With the reshuffling of some of the network schedules this year, I miss one of the features from my Tivo and want to figure out how to get it working on my 8300HD. (When I first got an HD-DVR from TWC, they promised it was "just like Tivo." They have yet to deliver on that promise, and this is one of the big issues.)
<monopoly rant>When a cable providers says "it's just like a Tivo" they really mean "it's close enough to a Tivo that you won't notice, worm."</monopoly rant>

<monopoly rant>When a cable providers says "it's just like a Tivo" they really mean "it's close enough to a Tivo that you won't notice, worm."</monopoly rant> I think what they mean is more like "it's just like a Tivo ... you can pause live tv, FF through commercials, watch a show when you want to watch it". They're not referring to EVERY single feature, just the basic, CORE functionality.

Trying to resolve an issue that I haven't seen posted in this exact form yet... I currently have 480i and 1080i selected for output over HDMI to my display for watching SD/HD content respectively. In reality, only 480i input gets passed on as 480i and everything else as 1080i, such as some 480p SD content.

I prefer to keep 480i selected as my display's DRC circuitry tends to improve the image quite significantly. All works great when watching live TV, but...

Whenever trying to use the 8300HD's DVR functionality with 480i content, the box refuses to pass it on. Whether watching a fully recorded show or something in the buffer (even just pushing pause), the box flips over to 1080i.

With some simple experiments, I've seen that if 480p/720p are added to my output list, the same problem happens, but it jumps from 480i output to 480p. All of this is pretty annoying considering:

1) The switch to a new resolutation takes my display ~2 seconds to adjust and in a rewind operation, many times miss what I'm rewinding through.
2) 480i output just plain looks better since the display can play with the DRC
3) Once it's switched to the new resolution, it won't switch back until I change channels, even if I jump forward to live TV.

The only solution I've found thus far is to force ONLY 480i out of the box when playing back 480i content. I'm just hoping there's something better out there.

Any ideas? Thanks!

The problem you're describing stems from the fact the 8300HD does indeed force 480P for all 480i content when viewing through the buffer or a recording. I don't know if this is intended or not, but the only time you will see 480i is when you initially tune to an SD channel (or select only 480i as the output) - as soon as you hit any transport key (play, pause, stop, etc) it starts 480p. Since you selected 480i & 1080i, it is then scaling the 480p to 1080i, as it will never scale it to from 480p to 480i. As you have discovered, the only 'fix' for this is to select only 480i, resulting in a less than satisfactory HD viewing experience.

After a month of going back and forth with TW Cincinnati to get a firewire enabled box, they finally brought me a SA8300HD DVR box that is suppose to have firewire port enabled. I've hooked this up to my HTPC but get no response. Is there a way to check on the box that the port is activated?

I think what they mean is more like "it's just like a Tivo ... you can pause live tv, FF through commercials, watch a show when you want to watch it". They're not referring to EVERY single feature, just the basic, CORE functionality.

I would say that this does indeed fall under core functionality. As in: "With a Tivo, you don't have to worry about when your favorite shows are actually on, the Tivo finds them for you. In the event of conflicts, the Tivo can even find reruns of the show during the following 28 day period." A first run season pass doesn't mean that the Tivo will give up on recording a first run show after the very first airing. The Passport version of the 8300HD does give up.

Likewise, when I first got the 8300HD (and before that with the 8000HD), I could not start watching a recorded show while it was still recording if more than a half hour had elapsed. This is not "just like a Tivo."

Of course, I also think that TWC should be held accountable for using "Now everything's possible" as an advertizing claim. Hell, they can't even get the equipment they provide to function as advertized...

I'm hoping that TWC will get their cablecard support ironed out by the time Tivo comes out with a cablecard HDTivo...
-JMP

With the reshuffling of some of the network schedules this year, I miss one of the features from my Tivo and want to figure out how to get it working on my 8300HD. (When I first got an HD-DVR from TWC, they promised it was "just like Tivo." They have yet to deliver on that promise, and this is one of the big issues.)

On a Tivo, if you have multiple season passes for shows with overlapping timeslots, the Tivo will record the lower-priority shows later in the week if they are rerun. This is particularly useful on Sunday nights with Law & Order: Criminal Intent and the various HBO shows. The Tivo will record L&O, but will then automatically catch the HBO show at one of the times it's rerun during the rest of the week.

For some reason, the Passport software doesn't seem to want to do this. If I want to record L&O:CI and Rome, yet still watch Sunday Night Football in HD, I have to remember to manually tell the DVR to record Rome on Tuesday. There is an option in the settings for recording an entire series to specify a timeslot, but it only offers 9pm, it doesn't allow me to say that it should be recorded at 9pm Tuesday instead of Sunday.

In theory, this should be a pretty simple thing for the programmers to work out. Of course, the code on the 8300 is so buggy to begin with that I'm sure there isn't an efficient way to add this functionality. Does anyone have any suggestions?
-JMP


it does on the 8000HD. Just change the day from Tuesday to the days of the week you want to record on in the series recording settings. You can also specify which show gets priority and schedule it to record a rerun later in the week.

Likewise, when I first got the 8300HD (and before that with the 8000HD), I could not start watching a recorded show while it was still recording if more than a half hour had elapsed. This is not "just like a Tivo."

no issues here either. For HD shows go into List and play the show as it's recording, as you would a prerecorded show. For SD broadcasts you can do that or just swap tuners and rewind to the beginning of the buffer.

I think what they mean is more like "it's just like a Tivo ... you can pause live tv, FF through commercials, watch a show when you want to watch it". They're not referring to EVERY single feature, just the basic, CORE functionality.
I'm sure that they're using it loosely and to a relatively technically unsophisticated customer base. But words mean things, and "just like" to me means identical.

I found this (http://money.cnn.com/2005/10/19/technology/cableequipment/index.htm) on CNN and thought it interesting.

it does on the 8000HD. Just change the day from Tuesday to the days of the week you want to record on in the series recording settings. You can also specify which show gets priority and schedule it to record a rerun later in the week.

I'll have to see if I can do this when I get home. When I checked last time, I only saw a place for me to specify the hour, not the day. As for recording reruns, I couldn't find a way to get it to record the rerun of the week's new episode without it also recording the rerun of the previous week's episode. Tivo takes care of figuring this out automatically.

And yes, I know about setting the priority, but if there are 3 shows to be recorded at the same time, the third simply gets dropped, rather than the system actively looking to find it later in the week.
-JMP

no issues here either. For HD shows go into List and play the show as it's recording, as you would a prerecorded show. For SD broadcasts you can do that or just swap tuners and rewind to the beginning of the buffer.

The issue was resolved with a firmware upgrade somewhere along the line. As I said, this bug was in place when I first got the DVR. I really gave the CSR hell for not having a way to start watching a 10-11 show between 10:30 and 11, especially when she still insisted that the DVR was "just like a Tivo." With the old firmware, starting to watch a show from the list while it was still recording and more than 30 minutes of recording had elapsed resulted in watching the show from 30 minutes prior to when you started watching, not the beginning of the show. That anyone working on the Passport software thought this was a good idea speaks volumes about the understanding their programmers have of what the product is actually used for...
-JMP

I'm sure that they're using it loosely and to a relatively technically unsophisticated customer base. But words mean things, and "just like" to me means identical.

I would even allow for the differences in interface. There are a couple of points on which I think the Passport interface is slightly better than Tivo, but they are the exception rather than the rule. The biggest is that in the Tivo, selecting the guide automatically returns you to live TV. To a lesser degree, I like being able to view the list of recorded shows while still watching whatever I was watching. I think Tivo blows Passport away with their management of both the archive of recordings and the to-do list.

What I do expect is that a product touted as being "just like" another product will have all of the major functions of the other product.

There are other words and phrases that cable companies use that have specific meanings in all contexts other than when dealing with a cable company. These include:
"just a moment"
"we value your time"
"we value your business"
"satisfaction"

Cable companies have a long way to go on customer service.
-JMP

I'll have to see if I can do this when I get home. When I checked last time, I only saw a place for me to specify the hour, not the day. As for recording reruns, I couldn't find a way to get it to record the rerun of the week's new episode without it also recording the rerun of the previous week's episode. Tivo takes care of figuring this out automatically.

And yes, I know about setting the priority, but if there are 3 shows to be recorded at the same time, the third simply gets dropped, rather than the system actively looking to find it later in the week.
-JMP


select your series to record and under recording options change the time to all times (if it reruns differently) and specify reruns and first runs.

Under repeat options select all days, weekends, days of the week or specific days to also record on.

The biggest advantage that Tivo has over this (which was discussed before) is that you cannot specify which particular shows or rerun times to record so you might get multiple recordings of the same rerun.

select your series to record and under recording options change the time to all times (if it reruns differently) and specify reruns and first runs.

Under repeat options select all days, weekends, days of the week or specific days to also record on.

The biggest advantage that Tivo has over this (which was discussed before) is that you cannot specify which particular shows or rerun times to record so you might get multiple recordings of the same rerun.

Right, but this doesn't fix things, as I was specifically asking how to do it without getting reruns or multiple copies of single episodes, which is especially important since my DVR has been running close to full, and I've been travelling during the week a lot lately, so it will start deleting things I haven't had a chance to watch if it records every showing of some of the shows. This is a feature I expect in something that has been touted as "just like a Tivo." I hate to keep dwelling on that line, but TW keeps sticking by it every time I ask about features that Tivo has had for years.

I have no issue with TWC making marketing promises. I just expect them to follow through on them and deliver as promised.
-JMP

There are other words and phrases that cable companies use that have specific meanings in all contexts other than when dealing with a cable company. These include:
"just a moment"
"we value your time"
"we value your business"
"satisfaction"

Cable companies have a long way to go on customer service.
-JMP
TOUCHÉ!

I'm still a little unclear on this resolution thing. I have the resolution on my 8300HD set to 480i, 480p, 720p and 1080i. I can see my tv change resolution based on the source program. The part that I'm unclear about is my tv's "native resolution". I have a 32 in. plasma tv and I "assume" that it's native resolution is 1080i. So my question is, should I leave it set as it is and allow the tv to change resolutions or should I just select 1080i only in the 8300 settings and force 1080i regardless of the source resolution?

you said:


For some reason, the Passport software doesn't seem to want to do this. If I want to record L&O:CI and Rome, yet still watch Sunday Night Football in HD, I have to remember to manually tell the DVR to record Rome on Tuesday. There is an option in the settings for recording an entire series to specify a timeslot, but it only offers 9pm, it doesn't allow me to say that it should be recorded at 9pm Tuesday instead of Sunday.

set the DVR to record the rerun on tuesday at 9pm and decrease the series priority and that will fix the problem you just stated above. You didn't mention not getting multiple reruns, you were wondering how to automatically record one show again on Tuesday. There's your answer.

I'm still a little unclear on this resolution thing. I have the resolution on my 8300HD set to 480i, 480p, 720p and 1080i. I can see my tv change resolution based on the source program. The part that I'm unclear about is my tv's "native resolution". I have a 32 in. plasma tv and I "assume" that it's native resolution is 1080i. So my question is, should I leave it set as it is and allow the tv to change resolutions or should I just select 1080i only in the 8300 settings and force 1080i regardless of the source resolution?
Have you looked in the TV manual?

I'm still a little unclear on this resolution thing. I have the resolution on my 8300HD set to 480i, 480p, 720p and 1080i. I can see my tv change resolution based on the source program. The part that I'm unclear about is my tv's "native resolution". I have a 32 in. plasma tv and I "assume" that it's native resolution is 1080i. So my question is, should I leave it set as it is and allow the tv to change resolutions or should I just select 1080i only in the 8300 settings and force 1080i regardless of the source resolution?

What is the manufacturer and model number?

Most of the small plasma and LCD panels are less than 1080i, since it is argued that
1) users can't see the difference at typical viewing distances (I'm not sure this is always true),
2) most programs fall far short of what is possible with true 1080i resolution and
3) to keep the cost down for what is perceived as an economy model.

What is the manufacturer and model number?

Most of the small plasma and LCD panels are less than 1080i, since it is argued that
1) users can't see the difference at typical viewing distances (I'm not sure this is always true),
2) most programs fall far short of what is possible with true 1080i resolution and
3) to keep the cost down for what is perceived as an economy model.
My tv is a Hitachi 32HDT20. The manual says the display resolution is 852 x 1024.

My tv is a Hitachi 32HDT20. The manual says the display resolution is 852 x 1024.
That's actually 1024 x 852 as the "big" number - the width - is expressed first. Does is say what resolutions it accepts on input?

For you guys with 4:3 HD sets, might you need to use the "normal" setting, i.e. not stretch and not zoom ?? Or, do you need to go "Settings", then "A" for 'More settings' and play with the aspect ratio settings there ??

The 8300HD doesn't know that your TV is 4:3 vs 16:9 (or does it assume they're 16:9 ??). Maybe it's a combination between the set-top and the TV's settings....

My 8300HD does know that my TV is 4:3. It is in the settings and I also set it to Letterbox any 16:9. I thought that meant that it would adjust automatically.

tbuck410,
It should, but it probably won't. Seems like consistent (unwanted) behavior in the Passport software. The automatic switching part of the aspect ratios worked for about a month in 2003 for me on the Pioneer STB, and then ~poof~. I just use the TV remote to adjust it - and hope it (or the next cable box/company) does not [get stuck] on a setting that is sub-optimal for me.

v/r,
C-F

That's actually 1024 x 852 as the "big" number - the width - is expressed first. Does is say what resolutions it accepts on input?
Actually it really is 852 horizontal x 1024 vertical, composed of 0.84 mm by 0.39 mm pixels.

I have the "similiar" 42hdt50 which is 1024 x 1024.

Actually it really is 852 horizontal x 1024 vertical, composed of 0.84 mm by 0.39 mm pixels.

I have the "similiar" 42hdt50 which is 1024 x 1024.
Oh, good grief! I knew plasmas had some funky pixel layout, but I had no idea it was that out there. How is it that everything isn't dimensionally distorted? What were the designers thinking?

That's actually 1024 x 852 as the "big" number - the width - is expressed first. Does is say what resolutions it accepts on input?

I knew that the width came first, but that's the way it was in the manual so I stated it that way. (probably a Japanese to English thing). It supports all of the resolutions (480i, 480p, 720p and 1080i). This may be the dumb question of the week, but I'll ask it. From what I've read, a fixed-pixel display such as a plasma will convert the source signal resolution to fit my display resolution(1024 x 852). None of the resolutions fix exactly so, if my source from the 8300 is 1080i, my tv will convert it to it's native resolution(1024). (1080 source-1024 display) What happens to the extra 56 pixels?

I knew that the width came first, but that's the way it was in the manual so I stated it that way. (probably a Japanese to English thing). It supports all of the resolutions (480i, 480p, 720p and 1080i). This may be the dumb question of the week, but I'll ask it. From what I've read, a fixed-pixel display such as a plasma will convert the source signal resolution to fit my display resolution(1024 x 852). None of the resolutions fix exactly so, if my source from the 8300 is 1080i, my tv will convert it to it's native resolution(1024). (1080 source-1024 display) What happens to the extra 56 pixels?
See holl_ands' post; it IS 852 x 1024, and the 852 IS the width. The pixels are not square, so the "852" is wider than the "1024." Go figure.

Anyway, it's not worth expending much brain power on what to feed your display for HD resolutions - just let the box pass the source material through. For 480i and 480p material, whicever device has the best deinterlacer/scaler should handle it. Try it both ways. Feed the display 480i and let it handle the conversion. Then disable the 8300HD's 480i output and let it scale/deinterlace the signal. See which way gives you the best picture.

After a month of going back and forth with TW Cincinnati to get a firewire enabled box, they finally brought me a SA8300HD DVR box that is suppose to have firewire port enabled. I've hooked this up to my HTPC but get no response. Is there a way to check on the box that the port is activated?


Until the firmware is updated, firewire is not active on the SA8300HD. Even then, there is no guarantee that it will work with an HTPC.

If you want it to work now, get the SA3250HD box with firewire enabled. There will be two additional firewire ports on the back. My advice, take an afternoon off and go to your TWC office and physically inspect the box before taking it home. Bring your own firewire cable. If you don't get one you need, work your way up the supervisory ladder. Try different keywords, like 1394, and tell them you need it for a DVHS deck.

See holl_ands' post; it IS 852 x 1024, and the 852 IS the width. The pixels are not square, so the "852" is wider than the "1024." Go figure.


The manual said 852 x 1024 and CNet's review of my tv stated it as 1024 x 852. As you said, "go figure". Anyway it works. I have tried it both ways and the picture seems better if I select all of the resolutions in the 8300 general settings and let the tv do it's thing. I don't care for all of the "snap, crackle and pop" noises the tv makes doing it, but I guess that doesn't hurt anything.

