD? I heard the ingame volume very low and muffled, so I raise the volume on my LCD HDTV to 20. But when the game exits and goes to commercial, all of a sudden, BOOM! the volume sounds like its going to tear down my walls.

Why is this happening on CBS-2 HD? This is the 2nd consecutive week I've noticed this...

hd is back, came back on on 705 about 20 mins ago.

hd is back, came back on on 705 about 20 mins ago.

I don't know....i just checked out 705...and it's back to being HORRIBLE AND UNWATCHABLE AGAIN. :mad:

I don't know....i just checked out 705...and it's back to being HORRIBLE AND UNWATCHABLE AGAIN. :mad:

OK, now it's back to being watchable.

I wouldn't mind if all channels were SDV -- in theory, we should get a better quality picture since TWC wouldn't need to "compress" the channels as much to squeeze more bits into the system.

Surely HD channels would be great candidates for SDV. Whether TWC decides to implement that way is a whole different question.

I wouldn't be surprised if something like 80% of viewing used 20% of the channels TWC carries. (The numbers could even be 90/10.) If that's the case, the 20% of channels that have most of the viewers most of the time would get permanent unswitched slots, since at any given time the odds are that someone on a node will be watching one of those channels.

It's the 80% of channels that account for 20% of viewing that would make the most sense for switching. The International channels are likely candidates for this group, as are plenty of others. I'm sure TWC keeps sufficiently detailed stats to know exactly which ones they are...
-JMP

Glad others noticed the Fux Follies. Great game, a real shame they fuxed it up so badly (thank god we had channel 5 so we didn't totally miss the game).

But I really wonder if it was TWC or Fux that screwed the pooch. TWC did not seem to have any issues getting any other channel to us cleanly, so my inclination is on Fux.

Glad others noticed the Fux Follies. Great game, a real shame they fuxed it up so badly (thank god we had channel 5 so we didn't totally miss the game).

But I really wonder if it was TWC or Fux that screwed the pooch. TWC did not seem to have any issues getting any other channel to us cleanly, so my inclination is on Fux.

705 was definitely the worst, being d-e-a-d for a good part of the afternoon, and twitchy even in the evening, but at least in Brooklyn, around 4pm, I had trouble getting plain old 5 to work, not to mention lots of problems with 2/702 and 7/707... lots of digital break-up, screetchy noises, etc...

Other channels (e.g. Nat Geo, Food Network, INHD, etc) were OK...

I switched to the WNYW-DT OTA channel during the game (vs. TWC's 705) and it was fine for me in Whitestone, Queens.

Glad others noticed the Fux Follies. Great game, a real shame they fuxed it up so badly (thank god we had channel 5 so we didn't totally miss the game).

But I really wonder if it was TWC or Fux that screwed the pooch. TWC did not seem to have any issues getting any other channel to us cleanly, so my inclination is on Fux.

There were similar problems with FOX-HD all over the country with various cable providers (seems like only DirecTV's NFL Sunday Ticket survived without issues)

FWIW, 705 became watchable *as soon as they threw it to local news (which isnt HD, but beside the point). After that, they went to a perfectly fine national HD broadcast in the 2nd half.

So maybe it was wnyw, or maybe fox got their act together at halftime....

When in Diagnostic Mode, the last item is MR-DVR, and says Welcome to MR_DVR!
Do we have multiroom capability?
Jason

from what I understand a different box is needed. The software might be ready for it though.

Has anyone split their cable line for their tv in order to use the pip function to work. Would the quality of picutre decrease if i split it?

I think there's enough wildly different things that could have made the Sunday thing on 705 happen that the best we can do is educated guesses. I dealt with the issue and it's over, but I'm still VERY curious to find out exactly (truthfully) what went wrong where.

I have the sa3250 box if i switch to the sa8300 will pip work. I have the sony xbr1.

I have the sa3250 box if i switch to the sa8300 will pip work. I have the sony xbr1.

The SA8300 has 2 built-in tuners, and its own PIP

The game is broadcast on VERSUS (channel 122). It also says HD (on the versus website), but does anyone know if we can see it in HD and what channel?

