Slackers post 20+ on weekdays and have better things to do on weekends.
:cool:

It is a Fujitsu P42HHA30WS, about three years old now. I have no problems connecting it to the 8300HD via a DVI cable and an DVI-HDMI adapter...the display on the monitor looks great. It's just the SD outputs that have the HDCP issue.

I wonder if it is an issue that your display does not accept 480i over DVI/HDMI. This is a common issue - particularly with plasmas from that vintage. Usually HDCP issues occur with 720p/1080i outputs, so I can't see you having a HDCP issue with SD and not HD. My guess is that somewhere the set-up on your 8300 changed (perhaps a software update) that enabled 480i. Try running the set-up wizzard and do not enable 480i.

I assume you are connecting the SD output to a VCR, DVD recorder or similar device. If there is a HMDI cable connected to the 8300, the the device on the other end of the cable (TV in your case) has to be powered on to establish the HDCP handshake. So if you are just wanting to "watch" the output on the SD connection, you still have to have the TV powered on.

Im pretty sure this is the same issue that i posed a while ago and the answer i received was its a software issue and if the hdmi cable is plugged in you cannot use the other outputs of the box unless the tv connected to the hdmi is powered on. Its so stupid and seems like they could easilly fix it.

rmbracalente, check this link out, is it what you are esentially trying to get accomplished?
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=749284

There's been some disagreement on this, but my opinion is that the 8300HD should be set to pass all resolutions letting the display handle all scaling/deinterlacing.

Can you tell me how to do this? I would like my new Pioneer 5070 plasma to make the switching, not the SA8300. I can't find these settings.

Also, is it possible to get a "30 second skip" on the remote? I miss this from DTV.

Finally, how do I get around the "press any key to watch TV" and "hard drive powering up" messages? I would like it on all the time.

Thanks!

Can you tell me how to do this? I would like my new Pioneer 5070 plasma to make the switching, not the SA8300. I can't find these settings.
Settings|General Settings|Output Format - enable all resolutions.

Also, is it possible to get a "30 second skip" on the remote? I miss this from DTV.
I don't know of any. But if you fast forward and hit play at the first sight of the program, it will start playing *before* the point you hit the button - to make up for reflex time.

Finally, how do I get around the "press any key to watch TV" and "hard drive powering up" messages? I would like it on all the time.
I don't get those. Are you sure your box is running Passport?

i don't know if it's passport. I'm with TWC Houston. How do I check? Both my DVR's (HD and SD) give this message. Very annoying....

i don't know if it's passport. I'm with TWC Houston. How do I check? Both my DVR's (HD and SD) give this message. Very annoying....
What does it say when you pull up the program guide or recordings screen?

I see the TWC logo and another icon next to it. I have no idea what it is. They don't "say" anything about version or type.

I see the TWC logo and another icon next to it. I have no idea what it is. They don't "say" anything about version or type.Try a “hard-reboot” by unplugging the box for several seconds. When you plug it in and turn it on- tell us what’s on the screen.

When you Passporters select the Settings button, what do you get? SARA users get a Quick Settings menu with Start Recording, Set Sleep Timer, Add to Favorites, Block Channel, Turn Off Parental Controls, Picture Size, Caption, and SAP options. I suspect you get something different. SARA also can't enable formats through the General Settings menu. They can press/hold the Pause button until a Mail LED lights and then press the Pg Dn (-) key to enter the SARA diagnostics screens. Either of these would be a dead giveaway as to what software folks are running without having to reboot, etc.

When you Passporters select the Settings button, what do you get? SARA users get a Quick Settings menu with Start Recording, Set Sleep Timer, Add to Favorites, Block Channel, Turn Off Parental Controls, Picture Size, Caption, and SAP options. I suspect you get something different. SARA also can't enable formats through the General Settings menu. They can press/hold the Pause button until a Mail LED lights and then press the Pg Dn (-) key to enter the SARA diagnostics screens. Either of these would be a dead giveaway as to what software folks are running without having to reboot, etc.
Settings - Quick Settings - Make this channel a favorite, Record channel, Play SAP, Activate Sleep Timer, Closed Captions and Parental Control. (Pressing Settings again exits the screen.)

Pressing "A More Settings" brings up General Settings, including Aspect Ratio and Output Formats.

Pressing - and holding - Pause simply pauses the picture.

When I press List, a screen showing my recordings comes up. At the top this says "Passport Echo."

Mail???

Aha! Between DoubleDAZ and pepar it seems like we have a quick and dirty way of determining whether a box is Passport or SARA. Press "Settings". If you see "Start Recording" at the top of the list, you have SARA. If you see " Make this channel a favorite" at the top of this list, you have Passport. Simple.

-barry

Actually, pressing List seems even better because Passport appears to say Passport whereas SARA just says Recorded List. :)

Not really. Same box and software as pepar, but different cable system. When I press the "List" button, the top of the screen says "DVR." NO indication what software is running. I can press 996 and get single screen that indicates the software rev. When I press "Settings" the default "Quick Settings" choice is "Record this Channel."

Not really. Same box and software as pepar, but different cable system. When I press the "List" button, the top of the screen says "DVR." NO indication what software is running.
As with everything else with these boxes, the only thing that is consistent is the lack of consistency. But these two button presses are a good place to start.

996 does diddly on mine.

Actually, pressing List seems even better because Passport appears to say Passport whereas SARA just says Recorded List. :)

Mine says 'Recorded List' so I assume I have SARA.

With 800,000 subscribers in Houston, I thought that someone would have known without having to check! Now we do.....

A method that should be valid for all systems and software platforms is just to reboot the box and keep an eye on the TV screen. On my boxes, the reboot sequence displays the Aptiv logo and copyright notice. That means Passport. No Aptiv logo means SARA (or Mystro/Navigator).

Mine says 'Recorded List' so I assume I have SARA.

With 800,000 subscribers in Houston, I thought that someone would have known without having to check! Now we do.....
This is a "tough love" thread. You need to know how to do things yourself. :)

This is a "tough love" thread. You need to know how to do things yourself. :)I think that applies to ALL 8300 threads. :)

BTW, yes, there is a Mail LED on the 8300 display, it's right above the 1080i indicator.

As with everything else with these boxes, the only thing that is consistent is the lack of consistency. But these two button presses are a good place to start.

996 does diddly on mine.

Comcast vs. TWC.

Aha! Between DoubleDAZ and pepar it seems like we have a quick and dirty way of determining whether a box is Passport or SARA. Press "Settings". If you see "Start Recording" at the top of the list, you have SARA. If you see " Make this channel a favorite" at the top of this list, you have Passport. Simple.Actually the easiest and most difinitive way to determine which which you have is to go into the Output Formats menu. If it says 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i then you have Passport. If you see Passthrough and Upconvert 1 and Upconvert 2 etc then you have SARA.

But i guess it won't matter soon as it looks like both these are being stripped from our DVRs soon and replaced by Navigator nation wide. I'm not looking forward to that - i really like Passport.

Good points all. Especially the last one. I'm living in dread of Navigator being actually rolled out. I suppose it's possible that TW will get it right with Navigator, but given that it's a big, complicated programming project, and TW, to the best of my knowledge, doesn't have a huge, experienced programming staff, I'm really not optimistic about it.

-barry

Good points all. Especially the last one. I'm living in dread of Navigator being actually rolled out. I suppose it's possible that TW will get it right with Navigator, but given that it's a big, complicated programming project, and TW, to the best of my knowledge, doesn't have a huge, experienced programming staff, I'm really not optimistic about it.You can check the Time Warner Cable Navigator (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=723830) thread to see how trials of that are going in a couple of places.

Good points all. Especially the last one. I'm living in dread of Navigator being actually rolled out. I suppose it's possible that TW will get it right with Navigator, but given that it's a big, complicated programming project, and TW, to the best of my knowledge, doesn't have a huge, experienced programming staff, I'm really not optimistic about it.

-barry

As you know, the latest Passport rev was rolled out in several small communities here for something like 4 months before we Manhattanites got it. While that is NO guarantee, MDN rollout my happen in a very similar fashion. Which essentially means we should know what we are getting when it hits our STBs. The "good news" is that by that time we COULD have knowledge of any necessary workarounds!

As you know, the latest Passport rev was rolled out in several small communities here for something like 4 months before we Manhattanites got it. While that is NO guarantee, MDN rollout my happen in a very similar fashion. Which essentially means we should know what we are getting when it hits our STBs. The "good news" is that by that time we COULD have knowledge of any necessary workarounds!
Gosh, what a pessimist; "workarounds" implies there will be problems. Just what is your basis for thinking there will be problems with new equipment from the cable industry. :rolleyes: :)

to the best of my knowledge, doesn't have a huge, experienced programming staff, I'm really not optimistic about it.

Just curious, how do you know TW doesn't have a huge, experienced programming staff? Often a company (even the largest ones) will sub-contract this type of project to a vendor that has experience in the specialized area. Who knows, they may have subed it to the Passport guys.

You can check the Time Warner Cable Navigator (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=723830) thread to see how trials of that are going in a couple of places.

You're trying to ruin my life, right? Another 11 page thread that will no doubt grow exponentially over 1Q06. And, again no doubt, each posting will depress me more than the next. I'm hooked.

Thanks for the pointer.

-barry

Just curious, how do you know TW doesn't have a huge, experienced programming staff? Often a company (even the largest ones) will sub-contract this type of project to a vendor that has experience in the specialized area. Who knows, they may have subed it to the Passport guys.

You're right, of course, I don't know whether TW has a staff of hundreds of programmers. I don't know whether they've contracted out the job. I don't even know whether they've outsourced it to India or not. What I do know it that in my experience when a large, bureaucratic company takes a pretty good piece of software and tries to re-build in "in house" disaster usually ensues.

I hope I'm wrong.... Oh boy do I hope I'm wrong, but I'm really pessimistic about this one.

-barry

Gosh, what a pessimist; "workarounds" implies there will be problems. Just what is your basis for thinking there will be problems with new equipment from the cable industry. :rolleyes: :)

Which sure does go towards the argument that we DESPERATELY need a "tongue firmly planted in cheek" smiley!

What I do know it that in my experience when a large, bureaucratic company takes a pretty good piece of software and tries to re-build in "in house" disaster usually ensues.

I totally agree, when upper management tries to set the standards for how something should work things usually turn out bad

Hi, I have a quick question about output resolutions.

Right now I have 1080i & 720p passing through, while everything else is converted to 720p. I was wondering if there is anyway to pass 1080i & 720p through, while converting everything else to 1080i. Or is this not possibly with the passport software?

Thanks,

~Joe

Last night, I had my DVR set to record 3 recurring shows:

Show A from 9:00-10:00
Show B from 9:30 -10:01
Show C from 9:00-10:00

Show B was the lowest priority of the three, so it wasn't recorded.... or so I thought. But, Passport used it's "record whatever you can" philosophy and after Show A and Show C were finished, it recorded the remainder of Show B from 10:00 - 10:01. :cool:

This feature has been useful to me in the past when I got the remaining half-hour of a show, but this is the first time it grabbed 1 minute of a show.

Just thought you folks might find it amusing,
-barry

This feature has been useful to me in the past when I got the remaining half-hour of a show, but this is the first time it grabbed 1 minute of a show.


so ... was it a good episode? :D

Just thought you folks might find it amusing,
-barryThanks for the laugh this morning, starts the day off right. :)

That is one feature I wish SARA had. I don't run into too many conflicts with SARA, but that's only because I'm diligent with my scheduling and generally only record HD stuff during Primetime (and those channels are all grouped together in the IPG), so it's rather easy to see such conflicts and fix them before recording starts. However, I'm not really sure what SARA would have done in that situation, perhaps totally stopped recording at 9:30. I know if all 3 had started at the same time, SARA would have not recorded anything, but I'mnot sure when 1 begins/ends on the half hour. :(

i know im going to get grilled for asking this, but i know there is a thread on here that shows some of the dvr shortcut keys on the sa8300hd remote, such as slow play etc. can someone post for me where that is? thanks.

I can't seem to find the procedure to start formatting the internal HD, I know I found it here somewhere, but I've searched and searched and can't find it now. I seem to remember that there's a button combination you press on the display and it asks F HD? can anyone point the way?

Thanks......

Lon

Don't you have SARA there? There is one posted on the SARA Thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=471859).

I'm not sure I have seen anyone post a way to format with PASSPORT or APTIV.

It has been suggested that dumping everything is as close as it gets, but I wonder about that after some recent traffic regarding "lost" space on the external drives - albeit there were more things going on there - still...

v/r,
C-F

i know im going to get grilled for asking this, but i know there is a thread on here that shows some of the dvr shortcut keys on the sa8300hd remote, such as slow play etc. can someone post for me where that is? thanks.
any quick help on this would be appreciated. i think maybe randy walters posted something on this a while ago.

i know im going to get grilled for asking this, but i know there is a thread on here that shows some of the dvr shortcut keys on the sa8300hd remote, such as slow play etc. can someone post for me where that is? thanks.

I can help you with the slow motion. While playing live or a recording, press play twice quickly (double-click it). To return to normal play, press play again.

There is a Passport Echo Getting Started Guide that I downloaded quite a while ago with this information. I don't remember where I got it from, but most likely it was the Pioneer site. Perhaps you could find it via Google.

Cynthia

There is a Passport Echo Getting Started Guide that I downloaded quite a while ago with this information.Hot tip--in a long thread like this, there's often some generic information on the topic stored in the first post. (The owner of the post will go in and replace it and keep it updated; in this case, I think that the owner, hall, bought a TiVo S3 :)). There's a link to a 224 page Passport Echo guide there, and a link to the "Hints and Tips" post in this thread.

Something that's not there is a pointer to the 10 page Passport Echo Getting Started Guide (http://www.aptivdigital.com/pdf/passportecho1.6gettingstarted.pdf) at Aptiv Digital's site. Of course, both documents are for V1.6, but the UI hasn't changed in any substantial way since then.

Mike,

Has anyone PM'd "hall" or the OPs of the other links to see if they would add the Aptiv link? I know DMLANI is no longer active in the SATA thread, but he will still update the first post if we request it. Just a thought.

Wasn't it part of our collective knowledge that any "documentation" on the 8300 from SA is based on SARA?

Wasn't it part of our collective knowledge that any "documentation" on the 8300 from SA is based on SARA?Hmmm? None of the documentation that I pointed to in my last post is from SA. It was all written by Pioneer Broadband (now Aptiv Digital) or the participants of this thread.

I had the same thought. Perhaps it's the links in my signature R_G is referring to.

Okay--I PM'd hall to add the link. (I PM'd him in the past to add the link to that 224-page doc when I found it).

EDIT: done--the first post now has a link to the "Getting Started" guide (actually, it turns out that hall has switched to E* and is using the 622 :)).

It sure would be nice if the Mods could reassign the first post to someone who wanted to consolidate the other posts and then maintain them. The links certainly work, but there isn't anything much better than having it all together right at the beginning of the thread. :)

Okay--I PM'd hall to add the link. (I PM'd him in the past to add the link to that 224-page doc when I found it).

EDIT: done--the first post now has a link to the "Getting Started" guide (actually, it turns out that hall has switched to E* and is using the 622 :)).

I didn't know about the "224 page guide" and don't see a link for it now that I know about it.

Dan

I didn't know about the "224 page guide" and don't see a link for it now that I know about it.Hmmm. hall strangely choose to take that link out. You can PM him and see if he still has it somewhere--the computer that I had that stuff on is in storage, so I don't have the link.

EDIT: I did a thread search for "224" and found the post where I first mentioned the 224-page guide (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8234469&&#post8234469)--it contains a link to it.

Tested external drive today. Brighthouse 8300HD Reconized drive asked to format.
Drive formatted. Went into Diagnostic Mode under Sata said drive is activated. Checked space and had over 4oo Gb unused.
This is Passport software in Orlando area.

