Moxi ( Motorola BMC90xx ) Q&A and Discussion Thread [Text View] - Page 20

spiderhug

10-06-05, 12:47 PM

I posted yesterday about the sound being missing in random shows I recorded. Well I got a few more clues that maybe MoxiGuy can help with. Tonight i was recording two HD shows and playing back another HD show. About 50 minutes into the show I was watching the audio dropped out. I was using the 30 second skip button to fast forward through the commercials and when I stopped the audio was gone. I rewound back to where I had heard audio and it was still gone. I stopped the playback and went back to live tv, no sound there either. At this point I wanted to change the channel, but already had two shows recording. I restarted the show I was watching, but the sound was still missing. Finally I stopped and started another saved show, and the sound returned. When I stopped that the live tv sound had returned too.

I'm getting a little worried about recording important shows now. Anyone have a suggestion?

I had a similar problem with my recordings.

Ocassionally most of my SD channels would lose all audio. It would be most frustrating when the kids would come home to watch their favorite cartoon and there would be no sound. I suspected it happened when the Moxi would start recording something on a digital channel or an HD chanell although I never did figure it out.

A reboot always restored the audio, however, the problem always reoccurred.

The solution?

Replace the box. I called Adelphia and they sent I guy out to check all my settings. I told him that it couldn't be the settings because a reboot always restored the audio. He replaced the box and I haven't had the problem since. it's been about a week now and I haven't noticed any audio dropout issues on this box. My kids can now sing along to the "Sponge Bob" theme song.

As a side note, the guy that replaced my box said that they were planning on releasing VOD to the Moxi within the next 3 or 4 weeks. Does anyone have any info on the veracity of his claim? I'm not holding my breathe, though. Just curious.

dagware

10-06-05, 12:47 PM

Call up the big “A” (and I’m not talkin bout that ballpark off the 57).
I think the problem may relate to splitters and such -- see my comments below.
In addition, since you may live in a vintage abode that still has R59? cable that has been eaten to the bone by those ferocious man-eater ducks from the Tri-City pond who have made midnight search and destroy missions across Kraemer to munch on your old cable when they’re bored from mating all the time……if indeed that be the case, I suggest you have R6 cable installed. Kinda like adding some quality red wine to the sauce.
Yes, I could tell lots of stories about the ducks. :p But in actuality, the cable looks pretty good.
Dagwar,

I wish I knew what db you were hitting your box with. If it is tiling with that new amp then you could possible be hitting it with too much signal. I was at an apartment today that signal was hitting the box with 15 db on the low end and 13 db on the high end and Discovery was tiling heavly when I got there. I kicked the signal down by 10 db and the tiling went away. Maybe this is what's happening with you. To bad you don't live near Madison, WI and I could just come out and fix your issues.
Yes, I think the problem with the signal boosters is too much strength. The one I have from Radio Shack is adjustable, but if I adjust it down, then the SD channels don't get the help they need.

Here's what I tried, and this is all from memory so I might have gotten some of it wrong. I went to the Moxi diag menu that shows signal strength. It showed -14.9. According to splinke's faq, it should be in the range -15 to +15 or something like that. Anyway, I'm right on the edge. So I hooked the cable coming into the house directly to the Moxi and looked at the diag menu again. It showed it at -12 or somwhere around there. Then I added my Monster power strip and rf filter back in, and the diag menu showed -7.4 or something like that. So I think this is pretty good, right?

So I fiddled around some more, and discovered that the first splitter I have causes the signal to drop from -7.4 to into the -13.9 to -14.1 range. The splitter is right when the cable come sinto the house, before the Monster power strip. Ths monster power strip is necessary to get rid of my ground loop. I have to put a splitter before the power strip because it sends a signal to the tv in the kitchen, and if I put it after the power strip, I still get ground loop.

I tried a few different cables, and they didn't seem to help.

So here's my questions:

1) Is it helping me to use the values on the diag screen, or are they just confusing the situation?

2) Could one splitter really make that much difference? I thought it was a pretty good splitter. Should I try another one?

3) I don't want to call Adelphia back out to the house until I exhaust all the things I can try myself, because I'm afraid they'll just tell me to get rid of my splitters.

4) Or should I call out Adelphia anyway and have them properly ground the cable, and have them check the signal strength on their own? And if so, should I get rid of all the other splitters so they won't get sidetracked by them?

What do you guys think?

-Dan

MoxiGuy

10-06-05, 01:08 PM

But you should be able to time shift the entire menu to see whats coming on next. To have to scroll to every single channel to see whats on next is incredibly bad design.that's exactly what we're doing in 4.00

splinke

10-06-05, 01:19 PM

Has anyone in the Los Feliz Area received the 3.2 upgrade? I'm with the dreaded Adelphia based in Eagle Rock.

I was confused by one post mentioning that the letterbox and widescreen buttons are not available in 3.2. I have a 4x3 capable of HDTV. Checking the letterbox puts the 16x9 HD content in the correct aspect ratio rather than stretching it out to fill the 4x3.

Is it correct to assume that the 16x9 content will still display correctly. Or will it try to fill the 4x3?
From my FAQ: "Unable to crop or letterbox HD signals for 4:3 HD displays under software version 3.2: Under software version 3.2, the ability to crop or letterbox HD signals with the Widescreen setting has been removed. Although some 4:3 HD displays can letterbox the incoming 16:9 HD signal (e.g., at least some Sony's), some others apparently cannot (e.g., at least some Advent's and Toshiba's, like the Cinema Series TP61H95). In the latter case, in order to view signals with the correct aspect, the Moxi's output must be forced to 480i by selecting only 480i in HDTV Setup, leading to loss of HD picture quality. Under software version 3.0, the Widescreen setting functioned regardless of the video output resolution, allowing viewing of 16:9 material on both SD and HD 4:3 displays with the correct aspect. Although Digeo apparently made this change to "remove inaccurate display options," they may not have anticipated the problem introduced for some 4:3 HD displays."

abcward

10-06-05, 01:25 PM

that's exactly what we're doing in 4.00

And we can expect to see 4.00 when? Mid 2006?

splinke

10-06-05, 02:17 PM

...Here's what I tried, and this is all from memory so I might have gotten some of it wrong. I went to the Moxi diag menu that shows signal strength. It showed -14.9. According to splinke's faq, it should be in the range -15 to +15 or something like that. Anyway, I'm right on the edge. So I hooked the cable coming into the house directly to the Moxi and looked at the diag menu again. It showed it at -12 or somwhere around there. Then I added my Monster power strip and rf filter back in, and the diag menu showed -7.4 or something like that. So I think this is pretty good, right?

So I fiddled around some more, and discovered that the first splitter I have causes the signal to drop from -7.4 to into the -13.9 to -14.1 range. The splitter is right when the cable come sinto the house, before the Monster power strip. Ths monster power strip is necessary to get rid of my ground loop. I have to put a splitter before the power strip because it sends a signal to the tv in the kitchen, and if I put it after the power strip, I still get ground loop...
The Moxi OSD readings should be valuable (both the signal levels and signal-to-noise ratios).

Although there would be some signal loss over the cable from the entry point of your house to the Moxi, your reading of -12 dBmV when you do a direct connection suggests that your incoming signal level is a bit low. How long is the run to the Moxi? Is it an RG-6 cable? Are you sure that there aren't any other connections/splits? Perhaps Adelphia needs to boost the signal so that it is at a higher level at the point it enters your house.

A two-way splitter should reduce the signal level by 3.5 dBmV on both outputs (the signal reduction value is often written next to the outputs on splitters), so it is a bit surprising that your signal would drop ~6.6 dBmV just when adding the splitter that goes to your Moxi and your kitchen. That suggests that there is something wrong with your splitter or that something else was also changed to further reduce the signal level.

Your Monster power strip appears to be amplifying the signal by about 4-5 dBmV. You should amplify the signal as far upstream as possible. If you don't, you will just be amplifying a bunch of noise, which can actually make things worse. For example, if the coaxial cable goes through your Monster power strip right next to the TV, and the final signal being detected by the Moxi is -12 dBmV, then the signal may have dropped to almost -19 dBmV before getting amplified. Perhaps this would show up as a very low signal-to-noise ratio on the Moxi OSD.

In addition, depending on the design, the power strip or splitter may negatively affect two-way communications between the Moxi and the cable company. They need to allow a full range of frequencies and two-way communications.

When you say "ground loop," do you mean you are getting interference due to voltages being carried in the shielding of your coaxial cable? If so, are these voltages already present when the cable enters your house? If so, perhaps a better way to get rid of them (as opposed to running the cable through your power strip) would be to install (or have Adelphia install) some sort of grounding block at the entrance to your house.

belsokar

10-06-05, 02:27 PM

one of my biggest issues with moxi was that it was so incredibly buggy... and at times, and it made no sense really why, it was just be incredibly slow and unreponsive...it froze on me a couple times a month (and I had 2 moxis that acted the same way, so I can't blame a bad box)...i just grew tired of it...

alot of their menu design, channel browsing, etc is very innovative...and I like that...but at the end of the day, I want a box that responds when I hit the menu button...when I tell it to record, I want it to record NOW, not 5,10,30 seconds from now...it just got incredibly annoying for me and my wife...and I'm very patient with technology....but after 15 months of Moxi, I just had to change...

another great feature I must add about the HD DVR from directv, is that it will store the past 30 minutes from both tuners...so let's say you are on ABC watching a game,..and then switch to NBC to check another game...its actually buffering both channels...when watching football this past weekend, I switched back to a channel only to find out I missed a big play, and I just rewound and watched it!!! Moxi should definitely look into that feature.

joe221

10-06-05, 02:49 PM

another great feature I must add about the HD DVR from directv, is that it will store the past 30 minutes from both tuners...so let's say you are on ABC watching a game,..and then switch to NBC to check another game...its actually buffering both channels...when watching football this past weekend, I switched back to a channel only to find out I missed a big play, and I just rewound and watched it!!! Moxi should definitely look into that feature.

Whoooooa big fella, we gotta walk before we run! (yet another good MOXI slogan!) Lets just make it not stumble and crash before we think of such fancy things as buffering two channels! :eek:

MoxiGuy

10-06-05, 03:59 PM

And we can expect to see 4.00 when? Mid 2006?I said previously that I wouldn't answer "when" questions on 4.0. My answers are inevitably wrong.

dagware

10-06-05, 04:03 PM

...
I typed a big long answer to all the questions, and I've included it below. But I might be able to cut to the bottom line here. If my reasoning here isn't correct, then read the rest of this post (some of what I say here is duplicated at the end of this post).

Let's say that the problem with using the signal booster is that it, when combined with the Monster power strip, is boosting the signal too much. If this is the case, then if I eliminate the ground loop, I can use the signal booster by itself and stop passing the cable through the Monster power strip. Right?

I've seen grounding blocks on various web sites. The only thing that stopped me from getting one was that I have no idea what to ground it to. So should I get one of these grounding blocks, assuming you can tell me what to connect it to? Might this be the best solution?

If not, read on:

Although there would be some signal loss over the cable from the entry point of your house to the Moxi, your reading of -12 dBmV when you do a direct connection suggests that your incoming signal level is a bit low. How long is the run to the Moxi? Is it an RG-6 cable? Are you sure that there aren't any other connections/splits? Perhaps Adelphia needs to boost the signal so that it is at a higher level at the point it enters your house.
Thanks for your help. RG-6 cables are the thicker ones that don't bend very easily, right? That's what this cable is.

In the box outside our house, there's a cable that comes up through a pipe in the ground. This cable is split into two feeds -- one going upstairs to my Cable Modem, and the other going into the garage then into the house. I'd guess the one going into the house is 50-75 feet long. It has no breaks or splitters in it. It appears to be in good shape, although the splitter outside the house has a lot of cobwebs and stuff on it.

A two-way splitter should reduce the signal level by 3.5 dBmV on both outputs (the signal reduction value is often written next to the outputs on splitters), so it is a bit surprising that your signal would drop ~6.6 dBmV just when adding the splitter that goes to your Moxi and your kitchen. That suggests that there is something wrong with your splitter or that something else was also changed to further reduce the signal level.
The splitter says "-3.4db" or something like that on each output. I didn't change anything else betweeb the two readings, although obviously I added an extra cable. I tried a couple of different cables and they didn't really make a difference. I guess I should get another splitter and try it.

Your Monster power strip appears to be amplifying the signal by about 4-5 dBmV. You should amplify the signal as far upstream as possible. If you don't, you will just be amplifying a bunch of noise, which can actually make things worse. For example, if the coaxial cable goes through your Monster power strip right next to the TV, and the final signal being detected by the Moxi is -12 dBmV, then the signal may have dropped to almost -19 dBmV before getting amplified. Perhaps this would show up as a very low signal-to-noise ratio on the Moxi OSD.
The Monster power strip is the first thing the cable goes into, other than the aforementioned splitter. This is what you mean by "upstream", right?

In addition, depending on the design, the power strip or splitter may negatively affect two-way communications between the Moxi and the cable company. They need to allow a full range of frequencies and two-way communications.
All my splitters are 2-way, and the Monster specifically talks about being 2-way to facilitate DVRs and VOD, etc. Additionally, everything worked fine until around the time that 3.2 came out. So I don't think it's a 2-way issue.

When you say "ground loop," do you mean you are getting interference due to voltages being carried in the shielding of your coaxial cable? If so, are these voltages already present when the cable enters your house?
The ground loop causes the slow vertical-scrolling lines in the display. Plugging all my components' power cables into the Monster as well as passing the cable through it elimitates the ground loop. And yes, it appears to be present in the cable that enters my house.

If so, perhaps a better way to get rid of them (as opposed to running the cable through your power strip) would be to install (or have Adelphia install) some sort of grounding block at the entrance to your house.
Yes, I keep meaning to call them out to do this. I want to make sure I know everything I want them to do before I call them out, so they can do everything at once.

So here's a question: If I have them come out and test the signal strength, and they decided it needs to be boosted, won't they use a booster that's pretty-much the same as one of the ones I have? (Remember that one of the ones I have was recommended by an installer in this forum.) If so, that won't solve any problems, right?

Or, should I just have them eliminate the grounding problem so that I don't have to pass the cable through the Monster power strip? Then in theory I could just use one of the boosters I already have, and everything should be fine?

And finally, can I just fix the ground issue myself? I've seen Ground Blocks at verious web sites, but I have no idea what I should attach the ground to.

Thanks again for the help!

-Dan

splinke

10-06-05, 05:02 PM

...So should I get one of these grounding blocks, assuming you can tell me what to connect it to? Might this be the best solution?...
Perhaps one of the cable installers who reads this forum should comment here. It is possible that you could connect the grounding wire to a cold water pipe, a grounding rod that you pound into the ground next to your house, or the grounding post on an electrical outlet. I'm not sure which is/are proper/best, or even if this will help fix your problem.

...Thanks for your help. RG-6 cables are the thicker ones that don't bend very easily, right?...
Yes, and they typically have "RG6" written on them.

...The splitter says "-3.4db" or something like that on each output. I didn't change anything else betweeb the two readings, although obviously I added an extra cable. I tried a couple of different cables and they didn't really make a difference. I guess I should get another splitter and try it...
Why did you have to add an extra cable when you did the test of removing the splitter? Can't you just hook the original cables together with a female-female connector? That should give you the best comparison for how much signal you are losing over the split. It sounds like you have a number of splitters. Did you just try other ones in the same position and see how it affected your signal level?

...The Monster power strip is the first thing the cable goes into, other than the aforementioned splitter. This is what you mean by "upstream", right?...
It is difficult for me to picture your wiring based on your description. If I am reading it correctly, there are two two-way splitters and then your Monster power strip. That would suggest that you are already at least 7 dBmV below the origination point from the cable company before it goes into the power strip. When you say that the first thing the cable goes into is the power strip, does that mean it is right after the second splitter? I guess I had assumed that the power strip was located by your display (away from this split), since your other components were plugged into it for power.

Can you hook your Moxi up to the cable before any splits? In other words, replace the very first splitter (that splits to your displays and your cable modem) with a female-female connector between the incoming cable and the cable that goes to your TVs. Then, replace the second splitter (that splits to your Moxi and the kitchen) with another female-female connector between the cable that came from the first split and the cable that goes to the Moxi. Make sure there are no other splits or connections before the connection to the Moxi, then look at the signal levels and signal-to-noise ratios. This way, the only signal losses from the origination point will be the two coaxial cables and the two connectors (both should be relatively small if the cable is RG6).

Do you know how to check the signal level at your cable modem? That reading might also be interesting--both with the first splitter in and with it replaced with a female-female connector.

These techniques should give you a pretty good idea of the signal level coming into your house.

beatnikguy

10-06-05, 05:55 PM

Moxiguy,

Can you confirm this? Why in god's name would you disable this option??? Not everyone can run out and get a $3000 TV based on the rotating options provided by each softwae upgrade.

If this turns out to be true I will be seriously pissed. They are supposed to upgrade software not remove the options that work. Thanks for the info. I should have known better. At least my guide isn't disappearing every 2 hours like it used to.

From my FAQ: "Unable to crop or letterbox HD signals for 4:3 HD displays under software version 3.2: Under software version 3.2, the ability to crop or letterbox HD signals with the Widescreen setting has been removed. Although some 4:3 HD displays can letterbox the incoming 16:9 HD signal (e.g., at least some Sony's), some others apparently cannot (e.g., at least some Advent's and Toshiba's, like the Cinema Series TP61H95). In the latter case, in order to view signals with the correct aspect, the Moxi's output must be forced to 480i by selecting only 480i in HDTV Setup, leading to loss of HD picture quality. Under software version 3.0, the Widescreen setting functioned regardless of the video output resolution, allowing viewing of 16:9 material on both SD and HD 4:3 displays with the correct aspect. Although Digeo apparently made this change to "remove inaccurate display options," they may not have anticipated the problem introduced for some 4:3 HD displays."

dagware

10-06-05, 06:03 PM

It is difficult for me to picture your wiring based on your description.
Let's see if this helps. This is my actual setup:

cable comes into the house and goes into a 2-way splitter, which goes to:
-- kitchen tv
-- monster power strip

cable comes out of monster power strip and goes to 3-way splitter, which goes to:
-- moxi
-- replaytv
-- pip unit

For my testing, I took the cable that comes into the house and hooked it directly to the moxi. That's when I got the -12 value.

