Oh, and then when we restarted in recording, it mysteriously only recorded for 17 minutes, causing us to miss the last half-hour of coverage. SO frustrating.

Chris:

Your experience with the problem of not being able to watch a recording in progress outside of the current hour is something that has been noted here before. I have had a lot of experience with TiVo, and this really threw me. Maybe SA does not think much of it, because most people don't record shows longer than an hour, but I often record NFL games and other long telecasts, such as the Oscars, with the intent of skipping in and out during the broadcast.

TiVo users have no problem doing this, as TiVo lets you watch a show being recorded, stop it, switch to another program, and switch back again to the same place I left off. The 8300, however, seems to only let you watch the live buffer while the show is being recorded. There are two problems with this. One, it will not bookmark your place when you leave a recording in progress. You always resume from the start. Secondly, you cannot watch anything more remote than the most recent recorded hour, which is really the live buffer.

As a workaround, if I know I will be doing this for a show longer than an hour, say the Oscars, for example, I set up one hour manual recordings, and then just don't bother to check in until an hour is fully recorded. Obviously, there is no technical reason for this limitation, since TiVo has never had it, and it is an annoyance.

Another workaround is to forgo the HiDef altogether, and just use the TiVo for this, which of course is not so great for something like sports games or Olympics.

Maybe someday they will update the software to correct this, but making the interface user friendly does not appear to be much of a priority.

Oh, well.. . .

Although I have not encountered/tested this buffer limit on playback of recordings, the topic comes up fairly often on the SARA threads. Evidently there is a TIVO patent on certain items and I think [playback of a recording in progress] is one. SARA and Passport seem to have taken different tacks on how to skirt the patent, since SARA has different 'features' related to this restriction. Supposedly TIVO has signed a licensing agreement with one or the other - I do not recall which...

v/r,
C-F

As a workaround, if I know I will be doing this for a show longer than an hour, say the Oscars, for example, I set up one hour manual recordings, and then just don't bother to check in until an hour is fully recorded. Obviously, there is no technical reason for this limitation, since TiVo has never had it, and it is an annoyance.

Another workaround is to forgo the HiDef altogether, and just use the TiVo for this, which of course is not so great for something like sports games or Olympics.
There is a simpler workaround. The buffer problem only comes up when the channel being recorded is the active tuner. If your show is recording in the background, you can do chase playback from the beginning of a recorded show no matter how far you go back. For the last several days, I've been leaving my house in the afternoon with the tuner set to CBS, and then I have been able to watch the NBCHD Olympics coverage from the beginning about 3 hours after the recording started. Note that this doesn't work if you are watching a recorded show and want to switch to a currently recording show. It only works if the unit is displaying live TV while recording the show you want to watch delayed in the background.

There is a simpler workaround. The buffer problem only comes up when the channel being recorded is the active tuner. If your show is recording in the background, you can do chase playback from the beginning of a recorded show no matter how far you go back. For the last several days, I've been leaving my house in the afternoon with the tuner set to CBS, and then I have been able to watch the NBCHD Olympics coverage from the beginning about 3 hours after the recording started. Note that this doesn't work if you are watching a recorded show and want to switch to a currently recording show. It only works if the unit is displaying live TV while recording the show you want to watch delayed in the background.
I feel like I should know this, but how can one determine what tuner is doing what?

If you set your box to display the channel instead of the time, then you get the "active" and not the background channel number on the display. You can switch between tuners by using the "swap" command for PIP, even if you are not using PIP at the time. (Be aware that both tuners could be tuned to the same channel, and if this is the case, you might not think there has been a switch of tuners.) Also, the info button will bring up the banner across the bottom with the show title and station info -- this will also give you the active channel. If the show you are watching live is being recorded, I think (but am not sure) that changing channels will swap tuners automatically, unless both tuners are recording different programs. In that case, you can still use the swap button to switch back and forth between them.

The above workaround is interesting and I will mess around with trying that, but I presume that it will not work if two programs are being recorded at the same time. This would make it less useful during "prime time" when simultaneous recordings are more likely, as opposed to Sunday afternoons when, for example, it would be handy for the NFL game. My guess is that bookmarking is not available, which would be something of a pain. This often prompts me to leave an in-progress recording at a 15 minute mark so I can quickly return to my viewing location quickly.

Channel 996 is the diagnostics screen on the SA8300HD on my box. (TWCNYC)

Had an issue with trying to record "Skating with Celebrities" on my Fox HD channel (706). It's in my series manager and did record the program last week, but this week, for unknown reasons, the 'record' light on the front of my 8300HD never came on.

I punched up the LIST button and both the 'A' (recorded) and 'B' (scheduled to record) screens had indicators on showing it was being recorded.

I also saw it marked in my program guide as being recorded (there are no conflicts - it's the only program being recorded on Monday's from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM).

I was watching it live (was that an issue? I've done it before and the program did record), but after 9:00 PM, I tried rewatching it and got nothing but a grey screen. It was showing up in the recorded programs listing. I wound up deleting it.

Anyone else have the same problem?

FYI, this is Time-Warner San Diego, Passport v2.5.041.

I am unable to set more than one output resolution on my 2 TWCNYC SA8300HD STB's.
I go into settings, more settings and can access the screen, but even when I select multiple output settings, only 1080i is remains selected. Am running passport v.1.8.112 on both of my STB's and have the same issue with both. Both use an HDMI to DVI output cable into Syntax Olevia sets (26" and 32" respectively).
Any suggestions?
Thanks

If you set your box to display the channel instead of the time, then you get the "active" and not the background channel number on the display. You can switch between tuners by using the "swap" command for PIP, even if you are not using PIP at the time. (Be aware that both tuners could be tuned to the same channel, and if this is the case, you might not think there has been a switch of tuners.) Also, the info button will bring up the banner across the bottom with the show title and station info -- this will also give you the active channel. If the show you are watching live is being recorded, I think (but am not sure) that changing channels will swap tuners automatically, unless both tuners are recording different programs. In that case, you can still use the swap button to switch back and forth between them.

The above workaround is interesting and I will mess around with trying that, but I presume that it will not work if two programs are being recorded at the same time. This would make it less useful during "prime time" when simultaneous recordings are more likely, as opposed to Sunday afternoons when, for example, it would be handy for the NFL game. My guess is that bookmarking is not available, which would be something of a pain. This often prompts me to leave an in-progress recording at a 15 minute mark so I can quickly return to my viewing location quickly.

You've correctly described how to identify which tuner is doing what and I am pretty sure that you are also correct that the workaround I described only works when one show is recording. It also doesn't work if the box is turned off, BTW. I think that the reason that it works is because there are three bits of logic that the box follows: (1) if the box is on and tuned to a particular channel, and a recording begins, it always records in the background, (2) if you are watching a particular channel (with an associated buffer) and you change channels, you also switch tuners and a new buffer is created on the second tuner for the new channel so that if you switch back to your original channel, the original channel's buffer still exists, and (3) when a recording begins, the buffer for that channel gets flushed. Thus if you are tuned to the recording channel, you can only go back as far as its buffer has data, but if you are tuned to a different channel, and your recording starts in the background (i.e., using the second tuner), the old buffer for that tuner is flushed, but a new one isn't created because a buffer is only created for a background tuner upon a channel change. Because the background recording channel has no buffer, you can start play from the beginning of the recorded show.

If you set your box to display the channel instead of the time, then you get the "active" and not the background channel number on the display. You can switch between tuners by using the "swap" command for PIP, even if you are not using PIP at the time. (Be aware that both tuners could be tuned to the same channel, and if this is the case, you might not think there has been a switch of tuners.) Also, the info button will bring up the banner across the bottom with the show title and station info -- this will also give you the active channel. If the show you are watching live is being recorded, I think (but am not sure) that changing channels will swap tuners automatically, unless both tuners are recording different programs. In that case, you can still use the swap button to switch back and forth between them.

The above workaround is interesting and I will mess around with trying that, but I presume that it will not work if two programs are being recorded at the same time. This would make it less useful during "prime time" when simultaneous recordings are more likely, as opposed to Sunday afternoons when, for example, it would be handy for the NFL game. My guess is that bookmarking is not available, which would be something of a pain. This often prompts me to leave an in-progress recording at a 15 minute mark so I can quickly return to my viewing location quickly.
Whew! I sure am glad my recording and viewing mostly occurs at different times.

(2) if you are watching a particular channel (with an associated buffer) and you change channels, you also switch tuners and a new buffer is created on the second tuner for the new channel so that if you switch back to your original channel, the original channel's buffer still exists,

Interesting observations, especially #2 - didn't realize the box was that "smart"

Wow. Thanks for that info, which will be very helpful to me in seeing what is going on.

It is also the first evidence I have had that the box follow any kind of logic at all.

Interesting observations, especially #2 - didn't realize the box was that "smart"
I forgot to add that that behavior only happens when nothing is recording. If a recording is going on, it is not affected by the channel change which takes place on the non-recording tuner and wipes out all data from before the channel change.

It is also the first evidence I have had that the box follow any kind of logic at all.
Well for a device that is SO annoying in its limitations, when it gets things right, it is pretty good. My favorite thing that it does is that if you have three recordings booked for the same time, if a shorter show has priority over a longer show, it will start recording the longer show from the point where the shorter show ends. Even my ReplayTV couldn't do that. In fact, it was that action that allowed me to find out about this background/foreground stuff worked. I used to record both Leno and Letterman (which both start at 11:35 here in NYC), then I get up and take my kid to school, then come home about 8:30 and have breakfast while trying to watch the Today show (which starts here at 7:00). Since I was starting more than an hour in, I'd always get stuck with the buffer problem. Then The Colbert Report came on the air (at 11:30 here) and I set it to record too, and gave it priority over Leno. That changed everything. Here's what happens now: (1) The set is never tuned to Comedy Central, so The Colbert Report would record starting at 11:30 in the background. (2) at 11:35, Letterman would start recording on the second tuner, and would make the second tuner active and my monitor would start to display CBS. (3) The Colbert Report ends at 12:00, at which time Leno (already in progress) starts to record. CBS remains the active channel. (4) I come home at 8:30, bring up the list, pick Today, hit Play and, viola!, playback starts from the beginning.

Well for a device that is SO annoying in its limitations, when it gets things right, it is pretty good. My favorite thing that it does is that if you have three recordings booked for the same time, if a shorter show has priority over a longer show, it will start recording the longer show from the point where the shorter show ends. Even my ReplayTV couldn't do that.What version of Passport is running on your box? It doesn't work that way on any version that I've used yet (current 2.5.041). I've wanted this feature badly--I have to carefully watch out for instances of Lost running a minute or two longer than an hour, causing it to cancel the entirety of my automatic recording of Law & Order--last night, Skating with the Stars ran 3 minutes extra, pushing House (which I record) out 3 minutes late, causinga conflict with the two things that I was recording on CBS and ABC at 10 which I had to manually tweak.

Do you think this is a configurable item? The TWC-KC version, 1.8.112, did not auto flip the tuners on a channel change in a test last night. I do not think it has routinely, I remember having to remember to carefully swap tuners when I wanted to dual watch channels with rewind capability (stuff too cheesy to record). My conflict resolution works like michaelscott's - one minute over and poof the wife's mad...

v/r,
C-F

What version of Passport is running on your box? It doesn't work that way on any version that I've used yet (current 2.5.041). I've wanted this feature badly--I have to carefully watch out for instances of Lost running a minute or two longer than an hour, causing it to cancel the entirety of my automatic recording of Law & Order--last night, Skating with the Stars ran 3 minutes extra, pushing House (which I record) out 3 minutes late, causinga conflict with the two things that I was recording on CBS and ABC at 10 which I had to manually tweak.
Here in NYC, I've got 1.8.122. I don't know why it works that way for me, but I was very surprized when it happened. I have a very complex setup here and I replaced four ReplayTV units with three 8300HD units and I used to spend a lot of time resolving conflicts on the Replays, and I simply replicated my old settings on the new boxes when I got them. I had so many boxes only because of conflict resolution. When I set things up, I expected that a 3-way conflict would work the same way it did on the Replay with a 2-way conflict: a 1 minute overlap would mean no recording. I deliberately created a conflict where The Colbert Report would override The Tonight Show thinking that Tonight would only record on Fridays (Colbert runs Mon-Thu), and I was blown away when Tonight started recording in progress when Colbert ended. Maybe it has something to do with your settings: All my recordings are "new and repeats", "All Times", "Keep until manually erased", "Record All Episodes."

I just had another thought: Maybe it has something to do with the time a show was scheduled for when you initiated the recording. In other words, if you set up the recording where the show was supposed to run from 9:00 to 10:00 and then it runs to 10:01 instead that creates the a block that results in a show not recording, but if you create a recording where the normal times of the show have a conflict, then it works the other way. Try to replicate my scenario and see what happens: Schedule Letterman, Leno and Colbert to record and move Colbert up on the list so it has priority over Leno and let me know what happens.

I have a second thought: maybe it has something to do with extending the time of a recording as I've noticed that my box does something interesting with extended recordings: I set Cold Case to run an extra hour because the show often starts late because of Football games running long. So Cold Case always records for 2 hours with one exception -- If CBS schedules a repeat on Saturday and there is another CBS show that I record right after it (say CSI), then Cold Case only records for one hour (no extension) and then the other show starts recording at its scheduled time. I assumed that the programmer's thinking was that by extending Cold Case by 1 hour, I was telling the box to record on that specific channel during the period of the 1 hour extension and that it would do so anyway by recording the later show and that I didn't care if the second hour of Cold Case would be part of the recording called Cold Case or the recording called CSI. I raise this point because Comedy Central is pretty loose with having shows start and stop at their scheduled times, so I have set Colbert to record an extra minute long. Perhaps the addition of the extra minute is what allows the 3-way confilct resolution to kick in. That would be a hoot.

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?

The Reson is that I have an Old Panasonic Plasma (Generation 4) - with a single component input. so I have my SA8300HD and my Xbox360 going into Yamaha A/V and then 1 component out to TV.

(plus my TV is on the wall and if I had more than 1 component, running those cables would be a mess - my A/V stand is 25 feet away from the TV)
I also use VGA, S-video and composite on my TV, but that is for other stuff.

does this answer help?

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?

The Reson is that I have an Old Panasonic Plasma (Generation 4) - with a single component input. so I have my SA8300HD and my Xbox360 going into Yamaha A/V and then 1 component out to TV.

(plus my TV is on the wall and if I had more than 1 component, running those cables would be a mess - my A/V stand is 25 feet away from the TV)
I also use VGA, S-video and composite on my TV, but that is for other stuff.

does this answer help?

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.