Tested external drive today. Brighthouse 8300HD Reconized drive asked to format.
Drive formatted. Went into Diagnostic Mode under Sata said drive is activated. Checked space and had over 4oo Gb unused.
This is Passport software in Orlando area.There's been quite a lot of discussion of this working off and on and several participants in different systems around the country are using external drive, though its not officially supported on any version that we've seen. Do a thread search for "SATA" or "external".

One major problem exists: while the DVR is using the external drive, you can't use trick-play functions (PAUSE, REW, FF, etc) on live television (they continue to work fine while viewing recordings). Does trickplay for live TV work for you?

The DVR will use whichever drive has the greatest percentage of free disk space, so when your external drive fills up it'll go back to using the internal drive. While it's using the internal drive, trick-play for live TV returns.

There's been quite a lot of discussion of this working off and on and several participants in different systems around the country are using external drive, though its not officially supported on any version that we've seen. Do a thread search for "SATA" or "external".

One major problem exists: while the DVR is using the external drive, you can't use trick-play functions (PAUSE, REW, FF, etc) on live television (they continue to work fine while viewing recordings). Does trickplay for live TV work for you?

The DVR will use whichever drive has the greatest percentage of free disk space, so when your external drive fills up it'll go back to using the internal drive. While it's using the internal drive, trick-play for live TV returns.

Pause does work!

You are correct about ff,rew does not work. I think it has something to do with the buffer. Where did the buffer go?

Pause does work!Yes, but when you start up again, does it start from the point where you PAUSE'd, or does it start in realtime?

In any case, the trick-play buffers are permanently allocated (8.something GB each, enough for an hour of 20 Mbps content). It may be that they must be on the drive designated for writing recordings in the current software. It is a limitation, and one that I can't live with.

I'm moving this week into a place in a Cox neighborhood with SARA boxes. The only positive thing about this (I vastly prefer Passport) is that external SATA drives work perfectly with it. At least I think that they work perfectly--there may be some problems that I haven't heard of, but if so, they're more subtle than the lack of live trick-play.

As for my move to Cox country, I really hope that they offer the TiVo interface on their boxes soon.

Yes, but when you start up again, does it start from the point where you PAUSE'd, or does it start in realtime?


After a PAUSE, the program RESUMEs at the point where it was paused. In fact, since the trick-play problem disables the LIVE button, the only way to go live is to press the LAST button twice.

After a PAUSE, the program RESUMEs at the point where it was paused. In fact, since the trick-play problem disables the LIVE button, the only way to go live is to press the LAST button twice.


Seagate ST3400633AS-RK 400gb 7200 into a Vantec 360SU enclosure to use with my SA8300HD w/ Passport 2.5.066.

Manatus is correct!
My set-up is doing the exact same thing.

Interesting. So it is buffering it, but it doesn't let you manipulate the buffer. That seems as though it'd be easy to fix, but what do I know :rolleyes:.

any quick help on this would be appreciated. i think maybe randy walters posted something on this a while ago.See Post #192 (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=4548232&highlight=randywalters#post4548232)

But it'll probably all be mostly useless in a few weeks when the TWC Navigator Rapture takes Passport away and leaves us in hell :D

. . . . . . Which is why i bought a Tivo Series 3 :)

Does anyone know how to use the Aux inputs on the 8300? Everytime I press the video source button all it does is change the aspect ratio.

Does anyone know how to use the Aux inputs on the 8300? Everytime I press the video source button all it does is change the aspect ratio.

What "inputs" are you talking about? It's a cable STB and has several outputs, but only an input for the cable itself.

The "video source" button is meant to be used with a TV... as in you switch from CBL mode to TV mode so you can switch inputs on your TV. However, when in CBL mode, it acts like the # key in that it moves through stretch and zoom modes.

What "inputs" are you talking about? It's a cable STB and has several outputs, but only an input for the cable itself....

The 8300 has inputs on the front panel for connecting an external video and/or audio source via analog(a game console for instance). At the bottom of the remote is a 'video source' switch which will cycle thru the desired inputs.

What "inputs" are you talking about? It's a cable STB and has several outputs, but only an input for the cable itself.

The "video source" button is meant to be used with a TV... as in you switch from CBL mode to TV mode so you can switch inputs on your TV. However, when in CBL mode, it acts like the # key in that it moves through stretch and zoom modes.You got that TOTALLY wrong! There are composite and L-R audio jacks on the front of the 8300, the hardware concept is to activate those inputs for customers with simple systems to allow camcorders, or other video equipment (even DVD players or VCRs) to show on the screen (not to record). Where this function is implemented (some SARA systems at least) the "Video Source" button does work and pressing it does select the front panel source as the viewed source.

So basically, you're saying that these inputs aren't activated? That's complete bullshit. I've got a projector hooked up and am only running a single HDMI cable to it. I planned on running video games through the cable box input. Now I have to go and run a 50' composite cable through the walls and to the projector.

So basically, you're saying that these inputs aren't activated? That's complete bullshit. I've got a projector hooked up and am only running a single HDMI cable to it. I planned on running video games through the cable box input. Now I have to go and run a 50' composite cable through the walls and to the projector.John, what post are you referring to? Always helps to quote or something. If you were referring to my post, I was pointing out that the inputs exist and work with some software. I can't tell about yours. Other posts have suggested that some versions of Passport have them activated as well. It is relatively easy to check this out before running cables.

Other posts have suggested that some versions of Passport have them activated as well. It is relatively easy to check this out before running cables.What posts have indicated that? I never heard that those inputs did anything under Passport.

John, off topic --

"Who is John Galt?"--Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, which I haven't read since high school. In the novel, he was a kind of subversive hero, dedicated to defeating the dominance of mediocrity, and that question was posed in graffiti everywhere. Is that your actual name?

John, what post are you referring to? Always helps to quote or something. If you were referring to my post, I was pointing out that the inputs exist and work with some software. I can't tell about yours. Other posts have suggested that some versions of Passport have them activated as well. It is relatively easy to check this out before running cables.
Yes, I was referring to your post. I wasn't calling your post bullshit though, I think it's bullshit that TWC doesn't have these activated (I really hate TWC). I basically just want to play NES and N64 on the projector and planned on using these inputs only to find out that they don't work. I had everything connected last night and couldn't get it to switch sources, so basically I have one of those boxes that isn't activated. Is there any way to use an RF Modulator on a cable box?

Michael, no it's not my real name but it would be cool if it was. Atlas Shrugged is my favorite book and John Galt is a great character. I just hope the movie lives up to my high expectations.

Did some searching and can't find out if this issue was resolved. What is the cause of the black stripe (on the left only) on 4:3 content in addition to the grey sidebars? It's only on some channels on my system-not all 4:3. Comedy Central is one, though, so it's annoying...is this the 8300, the cable, or (less likely I think) my tv? Any way to remedy this problem? Thanks!

The 8300 has inputs on the front panel for connecting an external video and/or audio source via analog(a game console for instance). At the bottom of the remote is a 'video source' switch which will cycle thru the desired inputs.

Whoops, seems I missed that! Believe it or not, I actually went and double checked the back of the unit! So I'd guess that absent a connection to that front input, the video source button does the stretch/zoom thing I have been used to it doing.

BTW, those "inputs" ARE bogus. As in they do nothing, even with functioning equipment hooked up to them. AND even with them hooked up and the source device running, the "Video Source" button does what I said it does. Obviously, this only applies to my software rev/ cable system/location.

Those extraneous lines on 4:3 content displayed with pillars COULD be an indication of why overscan came into being in the first place. Absolutely I also see those happening every now and then.

AFAIK, the front inputs were activated in SARA version 1.88.x.x. Before that, I don't think they worked. I don't know about Passport, but perhaps they don't appear to work because the key needed to switch to them appears to do something else (zoom). Perhaps there is another way to switch to them?

Did some searching and can't find out if this issue was resolved. What is the cause of the black stripe (on the left only) on 4:3 content in addition to the grey sidebars? It's only on some channels on my system-not all 4:3. Comedy Central is one, though, so it's annoying...is this the 8300, the cable, or (less likely I think) my tv? Any way to remedy this problem? Thanks!
I think it is a problem in certain Fibre-To-QAM Modulators they installed at neighborhood nodes.
On TWC-San Diego, I noticed about 1/2" to 1" wide stripe when they added Digital Simulcast channels, but never on the other channels.
Some viewers on different neighborhood nodes don't have this problem, so I would guess that they are using different QAM Modulators.
BTW: The width of the stripe varies from channel to channel...and sometimes between the program and a commercial...

I'm not sure if it's unique to the SA8300HD, but FWIW I don't see it on SA3250's S-Video or Firewire-To-DVCR's Component I/F.

I think it is a problem in certain Fibre-To-QAM Modulators they installed at neighborhood nodes.
On TWC-San Diego, I noticed about 1/2" to 1" wide stripe when they added Digital Simulcast channels, but never on the other channels.
Some viewers on different neighborhood nodes don't have this problem, so I would guess that they are using different QAM Modulators.
BTW: The width of the stripe varies from channel to channel...and sometimes between the program and a commercial...

I'm not sure if it's unique to the SA8300HD, but FWIW I don't see it on SA3250's S-Video or Firewire-To-DVCR's Component I/F.

For me, the stripe on the left hand side doesn't seem to vary in width and is only on some 4:3 sources (e.g. Comedy Central, Discovery (non-HD channel). Looks pretty bad though so I end up wide zooming those feeds to get rid of it.

There were some comments posed in the MDN thread, but further discussion probably best belongs here (as I have Passport). There was some discussion about lack of responsiveness for IR commands but I recall it got dropped pretty quickly. Now I see a few says they got different remotes than the one I got. Mine is a Universal Remote (the company that makes it for TWC) UR5U-8400. I saw a 8500 and a 8550 mentioned.

My "issue" is that the one I have is the same as the one I had with a SA 8000SD DVR. The big difference is that the 8300 seems far less "responsive." Specifically, for the first 3-4 minutes after the 8300 is fully powered on, you almost have to move forward a few feet and be extra careful to point it precisely at the 8300 for it to work. It becomes much better after that.

Does anyone with the same hardware see this? Have anyone seen it get much better with a 8500 or a 8550? Can anyone say they actually DO have a 8500 or a 8550? If so, please also indicate location, it certainly could be that TWC is only distributing in certain areas and I do not want to truck to their office to get one of those if they aren't distributing them in NYC!

The first time I connected the drive, it was recognized, formatted and appeared to be working. Then the SA 8300 HD started to have problems, slow to respond to the remote control, not allowing pause, ff and reverse. So I rebooted the 8300 HD and it reformated the external hard drive. Now when the 8300 reformats the hard drive, I get a format error 0xffff. I have tried reformating the drive several times, and each time I get the error. It is installed in a Sata to e-Sata HDD enclosure and was recognized by the 8300 HD when I turned on the 8300.

Does anyone have a suggestion on how to reformat the drive so it will work with the 8300.

Specifics
External Drive - Seagate 320 GB serial ATA hard drive
External Drive enclosure - 3.5" SATA to e-SATA HDD enclosure with SATA to e-SATA cable adapter
SA 8300 HD running Passport Echo 2.5.066 software
Connected to Time Warner Cable in Chapel Hill, NC

There is a thread devoted to using external drives with the 8300HD, and that's a better place to look for information and help than this general 8300HD thread:

SA 8300HD and External Drives (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=516559&page=1&pp=30)

The first time I connected the drive, it was recognized, formatted and appeared to be working. Then the SA 8300 HD started to have problems, slow to respond to the remote control, not allowing pause, ff and reverse. So I rebooted the 8300 HD and it reformated the external hard drive. Now when the 8300 reformats the hard drive, I get a format error 0xffff. I have tried reformating the drive several times, and each time I get the error. It is installed in a Sata to e-Sata HDD enclosure and was recognized by the 8300 HD when I turned on the 8300.

Does anyone have a suggestion on how to reformat the drive so it will work with the 8300.
While you're here . .

My next move would be to attach the external drive to a PC and format it. Then I would run utilities on it to check for bad sectors. If it checks out OK, I would re-attach it to the 8300HD, which will see it as new and offer to format it. Say yes and try it. Pay close attention to your connections, specifically the SATA one as there've been quite a few posts which suggest that even when it *seems* solid, it might not be.

Please help.

Just bought an 60" Sony XBR2. Upgraded to HD cable and got the passport 8300HD for time warner Milwaukee cable.

WHen watching live cable I get pixelations and sound cut outs frequently. I replaced the entire unit becuase it was also locking up. The lock ups are gone but I still get frequent audio cut outs and quick pixelations. Is this the 8300 or my cable? Anyone else get this?

Also what are the best settings to watch SD stations? HD looks great but SD looks not so good. I get gray bars and depending on the show I will zoom or stretch it or leave it but all around SD looks terrible.

Please help.

Just bought an 60" Sony XBR2. Upgraded to HD cable and got the passport 8300HD for time warner Milwaukee cable.

WHen watching live cable I get pixelations and sound cut outs frequently. I replaced the entire unit becuase it was also locking up. The lock ups are gone but I still get frequent audio cut outs and quick pixelations. Is this the 8300 or my cable? Anyone else get this?

Also what are the best settings to watch SD stations? HD looks great but SD looks not so good. I get gray bars and depending on the show I will zoom or stretch it or leave it but all around SD looks terrible.

If possible access the Diagnostic screen. If not, indicate where you live and someone may be able to tell you the channel. It is 999 here in Raleigh. That screen will indicate your signal strength to the set. You may also post back and describe if the line is being split, how many times, etc. where people here will provide ideas. We'll just need a little more info from you.

Also, describe (if possible) your opinion of the black/grey bars vs having a full screen (stretched or not, etc.). That matter will be one of personal preference. Others have posted their views and preference previously on this and other threads (do a search).

Please help.

Just bought an 60" Sony XBR2. Upgraded to HD cable and got the passport 8300HD for time warner Milwaukee cable.

WHen watching live cable I get pixelations and sound cut outs frequently. I replaced the entire unit becuase it was also locking up. The lock ups are gone but I still get frequent audio cut outs and quick pixelations. Is this the 8300 or my cable?
It likely is the signal level coming into your 8300. You need to have the cable guy pay a visit.

...SD looks not so good... I get gray bars ...As IamtheWolf said YMMV and plenty of posts with step-by-step, but...
--If you do not have 480i 480p enabled, you might try that (to hopefully get at black bars).
--Also, you might try the S-Video output if you are using HDMI and that TV won't take 480i through HDMI.
--You should be able to set the aspect in the 8300 (4 ways) as well as the TV (~5 ways), so you should have around 80 different ways to view a 480i source (~40 if you can't or won't pass 480i/p). Maybe you will find one you like better.

v/r,
C-F

If possible access the Diagnostic screen. If not, indicate where you live and someone may be able to tell you the channel. It is 999 here in Raleigh. That screen will indicate your signal strength to the set. You may also post back and describe if the line is being split, how many times, etc. where people here will provide ideas. We'll just need a little more info from you.

Also, describe (if possible) your opinion of the black/grey bars vs having a full screen (stretched or not, etc.). That matter will be one of personal preference. Others have posted their views and preference previously on this and other threads (do a search).


I got in the diagnostic screen and there are tons of menus. Where do I see my signal strength and what are good levels? I see a split item but it says 0.

I dont care about bars black, grey it doesn't matter. Most shows I put on zoom because wide zoom and stretch make everyone look fat! SD still looks terrible though.

Pay close attention to your connections, specifically the SATA one as there've been quite a few posts which suggest that even when it *seems* solid, it might not be.

Ain't that the truth! I'd bet about 90% of the HDMI issues might be because of that. I tell you, the HDMI connectors are an abomination! For a very new kind of connector, it blows me away that it is designed so poorly. You know those 100-150 Monster HDMI cables? They are so thick and heavy and the connectors such crap that they can very easily just fall out. The first HD setup I did (not mine) had such cables, I actually taped them up.

Do you have a Pod? Look at it's "dock" connector... notice that is has 2 little pins that actually lock it in place? Now THIS is a properly designed connector.

\\Rant Out!
>30<

I got in the diagnostic screen and there are tons of menus. Where do I see my signal strength and what are good levels? I see a split item but it says 0.