Then I changed it so the cable comes into the house, goes into the monster, then into the moxi. That's when I got the -7.4 value.

Then all I did was add a 2-way splitter to the beginning of the chain. So the cable comes into the house, into a splitter, into the monster, and into the moxi. This is when it went down to around -14.

So when I said I added an extra cable, all I meant was that the splitter went to the monster via a cable.

As for the monster power strip being "by the display", I use a projector and project onto the wall. At the bottom of the wall are all my components, the cable coming into the house, and all the power chords and the monster power bar. I run a long power cable from the projector to this same power strip, so everything's plugged into the same place -- this is what emilinates the ground loop.

Does this make sense? I'll do some more experimenting tonight and see what I can figure out, as far as the first splitter and the signal loss.

I don't know how to check the signal strength on the cable modem.

As for the grounding, I think I'll just call the cable company and have them do it. I can simplify things quite a bit if I don't need to worry about the ground loop. Then all I'd need would be:

cable comes into the house and goes to a 4-way splitter, possibly powered if needed. Splitter goes to:
-- kitchen tv
-- moxi
-- replaytv
-- pip unit

Sounds a little simpler, doesn't it? :p

-Dan

splinke

10-06-05, 06:14 PM

...If this turns out to be true I will be seriously pissed. They are supposed to upgrade software not remove the options that work...
Do you still have 3.0? Are you sure your TV can't do the letterboxing?

splinke

10-06-05, 06:59 PM

I cannot guarantee the accuracy of everything here, but it is my best advice.

Let's see if this helps. This is my actual setup:

cable comes into the house and goes into a 2-way splitter, which goes to:
-- kitchen tv
-- monster power strip

cable comes out of monster power strip and goes to 3-way splitter, which goes to:
-- moxi
-- replaytv
-- pip unit

For my testing, I took the cable that comes into the house and hooked it directly to the moxi. That's when I got the -12 value.
That makes things quite a bit more clear, although I am assuming you are leaving out the two-way splitter that splits between your cable modem and your displays.

Note that although splitters have singal loss ratings on them (e.g., -3.5 dB for both outputs on a two-way splitter), they primarily apply to the lower frequency range. The power rating shown on the Moxi OSD is for the internal cable modem, which uses a higher frequency, as do the HD channels. At those frequencies, the splitter may cause loss of an additional approximately 0.5-2 dB.

Factoring the drop in signal level from the initial split to your -12 dB reading suggests that the signal level at the very earliest point on your house is only around -6.5 to -8 dB. I think Adelphia should install an amp somewhere upstream so that the signal is at least 0 dB at this earliest point. Although -12 dB is somewhat marginal, it should be pretty clean, since no amplification has occurred. Of course, this direct connection prevents you from using your other components.

...Then I changed it so the cable comes into the house, goes into the monster, then into the moxi. That's when I got the -7.4 value...
So your Monster power strip is amplifying an already marginal -12 dB signal (and it is amplifying all of the noise).

...Then all I did was add a 2-way splitter to the beginning of the chain. So the cable comes into the house, into a splitter, into the monster, and into the moxi. This is when it went down to around -14.
After the addition of that splitter, the signal going into your Monster power strip is probably well below -15 dB. It is really amplifying garbage at that point, so it does not really matter that the final signal level is above the minimum. In addition, going from -7.4 dB to -14 dB after the addition of one two-way splitter seems excessive, raising questions about the splitter.

...I don't know how to check the signal strength on the cable modem...
There is probably an address you can type into your web browser to bring up the diagnostics screen for your cable modem. You should be able to compare the input power with that on your Moxi's internal cable modem. Likely, it will be close to the -12 dB value you got on the Moxi when you hooked the other output of your initial two-way split directly to the Moxi. This should be a relatively clean -12 dB, though, so your cable modem should work fine.

...Then all I'd need would be:

cable comes into the house and goes to a 4-way splitter, possibly powered if needed. Splitter goes to:
-- kitchen tv
-- moxi
-- replaytv
-- pip unit...
I think four-way splitters have about 7 dB of signal loss per output (somewhat more for the higher frequencies used by the cable modem and HD channels). Subtracting that much signal from your current -12 dB signal would probably require amplification. If you can convince Adelphia to at least get you up to 0 dB at the earliest point, you probably would not need an amplifier. Otherwise, you should put it as far upstream as possible (before the very first split, if possible).

barrnet

10-06-05, 07:31 PM

Greetings to all,
I've been lurking here for a few weeks in anticipation of going HD/DVR. I would like to thank JediPunisher, Joe221, MoxieGuy and others for expert help in preparation for the switch. Yesterday, Adelphia (Beverly Hills) installed a Moto/Moxi 9012 to a Sony KDLV32xbr. The Moxi learning curve is not too steep and I've set up a few series to be recorded.

The HD channels are truly stunning! Some of the analog channels show very slight electrical interference that wasn't there on the old box; Comedy Central, for one.

Here are a few questions that I'd love some help with:
Try as I may, I can't locate the free On Demand HBO, Showtime, etc menu. The On Demand menu only has the PPV choices.

The Sony has an HDMI input and cable. The technician said I could hook it up to the Moxi box and if it doesn't work I should call in and they would enable it. Has anyone successfully used a DVI to HDMI adaptor with an Adelphia Moxi box?

A friend with a TiVo, easily makes tapes of shows from it, is there an easy way to do with the Moxi, or am I being naieve?

About that clock: any way to turn it off, dim it, have channel displayed? I know it's been mentioned before, but that would be a great next upgrade option.

Overall, I'm very happy with the system.

Thank you, in advance, for your help!
Barry

splinke

10-06-05, 07:51 PM

...The HD channels are truly stunning! Some of the analog channels show very slight electrical interference that wasn't there on the old box; Comedy Central, for one...
Analog channels through most DVRs typically look worse than a direct connection to your TV, because the DVR must compress them into a digital format. The Moxi does a somewhat worse job than ReplayTV or TiVo in this regard, although with the recent update to software version 3.2, the difference is not as pronounced.

...Try as I may, I can't locate the free On Demand HBO, Showtime, etc menu. The On Demand menu only has the PPV choices...
Adelphia does not currently support On Demand through the Moxi, although it is supposedly coming soon.

The Sony has an HDMI input and cable. The technician said I could hook it up to the Moxi box and if it doesn't work I should call in and they would enable it. Has anyone successfully used a DVI to HDMI adaptor with an Adelphia Moxi box?
This has worked for other people. Unplug your Moxi, hook up the cable, then plug the Moxi back in.

A friend with a TiVo, easily makes tapes of shows from it, is there an easy way to do with the Moxi, or am I being naieve?
If you are using the DVI and/or component video output(s) and a digital audio output for your normal viewing, you can hook the composite video output and analog audio outputs to a VCR, and then manually start a transfer. Note, though, that you must force the Moxi to output 480i and you can't use it for anything else during the transfer. If you are using the analog audio outputs for your normal viewing, you could try Y-adaptors to split the audio signal to your VCR.

About that clock: any way to turn it off, dim it, have channel displayed? I know it's been mentioned before, but that would be a great next upgrade option.
No, no, and no (maybe at some point far in the future).

dagware

10-06-05, 07:59 PM

That makes things quite a bit more clear, although I am assuming you are leaving out the two-way splitter that splits between your cable modem and your displays.
Oops, you are correct. This happens in the box outside the house, which I technically am not supposed to be able to get into, but I know how. :rolleyes:

Note that although splitters have singal loss ratings on them (e.g., -3.5 dB for both outputs on a two-way splitter), they primarily apply to the lower frequency range. The power rating shown on the Moxi OSD is for the internal cable modem, which uses a higher frequency, as do the HD channels. At those frequencies, the splitter may cause loss of an additional approximately 0.5-2 dB.
OK, that makes sense.

Factoring the drop in signal level from the initial split to your -12 dB reading suggests that the signal level at the very earliest point on your house is only around -6.5 to -8 dB. I think Adelphia should install an amp somewhere upstream so that the signal is at least 0 dB at this earliest point. Although -12 dB is somewhat marginal, it should be pretty clean, since no amplification has occurred. Of course, this direct connection prevents you from using your other components.
I'm still following you...

So your Monster power strip is amplifying an already marginal -12 dB signal (and it is amplifying all of the noise).
What noise are you referring to?

After the addition of that splitter, the signal going into your Monster power strip is probably well below -15 dB. It is really amplifying garbage at that point, so it does not really matter that the final signal level is above the minimum.
OK, you lost me here. What "garbage" are you talking about? And before I added the monster strip, the channels seemed to come in OK except for the ground loop.

In addition, going from -7.4 dB to -14 dB after the addition of one two-way splitter seems excessive, raising questions about the splitter.
Yes, I'm going to grab another splitter on the way home and see if it makes any difference.

There is probably an address you can type into your web browser to bring up the diagnostics screen for your cable modem. You should be able to compare the input power with that on your Moxi's internal cable modem. Likely, it will be close to the -12 dB value you got on the Moxi when you hooked the other output of your initial two-way split directly to the Moxi. This should be a relatively clean -12 dB, though, so your cable modem should work fine.
I'm still confused on the clean vs. garbage stuff.

I think four-way splitters have about 7 dB of signal loss per output (somewhat more for the higher frequencies used by the cable modem and HD channels). Subtracting that much signal from your current -12 dB signal would probably require amplification. If you can convince Adelphia to at least get you up to 0 dB at the earliest point, you probably would not need an amplifier. Otherwise, you should put it as far upstream as possible (before the very first split, if possible).
If I can get rid of the ground loop problem, then this will be easy.

I'll report back more after I get home and fiddle with a few things.

-Dan

dagware

10-06-05, 08:01 PM

About that clock: any way to turn it off, dim it, have channel displayed?
A simple way to turn it off: Put a piece of black tape over it. Seriously -- it works!

-Dan

Trager

10-06-05, 08:04 PM

From my FAQ: "Unable to crop or letterbox HD signals for 4:3 HD displays under software version 3.2: Under software version 3.2, the ability to crop or letterbox HD signals with the Widescreen setting has been removed. Although some 4:3 HD displays can letterbox the incoming 16:9 HD signal (e.g., at least some Sony's), some others apparently cannot (e.g., at least some Advent's and Toshiba's, like the Cinema Series TP61H95). In the latter case, in order to view signals with the correct aspect, the Moxi's output must be forced to 480i by selecting only 480i in HDTV Setup, leading to loss of HD picture quality. Under software version 3.0, the Widescreen setting functioned regardless of the video output resolution, allowing viewing of 16:9 material on both SD and HD 4:3 displays with the correct aspect. Although Digeo apparently made this change to "remove inaccurate display options," they may not have anticipated the problem introduced for some 4:3 HD displays."

So if we have one of those displays, are we just screwed? Are there any options for those of us who can't watch un-distorted HDTV?

barrnet

10-06-05, 08:27 PM

splinke,
Thank you so much for your speedy and detailed response! Bummer, about the On Demand. Somehow I missed going over your SPL Moxi FAQ: a definitive guide to Moxi DVRs. I will do so now.

Best regards,
Barry

barrnet

10-06-05, 08:32 PM

A simple way to turn it off: Put a piece of black tape over it. Seriously -- it works!

-Dan

Thanks, Dan! That's exactly what I said to my wife, when she asked if it can be turned off. Brilliant minds, think alike!

Best wishes,
Barry

jokerswild

10-06-05, 08:49 PM

What noise are you referring to?

OK, you lost me here. What "garbage" are you talking about? And before I added the monster strip, the channels seemed to come in OK except for the ground loop.

I'm still confused on the clean vs. garbage stuff.

-Dan

All signals look something like this (bad ASCII graphics, I know...)

| ___
| / \___ ____ SIGNAL
|_/ \____/\ /
| _ \/
| /\ / \ /\
|/\__/ \/\/ \_/ \/\/\/\_____ NOISE
------------------------------------------------------------

Notice there is noise on the line -- it's typically much lower strength than the signal itself, but it is there. This noise is due to bad connections in the line, the "hum" of the generators that created the electricity, poor cables, etc. There are a lot of factors that contribute to noise.

The more connections between you and the originator of the signal, the lower the signal strength. The noise level tends to go UP as you add connections, however. That means at some point, the noise can actually be as strong as (or stronger than) the signal. When that occurs, you lose the signal and only pick up the noise. A good example of this is a TV antenna that isn't quite tuned right. You get lots of static on the screen -- that's noise.

When you amplify a signal, the amplifier doesn't know what is noise, and what is signal. It amplifies BOTH. If the signal strength before the amplifier is marginal, an amp will improve it. However, the amp will also strengthen the noise. So if the noise and signal strength are similar before the amp, they will be similar strength after the amp too. You will get garbage.

MoxiGuy

10-06-05, 10:07 PM

bobafett86

10-06-05, 10:52 PM

Dagwar,

Splinke is pretty much dead on. I think your issue is partly the Monster Cable Strip and maybe weak signal outside. So yes you can ground to cold water, but not a great idea if any of the water piping is pvc. I hate to say it but get Adelphia out there and check your signal get it properly grounded. It is NEC code that cable lines must be properly grounded, so once that is done your ground loop interfernce should be good to go.

dagware

10-06-05, 11:11 PM

All signals look something like this...
Thanks for the explanation. Now I understand.

I hate to say it but get Adelphia out there and check your signal get it properly grounded. It is NEC code that cable lines must be properly grounded, so once that is done your ground loop interfernce should be good to go.
Well, it looks like I'll need to get them out anyway, because here's some more information I found. I followed splinke's advice and discovered how to check my cable modem's signal strength. It says it's -2 dBmV. So I think the cable going into the house must have some problems. It could well be the connector on the end -- I had replaced it and I think I did a crappy job. I got a compression connector and tool, but I obviously don't know what I'm doing, because I just made things worse. After some screwing around, I got it back working, at least. But I think Adelphia needs to come out and put a better connector on it, and test the cable to make sure everything's OK with it.

So, thanks to everyone, and I'll let you all know what happens!

-Dan

Trager

10-07-05, 12:54 AM

Xplicit213

10-07-05, 01:34 AM

My new Charter MOXI box is the BMC9012. I can record one show while watching another show or record two shows at once. So far box is working perfectly. Box can store up to 60 hours of TV shows in standard def or up to 20 hours in HD. Of course that's what the User's Guide shows but I haven't had enough time to test. I like the MOXI box better than my old box because it can display shows 14 days in advance. This my first DVR
so I cannot compare to any other box. However, I can record to my hard drive on my computer. The recording is so good on the MOXI I get confused with live TV and the recording.

HDTV display is great but SD is not as good as my old box. Maybe this is because I"m watching HDTV for the first time! I have a Panasonic RPTV. Maybe someone on the forum could help me get better SD reception. I have to get used to not clicking the remote too fast. Also, you must be quick at entering the channel numbers.

Overall, I'm quite pleased with the MOXI. There's not much sense in buying a HDTV without getting HD channels. Also I hate video tapes.

I just recently got Charter DVR with MOXI over here in Kennewick, Washington State. May I ask how you hooked up your DVR and CPU together? If you used the 1394 Firewire, was it a 4-6 pin, 6-6 pin or 4-4 pin? Thanks for the help.

Xplicit213

kelliot

10-07-05, 03:36 AM

I said previously that I wouldn't answer "when" questions on 4.0. My answers are inevitably wrong.

You said it, not me.

Just give me a USB HD in 3.3 in the next month in a beta.

VideoGrabber

10-07-05, 05:30 AM

2thumbsup

10-07-05, 08:07 AM

MoxiGuy

I know you said you would not tell us when 4.0 will be released, but can you tell us what new features and fixes we can expect to see in 4.0?

MoxiGuy

10-07-05, 08:36 AM

1. TimeSurf-- long and frequently requested: compare programs across all channels up to two weeks out.

2. Menu responsiveness. The fast parts of the menu get a lot faster. The slow parts of the menu get as fast as the fast parts. (e.g. the Channel listing for hiding and showing channels. The time for the find-by-title widget to pop up)

3. On Next Menu will be in all categories of the guide

4. Another request: "view upcoming" will work everywhere. (Although, we're changing the name of the command to "see all times."

5. Recorded shows that map to categories will by listed in the categories as well as the Recorded TV list.

6. For those who subscribe to Games, Photos, and Jukebox--new games, new features.

7. Dozens and dozens of tweaky fit and finish refinements that would be tedious to list but that make the experience better.

8. Most impactful changes are invisible to you (until later). We will have a new development environment that will accelerate progress after 4.0.

2thumbsup

10-07-05, 08:47 AM

Thank you for the reply MoxiGuy

dagware

10-07-05, 10:19 AM

bobafett commented:
> I wish I knew what db you were hitting your box with. If it is tiling with that new amp then you could possible be hitting it with too much signal. <

He could just pick up an inline 6 or 10 dB attentuator, give it a try, and see if the problem gets better or worse. I grabbed one from my C-band shack that helped a lot (the BMC is a lot less tolerant of strong signals than the DCT-6200 I also have on the same drop).

IIRC, Radio Shack even has a variable attenuator, and a return policy if it does no good.

- Tim
If you're talking about a Radio Shack signal booster that is adjustable, I already have one. When set to the lower values it doesn't do enough good, and when set to the upper values it causes the problems I've mentioned.

But thanks for the suggestion!

-Dan

dagware

10-07-05, 10:20 AM

abcward

10-07-05, 10:32 AM

I said previously that I wouldn't answer "when" questions on 4.0. My answers are inevitably wrong.

You misunderstood my intention for my question. I don't expect you to say exactly when we'll see 4.0. Rather my meaning was that we should not be waiting for the feature of being able to timeshift the entire channel listing to see what's on 'later'.

I'm not the biggest Moxi complainer by any means. I do think there are many positives, but having to look at every single channel to see whats coming up is incredibly ridiculous and should have already been fixed by now.

DuctTaper

10-07-05, 10:32 AM

I don't think this was covered before: My cable company is Charter, and they frequently insert local ads in the place of the network ads. On HDTV channels, the picture quality of their commercials is in standard-definition.

When using fast-forward on HDTV, when it hits one of the inserted commercials, the screen goes black, and there's no way of knowing how far you've gone. If I press play, and it's still on one of Charter's commercial, I can ffwd through it while viewing it. Sometimes it's gone past the Charter-inserted commercial, and pressing play brings me a good ways into the network's HDTV program (and I need to backup,grr).

