How do you figure 23? We pay 10 for DVR service, plus about 7 for a box rental fee (which is the same fee as a non DVR box). Amounts to 17 and change per month.Easy. Box is $18 and service is $5.

As for third party DVRs, that was supposed to be what cable cards were all about. BUT the cable guys managed to make cable cards as troublesome as possible so no market COULD emerge. I expect they will keep to this policy, protecting their revenue base. Hell, are ANY new TVs having cable card slots these days?Cable guys have nothing to do with making cablecards, period. SA (and I guess others) make the d*mn things and they are to blame, if anyone is. Cable wants, and will get, DCAS, a downloadable software-based security system. They have been taking their time getting it and the FCC simply got tired of waiting, so they forced them to grudgingly do something in the meantime, hence we have cablecards.

FWIW, DCAS is the reason why I hedge my bets on just when we'll see 3rd party DVRs. Tivo got into the biz mainly because they lost the DirecTV link. They had to do something with cable to stay afloat and they got in when cablecard security became a requirement. AFAIK, the jury is still out on whether or not they stay afloat.

Yes, I know, this is kind of simplistic, but IMHO it's good enough for arguments sake. :)

SA (and I guess others) make the d*mn things and they are to blame, if anyone is.Yeh, Motorola (the other major cable system supplier) makes them too. But I think that a lot of the "blame" for making these difficult also lies with the manufacturer of the device that the CableCARDplugs into (be it TiVo, Sony TV,or whomever). The are the ones that needed to implement code to set these things up in a uniform way.

But a lot of folks DO blame cable. The reason is that just as soon as CableCARDs came out, cable implemented services (On Demand, etc.) that depended on 2-way communications. That was not (and is not now) a function of the CableCARD, but, according to Cable Labs, the consumer electronics industry did not want to establish 2-way communication standards when the CC standards were first established. So the "value" of CCs diminished as more 2-way services were implemented. So cable (unfairly) gets the blame because they DID implement these services when the CEA wanted to stand still (kept the cost of equipment down).

But a lot of folks DO blame cable. The reason is that just as soon as CableCARDs came out, cable implemented services (On Demand, etc.) that depended on 2-way communications. That was not (and is not now) a function of the CableCARD, but, according to Cable Labs, the consumer electronics industry did not want to establish 2-way communication standards when the CC standards were first established. So the "value" of CCs diminished as more 2-way services were implemented. So cable (unfairly) gets the blame because they DID implement these services when the CEA wanted to stand still (kept the cost of equipment down).VOD services were available on my system years before CableCARDs launched and IPPV and interactive program guides were there for well over a decade--all these things required bidirectional comm in the cable end-user terminal. The original CableCARD host spec had APIs to support of the "holy trinity" of interactive services available at the time, being Impulse Pay-Per-View, Video On Demand and Interactive Program Guide, and support for implementing new, arbitrary interactive gimmicks using HTML and downloaded art assets. It wasn't the OEMs who pooh-poohed that--it was the cable providers. The approach wasn't nearly generally powerful enough for their vision of the interactive cable future. The OEMs could not give a lessor damn what the limitations of interactive cable television are. They just wanted to be able to give people built-in capabilities to tune conditional access channels in a fashion that was portable from cable system to cable system. The more power and flexibity built in, the more powerful processors and memory they were going to have to put into the minimum spec product--it just hurts their bottom line. They recently complained that the cost of entry into OCAP makes it impossible for them to put it into low-end products and the cablecos are making full OCAP implementation a requirement for tuning freakin' SDV channels! They suggested a simplified interactive approach called "Digital Cable Ready Plus" (not too dissimilar to the original CableCARD spec) to which the cablecos responded with a huge tome full of objections and a suggestion that they implement and distribute the Tuning Resolver to enable firmware upgradable devices with USB connections to tune SDV.

I am new to this box and cable. I have 8300 HDC with TWC. No where in the manual are the settings mentioned.
Audio range should be set at? with HDMI input
Thanks

The original CableCARD host spec had APIs to support of the "holy trinity" of interactive services available at the time, being Impulse Pay-Per-View, Video On Demand and Interactive Program Guide, and support for implementing new, arbitrary interactive gimmicks using HTML and downloaded art assets. It wasn't the OEMs who pooh-poohed that--it was the cable providers.I believe that much of your post is correct, but regarding "who" kept the bi-directional spec from being implemented does not square the following from CableLab's CableCARD Primer (http://www.opencable.com/primer/cablecard_primer.html):The media has frequently reported that first-generation CableCARD 1.0 modules are one-way devices1. This is simply not true. CableLabs had always intended to develop the CableCARD module and host receiver standards with two-way capability. However the manufacturers of digital TVs requested that a host standard be developed that only had one-way capability. This one-way cable-ready receiver was defined by the FCC's Plug & Play order and by the Joint Test Suite (JTS). It is the definition of this one-way receiver that lacks the ability for two-way functionality, not the CableCARD module. While the FCC defined the elements of the one-way cable-ready receiver, CableLabs continued to define specifications for two-way receivers.

Now I don't maintain that CableLabs is unbiased in this, so there could be some "tilt" in that statement. Do you have something more concrete that indicates differently?

I believe that much of your post is correct, but regarding "who" kept the bi-directional spec from being implemented does not square the following from CableLab's CableCARD Primer (http://www.opencable.com/primer/cablecard_primer.html):

Now I don't maintain that CableLabs is unbiased in this, so there could be some "tilt" in that statement. Do you have something more concrete that indicates differently?That's certainly an excellent example of the use of "spin" :rolleyes:. That the OEMs wanted a unidirectional standard as well as a bidirectional one is fact--they didn't want to have to build in a bidirectional tranceiver with a powerful processor and ample memory for running interactive applications into $100 kitchen-counter/workbench televisions. However, it's also fact that the cable industry soundly rejected use of the fixed IPG/IPPV/VOD+HTLM-app stuff that CableLabs (their own organization) proposed, wanting to hold out for OCAP, a general purpose Java profile. For reasons that I already stated (high added cost of the equipment required to support OCAP) the OEMs had no desire for it whatsoever. The cable provider's recalcitrant refusal to use the interactive scheme that CableLabs had devised was the reason why nobody made bidirectional CableCARD devices. It's in the spec, but who's gonna build it without any buy-in from the cable providers to use it?

That's certainly an excellent example of the use of "spin" :rolleyes:. That the OEMs wanted a unidirectional standard as well as a bidirectional one is fact--they didn't want to have to build in a bidirectional tranceiver with a powerful processor and ample memory for running interactive applications into $100 kitchen-counter/workbench televisions. However, it's also fact that the cable industry soundly rejected use of the fixed IPG/IPPV/VOD+HTLM-app stuff that CableLabs (their own organization) proposed, wanting to hold out for OCAP, a general purpose Java profile. For reasons that I already stated (high added cost of the equipment required to support OCAP) the OEMs had no desire for it whatsoever. The cable provider's recalcitrant refusal to use the interactive scheme that CableLabs had devised was the reason why nobody made bidirectional CableCARD devices. It's in the spec, but who's gonna build it without any buy-in from the cable providers to use it?So then it was a stand-off then. Both sides had their (legitimate) reasons and the FCC was pushing PODs so they all (blindly) marched forward (in order to meet the Congressional mandate).

Thanks

Michael/Dave,

I don't want to get into an argument and I don't really care who's at fault for any of this, I'm just still trying to understand it all. I believe there is an anti-cable bias in Michael's reading of things (though I'm not sure why and it may be totally justified) and a pro-cable bias in others, including me, but be that as it may, here are some questions I have:

1. Are not Tivo HDs and S3s bi-directional, though they still can't do SDV?
2. Are not SA and Moto DVRs with Cablecards also bi-directional, though they can do SDV?
3. When Michael says "nobody made bi-directional Cablecard devices", are you talking strictly about simple devices like TVs and refrigerators? And the reason they didn't is because of the cost of adding the stuff needed to tune SDV channels?
4. How can cable provide more HD channels without SDV?
5. How can they standardize their systems across platforms without something like tru2way (OCAP)?
6. How can a device tune an SDV channel without being bi-directional, with or without Cablecards? Or PPV, which was around long before SDV?
7. When DCAS comes and eliminates the need for Cablecards altogether, what happens to current Cablecard devices? And will SDV still present the same difficulties/costs?
8. For that matter, what would have happened if the FCC had let cable have their way to delay offloading security and bypass Cablecards in favor of DCAS in the first place?

Again, I'm not trying to start an argument, I really don't understand all this. I can understand wanting the kitchen TV to be as cheap as possible and still be able to tune cable channels. I actually thought that at one time there were going to be digital cable-ready TVs for digital cable just like there are cable-ready TVs for analog cable today, but I guess that's not the case, and maybe this is why???

I do have a hard time with people wanting devices like cheap kitchen TVs and refrigerators to connect to cable and then forcing cableco's to support them without considering cable's plans for the future. IMHO, and that's all it is, cable is in the business to provide content and services, though not necessarily the way some people want them to.

If someone wants a TV in their kitchen to be able to tune SDV channels, should the cableco's be required to trim their future plans to support making such a TV cheaper while denying the rest of us more and better features? Should cableco's be required to forego SDV, and the addition of more HD channels for us, so that a cheap kitchen TV can be made for some?

I have a hard enough time dealing with all the legacy crap cable is forced to support while trying to compete with satellite, but now it seems they need to forego things like SDV and future plans to allow cheap kitchen TVs to be sold. I'm :confused:.

I think that we are really in a genuine discussion and not a debate. I'll give you my take on these questions, Michael can add his take.

1. Are not Tivo HDs and S3s bi-directional, though they still can't do SDV?No, they are not bi-directional. They may have separate communication via the Internet to the TiVo IPG, but they can't talk to cable. At least until the "tuning resolver" appears, and then I suppose it will be limited communication
2. Are not SA and Moto DVRs with Cablecards also bi-directional, though they can do SDV?Both can do SDV.
3. When Michael says "nobody made bi-directional Cablecard devices", are you talking strictly about simple devices like TVs and refrigerators? And the reason they didn't is because of the cost of adding the stuff needed to tune SDV channels?I think he was talking about low cost TVs that one would buy for the kitchen (though we have a 20" Vizeo {a piece of crap BTW} HDTV w/Clear QAM) there.
4. How can cable provide more HD channels without SDV? a) Get rid of analog SD; b)Go to 1GHz; c)More compression (or better compression - like MPEG-4); d)IPTV
5. How can they standardize their systems across platforms without something like tru2way (OCAP)?They can't. I'm sure Michael's point is that the CE community wants something cheaper to implement.
6. How can a device tune an SDV channel without being bi-directional, with or without Cablecards? Or PPV, which was around long before SDV?They can't.
7. When DCAS comes and eliminates the need for Cablecards altogether, what happens to current Cablecard devices? And will SDV still present the same difficulties/costs?CableCARDs will still work. Probably the total costs will be less than CableCARDs.
8. For that matter, what would have happened if the FCC had let cable have their way to delay offloading security and bypass Cablecards in favor of DCAS in the first place?Probably nothing would be going on. But it isn't the FCC here, it was Congress that passed the Cable Portability act - the FCC is just trying to do what Congress ordered them to do.

I don't want to get into an argument and I don't really care who's at fault for any of this, I'm just still trying to understand it all. I believe there is an anti-cable bias in Michael's reading of things (though I'm not sure why and it may be totally justified) and a pro-cable bias in othersI don't feel anti-cable, and I certainly understand the cable industry's motive to pursue the best possible solution to the interactive television problem, which OCAP arguably is. I'm only a bit agry because of that bit crap in the CableCARD doc which strongly implies that the fault for the current unidirectional mess lies with the OEMs. Unfortunately, when they were arguing years back, trying to come up with a plug-and-play-DTV-over-cable/seperable-security solution, the requirements of implementing OCAP was going to add probably $150 to the BOM of any product, with a much bigger hit to the list price. The OEMs were struggling to build a DTV market, which meant bringing the price down by making them cheaper to manufacture, so they pushed back on OCAP. In any case, OCAP wasn't anywhere near ready to be produced by FCC's very firm deadline--it took at least another 2 years to finalize the standard--so it wasn't even in the running of possible near-term solutions at the time. even though cable was insisting that that's how they wanted to go.
1. Are not Tivo HDs and S3s bi-directional, though they still can't do SDV?No, they aren't. They are physically incapable of sending messages back to the headend, as are all other unidrectional DCR devices.2. Are not SA and Moto DVRs with Cablecards also bi-directional, though they can do SDV?Yes, they are, but so were the non-CableCARD versions.3. When Michael says "nobody made bi-directional Cablecard devices", are you talking strictly about simple devices like TVs and refrigerators? And the reason they didn't is because of the cost of adding the stuff needed to tune SDV channels?I meant that no one had made an end-user-purchasable device with the ability to talk back to the network. The physical specification of those mechanisms was in the CableCARD V1 spec--I don't think that they changed them much at all. But the only use for bidirectional communication at the time was running interactive apps, and the cable industry rejected the use of the mechanisms for implementing interactive apps in the CableCARD V1 spec, so no one elected to waste money implementing backchannel communications with no possible use.

You don't need OCAP to tune SDV channels--witness the OpenCable Tuning Resolver, which sure as hell isn't going to have anything like the computing power and memory necessary to run an OCAP platform.4. How can cable provide more HD channels without SDV?The answer is that there is no method other than SDV with which cable can expand their HD offerings that's not an order of magnitude more expensive for both them and us. They're just plain out of bandwidth in 750 MHz systems for linear channels; if they expand that bandwidth (extremely expensive), no currently deployed tuning equipment can access the expanded bandwidth, so all of it would be made just as obsolete as uDCR equipment is made by SDV. SDV is the cheapest and fastest to implement solution by far.6. How can a device tune an SDV channel without being bi-directional, with or without Cablecards? Or PPV, which was around long before SDV?By adding an external device capable of talking back to the network and connecting it via a standard USB connection: the OpenCable Tuning Resolver Interface (http://www.cablelabs.com/specifications/OC-SP-TRIF-I01-080130.pdf).7. When DCAS comes and eliminates the need for Cablecards altogether, what happens to current Cablecard devices? And will SDV still present the same difficulties/costs?They will be required by the FCC to continue to support CableCARD, though one would expect the OEMs to stop manufacturing new CableCARD products. The legacy ones won't suddenly disappear and continued support will be required of the cable industry.8. For that matter, what would have happened if the FCC had let cable have their way to delay offloading security and bypass Cablecards in favor of DCAS in the first place?It was more a matter of principle. The original requirement was for them to stop using built-in conditional access 2 years earlier; they asked whether they could wait until OCAP was done and were given a 2 year extension, at the expense of 2 years of the OEMs trying to make CableCARD devices which the providers were supporting poorly, because they themselves were in no way dependent on CableCARDs working well. At the end of another 2 years, when DCAS would be ready, who's to say that there wouldn't be something better on the horizon that they'd ask for another extension to pursue?

If someone wants a TV in their kitchen to be able to tune SDV channels, should the cableco's be required to trim their future plans to support making such a TV cheaper while denying the rest of us more and better features? Should cableco's be required to forego SDV, and the addition of more HD channels for us, so that a cheap kitchen TV can be made for some?Well, the cable providers are backing the OpenCable Tuning Resolver--new model cheap TVs can be made so that they'll support such a device from the get-go.I have a hard enough time dealing with all the legacy crap cable is forced to support while trying to compete with satellite, but now it seems they need to forego things like SDV and future plans to allow cheap kitchen TVs to be sold. I'm :confused:.Cable's tact has been that support of SDV would require implementation of a full OCAP platform, basically requiring that a processor and memory equivalent to a modern Pocket PC be built into every television, damn however much that might cost consumers and however much it might affect the television equipment industry's bottom line. The OEMs pushed back and proposed a lightweight method of supporting SDV, IPPV and VOD in a standard fashion. Cable has responded by saying that way that the OEMs want to pursue that is wrong and proposing their own little stop-gap device for at least SDV: the Tuning Resolver.

I think that we are really in a genuine discussion and not a debate. I'll give you my take on these questions, Michael can add his take.Just trying to keep it that way. These things have a way of getting out of hand. :)

No, they are not bi-directional. They may have separate communication via the Internet to the TiVo IPG, but they can't talk to cable. At least until the "tuning resolver" appears, and then I suppose it will be limited communication.Thanks, I really didn't see that.
Both can do SDV. That I knew. Though I didn't spell it out, I was just trying to make the point that similar cost items can do bi-directional communication.
I think he was talking about low cost TVs that one would buy for the kitchen (though we have a 20" Vizeo {a piece of crap BTW} HDTV w/Clear QAM) there.I'm sure he was, but I'm just trying to clarify.
a) Get rid of analog SD; b)Go to 1GHz; c)More compression (or better compression - like MPEG-4); d)IPTVThose all have drawbacks and some, like analog, they can't do by law, though they could get rid of most if it weren't for their analog customer base. They are going to 1Ghz, but customer hardware can't make use of it. If you look at specs, I believe the 8300 is limited to 860Mhz. Things like MPEG-4, which will come, has a significant cost to it. They are going to have to be able to download MPEG-4 soon, since some distributors are moving to that to lower satellite transmission costs. I was looking for something lower cost than SDV and what they already have in the works.
They can't. I'm sure Michael's point is that the CE community wants something cheaper to implement.I'm sure, but then it seems to me they should have helped support putting off the security stuff until DCAS. I have to believe that is cheaper than Cablecards. I'm not sure what IPTV is exactly (and I'm too lazy right now to look it up), but would it fit in with future plans or is it just something cheaper for the moment?
Probably nothing would be going on. But it isn't the FCC here, it was Congress that passed the Cable Portability act - the FCC is just trying to do what Congress ordered them to do.You're right of course, though I'm not sure who set the date for security. And, I understand the need to make cable move forward and not drag it's feet further, but I still think we've ended up worse off and a lot of money will have basically been wasted on Cablecard technology. I also still think that is what is holding up products. Why make something for Cablecards when that will be OBE soon? I just think tru2way and DCAS solve all the problems, at least the ones I see, with getting devices on retail shelves, including DVRs and inexpensive kitchen TVs. But that's just me.

Quite true EXCEPT the "Passport=no hardware upgrade possibility." TiVo makes you pay for a hardware upgrade while having Passport means cable STB, which means new hardware is free.

I'm talking mostly about upgrading the internal hard drive not the whole unit, but even with talking about an entirely different unit you are still stuck with whatever the cable company decides to introduce to your market and the features they decide to enable. When you buy a new Tivo at least all the hardware is active.

I'm talking mostly about upgrading the internal hard drive not the whole unit, but even with talking about an entirely different unit you are still stuck with whatever the cable company decides to introduce to your market and the features they decide to enable. When you buy a new Tivo at least all the hardware is active.Wait, I thought the TIVO had some lag between fielding and eSATA capability? Or the TiVo ToGo and Multi-Room viewing capabilities? Or was that the satellite DVR lag between fielding and OTA capability?