I dont care about bars black, grey it doesn't matter. Most shows I put on zoom because wide zoom and stretch make everyone look fat! SD still looks terrible though.
First Page (on mine) titled "Summary" listing Tuner 1 and Tuner 2. There should be something like -6dBmv. If that number is very low (like -15dBmv) then your signal strength is low. Have Cable Co. pay a visit (or try eliminating a splitter, etc. and see what you get). I have no idea about the technical description, so maybe someone else will chime in. Otherwise, Google dBmv.

Hope this helps.

I received an upgrade to Passport 2.6.002 (from 2.5.066 I think). Happened this morning. Anyone know the difference? I can't tell.

Old recordings are still there, etc.

I received an upgrade to Passport 2.6.002 (from 2.5.066 I think). Happened this morning. Anyone know the difference? I can't tell.

Old recordings are still there, etc.

Not following you Wolf, just trying to reach a wider audience.. :)

I got the same upgrade, and seem to have

a) lost many recent recordings (since late last week)
b) had many old recordings show back up in my listing
c) have other stored recordings (expected to be there) from ~Dec that show up in the listing, have a description, but will not play, saying "show is unavailable"

Appears as if my catalog directory was restored from the wrong place/sector?

I did notice that one channel I record from was relocated. Still trying to find any other patterns to the madness.

Mike

I found a 2nd victim in the Raleigh HD thread.. this update appears to restore an older version of your file directory for at least some people, not sure yet why it affects some and not others.

Mike

I received an upgrade to Passport 2.6.002 (from 2.5.066 I think). Happened this morning. Anyone know the difference? I can't tell.


I'm the second victim in the Raleigh thread and I'm wondering the same thing. :D

Mostly I'm wondering why they bothered. If reports are accurate then Raleigh is going to get the TW Navigator in a couple of months which will completely replace Passport. So why bother with this seemingly insignificant upgrade?

I received an upgrade to Passport 2.6.002 (from 2.5.066 I think). Happened this morning. Anyone know the difference? I can't tell.

Old recordings are still there, etc.

Whoa, this is HUGE news! I had felt that 2.5.066 was the end of the line for Passport because TWC has been somewhat clear that it was Passport users who would get MDN first. Logic said they wouldn't bother revving software they planed to replace fairly soon.

For me, the only really significant issue with 066 is the infamous "trick play bug." Could it be that 2.6.002 actually addressed that bug?

Whoa, this is HUGE news! I had felt that 2.5.066 was the end of the line for Passport because TWC has been somewhat clear that it was Passport users who would get MDN first. Logic said they wouldn't bother revving software they planed to replace fairly soon.

For me, the only really significant issue with 066 is the infamous "trick play bug." Could it be that 2.6.002 actually addressed that bug?

Tell me (again) what the "Trick Play Bug" is and I'll do a test. If it has to do with added storage/hard drive I don't have that.

Tell me (again) what the "Trick Play Bug" is and I'll do a test. If it has to do with added storage/hard drive I don't have that.

yep. Connect an external drive, lose your trick play features.

How do i turn on the setup menu on the 8300hd box from comcast, i connected it to my xbr2 and all the pictures looks washed out.

i don't see any settings menu when i click the menu on my remote

This is completely unfounded speculation, but maybe it just fixed the DST issue and, thus, gives TW some elbowroom in case they miss their Q1 schedule for Navigator.

-barry

Whoa, this is HUGE news! I had felt that 2.5.066 was the end of the line for Passport because TWC has been somewhat clear that it was Passport users who would get MDN first. Logic said they wouldn't bother revving software they planed to replace fairly soon.

For me, the only really significant issue with 066 is the infamous "trick play bug." Could it be that 2.6.002 actually addressed that bug?

Whoa, this is HUGE news! I had felt that 2.5.066 was the end of the line for Passport because TWC has been somewhat clear that it was Passport users who would get MDN first. Logic said they wouldn't bother revving software they planed to replace fairly soon.

For me, the only really significant issue with 066 is the infamous "trick play bug." Could it be that 2.6.002 actually addressed that bug?

Sorry, trick play bug is still there after upgrading to 2.6.002...

Kirk
Cary, NC

This is completely unfounded speculation, but maybe it just fixed the DST issue and, thus, gives TW some elbowroom in case they miss their Q1 schedule for Navigator.

-barry

And exactly what in my post was "unfounded speculation?"

And exactly what in my post was "unfounded speculation?"


He wasn't meaning your post but that what he is saying is unfounded speculation. Don't take everything so personal.

He wasn't meaning your post but that what he is saying is unfounded speculation. Don't take everything so personal.
Looked to me like he was saying R_G's post was unfounded speculation. But then, isn't nearly anything we say beyond what little there is in the manual about the hardware/firmware/software merely unfounded speculation. :D

FWIW, I read it the same way as sdmiller did.

If we're voting on who to hang (and, heck, who doesn't like a good hanging?!) I think margoba was referring to his own personal comments as unfounded.

Does anybody know how to start a poll? Yeah, that's what we need. A poll to figure out who should hang. A poll with a rope on it.

Bring it.

This is what happens when it's a slow news day. :)

This is what happens when it's a slow news day. :)

and when TWC murder Passport while we are sleeping in our beds one night, this thread will be even slower!

and when TWC murder Passport while we are sleeping in our beds one night, this thread will be even slower!But the Tivo Series 3 thread will get busier . . . . . :D

I'm really dreading the impending death of Passport, my DVRs have been functioning perfectly for a few years and i've been perfectly happy with em. I'm already tensing up at the prospect of losing so many cool features once Navigutter is forced upon my DVRs.

and when TWC murder Passport while we are sleeping in our beds one night, this thread will be even slower!

All that matters is that we're having fun and love one another.

All that matters is that we're having fun and love one another.Fun? Love?
Oh man,
I thought the Mob was going to meet tonight.
I guess I should put out my flaming torch and ditch the pitchfork.

Oh well, so much for semantics.

"Unfounded" was intended to apply to my own speculations. My apologies, Riverside_Guy, if it seemed aimed at you. I was trying to take a guess at why Tw might have released a new version with no new apparent features/fixes.

This is completely unfounded speculation, but maybe it just fixed the DST issue and, thus, gives TW some elbowroom in case they miss their Q1 schedule for Navigator.

-barry

Maybe they "fixed" the problematic HDMI and/or Firewire and/or eSATA interfaces....
Although apparently without fixing the "trick play" bug...

Maybe they did some tweaks re OnDemand and/or Switched Digital Video....

How about some indepth test reports from those with the new version...

Maybe they "fixed" the problematic HDMI and/or Firewire and/or eSATA interfaces....
Although apparently without fixing the "trick play" bug...

Maybe they did some tweaks re OnDemand and/or Switched Digital Video....

How about some indepth test reports from those with the new version...

well I looked around it and couldn't see anything. It's not faster and doesn't look different apart from a channel addition. I've never had a problem with HDMI and don't have anything hooked up externally so I can't check that. On Demand still looks as slow to access as ever.

From what I recall, Passport can't handle TW SDV so that's one of the reasons they are replacing it with Nav first.

FWIW, I read it the same way as sdmiller did.

Ah, but it followed a quoted post of mine, so it's not THAT bad an assumption he was saying I was advancing unfounded speculation. Without the quote, I agree it takes a different meaning!

"Unfounded" was intended to apply to my own speculations. My apologies, Riverside_Guy, if it seemed aimed at you. I was trying to take a guess at why Tw might have released a new version with no new apparent features/fixes.

I see the errors of my misinterpretation! Might have been because I once got castigated for failing to include a quote!

Please not to mention the Mob as an alternative to hanging me... sitting here in front of my computer I can see a clear path from Jersey, I hope RPGs can't get this far! Then again, a sniper rifle sure as hell can do me in. Do you REALLY want to keep me from joyd of the new Navigator (do NOT answer!)?

Please not to mention the Mob as an alternative to hanging me... sitting here in front of my computer I can see a clear path from Jersey, I hope RPGs can't get this far! Then again, a sniper rifle sure as hell can do me in. Do you REALLY want to keep me from joyd of the new Navigator (do NOT answer!)?

Having been out of the loop, when is this Navigator supposed to be implemented? Does it imply a new box? Sorry, tried to search to no avail.

Having been out of the loop, when is this Navigator supposed to be implemented? Does it imply a new box? Sorry, tried to search to no avail.Check out this (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=723830&page=1) thread. But, no, a new box will not be required - it will just happen (bad now, hopefully good later).

I see the errors of my misinterpretation! Might have been because I once got castigated for failing to include a quote! :p :D You make some of us sound so evil. :)
And by the way, speaking of castigating,
what’s with all the exclamation marks? Thank goodness you have those thick walls in that pad of yours-- to spare your neighbors from all that yelling. :D

well I looked around it and couldn't see anything. It's not faster and doesn't look different apart from a channel addition. I've never had a problem with HDMI and don't have anything hooked up externally so I can't check that. On Demand still looks as slow to access as ever.

From what I recall, Passport can't handle TW SDV so that's one of the reasons they are replacing it with Nav first.
SDV has been around for awhile on most TWC PASSPORT systems.
It's called OnDemand (and PPV) and takes a very long time to start and is very non-responsive to FF/RW commands.

And hence is not ready for Prime Time.

The new and improved SDV is supposed to have channel changing times that are faster than the current
slow digital channel surfing times...and probably won't be available in wide use until OCAP is rolled out.

SDV has been around for awhile on most TWC PASSPORT systems.
It's called OnDemand (and PPV) and takes a very long time to start and is very non-responsive to FF/RW commands.

And hence is not ready for Prime Time.

The new and improved SDV is supposed to have channel changing times that are faster than the current
slow digital channel surfing times...and probably won't be available in wide use until OCAP is rolled out.TW has SDV on 3HD and 2 or 3 digital SD channels here in Rochester (on SARA). There is no perceptible lag time when tuning to a SDV channel. They also have "Start-Over" here on several cable channels, that does have a slight lag time because it works similar to OnDemand (except that you can't FF to avoid commercials).

:p :D You make some of us sound so evil. :)
And by the way, speaking of castigating,
what’s with all the exclamation marks? Thank goodness you have those thick walls in that pad of yours-- to spare your neighbors from all that yelling. :D

Nah, don't look at any of youse guys as evil... but like me, excitable at times...

As for exclamation marks, much faster than similes, don't you think? I have NO intention of giving the impression I'm shouting, just a modicum of extra emphasis is generally what I intend... damn, had to delete the exclamation point <g>.

SDV has been around for awhile on most TWC PASSPORT systems.
It's called OnDemand (and PPV)...

Boy that is very much not what I would think of as our collective knowledge. We have had TWC execs actually posting that Passport can not deal with SDV, so it would be Passport systems that would get the new Navigator software first because it DID support SDV. As Dave says, he has some experience with it as he is in a SARA market so he is a good source of information about what it is, how it works, etc.

OnDemand and PPV have been around for many years, long before amount of available bandwidth became an issue.

Boy that is very much not what I would think of as our collective knowledge. We have had TWC execs actually posting that Passport can not deal with SDV, so it would be Passport systems that would get the new Navigator software first because it DID support SDV. As Dave says, he has some experience with it as he is in a SARA market so he is a good source of information about what it is, how it works, etc.

OnDemand and PPV have been around for many years, long before amount of available bandwidth became an issue.

I've got Passport on an 8300HD and it definitely supports OnDemand.

True: Passport supports OnDemand and Pay-Per-View.

True: TWC employee indicated Passport does not support the intended move to Switched Digital Video.

[Assertion / Point of Debate]: OnDemand & PPV are SDV.

v/r,
C-F

True: Passport supports OnDemand and Pay-Per-View.

True: TWC employee indicated Passport does not support the intended move to Switched Digital Video.

[Assertion / Point of Debate]: OnDemand & PPV are SDV.

v/r,
C-F

Thanks for the clarification. Sorry for being a little slow. ;)

Is SDV analogous to how satellite receivers select the channel to be transmitted from the LNB? In other words, the LNB and dish are receiving all the channels from the satellite, but only the selected channel is sent on the RG6 cable from the LNB to the receiver? The LNB would be the equivalent of the neighborhood cable box.

If this has already been discussed ad nauseum in previous posts, just let me know and I'll go away. ;)

No, that is how conventional cable works--all of the broadcast programs are simultaneously available on the coax.

In SAT systems (whether C-Band, D* or E*), each horn receives signals from a particular satellite, which can
include separate Left/Right (or Horiz/Vertical) Polarized signals.
Each of these contains dozens of different transponder frequencies, each carrying either one analog channel,
(typ) two MPEG2 HD channels or a bunch of MPEG2 SD channels.
The SAT Receiver commands the MultiSwitch to select the desired horn (pointed at a particular azimuth degree)
and either L/R (or H/V) polarized signals. So half of the transponders from one satellite are connected to the SAT Receiver's coax.
(New systems can carry more than one choice by upconverting transponder freqs.)

Modern HFC (Hybrid-Fibre-Cable) architectures employ extremely wideband fibre to distribute ALL of the broadcast signals
(incl cable modems and VoIP) to local neighborhood nodes, where they are converted to over 113 total carriers,
including (reconstituted) analog and QAM digital carriers for distribution throughout the neighborhood
(typ. under 500 users) via (typ 750 MHz bandwidth) coax cable, amplifiers and power divider networks.

SDV recognizes that most broadcast channels are NOT being viewed in a particular neighborhood,
so only need to put them on a shared QAM carrier when users actually request that program.
The SDV switch connects the desired broadcast program (always available on fibre) to an open assignment on the
local neighborhood SDV QAM-256 carrier (or small number of carriers).

Typically, up to 13 SD channels are carried on each QAM-256 carrier--or two to three HD channels.
The most popular channels would presumably always be broadcast.

I just counted 14 movies available via HD OnDemand....and hundreds and hundreds of SD OnDemand offerings.
Obviously VOD aren't all simultaneously being transmitted in my TWC-San Diego neighborhood.
Indeed, people with unencrypted QAM tuners report seeing OnDemand movies on a couple specific QAM carriers.

Current VOD implementations are crude prototypes--very slow to start and very non-responsive to FF/RW commands.
That's cuz the controls go all the way back up the fibre to a centralized video server system:
http://www.sciatl.com/products/customers/white-papers/VOD_GbE_%20white%20paper.pdf
(This is a white paper from 2001.)

Which is why new and improved VOD2.0 is coming--later this year????

For more info see Scientific Atlanta White Papers:
http://www.sciatl.com/newscenter/whitepapers.htm

And from BroadBand Networks:
http://www.bigbandnet.com/technology/whitepapers.php
They claim to be providing SDV for most MSOs....

I don't know that I'd consider VOD to be a type of SDV. A separate stream must be created for every viewer of a VOD program, since it begins "instantly" and can be individually manipulated with trick-play commands--no two viewers are likely to be viewing the same program at the same point.

If I were designing a VOD system, I'd place some storage in the neighborhood junction box onto which to load the program as fast as possible, beginning playback as soon as enough of it were down. I'd leave the program there until either the space consumed by it were needed for something else or the period during which it was scheduled to be available elapsed. I assume that "VOD 2.0" works something like that.

IPPV could be done as SDV, but has it been before recently? If all of the IPPV programs were present on the wire simultaneously, one would only have to hit the user's box with a command to decode the channel with the purchased program for a certain period of time. I strongly suspect that all IPPV content--other than, perhaps, live events--will be replaced by VOD.

so has anyone come up with an answer?

Is Passport fully capable of running whatever SDV system TWC are going to use and Diana wasn't correct? Or is Passport not up to the task and the only way forward for HD on TWC systems is the Navigator?

It actually doesn't matter all that much if they COULD coax Passport to support SDV (I'm sure they COULD do that). There sure are a ton of reasons why they WANT/NEED to deploy SDV. We WANT to be able to have 100 HD channels at maximum bit-rate and I'm fairly certain they HAVE to do SDV in order for that to happen. But it makes no sense to re-write Passport to support it. I see no reason to doubt Diana that it presently does NOT support SDV.

