I notice that there's a delay in the hourglasses disappearing; it's as though it doesn't instantly reassess the deletion schedule when you delete something (or add something to the recording schedule). Maybe it only does this periodically. If I come back and look at it several minutes after deleting some things, the hourglasses and retention times will have been adjusted--I'm not sure how long.


From what I have observed, exiting the List and coming right back is usually enough for the hourglasses to be updated after programs have been deleted. In other words, hit the "list" button twice.


I've never seen it delete something prior to starting the recording for which it
needed the space, which is what VisionOn seems to be implying.

I have seen this happen before. In order to ensure that there is enough room to record an entire program, the software will delete the necessary erasable programs prior to recording.

I have seen this happen before. In order to ensure that there is enough room to record an entire program, the software will delete the necessary erasable programs prior to recording.

I meant that the estimate the hourglass gives you is based on the shows it knows it will have to record. If someone records something else after checking the delete schedule it screws it up, and the show that may have had 2 days left will be gone when you finish recording.

Which I think is exactly what you just said. Ah well.

I have seen this happen before. In order to ensure that there is enough room to record an entire program, the software will delete the necessary erasable programs prior to recording.How mucfh earlier than the recording that needs the space?

There is always a danger when you're close to the end and thinking about recording something large now. You notice that there's a 4 HD sports even on that you'd like to record and look at the list and hit "REC", there's no way to know that its not going to delete some things off the bottom to make it fit.

This would happen in a situation where it's close to full but doesn't have any new recordings upcoming in the next 3 days, so there's no need to warn you yet. Then you hit REC after tuning into some lengthy HD program; it'd just immediately programs off the end of the list. What would be nice is if it would warn you: "To record this now, I'd have to delete the following list of programs. Do it?"

How mucfh earlier than the recording that needs the space?


It appears to happen just seconds before the new program starts recording. I have checked my list of programs shortly after a program or two have started recording and have noticed that programs had been deleted that were there just minutes prior.


There is always a danger when you're close to the end and thinking about recording something large now. You notice that there's a 4 HD sports even on that you'd like to record and look at the list and hit "REC", there's no way to know that its not going to delete some things off the bottom to make it fit.

This would happen in a situation where it's close to full but doesn't have any new recordings upcoming in the next 3 days, so there's no need to warn you yet. Then you hit REC after tuning into some lengthy HD program; it'd just immediately programs off the end of the list. What would be nice is if it would warn you: "To record this now, I'd have to delete the following list of programs. Do it?"

I guess the software assumes that since you labeled the recorded programs as "delete when full/necessary," it does not need to ask whether the programs can be deleted when the hard drive becomes full and the space is needed.

The experiment you should try is to label all of your recorded programs as "only manually erase," and then try to record a big program when your hard drive is close to full. I believe the software will tell you that it cannot record until space is freed up. I vaguely remember this happening to me.

I guess the software assumes that since you labeled the recorded programs as "delete when full/necessary," it does not need to ask whether the programs can be deleted when the hard drive becomes full and the space is needed.No, it doesn't need to ask, but this is a semi-special case. When scheduling the recording of a future event, you have some time, however small, to check the estimated retention time of the recordings on the drive and adjust the list if desired. If you ask it to record a program that is in-progress, you cannot see what this is going to do to your currently stored programs.

If a request to immediately record a long, currently running program will result in the deletion of several old recordings, it's only polite to warn me. It's quite likely that I will not realize that this is what will happen, and it's easy enough for me to go in and rearrange some things. It's been a whilesince I used one, but I'm fairly sure that TiVo will do this.

I recently got an 8300 and find that it records duplicate shows. Ex. I live between 2 cities and get FOX from both of them. My wife likes to record Seinfeld, but the problem is that it is on the one channel at 7:00pm and on the other fox channel at 7:30pm, same episode. If I have it set to record on any channel it record them both. It would be nice for it to see that it already recorded that episode and not record it again. I know that TiVo would do this, wonder if the is any way for SA to do it.

I'm curious *how* TiVo can recognize that two episodes are in fact the same and not record a 2nd copy of it....

(Clarification: This next paragraph refers to the SA DVRs)
This is actually contrary to what someone else has posted, though I haven't tested it, in that say someone tags CSI:Miami, 10pm, tonight (just making this part up), on channel 707 (digital/HD version) and CSI:Miami, 10pm, tonight, on channel 7 (analog/non-HD version), it will not record both and worse, it chooses the non-HD version. In this case, it's like it knows they're the same program/episode.

With the HDTivo you select the channel when you opt for the Season Pass so you can "force" the recording of the HD channel. Tivo recognizes duplicate showings from the program description.

I'm curious *how* TiVo can recognize that two episodes are in fact the same and not record a 2nd copy of it.... .

TiVo keeps a 28 day history and also the episode guide data has an ID number associated with every show. So if the same ID number shows up again within the 28 days it will not record that episode unless you manually tell it to. As for the recording of 2 shows at the same time on differant channels, yes that always was a problem. but usually you would setup a Season Pass to only 1 channel (the HD one of course) for current shows.

I could be mistaken but I do believe, from what I have read else where and from see the additional guide data in TiVo (with some hacks), this is how TiVo does it.

Galen, were you able to choose your box at TW? I was told it 'depends on what's in stock' (??) Also, they said HDMI is not being output 'yet' due to software issue? Does any of this make sense?

As I said in another post, I'm getting a commercial HD Panny plasma with HDMI blade, and am now wondering if I need/should get the DVI blade as well. Now I'm quite confused after speaking with TWCNYC.

The only say I had was asking for an 8300 HD DVR. That model only comes with HDMI. My area stopped deploying the 8000(which I had before and it was a piece of junk). The cableco actually messed up my order and the "tech" came without a dvr. I didn't let him in the house and told him to come back with the DVR. He actually did return within 2 hours and bring the new box. I have a feeling he had to go back to the depot to pick it up.

To sum it, it would be rare to get a dvr with a DVI (for atleast my area). It is possible that it is not active but keep in mind the most of the folks you talk to at the cableco don't even know what HDMI is.

Hope you enjoy your panny. I know I love my 500U very much.

~G

I recently got an 8300 and find that it records duplicate shows. Ex. I live between 2 cities and get FOX from both of them. My wife likes to record Seinfeld, but the problem is that it is on the one channel at 7:00pm and on the other fox channel at 7:30pm, same episode. If I have it set to record on any channel it record them both. It would be nice for it to see that it already recorded that episode and not record it again. I know that TiVo would do this, wonder if the is any way for SA to do it.

Since they record on two different channels you could select one channel (or this channel only) under the series record. I think this will do what you are asking.

~G

Since they record on two different channels you could select one channel (or this channel only) under the series record. I think this will do what you are asking.

~G

Yes, but then I would need to setup a series recording for when it airs on TBS also. I know how it can be done but should not need to be that complicated. Can't wait until the Series 3 TiVo comes out.

My area stopped deploying the 8000(which I had before and it was a piece of junk).I probably shouldn't bother to defend it, but I've had an 8000HD for 18 months and haven't had much in the way of problems with it. In fact, until a recent flurry of firmware revision pushes this Fall, it had 11 fewer GB dedicated to trick-play buffers, worth an additional 1 hour 30 minutes of recording at local ABC's average bitrate (17 Mbps) and 2 hours of CBS' 13 Mbps average (the station where I record about 60% of my viewing). I was really not interested in getting an 8300HD and losing recording capacity until their upgrading the firmware to the same new revisions on both models robbed me of it anyway.

I'm still not in any hurry to rush out and change boxes. I've been waiting until I hear that I can get one that I can add an external HDD to.

They still do distribute the 8000HD in this area, though I doubt that SA is selling it any longer, and FCC regs require them to have working HDMI and 1394 connections on every new digital box that they acquire since July in any case (though it doesn't say that they have to provide them to anyone :)).

Hey all, I'm a TWC customer in NYC with a SA8000 (NOT HD) box with I believe an 80gb hard drive.

I do NOT have an HD tv or anything, however I hear that the 8300HD has a 160gb hard drive.

So my question is: can I hook up an 8300HD to a regular old tv through either a coax cable or an RCA red/white/yellow cable and have it output regular old SD signals or will this not be possible? That way I can get the faster processer of the 8300 as well as twice the space for my regular SD programming, all for the same price I pay now.

Also, assuming it is possible, are there any downsides? My SA8000 is not as buggy as most peoples appear to be and I love it, will the fact that the 8300 includes HD functions make it more unstable and buggy than the box I have now?

Any help is much appreciated. thanks

PS: these questions refer to the boxes with passport software

Yes, what you want to do will work fine. Many TWC divisions require a tech to "install" an HD box though and if he/she sees you don't have an HD set, may not let you have it. If you already have a non-DVR HD box, you might be able to go to an office and swap for an 8300HD.

People have been doing this "trick", or trying, as long as the 8000HD has been out.

thanks for the quick reply hall! I figured the tech wouldnt install it, so I was planning on heading to an office tomorrow and picking up a new box myself.

Couple more questions...
1) Are the 8000/8300SD boxes all still 80gb and the HD versions 160gb? I believe that's the case but thought maybe they upgraded the non-HD boxes to larger hard-drives too, in which case i might just pick up a 8300SD.
2) Is the ability to hookup an external hard-drive via the SATA port still only for SARA boxes? Does anyone know of TWCNYC's plans on activating these ports?
3) This question is prob a bit absurd to post in the HD forum...but, is there a quality difference in hooking up the cable box through coaxial versus through an svideo or rca cable(i know svideo is better than rca...i'm curious where coaxial fits in).
4) What's up with the multi-room 8300's? Heard about them, but nothing's on TWCNYC's website so do they not offer them yet?

much thanks! and i did try searching for these answers, but with 84 pages in this thread alone, it became way too daunting!!

great post

I recently got an 8300 and find that it records duplicate shows. Ex. I live between 2 cities and get FOX from both of them. My wife likes to record Seinfeld, but the problem is that it is on the one channel at 7:00pm and on the other fox channel at 7:30pm, same episode. If I have it set to record on any channel it record them both. It would be nice for it to see that it already recorded that episode and not record it again. I know that TiVo would do this, wonder if the is any way for SA to do it.

this is a known drawback with Passport that's been discussed in this thread before. Unless you want to record every episode of Seinfeld on the air every day just set the recording options to one channel at one specific time.

Alternatively go through the scheduled recording list at the beginning of the week and remove the duplicates before they get recorded. It only takes a minute and you can do that during an ad break.

What would be nice is if it would warn you: "To record this now, I'd have to delete the following list of programs. Do it?"

This would be a great addition. At the rate of Passport updates I don't see it happening in my lifetime, but cool nonetheless.

1) I've heard nothing to suggest otherwise. According to SA's datasheet (for cable operators), the 8000/8300 still includes an 80gb HDD and the 8000HD/8300HD includes a 160gb.

2) Yes, it works on SARA only. Individual divisions have little say-so in when this feature will be active. In general, all TWC divisions run the same, or close, versions of Passport. Some divisions do beta-test versions, yes, but that's the exception, not the rule.

3) In order of quality, from worst to best:

RF (coaxial)
Composite (RCA)
S-Video
Component
DVI/HDMI

4) I'm not so sure that this is vaporware. I know SA has announced it but I can't recall reading about any locations, certainly not TWC, that have it.

A lot is also dependent on the firmware/software of Passport that your local TWC provider uses. Most are still on the production 1.8 series. Some areas (like San Diego) are on the 2.5 series. Different versions offer different capabilities.

By the way, what cities are on 2.5 now (other than San Diego, CA)?

1) I've heard nothing to suggest otherwise. According to SA's datasheet (for cable operators), the 8000/8300 still includes an 80gb HDD and the 8000HD/8300HD includes a 160gb.The size of the HDD in these things is at the option of the providers. The SA8300 spec-sheet (http://www.scientificatlanta.com/customers/Source/7004920.pdf) (SD, HD and Multi-Room flavors) states that the SD version of it comes standard with an 80GB drive, but that larger drives are available; it says that the HD version has 80GB and 160GB options and that larger drives are available for it as well. The 8000HD's spec-sheet (http://www.scientificatlanta.com/customers/Source/4004400.pdf) says the same thing about HDD size options. You seem to be correct on the SA8000(SD); its specs (http://www.scientificatlanta.com/customers/Source/745538.pdf) don't mention any option for drives other than the 80GB.

I recall people in these forums complaining of a couple of providers ordering the 80GB option for their HD DVRs, but it's been rare.

I've never noticed that note about "larger hard drives are available" and always looked at the part # table they list. Safe to say that SA's pricing for different size drives won't be as cost-effective. Also, if I've learned anything about cablecos, they DO NOT want 8300HDs on their shelves with 160 or 250 or 400gb HDDs. They like common items, all the same.

I've never noticed that note about "larger hard drives are available" and always looked at the part # table they list. Safe to say that SA's pricing for different size drives won't be as cost-effective. Also, if I've learned anything about cablecos, they DO NOT want 8300HDs on their shelves with 160 or 250 or 400gb HDDs. They like common items, all the same.
For sure. And most people are time-shifting Oprah and reruns of Everybody Loves Raymond. I'd bet that even most recording hi-def are merely time-shifting. We who are atempting to archive and build a collection of hi-def material are in the minority. It is also most cost effective for us to add, if and when we can, a larger external drive; for SA and our providers to lease us something larger internal would run up our monthly cable bills, whereas we buy the drive for a one-time cost, admittedly for hundreds of dollars, but we can always "re-purpose" our drives to our computers if we need to.

I (we) only time-shift at my house. If a show or movie is good enough that I want a permanent copy of it, I'll buy/rent/borrow a DVD or download a copy of it (in the case of a TV show). Even the downloaded versions are often DivX'd from an HD original and the quality is quite acceptable. I used to keep an HD "reference" program, most likely from Discovery HD Theatre, to show people but don't even do that any longer.

I just tried to record to DVD (using S-Video) from the 8300HD an HBO On-Demand Movie that is going to expire in a day. You can't record On-Demand to the Harddrive, so since I couldn't watch it until the weekend (after it will be gone) I thought a quick S-Video analog copy would be great. I've done this with other HBO On-Demand content, but not recently. This time, as soon as the movie starts playing, the DVD recording quits and says, 'Can't Record - Copy Protected'.

This is the first time I've run into this, but I don't try to copy a lot of content for later viewing. Anyone else seen this? Any work arounds? I didn't expect this with an analog output like S-Video, but I learn something everyday!

BTW - I'm on TWC in the Raleigh-Durham NC region.

This is the first time I've run into this, but I don't try to copy a lot of content for later viewing. Anyone else seen this? Any work arounds? I didn't expect this with an analog output like S-Video, but I learn something everyday!


