can someone direct me to the comcast/san francisco (or san jose) thread?

i followed advice to keep the box on at all times and thought it solved my audio problem, until last night...recording "lost" and, again, no sound.

so frustrating. (and also, my understanding was that installation was free, and my new bill shows a $15.95 charge for installing a malfunctioning unit. sigh.)

I agree that the 'heavy' compression setting tends to equalize sound from the HD and SD channels, but it does reduces the dynamic range of the sound. This is most important for movies, though, so I can re-set the compression level when looking at HBO or a dvd.

Originally posted by SanJoseJA
can someone direct me to the comcast/san francisco (or san jose) thread?

i followed advice to keep the box on at all times and thought it solved my audio problem, until last night...recording "lost" and, again, no sound.

so frustrating. (and also, my understanding was that installation was free, and my new bill shows a $15.95 charge for installing a malfunctioning unit. sigh.)

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=5072156#post5072156
San Francisco, CA - Comcast - AVS Forum

Originally posted by timdgibson
Go order and order it now. The Chicago market seems to be one of the few markets without problems. I've had mine since it was launched here and haven't had a single problem.


Actually, I believe for much of the country, there are very few problems. Undoubtedly, there are some bad boxes out there (that can easily be replaced) and there are some bugs that will be worked out, but deciding to hold off getting the 6412 based on the complaints in this thread is not a wise choice IMO.

btw, did anyone doubt that a D* fanboy like rogo would find fault with a product associated with Comcast? What a huge surprise. :rolleyes:

Ok, I have searched but cannot find my specific question.

A few times my shows have stopped recording after about half of their total time. I think I may be doing the interrupting??

I have a show scheduled to record. About half way through I start to watch that show from its beginning, so I rewind it. Does this interupt the current recording? I don't get a warning when doing this and I do not remember having this happen when I first got the DVR. I think I have watched Lost as it was finishing up recording the rest of it.

Do I need to "swap" first then watch the version being recorded from the other tuner?

TIA

alvis -

yeah, the motorolas do a horrible job scaling....i leave it on 1080i even though my PJ is 720p since movies on hbo, showtime, etc lose a lot of detail when they are bumped down to 720 by the 6412.

there IS a native passthrough via the firewire port. unfortunately you can't see guide info or grpahics this way.

Originally posted by GoGyrosWin
A few times my shows have stopped recording after about half of their total time. I think I may be doing the interrupting??

I have a show scheduled to record. About half way through I start to watch that show from its beginning, so I rewind it. Does this interupt the current recording? I don't get a warning when doing this and I do not remember having this happen when I first got the DVR. I think I have watched Lost as it was finishing up recording the rest of it.

Do I need to "swap" first then watch the version being recorded from the other tuner?

TIA

Do you use the DVR menu when you watch the show? If you use the DVR menu and use the Start from Beginning button |< you can watch the show while you continue to record it. And you don't need to swap. If you just press the rewind button while the show is displaying live, I'm not sure what happens. But I know the method I mentioned works.

Originally posted by jacmyoung
One should be careful also trying to make fun at someone who has over 3,000 posts under his belt, thinking he did not know what the rules are (search, sarcasm and all), don't you think?

Not if all 3000 are like that one, one shouldn't.

Originally posted by dmlove51
Also, is there a way to return to the beginning of a recording other than Rewind?

Go back to the DVR recordings menu, select the show again, and click "Restart from Beginning" |<

More such tips are in the Manual. (http://broadband.motorola.com/dvr/downloads/URMD2.pdf)

I must confess that I have not read the full 120 pages but appreciate all this info.

I received the box from Comcast in Htfd CT recently. No reboots or early program recording termination or green flash -- just problems with the dual tuner function.

No Swap key on my remote. The remote is silver like the regular Comcast remote with OnDemand + the basic DVR functions.

Problem - while in unattended recording, no image is displayed on any channel, incuding the channel being recorded. Guide works but no audio either. The STB MUTE would automatically set itself but now I can turn that off via the reprogrammed Mute key from this thread. I tried to program the HD Zoom key as the Swap key to jump to the other tuner but it has NO effect on displaying any channel's video or audio. Suggestions or links to earlier threads appreciated.

Also, after the unit has done some unattended recording or been power off (yes, I know not to now) - the same scenario as above presents itself - no picture on any channel, just Guide info. I've worked around this by going into the DVR area, playing a portion of a recorded show & then exiting.

After exiting, all channels & audio function.

Go figure.

VERY SORRY if this has been covered. Do we have a FAQ doc yet for this product?

Originally posted by sbssmith
I must confess that I have not read the full 120 pages but appreciate all this info.

I received the box from Comcast in Htfd CT recently. No reboots or early program recording termination or green flash -- just problems with the dual tuner function.

No Swap key on my remote. The remote is silver like the regular Comcast remote with OnDemand + the basic DVR functions.

Problem - while in unattended recording, no image is displayed on any channel, incuding the channel being recorded. Guide works but no audio either. The STB MUTE would automatically set itself but now I can turn that off via the reprogrammed Mute key from this thread. I tried to program the HD Zoom key as the Swap key to jump to the other tuner but it has NO effect on displaying any channel's video or audio. Suggestions or links to earlier threads appreciated.

Also, after the unit has done some unattended recording or been power off (yes, I know not to now) - the same scenario as above presents itself - no picture on any channel, just Guide info. I've worked around this by going into the DVR area, playing a portion of a recorded show & then exiting.

After exiting, all channels & audio function.

Go figure.

VERY SORRY if this has been covered. Do we have a FAQ doc yet for this product?

This post from tall1 back in December (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=4847147#post4847147) can serve as a temporary FAQ, and following those steps exactly will clear up your problems.

Originally posted by jacmyoung
One should be careful also trying to make fun at someone who has over 3,000 posts under his belt, thinking he did not know what the rules are (search, sarcasm and all), don't you think?

Originally posted by frankz1
Not if all 3000 are like that one, one shouldn't.

You guys need to lighten up, frankz1 by nature is an acerbic grouch and I bet he'll be the first one to say so. So, jacmyoung, I wouldn't get to hung up on his delivery as the info, from what I've read, is darn good.. my thoughts anyway..YMMV. :)

Originally posted by keenan
You guys need to lighten up, frankz1 by nature is an acerbic grouch and I bet he'll be the first one to say so. So, jacmyoung, I wouldn't get to hung up on his delivery as the info, from what I've read, is darn good.. my thoughts anyway..YMMV. :)

I wish I'd have been the first one to say it, but I've amended my "Custom User Text" to steal it from you!

:D I do get royalties though don't I? :p

I have read in earlier posts that the 12/31/1989 Phantom recording can be removed by deleting all recordings on the DVR and then unplugging the box. I have tried this several times but still get a NH Service error. If I try to play the recording it locks up the box. It shows that 3% of the drive is being used. Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.

columbo yammered: "btw, did anyone doubt that a D* fanboy like rogo would find fault with a product associated with Comcast? What a huge surprise"

Whatever. Do you have a clue? Apparently not.

-----------------
Paul wrote:
"Unless you come to Comcast as a DirecTV defector, in which case the monthly costs are equivalent and you don't have to spring $900 for a potentially limited lifetime set top box. "

Interesting... I don't see the Tivo as limited in life though, because I have many confirmations from DirecTV that the replacements are going to be free or nearly free.

------------------

jacmyoung:
"BTW rogo, did you ever get a chance to see the 2wire E* whole house solution DVR at CES?'

Looked sensational. Not Ucentric / DirecTV / Voom sensational, but pretty awesome nevertheless. For E* customers, this is the way to go.

---------

keenan:
See above. There just isn't risk of obsolescence in the purchase. DirecTV will be doing the right thing. Confirmed by many sources. One of the reasons the box is so overpriced is to pay for its replacement.