I think there are more similarities than differences in all this: every STB has [Not You] deciding what features are implemented, [good faith] implementation lags, and regressions of previously implemented features...

[You] get to decide which available STB/provider/channel combination to pay for (I was going to say purchase, but no one really owns anything much anymore...).

v/r,
C-F

Tried a search but did not come up with any hits for a buffer problem with my HD8300. When I hit replay after watching for some time, often the jump is less than a few seconds, if that. No buffer of recorded data is shown in the bar graph and cannot rewind. If I pause, sometimes the replay will go back to when I first started watching the channel, far more than the standard 15 seconds or so. Very inconsistent.

This is TWC in Honolulu if it matters. I think I have a squirrelly box but thought I'd ask before returning yet another 8300...

Edit: This only happens with live channel viewing, recorded stuff seems to be fine.

Tried a search but did not come up with any hits for a buffer problem with my HD8300. When I hit replay after watching for some time, often the jump is less than a few seconds, if that. No buffer of recorded data is shown in the bar graph and cannot rewind. If I pause, sometimes the replay will go back to when I first started watching the channel, far more than the standard 15 seconds or so. Very inconsistent.

This is TWC in Honolulu if it matters. I think I have a squirrelly box but thought I'd ask before returning yet another 8300...You didn't happen to add an external SATA HDD did you? Loss of trick-play while the external drive is in use is a known "feature" of Passport Echo. If not, you may be the proud owner of a brand new bug (well, one never reported in this thread, anyway) :). What revision is your box running?

EDIT: Does this (http://www.oceanic.com/OceanicWebApps/Television/images/qsguide001.pdf) Quick Start guide on TWC Oceanic's site actually match the GUI on your box? If so, it's running SARA--you should report the problem in this (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=4682052) thread.

EDIT: Does this Quick Start guide on TWC Oceanic's site actually match the GUI on your box? If so, it's running SARA--you should report the problem in thread.Ah! I thought from reading here that TWC used Passport. The menu is indeed like you posted. I am off the the SARA thread, thanks.......

Ah! I thought from reading here that TWC used Passport. The menu is indeed like you posted. I am off the the SARA thread, thanks.......TWC does use Passport, but they also use SARA in some systems. (Of course, he's probably not reading this anymore... :D).

Dude, you are one determined disseminator of FUD. First, there aren't any HDC boxes running SARA anywhere and now there are no CableCARD slots being offered on new model TVs. Sure there are, though some chicken-**** OEMs (like Sony) did abandon them for a couple of model years due to issues like poor cable provider support and the emergence of SDV. This year's line of Mitsubishi's has CableCARD slots, as do some others. I expect a crop of "Tru2Way" televisions with M-Card slots and OCAP platforms to be out by this Fall.

Nice one, accuse me of being "one determined disseminator of FUD" because I asked 2 questions, one about SARA on HDC boxes and one asking if there were any TVs having cable card slots. FUD would be if I posted that SARA DOES NOT RUN ON HDC boxes. Or if I said NO CURRENT TV HAS A CABLE CARD SLOT. I did neither. Did I sleep with you wife or run your dog over for you to ignore my words in order to trash me?

Nice one, accuse me of being "one determined disseminator of FUD" because I asked 2 questions, one about SARA on HDC boxes and one asking if there were any TVs having cable card slots. FUD would be if I posted that SARA DOES NOT RUN ON HDC boxes. Or if I said NO CURRENT TV HAS A CABLE CARD SLOT. I did neither. Did I sleep with you wife or run your dog over for you to ignore my words in order to trash me?I don't mean to trash you, but both of those "questions" in context read as though they were rhetorical. You "asked", "Have you read one post where someone got a HDC box w/SARA? Or of an HDC box being deployed in a SARA area?", followed by the statement, "There DOES seem to be a common belief that HDC boxes have the debacle software, but until we actually know of an HDC that does NOT have it, the assumption would probably stand." From this it's quite obvious that you haven't "read one post where someone got an HDC box w/SARA" and that you therefore don't believe that they exist.

In you "question", "Hell, are ANY new TVs having cable card slots these days?", the strongly implied answer is "I truly don't think so". If it were simple question, the use of "Hell" and the emphasis on "ANY" would seem to be unnecessary.

That's just what I'm hearing in the way that you're wording "questions" in those posts. Maybe I'm reading stuff in there that wasn't intended. If so, I apologize.

(Of course, he's probably not reading this anymore... :D).Ya never know..........

FWIW, I did find an instance of what I have happening in the SARA thread, but no resolution found yet.

I don't mean to trash you, but both of those "questions" in context read as though they were rhetorical. You "asked", "Have you read one post where someone got a HDC box w/SARA? Or of an HDC box being deployed in a SARA area?", followed by the statement, "There DOES seem to be a common belief that HDC boxes have the debacle software, but until we actually know of an HDC that does NOT have it, the assumption would probably stand." From this it's quite obvious that you haven't "read one post where someone got an HDC box w/SARA" and that you therefore don't believe that they exist.

In you "question", "Hell, are ANY new TVs having cable card slots these days?", the strongly implied answer is "I truly don't think so". If it were simple question, the use of "Hell" and the emphasis on "ANY" would seem to be unnecessary.

That's just what I'm hearing in the way that you're wording "questions" in those posts. Maybe I'm reading stuff in there that wasn't intended. If so, I apologize.

I very much understand how I use language and you are not wrong in a sense. The way I phrased them was meant to imply some level of skepticism, while also making it clear I don't 100% know the answer.

As was pointed out, if I had been reading SARA threads I'd have seen "tons of posts" indicating HDC's running SARA... but I don't have SARA, never will have it, so I do not read those forums. Once I found that out, my skepticism was replaced by knowledge.

As for cable card equipped TVs, it looks like my skepticism was not ill-founded. Mitsubishi has tem, but do any of the other brands? Haven't two of the biggest, best selling brands no longer have them while they had in the past?

Anyway, thank you for your post...

As for cable card equipped TVs, it looks like my skepticism was not ill-founded. Mitsubishi has tem, but do any of the other brands? Haven't two of the biggest, best selling brands no longer have them while they had in the past?

Anyway, thank you for your post...Peace, Riverside_Guy--I wasn't trying to be offensive and didn't mean to sting with that remark.

I did state that some chickenshit OEMs have abandoned unidirectional CableCARDs, including Sony and Samsung; understandable, given how poorly the cable providers have supported the technology (and the claims of the cable providers that so few people are leasing them). I'm sure that it's cost them a few sales--I witnessed at least one couple who'd been eyeing a '07 Sony LCD panel eliminate it from consideration because it didn't feature a CableCARD slot while I was in Fry's buying my own panel last year (a 46" 1080p Mitsubishi LCD with a CableCARD slot that I don't use :D). You can still find a couple of major manufacturers who support CableCARD, who've probably benefited from their having been abandoned by so many of the mass-market vendors.

Again, CableCARDs (M-Cards, specifically) may make a return in this model year, as part of "Tru2way". If not, DCAS should be ready for the 2010 model year.

Hello friends, just left directv for comcast cable since my new place doesn't allow dishes yet. Anyway, according the the master thread, it appears my 8300HDC from Comcast has the passport software. That being the case, I can't seem to find how to change the color of the pillars on the side of 4:3 content. Is it possible? Also, is there any reason I can't have the only output mode selected as 1080i to keep it from having to switch modes every time a commercial comes on or I change channel? So far, I am seeing everything just fine, but you never know with these things. Thanks for your time!

Justin

Hello friends, just left directv for comcast cable since my new place doesn't allow dishes yet. Anyway, according the the master thread, it appears my 8300HDC from Comcast has the passport software. That being the case, I can't seem to find how to change the color of the pillars on the side of 4:3 content. Is it possible?Common question, last answered about 2 weeks back, in this (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=12969407#post12969407) post.

Common question, last answered about 2 weeks back, in this (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=12969407#post12969407) post.

Thank you. Yes I found a couple of those posts, just didn't get back in time to wrap up my own loose end. :) Thanks again.

Justin

Peace, Riverside_Guy--I wasn't trying to be offensive and didn't mean to sting with that remark.

I did state that some chickenshit OEMs have abandoned unidirectional CableCARDs, including Sony and Samsung; understandable, given how poorly the cable providers have supported the technology (and the claims of the cable providers that so few people are leasing them). I'm sure that it's cost them a few sales--I witnessed at least one couple who'd been eyeing a '07 Sony LCD panel eliminate it from consideration because it didn't feature a CableCARD slot while I was in Fry's buying my own panel last year (a 46" 1080p Mitsubishi LCD with a CableCARD slot that I don't use :D). You can still find a couple of major manufacturers who support CableCARD, who've probably benefited from their having been abandoned by so many of the mass-market vendors.

Again, CableCARDs (M-Cards, specifically) may make a return in this model year, as part of "Tru2way". If not, DCAS should be ready for the 2010 model year.

Indeed, that's why I said thanks! I'll readily admit I have stuff to learn from you.

Part of the reason why I was skeptical was that I bought the non-cable card model when I got my first HD set. Later I realized having a slot would be good, there ARE times when there can be three things on that one might want to watch. With a slot, I could record 2 and watch one live. As it seems now, I could not do that with Samsung (my preference), Sony, LG, etc.

Generally I like to wait for year 2 for any new technology... one I am anticipating is LED backlights. So next year I'd start to look at a new Samsung. That will put 3 years since the last one.

As for "Tru2Way" how can that possibly mean anything if most of the current sets do not have a slot at all? Does that phrase actually mean the set includes a slot? Will the 2009 models called Tru2Way have slots?

Thank you. Yes I found a couple of those posts, just didn't get back in time to wrap up my own loose end. :) Thanks again.

Justin

FWIW, I have used 2 separate tricks to get black sidebars. The "better" of the 2 turned out to be odd to say the least (but it works 100% for the past 6 months at least). It involved setting the 8300HD to primarily do 4:3. Everything works exactly like it should... and I have not seen a gray sidebar since I first applied this trick. BTW, I would never, ever use any kind of stretch. The ONLY one of those I use is for SD channels showing letterboxed shows (SciFi). I use zoom there as it doesn't distort anything and I accept the slight amount cut off.

It undoubtedly very much depends on the TV... all I know for sure is it works on Samsungs and Sonys.

FWIW, I have used 2 separate tricks to get black sidebars. The "better" of the 2 turned out to be odd to say the least (but it works 100% for the past 6 months at least). It involved setting the 8300HD to primarily do 4:3. Everything works exactly like it should... and I have not seen a gray sidebar since I first applied this trick. BTW, I would never, ever use any kind of stretch. The ONLY one of those I use is for SD channels showing letterboxed shows (SciFi). I use zoom there as it doesn't distort anything and I accept the slight amount cut off.

It undoubtedly very much depends on the TV... all I know for sure is it works on Samsungs and Sonys.

Thank, friend! I think I have mine doing what you described now on a 61 inch sammy led dlp.

Justin

As for "Tru2Way" how can that possibly mean anything if most of the current sets do not have a slot at all? Does that phrase actually mean the set includes a slot? Will the 2009 models called Tru2Way have slots?
Several tru2way HDTV were on display at CES2008 (also CES2007):
http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/01/10/tru2way-tvs-at-ces-2008/
http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?site=cdn&doc_id=142836
Here's a picture of the CableCARD (M-Card) slot:
http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=142836&page_number=1&image_number=10&site=

In a few years, when/IF DCAS is approved, the NEXT generation will
embed a specialized security chip, eliminating CableCARD:
http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=142992
http://www.lightreading.com/blog.asp?blog_sectionid=419&doc_id=145024
Will the upcoming iDCR's support DCAS...probably not...won't have
the latest, approved security chip....

I posted a summary of tru2way STB/DVR's here, incl. CES2008 photos:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13061488&highlight=imageevent#post13061488

====================================
They have to fix most of the OCAP/Java/EPG bugs and (hopefully) get the
"new" functions (e.g. IPTV/MPEG4) through final test before we see them
in the stores (est. STB/DVR by Summer, iDCR HDTV by Fall).

As for "Tru2Way" how can that possibly mean anything if most of the current sets do not have a slot at all? Does that phrase actually mean the set includes a slot? Will the 2009 models called Tru2Way have slots?I just downloaded the "<tru2way> Preliminary Branding Guide" from www.tru2way.com in hopes of finding out exactly what a products must feature to carry the designation. You'd think that such a thing would include a list of a technical specifications to which a product must comply to be branded "<tru2way>" (and that's the preferred spelling, "angle-brackets" optional in print but not in logos on products, first letter capitalized only at the beginning of sentences, no other caps ever). You'd be wrong :rolleyes:.

I think that tru2way denotes a CableCARD 2.0 bidirectional host with OCAP and some CableLabs-and-FCC approved mechanism for separable security (an M-Card slot now, DCAS in the future). It's possible that by 2009 DCAS will be out and most future products will have that built-in and no need for CableCARDs; any tru2way products appearing this year are likely to have M-Card slots.

Providers will be able to download code to be executed within a tru2way product's OCAP engine, including dialogs for Interactive Program Guide, Impulse Pay-Per-View ordering menus and Video On Demand menus, as well as mechanisms for services with no GUI, like Switch Digital Video tuning and TWC's "Start Over" service. So, with nothing more installed than an M-Card (and not even that when DCAS becomes a reality), your Samsung <tru2way> television will be able to display TWC's OCAP Digital Navigator screens; if it has a built-in HDD for the purpose, you'll be able to use Navigator's DVR features. (What'd be really cool is a television with SATA or USB 2 connections that you could plug an off-the-shelf external drive into for DVR storage, but we'll see). You'll be able to order PPV and watch subscription and pay VOD programs, with VOD trick-play controls on the remote that comes with the television.

In a few years, when/IF DCAS is approved, the NEXT generation will
embed a specialized security chip, eliminating CableCARD.Do you really think that it will take "a few years" for DCAS to be approved? Both the FCC and the cable industry favor it, and I'm sure that the CE industry could give a lessor damn, so long as cable makes a solid commitment to support it.

I just downloaded the "<tru2way> Preliminary Branding Guide" from www.tru2way.com in hopes of finding out exactly what a products must feature to carry the designation. You'd think that such a thing would include a list of a technical specifications to which a product must comply to be branded "<tru2way>" (and that's the preferred spelling, "angle-brackets" optional in print but not in logos on products, first letter capitalized only at the beginning of sentences, no other caps ever). You'd be wrong :rolleyes:.

I think that tru2way denotes a CableCARD 2.0 bidirectional host with OCAP and some CableLabs-and-FCC approved mechanism for separable security (an M-Card slot now, DCAS in the future). It's possible that by 2009 DCAS will be out and most future products will have that built-in and no need for CableCARDs; any tru2way products appearing this year are likely to have M-Card slots.

Providers will be able to download code to be executed within a tru2way product's OCAP engine, including dialogs for Interactive Program Guide, Impulse Pay-Per-View ordering menus and Video On Demand menus, as well as mechanisms for services with no GUI, like Switch Digital Video tuning and TWC's "Start Over" service. So, with nothing more installed than an M-Card (and not even that when DCAS becomes a reality), your Samsung <tru2way> television will be able to display TWC's OCAP Digital Navigator screens; if it has a built-in HDD for the purpose, you'll be able to use Navigator's DVR features. (What'd be really cool is a television with SATA or USB 2 connections that you could plug an off-the-shelf external drive into for DVR storage, but we'll see). You'll be able to order PPV and watch subscription and pay VOD programs, with VOD trick-play controls on the remote that comes with the television.

Ah, interesting.

Gotta say I'm skeptical about DCAS... given how cable outfits have handled the IPG, I can't imagine a properly functioning DCAS happening for quite a few years. Not that I think the concept is an issue, that sounds "right" to me. BUT, it's all about implementation and so far, it seems the cable outfits (truth be told, obviously my experience is with TWC) do profit very well but forget having the first clue about software development. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised as TWC has such a total monopoly stranglehold on my market!

But I am happy to hear that next or the following year I could upgrade to set with a slot.

Gotta say I'm skeptical about DCAS... given how cable outfits have handled the IPG, I can't imagine a properly functioning DCAS happening for quite a few years.DCAS is more about hardware than software--it requires a custom DSP chip with embedded secure memory; once a security algorithm has been loaded into that chip, no method of examination should be able to extract it. Other than that, it's about hyper secure network delivery of that security code. I'd say that chip design was 85% of the problem and supposedly there should be working prototypes of those by the end of the month.

I'm much more worried about OCAP working well, which is 100% software. Perhaps that's what you were talking about?
I suppose I shouldn't be surprised as TWC has such a total monopoly stranglehold on my market!They have a "total monopoly stranglehold" because it difficult or impossible for two providers to share the wires. Semi-monopoly (with some competition from satellite and now the telcos) is the nature of cable everywhere.

Do you really think that it will take "a few years" for DCAS to be approved? Both the FCC and the cable industry favor it, and I'm sure that the CE industry could give a lessor damn, so long as cable makes a solid commitment to support it.
There are TWO competing DCAS systems: BBT & PolyCipher.
BBT appears much further along....proto chips are being tested....
However, PolyCipher is backed by COMCAST, COX & TWC:
http://www.polycipher.com/tech.html

I've seen reports that PolyCipher will begin testing
this year and might be ready to go to "implementation"
in 2009 (make final chips, HDTV/cable box guys
debug S/W with final chips, release H/W for production)....
so I figure 2010/11 for actual deployed H/W:
http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=123644&site=cdn
[Is that a hardware hacker "back-door"???]

==============================
"Hollywood" will continue to be concerned
re protection of their Intellectual Property.

Just as they delayed HD-DVD/BD, they still have the power
to delay (e.g. request for clarifications) both DCAS systems....
and maybe even CableCARD in new IPTV capable
tru2way devices. [Anything NEW can open the door....]

Some food for thought:

1. Once video data streams are decrypted,
it's difficult to protect. [So why bother....]

2. Some of those video data streams will include MPEG4
IPTV carrying high value 1080p...[Which ups the ante....]

3. With DCAS, protections must be in place and
"Hollywood" satisfied wrt effectiveness against
a dishonest cable employee somehow bypassing
or negating the downloadable security system.
[Unlike current STB & CableCARD implementations.]

4. Some USER OWNED tru2way STB/DVRs are LINUX based....
[Another significant NEW twist...]
http://broadband.motorola.com/noflash/Prep_OCAP_Seminar_Motorola_SCTE_7_7_2006.pdf
[And will keep the hackers entertained for hours on end...]

==============================
BTW: Watermarking, including transactional
watermarking is being deployed:
http://www.cedmagazine.com/Article-Watermarking-Agenda.aspx
http://www.drmwatch.com/article.php/3680811
http://multimediaintelligence.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=49&Itemid=1
"Transactional watermarking" contains an identifier
unique to a subscriber:
http://www.business-sites.philips.com/contentidentification/article-15381.html

Since VOD and IPTV is streamed to unique user, watermarking
can be added at the server vice the cable box:
http://www.cinea.com/press/NAB2007Release.pdf
Whereas a source watermark is a unique, hidden copyright:
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6485983.html

Since Transactional Watermarking would be implemented in the cablebox/HDTV,
it is one more thing that could delay the next generation of DCAS capable devices.
[PS: I have not seen anything whether T-W is in upcoming tru2way devices.]