I'm sure that they're using it loosely and to a relatively technically unsophisticated customer base. But words mean things, and "just like" to me means identical.To be fair, if Passport Echo were identical to TiVo it would be in obvious violation of patent rights.

Actually, I think that Passport Echo is fairly close to TiVo in functionality (much, much closer than SARA), with direct analogs to ts important functions: "Saved Shows" is almost identical to "Now Playing", "Scheduled Recordings" is close to "To Do List" and "Series Manager" is close to "Season Pass". There are some things that I like better about it, like the fact that, in "Series Manager", I can say "record this when it airs on Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday, only". I also like the fact that it estimates, in days, how long before it will have to delete a program in the "Saved Shows" and that it allows me to prioritize their deletion in an intuitive fashion by shuffling them up and down the list.

It doesn't have Showcases (no loss at all) or Wishlists, but I personally don't miss Wishlists--the only thing that I ever used it for was finding Tennis tournaments and I can do that with a theme guide search. I know that some people like to use it to search for programs starring their favorite actors.

The things that I do miss are the two weeks of guide data (and not having to repeatedly reload that). I also miss the feature in the "To Do LIst" where it gives explanations of why recently schedule recordings are missing.

The biggest TiVo feature that I miss, of course, is it's rock-solid reliability and lack of bugs. :D

To be fair, if Passport Echo were identical to TiVo it would be in obvious violation of patent rights.
And, for that matter, if it could be proved in court that it was company policy to mention it being like Tivo®, Tivo could sue for IP infringement.

After a month of going back and forth with TW Cincinnati to get a firewire enabled box, they finally brought me a SA8300HD DVR box that is suppose to have firewire port enabled. I've hooked this up to my HTPC but get no response. Is there a way to check on the box that the port is activated?

Presumably you saw this recent post re SA8300HD Firewire port not quite working for TWC in Kansas City:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6371508&highlight=firewire#post6371508

For TWC San Diego, the SA8300HD has an Extended Diagnostic Page labeled IEEE 1394, but it says "IEEE-1394 Not Supported".
So although we seem to have the latest bleeding edge ver 2.5.027, we don't have Firewire yet. Nor is there a connector on my box.

To enter ExtDiagPgs: On the front panel of the HD-PVR, first press and hold "EXIT" while then press "SELECT" until "DIAG" is displayed on front panel.
You may hit "EXIT" again to immediately display ExtDiagPgs, or go to CH611 at any time thereafter until power down. The "A" key controls variable opacity.

Cursor down to the IEEE-1394 page. If it is active, when you hit SELECT (or maybe RT ARROW),
it should display detailed status info for the HD-DVR as well as the attached device, similiar to fol. SA3250HD connected to JVC D-VHS:

For TWC San Diego, the SA8300HD has an Extended Diagnostic Page labeled IEEE 1394, but it says "IEEE-1394 Not Supported".
So although we seem to have the latest bleeding edge ver 2.5.027, we don't have Firewire yet. Nor is there a connector on my box. The box knows what hardware is present (I'd think, at least) so if no IEEE1394 port is available, the software reports that.

The IEEE-1394 port is on the chip so it isn't an issue of whether it "recognizes" itself.
The "firebus" driver is even listed as being in the firmware release.
It simply is not yet enabled for SA8300HD in TWC-SD.

Haven't had a chance. I know people have complained about the same problem for a while and I never had any issues. Guess I was just lucky.

I called the CSR, they tried to load some new software to the box, then told me that I should return it to the service center as there was nothing they could do. Only started happening recently. I wonder if eventually a new firmware fix will solve the problem on the 8300HD, as PIP was great for football games!

The IEEE-1394 port is on the chip so it isn't an issue of whether it "recognizes" itself.
The "firebus" driver is even listed as being in the firmware release.
It simply is not yet enabled for SA8300HD in TWC-SD.

I don't believe firewire, or SATA for that manner, are active for any TWC outlets anywhere in the country regarding the SA8300HD. When one gets it, we'll probably all get it (minus the time for individual customization as may be required for each local office).

If anyone knows to the contrary, please post!

I don't believe firewire, or SATA for that manner, are active for any TWC outlets anywhere in the country regarding the SA8300HD. When one gets it, we'll probably all get it (minus the time for individual customization as may be required for each local office).

If anyone knows to the contrary, please post!
It looks like TWC Kansas City may be the "beta test site" for firewire in SA8300HD:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6371508&highlight=firewire#post6371508
No, it isn't quite working right......yet....

I don't believe firewire, or SATA for that manner, are active for any TWC outlets anywhere in the country regarding the SA8300HD. When one gets it, we'll probably all get it (minus the time for individual customization as may be required for each local office).

If anyone knows to the contrary, please post!

I know this is a PASSPORT thread, but SATA has been made to work under SARA for some time now. It is not officially supported by any cable companies, that I've heard of, but if you install a SATA box on your SARA 8300 it will work. The same is not true of PASSPORT 8300's.

-barry

I know this is a PASSPORT thread, but SATA has been made to work under SARA for some time now. It is not officially supported by any cable companies, that I've heard of, but if you install a SATA box on your SARA 8300 it will work. The same is not true of PASSPORT 8300's.

-barry

Yes, and those of us who have it are very, very happy :rolleyes:

I got an updated DVR with a functional Firewire connection..and it works
and I have recorded to my JVC digital VCR. Supposedly the HD is faster, and there is more RAM.

Jeff at Brighthouse Networks in Florida.

I got an updated DVR... Supposedly the HD is faster, and there is more RAM. Who told you the part about the HDD and more RAM ?? If you upgraded from an 8000HD, yes, the 8300HD has more RAM. The HDD is *identical* between units though.

I thought the 8000 had an 80 gig HD while the 8300 has a 160 gig HD? I know mine does, anyway.

You're correct but we don't know if he *had* an 8000 (SD) or an 8000HD. If he had an 8000HD, it likely had a 160gb HDD though SA does have models of that unit with only an 80gb HDD (10 hours of HD ?? I can't believe many cablecos would opt for that unit).

I don't believe firewire, or SATA for that manner, are active for any TWC outlets anywhere in the country regarding the SA8300HD. When one gets it, we'll probably all get it (minus the time for individual customization as may be required for each local office).

If anyone knows to the contrary, please post!

Firewire on my 8300HD is active and works great.

I'm in the Raleigh area and have had it for about a month.

I haven't tried SATA, but will soon.

Firewire on my 8300HD is active and works great.

I'm in the Raleigh area and have had it for about a month.

I haven't tried SATA, but will soon.Are you aware of what version of Passport Echo is running in your box? (If you don't know how to find out, the last paragraph of this (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=4547722&&#post4547722) post will tell you host to get into the multi-page diagnostics; you can get the information there).

Does anyone have a good UR5-8400 remote control code for a 2005 Samsung 5067 DLP ?

The Sci Atl published codes get me on-off, volume, mute and video source. I'd like to have channel +- for the TV as well since my local TW is not yet doing UPN and WB in high def.

Firewire on my 8300HD is active and works great.

I'm in the Raleigh area and have had it for about a month.

I haven't tried SATA, but will soon.

Who is your provider? TWC? Are they running Passport Echo or SARA on their DVR's/ STB's? If so, you're the first I've found in a TWC area with it activated and working! Are you feeding a D-VHS deck with the firewire signal? Are all the HD channels (locals as well as premiums, i.e. channels flagged both "copy freely" and "copy once") available and working with firewire?

Reason I ask is the Charlotte TWC system has had firewire problems aplenty with the HD locals (copy freely) channels (typically only half work w/firewire) and has lost the two HDNet channels (copy once) about a month back. This is on the SA3250HD, which is the only box on which you can get firewire here.

Firewire on my 8300HD is active and works great.

I'm in the Raleigh area and have had it for about a month.

I haven't tried SATA, but will soon.
Does the Firewire port control START/STOP events in the recorder?

Perhaps it supports output of START/STOP events via Firewire port,
but they are always SIMULTANEOUS with each and every HD-PVR recording...

Or, ideally, you would be able to set up a Firewire recording separately.....

Or maybe the Firewire port is always active and doesn't support START/STOP events.

Are you aware of what version of Passport Echo is running in your box? (If you don't know how to find out, the last paragraph of this (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=4547722&&#post4547722) post will tell you host to get into the multi-page diagnostics; you can get the information there).

It's 1.8.111.

I do not have a D-VHS device, it's merely connected directly to my TV (infocus 61md10 -- RCA HD61THW263).

On a whim I connected it up a few days after I got it and was very surprised to see it work.

Who is your provider? TWC? Are they running Passport Echo or SARA on their DVR's/ STB's? If so, you're the first I've found in a TWC area with it activated and working! Are you feeding a D-VHS deck with the firewire signal? Are all the HD channels (locals as well as premiums, i.e. channels flagged both "copy freely" and "copy once") available and working with firewire?

Reason I ask is the Charlotte TWC system has had firewire problems aplenty with the HD locals (copy freely) channels (typically only half work w/firewire) and has lost the two HDNet channels (copy once) about a month back. This is on the SA3250HD, which is the only box on which you can get firewire here.

Yup. TWC out of Raleigh using Passport Echo. It's a brand new 8300HD I received the beginning of October.

I'm in the right thread, right? ;)

I might get a D-VHS device and try that. I'm new to firewire so I'm not aware of what the difference would be but I'll read up on it. Seems to me it's just streaming to the TV and my TV treats it as a "tuner". I can change the channel and subchannel, but of course don't get the Passport OSD.

I've been able to watch all channels over firewire. I only have the HD suite, no HBO or Showtime.

I got an updated DVR with a functional Firewire connection..and it works
and I have recorded to my JVC digital VCR. Supposedly the HD is faster, and there is more RAM.

Jeff at Brighthouse Networks in Florida.
Is it recording HD material in HD?

Yup. TWC out of Raleigh using Passport Echo. It's a brand new 8300HD I received the beginning of October.

I'm in the right thread, right? ;)

I might get a D-VHS device and try that. I'm new to firewire so I'm not aware of what the difference would be but I'll read up on it. Seems to me it's just streaming to the TV and my TV treats it as a "tuner". I can change the channel and subchannel, but of course don't get the Passport OSD.

I've been able to watch all channels over firewire. I only have the HD suite, no HBO or Showtime.

Good to hear that you receive all channels via Firewire on SA8300HD.
The SA3250HD doesn't have a built-in encoder, so we don't get analog channels via Firewire port.

Since the Firewire port has been commonly used for recording via D-VHS, I guess the software designer figured
he wouldn't want various Menus, Warnings and Amber Alerts to pop up during a recording.
What a pain that is, cuz now I have to waste one of the VIDEO/S-VIDEO inputs on my HDTV just so I can set up the STB prior to making a recording.

For those people (esp. Mitsubishi) who have Firewire enabled HDTVs, the lack of OSD means no Navigator Guide....no OnDemand and NO PPV!!!
Hopefully the TWC software geeks read this forum and can enable the OSD via Firewire, except during a pre-scheduled recording event.

Yup. TWC out of Raleigh using Passport Echo. It's a brand new 8300HD I received the beginning of October.

I might get a D-VHS device and try that.

Yeah, that's the big question and what I want to know. There are multiple ways to get HD into your HDTV (good ol' fashioned component inputs, DVI/HDMI, or firewire as you are doing), but only one way to get HD into a D-VHS deck (firewire). Can you borrow one from somebody in the Raleigh local group and just try it out? Or, buy one - lots of great deals out there and they're the only way to record HD content to permanent archive right now. Hell, I might ship you mine just so you can check it out! :D

I can change the channel and subchannel, but of course don't get the Passport OSD.

And you won't. That feature is not supported via firewire.

I've been able to watch all channels over firewire. I only have the HD suite, no HBO or Showtime.

Does the HD suite include HDNet & HDNet movies? Those are the ones that have crapped out on me here in Charlotte. You shouldn't have any problem with HBO or Showtime (two great reasons to have a D-VHS deck!).

To those who are running into reboots when using "SWAP", what software version do you have ??

I have my 8300HD DVR hooked up to a Panasonic PT-AE900U LCD projector.
With component cables I can output everything.
With HDMI cable I can only output 1080i & 720p. 720p is native res for projector.
I'd rather use HDMI, picture is much better.
If I turn on 480i or 480p I get no picture and the box will crash sometimes.
I would much rather have the $3000 projector do the scaling & de-interlacing than the pos S/A box.
Has any one else had this problem with HDMI?
Oh, I disconnect the component when HDMI is hooked up.
Thanks

I'm anticipating the purchase of a new TV for a rec. room and would also like to add a small LCD for a bar area adjacent to first TV. My preference would be to run both monitors off of one 8300 box.

Question is: If I'm using the HDMI to provide picture to primary set, could I run component (as well as analog audio) to second set? If so, would signal degrade if run was approx. 40 feet? If not, any potential options? (HDMI splitter?) I want to maintain signal integrity to primary set at all cost.

I've had either component and HDMI (probably HDMI) and S-Video connected at the same time and it works fine. It was too annoying to switch inputs on the TV to continue though. The idea was to watch analog and standard-def channels via S-Video for better PQ...

Anyway, I can't tell you if the two outputs you want to use at the same time will work or not. I'm sure someone here's tried it though or can test it for you.

Pacific Cable (http://www.pacificcable.com/VideoAndAudio.htm#Python_Component_Cables) sells component cables up to 100' in length. If that were "too far", I don't believe they'd sell 'em that long. 40' shouldn't be a problem... On the HDMI side, the longest they sell is 15m or approx 50'. Hmmm, if I were you, I'd stick with component for the long run.

I'm anticipating the purchase of a new TV for a rec. room and would also like to add a small LCD for a bar area adjacent to first TV. My preference would be to run both monitors off of one 8300 box.

Question is: If I'm using the HDMI to provide picture to primary set, could I run component (as well as analog audio) to second set? If so, would signal degrade if run was approx. 40 feet? If not, any potential options? (HDMI splitter?) I want to maintain signal integrity to primary set at all cost.


Yes, on paper this does work, you can use all the outputs simultaneously. However, there is one snag...Since the HDMI output is HDCP compliant it must be connected to an HDCP compliant device and that's fine until you turn off the power on the TV. When the cable box can't make a good handshake on the HDMI output it turns off ALL it's outputs and puts up that stupid message screen. This has been a royal pain for me as I have the HDMI connected to a DLP projector and the S-video output connected to a CRT RPTV for daytime and casual viewing. Whenever we want to watch the RPTV we have to physically unplug the HDMI cable. A HDMI switch box might be a more elegant solution but not worth the outrageous cost of these boxes. On a more optimistic note, your "primary set" may be more intelligent than my projector and not lose it's handshake when it's powered down. This whole HDMI/HDCP issue is changing rapidly. And if you intend to use both sets at the same time anyway then this will be a moot point for you.

40 feet for component should not be a problem as long as you use a good quality cable.

Hope this helps.

I have my 8300HD DVR hooked up to a Panasonic PT-AE900U LCD projector.
With component cables I can output everything.
With HDMI cable I can only output 1080i & 720p. 720p is native res for projector.
I'd rather use HDMI, picture is much better.
If I turn on 480i or 480p I get no picture and the box will crash sometimes.
I would much rather have the $3000 projector do the scaling & de-interlacing than the pos S/A box.
Has any one else had this problem with HDMI?
Oh, I disconnect the component when HDMI is hooked up.
Thanks
yes eddie, i have the same problem with my sa8300hd and my vizio p50hdm plasma on hdmi...if i set the box to output 480i or 480p, and i put one of those format channels on...the tv gets no signal and the display starts oscillating on the box and then box crashes. i agree with you completely that the scaling electronics inside the SA box are S.H.I.T....thats why i put up with the hdcp dropouts when switching between 720p and 1080i channels...id rather have the tv get the native input of the channel and scale it itself. i have my box set to output 720p and 1080i only right now.
this box is basically a piece of crap...but when you have warner cable, thats what you get....or you run and get D* with their HD LITE...another bad choice. basically youre stuck.

Last night as i settled in to watch a show at 8:00, both my SA8000 and SA800HD simultaneously rebooted all by themselves, then continued to reboot over and over for the next 3 hours and were still doing it when i went to bed. I got through to TWC and they said they're having a problem with their DVR service and are hoping to get it resolved soon. When i got up this morning i had limited functionality but they both still had the 1.5.159 software that had been working flawlessly for over a year. I did not lose any saved shows so that's good.

Then when i came home for lunch it was obvious that they had rebooted and i noticed a new "Search" icon in the menu - and it now has an alphabetical "keypad" that i've heard about here. So i checked the diagnostics and see that i have new software on both units. It seems they skipped a few versions:

ResApp Version: Passport Echo 2.5.027
OS Version: Power TV 6.12.66.2sp
ResApp Date: Oct 13 2005, 11:10:36
OS Date: Sep 9 2005, 12:43:23 PM

It was downloaded on my SA8000 and SA8000HD on 10/27/05 at 7:53 am. I'll play around with it when i get home tonight.

randy, i hope that TWC in akron ohio gets a new version soon...im tired of the 1.8.111

Randy, just wondering if you know of a place in the menus would I look to see the date the firmware was upgraded, given that I may have cold/warm booted the box since that time?