Does this work on the 8000HD as well? I was just searching trying to find a way to set the box to record Amazing Race on 2/28 when I can't get to it in the Guide yet...(we'll be on vacation so want to set it up now.) Hopefully this is the answer!
Thanks!

Hi -

I live in Manhattan and have a TWC 8300 HD hooked up to a Panasonic TH42PHD8UK plasma. I originally had it hooked up via compoment with no problems. I then switched to HDMI in order to let my DVD player use the component input (my plasma is currently set up with only one HDMI and one component input). Now when I turn the system on, I get a fragmented picture which is correct in some areas but has big black squares and rectangles in place of the picture in many other areas (and sometimes over most of the screen). The problem goes away when I change channels, but it's still a pain and of course I lose whatever the DVR has been automatically recording.

I'm trying to figure out whether to switch back to component, or whether this is something that can be fixed. Has anyone experienced this problem.

My HDMI cable is pretty cheap as well, so perhaps it could be that, but I don't want to buy a more expensive one unless there really is some reason to expect that that will fix the problem.

Many Thanks!

Alex

Hi -

I live in Manhattan and have a TWC 8300 HD hooked up to a Panasonic TH42PHD8UK plasma. I originally had it hooked up via compoment with no problems. I then switched to HDMI in order to let my DVD player use the component input (my plasma is currently set up with only one HDMI and one component input). Now when I turn the system on, I get a fragmented picture which is correct in some areas but has big black squares and rectangles in place of the picture in many other areas (and sometimes over most of the screen). The problem goes away when I change channels, but it's still a pain and of course I lose whatever the DVR has been automatically recording.

I'm trying to figure out whether to switch back to component, or whether this is something that can be fixed. Has anyone experienced this problem.

My HDMI cable is pretty cheap as well, so perhaps it could be that, but I don't want to buy a more expensive one unless there really is some reason to expect that that will fix the problem.

Many Thanks!

Alex

I have your exact same system in Northern Manhattan! Come over for a drink and take a look :)


I started a thread about that -- supposedly it's a common problem, don't panic. Changing channels is the only way, so far, I know how to get rid of it.

here's the thread: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6938333&highlight=black+squares#post6938333

Hi -

I live in Manhattan and have a TWC 8300 HD hooked up to a Panasonic TH42PHD8UK plasma. I originally had it hooked up via compoment with no problems. I then switched to HDMI in order to let my DVD player use the component input (my plasma is currently set up with only one HDMI and one component input). Now when I turn the system on, I get a fragmented picture which is correct in some areas but has big black squares and rectangles in place of the picture in many other areas (and sometimes over most of the screen). The problem goes away when I change channels, but it's still a pain and of course I lose whatever the DVR has been automatically recording.

I'm trying to figure out whether to switch back to component, or whether this is something that can be fixed. Has anyone experienced this problem.

My HDMI cable is pretty cheap as well, so perhaps it could be that, but I don't want to buy a more expensive one unless there really is some reason to expect that that will fix the problem.

Many Thanks!

AlexI have the same problem in Brooklyn. I find that if I push List and push it again it corrects the problem. Plus, it doesn't erase the current channel buffer.

Your HDMI cable is not to blame. HDMI will either work or it won't. The problem started a month or two ago when TWC updated the box's firmware. Ever since I've had nothing but problems with HDMI.

Thanks! Both good and frustrating to hear I am not alone. I try and search these things out before asking, but I guess I'm still not too expert at that!

This puts me in a bit of a bind. If there's no fix on the horizon, it's bothersome enough to make me switch to component. My receiver actually has component switching, but it's too squeezed into my cabinet to fit the large-ish component plugs in the back. I'm already using my display's BNC component inputs with my DVD player, so I guess I would have to shell out a bunch of cash to get one of those special cables that will send a component signal into the Panasonic's VGA input - and this after just having spent the dough to give my display the optional HDMI input!

I'll also try the List button tactic (somehow missed that tip on my first pass) Perhaps that will be enough to tide me over until TWC gets their act together.

I then switched to HDMI in order to let my DVD player use the component input (my plasma is currently set up with only one HDMI and one component input). Now when I turn the system on, I get a fragmented picture which is correct in some areas but has big black squares and rectangles in place of the picture in many other areas (and sometimes over most of the screen). Actually, it's quite common for this to occur. A search of this thread would reveal this....

I do believe it's HDMI related, not the box itself nor firmware. I NEVER saw it when I used component cables. The first time I connected things with HDMI-to-DVI, it happened though. It still happens on occassion.

If you look at the outline, notice how it fills the exact space that you see when you press "Guide" ?? Anyway, just press "Guide" once or twice and it will go away. You won't lose your recording this way either.

I do believe it's HDMI related, not the box itself nor firmware. I NEVER saw it when I used component cables. The first time I connected things with HDMI-to-DVI, it happened though. It still happens on occassion.Hall, it is the firmware. Before the latest firmware update on the TWCNYC system about two months ago, HDMI worked flawlessly (for me). After the firmware update I have all kinds of problems with HDMI: black boxes when powered on, crazy rapid blink on the box's front display for 20 minutes when powering off (or trying to power off), and reverting back to 2.0 audio when the box makes the "ding" sound.

Alex, these problems will most likely be fixed in a future firmware update, but I don't know when that will be. Until then, the best workaround for the black boxes is probably hitting the List button twice.

I'm running 1.8.112 currently. I can't recall what version I had prior, but it occurred with it too.

By the way, Barriane:

When you say you have the same setup as me, do you mean just the plasma and cable box, or the dvd player, receiver, speakers etc.? I forgot that I listed all the latter in my profile, but that would truly be extraordinary!

By the way, Barriane:

When you say you have the same setup as me, do you mean just the plasma and cable box, or the dvd player, receiver, speakers etc.? I forgot that I listed all the latter in my profile, but that would truly be extraordinary!


I actually didn't look in your profile, but I meant the same plasma with the HDMI blade and the same cable box. I've just got the simple bose acoustimass speakers in our small living room and a Sony DVD, 12-year-old Onkyo receiver, nothing fancy.

Does this work on the 8000HD as well?!Yes, it does.

It'd work for what you do, but if you watch The Amazing Race religiously, why don't you have a entry for it in your Series Manager?

I actually didn't look in your profile, but I meant the same plasma with the HDMI blade and the same cable box. I've just got the simple bose acoustimass speakers in our small living room and a Sony DVD, 12-year-old Onkyo receiver, nothing fancy.

Cool. Mine's nothing fancy either. The plasma setup alone cost me more than twice everything else put together. But I'm totally happy with what I have for my little living room.

I've tried the "List" solution and that definitely works. I'm thinking I could even try programming the double List as a part the macro on my universal remote that I use when I want to turn everything on. If it works, that would do it all automatically.

I guess this conforms what has been written elsewhere, but I hear from a professional who has dealt with this issue often that the issue exists with displays like our Panasonics, that do not maintain the "HDCP handshake" when they are powered off. Then there is a problem with the cable box getting confused when everything gets turned back on.

Yes, it does.

It'd work for what you do, but if you watch The Amazing Race religiously, why don't you have a entry for it in your Series Manager?

Thanks, but I'm not seeing anything about manual recording on my 8000HD when I hit the record button, it just gives me the current show. Like I said, I'm new with this box...they didn't give me a manual or anything so I don't even know what the series manager is...

FYI: Link to Passport's "Getting Started" Guide:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6963241&highlight=pioneerdigital#post6963241

I am on Brighthouse Central Florida and just got my 8300hd the other day. I'm sure it was not a new box as most aren't. It has already rebooted on it's own twice (that I know of). I checked the software and I am running 1.8.103 dated 3/16/05. Many of you have newer software. Is there anyone else on the Brighthouse CFL network with a newer software version? I don't want to call and complain about having old software if this is as updated as they get.

Not sure if anyone has seen this but it looks like the new Passport Echo software v2.7 will now include "Folder" like TiVo and some other enhancements. Of course who knows when it will be rolled out.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Passport Echo also provides customers with powerful new enhancements such as, sorting features in the IPG and improved management of saved programs on the DVR. For example, with Passport Echo, customers can watch all of the recorded episodes of a series in one sitting by grouping a show's episodes together in one folder and then selecting the new Auto Play feature. All of the episodes will then be played back-to-back.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Also this
----------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition to Interactive Video Mosaic and iSubscribe, Passport Echo's enhancements continue with a variety of new integrated applications: Remote Wizard provides a unique step-by-step interactive tool enabling customers to program modal remote controls to control multiple devices all by themselves, Passport Weather offers local and multi-city weather with on-going 5-day forecasts from Accuweather™, and PassTime™ Games includes a package of three solitaire style card games in high resolution including traditional Klondike Solitaire, Twenty One or Bust, and 5 Card Stud Poker.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Not sure if anyone has seen this but it looks like the new Passport Echo software v2.7 will now include "Folder" like TiVo and some other enhancements. Of course who knows when it will be rolled out.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Passport Echo also provides customers with powerful new enhancements such as, sorting features in the IPG and improved management of saved programs on the DVR. For example, with Passport Echo, customers can watch all of the recorded episodes of a series in one sitting by grouping a show's episodes together in one folder and then selecting the new Auto Play feature. All of the episodes will then be played back-to-back.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Also this
----------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition to Interactive Video Mosaic and iSubscribe, Passport Echo's enhancements continue with a variety of new integrated applications: Remote Wizard provides a unique step-by-step interactive tool enabling customers to program modal remote controls to control multiple devices all by themselves, Passport Weather offers local and multi-city weather with on-going 5-day forecasts from Accuweather™, and PassTime™ Games includes a package of three solitaire style card games in high resolution including traditional Klondike Solitaire, Twenty One or Bust, and 5 Card Stud Poker.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Can we just have more hard drive storage please? :confused:

Can we just have more hard drive storage please? :confused:

Thats my number one 'wish'.

Not sure if anyone has seen this but it looks like the new Passport Echo software v2.7 will now include "Folder" like TiVo and some other enhancements. Of course who knows when it will be rolled out.

I've seen this before and my excitement for things like this is always balanced by the fact that I'm still on Echo 1.8.11. Not holding my breath.


PassTime™ Games includes a package of three solitaire style card games in high resolution including traditional Klondike Solitaire, Twenty One or Bust, and 5 Card Stud Poker.

bizarrely TWCNC actually has a channel for this already. And while it's ulitmately a bit pointless it does look quite slick.

Thats my number one 'wish'.

Mine too (more HDD storage)! I suspect if you polled SA8300 owners, this would easily be the most requested feature, and the hardware supports it. Yet, they stubbornly refuse to write the software that will activate the SATA port they build into these machines. Let's not even mention the firewire ports that are equally useless. :rolleyes:

Instead, we get silly games and sorting folders that no one has asked for, and no one cares about. It's sad, really.

I thought you could plug in an external SATA harddrive into the the hd-dvr and use that as extra storage space.

Mine too (more HDD storage)! I suspect if you polled SA8300 owners, this would easily be the most requested feature, and the hardware supports it. Yet, they stubbornly refuse to write the software that will activate the SATA port they build into these machines. Let's not even mention the firewire ports that are equally useless. :rolleyes:

Instead, we get silly games and sorting folders that no one has asked for, and no one cares about. It's sad, really.
The software that *they* write is SARA and it does support the SATA port.

I apoligize if this was covered already, but is there a way to use Passthrough mode on the Passport 8300HD? I know you can use the setup wizard on the Sara model, but I don't know how to set this up on the Passport model.

Also, has anybody else noticed that when they setup their resolution to 1080i, 720p, 480p, and 480i that their stereo receiver gets stuck in PCM mode? If I have my 8300HD setup for 1080i only it works fine. I haven't tried any other combinations yet to see which one is the culprit. Any suggestions on this one?

Thanks,
Brian

I apoligize if this was covered already, but is there a way to use Passthrough mode on the Passport 8300HD? I know you can use the setup wizard on the Sara model, but I don't know how to set this up on the Passport model.

Also, has anybody else noticed that when they setup their resolution to 1080i, 720p, 480p, and 480i that their stereo receiver gets stuck in PCM mode? If I have my 8300HD setup for 1080i only it works fine. I haven't tried any other combinations yet to see which one is the culprit. Any suggestions on this one?

Thanks,
Brian
I'm pretty sure that the audio mode is unrelated to resolution. Check "Settings" to see that you have Dolby Digital turned on.

I apoligize if this was covered already, but is there a way to use Passthrough mode on the Passport 8300HD? I know you can use the setup wizard on the Sara model, but I don't know how to set this up on the Passport model. What does "Passthrough" actually mean ? To me, it means 'don't convert the signal from 1080i to 720p' or 720p to 1080i and so on. On Passport, simply enable all (4) resolutions: 480i, 480p, 720p, and 1080i.

I am on Brighthouse Central Florida and just got my 8300hd the other day. I'm sure it was not a new box as most aren't. It has already rebooted on it's own twice (that I know of). I checked the software and I am running 1.8.103 dated 3/16/05. Many of you have newer software. Is there anyone else on the Brighthouse CFL network with a newer software version? I don't want to call and complain about having old software if this is as updated as they get.

You will be receiving version 1.8.112 on Tuesday or Wednesday. Please join our discussion in the Local BHN Central Florida thread.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=384294&page=130&pp=20

Passthrough means that the cable box will not convert any of the signals and pass them through to the tv to let the tv do the conversion. I wouldn't think that the audio would have anything to do with the resolution either, but it is tied to that for some reason. I did check my settings and it is set to Dolby Digital.

Thanks,
Brian

dak0ta11: I have the right definition then. As I said, if you want your TV to do the scaling or conversion, pass it all (4) possible resolutions.

barry928: You were testing 1.8.112 *months* ago, were you not ?? BH still hasn't rolled it out ??

BH did a limited release to those who requested help with HDCP handshake problems. They are extremely cautious about releasing software with any bugs. It pains me to read about weather info and card games when the basic needs and problems have not been fixed.

Do others with the 8300HD notice that sometimes the 1080i channels jitter up and down. If I change to another 1080i or 720p channel the jitter remains but if I switch to a 480p channel the jitter stops and now all the HD channels are also jitter free. This is most common at initial power up on a preset HD 1080i channel.

dak0ta11,
Does your box output DD5.1 (where it exists) if you set the 8300 to PCM and then back to DD (toggle it off then back on)?

v/r,
C-F

I am so mad right now.....Yesterday I noticed my 8300 was powered off which I never do. When I powered it on I noticed that all programs recorded in 2006 and set to save until manually erased were gone. All porgrams from 2005 were there including ones that had previsously been erased were back.