Is this a bug? Something you might want to try in the MOXI labs...

abcward

10-07-05, 10:35 AM

Adam Tyner

10-07-05, 10:42 AM

I have something else I would loved added to the 'wish list' - When you are using the Search function to find a specific show or movie, the search should also be searching thru the VOD titles too. Say I want to find Blues Brothers. It may not be showing on any channel for the next two weeks, but it is on-demand on Cinemax. The Search should display that information.I don't know if it's a location-specific thing, but VOD stuff does show up in searches in my neck of the woods.

jokerswild

10-07-05, 10:43 AM

I don't see anything about an external hard drive. Is this going to happen before 4.0, or after?

-Dan

I may be overly cynical, but I suspect the answer (which you will never hear direct from Digeo) is going to be "don't hold your breath."

the cable companies don't want large hard drives. They want them as small as possible. That allows them to advertise "See? we have DVR! come sign up!!" and still tell the MPAA, etc. that they don't need to worry about people actually viewing shows on their schedule. It's a control thing. Small drives mean few saved shows, which means you have to watch shows when they air, not when you want.

dagware

10-07-05, 11:07 AM

I may be overly cynical, but I suspect the answer (which you will never hear direct from Digeo) is going to be "don't hold your breath."

the cable companies don't want large hard drives. They want them as small as possible. That allows them to advertise "See? we have DVR! come sign up!!" and still tell the MPAA, etc. that they don't need to worry about people actually viewing shows on their schedule. It's a control thing. Small drives mean few saved shows, which means you have to watch shows when they air, not when you want.
This does sounds overly cynical. And I hope it's not true. I would think they'd be more worried about us switching to satellite than what the MPAA says.

-Dan

splinke

10-07-05, 01:29 PM

I have a hard time understanding what splinke is saying about this. I have a 4:3 HDTV. I have 3.2 software. I'm very happy with it. I don't know what you and splinke want to do that you can't do. What important thing am I missing in my setup? Anybody willing to draw some diagrams so I can get what this flap is all about. Sorry for being dense about this... but I'm confused.
I think the point you are missing is that not all 4:3 HDTV's are identical. Unlike your Sony, there apparently are certain models that cannot scale incoming HD signals properly to view them in the correct aspect. Instead, they rely on the tuner (in this case, the Moxi) to do this.

Picture this: the 16:9 aspect HD picture is squished horizontally such that it fills the 4:3 screen. Under version 3.0, you could have the Moxi "crop" the left and right sides of the 16:9 picture, leaving only the 4:3 portion in the middle, or you could have the Moxi scale the picture down to a "letterbox" to fit the entire width of the 4:3 screen while introducing black bars on the top and bottom. If the 4:3 HDTV does not have its own setting that accomplishes these tasks, then the viewer is forced to watch the horizontally squished picture under software version 3.2, since the Moxi can no longer do them.

I think "Trager" is in a special situation in which his TV can do the "letterbox" function, but not the "crop" function. Since he apparently watches mostly HD content that is pillarboxed by the broadcaster, the "crop" function (formerly available on the Moxi) makes much more sense than the "letterbox" function, since the crop simply chops off the black bars with no loss of picture, whereas the letterbox makes the picture much smaller in the middle of the screen with black bars on all four sides.

The other option for these viewers is to select only 480i in HDTV Setup, under which the crop and letterbox selections are still functional. However, they lose the benefit of HD.

I think I've explained this four or five times now, although I am relying on the numerous reports from others with "crippled" 4:3 HDTV's, since I have a 16:9 HDTV. However, the fact that there are numerous separate reports from different 4:3 HDTV owners (I think there are at least 8 different people now) that have been unresolvable, and the fact that I personally can no longer alter the HD picture with the Widescreen setting like I could under v3.0 leads me to believe that it is a legitimate problem. Perhaps the problem is that when Digeo does its testing, it does not test on 4:3 HDTV's. More likely, the problem is that Digeo tests only on a single Sony model that has its own internal aspect settings that accomplishes what the Widescreen setting did under v3.0, and then they assume that EVERY 4:3 HDTV has this same functionality.

MoxiGuy

10-07-05, 01:35 PM

I have something else I would loved added to the 'wish list' - When you are using the Search function to find a specific show or movie, the search should also be searching thru the VOD titles too. Say I want to find Blues Brothers. It may not be showing on any channel for the next two weeks, but it is on-demand on Cinemax. The Search should display that information.

Just my two cents.This is a bug. The system is designed to do that. Let me look into why it's not happening for you.

splinke

10-07-05, 01:36 PM

...Well, it looks like I'll need to get them out anyway, because here's some more information I found. I followed splinke's advice and discovered how to check my cable modem's signal strength. It says it's -2 dBmV...
Ahhhh! So, the signal at the origination point in the secret box is actually pretty good (probably around +2 dB), but you are losing about 10 dB over some bad wire or connection on the split that goes to your displays. Once you figure that out, a non-amplified four-way split should probably work--all four should be in the acceptable -10 dB range.

splinke

10-07-05, 01:41 PM

If you're talking about a Radio Shack signal booster that is adjustable, I already have one. When set to the lower values it doesn't do enough good, and when set to the upper values it causes the problems I've mentioned...
Actually, attenuators solve the opposite problem. They REDUCE the power of signals that are too high.

splinke

10-07-05, 01:48 PM

I don't see anything about an external hard drive. Is this going to happen before 4.0, or after?
According to "sources" (I don't know the level of reliability to apply to them), Digeo originally planned for external hard drive support in version 4.2. This may be well out-dated by now, though. (The predicted release dates are certainly out-dated.) If it is true, given the current rate of software updates, this is likely at least a year off. Check out the SOFTWARE RELEASES section of my FAQ for the "roadmap."

dagware

10-07-05, 02:24 PM

Ahhhh! So, the signal at the origination point in the secret box is actually pretty good (probably around +2 dB), but you are losing about 10 dB over some bad wire or connection on the split that goes to your displays. Once you figure that out, a non-amplified four-way split should probably work--all four should be in the acceptable -10 dB range.
I also have to resolve the ground issue, but I believe you're correct -- once both are solved, I should be "good to go" (I can't think about that phrase without hearing Joey Tribiani from "Friends").

Actually, attenuators solve the opposite problem. They REDUCE the power of signals that are too high.
Ahhh, that makes sense. Thanks.

And thanks for the roadmap in your FAQ. I forgot all about that section.

-Dan

djustl

10-07-05, 03:10 PM

8. Most impactful changes are invisible to you (until later). We will have a new development environment that will accelerate progress after 4.0.

MoxiGuy,

I hope by 'new development environment' you mean the Moxi software will make proper use of an abstraction layer (I'm assuming there is an abstraction layer...) which would allow changes to the DVR functionality independent of the cable systems. I'm at a loss as to why this hasn't been the case from the start. Digeo should be able to implement and test many of the most-requested features without needing to test on each cable system, as most DVR operations do not need to communicate with the cable network.

beatnikguy

10-07-05, 04:08 PM

I have a Standard TV (4x3 aspect ratio) that is HD capable. By checking letterbox in the Moxi menu the HD content scales itself into a proper 16x9 rather than stretching the 16x9 to fill the screen. Does 3.2 disable this feature?

Basically all my SD content fills the screen, all true HD letterboxes itself. I'm wondering if the HD is now going to distort to 4x3.

Also, I'm having an issue where HD playback pauses briefly-then continues for a minute, then pauses again. Sometimes I FF through the program and rewind before playback and it seems to help. It makes me wonder if the drives fragment over time. I have a few SD shows that have been on there for months would that cause it?

I have a hard time understanding what splinke is saying about this. I have a 4:3 HDTV. I have 3.2 software. I'm very happy with it. I don't know what you and splinke want to do that you can't do. What important thing am I missing in my setup? Anybody willing to draw some diagrams so I can get what this flap is all about. Sorry for being dense about this... but I'm confused.

webskipper

10-07-05, 06:40 PM

MoxiGuy and all,
I have a relatively new BMC9012 in Faribault, MN using Charter Cable and am having some problems with it after only a couple months. I can't fast forward in some recorded shows, it locks up and then forces a restart from the beginning of the show. I've only got about seven and a half hours of non-HD stuff recorded and it doesn't seem to be any one channel over another. Almost like a bad cluster on the harddrive or something where the shows that won't FF are stored or something.
I'm watching or trying to on a standard old 4:3 TV.

Penton-Man

10-07-05, 06:42 PM

Well, it looks like I'll need to get them out anyway,

Dang it dagware……………

Last piece of advice.

Eventually when you decide to call them to set up an appt. ----Tell them that you are also having problems with your cable modem and with the simple press of a couple of buttons at the tech’s home office, he can get a diagnostic print out concerning how hard your cable modem is working BEFORE he comes out to your abode…………..

So, he is ready to fix yet another problem.

This is fairly accurate most of the time.

And keep those ducks away from the outside cabling. :eek:

Penton-Man

10-07-05, 06:45 PM

I may be overly cynical, but I suspect the answer (which you will never hear direct from Digeo) is going to be "don't hold your breath."

the cable companies don't want large hard drives.
Actually, they want the absolute lowest bid possible for a set top box from any supplier out there.....and that my friends is why Adelphia chose the Moxi + Motorola :)

If someone else had given a lower bid that just happened to include a larger hard drive....you would be using that box now.

dagware

10-07-05, 07:19 PM

Dang it dagware……………

Last piece of advice.

Eventually when you decide to call them to set up an appt. ----Tell them that you are also having problems with your cable modem and with the simple press of a couple of buttons at the tech’s home office, he can get a diagnostic print out concerning how hard your cable modem is working BEFORE he comes out to your abode…………..

So, he is ready to fix yet another problem.
Did I say somewhere that I was having problems with my cable modem? If I did, I mis-spoke. The cable modem is working fine.

And keep those ducks away from the outside cabling. :eek:
Quick story: One time we came home and in our cul-de-sac, we had a great big fat swan. We got together with a couple of neighbors and tried to herd it back across the street to the park, but it was almost as hard as herding cats. We got it almost all the way across the street, then it turned around and ran right in the path of a car. Fortunately, the car stopped in time and we were finally able to get it to go back to the park. But boy, was it ornery! Homer Simpson voice: "Stupid Swan!"

-Dan

Penton-Man

10-07-05, 07:35 PM

Did I say somewhere that I was having problems with my cable modem? If I did, I mis-spoke. The cable modem is working fine.

I probably just misread as I’m skimming more than 10 threads as quickly as I can before the game starts.

Once while I was walking round the pond with our dog, I quacked at one of those birds and it ran up behind me and tried to bite me in the arse. He was followed by a group of three or four “colleagues” that had similar looks on their faces with mouths open. :eek:

I think they all must be Adelphia subscribers.

joe221

10-07-05, 08:01 PM

I probably just misread as I’m skimming more than 10 threads as quickly as I can before the game starts.

Once while I was walking round the pond with our dog, I quacked at one of those birds and it ran up behind me and tried to bite me in the arse. He was followed by a group of three or four “colleagues” that had similar looks on their faces with mouths open. :eek:

I think they all must be Adelphia subscribers.

Or technicians... :eek:

Penton-Man

10-07-05, 09:25 PM

Geez Joe......if any of those guys read this thread, you just pushed them into a minor state of depression. :eek:

Back to da game. :D

dagware

10-08-05, 10:21 AM

Once while I was walking round the pond with our dog, I quacked at one of those birds and it ran up behind me and tried to bite me in the arse. He was followed by a group of three or four “colleagues” that had similar looks on their faces with mouths open. :eek:
There used to be a well-known swan over there that nobody dared go near. It would chase people who got near it. It would have been funny if it wasn't so Hitchcockian!

I think they all must be Adelphia subscribers.
Or technicians...
That was probably it -- everyone knows they don't know their arse from a hole in the ground! :p

-Dan

elgibby

10-08-05, 01:24 PM

Finally got to moving the moximate to another TV this morning, and it didn't work.

MoxiGuy, when you said it would work hauling it from room to room, you didn't qualify it in any way. I hooked it up and powered on, and a bunch of numbers changed before it sat on rd59 (I think that's what the code was) and ... nothing. When I moved it back to the TV it was installed on, it cycled to rd59 and quickly displayed the time and connected to the main box.

The bedroom TV where the mate is is on a separate line from the TV room where the main box is. And the office TV where I tried to move it is on another separate line. (The main drop to the house is split 4 ways). I suppose the installer could have put the main box line and mate line on a splitter with the filter, but I don't recall seeing him do that.

Is that an explanation? or is it that the filter is not on the office TV line? Should this have worked?

barry

splinke

10-08-05, 01:33 PM

Finally got to moving the moximate to another TV this morning, and it didn't work...
The filter has to be "upstream" of the splitter that splits between the TV with the main unit and the TV with the Mate. It sounds like your filter is currently installed just upstream of a second splitter that splits between the main unit and the Mate, and it is filtering out the signal before it can get back to your initial 4-way splitter. You could try to install the filter just upstream of your 4-way splitter, although I'm not sure if that would reduce the signal level going to the Mate enough to ruin the connection.

MoxiGuy

10-08-05, 02:16 PM

MoxiGuy, when you said it would work hauling it from room to room, you didn't qualify it in any way. My apologies for that. I did not think through all of the variations in wiring that people have. The low-pass filter blocks the signals from getting out. If the Moxi Mate is on the far side of that filter from the main unit, then it won't be able to hear anything the main unit is saying.

elgibby

10-08-05, 03:59 PM

thanks for the response, splinke and MG, I figured it was the split and filter.
:(

elgibby

10-08-05, 06:38 PM

Once again, Moxi program guide does not list tonight's Cardinals game, lists other programming at 10 p.m. central. Don't know what would happen if I programmed everything from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., tho I think I'll try it. I'm recording the game to DVD to make sure I get it.
MoxiGuy, didn't get a response last time I complained about the EPG; question on the table is: when will we get manual recording?
thx
barry

MoxiGuy

10-08-05, 08:13 PM

MoxiGuy

10-08-05, 08:15 PM

abcward... regarding searching for On Demand titles. We have a known bug where parental controls can interfere with this in some cases. Do you have parental controls on?

abcward

10-08-05, 10:01 PM

abcward... regarding searching for On Demand titles. We have a known bug where parental controls can interfere with this in some cases. Do you have parental controls on?

No parental controls here...but honestly this isn't a big deal at all to me. I was just offering the suggestion.

I am MUCH more interested in resolving the random issues of my MoxiMate being unresponsive.

MoxiGuy

10-09-05, 12:16 AM

Once again, Moxi program guide does not list tonight's Cardinals game, lists other programming at 10 p.m. central. Just heard from someone in St Louis. Fox isn't carrying this game, ESPN is carrying it. Did you look at ch 2 or ch 35? Did you do a title search on MLB? If your listings do not have the game on ch 35, then please call Charter and ask them to call Digeo.

bailorg

10-09-05, 12:50 AM

I wanted to report a strange bug I experienced today that I didn't see mentioned on splinke's FAQ.

While watching live tv, all of the digital channels suddenly stopped coming through. The analog channels came in fine. Nothing was recording at the time. A soft reset fixed the problem.

I have the 9022 with the MoxiMate with 3.2.

PWSHER

10-09-05, 02:15 AM

J.R.1234

10-09-05, 03:15 AM

Yeah, that happens to me too. It doesn't happen all the time. Just with certain channels. If it's changing to SpikeTV, or WB 11, it will do this. But the only other time it does is when it is changing to certain stations.

abcward

10-09-05, 07:33 AM

MoxiGuy,
I don't know if this bug has been reported before or not.
I will be watching a show on Moxi and I will get a message that says something about we need to change channels to record such and such...There is nothing else being recorded but it will change the channel and then I have to go to the channel I was watching. It doesn't do this everytime.
Thanks for answering all our questions. I do have a MoxiMate and 3.2. I must say I record a lot of shows ( I have 80+ series) and have never had a show deleted...yet. The extra 80 Gb is great.

This bug is happening to me EVERY time one show is scheduled to record. And it doesn't matter if I'm sitting in front of the Moxi or the Mate. I just let it change the channel to the recorded channel, then change back to what I want to watch. But it does seem odd that this happens.

elgibby

10-09-05, 12:11 PM

Your work-around should work. (provided you have the right channel). Try triggering a program info update. (on the front of the box, hold down OK and Menu buttons together... then select actions and triggers... on the next screen select trigger program info update. If you don't have the cardinals game listed after that, call charter. If you do... you'll have to set the game to record again.

as for manual recording... I don't have a date yet.

Just heard from someone in St Louis. Fox isn't carrying this game, ESPN is carrying it. Did you look at ch 2 or ch 35? Did you do a title search on MLB? If your listings do not have the game on ch 35, then please call Charter and ask them to call Digeo.

Forgot to do the workaround! We were getting ready to go out and ... duh.
When this happened the time before this, I did trigger a program info update but nothing seemed to happen; it sat on the diagnostic screen forever, and the EPG was unchanged.

Yes, I knew the game was on ESPN, not Fox. No, I didn't do a title search on MLB. If/when this happens again, I'll do that and follow up with Charter if needed.

Thx, MoxiGuy

barry

PimpDadd

10-09-05, 05:17 PM

What exactly is the optimum dB rate that you want to see on the Moxi for best picture?? And which menu is it under?

thanks

abcward

10-09-05, 05:22 PM

What exactly is the optimum dB rate that you want to see on the Moxi for best picture?? And which menu is it under?

thanks

As Michael Keaton said so wisely in Mr.Mom: "220, 221..whatever it takes"

:)

dagware

10-09-05, 06:38 PM

As Michael Keaton said so wisely in Mr.Mom: "220, 221..whatever it takes"

:)
(Sound of chainsaw running.)

-Dan

slim79

10-10-05, 01:47 AM

I have been using this app from:

http://www.thegreenbutton.com/community/shwmessage.aspx?ForumID=26&MessageID=104152

to change channel via firewire and record via firewire from my media center pc remote with my motorola 6200. I recently worked with Tim to get a the channel changing feature working with the bmc9012 but the video capture is not working with the driver provided.