TWC-KC was updated to 1.8.112, 6.14.43.3sp at some point recently, but I'm not sure exactly when.

v/r,
C-F

Randy, just wondering if you know of a place in the menus would I look to see the date the firmware was upgraded, given that I may have cold/warm booted the box since that time?

TWC-KC was updated to 1.8.112, 6.14.43.3sp at some point recently, but I'm not sure exactly when. On the front panel of the DVR, simultaneously press and hold the SELECT and EXIT buttons until the word DIAGNO appears in the display window, then release the buttons and press EXIT again and the DVR will tune to it's diagnostic channel (ch 1999 in my case). Then use the Up/Down arrow keys on the remote to scroll through the various pages (i'm not at home so i can't tell you exactly which page to look at). It's pretty obvious though - you'll see it. To exit just hit the Ch+/- key.

Last night as i settled in to watch a show at 8:00, both my SA8000 and SA800HD simultaneously rebooted all by themselves, then continued to reboot over and over for the next 3 hours and were still doing it when i went to bed. I got through to TWC and they said they're having a problem with their DVR service and are hoping to get it resolved soon. When i got up this morning i had limited functionality but they both still had the 1.5.159 software that had been working flawlessly for over a year. I did not lose any saved shows so that's good.

Then when i came home for lunch it was obvious that they had rebooted and i noticed a new "Search" icon in the menu - and it now has an alphabetical "keypad" that i've heard about here. So i checked the diagnostics and see that i have new software on both units. It seems they skipped a few versions:

ResApp Version: Passport Echo 2.5.027
OS Version: Power TV 6.12.66.2sp
ResApp Date: Oct 13 2005, 11:10:36
OS Date: Sep 9 2005, 12:43:23 PM

It was downloaded on my SA8000 and SA8000HD on 10/27/05 at 7:53 am. I'll play around with it when i get home tonight.


Mine did the same thing last night (and again this morning).

One terrific feature that has been added is the ability to remove channels!
No longer do you have to wade through hundreds of unwanted muck (unfortunately they still appear in the guide)...

Great!

randy, i hope that TWC in akron ohio gets a new version soon...im tired of the 1.8.111 You won't see that 2.5.x version anytime soon in Ohio... At best, you'll get a tiny bump up to 1.8.112.

Mine did the same thing last night (and again this morning).

One terrific feature that has been added is the ability to remove channels!
No longer do you have to wade through hundreds of unwanted muck...

Great!
i cant WAIT for that feature...it is ASININE that with 3 million channels you have to wade thorugh the 2.5 million you NEVER use when you channel surf.

The new search feature is great (unless you have Dish or Direct in which you've already had search!)

robert, what exactly is it that you can search? are you talking about searching for a prgram in the guide? my unit can do that already.

robert, what exactly is it that you can search? are you talking about searching for a prgram in the guide? my unit can do that already.The new search uses an on-screen keyboard where you type in a program title, or type in a keyword and it brings up a list of all the programs that contain that word then you drill down till you narrow it down to the show. I typed in RALLY and it found and listed all three different FIA World Rally races on Speedvision this weekend. This is great !

But it seems that it will only search as far ahead as the data in the guide goes. I was able to go up to 6 days in advance. I know that Speed channel is showing the next Rolex Sports Car race on Nov 5th so i typed in ROLEX, but since the guide data only goes to Nov 2nd it doesn't see the race in the schedule yet so it doesn't find it.

Here's info from Pioneer's Passport Echo site:

"Title/Keyword Search:

The intelligent keyword or title search feature allows you to type in titles or words through a virtual keyboard with your remote to quickly find a particular show or to setup a series recording based on a favorite topic such as 'cooking'. It's a great way record all of the shows that match your lifestyle or particular interests."

Title/Keyword Search (http://www.pioneerbroadband.com/passportecho/passportecho.asp#)

http://www.pioneerbroadband.com/images/pdt/echoguidesearch.jpg

hello everyone, sorry to post another question withen this thread.

I have read so much about the 8300hd and passport, but I'm having some trouble finding the answers I'm looking for.

I have a panasonic CT-32HL15 and a 8300hd, connected via HDMI, often when switching from regular tv to hdtv, the 8300 seems to lock up (displays nothing but black) or scrambles then goes black.....sometimes I get a picture sometimes I don't.

After reading on the forum as much as I could I changed the settings from 1080i,480p,480i...to....1080i and 480p, this seems to help although I can still get it lock up so to speek.

any ideas, I havent ventured much into the diagnostic menu, for fear ill fry the thing, by not pressing the right combo of buttons and such.

thanks,

hello everyone, sorry to post another question withen this thread.

I have read so much about the 8300hd and passport, but I'm having some trouble finding the answers I'm looking for.

I have a panasonic CT-32HL15 and a 8300hd, connected via HDMI, often when switching from regular tv to hdtv, the 8300 seems to lock up (displays nothing but black) or scrambles then goes black.....sometimes I get a picture sometimes I don't.

After reading on the forum as much as I could I changed the settings from 1080i,480p,480i...to....1080i and 480p, this seems to help although I can still get it lock up so to speek.

any ideas, I havent ventured much into the diagnostic menu, for fear ill fry the thing, by not pressing the right combo of buttons and such.

thanks,
The Extended Diagnostics Menu are display only. You can't mess anything up.
Unfortunately, there probably isn't anything there that will help you either.

Have you contacted Panasonic Customer Service number and asked about firmware upgrades?

Last night as i settled in to watch a show at 8:00, both my SA8000 and SA800HD simultaneously rebooted all by themselves, then continued to reboot over and over for the next 3 hours and were still doing it when i went to bed. I got through to TWC and they said they're having a problem with their DVR service and are hoping to get it resolved soon. When i got up this morning i had limited functionality but they both still had the 1.5.159 software that had been working flawlessly for over a year. I did not lose any saved shows so that's good.

Then when i came home for lunch it was obvious that they had rebooted and i noticed a new "Search" icon in the menu - and it now has an alphabetical "keypad" that i've heard about here. So i checked the diagnostics and see that i have new software on both units. It seems they skipped a few versions:

ResApp Version: Passport Echo 2.5.027
OS Version: Power TV 6.12.66.2sp
ResApp Date: Oct 13 2005, 11:10:36
OS Date: Sep 9 2005, 12:43:23 PM

It was downloaded on my SA8000 and SA8000HD on 10/27/05 at 7:53 am. I'll play around with it when i get home tonight.

On TWC-San Diego, it appears that they fixed the infrequent SA8000HD/SA8300HD lock up problem in our ver 2.5.027.
However, we are still having problems with the STB spontaneously jumping from DD5.1 to PCM STEREO mode.
You can use the new DIGITAL AUDIO menu to select STEREO and then set it back to either DD5.1 or HDMI.
There are still reports of some sort of "stuttering" problem that is (perhaps?) only in the SA8000HD.
So let us know if you have the same problems (and complain to TWC-OC).

BTW: For TWC-SD, we have Power TV 6.14.66.1sp dtd Sep 8 2005, which is slightly different than TWC-OC.
[Weird, earlier date for higher version number.]

hello everyone, sorry to post another question withen this thread.

I have read so much about the 8300hd and passport, but I'm having some trouble finding the answers I'm looking for.

I have a panasonic CT-32HL15 and a 8300hd, connected via HDMI, often when switching from regular tv to hdtv, the 8300 seems to lock up (displays nothing but black) or scrambles then goes black.....sometimes I get a picture sometimes I don't.
After reading on the forum as much as I could I changed the settings from 1080i,480p,480i...to....1080i and 480p, this seems to help although I can still get it lock up so to speek.

any ideas, I havent ventured much into the diagnostic menu, for fear ill fry the thing, by not pressing the right combo of buttons and such.

thanks,

nissmo, it is well known that these boxes have poorly implemented HDCP schemes and sometimes the box will not resynch the TV when changing between video FORMATS. so when you switch from 480 channel to 1080i channel youre going to get lockups at least half the time. simply set the box to output 1080i only (even if you dont want to let the box scale...its the only way if using HDMI) and you wont ever have a lockup or handshake problem again. me, i have mine set at 720p and 1080i and i put up wiht the blackouts because...AGAIN...the electronics in this box are CRAP! and i would rather have the set do the scaling. so if i get a blackout, i flip back and forth between formatted channels untl the picture comes back in on the channel i want. sometimes i get no sound and pic, sometimes no pic only.

The new search uses an on-screen keyboard where you type in a program title, or type in a keyword and it brings up a list of all the programs that contain that word then you drill down till you narrow it down to the show. I typed in RALLY and it found and listed all three different FIA World Rally races on Speedvision this weekend. This is great !

But it seems that it will only search as far ahead as the data in the guide goes. I was able to go up to 6 days in advance. I know that Speed channel is showing the next Rolex Sports Car race on Nov 5th so i typed in ROLEX, but since the guide data only goes to Nov 2nd it doesn't see the race in the schedule yet so it doesn't find it.

Here's info from Pioneer's Passport Echo site:

"Title/Keyword Search:

The intelligent keyword or title search feature allows you to type in titles or words through a virtual keyboard with your remote to quickly find a particular show or to setup a series recording based on a favorite topic such as 'cooking'. It's a great way record all of the shows that match your lifestyle or particular interests."

Title/Keyword Search (http://www.pioneerbroadband.com/passportecho/passportecho.asp#)

http://www.pioneerbroadband.com/images/pdt/echoguidesearch.jpg

randy, my version 1.8.111 box already has that search feature. so they had implemented it long before any 2XXXXX versions. and youre right, it only goes up to the 6 days the guide keeps program info...because all it does is simply search the info stored in the guide grid.

randy, my version 1.8.111 box already has that search feature. so they had implemented it long before any 2XXXXX versions. and youre right, it only goes up to the 6 days the guide keeps program info...because all it does is simply search the info stored in the guide grid.Ah, i didn't realize 1.8.111 already had this keyboard search thing (my previous version was 1.5.159 till the other day, and it doesn't have this).

Nissmo - when selecting Output Formats - make darn sure you DO NOT select 720p only!! Your Panasonic does not input 720p at all so if you de-select the other 3 formats you'll immediately get a black screen and you will not be able to get a picture on the TV, nor see the menus. If that happens there is a method posted in this thread to get your picture back (search for Flying Blind).

hello everyone, sorry to post another question withen this thread.

I have read so much about the 8300hd and passport, but I'm having some trouble finding the answers I'm looking for.

I have a panasonic CT-32HL15 and a 8300hd, connected via HDMI, often when switching from regular tv to hdtv, the 8300 seems to lock up (displays nothing but black) or scrambles then goes black.....sometimes I get a picture sometimes I don't.

After reading on the forum as much as I could I changed the settings from 1080i,480p,480i...to....1080i and 480p, this seems to help although I can still get it lock up so to speek.

any ideas, I havent ventured much into the diagnostic menu, for fear ill fry the thing, by not pressing the right combo of buttons and such.

thanks,
It's not you or your box, nissmo. It's the implementation of HDMI on the 8300HD and, perhaps, all cable boxes.

thanks everyone for the replies and help. I think since my TV dosent display 720p I'll leave my settings the way they are at 1080i and 480p this seems to produce the least amount of freeze ups for me.

the only bad thing now is that my TV dosent zoom or expand the 16:9 picture. ;)

BTW the AVS forums are pretty amazing, tons of info and good advice.

randy, my version 1.8.111 box already has that search feature. so they had implemented it long before any 2XXXXX versions. and youre right, it only goes up to the 6 days the guide keeps program info...because all it does is simply search the info stored in the guide grid.
I just want to make clear, although the Title search only goes forward up to six days, the keyword search can be used to set up recordings for any program that has a title or description that matches the keyword, at any time in the future. Just 'type' your keyword and then press the record button on the remote. All future matching shows will be recorded. This is a major feature that finally matches one of TiVos best features.

How do I get to the diagnostic menu on the box... I've tried a few things that I've found on this site, and none seem to work.

I have an SA 8300HD on TWC in NYC.

Thanks in Advance.

How do I get to the diagnostic menu on the box... I've tried a few things that I've found on this site, and none seem to work. I have an SA 8300HD on TWC in NYC.If you read back one page in this thread the method is posted. Whatever method you tried before must have been for the SARA software which doesn't work with Passport.

Constant rebooting the other night with Time Warner of Orange, and next day channel 199 isn't showing software version 1.8.103, that line is missing for a day or so, now its 2.5.027 (sheesh I think its .027, but toob is off as I type).

I still don't get PIP, nothing happens.

Big question right now is if I can swap boxes and keep any of the stuff I have recorded. I am off to read the Sata thread.

I just went through 3 defective 8300HD DVRs in a row.
How is this possible.
Brought one back Friday, got home, new one wouldn't boot, went back got another and that one quit last night.
I'm about to throw this thing out the window!
I called they could not get it work.
Guess I'll try again Monday.
I have another 8300HD DVR that works fine, good thing.
S/A must have some serious quality control issues.

Constant rebooting the other night with Time Warner of Orange, and next day channel 199 isn't showing software version 1.8.103, that line is missing for a day or so, now its 2.5.027 (sheesh I think its .027, but toob is off as I type).

I still don't get PIP, nothing happens.

Big question right now is if I can swap boxes and keep any of the stuff I have recorded. I am off to read the Sata thread.SATA is not supported by Passport at all at this time. They tell me it will be in the future. The guys who were successful have SARA software.

My 8000HD didn't like the new download so much - channel changes are much slower, menus come up slower, the picture and audio breaks up for a few seconds when i FF or Rewind or swap from one tuner to the other. I don't think this old girl has enough RAM to handle the new software (2.5.027 / Power TV 6.12.66.2sp).

My regular SA8000 also now has the same problems as my 8000HD, but on this one the picture freezes for a few seconds from time to time (both live TV and playback) where it never did it with the previous software. I'm having flashbacks of the big Freezing problem we had a few software versions ago!

PIP works fine on both units though, albeit a little slower than before.

SATA is not supported by Passport at all at this time. They tell me it will be in the future. The guys who were successful have SARA software.
Back in this thread somewhere, it was posted by myself and others that there will ba a rollout of a Pasport version that *does* support the eSATA port. My provider, Suscom/York (just purchased by Comcast), will be pushing it out 12/15-12/31.

When I heard Suscom may be selling to Comcast, I started visiting the Comcast and the Motorola STB thread. It's not pretty. I hope the deployment occurs and Comcast doesn't hose us with Moto boxes.

When I heard Suscom may be selling to Comcast, I started visiting the Comcast and the Motorola STB thread. It's not pretty. I hope the deployment occurs and Comcast doesn't hose us with Moto boxes. I think it often takes years to "convert", if that's even necessary, an area from one system to another in cases where they are different. Odds are, very little will change for you.

Back in this thread somewhere, it was posted by myself and others that there will ba a rollout of a Pasport version that *does* support the eSATA port. My provider, Suscom/York (just purchased by Comcast), will be pushing it out 12/15-12/31.Many months ago a TWC Technical Supervisor told me that Pioneer/Passport is working on an external SATA drive and they should have them ready to rent by the end of the year or maybe early 2006, and that i'd have to upgrade to the 8300 series DVRs because my old 8000 series will not support it. We'll see . . . .

I think it often takes years to "convert", if that's even necessary, an area from one system to another in cases where they are different. Odds are, very little will change for you.
I am hopeful that corporate inertia will work in my favor. Plus, inevitably, part of the cost of Suscom was all the gear they currently have deployed. Comcast would be idiots to yank it and start over. Now if I can just get the eSATA-supporting version of Passport . . .

Many months ago a TWC Technical Supervisor told me that Pioneer/Passport is working on an external SATA drive and they should have them ready to rent by the end of the year or maybe early 2006,

Same exact story we heard last year. Wanna' bet we'll hear it again next year?

Same exact story we heard last year. Wanna' bet we'll hear it again next year?I wonder what is taking so long? It seems like a fairly easy feature to implement considering the SARA software has it already.

Plus, Time Warner and other cable companies have already indicated they don't want to get into the hard disk rental business, but they don't have objections to customers attaching their own drives to the SATA port. So, I'm assuming Randy means the SATA-enabling firmware update should be available late 2005/early 2006, not the actual hard disks.

I wonder what is taking so long? It seems like a fairly easy feature to implement considering the SARA software has it already.