It's kind of moot because there's also a ton of good reasons why they want to kill both SARA and Passport for a single software platform, and (IMO) it's all about OCAP and SDV in one app.

We ARE going to get Navigator, we have NO choice. Sure there will be teething pain, 100% a lot of Passport folks might get bent because some favorite thing they do might disappear. Personally, if it fixes the track play issue, that mitigates a LOT of the teething pain. Besides, it also very clear they deploy these things in specific markets before others, there's field testing going on right now (and a thread on it so we can see what the customers are going through). I would expect that the most egregious current issues they are having will be fixed before they go wide distribution. Again, it makes business sense, why would they deploy software that will allow them to offer more "paid for" services if the basic stuff is a disaster?

This question may have been asked and answered but I couldn't find it, so here goes. I just hooked up a HDMI cable from the 8300 to my TV and I get a good picture but no sound through the TV. I also have the optical audio out connected to my AV receiver and the sound is fine. Is the audio part of the HDMI signal from the 8300 disabled when the optical audio is also connected? I would like to have both so I could just run the TV without the AV receiver sometimes. Is this possible or do I have to make a choice?

I dont use HDMI for audio, but check your settings.

press settings on the 8300 remote
press 'A' for more settings
Scroll to Audio Digital Out
Scroll Right, then select HDMI

See if that helps

Mark

I have just started experiencing the same problem described by Barianne: recorded shows mysteriously vanishing overnight, and only one [sometimes none] new shows having been recorded...in other words, the recording capacity seemed to drop drastically and suddenly. This did seem to start about the time I was recording sessions of the Australian Open, but I didn't set any of those to long recording times, and they are now long gone anyway.

Specific example:
I recorded The Office and ER Thurs night. Only one or two other programs were on the list, nothing long. When I sat down to watch them Fri evening, both shows were gone, replaced by a 2-hour movie recorded overnight. And today, that movie was gone, replaced by another 2-hour movie.

I just rebooted the machine, and I hope this helps. Any other info/feedback is much appreciated.

I have just started experiencing the same problem described by Barianne: recorded shows mysteriously vanishing overnight, and only one [sometimes none] new shows having been recorded...in other words, the recording capacity seemed to drop drastically and suddenly. This did seem to start about the time I was recording sessions of the Australian Open, but I didn't set any of those to long recording times, and they are now long gone anyway.

Specific example:
I recorded The Office and ER Thurs night. Only one or two other programs were on the list, nothing long. When I sat down to watch them Fri evening, both shows were gone, replaced by a 2-hour movie recorded overnight. And today, that movie was gone, replaced by another 2-hour movie.

I just rebooted the machine, and I hope this helps. Any other info/feedback is much appreciated.
Are you using an external hard drive? Did you have the deleted recordings marked manual erase only?

I am not using an external drive. These shows were not marked for manual-erase-only, but that hasn't been a problem previously. And now there is only one recording on the box, a 2-hour movie. So how could it be full? Or does it just think it's full?

By the way, I am a Time Warner subscriber in Manhattan.

I am not using an external drive. These shows were not marked for manual-erase-only, but that hasn't been a problem previously. And now there is only one recording on the box, a 2-hour movie. So how could it be full? Or does it just think it's full?

By the way, I am a Time Warner subscriber in Manhattan.
Who knows what it thinks? :confused: ;)

You could do a cold reboot and see if that helps. Turn it off and remove AC power, either with the switch on your surge suppressor (you are using a surge suppressor, aren't you? :) ), or by yanking the power cord from the AC outlet. Wait a minute or two and then restore AC power. When the time appears on your display, press the power button to resume operation. Set it up with the same conditions as before and see if it still deletes recordings even though there's still plenty of space.

Let us know.

I dont use HDMI for audio, but check your settings.

press settings on the 8300 remote
press 'A' for more settings
Scroll to Audio Digital Out
Scroll Right, then select HDMI

See if that helps

Mark

Thanks. That did the trick.

I have just started experiencing the same problem described by Barianne

My 8300 started deleting shows last weekend, when I had only 1 show saved & marked do not delete. It would record 2-3 one night & then delete them the next night & record a few more. I looked in diagnostics & the box hadn't hard a cold reboot since last October. Pulled the plug & let it reboot. Seems to have corrected the problem.

I appears that the system just gets confused after a period of time.

Where is the current "SA8000HD/SA8300HD running SARA" thread? In particularly, where is a "Collected Hints and Tips" post for SARA?

I recently moved into a Cox neighborhood with SARA on the SA DVRs. Except for the fact that the external HDD is supported and works well, it's a very sad, sad thing. It's inferior to Passport in almost every possible way. I'm just hoping that there are a bunch of a undocumented features that will make up for its shortcomings.

[Please ignore the following--I'm just letting off steam. Who knows? Maybe there are people who've switched from SARA to Passport who feel the same way? :D]


Just a few nightmarish particulars: There are no incremental guide searches and no keyword searches at all. You can scroll through a list of titles starting with a specified letter for a particular day only. So, if you're trying to find out when "Star Wars" is going to be on this week, you go to to the guide, hit the A key (Browse By) and choose "By Title" then select the letter S. This will give you a list of programs beginning with the letter S, but for the current day only. If you scroll through this list and fail to find "Star Wars", it doesn't mean that it doesn't appear in the guide, just that it doesn't appear in the guide today. To search further, you press the B button (By Date) and select tomorrow's date; that'll put you at the top of the alphabetically ordered list of programs airing tomorrow whose titles start with the letter S; scroll through again looking for "Star Wars". If you don't find it (or if you want to know about every time it's going to be on in the next week), hit B, select the next day and repeat. :rolleyes:
Unless I'm missing something, if you stop watching a recording in the middle, you'll have to find your place again when you come back. This must be particularly disgusting for households with multiple people using the same DVR.
If you hit PAUSE while watching a recording, after a certain amount of time (which seems to be no more than an hour) it will start playing again. Consequently you can't even use PAUSE to hold your place if you need to stop watching and go do something else, unless you come back within the alotted time.
When it gets to the end of a recording (or you hit STOP), it always enters a little menu asking what to do with the recording (Erase, Copy to VCR, etc); you can hit the LIVE button to return to watching television. If you do nothing, after a while it starts playing the program again from the beginning. If you choose the Erase option, it leaves you in the recordings list with no clear way to get out--the LIVE button is inoperative and you're tuned to some strange "DVR Playback Channel", which displays a label instructing you to use the LIST button to see recordings and the Channel UP/DOWN buttons to change to another channel. :rolleyes:
The recorded programs list scrolls in a circular fashion--you have to keep an eye on the recording dates to see that you're back at the top.
It is just plain butt-ugly and awkward, with crude, home-grown lookin' fonts and poorly rendered graphical elements. There's geometry aliasing everywhere--it just looks rough and unfinished. I can't believe that any professional artist or human factors engineering group ever came near it. If it were a college computing project, I'd deduct points for poor presentation. I spent many years writing UI for consumer products, and if I were working at SA on this when they prepared to release this GUI design, I'd have found another job and would never admit to having had anything to do with it.That's all I can think of off the top of my head; I have many other problems with it and there are many, many little convenience in Passport that I miss.


I really, really hope that there are some good undocumented methods for SARA written up here. I'm praying daily for Cox to roll out the TiVo option :D.

Here is SA8300 SARA thread:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=471859

I find SARA to be a big downgrade from PASSPORT.
Drives me crazy whenever I can pry the remote from my grandson's grimy hands...

...It appears that the system just gets confused after a period of time.
An appliance computer get confused? Never! ;)

Question regarding a BHN supplied 8300HD feeding a 1080i signal to 16:9 plasma hdtv through HDMI. Software is latest passport / aptiv.

Is there a setting in the 8300 to maintain a constant full screen display regardless of the broadcast aspect?

In the 8300 settings, I have set the aspect ratios of 16:9 TV and 4:3 stretch. If the stretch is engaged on a 4:3 broadcast, and the channel is changed to a 16:9 broadcast, the picture remains stretched. If the 16:9 is changed to normal, then the 4:3 is not stretched when switching back. I tried 480P as the only output format to use the TV's full screen setting, but the same behavior is seen.

I know this is just for convenience, but it would enhance the viewing experience to not have to cycle through the normal - stretch - zoom with each channel change.

Any suggestions?

Who knows what it thinks? :confused: ;)

You could do a cold reboot and see if that helps... Set it up with the same conditions as before and see if it still deletes recordings even though there's still plenty of space.

Let us know.

Yes, the cold reboot seems to have solved the issue. Thank you.

I searched for my problem, but I couldn't find it. I'v had an 8300HD connected via HDMI (using it for both audio and video) in New York City for about a month now. Everything was going great until I realized that I have no sound on 12 of my SD channels (Nickelodeon, USA, Versus, CNN, MSNBC, among others). Does anyone know what the issue with this is? Thanks in advance.

Mike, I'm surprised to mentioned the one hour limit... that seems to be an agreed upon standard for the size of each of the buffers. Thus doesn't seem specific to SARA. No matter, most of your rant made me glad to be in a Passport system!

Pretty sure that when Barianne first mentioned the issue with stuff being automatically deleted when they should NOT have been, she did do a cold reboot which didn't help. I live in the same Manhattan North head end and have consistantly found that the "warning" system in Passport worked 100%; where it erred, it always seemed to be on the side of extra caution (i.e. it would give you it's "2 days to go" warning when it might have been 3 days).

As for "always filling the screen," it confuses me why someone would WANT to do that, the only thing I can offer is that such functions generally are an interplay between the STB and the TV. You must look to a "balance" between the two. Here's an example... my system has this annoying habit of using light gray side pillars for 4:3 content. I find them terribly distracting and totally annoying. My STB does NOT have a capability to change their color, so what I do it set my TV to 4:3 for SD channels. That "forces" the picture and the gray sidebars into a 4:3 frame. The actual show is horizontally squeezed. I then set the cable STB to 4:3 stretch for SD channels. Bingo, I get a undistorted 4:3 picture with black pillars. AND this little scenario I could only say for sure works on 8300/Passport and a Samsung LCD.

I am very curious to be able to "see" what bit-rate any given channel is doing at any specific time. So I figure I shoulde look through all the pages of the 8300 diagnostics. I find one reference to "Mbs" but that can't a dynamic measurement as it says 20 for any HD and any SD channel. I see a lot of folks saying "my system sends ABC HD at 15 Mbs" words to that effect; but only some of them properly have the STB's software listed, and of those it seems most are SARA.

Is there ANY way that I can see that information?

This question may have been asked and answered but I couldn't find it, so here goes. I just hooked up a HDMI cable from the 8300 to my TV and I get a good picture but no sound through the TV. I also have the optical audio out connected to my AV receiver and the sound is fine. Is the audio part of the HDMI signal from the 8300 disabled when the optical audio is also connected? I would like to have both so I could just run the TV without the AV receiver sometimes. Is this possible or do I have to make a choice?

No it is not disabled. Yes you can do what you've described. As member msink suggests, check your audio out settings. You will not get HDMI to TV audio when the setting is Dolby Digital, but will when you selecy HDMI. The Optical out will also deliver sound when HDMI is selected, but it will only be 2 channel.

In summary, set Audio out to HDMI for TV only audio. Set Audio out to Dolby Digital when using your receiver (when you want DD 5.1), otherwise leave it as HDMI and you'll get both TV and Receiver audio, but only 2 channel.

I searched for my problem, but I couldn't find it. I'v had an 8300HD connected via HDMI (using it for both audio and video) in New York City for about a month now. Everything was going great until I realized that I have no sound on 12 of my SD channels (Nickelodeon, USA, Versus, CNN, MSNBC, among others). Does anyone know what the issue with this is? Thanks in advance.

Not sure if this is related, and haven't seen others post about this. Here is what I've experienced:

Sometimes when simply turning on the TV to a SD channel I will get NO AUDIO. If I flip to other SD channels I still get no audio. By simply changing channel to a HD channel, and then back to any SD channel, the audio turns on. Probably something to do with the HDMI handshake, since I use HDMI from 8300 to TV.

Not sure if this is related, and haven't seen others post about this. Here is what I've experienced:

Sometimes when simply turning on the TV to a SD channel I will get NO AUDIO. If I flip to other SD channels I still get no audio. By simply changing channel to a HD channel, and then back to any SD channel, the audio turns on. Probably something to do with the HDMI handshake, since I use HDMI from 8300 to TV.

Thanks for the suggestion, but unfortunately that doesn't seem to be my issue. It's the same 12 channels all the time that have no sound. Anyone else experience this?

Thanks for the suggestion, but unfortunately that doesn't seem to be my issue. It's the same 12 channels all the time that have no sound. Anyone else experience this?

I have a guess.

If it is always the same 12 channels then perhaps you have engaged the SAP feature and only those 12 channels trigger the setting to switch to alternate audio.

Go to Settings>Play Secondary Audio and select OFF

I have a guess.

If it is always the same 12 channels then perhaps you have engaged the SAP feature and only those 12 channels trigger the setting to switch to alternate audio.

Go to Settings>Play Secondary Audio and select OFF

Hey, that worked! Thanks a lot. Man, I was racking my brain over that.

In the 8300 settings, I have set the aspect ratios of 16:9 TV and 4:3 stretch. If the stretch is engaged on a 4:3 broadcast, and the channel is changed to a 16:9 broadcast, the picture remains stretched. If the 16:9 is changed to normal, then the 4:3 is not stretched when switching back. I tried 480P as the only output format to use the TV's full screen setting, but the same behavior is seen.

The 1st press of the Video Source/# key on the remote gives the current aspect setting, you have to press a 2nd time to change it (just stating an obvious) .

If I have a SD broadcast set to stretch (almost never), then switch to and HD broadcast, and press Video Source it shows that the picture is stretched. But it really isn't. Keep pressing Video Source to cycle through the stretch/zoom/normal settings and you will notice that when it says normal it looks exacly like it did when you 1st started. Moving back to stretch now actually stretchs the picture.

This is with an HDMI connection from 8300HD to Samsung Plasma

Mike, I'm surprised to mentioned the one hour limit... that seems to be an agreed upon standard for the size of each of the buffers.I was speaking about PAUSE'ing playback of a recording, not buffered live television. You can PAUSE recording playback on Passport and come back a month from now and it'll still be PAUSE'd--there is no conceivable reason to make it start playing again in an hour.

Of course, there'd be no incentive to PAUSE forever in Passport Echo, since you can PAUSE recording playback and start watching something else (or not PAUSE--it doesn't matter) and when you start playing that recording again it will start where you left off, unless you explicitly request a start from the beginning. Every recording on the box has a saved current playback point; I can't imagine a reason why they wouldn't have implemented this obviously desirable behavior in SARA.

And yes, R_G, be glad, be very, very glad, that you're using Passport. Passport Echo sure as hell isn't perfect, but except for implementing external drive support properly (which is not at all insignificant--I appreciate that a lot) there is nothing that SARA appears to do better than Passport and almost nothing that it seems to do as well as Passport does it. In all, I might be happier with an 80GB unit running Passport Echo than with my 160+300GB setup running SARA. (Okay--I'm exaggerating, but not much :D).

I am very curious to be able to "see" what bit-rate any given channel is doing at any specific time. So I figure I shoulde look through all the pages of the 8300 diagnostics. I find one reference to "Mbs" but that can't a dynamic measurement as it says 20 for any HD and any SD channel. I see a lot of folks saying "my system sends ABC HD at 15 Mbs" words to that effect; but only some of them properly have the STB's software listed, and of those it seems most are SARA.

Is there ANY way that I can see that information?Next time you see that, ask those people what system they're running and how they're finding that out. I used to say things like that, but I spent months making estimates using recording filesizes. I never saw a dynamic bitrate reading in Passport's diags.

Ah, I looks like I jumped too quickly to the wrong conclusion! I did catch the thing about not "saving your place" while watching a recorded program, this just seems like such a basic thing! Software design by idiots, wouldn't you say?