The game is broadcast on VERSUS (channel 122). It also says HD (on the versus website), but does anyone know if we can see it in HD and what channel?

all Versus HD games are shown on InHD channel 721

Has anyone split their cable line for their tv in order to use the pip function to work. Would the quality of picutre decrease if i split it?
You'd need 2 HD tuners to make that work. The cable box handles it if you have SA8300HD.

I've been looking for this forum. In the 6 weeks or so that I've had HDTV at home, I've had numerous problems with live sports broadcasts. This past weekend's FOX HD was a continuation of a pattern. It's driving me batty. I recently purchased an ARTEC USB TV Tuner and to my surprise it was experiencing the same problems as my TWC cablebox. Though I couldn't blame TWC this week, they have woefully underperformed in my opinion. Besides PQ issues, what's up with the limited lineup? I know, bandwidth, etc., but I can't beleive that in NYC in 2006 17 friggin HD channels (including HBO, Show, etc.) is the best we can do. What a joke.

I've been looking for this forum. In the 6 weeks or so that I've had HDTV at home, I've had numerous problems with live sports broadcasts. This past weekend's FOX HD was a continuation of a pattern. It's driving me batty. I recently purchased an ARTEC USB TV Tuner and to my surprise it was experiencing the same problems as my TWC cablebox. Though I couldn't blame TWC this week, they have woefully underperformed in my opinion. Besides PQ issues, what's up with the limited lineup? I know, bandwidth, etc., but I can't beleive that in NYC in 2006 17 friggin HD channels (including HBO, Show, etc.) is the best we can do. What a joke.
Locally, TWC claims (for a long time) that they're currently out of bandwidth, but there is a pending upgrade to Switched Digital Video that may free up some bandwidth in the future.

But in reality, there aren't many HD channels that are offered that we don't have. Specifically, the ones that are offered that we don't have are:
ESPN2
Starz!
Cinemax
The Movie Channel
MHD (MTV HD)
Food Network HD
UPN-HD (locally, channel 9)
National Geographic HD (is this channel a reality?)

Plus, there are the VOOM channels that are exclusive to DirectTV.

I installed a 500GB external drive today. It was incredibly easy and I didn't lose any of my saved programs. i now have 650GB to work with! Unfortunately I will probably lose that sense of satisfaction from watching and erasing programs. I often watch things just to erase them. Oh well, I'll learn to live with it I guess. :o

I installed a 500GB external drive today. It was incredibly easy and I didn't lose any of my saved programs. i now have 650GB to work with! Unfortunately I will probably lose that sense of satisfaction from watching and erasing programs. I often watch things just to erase them. Oh well, I'll learn to live with it I guess. :o
Nice!

For the rest of us, please do us a favor and recount the steps that you took to install the drive, so that we'll know what to do.

Also, are you experiencing the "trick play buffer" bug (pause, REW, FF live TV stops working) that others have reported?

Nice!

For the rest of us, please do us a favor and recount the steps that you took to install the drive, so that we'll know what to do.

Also, are you experiencing the "trick play buffer" bug (pause, REW, FF live TV stops working) that others have reported?

Thanks for raining on my parade. No buffer! Damn! Now am I going to lose my saved programs when I uninstall? I have to go cancel a lot of recordings now!

Thanks for raining on my parade. No buffer! Damn! Now am I going to lose my saved programs when I uninstall? I have to go cancel a lot of recordings now!
Well, the buffer is just not there in the traditional way. When you turn to a channel, you can click "record" and it will start buffering the program, so you can do everything that you could before (Pause, REW, FF) from whatever point you press "record". It just won't do it automatically. And of course, once you get to the end of the program, you can just erase it. (Once the current program ends, you'll have to click record for the next one too -- oy -- ain't cutting-edge [unsupported] technology a bitch?!).

And, of course, you can do the same with the other tuner, so it would be pretty much just like it was before (at least until the current program ends).

With all of the space that you now have, needing to do this shouldn't be an issue, right?

It just might be an issue if you live with anyone else, because it might annoy them that they are losing their nice DVR features.

I installed a 500GB external drive today.
Yes, great news, please, you or anyone else, post all of the details, especially for those of us that aren’t as computer savvy. Like someone (like me) that thinks a hard drive is sitting on the LIE during rush hour. :confused: :D

For instance, let’s say I have an external drive hooked into my 8300
and it has a good amount of recordings on it.
Let’s also say my 8300 goes down (how inconceivable :rolleyes: ), can I swap out 8300s and then hook up the same external drive on a new 8300 and still have my recordings?