Plus, Time Warner and other cable companies have already indicated they don't want to get into the hard disk rental business, but they don't have objections to customers attaching their own drives to the SATA port. So, I'm assuming Randy means the SATA-enabling firmware update should be available late 2005/early 2006, not the actual hard disks.Actually the supervisor i spoke with at the local TWC office was extremely knowledgeable about the whole DVR thing. I had to get him involved because the woman behind the counter was refusing to rent me a 2nd DVR to use on my one TV because as she said "it's impossible to connect two DVRs to one TV". He intervened and told her the same thing i did - that it's possible to connect 4 DVRs to my HD TV. When i explained to him that i was renting the 2nd unit to get more hard drive capacity he volunteered that they were going to rent the external SATA drive to their DVR subscribers at the end of the year and that the cost of the drive rental would be less than the cost of the 2nd DVR. He also said i'd have to have an 8300HD as this drive cannot be connected to the 8000HD. I volunteered to beta test it but he said they don't use customers to do this, and put me on the waiting list for one. He joked that their customers are already unoffical beta testers and we just don't know it :D

Hopefully this plan hasn't changed and i'll be able to rent the external drive soon.

Randy,

There are lots of TW systems with SARA software where the SATA port is active - TW does not rent drives in any of those systems. They also don't "support" them - though they work just fine. I wouldn't expect your TW system to be any different when they have Passport software that enables the SATA port.

It's also worth noting that the hardware was designed by Scientific Atlanta and the SARA software that supports that SATA port is also from SA. As Passport is done by someone else it is easy to understand that they have not been in a rush to do this. Particularly when there has been little interest in the external HD demonstrated by TW anywhere else.

Randy,

There are lots of TW systems with SARA software where the SATA port is active - TW does not rent drives in any of those systems. They also don't "support" them - though they work just fine. I wouldn't expect your TW system to be any different when they have Passport software that enables the SATA port.

Really? Where? I was under the impression that TWC as a corporation was wedded to Pioneer Passport. Hard to believe that some TWC systems would have SARA, some Passport, and haven't read anything about that here. Not fussing, and it's possible I've just missed those threads/posts, just would like to confirm that....

Really? Where? I was under the impression that TWC as a corporation was wedded to Pioneer Passport. Hard to believe that some TWC systems would have SARA, some Passport, and haven't read anything about that here. Not fussing, and it's possible I've just missed those threads/posts, just would like to confirm that....

No, its just that this thread is devoted to Passport so there aren't many SARA comments.

Most of the cable systems owned by TW have been purchased over the years. Each of these individual systems have a certain archicture (including the operating system) and TW ends up being "stuck" with that archicture. Hence TW has both SARA and Passport. Check out the SARA threads and you will see TW there too.

I can confirm that the SA8300HD dvr has firewire ports activated. I was able to capture a couple of minutes of hd broadcast on computer. I'm having a problem with the MyTray program (thegreenbutton.com) and haven't been able to play with it lately.

Also, I was told that TW in my market may be switching to SARA from Passport and would be moving all analog channels to digital. People without box would still get analog channels.

Time Warner in Houston TX, for one, uses SARA software.

I can confirm that the SA8300HD dvr has firewire ports activated. I was able to capture a couple of minutes of hd broadcast on computer. I'm having a problem with the MyTray program (thegreenbutton.com) and haven't been able to play with it lately.

Also, I was told that TW in my market may be switching to SARA from Passport and would be moving all analog channels to digital. People without box would still get analog channels.

Okay, so you're saying your TWC system is running Passport and the firewire ports are active. Now, that's got to be a first! (Maybe I'll be right about this one! :D )

Although I'm a bit confused by a successful IEEE1394 transfer to a computer, not a D-VHS deck. I was under the impression that computers were not authorized devices for STB/DVR firewire transfer.

Okay, so you're saying your TWC system is running Passport and the firewire ports are active. Now, that's got to be a first! (Maybe I'll be right about this one! :D )

Although I'm a bit confused by a successful IEEE1394 transfer to a computer, not a D-VHS deck. I was under the impression that computers were not authorized devices for STB/DVR firewire transfer.

Check out the TWC NYC thread....

....they've been issuing 8300's w/ Passport w/ active firewire for a few weeks now. Got one last week but haven't tried the FW yet.

Don't think anyone has confirmed whether SATA is working though.

Okay, so you're saying your TWC system is running Passport and the firewire ports are active. Now, that's got to be a first! (Maybe I'll be right about this one! :D )

Although I'm a bit confused by a successful IEEE1394 transfer to a computer, not a D-VHS deck. I was under the impression that computers were not authorized devices for STB/DVR firewire transfer.
They are not.

Okay, so you're saying your TWC system is running Passport and the firewire ports are active. Now, that's got to be a first! (Maybe I'll be right about this one! :D )

Although I'm a bit confused by a successful IEEE1394 transfer to a computer, not a D-VHS deck. I was under the impression that computers were not authorized devices for STB/DVR firewire transfer.

One can record 5c "copy freely" material material from a firewire (1394) enabled STB (like the 3250HD) to a computer. 5c "copy once" and "copy never" cannot be recorded on a computer.

I would like to know what version of passport Aporter has, and what drivers/software he is using.

I just went through 3 defective 8300HD DVRs in a row.
How is this possible.
Brought one back Friday, got home, new one wouldn't boot, went back got another and that one quit last night.
I'm about to throw this thing out the window!
I called they could not get it work.
Guess I'll try again Monday.
I have another 8300HD DVR that works fine, good thing.
S/A must have some serious quality control issues.

It's possible because they just cycle the returned boxes back into the mix, instead of pulling them out of the rotation. They get returned for some reason, the techs hook them up to their 'standard' connection and test it - runs fine - back into the bullpen. Then one of us gets it, plugs it in and finds out the optical out doesn't work, the drive won't record, the audio drops on HD channels, etc... and the whole cycle starts over.

I went through 2, by buddy through 3 - and we got lucky - our most recent ones were fresh from the box, not delivered by a service tech from his shelf. Visit their locations where you can pay your bill and stand in line waiting for one from the locker - those are usually brand spanking new.

It's possible because they just cycle the returned boxes back into the mix, instead of pulling them out of the rotation. They get returned for some reason, the techs hook them up to their 'standard' connection and test it - runs fine - back into the bullpen. Then one of us gets it, plugs it in and finds out the optical out doesn't work, the drive won't record, the audio drops on HD channels, etc... and the whole cycle starts over.

I went through 2, by buddy through 3 - and we got lucky - our most recent ones were fresh from the box, not delivered by a service tech from his shelf. Visit their locations where you can pay your bill and stand in line waiting for one from the locker - those are usually brand spanking new.

When I first got HD a couple of years ago, I got a 3000HD installed by a tech. After a few go rounds with signal problems got resolved, I discovered that the box had a little snow on the HD channels. They replaced the box, and same thing. They tried to convince me it was my tv, but I pointed out that it didn't happen with the DVD player. Finally, I got a team of techs to come with not only another box, but a test HDTV, which also got the snow with both boxes. After lots of back and forth, it turned out that they had gotten an entire shipment of bad boxes. Their QC didn't involve checking HD boxes on HD channels with HDTVs. After that, there were several weeks during which no new HD installs were done because they only had the bad boxes.

I have no faith in TWC's ability to QC their boxes. Now, I only set a service appointment when I need a box swapped. As much as it's a pain in the ass, it means I can put the box through a few tests before I accept it. Of course, last time the tech showed up with a work order saying "replace HD-DVR" without an HD-DVR in his truck...
-JMP

I would like to know what version of passport Aporter has, and what drivers/software he is using.

I'll have to check tonight when I get home, but if I remeber correctly last time I checked it was like 1.8. I'm using the program that can be found over at TGB that captures both the analog using PVR150 and HD broadcast via firewire within Media Center. So if I record Lost on ABC, I get two copies of the show. The program allows for the analog broadcast to be automatically deleted if the HD broadcast records successfully without errors.

A little genuine competition in the marketplace is what this stuff needs to get the bugs out. Satellite vs cable isn't doing it, not sure what will as long as carriers bundle content.

PIP still does nothing on my TW 2.5.027 8300HD, any chance its something related to setup or operation of my remote? I think the buttons are ok, as the +- channel at the right side of the bottom has worked to change the channel under some I forget exactly circumstances, but never PIP, just nothing happens.

Of course, last time the tech showed up with a work order saying "replace HD-DVR" without an HD-DVR in his truck...
-JMP


LOL - that happened to me too - I waited 3 weeks for a swap-out for the 8300 and the guy showed up with an 8000. As I started to disconnect my 8000, he said "Don't tell me you needed an HD-DVR... I only have an HD reciever in my truck."

I shrugged my head and said "You gotta be kidding me". The work order clearly stated 'customer requests 8300 HD-DVR'. From that point on I started going into the billing centers myself.

I picked up an additional 8300HD with firewire at the Chatsworth headend. Firewire isn't active on 1.8.103. While three people(call center, headend, and service technician) called for information and said it would work, it doesn't. No one can tell me what is needed to make it work or when.

In addition the new box(and the replacement box to that from the home service call) has introduced a DC signal which affects my Audio Authority 1154 switcher and causes white crush. Audio Authority says that is a known issue with the 8300HD on many but not all of the boxes. They are sending me a $15 fix.

my box decided to reboot before the start of a recording of Alias the other night and on reboot then decided to record an episode of Seinfeld permanently into the buffer. The result being one of the tuners does not buffer any more and reboots itself occasionally.

I decided it was time to upgrade to the 8300HD and as somebody previously suggested, keep the old unit until I've emptied the hard drive and pay for an additional box.

On the phone with TWC the CS rep tried to convince me that it was impossible to have two DVRs hooked up to the same TV.
"Why? I Have enough inputs and I only want to use this as a playback device temporaily."

Then she tried to tell me that they have to hook it up to another outlet. I countered with "I don't want the old unit hooked up to the outlet, I just want to plug it into the TV as a playback unit."
On and on it goes until I just said "Okay, I would like an additional DVR for my other TV."
"Sir, the technician would have to connect it to that TV."
"That's fine, when he's gone I'll just plug it back into my intended set. What's the difference?"

At that point she caved and I have scheduled appointment on Sat. We'll see how that goes.

TWC really need to get those external drives working fully. It's ridiculous that they have no way of transferring content to a new unit.

Actually the supervisor i spoke with at the local TWC office was extremely knowledgeable about the whole DVR thing. I had to get him involved because the woman behind the counter was refusing to rent me a 2nd DVR to use on my one TV because as she said "it's impossible to connect two DVRs to one TV". He intervened and told her the same thing i did - that it's possible to connect 4 DVRs to my HD TV. When i explained to him that i was renting the 2nd unit to get more hard drive capacity he volunteered that they were going to rent the external SATA drive to their DVR subscribers at the end of the year and that the cost of the drive rental would be less than the cost of the 2nd DVR. He also said i'd have to have an 8300HD as this drive cannot be connected to the 8000HD. I volunteered to beta test it but he said they don't use customers to do this, and put me on the waiting list for one. He joked that their customers are already unoffical beta testers and we just don't know it :D

It's this kind of knowledge passed along in the AVS forums that really pays off when you are on the phone with CS.

my box decided to reboot before the start of a recording of Alias the other night and on reboot then decided to record an episode of Seinfeld permanently into the buffer. The result being one of the tuners does not buffer any more and reboots itself occasionally.

I decided it was time to upgrade to the 8300HD and as somebody previously suggested, keep the old unit until I've emptied the hard drive and pay for an additional box.

On the phone with TWC the CS rep tried to convince me that it was impossible to have two DVRs hooked up to the same TV.
"Why? I Have enough inputs and I only want to use this as a playback device temporaily."

Then she tried to tell me that they have to hook it up to another outlet. I countered with "I don't want the old unit hooked up to the outlet, I just want to plug it into the TV as a playback unit."
On and on it goes until I just said "Okay, I would like an additional DVR for my other TV."
"Sir, the technician would have to connect it to that TV."
"That's fine, when he's gone I'll just plug it back into my intended set. What's the difference?"

At that point she caved and I have scheduled appointment on Sat. We'll see how that goes.

TWC really need to get those external drives working fully. It's ridiculous that they have no way of transferring content to a new unit.

Abbott and Costello would've had a field day with this kind of rigid idiocy.

The non-transferrability makes perfect sense though; if it could be transferred, it could be diverted and "stolen."

Abbott and Costello would've had a field day with this kind of rigid idiocy.

The non-transferrability makes perfect sense though; if it could be transferred, it could be diverted and "stolen."

what makes less sense is that I was offering to give them MORE money! "Yes, I will pay for another box even though this isn't working."

How often do companies refuse your money?

what makes less sense is that I was offering to give them MORE money! "Yes, I will pay for another box even though this isn't working."

How often do companies refuse your money?
There was no branch in her script for that option.

In addition the new box(and the replacement box to that from the home service call) has introduced a DC signal which affects my Audio Authority 1154 switcher and causes white crush. Audio Authority says that is a known issue with the 8300HD on many but not all of the boxes. They are sending me a $15 fix.

This sounds like the problem that Carnivore and I have been dealing with (starting at post #1689). I will assume your problem concerns the component video output, correct? I had some luck by inserting an attenuator in the "Y" (green) line, but the overall picture was a little too dark. The DC in the signal makes perfect sense, I'm a little embarrassed I didn't think of it myself. :o I suppose if I had a working oscilloscope maybe I would have picked up on it earlier.

Anyway, can you tell me some more about the Audio Authority fix? I'm assuming it's a DC blocking capacitor to fit inline. Is it just for the one line or is it neeeded on all three signals? Do you have a contact at AA that you could share so I could discuss it with them?

Thanks for posting this, it just may be the breakthrough I and some others have been waiting for. :D

tekdredger,

The 1154 is a component switcher. When I connect the component wires directly to the display the symptons disappear. The symptons sound similar to the posts you indicated. The number I called was 1-800-322-8346 and I asked for 1154 technical support. All I know is that whatever is arriving late next week will connect between the 8300HD output and the input to the 1154. It affects only one input, so that if I had another input with the problem I would need another fix. I don't know if it will affect all three wires. When it arrives I will post the results.

Alan Sh,

Thanks for the response. I look forward to hearing more once you get the fix. Either post here or PM if you wish. I may call AA in the mean time just to pick their brains a bit as they are the only folks I'm aware of that seem to have a handle on this problem. Seems to me that ScientificAtlanta should be the ones providing the fix though.

Thanks again.

PIP still does nothing on my TW 2.5.027 8300HD, any chance its something related to setup or operation of my remote? I think the buttons are ok, as the +- channel at the right side of the bottom has worked to change the channel under some I forget exactly circumstances, but never PIP, just nothing happens.

Problem Solved.
My remote wasn't working.

I stopped at the local office and told them my 8300HD had no PIP, but was full of movies, and that I wanted a second box to swap and test with, and oh btw let me have another remote to check that as well. No fuss, but all they had in stock were 8000 series boxes, and several other people were there as well exchanging or returning various boxes.

I turned the system on with the old remote, put the batteries in the new one, pressed PIP and there it was, works as it supposed to.

my box decided to reboot before the start of a recording of Alias the other night and on reboot then decided to record an episode of Seinfeld permanently into the buffer. The result being one of the tuners does not buffer any more and reboots itself occasionally.

I decided it was time to upgrade to the 8300HD and as somebody previously suggested, keep the old unit until I've emptied the hard drive and pay for an additional box.

On the phone with TWC the CS rep tried to convince me that it was impossible to have two DVRs hooked up to the same TV.
"Why? I Have enough inputs and I only want to use this as a playback device temporaily."

Then she tried to tell me that they have to hook it up to another outlet. I countered with "I don't want the old unit hooked up to the outlet, I just want to plug it into the TV as a playback unit."
On and on it goes until I just said "Okay, I would like an additional DVR for my other TV."
"Sir, the technician would have to connect it to that TV."
"That's fine, when he's gone I'll just plug it back into my intended set. What's the difference?"

At that point she caved and I have scheduled appointment on Sat. We'll see how that goes.

TWC really need to get those external drives working fully. It's ridiculous that they have no way of transferring content to a new unit.

A couple of points (I think they apply to Passport as well as SARA):
1) The DVR needs to have a cable connection to play back previously recorded programs because it has to have authorization from the head end. It may be possible to disconnect the cable for a while - but not long term. This should not be a problem in your case though with a splitter connecting to both.
2) The external drive would not solve your problem as the signal recorded is encoded with a key unique to the DVR box. I know it is this way with SARA and am sure that it will be that way with Passport too. The reason is due to the old intellectual property rights debate - by keying to a specific box, one can't copy, distribute and all those other Hollywood no-nos.

A couple of points (I think they apply to Passport as well as SARA):
1) The DVR needs to have a cable connection to play back previously recorded programs because it has to have authorization from the head end. It may be possible to disconnect the cable for a while - but not long term. This should not be a problem in your case though with a splitter connecting to both.
2) The external drive would not solve your problem as the signal recorded is encoded with a key unique to the DVR box. I know it is this way with SARA and am sure that it will be that way with Passport too. The reason is due to the old intellectual property rights debate - by keying to a specific box, one can't copy, distribute and all those other Hollywood no-nos.
The bullet-proof encryption is exactly why we can do what they allow us to do in the first place. We get to time-shift - archive even - hi-def material and "they" get to sleep soundly at night.