Most of those quoting bit rate were SARA, but there were several who didn't specific it. Slowly I've come to the conclusion that the delivered bit rate is more of a critical measure than most other specs... plus I came across the Cable Labs thing about 15 Mb/s being their standard of "good HD." So without knowing what I'm seeing, no way to judge if that figure is good, bad or indifferent.

Indeed, the more I read about SARA, the more I realize I'm sitting pretty good with Passport. Sure the external drive bug is frustrating, but I've made my peace with it by applying more targeted effort to watch the stuff I record in a timely manner. Sure I'd like to have a larger library of "stuff to watch" but ion no way would I want to go SARA to get a better SATA implementation.

I also know someone reported getting an update to passport BEYOND the 1.5.066 level I was SURE would be the last one we saw before Navigator. 2.6.002 I think it was. "Trick play bug" was STILL the most prominent feature of that release!

In any case, I'm now going to start the serious Navigator angst period of my life <g>! If it is the same as Passport without the trick play bug fixed, I may even forgive them for the dropping of a pay tier channel WHILE they gave upstate NY a free YEAR of a premium HD for that and moving ESPN HD to the regular DTV tier.

Software design by idiots, wouldn't you say?I'm not trying to get on my high-horse here and I don't know specifically what DVR features are copyrighted/patented, but let's assume that Bookmarks are copyrighted by someone. Without licensing that feature, just how would you code it so that you wouldn't be called an idiot? :)

That's kind of tongue-in-cheek, but I am one who believes that many DVR features (including bookmarks, search, etc.) are copyrighted by Tivo and others. They don't make headlines unless the copyright holder and users can't come to an usage agreement, like DirecTV and Tivo did a while back for a supposed copyright infraction in DirecTV's DVR.

That is one of the reasons I think Passport is an expensive (at least from TWCs point of view) alternative to SARA (I assume they license a lot of Tivo features) and just one of many reasons why TWC has chosen to go in-house with their DVR software. As such, Navigator is a throw-back to basic functionality until TWC decides which features they want to license.

My theory is that is what happened with the Start From Beginning option that was added to SARA 1.88, SA finally agreed to license the feature or they figured out a way around the specific copyright.

I'm sure there is a way to identify copyrights, but I'm also sure it's tedious and time-consuming. We all know many technolgy company's bread and butter is based on copyrights and licensing fees. Since Tivo is the grandfather of current DVRs, is it so unreasonable to assume they copyrighted or bought the rights to most DVR features? I believe there is some ligitation still in progress in that area.

I forgot to add that while all this stuff seems so basic to us, nothing is basic in the world of copyrights and licensing fees. :)

I think I hear three people clapping. :rolleyes:

You cannot design anything remotely resembling a DVR without crossing a multitude of TiVo patents. They have a patent on the basic concept of trick-play; they have a patent on recording television to a hard disk drive, period. I'm betting that all of the DVR manufacturers will eventually end up paying them royalties.

Mike,

That has been my point for a long time now and I've been browbeat to death over it. I guess the only thing is how many features SA and others license, and at what cost. I've heard Passport costs a lot compared to SARA and I believe it's mainly because of the added features licensed by Aptiv.

Unless I'm missing something, if you stop watching a recording in the middle, you'll have to find your place again when you come back.Well, turns out that I was missing something :). DoubleDAZ informed me by PM that there is a way to set a bookmark in a single recording. It's a bit strange and unintuitive, but it's there, and that alone improves it significantly. If I get tired and stop watching a recording, I can stop it and come back an indefinite amount of time later and resume where I left off.

I've heard Passport costs a lot compared to SARA and I believe it's mainly because of the added features licensed by Aptiv.I don't think that Aptiv has been paying TiVo any royalties as yet. I interviewed TiVo a couple of years ago and mentioned to one of their guys how much like TiVo I thought that Passport Echo was and he replied, "Yeah--our lawyers are looking into that." They haven't done much suing yet, in that they were waiting to see how the E* litigation turned out. If that ruling sticks, they'll be visiting each of the DVR makers with their hands held out :).

I can think of several reasons why Passport might be more expensive. All of those features have development costs and they continue to pile new features on to stay competitive (in existing major releases that have never been deployed by TWC, like 2.7 and 3.x). I also doubt that S-A is trying to profit much from the sale of SARA--it's kind of a means of selling DVRs rather than an end; after all, they've never ported it to any other platform, whereas there's also a version of Passport running on Motorola boxes.

SARA almost reminds me of an example phone UI which comes with Qualcomm's middleware, except that no vendor would ever ship that with a product. It's just a crude example for the middleware buyers of how to use the features that are exposed by those APIs.

The Dir of Tech Operations at my cable company told me that when they were planning their SA STB rollout, they looked at SARA and Passport. They chose Passport because it was more "robust." That appears to still be the case. If anyone is down on their Passport software, I suggest that they lurk on the SARA thread. Or the external SATA thread.

Passport is a sea of tranquility compared to the perfect storm that is SARA.

Agreed Dave, I was being flippant about "software design by idiots" but do we know for sure that the concept of returning to ones place in playback IS patented? Or that someone other than Aptiv has it and they license it for use in Passport? Do M$ or Apple license it to provide that functionality in their software? Or do a ton of big companies to small developers that have that functionality as part of their software license it?

In no way or form am I implying that what Mike said is incorrect or wrong. Nor do I even slightly wish to browbeat anybody over the issue (and would be curious to see how browbeat I'd be if I went on a tangent about "software patents!"). I've been in professional publishing all my life and am quite familiar with the good and bad of copyright, so I DO have a stake in the protection of IP.

I am so tired of people being granted patents for the obvious. When we had VCRs and stopped watching a movie before it was over, was it surprising to come back to that movie and find that miraculously we could resume at that same point? Duh. And now we are talking about somebody owning a patent on that for DVRs? Sheesh. Thankfully, this trend began long after somebody first placed an ON/OFF switch on a device.

R_G/pepar/Mike,

The problem Tivo may run into if they wait too long to enforce their copyrights is that the courts will say they are null and void because the features have become obvious or could be construed as obvious based on the VCR. There are many examples of this happening with other copyrights and it may very well happen in the E* litigation and I suspect there will be a settlement if Tivo thinks that is the way the case will go.

And, R-G, I mentioned I don't know what is and is not copyrighted, but I have to agree with Mike that if Tivo wins against E*, we will almost certainly find out and you will see a flurry of negotiations. IMHO, SARA is the least offender, so SARA users, like Cox, will face fewer problems.

And, Mike, I totally agree with your assessment of what SARA is, a bare-bones display of basic functionality to sell boxes vice selling software. After all, SA sells boxes and Aptiv sells software. However, with what TWC is doing with Passport, it almost makes me happy to have SARA, so I won't miss any features or have the growing pains you are going though since you moved to Cox/SARA territory. :)

Agreed Dave, I was being flippant about "software design by idiots" but do we know for sure that the concept of returning to ones place in playback IS patented?You can see a list of US patents granted to TiVo here (http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=0&f=S&l=50&TERM1=TiVo&FIELD1=ASNM&co1=AND&TERM2=&FIELD2=&d=PTXT); the list of patents for which TiVo has applied and not yet been granted is here (http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=0&f=S&l=50&TERM1=TiVo&FIELD1=AS&co1=AND&TERM2=&FIELD2=&d=PG01). (These don't seem comprehensive, so the patent office's online database may not be complete. It's also possible that some early TiVo patents were granted to individuals).

And yeah, they do have a patent on bookmarking: see US Patent 6,868,225, "Multimedia program bookmarking system" (http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=5&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=TiVo.ASNM.&OS=AN/TiVo&RS=AN/TiVo). It might be a patent on the details of their specific implementation and not the concept in general--I haven't studied it.

EDIT: From the abstract, I see that that's not a basic concept patent at all. I'm not even sure that they've implemented everything in it and it's only two years old. It provides for separate bookmarks for multiple users, keyed by personal remotes.

Yes, but it was filed in 2000 and apparently only granted in 2005. This appears to me to affect anyone trying to implement any kind of bookmarking system.
What is claimed is:

1. A process for bookmarking a user's position within an audio or video program material, comprising the steps of: providing a processor; providing at least one input signal tuner; wherein said at least one tuner accepts analog and digital television broadcast signals; extracting audio and/or video programs from said broadcast signals; providing a storage device; wherein said audio and/or video programs are stored on said storage device; wherein said processor plays a program from said storage device to the user; receiving user command input; detecting the point where the user exits playing said program or places an explicit mark within said program; storing said exit point or said explicit mark as a bookmark on said storage device; retrieving said bookmark for said program; playing said program starting from said bookmark; and providing bookmark indication means for visually indicating to a user that a bookmark exists for a program when said bookmarked program is displayed in a listing along with the names of other programs and their associated status indicators stored on said storage device; wherein said bookmark indication means displays an indicator next to each bookmarked program in said listing.Thanks for the links.

I talked to my friend who works on TiVo this morning and he informs me that both Cox and Comcast systems using Motorola boxes will deploy the TiVo UI as an optional service sometime this year; the Cox S-A box implementation won't roll out until sometime in 2008.

That tears it--there's no way that I can tolerate SARA for over a year. I've ordered TiVo Series 3 and a dual CableCARD install. I'll lose access to VOD, but I can't remember the last time I used it anyway (never on Cox).

I've ordered TiVo Series 3 and a dual CableCARD install. I'll lose access to VOD, but I can't remember the last time I used it anyway (never on Cox).Until they start using SDV!

I had another post about this in the reception hardware forum, but I saw this, and it seems more appropriate.

I'll try to make this brief. I'm a Time Warner customer in North Carolina. I have a Sony 43" RP HDTV, NOT WIDESCREEN. I have a Scientific Atlanta 8300HD DVR box, connected to the Sony via component cables.

My standard def, 4:3 channels display on my 4:3 with bars on the side and the top. Like I'm watching a 32" tv on my 43" screen.

My HD channels work like they should. Bars only at the top.

I called Scientific Atlanta to toubleshoot, because TW knows nothing. They told me I need to access the HDTV Setup Wizard on the box, by turning the box off, and holding down INFO and GUIDE buttons. Nothing happens when I do this. The guy at SA said it looks like TW has disabled this option in the firmware.

Does the solution lie with Time Warner? I've had a tech here twice, and he's stumped. The customer service drones don't know a thing, and tell me I have to use the ZOOM and STRETCH options, which is unacceptable. I shouldn't have to zoom a 4:3 picture on my 4:3 tv, I want the whole screen!!!

I tired to post pics, but I guess the site doesn't allow it. I hope I am clear enough in describing the problem.



I truly appreciate any help that can be offered. This is my first post.

Thanks!

Joshigh, I think one possibility is that your DVR is not setup to output 480i, and may only be outputting 720p, and 1080i. Pressing the settings button on your DVR remote. I think you'll need to then press 'A' for 'More Settings' Look for output modes. Make sure that all options are available, 480i, 480p, 720p, and 1080i.

Then go check your 4:3 SD channels, and see if that helped. If not, I would say the issue is with the TV settings, and there may be some settings and how it should handle 480i.

Let us know!

Mark

Until they start using SDV!We'll see just how many services they end up putting in SDV. Placing popular things in SDV won't save them any appreciable bandwidth, since some one or more people will be tuned to them at any given time. Manufacturers of unidirectional CableCARD products, like TiVo are pissed about SDV and have filed protests with the FCC over it. FCC regs require that they provide access to all of their non-interactive services through unidirectional CC--it's something that all of the MSOs agreed to do, on a corporate level. It's possible that the providers might argue that SDV channels constitute interactive services, but I'm doubting that they'll get away with it. We'll see how it pans out in the end.

I'm certainly willing to lose access to some channels if the alternative is using SARA. For me personally, using it is only ever so slightly more desirable than using a VCR, and that's the honest truth.

Joshigh, I think one possibility is that your DVR is not setup to output 480i, and may only be outputting 720p, and 1080i. Pressing the settings button on your DVR remote. I think you'll need to then press 'A' for 'More Settings' Look for output modes. Make sure that all options are available, 480i, 480p, 720p, and 1080i.

Then go check your 4:3 SD channels, and see if that helped. If not, I would say the issue is with the TV settings, and there may be some settings and how it should handle 480i.

Let us know!

Mark


I feel stupid for overlooking this obvious setting. I only had 1080i selected, and that's it. I thought that's all I needed.

Now my only problem is how crappy the SD signal looks on the tv. It's almost snowy. Like a bad signal. HD still looks good, but SD is whacked.

Thank you so much for the advice!

I talked to my friend who works on TiVo this morning and he informs me that both Cox and Comcast systems using Motorola boxes will deploy the TiVo UI as an optional service sometime this year; the Cox S-A box implementation won't roll out until sometime in 2008.That's what I've been saying for months and told you in PM. It's nice to have it confirmed by someone at Tivo.

The 1st press of the Video Source/# key on the remote gives the current aspect setting, you have to press a 2nd time to change it (just stating an obvious) .

If I have a SD broadcast set to stretch (almost never), then switch to and HD broadcast, and press Video Source it shows that the picture is stretched. But it really isn't. Keep pressing Video Source to cycle through the stretch/zoom/normal settings and you will notice that when it says normal it looks exacly like it did when you 1st started. Moving back to stretch now actually stretchs the picture.

This is with an HDMI connection from 8300HD to Samsung Plasma

Thanks. This evening, I tried all format and aspect configurations, and the Stretch does not stick between the different BHN HD channels. It stays the same between some channels, but is lost between others. One example is changing from a broadcast 720P / 4:3 in Stretch to a broadcast 1080i / 16:9 and back again erases the Stretch - 4:3 has side bars. Pushing the Zoom button on the remote shows that the picture is set to Stretch, but no Stretch effect. I tried running all channels as 480P and use the TV to fill the screen. The Stretch still does not stick.

I am running HDMI to a Toshiba 42hp66. In another thread, a BHN customer using the SA8300HD confirms the behavior. So, is this just the nature of the technology, or is one of the components - 42hp66, Broadcaster, BHN, SA8300HD - not playing well with the others?

Do people here recommend occasionally defragging the 8300's hard drive, if that's even possible?

Would erasing all the recordings accomplish the same thing?

Do people here recommend occasionally defragging the 8300's hard drive, if that's even possible?
That's not possible with Passport. Or at least I've never read about it.

Would erasing all the recordings accomplish the same thing?
Yes, in that new recordings would go down contiguous..

All,

I have been reading through the various forums online here and have found quite a bit of very useful information. I recently picked up a WD 500GB SATA drive with the Vantec enclosure. I have Passport 2.5.066 on my 8300HD (TWC - Kansas City). I hooked it all up, rebooted and it asked me to format the drive, I did and everything worked great...sort of...

While most of the primary DVR functions worked...I have 650GB of recordable space there, there is an odd quirk to how the "Pausing Live TV" portion works now. I can hit pause during a program and it will pause and continue recording but instead of allowing me to fast-forward/rewind through that recorded portion, it will only let me watch it from where I hit pause at 1x speed or press the "Live" button to go to the current moment. This is quite frustrating as I like to normally hit pause during a TV show, go in and get something to eat, come back and watch the part that had been recorded and be able to fast forward through any commercials I encountered. I removed the external drive and my DVR will work as normal, just not when the external drive is connected. Has anyone else experienced this quirk?

Thanks for any help/suggestions! I posted this is another forum before realizing I wasn't in the TWC Passport forum.

Mike

If you'd searched this thread for SATA, you'd have found 356 posts which mention it and several discussions of how external drives break trick-play of live television (PAUSE, FF, RR, etc all work properly when watching recordings, but not for live TV). In truth, the feature is not officially supported by Passport or documented for use under Passport anywhere, so it's not actually a bug.

On the right hand side of the strip just above the first post on the page there's a little "Search this Thread" control--please learn to use it. I don't mean to rag on you personally (I can see that that was only your second post and I don't want to discourage your participation), but we discuss the same things over and over and over and over and over again because no one ever looks to see whether their questions have already been answered; it gets more than a little bit frustrating.