1. Once video data streams are decrypted,
it's difficult to protect. [So why bother....]Difficult but not impossible. Guidelines for handling decrypted data exist in "robustness" specifications in all of the licensing for these copy protection systems.
3. With DCAS, protections must be in place and
"Hollywood" satisfied wrt effectiveness against
a dishonest cable employee somehow bypassing
or negating the downloadable security system.
[Unlike current STB & CableCARD implementations.]I don't see where any new opportunities for hacking are introduced by DCAS, except for the possibility of capturing security algorithms during security system initialization/updates.
4. Some USER OWNED tru2way STB/DVRs are LINUX based....
[Another significant NEW twist...]
http://broadband.motorola.com/noflash/Prep_OCAP_Seminar_Motorola_SCTE_7_7_2006.pdf
[And will keep the hackers entertained for hours on end...]uDCR CableLabs approved TiVo Series3 and TiVo HD are (and presumably their proposed Series4 tru2way hybrid will be) Linux based. I haven't heard any stories of them being successfully hacked to steal copy protected content, but maybe I just haven't been listening hard enough. I should think it would be pretty large, irrepressible news, though.

Cable was trying very hard last summer to get yet another extension on using separable security in their leased boxes to wait for DCAS, because using M-Cards was going to be such a waste of money. Did they actually expect to get a 3 year extension? Tons of the M-Card boxes that they buy will be worn out and replaced by then :).

DCAS is more about hardware than software--it requires a custom DSP chip with embedded secure memory; once a security algorithm has been loaded into that chip, no method of examination should be able to extract it. Other than that, it's about hyper secure network delivery of that security code. I'd say that chip design was 85% of the problem and supposedly there should be working prototypes of those by the end of the month.

I'm much more worried about OCAP working well, which is 100% software. Perhaps that's what you were talking about?
They have a "total monopoly stranglehold" because it difficult or impossible for two providers to share the wires. Semi-monopoly (with some competition from satellite and now the telcos) is the nature of cable everywhere.

Ah, so DCAS is mostly hardware... I had mistakenly thought that it was a software solution; in that boxes are two way, so they KNOW it's my box... thus they authenticate what they need to by that method. As long as TWC's lone programmer has nothing to do with the microcode for that chip!

Two things about monopoly... most folks toss around the term without understanding much about it (NOT alluding to your use!). A monopoly isn't necessarily illegal; but to have economic harm as a result very much is illegal. TWC IS an illegal monopoly because they do cause economic harm by their monopoly position. Areas in my city that have a FAR easier time accessing OTA and satellite are granted up to a 10% discount from the rates, while I and my borough neighbors are offered NO discount because we by and large can NOT use alternatives (OTA & satellite).

One could ALSO opine that the whole franchise agreement thing is partly about not letting a monopoly NOT harm the customers it serves. Thus I hold DOITT and the state PSC partly responsible for allowing them to get away with treating SOME of it's customers to a different standard, one that brings economic harm because of the pricing disparity.

I have a Westinghouse LCD TV and an 8300HD box.

On most SD channels, I have a thin line (a few pixels thick), that looks like static at the top of my screen.

I have heard that it is the Closed Captioning data line.
I have also heard it is a problem with the DVR box and the way TW broadcasts it.

Is there a way to hide it with this DVR box?
I tried searching this thread for key words, but don't see the answer.

Thank you!

On most SD channels ... looks like static at the top of my screen ... Closed Captioning data line ... heard it is a problem with the DVR box and the way TW broadcasts it ... Is there a way to hide it with this DVR box?You might try adjusting the overscan controls in the TV slightly to push the CC information off the top of the screen where it should be.

I have not seen this on any 480i channels, but I have seen it on 480i content re-formatted to 720p/1080i outputs. Usually, this is attributed to the TV station (i.e. shows up only on that station's HD channel), but it could be your STB doing it if you have it set to only output 720p or 1080i formats. In that case, you might try enabling 480i if you are able (TV's HDMI input capability) and/or you do not mind the format changes from channel to channel (some TV format changes are slightly annoying or cause problems with HDMI/HDCP).

:D Alternatively, you could tape or paint that part of the screen black... :D

v/r,
C-F

When I enable the 480i and 480p output on the receiver, the line goes away!
But... it won't stretch the picture anymore. It will stretch it, but it still has the black bars on the sides.
Oh well... I can totally live with 4:3 and bars on the sides as long as that top static line is gone.
Thank you!

The "better" of the 2 turned out to be odd to say the least (but it works 100% for the past 6 months at least). It involved setting the 8300HD to primarily do 4:3.

I think I figured out why it works, at least on my Sony (HDMI), if you have the 480i output enabled.

It seems that when my Sony KDL46V2500 detects a 480i signal it knows it should only be a 4:3 screen and that 720p/1080i is 16:9.

If you set the 8300 display to 16:9/4:3 it will output the 480i signal with the gray bars formated to 16:9. The Sony sees a 480i signal and compresses the picture to 4:3 and you end up with a 16:9 image with gray bars squished into a 4:3.

If the 8300 is set to 4:3/16:9 a 480i signal is displayed correctly and when the Sony detects a 720p or 1080i signal
it knows it's HD and goes widescreen automatically.

If you like the 4:3 to be stretched full screen you'll have to see if your TV set has something like Sony's Auto Wide display setting.

This has probably all been posted before but 7300 post threads are hard to read all the way through for us newbies.

Hello!

I have comcast 8300HD with what appears to be passport software. I was wondering if there was a way to change the default start up channel. Everytime it turns on, it starts on a particular channel, regardless of what channel I shut it down on. I cannot seem to find a way to change this anywhere, like on everything I have had up until now. Comcast says it can't be changed. Is this true? Thanks

Justin

Hello!

I have comcast 8300HD with what appears to be passport software. I was wondering if there was a way to change the default start up channel. Everytime it turns on, it starts on a particular channel, regardless of what channel I shut it down on. I cannot seem to find a way to change this anywhere, like on everything I have had up until now. Comcast says it can't be changed. Is this true? Thanks

JustinClick the Settings button, then go to More Settings and Power On Channel is there. I personally never bother to turn my box off due to HDMI handshake issues and no real power savings when it is off.

Click the Settings button, then go to More Settings and Power On Channel is there. I personally never bother to turn my box off due to HDMI handshake issues and no real power savings when it is off.

Ya thats what I thought but its not there on the comcast box. :( I called to confirm again and the girl was like "ya don't you hate that? We can't change it either. It will always start up on 8." I said "well based on the fact that your HD material is choppy, stuttering, blocking and generally bad quality while my directv never did any of those, and you are NOT in fact the leader in HD like your ads lie about, and now I can't even set my box up the way I want, you can go ahead and close my account. I will drop my box off monday."

Do you think I over reacted? :)

Can't wait to get my directv back.

Justin

just got a letter from TW saying navigator was going to be pushed through soon. :mad:said they are doing it by box number. if we have several boxes we may have navigator on one box and passport on the others for several weeks.

i knew i shouldn't have spent much time getting used to passport. (for those that don't remember. i was moved from SARA a few months ago).

well guess I'm off to the navigator thread.

just got a letter from TW saying navigator was going to be pushed through soon. :mad:said they are doing it by box number. if we have several boxes we may have navigator on one box and passport on the others for several weeks.

i knew i shouldn't have spent much time getting used to passport. (for those that don't remember. i was moved from SARA a few months ago).

well guess I'm off to the navigator thread.

Still waiting for the death knell to arrive here. Despite earlier rumors I haven't seen any notification in my area.

Nevertheless, my box is unplugged during the night just in case.

Still waiting for the death knell to arrive here. Despite earlier rumors I haven't seen any notification in my area.

Nevertheless, my box is unplugged during the night just in case.Probably in vain. You will plug it in one day and it will immediately start downloading. The first thing it does before booting is check with the CO to see if its running the right software.

Probably in vain. You will plug it in one day and it will immediately start downloading. The first thing it does before booting is check with the CO to see if its running the right software.

Yeah but the worst that will happen is that I get new software. Best case scenario it ignores my machine a bit longer or at least until I've watched enough recordings to not worry if they get culled during the upgrade.

Alternatively I check in here for advanced warning about an overnight and just not plug the cable back in until I've watched what I need to.

any columbus ohio ppl watching??/ need help!!! ive searched and checked the database...help please....cant get sata to work

At the great risk of raising the ire of all of you experts, can someone comment on whether or not anything has changed recently that would prohibit me from being able to put my stb into diagnostic mode?

I have tried all of the various techniques described on this board, yet none of them work. I have a Scientific Atlanta 8300HD box, Time Warner service, and live in San Diego. The box is still running the passport software, not the navigator software (yet).

All the other posts I could find that describe the technique have old post dates. I'm wondering if anyone in my area with the same box can confirm you can still access diagnostics, and if so, tell me the technique you've used. (also, none of the other posts describing how to do this noted whether or not the box needs to be off first, to put it into diagnostic mode.)

thx much,

With PASSPORT SA8300HD "ON", at front panel simultaneously hold
EXIT and SELECT keys several seconds until see "dIag" on front panel.
Then hit EXIT key again for menus and note Diagnostic Channel number.
Use either LAST channel or enter a channel number to exit menus.

"A" key on R/C varies menu transparency.

Thereafter (until cycle power OFF/ON), you can tune to any channel and
THEN go to Diagnostic Channel noted above to see diagnostic menus again.
[Diagnostic Channel varies from system to system.]

I'm also on TWC-SD....still works for me...
For us, Diagnostic Channel described above is CH1777. [CH611 also works.]

BTW: Our PASSPORT seems uniquely capable of tuning DIRECTLY to CH1777
using R/C to see Diagnostic Menus without hassle of enabling it at front panel.

I am sorry if this has already been addressed in this 100+ page post, but i could not find an answer doing a quick search...I seem to have an issue with audio loss (stuttering, popping?, distorts, fades out, etc...) and I think i have narrowed it down to the 8300HD (TWC). It seems to happen only on HD channels and I have noticed it more when we are watching a recorded show. I have HDMI out to Onkyo 605, and then HDMI out to the TV. It has come to the point now where it actually ruins the shows. Has anyone else had this issue?? Is it because I am playing the PS3 or watching other shows while recording another? I cant seem to put my finger on it and its really annoying. I dont have any issues with playing games or movies UNLESS it is order from ondemand. If anyone has any suggestions, I would really like to hear them. Thanks!!

ps- here is my 2 cents on the navigator and 8300hdc. when i 1st got hdtv i got this receiver straight out of the box. I thought cool... brand new item... i was thinking it would have some cool features. Boy was i wrong. This think had a bland guide. It would not record shows that you had schedule to record the whole series. Cometimes it would stop recording right in the middle. The lag thing is so true... on just about EVERYTHING. This this was HORRIBLE. I took it back and they gave me the 8300HD. Now I am having audio issue... i guess i cant win :D

mgd

After seeing your PM, I found your "straggler" thread:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1006304
It's no doubt a fairly rare problem....

First, I would "reboot" software in not only SA8300HD, but also Onkyo and HDTV...
which means disconnecting power to EACH box and see if it fixes your problem.

Second, physically reinsert HDMI cables and while it's playing, do a tiny wiggle test
to verify they can survive normal vibration range.
[There is next to nothing holding HDMI connector in it's socket.]

Third, I would try some logical troubleshooting to see if we can isolate
what is/isn't involved:

0. First turn off any possible interference sources (they could be leaking into your system).
[If you don't have a suitable recording, you'll have to listen in real time for awhile.]

1. Play back a recording with the audio sputtering problem. Is it same spot in recording?
[If it occurs in the same spot, the process of making the recording has a T.B.D. problem,
rather than in the HDMI playback I/F.]
[If not repeatable, it's probably play back process...and probably also watching live.]

2. Disconnect ALL HDMI cables and play back same recording via Digital Audio
(Optical or Coax) I/F. Do problems occur in SAME spot?
[You could connect video via another I/F type.]
[If the audio HDMI problem on the recording is repeatable and Coax/Optical is GOOD,
then it's apparently an HDMI problem.] [If both are bad, we'll need more tests...]

3. Now play back the same recording with just HDMI connected to Onkyo (not HDTV).
[This eliminates the HDMI repeater daisy chain....]
[If the HDMI audio problem goes away, it's probably an HDMI I/F compatibility problem.]

4. If ALL of the above is working just fine, you can then turn on EACH possible
interference source (one at a time) and see what happens.
[This could include game stations, computers, microwave ovens, fluorescent lights, et. al.]

You may have done some tests before, but I would recommend methodically going through
it again, taking notes, rather than relying on memory...BTDT....

LOL )))))))))))))
WBR,
Alex

Hello!

I have comcast 8300HD with what appears to be passport software. I was wondering if there was a way to change the default start up channel. Everytime it turns on, it starts on a particular channel, regardless of what channel I shut it down on. I cannot seem to find a way to change this anywhere, like on everything I have had up until now. Comcast says it can't be changed. Is this true? Thanks

Justin

NO it's not true, imbeciles at Comcast...it's an option in your settings, something like 'at power on last channel is ...and it gives you like 3-4 options', I'd turn the TV on and tell you exactly where it is only I have one of our cats snoozing away on me and he claw me to pieces if I move...however you can absolutely change that setting..I have it to set to 'last channel that was on'...

Ya thats what I thought but its not there on the comcast box. :( I called to confirm again and the girl was like "ya don't you hate that? We can't change it either. It will always start up on 8." I said "well based on the fact that your HD material is choppy, stuttering, blocking and generally bad quality while my directv never did any of those, and you are NOT in fact the leader in HD like your ads lie about, and now I can't even set my box up the way I want, you can go ahead and close my account. I will drop my box off monday."

Do you think I over reacted? :)

Can't wait to get my directv back.

Justin

LMFAO on did you 'overreact'...TOO FUNNY...overreacting is in the eye of the beholder...all DEPENDS on didja really want to go back to DirecTV or not?

I've tried to search and find this information here, but to no avail. So, the question: Is there a chart around that gives the TW NYC channel frequency lists? I'm specifically referring to the frequency while in "Diagnostic" mode of the 8300HD. There are a few ways to tune in this mode, such as by Display Channel, Frequency (in the xxx.xxx format), etc.

I want to be able to manually input some channels that are not cleared to air in my neighborhood, but that might be on the system, nonetheless. I'm particularly referring to the prospective HD lineup that's on it's way, with channels like CNN-HD, A&E-HD, etc.

I'd like to know if there's a chart that lists all the channels in the 700 tier with associated frequency, such as: Display Channel 702 = 681.000, etc. Thanks.

LMFAO on did you 'overreact'...TOO FUNNY...overreacting is in the eye of the beholder...all DEPENDS on didja really want to go back to DirecTV or not?

yes and I am very happy :)

Justin

Hi all-
Pioneer 5080HDTV on the way. I have a Pioneer Elite vsx84 receiver. I want to connect the 8300HD DVR (Comcast) with HDMI out to the Elite and then HDMI to the TV. If I use the "One" universal remote, will it replace the remote that came with the 8300, or will I have to use both? In other words, will I be able to use the "One" remote to set recordings, change channels, etc through the 8300? If I am in the wrong forum for this question forgive me-I am a newbie.
Bill

Hi all-
Pioneer 5080HDTV on the way. I have a Pioneer Elite vsx84 receiver. I want to connect the 8300HD DVR (Comcast) with HDMI out to the Elite and then HDMI to the TV. If I use the "One" universal remote, will it replace the remote that came with the 8300, or will I have to use both? In other words, will I be able to use the "One" remote to set recordings, change channels, etc through the 8300? If I am in the wrong forum for this question forgive me-I am a newbie.
Bill

When you say the "One universal remote, are you talking about the Logitech Harmony One? If so, then yes, that would be all you need to control all of your components.

"When you say the "One universal remote, are you talking about the Logitech Harmony One? If so, then yes, that would be all you need to control all of your components."

Yes, thank you. That's what I meant-when you say "control all of your components", you mean more than turn them on and off, right? It's hard for me to understand since I haven't received the Harmony One yet, but how does it access all those smaller options on what would have been on the other remotes, such as the record button, etc?

"When you say the "One universal remote, are you talking about the Logitech Harmony One? If so, then yes, that would be all you need to control all of your components."

Yes, thank you. That's what I meant-when you say "control all of your components", you mean more than turn them on and off, right? It's hard for me to understand since I haven't received the Harmony One yet, but how does it access all those smaller options on what would have been on the other remotes, such as the record button, etc?The answer to all you questions is YES. What all the Harmony remotes do (I'm not familiar with the ONE as it is brand new) is operate on a ACTIVITY basis. So you can set up an Activity to watch your DVR using your surround sound system. The buttons on the remote will be oriented towards that activity (FF & RW buttons will FF & RW on the 8300, Vol+ & Vol- buttons will raise & lower the volume on your surround sound, etc.). When you select an activity, the remote switches everything to perform that Activity. Most (but not all) wives love it. Makes things real simple.

The one thing that you need to do when you get this remote is to hide all your other remotes. The Harmony remembers the state of your system - if you have another remote change something, then it can fool the Harmony.

[I]but how does it access all those smaller options on what would have been on the other remotes, such as the record button, etc?Well, record is not a small function, so there will be a dedicated button for it. :)

However, several lesser-used functions are assigned to the LCD buttons and are accessed using the Next button to move through a series of screens with these additional commands. While many functions are covered, there are always some that are missing or difficult to find quickly, especially setup-type commands (setup is often done using the included remote anyway).

Also, almost all operations and buttons can be customized. I've moved some mid-level LCD functions to specific buttons so I don't have to step through screens, etc. I actually changed my settings 3 times after I got my Harmony 688 several years ago. The only thing I couldn't do was modify an assigned Activity button to do something I wanted to do, but have since forgotten what that was.

All that said, I keep all my other remotes in a box with a set of batteries so I can quickly put one in operation when I want to do something that is not available or I can't find on my Harmony. I'm also not familiar with the newer models, but I think you will find your Harmony to be an excellent buy and replacement for all the others.

Yes, thank you. That's what I meant-when you say "control all of your components", you mean more than turn them on and off, right? It's hard for me to understand since I haven't received the Harmony One yet, but how does it access all those smaller options on what would have been on the other remotes, such as the record button, etc?

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=93

Just to make sure that you understand, siramazing, you don't have to buy the Harmony One to get a Logitech Harmony activity-based universal remote (sounds as if you recently saw the ads for the Harmony One, which is the latest addition to the line). They sell a line of them, priced for $100 to $500--you can see them all here (http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/remotes/universal_remotes/&cl=us,en). They all work in essentially the same way, with more features as they get more expensive (the $250-and-up models all have color LCD screens and display little graphical icons for the functions, and things like rechargeable batteries. The most expensive models are also RF wireless with an available IR repeater and can be used to control a stack of components tucked away somewhere out of sight).