Has anyone else had success streaming video from the firewire ports on the bmc9012?

splinke

10-10-05, 03:12 AM

What exactly is the optimum dB rate that you want to see on the Moxi for best picture?? And which menu is it under?...
Network Diagnostics > DOCSIS Interface Information (These are the readings from the internal cable modem, so they are not actually the signal levels of the TV channels, but they should be a relatively good surrogates, particularly for the HD channels.)
-----Downstream Power
----------good = -15 to +15 dBmV
----------better = -12 to +12 dBmV
----------best = -7 to +12 dBmV
----------problem = less than -15 or greater than +15 dBmV
-----Downstream Signal/Noise
----------best = 30 dB or higher
----------marginal = 25-29 dB
----------problem = less than 25 dB
-----Upstream power
----------OK = less than 55 dBmV (lower is better)
----------problem = 55 dBmV or higher
Hardware Diagnostics > Tuner Information (screens 2 and/or 3 when tuned to digital channels)
-----SNR
----------best = 32-45 dB
----------OK = 29-31 dB or higher
----------problem = 28 dB or less

2thumbsup

10-10-05, 09:54 AM

abcward

10-10-05, 09:57 AM

I have Charter in St. Louis.

Just wondering if anybody else had problems while watching football on FOX-HD and CBS-HD yesterday. Both channels were doing the following.

1. Random audio dropouts
2. The picture would freeze for a couple of seconds then it would shutter/jitter.
3. The games were in widescreen then they went to 4:3 for about an hour then back to widescreen.
4. On CBS-HD for about an hour, there was no commentary audio just the stadium audio.

I have never had any problems while watching HD football until yesterday. I am just wondering if it was a Moxi problem or if it was Charter or FOX and CBS.

I live in your area too. From what was said in the St.Louis avsforum thread, the Networks were dealing with sunspots that interfered with their satellites. That is the main reason why the picture went from HD to SD. And I suspect the other issues you mentioned were related to this issue as well.

MoxiGuy

10-10-05, 10:50 AM

I recently worked with Tim to get a the channel changing feature working with the bmc9012 but the video capture is not working with the driver provided.

Has anyone else had success streaming video from the firewire ports on the bmc9012?where are you? What software version?

kodaker

10-10-05, 10:57 AM

I have Charter in St. Louis.

Just wondering if anybody else had problems while watching football on FOX-HD and CBS-HD yesterday. Both channels were doing the following.

1. Random audio dropouts
2. The picture would freeze for a couple of seconds then it would shutter/jitter.
3. The games were in widescreen then they went to 4:3 for about an hour then back to widescreen.
4. On CBS-HD for about an hour, there was no commentary audio just the stadium audio.

I have never had any problems while watching HD football until yesterday. I am just wondering if it was a Moxi problem or if it was Charter or FOX and CBS.

No problem with the games here in Birmingham, Alabama and Charter. I was a couch potato all day yesterday watching them in HD.
....Fred

joe221

10-10-05, 12:20 PM

They're blaming the Sun for their problems in the LA area too. Not to mention the fires in the Valley. Soon they'll blame the EQ in Pakistan! :confused:

I'm still getting breakup on an smaller number of digital channels but it's still going on.

Mad Mac

10-10-05, 03:40 PM

MoxiGuy, you heard anything about the rollout of 3.2 causing grief with Adelphia HSI around LA?

http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/remark,14544311

I suspected there may be an issue a couple of weeks back (slowdown late night and/or early morning, now OK). Seems there's now problems in OC.

MoxiGuy

10-10-05, 04:34 PM

MoxiGuy, you heard anything about the rollout of 3.2 causing grief with Adelphia HSI around LA?I have not heard that. From the post you linked to, it's not clear that this has anything to do with Moxi at all. The post mentions menu changes on "digital boxes" not "DVR boxes."

Jym

10-10-05, 04:43 PM

Couple of quick questions. I live in Chesterfield, suburb of St. Louis, Missouri. Have Charter cable.

1) I have two Moxi's and got them the very first week they were offered. So they are old. One died last week, fan runs but display is completely dark. Charter is going to replace tomorrow. Will the new one have a larger drive? WIll it be smaller? Has there been any improvements in the hardware since day 1?

2) If the new Moxi's do not have bigger hard drives. Will there be a big hard drive coming out soon?

3) I would like to switch from component to DVI on my moxi. Is the DVI output live on the new Moxi? Is it straight DVI?

4) I have several bugs in the software of my Moxi. Does the software update automatically to new versions or should I be doing something for new version of software? Could the bugs be actaully bad hardware? I have a bug where a show gets to a certain spot and will not go further. You can see that it has been recorded but you can not get past a certain spot. I have problems with run away FF and Rew. A big problem is where it saids it will record a game but it actually does not do it. I have problems where there will only be four hours of HDTV football recorded on the Moxi yet it will not record another show. The last issue is that I swear one of my Moxi's has a bigger hard drive, or atleast holds more, than the other one. How many hours of HDTV is an original Moxi suppose to hold anyway?

5) The number #1 suggestion I have for the software is make the menus remember where you were at. I find this soooo fustrating. My Tivos will remember where you were in a menu when you watch something of are selecting something. It does not make you start over. The Moxi makes you start over every time.

6) I use IR repeaters. It would be helpful if there was info on exactly where on the front pannel we should connect the emitters. I have three emitters on one of my Moxis and it is still very unresponsive. But have several additional pieces of equipment on the same repeater including a Tivo and they are very responsive. So I think it is the place of the emitter.

-Jym-

splinke

10-10-05, 04:58 PM

Check out my FAQ at the link in my signature for more information.

1) I have two Moxi's and got them the very first week they were offered. So they are old. One died last week, fan runs but display is completely dark. Charter is going to replace tomorrow. Will the new one have a larger drive? WIll it be smaller? Has there been any improvements in the hardware since day 1?
There are only minor differences between old and new Moxi BMC9012's. Unless you ordered a BMC9022 (and they are available in your area), which has a 160-GB hard drive, your new Moxi will have the same 80-GB hard drive as your old one.

2) If the new Moxi's do not have bigger hard drives. Will there be a big hard drive coming out soon?
It's going to be awhile before larger hard drives are standard, and it will probably just be 160-GB.

3) I would like to switch from component to DVI on my moxi. Is the DVI output live on the new Moxi? Is it straight DVI?
DVI is not currently functional in Charter systems. It is working in Adelphia systems, so perhaps Charter is not far behind (perhaps not, though).

4)...How many hours of HDTV is an original Moxi suppose to hold anyway?
The standard BMC9012 typically holds about 7 hours of HD. Check the FAQ for discussion of this and the other issues you raised

6)...I have three emitters on one of my Moxis and it is still very unresponsive. But have several additional pieces of equipment on the same repeater including a Tivo and they are very responsive. So I think it is the place of the emitter.
This may have more to do with the unique IR system used by the Moxi. Check out the Remote Control section of the FAQ.

jonathanR

10-10-05, 07:58 PM

Hi all:

Been using the Moxi as a regular SD dvr, but I'm getting my JVC 52G786 this week! I'm over here in Ventura, CA (Adelphia). I noticed the 3.2 software is in effect now. I'm going to be using the dvi out to hdmi in. Any other JVC "G" owners out there? Did you choose ONLY 720P output on the moxi? Or are you selecting all, (1080i,720P & 480P) and letting the JVC convert? Which looks best? Thanks.

Jonathan
Cali

Mad Mac

10-10-05, 09:46 PM

I have not heard that. From the post you linked to, it's not clear that this has anything to do with Moxi at all. The post mentions menu changes on "digital boxes" not "DVR boxes."

Just to expand on this, there was an issue out in this area (Moorpark, 93021) where HSI speed was going in the tank either late at night or early morning (sometimes both), also seemed to affect various other areas in the "Greater LA" area. This seemed to coincide with the 3.2 rollout and the problem hasn't come up again in the last 10 days. Just curious as to whether anything had come up that you were aware of.

FxMldr1121

10-10-05, 11:19 PM

FYI for anyone in LA area.... I went to my local Adelphia office today in City of Industry to change out my regular digital box because of some problems and while I was there, figured I would ask the CSR if they knew anything about availability of VOD for DVR customers. She said they are currently testing in some areas and that it should be available before Christmas..... of course I forgot to ask if she meant this Christmas or next Christmas.....

joe221

10-10-05, 11:53 PM

kodaker

10-11-05, 10:06 AM

Tanker Toad

10-11-05, 01:18 PM

As recently as last night, my HD is trash on at least some of the channels. Now, sometimes, the problem doesn't occur--but I have yet to record something post-3.2 that doesn't show this problem. I've been giving it some time to see if it's a transitory issue....

The above is from my 21 Sep post:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6228582#post6228582

Well, for the last week or so, "something" has changed in Colorado Springs--for the better! Related or not, I don't know--but when they added the Discovery HD channel and the third In-HD channel (that still doesn't have any programming on it, but the channel is there)--the pixelation and sound drop-outs I described seem to have ceased. Not "gotten better" or "watchable," but completely gone! So, I'm a happy camper.

Now, if someone would just go tell the local NBC and ABC affiliates that this is 2005 and there's no excuse not to be broadcasting in HD.... :mad: I can almost see why UPN and WB, as "the little guys," aren't doing so--but two of the "big three"???

Doug

joe221

10-11-05, 01:25 PM

The above is from my 21 Sep post:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6228582#post6228582

Well, for the last week or so, "something" has changed in Colorado Springs--for the better! Related or not, I don't know--but when they added the Discovery HD channel and the third In-HD channel (that still doesn't have any programming on it, but the channel is there)--the pixelation and sound drop-outs I described seem to have ceased. Not "gotten better" or "watchable," but completely gone! So, I'm a happy camper.

Now, if someone would just go tell the local NBC and ABC affiliates that this is 2005 and there's no excuse not to be broadcasting in HD.... :mad: I can almost see why UPN and WB, as "the little guys," aren't doing so--but two of the "big three"???

Doug

The WB and I believe UPN have numerous shows in HD. Or, do you mean your local affiliates? In LA UPN is SD but WS has lots of HD content. Not on Adelphia though...

Tim Neuland

10-11-05, 01:52 PM

I have had a BMC9012 for a year. Adelphia, Yorba Linda is my provider. During this time I have never had a correct Programming listing for FSNW2. It either says "signed off" until 4pm and then it mirror images FSNW for the rest of the evening. I'm a UCLA footbal fan and many of the games are broadcast in FSNW2. Since you cannot manually record, the desired show must be on the program listing, or you cannot record the show.

Has anyone else seen this, or know of a fix?

MoxiGuy

10-11-05, 01:57 PM

I know of four boxes with what I guess is the moxi measles. Call Dr. Charter. This is a HW problem affecting a particular group of boxes. I think they've all been collected and replaced... but if you think you have one, check with Charter.

jbarr

10-11-05, 03:17 PM

My brother-in-law has a Sharp Aquos 30" LCD TV, and recently had a Moxi box connected via component connections.

The problem he is having is SEVERE latency in remote response. He has the latest software build from Charter, but just about any remote key press results in severe delays in response. The installer attributes it to a problem with his TV. He says that the TV must be giving off a frequency that is interfering with the Moxi remote. OK, I'm no engineer, but I thought IR would not be interfered by RF leakage from an electronic device.

He took hus hands and "cupped" around the remote sensor on the Moxi box and held the remote about an inch away, and the box responded like it should: speedy and fast. But when he moves it away, suddenly, the latency begins. The remote works just fine on their Moxi box in another room. Oh, and this is the third moxi box tested in this location, and ALL exhibit the same sluggishness.

I am speculating that there's some light source in the room that's interfering with the remote, but the installer insists that it's an RF issue, and if he shields the TV's main box, it should clear things up.

We are going to try to isolate the problem by turning off the lights, fans, and anything that might cause any kind of interference. We're also going to completely shut off the TV and hook up a different one to see if the TV interference theory is valid.

Anyone have any suggestions?

blackcap93

10-11-05, 03:34 PM

Moxi SW version 3.2.171.7LR-P.107558 is deployed in the Hickory, NC area as of 10/11.

Tanker Toad

10-11-05, 03:42 PM

The WB and I believe UPN have numerous shows in HD. Or, do you mean your local affiliates? In LA UPN is SD but WS has lots of HD content. Not on Adelphia though...

You're quite correct--it's the lack of HD *broadcast* by *local affiliates* that I'm griping about, not the lack of HD *programming* by the *network* (though, of course, there's room for improvement on that score as well).

To recap, my "HD" ABC and PBS channels are really SD--since those channels have a digital signal, they have a channel in the HD lineup, but DO NOT carry ANY HD signals. The local NBC affiliate doesn't even have a digital signal, nor do UPN or WB. <*sigh*>.....

Doug

splinke

10-11-05, 04:14 PM

...Been using the Moxi as a regular SD dvr, but I'm getting my JVC 52G786 this week! I'm over here in Ventura, CA (Adelphia). I noticed the 3.2 software is in effect now. I'm going to be using the dvi out to hdmi in. Any other JVC "G" owners out there? Did you choose ONLY 720P output on the moxi? Or are you selecting all, (1080i,720P & 480P) and letting the JVC convert? Which looks best?...
480p is no longer available under 3.2, so you will only be able to select 720p and/or 1080i. Personally, I think the Moxi probably does a fine job of converting between these two HD formats, so you can probably just select one, although it can't hurt to try selecting both, and then see if you can tell a difference when you allow your TV to do the conversion.

On the other hand, the Moxi's upconversion of 480i to an HD format is not very good. Unfortunately, in order to watch content that comes in at 480i, you have to allow the Moxi to do this upconversion if you want to use only the DVI connection. Otherwise, you will have to hook the Moxi up with a separate set of component video cables to view 480i natively.

On a related matter, I have a question for anybody who is using the DVI connection. If you select both 720p and 1080i in HDTV Setup, is there a noticeable tuning and/or resolution-switching delay when switching between these signal types. Is the delay shorter or longer when you only select one of the resolutions and allow your TV to do the conversion? In some Digeo literature, it recommended selecting ONLY ONE resolution to improve performance, and I was wondering whether this was actually still an issue. This may also impact people's decisions to select one or both.

splinke

10-11-05, 04:17 PM

Just to expand on this, there was an issue out in this area (Moorpark, 93021) where HSI speed was going in the tank either late at night or early morning (sometimes both), also seemed to affect various other areas in the "Greater LA" area. This seemed to coincide with the 3.2 rollout and the problem hasn't come up again in the last 10 days. Just curious as to whether anything had come up that you were aware of.
Perhaps the simultaneous automated downloading and installation of the new software/firmware to a large number of subscribers just had a temporary effect on available bandwidth? I think they try to spread the update out over several days in each system, but perhaps there is still an effect?

splinke

10-11-05, 04:25 PM

I don't believe I have seen the answer to this. I have the Moxi and have the HD channels. etc. If I went on vacation for a couple of weeks, could I let my neighbor who has Charter cable but no Moxi use my Moxi while I was gone, and would it have the same capability as I have at my house?...
It would probably work, as long as the level and quality of the signal on the cable he intends to plug into the Moxi is sufficiently good. It may be a minor violation of your subscriber agreement to use the box in another house, though.

Penton-Man

10-11-05, 05:46 PM

On a related matter, I have a question for anybody who is using the DVI connection. If you select both 720p and 1080i in HDTV Setup, is there a noticeable tuning and/or resolution-switching delay when switching between these signal types.
No, not with the DVI.

Mad Mac

10-11-05, 05:48 PM

Problems again this morning. There is some kind of general LA/OC issue ongoing which may be related to the Moxi upgrade, the "regular" digital cable box upgrade, a combination of both or something completely unrelated.

MoxiGuy

10-11-05, 06:04 PM

Perhaps the simultaneous automated downloading and installation of the new software/firmware to a large number of subscribers just had a temporary effect on available bandwidth? I think they try to spread the update out over several days in each system, but perhaps there is still an effect?Our folks looked into this. We don't believe there was any impact on the HSI bandwidth stemming from the Moxi software downloads.

beatnikguy

10-11-05, 11:58 PM

Anyone? I don't have 3.2 yet and am wondering about the questions below

I have a Standard TV (4x3 aspect ratio) that is HD capable. By checking letterbox in the Moxi menu the HD content scales itself into a proper 16x9 rather than stretching the 16x9 to fill the screen. Does 3.2 disable this feature?

Basically all my SD content fills the screen, all true HD letterboxes itself. I'm wondering if the HD is now going to distort to 4x3.

Also, I'm having an issue where HD playback pauses briefly-then continues for a minute, then pauses again. Sometimes I FF through the program and rewind before playback and it seems to help. It makes me wonder if the drives fragment over time. I have a few SD shows that have been on there for months would that cause it?

Trager

10-12-05, 01:01 AM

Anyone? I don't have 3.2 yet and am wondering about the questions below

Apparently it depends on your particular 4:3 HDTV. My Panasonic is still not displaying properly, and unless I hear something shortly from Moxi about how to fix it or a timetable for the fix, this now-worthless piece of equipment is going right back to Adelphia. What's the point in getting an HD-capable DVR if it displays everything HD at 2/3 size?

splinke

10-12-05, 01:27 AM

Apparently it depends on your particular 4:3 HDTV. My Panasonic is still not displaying properly, and unless I hear something shortly from Moxi about how to fix it or a timetable for the fix, this now-worthless piece of equipment is going right back to Adelphia. What's the point in getting an HD-capable DVR if it displays everything HD at 2/3 size?
What specific model of Panasonic is it? Digeo seems to think that all 4:3 HDTV's handle the cropping and letterboxing of HD signals independent of the tuner. They may have tested others, but the only 4:3 TV on which I know they've tested software version 3.2 is a Sony that can do these things.

MoxiGuy

10-12-05, 05:48 AM

Apparently it depends on your particular 4:3 HDTV. My Panasonic is still not displaying properly, and unless I hear something shortly from Moxi about how to fix it or a timetable for the fix, this now-worthless piece of equipment is going right back to Adelphia. What's the point in getting an HD-capable DVR if it displays everything HD at 2/3 size?If you can, please post some pictures. It would help me understand what this is about. Splinke went into great detail. I thought I understood what he was saying, but I just don't. I'm sorry to be so dense. but the exchange rate of pictures and words still applies. (1000 W = 1 P)

beatnikguy

10-12-05, 06:13 AM

Trager, I think we want the opposite things but both should be possible. I want the HD to display in it's natural 16:9. In this scenario a 4:3 TV would have to letterbox the image to retain the proper aspect ratio. I don't want the people tall and skinny, like watching cinemascope with the wrong lens.