--------

cgould and jayjay: right. Bug fixes now. My time is worth more to me than fighting this box for some alleged cost savings.

---

sievers: Tivo can easily handle that particular issue and does so by default.

----------

Alll: You are not going to get a PVR upgrade every six months from Comcast. These things cost around $450 to Comcast and they need to last 4 years or so for them. Plus, even if you can work the system to do this, do you really want to purge your system, re-enter all your recordings, etc. every six months? I'll pass on that no matter who my provider is.

The Tivo just works. The Motorola is a start, but, again, I haven't got the time for it.

I do think with Moto buying Ucentric they will kill their not at all ready multi-room stuff and make a great DVR. Ditto for DirecTV. The SBC / 2Wire / E* is great looking too as is SA's new stuff.

Right now, for set it and forget it recording of 30+ hours of HD in one box, there is only one solution. It's overpriced, but, again, I'm confident I have a replacement coming for nothing or nearly so. DirecTV has spent hundreds of dollars to get people local channels in small markets, is there any doubt they will act to retain their high spend HD customers when they've invested billions in new satellites? No way.

Anyway, thank you all again!

Mark

Originally posted by rogo
columbo yammered: "btw, did anyone doubt that a D* fanboy like rogo would find fault with a product associated with Comcast? What a huge surprise"

Whatever. Do you have a clue? Apparently not.



Just didn't want anyone to mistake you for an objective, impartial observer. Your limited experience with one box certainly tells the whole story.

Originally posted by rogo
...
jacmyoung:
"BTW rogo, did you ever get a chance to see the 2wire E* whole house solution DVR at CES?'

Looked sensational. Not Ucentric / DirecTV / Voom sensational, but pretty awesome nevertheless. For E* customers, this is the way to go.

...

Mark

rogo, alright Mark, did you ask the release date? Their website said May this year but I highly doubt it will be on time. Will E* sell this box or will SBC only? I will keep the Comcast DVR until E* box is available.

Rogo, you have PM

Hey Folks,
anybody have any luck swapping out a 6412 with the noisy hard drive? I think I'm going to try this tomorrow at the local billing center, but in reading these posts there doesn't seem to be any consensus on whether the Seagate or the Maxtor is louder. I'm just going to cross my fingers and hope for the best. Even if I get another noisy one, I've devised the following high-tech and extremely sophisticated noise abatement device to tide me over until the next box update...

"Just didn't want anyone to mistake you for an objective, impartial observer. Your limited experience with one box certainly tells the whole story."

My >5 years experience with DVRs tells the whole story. Your acting like an a!@ tells a different story. I'm objective enough to have a post at DBS Forums where I cited a number of compelling features associated with the Moto box. The fact that overall it's so completely unsatisfying is my impartial observation. For someone who has never had a DVR, it might seem great. Hell, some folks in the DVD Recorders area were wetting themselves over "chase play" a while back like it was invented by DVD recorders. Everyone with a DVR knows that feature from day one. It made me laugh.

So, yeah, if you've never had a DVR, this thing is great. If you are wedded to Comcast, it's great. If you've used other DVRs that work reliably, more intuitively, etc., it's not great. And double-digit defect rates don't cut the mustard for me.

---------------

jacmy, I don't have my notes handy, but I do believe they are doing everything they can to meet the date and that it's unlikely the project will slip much. 2Wire exists because of SBC and the zillion dollars in venture capital only gets a return if 2Wire keeps SBC happy enough to survive as an integral part of SBC's TV plans.

----------

keenan, done.

I watched the AFC NFL playoff games on CBS HD via the 6412 and route the audio through my HT receiver via an optical cable so I get 5.1 sound for the games. The sound level for the games is set at a reasonable level but when the commercials come on I'm BLOWN AWAY by the increase in volume. This happens with both TV sound as well as through my receiver.

Do I need to live with this or is there a fix? Thanks

"route the audio through my HT receiver via an optical cable so I get 5.1 sound for the games. The sound level for the games is set at a reasonable level but when the commercials come on I'm BLOWN AWAY by the increase in volume."

I use the analog output from the 6412. Turning the sound compression to high (menu, setup, audio setup) increased the volume for the show, but did not increase the volume for commercials--so now they are fairly equal. I don't know if this will also work for digital output, but give it a shot. This made a huge difference for me.

Originally posted by gzing2
I watched the AFC NFL playoff games on CBS HD via the 6412 and route the audio through my HT receiver via an optical cable so I get 5.1 sound for the games. The sound level for the games is set at a reasonable level but when the commercials come on I'm BLOWN AWAY by the increase in volume. This happens with both TV sound as well as through my receiver.

Do I need to live with this or is there a fix? Thanks
This is probably a level matching problem either at the network or at your local affiliate. Were the problems with national spots (with black bars on the sides), or with local spots (depending on your affiliate, may be in "stretch-o-vision")?

Ken

Has anyone else in the Newark, Delaware area experienced severe flickering on Fox HD programming? This has been going on for awhile now and seems to be limited to Fox HD. It doesn't flicker during commercials or on non HD broadcasting, it does on all HD broadcast. It makes many shows simply unwatchable.

I have tried with and without a motorola signal booster and that makes no difference. Since this is the only problem I've had with this 6412 (had it for about 3 months now) I don't really want to risk having it swapped out. All other HD channels come in wonderfully (an occasional burp here and there). With Fox, it's to the point that if I record something, I use the analog to ensure being able to watch the show. Analog through the box is very poor which Comcast says is normal. Analog connected directly to my Panasonic 50DL54 is passable. Thanks for any comments or advice on this Fox HD thing.

[edit] I've tried all component connections and dvi to hdmi connection with the same results. I should also note that the same happens on both tuners.

Originally posted by BJMoose
... Analog through the box is very poor which Comcast says is normal... They are correct. Poor analog on comcast is normal. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/images/icons/icon8.gif

Originally posted by BJMoose
Has anyone else in the Newark, Delaware area experienced severe flickering on Fox HD programming? This has been going on for awhile now and seems to be limited to Fox HD. It doesn't flicker during commercials or on non HD broadcasting, it does on all HD broadcast. It makes many shows simply unwatchable.

I have tried with and without a motorola signal booster and that makes no difference. Since this is the only problem I've had with this 6412 (had it for about 3 months now) I don't really want to risk having it swapped out. All other HD channels come in wonderfully (an occasional burp here and there). With Fox, it's to the point that if I record something, I use the analog to ensure being able to watch the show. Analog through the box is very poor which Comcast says is normal. Analog connected directly to my Panasonic 50DL54 is passable. Thanks for any comments or advice on this Fox HD thing.

[edit] I've tried all component connections and dvi to hdmi connection with the same results. I should also note that the same happens on both tuners.

I use the 6412 via both firewire & DVI & Fox is OK.

Originally posted by Carl Jones
I use the 6412 via both firewire & DVI & Fox is OK.

Since you are closer to the Philadephia signal than I am, I wonder if it's possible that I'm at the outer limits of the HD reception for Fox. Is it possible for the 6412 to have a problem only with one channel and in one format (HD)? Everytime I call Comcast, they always say it's the first they've heard about this...even after I've brought it to their attention before. Thanks.

Originally posted by BJMoose
Has anyone else in the Newark, Delaware area experienced severe flickering on Fox HD programming? This has been going on for awhile now and seems to be limited to Fox HD. It doesn't flicker during commercials or on non HD broadcasting, it does on all HD broadcast. It makes many shows simply unwatchable.

What do you mean by "flickering?" Flickering sounds like the picture is getting light and dark quickly (like the flicker of an old movie), but what you describe here and in your next post sounds like you're asking about a signal strength issue.