"When you say the "One universal remote, are you talking about the Logitech Harmony One? If so, then yes, that would be all you need to control all of your components."

Yes, thank you. That's what I meant-when you say "control all of your components", you mean more than turn them on and off, right? It's hard for me to understand since I haven't received the Harmony One yet, but how does it access all those smaller options on what would have been on the other remotes, such as the record button, etc?


I am very partial to MX900 (URC line of remotes) over Harmony. I have th 890 series from Logitech/Harmony. The 880/890 must have the worst key layout in the history of remotes. Also, doing anything fancy is next to impossible with Harmony because so much is shielded from the user.

My MX900 actually managed to remove all other remotes. All the hard keys of interest are there (guide, info, exit, prev channel, skip-/+ etc. The functions that do not have a dedicated hard key goes to the softkey section (like the A, B, C buttons, etc).

I am very partial to MX900 (URC line of remotes) over Harmony. I have th 890 series from Logitech/Harmony. The 880/890 must have the worst key layout in the history of remotes. Also, doing anything fancy is next to impossible with Harmony because so much is shielded from the user.

My MX900 actually managed to remove all other remotes. All the hard keys of interest are there (guide, info, exit, prev channel, skip-/+ etc. The functions that do not have a dedicated hard key goes to the softkey section (like the A, B, C buttons, etc).To each his/her own, but my Harmony 688 didn't cost anywhere near $450 and I bought it when it first appeared. I also haven't found any often-used functions I can't perform from the top level hard or soft keys. I'll agree on the 890 layout though. I bought the 688 because the layout fit my needs. I haven't upgraded because I don't like later layouts, don't need a color LCD, and mine still works. :)

I'm not sure what you mean by "anything fancy". I think pressing a single Activity key to turn on/off various devices, depending upon what state they are in, is pretty fancy myself. :)

I am very partial to MX900 (URC line of remotes) over Harmony. I have th 890 series from Logitech/Harmony. The 880/890 must have the worst key layout in the history of remotes. Also, doing anything fancy is next to impossible with Harmony because so much is shielded from the user.

My MX900 actually managed to remove all other remotes. All the hard keys of interest are there (guide, info, exit, prev channel, skip-/+ etc. The functions that do not have a dedicated hard key goes to the softkey section (like the A, B, C buttons, etc).I've had both too (using the Harmony at home now, now use the MX in calibration business) - and there are pros and cons to each. The big PLUS for the Harmony is it's state memory - which enables it to be truly Activity based. But getting it programmed the way that you want is a pain. Harmony has their view of how it should work, and if you have a different view, it's difficult to work around that view. On the other hand, if what you want is mutiple remotes in one, and you don't care so much about making it wife friendly, then the MX series is the answer.

If I use the '4:3/LB 16:9' setting on my SA8300HD/Passport/Component, my Pioneer plasma will automatically adjust the SD picture to stretch. So I like this. Am I loosing any HD pixels on HD channels (doesn't look so and Pioneer reports HD signal resolution)? TIA, Danno

If I use the '4:3/LB 16:9' setting on my SA8300HD/Passport/Component, my Pioneer plasma will automatically adjust the SD picture to stretch. So I like this. Am I loosing any HD pixels on HD channels (doesn't look so and Pioneer reports HD signal resolution)? TIA, Danno

I do the same thing and no, your HD channels will be unaffected by this setting.

This has been probably been brought up before but I cannot find it? Can anybody please tell me how much space there is to record HD programs? I have recorded a couple of movies in HD and all of the NY football Giants playoff games in HD and I do not have any disk space left to record the Final Four. Thanks

This has been probably been brought up before but I cannot find it? Can anybody please tell me how much space there is to record HD programs? I have recorded a couple of movies in HD and all of the NY football Giants playoff games in HD and I do not have any disk space left to record the Final Four. Thanks


Depends on the model but many are 160G which is good for about 20 hours of HD.

Depends on the model but many are 160G which is good for about 20 hours of HD.
Thanks scsiraid. Any idea how I can tell what my capacity is and how much is left? Is there a menu that I can access? I am in NYC with a SA8300HD with Passport software.
Is there any way to copy/move what I have recorded somewhere else such as a PC, PS3?
Thanks

This has been probably been brought up before but I cannot find it? Can anybody please tell me how much space there is to record HD programs? I have recorded a couple of movies in HD and all of the NY football Giants playoff games in HD and I do not have any disk space left to record the Final Four. Thanks160GB is common. You can extend the amount of space by attaching an external drive with an eSATA cable, but there are complications to doing this. Deployed versions of Passport Echo can intermittently lose their trick-play functions (PAUSE, FF, REW, etc) for live television with an external drive attached (the functions continue to work during playback of recordings).

DVRs aren't really intended for archiving. You're expected to watch the things that you record and delete them to make room for new stuff.

Any idea how I can tell what my capacity is and how much is left? Is there a menu that I can access? I am in NYC with a SA8300HD with Passport software.The Passport Tips and Tricks (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=4547722&highlight=guide+tips#post4547722) post near the beginning of this thread will tell you how to enter the multi-page diagnostics (at the end of the post), where you can find the total and used amounts of space on your drive on a page of the diganostics labelled "DVR AVFS".

There's certainly no simple way of moving things off your unit which will preserve anything in high-definition format. The easiest would be to connect a VCR or a DVD recorder to it and play things back while recording them.

Thanks scsiraid. Any idea how I can tell what my capacity is and how much is left? Is there a menu that I can access? I am in NYC with a SA8300HD with Passport software.
Is there any way to copy/move what I have recorded somewhere else such as a PC, PS3?
Thanks

Try pulling the power on it and leave it off a couple of minutes. You may get some space back. If you cancel a scheduled recording while it is in the process of still being recorded, the space used by that recording is not returned to freespace until you reboot the box. This is a bug in the latest version of Passport.

Is there any reason why my TWC HD STB takes my HD programs and places them in a smaller box in the right hand corner of my set? It mainly occurs when I turn on the box and I can get rid of it by turning on and then off PIP. Note that the picture box size is larger than the box typically observed when the Guide or PIP is activated.

Are you using HDMI or component powerplay?

Are you using HDMI or component powerplay?

HDMI

Might be an issue with the HDMI then...these boxes are known to be buggy with some TV's, if you can, grab a set of components, or cheapo RCA's, and see if the problem happens...

This has been probably been brought up before but I cannot find it? Can anybody please tell me how much space there is to record HD programs? I have recorded a couple of movies in HD and all of the NY football Giants playoff games in HD and I do not have any disk space left to record the Final Four. Thanks

Different cable companies do filtering and rate-shaping differently, but here in Charlotte with TWC, I figure it this way: 5-6 GB per hour of HD; 2-3 GB per hour of SD. You can't go below about 20 GB of space remaining because of the buffers and general overhead; if you do, other stuff you've recorded will start disappearing. Use the diagnostic screen others have mentioned to determine how much space you've used vs. how much left. And be prepared to toss it all out the window when you get Navigatored in the next few months. I'm not sure Navigator has a way to accurately determine how much space is available down to the single gigabyte like Passport does. (Anybody know?)

Farewell Passport Echo. I knew it well.

Farewell Passport Echo. I knew it well.



Same here have seen a considerable amount of reboots on the Mystro/Navigator.

Speaking of getting Navigatored... has anyone in twc hudson valley (specifically newburgh) heard anything about the switch coming are way?

Man, has this thread suffered a slow death or what!?

Because no one is running Passport anymore?

Because no one is running Passport anymore?
We are in Southern California (Los Angeles/Orange County). We also are glad that others are working as guinea pigs and hopefully getting updates to correct issues with Navigator before we get it. /Dan

We also are glad that others are working as guinea pigs and hopefully getting updates to correct issues with Navigator before we get it. /Dan

Ha. Not a chance. It's taken them 5 years to get this far with the software. Don't expect any update surprises in the next few months.

Ha. Not a chance. It's taken them 5 years to get this far with the software. Don't expect any update surprises in the next few months.

That's a fact. There are some unbelievably simple-to-fix bugs in the version that was just rolled out in Charlotte a couple of months ago. Things like the REW button jumping you back forward up to half a minute when you hit play again (mirroring the necessary jump-back feature of the FF button) and the instant-reply (or jump-back) button only taking you back 3 seconds instead of the advertised 8. Simple stuff to fix. I'm talking one or two lines of code and you're done, fixed it. It's like there was no beta testing, no quality control, no manigerial oversight on the Mystro/Navigator product at all. It's astounding that they've pushed it out with this stuff still in there. The guide is terrible, a huge step down from the Passport guide. And so on.

Enjoy your last days with Passport. Boy, oh boy, are you going to miss it. :p

All of the sudden last night I noticed my HD channels looked yucky and realized my 8300 as setting everything to 480P. When I turn on the box it starts at the right HD resolution but as soon as it handshakes with the TV it goes to 480P. If I go into the 8300 display settings menu and force it to do an auto setup for resolution it is ok until I power the system off and on again. I am using HDMI with a Samsung HDTV and have had some twitchy HD sync issues in the 6 months I have been up and running. Usually a reboot of the box seems to work but this is a completely new issue and a couple of reboots hasn't helped so far. I even bypassed my reciever and tried a different cable direct to the TV and the second HDMI input on the TV. Same problem. Am I going to have to switch to component?

Thanks.

It's very strange that what sounds like a handshake issue has just recently cropped up when its been working all along. Sounds like the issue is unfortunately with the box. Definitely swap out the HDMI for component and report back.

I have no idea what changed but it appears I can work around the issue by setting my power up channel to a SD channel. It starts up in 480P and when I change to an HD channel the first time, it handshakes and all is well from then on. Arghhh!

Nice! Good job...imagine calling CWC and for them to try to figure that out over the phone..wouldn't happen.

I've been reading through this thread and it's very informative. Is it true that there is still no way to change the Grey Pillarbox sidebars to Black from within the SA 8300HD? I am using HDMI.

I have a Samsung HDTV and it makes black bars if I plug the coax directly into it, so the TV is not making the grey bars, the 8300HD is.

I was also wondering if its possible to bring my DVR to a friend's house for the weekend and watch live UniversalHD which is in my package. He only gets basic cable at his house though. I'm in Manhattan and he's in Queens both with TWC. Is my box locked to my area and won't work in his area?

I've been reading through this thread and it's very informative. Is it true that there is still no way to change the Grey Pillarbox sidebars to Black from within the SA 8300HD? I am using HDMI.

I have a Samsung HDTV and it makes black bars if I plug the coax directly into it, so the TV is not making the grey bars, the 8300HD is.

I was also wondering if its possible to bring my DVR to a friend's house for the weekend and watch live UniversalHD which is in my package. He only gets basic cable at his house though. I'm in Manhattan and he's in Queens both with TWC. Is my box locked to my area and won't work in his area?

It's not true! But you need to use component cables (which won't give you any worse picture quality). Search for posts I've made in this thread and you should come up with the right info.

It's not true! But you need to use component cables (which won't give you any worse picture quality). Search for posts I've made in this thread and you should come up with the right info.

Can you have the HDMI and the Component of the 8300HD both hooked up at the same time?

When I plug the HDMI cable in the Component output goes black.

I always heard HDMI somehow had better quality.

Can you have the HDMI and the Component of the 8300HD both hooked up at the same time?Generally, NO (it's due to a phobia of the content owners).
I always heard HDMI somehow had better quality.That is generally correct. However, there are lots of different implementations in both the source end and the display end and certain COMBINATIONS might work out better with component. But there are NO absolutes here.

Ok thanks for the replies, so it seems that with a combination of the 8300HD and a Samsung HDTV HDMI would probably be best, and it does seem a bit sharper than component I guess.

I did the stretch and shrink trick and it seems to be the only way to give black bars over HDMI, but I think it's a lot of extra processing to the picture that makes it look a bit off compared with the original grey bar picture. Setting the 8300HD to 'stretch' mode and the HDTV to 4:3 to shrink it back is fine but you have to change it constantly when you switch to HD channels. I can't possibly understand why the 8300HD doesn't have a 'Black/Grey' option.

I also looked at the full diagnostic page when you hold Exit and Select on the 8300HD, there under Summary and Identity I see things like 'HUB ID', 'Region', 'Cfg Region'.. Are these just informational or will the box only work on 'HUB ID: 26' 'Region: Northern_Man(nr 50)'.. etc?

I can't possibly understand why the 8300HD doesn't have a 'Black/Grey' option.For one thing, it's not the 8300HD; it's Passport Echo, the software running on it. SARA running on the same hardware does have such an option.

As for why it's not there, I'd assume that while they were developing it, no one involved was bothered enough by the gray bars to push for a black bar option. As an "improvement" request it's gonna fall so far down into the bottom of the list that it will have very little chance of ever getting dealt with.

Don't worry--the good news is that TWC will eventually download their new Digital Navigator IPG into your box, replacing Passport; people have remarked that it has much darker bars that don't annoy them. The bad news is that TWC will eventually download their new Digital Navigator IPG into your box, replacing Passport; it's still buggy as hell :rolleyes:.

Don't worry--the good news is that TWC will eventually download their new Digital Navigator IPG into your box, replacing Passport; people have remarked that it has much darker bars that don't annoy them. The bad news is that TWC will eventually download their new Digital Navigator IPG into your box, replacing Passport; it's still buggy as hell

Hehe, that sucks. At least the bars wont be needlessly distracting in a dark room. And why grey, why not neon yellow? I don't see how burn-in is helped much by it.

Would you know if these boxes are portable to different segments of TWC's network? Is it like a cablemodem that you can just bring around and it leases a new IP from whatever hub it finds itself on? I mean I pay for my HD package, if I want to bring my box over to a friends house to watch some Olypmic events on UniversalHD through his TWC line shouldn't I be able to do that?

Would you know if these boxes are portable to different segments of TWC's network? Is it like a cablemodem that you can just bring around and it leases a new IP from whatever hub it finds itself on? I mean I pay for my HD package, if I want to bring my box over to a friends house to watch some Olypmic events on UniversalHD through his TWC line shouldn't I be able to do that?The person who used to live in this room in the house that I share took a cable box when they left. It's still on our bill and the last time I saw her, she said that it was in use and that she intends to call and get it moved onto her bill. The point is, she just moved it to another place in the same cable system and it works for her. She only moved a couple of miles away, so it's possible that her new place is on the same edge segment on the network (a group of 500-2000 subscriber homes)--I suspect that they can't pinpoint the location of a box any closer than that, if they actually care. I doubt that they do care where an in-use box is, so long as someone's paying the lease fees.

The bad news is that TWC will eventually download their new Digital Navigator IPG into your box, replacing Passport; it's still buggy as hell :rolleyes:.You apparently haven't been following the Navigator thread. There are reports there that the latest version of Navigator is working pretty well (including operation with an external drive).

Finally: Light at the end of the tunnel (for those on Navigator systems) :)

I do follow that thread (my last post is sixth from the end, made yesterday afternoon). Both versions are running on boxes in the house that I live in and my personal assessment is that it's still buggy as hell. YMMV. It was ourageously, pre-alpha-test buggy when they rolled it out. Now it's you-can-live-with-it-once-you've-learned-what-not-to-try buggy :).

I tried searching the thread for this, but didn't quite find anything that was my issue.

I'm pretty sure this is a hardware failure (I've already called the cable company to come out), but I had to power down my box today and now when it powers up the "boot" comes up, then immediately powers down again, then trys to "boot", then power down, etc...

I had some nasty clicking/crunching yesterday of the hard drive and had to reboot after that. It came back yesterday, but not today. I'm guessing a hard drive failure.

Anyways, I thought I'd ask if anyone has any idea besides wait until the cable company comes out in 3 days?

I tried searching the thread for this, but didn't quite find anything that was my issue.

I'm pretty sure this is a hardware failure (I've already called the cable company to come out), but I had to power down my box today and now when it powers up the "boot" comes up, then immediately powers down again, then trys to "boot", then power down, etc...

I had some nasty clicking/crunching yesterday of the hard drive and had to reboot after that. It came back yesterday, but not today. I'm guessing a hard drive failure.

Anyways, I thought I'd ask if anyone has any idea besides wait until the cable company comes out in 3 days?

Sounds like a failure. You won't get anything back. Was it an 8300 or 8000? My 8000 failed the same way.

You could take it to your local office and swap out the box. No point waiting for them to do the same.

Sounds like a failure. You won't get anything back. Was it an 8300 or 8000? My 8000 failed the same way.

You could take it to your local office and swap out the box. No point waiting for them to do the same.

It was an 8300. I've had it for almost 4 years now, I was one of the first in the area to get the HD box. I had a LOT of stuff on there yet to watch...

Yeah, I could swap it out. I may do that.

It was an 8300. I've had it for almost 4 years now, I was one of the first in the area to get the HD box. I had a LOT of stuff on there yet to watch...

Yeah, I could swap it out. I may do that.

If you can't get the box to boot by unplugging neither will the cable tech. He'll most likely do the same thing then just swap out. There's no method of retrieving the stored shows that he'll try, so you've lost everything already.

I have a problem with my 8300HD from Time Warner. Someone tripped over the power cord and unplugged it. I plugged it back in and it did the usual boot up thing when you do a reset. The problem is that my recorded shows have reverted to about 2 weeks ago. Meaning, the shows that I recorded about 2 weeks ago are showing up (most of which I already manually erased), and the shows that I recorded this week and currently, are now missing. What's even more weird is that I can access and watch some shows that I already erased, while some won't work. The problem is I want the shows I recorded recently back, but they're not shown in the list. I tried a reset, but that didn't help.

I also tried doing a hard reset, by unplugging it and holding the Power button, and plugging it it, but it looks like a normal reset when I do this. I thought it was supposed to take a long time to boot up, but it's taking the same amount of time of a regular reset. Am I doing the hard reset wrong?

Is there something else that might help?
Any help would be appreciated.

My Time Warner boxes turn themselves off at night, then in the morning I have to turn them back on. Not a problem with the 8300, but I have a standard def box that feeds into a TiVo - Series 2. So I get a black screen if anything was being recorded.

I've been looking through pages and pages of posts, an I'm sure it's been talked about before...

I am trying to capture or export a show from my TWC (Brooklyn) SA 8300HD. A family member was on ESPN a few weeks back, and I'm trying to get the HD recording of the box so I can make some DVD's for the family. I have been trying every way I can think of, even using pro capture devices (AJA I/O). But it seems like the copy protection is keeping me from doing this.

I understand why there is copy protection, but this is for personal use and is unavailable any other way.

If someone can point me in the right direction, I'd appreciate it.

Cheers,
JA

I am trying to capture or export a show from my TWC (Brooklyn) SA 8300HD. A family member was on ESPN a few weeks back, and I'm trying to get the HD recording of the box so I can make some DVD's for the family. I have been trying every way I can think of, even using pro capture devices (AJA I/O). But it seems like the copy protection is keeping me from doing this.