TIA

Thanks for raining on my parade. No buffer! Damn! Now am I going to lose my saved programs when I uninstall? I have to go cancel a lot of recordings now!
And, how about recounting your steps, please.

Something like (? -- this is a guess):
1. Unplug DVR power cable.
2. Plug in external hard drive enclosure power cable.
3. Plug external harddrive ESATA cable into SATA port on the back of the 8300HD
4. Power up DVR.
5. Press "A" to format hard drive when prompted

or

1. Plug in external hard drive enclosure power cable
2. Plug external harddrive ESATA cable into SATA port on the back of the running, live 8300HD
3. Press "A" to format hard drive when prompted

Thanks,
Scott

For instance, let’s say I have an external drive hooked into my 8300
and it has a good amount of recordings on it.
Let’s also say my 8300 goes down (how inconceivable :rolleyes: ), can I swap out 8300s and then hook up the same external drive on a new 8300 and still have my recordings?
Nope. This is not possible.

Apparently, the external drive is encrypted with a key so that it can only be used by the DVR that formatted it. You cannot unplug the drive and plug it into another DVR, even if it is registered under your name, in your home, etc.

Additionally, the "catalog" of programs that your DVR has on it, is (I believe) stored on the internal hard disk only, so it would be impossible for another DVR to know what's on the external disk, even if it weren't encrypted.

The external hard disk is usable ONLY as extra storage space for the DVR that you installed it on, and if that DVR ever fails or you ever have to swap out your box for any reason whatsoever, the recordings on your external drive will not be able to be salvaged.

As "jasonDono" has experienced, just installing an external hard drive is not for the faint of heart at this point. It is very tempting to want to expand your hard drive space, BUT, this feature is still not properly supported by the version of the Passport operating system that is on our DVR (nor have I heard of it being properly supported by ANY version of Passport yet).

In case you haven't been paying attention to the hundreds of post on this thread:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8626470#post8626470

I will summarize:

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:
1. With the current version of Passport that we are running in New York City, you can hook up an external SATA hard drive (just about any brand will do) to gain more space. (Though, careful reading reports that drives of 350Gig or below seem to have less trouble with dropouts than drives over 350G). Also, note that it would be best if you purchased a SATA enclosure with a *fan* in it so that it can cool the drive, as keeping the drives cool will reduce the possibility that you will get video/audio dropouts.
2. The external hard drive IS NOT CURRENTLY PROPERLY SUPPORTED! Once you hook it up, it is ***ALMOST CERTAIN THAT YOU WILL LOSE YOUR "TRICK PLAY" BUFFER***. In other words, the DVR will cease to allow you to FF, REW, or PAUSE live TV UNLESS you tell the DVR to record the program that you are watching (or the program on the other tuner if you press "swap"). Then it will function as it used to. [NOTE: Some people have reported that if you fill up your external drive and subsequently delete some programming on your internal drive, the "trick play buffer" will start to work again. There is speculation that this is because the DVR tries to write the live TV buffer to whichever drive has more free space on it, which, until you fill it up, will be your external drive. BUT the trick play buffer apparently doesn't work on the external drive.

If after all of this, you are still interested in trying it out, here is the info that I've gathered from the other board:

You need to buy an external hard drive and SATA enclosure. People have specifically reported success with the following hardware combination:
SATA Enclosure:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817362002

Maxtor 300G hard drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144421

Total cost:
~$150

Well, the buffer is just not there in the traditional way. When you turn to a channel, you can click "record" and it will start buffering the program, so you can do everything that you could before (Pause, REW, FF) from whatever point you press "record". It just won't do it automatically. And of course, once you get to the end of the program, you can just erase it. (Once the current program ends, you'll have to click record for the next one too -- oy -- ain't cutting-edge [unsupported] technology a bitch?!).

And, of course, you can do the same with the other tuner, so it would be pretty much just like it was before (at least until the current program ends).

With all of the space that you now have, needing to do this shouldn't be an issue, right?

It just might be an issue if you live with anyone else, because it might annoy them that they are losing their nice DVR features.