Passthrough means that the cable box will not convert any of the signals and pass them through to the tv to let the tv do the conversion. I wouldn't think that the audio would have anything to do with the resolution either, but it is tied to that for some reason.
As much as it seems like that, they are not related. It must be a coincident. I haven't a clue as to what it may be, but I know it's not related to resolution.

I am so mad right now.....Yesterday I noticed my 8300 was powered off which I never do. When I powered it on I noticed that all programs recorded in 2006 and set to save until manually erased were gone. All porgrams from 2005 were there including ones that had previsously been erased were back.
By powered off do you mean unplugged? Otherwise, we all power off our boxes when we are not watching TV with no ill effects.

I was just like I had pushed the power off button. I never do that I just always leave it on.

I was just like I had pushed the power off button. I never do that I just always leave it on.
OK, but my point was that everyone uses the front power button - or remote - to turn our boxes off when we're not watching TV. And our programming is always there the next time the box is turned on. I think something else happened in your case.

Turning the box "off" really doesn't. All it appears to do is turn off the outputs. The loss of recordings isn't related to you turning it off.

A momentary power outage would cause it to - duh! - power down and be "off" after electrical power comes back on. Further, a power surge could scramble memory and "disappear" recorded programming. Many times power surges and power outages go hand in hand.

I have an occasional problem where my DVR will stop outputting in Dolby 5.1 even though it is set correctly in the settings menu. Unplugging the power cord from the back of the DVR for a few seconds and doing a hard reboot will reenable Dolby 5.1. Does anyone know what is causing this to happen?

This is common with v1.8.112 of Passport. Rebooting the box isn't necessary though. Simply enter the 'Settings' menu, then 'A' for more settings, and toggle the audio setting from DD to 2-ch, then back to DD.

I have an occasional problem where my DVR will stop outputting in Dolby 5.1 even though it is set correctly in the settings menu. Unplugging the power cord from the back of the DVR for a few seconds and doing a hard reboot will reenable Dolby 5.1. Does anyone know what is causing this to happen?
Does DD5.1 return without rebooting?

Does DD5.1 return without rebooting?

No.

Thanks Hall. I'll try that next time.

I've had this glitch happen a total of (3) times. Each time, I did NOT reboot the box but did what I said above and it fixed it. I mean, when a show is in DD5.1 but my receiver tells me 'PCM 48', my first thought is "check to make sure the set-top is set right", not reboot the box.

I've had the DD5.1 issue way more than 3 times and following hall's procedure is the right way to fix it. Have never had to reboot the box either. This is a a very widespread problem.

I've had this glitch happen a total of (3) times. Each time, I did NOT reboot the box but did what I said above and it fixed it. I mean, when a show is in DD5.1 but my receiver tells me 'PCM 48', my first thought is "check to make sure the set-top is set right", not reboot the box.
Any idea what's causing it? Line spikes? Are you using conditioning? Sounds like that function's setting is somehow getting scrambled. Mine will occasionally drop from DD to Stereo, but always switches back quickly. Sometimes it will do it several times over several minutes. I associate that behavior with the broadcast and/or signal. I have never had the problem you gents are discussing.

This problem appeared right with Passport release 1.8.112, as noted in this thread and also in my local area's thread (and surely in other local threads when .112 was rolled out). Because of the timing and that others are seeing it, I'm positive it's NOT a box-specific problem or a voltage issue.

Obviously some people see it a lot more than others. When I first read about it, it had happened to me once. When that had happened, I thought nothing of it. I don't watch everything with the audio going through my receiver either. In fact, the majority of stuff is NOT watched that way and might explain why I see it so rarely.

I thought the DD5.1/PCM bug was related to the alert 'ding' sound? Was that disproved, or do I have my bugs mixed?

v/r,
C-F

Only time I've ever heard the 'ding' sound is when I do the button-push to get into diagnostic mode.

Well, a ding sound did/does not stick out in my mind, but I do not seem to have the DD5.1-PCM problem (knock on wood)... I think they were talking about when the [change channel or cancel one of two scheduled recordings?] or other dialog box comes up, and I do not get that often. I will have to go and see if I can make this thing 'ding'. But, my aspect ratios do not work correctly (over three different STB models), so I think our Passport was/is 'customized' at the head-end a little different than most...

I actually miss the alert feature of Passport on a non-DVR box - so when I am just marking time before a show, I do not have to record it or risk missing the first bit from inattention...

v/r,
C-F

Okay, I know that 'ding' that you're referring to. We see it at 7:59pm many nights when there are (2) shows scheduled to start recording at 8:00pm. It's not too smart though 'cause it will "warn" us when we're watching a pre-recorded show and not actually tying up one of the tuners.

What version of Passport are you using ??

This 8300HD currently has versions 1.8.112/6.14.43sp, but I do not seem to have the problem (still knocking...). Of course with all the commercials, etc. my little receiver jumps in an out of DD5.1 all the time. I just thought I remembered that someone proposed a theory that the 'ding' caused the box to switch audio modes in order to play it, and sometimes the box did not switch back afterward for whatever reason. No primary information or testing on this end.

v/r,
C-F

This 8300HD currently has versions 1.8.112/6.14.43sp, but I do not seem to have the problem (still knocking...). Of course with all the commercials, etc. my little receiver jumps in an out of DD5.1 all the time. I just thought I remembered that someone proposed a theory that the 'ding' caused the box to switch audio modes in order to play it, and sometimes the box did not switch back afterward for whatever reason.
You remember correctly, that is part of the generally accepted wisdom found on this thread. :)

This is common with v1.8.112 of Passport. Rebooting the box isn't necessary though. Simply enter the 'Settings' menu, then 'A' for more settings, and toggle the audio setting from DD to 2-ch, then back to DD.

This bug exists in the newest v2.xxxx software here in SoCal as well....had my box swapped out, but the problem still exists..

Hello,

I have a Samsung HLR5678W 1080p display. The picture on every channel on my HDMI1 input has become jittery. That means it is slightly shaking vertically. Not alot, but enough to notice and be really annoying. I have a Time Warner supplied SA8300HD DVR attached, and has been fine for last 4 months. The issue just started and is only on the HDMI 1 input. All other inputs on Sammy (HDMI 2 input from DVD, Cable input, Component input) are fine.

I shutdown SA8300, removed and reinstalled HDMI cable, no change. I am trying to figure out what the likelyhood is of the Sammy being the cause is vs. the SA8300. Anybody have any ideas on this? Appreciate any feedback.

Thanks!

I've been using the DVR with only the 480p, 720p and 1080i resolutions enabled. The more I watched 480i programming, the more I wasn't satisfied with the picture quality so I thought I'd enable 480i and see if that helped. This enabled me to tweak the picture in my Sony Grand Wega's setup menu (clarity, reality etc.). The picture does look better now. But now the Guide Screen for the DVR looks washed out and jittery - hard to describe. Has anybody else experienced this and how do I fix this? I'm using component cables only in case that matters.

I've seen the guide that way also when I've enabled multiple modes. Not sure why, but it seems to use the lowest one available and is so poor looking, I went back to 1080i output only.

the scaler in the 8300HD is horrendous. when i set mine to 1080i only, i get all kinds of motion artifacts on 720p channels, such as ESPNHD. when i set the box to output 720p only, i get artifacts around logos and stuff on 1080i channels such as inHD2. its ridiculous. for what SA charges cable companies for this box, they really should have included some decent electronics in it.

the scaler in the 8300HD is horrendous. when i set mine to 1080i only, i get all kinds of motion artifacts on 720p channels, such as ESPNHD. when i set the box to output 720p only, i get artifacts around logos and stuff on 1080i channels such as inHD2. its ridiculous. for what SA charges cable companies for this box, they really should have included some decent electronics in it.
Nah, we're just happy to a hi-def source. Turn all of the resolutions on and the box will pass everything as received. Your display will take it from there. There are plenty of things to complain about with this box, but lack of a quality scaler/deinterlacer is not one of them, in my humble opinion.

the scaler in the 8300HD is horrendous. when i set mine to 1080i only, i get all kinds of motion artifacts on 720p channels, such as ESPNHD. when i set the box to output 720p only, i get artifacts around logos and stuff on 1080i channels such as inHD2. its ridiculous. for what SA charges cable companies for this box, they really should have included some decent electronics in it.Sorry you're getting artifacts. But not here via Time Warner Cable. A 720p show such as ABC's "Lost" looks great with my SA8300HD set for only 1080i out on YPbPr. ESPN-HD looks good most of the time. This is with true-HD programs; upconversions from 480i are sometimes a different story, depending on the source. Using a 1080i CRT RPTV here that doesn't take 720p.

Suggest devising some tests that will isolate other possible causes in your system. Not totally happy with my 8300Hd because it, plus my cable system, only provides ~1290 lines max horiz. rez (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=5175424#post5175424). But that's typical of most cable STBs/systems. -- John

Suggest devising some tests that will isolate other possible causes in your system. Not totally happy with my 8300Hd because it, plus my cable system, only provides ~1290 lines max horiz. rez (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=5175424#post5175424). But that's typical of most cable STBs/systems. -- John
So, a 1920 x 1080i broadcast is only 1290 x 1080?

That was the case with SA's 8000HD units but I thought the 8300HD units improved on that. I recall some speculation that it had to do with TW loading software/drivers for ALL of their set-tops onto boxes and it using up excess memory. The SA boxes have seperate memory for "system" and "video" though. Also, I have to believe that they run a modern enough OS that only loads the necessary drivers into memory, not ALL of the drivers available.

Can anyone with HDNet check this again ?? They run test patterns at certain times of the day or week.

That was the case with SA's 8000HD units but I thought the 8300HD units improved on that. I recall some speculation that it had to do with TW loading software/drivers for ALL of their set-tops onto boxes and it using up excess memory. The SA boxes have seperate memory for "system" and "video" though. Also, I have to believe that they run a modern enough OS that only loads the necessary drivers into memory, not ALL of the drivers available.

Can anyone with HDNet check this again ?? They run test patterns at certain times of the day or week.
Won't a test pattern interpreted by EYE really be only displayed and/or perceived resolution and not necessarily broadcasted resolution?

I've never seen the test pattern so I can only speculate. I presume it has some "ruler" onscreen that shows what max resolution you're seeing. The cable company is still *sending* us the full resolution. It's the cable box that's cutting it off. I've seen some people use their CableCard to avoid this "issue" as it doesn't cut things off.

Search *this* thread for "1290". You'll get a half-dozen or so results, some from quite a while back.

So it looks like I'm not the only one having the PCM problem. Thanks for the tip on checking the settings. I've been unplugging mine as well. I'm running version 1.8.111 so it doesn't look like version 112 introduced the problem. I noticed mine started acting up when I switched from component to HDMI. I ran component for over a year and never had the problem. When I switched to HDMI, I had the problem a couple days after the switch and have it happen numerous times. Can anybody else experiencing this problem confirm that they are HDMI or component?

Thanks,
Brian

So, a 1920 x 1080i broadcast is only 1290 x 1080?
I believe that John Mason's report re perceived resoultion using HDNET Test Pattern is for SA8300HD Component Video
output to his HDTV, which may or may not be capable of displaying the '"full" resolution.
Very few Component Video outputs are capable of supporting the full resolution--and you can lose even more in a CV switch...

As I recall, there have also been reports claiming up to the "full" 1920x1080 via DVI/HDMI or CableCARD,
since they are ALL DIGITAL interfaces (hmmm, but very few people even have 1920x1080 sets).
Interpreting the test patterns (with moire distortion) is very subjective, I figure +/- 20 percent...
Plus whatever personal bias is needed to bring it up to published spec numbers....

Here are what HDNET (early Tue am) and inHD (early Thurs am) test patterns look like (keep clicking to blow up):
http://www.hdtvtotal.com/eng_hdtv_gallery_hdtv_test_patterns_a95.html

A few more perceived resolution reports would greatly help.....
http://www.smartcalibration.com/hdnetpatterns.html
http://www.widemovies.com/directv-resolution.html

See John Mason's report for calculations:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=5175424#post5175424

Does anyone with a SA 8300HD box actually have it passing HDMI successfully through an AV receiver? My friend just bought a JVC 401S (after I suggested it so he could run his cable box and panny S97 dvd player through its 2 HDMI inputs) but he can't get the cable box to work with it. I know it's not the JVC because the DVD player works just fine. I called TWC and the tech support rep told me that this is a known issue...but didn't have any info regarding if or when the problem might be solved. Does anyone know anything about the problem or how/when it might be fixed? Sorry if I missed a detailed explanation on this topic...I read the last 6 pages of this thread and didn't find much. Thanks.

It all depends on the receiver. I know that it does not work with Denon receivers and I have heard a report of it working with a Sony receiver. It apparently is an issue of how the receiver interacts with the 8300. Denon support told me that their receiver insists on being "in control" and the cable box also insists on being "in control" - hence a stand-off. Denon also maintained that ALL cable boxes (from Motorola as well as SA) are this way. I personally know someone using a Geffin switch OK with a SA box.

From what I understand, I am not sure whose issue this is to resolve (the cable box manufacturers or the receiver manufacturers).

So it looks like I'm not the only one having the PCM problem. Thanks for the tip on checking the settings. I've been unplugging mine as well. I'm running version 1.8.111 so it doesn't look like version 112 introduced the problem. I noticed mine started acting up when I switched from component to HDMI. I ran component for over a year and never had the problem. When I switched to HDMI, I had the problem a couple days after the switch and have it happen numerous times. Can anybody else experiencing this problem confirm that they are HDMI or component?

Thanks,
Brian

I have the PCM switching problem with HDMI ->DVI on my 8300HD. It is very annoying to be watching a movie, and have the stupid conflict warning pop up at twice the volume of the movie, and stick the audio on 2-channel. Some SA and TWC execs need to actually try using the products they're selling. To the comment earlier that it is a 'proposed theory' that the warning 'ding' causes the switch over, I invite you over to watch it happen every time.

To the comment earlier that it is a 'proposed theory' that the warning 'ding' causes the switch over, I invite you over to watch it happen every time.Thank you, but no. I am sorry that you are having the trouble and it is unfortunate that my wording irritated you, but I do not seem to have the trouble (no HDMI and still knocking) and could not confirm this fact. I mentioned proposed since: no one had mentioned it, it could have been specific to the 2.5.xx versions, I could have missed an update/post, and I had not yet searched to back-up my fallible memory: holl_ands #2160 (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6497025&&#post6497025)

v/r,
C-F

It all depends on the receiver. I know that it does not work with Denon receivers and I have heard a report of it working with a Sony receiver. It apparently is an issue of how the receiver interacts with the 8300. Denon support told me that their receiver insists on being "in control" and the cable box also insists on being "in control" - hence a stand-off. Denon also maintained that ALL cable boxes (from Motorola as well as SA) are this way. I personally know someone using a Geffin switch OK with a SA box.