Use the analog hole, you can't copy HD content in HD. Even then you'll still get a letterboxed 4:3 image.

The "analog hole" can be plugged a bit with things like CGMS-A (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CGMS-A), and as super-protective of their IP as ESPN is, I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't using some such on their analog signals (HBO/Cinemax uses it). You can get video stabilizers for S-video and component signals that will clean out stuff in the VBI (no doubt demolishing closed captions as well).

I apologize if this question has been addressed before but I searched this thread and could not find it.
I have the 8300hd with passport software. I have found recently that my dvr has given me incorrect information when the oldest programs will delete. For instance, today it said that I had 2 days on 2 programs. I just checked a few hours later and the program was deleted. This has happened a couple of times. Worse yet, sometimes I dont even know what was deleted as I cant remember what was lowest on my list of programs.

Has anyone had this problem? Any tips or suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

Lyle

Did you schedule any recordings to be made between the time that it said that it had two days or press REC to make a recording of something that you were watching?

Remaining time is just an estimate and possibly not a very conservative one. There's no way that it can know exactly how much space an upcoming recording is going to take. If something scheduled take up more space than it guesses then things might get deleted earlier. It always seemed reasonably back when I was using it.

Now that you mention it, I might have recorded something and I checked a few minutes later and it still said 2 days left. It might not have updated. Its about 20 hours hd correct?

I have the 8300HD with Passport software and Brighthouse Networks--periodically, my recordings are freezing up and then automatically rewinding back to a previous point as if the recording is "stuck" and the controls then freeze as well and I have to get out of the recording and try to restart and it often will still freeze up and not let me watch the entire recording. Any ideas as to how to fix this? Thanks.:confused:

I apologize if this question has been addressed before but I searched this thread and could not find it.
I have the 8300hd with passport software. I have found recently that my dvr has given me incorrect information when the oldest programs will delete. For instance, today it said that I had 2 days on 2 programs. I just checked a few hours later and the program was deleted. This has happened a couple of times. Worse yet, sometimes I dont even know what was deleted as I cant remember what was lowest on my list of programs.

Has anyone had this problem? Any tips or suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

Lyle

It seems as if Passport gets confused out how much space is left on the drive. If you notice it saying something is going to be deleted in x days and you are sure you have space, reboot the box.

Speaking of getting Navigatored... has anyone in twc hudson valley (specifically newburgh) heard anything about the switch coming are way?

A few months late, but I live in Newburgh and we're still running Passport here. Doesn't matter though, FIOS will be rolling out soon!!!!! :eek:

I have the 8300HD with Passport software and Brighthouse Networks--periodically, my recordings are freezing up and then automatically rewinding back to a previous point as if the recording is "stuck" and the controls then freeze as well and I have to get out of the recording and try to restart and it often will still freeze up and not let me watch the entire recording. Any ideas as to how to fix this? Thanks.:confused:
Watching the recording while it was still finishing up live? It does weird things when the show actually ends or if you try to stop before it ends. If before the live show ends and you try to stop the recording you are watching, it wants you to stop the actual recording. Need to change channels to get out of the loop or your recording will get stopped. It will also jump live when the recording stops recording even if you are watching the recorded item. I think I remember this correctly and may have said it in a confusing way. Issue does not come up too often. /Dan

" Originally Posted by kenloupa View Post
I have the 8300HD with Passport software and Brighthouse Networks--periodically, my recordings are freezing up and then automatically rewinding back to a previous point as if the recording is "stuck" and the controls then freeze as well and I have to get out of the recording and try to restart and it often will still freeze up and not let me watch the entire recording. Any ideas as to how to fix this? Thanks.
Watching the recording while it was still finishing up live? It does weird things when the show actually ends or if you try to stop before it ends. If before the live show ends and you try to stop the recording you are watching, it wants you to stop the actual recording. Need to change channels to get out of the loop or your recording will get stopped. It will also jump live when the recording stops recording even if you are watching the recorded item. I think I remember this correctly and may have said it in a confusing way. Issue does not come up too often. /Dan"





Sometimes I am watching the show live when it happens, but mostly NOT...any other ideas what might be going on or how to fix? Thanks.

Hello,
Yes, they encode their HD content, all contect actually on that DVR to prevent playing it on another dvr or PC.

Luckily for you, you only want to go to regular DVD, and not actual HD format it is in now, like BluRay or something.

I believe they could care less if you record shows in analog quality off their dvr.

So I suggest you just hookup an external DVD Recorder, they are still cheap and hit record as you watch the espn recording from your HD-DVR output into regular analog SD quality outputs to DVD recoder.
That should work still.

Or capture it on the PC from analog inputs then convert to MPEG2 format and burn to dvd. More steps but should work and be in normal DVD quality.
If you go the analog output route, you bypass the hd digital output copy protection.

There are devices, i have an old ADVC-100 ( i belive) that can strip the copy protection as in allows analog recording, you might need to use such a device also. I don't remember completey the steps, but it is possible to savewhat you will to preserve from hd dvr recording to normal dvd file for burning with PC. Google helps, but don't give up trying it can be done.
Just not in original digital file way, a analog capture and protection removal and transcoding back to mpeg2 for dvd burning.

I hope this helps, buddy.
AnthonyNYC
:)

I am in New York City. Time Warner NYC came to my house yesterday and swapped out my two HD-DVR boxes which were having various problems, and in their place put two "new" boxes that have different software on them, which I hate! From what I've found online, my old boxes had the "Passport" software, but the new boxes have something called Mystro or something like that. It is a HORRIBLE interface and is so much slower than the old boxes. How can I fix this? Will Time Warener let me switch back to the old boxes? I am seriously annoyed by this whole thing!

You can try going to your local office and see if they have any Passport boxes left, but chances are you are screwed. I'm still on Passport too, and I'm holding onto that thing for dear life...once they force Navigator onto me, I'm off to Uverse or Sat...

You can try going to your local office and see if they have any Passport boxes left, but chances are you are screwed. I'm still on Passport too, and I'm holding onto that thing for dear life...once they force Navigator onto me, I'm off to Uverse or Sat...

I believe Passport or Navigator are determined by download updates and there is nothing the cutomer can do about it. Once the conversion is decided it is downloaded to each box in the system. No user input or decsion.

BTW the version of Nagiator (Mystro) we have now seems quite a bit more stable than Passport before it.

I believe Passport or Navigator are determined by download updates and there is nothing the cutomer can do about it. Once the conversion is decided it is downloaded to each box in the system. No user input or decsion.

BTW the version of Nagiator (Mystro) we have now seems quite a bit more stable than Passport before it.

Actually TWC is working on yet another Navigator version. It seems to have some good improvements. It should come out next month in San Diego. Employees are testing this new version.

BTW the version of Nagiator (Mystro) we have now seems quite a bit more stable than Passport before it.In what way? The last version of Passport Echo that we running here in San Diego (2.6.022, I think) was pretty much rock-solid, other than having marginal (and undocumented) support for external drives.

In what way? The last version of Passport Echo that we running here in San Diego (2.6.022, I think) was pretty much rock-solid, other than having marginal (and undocumented) support for external drives.


The Passport would freeze and reboot quite often. Also it would not return to "0% full" and had to be rebooted to recover capcity even though there were no recordings being stored.

please help me, does any body know the correct procedure to erase the memory in the cable box, such as ppv orders

please help me, does any body know the correct procedure to erase the memory in the cable box, such as ppv orders

You can't, and even if you could the data has already been sent back to TWC and will appear on your next statement.

So if it's porn you'll just have to admit it. ;)

You can't, and even if you could the data has already been sent back to TWC and will appear on your next statement.

So if it's porn you'll just have to admit it. ;)


A billion dollar business that no one is watching!

Does anybody else have the problem that several ABC series no longer have the series recording option? In other words there is no "record series" option on programs like Dancing With the Stars?

Three Questions

1) Is TimeWarner thinking of updating the software or getting newer/better boxes instead of 8300HD furnace/slow tuning hunk? (I still love it)

2) Can I change the Grey sidebars to Black? I am using component to 1080p monitor. Aspect Ratio is set to Widescreen (16:9) Sidebar 4:3 picture. Output Formats 1080i and 720p. My TV doesn't sense that it is 4:3 picture, normally my TV senses antenna and zoom/adjusts it to fill screen, but on cable it doesn't sense it.

Edit: I fixed it. I just switched it to Widescreen (16:9) Stretch 4:3 picture, and it worked! :) I also turned off 480i. Do we really need it anyway? Here is another answer to my own question, YES we need it. If I do not leave 480i selected, I cannot view the picture with Black bars on the sides on my TV, because tv thinks it is HD and does not allow 4:3 viewing! :)

3) Why wouldn't anyone make a wiki or FAQ of 8300HD box? I noticed a lot of questions are getting asked over and over again.

Three Questions

1) Is TimeWarner thinking of updating the software or getting newer/better boxes instead of 8300HD furnace/slow tuning hunk? (I still love it)

Passport is already dead. If you're still using it you're one of a diminishing number of people. TWC killed Passport licensing in favor of their own Navigator platform.

And no. It's not better.

You can't make a Wiki for and 8300 because it's just a box. It's the software that runs on it that gives it function. Or takes it away. There are plenty of hints and tips threads for Passport, SARA etc. Search these forums. You should start by reading the sticky.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=581843

A few answers to your questions:

1) Yes. TWC is currently working on phasing out the Pasport software for the easier to use, and alot smoother, Navigator. Nebraska division is using it now so if you take a look at the tutorial info on their divisions web site you can get a peak of the updated guide and record list. (Still upset I haven't got to use it yet seeing how the Central NY division is usually the beta test area for TWC)

2) (I know you figured it out but take a look at all these options) Depending on the TV and the setting options you should be able to find a way to auto fill the screen as you have. Box setup is mostly to blame if you aren't getting a full picture. If all is setup correctly, the only time you should ever see sidebars (4:3 pic on 16:9 screen) is if you are on an HD channel, but they are only broadcasting an SD program. This happens because the HD channels are always set to display a widescreen pic whether or not there is one. 2 places to look to make sure you have the correct setup. The first is in the General Settings menu (press settings twice on the remote) and make sure Set: Picture Format is on Pass-Through (for component) or Auto DVI/HDMI. Then, turn the box off, and press both the Info and Guide buttons on the box itself, thus bringing up the HD Setup Wizard. Follow through the options, selecting the Advanced Setup, and add all 6 resolutions in the list to be displayed by the box. This will allow the converter to do what it's supposed to, convert.

Enjoy.:cool:

A few answers to your questions:

1) Yes. TWC is currently working on phasing out the Pasport software for the easier to use, and alot smoother, Navigator.

I can point you to a whole thread of people who can tell you that Navigator is anything but "smooth."

Navigator is almost crippleware.

The last of the old technology is always better than the first of the new... Vista anyone?

The last of the old technology is always better than the first of the new... Vista anyone?

Except Navigator is not on it's first version. That version was put into play over two years ago and was in development 3 years before that. The currently deployed version is still broken, missing features and basic bug fixes two years after it was released to the public.

And the version of Passport you've been using isn't the latest either. That was never deployed by TWC. The version of Passport that they last deployed was also nearly two years old back in 2007.

The current version of Navigator still doesn't have features from the older version of Passport. So TWC are basically not even at the point that Passport reached back in 2005.

Except Navigator is not on it's first version. That version was put into play over two years ago and was in development 3 years before that. The currently deployed version is still broken, missing features and basic bug fixes two years after it was released to the public.
.


Would you be a little more specific on the problems with Navigator? I may be halucinating but it seems, to me, much better and certainly more stable than the Psssport that preceeded it.

The version of Navigator that was launched two years ago in Lincoln and a couple of other small markets was essentially a public beta. I'm sure that Passport Echo went through a similar phase, just probably on a smaller scale in much smaller communities where it wouldn't generate that kind of publicity. In San Diego we went through a few horribly broken versions of Passport, though they were replaced within a few months. I never had any problems with the last few releases of Passport that I used.

Rich in ILM, I don't know whether you've said before, but what do you find to be "better" about Navigator? I'm unware of anything that it does better than Passport Echo (other than the sidebar color adjustment in ODN and possibly a more complete implementation of external drive support).

The last of the old technology is always better than the first of the new... Vista anyone?

Not trying to change the topic here but Microsoft took 2 years to release SP1 for Vista. So my comment stands.

I really don't want to get drawn in to your pissing contest, but Windows XP was pretty clearly better then ME or any of the 9x's that preceeded it.

The Microsoft comparison is not valid. The old software is Passport Echo, a product of Aptiv Digital, Inc. Some markets had SARA (unsure who made that).

The new softwares is Digital Navigator, a product of internval development at Time Warner (unsure if Bright House helps develop it as well).

Two totally different companies developing software. In this case, Digital Navigator has been around for 2 years in limited market rollout, and in development long before that. Time Warner has had all that time to COPY all of the existing features and functionality out there. That was plenty of time for them to make the product at least as good as the version of Passport Echo they had deployed on boxes.

There is absolutely NO excuse for them deploying Digital Navigator in the horrible state it exists in currently. It's FAR worse then Passport Echo was about 3 years ago in terms of stability and ease of use.

Would you be a little more specific on the problems with Navigator? I may be halucinating but it seems, to me, much better and certainly more stable than the Psssport that preceeded it.

Easier to head over to the Navigator thread.

To start with you have the reverse search jump forward when you press play, no timecode when chase playing live shows, no frame advance, keyboard search that brings up multiple items with the identical titles, program summaries that are too short and also cutoff when viewed in your recordings list, channels constantly missing guide data, no "view this channel now" etc.

And I don't even have the caption crash bug that a lot of others have.

The Microsoft comparison is not valid. The old software is Passport Echo, a product of Aptiv Digital, Inc. Some markets had SARA (unsure who made that).

The new softwares is Digital Navigator, a product of internval development at Time Warner (unsure if Bright House helps develop it as well).

Two totally different companies developing software. In this case, Digital Navigator has been around for 2 years in limited market rollout, and in development long before that. Time Warner has had all that time to COPY all of the existing features and functionality out there. That was plenty of time for them to make the product at least as good as the version of Passport Echo they had deployed on boxes.

There is absolutely NO excuse for them deploying Digital Navigator in the horrible state it exists in currently. It's FAR worse then Passport Echo was about 3 years ago in terms of stability and ease of use.

SARA is made by Scientific Atlanta which is now owned by Cisco.

I am sorry to cause such a stir.
Sta11i0n, thanks for the info.

Regarding uprade to 8300, I meant the hardware update, not software. I almost have NO problems with 8300's operation, it got slower after they updated the software from whatever it was before this to the current Aptiv one. (Before was it Pioneer or something else?) Anyway, I really like the current OS or whatever you'd like to call it. It has a lot of options.

Those who complain about this version and features, have you ever used Cablevision's DVR? That thing is useless. It uses 500 for DVR and lacks a lot of options TWC has, eventhough it is the same box.

I was just referring to upgrades to the hardware like hard drive, connections etc.

On this box, does anyone use HDMI? Should I switch from component to HDMI?

I haven't seen mention anywhere of new hardware coming from Cisco/SciAtl. It might come at some point, but the 8300HD PVR offers all the hardware necessary to be current with the market offerings. A larger internal hard drive would be useful, but with the external hard drive option, it's not as important, and keeping the smaller internal drive keeps box costs down.

The box being slow is largely an effect of the software. Passport Echo was just as fast as my TiVo HD. The new Digital Navigator is at least 2x slower.

Is there a simple tutorial on getting larger HD via SATA? I got two 300GB hard drives with USB 2 and FW400 connections, I can probably open one of them and turn it into an external SATA drive.

Sorry to double post, but I just found this deal, it says 1TB eSATA external drive
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=208503758&adid=17070&dcaid=17070Fantom GreenDrive 1TB USB 2.0 and eSATA External Hard Drive - 2 Year Warranty! - GD1000EU $120

This is an incredible deal, what do you think?... Plus, I can keep my 300GB drives. :)

On this box, does anyone use HDMI? Should I switch from component to HDMI?

This is a question I hear often. I use HDMI for 2 reasons. 1) Its cleaner with just one cable 2) I listen to my TV through a surround sound system. These are really the only 2 times its worth it. Yes, HDMI has the ability to show a 1080p picture, but there are no 1080p broadcasts. So no, its not worth it for that reason. The picture quality it exactly the same between the two setups. As I said, the only REAL advantage is that HDMI will carry a 5.1 channel audio signal, but of course you won't hear that through stereo TV speakers. So it's really only worth it if a) you have a surround sound system and b) your TV can pass a Dolby Digital signal from the HDMI to Digital Audio Out port (not all TVs can so you may have to go direct from the STB to Reciever). Also, HDMI is considered a 3rd party application to most cable companies and they will be unable to troubleshoot most problems with it if you ever have any.

The moral of the story is, no, in most cases it's not worth it.

On this box, does anyone use HDMI? Should I switch from component to HDMI?We have an 8300HD in our home, but we don't have an AVR there, so we don't use HDMI. I do use HDMI with a bunch of other devices in another room where I have an AVR with surround speakers set up. I have a TiVo Series3, Xbox 360, PS3 and Toshiba HD DVD player all hooked up with HDMI, switched through an Onkyo AVR for both sound and video. One advantage is the reduction in physical cabling--just one A/V cable coming out of each of those things, instead of both a component video bundle and a coax or optical S/PDIF cable.

I strongly doubt that you'd get any better picture out of HDMI, though some people swear that they do. It has the potential to deliver a better picture, but it's highly dependent on the implementation of both HDMI source (the STB) and sink (the television).

Thanks.
My 8300HD is connected via Component, but the composite is still connected to my AV Receiver. I assume I would not be able to get 5.1 with this set up out of my A/V. So I was hoping I can use another method. I am not sure if my new TV has ability to pass 5.1 from HDMI to another output, but I will check that.

Back of the TV and the cabinet is like a jungle now.. Web of cables. :)
With two HDMI cables, I can reduce at least 2 set of components (10 connections)
PS3 to TV and Cable Box to TV.

PS3 has ability to send Video via HDMI and Audio via Optical in its setup. So I can easily switch that. I don't remember if 8300HD had optical, but I faintly remember seeing digital or optical back there, if it does, I can probably do the same thing? HDMI for Audio/Video to TV in the meantime Optical to AV/R.

I don't remember if 8300HD had optical, but I faintly remember seeing digital or optical back there, if it does, I can probably do the same thing? HDMI for Audio/Video to TV in the meantime Optical to AV/R.Yes--the 8300HD has both optical and coax S/PDIF connections. However, if you connect the TV via HDMI, you will probably not get surround sound out of the optical connection, unless you adjust a setting. By default, when HDMI is connected, the STB will ask the connected device what kind of sound it can handle, and your television will tell it that it can only handle 2 or 2.1 channel sound; that's what the STB will mix and that's all that will come out of any of its digital connections. (The designed use of HDMI with an AVR is to connect the source--STB--to the AVR and connect an HDMI cable from the AVR to the television, letting the AVR switch between multiple HDMI sources, playing the sound component of the currently selected source and forwarding the video the monitor).