Originally posted by rogo

So, yeah, if you've never had a DVR, this thing is great. If you are wedded to Comcast, it's great. If you've used other DVRs that work reliably, more intuitively, etc., it's not great. And double-digit defect rates don't cut the mustard for me.



I had a DirecTV TiVo for 3+ years. Loved the thing to death. It was probably one of the most robust software products and fun-to-use electronic device that I've ever had the pleasure owning/using.

Let me ask you a question. How solid was TiVo release 1.1 ? Answer : not very. Sure, the pieces were in place, but the thing wasn't really right until version 2.5, which came a year or two later, right ? They needed time to work the kinks out.

This Comcast box has been out what, three months ? Please, give me a large break. Save the spewing for some other worthy topic.

FYI for all of you who are (like me) waiting for the digital simulcast of analog channels, which will make the poor analog pq of the 6412 a non-issue...

There's a report over at the Philly HDTV forum (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=5076500#post5076500) that selected channels are being simulcast right now in this general area.

I'm not able to check my box right now. Is anyone else seeing this?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe a quick way to check is that the "Dolby Digital" double-d symbol will show up on the flip bar on digital channels. It's there on all my digital channels as of last night. This way you don't have to break cardinal rule #1 and turn the box off to check.

Originally posted by frankz1
Nope. All of our dual-tuner DVRs are totally useless, and boy are we steamed about it. :)

Have any of you tried doing a "swap" before trying to schedule the 2nd program? That way you would be using a different tuner and should not see a conflict. (theoretically);)

I've recorded two programs simultaneously on a number of occasions (and even played back a 3rd at the same time just to see it work, and it did!) without problems.

I've ran into two repeatable bugs, and I'm wondering if anyone else has seen these...

1) I have set the preference to replace the title of adult shows with "adult programming" so that the kids don't see the porn titles in the program guide. When searching by title (to find shows to record) the adult shows that appear in the sort order have their titles replaced by "adult programming" as you would expect. However, if you use the arrow keys to move past these "adult programming" entries, the box will immediately jump to the "A's" in the title list. This can happen by using the page up/down buttons when an "adult programming" title appears at the top or bottom of the page. It seems like the box tries to jump down a page, checks the title of the entry at the bottom of the page and then searches for the next title after "adult programming" rather than continuing on with the original search. This can be extremely annoying but I have worked around it by entering more letters in the title so I can get closer to the show I want and don't have to use page up/down.

2) I ran into an issue where after creating several series recordings. The numbering on the series priority list got messed up. The numbering ran from 1-10, skipped 11 and 12, continued on with 13-15, repeated 16 twice, 17, then 18 twice. Yes, two numbers were missing in the sequence (11-12) and two numbers were repeated (16, 18). Anytime I was at number 14, which happened to be at the bottom of the page I couldn't change the priority of the show. If I hit page up, the screen would jump up a page (rather than changing the priority of the show) and would select #8. If I hit page down, the selection would jump down a page. The behavior of the page up/down buttons would stop moving the show up and down in the priority list and would revert to a true page up/down. I was able to fix this by deleting all series numbered 10, 13-18 and then reentering them. When I did this, the new series entries were correctly numbered and page up/down worked correctly again. I'm not sure how I got into that situation with the messed up series priority numbering in the first place, but it was after several series were entered, deleted, modified, and moved in the priority list.

SOMTHING I LIKE...

I still miss my TiVo, but I like how the scheduled recordings screen works by showing everything to be recorded by day. I find it a lot easier to check on what's happening each day this way. I guess you could argue that I didn't have to check what was happening each day on the TiVo because the series recording worked better. But the real advantage appears when checking conflicts. With TiVo, you have to check two different places (to do list and history) to see what is going to be recorded and what will not be recorded. With the 6412, you can see quickly at a glance what is on that day and which of those shows will be recorded or not. I really like that feature.

Well, I've had my 6412 for 2 days now and I think I've done my due diligence on troubleshooting the thing, and reading/searching through the forum for tips to fixing the thing. My experience has not been very good so far. Only four of the 7 HD channels I'm supposed to get with my package (Digital Classic & HD) actually come in. I get the local NBC, CBS, Fox affiliates and Discovery HD. However, ESPN-HD, INHD and INHD2 don't come in. I get the message "this channel will be available shortly" when I tune them in. The installer had the local office "hit" the box a least twice, and spent at least an hour in the house trying to get everything working without success. He swapped out a splitter where the line comes in and that got me the 4 channels I am getting, but nothing more. The installer also set the box up completely wrong for my TV. I am using a 16:9 direct view CRT (Sony KV-30HS420) and he set the box for a 4:3 pan and scan screen, outputting 480i through the composite connection to the TV, and with the 480i default set to off. I carefully explained to him how I wanted the box to output 480i for my SD channels and 1080i for my HD channels so that the TV could perform screen stretching on SD channels, but he didn't know any way to do that. 10 minutes after he left I worked that out for myself.

I have since called their support line and spoke with the CSR and they tried twice more to get my missing channels going for me. I tried using the magic words "line issue with the billing screen" that cured this for someone else 65 or so pages back in the thread. This drew a blank with my CSR and they just repeated whatever action they "hit" the box with the first time.

Last night I unplugged the unit, let it sit for a minute or so and plugged it back in. Nothing has changed as of this morning, the iGuide is back on track as far as I can tell so the box is getting signal. Signal strength is "fair" and error correction is "poor" at the diagnostic screen. I replaced the patch cable to the wall with a good quality RG-6 cable and put a new wall plate/barrel connector in the wall. I scrutinized the house wiring in the wall and I didn't see any clear marking to indicate that the house coax wiring is RG-6.

I have tried at least twice to record SD analog channels through the iGuide schedule. Nothing was recorded either time. Yesterday I was getting a new problem in which the box would put up an alert every time I changed channels, saying that it needed to cancel my current recording session to make a channel change, though I was not intentionally recording anything, and the DVR recordings menu page shows nothing saved and 0% of the disk consumed. I have scheduled my first manual recording today and we'll see how that goes.

I have another service appointment tomorrow and I'm not letting the installer go until I get some satisfaction. Since I'm getting Fox in HD I will stick with Comcast through Superbowl weekend but if I can't get things working by then I'm making a switch to satellite that Monday.

Originally posted by steve_wmn
Well, I've had my 6412 for 2 days now and I think I've done my due diligence on troubleshooting the thing, and reading/searching through the forum for tips to fixing the thing. My experience has not been very good so far. Only four of the 7 HD channels I'm supposed to get with my package (Digital Classic & HD) actually come in. I get the local NBC, CBS, Fox affiliates and Discovery HD. However, ESPN-HD, INHD and INHD2 don't come in. I get the message "this channel will be available shortly" when I tune them in. The installer had the local office "hit" the box a least twice, and spent at least an hour in the house trying to get everything working without success. He swapped out a splitter where the line comes in and that got me the 4 channels I am getting, but nothing more. The installer also set the box up completely wrong for my TV. I am using a 16:9 direct view CRT (Sony KV-30HS420) and he set the box for a 4:3 pan and scan screen, outputting 480i through the composite connection to the TV, and with the 480i default set to off. I carefully explained to him how I wanted the box to output 480i for my SD channels and 1080i for my HD channels so that the TV could perform screen stretching on SD channels, but he didn't know any way to do that. 10 minutes after he left I worked that out for myself.

I have since called their support line and spoke with the CSR and they tried twice more to get my missing channels going for me. I tried using the magic words "line issue with the billing screen" that cured this for someone else 65 or so pages back in the thread. This drew a blank with my CSR and they just repeated whatever action they "hit" the box with the first time.