From what I understand, I am not sure whose issue this is to resolve (the cable box manufacturers or the receiver manufacturers).

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately it sounds like we have a real stalemate on our hands. And the problems are only going to get worse for both sides as more HDMI switching receivers start hitting the market in the next few months. I personally was considering the new Denon 2807, but if it's not going to work with my 8300HD it's simply not going to be an option, regardless of who's responsible for the problem. I guess more people are going to have to start becoming vocal about this before anything gets resolved.

So, a 1920 x 1080i broadcast is only 1290 x 1080?
That's 1290 resolvable lines delivered by a standard 1920X1080 signal. This link (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=5667245&&#post5667245) on types of resolution and the sublinks, cover what is meant in more detail. Basically, it can be 1920X1080, but if the higher frequencies/resolutions don't have enough contrast, or were just filtered away by the way sampled HD works, you won't see them on any display. Everything along the path, from a silk stocking used as a camera lens filter, to MPEG-2 processing/compression, to inadequate displays, takes a resolution toll. -- John

That's 1290 resolvable lines delivered by a standard 1920X1080 signal. This link (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=5667245&&#post5667245) on types of resolution and the sublinks, cover what is meant in more detail. Basically, it can be 1920X1080, but if the higher frequencies/resolutions don't have enough contrast, or were just filtered away by the way sampled HD works, you won't see them on any display. Everything along the path, from a silk stocking used as a camera lens filter, to MPEG-2 processing/compression, to inadequate displays, takes a resolution toll. -- John
I'd like to hear more about the silk stocking. :)

That's 1290 resolvable lines delivered by a standard 1920X1080 signal.
"Resolvable" would seem to be dependent on one's setup - ambient lighting, focus, convergence, brightness/contrast - and one's EYES.

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately it sounds like we have a real stalemate on our hands. And the problems are only going to get worse for both sides as more HDMI switching receivers start hitting the market in the next few months.
I think that an important step in selecting a receiver is to purchase it from a local dealer with a clear understanding that you can return it if it messes up with HDCP and the 8300HD. Because some receivers (Sony) and switches (Geffin) have been reported to work with the 8300HD, it is not right to assume that the problem lies with the 8300.

I'd like to hear more about the silk stocking. :)
Yes, it does jump out at you. :) Camera persons for various TV productions have mentioned this filtering technique here for a few years. Believe one even mentioned a specific French type. -- John

"Resolvable" would seem to be dependent on one's setup - ambient lighting, focus, convergence, brightness/contrast - and one's EYES.
Yes indeed. Although going back to the original ~1290-line reference for HDNet test patterns on my display with my cable STB (from 1920X1080 signals), it's also very close to what others are measuring, from reports here. It's what you might expect on average, assuming displays used have adequate resolution. Test pattern lines approximate maximum resolvable details in scenes.

It would be great to see careful measurements, similar to what the United Nation's I.T.U. did for film resolutions on theater screens several years ago. Consultant Matt Cowan provided a paper (http://www.etconsult.com/papers/Technical%20Issues%20in%20Cinema%20Resolution.pdf) summarizing ITU findings, as did three authors with a Feb/March 2004 SMPTE paper (SMPTE. org). -- John

Thank you, but no. I am sorry that you are having the trouble and it is unfortunate that my wording irritated you, but I do not seem to have the trouble (no HDMI and still knocking) and could not confirm this fact. I mentioned proposed since: no one had mentioned it, it could have been specific to the 2.5.xx versions, I could have missed an update/post, and I had not yet searched to back-up my fallible memory: holl_ands #2160 (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6497025&&#post6497025)

v/r,
C-F

CANNON-FODDER,
No offense meant (or taken). I was just annoyed by this problem again last night in the middle of a movie and only meant to make it clear that this is a real problem that continues to be un-addressed by TWC and its partners over multiple releases of firmware. Peace...

Regards,
Chris

It would be great to see careful measurements, similar to what the United Nation's I.T.U. did for film resolutions on theater screens several years ago. Consultant Matt Cowan provided a paper (http://www.etconsult.com/papers/Technical%20Issues%20in%20Cinema%20Resolution.pdf) summarizing ITU findings, as did three authors with a Feb/March 2004 SMPTE paper (SMPTE. org). -- John

Very interesting paper - thanks for providing the link. ;)

I have the SA8300HD with passport software on Bright House networks in Central FL. I have three of these DVR's, Two in my Theater connected to a DVDO VP30 scaler via HDMI with audio routed directly to the Audio processor bypassing the scaler. One of them is in the master bedroom connected to a Pioneer 42" plasma via HDMI, with stereo Audio. The plasma only accepts DVI with the interface I have.

To get to the service menu I pressed Select and EXIT while the unit was showing a picture and waited for the word diag to appear in the Unit's LED. I then pressed Exit. I saw the number 711 flash in the LED and I was then in the service menu. I left the service menu and went back to normal viewing. If I entered channel number 711 while watching LiveTV, the service menu came right up.
[EDIT: It seems that the entering of the service channel number only works for some period of time. I suspect that you have to go and do the button pressing (which tells you the channel number) and then you can just use the channel number for a while. Sounds sensible as they do not want to leave the unit in "easy" service menu mode]

I am running Passport Echo version 1.8.112

The Theater units are set to output all resolutions so the scaler does all transcoding. The unit in the MBR is set to output 720p so it does all the transcoding. I need to check if the MBR unit is better outputting all resolutions, i.e. what does a better job of scaling - the SA8300HD or the Pioneer with the Aurora Interface card.

When I had the Theater units set to output only a single resolution 1080i, Whenever I switched to one of those units I would see large black areas. Pressing guide twice cleared it all up. In fact anything that dramatically changed the picture cleaned it up. It would not happen again until I switched inputs. I am not sure if that is the scaler or the SA8300HD. I suspect the scaler, since when I switch to one of the DVR's the DIVER really does not know it, except for HDCP/HDMI handshaking. But that (handshaking) should happen on every channel change, but the large black areas do not show up.

Can anyone with the 8300 box in the Dayton, OH area (Hall?) tell me what the diagnostic channel is? I'm not having any luck getting into diag mode with the select+exit buttons. I'm hoping I can tune directly to it instead.

Phil

In Dayton, you can't tune to it directly. It's channel 611 and if you punch that in, you'll get "???" and it will remain on your current channel.

I've done this many times (and my 7-year son does it too), so I know it works. :D Do this:

- Press and hold SELECT and EXIT
- Wait for it to 'ding' and then release both buttons
- Press and release EXIT

It will change to channel 611 on it's own.

I've done this many times (and my 7-year son does it too), so I know it works. :D Do this:

- Press and hold SELECT and EXIT
- Wait for it to 'ding' and then release both buttons
- Press and release EXIT

It will change to channel 611 on it's own.

I've tried this several times, with no luck. I hold the two buttons down together for 15+ seconds, and nothing happens.

I've also noticed that when I press a button on the remote, the red LED in the "Cable" button at the top lights up to indicate that the remote is sending a signal. However, when I press Select+Exit together, the red light does NOT light up, which suggests that the remote isn't sending anything at all.

I wonder if my remote is defective or if they've started disabling this for some reason.

Phil

I've tried this several times, with no luck. I hold the two buttons down together for 15+ seconds, and nothing happens.

I've also noticed that when I press a button on the remote, the red LED in the "Cable" button at the top lights up to indicate that the remote is sending a signal. However, when I press Select+Exit together, the red light does NOT light up, which suggests that the remote isn't sending anything at all.

I wonder if my remote is defective or if they've started disabling this for some reason.

Phil

It was not made clear...

You have to push the select and exit buttons on the set top box itself, not the remote! Once you get the 'ding' and the LEDs say 'diag' hit the exit button on the set top box again and it will tune to 611.

After that you can use the remote up/down buttons to scan. You can then return to your regular channel. The 611 channel will remain available to be selected until you power off the STB, after which (the next time the box is turned on) you have to go through the same button sequence again on the STB itself.

Sorry Phil, too late.... :D

It was not made clear...

You have to push the select and exit buttons on the set top box itself, not the remote! Once you get the 'ding' and the LEDs say 'diag' hit the exit button on the set top box again and it will tune to 611.

Thanks. I'm still in the TiVo mindset, where there were no buttons on the box itself. I never even think to look there!

Phil

Sorry Phil, too late.... :D

Hey, embarassing myself in public constitutes at least 50% of my life. :) Thanks for the PM.

Phil

I have just switched to Time Warner and got the 8300HD (I miss my Tivo & D*).

Anyhow, on some of the HD channels I am getting (not all the time), white distortion signals at the top of the screen. My TV maker tells me that I should be able to adjust the cable box to change the vertical positioning.

How do I do this in the 8300HD DVR?

Thanks for your help!

Jane

I have not heard or seen anything about adusting the picture position from the 8300 box.

I adjust this on the plasma screen, which has size and position controls. Check there first.

As far as I know, the 8300 does not have such conrols, but I may be wrong on this.

(. . . would not be the first time.)

...I should be able to adjust the cable box to change the vertical positioning.

How do I do this in the 8300HD DVR? You can't

I have just switched to Time Warner and got the 8300HD (I miss my Tivo & D*).

Anyhow, on some of the HD channels I am getting (not all the time), white distortion signals at the top of the screen. My TV maker tells me that I should be able to adjust the cable box to change the vertical positioning.

How do I do this in the 8300HD DVR?

As an alternative, you may try adjusting the overscan on your TV. I used to have mine set to -1 to show the maximum amount of the picture, but when I got the 8300, I could see just a slight bit of the white timecode that appears in the header of NTSC channels. That may be what you're seeing as well. When I reset my TV to a 0 overscan setting (the default), it went away. Your settings may vary, depending on the make of your TV.

Phil

been looking around the forum for an answer to this question but can't seem to find one. On the TWNYC 8300 Passport version is there any way that when you are watching a recorded show and you stop it to resume where you left off? I was tapping the Olympics, usally @ 3hrs and if I watched 2 hours then turned it off I would have to fast forward through the entire 2 hrs that I already watched.

Thanks

Something is wrong if your box operates that way. We have stopped watching a program and by default, it starts up where we stopped at. There's an option for "Start from the beginning" on shows that you've stopped before the end, but you have to manually pick that.

been looking around the forum for an answer to this question but can't seem to find one. On the TWNYC 8300 Passport version is there any way that when you are watching a recorded show and you stop it to resume where you left off? I was tapping the Olympics, usally @ 3hrs and if I watched 2 hours then turned it off I would have to fast forward through the entire 2 hrs that I already watched.


you don't literally mean fast forward do you? The left/right cursors will enable you to jump forward in increments indicated by the tick marks on your info bar. Usually 15 minute increments.

This feature (and the 10 second replay) also work for video on demand services.

thanks :) Of course that info is not avaiable from TWC and I may have a problem with my box because the shows always start from the begining.

The left/right cursors will enable you to jump forward in increments indicated by the tick marks on your info bar. Usually 15 minute increments. Of course that info is not avaiable from TWC Do you have any "Help On Demand" channels ?? We do and I believe that this tip is given in one of those videos.

Back to your problem, check what software version you have (search how to do this for your area). A few versions back, this happened to a lot of people. Thing is, boxes aren't randomly updated to new software. They're ALL updated at the same time (or spread out over a few days) with no user intervention. By the way, when you choose to continue watching a show, you highlight it in the "List", then press the "SELECT" button on the remote, right ?? I believe if you highlighted it and hit "PLAY" it would behave like you are seeing.

Do you have any "Help On Demand" channels ?? We do and I believe that this tip is given in one of those videos.

Back to your problem, check what software version you have (search how to do this for your area). A few versions back, this happened to a lot of people. Thing is, boxes aren't randomly updated to new software. They're ALL updated at the same time (or spread out over a few days) with no user intervention. By the way, when you choose to continue watching a show, you highlight it in the "List", then press the "SELECT" button on the remote, right ?? I believe if you highlighted it and hit "PLAY" it would behave like you are seeing.


ah that might be it.

Thanks for the info.

I had gotten a sony dvd recorder and could not get any of my archived shows to record correctly to dvd. The problem is the 8300 only outputs 16:9 from the component outputs and the sony only accepts a composite input. The 8300 automatically scales anything from the composite inputs to full screen, and I am left with bars on my 16:9 tv. Is there any way around this? I remember the 8000 had a hd/sd mode but it was a pain to switch back and forth. Does anyone have a way around this problem?

been looking around the forum for an answer to this question but can't seem to find one. On the TWNYC 8300 Passport version is there any way that when you are watching a recorded show and you stop it to resume where you left off? I was tapping the Olympics, usally @ 3hrs and if I watched 2 hours then turned it off I would have to fast forward through the entire 2 hrs that I already watched.

Thanks

I've found that if you've decided to watch the program you're recording (and you haven't watched any of it), pressing the 'select' button defaults to 'play' (as in play from beginning) in the pop-up menu. Ditto also for first time you select a program that's been recorded but has not been watched.

Also true if you're watching a live program that's also being recorded. Once the time goes past the end of the recording and you're watching live but not recording, the 'select' option for the (now completed recording) program defaults to 'play'.

Once you start watching a recorded program, if you stop after a while, switch to something else, then decide to come back to the program, the 'select' offering defaults to 'resume playback'.

It's also dependent on the version of Passport you have. Your 1.8.xxx version in New York may not have the advancements that my 2.5.xxx version in San Diego has.

I had gotten a sony dvd recorder and could not get any of my archived shows to record correctly to dvd. The problem is the 8300 only outputs 16:9 from the component outputs and the sony only accepts a composite input. The 8300 automatically scales anything from the composite inputs to full screen, and I am left with bars on my 16:9 tv. Is there any way around this? I remember the 8000 had a hd/sd mode but it was a pain to switch back and forth. Does anyone have a way around this problem?

You're in SD mode with the S-Video and Composite outputs on the SA8300. This is the same mode as SA8000, except in the SA8000, you had only SD or HD at one time. The SA8300 has the advantage of always outputting over all the outputs all the time (both SD and HD), but it puts those lovely grey letterbox bars on any HD content sent out over SD outputs.

My 1.8.112 version in Florida on BHN does not work that way. Pressing select on a recording list item always brings up a second level menu.

I have noticed on my SA8300HD DVR that the words HDTV and the output resolution shown on the front panel of the box often end up flashing irregularly. Does anyone know why?

I have noticed on my SA8300HD DVR that the words HDTV and the output resolution shown on the front panel of the box often end up flashing irregularly. Does anyone know why?
What channel(s)?