Yes, my wife's comment was "Nice upgrade."
I figured out the record thing. Not too much of a pain. It even records from the beginning of the show if you have been watching it from the beginning, then you can rewind.

I followed Pepar's instructions for installing it, as somebody here recommended.
http://www.peparsplace.com/html/20.html

Scott,

Are you certain about this as this is a potential NIGHTMARE for those that have already built a library of external hard drives to their 8300HD.

If all those "full" external drives cannot be read by a new 8300HD DVR, then all that work of recording will be lost forever.

This is devastating stuff!

Anyway to off load all those external hard drives to a permanent medium with the aid of the 8300HD that produced the material?

Paul




Nope. This is not possible.

Apparently, the external drive is encrypted with a key so that it can only be used by the DVR that formatted it. You cannot unplug the drive and plug it into another DVR, even if it is registered under your name, in your home, etc.

Additionally, the "catalog" of programs that your DVR has on it, is (I believe) stored on the internal hard disk only, so it would be impossible for another DVR to know what's on the external disk, even if it weren't encrypted.

The external hard disk is usable ONLY as extra storage space for the DVR that you installed it on, and if that DVR ever fails or you ever have to swap out your box for any reason whatsoever, the recordings on your external drive will not be able to be salvaged.

Scott,

Are you certain about this as this is a potential NIGHTMARE for those that have already built a library of external hard drives to their 8300HD.

If all those "full" external drives cannot be read by a new 8300HD DVR, then all that work of recording will be lost forever.

This is devastating stuff!

Anyway to off load all those external hard drives to a permanent medium with the aid of the 8300HD that produced the material?

Paul
I have no first-hand proof that what I've read about not being able to transfer your hard drives is true, but this is all part of the copy protection scheme that is prevalent throughout the Scientific Atlanta DVRs -- there is no way to get programs off of them, and no way to transfer them to other DVRs. The same way that if you were to open up your DVR, remove the hard drive, and swap it into another 8300HD, it will not work (again, I've got no first-hand proof of this, only what I've read).

Feel free to try hooking it to someone else's DVR and see, but my guess is that what I've read is the absolute truth.

There is no way to get your library off of the hard disk -- short of running some cables to a computer and playing and capturing each program in real-time.

I followed Pepar's instructions for installing it, as somebody here recommended.
http://www.peparsplace.com/html/20.html
Just to add fuel to my theory, note the shot of the warning on screen that comes up when you plug in the hard drive:
"Attention: This external drive must be formatted in order to be used with this DVR. NOTE: Any Saved Shows stored on this external drive will be erased"

Note the wording -- "in order to be used with *THIS* DVR". This is what would indicate to me that if you plug it into a different DVR, it will only allow it to be used if you reformat it, which would clear off the programming.

No. That does not work.
I have tried using the firewire 1394 out from the 8300HD into both my computer and a D-VHS (D-Theathre) recorder and neither managed a clean recording with 720p or 1080i material from encrypted and non-encrypted channels.

If this is true, I recommend that others here STOP recording onto external drives AT ONCE as it is going to be a total waste of time and effort.

Gee Scott, THANKS a ton for the heads up. I was just getting ready to order externals and build myself a collection. Looks like now that the collection will have to be in the form of Recent Releases in Blu-Ray.


Paul




........

There is no way to get your library off of the hard disk -- short of running some cables to a computer and playing and capturing each program in real-time.

I have tried using the firewire 1394 out from the 8300HD into both my computer and a D-VHS (D-Theathre) recorder and neither managed a clean recording with 720p or 1080i material from encrypted and non-encrypted channels.

Well, I meant that you can run component cables into your computer and capture the video that way....


If this is true, I recommend that others here STOP recording onto external drives AT ONCE as it is going to be a total waste of time and effort.

If what you're trying to do is build up a library of HD-video programming, the 8300HD DVR is not the way to do it.

For the rest of us, who are just trying to time shift their TV viewing, the system works mostly OK.

Locally, TWC claims (for a long time) that they're currently out of bandwidth, but there is a pending upgrade to Switched Digital Video that may free up some bandwidth in the future.

But in reality, there aren't many HD channels that are offered that we don't have. Specifically, the ones that are offered that we don't have are:
ESPN2
Starz!
Cinemax
The Movie Channel
MHD (MTV HD)
Food Network HD
UPN-HD (locally, channel 9)
National Geographic HD (is this channel a reality?)