There's an item in the Audio section of Passport's General Settings called "Digital Out". It has values for HDMI, DD5.1 and Stereo (I think); if you choose HDMI, it will mix digital audio according to the capabilities of the downstream HDMI device; if you use the setting to select fixed DD5.1 or fixed stereo sound, I believe that it won't put any sound on HDMI at all, assuming that you're going to use one of the S/PDIF connections for digital sound.

1) Yes. TWC is currently working on phasing out the Pasport software for the easier to use, and alot smoother, Navigator.Huh? I hadn't noticed this post before, but I'd like to point out that this is a bizarre and not commonly held opinion. Most people who used to have Passport have screamed bloody murder after being switched to Navigator--the town of Lincoln actually held public hearings to determine whether deployment of the brain-dead initial versions of Navigator that they were subjected to was cause to revoke their franchise deal with Time Warner and choose another cable provider (see this (http://journalstar.com/articles/2007/02/22/news/local/doc45dce8551dcd2874905526.txt) Lincoln Journal Star article). Though things are getting better, TWC has been torturing their customers over the past couple of years with this POS.

As a software engineer with over 15 years experience in user-interface implementation and design for consumer electronic devices, my not-so-humble opinion is that Navigator, while basically OK (when it works), is in no way "easier to use, and alot smoother" than Passport. As it matures and gets less buggy, which has taken it a couple of years, it's becoming acceptable, but Passport was actually good.

Thanks for the info Mike. I guess I will just have to try. My Receiver does not have HDMI input or output, it only has one video out which seems to be digital as it has RCA connection. Other than that, it doesn't have anything else. It is from 2001, what do you expect?

I probably will have to check newer receivers, since I really don't need a DVD player anymore.

For now, I guess I will stick to my setup and wont change much else since there will not be any difference in picture quality. I assume Component output from my PS3 to TV can handle 1080p.

You can use HDMI from the 8300HD directly to your television with an S/PDIF cable for sound if you want--just go into the audio section of Passport's General Settings and find that "Digital Output" item and set it to "Dolby 5.1".
I assume Component output from my PS3 to TV can handle 1080p.Apparently so, according to the PS3 Manual (on this (http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/current/settings/videooutput.html) page). Note that you will only get 1080p output of Blu-ray discs from the PS3 (or any other player) through HDMI; that's in compliance with AACS licensing (AACS is the content protection system used on Blu-ray discs).

This is a question I hear often. I use HDMI for 2 reasons. 1) Its cleaner with just one cable 2) I listen to my TV through a surround sound system. These are really the only 2 times its worth it. Yes, HDMI has the ability to show a 1080p picture, but there are no 1080p broadcasts. So no, its not worth it for that reason. The picture quality it exactly the same between the two setups. As I said, the only REAL advantage is that HDMI will carry a 5.1 channel audio signal, but of course you won't hear that through stereo TV speakers. So it's really only worth it if a) you have a surround sound system and b) your TV can pass a Dolby Digital signal from the HDMI to Digital Audio Out port (not all TVs can so you may have to go direct from the STB to Reciever). Also, HDMI is considered a 3rd party application to most cable companies and they will be unable to troubleshoot most problems with it if you ever have any.

The moral of the story is, no, in most cases it's not worth it.

In most cases, it's not worth it because of stupid HDCP issues. The handshaking issues is enough to drive most casual users crazy.

However, in my case, HDMI produces better picture. I know because my wife commented "what did you do to the TV?" when I switched from Component to HDMI. Being anal retentive, I tried two different component cables. Whether it's due to interference or what, in *my case* HDMI produces cleaner picture.

With component, you could see slight banding when the screen was mostly one (dark) color. YMMV.

However, in my case, HDMI produces better picture. I know because my wife commented "what did you do to the TV?" when I switched from Component to HDMI. Being anal retentive, I tried two different component cables. Whether it's due to interference or what, in *my case* HDMI produces cleaner picture.

With component, you could see slight banding when the screen was mostly one (dark) color. YMMV.


Same here, there is a noticeable dfference. I have a 62" screen maybe that accentuates the difference.

Is there a simple tutorial on getting larger HD via SATA? I got two 300GB hard drives with USB 2 and FW400 connections, I can probably open one of them and turn it into an external SATA drive.
Whole thread on 8300s and external drives.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14837443

/Dan

You can use HDMI from the 8300HD directly to your television with an S/PDIF cable for sound if you want--just go into the audio section of Passport's General Settings and find that "Digital Output" item and set it to "Dolby 5.1".
Apparently so, according to the PS3 Manual (on this (http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/current/settings/videooutput.html) page). Note that you will only get 1080p output of Blu-ray discs from the PS3 (or any other player) through HDMI; that's in compliance with AACS licensing (AACS is the content protection system used on Blu-ray discs).

No wonder... I guess I will still have to buy HDMI cables, while I am at it, I can just buy set of two. It was dirt cheap on buy.com for pack of 2 or 4, for like $15.

Same here, there is a noticeable dfference. I have a 62" screen maybe that accentuates the difference.It's not a difference that's necessarily there. It depends upon the implementation of HDMI in both the video source and the display. Your may see a real difference with the equipment that you're using while other may not and in some rare cases analog component video may look better.

:DThree Questions

1) Is TimeWarner thinking of updating the software or getting newer/better boxes instead of 8300HD furnace/slow tuning hunk? (I still love it)

2) Can I change the Grey sidebars to Black? I am using component to 1080p monitor. Aspect Ratio is set to Widescreen (16:9) Sidebar 4:3 picture. Output Formats 1080i and 720p. My TV doesn't sense that it is 4:3 picture, normally my TV senses antenna and zoom/adjusts it to fill screen, but on cable it doesn't sense it.

Edit: I fixed it. I just switched it to Widescreen (16:9) Stretch 4:3 picture, and it worked! :) I also turned off 480i. Do we really need it anyway? Here is another answer to my own question, YES we need it. If I do not leave 480i selected, I cannot view the picture with Black bars on the sides on my TV, because tv thinks it is HD and does not allow 4:3 viewing!

3) Why wouldn't anyone make a wiki or FAQ of 8300HD box? I noticed a lot of questions are getting asked over and over again.
I read some were that TWC in NYC are coming out with new boxs under the Cisco name. The numbers will be 8450,8550,8552 I dont remember were i read this or when they will be out??:D:o

They just messed up something, I think there was an update yesterday or the day before? Now it is having difficulty tuning to some channels.. Really weird! When I got home yesterday it was stuck on APTIV booting screen with 4 bars left, and was there for 10-15 minutes, then I just unplugged and rebooted it..

:D
I read some were that TWC in NYC are coming out with new boxs under the Cisco name. The numbers will be 8450,8550,8552 I dont remember were i read this or when they will be out??:D:o

I believe they will use the 85xx series. They might come out later this year. One awesome feature is a widescreen IPG. The cisco 85xx series can render 2.5D graphics at 960x540 which is 1/2 of 1080i. No more SD optimized guides on us HD users. The 8552 could be likely since TWC has signed up for MoCA. MoCA is basically ethernet over coax. It will require a 1 GHz cable plant due to it requiring a 50 MHz channel somewhere in the 864 to 950 MHz range. 1 GHz upgrades and analog reclaiming is what TWC has plans for. Only the 8552 can do that. Maybe they have an all digital 8542 which is an 8540 with the MoCA option.

The Cisco 4540HDC and 4550HDC have MoCA. MoCA will be used in the new Multi Room DVR option. You can stream your DVR's contents to other boxes. Watch 1 show in another room and finish it off in another. You will need 1 GHz cable equipment in order to use it.

I think my box started crapping up. Can I transfer my recordings over to a new box? Or from internal drive to external so I can keep them, or they won't play in another box?

I think my box started crapping up. Can I transfer my recordings over to a new box? Or from internal drive to external so I can keep them, or they won't play in another box?

No you can't transfer them since they are tied to that unit. You can however transfer them to a DVD recorder/VCR. Capturing them via firewire is possible as well but some channels use copy flags.

I didn't know about transferring them via Firewire. I thought it was only SATA port on the box. The only reason I kept my box when I moved was because of my movies in the box.. Because of that I missed a chance to have 1 month of free HBO..

Picked up a Samsung LN52A630 last night, put it in place of the Philips 42" plasma I had. Picture with the Blue Ray dvd is awesome, but when I hooked it up to the 8300, the 8300 defaulted to 480 resolution. When it was hooked up to the Philips via HDMI, it always stayed at 720. I've gone thru every setting (Resolution wizard, select 1080 and 720 only, then in Setup set resolution to "Fixed") and the resolution is 1080p with a great picture - until I turn of the 8300 and the Samsung. Turn everything back on and the 8300 goes back to 480. Only way I can get it back to 1080 is to turn it off and go thru the resolution Wizard again.

I'm guessing the 8300 isn't compatible with HDMI 1.3? The Philips was HDMI 1.1. I've since hooked up a 4240HDC and it's rock solid at 1080 via HDMI with a great picture. But of course, no DVR.

Do you think I can take the 8300 back to TWC and they can either patch the HDMI or give me an updated box?

Nevermind, I see you have posted in the SARA thread...

v/r,
C-F

Yes, sorry - wasn't sure if mine is SARA or Navigator (TWC in Austin).

I recently changed from component cables to an HDMI cable between my SA8300 box and my Sony A10 TV (3 years old). Since the change in cables, changing sttins takes forever. I haven't touched any of the settings. This is a 720p TV and my box is set for 720p. any ideas what happened?

Hey at least you can see some channels. The crappy box thinks my brand new TV does not have DHCP and blacks out the whole screen.

I also noticed there is a problem when first turned on, the sound and picture comes on late.

Did you try setting up everything to 1080i? I did this and now changing stations is much faster, because it forces all channels to go out at same resolution. PS: 720p TV can still display 1080i.
Also try forcing it to display everything at 480i, see if that helps at all.

Guys!

I just had my first encounter with the HCDP issue.

My 8300HD and my Sony KDL46-XBR3 LCD TV were hooked up on October 2006. Since that day I have never experience any problems, I was really satisfied with my cable set up. Tonight the nightmare started, I was watching the news on TV and all of the sudden the disturbing ALERT MESSAGE showed up on a black screen background, "Your HDTV does not support HDCP. Please use the YPbPr component connection to watch TV".

I call my local cable company, ONELINK, and the said that the got in the past four calls from subscribers with the same problem and after trobleshooting they found out that one customer had a faulty HDMI connector on the 8300HD and the three others had bad HDMI cable connectors.

Well, I started switching the HDMI cable coming from the 8300HD on all the three HDMI inputs in my Sony LCD and still showing the HCDP alert message.

Then I decieded to replace the HDMI cable with a brand new one I have as spare cable and still gettin' the alert.

I also connected the HDMI output from my Sony Blu-ray player to the TV HDMI input where the 8300HD was connected to and I got a beatifully picture from the Blu-ray player. So it is not the HDMI cable, it is not the Sony LCD TV HDMI connector, maybe the HDMI output connector on the back of the 8300HD is faulty!!!!! But after 2 years, just like that?

Anyway they offer me a brand new 8300HD as a replacement, I will pick it up tomorrow afternoon after work.

Any other experiences or advice from all of you?

Thanks!!!!

I call my local cable company, ONELINK, and the said that the got in the past four calls from subscribers with the same problem and after trobleshooting they found out that one customer had a faulty HDMI connector on the 8300HD and the three others had bad HDMI cable connectors.


The problem is the implementation of HDCP in the 8300 HDMI and the handshake between the box and the TV. The physical HDMI hardware is very very rarely at fault. So CS is just giving you the easiest answer they can think of probably because they don't know any better.

If it happens again try switching inputs on the TV or powering the devices on in a different order.

The 8300 box does the same thing when loaded with Navigator if it doesn't like the way you powered on. Except now it's "your TV does not appear to accept DVI signals please connect with component."

Yes, it says "DVI" even though it's using HDMI.

Have they pushed through some new software recently?

Thanks for your comments!

I have no idea if they pushed an update today. This morning before leaving home it was OK as usual, no issue. I also asked CS about recent updates and they said that they have not pushed any update recently.

Anyway I removed the HDMI cable from the system and tomorrow I am going to reconnect it again to see how it goes. Also I am thinking about getting an additional 8300 HD for my Home Theater dedicated projection room (I was going to do it anyway) before getting the replacement 8300HD they offer today.

That way I will see if the additional 8300HD shows the same issue with my Sony LCD TV or the Sony Front proyector (ceiling mounted - Home Theater Room)

Regards!!!

To All,

Also is important to make clear that it happenned (HCDP issue) after watching TV for more than an hour or so!!!!!

I tried following the instrns in 8300HD forum to remove horizontal bars.. but the guide and info button press doesnt get me the results.. has anyone been successful in this.. what r the steps to be followed when using a Passport (echo) s/w based 8300hd...
also have asked this qun in the 8300hd tips and tricks forum as well.. but has anyone else been successful using both HDMI outputs and other outputs (s-video, component or composite) at the same time.. unless i unplug the hdmi, the rest dont work...

Just reposting the question, so that someone could answer this for me..


Passport, 8300HD removing horizontal bars
I tried following the instrns in 8300HD forum to remove horizontal bars.. but the guide and info button press doesnt get me the results.. has anyone been successful in this.. what r the steps to be followed when using a Passport (echo) s/w based 8300hd...

also have asked this qun in the 8300hd tips and tricks forum as well.. but has anyone else been successful using both HDMI outputs and other outputs (s-video, component or composite) at the same time.. unless i unplug the hdmi, the rest dont work...

Just reposting the question, so that someone could answer this for me..


Passport, 8300HD removing horizontal bars
I tried following the instrns in 8300HD forum to remove horizontal bars.. but the guide and info button press doesnt get me the results.. has anyone been successful in this.. what r the steps to be followed when using a Passport (echo) s/w based 8300hd...

also have asked this qun in the 8300hd tips and tricks forum as well.. but has anyone else been successful using both HDMI outputs and other outputs (s-video, component or composite) at the same time.. unless i unplug the hdmi, the rest dont work...


You mean the bars on the side when watching SD content?

Go to setup and change your aspect ratio to 4:3 (not 16:9) I know it doesn't make sense but that'll get rid of the bars.

I am having issues recording with the ComCast DVR Explorer-8300HD

some of my recordings will lock up mid-way thru while viewing them. If I try to PLAy and/or FF eventually the DVR will re-boot. A more common problem I am having, I am getting more and more incomplete recordings - meaning for 1-hou programs the DVR is recording anywhere from 1minute to 52minutes. as mentioned this is becoming more and more common.

I have had the DVR for almost a year with no issues. I am not using a 2nd/external drive. I have re-booted several times, in addition to the DVR re-booting itself. any and all assistance will be appreciated.

I used to be able to use the HDMI and Component at the same time and send a signal to 2 different sets. Now I get no picture on the set with components if the HDMI cable is plugged in. Is there anyway around this?
Thanks

i'm on my 2nd unit of the Harmony One (had to return the first unit).

previously, everything seemed to work reasonably well, but now, with the IDENTICAL set up via the PC software (i didn't change anything, just downloaded the identical set up to the new, 2nd unit of Harmony One), my 8300HD PVR from Time Warner/Scientific Atlantic is not working properly. Details follow:

- say i'm viewing a recorded program, and i wish to rewind for a short bit, roughly 30 seconds.

- now that the rewinding has been completed, i press the play button to be able to view the last short bit again. BUT, the play button wouldn't be immediately recognized by the 8300HD Scientific Atlanta/Time Warner pvr!

pressing the play button once wouldn't stop the rewinding, as a result, the 8300HD is STILL rewinding, causing a gross "overshoot" of how far back i want to go.

now, please understand that this is the identical set up as i had previously (it's saved on my profile via the software on my pc). all i did was plug the USB in and re-downloaded the set up to my 2nd unit of the Harmony One (having returned my first unit).

may i ask why this is happening?

thx in advance.

i'm on my 2nd unit of the Harmony One (had to return the first unit).

previously, everything seemed to work reasonably well, but now, with the IDENTICAL set up via the PC software (i didn't change anything, just downloaded the identical set up to the new, 2nd unit of Harmony One), my 8300HD PVR from Time Warner/Scientific Atlantic is not working properly. Details follow:

- say i'm viewing a recorded program, and i wish to rewind for a short bit, roughly 30 seconds.

- now that the rewinding has been completed, i press the play button to be able to view the last short bit again. BUT, the play button wouldn't be immediately recognized by the 8300HD Scientific Atlanta/Time Warner pvr!

pressing the play button once wouldn't stop the rewinding, as a result, the 8300HD is STILL rewinding, causing a gross "overshoot" of how far back i want to go.

now, please understand that this is the identical set up as i had previously (it's saved on my profile via the software on my pc). all i did was plug the USB in and re-downloaded the set up to my 2nd unit of the Harmony One (having returned my first unit).

may i ask why this is happening?


You can ask but you probably won't get an answer. This thread is almost dead. You should troubleshoot the issue in the Harmony One thread because even though the setup may be identical this sounds like an IR problem. If the timing isn't off then Harmony may have changed something in their database or firmware which could also screw it up.

For everyone else still posting you should be aware this is the thread only for Passport on Time Warner. Since Passport is being replaced in the vast number of markets traffic for this thread is dying out.

Verify you have Passport and not Navigator or SARA IPG and have Time Warner before making your post here, because there are better trafficked threads for those topics. If you are sure you have Passport you would be better served by searching the thread because most issues have been covered extensively. Waiting for someone to revisit here might leave you hanging.

May i ask if my 8300HD from Time Warner is Passport, does that mean that at some point in time, they will "push" Sara to me?

some have said that everything is going to be Sara so the units with Passport are sort of being phased out.

if Sara doesn't get "pushed" to me/my 8300HD, is it worth it for me to go to Time Warner and exchange it? i do NOT wish to get the newer 8300HDC as a replacement, having heard many complaints about it.

thx in advance.

May i ask if my 8300HD from Time Warner is Passport, does that mean that at some point in time, they will "push" Sara to me?

some have said that everything is going to be Sara so the units with Passport are sort of being phased out.

if Sara doesn't get "pushed" to me/my 8300HD, is it worth it for me to go to Time Warner and exchange it? i do NOT wish to get the newer 8300HDC as a replacement, having heard many complaints about it.

thx in advance.

Couple of things. Your box will be upgraded to SARA whenever the Time Warner decides to do it in your area. It, usually, happens in the middle of the night and it has nothing to do with a box exchange or anything you do physically. And, actually, (I can't beleive I'm saying this) the current version of (NAVIGATOR is more likely) (Mystro) has been quite good.