If you'd searched this thread for SATA, you'd have found 356 posts which mention it and several discussions of how external drives break trick-play of live television (PAUSE, FF, RR, etc all work properly when watching recordings, but not for live TV). In truth, the feature is not officially supported by Passport or documented for use under Passport anywhere, so it's not actually a bug.

On the right hand side of the strip just above the first post on the page there's a little "Search this Thread" control--please learn to use it. I don't mean to rag on you personally (I can see that that was only your second post and I don't want to discourage your participation), but we discuss the same things over and over and over and over and over again because no one ever looks to see whether their questions have already been answered; it gets more than a little bit frustrating.

while i agree with your sentiments i find the search function on this website to be confusing and hard to use.

while i agree with your sentiments i find the search function on this website to be confusing and hard to use.What? You click that little control at the top of the page, fill the blank with "SATA" and click the GO button. This confuses you? Simple searches like that are easy to do; getting fancier, like getting fancy with anything, requires more effort.

You might want to go into Advanced Search, click "Show Results As Posts" and then click "Save Search Preferences". I find post-oriented search result display to be easier to use, since it lists the actual posts that contain the searched for phrase.

Holy smokes Mike, I had done a quick cost analysis on the 3, amortized the hardware cost over three years (I also found out the widely quoted 13/month was ONLY available with a 3 year locked in contract with a $200 cancelation fee) vs. what I pay TWC and came up with something like 25 bucks per month over what I pay now.

For a long while now I have though that TiVo's best business move was licensing their software to the cable/satellite guys. Now that we seem on the brink of the OCAP era, I think that "opportunity" is gone. I still don't get a business model that says that for a very minor "feature" (record by actor/director) bump from what I now have is even close to being worth an extra 25 bucks each month WITH a 3 year lock-in.

Dave, not sure I understand "...with what TWC is doing with Passport, it almost makes me happy to have SARA..."

At this point, it does seem clear exactly where TWC is heading, but I see very little mention of where Comcast (and others) are going...

Mike, not sure about here, but a LOT of web boards I visit have search function that are next to useless. Here's one very small example... from goolging, we "know" that putting 2 words in quotes means both are needed, a convention if you will (AND, not OR). What does "SATA 8300" produce here? "Sorry, no matches." There doesn't seem to even be a method to search for BOTH terms only in advanced either. Search for "SATA 8300" produces most 3000 posts, how much reading might one have to do to find a post where both terms are mentioned?

There IS a reason why Google is worth billions!

I posted this is another forum before realizing I wasn't in the TWC Passport forum.
And I guess you weren't satisfied with the answer you got there? :)

What? You click that little control at the top of the page, fill the blank with "SATA" and click the GO button. This confuses you? Simple searches like that are easy to do; getting fancier, like getting fancy with anything, requires more effort.

You might want to go into Advanced Search, click "Show Results As Posts" and then click "Save Search Preferences". I find post-oriented search result display to be easier to use, since it lists the actual posts that contain the searched for phrase.
Ahhh, it's good to see you back, Mike. ;)

how much reading might one have to do to find a post where both terms are mentioned?!
At least a little and a mention of it with, perhaps, an apology for not investing a little more time and effort . . before asking a question that's answered every third page. :rolleyes:

Holy smokes Mike, I had done a quick cost analysis on the 3, amortized the hardware cost over three years (I also found out the widely quoted 13/month was ONLY available with a 3 year locked in contract with a $200 cancelation fee) vs. what I pay TWC and came up with something like 25 bucks per month over what I pay now.

For a long while now I have though that TiVo's best business move was licensing their software to the cable/satellite guys. Now that we seem on the brink of the OCAP era, I think that "opportunity" is gone. I still don't get a business model that says that for a very minor "feature" (record by actor/director) bump from what I now have is even close to being worth an extra 25 bucks each month WITH a 3 year lock-in.Leasing two CableCARDs instead of STB lease+DVR service fee saves me $14/month on my cable bill. If I divide the cost of the TiVo itself by 36 months, I get $18, plus the $8.38/month prepaid 36-month subscription deal currently available comes out to $26/month, all paid up front, or $12.38/month more than I'm paying now. For that, I get the virtually bug free device with, IMHO as someone involved for many years in the design of consumer electronics UIs, the best user interface ever created for any application. It is a positive joy to use. There are no "minor" upgrades involved here. Even over and above Passport TiVo has a host of useful features. I'm not even talking about "Wishlists", which I never used during all the years that I had TiVo, anyway (BTW, you can search for Actor/Director etc with a keyword guide search in Passport). What I'm talking about are things like 14 days worth of superior guide data that's always loaded (I was constantly coaxing my 8000HD to reload the paltry one week of guide that it could hold). There've been many new features added since I last used TiVo, like folders in the "Now Playing" (recording) list.

Also, I own the equipment and can sell it when I'm done with it to further reduce the monthly cost. I managed to sell my Series 2 when I switched to the SA8000HD. Note that if I continue to use it after those 3 years, I'll be paying less every month than I pay now.

What does "SATA 8300" produce here? "Sorry, no matches." There doesn't seem to even be a method to search for BOTH terms only in advanced either. Search for "SATA 8300" produces most 3000 posts, how much reading might one have to do to find a post where both terms are mentioned?Do you think that the strange phrase "SATA 8300" actually appears in any post other than this one and the one it quotes? That's what you asked for.

Searching this thread for "+SATA +8300" (without the quotes) gets 60 hits (61 with the post), all of which contain both terms. See the Advanced Search Help (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/search.php?do=help) for some tips on forming search phrases.

Also, I own the equipment . . .
. . am responsible for service.

What warranty accompanies Tivo gear? How's the build quality and how likely is it that you will be out-of-pocket on a repair in its lifetime?

I'm with michaelscott. I gave up on the 8300HD and all of its problems just a little less than a year ago (problems including programs randomly erasing, lack of functional firewire ports for archiving, firmware update causing programs to erase, etc.).

Instead, I purchased a Toshiba Symbio DVR for about the cost of one year's worth of fees for the 8300HD (including the current 1.75 / mont I am paying for the cablecard). Although the UI isn't as nice, at least I can keep a recording on the Symbio if I want it (or better yet archive it to DVHS or my computer).

I think everyone's experience here with losing programs on the 8300HD shows that it really isn't a good choice if you intend to keep a program longer than a few weeks.

. . am responsible for service.

What warranty accompanies Tivo gear? How's the build quality and how likely is it that you will be out-of-pocket on a repair in its lifetime?The build quality of TiVo devices is excellent. The warranty on the S3 is 90-days free labor/1 year parts exchange. I haven't needed service on any electronic device in a very, very long time. If it weren't for the HDD in the TiVo, I wouldn't expect to ever need service on it. That I may need service is a risk, but I'd consider it a minor one.

What both you and Riverside_Guy fail to understand is that keeping the the leased cable DVR is NOT an option. If I were leasing a box running Passport, I wouldn't consider buying a TiVo or any other DVR, but, for me personally, using SARA is almost physically painful. If you know of a cheaper dual-HD-CableCARD-tuner solution, please tell me.

What both you and Riverside_Guy fail to understand is that keeping the the leased cable DVR is NOT an option. If I were leasing a box running Passport, I wouldn't consider buying a TiVo or any other DVR, but, for me personally, using SARA is almost physically painful. If you know of a cheaper dual-HD-CableCARD-tuner solution, please tell me.
Well, it is an option as long as it's an option. :)

I spoke to Comcast tech and asked about new boxes and he told me that they had just gotten the ones they are using now going smoothly and he knew nothing about new boxes.

I have zero problems with my three DVRs and no issues with Passport. I am content.

Of course, my last two statements are subject to change without prior notice.

I spoke to Comcast tech and asked about new boxes and he told me that they had just gotten the ones they are using now going smoothly and he knew nothing about new boxes.I don't understand the context of this statement. Are you referring to Comcast's TiVo UI roll-out? If so, it won't require new boxes--it's an optional different set of firmware to be downloaded into their existing Motorola boxes.

And no, keeping the SA8300HD running SARA is NOT an option for me. If there wasn't an alternative, I'd probably learn to live without a DVR. It sure as hell isn't worth the $18-$20/month I'm paying to use it. It's going back.

I don't understand the context of this statement. Are you referring to Comcast's TiVo UI roll-out? If so, it won't require new boxes--it's an optional different set of firmware to be downloaded into their existing Motorola boxes.
Sorry, my context is as a customer on a (formerly) Suscom 8300/8300HD/Passport system island in a sea of Comcast Moto boxes. :o

I just got a new samsung plasma and ran a hdmi to dvi cable into it from
the 8300. the screen says "format not supported"
I then hook up the cable out to the set. This picture has a pop up message that says "blocked HDMI/DVI" and will not go away until I unplug the still in HDMI cable.
Can someone help. somehow the HDMI signal is not coming out of the port.

Alan

I just got a new samsung plasma and ran a hdmi to dvi cable into it from
the 8300. the screen says "format not supported"
That's your display talking.

I then hook up the cable out to the set. This picture has a pop up message that says "blocked HDMI/DVI" and will not go away until I unplug the still in HDMI cable.
Can someone help. somehow the HDMI signal is not coming out of the port.
Use a simpler video connection - component or even s-video - and look at your settings. It seems like the STB is sending an HDMI/DVI signal in a format that the display doesn't like.

It seems like the STB is sending an HDMI/DVI signal in a format that the display doesn't like.It's probably 480i from the STB that is causing problems. Many displays won't accept that (for some unknown reason).

It's probably 480i from the STB that is causing problems. Many displays won't accept that (for some unknown reason).

My samsung plasma doesn't support 480I

I just got a new samsung plasma and ran a hdmi to dvi cable into it from
the 8300. the screen says "format not supported"
I then hook up the cable out to the set. This picture has a pop up message that says "blocked HDMI/DVI" and will not go away until I unplug the still in HDMI cable.
Can someone help. somehow the HDMI signal is not coming out of the port.

Alan

Try each of these two combinations after turning off the Plasma and STB

1. Power on the STB first, then the Plasma.
2. Power on the Plasma first, then the STB.

Just a SWAG....

I am very curious to be able to "see" what bit-rate any given channel is doing at any specific time. So I figure I shoulde look through all the pages of the 8300 diagnostics. I find one reference to "Mbs" but that can't a dynamic measurement as it says 20 for any HD and any SD channel. I see a lot of folks saying "my system sends ABC HD at 15 Mbs" words to that effect; but only some of them properly have the STB's software listed, and of those it seems most are SARA.

Is there ANY way that I can see that information?
In Passport, I believe that there are 2 ways to measure bit rate information:
1. Note how much disk space is free before you record something. Note how much is free afterwards. Subtract the latter number from the first and you get the filesize. Apply a formula to it (I'm not sure what that formula might be, though I do record seeing it posted SOMEWHERE on the board).
2. Note how much disk space is free. Delete something. Subtract the first number from the second. Apply same formula to this result.

I think there might also be a way to do it using a computer and the firewire output.....

1. Note how much disk space is free before you record something. Note how much is free afterwards. Subtract the latter number from the first and you get the filesize. Apply a formula to it (I'm not sure what that formula might be, though I do record seeing it posted SOMEWHERE on the board).A couple of years back, I spent several months compiling average bitrate estimates from the DVR recordings that I made. Having determined the size of the recording in GB, the formula is:
size-in-GB / length-of-program-in-seconds = GBps
GBps * 8590 = Mbps8590 is the number of millions-of-bits in a gigabyte.

Towards the end, I started using the free and used cluster counts instead of the GB counts, for improved accuracy.

My discussion of my bitrate experiments began in this (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=4577535&&#post4577535) post in the current thread. (Wow--that was post #242; it's 2.25 years later and we're approaching post #6000 :)). After a few big posts in this thread, I created a new thread for the topic here (http://archive.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=464273). This was back at the end of October 2004, a few months after I first got my SA8000HD. (Ah, we were all so young and naive back then :D).

What both you and Riverside_Guy fail to understand is that keeping the the leased cable DVR is NOT an option. If I were leasing a box running Passport, I wouldn't consider buying a TiVo or any other DVR, but, for me personally, using SARA is almost physically painful. If you know of a cheaper dual-HD-CableCARD-tuner solution, please tell me.

When I did my calculation on cost, I assumed I'd be paying tax on the TiVo... possibly a bad assumption. I also looked at the pay per month rather than all up front because my cash flow far better allows for that than all up-front.

Not sure I under "keeping the leased cable DVR" point. I can't imagine ANY reason why I'd want to keep the 8300, I doubt there's any resale value to it.

I recall that you do need to wait for an update to be able to expand storage, though.

Given your experience with SARA, I DO understand your frustration and willingness to pay more for a better experience with a TiVo. But, "frustration vs. cost" is highly personal, and dependant on individual economic circumstances. I still think it valuable to everyone here to see us go through a cost-benefit analysis!

BTW, there is a wild card lurking in the shadows. Navigator. Wild card in that we really have NO idea when it will hit what areas AND in what shape (it seems the intention is to have functionality close to Passport). Yes you can bail and sell the TiVo, but that cancellation fee thing would make one pause.

(Ah, we were all so young and naive back then :D).

I sometimes think those days ended for me around '68 when they did the first draft lottery (given that an entire lifetimes worth of LUCK got used up in one shot when I got a 364 number).

BTW, there is a wild card lurking in the shadows. Navigator. Wild card in that we really have NO idea when it will hit what areas AND in what shape (it seems the intention is to have functionality close to Passport). Yes you can bail and sell the TiVo, but that cancellation fee thing would make one pause.The Time Warner Digital Navigator is not a wildcard for someone living in Cox territory. They will stay with SARA and eventually offer the TiVo IPG as an optional service, downloaded to their already deployed boxes. Unfortunately that option isn't coming until next year.

As for selling the TiVo, with the prepaid service contract ($4-$6/month cheaper right now than any other way to buy TiVo service) I can sell the balance of the service contract with it. In fact, I don't think that I can prevent someone who buys the TiVo from using the rest of my prepaid service, although it's probably transferable to another TiVo.

And I agree--it's instructive to go through this cost analysis for the benefit of the audience and for myself. It's always good to analyze one's decisions to blow a thousand bucks :). I think that anyone whose first DVR was not a TiVo wouldn't have nearly so much difficulty acclimating to SARA. Passport was a significant step down from TiVo. I can't bear to sink any further.

BTW, I got the TiVo and its cute little wireless G network adapter this morning. I'll probably set it up and register it this evening before primetime, since there's some stuff on the SA8300HD that I should try to watch in the meanwhile.

BTW, there is a wild card lurking in the shadows. Navigator. Wild card in that we really have NO idea when it will hit what areas AND in what shape (it seems the intention is to have functionality close to Passport).

I guess you and I read the Navigator thread differently. To me, it seems like TW is trying to make Navigator have functionality close to SARA, not Passport. This really depresses me. The feeling of doom is increased by my (albeit cynical) confidence in large companies' ability to screw up large programming projects.

-barry

I sometimes think those days ended for me around '68 when they did the first draft lottery (given that an entire lifetimes worth of LUCK got used up in one shot when I got a 364 number).

This is way way OT, but my best friend in college also got 364, but he was on a four year ROTC scholarship so it did him no good. Pissed me off royally though. :-)

-barry

I am reading rumblings of Navigator lurking in my area (Raleigh/Durham, NC). Am I correct to assume that I will lose everything on the DVR and on my external drive? I imagine we can just kiss the external drive data goodbye, but has anyone heard of any migration method for the DVRs?

I am reading rumblings of Navigator lurking in my area (Raleigh/Durham, NC). Am I correct to assume that I will lose everything on the DVR and on my external drive? I imagine we can just kiss the external drive data goodbye, but has anyone heard of any migration method for the DVRs?