Last night I unplugged the unit, let it sit for a minute or so and plugged it back in. Nothing has changed as of this morning, the iGuide is back on track as far as I can tell so the box is getting signal. Signal strength is "fair" and error correction is "poor" at the diagnostic screen. I replaced the patch cable to the wall with a good quality RG-6 cable and put a new wall plate/barrel connector in the wall. I scrutinized the house wiring in the wall and I didn't see any clear marking to indicate that the house coax wiring is RG-6.

I have tried at least twice to record SD analog channels through the iGuide schedule. Nothing was recorded either time. Yesterday I was getting a new problem in which the box would put up an alert every time I changed channels, saying that it needed to cancel my current recording session to make a channel change, though I was not intentionally recording anything, and the DVR recordings menu page shows nothing saved and 0% of the disk consumed. I have scheduled my first manual recording today and we'll see how that goes.

I have another service appointment tomorrow and I'm not letting the installer go until I get some satisfaction. Since I'm getting Fox in HD I will stick with Comcast through Superbowl weekend but if I can't get things working by then I'm making a switch to satellite that Monday.

With a signal strength of "fair" and an error correction of "poor" your signal is clearly screwed. Whether or not the box is also screwed, or whether the problem is within your house or the lines in your neighborhood is another matter.

Chances are that the next Comcast "tech" to visit will be as clueless as the last, and your best bet is to do what diagnosis you can before he/she arrives. Things go much better when they don't have to figure out what to do themselves.

First of all, stop with the hits and the unplugging at this point. The box's full functionality comes as part of the software, will not be active until the software is fully loaded, and this restarts every time the box is hit or unplugged. That's been tried, and it's failed, and it's not the problem.

Second, take a very long RG6 cable that you know is good and a barrel connector and use it to bypass all of your house wiring - connecting one end to the feed line going into your house and the other to the box. If everything works, the problem is in your house wiring (splitters, cables, fittings, etc). If you still get "Available shortly," the problem is not in your house and you can tell the CC tech that with certainty.

Generally, from what I've read if OnDemand doesn't work the problem is a bad splitter that is not rated for digital frequencies and/or is not "two way."

Hope this helps a little.

Originally posted by frankz1
What do you mean by "flickering?" Flickering sounds like the picture is getting light and dark quickly (like the flicker of an old movie), but what you describe here and in your next post sounds like you're asking about a signal strength issue.
It's kind of like watching a poorly filmed old 8mm movie...almost like every other frame is missing. Sometimes there are some purplish lines that run through. I quess the best way I can describe it is to look at your computer monitor and blink your eyes as fast as you can. That creates a similar effect. Again, this only happens on Fox HD. Signal strength for both tuners shows good. Thanks again.

Originally posted by BJMoose
It's kind of like watching a poorly filmed old 8mm movie...almost like every other frame is missing. Sometimes there are some purplish lines that run through. I quess the best way I can describe it is to look at your computer monitor and blink your eyes as fast as you can. That creates a similar effect. Again, this only happens on Fox HD. Signal strength for both tuners shows good. Thanks again.

I did the blinking thing, and now I'm dizzy.

If it helps, I watched two hours of Fox-29 in HD last night without any flickering, so we know that's not the way 29 out of Philly is broadcasting. Doesn't narrow it down much, but it's a start.

Originally posted by frankz1
I did the blinking thing, and now I'm dizzy.

If it helps, I watched two hours of Fox-29 in HD last night without any flickering, so we know that's not the way 29 out of Philly is broadcasting. Doesn't narrow it down much, but it's a start.
Thanks, I'm on hold with Comcast right now. The CSR is looking into it for me to see if anyone else is reporting this. Been on hold for about 8 minutes now. Wonder if he forgot about me.

I just signed up for Comncast HD. I am in DFW will I get the 6142 box?

Originally posted by frankz1
With a signal strength of "fair" and an error correction of "poor" your signal is clearly screwed. Whether or not the box is also screwed, or whether the problem is within your house or the lines in your neighborhood is another matter.

Second, take a very long RG6 cable that you know is good and a barrel connector and use it to bypass all of your house wiring - connecting one end to the feed line going into your house and the other to the box. If everything works, the problem is in your house wiring (splitters, cables, fittings, etc). If you still get "Available shortly," the problem is not in your house and you can tell the CC tech that with certainty.

Generally, from what I've read if OnDemand doesn't work the problem is a bad splitter that is not rated for digital frequencies and/or is not "two way."

Hope this helps a little.
Thanks for the suggestions.

I'd do the long RG6 cable test if I could. But I think we're talking about 50 ft of cable routed out a window and across the front of my house to the feed line, and I don't have that much. The installer brought a signal strength meter in with him and tested the signal at the TV when he made the installation and he proclaimed it low but doable. I will get tomorrow's tech to bring his meter out to the feed line, or string 50 ft. of his wiring to see if the problem is house wiring or my street.

I'm really curious as to why I'm getting the stations I'm getting and not the others. Does signal strength vary by channel on digital cable? Is it possible that Comcast isn't encrypting Discovery HD and the local network affiliates but is encrypting ESPN-HD and the INHD's, and they just haven't keyed my 6412 right yet?

To test the OnDemand service do I need to place an order and see if it'll actually provide the movie on demand? I've surfed through the OnDemand menus up to but not including placing an order and it all seemed functional to that point.

Originally posted by steve_wmn
I'm really curious as to why I'm getting the stations I'm getting and not the others. Does signal strength vary by channel on digital cable? Is it possible that Comcast isn't encrypting Discovery HD and the local network affiliates but is encrypting ESPN-HD and the INHD's, and they just haven't keyed my 6412 right yet?

To test the OnDemand service do I need to place an order and see if it'll actually provide the movie on demand? I've surfed through the OnDemand menus up to but not including placing an order and it all seemed functional to that point.

Groups of channels broadcast on different frequencies. "Available Shortly" is the message you get when that certain frequency is not making it through to the box (enough to display, anyway). You may have 3 channels on one frequency that are fine, but if the splitter (for example) isn't passing through the frequency that carries another 3 channels you won't get them at all.

If the channels were blocked from you by comcast, I believe you'd see the "Subscription Service" message rather than "Available Shortly."

The vast majority of OnDemand programming is free. Go to "Cable Favorites" and pick something from one of the categories (The menus will come up whether it's working or not, although if the preview is playing in the little window without problem you're probably OK). Music videos are short, and they do the job of at least letting you know if it's working.

Is there a means to eliminate the progress bar when you put a recorded show on "pause"? Sometimes pause is used just so you can attend to something else but other times pause is used to try to discern something on the frame that is paused. Many times, the progress bar gets in the way of seeing what it is that you want to see. I think the bar should disappear after, say, 5 seconds of pause or a key on the remote should allow the operator to select "put progress bar away". Or maybe the bar can "float" around the screen. Just some ideas for the Comcast folks monitoring us for improvements - IF the ability is not already there and I am missing it.

Bob

Originally posted by ridgefamus
Is there a means to eliminate the progress bar when you put a recorded show on "pause"? Sometimes pause is used just so you can attend to something else but other times pause is used to try to discern something on the frame that is paused. Many times, the progress bar gets in the way of seeing what it is that you want to see. I think the bar should disappear after, say, 5 seconds of pause or a key on the remote should allow the operator to select "put progress bar away". Or maybe the bar can "float" around the screen. Just some ideas for the Comcast folks monitoring us for improvements - IF the ability is not already there and I am missing it.

Bob

Strangely enough, "Exit" exits the progress bar and any other guide or menu screen, just like the manual (http://broadband.motorola.com/dvr/downloads/URMD2.pdf) says it does.

If the program is still recording at the time, it keeps coming back for some reason.