I tried to get a DVR from a billing location and was told "no sir, we do not distribute DVR's directly to customers. They must be installed by a service technician. Can I setup an appointment for you?" Like we don't know how to hook up some AV cables?

If it is a HD DVR, some cable systems insist that they install to verify that you have a HD set (usually the monthly fee for the HD DVR is the same as a regular one). Even in those systems they often allow an EXCHANGE at the billing center.

Also, the SA HD DVRs are VERY sensitive to signal levels. The cable company may want to make sure the level is correct - and the best way to do that is to have a tech "on site".

I tried to get a DVR from a billing location and was told "no sir, we do not distribute DVR's directly to customers. They must be installed by a service technician. Can I setup an appointment for you?" Like we don't know how to hook up some AV cables?
Shhhh! You'll freak 'em out with that kind of talk.

:rolleyes:

When I first got my HD-DVR, I didn't have existing cable TV service. I had RR and Dish Network. In that case, I wanted a tech to come out. Speaking of work orders, like people were recently, I stated when I ordered (this is when HD DVRs were 1st released in my area and in very high demand) to put on the work order "do not show up for installation unless an HD DVR is available". I said I'll just wait until they are.... When the tech showed up, he made it a point to tell me how he had to drive from one end of town from his last call, to their warehouse, then to my house. I'm thinking, you pick up work orders in the morning, get the HD DVR then. Anyway, I digressed.

Since the 1st install, I've had to exchange my 8000HD once or twice and also swapped it for the 8300HD at the payment centers with NO QUESTIONS ASKED.

I was initially told, and this was maybe 3 weeks ago that a tech would have to come out to do the installation, and I said no thanks I would just wait until I could get a self install, then it was just a minute sir, and when he came back picking up the box was fine. Maybe the call center doesn't get a spiff if they don't setup the install?

I have a feeling the tech only may just be to ration the boxes when they first come out.

I was initially told, and this was maybe 3 weeks ago that a tech would have to come out to do the installation, and I said no thanks I would just wait until I could get a self install, then it was just a minute sir, and when he came back picking up the box was fine. Maybe the call center doesn't get a spiff if they don't setup the install?

I have a feeling the tech only may just be to ration the boxes when they first come out.
This brings to mind the experience I had when I placed my DVR order. They were running a special promotion, so I ordered an 8300 and two 8300HD. In order to phase in my box changes, I picked up one of each on the first visit and the remaining 8300HD on the second visit. They tried to charge me the full monthly charge on the second 8300HD. I expressed my displeasure with that as that was not what I had been told on the phone when I set up the order.

And now to my point - the manager, or whatever his title was, told me that they limited the special promotion to one box BECAUSE THEY WERE GOING FASTER THAN THEY HAD EXPECTED AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO RUN OUT. Pardon my hollering, but this is preposterous. Having failed to properly anticipate demand - I don't remember me ever getting any survey/questionaire - they should have dug in and rush ordered more boxes. "We want everyone to have ONE." takes on a whole new meaning.

I've mentioned this before here or elsewhere, but I've got at least speculative reasons why cablecos do this to some degree:

1) People think they can hook an HD set-top up to their standard TV and magically transform it into an HDTV.
2) People with SD TVs and the standard DVR (80gb HDD) find out that they HD DVR has a 160gb HDD and can get more recording time.

I've mentioned this before here or elsewhere, but I've got at least speculative reasons why cablecos do this to some degree:

1) People think they can hook an HD set-top up to their standard TV and magically transform it into an HDTV.
2) People with SD TVs and the standard DVR (80gb HDD) find out that they HD DVR has a 160gb HDD and can get more recording time.
10-4. It's nearly impossible to make things idiot-proof as the idiots can be so darn clever!

But the cablecos' attitudes toward their subscribers is nearly monolithic in that none of us have a clue. Their approach should allow for varying degrees of technical expertise on their subscribers' part, and adjust accordingly. If there are legitimate technical reasons why a man and a truck need to show up, they should be able to clearly 'splain it to us instead of engaging in non-sensical non-sequiturs.

I do recall when the installer came in, he casually "checked" to see if I really had an HDTV. I thought nothing of it 'til now.... He looked at mine, and I presume that because it's widescreen, he (safely) assumed it really was an HDTV and commented something like "yeah, you've got an HD set....".

He probably was the type that played by the rules too as in addition to being an installer, he was also an installation "auditor", checking other tech's work. He mentioned having to ground my cable drop and that the guy who did the RR install a year before failed to do. I wonder if that tech got knocked for that....

This brings to mind the experience I had when I placed my DVR order. They were running a special promotion, so I ordered an 8300 and two 8300HD. In order to phase in my box changes, I picked up one of each on the first visit and the remaining 8300HD on the second visit. They tried to charge me the full monthly charge on the second 8300HD. I expressed my displeasure with that as that was not what I had been told on the phone when I set up the order.

And now to my point - the manager, or whatever his title was, told me that they limited the special promotion to one box BECAUSE THEY WERE GOING FASTER THAN THEY HAD EXPECTED AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO RUN OUT. Pardon my hollering, but this is preposterous. Having failed to properly anticipate demand - I don't remember me ever getting any survey/questionaire - they should have dug in and rush ordered more boxes. "We want everyone to have ONE." takes on a whole new meaning.

I believe that one reason that there have been shortages of these boxes is that they cost the cablecos around $500 each. The cable companies have probably budgeted a specific amount for this sort of expansion - and that puts a cap on the supply. Once they discover the demand is higher than planned, they have to re-plan, and with annual budgeting that can be difficult. Sure they make plenty of money, but to stay profitable they still need to exercise some constraint (unlike Washington). At $10/month ($120/yr) revenue form DVR rental, the pay-off is better than 4 years for the box.

Ignorance is the bread and butter of the cable industry, $4.95 a month for a splitter, $9.95 for a router, $39.95 for a phone service that isn't rated as highly as the $16.95 competition.

I stopped by the "smokers lounge" outside the side door the other night, and talked with 4 mixed area employees. In exchange for answering some of their questions I found out there is ONE guy in the office that really knows much about DVR and HD, the main downlink engineer, but not an easy guy to get ahold of.

Bottom line this stuff is the heroin of nerds, and they know it.

I would like to know what version of passport Aporter has, and what drivers/software he is using.

My Passport version is 1.8.112.

LOL - that happened to me too - I waited 3 weeks for a swap-out for the 8300 and the guy showed up with an 8000. As I started to disconnect my 8000, he said "Don't tell me you needed an HD-DVR... I only have an HD reciever in my truck."

I shrugged my head and said "You gotta be kidding me". The work order clearly stated 'customer requests 8300 HD-DVR'. From that point on I started going into the billing centers myself.

Service guy showed up. With an 8000 and not an 8300. Clearly a CS problem though as he had been instructed to replace an existing 8300 (which I don't have) and install an additional receiver as well(?). He thought it was strange why I wanted to downgrade.

Unlike CS however he didn't have a problem with installing a second DVR and understood why I wanted to do it. So he'll be back on Tuesday, which is fair enough.

It's pity they don't have a two tier CS system which allows you to specify what type of user you are when you call - "Press 1 for beginner, Press 2 for advanced" - then you can be put through to somebody with a more detailed understanding of the hardware who gets what you are trying to accomplish.

Any word on Dayton firmware upgrade?

I believe that one reason that there have been shortages of these boxes is that they cost the cablecos around $500 each. The cable companies have probably budgeted a specific amount for this sort of expansion - and that puts a cap on the supply. Once they discover the demand is higher than planned, they have to re-plan, and with annual budgeting that can be difficult. Sure they make plenty of money, but to stay profitable they still need to exercise some constraint (unlike Washington). At $10/month ($120/yr) revenue form DVR rental, the pay-off is better than 4 years for the box.
And that was my first criticism of them - the demand exceded their expactations because their expectations were not based on proper market research. There was no survey conducted. Completely top down thinking with no input from their subscribers. Small wonder . . .

I have a 8300 box using passport software. Does anyone know if this box has an option to change HDMI output between RGB and YCbCR ouputs? If so, how???? Thanks to anyone who can help.

TimeWarner Cable, Morrisville, NC

So I had my first completely wacky experience with the 8300HD. I have had reboots before, and a few recordings that failed but the problems have always seemed pretty logical and explainable. This weekend, the 8300HD looked fine - Friday night I had a CSI from the night before and a few other things (Daily Show, Colbert Report, Catwoman) to watch. Then when I went to watch them on Saturday I found to my shock:

Catwoman was erased.
Drawn Together had reappeared after being erased
3 eps of Daily Show and 3 eps of Colbert Report were still listed, but wouldn't play (when I pressed play, they just temporarily blipped the screen but no content showed)
CSI was erased


This appears to have affected only recordings from Thursday and Friday. I watched (over Sat/Sun) 3 or 4 of my recordings of Rome without any issues and stuff I taped last night and watched late were all working fine.

Did anyone else see a glitch/freakout like this?

Lyman

Catwoman was erased.

It was probably doing you a favor there. :D

I haven't been able to find the answer to this anywhere, so please let me know if this has been asked before. Does the optical audio out work on the 8300 hd dvr or just the coax? Any help on this would be much appreciated.

It was probably doing you a favor there. :D

Note: I didn't see it in the theater, didn't buy the DVD, and wouldn't have DVR'ed it unless it was free. Which it was. On HBOHD. I figured at the worst I could fast forward to the appropriate moments of her in costume. I love how Halle Berry shrugged off how much of a flop this movie was.

Note: I didn't see it in the theater, didn't buy the DVD, and wouldn't have DVR'ed it unless it was free. Which it was. On HBOHD. I figured at the worst I could fast forward to the appropriate moments of her in costume. I love how Halle Berry shrugged off how much of a flop this movie was.
I like when she shrugs off most of her clothing . . .

I'll preface this by saying I have TWC in Kansas City and am running the 8300HD DVR...

I've have some weird things happening with my scheduled recordings lately. It seems like the machine is not recognizing some of my recurring recordings.

For example, it stopped recording Maury and Conan even though their air times and channels did not change. I never touched the recording options...they had worked correctly for about 3 months or so (since I got the box). Also, I have Real World scheduled to record at 9:00 pm on Tuesdays, and for some reason now it's trying to record it at 8 pm. Has anyone else experienced this? With Conan and Maury, I deleted the Series Recording and then told it to record the entire series and it seems to work again. Just seems like a glitch or something. I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere on this thread.

TimeWarner Cable, Morrisville, NC
3 eps of Daily Show and 3 eps of Colbert Report were still listed, but wouldn't play (when I pressed play, they just temporarily blipped the screen but no content showed)
.....
Did anyone else see a glitch/freakout like this?

Lyman

I didn't have trouble this weekend, but had 2 episodes of West Wing in HD from the late night re-runs (that seem to have stopped) disappear on me the same way... ie. listed as recorded but then nothing when I tried to play then. This was ~2 months ago (I think I even posted about it here).

Since then no problem.

edit: TWC Cary NC. DVR was at most 10% full.

Mike

I am now on my 2nd 8300HD.
This is my setup.
Sony KDFE42A10 Connected to the 8300HD with HDMI from RadioShack
Onkyo TXSR-601 connected to 8300HD with digital coax

When watching programs in Dolby Digital my tv is in DD but the best I can get from the receiver is Pro Logic II. What do I need to do to maximize picture and sound quality with this setup? Also, there is a significant delay when changing channels. Any ideas? Bad Boxes, cables, etc? :confused:

I haven't been able to find the answer to this anywhere, so please let me know if this has been asked before. Does the optical audio out work on the 8300 hd dvr or just the coax? Any help on this would be much appreciated.

I use the optical output, both work.

I am now on my 2nd 8300HD.
This is my setup.
Sony KDFE42A10 Connected to the 8300HD with HDMI from RadioShack
Onkyo TXSR-601 connected to 8300HD with digital coax

When watching programs in Dolby Digital my tv is in DD but the best I can get from the receiver is Pro Logic II. What do I need to do to maximize picture and sound quality with this setup? Also, there is a significant delay when changing channels. Any ideas? Bad Boxes, cables, etc? :confused:
Try an optical audio cable to your receiver. I'm using one and my receiver is getting Dolby Digital sound (when available).

But are you using the HDMI? B/c what seems to be happening is that the HDMI takes the dolby digital signal and sends it to the TV and that the 8300HD isnt capable of also sending the signal via optical or dig coax while sending through HDMI.

I have a 8300 box using passport software. Does anyone know if this box has an option to change HDMI output between RGB and YCbCR ouputs? If so, how???? Thanks to anyone who can help.

I may have this all wrong, but ...

HDMI is digital. Generally the HDMI will be the preferred connection if available.

RGB is analog as used on many older computer and video monitors, and not supported on anything modern for consumers.

YCbCR is analog, commonly called component video, and appears the modern high quality standard for analog.

S-video is analog, maybe the most common higher quality connection, with quality between component and composite.

Composite video, the plain old often yellow single RCA is maybe the most common, but its just one step above RF.

RF is the composite signal modulated to appear as channel 3 or 4 on a VCR etc antenna or cable input. More processing, and generally seen as the lowest quality but most common connection.

But are you using the HDMI? B/c what seems to be happening is that the HDMI takes the dolby digital signal and sends it to the TV and that the 8300HD isnt capable of also sending the signal via optical or dig coax while sending through HDMI.

No, I using component video. I don't use the TV sound, just the sound from my AV receiver. Maybe you're right. Maybe the 8300HD can't send two DD signals simultaneously.

SA's datasheet for the 8300HD lists the component outputs as "YPbPr".

For example, it stopped recording Maury and Conan even though their air times and channels did not change. I never touched the recording options...they had worked correctly for about 3 months or so (since I got the box). Also, I have Real World scheduled to record at 9:00 pm on Tuesdays, and for some reason now it's trying to record it at 8 pm. Has anyone else experienced this? With Conan and Maury, I deleted the Series Recording and then told it to record the entire series and it seems to work again. Just seems like a glitch or something. I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere on this thread.
This is a glitch that has been around for a while, and I'm not sure if it's still in the most up-to-date OS or not, but the box has a problem when it comes to Daylight Savings Time. Any recurring recordings that are scheduled for a particular time slot will be off by an hour after a time change.

This was a bug in my 8000HD, and I'd hoped that they'd have fixed it by now in the 8300HD, but I don't currently have any recordings configured that way to test it.

The only way around it is to delete and recreate the recurring recording...or take away the setting that forces it record a particular time slot.

Scott

another question on the 8300hd, I'm connected via HDMI how come I cant strech 16:9 to fit the 4:3 TV i have?

I may have this all wrong, but ...

HDMI is digital. Generally the HDMI will be the preferred connection if available.

RGB is analog as used on many older computer and video monitors, and not supported on anything modern for consumers.

.

Mike,

RGB isnt just analog. It is essentially the output of the color decoder which translates YCC to RGB to represent the color of each pixel. YCC is essentially an encoding/compression scheme used on digital video. It can be passed to a monitor in analog form over Component Cables or in digital form over HDMI.

** corrected some stuff I had backwards

i think that the bottom line of all these posts in this thread, is that this box is a not-very-well-thought-out piece of crap. but since TWC has spent so much on em, we are going to be stuck if we stick with cable.

I have a 8300 box using passport software. Does anyone know if this box has an option to change HDMI output between RGB and YCbCR ouputs? If so, how???? Thanks to anyone who can help.
NO.

The DVI interface was originally designed for connection to PC monitors.
The DVI Spec only talks about RGB format with 8-bits per color channel (24-bit color),
with the possibility of future expansion for higher resolutions.

The HDMI Spec has a default of 8-bit RGB format with additional YCbCr formats with
8-bits, 10-bits and 12-bits per color channel (X3).

In order to maintain backward compatibility with DVI interfaces, HDMI implementations
would need to provide the ability to generate RGB format.

They had no reason not to keep it simple, because there is no pressing need for higher resolution color pallets
(after all the sources are no better than 8-bit (some much less) until HD-DVD/BLU-RAY comes out).

More info can be found here:
http://hdtv.forsandiego.com/messages/460/3459.html?1131406822#POST21139

i think that the bottom line of all these posts in this thread, is that this box is a not-very-well-thought-out piece of crap. but since TWC has spent so much on em, we are going to be stuck if we stick with cable. Overall, I'm very happy with my 8300HD. Look around too. Motorola makes an HD-DVR and there's a thread for it here and though I haven't read any of it, I'll bet it ain't full of "my box works perfect" or "I love my box" or "mine has never done anything wrong" posts. I do know what an HD-TiVo from DirecTV or a 921 or 942 HD-DVR from Dish Network would cost me. Hell, those reasons alone are why I switched *from* Dish to TWC.