I had heard HBO were going to be implementing HDCP for content but I didn't think it would apply to S-Video connections. I never thought S-Vid was a two way connector.

Yes, Chris. HBO started doing this on On Demand a year or so ago. Also some DVD recorders give that message on any recording from the 8300. I've found that the Sima GoDVD resolves that problem. They are frequently on sale at CompUSA.

I had heard HBO were going to be implementing HDCP for content but I didn't think it would apply to S-Video connections. I never thought S-Vid was a two way connector.

That's the thing that got me as well. I expected to eventually run into this with a digital connection (which I don't currently have to a recording device), but not analog connection. I should try recording it to VHS and see what happens!!

I never thought S-Vid was a two way connector.

It isn't. It is the DVD recorder that sees an imbeded copy protection signal and refuses to record the program.

Yeah, there has to be something *in* the signal that the recorder reads and honors. The 8300HD isn't doing it because it doesn't know what's on the other end of that S-Video cable.

Hi guys I am new to all the HDTV world and am a little confused. I just bought a Panasonic TH42PX50U and live in NYC and have Time Warner Cable. I have the SA 8300 HD DVR box with what I assume is the latest Passport software. I picked up the HD DVR this week.

My question is with regards to optimizing SD picture quality. I have my video outputs set to 480p, and 1080i. What should be done with regards to choosing the video ouput in the settings menu. I thought the best thing to do is to pass through the source material to have the TV rather than the box deal with the signal but it seems like the SA 8300 can't do it. Is that correct?

Also, I have noticed that even when there is not HD material being shown, the PQ of SD broadcasts are better on the HD level broadcast channels which for me are on the 700s. However, since I am breaking my TV in I don't want to have the sidebars in order to prevent burn-in. I have set the SA 8300HD to stretch any 4:3 image but that does not seem to stick if I switch channels meaning when I come back to that channel it has a 4:3 aspect ratio. I don't have this problem with the regular SD channels as the guy who set my tv up made it to stretch any 4:3 image. This problem is only on the HD tier channels.

Basically, I just need advice as to what I need to do to set up my TV and DVR box to show SD in the best possible way.

My question is with regards to optimizing SD picture quality. I have my video outputs set to 480p, and 1080i. What should be done with regards to choosing the video ouput in the settings menu. I thought the best thing to do is to pass through the source material to have the TV rather than the box deal with the signal but it seems like the SA 8300 can't do it. Is that correct?

I have them all selected which causes the 8300HD to PASS whatever it receives. I do not want it to deinterlace or scale, tasks I prefer to have my display perform. (Not selecting 720p causes it to be converted to 1080i by the box.)

Also, I have noticed that even when there is not HD material being shown, the PQ of SD broadcasts are better on the HD level broadcast channels which for me are on the 700s. However, since I am breaking my TV in I don't want to have the sidebars in order to prevent burn-in. I have set the SA 8300HD to stretch any 4:3 image but that does not seem to stick if I switch channels meaning when I come back to that channel it has a 4:3 aspect ratio. I don't have this problem with the regular SD channels as the guy who set my tv up made it to stretch any 4:3 image. This problem is only on the HD tier channels.
SD material being transmitted on HD channels is 480p and that's why it looks better. Tell your 8300HD you've got a 16:9 display and to stretch 4:3 material in Settings|More Settings. That will then be the default. You can always undo it for any given program, but it will revert if you change channels.

.... I have set the SA 8300HD to stretch any 4:3 image but that does not seem to stick if I switch channels meaning when I come back to that channel it has a 4:3 aspect ratio. I don't have this problem with the regular SD channels as the guy who set my tv up made it to stretch any 4:3 image. This problem is only on the HD tier channels.

Basically, I just need advice as to what I need to do to set up my TV and DVR box to show SD in the best possible way.

The behavior is consistent with what I've experienced. I don't like the stretch mode because of how it looks. I use the TV's zoom (Sony) and that fills the screen for SD broadcasts. The HD broadcasts are normal 16:9

My tv's aspect ratio control seems to be disabled because of the HD DVR box. I press the button to change the aspect ratio but nothing happens.

Apparently some TVs, mine included, are designed this way when using the component or DVI/HDMI inputs.

My tv's aspect ratio control seems to be disabled because of the HD DVR box. I press the button to change the aspect ratio but nothing happens.

Many tv's will lock into 'FULL' mode when sent a 720p or 1080i signal. If you want to be able to use your display's screen modes, you will have to feed it a 480p signal.

TW in Alabama offering multi-room 8300HDs ??

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,15233800

I have the SA 8300hd Multi room cable box...

Are you talking about the 1080i/720p HD signal sent out from the TV station when they are broadcasting 480i SD 4:3 material? The STB will not auto stretch this because it is already 16:9, if you set it to zoom this for the duration of the SD content, you would want to change back as soon as you switch to another HD channel with HD content.

Aspect controls @TWC-KC worked [for me] as they should for 1 month in 2003, after that every STB has been wonky.

v/r,
C-F

CannonFodder, that is what I am referring to. When I watch for instance the HD tier channel for NBC and I want to watch the Today show which is not broadcast in HD I would like for the picture to be stretched automatically. The PQ is better on those channels even when the program is not shot in HD. There is no problem with my box in stretching regular SD tier channels automatically. I spoke to a TWC rep who said that you can't set it to automatically stretch 4:3 content on the HD channels. Is that correct? I don't trust the TWC reps as they seem rather clueless to me.

Can anyone confirm whether you can not use the TV's own aspect ratio controls with regards to the Panasonic 42" Plasma HDTV (TH-42PX50U)? Ideally I would rather have my TV do this.

Thanks.

I know of no way to automatically stretch (and un-stretch) that content on the STB. The STB only sees 4:3 vs. 16:9 and the signal is 16:9 so it will send it unmolested. If there was a setting that somehow parsed the sidebars, it may become annoying during regular HD programming to automatically swap aspect ratios during 4:3 commercials. Sorry, I can not help on the TV.

v/r,
C-F

I spoke to a TWC rep who said that you can't set it to automatically stretch 4:3 content on the HD channels. Is that correct? I don't trust the TWC reps as they seem rather clueless to me. In this case, the rep is correct !!! The picture you're referring to is in fact 4:3 but you've got black sidebars, do you not ?? The 8300HD, with Passport, adds gray sidebars for true 4:3 programming. Those black sidebars are added by your local tv station because the signal they're sending you is in fact 16:9 (it includes the sidebars as part of the "picture").

I have them all selected which causes the 8300HD to PASS whatever it receives. I do not want it to deinterlace or scale, tasks I prefer to have my display perform. (Not selecting 720p causes it to be converted to 1080i by the box.)


Is this correct? The installer selected only 480i and 1080i on my box. I have a pioneer 1130 and I would like to have the tv do any upscaling, so should I be selecting all 4 formats on the 8300? Thanks for any help with my confusion.

Is this correct? The installer selected only 480i and 1080i on my box. I have a pioneer 1130 and I would like to have the tv do any upscaling, so should I be selecting all 4 formats on the 8300? Thanks for any help with my confusion.
Think about it. Standard definition is usually 480i, with some standard def - coming to the cableco from SAT - being 480p. Hi-def channels are either 720p or 1080i. If the box only outputs 480i and 1080i, what's happening with the other sources?

Yeah, there has to be something *in* the signal that the recorder reads and honors. The 8300HD isn't doing it because it doesn't know what's on the other end of that S-Video cable.It's one or the other of the Macrovision Analog Protection Systems (http://www.eff.org/IP/DMCA/Macrovision_v_321Studios/20030320_Macrovision_APS.pdf). The DMCA outlawed the sale of video recording equipment which does not sense these and refuse to copy video treated with them, so all recently manufactured equipment conforms to that. Probably all DVD recorders, since I don't think that any were manufactured pre-DMCA--I could be wrong about that.

One of the cable standards requires Macrovision AGC to be applied to analog output of secure digital content. I can't remember which one--certainly ANSI/SCTE 41 (http://www.scte.org/documents/pdf/ANSISCTE412004.pdf) does (the POD/CableCARD Copy Protection System spec), explicitly and in detail. Since all boxes leased by cable companies are supposed to use CableCARDs eventually, those will have to comply to that. I'm not sure whether there are other specs that require it.

I think that the cable providers were applying these signals to subscription content prior to any Federal regulation requiring them to do so.

I have an rca 26 lcd and I have tried to use the dvi connection on the tv and I bought a hdmi to dvi connector and the picture does not fill the screen in non hd mode(it does with an hd channel) and the picture with the hd seems to be condensed. Example is if you are watching espn hd the bottom line is up higher and the espn logo is up and to the left. My tv has no adjustment for the dvi inputs, it does for the component. Anyone aware of this problem. By the way I have called my cable provider and they referred me to the tv manufacture. Called the Tv manufacture and they told me it was a cable issue.

It's one or the other of the Macrovision Analog Protection Systems (http://www.eff.org/IP/DMCA/Macrovision_v_321Studios/20030320_Macrovision_APS.pdf). The DMCA outlawed the sale of video recording equipment which does not sense these and refuse to copy video treated with them, so all recently manufactured equipment conforms to that. Probably all DVD recorders, since I don't think that any were manufactured pre-DMCA--I could be wrong about that.

I forgot about Macrovision. I was thinking it was the STB throwing up the warning and not the recorder. Falls into place now.

Is this correct? The installer selected only 480i and 1080i on my box. I have a pioneer 1130 and I would like to have the tv do any upscaling, so should I be selecting all 4 formats on the 8300? Thanks for any help with my confusion.

In the end it doesn't really matter what the installer said. It's your TV, you can decide which formats look better and how the TV treats the signal.

Has anyone else tried an external sata drive with an 8300, TWC (I'm in Manhattan) and Passport (software version ending in .12) ?

One poster here says it works and yet other posts indicate it doesn't.

Let's get a definitive answer.

Does anybody else get chunks of black squares when first turning TV on? I've got 8300 DVR w/HDMI and Passport on panny plasma. If we hit the 'guide' or change the channel, then change back, it will go away and otherwise picture is perfect. I don't know if it's the STB that's doing this, but the black area kind of looks like the shape of the 'guide'.

Does anybody else get chunks of black squares when first turning TV on? I've got 8300 DVR w/HDMI and Passport on panny plasma. If we hit the 'guide' or change the channel, then change back, it will go away and otherwise picture is perfect. I don't know if it's the STB that's doing this, but the black area kind of looks like the shape of the 'guide'.

Does anybody else get chunks of black squares when first turning TV on? I've got 8300 DVR w/HDMI and Passport on panny plasma. If we hit the 'guide' or change the channel, then change back, it will go away and otherwise picture is perfect. I don't know if it's the STB that's doing this, but the black area kind of looks like the shape of the 'guide'.

Yeah, I got that when I first received my DVR less than a month ago. It went away though and I don't know what caused it. One thing I changed in the setup menu was the resolutions. I selected 720p and 1080i only whereas I used to have all 4 resolutions selected. You might try that and see if that helps.

Yeah, I got that when I first received my DVR less than a month ago. It went away though and I don't know what caused it. One thing I changed in the setup menu was the resolutions. I selected 720p and 1080i only whereas I used to have all 4 resolutions selected. You might try that and see if that helps.

Thanks Scott. Dumb question -- will that affect the standard 480 resolution if I change to those settings?

I get that black "L" shape too and don't know why. I don't recall if hitting "Guide" twice makes it go away or not but changing the channel definitely does.

Thanks Scott. Dumb question -- will that affect the standard 480 resolution if I change to those settings?

Yes, it'll upconvert the 480i and 480p signals then.

I get that black "L" shape too and don't know why. I don't recall if hitting "Guide" twice makes it go away or not but changing the channel definitely does.

I get the same when turning the box on. Hitting guide twice or changing the channel removes it. PITA!

I get that black "L" shape too and don't know why. I don't recall if hitting "Guide" twice makes it go away or not but changing the channel definitely does.

Are you connected via HDMI?? If so it is most likely the area where the box was displaying the 'your display isnt HDCP compiant' message while your tv was off. Connecting with component instead of HDMI should get rid of it. Hopefully they will get the HDMI stuff fixed at some point... but im not holding my breath.

In fact, the first time I ever saw it was the first time I turned it on .... when I replaced my component cables with a DVI-to-HDMI cable.

Has anyone else tried an external sata drive with an 8300, TWC (I'm in Manhattan) and Passport (software version ending in .12) ?

One poster here says it works and yet other posts indicate it doesn't.

Let's get a definitive answer.
There is a definitive answer; it's NO.

Check out this thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=5277957&&#post5277957).

There is a definitive answer; it's NO.

Check out this thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=5277957&&#post5277957).pepar, it'd be nice of you to be more specific than a link to the top of a twelve-hundred post thread. galen is the one guy running a Passport Echo box who has had the anomalous experience of getting an SATA drive to work, though it seems to break some key functionality (no trick-play buffer, I believe). His saga in that thread begins here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6844859&&#post6844859), about 80 posts from the end.

ive read the posts and cant find this answer so if its here and i didnt find it im sorry.

has TWC made all the outputs on the 8000hd dvr active or is it still just the componet? The reason is ask is because i just sold my dlp and will be without an hdtv for a few weeks until my new tv arrives. do i need to get a new box or can i make this box somehow work on a non hdtv? thanks.

ive read the posts and cant find this answer so if its here and i didnt find it im sorry.

has TWC made all the outputs on the 8000hd dvr active or is it still just the componet? The reason is ask is because i just sold my dlp and will be without an hdtv for a few weeks until my new tv arrives. do i need to get a new box or can i make this box somehow work on a non hdtv? thanks.

in my area the only thing active was component. They were still waiting to implement the HDCP over DVI last time I heard. With the 8300HD now available with fully functioning video output over HDMI and composite I doubt they will ever bother. RF might work, I never tried that option with the 8000. If it does or doesn't someone here will probably know.


From SciAtl.com:

When will the DVI port on my Explorer 8000HD be activated?
The software which will activate the DVI port with HDCP is currently being tested. It will be made available to cable operators upon completion of the testing. This software will be automatically downloaded to your set-top by your Cable Operator. Expected availability is early 2005. :rolleyes:

The HDMI and always on composite output to VCR is one of the best reasons to get the 8300 unit.

so composite is on in the 8300. if i get it i could use those outputs until my new tv gets here right?

You can get the 8000HD to output composite SD material. It just did it over the same ports as Component, so you could not have both. Should be in the first post about how to change back and forth. If not search the thread, I think it was brought up about 20 pages ago.

v/r,
C-F

You'd think the box would have some sort of fail-safe mode, like RF *always* working. I know many did the toggle between HD mode and SD mode (some keypress combination of the front-panel buttons) to get the composite or S-Video or RF outputs to work. Problem is, when you power the box off, it reverts to HD mode.