Surely they wouldn't just push new code and wipe out our internal recordings? That seems like an obvious thing to NOT do. This is going to be quite interesting to observe. Even if they do tell us exactly what day the download will occur, that will still cause a lot of folks to lose recordings simply because they can't watch everything fast enough, plus I guess most people will just ignore the warning. It seems that the only way to make this work is a pull model (as opposed to a push model) where the customer determines when they download. And there will have to be a damn annoying nag screen once a day or whatever to remind people to download after watching their recordings. I wonder if such a pull model is supported in the current software architecture. I suppose if there's not a patent on the disk data format then Navigator could simply support the same format. That seems too logical.

All just idle musings...

I am reading rumblings of Navigator lurking in my area (Raleigh/Durham, NC). Am I correct to assume that I will lose everything on the DVR and on my external drive? I imagine we can just kiss the external drive data goodbye, but has anyone heard of any migration method for the DVRs?

Wow... I havent been following this Navigator Talk, but I live in Cary, so I decided to poke around. Looks like its coming, but when?

http://www.timewarnercable.com/nc/products/cable/navigator/navigator.html

Surely they wouldn't just push new code and wipe out our internal recordings? That seems like an obvious thing to NOT do.

Haha - this is exactly the kind of thing TWC WOULD do. Worrying about it makes me realize how happy I have been with Passport and a WD external. It has worked flawlessly for 7 or 8 months and I have about 10 HD movies on there that I really don't want to lose.

Wow... I havent been following this Navigator Talk, but I live in Cary, so I decided to poke around. Looks like its coming, but when?

http://www.timewarnercable.com/nc/products/cable/navigator/navigator.html

Someone on another thread said Q2 for us. Maybe we get until summer to enjoy our recordings.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ThisOneKidMongo
Hi, I apologize if this was already answered somewhere else, but I've been searching all morning and couldn't find it, so...yesterday I switched to HDMI for my SA8300HD (I have a 46" Samsung DLP) and now some SD channels have thin black vertical bars on either side of the picture in addition to the usual thick grey sidebars that are always in place for 4:3 content. Does anyone know what could be causing this? I've played around with picture settings both on my TV and the 8300 (passport in NYC), but nothing seems to make them go away. Thanks in advance for any help.



Been searching these forums for an answer for this problem. I have the same problem with a SA8300 from TWC in Cincy hooked up via HDMI. The thin black bars usually show up on certain standard def channels between the gray bars and the picture and always on the left side of the screen. Thanks

Been searching these forums for an answer for this problem. I have the same problem with a SA8300 from TWC in Cincy hooked up via HDMI. The thin black bars usually show up on certain standard def channels between the gray bars and the picture and always on the left side of the screen. Thanks

Normal behavior. Don't know the cause. Been mentioned several times by others.

If the SD tv channel arrives at the cable headend as analog the encoder displays a thin black bar on the left edge. If the SD channel arrives as a digital signal it fills the entire 4:3 frame. This is a quick way to click through the channels and see which SD channels are using analog for national distribution.

Surely they wouldn't just push new code and wipe out our internal recordings? That seems like an obvious thing to NOT do. .

LOL, hey they wiped mine with the last "upgrade" (I wasn't the only victim).. barely so much as a "gosh, we're almost sorry" from them when I called to let them know they update process was flawed (and truly that was why I called, in the vain hope the word would get back to the dev team so they could figure out why their update code went bonkers).

If they can't get a simple dot-release upgrade to work properly for everyone (it did seem to work for most folks), then I have little hope for them to get a total OS swap to work.

Mike

...some SD channels have thin black vertical bars on either side of the picture in addition to the usual thick grey sidebars that are always in place for 4:3 content.


Maybe you're just seeing the horizontal blanking of the 4:3 picture?
I see the H-Blanking on most, but not all, SD channels. So somehow the 8300 must be cropping the blanking on some content. Maybe when the signal is slightly out of spec (say the setup is too low), then the 8300 can not properly identify the H-Blanking and and does not perform the crop. That's when you would see the black bars.
Note that I'm just speculating. I don't know for sure.

The Time Warner Digital Navigator is not a wildcard for someone living in Cox territory. They will stay with SARA and eventually offer the TiVo IPG as an optional service, downloaded to their already deployed boxes. Unfortunately that option isn't coming until next year.

As for selling the TiVo, with the prepaid service contract ($4-$6/month cheaper right now than any other way to buy TiVo service) I can sell the balance of the service contract with it. In fact, I don't think that I can prevent someone who buys the TiVo from using the rest of my prepaid service, although it's probably transferable to another TiVo.

And I agree--it's instructive to go through this cost analysis for the benefit of the audience and for myself. It's always good to analyze one's decisions to blow a thousand bucks :). I think that anyone whose first DVR was not a TiVo wouldn't have nearly so much difficulty acclimating to SARA. Passport was a significant step down from TiVo. I can't bear to sink any further.

BTW, I got the TiVo and its cute little wireless G network adapter this morning. I'll probably set it up and register it this evening before primetime, since there's some stuff on the SA8300HD that I should try to watch in the meanwhile.


Kinda assumed I didn't need to add "only for TWC" when this is a TWC themed thread! Yes, I do know it's only for TWC systems!

Transferring one's contract sure would be huge in the cost benefit analysis. Can't say I poured through every corner of their web site, but they do mention the cancellation fee without saying that one COULD transfer the contract without the cancellation fee (by selling the hardware).

I guess you and I read the Navigator thread differently. To me, it seems like TW is trying to make Navigator have functionality close to SARA, not Passport. This really depresses me. The feeling of doom is increased by my (albeit cynical) confidence in large companies' ability to screw up large programming projects.

-barry

Interesting. Given how TWC seems to deal with software (which I have not been shy about zinging them for) it doesn't surprise me at all that they would field test in what appears to be such sorry shape. Some of the stories I hear there sure sound like pre-alpha, dev only kinds of builds, the kinds that don't even get released to beta testers, much less the paying public. From the way Diana talks in the Consumer Input thread, it SEEMS to me that their intention is to give us something far more like Passport than SARA. Thus I can very easily understand the feeling of doom <g>! Indeed, I sure have also been zinged as being too cynical, but I think I'm a cynic on some things and an optimist on others.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ThisOneKidMongo
Hi, I apologize if this was already answered somewhere else, but I've been searching all morning and couldn't find it, so...yesterday I switched to HDMI for my SA8300HD (I have a 46" Samsung DLP) and now some SD channels have thin black vertical bars on either side of the picture in addition to the usual thick grey sidebars that are always in place for 4:3 content. Does anyone know what could be causing this? I've played around with picture settings both on my TV and the 8300 (passport in NYC), but nothing seems to make them go away. Thanks in advance for any help.

It COULD be a part of why overscan was widely implemented in TV sets... as in trying to eliminate "edge junk." As in you are seeing "more" of the left and right side of the 4:3 image. Only a theory, but it seems to make logical sense to me.

I still don't get a business model that says that for a very minor "feature" (record by actor/director) bump from what I now have is even close to being worth an extra 25 bucks each month WITH a 3 year lock-in.

Recording by Actor/Director - Is that a feature in Tivo?

I am a big Jet Li fan and on my 8300 with Passport, I can record every movie with Jet Li by going into the Guide and using the Search and then by Keyword for Jet Li, then press REC and it will ask you if you want all shows or movies. I have both selected for ay channel. So I even get interviews, talk shows, etc. I've been using that for a year now.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ThisOneKidMongo
Hi, I apologize if this was already answered somewhere else, but I've been searching all morning and couldn't find it, so...yesterday I switched to HDMI for my SA8300HD (I have a 46" Samsung DLP) and now some SD channels have thin black vertical bars on either side of the picture in addition to the usual thick grey sidebars that are always in place for 4:3 content. Does anyone know what could be causing this? I've played around with picture settings both on my TV and the 8300 (passport in NYC), but nothing seems to make them go away. Thanks in advance for any help.



Been searching these forums for an answer for this problem. I have the same problem with a SA8300 from TWC in Cincy hooked up via HDMI. The thin black bars usually show up on certain standard def channels between the gray bars and the picture and always on the left side of the screen. Thanks

Did you try pressing the # button on you remote? Or the VIDEO SOURCE button.

I've searched but can't find the answer...

My TWC 8300HD is not able to record as many programs as before. The box sometime doesn't record anything or erase recordings in less than 24 hrs in anticipation of the next recording. I now have about 10 hrs of HD and 6 hrs of SD after deleting some old recordings. Any new recordings are erased within a day. I've had more recorded HD programming before without having space issues. Seems like erasing the old recordings doesn't do anything to recapture new space... HELP!!!

I've searched but can't find the answer...

My TWC 8300HD is not able to record as many programs as before. The box sometime doesn't record anything or erase recordings in less than 24 hrs in anticipation of the next recording. I now have about 10 hrs of HD and 6 hrs of SD after deleting some old recordings. Any new recordings are erased within a day. I've had more recorded HD programming before without having space issues. Seems like erasing the old recordings doesn't do anything to recapture new space... HELP!!!

I've had this exact same problem. I used to be able to store about 20 hours of HD, and that had fallen quickly to just about 10 hours.

Go into the diagnostics and see how much used space you have. Then pull power on the box to force it to do a hard reboot. Check the used space again. You should see that it has dropped dramatically. I don't know what causes this, but it's become a monthly routine to reboot the box.

I've noticed capacity decreases over time as well. I attribute this to increasing level of disk fragmentation as shows of varying length are recorded and deleted over and over again. After awhile, there's no way to lay down a contiguous hour of programming on the drive. Effective disk space decreases and chance of error increases. What any software application (SARA, Passport, Navigator, etc.) doing DVR work needs is a defragmentation utility to help keep the HDD "healthy" and working to its maximum capacity. It's a simple and easy thing to include - just a few lines of code. Of course, there's no indication they're going to include that feature in Navigator; they probably haven't even thought about it. :rolleyes:

I hear you guys, but I can't understand how fragmented files that still have the same file size can occupy more space.

So, what do we do??? Defragment the HD?? how?? will that erase recorded programs??

So, what do we do??? Defragment the HD?? how?? will that erase recorded programs??
I don't think there is any way for us Passporters to defrag. If you've got content you don't mind losing, delete everything. New recordings after that will - again - be laid down contiguously.

It's not fragmentation. Fragmentation affects performance, not capacity (to any great degree). This is simply a bug. It's like lost clusters or whatever if we want to associate it with a known filesystem problem.

Like I said, power the box off via the power cord, and voila!

Recording by Actor/Director - Is that a feature in Tivo?

I am a big Jet Li fan and on my 8300 with Passport, I can record every movie with Jet Li by going into the Guide and using the Search and then by Keyword for Jet Li, then press REC and it will ask you if you want all shows or movies. I have both selected for ay channel. So I even get interviews, talk shows, etc. I've been using that for a year now.Yeah. It's a feature called "Wishlists" with which you can construct fairly complex filters. You could set up to record only "Victorian Romances starring Jet Li directed by Johnny Depp" if you wanted to :). When you make a Wishlist, it creates a folder in the recorded programs list to contain any hits on the filter that it stores.

Pretty much if Passport does anything good, it got the idea from TiVo. It's extremely TiVo-like, with all of the same major menus by different names: "Saved Shows" = "Now Playing List", "Scheduled Recordings" = "To Do List", "Series Manager" = "Season Pass List". The one thing that Passport did in excess of TiVo's capability was fine control of day-of-the-week for Series Recordings. You can specify that the series should be recorded when it airs on Tuesday and Thursday and Friday nights only--I haven't checked it out on the S3, but this didn't use to be possible.

I set my TiVo up last night, to the extent that I could do so without a CableCARD. It can tune and record the unencrypted local DTV rebroadcasts (I scanned and it found all of the QAM channels, encrypted or not), but in the absence of the CableCARD, it doesn't know what the channels are and therefore it doesn't know what's playing on them. (Seems to me that they could keep track of the QAM channels on various cable systems, but I could be wrong). I set up some manual recordings of things (Criminal Minds, CSI: NY and Lost) which went off without a hitch.

They've added this whole list of online-enabled services, Yahoo Pictures, Yahoo Weather and Yahoo Traffic, Live365 net radio and Podcaster. You can set up servers on your PCs and serve photos and music to it. You can browse the films currently showing at theaters, find a local theater and time and buy tickets. There are 3 little puzzle videogames. They announced beta testing with Amazon for a feature allowing purchase/rental of content at Amazon Unbox for download to TiVo and playback from it.

It has an SATA connection for an external expansion drive, but they apparently didn't submit a specification for that to CableLABs before launch, so they're not awaiting approval before turning the feature on. They have features on Series 2 that haven't yet been approved by CableLABs as well (TiVoToGo and Multi-Room TiVo), but I'm not interested in either of those.

So far, so good. The guy is coming to install CableCARDs within the next couple of hours; then I'll be all set.

The issue of having decreasing space available was a known Passport bug. I was told by someone I respected that the issue comes from stopping recording before the planned end and then deleting it. It resulted in lost space that could be reclaimed by rebooting. To avoid the problem I was told it was better to let the recording end and then delete the entire program

HappyFunBoater, archiguy, pepar, michaeltscott, marc1023:
thx guys....i rebooted and it seemed like it did the trick...i haven't gone into the diagnostics but the new programs don't have a "saved for 2 days" disclaimer associated with it anymore...I'll also let it record the programs in its entirety before deleting...

I'll keep an eye out on the free space in the diagnostics.

(A bit OT but...) God save me from cable techs. I had the cable from the outlet run into my power conditioner and then out into my TiVo. The first thing the CableCARDs installer did was to take the cable from the wall and run it directly to the TiVo, claiming that running it through the power conditioner for surge protection would ultimate cause the loss of digital channel reception. Whatever; I didn't argue--I'm just going to route it back through the conditioner :rolleyes:.

So he installs the CableCARDs, reporting the serial number, CC IDs and host IDs back to the CO, which starts sending signals out to the card. He expects it to come up within a few minutes--no such luck. We monitor it for half an hour and still no joy. He calls to ask them to send someone out with another couple of cards; in the meantime, he calls some sort of diagnostic office and they run through a bunch of tests. About 1.5 hours later, a guy shows up with another tech whom he's been training and a couple more CCs. They try the first one and it fails to work. So we try putting one of the ones that had failed in the TiVo in my television; it works. This whole thing started at 1:30--it's now around 4:00.

We decide that there must be something wrong with the TiVo. My old 8300HD has been deactivated, so I tell him to leave the card that's in the television and run a split of the cable into the TiVo. He discourages this, since the cable has been split already, coming from the other bedroom, where it's connected to the cable modem. I insist, since if we don't do it, I'm DVR-less again. After installing a splitter, he goes back out to his truck and prepares to leave. In the meantime, I'm running TiVo through its "guided setup" process again (diddling with the CableCARDs invalidated the old set-up). It gets to a part where it's asking me to verify that what it thinks is on channel 23 is actually on channel 23 (MSNBC) except that nothing is displaying under the dialog. I run out and tell the guy to come back and figure out why the TiVo side of the split's not working. He comes in and switches the two sides of the split, to see whether the other side of the splitter works for the TV tuner. When it does, I notice that there are two coax cables connected to the TiVo, one on the bottom that I'd run from power conditioner (still connected to it) and one on the top, coming from the splitter. I inform the guy that only one of the coax connectors can be used to connect cable; the other is for antennas only. In essence, we just wasted an afternoon trying to get a couple of CableCARDs to work on a device with no cable connected to it :rolleyes:.

In the end, I guess alls well that ends well. I'm filled with relief that I don't have to send the thing back and wait on a replacement (and if I hadn't insisted that he install a splitter, that's probably what I'd have ended up doing). He grins and says that he was in overtime anyway; I wonder aloud who's going to pay me for my time. If he'd left the cable connected the way that I had it, he'd have been in and gone in 20 minutes or less.

What're you gonna do? I could call the cable company and complain about that goof, in an effort to exhort a few free months of all the premium tiers from them, but it might not bode well for the installer, who was a nice guy who made an honest mistake. At least my TiVo's up and running now :).