My question to moxiguy is whether or not 3.2 still allows the HD images to display 16:9. Think of it as the opposite complaint of everyone else who hates the horizontally stretched 4:3 on a widescreen TV. I don't want the 16:9 vertically stretched to fit the 4:3. Does this make sense moxiguy?

Apparently it depends on your particular 4:3 HDTV. My Panasonic is still not displaying properly, and unless I hear something shortly from Moxi about how to fix it or a timetable for the fix, this now-worthless piece of equipment is going right back to Adelphia. What's the point in getting an HD-capable DVR if it displays everything HD at 2/3 size?

billypritchard

10-12-05, 11:02 AM

Well, on Monday Charter will coming to my new place and setting up the Moxi. I'm fairly excited about the prospect of being able to record HD, but also pretty nervous about the usage differences between the Moxi and my DirecTiVo. Hopefully I can get over my TiVo love and accept the Moxi for what it is.

Reading this thread also has me nervous about the Moxi because I have a Zenith 32" 4x3 display, and I sure hope it does not have the issues being discussed. If it does, I'll have some pictures to upload on Monday showing the issue...

Anybody have a Zenith 4x3 in use with their Moxi?

Tim Neuland

10-12-05, 11:42 AM

MoxiGuy

10-12-05, 02:12 PM

Trager, I think we want the opposite things but both should be possible. I want the HD to display in it's natural 16:9. In this scenario a 4:3 TV would have to letterbox the image to retain the proper aspect ratio. I don't want the people tall and skinny, like watching cinemascope with the wrong lens.

My question to moxiguy is whether or not 3.2 still allows the HD images to display 16:9. Think of it as the opposite complaint of everyone else who hates the horizontally stretched 4:3 on a widescreen TV. I don't want the 16:9 vertically stretched to fit the 4:3. Does this make sense moxiguy?
If you go to the widescreen setting and select "letterbox" you should get what you want. But, per some of the posts here... it may not work on all TVs.

GKInCarlsbad

10-12-05, 04:23 PM

splinke

10-12-05, 04:29 PM

Is there any way to get to the O/S via the E-net port? If adding an external drive as simple as executing a Mount instruction, then this should be something simple and benign to Moxi. Nobody is looking to steal content, just add capacity.
External hard drives are currently not supported, and the ethernet port is currently only used by the cable company to initialize the boxes.

splinke

10-12-05, 04:30 PM

If the cable company has to come out to swap out a Moxi box for sound/video issues, is there anyway in which already recorded programs can be transfered from one Moxi to another? (though the Firewire port maybe?)
No, you cannot transfer recordings or settings to the new Moxi. You will either have to watch the programs or archive them to a VCR (or FireWire device if you have an active FireWire port on your Moxi).

smilepak

10-12-05, 05:39 PM

Question:

With this moxi and being able to record, how do you download it to your notebook to view there?

I travel a lot and it would be nice if I could port that over to my notebook and view it there while i travel.

Thanks.

joe221

10-12-05, 06:03 PM

dagware

10-12-05, 07:14 PM

Bzzzzzz Ding! Thanks for playing! :p
In other words, no there's no way to do this. I'm not sure why Joe thinks you're playing a game show... :rolleyes:

-Dan

joe221

10-12-05, 07:19 PM

In other words, no there's no way to do this. I'm not sure why Joe thinks you're playing a game show... :rolleyes:

-Dan

I thought it was a trivia question from one of the Moxi games?? Oh wait, we don't have games. Thanks for playing! :confused:

RyJex4

10-13-05, 12:29 AM

joe221

10-13-05, 12:44 AM

I'm looking for help with a new install I have from charter today. I have not read this entire thread so sorry if this has been asked. Everything is working great with the box but I cannot get my URC Automator 200 programmed correctly even in learning mode. Have tried multiple times, the learn process works but the controls don't work or are intermittent. Tried a complete erase of the automator but still no luck. This box is the 9012 I think with the 40GB drive. TIA for any help.

If it's like my old MX-500 URC will code it for you, if you send it to them. I just Ebayed mine and bought a Harmony 676. This has been sicussed in previous pages, maybe searching Harmony will bring up enough hits.

splinke

10-13-05, 12:53 AM

I'm looking for help with a new install I have from charter today. I have not read this entire thread so sorry if this has been asked. Everything is working great with the box but I cannot get my URC Automator 200 programmed correctly even in learning mode. Have tried multiple times, the learn process works but the controls don't work or are intermittent. Tried a complete erase of the automator but still no luck. This box is the 9012 I think with the 40GB drive. TIA for any help.
The Moxi uses a special system that confuses many learning remotes. Read the Remote Control section of my FAQ at the link below for more information.

splinke

10-13-05, 03:29 AM

If you can, please post some pictures. It would help me understand what this is about. Splinke went into great detail. I thought I understood what he was saying, but I just don't. I'm sorry to be so dense. but the exchange rate of pictures and words still applies. (1000 W = 1 P)
OK, look at the attached image, below. On the top is a diagrammatic representation of a standard 16:9 HD picture with some circles to help show the aspect and amount of visible picture in the pictures below. The pictures below show three ways of altering the 16:9 picture to view them on a 4:3 TV set (squished horizontally, cropped, and letterboxed).

Under both v3.0 and v3.2, if the Moxi is set up to output only 480i, then the Moxi will output all three of these formats to a 4:3 TV, depending on the Moxi's "Widescreen" setting. ("Squished horizontally" happens with the "Wide Mode" setting and makes people look thin.) Under v3.0, the Moxi will also do all three of these when it is outputting at an HD setting, allowing owners of 4:3 HDTV sets to exploit the higher resolution available on their sets, even if their TV set is unable to make these alterations itself. However, under v3.2, the Moxi will only output the "squished horizontally/wide screen" picture when it is outputting at an HD setting, regardless of the "Widescreen" setting chosen. Therefore, under v3.2, people with 4:3 HDTV's that are not capable of doing the alterations are now forced to watch the squished picture if they want to view programs in the higher resolution.

That is my understanding of the potential problem in both pictures and words. Correct me if I've got something wrong.

MoxiGuy

10-13-05, 08:47 AM

However, under v3.2, the Moxi will only output the "squished horizontally/wide screen" picture when it is outputting at an HD setting, regardless of the "Widescreen" setting chosen. Therefore, under v3.2, people with 4:3 HDTV's that are not capable of doing the alterations are now forced to watch the squished picture if they want to view programs in the higher resolution.

OK. This time I think I get it. I was having trouble because this bug does not show up on my 4:3 Sony.

Now, if I could get one more bit of help in solving this bug. If you have HD-capable 4:3 TV and have this problem... please post the brand and model.

Here are the steps to reproduce the bug that splinke is describing.

If your Moxi box is connected to an HD-capable 4:3 TV

In HDTV Setup set the output to an HD resolution (check 1080i and/or 720p)
Tune to (or play a recording from) a 16:9 HD source.
While the show is playing, test all available options in Widescreen.

What you should see (illustrated in the attachment below):

Each Widescreen option should produce a different picture.

Wide Mode is expected to fill the 4:3 screen corner to corner with a horizontally-squished version of the entire 16:9 image (in other words, people get skinnier and taller)
Cropped is expected to fill the 4:3 screen corner to corner with an undistorted center section of the 16:9 image (losing the left and right edges)
Letter Box is expected to display the entire undistorted 16:9 image in the correct aspect ratio with black areas above and below the picture

If you do not get these three different images, describe what each setting delivers and list your TV brand and model.

Trager

10-13-05, 09:10 AM

MoxiGuy

10-13-05, 09:25 AM

ocasnguy

10-13-05, 11:03 AM

I'm sorry if this is been answered before, but I did try to go thru this thread to see if I could find an answer (as well as the various FAQs around).

I got a Moxi box about three weeks ago, and almost immediately, when watching tv, it would change channels to channel 2 or 3. This also happens when I'm watching recorded programming and VOD.

I use a remote extender (Hot Link Pro) and have my Moxi Box in a media closet (aka a little room under the stairs) that is well ventilated. The box is connected to a Sony plasma TV.

And before you ask: No I am not sitting on the remote control. Its sitting on the coffee table in front of me. I use a Harmony 676 remote as well, and that's sitting in front of me too. I even thought that maybe a button was sticking on the remote, and put them into a box. Still randomly changed channels to 2 or 3.

I like this box otherwise, I've seen lots of different interfaces, but I'm about ready to call Charter to take this box back and bring back the SA 8000HD.

HELP!!! :)

splinke

10-13-05, 01:38 PM

Unfortunately, I am out of town at the moment. When I get home (next week), I will take a picture to illustrate. Splinke's illustration isn't quite accurate, the problem on my TV is that HD images off of ABC-HD and FOX-HD are always displayed with side-bars even though I have a 4:3 TV.
My illustration should be correct. Like MoxiGuy, said, you just have to consider the black bars on the left and right as part of the full 16:9 picture. So, when the picture is "horizontally squished," the black bars are squished with it and still appear.

As MoxiGuy also suggested, the "cropped" mode essentially should crop off these bars and display the remaining part of the picture (the entire active portion, in your case) on your 4:3 HDTV. The problem, as I understand it, is that under v3.2 the "cropped" setting no longer works when an HD signal is being output, and the Moxi will only output the picture in "Wide Mode" (horizontally squished).

Try MoxiGuy's test when you get a chance to see if "Cropped" or "Letter Box" mode in the "Widescreen" settings work in HD. Then, try selecting ONLY "480i" in HDTV Setup (de-select all other settings) and go through all of the same "Widescreen" settings. They should definitely work then, and you can see how they SHOULD work in HD.

splinke

10-13-05, 01:47 PM

...I got a Moxi box about three weeks ago, and almost immediately, when watching tv, it would change channels to channel 2 or 3. This also happens when I'm watching recorded programming and VOD...
There were a couple of reports quite awhile ago of the Moxi suddenly changing to channel 2 when recording pay-per-view (PPV) events. I don't know if this is/was a bug in the software, or if the Moxi was picking up some stray IR signals making it think it was supposed to change to channel 2. What software version do you have--perhaps it needs to be updated? You could try directly covering up the IR port on the Moxi to see if that stops the behavior. If not, you could have Charter swap your box for a new one to see if it is specific to that

splinke

10-13-05, 01:55 PM

...If you do not get these three different images, describe what each setting delivers and list your TV brand and model.
I asked many people who were reporting this problem to provide the specific TV model they were using. For some reason, only one did. It was a Toshiba Cinema Series TP61H95. Others have had Panasonics, and one had an Advent, but they did not report the specific model. I think the early 4:3 HDTV's, in particular, depend heavily on the HD tuner to handle screen modes.

splinke

10-13-05, 02:08 PM

When I got home from work last night, the LED display on my Moxi was flashing frantically, and my TV was also flashing random garbage after I turned it on. The Moxi reset button did nothing, so I unplugged it and plugged it back in. After a VERY slow reboot (about 15 minutes), it seemed to be working again. However, some HD recordings that were done after the reboot had numerous dropouts.

At first, I thought it may just be the one network having a problem. However, after doing some testing, I think I determined that the second tuner is malfunctioning. The first tuner always had a "signal-to-noise ratio" of ~34 dB with a "gain" of ~50%, whereas the second tuner always had a "signal-to-noise ratio" of ~30 dB with a "gain" of ~75%. This was true for multiple HD channels even when the same ones were tried on both tuners.

On my first Moxi, the second tuner completely failed within a few weeks. I was getting no usable signal on it, and swapping that bad Moxi for a new one resolved the problem. It looks like my second tuner is going out again. The good news is that I was able to schedule a service call with Adelphia within one day. We'll see if another box swap is in order.

The reason I am mentioning all of this is that when dropouts are being experienced, it might be useful to check multiple HD channels on both tuners to see if the problem is with the channel, the cable system, or the Moxi. In addition, the problem may not be Moxi-wide--it may only be one of the two tuners.

beatnikguy

10-14-05, 12:03 AM

I found my T.V model:Toshiba 36HFX73 36 Inch Flat Cinema Series HD READY.

http://refurbelectronics.com/36hfx73-rb.html

Yikes. Sounds close to the model quoted below.

I did notice that under 3.0 I only have 480i checked and can't even keep another resolution checked. However the HD is definitely HD. Fortunately, i haven't been upgraded to 3.2

I asked many people who were reporting this problem to provide the specific TV model they were using. For some reason, only one did. It was a Toshiba Cinema Series TP61H95. Others have had Panasonics, and one had an Advent, but they did not report the specific model. I think the early 4:3 HDTV's, in particular, depend heavily on the HD tuner to handle screen modes.

Trager

10-14-05, 12:15 AM

I don't get any change between the different Widescreen options, actually. That's the problem. I assumed that teh horizontal bars were part of the 1080i broadcast -- with v3.0, it displayed just fine. With v3.2, no matter what I do, the Moxi will not display in cropped mode (which is what I am fairly certain that i need).

Unfortunately, I don't have a record with me of the particular panasonic model. I would like to say it's the Panasonic CT-32HC43, but I will confirm and send pictures when I get back to Socal.

Z26

10-14-05, 10:04 AM

phatty

10-14-05, 10:07 AM

I just got moxi installed yesterday morning from charter in st. louis. How long should it take to see all of the channel listing with the channel logos? I also cant watch any channel over like 40 when I should be able to watch all of them by now. The installer said it would take a while for the unit to warm up but 2 days!!! Also the sound is not very good, it sounds like static on certain words but it happens on all the channels that I can watch. I hate to call chater unless I have to! Please Help! I have 3.2.

Most of the time the Channel process should take minutes not hours and never days. Something is not configured right with your moxi. For grins have you unplugged the moxi and tried rebooting it? More than likely either moxi is bad or something is not provisioned correctly. Either way time to call charter if reboot doesn't fix it.

Phatty

Rampage522

10-14-05, 10:08 AM

Calling Charter is going to be the fastest solution to your channel listing problems. When I first got mine, I waited about 2 hours after the install. I called Charter to tell them my channel listings were all "TBA" and they gave me some line about how it could take up to 8 hours to pull all the data down. 15 minutes later, everything was working fine.

My guess is she did something to make it download where it wouldn't before, but didn't bother telling me.

Z26

10-14-05, 10:35 AM

Thanks for the info. I tried a reset last night but its the same thing. How is your sound?? Any cracking or static??

Adam Tyner

10-14-05, 10:40 AM

Here's an odd one:

Charter added two channels in my area earlier in the week -- Cinemax-HD (channel 779) and the local PBS affiliate (788). Through the Moxi, there's no way for me to access PBS-HD directly. I have to go to channel 787 and channel-up or go to 793 and channel-down. Putting in the channel number directly does nothing, and when I do channel-up/channel-down, the listed number is 999 and is listed as VOD. (Punching in 999 directly doesn't work either, instead bringing up the VOD screen.)

Neither channel has the correct icon, label, or programming data. (Cinemax is blank; I think PBS is blank too on the menu, but it gives me the wrong icon/label when I'm actually on the channel.) Will this problem be fixed when that data is filled in? Since these channels were added on Wednesday and still don't have that sort of data, is there anyone I should contact to make sure that happens?

Thanks!

dagware

10-14-05, 10:43 AM

Z26

10-14-05, 11:02 AM

You can force the current information to download now. Refer to splinke's FAQ (http://users.adelphia.net/~ksoltmann/SPLMoxiFAQ.htm) for how to do this. It's pretty easy.

-Dan

Thats some good info, I will use it before I call charter. Thanks!!!

mvpgoblue

10-14-05, 11:03 AM

I found my T.V model:Toshiba 36HFX73 36 Inch Flat Cinema Series HD READY.

I did notice that under 3.0 I only have 480i checked and can't even keep another resolution checked. However the HD is definitely HD. Fortunately, i haven't been upgraded to 3.2

This may sound like an "obviousman" thing, but I'll mention it just in case...

The resolution menus are screwy and different than other menus. You have to check the items, select "Accept" or "Process" or whatever the other button is, and THEN back out. If you just put checkmarks in the boxes and then go back to the left, the changes won't be saved.

splinke

10-14-05, 02:04 PM

...I did notice that under 3.0 I only have 480i checked and can't even keep another resolution checked. However the HD is definitely HD. Fortunately, i haven't been upgraded to 3.2...
If you've only had 480i checked, then you have not been watching in high definition. Rather, you have been watching the high definition channels downconverted to standard definition. This downconverted signal typically looks pretty good, but it is not true high definition.

As "mvpgoblue" astutely points out, you have to select the desired resolution, then scroll to the "close" selection, and then press "ok" again for the new resolution to take effect. This extra set of button presses never made any sense under v3.0, since you could only select one resolution at time. (I know that many people have had some initial confusion about this.) It makes a bit more sense under v3.2, though, since you can select multiple resolutions before closing.

This same system is used in other "Settings" menu items, including the "Widescreen" setting. You must scroll to "close" and hit "ok" before the new setting takes effect. Since only one Widescreen setting is active (regardless of the software version), the extra button presses don't make much sense in this case either, but you've got to do them, or it won't work.

dagware

10-14-05, 02:53 PM

Thats some good info, I will use it before I call charter. Thanks!!!
Yeah, we love splinke around here. :p The only problem with his FAQ is that it's so big! :eek:

-Dan

dagware

10-14-05, 02:55 PM

OK, I finally called Adelphia this morning about my grounding issue and my signal strength issue. Believe it or not, they're sending a technician out today to look at it! (I'll believe it when I see it.)

Anyone got any tips about what I should say to them, to make sure this issue gets dealt with? If not, cool, but I just thought I'd ask just in case...

I'll post back when they're done.

-Dan

beatnikguy

10-14-05, 03:15 PM

I am an idiot! I can't believe all this time I was watching downrez. I followed your instructions and it worked. I didn't realize you had to hit close first. THANKS!!

So, If I have 1080i checked and ABC does LOST as 720p what happens to the signal? Is it cross-converted to 1080i?

As "mvpgoblue" astutely points out, you have to select the desired resolution, then scroll to the "close" selection, and then press "ok" again for the new resolution to take effect. This extra set of button presses never made any sense under v3.0, since you could only select one resolution at time. (I know that many people have had some initial confusion about this.) It makes a bit more sense under v3.2, though, since you can select multiple resolutions before closing.