You can also try connection a composite video cable (yellow) to the bottom component output of the 8x00HD. It's labeled "Y/V" and is also in line with "Out 1 (TV)" connections.

so even if i dont swiych to SD mode using the front buttons i can just use the Y out and it will work??

You'd think the box would have some sort of fail-safe mode, like RF *always* working. I know many did the toggle between HD mode and SD mode (some keypress combination of the front-panel buttons) to get the composite or S-Video or RF outputs to work. Problem is, when you power the box off, it reverts to HD mode.

You can also try connection a composite video cable (yellow) to the bottom component output of the 8x00HD. It's labeled "Y/V" and is also in line with "Out 1 (TV)" connections.Actually i'm now using my old SA8000HD in "SD Mode" and it stays in that mode when i turn it off or even when i reboot it.

In HD mode only the Component output is active, and in SD mode only the Composite/S-Vid and RF output are active.

Am I imagining things or did it not used to act the way I described ?? Maybe a software update since then -- it was a long time ago -- fixed that.

I remember something like that also. Some got it stuck in SD and some got stuck in HD, and sometimes when switching, the boxes flip back and forth like it is a reflex tester. There was some funny business about two ways to switch modes - how to get it to permanently switch vice a one time until reboot (for archiving off to VCR). But that was long ago and I think it involved sacrifice or planetary alignment business...

v/r,
C-F

so even if i dont switch to SD mode using the front buttons i can just use the Y out and it will work??Nope. I've tried it after every software upgrade to see if maybe it's been activated, but no. I wanted to send a signal to a small TV on a desk across the room but it has never worked in HD mode, not even with ver 2.5.027

Using your Time Warner remote turn on the cable first and then the TV, this works for me. No more black squares.

Using your Time Warner remote turn on the cable first and then the TV, this works for me. No more black squares.

Thanks. Do we know definitely what causes it?

Using your Time Warner remote turn on the cable first and then the TV, this works for me. No more black squares. If you're hooked up with DVI or HDMI, you'll likely get the "your device is not HDCP compliant" message if you do it that way.

I'm using an HDMI cable and it works just fine. If you try turning on the cable and TV at
the same time using the system button on the remote you will get the black square. If
you turn the TV on first then the cable you will also get the black square.
First put on the cable and then the TV and there will be no problem.

It may vary by TV, but I MUST turn my TV on else I get the HDCP compliant message.

In my case, I turn on the TV and let it signal the cable box via HDMI that it should turn on. No black squares this way. I also do not turn the cable box off. It turns off on its own after the TV is off for a period of time.

That said, I am experiencing the flashing on/off picture. Is the concensus that it's a problem with the box and the only fix is to swap it out?

Thanks.

Brad

I'm using an HDMI cable and it works just fine. If you try turning on the cable and TV at
the same time using the system button on the remote you will get the black square. If
you turn the TV on first then the cable you will also get the black square.
First put on the cable and then the TV and there will be no problem.

Not me. I never turn off the cable box.

When I turn on the TV I get the black square.

If you're hooked up with DVI or HDMI, you'll likely get the "your device is not HDCP compliant" message if you do it that way.

I never had this problem no matter which order I turn on tv or cable box.

Tried to search this thread but it's huge and figured someone could give me a quick answer. I used to have a SA8000HD with Passport software (not sure of the version)...two things that annoyed me about it was that you couldn't start from the beginning of a show that was currently recording without rewinding. Also, when watching a show that was still recording, when the show would end in real time, it'd kick you out of watching the recorded portion. Have either of these changed in the SA8300HD/Passport model?

Tried to search this thread but it's huge and figured someone could give me a quick answer. I used to have a SA8000HD with Passport software (not sure of the version)...two things that annoyed me about it was that you couldn't start from the beginning of a show that was currently recording without rewinding. Also, when watching a show that was still recording, when the show would end in real time, it'd kick you out of watching the recorded portion. Have either of these changed in the SA8300HD/Passport model?

I have the 8300HD and SD and have not see any of those 2 problems. I believe they where fixed awhile back. I just received a software update this morning from my CO and of course it F* up the SD 8300. It took them 3 hours to fix it. I wonder what was changed. It would be great it SA would release notes on what was fixed in the differant software versions...

Tried to search this thread but it's huge and figured someone could give me a quick answer. I used to have a SA8000HD with Passport software (not sure of the version)...two things that annoyed me about it was that you couldn't start from the beginning of a show that was currently recording without rewinding. Also, when watching a show that was still recording, when the show would end in real time, it'd kick you out of watching the recorded portion. Have either of these changed in the SA8300HD/Passport model?

On my SA8300HD (as well as my previous SD version) you CAN start from the beginning of show in the middle of recording.

And it never kicks you out of watching the recorded portion.

However, the one PITA thing is that if you switch channels while a program is recording, you HAVE to go back to the beginning to watch the original show -- it won't pick up where you left off until after the program has stopped recording. So I sometimes will stop the recording at a convenient place (commercial/half time) so I can have a unit recorded that will let me come and go as I please, and just start a new recording for the rest of the show. PITA with series recording, of course.

Tried to search this thread but it's huge and figured someone could give me a quick answer. I used to have a SA8000HD with Passport software (not sure of the version)...two things that annoyed me about it was that you couldn't start from the beginning of a show that was currently recording without rewinding. Also, when watching a show that was still recording, when the show would end in real time, it'd kick you out of watching the recorded portion. Have either of these changed in the SA8300HD/Passport model?

I'm pretty sure you are confused. I've had an 8000 or 8300 for a couple of years now, and I've never had these problems. The problems that you mention are well known problems with the SARA version of these boxes, but not the PASSPORT version. If you're really on PASSPORT, you'll have no problem. If you are actually on SARA, I think these problems were very recently fixed, but the latest version has not been rolled out to many end users yet.

-barry

I'm pretty sure you are confused. I've had an 8000 or 8300 for a couple of years now, and I've never had these problems. The problems that you mention are well known problems with the SARA version of these boxes, but not the PASSPORT version. If you're really on PASSPORT, you'll have no problem. If you are actually on SARA, I think these problems were very recently fixed, but the latest version has not been rolled out to many end users yet.

-barry

You might be right...I had the 8000HD about a year ago and ditched it because of these issues and also had constant audio dropouts (cable guy couldn't fix). It might have been the SARA software...for some reason I had the Passport in my head.

You might be right...I had the 8000HD about a year ago and ditched it because of these issues and also had constant audio dropouts (cable guy couldn't fix). It might have been the SARA software...for some reason I had the Passport in my head.


Well, the "constant audio dropouts" sure sounds like my Passport 8000HD! :mad: :rolleyes:
I think you're right about which one you had -- ours (Time Warner Passport version in San Diego) had similar quirks for a while before uploading new firmware versions.

On my SA8300HD (as well as my previous SD version) you CAN start from the beginning of show in the middle of recording.

And it never kicks you out of watching the recorded portion.

However, the one PITA thing is that if you switch channels while a program is recording, you HAVE to go back to the beginning to watch the original show -- it won't pick up where you left off until after the program has stopped recording. So I sometimes will stop the recording at a convenient place (commercial/half time) so I can have a unit recorded that will let me come and go as I please, and just start a new recording for the rest of the show. PITA with series recording, of course.

I use the 15min skip when this happens to quickly get to a spot around where I left off and then use FF or RW to get to the exact spot. Not perfect, but very quick and easy. Just in case you don't know, hit FF then the right-arrow from the menu navigation keys for 15 min skip FF. Then use stop, play, pause, FF, etc. like normal. Works the same with rewind.

The post above does not execute a real 15 minute skip. It is actually a "skip to tic" command. This moves the play position to the next tic mark on the bar indicator across the bottom of the screen, which of course could be just a few minutes to the next tic mark, depending on where you are when executing the first one.

Why this is undocumented by SA is beyond me, as it is fairly handy. Maybe they could just add another two buttons to the remote, since it could always use a few more.

I just bought a Panasonic TH42PX50U and live in NYC and have Time Warner Cable. I have the SA 8300 HD DVR box.

I am just not satisfied with my SD PQ. Yes I know SD sucks compared to HD and I know that if the source sucks there isn't much you can do about it. I have hooked up the STB to my TV using component cables.

First of all I have to use the STB to stretch 4:3 SD material. In settings: more settings menu I have chosen my TV to be widescreen. Now if I choose sidebar 4:3 material and let my tv stretch it there will still be sidebars. To fill the screen I have my tv's aspect ratio set to Just and the STB to widescreen 16:9; stretch 4:3.

Is this correct. Is there any other way for my TV and not the STB to stretch the content? I have tried everything and it doesn't seem like you can

I am also constantly fiddling with the video output. First off, chossing 1080i makes even 720p content look better. Also, I have read that passing through the signal for the TV to handle is the best but it seems to me just enabling 1080i only seems to have better PQ than enabling 480p, 480, and 720p.

What should a newbie like me do. I just wish there was more HD content.

The post above does not execute a real 15 minute skip. It is actually a "skip to tic" command. This moves the play position to the next tic mark on the bar indicator across the bottom of the screen, which of course could be just a few minutes to the next tic mark, depending on where you are when executing the first one.

Why this is undocumented by SA is beyond me, as it is fairly handy. Maybe they could just add another two buttons to the remote, since it could always use a few more.
The Passport Echo "Getting Started" guide describes this and other features,
except for calling it SKIP BACKWARD and SKIP FORWARD,
without any description of stopping on each 0:15 minute boundary:
http://www.pioneerdigital.com/
http://www.pioneerdigital.com/passportecho/passportecho.asp

First of all I have to use the STB to stretch 4:3 SD material. In settings: more settings menu I have chosen my TV to be widescreen. Now if I choose sidebar 4:3 material and let my tv stretch it there will still be sidebars. To fill the screen I have my tv's aspect ratio set to Just and the STB to widescreen 16:9; stretch 4:3.

Is this correct. Is there any other way for my TV and not the STB to stretch the content? I have tried everything and it doesn't seem like you can

I am also constantly fiddling with the video output. First off, chossing 1080i makes even 720p content look better. Also, I have read that passing through the signal for the TV to handle is the best but it seems to me just enabling 1080i only seems to have better PQ than enabling 480p, 480, and 720p.

What should a newbie like me do. I just wish there was more HD content.
All TVs differ (I guess). I have a Sony and the STB set to 4:3 and let the TV size it. The Sony is set to zoom, and I positioned the Vertical location so that most bottom scrolling by networks appears. I don't like the side bars, while others may not care. All HD appears correctly as 16:9, and only the SD gets "zoomed" to fill the screen.

I use either 720P or 1080i (only) and I'm comfortable with the result. I mainly use 720P since the Sony's native resolution apparently is 768. Lastly, I have both Component and HDMI working, and there is minor to no difference in PQ between them.

No calibration, etc., just my eyes and tweakings to suit myself.

I have TWC and 8300HD DVR running Passport 1.8.112. I'm new to all this so how do I "do" or "get to" the pass thru setting?

I just bought a Panasonic TH42PX50U and live in NYC and have Time Warner Cable. I have the SA 8300 HD DVR box.

I am just not satisfied with my SD PQ. Yes I know SD sucks compared to HD and I know that if the source sucks there isn't much you can do about it. I have hooked up the STB to my TV using component cables.

First of all I have to use the STB to stretch 4:3 SD material. In settings: more settings menu I have chosen my TV to be widescreen. Now if I choose sidebar 4:3 material and let my tv stretch it there will still be sidebars. To fill the screen I have my tv's aspect ratio set to Just and the STB to widescreen 16:9; stretch 4:3.

Is this correct. Is there any other way for my TV and not the STB to stretch the content? I have tried everything and it doesn't seem like you can
Or you could just not stretch it at all. First of all, you are taking what limited resolution there is and making it worse by spreading it over more screen space. And secondly, 4:3 material is intended to be that and only that: 4:3. Do you like disproportionate people and objects? Is a distorted, but filled 16:9 screen better than a correct, but unfilled screen? If you answer the former, than why do we have 16:9 displays? So we can watch material the way the maker intended is my answer. So, then what's up with stretchng 4:3? We don't stretch 2.35:1 to fill our 1.78:1 displays, do we?

What should a newbie like me do. I just wish there was more HD content.
Welcome to the club.

I have TWC and 8300HD DVR running Passport 1.8.112. I'm new to all this so how do I "do" or "get to" the pass thru setting?Welcome. HDMI or Component? With component (3 cables G,R,B) you select each resolution your display/TV can handle; or not, sometimes it will look better or act less annoying-ly with some of them not selected. Settings, then More Settings, and scroll down till you find something like page 10 of the guide posted 4 posts above by holl_ands. WIth HDMI or HDMI/DVI there is generally a Kabuki dance involved; read up - there is lots of discussion on this issue here...

The first post has a bunch of tips, you can search each thread (with the "Thread Tools" in the upper right of the posting area) as well as the general forum search.

v/r,
C-F

Welcome. HDMI or Component? With component (3 cables G,R,B) you select each resolution your display/TV can handle; or not, sometimes it will look better or act less annoying-ly with some of them not selected. Settings, then More Settings, and scroll down till you find something like page 10 of the guide posted 4 posts above by holl_ands. WIth HDMI or HDMI/DVI there is generally a Kabuki dance involved; read up - there is lots of discussion on this issue here...
Understatement, C-F, but very sound advice. :)

If I select output of only 1080i, (and let my display do any up/down converting) will the 8300 record the signal as hidef even though the content is 480 or 720? Don't want to fill up the drive too fast if that's the case. Thanks for your help.

If I select output of only 1080i, (and let my display do any up/down converting) will the 8300 record the signal as hidef even though the content is 480 or 720? Don't want to fill up the drive too fast if that's the case. Thanks for your help.
If you select only 1080i, the 8300 will scale everything that is NOT already 1080i. Irregardless of the output resolutions selected, it will record programs in their native resolutions. The only way YOU can affect how fast the drive fills is to record lower resolution material, and that's no fun.

If I select output of only 1080i, (and let my display do any up/down converting) will the 8300 record the signal as hidef even though the content is 480 or 720? The key word there is *output*. That only affects what it ends up showing you. The box records the incoming signal in it's original, native format. In fact, I don't think the box is capable at all of re-encoding material. Actually, I'm positive it's not. You can record 1080i, 720p, 480p, and 480i and output it in any of those format. Yes, you can output 1080i material in 480i format... :confused:

That's what I thought.....

I don't know if its me, or if there is something wrong.