It was on 1060 and 1090. Fox 1135 was steady with no HDTV at 720p. The recordings were fine with some (2-3) slight (1-2 seconds) instances of breakup in audio

It was on 1060 and 1090. Fox 1135 was steady with no HDTV at 720p. The recordings were fine with some (2-3) slight (1-2 seconds) instances of breakup in audio
Very weird. I just checked my hi-def channels and EVERY channel with 720p or 1080i shows "HDTV" on the display - every channel EXCEPT Fox, that is. It says "720p", but the "HDTV" is not lit. I've never noticed it before. And I have no idea why . . .

Hopefully, someone else will have some comments on this.

Can anyone with the 8300 box in the Dayton, OH area (Hall?) tell me what the diagnostic channel is? I'm not having any luck getting into diag mode with the select+exit buttons. I'm hoping I can tune directly to it instead.

In NYC's TWC, holding the two keys down several seconds brings up 'diag' on the 8300HD front panel, then releasing and pressing both again tunes to diagnostics channel 1999. Likely 1999 is for NYC, but the double pressing might bring up diagnostics.

Haven't checked recently, but a while back the H/DTV channels here weren't accessible on diagnostics. Never tried it, but it appears entering 709 here while in diagnostics tunes/tuned in HD channel WWOR, not listed in the usual HD guide. -- John

Never tried it, but it appears entering 709 here while in diagnostics tunes/tuned in HD channel WWOR, not listed in the usual HD guide. I can see a few channels that don't appear in the guide when in diag mode here also. Our local NBC's digital channel isn't carried by TWC, but it shows up (no audio or video) if you punch in channel 702. The local WB's digital channel works 100% though, but again, doesn't show up in the guide. There's also a Passport card game on ch 800 or 801.

So I just lost my cellphone, and had to replace it. The old Sanyo phone I had was an 8200 model. The new one is ... 8300. AAAAAAHHHHHHGGGHH!

Some weird alignment in the electronic planetary scheme of things?

And it has a video 'camcorder'. How silly. Now if it only had DVR ....

"SATA support is currently in QA testing. We can make the code available for head-end testing in a few weeks." - Aptiv Digital to my provider's technical director

"SATA support is currently in QA testing. We can make the code available for head-end testing in a few weeks." - Aptiv Digital to my provider's technical director

So does this mean that by JUNE 2006 we can expect to see it installed by TWC in NEO land? :)

or does QA testing take years? :rolleyes:

I posted something similar to this recently and don't hold your breathe for a June release. pepar doesn't have Time Warner, so what they do has little bearing on what TWC might do. Also, his cable system is way ahead on software levels than TWC is.

So does this mean that by JUNE 2006 we can expect to see it installed by TWC in NEO land? :)

or does QA testing take years? :rolleyes:
It's been touched on every time this subject has arisen. Aptiv/Pio making the code "available" to cablecos is entirely separate from cablecos electing to deploy. Remember, there's no additional revenue in it for them and lot's of potential for increased support calls.

Does anybody know if the 8300 allows the letterbox bars to be changed to black from gray on a 4:3 capable HDTV?

Does anybody know if the 8300 allows the letterbox bars to be changed to black from gray on a 4:3 capable HDTV?It does when running SARA, but not when running Passport Echo (at least not in any revision I've read about).

I posted something similar to this recently and don't hold your breathe for a June release. pepar doesn't have Time Warner, so what they do has little bearing on what TWC might do. Also, his cable system is way ahead on software levels than TWC is.I don't think that TWC is homogenously running the same firmware around the country. In San Diego, we're running 2.5.041 and I've heard of 3.xx.xx being tested in other systems.

What system and what firmware rev are you running, prepar?

After the vendor makes a firmware drop to the SOs, they have to evaluate whether it fixes any problems that they've been having, or whether it adds significant new features that they're users have been bitching about. If not, there's little chance that they'll deploy it. Having decided to go with the new rev, they'd have to integrate any necessary support for their custom applications with it (my local SO has a pay-by-cable-box feature) and thoroughly test it first internally and then in the field before they roll it out to customers at large. Even then they sometime screw up and deploy new releases with terrible bugs in them.

IMO, software that's considered in testing phase doesn't count. Those are certainly unique situations.

What system and what firmware rev are you running, prepar?
Suscom York
Passport 2.2.020

Suscom was recently purchased by Comcast. I don't have a clue on how involved they are in Suscom operations, but apparently they haven't interferred with the previously made decision to deploy SATA upon release and testing. Perhaps Suscom is enlightened and progressive. Perhaps they're more scared of DBS than they are of more support calls. Who knows?

I have offered to help test it and will continue to post further developments as they . . . develope.

IMO, software that's considered in testing phase doesn't count. Those are certainly unique situations.I don't think that we're "testing" 2.5.041. I'm guessing that it's available to the SOs if they care to distribute it.

I was told that only recently (maybe a couple of months now) was 1.8.112 officially "blessed" by TW corporate. We rec'd it a few weeks or so after that.

With my SA8300HD on TWC NYC with Passport I can now enter channel 1999 with the remote and tune in the summary diagnostic page directly (or last page selected), then scroll other pages. Previously had to hold down Select/Exit until 'diag' appeared. (Passport: 1.8112; OS: PowTV 6.14.43.3sp).

But can't enter a channel number in diagnostics, press Select, and tune that channel/frequency now. EDIT: Further tinkering reveals this only applies to entering HDTV channels, which has been a problem at NYC TWc for years now. There's an option at the bottom right of the tuning page for tune by frequency or by channel number. Any ideas what's wrong? Assume this is the technique for tuning the 'hidden' channels such as WWOR here. Some were tuning it in from diagnostics, entering 709, but TWC here put Universal HD on 709 for the Olympics and has kept it, so perhaps WWOR is missing completely now. -- John

No new posts in 4 days? Incredible.

New post? Okay you got it.

I'm not sure if this has been covered and I'm not familiar with the SA8300HD DVR very well since I just got it yesterday but I'm having difficulty.

Yesterday I had an install. This is through the power company (Cinergy) and not a cable provider. I replace a SD DirecTV Tivo. I had the Tivo hooked up to my HDTV through S-Video since that was the best it could do. When the installer was getting ready to hook it up through component cables I told him not to worry about it and we just plugged in the S-Video cable to it. I was going to go and get an HDMI cable instead. The box was fine and that was that....the installer went on his way.

Well later I bought the HDMI cable and hooked it up. Problem is the 8300 took control of the aspect ratio of the TV. All the HD channels were in proper 16:9 but all the standard channels were window boxed even though I had it set on the TV to stretch. That's fine. I understand that. So I thought "Well if that's the case then I'll hook up the component cables which should get me a better picture than the S-Video and use them instead of the HDMI on SD programming. Well they don't seem to work.

I switched out cables. I unhooked the HDMI cable. Nothing. The S-V cable works but I get no signal to the TV with the component cables. Is there something I'm missing? A setting? I even switched over the component cables from the DVD player which I know work and still nothing.

Had I let the guy hook it up that way from the start I would know whether I have a bad box or not but I didn't. Does that seem to be the case?

I contacted them and they're supposed to get back with me. The lady I talked to didn't have a clue and the tech. guys were in a conference call so I thought I'd ask here and you fine folks might point me in the right direction.

Thanks.

New post? Okay you got it.

I'm not sure if this has been covered and I'm not familiar with the SA8300HD DVR very well since I just got it yesterday but I'm having difficulty.

Yesterday I had an install. This is through the power company (Cinergy) and not a cable provider. I replace a SD DirecTV Tivo. I had the Tivo hooked up to my HDTV through S-Video since that was the best it could do. When the installer was getting ready to hook it up through component cables I told him not to worry about it and we just plugged in the S-Video cable to it. I was going to go and get an HDMI cable instead. The box was fine and that was that....the installer went on his way.

Well later I bought the HDMI cable and hooked it up. Problem is the 8300 took control of the aspect ratio of the TV. All the HD channels were in proper 16:9 but all the standard channels were window boxed even though I had it set on the TV to stretch. That's fine. I understand that. So I thought "Well if that's the case then I'll hook up the component cables which should get me a better picture than the S-Video and use them instead of the HDMI on SD programming. Well they don't seem to work.

I switched out cables. I unhooked the HDMI cable. Nothing. The S-V cable works but I get no signal to the TV with the component cables. Is there something I'm missing? A setting? I even switched over the component cables from the DVD player which I know work and still nothing.

Had I let the guy hook it up that way from the start I would know whether I have a bad box or not but I didn't. Does that seem to be the case?

I contacted them and they're supposed to get back with me. The lady I talked to didn't have a clue and the tech. guys were in a conference call so I thought I'd ask here and you fine folks might point me in the right direction.

Thanks.

Restart your box (instructions at beginning) Box will only put out one type of signal at a time and unplugging hdmi doesnt always switch over to component. Use component for both HD and SD and you will have less troubles, most people cant tell the difference

I am running a SA8300HD w/Passport software to a DVDO iScan VP30 Scaler using the HDMI cables. No video problems at all. I watch SD unstretched at 4:3 and I watch HD in proper 16:9. I run the audio out of the toslink connector on the SA8300HD as there are HDMI audio problems on the VP30 at the current firmware levels. I have no problems with the SA8300HD HDMI video, in fact its quality is very high. The way my system is set up the path is all digital from the Cable headend to the Video projector for HD broadcasts, with all rescaling done by the VP30.The Projector runs at 720p and the scaler outputs only 720p with perfect pixel mapping to the projector.

Okay I got it all sorted out. I reset the set up and it switched over the connection.

Now I have another. Does the HDMI carry a DD5.1 signal? If I have the TosLink hooked up and activated my A/V receiver shows all channels and the sound is full. But if I switch over to HDMI audio the receiver shows it as Dolby Pro-Logic. The sound while still being decent it is anemic compared to the TosLink audio.

Problem is my wife won't want to go through the receiver all the time so I would have to switch between the settings HDMI for her (because it'll play through the TV's own speakers) and DD through the A/V receiver to get excellent fidelity.

I thought HDMI supports DD or is this some of the audio problems in this unit that barry addresses above?

By spec HDMI should carry a Dolby Digital signal. Since I do not use the HDMI audio yet I can not verify.

I have noticed that on the Toslink output I have gotten 5.1 DD, 2.0 DD and 48K stereo (PCM). I have the Digital Audio output set to Dolby Digital in the advanced setup screen option.

Sometime next week I will be playing with the HDMI audio.

Okay I got it all sorted out. I reset the set up and it switched over the connection.

Now I have another. Does the HDMI carry a DD5.1 signal? If I have the TosLink hooked up and activated my A/V receiver shows all channels and the sound is full. But if I switch over to HDMI audio the receiver shows it as Dolby Pro-Logic. The sound while still being decent it is anemic compared to the TosLink audio.

Problem is my wife won't want to go through the receiver all the time so I would have to switch between the settings HDMI for her (because it'll play through the TV's own speakers) and DD through the A/V receiver to get excellent fidelity.

I thought HDMI supports DD or is this some of the audio problems in this unit that barry addresses above?

take your HDMI cables send them to whomever invented HDMI and strangle them. next. just use component and Toslink

take your HDMI cables send them to whomever invented HDMI and strangle them.
I think there's a queue. You'll know you've found it when you see folks using their HDMI cables for the purposes for which they're best suited - jumping rope, snapping like locker room towels and lariat practice.

We all know it is not the cables, although the connector design is really poor. It is bad implementations of the HDMI interface by manufacturers. It (HDMI) is still new and very few have gotten it completely correct. HDCP then confuses the whole issue by adding many more opportunities to screw up the implementation, and the manufacturers obviously take advantage of these new opportunities.

Drop an HDMI capable Scaler into the loop and watch the various problem issues increase

We all know it is not the cables, although the connector design is really poor. It is bad implementations of the HDMI interface by manufacturers.
Well, I guess we could all show up and burn our cardboard boxes on the various manufacturer's properties. :)

We all know it is not the cables, although the connector design is really poor. It is bad implementations of the HDMI interface by manufacturers. It (HDMI) is still new and very few have gotten it completely correct. HDCP then confuses the whole issue by adding many more opportunities to screw up the implementation, and the manufacturers obviously take advantage of these new opportunities.

Drop an HDMI capable Scaler into the loop and watch the various problem issues increase

it doesn't help that it is the boxes, it doesn't work. i'm old enough to have been around when firewire and usb 1 and 2 were introduced and i seem to remember them all being plug and play. is there an i hate HDCP HDMI forum i should join, just to vent

Okay I got it all sorted out. I reset the set up and it switched over the connection... Problem is my wife won't want to go through the receiver all the time so I would have to switch between the settings HDMI for her (because it'll play through the TV's own speakers) and DD through the A/V receiver to get excellent fidelity...Did you switch to component, and then back to HDMI?

To allow the TV's speakers and the TV's stereo out for my wife's headphones, I have the red/white stereo L/R outputs sent to the TV (with component) and the toslink/coax to the [receiver]. This allows the TV outs to go to her headphones (or the TV for news) and DD5.1 for primetime.

You might try it to see if the stereo out ports are still hot with HDMI. I think there is some loss because the STB is decoding DD5.1 and sending that through the stereo outs vice decoding for stereo, but the headphones (and my TV speakers) were not really built for fidelity anyway.

v/r,
C-F

Can I stop the hard drive spinning of the 8300 while I am listening to music?

ALSO any update passport supporting ext. sata drive?

Can I stop the hard drive spinning of the 8300 while I am listening to music?

ALSO any update passport supporting ext. sata drive?
Sure, you *can* stop it - by unplugging it. But a better question is why is it so loud that it is interfering with your music listening?

No, thereis not yet a Pasport version supporting the SATA port.

Can I stop the hard drive spinning of the 8300 while I am listening to music? If you can hear the hard drive, good chance it's the bearings and the drive is failing.

Is there any way to get a pass through signal so that the TV does the scaling with my SA8300HD?

As long as you have all output formats selected in your settings menu, the 8300 will pass the signal its getting through as output.

Tell the box to output 480i, 480p, 720p, and 1080i. That effectively passes the signal "as is".

Setting all outputs on the 8300 does exactly that. Posted that info in another thread along with the fact that with a good scaler and a good DLP projector you will get an all digital path with no analog conversions if the station is transmitting at the projectors natural resolution (mine is 720p) and your vable is digital. Sat is always digital.

Be sure to setup the Projector if it is digital for a 1:1 pixel mapping to what ever digital signals are feeding it. I set mine to match the scaler output at 720p so the scaler does all resolution changes.

Is it possible to bypass the 4:3 options - stretch, zoom, sidebar, etc so that my TV can size the signal appropriately?

I do not believe so. But why would you need to. If you take the sidebar option, then I believe you can stretch the picture in the TV. Inside the sidebars is a properly received 4:3 aspect ratio picture. Stretching the 4:3 pic with sidebars should remove the sidebars.