This same system is used in other "Settings" menu items, including the "Widescreen" setting. You must scroll to "close" and hit "ok" before the new setting takes effect. Since only one Widescreen setting is active (regardless of the software version), the extra button presses don't make much sense in this case either, but you've got to do them, or it won't work.[/QUOTE]

Bradduh

10-14-05, 03:22 PM

Checked out Spline's FAQ and could not find an anwser to this question.

I mostly use MOXI to timeshift HD network programming. The issue I have is that because of the small hard drive many of my scheduled recordings are on the canceled and deleted list until the day before they are to record as 'will not record (space)'. Almost all my recordings I mark as 'save until I delete'.

Is there a way, after I have watched several shows and deleted them, to force an update to get those shows marked as 'will not record (space)' shifted to the scheduled to record list. This would let me verify that I have cleared up enough space to record the next days programs.

So far MOXI has not let me down doing the update whenever it has scheduled it (sometime at night I think), but I am keeping my eye on it so nothing is missed. Is there a way to make this update happen without me having to check each morning that tonights programming is now on the scheduled to record list.

Thanks in advance for your help

Brad

splinke

10-14-05, 03:25 PM

...So, If I have 1080i checked and ABC does LOST as 720p what happens to the signal? Is it cross-converted to 1080i?...
Welcome to true HD! Yes, the Moxi will cross-convert. You can manually change it on the Moxi if your TV can handle 720p, but I doubt you'll see much difference. The Moxi is pretty good at HD cross-conversion. (I think it's also pretty good at HD to SD downconversion. It's the SD to HD upconversion that I would avoid.)

splinke

10-14-05, 03:38 PM

...Is there a way, after I have watched several shows and deleted them, to force an update to get those shows marked as 'will not record (space)' shifted to the scheduled to record list. This would let me verify that I have cleared up enough space to record the next days programs...
This is an interesting question. I don't know if that list is updated immediately when you delete a recorded program, or whether it only gets updated during the nightly electronic program (EPG) update. Presumably, a full Moxi will record a new program after you delete an old one, even if it is on the same day (before the nightly update). In that respect, the expected behavior would be for the Moxi to update the list immediately after each new recording or deletion. It would be a bit confusing if the list is not updated, but the Moxi still records a program that it lists as canceled due to "space."

You could try triggering a manual EPG update through the on-screen diagnostics menu (OSD). That might update the list, although it is not normal to go into the OSD and do this all of the time. I avoid the "keep until I delete" option, because it gives rise to SO MANY warnings about premature deletion. I just leave it at the default 2 days and make sure that I never have more than 7 hours in the recorded programs plus scheduled to record for the next day. Otherwise, we have to watch and delete programs, or risk losing some of them.

Bradduh

10-14-05, 04:55 PM

This is an interesting question. I don't know if that list is updated immediately when you delete a recorded program, or whether it only gets updated during the nightly electronic program (EPG) update. Presumably, a full Moxi will record a new program after you delete an old one, even if it is on the same day (before the nightly update). In that respect, the expected behavior would be for the Moxi to update the list immediately after each new recording or deletion. It would be a bit confusing if the list is not updated, but the Moxi still records a program that it lists as canceled due to "space."

You could try triggering a manual EPG update through the on-screen diagnostics menu (OSD). That might update the list, although it is not normal to go into the OSD and do this all of the time. I avoid the "keep until I delete" option, because it gives rise to SO MANY warnings about premature deletion. I just leave it at the default 2 days and make sure that I never have more than 7 hours in the recorded programs plus scheduled to record for the next day. Otherwise, we have to watch and delete programs, or risk losing some of them.
I can confirm it does not automatically update the scheduled to record list when you delete a program (I have been watching this issue for a while before I posted). I only see it updated in the morning presumably after the EPG has run.

Does anyone else have another idea other than going into the OSD menu?

dagware

10-14-05, 05:08 PM

Does anyone else have another idea other than going into the OSD menu?
No, I tend to do what splinke does. I just set stuff to keep for 2 or 4 days. I figure if I haven't watched it by then...

-Dan

Adam Tyner

10-14-05, 05:41 PM

Will this problem be fixed when that data is filled in?Looks like the answer is 'yes'! Everything's fine now. See, I knew if I posted a question like that, it'd wind up being halfway-embarrassingly redundant later. Always seems to be the way.

dagware

10-14-05, 06:58 PM

Looks like the answer is 'yes'! Everything's fine now. See, I knew if I posted a question like that, it'd wind up being halfway-embarrassingly redundant later. Always seems to be the way.
When I got my Moxi a few months ago, and the channel guide hadn't updated after a few hours, I went web surfing. That's how I found this forum, this thread, and splinke's FAQ. When I found splinke's FAQ, it literally brought tears to my eyes. My wife can attest to this. I said over and over again that this is why the Internet is great. You can find out virtually anything you want to know about anything, and there are tons of people willing to help.

Of course, since then, I bought a new projector based on people's recommendations on this forum, and lots of other stuff. So I didn't say it saved me money... :p

-Dan

Penton-Man

10-14-05, 07:00 PM

They be working on offering every channel in the digital format as we speak. :)
I posted this back on 10/5/05 for those interested but missed it.

dagware

10-14-05, 07:23 PM

OK, I finally called Adelphia this morning about my grounding issue and my signal strength issue. Believe it or not, they're sending a technician out today to look at it! (I'll believe it when I see it.)
OK, the tech's gone and here's my status: I'm an idiot. And I have a question for everyone. But more on that in a minute. First, here's what happened:

The tech was great. He replaced the old splitter outside, which turns out was only rated to handle 600Mhz, not 1gig like it should have been. He replaced all the connectors, inside and out, and even replaced the splitter I was using inside. He grounded the cable outside, to a water pipe. And he said he improved the signal strength (I forgot to write down the numbers).

He also did not pass the cable through my Monster power strip, which is exactly what I expected because the ground loop is gone since he grounded the cable, right? Before I left, I looked around and I got good reception on all the channels, which was certainly not true before he got here. And I didn't notice a ground loop. So I told him everything was fine and he left. Pretty cool -- it cost me nothing. Can't complain.

Except that I'm an idiot. After he left, I went to tbe blue screen of my ReplayTV, and I immediately saw the ground loop. Why I didn't check that before he left, well as I said, I'm an idiot.

So, I decided to fiddle around some. I put the cable back through the Monster power bar, and that solved the ground loop again. I still have good reception on all the channels. Time will tell whether the HD channels are affected one way or the other.

So I think everything's cool.

Here's the strange thing: Before the tech came out, when I hooked up the TV in the kitchen, I always got a ground loop that the Monster power bar didn't help. So that's why I had a splitter before the Monster -- this allowed me to send the cable to the kitchen and yet not have a ground loop.

Now, I don't need that splitter before the Monster power bar any more. Now I hook up the kitchen TV from a splitter after the Monster, and it doesn't cause a ground loop any more. Very cool!!

The question is, why do I still have a ground loop without the Monster, and how come the kitchen TV doesn't cause any additional problems like it did before?

I'm thinking this ground loop is different than the one I had before. I think the one I had before was because the cable wasn't grounded at all. I think this new ground loop is because the cable is not grounded to the same place that my electrical outlets are grounded. That's why, when I add the Monster back in, it fixes all the ground loops, including the one from my kitchen TV.

Does any of this make sense? What do you guys think?

-Dan

dagware

10-14-05, 07:26 PM

They be working on offering every channel in the digital format as we speak.

I posted this back on 10/5/05 for those interested but missed it.
Wait a minute -- *who* will be offering every channel in digital format? And how will this work? Will people still be able to use their TV's tuner?

-Dan

Penton-Man

10-14-05, 07:29 PM

The Oracle of Adelphia.

joe221

10-14-05, 08:21 PM

I posted this back on 10/5/05 for those interested but missed it.

True. A whole bunch of the lower channels are already digital. If you have a TV connected to the cable directly and another with a cablecard the ones out of audio sync are digital. I haven't done a thorough test but 5 and 7 in LA are for sure.

joe221

10-14-05, 08:23 PM

The tech was great. He replaced the old splitter outside, which turns out was only rated to handle 600Mhz, not 1gig like it should have been. He replaced all the connectors, inside and out, and even replaced the splitter I was using inside. He grounded the cable outside, to a water pipe. And he said he improved the signal strength (I forgot to write down the numbers).

-Dan

He may have written them down. Look at your receipt. Mine did on his recent visit.

dagware

10-14-05, 09:30 PM

He may have written them down. Look at your receipt. Mine did on his recent visit.
You're right -- I think he did. I'll try to find the receipt :o

-Dan

bobafett86

10-14-05, 10:25 PM

dagware

10-14-05, 11:25 PM

Ok here is my 4.7 cent's Dagware. Your ground loop you are experiencing is coming back off of a piece of equipment in the ciruit that your home audio/video is off of. Most likely it is a piece of equipment in the audio/video section itself. You might be fine with the Power Strip and the cable going through it. I have seen it work for some people. So if it works leave it be.
Thanks for the comments. I certainly understand the "if it works, let it be" comment.

But of course that's not in my nature. :rolleyes: I *have* to know! So when I have the patience, I'll disconnect everything and see if I can find the culprit.

Thanks, I think ;) for the suggestion.

-Dan

MoxiGuy

10-15-05, 05:22 PM

daftpunkxl

10-15-05, 06:51 PM

When the heck is Adelphia in Santa Monica going to offer VOD? I just moved from West LA to Santa Monica, and all I gained was 3.2, but I lost Cinemax HD and Discovery HD Theater... that really sucks. I want VOD on the Moxi! What's the technical issue? How come my crappy 5-year-old box can do it, but my shiny new Moxi can't?

jbarr

10-16-05, 12:06 AM

I never received a response here, but I did get my problem solved with my brother-in-law's Sharp Aquos LCD TV and Moxi box problems. The remote response was extremely sluggish and made the system almost completely non-responsive. Well, it was a strange and interesting process in getting it to work, but we got things working.

It turns out that the Sharp Aquos LCD TV's screen was emitting some sort of interference that was preventing the remote sensor on the Moxi box from working properly. We had the Moxi box located under the screen on a shelf. We tried positioning the control box of the TV in various places, and tried positioning the Moxi box in various places, always with the same results. We even turned off the ceiling fan because sometimes they can cause problems. Same results. So, on a hunch, I covered the Sharp's LCD screen with cardboard, and the remote responded as expected--perfectly. I removed the cardboard, and the remote became sluggish an non-responsive again. Bingo! So, as a fix, we simply located the Moxi box *behind* the LCD screen and off to the side, still in view of the seats. Now, it works and works well. Go figure!

My point in following up on this is that troubleshooting this was a challenge that stumped three Charter installers. Just be sure to isolate all the variables, work with one component at a time, and your troubleshooting will be easier.

As for the interference, has anyone else experienced such an issue?

joe221

10-16-05, 02:10 AM

mackie951

10-16-05, 02:50 AM

MoxiGuy

10-16-05, 03:57 AM

First time poster so please be nice. I have a few questions:

How long until I actually see info and channels? All I get is no data available for over 12 hours (it was installed at 11:00 a.m. this morning).

Is it possible to set up a dvd-r (+r) to the moxi?

I have Charter's moxi in the inland empire (CA).

TIA.If you don't see info and channels before the installer leaves, the installation was probably not done correctly. Please call Charter. Because Moxi gets the data over a built-in cable modem, getting program data is much faster than with other set-top boxes.

mackie951

10-16-05, 12:31 PM

If you don't see info and channels before the installer leaves, the installation was probably not done correctly. Please call Charter. Because Moxi gets the data over a built-in cable modem, getting program data is much faster than with other set-top boxes.

Thanks for the info. I'm actually on the phone with them now.

How about the dvd recorder. Is it possible? Can you record HD shows?

splinke

10-16-05, 01:09 PM

...How about the dvd recorder. Is it possible? Can you record HD shows?
You can hook up a DVD recorder, although the transfer process must be done manually, and you can't use the Moxi for anything else while it is occurring. You can record HD shows downconverted to SD with either cropping or letterboxing (current DVD recorders can't record true HD). Here is a section from my FAQ (see the whole thing at the link in my signature):

Archiving recorded programs from the Moxi to a VHS VCR or DVD recorder

You can record from your Moxi onto your VHS VCR as follows (recording to a DVD recorder should be similar): You will need to connect both video and audio from the Moxi outputs to your VCR inputs. For video, you can connect either the yellow composite video jacks, or the S-video ports (if you have one on your VCR). For audio, you should connect the red and white stereo jacks. Most importantly, you will need to select "480i" as your Moxi's video output in the "Settings" menu.

If the program you wish to record is/was on a high definition channel, you may also want to set the "Widescreen" mode to either "Letterbox" or "Cropped" so that the picture does not look horizontally squashed on the tape (choose "Letterbox" to see the whole image with black bars on the top and bottom, or choose "Cropped" to chop off the left and right edge and view full height).

You will need to select the "line input" on your VCR corresponding to the inputs to which you hooked the cables (probably "Line 1" or "Line 2"), and you will have to manually start the recording on the VCR and the playing on the Moxi. If your TV has a component video input, and if your TV or digital receiver has a digital audio input, you can use those connections simultaneously, allowing you to leave your VCR hooked up. Otherwise, you will have to manually switch the cables each time you want to record.

yarrumc

10-16-05, 02:39 PM

I have a buddy that just received the Moxi, after using a Dish PVR. Needless to say, he is pretty unhappy. I also have the Moxi and thought I'd ask you guys about a problem he is running into. He asked me why he has setup a recorded series for Alias, which is on one day and then setup another seriers recording for a show that is on another day and receiving a conflict? He got a conflict error between the two shows, even though they don't even record at the same time or day. Is there something simple that has been overlooked or that I could have him check? Thanks.

MoxiGuy

10-16-05, 07:58 PM

He asked me why he has setup a recorded series for Alias, which is on one day and then setup another seriers recording for a show that is on another day and receiving a conflict? He got a conflict error between the two shows, even though they don't even record at the same time or day.Without more detail, this is impossible to answer. As with many successful series that have been on the air for a few years, Alias is not only broadcast as a first-run series on ABC, but episodes from previous years are available for showing by other channels. In my town, the syndicated episodes are showing on TNT Monday through Friday and the local Fox affiliate on Mondays and Saturdays. He can go into the Scheduled to Record list and see which episodes are scheduled. What is the other show?

splinke

10-16-05, 08:07 PM

...As with many successful series that have been on the air for a few years, Alias is not only broadcast as a first-run series on ABC, but episodes from previous years are available for showing by other channels....
It's also possible that it is not truly a direct conflict, but rather a "make room" warning. In either case, have him check out the "RECORDING - SCHEDULING" section of my FAQ at the link below.

annieflinn

10-16-05, 10:04 PM

bailorg

10-17-05, 12:15 PM

annieflinn

10-17-05, 01:49 PM

I did. Checked and doubled checked that I did.

DeadBoxx

10-17-05, 06:53 PM

Hello to all, I am a new member and a new Motorola 9012 user. I have been reading some of the more recent posts and have found little to no info on whats "inside" one of these moxi boxes. I have read several posts about purchasing a box, and have an instant solution. Simply call or write your cable provider and let them know that you opened the moxi unit and they will send you a bill for around $450, then the unit is yours! Ill let them charge me for it if they should discover that the unit has already been opened :)

I do have a question about the Operating system that this box uses. In analyzing the data on the drive it appears to be a linux offshoot. Can anyone verify this, and hopefully let me know which version of linus is being used.

If the Operating System is really linux, then expanding hdd space should be no prob!!!

Unless of course, someone has an easier solution... Please let me know. Compared to my Dish Network PVR the functionality of this unit lacks some features.

Thanks for any help

splinke

10-17-05, 07:27 PM

Hey Moxi Guy, I have a MOXI dvr from Adelphia cable. Today the company put through the new MOXI updates which did improve the quality of my SD channels, but it took away the widescreen capabilities for my HD channels. I tried adjusting the WIDESCREEN option (crop, wide, etc) but nothing changed. I get my SD channels full screen, but HD is truncated. Any suggestions?
The answer depends on what type of TV you have. Is it 4:3 or 16:9? Is it standard definition or high definition?

Since you state that you get your "SD channels full screen," I assume that you have a 4:3 TV. If your 4:3 TV is a standard definition TV (and NOT a high definition TV), then you should go into the HDTV Setup menu on the Moxi and make sure ONLY 480i is selected (if either 720p or 1080i are checked, then de-select them). You should then be able to use the Moxi's Widescreen settings to adjust the picture.

If your 4:3 TV is high definition, and under the old Moxi software you were using the Moxi's Widescreen settings to control the scaling of your picture, you can no longer do this under the new software. If this is the case, please provide the brand and specific model number of your 4:3 HDTV.

splinke

10-17-05, 07:37 PM

Hello to all, I am a new member and a new Motorola 9012 user. I have been reading some of the more recent posts and have found little to no info on whats "inside" one of these moxi boxes...
See my FAQ at the link in my signature for Moxi information. It has links to pictures of the inside of the box and limited information on the types of components. The Moxi does, indeed, use a Linux-based operating system. I'm not sure about the version, but you might find something useful in the On-Screen Diagnostics menus.

User replacement of the 80-GB internal hard drive is likely not possible. The hard drives are "locked" to the specific Moxi box in which they are installed. They cannot even be swapped with other Moxi hard drives. In addition, they are "Triple DES" encoded for encryption purposes. Thus, it would probably be virtually impossible to make a new hard drive function in the Moxi. There are Motorola 160-GB units available in some markets now, and new 160-GB units from Samsung should be available sometime next year. In addition, they may be exploring external storage via USB, although no release date is known.

DeadBoxx

10-17-05, 07:52 PM

See my FAQ at the link in my signature for Moxi information. It has links to pictures of the inside of the box

Where in the Faq are the pictures?

Also in the FAQ there is a Moxi SDK mentioned. Is this an open source sdk or can it be bought?

Thanks for the info

splinke

10-17-05, 08:45 PM

Where in the Faq are the pictures?
It is kind of hard to find. There is a link in the "HARDWARE - BOXES > Single-room system: BMC9012" section. I think silviarunner was trying to add additional RAM and opened up his box. He shows screenshots of some error messages he got, as well.