I have a SA8300HD DVR box(made 9/14/05 Rev 2.2) hooked up to a Toshiba 46HM95(kept in natural setting) via HDMI.

1- When using the RC video source button to adjust aspect ratio on SD channels, I get a row of black bars and than another row of gray in 4:3. When I use stretch or zoom, it just takes away the inner grey row but still leaves the black.
Is this right?
Also, where is the bypass button it says in the menu after you hit video source on RC?

2- My HD channels sometimes flicker red and blue. Sometimes, some channels will only come with audio, during this, I cant pull up guide or info from box. I can only change channel without picture.
Anyone experience this?

My setting on the box is--
Aspect Ratio--Widescreen : Stretch 4:3
Outport Format--All of them
Audio--Digital Out HDMI

I don't know if its me, or if there is something wrong.

I have a SA8300HD DVR box(made 9/14/05 Rev 2.2) hooked up to a Toshiba 46HM95(kept in natural setting) via HDMI.

1- When using the RC video source button to adjust aspect ratio on SD channels, I get a row of black bars and than another row of gray in 4:3. When I use stretch or zoom, it just takes away the inner grey row but still leaves the black.
Is this right?
Also, where is the bypass button it says in the menu after you hit video source on RC?

2- My HD channels sometimes flicker red and blue. Sometimes, some channels will only come with audio, during this, I cant pull up guide or info from box. I can only change channel without picture.
Anyone experience this?

My setting on the box is--
Aspect Ratio--Widescreen : Stretch 4:3
Outport Format--All of them
Audio--Digital Out HDMI
Is there a seting to "tell" your display whether the source is 16:9 or 4:3?

Just for grins I sent my local TWC (Akron/Canton NEO) an e-mail last Friday asking a couple of questions. The following is the dialog that occured:

MY questions:
"1. When will TWC NEO have the HD National Geographic channel available?

2. What are the planned NEW HD channels and when will they be available?

3. When will SATA software for external hard drives be installed in my 8300HD box?"

First response from TWC:
"Thank you for taking the time to contact us with your thoughts on cable programming.

Your views will play a significant role in determining future changes to our programming line-up. In addition to letters and phone calls like yours, Time Warner Cable regularly conducts surveys of customers locally to identify what's popular - and what's not. We then use that information in negotiating with programmers to obtain new programming for the best possible price. If the value of the channel matches the price, we will then consider adding a new channel.

The addition or deletion of a cable network channel is an important decision at Time Warner Cable. That makes your input on programming even more important to us.

Again, we appreciate the time you have taken to make your suggestion known, and promise to continue our efforts to make your Time Warner Cable service the best value for every dollar you spend.

We do apologize, but the SATA software is not yet available. While I am not aware of any plans to expand in that market, that is not to say that things would not change in the future.

The cornerstone of our philosophy is to provide "excellence in customer service" and we will continue to provide the high quality of service you expect and deserve from Time Warner Cable.

Sincerely,


Your On-Line Time Warner Cable Representative"

My response:
"I asked a very specific question, when will the HD channel for National Geographic channel be available. I also asked what other HD channels you plan to offer.

All I got from you was the "official marketing bull, party line answer". Which is NO ANSWER.

On the subject of SATA. Your 8300HD cable box has the SATA port on the rear panel. The software that Scientific Atlanta offers with the box is called SARA. This software supports SATA. The software TWC decided to use on this box instead is called PASSPORT which does NOT support SATA. There is NO excuse for NOT having an external hard drive using the SATA port.

THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURE / PROGRAMMING OPTION that TWC can add to my 8300HD - SATA."

Final response from TWC:
"Thank you for your email. We always appreciate the opportunity to respond to our customers.

We do apologize, but at this time we do not have a date when National Geographic will be available in High Definition.

At this time we do not have any new High Definition Channel's being added.

The cornerstone of our philosophy has always been to provide "excellence in customer service" and we will continue to provide the high quality of service you expect and deserve from Time Warner Cable.

Sincerely,

Your On-Line Time Warner Cable Representative"


Well that is exactly the response that we all have come to know and love from our cable companies......

Just for grins I sent my local TWC (Akron/Canton NEO) an e-mail last Friday asking a couple of questions. The following is the dialog that occured:

MY questions:
"1. When will TWC NEO have the HD National Geographic channel available?

2. What are the planned NEW HD channels and when will they be available?

3. When will SATA software for external hard drives be installed in my 8300HD box?"

First response from TWC:
The cornerstone of our philosophy is to provide "excellence in customer service" and we will continue to provide the high quality of service you expect and deserve from Time Warner Cable.

Sincerely,

Your On-Line Time Warner Cable Representative"

My response:
"I asked a very specific question, when will the HD channel for National Geographic channel be available. I also asked what other HD channels you plan to offer.

On the subject of SATA. Your 8300HD cable box has the SATA port on the rear panel. The software that Scientific Atlanta offers with the box is called SARA. This software supports SATA. The software TWC decided to use on this box instead is called PASSPORT which does NOT support SATA. There is NO excuse for NOT having an external hard drive using the SATA port.

Final response from TWC:
The cornerstone of our philosophy has always been to provide "excellence in customer service" and we will continue to provide the high quality of service you expect and deserve from Time Warner Cable.

Sincerely,

Your On-Line Time Warner Cable Representative"


Well that is exactly the response that we all have come to know and love from our cable companies......
Their cornerstones should be turned into gravestones.

I wanted to confirm the source of a re-occurring problem, let me know if this sounds right or like something else. It's a Passport 8300 box with, I think version .112 (might have been .111 but I am guessing that isn't key info here).

Every now and then, an HD recording will momentarily "stutter", meaning it will pixellate and drop sound for just a split second if that long. Now, some HD does this a lot and I understand that it is the compression the provider is using. However, certain things, like movies on HBOHD and SHOHD don't do this, except *maybe* once a movie and look great, overall. The fact that it only happens once in the whole movie (and not really in a predictable place) is the one thing that gives me doubt about it being the compression since I would think that would be somewhat consistent.

What do you all think ?

joepic:
RE: Changing to SARA. That is not something that a cable system can easily do. The system utilizes many pieces of equipment (both in the cable company facilities and in the customer homes) that are designed to work with specific software. Much of this equipment would have to be changed to switch from Passport to SARA. It's sort of like suddenly switching the official language in the US from English to Spanish.

The right question to ask (but don't expect an intelligent answer) is "when will my SA8300HD be able to use the external drive that Scientific Atlanta discusses in their on-line User's Guide?"

I wanted to confirm the source of a re-occurring problem, let me know if this sounds right or like something else. It's a Passport 8300 box with, I think version .112 (might have been .111 but I am guessing that isn't key info here).

Every now and then, an HD recording will momentarily "stutter", meaning it will pixellate and drop sound for just a split second if that long. Now, some HD does this a lot and I understand that it is the compression the provider is using. However, certain things, like movies on HBOHD and SHOHD don't do this, except *maybe* once a movie and look great, overall. The fact that it only happens once in the whole movie (and not really in a predictable place) is the one thing that gives me doubt about it being the compression since I would think that would be somewhat consistent.

What do you all think ?

That is not so much compression - but rather the fact that HD is digital and what you are seeing is a momentary loss of the digital signal (think of it as equivalent of snow). The 8300HD is somewhat sensitive to signal level and what you are seeing is the typical result of a low signal level (though a high signal can cause problems too). It is likely that the frequency of the channels showing this problem are higher than the frequency of HBO (you can't tell by the "channel number") and are at a lower level - making them more susceptible. The answer is to have cable come out and check for proper levels and do what they need to (new cable, amplifier, etc.) to correct the problem.

joepic:
RE: Changing to SARA. That is not something that a cable system can easily do. The system utilizes many pieces of equipment (both in the cable company facilities and in the customer homes) that are designed to work with specific software. Much of this equipment would have to be changed to switch from Passport to SARA. It's sort of like suddenly switching the official language in the US from English to Spanish.

The right question to ask (but don't expect an intelligent answer) is "when will my SA8300HD be able to use the external drive that Scientific Atlanta discusses in their on-line User's Guide?"


Thanks for your input.

I am well aware of the differences between SARA and PASSPORT software and that my TWC has PASSPORT. I was just trying to get some kind of response to indicate that they might be planning to upgrade the PASSPORT software in my 8300HD.

Thanks for your input.

I am well aware of the differences between SARA and PASSPORT software and that my TWC has PASSPORT. I was just trying to get some kind of response to indicate that they might be planning to upgrade the PASSPORT software in my 8300HD.
Good luck, joepic. :) Let us know how that goes!

joepic:
RE: Changing to SARA. That is not something that a cable system can easily do. The system utilizes many pieces of equipment (both in the cable company facilities and in the customer homes) that are designed to work with specific software. Much of this equipment would have to be changed to switch from Passport to SARA. It's sort of like suddenly switching the official language in the US from English to Spanish.

The right question to ask (but don't expect an intelligent answer) is "when will my SA8300HD be able to use the external drive that Scientific Atlanta discusses in their on-line User's Guide?"

Well Dave, took your advice & I just asked that very question to Brighthouse Cable less than 10 min. ago. The so-called tech support person did not know the answer, and had not heard a peep of when (if ever) they would be updating the PassPort OS. You're right..."don't expect an intelligent answer".

Well Dave, took your advice & I just asked that very question to Brighthouse Cable less than 10 min. ago. The so-called tech support person did not know the answer, and had not heard a peep of when (if ever) they would be updating the PassPort OS. You're right..."don't expect an intelligent answer".
You would need to get to the person that RUNS tech support to have a ghost of a chance at getting an answer.

You probably have to go higher than tech support for answers to questions like these. Tech support only deals with *current* setups of hardware and software. They don't deal with something that might not be available for 6 months or a year or never.

For answers to these questions, you'd need to deal with ENGINEERING.

Engineering is probably the best department for this info, but It's possible that there is nobody in all of Time Warner who knows the answer!

It is a two part answer:
1. When will PASSPORT release the support?
2. When will Time Warner (in your area) distribute the PASSPORT release mentioned above?

Time Warner may have estimates on #1, but they probably don't know in detail. And #2 will probably not even be discussed until #1 has happened (or at least is imminent).

-barry

I wanted to confirm the source of a re-occurring problem, let me know if this sounds right or like something else. It's a Passport 8300 box with, I think version .112 (might have been .111 but I am guessing that isn't key info here).

Every now and then, an HD recording will momentarily "stutter", meaning it will pixellate and drop sound for just a split second if that long. Now, some HD does this a lot and I understand that it is the compression the provider is using. However, certain things, like movies on HBOHD and SHOHD don't do this, except *maybe* once a movie and look great, overall. The fact that it only happens once in the whole movie (and not really in a predictable place) is the one thing that gives me doubt about it being the compression since I would think that would be somewhat consistent.

What do you all think ?
Kel,
I'm in Chapel Hill and have recently returned to cable after 9 years with satellite. I've had four boxes in two weeks and had a new line run to my house. I've seen pixelization with all the boxes. The picture breakup has occurred on SD and HD. The latest box, a new 8300HD DVR seems to have minimized the problem. My experience suggests that this may be a problem endemic to TWC here in the Triangle.

I have a minor problem that maybe someone can help me with. I have the SA8300HD stb connected to a Toshiba 30" TV. When I want to copy shows to my VCR and the stb is connected to the TV by the HDMI cable I must leave the TV on while copying. If I change to component cables I can turn the TV off while copying. I was told that I can have both the component and HDMI cables attached at the same time and just switch the input source on thw TV when copying. This does not seem to work for me, when all cables are attached and I switch from HDMI to component I get a black screen.

I have a minor problem that maybe someone can help me with. I have the SA8300HD stb connected to a Toshiba 30" TV. When I want to copy shows to my VCR and the stb is connected to the TV by the HDMI cable I must leave the TV on while copying. If I change to component cables I can turn the TV off while copying. I was told that I can have both the component and HDMI cables attached at the same time and just switch the input source on thw TV when copying. This does not seem to work for me, when all cables are attached and I switch from HDMI to component I get a black screen.
If HDMI is connected, irregardless of other connections, the box will expect an HDCP handshake from the display. Absent the handshake, the box will output nothing except the HDCP warning.

Hey, gang. Long time lurker, first time poster.

First of all, I finally bit the bullet and traded my 8000HD for a 8300HD. For the most part, I'm very happy with the new features I'm experiencing (and the dropped recordings that I'm not!).

My first question is, sometimes, on the front panel of the box itself, it displays the output formats (1080i, 720p, 480p, 480i), in dedicated little lights above the clock. Other times, it doesn't. But everything displays properly on the HDTV itself. I can tell because when I switch channels to a new display format, I get a bit of a flicker on the TV and the format (say, 480p for a digital SD channel) shows up on the upper left hand corner of my TV display. Does anyone know why these front panel lights are "active" sometimes and sometimes not? (I have the 8300HD connected by component cables directly to my Hitachi RP HDTV.)

This leads to my second question. Sometimes, when I'm switching to channels (curiously most often to cable channel 4, a 480p broadcast of WSOC here in Charlotte), the screen goes gray; then I when I change to another 480p channel, that channel is gray (though the 480i channels shows up); then, suddenly, the box will reboot. Weird, huh? Anyone else experience anything similar to this?

This his happening almost every day now. At first I thought it was the TV, but my OTA antenna picks up everything (all formats, including HD) just fine.

Thanks.

Charles

Hey, gang. Long time lurker, first time poster.

First of all, I finally bit the bullet and traded my 8000HD for a 8300HD. For the most part, I'm very happy with the new features I'm experiencing (and the dropped recordings that I'm not!).

My first question is, sometimes, on the front panel of the box itself, it displays the output formats (1080i, 720p, 480p, 480i), in dedicated little lights above the clock. Other times, it doesn't. But everything displays properly on the HDTV itself. I can tell because when I switch channels to a new display format, I get a bit of a flicker on the TV and the format (say, 480p for a digital SD channel) shows up on the upper left hand corner of my TV display. Does anyone know why these front panel lights are "active" sometimes and sometimes not? (I have the 8300HD connected by component cables directly to my Hitachi RP HDTV.)

This leads to my second question. Sometimes, when I'm switching to channels (curiously most often to cable channel 4, a 480p broadcast of WSOC here in Charlotte), the screen goes gray; then I when I change to another 480p channel, that channel is gray (though the 480i channels shows up); then, suddenly, the box will reboot. Weird, huh? Anyone else experience anything similar to this?

This his happening almost every day now. At first I thought it was the TV, but my OTA antenna picks up everything (all formats, including HD) just fine.If the box is rebooting when changing channels then something is wrong with it and it probably needs to be replaced. My 8300HD never reboots and doesn't do the things yours is doing.