Originally posted by rogo
...jacmy, I don't have my notes handy, but I do believe they are doing everything they can to meet the date and that it's unlikely the project will slip much. 2Wire exists because of SBC and the zillion dollars in venture capital only gets a return if 2Wire keeps SBC happy enough to survive as an integral part of SBC's TV plans...

Since this new box is not developed by E* I have hope that the customers will not be the first batch of beta testers.

Comcast also said they are working on a whole house DVR solution, but will likely be a year or two late than E* and D*, much like their DVR roll out now. The good thing is I don't have a contract with cable, can swtich to DBS anytime, then switch back when they catch up, precisely what I am doing right now with the 6412.

Mark, I must say that 6412 while not perfect, is of very good value consider the low cost. Once DBS comes out with similar lease plans on their HD DVRs, it will be a whole new ball game.

I have a similar attitude to jacmyoung about switching back and forth between cable and satellite. I would have said I was pretty loyal to DTV because of DirecTiVo. But then I wanted HD DVR and wasn't willing to spend $1000 (or $600 after rebates and promotions) to get it on DirecTV. Now with DTV switching to MPEG4, a new DVR platform, a future whole house solution, etc. ... I'm really glad that I switched to Comcast, have HD DVR (including HD locals) right now, and I'm saving $30+ dollars each month between TV and Internet service. I am on a contract, but only for a year (10 months remaining). It will be interesting to see what happens over the next year.

Originally posted by Joel98z
I just signed up for Comncast HD. I am in DFW will I get the 6142 box?
Hi Joel,
PM me with a little more specific location and I might be able to tell you. You might want to check out this thread for (DFW) local market specific questions:

AVS DFW Local HD thread. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=263482&perpage=60&pagenumber=1)

Another good resource for DFW local stuff is:

DFW Comcast Forum on Broadband Reports (http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,12102804~mode=flat~days=9999)

At least one Comcast employee posts pretty regularly on the last one...

-Randy

BJMoose, try this... swap tuners.

I have a problem with Fox and the WB only in HD on one tuner only... I've discovered there is a good tuner and a bad tuner. The bad tuner has stuttering, and flickering as you describe it every few seconds.

My brother who lives about 10 miles away just dicovered the same problem on his 6412.

Strangely enough...
Comcast doesn't usually give manuals or correct remotes with the 6412.

Originally posted by Mike3
Strangely enough...
Comcast doesn't usually give manuals or correct remotes with the 6412.

Strangely enough...

Google gives good manual.

>anybody have any luck swapping out a 6412 with the noisy hard drive?

Some people do and some don't. Those who don't just keep swapping boxes until they are happy.

Originally posted by Mike3
BJMoose, try this... swap tuners.

I have a problem with Fox and the WB only in HD on one tuner only... I've discovered there is a good tuner and a bad tuner. The bad tuner has stuttering, and flickering as you describe it every few seconds.

My brother who lives about 10 miles away just dicovered the same problem on his 6412.
Thanks Mike, but I have the same problen with both tuners and it appears to be equally bad with each. I was talking to a Comcast CSR trying to find out if others in the New Castle County, DE area were reporting the same thing. He put me on hold while he said he was checking with others and after waiting for almost 20 minutes, I hung up and went back to work. Everything else works like a champ on this box so I'm hesitant to ask for a replacement...especially when my own meager logic says it may well be a problem in the Fox HD transmission to my area.

We are further south of others who pick up their signal from the Philly networks and have posted on this topic so far. And since all the other HD networks come in just fine, it's hard to believe there's a problem with the box or interior connections.

Originally posted by BJMoose
Thanks Mike, but I have the same problen with both tuners and it appears to be equally bad with each. I was talking to a Comcast CSR trying to find out if others in the New Castle County, DE area were reporting the same thing. He put me on hold while he said he was checking with others and after waiting for almost 20 minutes, I hung up and went back to work. Everything else works like a champ on this box so I'm hesitant to ask for a replacement...especially when my own meager logic says it may well be a problem in the Fox HD transmission to my area.

We are further south of others who pick up their signal from the Philly networks and have posted on this topic so far. And since all the other HD networks come in just fine, it's hard to believe there's a problem with the box or interior connections.

Maybe I'm missing something entirely logical here, but I'm not getting why you think your personal distance to Philly is an issue that effects your cable television reception or why this would effect your signal more than the actual cables and connections that are delivering the signal.

It's not like some guy with a silver sensor antenna is sitting on top of your local Comcast billing center trying to pick up the philly signal in order to broadcast it to your house.

If the distance to the antenna is actually an issue to cable television signal quality, for the record I'm 23 miles from the antenna and New Castle DE is 32. They're both green antenna zones per antennaweb.org, amplified antenna not required. Doesn't seem as if quality would be much different.

Originally posted by BJMoose
Thanks Mike, but I have the same problen with both tuners and it appears to be equally bad with each. .

And since all the other HD networks come in just fine, it's hard to believe there's a problem with the box or interior connections.

I agree. Mike3 and his brother probably have signal strength issues (usually tipped off by trouble on ONLY one tuner), but your problem is most likely something else. You could tune both tuners to the Fox channel, go to d04 in diagnostics, and see if you are getting at least a "fair" reading. If you are, then I would further agree that it's Fox specific.

Another couple more minor bugs I ran into:

1. I think I may have seen this before in this thread, but its related to the series recording of hd channels switching to the non HD channel. Just before I noticed the channels switch, I was re-prioritizing my list of eight shows. The problem is some shows wouldn't move, and the other shows couldn't move above or below the stuck shows. I don't know if the hd channel swap happen before or after this, but I noticed when I decided to delete the stuck shows and they were set to the non-HD channels.

2. After deleting all shows and adding them back in (HD channel of course), I could re-prioritze, but both of my first two shows were both "#2", there was no "#1". Weird!

Originally posted by rogo
Alll: You are not going to get a PVR upgrade every six months from Comcast. These things cost around $450 to Comcast and they need to last 4 years or so for them. Plus, even if you can work the system to do this, do you really want to purge your system, re-enter all your recordings, etc. every six months? I'll pass on that no matter who my provider is.
Correct, it won't be six months. But they have plans for a new DVR in fall '05, so, likely, it will be end up being one year, from one DVR to the other. I, however, think they will continue rolling out the 6412 even after a new DVR is introduced, so they can get a better return on their investment, as you mentioned.

Originally posted by buzgz
I agree. Mike3 and his brother probably have signal strength issues (usually tipped off by trouble on ONLY one tuner), but your problem is most likely something else. You could tune both tuners to the Fox channel, go to d04 in diagnostics, and see if you are getting at least a "fair" reading. If you are, then I would further agree that it's Fox specific.
This is why I'm bugged by this. I have tuned both tuners to Fox HD and gone to d04 and get a reading of good for both (33.1 and 61% on one and 34.6 and 70% on the other).

I guess what I'm really wondering is that if so many in the Philly Comcast regions are not having this problem, is it specific to the transmission from New Castle County Comcast in Delaware? That's what I hoped the Comcast CSR was going to be able to tell me but he never got back. When I said I was further south, I just meant I was in a different Comcast service region and perhaps the problem has something to do with that. Thanks once again.

Originally posted by BJMoose
This is why I'm bugged by this. I have tuned both tuners to Fox HD and gone to d04 and get a reading of good for both (33.1 and 61% on one and 34.6 and 70% on the other).



This is almost certainly a Fox specific transmission problem. I guess the best thing to do (if you can't get them to solve it over the phone) is to let a tech come out, show him the problem, and let him solve it. I know this is a pain, but short of waiting it out and hoping for the best, it may be your only option.

rogo> You are not going to get a PVR upgrade every six months from Comcast.

QZ1> Correct, it won't be six months. But they have plans for a new DVR in fall '05, so, likely, it will be end up being one year, from one DVR to the other.