The issue of having decreasing space available was a known Passport bug. I was told by someone I respected that the issue comes from stopping recording before the planned end and then deleting it. It resulted in lost space that could be reclaimed by rebooting. To avoid the problem I was told it was better to let the recording end and then delete the entire program

That's interesting, and exactly matches what I've observed. One weekend I was recording all of the NFL playoff games. I ended up stopping most of them, deleting the recording, and watching live. By Sunday night my recording capacity had dropped in half.

The first thing the CableCARDs installer did was to take the cable from the wall and run it directly to the TiVo, claiming that running it through the power conditioner for surge protection would ultimate cause the loss of digital channel reception. Whatever; I didn't argue--I'm just going to route it back through the conditioner :rolleyes:.



I had my 8300HD coax connected through a surge protector and it actually did cause a lot of digital drop-outs / picture break-up all the time. After calling TWC, the tech suggested that the surge protector was the problem, and re-connecting directly to the 8300 did indeed fix the problem.

I'm certain YMMV based on a lot of factors, but there is at least a basis for his assertion of not running the coax through a surge protector. I'd guess it is their standard procedure to eliminate any variables as much as possible so they can get you running and move on to the next customer. You would think that connecting the coax to the proper input would also be part of their standard procedure!

I had my 8300HD coax connected through a surge protector and it actually did cause a lot of digital drop-outs / picture break-up all the time. After calling TWC, the tech suggested that the surge protector was the problem, and re-connecting directly to the 8300 did indeed fix the problem.

I'm certain YMMV based on a lot of factors, but there is at least a basis for his assertion of not running the coax through a surge protector. I'd guess it is their standard procedure to eliminate any variables as much as possible so they can get you running and move on to the next customer. You would think that connecting the coax to the proper input would also be part of their standard procedure!I had the same thing when I first connected my HT setup. I removed everything, surge protector/conditioner (Monster), splitters, etc., and reconnected one item at a time. As soon as I connected the surge, things went haywire. I removed it and never looked back. I posted at the time, almost 3 years ago now, and was told that if properly installed, cable should be protected enough without the need to connect it to a surge protector/conditioner. There were others at the time though that indicated they didn't have any problems with their surge protectors/conditioners, so, indeed, YMMV.

Yeah--I hooked it back up and everything seems perfectly fine. The cable guy did think that it was a problem that would worsen with time. Perhaps it might interfere more if the signal was weak, but my television indicates that the signal strength of every channel that I've looked at is well over 90% of nominal.

Recording by Actor/Director - Is that a feature in Tivo?

I am a big Jet Li fan and on my 8300 with Passport, I can record every movie with Jet Li by going into the Guide and using the Search and then by Keyword for Jet Li, then press REC and it will ask you if you want all shows or movies. I have both selected for ay channel. So I even get interviews, talk shows, etc. I've been using that for a year now.

Holy smokes, I did NOT know that! Fooled with it... the KEY FACTOR is the red REC button. Essentially it sets up a series recording that is not based on a single show title. Obviously not as flexible as TiVo, but at least it's in the ballpark (Mike would probably say, city, not ballpark).

Sounds like another thing for Navigator to live up to!

All of these Passport gems aren't nearly so useful as they'd be if they'd been documented :rolleyes:.

Someone should PM RandyWalters and ask him to update his Passport Tips and Tricks (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=4547722&highlight=guide+tips#post4547722) post with this info. (Not me--I PM'd hall to make the last update to the top post :)).

That's interesting, and exactly matches what I've observed. One weekend I was recording all of the NFL playoff games. I ended up stopping most of them, deleting the recording, and watching live. By Sunday night my recording capacity had dropped in half.

How did you find out your recording capacity?

CB

How did you find out your recording capacity?Go to the STB (don't use the remote) and press and hold SELECT and EXIT simultaneously until "dIAG" or "dIAGnO" appears in the LEDs. Release the buttons and briefly press EXIT again. Press INFO (or whatever) to find out what channel you're on--it varies from system to system. That procedure should get you into the Multi-Page diagnostics. You can get out by simply tuning another channel (or by pressing the STB EXIT button) and back in by tuning whatever channel it's assigned to (or by pressing the STB EXIT button). You disable the diags by powering the unit to standby and turning it back on.

Once in the diags you can flip through the pages with the UP and DOWN key. Use the DOWN key to get to a screen labelled "DVR AVFS". It will list the capacity of the drive and how much is in use and how much is free; all of these numbers appear in both GB and clusters. (A cluster is the minimum increment of space which can be allocated--the page says what the cluster size is in 512 byte sectors). Note that there are 16.8GB permanently allocated to hour-long trick-play buffers.

I have the 8300HD in NYC with TWC....i cant access the set up wizard....can anyone help? im sick of having to switch back and forth from normal to stretch when switching from HD to SD....

please help!

I have the 8300HD in NYC with TWC....i cant access the set up wizard....can anyone help? im sick of having to switch back and forth from normal to stretch when switching from HD to SD....

please help!

Friends don't let friends stretch. Just say no!

Friends don't let friends stretch. Just say no!

you are saying i should watch SD with black bars?

(A bit OT but...) ....What're you gonna do? I could call the cable company and complain about that goof, in an effort to exhort a few free months of all the premium tiers from them, but it might not bode well for the installer, who was a nice guy who made an honest mistake. At least my TiVo's up and running now :).
Yeah. Nice or not, you just might come home to a 'jacked' house one night. You don't want that do you! Nothing personal about cable techs and delivery people, but I don't much care for strangers in my home - seeing my equipment! Just a little paranoid that way. :eek:

I had my 8300HD coax connected through a surge protector and it actually did cause a lot of digital drop-outs / picture break-up all the time. After calling TWC, the tech suggested that the surge protector was the problem, and re-connecting directly to the 8300 did indeed fix the problem.

I'm certain YMMV based on a lot of factors, but there is at least a basis for his assertion of not running the coax through a surge protector. I'd guess it is their standard procedure to eliminate any variables as much as possible so they can get you running and move on to the next customer. You would think that connecting the coax to the proper input would also be part of their standard procedure!
I never connect coax cables to surge protection devices. For one, I don't think they're needed and for the other reasons stated. Any surge on the cable will likely get trapped where it enters the house - rather than inside the house.

I never connect coax cables to surge protection devices. For one, I don't think they're needed and for the other reasons stated. Any surge on the cable will likely get trapped where it enters the house - rather than inside the house.This is probably true for modern construction, but this home is 33 years old. I have no idea when its cable was installed or whether surge protection was added at the point of entry, as is common today. If cable performance shows signs of being interfered with by the power conditioner, I'll take it out. Of course, connecting any outside line not running through it completely invalidates the power conditioner's guarantee to pay for your equipment if damaged by an overvoltage.

It's been years, but in one apartment I inhabited, there was a surge caused by a nearby lightning strike which killed a phone modem. I took it apart and found that the circuit board had broken into two pieces, in a fairly straight line running through two ICs.
...I don't much care for strangers in my home - seeing my equipment! Just a little paranoid that way. :eek:If I was just getting a new cable STB, I'd have gone and picked it up, but for a CableCARD installation you have no choice--the process is so esoteric and there are so many chances for problems that I doubt that any cable provider supports user-installs for them.

you are saying i should watch SD with black bars?

Yep, that's exactly what I'm saying. Some people are tempted to use every square inch of screen that they paid for, but stretching just causes everyone to look short and fat with big, wide heads. Yech. Plus, SD images are low quality to begin with, but stretching them makes defects show up even worse. You'll get used to the black bars eventually. And you'll probably stop watching as much SD anyway, and start watching HD even if it's just a bunch of animals building a motorcycle.

It all depends on what kind of HDTV you have. Some, like my Hitachi, employ an expansion technique that doesn't make things look short and fat. It keeps the center relatively intact and expands the edges. It was far easier to get used to than black (or grey) bars and I have absolutely no worries about uneven phosphor wear (burn-in).

This is one of those questions where there is no clear answer and one's personal preference shouldn't keep another from trying different options. I don't have Passport, but the bottomline here is that a question about how to get to the setup options was asked and not answered.

you are saying i should watch SD with black bars?

Yes....

I never connect coax cables to surge protection devices. For one, I don't think they're needed and for the other reasons stated. Any surge on the cable will likely get trapped where it enters the house - rather than inside the house.

I had a lightening strike in my backyard about 1 year ago. All of the damage was to cable related assets. A fried TV, Router and PC. My HDTV had a surge protector and was not impacted. Hey, who knows? Another TV (no protector) was not impacted, as was another PC on the wired network.

Nothing else in the home was impacted (appliances, etc.). The house was less than 1 year old when this happened, and I had no surge protection from the local Elec company, which I've since added. We get some wicked weather here :)

It all depends on what kind of HDTV you have. Some, like my Hitachi, employ an expansion technique that doesn't make things look short and fat. It keeps the center relatively intact and expands the edges. It was far easier to get used to than black (or grey) bars and I have absolutely no worries about uneven phosphor wear (burn-in).

This is one of those questions where there is no clear answer and one's personal preference shouldn't keep another from trying different options. I don't have Passport, but the bottomline here is that a question about how to get to the setup options was asked and not answered.

Yeah, I've seen TVs that have this dynamic stretch mode. The problem is that people on the edge of the screen are even wider that normal stretch mode, and as people walk across the screen they change shape.

But I agree that if you have a TV succeptable to burn-in, and you watch a lot of SD, then maybe stretch is for you.

And, right, I didn't answer the question, but sometimes people ask the wrong question. The point of this forum is to help people, and some people incorrectly think that stretch is ok. With that said, there's nothing wrong with the original question, and I'm sure someone else might answer it.

awolf1,

I see from the PX60/600 thread that you know where to go for TV specific help have been introduced to the output and aspect controls and been playing with the video source or # button on the remoteA couple of days ago, someone on BrightHouse in FL had this very similar question and I found this post #4846 (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9678970&&#post9678970)I did some tests on my home system to confirm how stretch works since I do not use the stretch feature in the 8300. In the settings menu with the display type set as 16:9 and 4:3 stretch the 8300 will stretch all 480i channels and not stretch 720p or 1080i channels. The # key on the remote is a separate control that selects the output aspect ratio of the 8300 DOWNSTREAM from the chosen scaling parameters in the settings menu. This control should always be left in NORMAL to see the expected behavior from the aspect settings menu.So, you might try this if: your TV does not have a way to default 4:3 different than 16:9 you want to set 720p and/or 1080i only for some reason (like no 480 over HDMI) you just want the cable box to do it for some reasonI have not verified this, since I gave up my PASSPORT box and will probably end up with a SARA box when I finally get a permanent place.

I do encourage you to play with every option and/or method - case in point - When I got PASSPORT in 2003, the aspect controls worked nice and let me set it to default 4:3 and 16:9 differently. About a month in, these defaults stopped working differently on 4:3 and 16:9 and the output no longer matched the little pictures. I thought PASSPORT was just FUBAR there and found some setting that worked for me, and in the process moved to a better picture with scan-line compression on my CRT. So, I could have found or hit the video source or # button and stepped on my own tail. The aspect control might have been working correctly (but undocumented-ly) all that time, but I would have missed out on learning about that better mode on my TV... Now, it did not solve my WAF problem, because that TV required manually switching to get the better picture, I never found a way to make the TV switch automatically.

The following general information for later viewers, and those should also search on aspect ratio control. If you select 480i/p output, your TV may offer a automatic default for 4:3 vice 16:9 signals - my Sony LCD allows that. If you select 720p or 1080i or 720p+1080i only, you will [most likely] have to stretch on the STB, as the STB will convert everything to a 16:9 format [as a lot of 16:9 TV lock out the needed stretch modes when the input is already 16:9].

v/r,
C-F

[Edit: added caveat]

All of these Passport gems aren't nearly so useful as they'd be if they'd been documented :rolleyes:.

Oh good, you've spared the whole forum from my rant about software documentation <g>! Or how many developers force the programmers to write the doc.

I have a Pioneer 5071HD TV, a Marantz receiver, a SA8300HD from Time Warner using Passport software, and a Toshiba DVD player. The DVD player is connected to the receiver via HDMI, the cable box is connected to the receiver via component with digital coax for audio, the receiver is connected to the TV via both HDMI and component. All of these devices perform upconversion.

My question is do I just let them all do their thing or should I only let the TV handle upconversion. What settings would be recommended for each device, specifically the SA8300 ?

Yeah, I've seen TVs that have this dynamic stretch mode. The problem is that people on the edge of the screen are even wider that normal stretch mode, and as people walk across the screen they change shape.True, but reality says your eyes don't often look at the sides since the majority of action is toward the center. I tried it both ways for long periods of time before I decided to use my Expanded mode, Initially, I noticed the sides, but only because it was something new. Now I rarely notice at all, and even if I do, well, it's only SD. :) The bottomline is that it's purely a subjective/personal choice.

Here is what I did on my Panny 37"....set the 8300 STB to TV TYPE: 4:3 standard, PICTURE SETTINGS 16:9...Now i dont have to stretch when watching SD.....Is this dumb? Am I wrong? It looks good to me!

MY one question is though, what output formats should be selected?

Here is what I did on my Panny 37"....set the 8300 STB to TV TYPE: 4:3 standard, PICTURE SETTINGS 16:9...Now i dont have to stretch when watching SD.....Is this dumb? Am I wrong? It looks good to me!That's all that matters. :)
MY one question is though, what output formats should be selected?What do you have enabled now? Most SD channels are 480i, Music channels might be 480p, some HD channels are 720p (ABC, ESPN, FOX), and some are 1080i. My advice is to start by enabling those 4 and then disable 720p or 1080i to see if you can see any difference. The only reason for disabling any format is to avoid the reformat when tuning to/from SD/HD and a 720p channel/1080i channel. The reason for leaving them all enabled is because your TV might do a better job of scaling to your TV's native format.

awolf1,

I see from the PX60/600 thread that you know where to go for TV specific help have been introduced to the output and aspect controls and been playing with the video source or # button on the remoteA couple of days ago, someone on BrightHouse in FL had this very similar question and I found this post #4846 (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9678970&&#post9678970)So, you might try this if: your TV does not have a way to default 4:3 different than 16:9 you want to set 720p and/or 1080i only for some reason (like no 480 over HDMI) you just want the cable box to do it for some reasonI have not verified this, since I gave up my PASSPORT box and will probably end up with a SARA box when I finally get a permanent place.

I do encourage you to play with every option and/or method - case in point - When I got PASSPORT in 2003, the aspect controls worked nice and let me set it to default 4:3 and 16:9 differently. About a month in, these defaults stopped working differently on 4:3 and 16:9 and the output no longer matched the little pictures. I thought PASSPORT was just FUBAR there and found some setting that worked for me, and in the process moved to a better picture with scan-line compression on my CRT. So, I could have found or hit the video source or # button and stepped on my own tail. The aspect control might have been working correctly (but undocumented-ly) all that time, but I would have missed out on learning about that better mode on my TV... Now, it did not solve my WAF problem, because that TV required manually switching to get the better picture, I never found a way to make the TV switch automatically.

The following general information for later viewers, and those should also search on aspect ratio control. If you select 480i/p output, your TV may offer a automatic default for 4:3 vice 16:9 signals - my Sony LCD allows that. If you select 720p or 1080i or 720p+1080i only, you will [most likely] have to stretch on the STB, as the STB will convert everything to a 16:9 format [as a lot of 16:9 TV lock out the needed stretch modes when the input is already 16:9].

v/r,
C-F

[Edit: added caveat]

Im sorry, and I appreciate the help, but im still totally confused....right now i have my STB set to 4:3, 16:9 letterbox and this is the only way i can get my SD viewing to be without any bars without having to stretch the picture...im really lost.

Im sorry, and I appreciate the help, but im still totally confused....right now i have my STB set to 4:3, 16:9 letterbox and this is the only way i can get my SD viewing to be without any bars without having to stretch the picture...im really lost.

The ONLY mode I know of where SD is NOT stretched, but does not have bars is the zoom mode. Generally speaking, that means you WILL sacrifice a horizontal section top and bottom. This mode I ONLY use with "letterboxed SD" material (example, several SciFi channel shows, like BSG).