Plus, there are the VOOM channels that are exclusive to DirectTV.


MOD HD This really hurts

One minor point, when I hit pause, I want audio and video to stop. More times than not, that's because something else needs my attention. Hitting record to get around the bug means the audio/video continues so IO have to perform another action... the simplest is probably turning the 8300 off (only one button press).

FWIW, my judgement is that it's not so much how the recordings are encrypted as it is the format of the drive that is the issue of archiving such content. My guess is that breaking an encryption is actually a bit easier than reverse engineering a disk format.

If you want to get a library together, drop the premium channels and get a NetFlix subscription. It will undoubtedly be cheaper. Keep in mind you are JUST as liable doing that as you are making copies of stuff that was broadcast.

Locally, TWC claims (for a long time) that they're currently out of bandwidth, but there is a pending upgrade to Switched Digital Video that may free up some bandwidth in the future.

But in reality, there aren't many HD channels that are offered that we don't have. Specifically, the ones that are offered that we don't have are:
ESPN2
Starz!
Cinemax
The Movie Channel
MHD (MTV HD)
Food Network HD
UPN-HD (locally, channel 9)
National Geographic HD (is this channel a reality?)

Plus, there are the VOOM channels that are exclusive to DirectTV.

I hear you Scott. I figured TWC was competitive with other providers and my anger is at the industry in general. Seems we should have more. Ya know? I have to believe that if we had a more competitive marketplace for delivering tv, HD would be even more widespread. Glad to know that bandwidth upgrades are in the pipeline. BTW, isn't the NFL channel going to broadcast NFL games in HD? That would be another good addition. Also, what's up with YES. They really pale in comparision to SNY's HD offerings.

Scott,

There are many who uses the 8300HD as a VCR. It is a Digital Video Recorder.
If it were designed to record stuff to be viewed later, later could be indefinite.

Time shifting is simply one use of it.

If I want to record in SD quality, I'd get a regular VCR for $49.

Since I want to watch on my 64" HDTV in 1080i, the VCR is a bad idea and the 8300HD is the only recorder for 1080i material at the moment.



Paul


Well, I meant that you can run component cables into your computer and capture the video that way....


If what you're trying to do is build up a library of HD-video programming, the 8300HD DVR is not the way to do it.

For the rest of us, who are just trying to time shift their TV viewing, the system works mostly OK.

Is NetFlix is available in HD.

This still does not solve the problem of recording HD sporting events to save indefinitely.





One minor point, when I hit pause, I want audio and video to stop. More times than not, that's because something else needs my attention. Hitting record to get around the bug means the audio/video continues so IO have to perform another action... the simplest is probably turning the 8300 off (only one button press).

FWIW, my judgement is that it's not so much how the recordings are encrypted as it is the format of the drive that is the issue of archiving such content. My guess is that breaking an encryption is actually a bit easier than reverse engineering a disk format.

If you want to get a library together, drop the premium channels and get a NetFlix subscription. It will undoubtedly be cheaper. Keep in mind you are JUST as liable doing that as you are making copies of stuff that was broadcast.

Was the Rangers game available to you TWCNYC subs last night on INHD? It was blacked out on Cablevision and I'm trying to determine if CV screwed us or INHD.

Yes, the game was in HD last night for TWC in Queens on INHD.

One minor point, when I hit pause, I want audio and video to stop. More times than not, that's because something else needs my attention. Hitting record to get around the bug means the audio/video continues so IO have to perform another action... the simplest is probably turning the 8300 off (only one button press).
This is true, which is why I would suggest (were one to go the external drive route, as I may be doing soon), hitting RECORD as soon as you tune to a channel. That way, the DVR will continue to function EXACTLY as it did before (including a one button pause).


FWIW, my judgement is that it's not so much how the recordings are encrypted as it is the format of the drive that is the issue of archiving such content. My guess is that breaking an encryption is actually a bit easier than reverse engineering a disk format.
The disk formatting is certainly a major issue, but the encryption is certainly another, and not necessarily one to be dismissed so lightly. From what I hear, the encryption is based upon a key that is specific to your machine. While I'm not sure how strong the key is, I wouldn't doubt that they have implemented something quite strong. And even if the drive's format could be mounted by a computer, and the the key decrypted, there would still be the issue that the catalog of files is stored on the internal drive of the 8300HD, and it might be quite difficult to reverse-engineer the file table.