While Motorola (or whomever) may roll out a new DVR every 6 months, it's up to the local Comcast as to which/when/if to roll each out.

Rogo, as I am, is in the SF Bay Area where Comcast "skipped" the 6208. I didn't have the option of DVR from Comcast until the 6412 came available. I suspect, at least here in the SF Bay Area, that Comcast will space out their DVR adoptions given this first datapoint. YMMV in other locales.

I really hate the stupid box that pops up telling me when a recording has finished. It is so not necessary and gets in the way of whatever I am watching. I noted this during their beta trial but they obviously didn't do anything about it.

Originally posted by ukaussi
As with TiVo, the 6412 is at the mercy of the guide info. If the guide info does not indicate that the program is a rerun then it will think it is a first run

Having my 6412 for only a couple of days now, this is my main gripe. I have a Replay, which does a pretty good job of recording first run shows only. I have set up the 6412 to ONLY record First Run shows On This Channel Only and it records every single episode of that show, new and old, on that channel. And, if the channel replays the "new" episode again, it will record it again. What really sucks is to save HD record space, I ask it to only keep one episode. It will record the new one, I won't watch it immediately and when I do get to it a day or 2 later, it has been recorded over by an old one.

Why can you not specify the channel, date and time for a series record (I know, that is basically a manual record) like you can on the Replay? The 6412 is a good device, don't get me wrong, but the UI and the DVR functions lack the polish that Tivo and Replay have. It works but it is not a "set it and forget it" device like Replay or Tivo. You have to keep your eye on the damn thing all the time.

Originally posted by gzing2
I watched the AFC NFL playoff games on CBS HD via the 6412 and route the audio through my HT receiver via an optical cable so I get 5.1 sound for the games. The sound level for the games is set at a reasonable level but when the commercials come on I'm BLOWN AWAY by the increase in volume. This happens with both TV sound as well as through my receiver.

Do I need to live with this or is there a fix? Thanks
I notice this when the program is in 5.1 audio and the commercials aren't. With fewer discrete channels, the audio from my receiver becomes louder. However, I don't know if this explains why audio out of the TV is similarly affected.

"Let me ask you a question. How solid was TiVo release 1.1 ? Answer : not very. Sure, the pieces were in place, but the thing wasn't really right until version 2.5, which came a year or two later, right ? They needed time to work the kinks out.

This Comcast box has been out what, three months ? Please, give me a large break. Save the spewing for some other worthy topic."

DVR is now 5+ years old. If they can't get it even basically functioning now out the gate, I find that unacceptable.

And the very first Tivo wasn't nearly this unstable, I'm afraid. Nor was the first Replay (which I had one of).

I'll spew wherever I want, it's a free country. :)

That said, I am done here because I'm returning the box tomorrow. I've no longer got anything to add to this particular thread and I'm sorry the "fanboys" have been so offended.

Originally posted by Paul Simoneau
So, it appears that whenever I make an adjustment to any series recording, all the future recordings get reactivated and rescheduled to be recorded.


Any one else see either of these behaviors ? Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

I was told this is a known issue to Comcast and the i-Guide folks.

Just to reiterate. Keep posting your bugs. This thread is being read and the bugs are being addressed.

I'm looking forward to the i-Guide update soon with some new features (and many bug fixes).

Originally posted by gzing2
I watched the AFC NFL playoff games on CBS HD via the 6412 and route the audio through my HT receiver via an optical cable so I get 5.1 sound for the games. The sound level for the games is set at a reasonable level but when the commercials come on I'm BLOWN AWAY by the increase in volume. This happens with both TV sound as well as through my receiver.

Do I need to live with this or is there a fix? Thanks

I was glad to see your post...I've had the same problem with wild volume variations. I have not drawn any conclusion on when it happens...but I can point out that I'm using fiber optic to a receiver like you are.

Perhaps others will reply if they are having the same problem...more problem reports will draw more hope for a fix.

I want to use my remote in AUX mode to control my DVD player so I don't need an extra remote on the table when I watch a DVD movie. If I program the remote to control my Sony DVD, then the volume buttons no longer control the volume on my Sony stereo receiver. I made sure that the AUX volume was NOT locked.

Does anyone know how I can program the volume keys in AUX mode so they control the volume of my Sony receiver, while the AUX mode is programmed to my DVD player?

Originally posted by markjrenna
Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

I was told this is a known issue to Comcast and the i-Guide folks.

Just to reiterate. Keep posting your bugs. This thread is being read and the bugs are being addressed.

I'm looking forward to the i-Guide update soon with some new features (and many bug fixes).

Do you think it'll come before or after the firmware update you (WRONG: Midranger) said we'd get last week?

Edited to correct my faulty memory.

I just got a message about an iGuide update on my box today. It just said it was "improved" and coming soon...

Santa Rosa CA (SF bay area)

"Channel available shortly" solved!
I never posted about this problem, but it is very similar to the ones others are having. I would get some channels in HD, but not others. It'd only show the "available shortly" message forever. Two techs came out and checked the wiring. One of them removed my surge protector from the loop. The other one replaced a splitter with a lower loss one. The signal strength increased but the problem wasn't solved. I only had this problem on one tuner. The other tuner was fine after the surge protector fix. Finally, a swap of the 6412 box fixed the problem completely. It appears one of the tuners was faulty. Just wanted to let everyone know.

Originally posted by keenan
I just got a message about an iGuide update on my box today. It just said it was "improved" and coming soon...

Santa Rosa CA (SF bay area)

Keenan,

I think that message refered to replacing the current TV Guide w/the new I-Guide on non-DVR boxes (ie rolling it out the existing I-guide to stb's beside the 6412 that already has it)...not an upgrade to the existing I-Guide (that we already have on 6412's)

Oh..:p

I am still trying to get my VOD to work. I have Comcast working on the problem also. I was looking around in the diagnostic menu tonight and noticed that under D14 there is no IP address. It says 0.0.0.0 could this be why VOD does not work? Do others have an IP address in that area of the diagnostic menu? or is it supposed to be 0's. Thanks for any replys

Has anyone seen either of these problems, which I bet are related:

1. When watching recordings from an analog channel (channel 99 or less), occasionally I see a thin green line about 2 pixels high that usually goes across 3/4ths of the screen width for about 1/4 second. Just long enough to notice. This will happen maybe once or up to 4 or 5 times in a one hour recording, and does not appear to be related to a particular channel, other than being an analog one. This never happens on a digital or HD channel.

2. On HD channels, any of them, from INHD to local networks, occasionally I get random bouts of total picture breakup/garbling or alternately the picture seems to "shift" out of frame and pause and the sound drops out for about a second. This happens randomly, sometimes won't see it at all during an hour long show, other times it will happen a few times.

#2 I thought might perhaps be due to data corruption from poor quality reception on the HD channels, but I've used the diagnostic screen to check signal strength, AGC, and 5 second error rate and they all look perfect (zero errors of any type for as long as I watched the screen). I also thought it might be a problem with the local network broadcasts, but then why would it happen on INHD too?

And bad reception wouldn't explain the apparent MPEG decoding issue in #1 causing the green line. That must be caused by an error during the encoding or decoding inside the 6412.

My overall guess is the hard drive may have errors, or the software in the 6412 is occasionally not keeping up with playing back recordings and is having buffer underruns. Just my guess. My 6412 is well ventilated, and other than these picture glitches it is stable (no lockups or anything) for the 3 months I've had it. I have pulled the power plug on it recently to see if that helped, but it didn't change anything.

Curious if anyone ever sees these two issues?