Overall, I'm very happy with my 8300HD. Look around too. Motorola makes an HD-DVR and there's a thread for it here and though I haven't read any of it, I'll bet it ain't full of "my box works perfect" or "I love my box" or "mine has never done anything wrong" posts..
That's a BIG 10-4, good buddy! I have an 8300HD but subscribed to the Comcast thread when my provider was rumored to being purchased by Comcast. (It was.) My readings there tell me the Moto 6412 is w-a-a-a-y worse than our beloved 8300HD. They're posting about problems that we SA owners haven't even thought of.

This is a glitch that has been around for a while, and I'm not sure if it's still in the most up-to-date OS or not, but the box has a problem when it comes to Daylight Savings Time. Any recurring recordings that are scheduled for a particular time slot will be off by an hour after a time change.

This was a bug in my 8000HD, and I'd hoped that they'd have fixed it by now in the 8300HD, but I don't currently have any recordings configured that way to test it.

The only way around it is to delete and recreate the recurring recording...or take away the setting that forces it record a particular time slot.

Scott

Thanks for the explanation! I was seeing very similar behavior on my 8300HD since I do "pin" a lot of my recordings to a particular time. Guess I'll delete and re-add those...

What modern operating system isn't aware of DST ?? Geez....

I don't think we've missed any recordings but maybe my wife has set the series items up to record "Any time it's on" vs "8:00pm only" or something.

Yea, the DST issue jacked up all of my recordings while I was away on my honeymoon last week. Also, is anyone else having an issue with CBS HD (Channel 225) ?? I cant get a picture or sound on it at all. I am in the Charlotte, NC market. I am wondering if it is my box or if it is an area issue.

Overall, I'm very happy with my 8300HD. Look around too. Motorola makes an HD-DVR and there's a thread for it here and though I haven't read any of it, I'll bet it ain't full of "my box works perfect" or "I love my box" or "mine has never done anything wrong" posts. I do know what an HD-TiVo from DirecTV or a 921 or 942 HD-DVR from Dish Network would cost me. Hell, those reasons alone are why I switched *from* Dish to TWC.Having just recently moved from a Comcast area, I can tell you the Motorola 6412 and the iGuide IPG are HORRIBLE! Nothing works the way it should, things you want don't get recorded, things you don't want get recorded, the box overheats and crashes all the time, you have to choose 1080i or 720p (not both)...I could go on and on. The 8300HD and Passport are a dream to use in comparison.

I turned my SA 8300 HD off this afternoon and lost all "handshaking" between the box and my Samsung TXP 3064 TV through HDMI. I have been using this connection for over a month with very little problem. Now all I get is the HDCP error. The Diagnostic menu shows HDMI DISABLED and that the authorization failed. I called TWC Queens, N.Y. only to receive the stock answer to use component because my TV does not support HDCP which it does. I am running the older firmware for the box. They would not do anything to help me. Any suggestions from the collective gurus here will be appreciated. Thanks.

I am now on my 2nd 8300HD.
This is my setup.
Sony KDFE42A10 Connected to the 8300HD with HDMI from RadioShack
Onkyo TXSR-601 connected to 8300HD with digital coax

When watching programs in Dolby Digital my tv is in DD but the best I can get from the receiver is Pro Logic II. What do I need to do to maximize picture and sound quality with this setup? Also, there is a significant delay when changing channels. Any ideas? Bad Boxes, cables, etc? :confused:
When an HDMI device (your Stereo-only Sony) connects to the STB's HDMI port, it tells the STB what kind of signal (Stereo or DD5.1) it can handle.
Unfortunately older firmware versions also forced the HDMI's Stereo (i.e. Dolby Pro Logic) choice onto the Optical/Coax output.

One stop-gap solution was to use a pair of HDMI-to-DVI(Male) and DVI(Female)-to-HDMI adapters and/or adapter cables.
The DVI intermediate connection does not support the interface setting protocol and hence did not force the Optical/Coax output to PCM Stereo.
[Those of us who connected the STB's HDMI port to the DVI port on our HDTVs never had this problem.]

Some of the latest PASSPORT firmware versions added a DIGITAL AUDIO selection to the SETTINGS/MORE SETTINGS menus.
You can select whether you want HDMI (automatic detection follows the HDTV) or force it to either PCM STEREO or DD5.1 (the choice you want).
But there is still a software bug that resets the interface to STEREO every time an alert comes on that sounds the "DING" sound,
such as when trying to watch/record more than two programs at the same time. So pretty much every day I have to reset to DD5.1.

TWC here in Torrance, CA recently upgraded after the big blow up about a week or so ago, here's my versions:

Echo - 2.5.027 Oct. 13
OS - 6.14.66.1sp Sept. 8

The one thing I have noticed is that when you stop a program and want to delete it, the standard A (stop and erase) B (stop and save) comes up, and when you hit A, it backs out of the recorded program, goes to live T.V. then a second delete confirmation comes up telling you to hit A again to confirm deletion.....

i like that...right now its too easy to accidently hit A and then the program is gone for good.

I have the SA 8300HD DVR set up with component cables to my Samsung HL-R5667W and the picture is stunning, and Digital Out (5.1) works great through my Sony HT. However, I'm trying to improve the audio for the channels that don't output 5.1. Can someone briefly describe all of the audio options and what is the best set-up:

Volume Range: Wide/Narrow? What do these actually mean?
Volume: Fixed/Variable?

The volume on the box is turned all the way up to 30.

Thanks.

Volume Range: Wide/Narrow? What do these actually mean?
Volume: Fixed/Variable? Those don't sound like Passport Echo options. Are you sure you're not running SARA software ??

Also, what are some acceptable RF numbers....I'm getting 675mhz on tuner 1 and 657mhz on tuner 2? Or is this why I am sometimes getting audio and video dropouts?? Thanks...

Also, what are some acceptable RF numbers....I'm getting 675mhz on tuner 1 and 657mhz on tuner 2? Or is this why I am sometimes getting audio and video dropouts?? Thanks...

Its the SNR (signal to noise ratio) that is important. The Mhz indication tells what 'channel' the tuner is tuned to.

Ok, gotcha, I'll check that and post the results...thanks!

Thanks for the explanation! I was seeing very similar behavior on my 8300HD since I do "pin" a lot of my recordings to a particular time. Guess I'll delete and re-add those...
Yep...and (unless they fix it in the OS by then -- which based on their track record, doesn't look promising...) you'll have to do the same when we "spring forward" next year.

As a 12 year veteran computer programmer, I personally find it apalling that not only does this bug exist in the first place, but that it still persists after so long!

Just due to this bug, I rarely set my recordings for a particular time; but I do make a lot of use of the "record first run only" feature.

Scott

Yep...and (unless they fix it in the OS by then -- which based on their track record, doesn't look promising...) you'll have to do the same when we "spring forward" next year.

As a 12 year veteran computer programmer, I personally find it apalling that not only does this bug exist in the first place, but that it still persists after so long!

Just due to this bug, I rarely set my recordings for a particular time; but I do make a lot of use of the "record first run only" feature.

Scott
Appalled? Why? After all these years Windows XP still has bugs and look at all of the resources Billy Boy has thrown at it. :)

My Audio Authority 1181 Video DC Blocker arrived. It is a connector consisting of 3 female component inputs and 3 female component outputs. It is inserted between the output of the 8300 HD and the input of the switcher(in my case the Audio Authority 1154).

It cleared up the picture problems on all three displays to which it is connected and the picture is indistinguishable from my other 8300HD.

On only one of the sets, a Sony XBR910, it created a new problem - some tearing of the picture. Audio Authority did not know why this was occuring.

Audio Authority did say they would be willing to sell this $15 fix plus shipping to anyone.

On only one of the sets, a Sony XBR910, it created a new problem - some tearing of the picture. Audio Authority did not know why this was occuring.

I would suspect that the cause would be that the coupling capacitors used in the box are too small - this would cause some distortion of the sync pulse that the Sony may not be able to tolerate.

Its the SNR (signal to noise ratio) that is important. The Mhz indication tells what 'channel' the tuner is tuned to.

K, I checked my SNR and it was bouncing back and forth from 36 - 37...is this a good value??

My Audio Authority 1181 Video DC Blocker arrived. It is a connector consisting of 3 female component inputs and 3 female component outputs. It is inserted between the output of the 8300 HD and the input of the switcher(in my case the Audio Authority 1154).

It cleared up the picture problems on all three displays to which it is connected and the picture is indistinguishable from my other 8300HD.

On only one of the sets, a Sony XBR910, it created a new problem - some tearing of the picture. Audio Authority did not know why this was occuring.

Audio Authority did say they would be willing to sell this $15 fix plus shipping to anyone.


Excellent news! :) I had tried one of these (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062057&cp=2032057) with a couple "F" to RCA adaptors but it didn't work. I only used one, just on the "Y" or green line. Inserting the DC blocker completely eliminated the signal and I only got a blue screen. Apparently the low frequency cut-off with the Radio Shack device is too high for this type of signal, it is intended for use with satellite systems afterall.

Looks like I'll be calling AA tomorrow. Any idea what's inside the adaptor?? Can you open it up? It's interesting that all three lines are included, I figured it would be just the one. I guess the bad news is that with two female jacks another set of component cables is required. :(

Thanks for the follow-up.

K, I checked my SNR and it was bouncing back and forth from 36 - 37...is this a good value??

The tech that came out when I was having issues (He was TWC and not a contractor) said the SNR should be 36 or higher for best results. Said 34 or lower was trouble.

single click skip of 30 seconds possible to program on the 8300? i was able to do it on my Tivo, which i gave away after i started renting the 8300.

there should be a way to program a remote ( i use the Universal remote mx700) to mimic the quick fast forward skip. i just don't know how.

i would greatly appreciate it if someone can email me privately or private message me if it is preferred. posting it here would also be great as it will allow others to benefit.

thank you in advance!

I feel your pain. There's a macro to simulate a 30-second skip (see http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=4857089&&#post4857089) but it's inexact at best. I don't use it any more.

We missed TiVo's 30-sec skip for a while, but our FF skills have improved to the point that we've been able to carry on... :-)

Yeah, I've read about the macro for 30-sec skip too, I believe over at Yahoo! Groups for the SA8000 and it's not too well thought of. I think many have tried it and given up on it.... There's probably some die-hards though who still use it.

We went from a Dish DVR that had 30-sec skip to the 8xxx DVRs and yeah, we miss it, but we've gotten over it.

single click skip of 30 seconds possible to program on the 8300? i was able to do it on my Tivo, which i gave away after i started renting the 8300.

there should be a way to program a remote ( i use the Universal remote mx700) to mimic the quick fast forward skip. i just don't know how.

i would greatly appreciate it if someone can email me privately or private message me if it is preferred. posting it here would also be great as it will allow others to benefit.

thank you in advance!
There's a different dynamic at work with content creators, cable co's and cable equipment manufacturers than there is with content creators, cable co's and Tivo. The former is more of a cabal and, for the most part, is still very dependent on advertising revenue.

I created 30-sec and 3-minute skips with my MX-800 remote using a combination of FF buttons and delays. After a lot of trial-and-error testing, I got it down to the second. Works perfectly!

eieio, I posted those steps about a year or so ago. If you search this thread for my posts you'll find it. Or, you can create your own; ain't that hard, just takes a lot of time and tweaking to get it just right.

Mr. archiguy:

thanks for your reply. i searched and searched, and i could only find this:

"After much trial and error and a zillion downloads to test, I have my 30-second and 3-minute skip buttons pretty accurate now with my MX-800 remote (MX-700 works identically without the RF capability). Not perfect, like a proper software solution would be, but close enough so that I seldom have to rewind/play to get to the exact moment the show comes back from commercial. Saves a lot of frustration."

May I ask if you would mind either private message sharing, or reposting it? sorry to bother you, but i really searched a lot!

thanks!

I created 30-sec and 3-minute skips with my MX-800 remote using a combination of FF buttons and delays. After a lot of trial-and-error testing, I got it down to the second. Works perfectly!

eieio, I posted those steps about a year or so ago. If you search this thread for my posts you'll find it. Or, you can create your own; ain't that hard, just takes a lot of time and tweaking to get it just right.

Wait a minute you guys. You have basically the same remotes. Archiguy, can't you export that macro and e-mail it to eieio? I have the MX700 (love it) and as I recall it has that export/import capability (though I've never tried it myself).

eieio - I actually posted the steps a couple of times but it's been awhile; guess they've been lost in the mists of time (or the AVS archives).

I'll get into MX-Designer when I get home and post them again for anyone who's interested.

archiguy: was your posting of the steps in this thread? if it is in another thread, i have to do an advanced search on another thread.

if i only searched old posts/more posts by archiguy, it only gives me 10 pages of your old posts, and that only will carry us back to September 2005!! i guess you're a frequent poster!

so i'll have to know which thread you posted on...thanks again! can't wait!

have you or anyone else been successful in hooking up another hardrive to expand the 8300?

I turned my SA 8300 HD off this afternoon and lost all "handshaking" between the box and my Samsung TXP 3064 TV through HDMI. I have been using this connection for over a month with very little problem. Now all I get is the HDCP error. The Diagnostic menu shows HDMI DISABLED and that the authorization failed. I called TWC Queens, N.Y. only to receive the stock answer to use component because my TV does not support HDCP which it does. I am running the older firmware for the box. They would not do anything to help me. Any suggestions from the collective gurus here will be appreciated. Thanks.

I switched out the box at Time Warner yesterday and all is well. This 8300 has that Dolby Digital option in the settings menu. The firmware is 1.8.111. Powering up the TV also powers up the video circuitry in the STB therefore no "handshaking"problem anymore. The picture also seems to be better at least to my eye.

archiguy: was your posting of the steps in this thread? if it is in another thread, i have to do an advanced search on another thread.

I think it was this one; might have been in the Remote Forum too....?

Have you or anyone else been successful in hooking up another hardrive to expand the 8300?

Only people with the SARA (Scientific Atlanta) software. Those of us on Passport Echo are still waiting for an update that activates the SATA ports. It's been reputed to be coming by the end of the year, but that's what they told us last year, too. :rolleyes:

archiguy: the abridged manual that was given to me by time warner specifically says that you can add on an external SATA hardrive. or was it the scientific atlanta's online manual? mmm, i forgot...confused now.

how sure are you vis-a-vis the Passport thing not allowing SATA?

archiguy: i searched the Remote forum on avs under your name. no luck in finding the "step for one-click fast forwarding 30 secs or 3 mins".

i'm trying!! ;) thanks for helping. should you wish to, you can email your mx800's file to me and i can drag and drop onto mine in the MX Editor. even though i use the B&K remote that came with my B&K, it really is a black version of the mx700. there are virtually no differences other than color.

how sure are you vis-a-vis the Passport thing not allowing SATA? I have NEVER, and I think others can say the same thing, read that anyone with Passport has successfully connected SATA HDDs to the units and had them work. Even 'pepar' here is running a much, much newer software version (he's not with TWC and no, you can't update the s/w yourself) and it doesn't work for him.

:)

hall:

oh, "la bummer"...as they say in France... ;)

i just got my 8300 this monday, 3 days ago, directly from time warner and the bottom of the box said manufacturered Sept 2005 and "2.2". is that the most recent software/firmware?

i guess i'll have to live with the 20-hour limit for now. :(

...and the bottom of the box said manufacturered Sept 2005 and "2.2". is that the most recent software/firmware? What's printed on the box is irrelevant. It appears that the firmware has little effect. Even if your firmware was "SATA-enabled", the operating system that sits on top of it also needs to be, and the version of Passport you're running in NYC, likely 1.8.103, 1.8.111, or 1.8.112, is *not*.

I'm not sure if TWC updates the firmware on our boxes or not. I'd strongly suspect *not* unless they do it hands-on, i.e. not when the boxes are in our homes.

hall:

i guess i'll have to live with the 20-hour limit for now. :(


I don’t know about that 20 hour limit. :rolleyes:

I find that the hard drive picks and chooses how much it wants to remember. Sort of like my memory. :p

Last week I tried to record (with 8 hours of HD and 6 hours of SD on the hard drive) and it was telling me no mas. :mad:

I don’t know about that 20 hour limit. :rolleyes:

I find that the hard drive picks and chooses how much it wants to remember. Sort of like my memory. :p

Last week I tried to record (with 8 hours of HD and 6 hours of SD on the hard drive) and it was telling me no mas. :mad:
The Memory Nazi - "No memory for you!"

What's printed on the box is irrelevant. It appears that the firmware has little effect. Even if your firmware was "SATA-enabled", the operating system that sits on top of it also needs to be, and the version of Passport you're running in NYC, likely 1.8.103, 1.8.111, or 1.8.112, is *not*.