Is it possible to bypass the 4:3 options - stretch, zoom, sidebar, etc so that my TV can size the signal appropriately?
No. And it is quite unfortunate as my display has an intelligent zoom that looks half decent on the cable news channels which is pretty much all I watch in 4:3. At least they should allow setting the bars to black.

I can now verify that the SA8300HD running 1.8.112 does put out a DD 5.1 signal on the HDMI cable. I switched yesterday to using the HDMI output cable with no connection to the Toslink output of the 8300. My Audio processor did indicate the signal to be "AC-3", the old name for DD. It would vary between 5.1 when the HD portion was broadcast and drop down to 2.0 during commercials shown in SD.

I can now verify that the SA8300HD running 1.8.112 does put out a DD 5.1 signal on the HDMI cable. I switched yesterday to using the HDMI output cable with no connection to the Toslink output of the 8300. My Audio processor did indicate the signal to be "AC-3", the old name for DD. It would vary between 5.1 when the HD portion was broadcast and drop down to 2.0 during commercials shown in SD.
Are you also using HDMI for video?

Yes the only cable running between the 8300HD and the DVDO VP30 scaler is a HDMI cable.

I have two 8300HD units and they are set up identically with regard to cabling and all settings.

The bigest problem I had was with masking and routing the IR signal to control each unit since thay are stacked one above another in the cabinet.

The bigest problem I had was with masking and routing the IR signal to control each unit since thay are stacked one above another in the cabinet.May I ask exactly how you accomplished that?

Long story, but here is the short of it.

In my HT a PC controls everything. It receives IR commands from an iPronto using an IR protocol NOT used by any equipment in the Theater. The PC puts out any sequence of commands needed by all of the components be they IR based or RS232 based. I have software that allows me to develop any IR patterns I need. In addition the IR output generator of the PC has 5 paths over which it can route an IR signal. One path is common to all components (the main IR bus) including one of the 8300HD units. A second path goes only to the IR emitter on the second 8300HD. I had to cover the IR emitters with black tape so they would pick up no reflected IR from each other.

Since the SA8300HD does not have a "Unit Code" as the Tivo based units do, it is just about impossible to deal with two units stacked in the same room, except if you have a system as I described above.

Scientific Atlanta is not very bright when it comes to marketing. With the ability to have a Unit IR code (actually just a different device code) they might sell more units. Tivo based DVR's allow 8 unit codes, with 0 being universal. That is, a unit set to 0 obeys any and all remotes no matter what their unit code setting.

Thanks for the info, sounds pretty cool.

How do you hide channels that you don't care about\are not subscribed to from the guide?

How do you hide channels that you don't care about\are not subscribed to from the guide?
You don't. You can designate any number of channels as "favorites" and look at only them in the guide by repeatedly pressing the favorite buttom.

How do you hide channels that you don't care about\are not subscribed to from the guide?

I would really love this feature. Plus it would make searching better.

I would really love this feature. Plus it would make searching better.
That's logical. Which dooms it.

That's logical. Which dooms it.
LOL.... Sad.... but likely true....

IMO, the cable companies suggested or asked for this (inability to hide channels). They want you to see ALL available channels in hopes that you'll ADD ($$$) tiers or movie channels or whatever you're missing.

I LOVE the feature that Dish Network has with their guide: Pressing the "Guide" button would cycle between an all available channels guide or your subscribed guide. Those were smart boxes. I'll bet that the SA boxes don't know (they don't need to know currently) what channels we subscribe to or not.

IMO, the cable companies suggested or asked for this (inability to hide channels). They want you to see ALL available channels in hopes that you'll ADD ($$$) tiers or movie channels or whatever you're missing.

I LOVE the feature that Dish Network has with their guide: Pressing the "Guide" button would cycle between an all available channels guide or your subscribed guide. Those were smart boxes. I'll bet that the SA boxes don't know (they don't need to know currently) what channels we subscribe to or not.
Of course not. But they *do* know what PPV events have been subscribed. :)

Even the "subscribed to" channels are too many. I wish they would have an option to limit the IPG to Favorites only. Since all the HD channels here are grouped together, I just press 711 to take me to the part of the IPG I care about.

FWIW, I would also like an HD display with 3 hours of IPG data, not the 4:3 SD 1.5 hours provided now. Fortunatley, I think this part may actually be coming one of these days. :)

FWIW, I would also like an HD display with 3 hours of IPG data, not the 4:3 SD 1.5 hours provided now. Fortunatley, I think this part may actually be coming one of these days. :)
Sure, it "knows" if we're using a 16:9 display so it could easily adapt to it.

I just upgraded from my old Explorer 3100HD to the 8300HD box this morning. I'm on Bright House, and received no owner's manual. I downloaded the manual, but of course, deiscovered that most of the set-up functions weren't there. From this forum I have discovered that I have the dreaded Passport software. I also noticed a number of other problems. After spending time on this thread I see that there is nothing I can do about them. Nonetheless, I like the DVR and picture quality of the box.

I have spent some time on this thread, but it so long. Here's my question: The hard drive in the box seems to whir and clack away 100% of the time. I assume that this is normal. What I am wondering is, how loud should it be? When the room is quiet I can easily hear it. I don't like that at all. Is this normal or should I ask for a replacement?

Thanks.

Ask for a replacement. I have three and can not hear them from 2 feet away.

Thanks. I guessed that since I didn't see any complaints that mine must be abnormal.

I'll bet that the SA boxes don't know (they don't need to know currently) what channels we subscribe to or not.
Each STB obviousy has to know which channels you are authorized to view, which can be seen by a "subscribed" status in the Extended Diagnostic Pages.
How else is it to know whether it should display a newly tuned channel or not????

I just upgraded from my old Explorer 3100HD to the 8300HD box this morning. I'm on Bright House, and received no owner's manual. I downloaded the manual, but of course, deiscovered that most of the set-up functions weren't there. From this forum I have discovered that I have the dreaded Passport software. I also noticed a number of other problems. After spending time on this thread I see that there is nothing I can do about them. Nonetheless, I like the DVR and picture quality of the box.

I have spent some time on this thread, but it so long. Here's my question: The hard drive in the box seems to whir and clack away 100% of the time. I assume that this is normal. What I am wondering is, how loud should it be? When the room is quiet I can easily hear it. I don't like that at all. Is this normal or should I ask for a replacement?

Thanks.

I wish I could direct you to the thread on this (you might want to click on my name and search my posts to start you on the search for this because I posted on this before)....

Anyway....long story short....I too must be two feet away from the SA8300HD to hear the whirring and clicking. HOWEVER, my significant other sitting ten feet away is driven nuts by the noise of it even while watching shows at normal sound volumes. Her experience is consistent with reports from others on the forum (as in forget about having an SA8300 on an open shelf setup in your bedroom at night).

If you find the other threads talking about this, the noise has to do with the hard disk buffering setup of the SA8300 even while the unit is off. The SA8000 does not do this. There are suggestions about changing the SA8300 to a music channel, for instance, to reduce the buffering noise. I personally have not done this, but perhaps since you're bothered by it you'll be more diligent about your search for a solution than I've been.

Of course, there is the possibility that you have a defective unit. I just want to prepare you for the real chance that you do not. There are some benefits to having being only a little deaf I think :) !

Thanks again. I'll try to find tha thread. It is sort of a rattling noise that bothers me. I expect a slight whirring noise.

Each STB obviousy has to know which channels you are authorized to view, which can be seen by a "subscribed" status in the Extended Diagnostic Pages.
How else is it to know whether it should display a newly tuned channel or not???? IMO, the box is in constant communications with the headend, which tells the box whether you're authorized or not for a channel. Or, do the boxes have built-in access cards, similar to D* or E* ??

I can now verify that the SA8300HD running 1.8.112 does put out a DD 5.1 signal on the HDMI cable. I switched yesterday to using the HDMI output cable with no connection to the Toslink output of the 8300. My Audio processor did indicate the signal to be "AC-3", the old name for DD. It would vary between 5.1 when the HD portion was broadcast and drop down to 2.0 during commercials shown in SD.

I just don't get it. I have HDMI from the 8300 to the TV and Toslink from the TV to the receiver and audio set to HDMI. In that configuration my receiver shows nothing better than Dolby Surround. But if I hook the Toslink from the 8300 directly from the 8300 to the receiver I get 5.1 sound if Dolby Digital is chosen in the menu.

I contacted the manufacturer of the TV and the rep I talked to said the TV supports 5.1 through HDMI and Dolby Digital output (this I knew because I was doing it with OTA signals). He pretty much said HDMI is a black art and if something isn't working exactly correct it's hard to figure out what/who is at fault and even harder to get it right.


I'm using a cheapy HDMI cable but I assume since it's digital it's either there or it isn't. Correct?

What version of OS software is running on the 8300? Is it Passport or Sara, and what is the version number.

Yes almost any HDMI cable, especially if a short run (3-6 feet) should work with no problem.

I am definately getting DD 5.1

I just don't get it. I have HDMI from the 8300 to the TV and Toslink from the TV to the receiver and audio set to HDMI. In that configuration my receiver shows nothing better than Dolby Surround. But if I hook the Toslink from the 8300 directly from the 8300 to the receiver I get 5.1 sound if Dolby Digital is chosen in the menu.

I contacted the manufacturer of the TV and the rep I talked to said the TV supports 5.1 through HDMI and Dolby Digital output (this I knew because I was doing it with OTA signals). He pretty much said HDMI is a black art and if something isn't working exactly correct it's hard to figure out what/who is at fault and even harder to get it right.


I'm using a cheapy HDMI cable but I assume since it's digital it's either there or it isn't. Correct?

HDMI is a black art and if you search the thread you will find as many people who didn't get it to work as those that did. i cant understand why you would want to go stb-tv-reciever but the biggest problem with hdmi is when you use any kind of repeater (in this case your tv is acting as a repeater)

HDMI is i cant understand why you would want to go stb-tv-reciever but the biggest problem with hdmi is when you use any kind of repeater (in this case your tv is acting as a repeater)

There's only one reason. My wife...... who couldn't care less about any of this. She doesn't want turn the receiver on "just to watch TV." But if I have the box set to output through DD the TV gets no sound (I've tried using the analog L/R RCA cable with it too) unless the receiver is on. If it's set to HDMI then I can get sound through the TV's speakers and she can watch TV without the receiver.

There's only one reason. My wife...... who couldn't care less about any of this. She doesn't want turn the receiver on "just to watch TV." But if I have the box set to output through DD the TV gets no sound (I've tried using the analog L/R RCA cable with it too) unless the receiver is on. If it's set to HDMI then I can get sound through the TV's speakers and she can watch TV without the receiver.
Use HDMI frm STB to TV for video only. Run a digital connection from STB to AVR. Run analog stereo audio from STB to TV. This config will allow your wife to "watch TV" with minimal fuss.

That doesn't seem to work. I've got analog cables connected to the TV from the STB. It seems as though if the audio is in HDMI I get sound through the TV but the from there it doesn't out put DD to the AVR.

And if I have the video hooked up and choose DD from the menu as an output I get no signal to the TV via the analog stereo cables. That's the rub.

That doesn't seem to work. I've got analog cables connected to the TV from the STB. It seems as though if the audio is in HDMI I get sound through the TV but the from there it doesn't out put DD to the AVR.

And if I have the video hooked up and choose DD from the menu as an output I get no signal to the TV via the analog stereo cables. That's the rub.
That's not the way mine works. All audio outputs . . output . . simultaneously. The DD selection you mention is for the digital output only and has no effect on the analog output.

That's not the way mine works. All audio outputs . . output . . simultaneously. The DD selection you mention is for the digital output only and has no effect on the analog output.


Interesting. I wish mine worked that way. But alas it doesn't.

That's not the way mine works. All audio outputs . . output . . simultaneously. The DD selection you mention is for the digital output only and has no effect on the analog output.

That was how mine work too (all outputs simultaneously) until the latest firmware update. Now I can choose whether to output analogue audio, HDMI audio, or DD. That's great but now the output is mutually exclusive! Not a huge problem for me and my wife but I can see how it is a problem for others.

Crawdad62, countzero75, pepar

Since this forum title says SA8300HD w Passport... I assume all of your DVR's are using Passport software. The question is what software level. Lets be able to at least categorize the audio output operation (inclusive or exclusive) by software revision.

Crawdad62, countzero75, pepar

Since this forum title says SA8300HD w Passport... I assume all of your DVR's are using Passport software. The question is what software level. Lets be able to at least categorize the audio output operation (inclusive or exclusive) by software revision.


I'd be happy to. Could you explain how I can get said info? I posted here because I assumed I was running Passport from some of the features my box has.

Crawdad62, countzero75, pepar

Since this forum title says SA8300HD w Passport... I assume all of your DVR's are using Passport software. The question is what software level. Lets be able to at least categorize the audio output operation (inclusive or exclusive) by software revision.
We have zero control over the firmware in our boxes, so knowing anyone's version number is fairly useless, IMO.

I'd be happy to. Could you explain how I can get said info? I posted here because I assumed I was running Passport from some of the features my box has.
If you've got Passport, it will say so when you press "LIST" to view your recorded programming.

That doesn't seem to work. I've got analog cables connected to the TV from the STB. It seems as though if the audio is in HDMI I get sound through the TV but the from there it doesn't out put DD to the AVR. And if I have the video hooked up and choose DD from the menu as an output I get no signal to the TV via the analog stereo cables. That's the rub.Assuming pepar is using HDMI (can't remember) and the STB L/R plugs are hot for him. Just a check, not to offend: Is this the TV? Hook-up PDF (http://www.sanyo.com/entertainment/televisions/digital/downloads/HDQNE_0184.pdf) So you have HDMI to the HDMI in and Audio L/R to the Audio 3, with nothing hooked into the Component 3? And for the flip side, the digital out has not reset itself since you set it for DD5.1 out with OTA? (Or worse reset itself every time the you flip to a channel with stereo).That was how mine work too (all outputs simultaneously) until the latest firmware update. Now I can choose whether to output analogue audio, HDMI audio, or DD. That's great but now the output is mutually exclusive! Not a huge problem for me and my wife but I can see how it is a problem for others.


I was going to ask if everyone would post setups, but I type too slow...

CountZero75 started with rev 2.4 (5/20/05) / 1.8.103 but you have newer firmware?