Also in the FAQ there is a Moxi SDK mentioned. Is this an open source sdk or can it be bought?
Check out Digeo's SDK Datasheet (http://www.digeo.com/assets/datasheets/datasheet_cablesdk.pdf). That is the extent of my knowledge.

markt170

10-17-05, 09:06 PM

Re: reset button

Adelphia So Cal was experiencing problems last week, so I didn't do anything to the Moxi box #1 all week. Then this weekend, I noticed that Moxi box #2 was fine but #1 was still pixilating and freezing. So I figured it was no longer an Adelphia area problem. I hit the reset buttom and held it for a few seconds, and the box rebooted or something like that. The tv screen went into some mode where it flashed MOXI for a few minutes then a download bar started moving. After about 5 minutes, the tv returned to normal and there were no more problems. I have no idea what the cause of this was or if my solution (holding the reset button) was the proper thing to do, but it worked.

Again, other than this rare problem, I am very pleased with:
Moxi functions
Remote (except that it won't work BOTH my tv and receiver)
Picture quality (except after watching USC in HD, it was really awful watching UCLA in SD)
Adelphia HD lineup (except NFL channel is worthless)

What I'd still like to see:
More storage capacity
Some extremely simple way to download an HD program onto a disc
VOD (I know, that's up to Adelphia, which provided it on my old HD box but not on Moxi)

Re: DVI
After a few weeks, I must say I can't tell the difference between the component connections and the DVI connection. So, I guess I'm fine relying on the former, but I don't understand why DVI works only on the HD channels. I still have it hooked up, but because I can't see the difference, I never bother to switch to the DVI input.

splinke

10-17-05, 09:19 PM

Re: reset button...
That is the correct way to "soft reboot" your Moxi when it is having problems. If the "soft reboot" does not work, you can try a "hard reboot" (unplugging the Moxi for a minute, and then plugging it back in).

Re: DVI
480i (SD channels) is currently not carried over DVI. You can still watch SD channels over DVI if you force the Moxi to upconvert them to HD by de-selecting 480i in HDTV Setup. However, the Moxi's upconversion of SD to HD is not very good, so your picture quality will probably suffer. Since you can't see any difference in HD picture quality between DVI and component, you are definitely better off just using your current settings over component.

annieflinn

10-17-05, 09:20 PM

I have a Toshiba 16:9 widescreen, lcd television,model 26HL83.

annieflinn

10-17-05, 09:34 PM

As I was saying, I have model 26HL83, Toshiba. 16:9 widescreen, lcd t.v. Through Adelphia I have digital and HD.

MoxiGuy

10-17-05, 09:55 PM

annieflinn,

The widescreen controls are not intended for 16:9 displays. They are intended fo 4:3 displays, and give viewers options for how they want to adapt widescreen programming to narrow displays.

annieflinn

10-17-05, 10:08 PM

So, then why did the aspect change yesterday when the updates went through? Everything worked fine until then. Every channel filled the screen, now just my SD channels do.

splinke

10-18-05, 02:56 AM

So, then why did the aspect change yesterday when the updates went through? Everything worked fine until then. Every channel filled the screen, now just my SD channels do.
Annie,

1. Assuming you are using a component video connection (recommended), make sure that 720p and/or 1080i are selected in the Moxi's HDTV Setup menu (in addition to 480i) to ensure that it is delivering true HD to your TV. Your TV supports all three resolutions, so I recommend selecting all of them. In addition, you should set the Moxi's widescreen setting to "Wide Mode" and leave it there. (Note: If you are using the DVI, composite, or S-Video connection, the above settings will be different, and the instructions below do not necessarily apply. I highly recommend using the component connection.)

2. If SD channels are filling your 16:9 screen, then your TV is applying one of its picture size settings after it is receiving the signal from the Moxi. You can manually change the setting with the PIC SIZE button on your TV's remote, including a "Natural" setting that will display SD channels at their native 4:3 aspect (full undistorted picture with black bars on the left and right), as well as four different zoom modes to fill your screen with different stretching algorithms ("Theater Wide 1, 2, 3" or "Full").

3. If HD channels are not filling your screen, it is most likely because the specific programs you are watching did not originate from 16:9 material. Rather, they are 4:3 material with black bars added to the left and right by the programmers to fill out the 16:9 signal. Channels like Discovery HD Theater typically broadcast in "true" 16:9 24 hours a day, so check the picture on that channel (or another you know is broadcasting in true 16:9). For true 16:9 programming, you should leave your TV's PIC SIZE set to "Natural."

Major network channels (ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX) typically only broadcast a small subset of the programs in true 16:9--typically, the prime time programming. The rest of the programs have black bars added. If you want these programs to fill your screen, choose one of the four zoom modes on your TV with the PIC SIZE feature ("Theater Wide 1, 2, 3" or "Full").

Check pages 24-27 of your TV's owner's manual for additional information on the PIC SIZE settings.

MoxiGuy

10-18-05, 03:08 AM

So, then why did the aspect change yesterday when the updates went through? Everything worked fine until then. Every channel filled the screen, now just my SD channels do.Here's the minimum you need to do: Go to HDTV Setup in the settings. Add a checkmark to 1080i and 720p. That should do it.

Arqi

10-18-05, 04:36 AM

I found a fix (I think) for the erratic menu speed movement when using the Harmony remotes. Instead of using Harmony's default infrared command for the D-Pad, have it learn them using the original remote (left, right, up, down). And if you haven't done so, change the delay setting and the response value (I have both set to 0). I have no erratic menu anymore, and the response has improved a lot. The remotes I used are the Harmony 880 and Harmony 520, they both worked great using this method.

jbarr

10-18-05, 07:28 AM

Jim,
My Moxi is always slow and never assumed any more than that's the way it is. My Sony is an LCDRP and wonder now if it's related to your issue. It's very fristrating trying to get the Moxi to turn channels with any speed. It just doesn't. My Moxi is located to the right and slightly behind the TV, in a rack. The rack is open. So if I understand your solution, get a really big pice of cardboard, put it in front of my screen and the Moxi will be faster. Sounds good! It begs a question though... :confused:Fortunately, the new placement of the Moxi box relieves me from having to hold up the cardboard! ;) But seriously, the cardboard was just to test the effects of the screen on the box. It does beg the question of just what is the LCD screen emitting that is causing the Moxi's remote sensor to fail?

Fortunately, my brother-in-law's room is large enough and open enough that the Moxi box now sits about 3 feet behind the front of the Sharp LCD screen, and about a foot to the right. At first blush, it looks kinda silly, but the fact that his Moxi now works like mine (VERY fast remote response) more than makes up for it.

MoxiGuy: Any clue as to why this might be happening?

beatnikguy

10-18-05, 07:50 AM

billypritchard

10-18-05, 10:07 AM

Just checking back in. I had the Moxi installed yesterday morning, with no real issues (except the installer left without having made sure channel lineups were listed, so I had to call Charter and have them inform me to soft reboot). HD looks great, SD even looks good. All is well, though I am struggling through the usability differences as compared to my Directv TiVo.

On the 4x3 display issue with 3.2, I can confirm my Zenith 32" HD Built-In set works just fine. I set the Moxi to Widescreen, 1080i and 480i. Then my TV is set to display as "Set by Program", so however the Moxi chooses to send it to the TV, that's how it shows up. HD channels are letterboxed and SD channels are full screen.

Now I just have to read the FAQ about why my universal remote didn't 'learn' the commands very well...

Also, my installer didn't really leave a "User's Guide". Is there such a thing out there for download?

markt170

10-18-05, 11:27 AM

Moxiguy,

A couple weeks ago, I reported on the installation of my second Moxi and noted that the installer was completely unqualified, and that he admitted that most of the time when he finishes an installation the picture is distorted. This was because he had not gone into the menu and checked off 720p and 1080i. You asked me to send you the installer's name so that you could pass on the need for training. Well, sorry for the delay but I just found the service work order, and of course, his name isn't on it. But he was tech # 7510 out of Adelphia Van Nuys. Several of the above posts note what appears to me to be the same exact problem -- the installers from various cable companies simply don't know even the basics of how to do their job. You'll never be able to pinpoint individual installers for further training. I suggest that Digeo put out a sort of Dummies Guide for installers. Use cartoons and puppets if you have to. It's not that difficult, but they obviously don't get it.

splinke

10-18-05, 12:31 PM

I have Adelphia and got a DVI port for the 3.2. YES! It does indeed work! It seems to get 720p and 1080i but no SD picture. Anyone else heard of this? I have all the formats checked, and can get the SD over component but not over the DVI. Is this normal? I just assumed DVI carried SD.
DVI does not currently deliver 480i. You can de-select 480i in HDTV Setup to force the Moxi to upconvert to HD, but the picture quality is not very good. You are probably better off just using component. Check the FAQ for more information on this frequently asked question.

splinke

10-18-05, 12:33 PM

...Also, my installer didn't really leave a "User's Guide". Is there such a thing out there for download?
Check the top of the FAQ. There are links to all of the manuals.

splinke

10-18-05, 12:49 PM

MoxiGuy,

All of our HD channels are reading "no info" with no channel logos or program listings this morning in Carlsbad, CA. All scheduled recordings have been lost. The channel map is still set to Carlsbad. A program info update trigger and reset did not fix things.

annieflinn

10-18-05, 02:37 PM

splinke

10-18-05, 03:03 PM

I've done all that. When the t.v. input is set to the cable box, it will not allow me to do any input on the t.v. for picture size. I will double check it, but I am pretty sure I already have that set...
1. Do you have the Moxi video hooked up to your TV with the 3-cable component connection (ColorStream HD-1 or HD-2 on your TV)? (Presumably this has not been changed since the time it was working.)

2. What Video Output resolution setting(s) did you use on the Moxi before the software update: (a) manually changed between 480i and an HD resolution depending on the program you were watching, (b) always left it on 480i, or (c) always left it on an HD setting?

3. What Widescreen setting did you use on the Moxi before the software update: (a) wide mode, (b) cropped, (c) letter box, or (d) switched setting depending on program.

4. Do you now have all three resolutions selected in the Moxi's new HDTV Setup menu?

5. Do you now have "wide mode" selected in the Moxi's Widescreen menu?

6. If above items 1, 4, and 5 are configured as stated, and you are tuned to an HD channel, does the PIC SIZE button on your TV's remote change the appearance of the picture?

phatty

10-18-05, 04:55 PM

Moxiguy,
Just giving you a status update on the problem I first reported to you a couple weeks ago involving the Moxi & Mate box with the Mate box having static interference that you could both hear in the audio as well as see in the picture quality in the mate(although overall the picture wasn't to bad just kinda rough around the menu edges)

Charter has been out a total of 3 times now. Once for the install, 2nd time to install the filter that only made the problem worse and now this 3rd time to swap the box out. All with the same bad audio results on the mate box. Charter is going to send someone else out now that is supposed to have more knowledge with the Moxi boxes and I can only hope that they actually get some something resolved. Have you ever heard of something like this before? As I stated before the Mate & Moxi communicate fine when they get disconnected from the cable source coming into the house.

-Phatty

dagware

10-18-05, 05:06 PM

mackie951

10-18-05, 08:39 PM

annieflinn

10-18-05, 10:06 PM

To splinke:
Prior to the software update my settings were as follows:

Colorstream HD2
1080i
cropped
on my t.v. pic size was FULL.

The only thing that I changed per the orders of Adelphia was the enabling of 480, 780 on the HD settings options.

I have tried everything suggested, including checking the WIDE MODE on the MOXI Widescreen options (and I have tried every other configuration offered to see of there are nay changes)and NOTHING has changed. I went through all the PIC SIZE options on my t.v., and none of them changed the situation.

My current settings are:

All HD options checked
WIDESCREEN Setting on WIDE MODE
My t.v. setting on FULL

Again this is all very frustrating and I am wondering if there is something wrong at the Adelphia end.

I have now requested that Adelphia come and remove the MOXI box and put my set on a regular box. This makes me very sad because I LOVED the features of MOXI. Something obviously happened when the update went through. I would even go so far as to say that NONE of the SETTINGS features really seem to have any effect.

joe221

10-18-05, 11:03 PM

StockInv

10-18-05, 11:08 PM

Andrew Sabin

10-19-05, 01:20 AM

Just giving you a status update on the problem I first reported to you a couple weeks ago involving the Moxi & Mate box with the Mate box having static interference that you could both hear in the audio as well as see in the picture quality in the mate(although overall the picture wasn't to bad just kinda rough around the menu edges)

MoxiGuy: I also experience seemingly identical audio and video interference issues with my Moxi Mate. With a composite video connection on the Moxi Mate, I see faint horizontal lines, especially during scenes with a dark background. The overall picture is good, but just looks a little unstable. You have to look closely to see these lines, but it's definitely added interference, not visible with a good composite connection. Also, I hear an interrmitent humming noise on the Mate, especially on DVD playback. Are these problems all Moxi Mate users observe, or is mine and Phatty's Mate defective. If these are known problems, when is a fix expected.

Thanks,
Andrew

splinke

10-19-05, 01:37 AM

Well, after many (MANY) phone calls to Charter, I'm dumping the MOXI. It was installed Saturday morning and today it still doesn't have any data. They keep telling me to wait until after midnight when they do the downloads.
You can check your connectivity through the On-Screen Diagnostics menu. If you are having connectivity problems, Charter may need to reprovision the Moxi's internal modem or resolve signal level issues. You can also trigger a manual electronic program guide update without waiting until the automatic update that occurs in the middle of the night, but your connection must be good first. You definitely should not have to wait for electronic program guide information any more than an hour after installation.

splinke

10-19-05, 03:23 AM

...I have tried everything suggested, including checking the WIDE MODE on the MOXI Widescreen options (and I have tried every other configuration offered to see of there are nay changes)and NOTHING has changed. I went through all the PIC SIZE options on my t.v., and none of them changed the situation...
I presume, then, that the TheaterWide picture size modes on your TV are only available with 480i signals. True 16:9 HD programs should fill your screen with your current settings. In fact, if you were watching true 16:9 HD programs with your old settings, you were actually chopping off the left and right sides and artificially stretching the remaining part in the middle to fill in the chopped off parts.

However, since you specifically mentioned programs to which pillar bars have been added by the programmers, the bad news is I think you are currently out of luck if you want to watch them full screen in stretched HD. I believe that you are yet another user who has lost functionality due to Digeo's removal of the "crop" and "letterbox" settings with HD resolutions under the new v3.2 software (the settings are still there--they just don't work).

In your case, since the problem is restricted to pillarboxed programs, I would suggest trying the following:

1. Switch your Widescreen setting back to "cropped."
2. When you want to watch a true 16:9 HD program, make sure that at least one of the HD resolutions is selected in the Moxi's HDTV Setup (probably 720p is best for your display). You will be able to watch true 16:9 HD programs full screen.
3. When you want to watch pillarboxed programs, de-select any HD resolutions in the Moxi's HDTV Setup, leaving only 480i selected. The Moxi's cropping function still works when it outputs 480i. Furthermore, since the pillarboxed programs aren't really HD anyway (they are really just 480i upconverted to HD), you should not be losing much by having the Moxi re-convert them to 480i. At least they are digital, so the signal should be pretty clean. Try it and see if the picture quality is similar to what you used to see.

Hopefully, Digeo will restore the cropped and letterboxed functionality with HD signals in a future software release. It is affecting many people whose TV's do not support the same scaling--mostly people with 4:3 HD TV's, but now you with a 16:9 set in your specific situation. I am actually still trying to convince them that this functionality has been removed from v3.2, but they are having a hard time understanding or believing me. And when I say "they," I mean MoxiGuy. :)

splinke

10-19-05, 03:25 AM

The moxi menu is showing a ballgame tonight from 7-10pm. There is no ballgame tonight, so I'm wondering why the menu wasn't updated. Is this a frequent occurence of the moxi menu? Is it possible to copy only a one hour show during this time period if the menu is showing a 3 hour time slot?
You can record the program that claims to be on in that time slot, and you can subtract and/or add up to 90 minutes of time to try to force the exact time. If you set this up a day or more in advance, though, it may be lost if the correct program shows up after the nightly program guide update.

splinke

10-19-05, 03:29 AM

ABIGGUY

10-19-05, 05:02 AM

My channel map is still screwed up here in Carlsbad.

I'm having the same issue in Encinitas (in the same cable zone as Carlsbad). I made the mistake of resetting the box earlier today (it hadn't downloaded listings in several days and was getting rather slow) and ended up with all my HD listings gone. NBCHD series recordings seem to have been updated (707->907), but channel 907 is still music until October 20. All the HD channels are available on their previous channels (706-730) but since the listings are no longer correct it is impossible to record anything....all HD content must be watched live. Yet another reason to have manual recording times.

As a workaround, I've re-added the SD versions of the network channels (6-10), but it's rather annoying to have my DVR and HD capabilities hamstrung in one fell swoop. I hope Adelphia has gotten enough calls to fix the problem before the 20th. I'm making the call tomorrow morning if nothing has resolved itself after tonight's update.

This is my first post after following the thread for months and reading every post. Though Moxi has its problems, there really isn't another two-tuner HD DVR available at this price point. I love several of Moxi's features (search capabilities, eight visible channels, 30-second skip, etc). Though I'm definitely eagerly awaiting time-forward capabilities, I'm more concerned about how Adelphia deals with Moxi customers. They promised more HD channels in September and never followed through, they took forever to finally roll out 3.2, and they are constantly doing thoughtless things like killing every HD channel listing two days prior to a lineup change. If I ever switch away from the Moxi to an as-yet-nonexistent comparable DVR, it'll be because of Adelphia and not Moxi.

mvpgoblue

10-19-05, 01:09 PM

I can confirm it does not automatically update the scheduled to record list when you delete a program (I have been watching this issue for a while before I posted). I only see it updated in the morning presumably after the EPG has run.

Does anyone else have another idea other than going into the OSD menu?

I have a suggestion, but I'll guess that you like it about as much as I do... :(

A few times a week before I go to bed, I go look at "scheduled to record" and see what's missing. I mentally cross reference this by going to "Series Options" and then "View Upcoming" for each individual show. Anything that isn't set to record, I manually update.