Originally posted by BullittMustang
I am still trying to get my VOD to work. I have Comcast working on the problem also. I was looking around in the diagnostic menu tonight and noticed that under D14 there is no IP address. It says 0.0.0.0 could this be why VOD does not work? Do others have an IP address in that area of the diagnostic menu? or is it supposed to be 0's. Thanks for any replys The 6412 has a cable modem in it, though no where have I heard it being activated. That's what the ethernet port is for. Odds are the IP in the menus is for that purpose, and without the modem activated it will always be 0.0.0.0. Currently, the box gets its guide data from the cable feed directly. It would be able to update MUCH faster if it was using the internet too.

Originally posted by Nonsanity
The 6412 has a cable modem in it, though no where have I heard it being activated. That's what the ethernet port is for. Odds are the IP in the menus is for that purpose, and without the modem activated it will always be 0.0.0.0. Currently, the box gets its guide data from the cable feed directly. It would be able to update MUCH faster if it was using the internet too.

Great theory. Too bad it's 100% factually inaccurate. Normally functioning boxes have valid IP addresses, and this is how VOD works. It's like watching very high quality video over the internet.

Not sure what you even mean by "Currently, the box gets its guide data from the cable feed directly. It would be able to update MUCH faster if it was using the internet too," but I'm sure that's wrong as well.

Originally posted by frankz1
Great theory. Too bad it's 100% factually inaccurate. Normally functioning boxes have valid IP addresses, and this is how VOD works. It's like watching very high quality video over the internet.

Not sure what you even mean by "Currently, the box gets its guide data from the cable feed directly. It would be able to update MUCH faster if it was using the internet too," but I'm sure that's wrong as well. Sorry if I am wrong. I'd love to know the true facts of how it all works. Do you have a link to a FAQ on VOD? I had to base my response solely on my own observations, so I guess I should state them here...

First, I still have one of the first-gen digital cable boxes. No cable modem in there. It had on screen guide and VOD, though.

Second, when I spoke with the regional head of tech support for my area, he said the cable modem was disabled, not just the ethernet port. (He was unsure if/when it would ever be turned on.)

Third, the cable box is designed to accept video from the cable company in a specific way. Adding a whole different method would seem to me to be silly when the same method can still be used.

Since your post, I went a-googling, and I did find this post (http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php?t=22345). It's for the UK, but technology is technology. A quote from it:Well the first thing to point out is that, contrary to what some people have suggested, the box is not downloading any video content via the in-built cable modem. I don't even know whether this is possible, and it certainly wouldn't be very efficient. So forget scare stories about web-quality pictures, because it's completely untrue. Your box will be displaying a multiplexed DVB MPEG2 steam, the same as it does at the moment.Though of course, that's just another post from another internet user. While his statements are supported by detail, and his position is backed up by yet another seemingly-informed poster... He could be blowing smoke.

A summary of the method: As the cable network is like a branching tree, with smaller and smaller pipes as you get closer to the end users, the video servers can be positioned far out in the network to be close to small groups of homes. Then each server won't be overloaded with requests and only a set number of channels needs to be reserved.

I have to talk to the same head tech guy round here on Monday, so I'll ask him for sure.

Originally posted by Nonsanity
Sorry if I am wrong. I'd love to know the true facts of how it all works. Do you have a link to a FAQ on VOD? I had to base my response solely on my own observations, so I guess I should state them here...

First, I still have one of the first-gen digital cable boxes. No cable modem in there. It had on screen guide and VOD, though.

Second, when I spoke with the regional head of tech support for my area, he said the cable modem was disabled, not just the ethernet port. (He was unsure if/when it would ever be turned on.)

Third, the cable box is designed to accept video from the cable company in a specific way. Adding a whole different method would seem to me to be silly when the same method can still be used.

Since your post, I went a-googling, and I did find this post (http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php?t=22345). It's for the UK, but technology is technology. A quote from it:Though of course, that's just another post from another internet user. While his statements are supported by detail, and his position is backed up by yet another seemingly-informed poster... He could be blowing smoke.

A summary of the method: As the cable network is like a branching tree, with smaller and smaller pipes as you get closer to the end users, the video servers can be positioned far out in the network to be close to small groups of homes. Then each server won't be overloaded with requests and only a set number of channels needs to be reserved.

I have to talk to the same head tech guy round here on Monday, so I'll ask him for sure.

That's all well and good, but the IP address is valid and active and it is how the box is addressed. When my computer cable modem goes down, so does VOD even though all cable channels do not and neither does the guide.

Then if what you say about the link between cable modem activity and VOD is true, it's a little of both. Though every time I've lost my cable modem link, all of cable was out. I've never experienced only one or the other. Sucks to be me. It would be nice to be able to watch TV when the internet connection is lost. I just have to sit in the dark and twiddle my thumbs. (Well, only if power goes out too, or I turn off the lights in a fit of pique.)

Originally posted by Nonsanity
Then if what you say about the link between cable modem activity and VOD is true, it's a little of both. Though every time I've lost my cable modem link, all of cable was out. I've never experienced only one or the other. Sucks to be me. It would be nice to be able to watch TV when the internet connection is lost. I just have to sit in the dark and twiddle my thumbs. (Well, only if power goes out too, or I turn off the lights in a fit of pique.)

I didn't say anything about a link between any cable modem inside the 6412 and VOD. I said that the box has to have network connectivity for VOD to work. Has nothing to do with the box acting as a modem or a hub.

And this...
Odds are the IP in the menus is for that purpose, and without the modem activated it will always be 0.0.0.0
...is nowhere near "a little of both." It's providing totally inaccurate information about a box you have no experience with to a guy who came here looking for an answer to a problem.

Originally posted by Nonsanity
I just have to sit in the dark and twiddle my thumbs. (Well, only if power goes out too, or I turn off the lights in a fit of pique.)

I can think of at least one thing way better to do than just sitting in the dark...:p

Originally posted by cwachs
Why can you not specify the channel, date and time for a series record (I know, that is basically a manual record) like you can on the Replay?.

You can. Main Menu>DVR>Series Recordings>Manual Recordings.

(this from memory, it might be in a slightly different sub-menu)

Once you have the channel and time, go to "more options" and you can set the frequency (Daily, M-F, Weekend, etc).

My guide at first wouldn't let me set the frequency (there were no arrows to the left/right of that selection box) but after a couple of days, I could choose it.

Rgds,

JohnW

Originally posted by BJMoose
This is why I'm bugged by this. I have tuned both tuners to Fox HD and gone to d04 and get a reading of good for both (33.1 and 61% on one and 34.6 and 70% on the other).

I guess what I'm really wondering is that if so many in the Philly Comcast regions are not having this problem, is it specific to the transmission from New Castle County Comcast in Delaware? That's what I hoped the Comcast CSR was going to be able to tell me but he never got back. When I said I was further south, I just meant I was in a different Comcast service region and perhaps the problem has something to do with that. Thanks once again.

BJMoose:

I live south of you in the Glasgow area and I don't have the problem with FOX flickering in HD. I think I'm just as far from Philly as you. Not sure that helps you but I thought I'd give you a data point.

Originally posted by cerrato
I want to use my remote in AUX mode to control my DVD player so I don't need an extra remote on the table when I watch a DVD movie. If I program the remote to control my Sony DVD, then the volume buttons no longer control the volume on my Sony stereo receiver. I made sure that the AUX volume was NOT locked.

Does anyone know how I can program the volume keys in AUX mode so they control the volume of my Sony receiver, while the AUX mode is programmed to my DVD player?

Is this the standard Silver Comcast remote? It only has one AUX key. Or do you have TV configured as something else? You basically cannot have the AUX key do both your receiver and your DVD player. Too bad nobody has figured out how to access the remote's memory through the 6-pin jack next to the batteries (it's NOT the standard OneForAll JP1 connection.) If it was JP1 compatible, you could create something. Otherwise, I'm not certain how to remap keys without having a device programmed in.