I get the "Grey screen of death" every so often. Generally I have not bothered too much with it and reboot it. I believe I only get it when the box attempts to do too many things at once, or has been doing yeoman's work with my wife's (sometimes 10 per day) court / food / sewing shows. I have no verified, tested examples - just my recollections that I have seen it when recording an HD program, and ending view of an HD program with the delete option, while the buffer was on another channel.

v/r,
C-F

Well my 8300HD continues to very occasionally go completely wonky on me. Much as I indicated in my mid-November post I've had another incident of "whatever you recorded is now gone and now stuff you already watched and erased has reappeared in your index."

I am going to try to (very soon) watch everything and then get to a point where I immediately call TWC Raleigh for a replacement the next time ANYTHING weird happens as no one on this forum (or anywhere else I've seen) indicated they've had this happen. I must have a bad unit or a unit that likes to periodically go bad.

It's very frustrating. This time I lost CSI: NY from last week, and got back My Name is Earl and about 3 daily shows and a colbert report. Of course, it's just the names in the index, the shows aren't really there.

Just in case you haven't thought of it: for an extra $9.00 or so, you can rent an additional box for a month, and give yourself an entire month to watch stuff on the old box while recording stuff on the new one.

-barry

Any thoughts on my first question -- i.e., why sometimes the "480p" "720p" "1080i" lights on the front panel of the box are on, and other times they're not?

Thanks.


...
My first question is, sometimes, on the front panel of the box itself, it displays the output formats (1080i, 720p, 480p, 480i), in dedicated little lights above the clock. Other times, it doesn't. But everything displays properly on the HDTV itself. I can tell because when I switch channels to a new display format, I get a bit of a flicker on the TV and the format (say, 480p for a digital SD channel) shows up on the upper left hand corner of my TV display. Does anyone know why these front panel lights are "active" sometimes and sometimes not? (I have the 8300HD connected by component cables directly to my Hitachi RP HDTV.)
...

Just in case you haven't thought of it: for an extra $9.00 or so, you can rent an additional box for a month, and give yourself an entire month to watch stuff on the old box while recording stuff on the new one.

-barry

And if you return your original box before the month is over, you will only be charged a fraction of that fee.

I asked Pioneer about adding SATA support to Passport Echo:



Dear Mr. Norris

Thank you for your inquiry regard Passport echo. I am happy to address your question. Unfortunately, we do not have a firm date for SATA-Drive support, but there will be a press release about the availability once it is ready for commercial deployment. You are not alone in your anticipation of this feature and it is something that we are working closely with various hardware vendors to develop.

Thank you for you inquiry,

Dan LaJoie
Marketing Manager
Aptiv Digital, Inc. (formally Pioneer Digital Technologies)
2210 W. Olive Ave
Burbank, CA 91506
818.295.6832
818.295.6797 (fax)

Kel,
I'm in Chapel Hill and have recently returned to cable after 9 years with satellite. I've had four boxes in two weeks and had a new line run to my house. I've seen pixelization with all the boxes. The picture breakup has occurred on SD and HD. The latest box, a new 8300HD DVR seems to have minimized the problem. My experience suggests that this may be a problem endemic to TWC here in the Triangle.

I'm also in Chapel Hill and have had TWC digital for 4 years and HD for the 1.5 years. While I've had occasional periods when there is pixelation, it is by no means the norm. I have two SA8300HD boxes and they work very well. When I've had periods of irregular reception, it has always turned out to be something wrong in the outside plant or headend. The only exception was when I had the coax running thru a surge surpressor, which created a lot of picture breakup. If you are using a surge surpressor on your coax, try taking it out of the loop. It made an instant difference for me.

Any thoughts on my first question -- i.e., why sometimes the "480p" "720p" "1080i" lights on the front panel of the box are on, and other times they're not?

Thanks.

The little lights indicate format of source channel. They are allways on. I would suggest to change the box's output format to 1080i ony and see how that goes.

I asked Pioneer about adding SATA support to Passport Echo:



Dear Mr. Norris

Thank you for your inquiry regard Passport echo. I am happy to address your question. Unfortunately, we do not have a firm date for SATA-Drive support, but there will be a press release about the availability once it is ready for commercial deployment. You are not alone in your anticipation of this feature and it is something that we are working closely with various hardware vendors to develop.

Thank you for you inquiry,

Dan LaJoie
Marketing Manager
Aptiv Digital, Inc. (formally Pioneer Digital Technologies)
2210 W. Olive Ave
Burbank, CA 91506
818.295.6832
818.295.6797 (fax)
This is consistent with what I've been told by my provider's dir of technical operations, but he goes one step further and projects Passport Echo SATA support by 3/31. This is pushed back from the previously projected "12/15 - 12/31." We'll see.

It's been said before, but is worth noting again; the availability of Passport SATA support from Aptiv Digital in NO WAY means any particular cable provider will implement it immediately, soon or EVER. YMMV.

I have the following equipment and the following problems.

A one-week old SA 8300 HD STB from Time Warner NYC
A one week old KDL-V40XBR1 Bravia LCD HDTV from Sony
A several years old Tivo (I don’t know the model number)


PROBLEM 1
My coaxial cable goes into the STB and the signal goes out via the HDMI output into the TV’s HDMI input, but I get no video or audio. The TV does seem to detect the connection, though, because I do not get the message “no connection detected” which I do get when selecting other TV inputs. When I use the coaxial output from the STB to the antenna input on the TV, I get audio and video for all channels, including the HD channels. In short I can use the coaxial connection between the STB and the TV but not the HDMI connection. How do I get the HDMI to work? Is this a problem with my TV or my STB? (I have a subscription with TW for their HDTV service, so it should not be an issue of needing an upgrade of my level of service).


PROBLEM 2
Tivo successfully recorded and played back utilizing my new STB and TV for sevaeral days, but Tivo now generates the error message that it cannot display live TV. Tivo apparently is receiving no audio or video signal from the STB, but the STB is working to the extent that I can watch live TV via the coaxial connection to the STB.. I have tried rebooting the STB and Tivo, but the problem persists.

Try connecting your 8300 to your TV with component (and composite left/right). Rule out a problem with the HDMI connection.... Of course then it's finding out if the cable is bad, the output on the 8300 or the input on your TV.

I'm also in Chapel Hill and have had TWC digital for 4 years and HD for the 1.5 years. While I've had occasional periods when there is pixelation, it is by no means the norm. I have two SA8300HD boxes and they work very well. When I've had periods of irregular reception, it has always turned out to be something wrong in the outside plant or headend. The only exception was when I had the coax running thru a surge surpressor, which created a lot of picture breakup. If you are using a surge surpressor on your coax, try taking it out of the loop. It made an instant difference for me.

Thanks for the information. I am running the coax through a surge protector. I've seen the problem with and without the surge protector, but I'll give it another try with the new box straight through.

In some areas, TWC does not have the HDMI port activated. This may be your problem. Watching High Def content via the coax connection is almost shameful. Hook the TV up to the STB via COMPONENT VIDEO (3 cables) and L+R Audio. You'll be amazed! Configure the 8300HD to output 480i, 720p, and 1080i. This will allow the Bravia to scale the images to its native resolution.

Next, why not ditch the TIVO and get the DVR version of the 8300HD. Who wants to watch Standard Definition recorded TV? The HD DVR works well, and it will simplify the number of connections you need. It is also cheaper than Tivo.



I have the following equipment and the following problems.

A one-week old SA 8300 HD STB from Time Warner NYC
A one week old KDL-V40XBR1 Bravia LCD HDTV from Sony
A several years old Tivo (I don’t know the model number)


PROBLEM 1
My coaxial cable goes into the STB and the signal goes out via the HDMI output into the TV’s HDMI input, but I get no video or audio. The TV does seem to detect the connection, though, because I do not get the message “no connection detected” which I do get when selecting other TV inputs. When I use the coaxial output from the STB to the antenna input on the TV, I get audio and video for all channels, including the HD channels. In short I can use the coaxial connection between the STB and the TV but not the HDMI connection. How do I get the HDMI to work? Is this a problem with my TV or my STB? (I have a subscription with TW for their HDTV service, so it should not be an issue of needing an upgrade of my level of service).


PROBLEM 2
Tivo successfully recorded and played back utilizing my new STB and TV for sevaeral days, but Tivo now generates the error message that it cannot display live TV. Tivo apparently is receiving no audio or video signal from the STB, but the STB is working to the extent that I can watch live TV via the coaxial connection to the STB.. I have tried rebooting the STB and Tivo, but the problem persists.

How do I get the HDMI to work? Is this a problem with my TV or my STB? (I have a subscription with TW for their HDTV service, so it should not be an issue of needing an upgrade of my level of service).

search this thread for HDMI and see what pops up. The HDMI output is a bit particular about what it connects to and how it's powered on. Somewhere in here somebody mentioned powering up the TV then the STB or vice versa, I forget exactly.

Your version of Passport may have something to do with the functionality as well. I think there maybe a correlation between the two.

The little lights indicate format of source channel. They are allways on. I would suggest to change the box's output format to 1080i ony and see how that goes.
I have an 8300HD that I've had for over a year and on mine only the format of each particular channel is displayed, not all of them. My brother and a friend of mine both have boxes they've only had for a couple of months and their's show all the lights, all the time. I've confirmed that my friend's box has the same software revisions as mine so I'm not sure why there's a difference in the display.

I have an 8300HD that I've had for over a year and on mine only the format of each particular channel is displayed, not all of them. My brother and a friend of mine both have boxes they've only had for a couple of months and their's show all the lights, all the time. I've confirmed that my friend's box has the same software revisions as mine so I'm not sure why there's a difference in the display.

And mine show all the lights I've set up in "Settings" "More Settings" some of the time, and none of the lights some of the time. And when the latter occurs, I can still change channels between different output formats (e.g., 720p for Fox HD, 1080i for CBS HD, 480p for standard def (digital) stations). So it's not like it's stuck on one format output.

Therefore, for me, it's not as simple as being "allways on" and "indicat[ing] the format of the source channel." But judging by the responses, everybody gets their own special quirks.

I have found that when the lights come on, it's just a day or so away from doing the "grey screen on channel 4 reboot." So I just pre-emptively reboot, and that seems to give me a few days of respite. Rebooting, by the way, doesn't give a consistent result -- again, sometimes the lights are on, sometimes not.

Anyway, thanks for the feedback. I'll wait a couple of days before queuing up my next question.

Charles C

Just in case anyone else runs into this situation...

I was struggling to obtain audio at all when using HDMI to link my SA8300 (Passport /TWC in Manhattan) and my Sharp Aquos LC45-GD5U, although video was fine. :confused:

I had looked at the Settings --> More Settings --> Audio Digital Out config of the SA8300 when connected via component and only seen "2 Channel" and "Dolby Digital". Of course when you go back in with the HDMI connected it shows you HDMI as a third option - Doh! ;) Pity the Passport s/w doesn't show you this as grayed out when no HDMI is connected.

Thanks to all for the informative posts in this great forum.

Alrighty guys, this bug is really starting to tick me off...does anyone in Southern, CA with the new software, have the two channel/dolby digital switching problem. About 5 or 6 times a week, I know I will be watching something in DD5.1 (something on INHD, or DISCHD) and my receiver will say Pro Logic. I'll go into the settings>more on the box and go to audio output, switch it to two channel, then back to DD5.1 and bingo, there is the 5.1. I just had TW swap out my 8300 on Thurs., it is brand new and the problem still exists...is anyone else having this problem and who do I get in touch with to tell them about this and that it needs to be fixed pronto. Thanks!

I had the same issues Im pretty sure. I just got a new receiver, and noticed that it was only showing the source as L/R Stereo, when I knew it wasnt. I thought receiver was bad. Went to check 8300 Audio Out settings, and it showed Digital, I switch to 2 Channel, then back again to Digital, and the receiver started to show the correct input source type!

Yep! That is the same problem I am having and it is reassuring to know that it isn't my equipment...they need to know about this problem...isn't there an Aptiv digital tech that pops his head in here from time to time??? Everyone else chime in, and we need to contact them...

Same problem here in Cincinnati on both SA8300's.

I have the same problem in Queens, N.Y. In addition, my son has the same problem with his SA8300HD in Brooklyn. Also I sometimes lose 16:9 on HD channels and I get more 4:3 lateral squeeze on SD channels requiring a reboot which fixes the problem. This box is definitely not ready for prime time.

Alrighty guys, this bug is really starting to tick me off...does anyone in Southern, CA with the new software, have the two channel/dolby digital switching problem. About 5 or 6 times a week, I know I will be watching something in DD5.1 (something on INHD, or DISCHD) and my receiver will say Pro Logic. I'll go into the settings>more on the box and go to audio output, switch it to two channel, then back to DD5.1 and bingo, there is the 5.1. I just had TW swap out my 8300 on Thurs., it is brand new and the problem still exists...is anyone else having this problem and who do I get in touch with to tell them about this and that it needs to be fixed pronto. Thanks!

Same problem in Raleigh, NC

I've only had the DD switching problem on a couple of occasions. I have my Harmony 880 set to switch to and from DD whenever the receiver is powered on or off, so the box is forced to select and output DD everytime I use the receiver.

This means that I can watch TV late at night and when I'm just browsing using HDMI output and automatically set DD whenever I'm in for a long haul of TV.

I saw this problem *once*, immediately after my area rolled out 1.8.112 but never again. Until "slickshoes" brought it back up, it's been quite a while since anyone in this thread has mentioned it. Have people just been living with it and saying nothing ?? I find that hard to believe... :D

Since many are still running 1.8.112 and not seeing it, I wonder if there was something configurable at the head-end that "fixes" this ??

Same problem in Raleigh, NC

Same problem here in Cary NC!

My guess is that this is a problem that was once fixed and has cropped back up in the new software version 2.5.027 that we got a couple months ago...

Well my 8300HD continues to very occasionally go completely wonky on me. Much as I indicated in my mid-November post I've had another incident of "whatever you recorded is now gone and now stuff you already watched and erased has reappeared in your index."

I am going to try to (very soon) watch everything and then get to a point where I immediately call TWC Raleigh for a replacement the next time ANYTHING weird happens as no one on this forum (or anywhere else I've seen) indicated they've had this happen. I must have a bad unit or a unit that likes to periodically go bad.

It's very frustrating. This time I lost CSI: NY from last week, and got back My Name is Earl and about 3 daily shows and a colbert report. Of course, it's just the names in the index, the shows aren't really there.
Try forcing a reboot on a more frequent (nightly?) basis. Do your program watching for the night, then each night before you go to bed (assuming you're not taping anything at that time), hold down the power button until it says "boot" and let it reboot. I bet this will solve most of your problems.