Either way, this is irrelevent to the discussion here, as the fact is that the drive is unreadable by any conventional method, and it does not seem that anyone has made any headway into cracking it, nor does it seem to me that it will happen any time in the near (or even medium) future.

If you want to get a library together, drop the premium channels and get a NetFlix subscription. It will undoubtedly be cheaper. Keep in mind you are JUST as liable doing that as you are making copies of stuff that was broadcast.
Unfortunately, there is very little HD content commercially available at this point [HD-HVD or blu-ray]. The only way, it seems to me, would be to get some sort of HD-DVD (or blu-ray once they come available) burner and burn the programming through the component outputs of the box.

I hear you, Paul. And I record lots of varied programming as well -- some of which I'd like to archive for the future. But I don't record anything on the DVR that I want to save *forever*, as I've already been through 3 crashed hard-drives since I first started with a SA8000HD over 3 years ago, which is not very good odds, if you ask me (or most of the people on this board, who, I would guess, have mostly seen a hard drive malfunction at some point or other).

I've also had programs mysteriously and randomly disappear that I've told the DVR to "Keep" forever (this is rare, but it has happened to me 3-4 times inexplicably).

So, I would never put anything on there that I really wanted to archive.

HD-DVD burners, DVHS, or computer capture seem to be the only reliable way to archive HD video (to me) at this point. And I realize that the only really solid way to transfer your video would seem to me to be through the component outputs of the SA8300HD into whatever recording device.....and that requires an extra analog conversion in the video, but that seems to be the hard truth, no?

Scott,

There are many who uses the 8300HD as a VCR. It is a Digital Video Recorder.
If it were designed to record stuff to be viewed later, later could be indefinite.

Time shifting is simply one use of it.

If I want to record in SD quality, I'd get a regular VCR for $49.

Since I want to watch on my 64" HDTV in 1080i, the VCR is a bad idea and the 8300HD is the only recorder for 1080i material at the moment.



Paul

Is anyone having problems with captions not working or not working properly?

When I watch Smallville or any other shows on The CW HD 711 there are no captions at all.
Sometimes when I watch Fox HD 705, the captions show up really slow.

Does TimeWarner in manhattan use QAM256 or VSB8? And how do I build a working channels.conf... I've tried every tool available to me including working with PChdtv support to ensure there's nothing wrong with the card.

If anyone has a working channels.conf for TWC in Manhattan please send it to me. It would me much appreciated, I'm currently at a loss.

Thanks

Does TimeWarner in manhattan use QAM256 or VSB8? And how do I build a working channels.conf... I've tried every tool available to me including working with PChdtv support to ensure there's nothing wrong with the card.

If anyone has a working channels.conf for TWC in Manhattan please send it to me. It would me much appreciated, I'm currently at a loss.

Thanks

TWC in NY operates in QAM256 and some QAM64 (Showtime channels). With your PCHDTV you can tune QAM channels Clear to air NOT encrypted, basically locals SD/ HD and access channels. We used to have Discovery HD and UNIVERSAL HD clear to air for awhile but now they are encrypted.

Thanks for the reply. What tools do you use to tune the PChdtv card into the available QAM64/256 channels? I've used every possible scanning tool dtvsignal/dtvscan/tvtime etc... and I consistently find nothing. I've verified that the cable box is putting out HDTV signals to the TV but getting any signal from the card would be a huge accomplishment.

http://tv.ign.com/articles/738/738393p1.html

No Cinemax HD makes me salty

http://tv.ign.com/articles/738/738393p1.html

No Cinemax HD makes me salty

do me a favor ask, bob watson if were getting this channel next month.

Bob.Watson@twcable.com

do me a favor ask, bob watson if were getting this channel next month.

Bob.Watson@twcable.com
Done.

See below:
Dear Mr. Watson,

I am a loyal Time Warner NYC cable customer, and have been subscribing since I moved to Manhattan in 1993, subscribing to the Digital cable when it became available, and now HDTV (with HD-DVR) since I bought one over 2 years ago.