More likely to get NAVIGATOR (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=723830).

v/r,
C-F

Couple of things. Your box will be upgraded to SARA whenever the Time Warner decides to do it in your area. It, usually, happens in the middle of the night and it has nothing to do with a box exchange or anything you do physically. And, actually, (I can't beleive I'm saying this) the current version of SARA (Mystro) has been quite good.Mystro (aka Digital Navigator) is most certainly NOT SARA. It was created by a small company in Colorado who were bought by TWC once they decided to go with that IPG. They began distributing it in test markets about 2 and a half years ago. It was terribly buggy at first but in the last several months has begun to shape up.

There are two version of Digital Navigator ("Mystro"). The original version, created to run on legacy SA boxes, is called MDN, for "Mystro Digital Navigator". The follow on version, created to run on the Open Cable Applications Platform (OCAP) is call ODN, for "OCAP Digital Navigator". ODN currently runs on the CableCARD-equipped Cisco/SA boxes whose model numbers end in "C"--Explorer 8300HDC, Explorer 8250HDC, Explorer 4250HDC, etc. It should run on the coming wave of <tru2way> compliant retail products--televisions and set top boxes which will download and run the cable providers' program guides internally, with all the interactive features thereof (PPV, VOD and anything else they come up with) without the need for a leased box. Samsung has been showing <tru2way> televisions running ODN at product shows for the last couple of years and Panasonic <tru2way> complaint sets are on sale in a couple of test markets where one of the cable providers is prepared to support them.

Digital Navigator has been compatible with systems running Passport from the beginning, and locally they rolled out the new "C" boxes preloaded with it long before they pushed it to the legacy boxes. (FCC regulations prohibited all of the cable providers from buying any more STBs for lease which did not use CableCARDs for conditional access after 1 July 2007, so all new boxes purchased in SA systems have been "C" models since that time).

Mystro (aka Digital Navigator) is most certainly NOT SARA. It was created by a small company in Colorado who were bought by TWC once they decided to go with that IPG. They began distributing it in test markets about 2 and a half years ago. It was terribly buggy at first but in the last several months has begun to shape up.

There are two version of Digital Navigator ("Mystro"). The original version, created to run on legacy SA boxes, is called MDN, for "Mystro Digital Navigator". The follow on version, created to run on the Open Cable Applications Platform (OCAP) is call ODN, for "OCAP Digital Navigator". ODN currently runs on the CableCARD-equipped Cisco/SA boxes whose model numbers end in "C"--Explorer 8300HDC, Explorer 8250HDC, Explorer 4250HDC, etc. It should run on the coming wave of <tru2way> compliant retail products--televisions and set top boxes which will download and run the cable providers' program guides internally, with all the interactive features thereof (PPV, VOD and anything else they come up with) without the need for a leased box. Samsung has been showing <tru2way> televisions running ODN at product shows for the last couple of years and Panasonic <tru2way> complaint sets are on sale in a couple of test markets where one of the cable providers is prepared to support them.

Digital Navigator has been compatible with systems running Passport from the beginning, and locally they rolled out the new "C" boxes preloaded with it long before they pushed it to the legacy boxes. (FCC regulations prohibited all of the cable providers from buying any more STBs for lease which did not use CableCARDs for conditional access after 1 July 2007, so all new boxes purchased in SA systems have been "C" models since that time).

Very good summation.

There's stuff about <tru2way> I'm not sure I understand. It seems it doesn't require any hardware (cable card or similar type device) from the local cable co, so does that mean it implements (DCAS??) the "software based" authorization that was talked about a long while back?

Dare I say the vast majority of us who venture here use DVRs, but I can't recall hearing about a <tru2way> DVR. Do we know anything about any plans on TiVos part to go to a <tru2way> based DVR? From what I have read, with FIOS renting 2 cable cards is not cheap (~$8/mon). Or maybe by the time I have the FIOS option, M-cards may be actually available (in my market).

i just rebooted my 8300HD for the express purpose of finding out the software - how would i do that? the only way i know how is to push the on/off button in the front and hold it until the display says: BOOT, and then it goes through a 3-minute or so cycle of rebooting. i did not get to see any "version" numbers though for the software.

i saw that it said: Passport, ECHO, Aptiva

what does that mean? the date at the bottom said: 2002-2006.

everyone is saying that this is very old software that is being phased out. i'm in Manhattan (southern). what can one do to get newer software? after asking around, i've decided that the 8300HDC is NOT what i'd want - there are seemingly as many downsides are there are upsides, so i don't think i need or want the collateral frustrations that would likely come with the new HDC.

any suggestions/advice on what i can do to have newer software would be most appreciated.

Thx in advance!

There's stuff about <tru2way> I'm not sure I understand. It seems it doesn't require any hardware (cable card or similar type device) from the local cable co, so does that mean it implements (DCAS??) the "software based" authorization that was talked about a long while back?Where'd you read that? DCAS development seems to have run into major problems--I read a quote from one cable company exec expressing the opinion that they'd be stuck with M-Cards for quite some time. CableLabs tends to keep discussion of separable security mechanisms (CableCARD, DCAS) and interactive service platforms (OCAP, now known as <tru2way>) separate. I don't think that they want people to make the association between <tru2way> and CableCARD, since if they ever get DCAS done, the cable providers will gleefully switch to that (the cards have been a maintenance headache).
Dare I say the vast majority of us who venture here use DVRs, but I can't recall hearing about a <tru2way> DVR.One of the advantages of <tru2way> for the cable providers is that it frees them from having to buy their leased equipment from a single source (for the most part). Cable systems which have a <tru2way> IPG will be able to buy <tru2way> boxes to lease from any CE OEM, which should get them much better deals. The "C-model" Cisco boxes are very nearly <tru2way> compliant and the Samsung boxes that it's been rumoured that TWC will be getting soon are <tru2way> compliant and will probably be available in nearly identical form at retail.
Do we know anything about any plans on TiVos part to go to a <tru2way> based DVR?From TiVo's 3Q07 report:
In addition, as a result of our constructive conversations, TiVo and the cable industry have come to an agreement on a blueprint for a retail TiVo DVR using the cable industry's OpenCable Application Platform that will have full two-way cable service functionality. While the technical specifications are still being worked out, such a set-top box will mean TiVo subscribers will be able to get full access to cable VOD and other two-way cable services. This could also mean that a standalone TiVo offering could fully substitute for a cable operator set-top box. This understanding was communicated yesterday to the FCC through an ex parte filing by TiVo. We believe that this dialogue with the cable industry has been very constructive, and demonstrates the cable industry's genuine desire to work with TiVo, not to mention the clear recognition that TiVo is an important offering for cable subscribers.So, TiVo's next major product release would look to be something <tru2way> compliant. I've read the mentioned ex parte filing with the FCC and it describes a box with a "cable mode", giving access to all interactive cable services (PPV, VOD, etc) through your cable provider's downloaded GUI (Interactive Progam Guide), but the mode would have no ability to record or access to TiVo's recordings. It would also have a "TiVo mode", featuring TiVo's GUI with recording and no access to any of the cable provider's interactive service (except SDV, insofar as it qualifies as an "interactive service" :rolleyes:). I presume that this proposed "Series4 TiVo" would present itself as a non-recording device to the cable system, like a <tru2way> compliant television, so the downloaded cable system IPG wouldn't offer any recording functions to the user.

TiVo hasn't made any formal announcement, but I'd be surprised if such a product doesn't crop up by next Spring.
From what I have read, with FIOS renting 2 cable cards is not cheap (~$8/mon). Or maybe by the time I have the FIOS option, M-cards may be actually available (in my market).I don't think that anyone even makes S-Cards any more. The principle consumer of CableCARDs is the cable industry and since 1 July 2007, they've had to use them in every leased box. So far, they've used a thousand times so many CableCARDs in their leased boxes as they ever leased individual cards to subs, and AFAIK, they only use M-Cards in their boxes (even their dual-tuner boxes have only a single CableCARD slot). Since M-Cards have to have a single-stream mode for compatibility, it no longer makes any sense to manufacture them, since they'd have to charge more for S-Cards, given the relative sales volume. (I have two M-Cards from TWC in my TiVo Series3).

what can one do to get newer software?If I were you, I'd enjoy Passport while it lasts. Eventually they'll get around to pushing Navigator into your legacy box. AFAIK, Navigator doesn't do much of anything that Passport doesn't and Passport does some things that it doesn't (many of the things that they do in common, Passport does better).

TWC's reasons for going to Navigator have little to do with immediately increasing customer satisfaction :rolleyes:. They're promising a number of number of new interactive features in the future; those, coupled with faster boxes (or your own <tru2way> equipment) might eventually make it superior to Passport, but there are no guarantees.

Where'd you read that?

Didn't... from what you explain, it seems one DOES need some form of cable-card even for <tru2way>. I had somehow gotten the mistaken notion <tru2way> did NOT need a card; thus it "must" use a software based, downloadable security system.

As for the cards, I read that folks going FIOS in my market are having to "rent" 2 s-cards because m-cards are "not available." But I DO have time to wait on that, it's looking third quarter-ish for FIOS to arrive in my nabe.

Thanks for the info...

i saw that it said: Passport, ECHO, Aptiva

what does that mean? the date at the bottom said: 2002-2006.


It means you are running the exact same hardware/software I am. As Mike Scott wrote, be happy. Rumor has it that in our market, it may be a while before they force MDN on those who have the hardware you have. At this point, MDN seems to be performing almost better than ODN, but I don't think it can deliver all the same features ODN can (is that correct... MDN can't do OCAP, can it?)

HAHAH, just thought I'd wake this thread from the dead for everyone in So Cal, where my passport peeps at?? We got flyers in the mail MONTHS ago and still no navigator. Passport for life here I guess, lol.

I think it's still very much possible. It will probably be done after NYC's rollout. There are some areas of Wisconsin that still use Passport.

I live in NYC. I hate Vostro (forgive spelling). Is it worth it to try and exchange my 8300HDC for a new Samsung?

HAHAH, just thought I'd wake this thread from the dead for everyone in So Cal, where my passport peeps at?? We got flyers in the mail MONTHS ago and still no navigator. Passport for life here I guess, lol.

Well, aren't you lucky! :D:D:D

HAHAH, just thought I'd wake this thread from the dead for everyone in So Cal, where my passport peeps at?? We got flyers in the mail MONTHS ago and still no navigator. Passport for life here I guess, lol.Same for city of Orange. I was in the local office swapping a bad remote and asked. The guy was dumbfounded what I was asking about and asked the guy next to him. He pointed at the TV in the office and said "like this" and he flashed the menus. They have Navigator in the office. He said that they are swapping a few hundred at a time continuously through-out the city. He talked confidently, but I still did not believe. /Dan

Hi All: i'm in Manhattan with Time Warner cable's HD, using the Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300HD, and only several days ago, had new software "pushed down" into my box without any warning - i suppose this is the way it always is?

almost immediately, i noticed that when i hit the swap button to swap between the 2 tuners, i.e. go from channel x on Tuner A to channel y on Tuner B, one channel always gets "stuck".

so, if i have channel 713 on Tuner A and channel 778 on Tuner B, if i changed Tuner B's channel from 778 to, say, 704, then when i hit the tuner swap button, i'd get some weird previous channel, like 778 instead of 713.

i want to distinguish between "tuner swap" function and "previous channel" channel. i programmed the two on different buttons on my Logitech remote and it was working perfectly prior to the software update.

may i ask if anyone knows what's going on with this new software? thx in advance.

Hi All: i'm in Manhattan with Time Warner cable's HD, using the Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300HD, and only several days ago, had new software "pushed down" into my box without any warning - i suppose this is the way it always is?

almost immediately, i noticed that when i hit the swap button to swap between the 2 tuners, i.e. go from channel x on Tuner A to channel y on Tuner B, one channel always gets "stuck".

so, if i have channel 713 on Tuner A and channel 778 on Tuner B, if i changed Tuner B's channel from 778 to, say, 704, then when i hit the tuner swap button, i'd get some weird previous channel, like 778 instead of 713.

i want to distinguish between "tuner swap" function and "previous channel" channel. i programmed the two on different buttons on my Logitech remote and it was working perfectly prior to the software update.

may i ask if anyone knows what's going on with this new software? thx in advance.

The new software has a different "logic". The logic actually makes sense for the majority of people but you need to understand it to handle the swapping of tuners. We will call them Tuner A and Tuner B. You are watching channel 2 on A (active) and you swap to B (now active) and watch channel 4. So A (inactive)=2, B (active)=4. When you change channels, the channel you are leaving goes to the other inactive tuner and your new channel goes to the current active tuner. So you are watching A (active)=2 and you change it to channel 5. Now A (active)=5 and B (inactive)=2 and your old B tuner on channel 4 is now changed. Turns out the SWAP and LAST really do the same thing now. Where this makes sense is if you are watching Ch 2 and change to channel 4. You can go back to Ch 2 (any way you want) and the buffer is still there. If you then change to Ch 5 you can go back to ch 4 buffer, but ch 2 stops buffering. This is without "swapping" just normal watching. I also got used to the Passport way, but the new way I can accept (not like some other features) now that I know how it works. So, hard to explain, but basically the channel you leave goes to the inactive buffer and the new channel goes to the active buffer clearing out what was in the inactive buffer.

Also (I have not tried it) if you leave PIP open, the second tuner will not change. Makes sense since it is being used. But, PIP cannot be made small.

/Dan (see TWC Navigator thread on AVSForum - http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=723830 )

The new software has a different "logic". The logic actually makes sense for the majority of people but you need to understand it to handle the swapping of tuners. We will call them Tuner A and Tuner B. You are watching channel 2 on A (active) and you swap to B (now active) and watch channel 4. So A (inactive)=2, B (active)=4. When you change channels, the channel you are leaving goes to the other inactive tuner and your new channel goes to the current active tuner. So you are watching A (active)=2 and you change it to channel 5. Now A (active)=5 and B (inactive)=2 and your old B tuner on channel 4 is now changed. Turns out the SWAP and LAST really do the same thing now. Where this makes sense is if you are watching Ch 2 and change to channel 4. You can go back to Ch 2 (any way you want) and the buffer is still there. If you then change to Ch 5 you can go back to ch 4 buffer, but ch 2 stops buffering. This is without "swapping" just normal watching. I also got used to the Passport way, but the new way I can accept (not like some other features) now that I know how it works. So, hard to explain, but basically the channel you leave goes to the inactive buffer and the new channel goes to the active buffer clearing out what was in the inactive buffer.

Also (I have not tried it) if you leave PIP open, the second tuner will not change. Makes sense since it is being used. But, PIP cannot be made small.

/Dan (see TWC Navigator thread on AVSForum - http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=723830 )

Dan: many thx for your explanation. i need to try it out thoroughly tonight.

what is the benefit of this "new method"? i don't get it yet.

in the "old method" (old as in merely a few days ago for me, as i only got this forced download/update of software a few days ago), tuner A and tuner B were BOTH buffering. how can that be improved upon? i could, in the past, go to either tuner A or tuner B and rewind!

so, i'm still stumped as to what advantages there are to this new method! thx in advance for being so helpful.

Dan: many thx for your explanation. i need to try it out thoroughly tonight.

what is the benefit of this "new method"? i don't get it yet.

in the "old method" (old as in merely a few days ago for me, as i only got this forced download/update of software a few days ago), tuner A and tuner B were BOTH buffering. how can that be improved upon? i could, in the past, go to either tuner A or tuner B and rewind!

so, i'm still stumped as to what advantages there are to this new method! thx in advance for being so helpful.

For us probably not as useful. For the general viewer they can go back at any time to what they were previously viewing last and still have a buffer. I have accidently changed channels and lost the buffer with Passport. Now, I can jump back and it is still there (I know rarely happens). Again, for 1% of the people (which includes us) less useful. But in general probably better (I am a glass half full type of person). I was really a good "swapper" and liked the inactive buffer staying where it was since I knew where it was. Some other changes, no matter how I think of the logic, are not helpful for anyone (specially the time stamps or lack thereof when buffering). /Dan

For us probably not as useful. For the general viewer they can go back at any time to what they were previously viewing last and still have a buffer. I have accidently changed channels and lost the buffer with Passport. Now, I can jump back and it is still there (I know rarely happens). Again, for 1% of the people (which includes us) less useful. But in general probably better (I am a glass half full type of person). I was really a good "swapper" and liked the inactive buffer staying where it was since I knew where it was. Some other changes, no matter how I think of the logic, are not helpful for anyone (specially the time stamps or lack thereof when buffering). /Dan

Mmm...does that mean that IF we wanted the "old method" back, we can sort of emulate it by making TWO channel changes?

For example: Currently watching Tuner A Ch 2; Tuner B is on Ch 4.

if i want to now have 4 STAY, but change the channel i'm currently watch (i.e. 2) to Ch 7, how can that be done??

in the old system, it was simple! merely click 7 and Tuner A will be changed to 7, and Tuner B will remain untouched with a BIG buffer as it hasn't been touched in a long time.

i think you said that everytime we change a channel, it is TUNER B that changes, right?

ugh. so complicated to understand. wonder why i'm having such a mental block!

I was upgraded today, unwillingly I might add. I liked the old software.

Now I can't fast forward in 15 minute chunks.

Does anyone know of a way of doing this?

It is a real drag wanting to watch the last 20 minutes of a 3 hour programm and having to sit there with the box moving at olny x3. Using the fast forward take a good while now.

so, i'm still stumped as to what advantages there are to this new method!IMHO, there are none :rolleyes:. We were recently discussing this in the Navigator thread here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16897295#post16897295). In both Passport and TiVo the tuners are separate. If you're watching something on Tuner A live and Tuner B's not being used for a recording, when you hit an ad break, you can use a single remote key to switch to Tuner B and channel surf and that same key to switch back. This is extremely useful.

You might want to move your complaints about Navigator over to the Navigator thread--just a suggestion :).

For us probably not as useful. For the general viewer they can go back at any time to what they were previously viewing last and still have a buffer. I have accidently changed channels and lost the buffer with Passport. Now, I can jump back and it is still there (I know rarely happens). Again, for 1% of the people (which includes us) less useful. But in general probably better (I am a glass half full type of person). I was really a good "swapper" and liked the inactive buffer staying where it was since I knew where it was. Some other changes, no matter how I think of the logic, are not helpful for anyone (specially the time stamps or lack thereof when buffering). /Dan

Well, I understood the Passport logic and it worked just fine and I got really used to it. To get the result I like, I have to be a lot more careful now... it's much easier to wipe out a buffer.

i.e. you can get 2 tuners buffering at the same time and I think you are able to RW each of them like I used to be able to do... BUT I haven't tested that specifically. Yet.

BUT it seems one can NOT set one buffering to one channel and surf around on the other tuner. You could in Passport and I did use to do that a lot.

I was upgraded today, unwillingly I might add. I liked the old software.

Now I can't fast forward in 15 minute chunks.

Does anyone know of a way of doing this?

It is a real drag wanting to watch the last 20 minutes of a 3 hour programm and having to sit there with the box moving at olny x3. Using the fast forward take a good while now.

You now have Navigator. Press and hold the FF button for about 5 seconds. It does a jump to the 15 minute marks of the show.