I have Component on rev 1.2 (02/09/2005) / 1.8.112 6.14.43.3sp with Analog + Coaxial DD5.1.

pepar has a [previously independent] Suscom/York system with last reported Passport 2.2.020 POWERTV 6.8.9.4sp


crawdad62, the tips post linked from the 1st post has a bunch of tips.To get to the multi-page Diagnostics screen, simultaneously press and hold the front panel's SELECT and EXIT buttons till DIAGNO appears then release the buttons, then press EXIT and the the box tunes itself to the multi-page Diagnostics channel. To exit press Ch + or Ch -

v/r,
C-F

edit: Sorry, I always take too long typing...

Well I must apologize. I'm going to assume I'm not even running Passport. List doesn't show anything and pushing SELECT/EXIT doesn't do anything either (other than flash the mail icon on the box's front panel).

I guess I'm in the wrong forum. That might explain why my 8300 seems to be much different than others here.

...with rev 2.4 (5/20/05) / 1.8.103 but you have newer firmware?

I have Component on rev 1.2 (02/09/2005) / 1.8.112 6.14.43.3sp with Analog + Coaxial DD5.1. It's my understanding that the cableco can update the firmware, i.e. rev 2.4 or rev 2.2 (this is on a sticker on the bottom of the boxes), as well as the software, i.e. Passport Echo. What the sticker says may have little value.... Now, how do you check what the current firmware version is ?? Going into DIAG mode only deals with Passport.

It's my understanding that the cableco can update the firmware, i.e. rev 2.4 or rev 2.2 (this is on a sticker on the bottom of the boxes), as well as the software, i.e. Passport Echo. What the sticker says may have little value.... Now, how do you check what the current firmware version is ?? Going into DIAG mode only deals with Passport.
Yes, like a thief in the night, the cableco can "update" our firmware. "Firmware" refers to Passport, though technically Passport is both software and firmware.

Mine says RSA software rev 2.2 on the bottom of the box.

It's my understanding that the cableco can update the firmware, i.e. rev 2.4 or rev 2.2 (this is on a sticker on the bottom of the boxes), as well as the software, i.e. Passport Echo. What the sticker says may have little value.... Now, how do you check what the current firmware version is ?? Going into DIAG mode only deals with Passport.Oh, sorry. I thought that the Revision number on the sticker was tracked to the hardware...

v/r,
C-F

The reason I asked for the version number was so we could correlate problems with software with setups. The same software should run the same on all machines unless there are major hardware differences which I find hard to believe. This should allow us to help those that really have setup rpoblems.

I guess the key facts for diagnosing/correlating the audio problems are (I have added my configuration):

STB Box type = SA8300HD
Software type (Passport vs SARA) = Passport
Firmware revision / software version = 1.8.112
Cabling employed (HDMI, Toslink, Analog, 2 out of 3, all) = HDMI
Setting for digital Audio output (Analog, HDMI, Dolby Digital) = HDMI
Channel type when problem seen (HD, SD) = Either
Audio type being sent if digital (2.0, 5.1) = Either
Problem that is seen = No Problem

I know this has been debated in the past.... I thought the rev 2.4, for example, listed on the sticker, was more akin to something like the BIOS and that any software, be it SARA, Passport, etc, runs on top of it.

I know this has been debated in the past.... I thought the rev 2.4, for example, listed on the sticker, was more akin to something like the BIOS and that any software, be it SARA, Passport, etc, runs on top of it.
Yes, a rev number on the box probably refers to a hardware revision.

The reason I asked for the version number was so we could correlate problems with software with setups. The same software should run the same on all machines unless there are major hardware differences which I find hard to believe. This should allow us to help those that really have setup rpoblems.

I guess the key facts for diagnosing/correlating the audio problems are (I have added my configuration):

STB Box type = SA8300HD
Software type (Passport vs SARA) = Passport
Firmware revision / software version = 1.8.112
Cabling employed (HDMI, Toslink, Analog, 2 out of 3, all) = HDMI
Setting for digital Audio output (Analog, HDMI, Dolby Digital) = HDMI
Channel type when problem seen (HD, SD) = Either
Audio type being sent if digital (2.0, 5.1) = Either
Problem that is seen = No Problem
My apologize for being so negative. Behind that is that, from what I've seen here, rev numbers are not as definitive as they would seem to be as individual cablecos are picking and choosing individual features/functions all within a particular rev. So, not only are there a plethora of different revs "out there", there are permutations within each rev. It will be daunting to make anything of it. Having said that:

Passport Echo 2.2.020
PowerTV 6.8.9.4sp
OS Date: Aug 11, 2004
HAL Driver 1.0.31.11011
PHAL3 Driver 3.5.11.1001
Maxtor 4R160L0 (firmware RAMB1UU0)

I included HAL and drive firmware info as that could be relevant in trying to sleuth out errors and incompatibilities.

And there are still differences at the specific cableco to where a given version can still work differently.

Yes, I have newer firmware. My setup is:

Passport Echo 1.8.112
PowerTV 6.14.43.3sp
OS Date: June 6, 05
HAL Driver 1.0.39.109111
PHAL3 Driver 3.5.12.1005
Maxtor 4R160L0 (firmware RAMB1UU0)

Yes, I have newer firmware. My setup is:

Passport Echo 1.8.112
PowerTV 6.14.43.3sp
OS Date: June 6, 05
HAL Driver 1.0.39.109111
PHAL3 Driver 3.5.12.1005
Maxtor 4R160L0 (firmware RAMB1UU0)
'Newer" but "older."

Yes, I have newer firmware. My setup is:

Passport Echo 1.8.112 That is the "main" item that we pay attention to. You're running probably the most common or popular revision out there, at least in Time Warner land.

Well, my setup looks more and more like CountZero75's. Do your L/R stereo outs still work with component?

Passport Echo 1.8.112
PowerTV 6.14.43.3sp

HAL Driver 1.0.39.109111
8300prd _____ 6.14.42.1sp

PHAL3 Driver 3.5.12.1005
8300:PHAL3 _____ 6.14.42.1sp

PKey LIB 3.8.4.1
e8kg3-mrdvrp ____ 6.14.42.1sp

Passport 1.8.112
Passport OS 6.14.43.3841sp

HHD Maxtor 4R160L0
Firmware RAMB1UU0

Wondering why the Versions 2 page has different OS versions listed for the drivers...

v/r,
C-F

With my previous firmware all the audio outputs work simultaneously. But with my current one, only the one selected in the Audio Output menu works. So now I use components output for video and optical out for DD5.1.

okay, i've been saerching around attempting to find the solution, though to no avail, so forgive me ahead of time if it was already posted and i missed it.

i can't get my 720p selection to work under adv settings. if i select it and then hit okay, it just shows 1080i, its basically impossible to get 720p.

also for whatever reason some of my channels shut down, 3, 4, and 5. if they do play, there's very glitchy playback with freezing.

i have time warner san diego.

thanks
--soheil

okay, i've been saerching around attempting to find the solution, though to no avail, so forgive me ahead of time if it was already posted and i missed it.

i can't get my 720p selection to work under adv settings. if i select it and then hit okay, it just shows 1080i, its basically impossible to get 720p.

also for whatever reason some of my channels shut down, 3, 4, and 5. if they do play, there's very glitchy playback with freezing.

i have time warner san diego.

thanks
--soheil

This is a known issue and I am collecting information about the problem. Please post the make and model of your display. If you go back to .103 the problem goes away.

This is a known issue and I am collecting information about the problem. Please post the make and model of your display. If you go back to .103 the problem goes away.

Barry is the issue the loss of 720p or the lost channels? I've had these working for sometime (the channels and i remember seeing 720p a while ago), it just recently stopped working.

I have a Sammy Hlp 4663w, using an hdmi to dvi cable.

--soheil

In NYC's TWC, holding the two keys down several seconds brings up 'diag' on the 8300HD front panel, then releasing and pressing both again tunes to diagnostics channel 1999. Likely 1999 is for NYC, but the double pressing might bring up diagnostics.

Haven't checked recently, but a while back the H/DTV channels here weren't accessible on diagnostics. Never tried it, but it appears entering 709 here while in diagnostics tunes/tuned in HD channel WWOR, not listed in the usual HD guide. -- John

I'm in NYC (TWC Queens) and have not been able to get into Diagnostics. My box was made in January '06. Wonder if it's been disabled, or if there are new combinations.

Just the loss of certain scan rates. I have a client with a Fujitsu plasma and they could only select 480p with version .112 but when I pushed them back to .103 all scan rates were again available. I have a LumagenHDP scaler that had the same problem as you of no 720p. The low channels problem is a separate issue. You should call for service to check the incoming signal.

Same in TWC Queens. The black area disappears when you press MENU twice, and it doesn't interfere with your DVR function.

I have your exact same system in Northern Manhattan! Come over for a drink and take a look :)


I started a thread about that -- supposedly it's a common problem, don't panic. Changing channels is the only way, so far, I know how to get rid of it.

here's the thread: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6938333&highlight=black+squares#post6938333

This does not work on my TWCNYC system. 611 brings up "Music Choice". The only diagnostics I've been able to see are 996, which is connectivity (MAC, IP, etc).

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.

This does not work on my TWCNYC system. 611 brings up "Music Choice". The only diagnostics I've been able to see are 996, which is connectivity (MAC, IP, etc).

The correct method for accessing Diagnostics on the TWCNYC system has been repeatedly posted by me and others (not including Pepar, who isn't from NYC) and will not be repeated here. Doing a little homework isn't a waste of time.

since the thread is active, does everyone else's unit make a lot of hard drive sounds when half? mine's always clickin and swishen.

thanks again
--soheil

Hi...I've posted this else where, but still need some help.

My brother got his Panasonic 42PX60U last night. We have some questions on hookups/settings I'm hoping people can help. For the record, he has a SA83000 HD-DVR from Time Warner Cable in New York City. We are both new at this, so excuse the ignorance...! DVD player is hooked up via component. Cable goes wall to the 8300, then HDMI to TV (with the audio going separate to reciever).

1) DVDs. Pop in Lord of the Rings. Selection screens fill the whole panel, but once the movie start, it doesn't. "Full" mode covers 1/3 of the screen. Best mode was Zoom. It didn't appear to lose quality, or crop the pitcure, but it still had letterboxing on the top and bottom and didn't fill the entire screen. Is this normal? **I got another repsonse that said the DVD output may be 4:3 and should be set to 16:9. Didn't check this yet, but is this possible?

2) Standard Def. With the 4:3 setting, things looked normal. I got the grey bars onthe side. Full aspect ratio looked stretched. "Just" looked not as stretched, but still. Zoom looked OK, but there was major cropping. You couldn't see the entire pitcure. What's the best way to view. And how do you view non-HD titles on HD channels?

3) HD channels. Some looked better than others. The college hoops looked real good. Chronicles of Riddick was on and it looked amazing, better than the DVD (don't ask why I own). Guessing that's because the cable verison is HD, while DVDs are not. Our biggest problem that we noticed was on Conan O'Brien. The show looked great, but I could tell that the camera was not right. He was interview Steve Harvey, and on his tight shot in HD, the top of his hat was off the screen. I flipped back to normal SD NBC, and saw that the shot was framed properly (his hat had aboue 2" of clearence). Back to HD, noticed that the NBC logo in the bottom right was all there. I was liked I was zoomed in. Note, we were on "Full" mode and other views didn't look better. We had a cropped image. ** A person wrote me and said there's a ZOOM feature on the 8300. How do I control?

I'm trying to figure out the issues and whether it's connectoin, the Panny, or the 8300. Any users who have it, please chime in. (And NYC TW people, I'd love to hear from you).

Long winded....thanks for reading.

** A person wrote me and said there's a ZOOM feature on the 8300. How do I control?

I'm trying to figure out the issues and whether it's connectoin, the Panny, or the 8300. Any users who have it, please chime in. (And NYC TW people, I'd love to hear from you).

Long winded....thanks for reading.

To control the zoom settings on the 8300, hit Settings and then "A" for "More Settings". Go to "Aspect Ratio" and set your TV Type as "Widescreen (16:9)"; the key setting is the 2nd one, Picture Settings. Set this to:

1) Sidebar 4:3 - for normal SD viewing (the 8300 inserts gray sidebars)

2) Stretch 4:3 - to have the 8300 stretch 4:3 content horizontally to fill the screen (see below, but you may want to use this and then let your display's picture size settings control how the image fills the screen)

3) Zoom 4:3 - to have the 8300 zoom in on the 4:3 image (you probably don't want this)

Not familiar w/ the Panny picture modes but you may want to experiment with the Stretch 4:3 mode and a 4:3 or comparable setting on the panasonic. This will likely stretch and then shrink the image back to normal w/ black sidebars (inserted by the panny). But again not familiar w/ your display.

To EricScott's explanation of the picture-sizing options on the 8300HD, I'd add that in TWCNYC-land (with the UR5-8400 remote), one can cycle through the DVR's size modes without entering the Settings menus by repeatedly pressing the VIDEO SOURCE key on the remote. I'd also modestly suggest that a HDTV newbie should probably avoid the stretching and zooming stuff for a while just to experience the new medium without the distortion that they inherently introduce. Happy viewing.

Poonchance: Be careful if you're using the zoom/stretch functions of the 8300HD and the picture re-sizing capabilities of the television. Lucky for me, and many others, my TV disables it's internal sizing modes when it's receiving a 480p or better picture (I think).

since the thread is active, does everyone else's unit make a lot of hard drive sounds when half? mine's always clickin and swishen.

thanks again
--soheil

I have two SA8300HDs and they both make lots of harddrive clicking noise. One was intitially a lot quieter than the other, but after about 6 months, they both sound about the same. You can hear them clearly in a quiet room 24/7, fortunately, there is the 5.1 surround system to drown them out!

I can get right up to the glass door on my storage cabinet and not hear a thing until I open it. Even then, I have to move pretty close (less than a foot) to the 8300 to hear any drive noise. I swear, like a car, my 8300 must have been made on a Wednesday, knock on wood. :)

I wonder if anyone here has tried this and can give me some advance warning. My home video system is set up with some SA8300HD boxes shared by systems in two different rooms. The boxes are connected to a Key Digital switcher that provides independant signals to both displays via component cables. I am about to switch the display in one room to one that uses HDMI (I can't run HDMI to the second set due to wiring issues). It was my intention to get a HDMI switcher to feed the first display and keep the component switcher for the second display. I have been told that the only way that this will work is if I have the HDMI display on whenever I want to use the component display, otherwise if the HDMI display is off, the box will put up a black screen with a HDMI authentication error message on both the HDMI and component outputs. Is this true? That seems contrary to the whole point of HDMI which is to force you to go to component if there is an authentication error.

Has anyone tried this or might know if one can connect both the HDMI and component outputs with different displays and use the component out when the HDMI component is turned off.