It has recently come to my attention that Cinemax will be showing all of the Star Wars films in HD next month. As I am a huge fan of these movies, I would love more than anything else to be able to watch them in HD. Unfortunately, Time Warner-NYC does not offer Cinemax in HD, and I was wondering if there is ANYTHING AT ALL that you can do to get Cinemax in HD offered to us before November? I am not currently a Cinemax subscriber (since I can't bring myself to watch movies in low quality pan and scanned SD now that I can luxuriate in widescreen HD picture for my movies), but would ABSOLUTELY call and add it to my Premiums package the day it was made available.

Again, if there is any way that you could help, I would be very appreciative. Wouldn't it make sense for Time Warner to offer Cinemax in HD, since isn't Cinemax owned by Time Waner????

I would gladly give up one of the other HD channels for it -- Universal-HD or TNT-HD (which mostly only shows stretched SD content on its channel anyway), in particular show very little programming of interest to me.

Thanks,
Scott Bernstein

Fortunately, Blu-ray is finally here with the movies in 1080i and 1080p. No more yelling and screaming for TWC to get us 1394, USB, or eSATA record-ability.

But we would still need a way to record sports in HD, documentaries in HD, and Leno in HD.

Most of the current HD tuners from DVICO, ATI, and NVIDIA offer HD recording onto hard drive for the non encrypted QAM64, QAM256 and OTA 8VSB HD material, but lately, Time Warner Cable (TWC) appears to be playing around with record flags for these free HD content too.

I am hoping that this is temporary and have already written to Mr Watson's office about this.

Gosh, finally after 8 years with the new technology, I can finally buy HD movies which may have a life of more than 3 years. D-VHS movies die after 2 years of fanfare and never had any good titles. Certainly no Star Wars or Indiana Jones.

I am hoping that up to 50 million Americans have HDTVs now and that 10% of them want DVDs with 1080i or 1080p resolution. My logical part tells me to look past 2007 and take what the cable companies will dish out even longer..

Paul




I hear you, Paul. And I record lots of varied programming as well -- some of which I'd like to archive for the future. But I don't record anything on the DVR that I want to save *forever*, as I've already been through 3 crashed hard-drives since I first started with a SA8000HD over 3 years ago, which is not very good odds, if you ask me (or most of the people on this board, who, I would guess, have mostly seen a hard drive malfunction at some point or other).

I've also had programs mysteriously and randomly disappear that I've told the DVR to "Keep" forever (this is rare, but it has happened to me 3-4 times inexplicably).

So, I would never put anything on there that I really wanted to archive.

HD-DVD burners, DVHS, or computer capture seem to be the only reliable way to archive HD video (to me) at this point. And I realize that the only really solid way to transfer your video would seem to me to be through the component outputs of the SA8300HD into whatever recording device.....and that requires an extra analog conversion in the video, but that seems to be the hard truth, no?

Good job!

I have been writing him too as well as to Yoghwati.
She has been so professional that I have even written to the division head..

I send this by US Mail....................back in April....


Mr. Robert Watson
VP of Programming & New Business Development
120 E. 23rd Street - 9th Floor
New York, NY 10010

Dear Mr. Watson:
We greatly appreciate the extra attention and effort Ms. Yoghwati Ramnarain has provided us through the years in the area of TWC HD programming.
We adopted the HDTV technology back in 1999 and for years did not have much support for this new medium until I found Ms. Ramnarain.
Since then, our issues with HDTV have been handled by Yoghwati with the highest level of professionalism. Ms Ramnarain is courteous and timely in her response to our HD problems. Incredibly, Ms Ramnarain is deeply at ease with the latest HDTV terminology and development. It is this expertise combined with her resourcefulness that gets our problems either solved or attended to quickly.
HDTV is still a developing story and HD cable service is still not operating without problems. Thanks to TWC professionals like Ms Ramnarain, we are managing to deal with any HD issues without frustration, TWC is fortunate to have an employee like Yoghwati.


Sincerely,
Paul Chiu

PAULCHIU_28@yahoo.com
718-xxx-xxxx

cc: Mr. Howard Szarfarc

Done.

See below:
Dear Mr. Watson,

I am a loyal Time Warner NYC cable customer, and have been subscribing since I moved to Manhattan in 1993, subscribing to the Digital cable when it became available, and now HDTV (with HD-DVR) since I bought one over 2 years ago.