Scott

Have people just been living with it and saying nothing ?? I find that hard to believe... :D

Since many are still running 1.8.112 and not seeing it, I wonder if there was something configurable at the head-end that "fixes" this ??

Believe it. It's definitely a problem here in NYC -- TWC's largest division. I have two 8300HDs (one connected HDMI + coax audio, the other component + optical audio), and both have to be reset several times a week to restore DD 5.1. But that's a lot easier than even attempting to find someone at TWCNYC capable of understanding, much less resolving, the 1.8.112 audio bug.

It's been said before, but is worth noting again; the availability of Passport SATA support from Aptiv Digital in NO WAY means any particular cable provider will implement it immediately, soon or EVER.


APTIV must supply the software before we can start applying pressure to our local TWC cable companies. :)

So GO APTIV win this GAME for the gipper and the all of the coach potatoe cable viewers :p

OK EVERYONE...i did it...I FINALLY CRACKED....I COULDNT TAKE the HANDSHAKE CRAP anymore with the POS SA8300HD box and the VIZIO P50 on HDMI...ALONG WITH 480i and 480p NOT WORKING...so ive done like PDAWG and gone back to COMPONENT...this really ticks me off because whats the point in having HDMI components and INPUTS if you CANT USE EM...god i HATE this INDUSTRY. maybe ill try again if and when i EVER get new firmware downloaded from TIME WARNER morons.

OK EVERYONE...i did it...I FINALLY CRACKED....I COULDNT TAKE the HANDSHAKE CRAP anymore with the POS SA8300HD box and the VIZIO P50 on HDMI...ALONG WITH 480i and 480p NOT WORKING...so ive done like PDAWG and gone back to COMPONENT...this really ticks me off because whats the point in having HDMI components and INPUTS if you CANT USE EM...god i HATE this INDUSTRY. maybe ill try again if and when i EVER get new firmware downloaded from TIME WARNER morons.


you sure it's not a HDCP problem with the TV input ? :D

2 weeks ago I got software 2.5.041 and now both my boxes (SD and HD) are rebooting them selves at least once per day. The SD box usaually does it 3 times per day. The HD box records stuff but them when you play it back the screen is just blank and eventually the box reboots. I also can not longer select 480P on the HD box. I was able to before the software update but not now. Can't wait until the TiVo Series 3 comes out!

Hi, everyone. I'm considering a switch to the 8300 w/passport, and I've been reading through the posts on this thread for info. There's one thing I wanted to clarify: for any channel that broadcasts in 4:3, it sounds like the 8300 sends gray bars to pilarbox the picture into a 16:9 signal for a widescreen TV. Am I understanding that correctly? Is there any way around that besides stretching the image at the TV to hide the bars? I really, really don't want gray bars, and I want a stretched image even less. Is there no way to just tell the box to let the signal pass through as 4:3, and let my tv do the rest? Said another way, if I tell the box that I have a widescreen TV, will it always output in 16:9?

Thanks for the info,
Phil

P.S. I understand the exception for SD programming on HD channels, where the broadcaster adds its own black bars to fill out the picture to 16:9.

Hi, everyone. I'm considering a switch to the 8300 w/passport, and I've been reading through the posts on this thread for info. There's one thing I wanted to clarify: for any channel that broadcasts in 4:3, it sounds like the 8300 sends gray bars to pilarbox the picture into a 16:9 signal for a widescreen TV. Am I understanding that correctly? Is there any way around that besides stretching the image at the TV to hide the bars? I really, really don't want gray bars, and I want a stretched image even less. Is there no way to just tell the box to let the signal pass through as 4:3, and let my tv do the rest? Said another way, if I tell the box that I have a widescreen TV, will it always output in 16:9?

Thanks for the info,
Phil

P.S. I understand the exception for SD programming on HD channels, where the broadcaster adds its own black bars to fill out the picture to 16:9.
I have mine set on 16:9, 4:3 zoom. That works for me.

I have mine set on 16:9, 4:3 zoom. That works for me.

Is that the workaround mentioned elsewhere on this thread where you stretch the 4:3 image on the DVR and then pinch it back to 4:3 on the TV? Or do you just watch it stretched?

Is that the workaround mentioned elsewhere on this thread where you stretch the 4:3 image on the DVR and then pinch it back to 4:3 on the TV? Or do you just watch it stretched?

I watch SD 4:3 zoomed (as opposed to stretched) and HD in 16:9. With the output format of the box set to 16:9, 4:3 zoom this happens automatically. Of course, some HD broadcasts are in 4:3 so you can either watch that with the sidebars or zoom it manually.

I don't understand why anyone would want to stretch - or zoom - a 4:3 picture to "fill" a 16:9 display. Who would stretch or zoom a 2.35:1 image, or even a 1.85:1, to fill a 16:9 display? If the goal is to watch the programming "the way the director intended," then the 4:3 should be 4:3. We're accustomed to bars above and below, we should PREFER side bars to a distorted or incomplete image. :)

I've never tried it, but on my TV, if it's receiving a 16:9 signal (or is it a 720p/1080i signal ??), the TV's picture-resizing functions are disabled. I'm wondering what it will do if I tell the 8300HD to output 480i/480p, 720p, and 1080i and I try and stretch an analog, 4:3 picture...

What do you want, by the way ?? Black bars ?? You want your TV to do the stretching vs the set-top ??

Hi, everyone. I'm considering a switch to the 8300 w/passport, and I've been reading through the posts on this thread for info. There's one thing I wanted to clarify: for any channel that broadcasts in 4:3, it sounds like the 8300 sends gray bars to pilarbox the picture into a 16:9 signal for a widescreen TV. Am I understanding that correctly? Is there any way around that besides stretching the image at the TV to hide the bars? I really, really don't want gray bars, and I want a stretched image even less. Is there no way to just tell the box to let the signal pass through as 4:3, and let my tv do the rest? Said another way, if I tell the box that I have a widescreen TV, will it always output in 16:9?

Thanks for the info,
Phil

P.S. I understand the exception for SD programming on HD channels, where the broadcaster adds its own black bars to fill out the picture to 16:9.

What I do (and this may or may not work on your display) is to set the 4:3 channels to "Stretch" on the 8300. These channels are output at 480p and on my Samsung DLP, I can use the 4:3 picture mode on a 480p signal to shrink the image back to normal size. The samsung puts in black bars so everything looks fine. Obviously if your TV can't insert sidebars on a 480p image or if it inserts gray sidebars, this method won't work for you.

The nice part is that the 8300 retains separate aspect ratio settings for different resolutions. So I leave 720p and 1080i channels on "Sidebar" mode so those aren't stretched unnaturally.

I don't understand why anyone would want to stretch - or zoom - a 4:3 picture to "fill" a 16:9 display. Who would stretch or zoom a 2.35:1 image, or even a 1.85:1, to fill a 16:9 display? If the goal is to watch the programming "the way the director intended," then the 4:3 should be 4:3. We're accustomed to bars above and below, we should PREFER side bars to a distorted or incomplete image. :)

I totally agree, and can't stand to watch a zoomed or stretched image. It just doesn't look at all "natural". Drives me nuts! My sister and her family thinks it's all perfectly fine when watching their Mits Diamond 55"er. Geez, why watch TV where everbody looks like an Alien or a diet contestant on Dr.Phil?

I totally agree, and can't stand to watch a zoomed or stretched image. It just doesn't look at all "natural". Drives me nuts! My sister and her family thinks it's all perfectly fine when watching their Mits Diamond 55"er. Geez, why watch TV where everbody looks like an Alien or a diet contestant on Dr.Phil?I agree: a full, linear stretch of 4:3 material looks awful. I don't know why anyone would prefer to watch something that way. However, some TVs have modes which include excellent proportional-stretch algorithms that result in a very natural-looking picture. My pioneer does a wonderful job and I find watching 4:3 material stretched in this way quite enjoyable. Not all proportional stretches are created equal though; my old Mitsu did a terrible job at it.

I've never tried it, but on my TV, if it's receiving a 16:9 signal (or is it a 720p/1080i signal ??), the TV's picture-resizing functions are disabled. I'm wondering what it will do if I tell the 8300HD to output 480i/480p, 720p, and 1080i and I try and stretch an analog, 4:3 picture...

What do you want, by the way ?? Black bars ?? You want your TV to do the stretching vs the set-top ??
Many displays will only stretch a 480i image, though some may do a 480p as well. I've never encountered any that don't defeat the stretch modes in 720p and 1080i. On my Sony HS20, I get "Full" and "Full Through" on them.

I agree: a full, linear stretch of 4:3 material looks awful. I don't know why anyone would prefer to watch something that way. However, some TVs have modes which include excellent proportional-stretch algorithms that result in a very natural-looking picture. My pioneer does a wonderful job and I find watching 4:3 material stretched in this way quite enjoyable. Not all proportional stretches are created equal though; my old Mitsu did a terrible job at it.
Watch a pan in a proportional stretch mode - especially peoples' faces. Far left they're normal and as the camera pans across, their heads first swell and then shrink back to normal at the other extreme. Blech! This "gotta fill the screen" thinking is just a mental thing. I go back to my question: Do we zoom or stretch - linearly or proportionally - a 2.35:1 image to fill a 16:9 display? NO! To alter a 4:3 image is . . illogical.

I don't understand why anyone would want to stretch - or zoom - a 4:3 picture to "fill" a 16:9 display. Who would stretch or zoom a 2.35:1 image, or even a 1.85:1, to fill a 16:9 display? If the goal is to watch the programming "the way the director intended," then the 4:3 should be 4:3. We're accustomed to bars above and below, we should PREFER side bars to a distorted or incomplete image. :)

I have a plasma tv and I'm concerned about "burn in". Using zoom on 4:3 loses a little picture at the edges, but the picture is proportional.

you sure it's not a HDCP problem with the TV input ? :D
its an hdcp problem between the box and the set. fortunately, the box is such a piece of crap electronics wise, that i get the same picture using component as i do hdmi.

I have a plasma tv and I'm concerned about "burn in". Using zoom on 4:3 loses a little picture at the edges, but the picture is proportional.
Understood. I'm familiar with that concern. Makes sense. Are you concerned about burn-in on the bars above and below a 2.35:1 image and do you stretch it to fill the screen?

its an hdcp problem between the box and the set. fortunately, the box is such a piece of crap electronics wise, that i get the same picture using component as i do hdmi.

Not to "bash" brands: But the Vizio is not a steller brand EITHER ;)

What do you want, by the way ?? Black bars ?? You want your TV to do the stretching vs the set-top ??

I just want black bars and no distortion of the original source. I'm not sure if I can do the stretch-then-squeeze thing with my set, but I'll check into it. Otherwise, I'll probably learn to deal with the gray. It's not the end of the world, of course... I just prefer for the non-viewable portion of the signal to fade gracefully into the background.

.....Are you concerned about burn-in on the bars above and below a 2.35:1 image and do you stretch it to fill the screen?

No, I watch it with the top and bottom bars. My manual for the TV says not to watch more than about 30% with the bars (top, bottom, side or all) or risk burn in. I figure my 2:35:1 viewing is within that threshold.

I have a plasma tv and I'm concerned about "burn in". Using zoom on 4:3 loses a little picture at the edges, but the picture is proportional.Zooming cuts a 9 square unit (4x2.25) piece out of the middle of a 12 square unit (4x3) image, dropping 25% of the scene on the floor, 12.5% off both the top and bottom, but who's counting :)? If it don't bother you and you have an older plasma with a high-susceptibility to burn-in (or you have a new plasma and you're just paranoid), go for it :D!

Stretching and zooming 1.33:1 in a 1.77:1 screen bugs me just as much as panning and scanning and zooming widescreen images in a 1.33:1 screen bugged me. But if I had an inexpensive older plasma or CRT, I'd probably do it anyway.

Blech! This "gotta fill the screen" thinking is just a mental thing. I go back to my question: Do we zoom or stretch - linearly or proportionally - a 2.35:1 image to fill a 16:9 display? NO! To alter a 4:3 image is . . illogical.

Just chiming in to echo the others. I have a plasma display, and am concerned that a substantial amount of content with the same vertical bars will result in burn-in.

And also as mentioned, my Pioneer does an incredibly good job at stretching so the content in the center of frame stays fairly natural while the edges are stretched more. It's a lot of fun to watch news banners in the mode as the accellerate as they get to the edges.

I just want black bars and no distortion of the original source. Sorry, with the 8300HD alone, you can't have both.... :( With SARA, and I swear I've that Passport will have the same someday, you can pick the color of the sidebars. Anyway, everything I've read says that gray is "better" to guard against burn-in than black is.

Many displays will only stretch a 480i image, though some may do a 480p as well. I've never encountered any that don't defeat the stretch modes in 720p and 1080i. Looking at the manual for my Toshiba right now... "You can view 480i and 480p format programs in a variety of picture sizes - Natural, Theatre Wide 1, TW 2, TW 3, and Full. The PICTURE SIZE feature is not available on some program formats (such as 1080i or 720p). Such formats will display in Natural picture size."

I'll have to try playing with that in a bit.

And also as mentioned, my Pioneer does an incredibly good job at stretching so the content in the center of frame stays fairly natural while the edges are stretched more. It's a lot of fun to watch news banners in the mode as the accellerate as they get to the edges.
I'm more amused . . no . . annoyed . . by the heads that accelerate as they get to the edges. :D

......This "gotta fill the screen" thinking is just a mental thing. I go back to my question: Do we zoom or stretch - linearly or proportionally - a 2.35:1 image to fill a 16:9 display? NO! To alter a 4:3 image is . . illogical.

Uh, why is anyone's personal viewing preference logical? Its a personal preference.

Personally, I prefer the zoom and not the bars. In my world, the only one that matters, doing without black or grey bars trumps tolerance for zoomed image.

As for the Director's intent, there are so many factors from source to consumption (most unintended I'm sure) that I doubt that "intent" ever makes it to my eyes. Lastly, where would we critics be without our own opinions about the Directors, there intent, or the skillful eye of the editors?

Uh, why is anyone's personal viewing preference logical? Its a personal preference.
Well, my preferences are always logical. It's everyone else's that are illogical. :)

But you're right. Sometimes our preferences are our preferences without the benefit of conscious thought and consideration. I was just trying to suggest that it made no sense to be so concerned about burn-in on 4:3 displayed on a 16:9 and then not even consider it for 2.35:1 displayed on that same display.