I'm not sure if TWC updates the firmware on our boxes or not. I'd strongly suspect *not* unless they do it hands-on, i.e. not when the boxes are in our homes.
hall, twc updates the firmware remotely. a few users from san diego on here have had their boxes updated to a version above 2.0...i believe randy walters was one of them...randy?

No, firmware and software are two different things. The people you're referring to have newer *software*.

Just out of curiosity, what cities now have the Passport software at version 2.5 and above? (San Diego, CA for sure)

Some things I've noticed (already may have been discussed) on the 8300HD:

1) It now goes to sleep and stops the hard drive when it isn't in use (i.e., not turned on and/or actively recording something). I definitely hear it spin up when I turn the unit on (pushing the power button on the remote). FYI, I always turn it off when I'm not using it - but it remains ready to record.

2) I'm not sure if the clock is a bit off, but I've noticed that recordings now start about 30 seconds before the start time for shows I want to record. For example, I was watching ABC on Wednesday ("Lost" is set to record at 9:00 PM, on time, no early start) and I noticed that the recording began during the last 30 seconds or so of "Freddie".

This may be a change due to the new software (I have 2.5.027).

1) It now goes to sleep and stops the hard drive when it isn't in use... [/bquote] Are you saying that the "trick buffer" no longer functions unless the box is "on" ?? If my box is turned "off", i.e. the Power light is dark, I can turn the box on and rewind whatever program is on. My power-on channel is *not* the default. It's Discovery HD Theatre, in fact, so I can normally rewind close to 30 minutes.

2) I'm not sure if the clock is a bit off... Here, the box's clock appears to be controlled by the cable head-end and I'll bet you they sync them with time servers somewhere. The new s/w may internally compensate recording start times. I'm pretty sure that 1.8.103 does NOT do this.

No, firmware and software are two different things. The people you're referring to have newer *software*.
youre right hall...my bad.

I switched out the box at Time Warner yesterday and all is well. This 8300 has that Dolby Digital option in the settings menu. The firmware is 1.8.111. Powering up the TV also powers up the video circuitry in the STB therefore no "handshaking"problem anymore. The picture also seems to be better at least to my eye.

Well today I turned off the TV only to find an HDCP error again upon the next power up. I could not fix that error this time on the NEW box so I am reverting back to component now for the long haul.

Just out of curiosity, what cities now have the Passport software at version 2.5 and above? (San Diego, CA for sure)Both my SA8000 and 8000HD got 2.5.027 on October 27th. Up till that both DVRs were working flawlessly since the last update a year ago, but now they both have various problems that weren't there before this newest update.

Both my SA8000 and 8000HD got 2.5.027 on October 27th. Up till that both DVRs were working flawlessly since the last update a year ago, but now they both have problems that weren't there before.
Can you elaborate?

Well today I turned off the TV only to find an HDCP error again upon the next power up. I could not fix that error this time on the NEW box so I am reverting back to component now for the long haul.
You be changin' your ID to "Analogi?" :)

You be changin' your ID to "Analogi?" :)

Now that is very funny!!

Can you elaborate?I have them all written down at home so i'll post em after i get home from work . . . . .

I have them all written down at home so i'll post em after i get home from work . . . . .
Whenever you're ready, we're all here to feel your pain. :)

hall:

oh, "la bummer"...as they say in France... ;)

i just got my 8300 this monday, 3 days ago, directly from time warner and the bottom of the box said manufacturered Sept 2005 and "2.2". is that the most recent software/firmware?

i guess i'll have to live with the 20-hour limit for now. :(
On the bottom of my SA8300HD box it says manufactured 3/13/05, version 1.2.
That would be the "firmware" version, so your's is probably different due to either something they changed in the hardware configuration
or could be the result of fixing firmware bugs in the very low level hardware control "firmware".
["Firm" cuz it may require unsoldering PROMs to change it....or a tech has to connect it to a laptop to upgrade the EPROM.]

The "software" version we use in TWC-San Diego is still 2.5.027, which operates on both SA8000HD and SA8300HD.
It probably does not contain the very lowest hardware control functions, but rather operates at a higher, more universal operating level.

You can compare the STB "firmware" to the Hardware Driver on a PC and the "software" to the PC Operating System.

===============================
Does your SA8300HD have a port labeled either FIREWIRE or IEEE-1394?
If so, can you enable the Extended Diagnostic Menus, scroll down to IEEE-1394, hit SELECT (or RIGHTARROW)
to bring up the IEEE-1394 status page and let us know if it says anything other than all zeros...

To Enable Extended Diagnostic Menus:
At STB front panel, while first holding EXIT button, press SELECT until "DIAG" appears in display (also a "DING" sound).
Release buttons and hit GUIDE again (or select channel 611 at any time) to display menus.
The "A" key will vary the transparency level. Power down will disable menus access.

MY 8300HD has been going through some serious problems for the past couple weeks. At least 2-3 times a day, usually when a program starts to record and I am watching a replay of a recorded show, the box will reboot.

Anyone ever notice problems like this? We've only had the box for about 4 months now and at least my TiVo lasted 1.5 years before issues made it unusable. I may have to go back to TiVo.

On the bottom of my SA8300HD box it says manufactured 3/13/05, version 1.2.
That would be the "firmware" version, so your's is probably different due to either something they changed in the hardware configuration
or could be the result of fixing firmware bugs in the very low level hardware control "firmware".
["Firm" cuz it may require unsoldering PROMs to change it....or a tech has to connect it to a laptop to upgrade the EPROM.]

The "software" version we use in TWC-San Diego is still 2.5.027, which operates on both SA8000HD and SA8300HD.
It probably does not contain the very lowest hardware control functions, but rather operates at a higher, more universal operating level.

You can compare the STB "firmware" to the Hardware Driver on a PC and the "software" to the PC Operating System.
I think I disagree with your definitions. The number on the bottom of the box would be the hardware build version. The "2.5.027" would be considered firmware AND software. The firmware part is what talks to the hardware and the software - "ResApp" in the Passport DIAG area - is the user interface/IPG. There is also an OS - Powerkey.

KISS:

1. If it can be downloaded via cable connection, let's call it "software":
Passport Echo, PowerTV, PowerKey and in future OCAP.

2. If it requires either a PROM replacement or rear panel connection to upgrade the EPROM, let's call it "firmware":
The download control module and low level hardware control that tends to be unique to the specific details in each box design and hardware version.
It's what is in the STB prior to receiving the first software download.

=============================
The version number on the bottom of the box no doubt represents the combination of the original hardware and firmware versions.

==============================
FYI: I first loaded "firmware" into Intel 1702 EPROMS for the 8008 uproc back in '73. It took about an hour to clear them using a UV light source.
The EPROM programmer read in paper tape via an ASR-33 teletypewritter in "BNPF" (Bun-puff) format (B=beginning, N=negative, P=positive, F=finish).
Each byte read into the EPROM required reading 10 characters off the paper tape (e.g. the byte "01010101" was the fol sequence of characters: "BNPNPNPNPF".
Needless to say, each 128 kbyte EPROM required a paper tape roll as big as your fist...and took half an hour.....each...times several dozen EPROMS...
The original 1702 EPROMS would lose the load every few days, which was eventually cured by a free Rev A EPROM from Intel....which gave me back my normal life...

I have them all written down at home so i'll post em after i get home from work . . . . .
randy, you home from work yet? LMAO

KISS:

1. If it can be downloaded via cable connection, let's call it "software":
Passport Echo, PowerTV, PowerKey and in future OCAP.

2. If it requires either a PROM replacement or rear panel connection to upgrade the EPROM, let's call it "firmware":
The download control module and low level hardware control that tends to be unique to the specific details in each box design and hardware version.
It's what is in the STB prior to receiving the first software download.
Perhaps, but that makes every else on this forum - and other forums around the internet - wrong. A search will show that everybody else is referring to what the cable co's push to our boxes as firmware. Your the first I've seen to call it software.

When an upcoming version of Passport activates our eSATA ports, it will be doing so in the firmware, not software. If you replace an EEPROM - physically replace - you are working with hardware. If you change/upgrade the CODE inside, you are working with firmware.

Perhaps your definitions need updated as things have changed since 8008s roamed the countryside. :)

Perhaps, but that makes every else on this forum - and other forums around the internet - wrong. A search will show that everybody else is referring to what the cable co's push to our boxes as firmware. Your the first I've seen to call it software. I tend to agree with his definition. Users normally do NOT interact with a hardware device's firmware.

Pioneer calls Passport Echo "an interactive application suite", http://www.pioneerdigital.com/passportecho/passportecho.asp. I definitely wouldn't classify that as "firmware".

From what I can gather of PowerKey and/or PowerTV, they're more akin to being the operating system. The datasheet for the 8300 set-tops mentions both and that PowerTV is a "stable operating system" and that it has an "open Application Programming Interface to support native applications and third-party middleware". Those applications would be either SARA or Passport Echo, in my opinion.
When an upcoming version of Passport activates our eSATA ports, it will be doing so in the firmware, not software. If you replace an EEPROM - physically replace - you are working with hardware. If you change/upgrade the CODE inside, you are working with firmware. Without a doubt, the firmware on the boxes, from day one, has supported external SATA as has PowerTV/PowerKey. It's SARA and Passport Echo that have not.

Perhaps, but that makes every else on this forum - and other forums around the internet - wrong. A search will show that everybody else is referring to what the cable co's push to our boxes as firmware. Your the first I've seen to call it software.

When an upcoming version of Passport activates our eSATA ports, it will be doing so in the firmware, not software. If you replace an EEPROM - physically replace - you are working with hardware. If you change/upgrade the CODE inside, you are working with firmware.

Perhaps your definitions need updated as things have changed since 8008s roamed the countryside. :)

Not that it really matters.... but the distinction between firmware and software for a 'closed product' such as the DVR is realy pretty blurred and not very relevant from the end users point of view. In these days of reprogrammable logic nothing requires parts removal or unique attachment in order to be updated. Even HW logic functions in programmable devices such as CPLD's are field reprogramamble without having to touch the hardware.

However, A reasonable definition of firmware is code or programs that are resident in a 'persistent' memory directly accessed by a local processor which is used to provide basic functionality including the ability to boot an Operating System or higher level programming. Firmware is typically 'tailored' to the hardware platform it is running on. Today boot block Flash is the most commonly used stuff to hold the 'firmware'. Flash is very easilly updated and the update typically takes effect at the next 'reboot'.

Once the OS is loaded, higher function programs (such as the DVR applicatoin) are loaded most likely from the harddrive. The OS and higher level functionality code (like PowerTV and the DVR applicaton could be considered 'software', However, nothing prevents high level code from being FLASH resident and thus the blurring of the distinction.

I wish i had a paper tape reader when i programmed 1702's. I had to enter a value and push a button... lather rinse repeat 256 times. -9v power... what was Intel thinking.

However, A reasonable definition of firmware is code or programs that are resident in a 'persistent' memory directly accessed by a local processor which is used to provide basic functionality including the ability to boot an Operating System or higher level programming. Firmware is typically 'tailored' to the hardware platform it is running on.


Agree... my two cents.

Good examples of how "firmware" has evolved to include BIOS, drivers, OS and higher function software (applications) are PDAs and Cell Phones. Every time the manufacturers release updates (they call it firmware) some or all the above mentioned "code" and in some cases "data" are updated. Most of the time these updates are done in "persistent" memory not the EPROM. As mentioned before, the word firmware is no longer used in relation to EPROMs, but also for "code" that is placed in "persistent" (volative and non-volative) memory. I'd call it User Programable ROM (UPROM). Note that some of these devices can hold "code" in "persistent" memory only while the secondary (auxiliary) power supply is not depleted. Only after "all" power has been depleted will you get to see the firmware that was "BURNED" into the non-volatile EPROM. Now-a-days even BIOS updates are done in "persistent" memory, but these BIOS updates can be lost if the auxiliary power is depleted. So if you leave your PDA in drawer for a long time without recharing it, you have to re-install the "firmware" updates.

Agree... my two cents.

Most of the time these updates are done in "persistent" memory not the EPROM. As mentioned before, the word firmware is no longer used in relation to EPROMs, but also for "code" that is placed in "persistent" (volative and non-volative) memory. Note that some of these devices can hold "code" in "persistent" memory only while the secondary (auxiliary) power supply is not depleted. .

In my previous post, my use of 'persistent memory' was meant to imply non-volitile. Flash is non-volatile and doesnt require any power to retain its content and thus is analogous to "EPROM" except there arent any UV lights or parts removal or "human touch" required to reprogram. I havent seen any usages of non-reprogrammable memories in years (although that doesnt mean they dont exist).

I think we all agree that it's become blurred.

In my previous post, my use of 'persistent memory' was meant to imply non-volitile. Flash is non-volatile and doesnt require any power to retain its content and thus is analogous to "EPROM" except there arent any UV lights or parts removal or "human touch" required to reprogram. I havent seen any usages of non-reprogrammable memories in years (although that doesnt mean they dont exist).


I see...

I updated my previous post to mention something I called User Programable ROM. To mean that an end-user can flash without requiring physical interaction with the actual chip. Even while these EPROMs are reprogramable, manufactures only provide John Doe end-user with the ability to flash those areas they have selected. I know that an engineer can get to those other reprogramable areas of the chip, but not without a lot of work and understanding of reverse engineering. Note that manufacturers also use the word "flash" to mean "update" instead of the well-defined term used by engineers as it relates to EPROMs. I have not seen non-programmable memories in a while either. In my post I meant "BURNED" to say the non-user-accesable area of the EPROM that was programed by the manufacturer and that are not easily accesible by end users.


Before we get too far from the main subject... I agree with Pepar... "We all agree that it's become blurred"

Before we get too far from the main subject...
Cool, now I won't have to keep looking up at the browser title bar to see what thread i'm in . . . :)

You people :rolleyes: (:D). I write firmware for a living, so I know what the hell it is. I've written firmware running in mobile phones, networked printer/copier/scanner/fax machines, modems, cards in large-scale networking devices and HDD subsystems. It's code running inside of a device which comes installed in the device (typically in flash, but parts might reside on HDD, if there is one) and is not normally changed by the user of that device. (In some cases firmware can be updated by the user, but it often requires special equipment and ugly, non-user-friendly procedures--manufacturers try like hell not to require it). Passport Echo is firmware--it's the primary application which has to be in flash when you turn the device on, since the box doesn't do anything for the user without it. The RTOS on which it's mounted, PowerTV, is firmware. The Scientific Atlanta middleware between the two is firmware.

I'd say that the custom applications written for it by the service providers (like the VOD menus) straddle the line, since, although they come to the user pre-loaded in the device, they're written by and maintained by the device's owner/leasor. Sort of like demo games that come preloaded in mobile phones--ordered preloaded by the buyer (Verizon, Sprint, etc), BREW or Java apps written by some third party: permanently preloaded in flash, but definitely "software" :).

Searching for a job recently, I've spoken to some people about working on these things and been a bit astonished by how memory limited they are in some regards. They've got a decent amount of regular RAM (64 MB on the 8300HD), but a pitiful 512KB of flash and 8 KB of "NVM" (presumably fast non-volatile memory). The last phone I worked on had at least 12 MB of flash stacked on the processor.

Flash memory on the devices that I've programmed is readily re-written by the CPU, but very slowly--slower than a floppy disc. Most often, when you make a modification to the code you have to rebuild everything--the entire image, OS, all middleware and preloaded applications, which in itself can take a long time (45 minutes on the last phone I worked on using a fast PC), then it takes 2 or 3 minutes to download that into the phone.

I don't know if this has been discussed before (and maybe it's actually a feature of 1.8.xxx), but I just discovered it this weekend while setting up to record the year-end WTA and ATP championship events. If you choose a future event from the guide and it's a live event, it will give you the option of extending the time. The three options ("Record this program", "Record this series" and whatever the other one is) appear, but next to "Record this program" is a little blacked-out box reading "Extend Time" with left and right arrows to the sides. If, with the cursor over this, you hit the left arrow, it changes to something equivalent to "End at normal time" and if you select it then, it schedules the recording for the time in the guide and goes away. If you select it with "Extend Time" showing, it then gives you another dialog in which you can choose an amount of time by which to extend the period of the recording.

Nice--I usually don't even use the grid to program these things anymore. The networks do stupid things like schedule 3 hours or less for a 5-set men's match; if it goes the distance, it could last over 4 hours, so I just schedule 4 hours 30 in that slot via manual recording. This lets me do the same thing using the grid.