Then, for the belt-and-suspenders approach, I take solace knowing that I've scheduled "critical" series to also record on my TiVo upstairs. I figure a guaranteed SD TiVo on a crappy bedroom TV is better than hoping that the Moxi doesn't screw something up.

I'm aware that this approach almost completely negates the benefits of a DVR, but I've gotten burned by Moxi once or twice and with my new procedure caught things a couple of times. Whether or not they would have been caught by the EPG later that night, I don't know.

mvpgoblue

10-19-05, 01:35 PM

I've never seen this discussed on this thread, so thought I'd mention it with all the viewing trouble some people are having. Perhaps it is obvious to everyone, but maybe not...

I have a 16X9 HDTV that works really quite well with just about all of the Moxi outputs. I have all the resolutions checked, and my TV is sophisticated enough to recall different settings depending on different outputs (e.g. 480i, 720p, and 1080i).

My standard setting for SD (480i) programming is a modified stretch that crops a timy bit off the top and bottom and then selectively stretches the edges more than the center to give me a full-screen picture with very limited distortion.

The outcome of all this is that now that I have 3.2, I almost never have to update TV or Moxi viewing settings.

About the only time this is a problem is with letterboxed SD broadcasts. I end up with a stretched image that still has letterbox bars on the top and bottom of the screen. In my case, I'll see this kind of image on stations like Sci-Fi and TNT that broadcast in HD, but that I don't receive in HD because of crappy Charter Communications. Once again, my TV comes to the rescue. One of the viewing options I have streteches a 4X3 SD broadcast to full screen, then crops the top and bottom making the image fit perfectly (i.e. the letterbox bars are cropped, then then image is stretched both directions to fill the screen). These are selected with the TV remote's "Pic Size" button.

The moral of this whole story is not to point out how happy I am with (some aspects of) the Moxi. Rather, it is to point out that you may have viewing modes on your TV that help address artifacts of either the cable programming or the Moxi's output. Of course, your mileage may vary...

annieflinn

10-19-05, 01:42 PM

To splinke and MOXIGuy:

This is especially for MOXI guy--please listen to splinke and I--it is really the truth about the problems with your 3.2 software update and the issues with cropped and letterbox disfunction. As I said, I am asking Adelphia to switch out my MOXI box, much to my dismay. Everything was doing just fine until...As for improving the quality of the SD channels, only some are improved. Spike, USA, TNT continue to be grainy, and now the quality of HBO has also diminished. Biography improved, but at the loss of my full screen on HD channels during the day. The picture ends up being so small that it just isn't worth watching during the day.

Please urge Diego and Adelphia to get on the stick and give us back the high quality pictures we enjoyed prior to the "improvements."

Splink, thanks for all of your input. You were most helpful

splinke

10-19-05, 02:29 PM

I've never seen this discussed on this thread, so thought I'd mention it with all the viewing trouble some people are having. Perhaps it is obvious to everyone, but maybe not...The moral of this whole story is not to point out how happy I am with (some aspects of) the Moxi. Rather, it is to point out that you may have viewing modes on your TV that help address artifacts of either the cable programming or the Moxi's output. Of course, your mileage may vary...

Although I don't agree that this topic has never been discussed in this forum (there are a number of references to trying to change the PIC SIZE on this very page :) ), I do agree that many TV's have settings that should handle most situations, and people need to explore this area. Unfortunately, there are many TV's that depend on the tuner to handle some or most of this, and some of the options that were previously available on the Moxi have been removed.

The number of possible variations can make things very complicated. First, you've got SD and HD resolutions. Then, within these resolutions, you've got multiple variations of pillarboxing and/or letterboxing that can be broadcast. Then, you've got the tuner, which can upconvert, downconvert, and cross-convert between the SD and HD resolutions. In addition, the tuner may or may not pillarbox or letterbox. Finally, the TV may have settings that do further resolution conversions, pillarboxing/letterboxing, and/or zooming. :eek:

MoxiGuy

10-19-05, 03:37 PM

Splinke, Annie,

I apologize for not getting this. It is my failing. Splinke tried very hard to get through to me. Thank you for your persistence. I get it now. I've raised the alarm. I'll let you know what we can do, when I find out.

Michael

GKInCarlsbad

10-19-05, 03:49 PM

My channel map is still screwed up here in Carlsbad. That means that none of my scheduled programs are recording. Another Carlsbad user with the same problem contacted me and pointed out that the HD channels are being remapped from channels in the 700's to channels in the 900's on October 20. Well, apparently, Adelphia/Digeo thought it would be a good idea to start changing the Moxi's channel map on October 18th. I appreciate the proactive behavior (sarcasm), but the loss of functionality for 2 or 3 days is downright unacceptable.

I noticed this last night as well. At first I thought maybe the update was occuring a couple of days early since I noticed some MusicChoice channels on the list. But when I switched to those channels, I realized that the mappings were all incorrect. I was going to try to trigger an update, but I thought I would wait and see what happens after tonight's update.

Also, after switching out my Moxi box last week for sound issues, after a couple of days on the new box the SD output on some of the channels (most notably FSN2 during last weeks UCLA game) is quite poor while the HD output seems to be fine. Is this a problem that others are experiencing as well? (before you ask, I am using the component outputs not the DVI output and have 480i and 1080i checked in the HD setup)

StompAWOT

10-19-05, 04:28 PM

ABIGGUY

10-19-05, 04:47 PM

I was going to try to trigger an update, but I thought I would wait and see what happens after tonight's update.

I finally made the call and Adelphia told me we are out of luck until tomorrow. She couldn't give me an exact time for the update, but she said it should happen before noon. I'll use the workaround for tonight (record on the SD channels) and then check tomorrow morning for the update.

MoxiGuy

10-19-05, 05:46 PM

Hi Moxi Guy - hopefully you can help me w/ a question.

I recently bought the new Gateway 21" LCD.

http://www.gateway.com/programs/lcd/

Love the monitor, however I want to use it as a stand alone TV with our Moxi box for the time being.

Unfortunately this monitor doesn't have any speakers. As such, can you recommend any speakers (somebody recommended Klipsch Pro Media's to me) that can plug directly into the Moxi for audio purposes (without using a receiver in the middle)? I truly want just speakers - not a receiver+speaker - space is limited.

This would be in conjunction w/ the component cables being plugged in for the HD picture.

Thanks for any input.

Stomp Sorry, I can't recommend a brand. What you'll need is a set of powered speakers--since the Moxi doesn't have an amp to drive speakers directly. You have many to choose from--your selection should be governed by your room dimensions, budget, and other preferences. Might not be a very convenient solution because you'll need a way to control the volume. Moxi can't control the volume directly. You'll need to be sure that any powered speakers you buy have a volume control--hopefully a remote control

cyost

10-19-05, 05:55 PM

MoxiGuy,

Lurker, first post here.

I have had moxi for several months, and love it. Just recently we have been having a problem with a specific show not able to record as a series.

My wife loves Charmed, and we have the Moxi setup to record the series, all of them, not just the new ones, on TNT. The problem is that although there are several each day, it doesn't record them, and looking at the "scheduled to record" they aren't there. There are no errors about space or anything when we add the series.

I have double checked the new/repeat option, and it is correct (I am recording several first-run also).

We never have more than 10-15 SD shows on the drive, most of the time it is 3-4.

This worked AFTER the 3.2 upgrade, but just stopped in the last month.

Any ideas?

Chad

Penton-Man

10-19-05, 06:36 PM

Paging Joe221 of West Los Angeles.....who wishes he was from East L.A. - where there are no cable problems :D

I really tried to get you into the Big S par-tay next week in West Hollyweird at zee House of Blues but, alas, the room is a wee little thing and they are being very strict about "guests" this year.......(a BIG guy from East L.A. will be at the entrance of the Foundation/Sunset Room :eek: checking credentials)

Edit to the above.........
It appears I started my partying a little early when I made the above post. The last phrase SHOULD read the Foundation Room (very exclusive :D) on Sunset Blvd. :)

joe221

10-19-05, 07:48 PM

bobafett86

10-19-05, 10:17 PM

Originally Posted by Arqi
I found a fix (I think) for the erratic menu speed movement when using the Harmony remotes. Instead of using Harmony's default infrared command for the D-Pad, have it learn them using the original remote (left, right, up, down). And if you haven't done so, change the delay setting and the response value (I have both set to 0). I have no erratic menu anymore, and the response has improved a lot. The remotes I used are the Harmony 880 and Harmony 520, they both worked great using this method.

I did this yesterday with my Harmony 880 and it works so much better, thanks for the excellent time, I really appreciate it.

Curtis

joe221

10-19-05, 10:23 PM

bawheel

10-19-05, 10:47 PM

I came home at lunch today to find my Moxi going through it's "codes", I didn't really have time to look at it, but I thought perhaps there was an update going on. Came home 3 hours later to the same thing..it would to code 4372 and said it was "connecting to network" and then it would reset itself and start allover. Called Charter, they said they couldn't find a network connection so they set up a tech to come out tomorrow afternoon.

Anyone know what would cause this? A bad box? It sits on top of our tv, and has atleast a 4" clearance on the sides and back, so I don't see how it could be an overheating problem?

Thanks for any help.

phatty

10-19-05, 11:10 PM

Well in response to the Moxi Mate having bad audio and video no surprise really but turns out Charter installers a bunch of idiots. Somewhere along the line they installed 2 filters. Not sure how or why, thinking maybe the first filter was bad and then 2nd installer installed a filter without paying attention to the first filter or something. No clue really. But Charter was out a total of 4 times. One to Install, One to troubleshoot, One to swap moxi, and one to realize there are 2 filters on the line.

Way to go Charter, especially considering each time you always get those wonderful 4 hour installer windows for them to come out. But for now all seems well with the moxi and mate now that the filter issue is cleared up.

-Phatty

PimpDadd

10-20-05, 08:34 AM

Another week and another botched episode of West Wing from the Moxi ---- its all there in HDTV but NO SOUND!@@@@@@@@@!@

mvpgoblue

10-20-05, 08:59 AM

Another week and another botched episode of West Wing from the Moxi ---- its all there in HDTV but NO SOUND!@@@@@@@@@!@

All I have is anecdotal experience:
1) NBC-HD seems to have the most problems that occur the most frequently. I'll get several seconds of no sound and/or several seconds of black screen (with or without sound...). No way for me to tell if this is National NBC-HD feed related, local affilliate related, or cable company related, but it doesn't seem to be a Moxi problem.

EXCEPT for the fact that:
2) The problems seem worse when the Moxi is more full, which (again anecdotally) implies that it is a Moxi problem.

Sigh.

mvpgoblue

10-20-05, 09:06 AM

Although I don't agree that this topic has never been discussed in this forum (there are a number of references to trying to change the PIC SIZE on this very page :) ), I do agree that many TV's have settings that should handle most situations, and people need to explore this area.

Yeah, I get your smiley and know you aren't being too critical... My point was not that the Pic Size button hasn't been mentioned in a lot of random places.

Rather, the concept that there is value in sitting down and systematically trying *all* the different combinations of Moxi and TV settings may yield benefits that people didn't know existed.

Since there are so many different TV's out there, it is hard for people to make specific recommendations (generically here on the forum) that cover each one.

elgibby

10-20-05, 09:17 AM

Another week and another botched episode of West Wing from the Moxi ---- its all there in HDTV but NO SOUND!@@@@@@@@@!@

I'll see your botched West Wing, raise you an ep of Lost ... in SPANISH. Yes, last night's Lost is in Spanish on my Moxi in SD. One other poster on the St. Louis HD thread reported the same. Another said it was OK in English on HD OTA.
How about over here?
barry

2thumbsup

10-20-05, 09:22 AM

I have Charter in St. Louis.

When I turned on the TV last night I was in for a big surprise. All channels are now digital.

Arqi

10-20-05, 01:41 PM

Ditto me too! I now have the "Turbo" mode. I couldn't find response but changed delay to 0. Good work!! Welcome aboard! You're invited to my next meeting! :D

No problem guys. The the only way to change the Response Value that I know of, is by going through troubleshoot section for your device.

After you log in make sure your on the Harmony Home page. This page is where you can see a list of "Devices" on the left and a list of "Activities" on the right.

Under "Devices" look for your MOXI and click on "Troubleshoot".

Now its going to ask you a series of multiple choice questions, just select "Show me more problems" and click "Next".

Now select "PVR doesn't appear to receive every command correctly" click next.

Then select the first or second response and click "Next" ( they both go to the same page).

Now you can change you response value, I think the default was 3. I have mine at 0. What this does is change the amount of "wake up calls" signals the remote send to the device before it sends the command signal, like volume up or change the channel and so on.

Hope this helps,
Arqi

nnolte

10-20-05, 02:07 PM

I also experience humming on my Moxi Mate TV that is not there when I ma just wacthing the standrd cable input. It nice to hear that the static is not there when you use composite inputs (right?), but I have a DVD player attached to the composite input and no other input. What's up? Any possible cures. The box did not originally make the humm and may have begum when I switched from DSL to a cable modem. Any hints?

nnolte

10-20-05, 02:14 PM

I posted a question a while back and received no replies. Perhaps I was too long-winded.

I have read that the Moxi identifies shows as repeats two ways- from the guide indicating that it is a repeat and by looking at episode numbers in the guide data (if provided). Is this correct?

If it looks at episode numbers, how long will it determine that it should not re-record that show. Obviously, if an old episode of Star Trek is recorded, its not going to never re-record that episode ever again. Anyone know more on this subject?

nnolte

10-20-05, 02:15 PM

Moxiguy, I have noticed that shows set to expire after two days (for example) sometimes stay longer (presumably based upon needed space). How does this differ from "delete when space is needed" ?

nnolte

10-20-05, 02:19 PM

MoxiGuy

10-20-05, 02:22 PM

Moxiguy, I have noticed that shows set to expire after two days (for example) sometimes stay longer (presumably based upon needed space). How does this differ from "delete when space is needed" ? "Expired" is essentially the same as "delete when space is needed" It means that the show is on the chopping block. When new shows come in, the ax comes down on expired shows as needed beginning with the earliest expiration date. Depending on whether you manually delete shows after you watch them and depending on how many scheduled shows you have, an expired show might linger on the box for weeks or months. Nothing is auto-deleted until a new recording actually needs to clear out some room on your hard drive.

MoxiGuy

10-20-05, 02:48 PM

My wife loves Charmed, and we have the Moxi setup to record the series, all of them, not just the new ones, on TNT.Not sure. New episodes are on WB. Past seasons are on TNT. Have you set up separate series requests on both networks?

splinke

10-20-05, 09:31 PM

...If it looks at episode numbers, how long will it determine that it should not re-record that show. Obviously, if an old episode of Star Trek is recorded, its not going to never re-record that episode ever again. Anyone know more on this subject?...
I've read explanations from MoxiGuy on this, but I've never completely figured out how the Moxi decides on what to record. Since I explained the Widescreen issue to him when he didn't understand, it is only fair that he explains the scheduling to me when I don't understand, right MoxiGuy? :)

In my FAQ, I have programs divided into three categories first-run, repeat, and duplicate. Perhaps these categories only apply to programs that are still airing new episodes, and that there is another category (syndicated?) that needs to be added. Or, perhaps they are not correct at all. Here are the questions, MoxiGuy: What fields in the TMS database are available and assessed by the Moxi, what categories does it split the programs into, and how does it do the categorization?

splinke

10-20-05, 09:34 PM

I have a BMC9022 and live in the St. Louis, Missouri area. Charter is my provider.

I get a lot of audio and video dropout on my Moxi. Is that due to low signal strength or could there be a number of factors?

What do people think of signal boosters? Do they help or is it a case of garbage in/garbage out? Is there a certain brand that I should get or are the RCA boosters they sell at Best Buy good enough?
Check your signal levels in the On-Screen Diagnostics menus (see my FAQ for instructions on this and answers to your other questions). If there is a problem, then perhaps your cable company will fix it. If you want to buy your own amp, make sure that it supports two-way communication and frequencies up through 1 GHZ. One certified for use with cable modems or two-way digital TV should work, but keep your receipt in case it doesn't.

splinke

10-20-05, 09:36 PM

...Rather, the concept that there is value in sitting down and systematically trying *all* the different combinations of Moxi and TV settings may yield benefits that people didn't know existed...
There was no intent to be critical. You are 100% correct that people should try all of their TV settings, in addition to those available on the Moxi itself, to optimize their picture. Excellent suggestion.

craineum

10-21-05, 08:42 AM

Hello all,

I used to read this thread alot, but after being told for 7 months that I would be getting my Moxi box next month, I gave up... Well I finally got one! So forgive me if these topics have been posted before...

I have :
unit: BMC9012
version: 3.2.171.7LR-P.107558
location: Charter, Lawrenceville, GA
tv: Sammy HLP5063
receiver: jvc R8000 (or something like that)

I got nothing coming from my DVI port. I only had 720p enable (since that is the navtive res).
Reasom I want DVI and to upconvert is because I have been living with a Replay, so the upconvert of SD to HD is still better than what I had before. I am really looking to get rid of the audio delay(if you know about this issue on the sammys) on the TV, hence upconverting everything to the native res.

Also I have recorded HD/SD all that is great! However in the morning when I am watching the Today Show on the HD channel, I get audio dropouts. I am not doing anything else (ie recording), about every 5 minutes or so it will lose audio for about 2 seconds. Now this didn't happen with the episode of Lost that I recorded on the same channel.

mvpgoblue

10-21-05, 09:24 AM

Hello all,

...I got nothing coming from my DVI port. I only had 720p enable (since that is the navtive res)...

...However in the morning when I am watching the Today Show on the HD channel, I get audio dropouts...

I haven't played with the DVI port, but people have reported elsewhere on this thread that rebooting the unit will work. Specifically (and please correct me if I'm explaining this wrong guys) you should unplug the Moxi, connect the DVI cable, then plug the Moxi back in. Even after receiving the 3.2 update, people have had to follow this procedure.

WRT your "Today Show" problem...I suggest switching to "Fox and Friends." I can't stand Katie... ;) However, presuming you are attached to "Today" I don't know what to tell you. There doesn't seem to be any explanation for it, but my experience is that it happens to me the most frequently on NBC-HD no matter what show I'm watching.

A particularly frustrating, but effective, suggestion that I have seen in the forum is to go back to the blanked out audio part, turn on the Closed Captioning feature, and read the missed part.