I wonder if anyone here has tried this and can give me some advance warning. My home video system is set up with some SA8300HD boxes shared by systems in two different rooms. The boxes are connected to a Key Digital switcher that provides independant signals to both displays via component cables. I am about to switch the display in one room to one that uses HDMI (I can't run HDMI to the second set due to wiring issues). It was my intention to get a HDMI switcher to feed the first display and keep the component switcher for the second display. I have been told that the only way that this will work is if I have the HDMI display on whenever I want to use the component display, otherwise if the HDMI display is off, the box will put up a black screen with a HDMI authentication error message on both the HDMI and component outputs. Is this true? That seems contrary to the whole point of HDMI which is to force you to go to component if there is an authentication error.

Has anyone tried this or might know if one can connect both the HDMI and component outputs with different displays and use the component out when the HDMI component is turned off.

first of all search the forum that question has been asked like 100 times. secondly please dont mess with HDMI unless you know voodoo or black magic, it's the only way you will get it to work reliably

first of all search the forum that question has been asked like 100 times. secondly please dont mess with HDMI unless you know voodoo or black magic, it's the only way you will get it to work reliably

Boy that's a helpful response. I think many of us have managed to get HDMI to work fairly reliably. Plus his question was very specific and I doubt he will find the info he needs by searching.

Now in terms of the original question, I know you can get component and HDMI to output at the same time, but what happens if the display is off, I can't really tell you b/c every time I've tested it my display has been on.

Also, using an HDMI switcher could be problematic. The HDMI output on these boxes is pretty quirky and I know people have reported HDCP issues wiring the 8300 through an HDMI receiver, for example. I'm guessing certain switchers will work ok and others won't.

Sorry I don't have more specific answers but hopefully someone can chime in with the right information - curious to hear myself.

Think I finally found the right thread ...

SETUP: Connection STB to PDP via HDMI looks Great, STB to AVR toslink = 5.1 DD sounds great. I experience the low level clicking (sounds like disk writes to me).

ISSUE:
SA8300HD on TimeWarner with Passport through HDMI to my NEC 50XR5A, when I turn off the panel it turns off the SA83000 as well, and not successfully I might add, subsequently then the cable box proceeds to switch on and off until I turn the Panel back on and turn off the cable box first. i.e. I seem to have to shut down the Cable box first. The cable box seems to lose a few settings when I have to turn it off. (e.g. Digital Audio Setting). Is anyone else seeing this, and/or is this just part of the HDMI "Handshake" issues and /or is there a setting to not do this. Easy enough to work around, but annoying. I will try a new box on monday as well.

I just had the wierdest thing happen with my 8300HD: I leave it on 24/7, and don't usually have any problems recording stuff. However, I'd scheduled simultaneous 8pm recordings today of The West Wing on NBC and Battlestar Galactica on UHD, then noticed at 8 that while the box was on, the recording light wasn't! As soon as I hit the button on my universal remote to switch all my hardware to watching-cable mode, the shows suddenly began recording at that second (at 8:10 to be precise).

Here's what I'm wondering: I run the 8300HD through a Gefen HDMI switcher to share my TV's single HDMI input with my DVD player and HTPC. Until I hopped to it and went to see why no recording was happening, the HDMI switch had the DVD player selected. Is it possible that with HDMI, the 8300 won't execute a scheduled recording unless the box can detect a "live" connection to a TV? 99% of the time, I experience no problems whatsoever using the box with HDMI, but I have experienced one or two botched recordings in the months since I got the box...and this would seem to explain that as well as anything could. Has anyone else using and HDMI switch experienced this?

Think I finally found the right thread ...

SETUP: Connection STB to PDP via HDMI looks Great, STB to AVR toslink = 5.1 DD sounds great. I experience the low level clicking (sounds like disk writes to me).

ISSUE:
SA8300HD on TimeWarner with Passport through HDMI to my NEC 50XR5A, when I turn off the panel it turns off the SA83000 as well, and not successfully I might add, subsequently then the cable box proceeds to switch on and off until I turn the Panel back on and turn off the cable box first. i.e. I seem to have to shut down the Cable box first. The cable box seems to lose a few settings when I have to turn it off. (e.g. Digital Audio Setting). Is anyone else seeing this, and/or is this just part of the HDMI "Handshake" issues and /or is there a setting to not do this. Easy enough to work around, but annoying. I will try a new box on monday as well.
I had this problem when TWC-San Diego updated the Passport Echo software version....
SA8300HD relays clicked and front panel display flickered until it eventually rebooted.

I reported the problem and a subsequent software version "fixed" the problem---
By eliminating the automatic STB ON/OFF control.

I really hope the box does not need a live TV with valid HDCP to record a show. That is ridiculous. I wish someone from Scientific Atlanta would watch this thread and comment on issues. It would help them and help us.

As I continue reading this stuff, I'm not surprised at all that if you ask my local TW a question related to HDMI connections with the 8300HD, their response is "we don't support using that connection". Can't say I blame 'em....

Boy that's a helpful response. I think many of us have managed to get HDMI to work fairly reliably. Plus his question was very specific and I doubt he will find the info he needs by searching.

Now in terms of the original question, I know you can get component and HDMI to output at the same time, but what happens if the display is off, I can't really tell you b/c every time I've tested it my display has been on.

Thanks Eric. I love how some person can join a forum like this two months ago and thinks that he needs to educate someone who has been here for seven years on forum etiquette. Of course, his comment is also useless because if you do search on the simple question of simultaneous HDMI and Component use, you mostly turn up messages saying that you can do it (though neilk2350 seems to be one of the few who claim that you can't), but all those threads deal with boxes running SARA software, and, thus are irrelevant to boxes running Passport. FYI, you CAN run HDMI and Component simultaneously on a Passport box with both displays turned on, because I saw it doing that at a friend's house when I brought my component projector over to his place for a shootout against his unit that had a HDCP compatible DVI output.

You are also correct that the key question I'm asking now is what happens to the dual output setup when the HDMI display is turned off (or on standby). I can't check it again against my friend's unit mainly because there is no way that I'm going to go through the hassle of taking my projector off the cieling, schleping it over to his house and then having to recalibrate it again when I am getting a new projector in about six weeks. If I learn anything more, I'll let you know.

What I am replying to was a question posted sometimes in the past regarding digital output and HDMI. The following applies only when receiving a digital as opposed to analog signal. My cable provider supllies all digital if you have a digital set top box, and analog basic/standard if you have no set top box. I believe all signals into a SA8300HD antenna/cable connection must be / are digital. If any one believes any thing I am saying is incorrect please feel free to correct me (nicely).

The proper setting for the digital output mode on the SA8300HD when using HDMI is as follows;

HDMI - the actual signal placed on the HDMI cable AND THE AUDIO DIGITAL outputs (Optical and Coaxial) will be based upon the negotiation of capability between the receiver (TV) and source (8300) through the HDMI link. If the TV reports it can handle DD then DD will be placed on the digital outputs if the signal (station) provides it. If The TV reports it can not handle HD I believe it will place PCM stereo on the digital outputs (Toslink, Coaxial, and HDMI).

Dolby Digital - Independent of what the TV is capable of handling (as discovered by the HDMI negotiation), a Dolby Digital signal will be placed on both the HDMI output and the Audio Digital outputs (Toslink and Coaxial) if it is available. If not, it will place a PCM stereo signal on those outputs.

Therefore, if you are using a separate AVR to handle Audio by either breaking out the audio from the HDMI cable to a Toslink or coaxial digital audio signal (as many of the Gefen HDMI boxes do) or you are feeding the AVR digital audio input from the Toslink or coaxial output of the 8300; then Dolby digital is what should be used as it then makes the audio independent of what the TV can or can not process.

In my setup I feed a DVDO iSCAN VP30 with HDMI signals from two SA8300HD units. The VP30 in this configuration is officially an HDMI repeater as it both accepts (receives) an HDMI signal and sends out (transmits) one. My SA8300HD's are both set up for Dolby Digital output, but there are no Toslink cables plugged between them and the VP30.

Acting as a repeater in this setup, the VP30 should provide to each SA8300HD the same data describing the capabilities of the single Display device independent of which input (DVR1 or DVR2) is being switched to the single output projector. HDCP authentication should be happening continuously from each HDMI HDCP compliant source, and since the only downstream device is the single video display system, the HDCP compliance should always be confirmed to each connected input to eliminate things like messages stating non HDCP compliant display.

I am not sure that last item is happening if and when a SA8300HD DVR decides to go to standby. Is there any way to make it so the SA8300HD DVR never goes to standby automaticallY?

Just the loss of certain scan rates. I have a client with a Fujitsu plasma and they could only select 480p with version .112 but when I pushed them back to .103 all scan rates were again available. I have a LumagenHDP scaler that had the same problem as you of no 720p. The low channels problem is a separate issue. You should call for service to check the incoming signal.

Ah, this maybe a novice question but how "exactly" do you "puch them back to .103"? I am a computer/HT guy but I have no idea how to flash the revs on these things. From what I can tell, Time Wartner does this ALL the time (at great distress to me). Ideally, I would prefer to LOCK my rev into a version I am comfortable with and lock out TW form any changes. Is this possible with a retned box from TW or shoudl I simply consider buying my own personal unit? If buying, what is market rate and do I require passport if I am on the TW system or can I "opt" for SARA at my descretion? Thanks in advance.

I requested a push back to .103 from the BHN engineering department. This is not standard procedure but can be easily done remotely by submitting the RF MAC address of the individual box. You cannot lock your stb to a version. Even if you remove the cable during a flash period the box will update as soon as you reaquire the signal.

I really hope the box does not need a live TV with valid HDCP to record a show. That is ridiculous. I wish someone from Scientific Atlanta would watch this thread and comment on issues. It would help them and help us.

It's not a live TV per se that's needed--I do scheduled recordings all the time when the TV is powered down. Still, the HDMI switch is almost always set in cable box mode when I turn off the TV, because scheduling the recording was the last thing I did before turning it off. I'm thinking the box just needs to know it's connected to something other than a brick wall (so to speak). I'm going to run some tests later to see if my hypothesis is correct, and I'll let you guys know the results shortly.

I am having an intermittent problem. Sometimes when a show is scheduled to be recorded all I find is the first 10 minutes or so. Sunday a unit was scheduled to record the Sopranos and Time Bomb. On monday I had two entries for Time Bomb (a 2 hour movie). The first was about 10 minutes long, and the second the rest of the entry with a small gap in time between the 2 parts. The Sopranos only had 1 entry as recorded and only the first 10 minutes. I suspect the unit rebooted. If it did reboot and was smart enough to start recording Time Bomb after the boot, what about the Sopranos? Are the SA8300HD DVR's this bad? I always had a Tivo before and things like this never happened. They also never rebooted as often as the SA units seem to. Are others having the same issues?

in TWCNYC-land (with the UR5-8400 remote), one can cycle through the DVR's size modes without entering the Settings menus by repeatedly pressing the VIDEO SOURCE key on the remote.
The same result (cycling through the stretch/zoom modes) can be gotten by pressing the pound ("#") key on the remote.

I am having an intermittent problem. Sometimes when a show is scheduled to be recorded all I find is the first 10 minutes or so. Sunday a unit was scheduled to record the Sopranos and Time Bomb. On monday I had two entries for Time Bomb (a 2 hour movie). The first was about 10 minutes long, and the second the rest of the entry with a small gap in time between the 2 parts. The Sopranos only had 1 entry as recorded and only the first 10 minutes. I suspect the unit rebooted. If it did reboot and was smart enough to start recording Time Bomb after the boot, what about the Sopranos? Are the SA8300HD DVR's this bad? I always had a Tivo before and things like this never happened. They also never rebooted as often as the SA units seem to. Are others having the same issues?
My guess is that after it rebooted and came back up, the DVR, in its wisdom decided that it didn't have enough space to record the rest of the Sopranos (even though it thought it had it at the beginning of the hour). Otherwise, I cannot explain the error.

I've recently had the same issue once -- where I've had 4+ hours of HD space but it only recorded the first 15 minutes of a program.

First of all, I'd like to apologize for jumping in without reading previous posts. Most likely my question has been asked and answered several times. I just finished reading 80 pages on the X37SV forum and if spend anymore time reading messages my wife is going to throw my dinner away.

Sooooo, quick question: rather than splitting the cable to send it to both the 8300 and the ATSC/QAM tuner of my TV, I thought to send the cable into the box and then use the RF out from the box to the tuner. Unfortunately, I am not finding any channels with my tuner when I do that. Am I doing something wrong, or just there are no channels to receive with my provider (brighthouse, Orlando area)?

THANKS!
Alex

First of all, I'd like to apologize for jumping in without reading previous posts. Most likely my question has been asked and answered several times. I just finished reading 80 pages on the X37SV forum and if spend anymore time reading messages my wife is going to throw my dinner away.

Sooooo, quick question: rather than splitting the cable to send it to both the 8300 and the ATSC/QAM tuner of my TV, I thought to send the cable into the box and then use the RF out from the box to the tuner. Unfortunately, I am not finding any channels with my tuner when I do that. Am I doing something wrong, or just there are no channels to receive with my provider (brighthouse, Orlando area)?

THANKS!
Alex

Alex,

The output of the 8300 is SD NTSC TV at RF Channel 3 or 4. It only shows what the regular box is showing. This may be handy as sort of a poor man's multi-room set-up (or for a simple connection to a VCR). This output does have StereO sound, however. HD channels/recordings come through this as letterboxed SD.

Wouldn't the easiest and perhaps best (from a quality of signal) solution be two STB's or two DVR's or a combination of the two? It might not be the least expensive but then again as I recall the HDMI splitter is $300 MSRP. There is no extra charge with BHN for the "connection" just the service and equipment rental. As I recall that comes to about $14/month or a payback of $300/$14 of around 20 months. A lot could change in 20 months!

Scott.

There was practically nothing recorded on the DVR's hard drive. 160 gig is supposed to hold how many hours of HD?

160 gig is supposed to hold how many hours of HD? Approx 20 hours

It's not a live TV per se that's needed--I do scheduled recordings all the time when the TV is powered down. Still, the HDMI switch is almost always set in cable box mode when I turn off the TV, because scheduling the recording was the last thing I did before turning it off. I'm thinking the box just needs to know it's connected to something other than a brick wall (so to speak). I'm going to run some tests later to see if my hypothesis is correct, and I'll let you guys know the results shortly.


Here's some anecdotal experience with a similar (but different) problem: I was making a VCR copy of a program that I had recorded on my 8300HD. Since I didn't need to watch the show, I turned off the TV. The box detected this HDCP "violation" and immediately stoped playing the show and then turned itself off.

Approx 20 hours

The manual says 110 for SD and 24 for HD.
I have calculated closer to 26 hours for HD.

ps - If you upconvert everything to 1080i than forget about the SD stats.