I just went back to TWC after about 7 years with DirecTv. DirecTV is in a transition that will take (most likely) 2 years to complete. (switching over to mpeg4 streams with all new equipment) I'm back with TWC for the HD content. Very happy with that however, now I remember why I left them 7 years ago. Terrible customer relations, terrible tech support (in the field and on the phone), incompetent installers and a real POS DVR. (8300HD) While I was away for 7 years I was under the impression that things at TWC had improved. Boy was I mistaken! Some SD channels have mega interference (not on my end as everyone in the neighborhood has issues with the same channels) A call to TWC about this problem was made. The CSR assured me that a tech would look into the situation in the area. 4 days later, I come home from work and find a tag on my door and a message on my phone informing me that a tech arrived that day and no one was home?????? I was never informed of an (appointment) as I would have been home. I think it's gonna be a long 2years before I go back to DirecTV. I'm sure my dvr's will get at least 150 boot cycles by then judging by the number of times I've had to reboot in the last 2 weeks! "Now anything's possible!" my a@#.
Sorry for the rant, but now I feel a little better as I await the HD Olympics and keep my fingers crossed that the DVR doesn't implode as I'm watching/recording!

Well it looks like my second SA 8300 HD is going back to TWC. Besides the DD 5.1 retention problem it has two new ones: it super compresses the image horizontally on SD and Hd channels until it is corrected by a reboot, and a problem playing back some recorded shows that will not play at all when the "play" option is chosen. In addition the hard drive is noisy! Wish me luck.

. . . Wish me luck.
To late for that; I wish you serenity. :)

I think that I've seen this somewhere but darn if I can find it. Is it possible to set up a recording manually and control the start/stop time. Example: If a show is listed in the guide as being on from 10-11, can I set this show up to record from 10:30-11:30? I know that I can go in and add/remove time from the start time and end time, but can I set it up from scratch with different times than what is in the guide?

You can override the start time to have it start early but you cannot make it start late; you can also override the end time to have it end late but not early.

For example, a show from 10 - 11pm can be changed to start at 9:55 and and at 11:15.

I think that I've seen this somewhere but darn if I can find it. Is it possible to set up a recording manually and control the start/stop time. Example: If a show is listed in the guide as being on from 10-11, can I set this show up to record from 10:30-11:30? I know that I can go in and add/remove time from the start time and end time, but can I set it up from scratch with different times than what is in the guide?
The answer to your question is no. From the program guide, you initially only tell it to "record this show." After doing that you can change times as hall mentions, and space/erase priorities. You can, however, adjust these parameters from the git go when setting up a "record this series" schedule.

Or you can set up a manual recording to start at any time and end at any time, on either an individual basis or on a repeating basis. This is often a good way to deal with shows that start and end one minute before or past the hour, like ER, Desp Housewives and G's Anatomy, if you want to record those shows and some others in the same time slot, but the extra minute creates a conflict.

Or you can set up a manual recording to start at any time and end at any time.................

How do you set up a manual recording? I don't see that as a record option.

How do you set up a manual recording? I don't see that as a record option.
Yes, this'll be news to me as well.

Like most of the interface on the 8300, it's not always clear.

You cannot do it when you have the program guide grid on the screen (for some reason), and you have to use the dedicated "record" button on the remote.

Get to where you are watching a live, not recorded, show. Then press the "record" button (it's one of about 200 buttons on that dreadful remote, so you may have to hunt for it). The menu that pops up under those circumstances says, I think, "record this show" and "create manual recording." I'm pretty sure how that's how it's done, but I'm going from memory here.

From "create manual recording" you can create a one time recording or a repeating recording, and you can select any channel, not just the one you are watching, and you can select any start and stop time you want. If you create a repeating recording, it shows up on the recording manager menu, where you can set the priority.

Like most of the interface on the 8300, it's not always clear.

You cannot do it when you have the program guide grid on the screen (for some reason), and you have to use the dedicated "record" button on the remote.

Get to where you are watching a live, not recorded, show. Then press the "record" button (it's one of about 200 buttons on that dreadful remote, so you may have to hunt for it). The menu that pops up under those circumstances says, I think, "record this show" and "create manual recording." I'm pretty sure how that's how it's done, but I'm going from memory here.

From "create manual recording" you can create a one time recording or a repeating recording, and you can select any channel, not just the one you are watching, and you can select any start and stop time you want. If you create a repeating recording, it shows up on the recording manager menu, where you can set the priority.

OK, that works. I thought that I tried that last night and it didn't offer me a "Create a manual recording" option. Guess I must have missed it. Thanks.

You may have tried it, and didn't get the menu because the 8300 was just not in the mood.

We take the good and the bad with this machine. It has a terrible interface and the world's worst remote, with more buttons on it than an Amish prom dress, but it records HDTV for a few bucks a month, and a good universal remote solves part of the problem, so I just live with the rest.

I've been spoiled by the TiVo interface. Imagine: even more features but no A, B or C button. Just amazing.

Squid99

You make a good point, while we all bemoan the limitations of the 8300, there really aren't any better options (at least for me) at the moment. I shopped around and to get similar functionality through Satellite, I'd have to spend $500 on a DVR that may or may not have all the same issues.

Laying low until HDMI is done correctly in about 5 years:)

This is often a good way to deal with shows that start and end one minute before or past the hour, like ER, Desp Housewives and G's Anatomy, if you want to record those shows and some others in the same time slot, but the extra minute creates a conflict. My guide actually shows ER starting at 9:59pm so I don't have to do anything special to get it recorded. You'd better not have both of the tuners in use up to 10pm though. As you say, it creates a conflict. :( Otherwise, as I noted above, you can force a recording to start early and end late. You just can't force it to start late and end early, i.e. it is just real stubborn at letting you "miss" part of a show.

That one minute thing creates a lot of mysterious conflicts. Of course, recording one show is easy. But to use your ER example, if you have two other shows set to record from 9 to 10 and you have ER set to record every week, then you will miss one of them, depending on which is higher up on the priority list. Finding out why the box does not want to record a regularly scheduled show can be time consuming. For this reason, I don't have ER set to record every week, but created a manual recording from 10 to 11 on that channel for every Thursday. I miss the first minute, which is usually just the "previously on ER" stuff, and maybe a shot of somebody waking up and looking groggy. This lets me set recordings on Thursday from 9 to 10 without all those annoying "conflict" screens.

I can live without the first minute of ER. -- and how much does NBC make from that extra minute? Maybe the show is just as long, and that's an extra ad minute. That's my guess.

Anyway, it's an annoyance.

We take the good and the bad with this machine. It has a terrible interface and the world's worst remote, with more buttons on it than an Amish prom dress, but it records HDTV for a few bucks a month, and a good universal remote solves part of the problem, so I just live with the rest.

I've been spoiled by the TiVo interface. Imagine: even more features but no A, B or C button. Just amazing.

I have zero issues with the Passport interface despite it's flaws. Compared to the Comcast DVR interface (which had in-guide ads from when I last saw it) Passport is slick.

I have no problems with the remote either. I don't use it that often but it's got large tactile buttons and they are spaced quite well - just not logically and it has some rudimentary macro ability. Fine for the average user.

That's assuming you are talking about the UR5-8400.

I I have no problems with the remote either. I don't use it that often but it's got large tactile buttons and they are spaced quite well - just not logically and it has some rudimentary macro ability. Fine for the average user.

That's assuming you are talking about the UR5-8400.

Well I'll tell you what I hate, since you brought it up, I hate the location of the “Live” button. I can’t tell you how many times my paws hit “Live” instead of “Fast Forward” while watching a delayed show (usually any sporting event) ruining the suspense. I wish the rarely needed “Live” button was on the bottom somewhere, out of the way.

Well I'll tell you what I hate, since you brought it up, I hate the location of the “Live” button. I can’t tell you how many times my paws hit “Live” instead of “Fast Forward” while watching a delayed show (usually any sporting event) ruining the suspense. I wish the rarely needed “Live” button was on the bottom somewhere, out of the way.

yep I've done that too. A different shape for those three buttons would work better. And more space between them and the transport controls. What can you expect for a couple of dollars a month though?

It's our own fault for being to cocky, and using the remote by feel rather than the "hunt and peck" techinque of the less tech-savvy users. Like my mom. Takes her a while to find the button but she gets the correct one in the end.

I have an SA8300HD, a Samsung DLP TV, and a brand new Onkyo A/V receiver that does HDMI switching. I have TW cable in Cincinnati, OH using passport software.

If I plug my 8300 directly into my TV via HDMI, it works fine. But if I go through my new receiver, I either get nothing or a message telling me that my TV is not HDCP compliant and I should hook it up via component. Obviously that is not the case since I can do a direct connect. It appears from some things I've read in the forums is that people are having issues getting the proper handshake when using an A/V receiver or their boxes simply don't like it for one reason or another.

Oh, one more thing. I know it can't simply be the A/V receiver. I have a Samsung HD941 scaling DVD player and it works fine sending the video through the receiver.

Does anyone have a clue what I can do to make this work? Anyone having success getting an 8300 to work through an A/V receiver?

Real quick guys I forgot to tell you, a couple weeks ago when the Time Warner dude came by and swapped my 8300, he said that they are testing a new box right now that is smaller and has a larger hard drive, those were the only details he could give me, but is there another SA box that is down the pipe? The only ones I found on SA's website was the IPTV boxes, which may be what he was referring to...

http://scientificatlanta.com/products/customers/images_subscriber/IPN603MCG.jpg

I have an SA8300HD, a Samsung DLP TV, and a brand new Onkyo A/V receiver that does HDMI switching. I have TW cable in Cincinnati, OH using passport software.

If I plug my 8300 directly into my TV via HDMI, it works fine. But if I go through my new receiver, I either get nothing or a message telling me that my TV is not HDCP compliant and I should hook it up via component. Obviously that is not the case since I can do a direct connect. It appears from some things I've read in the forums is that people are having issues getting the proper handshake when using an A/V receiver or their boxes simply don't like it for one reason or another.

Oh, one more thing. I know it can't simply be the A/V receiver. I have a Samsung HD941 scaling DVD player and it works fine sending the video through the receiver.

Does anyone have a clue what I can do to make this work? Anyone having success getting an 8300 to work through an A/V receiver?
FWIW, I'm using an HDMI-to-DVI cable from my 8300HD running to a DVI switcher (along with a Denon 3910 DVI output) and am successfully switching sources. Every now and then the box will throw up the HDCP warning, but hitting the remore's power button causes it to try the handshake again. It is always successful if that happens.

Real quick guys I forgot to tell you, a couple weeks ago when the Time Warner dude came by and swapped my 8300, he said that they are testing a new box right now that is smaller and has a larger hard drive, those were the only details he could give me, but is there another SA box that is down the pipe? The only ones I found on SA's website was the IPTV boxes, which may be what he was referring to...

Do we really need another new box in the field? Why don't they just get everyone on the same software and hardware for a while before the start playing mix and match with another unit.

I have an SA8300HD, a Samsung DLP TV, and a brand new Onkyo A/V receiver that does HDMI switching. I have TW cable in Cincinnati, OH using passport software.
....................................
Does anyone have a clue what I can do to make this work? Anyone having success getting an 8300 to work through an A/V receiver?

I've run into this problem with a Denon receiver. In this case the Denon is capable of converting component inputs to HDMI out as well as HDMI inputs to component out. The Denon tech that I talked to explained that because of the conversion function (particularly the HDMI to Composite), that the Denon receiver has to be in control. However, the Scientific Atlanta AND ALL OTHER HD CABLE BOXES (including Motorola) will not relinquish control - thus the cable box would not send a signal to the Denon. Could be the same issue here. Switches are just that, and do not have to exert control - so they work fine.

Solution in my guys case was to run component to the Denon form the cable box, run HDMI to the Denon from his DVD player and run HDMI to the display (a Panny Plasma).

Do we really need another new box in the field? Why don't they just get everyone on the same software and hardware for a while before the start playing mix and match with another unit.
Actually, there is no "they" - even amongst the "national" cable companies, the different divisions are playing variations on a theme. And then there are the smaller, regional cablecos. Perhaps you'd like Microsoft to buy all the cable companies and unite them?

Do we really need another new box in the field? Why don't they just get everyone on the same software and hardware for a while before the start playing mix and match with another unit.
hell yes we need a new box...the one they have now is a piece of crap...i need to start calling time warner here in akron to find out when and if i can get this new box. we were one of the first systems in the country to get roadrunner 9 years ago...maybe we'll be one of the first to get this new box.

hell yes we need a new box...the one they have now is a piece of crap...i need to start calling time warner here in akron to find out when and if i can get this new box. we were one of the first systems in the country to get roadrunner 9 years ago...maybe we'll be one of the first to get this new box.

every model that comes out is a piece of crap apparently. What makes you think another SA box will be better?

I've had no significant problems with my current HD unit. HDMI is fine, drive is quiet, does what it says on the tin ... judging by the fact that a lot of people are still using the 8000 as well they don't have a problem with that one either.

A quick question for you guys: How do you shut off that ****** conflict alarm once it has gone off? Last night it came on when I was recording House and Criminal Minds at the same time. The only way I could get rid of it was a reboot!

Today I exchanged my SA 8300HD for the following reasons: 1. I could not play some shows in my List no matter how many times I tried. It would always revert to the Live broadcast. 2. Sometimes it would not scale HD 16:9 HD content to fill the screen and SD was also shrunk laterally. This was corrected by a reboot. 3.DD 5.1 setting not retained. 4. Various lockups and spontaneous reboots. 5.Noisy hard drive.6. Disappearing recorded programs on my List.
The new box was manufactured Jan. 6,2006 so I may have better luck this time.

A few quick questions - sorry if answered already - didn't have time to read 90 pages of msgs!

1. I have the 8000HD but am considering trading up to the 8300HD IF I can use the SATA interface to store shows on an external HD. I've seen posts that seem to indicate this is not possible with TWC/Passport - is this true?
2. DVI vs HDMI? Sorry for the newbie-type question. I have a Sony Grand Wega 42-inch and I believe it's using the HDMI port. Does this not work on the 8300HD?

Thanks much to all of you previous posters - your comments are much appreciated !
Mike

A few quick questions - sorry if answered already - didn't have time to read 90 pages of msgs! There is a seach function.... The answers to your questions are "it depends", plain and simple. Actually, I no of NO ONE who uses Passport that has working SATA. Some people claim that their HDMI is disabled, but this is definitely a per location thing. HDMI works on *my* box.

A few quick questions - sorry if answered already - didn't have time to read 90 pages of msgs!

1. I have the 8000HD but am considering trading up to the 8300HD IF I can use the SATA interface to store shows on an external HD. I've seen posts that seem to indicate this is not possible with TWC/Passport - is this true?
2. DVI vs HDMI? Sorry for the newbie-type question. I have a Sony Grand Wega 42-inch and I believe it's using the HDMI port. Does this not work on the 8300HD?
1. eSATA is not functional on Passport-equipped boxes.
2. The 8300HD's HDMI works as good as any other STB's HDMI. For further and deeper information on that, we're gonna make you search. It won't be hard. :)

There is a seach function....
Come on, hall, how are we going to increase our post count if we don't keep re-answering the same questions? :D

Passport & external eSATA drive: Not yet.