It has recently come to my attention that Cinemax will be showing all of the Star Wars films in HD next month. As I am a huge fan of these movies, I would love more than anything else to be able to watch them in HD. Unfortunately, Time Warner-NYC does not offer Cinemax in HD, and I was wondering if there is ANYTHING AT ALL that you can do to get Cinemax in HD offered to us before November? I am not currently a Cinemax subscriber (since I can't bring myself to watch movies in low quality pan and scanned SD now that I can luxuriate in widescreen HD picture for my movies), but would ABSOLUTELY call and add it to my Premiums package the day it was made available.

Again, if there is any way that you could help, I would be very appreciative. Wouldn't it make sense for Time Warner to offer Cinemax in HD, since isn't Cinemax owned by Time Waner????

I would gladly give up one of the other HD channels for it -- Universal-HD or TNT-HD (which mostly only shows stretched SD content on its channel anyway), in particular show very little programming of interest to me.

Thanks,
Scott Bernstein

If you have a HD tuner, you should make it a habit to rescan the HD channels daily as from time to time, TWC flips the flags off and on those days, D1070 (HBO-HD) and D1073 (SHO-HD) are recordable on your DVICO and ATI cards.



TWC in NY operates in QAM256 and some QAM64 (Showtime channels). With your PCHDTV you can tune QAM channels Clear to air NOT encrypted, basically locals SD/ HD and access channels. We used to have Discovery HD and UNIVERSAL HD clear to air for awhile but now they are encrypted.

Does anyone have any idea when we will see any more HD channels? As always
TW doesn't seem to be in any hurry to get up to date in the largest Market. Anyone have info? Thanks

No. You won't find anyone who knows any more information than you do here.


Does anyone have any idea when we will see any more HD channels? As always
TW doesn't seem to be in any hurry to get up to date in the largest Market. Anyone have info? Thanks

I don't get it besides the greed factor. The programing is out , Cinemax, Starz... What the F is wrong with them? I have always thought TW sucked bigtime, but this is a bit much or not, really!

I don't get it besides the greed factor. The programing is out , Cinemax, Starz... What the F is wrong with them? I have always thought TW sucked bigtime, but this is a bit much or not, really!
We cover this about once a week.

The official stance from TWC-NYC is that they are currently out of bandwidth and cannot add any more HD channels.

Simply remove everything with FOX attached and everything with CNN affiliated and you now have all the bandwidth for every HD channel that TWC currently do not offer.



We cover this about once a week.

The official stance from TWC-NYC is that they are currently out of bandwidth and cannot add any more HD channels.

good news scott, If TWC doesn't add Max-HD next month. (99.9% sure)
we will still be able to see sometime.


HD 'Star Wars' Will Cycle to HBO
Original Aspect Ratios Will Be Preserved
By James Hibberd posted at TV Week’s HD Newsletter Oct. 12, 2006

This week Cinemax officially announced what "Star Wars" fans have known for months: That all six films will debut in HD for the first time in November. The HBO-owned premium network will marathon all six starting at midnight Nov. 10, with Comcast offering the films on HD video-on-demand.

Two lingering questions have worried fans since they learned the news. Will the HD versions cycle to sister network HBO? And will the films be presented in their original aspect ratios?

The answers are yes and yes, an HBO spokesman confirmed.

The HBO question is key for many, since Cinemax HD seemingly has lower distribution than its HBO counterpart. HBO would not release distribution figures, but neither EchoStar nor DirecTV carry Cinemax HD, while both carry HBO HD.

The complete story is here:
http://www.tvweek.com/page.cms?pageId=333

during the rangers game they announced that 11:00 pm tomorrow a program called "The Jammys" will air in HD.
Unfortunately tomorrows knicks game ends at 11 and most likely this concert series won't be offered.

We cover this about once a week.

The official stance from TWC-NYC is that they are currently out of bandwidth and cannot add any more HD channels.

If that is true then they could get rid of a whole bunch of things that waste a bunch of Bandwidth. What will they do in the future? when there will be nothing but HD, that could be 2 to 5 years. Lack of any competition has created this Monster! I have heard TW was shopping their Cable sub, I hope someone takes it away and turns it into a Google Machine.