I don't know if this has been discussed before (and maybe it's actually a feature of 1.8.xxx), but I just discovered it this weekend while setting up to record the year-end WTA and ATP championship events. If you choose a future event from the guide and it's a live event, it will give you the option of extending the time. The three options ("Record this program", "Record this series" and whatever the other one is) appear, but next to "Record this program" is a little blacked-out box reading "Extend Time" with left and right arrows to the sides. If, with the cursor over this, you hit the left arrow, it changes to something equivalent to "End at normal time" and if you select it then, it schedules the recording for the time in the guide and goes away. If you select it with "Extend Time" showing, it then gives you another dialog in which you can choose an amount of time by which to extend the period of the recording.
Yes, a fixed, gotta-tell-it-in-advance extension. Mostly, that feature is only helpful starting a minute or two early so as not to miss the intro, and going a minute or two longer at the end to be sure that you get the scenes from next week. For it to be really helpful in the situations which you mention, it would need to be dynamic and on-the-fly (somehow) taking it's direction from the program content.

Yes, a fixed, gotta-tell-it-in-advance extension. Mostly, that feature is only helpful starting a minute or two early so as not to miss the intro, and going a minute or two longer at the end to be sure that you get the scenes from next week. For it to be really helpful in the situations which you mention, it would need to be dynamic and on-the-fly (somehow) taking it's direction from the program content.Actually, it doesn't let you start it early--just end it late. There's information in the guide saying that the event is "live" and when it sees that, it offers you the option of extending it. I don't want to extend these things "a minute or two". I typically want to extend them an hour or more. The scheduled time for them in the guide is generally ludicrously short. A women's 3-set match might be scheduled for 1 hour 30 minutes and it might end then if the score is 6-2, 6-4 and both player liked to play at a fast pace but if it was 3 set with two tie-breaks and one or both liked to take their time between serves, it could have been 3 hours or more. Exactly that situation happened with the women's final of the WTA Championship on Sunday (3 long sets totalling 35 games and Mary Pierce plays very slowly and deliberately)--supposed to end at 5:00 PM, ended at 6:00. If I'd programmed the recording using the guide without this extension feature, I'd have been pretty PO'd. (It wouldn't have been that bad--early rounds of the ATP Championship followed directly after and I would have recorded it in any case, the beginning of was pushed forward by the women's match).

Actually, it doesn't let you start it early--just end it late. There's information in the guide saying that the event is "live" and when it sees that, it offers you the option of extending it. I don't want to extend these things "a minute or two". I typically want to extend them an hour or more. The scheduled time for them in the guide is generally ludicrously short. A women's 3-set match might be scheduled for 1 hour 30 minutes and it might end then if the score is 6-2, 6-4 and both player liked to play at a fast pace but if it was 3 set with two tie-breaks and one or both liked to take their time between serves, it could have been 3 hours or more. Exactly that situation happened with the women's final of the WTA Championship on Sunday (3 long sets totalling 35 games and Mary Pierce plays very slowly and deliberately)--supposed to end at 5:00 PM, ended at 6:00. If I'd programmed the recording using the guide without this extension feature, I'd have been pretty PO'd. (It wouldn't have been that bad--early rounds of the ATP Championship followed directly after and I would have recorded it in any case, the beginning of was pushed forward by the women's match).
My version of Passport - 2.2.020, I think - allows extending scheduled recordings AND starting them early, regardless of what they are. (The settings are always available.)

I guess if you've got room to spare, extending a 3-hour event to 4.5-hours is OK, but having it automatically do it if, and when, needed would be the ticket.

Good lord, the 8300 is a pile of trash. Yet again, it recorded something it shouldn't have tonight (calling it Arrested Development which isn't on this week, which is correctly reflected in the channel guide), but it only recorded ELEVEN MINUTES of How I Met Your Mother. What kind of highschool programming results in starting a recording and then stopping halfway through the show?

Given all the other problems with the usability of the unit, I'm seriously considering dropping a grand on the Sony recorder. It's just pathetic that such a horrible piece of hardware can be in such wide usage.

My version of Passport - 2.2.020, I think - allows extending scheduled recordings AND starting them early, regardless of what they are. (The settings are always available.)

I guess if you've got room to spare, extending a 3-hour event to 4.5-hours, but having it automatically do it if, and when, needed would be the ticket.You're right--you can go into the recording options of an upcoming recording and extend its recording time by up to 3 hours--you can even do it while it's recording. The change--I think--is that it notices that the program that you're trying to record from the guide is a live event and gives you the option right there and then to make the extension while you're scheduling it if you don't agree with the estimate of how long it will last which is in the guide.

I wish that I'd known about the ability to extend the recording length by accessing the recording options after setting up the recording--I wouldn't have been making manual recordings just to get longer recordings of such events.

It would be nice if there was a signal in live events--or any program for that matter--saying what the current program actually is. They could encode it in the VBI (for analog TV) or somewhere in the stream for digital. Then the DVR could change to the channel of the program that it's scheduled to record and wait for it to start before it starts recording and stop as soon as it sees another program come on. That, however, would require cooperation from the networks, who aren't particularly into DVRs :).

That, however, would require cooperation from the networks, who aren't particularly into DVRs :).
They see it as a disruptive technology. It is neither good nor evil, just disruptive . . of the status quo and shakes them out of their comfort zone. Just last week, two(?) networks announced VOD offerings of their programming, both current in the case of CNN and catalog in the case of the other, NBC if I remember correctly. These will run COMMECIAL FREE and represents the traditional networks' first try at a non-advertising revenue business model. I'm sure they'd rather have an "easy" button, though, which would vaporize ALL video recording devices and wipe their existence from our minds.

I'd love a way to buy network programming san advertising. I'd pay any reasonable fee for it. I doubt, however, that these VOD offerings will be in HD anytime soon. Also, a significant number of people will want a way to archive such programs (though the networks are certainly under no obligation to provide that).

finally got an 8300HD installed. A Sept 05 build version 2.2.

Echo version: 1.8.111
OS: PowerTV 6.14.43.3sp

I noticed firewire is stated as enabled in the service mode with no copy restrictions.
Plug ID:128
Plug Status: Idle
SPTSS: True
plus some kind of local address number.

The only other thing I noticed is that it's using a Western Digital drive. WD1600BB

Now I'm trying to figure out a way to switch between 5.1 and HDMI using a Harmony 880 for when I don't feel like messing around with the receiver.

I posted this question in the SA DVR's sticky thread but apparently nobody has seen it, so I'll re-post the question here in the hopes that someone has the answer:

Is it possible to have the 8300 dump a recorded show via composite video/audio (or firewire for that matter) to a tape deck while watching something else, either recorded or live, on the other tuner at the same time? I don't think so, but maybe there's a method I haven't discovered.

I posted this question in the SA DVR's sticky thread but apparently nobody has seen it, so I'll re-post the question here in the hopes that someone has the answer:

Is it possible to have the 8300 dump a recorded show via composite video/audio (or firewire for that matter) to a tape deck while watching something else, either recorded or live, on the other tuner at the same time? I don't think so, but maybe there's a method I haven't discovered.
I don't think so, archiguy. All of the video connections output whatever is being "watched" - there are two tuners, but only one at a time can be "watched." You can record from one and watch something else on the other; you can record from both and watch a previously recorded program.

Good lord, the 8300 is a pile of trash. Yet again, it recorded something it shouldn't have tonight (calling it Arrested Development which isn't on this week, which is correctly reflected in the channel guide), but it only recorded ELEVEN MINUTES of How I Met Your Mother. What kind of highschool programming results in starting a recording and then stopping halfway through the show?

Given all the other problems with the usability of the unit, I'm seriously considering dropping a grand on the Sony recorder. It's just pathetic that such a horrible piece of hardware can be in such wide usage.


I think I can top that.
I have not been getting my Daily Show, so last night I went into the unit and reprogrammed it to record. All looked well. This morning, I went to see that it had properly recorded the daily show, and las vegas and CSI: Miami.

I see:

An episode of Threshold I watched over the weekend has reappeared, but will not play (just has an entry, no content)
The episode of Rome it recorded Sunday night has disappeared.
The priority of what to save/delete first has changed in my list back to something from Saturday.
It didn't record the Daily Show.

This is now the second time that it has gone totally wonky on me and shows are reappearing and disappearing. It is REALLY starting to piss me off.
And of course it's not like I want to exchange it, because I haven't watched what is on the unit! Not that I may even be able to, of course. Who knows what ELSE has been made into an "entry only" item.

Lyman

I think I can top that.
I have not been getting my Daily Show, so last night I went into the unit and reprogrammed it to record. All looked well. This morning, I went to see that it had properly recorded the daily show, and las vegas and CSI: Miami.

I see:

An episode of Threshold I watched over the weekend has reappeared, but will not play (just has an entry, no content)
The episode of Rome it recorded Sunday night has disappeared.
The priority of what to save/delete first has changed in my list back to something from Saturday.
It didn't record the Daily Show.

This is now the second time that it has gone totally wonky on me and shows are reappearing and disappearing. It is REALLY starting to piss me off.
And of course it's not like I want to exchange it, because I haven't watched what is on the unit! Not that I may even be able to, of course. Who knows what ELSE has been made into an "entry only" item.

Lyman
I've had none of the problems you - and others - have mentioned, but then I'm not using it as extensively as others. I record a few series - Rome, Weeds, Boston Legal, but mostly I set it to record HBOHD and ShowHD - one movies at a time. Occasionally, it will record two programs at once.

Have you been setting the priorities for keeping content? Manually erase, keep longer, etc?

Have you been setting the priorities for keeping content? Manually erase, keep longer, etc?
We set everything to record all shows at that time, keep until I erase, and are good about erasing shows after we watch them. I don't think we've been over 50% full yet.

And still, at least once a week, it inexplicably does something wrong and we miss something we wanted to watch. If only there was a reliable alternative with an equivalent featureset...

We set everything to record all shows at that time, keep until I erase, and are good about erasing shows after we watch them. I don't think we've been over 50% full yet.

And still, at least once a week, it inexplicably does something wrong and we miss something we wanted to watch. If only there was a reliable alternative with an equivalent featureset...

Have you reset your "time specific" (i.e. record at 7pm only) recurring recordings since the DST changeover?

It's a long standing bug that time specific recurring recordings on the 8300 get messed up twice a year by the Daylight Savings Time changeovers. Seems idiotic, but the only way to fix this problem is to delete and recreate them.

Scott

I've had none of the problems you - and others - have mentioned, but then I'm not using it as extensively as others. I record a few series - Rome, Weeds, Boston Legal, but mostly I set it to record HBOHD and ShowHD - one movies at a time. Occasionally, it will record two programs at once.

Have you been setting the priorities for keeping content? Manually erase, keep longer, etc?

Yes. If it was just deleting content, I'd think maybe I had the rules wrong. This deleted a Rome at the TOP of the list!!!
And of course, it put that Threshold BACK on the list. <sigh>

Yes. If it was just deleting content, I'd think maybe I had the rules wrong. This deleted a Rome at the TOP of the list!!!
And of course, it put that Threshold BACK on the list. <sigh>

Maybe it's got a crush on Carla Gugino. (that's one smart machine!) :D

Hi there!

i'm on my second 8300 box (the first one i had for 2 weeks) and this one started skipping (live tv skips/flickers so you can't really watch it, every second it flashes blank black screen for a split second and then the next split second, the show). i've only had this one for around 2 days.

i wonder what i should do, go exchange for a 3rd unit??

this 2nd unit came from a new box: they haven't even removed the 8300 from the original cardboard box yet. in fact, they gave the 8300 to me WITH the box.

each time the unit skips and flashes blank/black screens intermittently like that, the only way to get rid of it is to unplug it, wait for a minute, and plug it back in. even turning it on and off won't work.

any advice, please? are there many others with this issue?

PS: both 8300 units came from the 23rd Street Manhattan time warner location.

thanks in advance for your advice/comments.

the flicker sounds like the TV switching resolutions that we've all encountered. Are you outputting all the formats or just a few? What's your connection? (I probably can't help you but knowing those facts somebody else might. :) )

Thanks, Mr. VisionOn for asking and trying to help!

In my 8300, i went to settings and enabled ALL the output formats, i.e. 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i. i did that because my understanding is that my Sony 60xbr1 can accept all those formats and the only one it cannot accept is 1080p, which is really not yet available.

the tv is connected to the 8300 via HDMI directly. audio is from the 8300's digital out to my B&K receiver. the 8300 is also connected to my tv via component cables "just in case". at least i figured i will have the option to watch even if the HDMI went kaput on me ;)

i dont' see that i've done anything incorrectly.

the flicker is really alternating picture with no picture (black) that happens like every second so it's on and off and on and off...

maybe i have a second "bad" 8300 unit? from what i understand, that is entirely possible, though this current unit (my second) is brand new in box!

thx all for trying to help.

Enabling ALL of the formats on the 8300HD may not be a good idea. In my case, it definitely is NOT. If you channel-surf, i.e. ch-up or ch-dn, between 480i and 480p/720p/1080i channels, your TV has to re-sync. On my set, it takes a second or more (doesn't sound long when you read it, but try it when you're trying to watch TV !). I have my 8300HD set to only output 1080i and for the most part, all the channels look fine (to me). Then again, from what you're saying, this is occuring when you're watching a channel, not channel-surfing.... See my next paragraph.

The odds of you getting (2) "bad" 8300HDs in a row are pretty slim. Maybe you need TWC to come out and check your lines, signals levels, splitters, etc, etc.

One of my 8300HD's is connected via component to a Sony CRT-based HDTV. The other is connected to a Sony HS20 via the STB's HDMI to the LCD projector's DVI input with a simple HDMI-to-DVI cable. In both cases I am passing all formats to the displays as I do not want the 8300HD to de-interlace or scale. Yes, it takes a moment to re-sync when switching between (all) formats, but so what? My displays have better scaler/de-interlacer electronics than the STB. End of subject, for me.

pepar, is your box outputting 480i and 480p over HDMI? mine does NOT.

To both pepar and dtrell:

pepar: i was told that the upscaling from 480i & 480p to 1080i is better in the 8300 versus the Sony 60xbr1 as long as you use HDMI. that is supposed to be key. if you were to use HDMI, i was told by this informed source that it would be superior to select ONLY 720i and 1080i on the 8300.

dtrell: since i have all the source formats selected (480i, 480p, 720i, 1080i), and i'm only using HDMI to connect directly to my 60xbr1, your questions is answered by me!! yes, the box DOES output 480i and 480p over HDMI. in fact, i can see the 480i and 480p light on the front of the 8300 and the tv displays those programs fine...well...er...that is when my 8300 is working and not merely flickering and not being unwatchable yet again :(

well all i knows is that mine does not output 480i and 480p over hdmi using version 1.8.111 to my vizio p50hdm.

pepar, is your box outputting 480i and 480p over HDMI? mine does NOT.
Actually, while I have box with the HDMI-to-DVI video connection set to output all of the available formats, I rarely watch anything but hi-def sources and I don't think I've ever looked at the 8300HD's display to see what format I was watching while an SD channel is on.

To both pepar and dtrell:

pepar: i was told that the upscaling from 480i & 480p to 1080i is better in the 8300 versus the Sony 60xbr1 as long as you use HDMI. that is supposed to be key. if you were to use HDMI, i was told by this informed source that it would be superior to select ONLY 720i and 1080i on the 8300.(
See above. For me, on the main HT system, it's always an HD channel being watched. In any case, I find it hard to believe that the deinterlacer in the 8300HD is better than Sony's.

I believe that the issue of 480i/p over HDMI is a function of the TV. Some do, some don't.

RE: i was told that the upscaling from 480i & 480p to 1080i is better in the 8300 versus the Sony 60xbr1 as long as you use HDMI.
I find this hard to believe. Particularly with the great set you have. I do know that on component that the 8300 upconversion is not particularly good and don't see how the HDMI would be much different (the upconversion is a digital process, so the quality of upconversion would be the same on both).

Thanks, Mr. VisionOn for asking and trying to help!

In my 8300, i went to settings and enabled ALL the output formats, i.e. 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i. i did that because my understanding is that my Sony 60xbr1 can accept all those formats and the only one it cannot accept is 1080p, which is really not yet available.

the tv is connected to the 8300 via HDMI directly. audio is from the 8300's digital out to my B&K receiver. the 8300 is also connected to my tv via component cables "just in case". at least i figured i will have the option to watch even if the HDMI went kaput on me ;)

i dont' see that i've done anything incorrectly.

the flicker is really alternating picture with no picture (black) that happens like every second so it's on and off and on and off...

maybe i have a second "bad" 8300 unit? from what i understand, that is entirely possible, though this current unit (my second) is brand new in box!

thx all for trying to help. I got the same problem on and off. I got this box today at 23st. Im going back to get a new one. I hope it works. :confused:

i was told that the upscaling from 480i & 480p to 1080i is better in the 8300 versus the Sony 60xbr1 as long as you use HDMI. that is supposed to be key. if you were to use HDMI, i was told by this informed source that it would be superior to select ONLY 720i and 1080i on the 8300. It doesn't matter if this "informed source" is a hardware engineer from Scientific Atlanta, he/she isn't the one watching TV in your house. You need to experiment with the different formats on your TV and make the judgement with your eyes. That's all that matters in the end.