8300HD + Sony HDMI in - OK (but maybe not through an external device - such as an HDMI switching Receiver).

But never hurts to upgrade from 8000HD to 8300HD anyway.

1. eSATA is not functinal on Passport-equipped boxes.
2. The 8300HD's HDMI works as good as any other STB's HDMI. For further and deeper information on that, we're gonna make you search. It won't be hard. :)


Come on, hall, how are we going to increase our post count if we don't keep re-answering the same questions? :D

OK, I'll help then.

So what's the benefit of increasing the post count? Is there a prize? ;)

Yeah!

A free car.

What do you think we are all doing here???

Yeah!

A free car.

What do you think we are all doing here???
A car??? He77, I thought it was a perfectly working A/V system . . .

That was considered, but perfectly working A/V systems are far too rare and expensive to just give away, whereas perfectly working cars are readily available at any [insert your favorite Manufacturer name here] dealership.

<---In for a diesel...

Got some information from my TW contact regarding SATA support. Most of you should skip this message.....

TW doesn't plan to start testing SATA support until early summer. It also requires Passport Echo 3.x for support.

Now, even though TW will be testing both Passport Echo 3 and SATA support, it doesn't mean that end-users will see it in early summer or even by the end of summer. Further, individual locations do NOT have to upgrade if they choose not to.

Further, individual locations do NOT have to upgrade if they choose not to.
You've got this phrase set up on a macro, don't you?

Anybody Found a solution for a problem between 8300HD and Yamaha receivers (RX-V2200) in my case. I called Yamaha, they couldn't help me. I called SA, they couldn't help me. I called TWCNYC and they couldn't help me... Is there somebody that can?
I cannot watch TV through my Component... works directly to my TV but not through A/V.
RX-V2200 has 60 MHz component video bandwidth. New RX-V2600 has 100 Mhz component video bandwidth (thinking of upgrading, but my wife is against it, of course!)

Could it be that my SA8300HD DVR is outputing more than 60Mhz?

And I DID GOT THROUGH 3 boxes already.... ALL HAVE THE SAME EFFECT. ( and yes I tried bunch of different cables and I did try other component inputs on my Yamaha)

This component setup worked fine when I had DirecTV, Voom, Dish....

You've got this phrase set up on a macro, don't you? Many things seem to get repeated in this thread, don't they ?? :D

Anybody Found a solution for a problem between 8300HD and Yamaha receivers (RX-V2200) in my case. I called Yamaha, they couldn't help me. I called SA, they couldn't help me. I called TWCNYC and they couldn't help me... Is there somebody that can?
I cannot watch TV through my Component... works directly to my Plasma but not through A/V.
RX-V2200 has 60 MHz component video bandwidth. New RX-V2600 has 100 Mhz component video bandwidth (thinking of upgrading, but my wife is against it, of course!)

Could it be that my SA8300HD DVR is outputing more than 60Mhz?

And I DID GOT THROUGH 3 boxes already.... ALL HAVE THE SAME EFFECT. ( and yes I tried bunch of different cables and I did try other component inputs on my Yamaha)
I'm successfully switching component with my Intergra recceiver.

What is the component video bandwidth on your Integra?

knyaz,

I have no problem switching componenet through my Denon receiver but I had to assign the component inputs to the appropriate device (cable box, dvd, etc). Maybe check your receiver's documentation. Good luck.

jkeane,
RX-V2200 has only 2 Component inputs... tried both.. no luck.

Yamaha tech wasn't too helpful

Sorry...don't know anything about the Yamaha but with the Denon, the component inputs are dead until you assign them a device in the menu.

What is the component video bandwidth on your Integra?
50MHz. Have you checked the setup? Inputs need to be assigned.

jkeane,
RX-V2200 has only 2 Component inputs... tried both.. no luck.

Yamaha tech wasn't too helpful

Seems that somewhere on the AVS I read something similar. As I recall, the issue is that the SA8300HD does not have blocking capacitors at it's output AND the Yamaha does not have blocking caps at it's input - the result is the DC level from the SA8300 biases the FET switches in the Yamaha so they can't be turned on.

Solution was an external "box" from someone (not too expensive) or you could build one yourself with parts from Radio Shack. No, I don't know what values of capacitors to use.

I found that post - THANK YOU!
I just placed an order for that switch from AudioAuthority. $34
https://www.audioauthority.com/indexh.php?ret=https://www.audioauthority.com/index.php?p=productMore&iProduct=39

Your welcome. Problem is that this problem comes up infrequently enough that it is tough to remember the exact details (AudioAuthrity in this case).

even though TW will be testing both Passport Echo 3 and SATA support, it doesn't mean that end-users will see it in early summer or even by the end of summer.
Or based upon TW's record, most end-users would be lucky to see it by the end of WINTER.

Anybody Found a solution for a problem between 8300HD and Yamaha receivers (RX-V2200) in my case. I called Yamaha, they couldn't help me. I called SA, they couldn't help me. I called TWCNYC and they couldn't help me... Is there somebody that can?
I cannot watch TV through my Component... works directly to my TV but not through A/V.
RX-V2200 has 60 MHz component video bandwidth. New RX-V2600 has 100 Mhz component video bandwidth (thinking of upgrading, but my wife is against it, of course!)

Could it be that my SA8300HD DVR is outputing more than 60Mhz?

And I DID GOT THROUGH 3 boxes already.... ALL HAVE THE SAME EFFECT. ( and yes I tried bunch of different cables and I did try other component inputs on my Yamaha)

This component setup worked fine when I had DirecTV, Voom, Dish....


I still do not understand why you would want to put your video feed through your A/V receiver. Wouldn't it be better to connect the HD box directly to the TV? Anytime you put another piece of equipment in the video line, you degrade the signal strength at the end. What am I missing here?

I still do not understand why you would want to put your video feed through your A/V receiver. Wouldn't it be better to connect the HD box directly to the TV? Anytime you put another piece of equipment in the video line, you degrade the signal strength at the end. What am I missing here?

Some people only have 1 HDMI input and multiple components with HDMI and don't want to use the component connectors.

I just bought a Onkyo 803 receiver with HDMI switching. My DVD player works fine but my cable box won't play through it. I personally do have a free DVI slot as well so I am fine but not being able to run my cable box. But if I had only 1 HDMI then I have to choose something to run via component.

Some day I will own an hd-dvd or Bluray player and will need the HDMI switching. I prefer direct connects but if you buy quality equipment, I think the loss is minimal if at all.

People make such a big deal about buying $100 cables and doing direct connects. If my cable signal has traveled 100's of miles of wire and passed through numerous switches to get to me am I really that worried about a few feet? Again, I wouldn't necessarily pass my signal through a cheap piece of equipment but if you buy good stuff I think you are okay.

TV manufacturers need to start putting more HDMI slots on their units! At this stage, you are lucky if you get more than one.

Some Sony sets now have 2 HDMI inputs.

the vizio p50hdm has had two HDMI inputs and two components inputs.

I've been having a problem with my SA 8300 DVR in that it will suddenly report that all of the recording space is full (even though it isn't). All functions of the DVR then refuse to work. From another thread, someone suggested a hard reboot (turn off, unplug, hold power switch on front, plug in while holding power switch until "boot" appears on display). I tried this and it worked. However, after a few minutes of watching a prerecorded show, it once again suddenly "filled up" and stopped working. I rebooted it again and it started working, but I'm worried that it will just crash again.

Has anyone else experienced this? What do yoou suggest I do?

Thanks,
wjr

Sounds like the filesystem is royally screwed up. How many shows do you have recorded ?? Can you delete some of them (not all) ??

I'd read the steps on reformatting the HDDs in these boxes but it may only apply to SARA software units, not Passport. Even if it worked, I'm not sure if the box will automatically be set up when you re-connect it to the cable line.

Back to how many shows you have recorded, I might just take it back to TW (or BH ?) and exchange it. In my area, it's literally a no questions asked process.

Found the instructions.... It's labeled "Brighthouse internal memo" too.

- Press 'CBL'
- Press and hold 'PAUSE' until green light on box flashes
- Press 'PAGE -' once
- Press 'LIST' three times

hall,

I've got 6 shows recorded.... way less than"full". Deleting some of them does nothing to fix the problem. By getting a new box, I assume I will lose all of the recorded shows I've currently got stored. I tried transferring the recorded shows to my VCR (an ancient Panasonic), but the picture quality is terrible and the picture is much smaller (surrounded by pretty large black bars on all four sides).
Will reformattting the HDDs delete my recorded shows?

Thanks,
wjr

hall,

By getting a new box, I assume I will lose all of the recorded shows I've currently got stored. . . . Will reformattting the HDDs delete my recorded shows?


Yes, and yes. :(

Does anybody else have problems with accessing On Demand? Half the time when I try to access, say, a particular HBO or SHO show, usually an episode of a show, it says "your program cannot be accessed at this time." In the past with my previous 8300 I'd reboot and sometimes that would fix the problem. Last night with my 8300HD I
couldn't get on SHO or HBO episodes at all. Is this due to volume? This also seems to happen more with show episodes than with movies. (I could access some movies last night, but hardly any show episodes).

I've had Cinemax On Demand not available for days at a time. I've also gotten a similar message that you did. Why ?? I've no idea... Volume could be a reason but as I understand it, On Demand feeds actually come from facilities in our neighborhood, not the headend. That alone will help in cases of high volume.

TWC in NYC (Manhattan)--Is there a way to access the diagnostic pages on a SA8300HD.
I've tried everything I've seen here but I can't get in.

Thanks.

I am very interested if somebody figured out a way of how to get recorded HD content from SA8300HD and play it on PC.
Is it possible at all?

I am very interested if somebody figured out a way of how to get recorded HD content from SA8300HD and play it on PC.
Is it possible at all?
No. it is not.

TWC in NYC (Manhattan)--Is there a way to access the diagnostic pages on a SA8300HD.
I've tried everything I've seen here but I can't get in.

Thanks.
Try it again. Simultaneously press and hold EXIT and SELECT until you hear a xylophone-like sound and see DIAG on your Passport-equipped 8300HD. (You do have Passport, don't you?) Then release the buttons and press them again. You will see a brief display of "611" on the box display and the diagnostic/info screen on your TV. Pressing channel up and down on the box or the remote will scroll through the various screens.

or just directly enter "611" using the remote. dont need to go through all the other rigamaroar.

Try it again. Simultaneously press and hold EXIT and SELECT until you hear a xylophone-like sound and see DIAG on your Passport-equipped 8300HD. (You do have Passport, don't you?) Then release the buttons and press them again. You will see a brief display of "611" on the box display and the diagnostic/info screen on your TV. Pressing channel up and down on the box or the remote will scroll through the various screens.


The method for accessing Diagnostics mode on the 8300HD with Passport is NOT uniform from one cable system to another. Only the first sentence of this instruction is valid for TWCNYC, the inquirer's system. The correct method:

TWCNYC 8300HD Diagnostics Menus (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7001279&&#post7001279)

or just directly enter "611" using the remote. dont need to go through all the other rigamaroar.

Channel 611 on TWCNYC is the Music Channel "Rock" channel. Nice listening for some, but it won't get anyone to Diagnostics.

Try it again. Simultaneously press and hold EXIT and SELECT until you hear a xylophone-like sound and see DIAG on your Passport-equipped 8300HD. (You do have Passport, don't you?) Then release the buttons and press them again. You will see a brief display of "611" on the box display and the diagnostic/info screen on your TV. Pressing channel up and down on the box or the remote will scroll through the various screens.

Thank you. That got me to the screen !

or just directly enter "611" using the remote.
Not on my box. Six-one-one is not a channel offered by my provider so upon entering the second "1", I get three dashes and then the display reverts to the present channel.

The method for accessing Diagnostics mode on the 8300HD with Passport is NOT uniform from one cable system to another. Only the first sentence of this instruction is valid for TWCNYC, the inquirer's system.
And what would your comment be now that my method worked for him? :)

Thank you. That got me to the screen !
De nada. :)

And what would your comment be now that my method worked for him? :)

I admit my error: Only part of your first sentence was accurate (about which 2 buttons to push). The rest of it and all of the second half of your instructions aren't: no xylophone sound, no Ch. 611, and pressing the Channel Up and Down buttons while in Diagnostics in TWCNYC-land closes down Diagnostics completely.

Try it again. Simultaneously press and hold EXIT and SELECT until you hear a xylophone-like sound and see DIAG on your Passport-equipped 8300HD. (You do have Passport, don't you?) Then release the buttons and press them again. You will see a brief display of "611" on the box display and the diagnostic/info screen on your TV. Pressing channel up and down on the box or the remote will scroll through the various screens.

That did not work for me on my 8300HD (TWCNYC). ??

I admit my error: Only part of your first sentence was accurate (about which 2 buttons to push). The rest of it and all of the second half of your instructions aren't: no xylophone sound, no Ch. 611, and pressing the Channel Up and Down buttons while in Diagnostics in TWCNYC-land closes down Diagnostics completely.
Hmmm, that's exactly the way it worked on my box when I did it just before posting. Perhaps that's the difference between cable systems you mentioned. Anyway, ZMike was able to accomplish his goal. :)

That did not work for me on my 8300HD (TWCNYC). ??
Manatus has the baton on this issue.

That did not work for me on my 8300HD (TWCNYC). ??

Extending pepar's instruction, the box must be ON when you push the buttons.

Guys, there are many different ways that you get to 'diag' mode with the 8x00 boxes. Some divisions have a dedicated channel that you can tune to at any time. That channel number varies by division too. I'm pretty sure that holding SELECT and EXIT until you hear a 'ding' tone, releasing both buttons, then pressing EXIT once is universal across all systems though. When you do this, the box automatically changes channels to the appropriate one again, for each division.

Yet another thing the 8300HD does wrong. We were recording and watching the Olympics live. During that broadcast, we decided to watch a couple hours of another show we had previously recorded. After that show had finished, we went to our recordings list and selected the Olympics -- but it would only allow us to rewind to the beginning of the hour "watching live" buffer! Even turning off the unit and turning it back on wouldn't fix this -- selecting the Olympics would always go to the live recording and not let us rewind prior to the hour buffer.

Stopping the recording and restarting it immediately let us actually get at our recording, but in the process we, of course, saw some of the Olympics results we'd avoided seeing all day.

Bring on the HD Tivo! I'll be first in line. The 8300HD is TERRIBLE.