You now have Navigator. Press and hold the FF button for about 5 seconds. It does a jump to the 15 minute marks of the show.

Ah, thanks, I was looking for that bit of info...

Well, I understood the Passport logic and it worked just fine and I got really used to it. To get the result I like, I have to be a lot more careful now... it's much easier to wipe out a buffer.

i.e. you can get 2 tuners buffering at the same time and I think you are able to RW each of them like I used to be able to do... BUT I haven't tested that specifically. Yet.

BUT it seems one can NOT set one buffering to one channel and surf around on the other tuner. You could in Passport and I did use to do that a lot.

RiversideGuy: thx for your reply.

Since we don't have a choice now with the new software, may i reverse the question and ask instead:

how can we "best" use the new software with its "non-surfable" and "less easy to return to Ch A and Ch B quickly (and back and forth) system?

i cannot seem to get this to working in any meaningful way. i have to think that these software guys must think that this is an advantage, right? otherwise, they wouldn't have made the change!

look forward to hearing answer(s) here.

RiversideGuy: thx for your reply.

Since we don't have a choice now with the new software, may i reverse the question and ask instead:

how can we "best" use the new software with its "non-surfable" and "less easy to return to Ch A and Ch B quickly (and back and forth) system?

i cannot seem to get this to working in any meaningful way. i have to think that these software guys must think that this is an advantage, right? otherwise, they wouldn't have made the change!

look forward to hearing answer(s) here.
I tested this out some last night since I was talking about it and hadn't come up with my method yet. When you need to channel surf while locking one channel on one tuner, I would swap the one I want to keep to the "back" tuner and turn on PIP. That locks the back tuner and you can surf all you want on "front" tuner. Swap puts you back and then turn off PIP. Benefit is you can see when you want to swap back on the PIP. Not as good for us "swap & buffer junkies" but I do actually see the benefit of this new way for the average user (unlike most of the other "differences" form Passport which are a limitation for ALL). /Dan

You now have Navigator. Press and hold the FF button for about 5 seconds. It does a jump to the 15 minute marks of the show.
I have been noticing mine has been jumping 15 minutes in time and not to 15 minute marks (if marks were actually there). Also, may differ between live and recorded. I need to carefully examine but now I am thinking live might be 15 minute steps and recorded 15 minute marks? I know when I let the new get buffered and I want to go to the beginning it has been stepping not in 15 minute "marks" and I miss the on-the-hour start point. Wish marks and time stamp were useful. With a time mark at the pointer which includes seconds was useful. Timeless marks like we have now are close to useless.

This is the Passport thread and should be dying out as we move. Might want to direct new questions to the Navigator thread. Lot of sympathy from the Navigator users for the new Navigator users like us there.

/Dan

i cannot seem to get this to working in any meaningful way. i have to think that these software guys must think that this is an advantage, right? otherwise, they wouldn't have made the change!It's not a "change" since this is completely different firmware designed and implemented by different people. Not everyone whom they're switching to this new software has Passport--people whose boxes were running SARA (probably the majority of TWC subs nationwide) didn't have that feature in the first place.

folks have been mentioning the availability of some new Samsung DVR at Time Warner 23rd Street. May i know what model of if there's a link to what is actually available so i can read up on it first? is it really "better" than my current 8300HD? i've had this 8300HD for quite some time, maybe over 2 or 3 years even!

thx in advance.

PS: any other models at 23rd street Time Warner besides the Samsung that's worth getting?

Except he's in NYC and you know we had Passport! Besides, doesn't matter how, if it's different, it's a change to that person. I think the issue is he is wanting and trying to get it working the way it did before the change and he can't.

Far as I can tell so far, one can NOT "lock" either tuner. Yes, the "back" tuner will hold while one surfs on the "front" tuner. As soon as you swap front and back, the new back one will show the last channel you surfed to. Some may claim they are giving us a new feature... it ain't.

I think the issue is that we've all grown very accustomed to a host of little details of how the DVR operates. Now, pretty much all of those "little details" are going to be different. I'm annoyed because while there cetainly are 2-3-4 "little details" that are better (like one press on thew forward button to to slo-mo, vs. a quick 2 button press that only worked after 2-3 tries), there are dozens that feel like a big step backward (no saved searches).

Reminds me, the was a lot of talk about no keyword search (like in Passport). Now that I have played with MDN it seems the real issue is being able to save a search when there's no instance of it happening. In Passport, one could enter search terms and if none were found, one could essentially make a series recording out of it. When the schedule showed that word, it would schedule it to be recorded.

HOWEVER, can't say for sure yet, but I think MDN will find the word even if buried in the text IF IT APPEARS. I need to play with that more... so far it seems to find way too many hits for some of the phrases I have used... I suspect it's finding instances of each word and NOT ranking the results as we'd expect (we who use computers extensively). IMAGINE how wonderful it would be if Google ran TWC!!

Except he's in NYC and you know we had Passport! Besides, doesn't matter how, if it's different, it's a change to that person. I think the issue is he is wanting and trying to get it working the way it did before the change and he can't.eieio said, "i have to think that these software guys must think that this is an advantage, right? otherwise, they wouldn't have made the change!" Since Navigator never worked the way that Passport did, no change was made to make it work the way that it does. The "change" is from Passport to Navigator, two separate, independently developed software systems. They didn't "change" Passport into Navigator, omitting old features and adding new ones. The people who designed Navigator probably never used Passport or were at all familiar with its features.
Far as I can tell so far, one can NOT "lock" either tuner. Yes, the "back" tuner will hold while one surfs on the "front" tuner.Huh. They way that I understood it, every time that you change the channel, it tunes the new channel on the back tuner and swaps, so it's still buffering the channel you were just viewing on what has now become the back tuner. It can't do that if it's creating a permanent recording with the back tuner, or if you have a PIP displayed.

Sorry to keep hounding on this issue:

may i ask if someone would be so kind as to educate me on how best to get a Samsung dvr box at 23rd street Time Warner? i mean, you really don't know what inventory they have there, right? we can't call, and going there means unplugging every cable from my 8300HD and lugging it there - which is fine IF they have a Samsung box there. if they do not, then it means coming back home, plugging everything back in, and then going to 23rd street again another day.

it is just like trial and error? it seems like an awful lot of work to go through to just "see if they have a Samsung" in stock.

btw, are there downsides to swapping my 8300HD for a Samsung? i recall in the early days a few years ago, every new model of dvr that came out had so many bugs that folks were advising to not change boxes till the dust settled.

thx in advance.

Sorry to keep hounding on this issue:

may i ask if someone would be so kind as to educate me on how best to get a Samsung dvr box at 23rd street Time Warner? i mean, you really don't know what inventory they have there, right? we can't call, and going there means unplugging every cable from my 8300HD and lugging it there - which is fine IF they have a Samsung box there. if they do not, then it means coming back home, plugging everything back in, and then going to 23rd street again another day.

it is just like trial and error? it seems like an awful lot of work to go through to just "see if they have a Samsung" in stock.

btw, are there downsides to swapping my 8300HD for a Samsung? i recall in the early days a few years ago, every new model of dvr that came out had so many bugs that folks were advising to not change boxes till the dust settled.

thx in advance.

If you're content with the puny 160G drive, it seems that they are available for one maybe two times each week. Show up every day with your previous box in hand and I'd say by weeks end you'd have a 3090.

Might take a month or so if you want a 320G 3090. OR get the 160G and swap the internal drive out.

btw, are there downsides to swapping my 8300HD for a Samsung? i recall in the early days a few years ago, every new model of dvr that came out had so many bugs that folks were advising to not change boxes till the dust settled.Don't ask for a new model STB unless you have the spirit of adventure :).

As I understand it, TWC has deployed the Samsung SMT-H3090 in some markets, but it's already due to be replaced by the SMT-H3270, which hasn't quite been rolled out yet. If I were you, I'd at least wait for that to appear and then probably five or six months to let other people shake the bugs out of it.

What's your motive for the switch? If you can't get a unit with a bigger drive, it's probably not worthwhile (it should run the guide faster in any case, but that hardly seems worth the trouble).

(BTW, RSG, cracking the case of a piece of cable service provider owned equipment is an act of vandalism for which you could conceivably be prosecuted--in any case, they won't be pleased if they find out and will no doubt make you pay somehow. Though you'd probably get away with it, I wouldn't advise it).

You now have Navigator. Press and hold the FF button for about 5 seconds. It does a jump to the 15 minute marks of the show.

Thanks humdinger70! This will save me a lot of aggravation. I liked the passport software. It was good (more or less) and on another box we have has Navigator (and a bigger hard drive I think) but liked the Passport software so never swapped the box.

I will have to look at the Navigator forums mentioned above.

Don't ask for a new model STB unless you have the spirit of adventure :).

As I understand it, TWC has deployed the Samsung SMT-H3090 in some markets, but it's already due to be replaced by the SMT-H3270, which hasn't quite been rolled out yet. If I were you, I'd at least wait for that to appear and then probably five or six months to let other people shake the bugs out of it.

What's your motive for the switch? If you can't get a unit with a bigger drive, it's probably not worthwhile (it should run the guide faster in any case, but that hardly seems worth the trouble).

(BTW, RSG, cracking the case of a piece of cable service provider owned equipment is an act of vandalism for which you could conceivably be prosecuted--in any case, they won't be pleased if they find out and will no doubt make you pay somehow. Though you'd probably get away with it, I wouldn't advise it).

The 3270 isn't even out yet. San Diego will be the first to get it but it has some minor bugs. The major ones have been fixed.

San Diego has yet to deploy any Samsung boxes like the 3090 and the 3050. The 3260 is already available but not it's DVR cousin the 3270. The 3260 mentions the 3270 quite a bit. Even the release stamp is coded smtH3270. It lacks a DVR function but the mobo is from a DVR. No eSATA though. There is a SATA port that is likely non functional.

they used to post the stars and the director ect for movies when you pressed"guide". now even the "info" button doesnt have more movie info.
and this is an improvement ?

they used to post the stars and the director ect for movies when you pressed"guide". now even the "info" button doesnt have more movie info.
and this is an improvement ?

A well known issue... I think I've read that TWC actually said it would be addressed.

The director's name is essential to any film buff, but I've read posts here saying it's not necessary. I simply do NOT get that attitude; it almost seems like it's kinda giving TWC license to drag their feet.

IMO the real issue here is that they are as clueless as they come regarding software development. They've been working on this for what, almost 4 years now? Pathetic.

From what I read, it seems most of the others are equally lame... save for TiVO. Even so, we still haven't heard boo from them about addressing the 2 way issue... by not addressing it, TiVO for all the money they charge means one has to lose a LOT of functionality (VOD).

At times I think they simply don't care... as long as the other guys are not so hot, why actually make an effort to supply something excellent? So all they do is "go through the motion."

From what I read, it seems most of the others are equally lame... save for TiVO. Even so, we still haven't heard boo from them about addressing the 2 way issue... by not addressing it, TiVO for all the money they charge means one has to lose a LOT of functionality (VOD)."Lose"? TiVo, which existed for many years before VOD, never had access to it, so it never "lost" anything (though I suppose that you mean that you'd lose VOD by switching to TiVo from leased cable STB, which is true). TiVo has addressed the issue as far as they can for the moment, having issued a statement to the FCC a couple of years back saying that they'd arrived at an agreement with CableLabs about licensing <tru2way> tech in a fashion that would allow their products to operate in two modes: a "TiVo Mode" wherein they'd present their own GUI with no access to OCAP-enabled features except for SDV tuning and a "OCAP mode" in which they'd present the cable provider's downloaded GUI, with all of its interactive features, but no access to recording capabilities (operating identically to a non-DVR cable STB). It's presumed that they're working on this product but aren't at a a point where they're ready to announce yet.

As for that depth-of-program-information issue, TiVo takes that to extremes. While looking at the description of an entry in the guide, I press the INFO button and get a list of the cast, director, producers and writer, and, if it's an episode of a series, a list of guest stars, the episode number and its original air date. If I choose the "Explore this program" option then I can really go nuts and do things like browse biographical information about each of the cast members and see various movies and TV programs that it knows about that they've been in (for each of those titles, it'll tell me if it's in the guide and let me set up a recording, or if it's available for streaming from Netflix or rental/purchase/download from Amazon; if it's a TV series, I can browse a list of all episodes from all seasons of the series, also with information about whether I can use TiVo to record a given episode or get it online). I just used these features to look at Alien Ressurection, airing as I write this on FX HD (though not in HD :rolleyes:); I never knew that it was written by Joss Whedon or that Sigourney Weaver was born in NYC in 1949 :).

"Lose" as in I have had this for years, but if I go TiVO, I'd "lose" that functionality.

Don't think I ever said anything about the data... except that the MDN I got forced into lists even less info than Passport. Of course, one of the issues there was I got a comment after lamenting the lack of the director's name for movies, that he didn't care at all if a director's name was left off! Yes, what TiVO does in this regard is fabulous.

With the Passport 8300HD, I used to be able to set my audio coding to Dolby Digital, then back to HDMI, and the Dolby Digital output would continue to feed my SPDIF output in Dolby 5.1 mode. Now, it's an either/or proposition.

I have an HDMI cable going to my TV, and the digital SPDIF (RCA) cable going to my home theater system which was pre-HDMI. If I switch the output on the 8300HD to Dolby out, I lose the HDMI audio. If I switch it to HDMI, I lose 5.1 audio to my home theater with HDMI audio selected in the audio coding. The best I can get is Dolby Pro Logic II out of the SPDIF output to my home theater. Actually, it's most likely just PCM that's being converted to Dolby PII by the home theater receiver.

I do miss having the ability to get both HDMI out to the TV AND full Dolby 5.1 to my home theater. By the way, it makes no difference whether I use the optical/toslink cable output from the 8300HD or the SPDIF RCA cable out.

My Panasonic plasma does have its own optical digital audio out, but seems to limit output due to HDCP concerns to pcm only, so that's not an option.

Anyone know if the 8300HDC or other HD DVR's can accomplish what I need? Otherwise, I'll have to look at other kludges, like HDMI-splitters with a converter or the like.

This new software has to be the most miserable downgrade since I switched from a Mac to a PC. ;)

I was watching a warehouse 13 VOD the other night, hit the guide button, and got a 5 minute time out while the system rebooted and shut off.

Hello everyone,

First, thanks to humdinger for the technique to FF by 15 minutes. I've had the new software for at least a year and I've sent at least 3 emails to TW asking why they removed this feature. If they did not make me mad, the responses would be funny...they told me to reboot my box, they asked me if I wanted to enable parental controls, and of course, they offered to sell me TCP/IP phone service, but they never told me how to jump in 15 minute increments...

Now for my question: I've helped a number of friends in the past capture video they had stored on their DVR. They all had the 8300HD which will simultaneously output signals on component, composite, and s-video so I had no problem. Yesterday I tried to help someone who has the 8000HD. I quickly discovered that it runs in either HD or SD mode and when in HD mode it does not output on the composite or s-video connectors. My capture device only has inputs for composite and s-video and I'm afraid that the new TW software will not allow me to switch to SD mode to enable them. The manual says to press Info and Guide with the DVR power off, but this had no effect.

Does anyone know of a way to get the composite, s-video, or coax out (that would not work either) functioning on this box. I know it's not possible to get the composite, s-video, and component working at the same time, but that would not be a problem. I just need to get the composite, s-video, or coax working so I can capture the recorded video and then I'll switch back to component.

By the way, my friend wants to get a video of her son playing football in a high school game that was televised. She contacted the TV station and they have no way to selling or providing the video. I don't think there are any copyright violations here.

If anyone can offer some advice, or just confirm that it cannot be done, I would appreciate it. If it cannot be done I guess I'll see if I can borrow a DVD recorder that has component input.

Thanks.

Before anyone replies to my previous post, I found the answer in another thread.

For the benefit of anyone who might have the same problem, the answer was to do use the DVR's picture in a picture feature. The PIP video and audio are available on the composite output.

I've sent at least 3 emails to TW asking why they removed this feature.Semantics--they didn't "remove" anything. They switched to new software created from scratch by different people which does not have that feature and never did. They didn't start with Passport and take things out of it. If you stopped running Windows on your PC and switched to Linux, would you asked why the Linux people "removed" Internet Explorer? You could ask TWC why they didn't choose to implement your favorite features in their new software (they bought the company who was developing it years ago--it's their property and they control its feature set).
Now for my question: I've helped a number of friends in the past capture video they had stored on their DVR. They all had the 8300HD which will simultaneously output signals on component, composite, and s-video so I had no problem. Yesterday I tried to help someone who has the 8000HD. I quickly discovered that it runs in either HD or SD mode and when in HD mode it does not output on the composite or s-video connectors. My capture device only has inputs for composite and s-video and I'm afraid that the new TW software will not allow me to switch to SD mode to enable them. The manual says to press Info and Guide with the DVR power off, but this had no effect.

Does anyone know of a way to get the composite, s-video, or coax out (that would not work either) functioning on this box. I know it's not possible to get the composite, s-video, and component working at the same time, but that would not be a problem. I just need to get the composite, s-video, or coax working so I can capture the recorded video and then I'll switch back to component.

By the way, my friend wants to get a video of her son playing football in a high school game that was televised. She contacted the TV station and they have no way to selling or providing the video. I don't think there are any copyright violations here.

If anyone can offer some advice, or just confirm that it cannot be done, I would appreciate it. If it cannot be done I guess I'll see if I can borrow a DVD recorder that has component input.You may be pretty much boned on this one. There are probably some retail DVD recorders which have component video inputs, but I doubt that there are many which will handle high definition component video, since they'd have to convert it to standard definition to record it. There are devices which can do that conversion (see this (http://www.svideo.com/ypbpr1080i.html)), but they aren't free.

Before anyone replies to my previous post, I found the answer in another thread.

For the benefit of anyone who might have the same problem, the answer was to do use the DVR's picture in a picture feature. The PIP video and audio are available on the composite output.

Warning: years ago, when I had an 8000, I used this PIP technique to copy to DVD. It worked fine with one big exception. If you did nothing for about a half hour, PIP turned itself off, and the recording got screwed up. If this "feature" still exists, you will have to move the PIP window (or press some equally innocuous keys) to keep the window alive.

Good luck,

-barry

Just got Time Warner installed last weekend and finally getting my whole system setup including a 4x2 component matrix switch. The problem with the 8300HDC is that the analog audio outputs are not working. I have tried everything I can think of, swapping out cables, hooking up to different TV's, changing the DVR menu settings, but nothing will enable the analog (OUT 1) audio outputs. I even tried OUT2, but no go. Just to clarify, I am using the component video outputs and L-R analog outputs from OUT 1.

I have tried all three menu settings for Audio Digital: HDMI, Dolby Digital, and Other. None of them work. The CSR I talked to on the phone was worthless.

I have even taken the matrix switch out of the picture and hookup up my Vizio LCD directly to the DVR using component and L-R audio. Nothing.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.