Originally posted by mr2828
Has anyone seen either of these problems, which I bet are related:

1. When watching recordings from an analog channel (channel 99 or less), occasionally I see a thin green line about 2 pixels high that usually goes across 3/4ths of the screen width for about 1/4 second. Just long enough to notice. This will happen maybe once or up to 4 or 5 times in a one hour recording, and does not appear to be related to a particular channel, other than being an analog one. This never happens on a digital or HD channel.

The box has MAJOR issues trying to do two analog channels simultaneously. I think the MPEG encoder/decoder falls behind and the green flash is the result of a lack of data. It's interesting in that if you have a graphic up, such as the guide, the WHOLE screen flashes green, including the graphics! That means it may have something to do with the video overlay, too? Or is that all handled in one chip? Or maybe some sort of video chip reset due to the overload?

Even worse, this might be the reason why the box will sometimes freeze up during recording. I had that happen yesterday while watching/recording SciFi and Monk. I ended up quickly canceling the SciFi recording (I was actually watching it anyways), then changing the channel to unfreeze the box. In normal use, I've gotten in the habit of always keeping at least one tuner on a digital channel whenever possible. I don't think it's the hard drive falling behind, as I have no problems with two HD's at the same time.

Originally posted by frankz1
That's all well and good, but the IP address is valid and active and it is how the box is addressed. When my computer cable modem goes down, so does VOD even though all cable channels do not and neither does the guide.

How would I get my box to have an IP address?

Is there anyone with working VOD that can go into the diagnostic menu and look at D14 and see what the unit IP is?

Originally posted by rogo
"Let me ask you a question. How solid was TiVo release 1.1 ? Answer : not very. Sure, the pieces were in place, but the thing wasn't really right until version 2.5, which came a year or two later, right ? They needed time to work the kinks out.

This Comcast box has been out what, three months ? Please, give me a large break. Save the spewing for some other worthy topic."

DVR is now 5+ years old. If they can't get it even basically functioning now out the gate, I find that unacceptable.

And the very first Tivo wasn't nearly this unstable, I'm afraid. Nor was the first Replay (which I had one of).

I'll spew wherever I want, it's a free country. :)

That said, I am done here because I'm returning the box tomorrow. I've no longer got anything to add to this particular thread and I'm sorry the "fanboys" have been so offended.

Well, on one hand you make a valid argument. This is a new product at version 1.1. However, why do we need to re-invent the wheel each time a product like this comes out. Tivo and Replay have been out for years and have a pretty polished interface and feature set. Then Comcast comes along and releases a similar product that is back in the dark ages with its interface and features. Why not learn from the existing products? Start where they leave off, not where they began.

Originally posted by BullittMustang
How would I get my box to have an IP address?

Is there anyone with working VOD that can go into the diagnostic menu and look at D14 and see what the unit IP is?
I just checked mine, and yes, I have a valid IP address listed on D14.

Ken

Originally posted by KBandy
I just checked mine, and yes, I have a valid IP address listed on D14.

Ken

Thank you, now I have to figure out how to get mine to have an IP address.

Update on audio problems with 6412:

A tech finally came out this morning after having to cancel last weekend becaused of snow. He took level readings with his meter out side of the house and said they were excellent.

He came in a experienced the problem, no audio through the digital outputs on the analog channels.

He then swapped the box for another 6412. We hooked it up in the same way and everything worked. He called dispatch to have them send a signal to the box to give me my package (digital channels, premium channels, etc) and then we experienced the same problem all over again.

He tried a reboot of some sort, holding in buttons on the front panel of the box and doing something to the back of the box. We waited over 30 minutes for the box to download everything and then had another signal sent to it. Still had the problem.

Everyone he talked to (other techs and dispatch) were stumped. His thought was that is might be something with my account as the problem came back after they sent the signal.

He is giving all of the information to his supervisor at his request. The supervisor said it might be a software issue.

He only had 6412's and non-DVR HD boxes in his truck so I went down to my local office and swapped the third 6412 for a 6208. I came home, connected it, called to have the box initialized, and everything's working as it should.

I'm at a loss. Either there's something wrong with my account or there's some sort of glitch with the 6412. He had said they've been having a lot of problems with the dual-tuner box and that Motorola doesn't offer much support.

Again, associated equipment is:

Digital Coax out ---> digital coax in on Rotel RSP-1066 Preamp/Processor

Coax from wall--->Cable In on box

Component Video cables from box--->TV

Bill

Originally posted by BullittMustang
Thank you, now I have to figure out how to get mine to have an IP address.

Everything up and down the line has to be able to pass signal both ways. Splitters, surge suppressors, etc. If that's not the problem, there's really not much else you can do.

If you have a cable modem and it's working fine, try disconnecting the cable modem and connecting the box to that line. If it works, you know the problem is your original wiring to the box. If it doesn't, you've got a bum box. Note if you try this you'll have to unplug the box and you'll wind up having to reload the guide and software.

Other than that little test, let Comcast fix it.

You've got a much better shot of getting your problem resolved if you can tell Comcast exactly what the problem is rather than having them figure it out.

Originally posted by frankz1
Everything up and down the line has to be able to pass signal both ways. Splitters, surge suppressors, etc. If that's not the problem, there's really not much else you can do.

If you have a cable modem and it's working fine, try disconnecting the cable modem and connecting the box to that line. If it works, you know the problem is your original wiring to the box. If it doesn't, you've got a bum box. Note if you try this you'll have to unplug the box and you'll wind up having to reload the guide and software.

Other than that little test, let Comcast fix it.

You've got a much better shot of getting your problem resolved if you can tell Comcast exactly what the problem is rather than having them figure it out.

Thanks, I have tried all you suggested. I had my cable modem on the same line and the modem worked fine. I am trying to rule out any problems before I call comcast out to my house...last resort. I thought there might be a way to get the box to receive the IP address. I called Comcast last night and they are forwarding the problem to the VOD department. If they can't help it looks like it's time for a new box, I really didn't want that to happen this one has been almost flawless.

Comcast should be able to fix that. Initially I had the same problem, the tech called in I had a cable modem and they fixed it on their end.

Originally posted by cwachs
Well, on one hand you make a valid argument. This is a new product at version 1.1. However, why do we need to re-invent the wheel each time a product like this comes out. Tivo and Replay have been out for years and have a pretty polished interface and feature set. Then Comcast comes along and releases a similar product that is back in the dark ages with its interface and features. Why not learn from the existing products? Start where they leave off, not where they began.

I'd hardly call a two-tuner High Definition DVR the dark ages. Especially when you consider the features this box brings to the table. Sure, the GUI could use a little help, and there are bugs galore right now, but it's got FAR more features out of the gate than the TiVo did even 2-3 years after it's release.

Did I miss something, or did TiVo and Replay open source their hardware and software so that any developer could just pick up where they left off ? Yeah, I didn't think so...

I have searched this forum and found where people had posted the following problem, but never found an answer.

When I set a series recording for an HD channel after a few days the series switches to the SD channel. I make sure when I set the series to select, record this channel only. It seems to do it the most on channel 707. I don't recall it happening on any of the others.

Is there something I am doing wrong?

Thanks,

Kris

Originally posted by KGD_007
I have searched this forum and found where people had posted the following problem, but never found an answer.

When I set a series recording for an HD channel after a few days the series switches to the SD channel. I make sure when I set the series to select, record this channel only. It seems to do it the most on channel 707. I don't recall it happening on any of the others.

Is there something I am doing wrong?

Thanks,

Kris
I believe there have been others in this thread who have reported this problem. I don't think you did anything wrong. It happened to me a couple of weeks ago with West Wing. I deleted the series recording and set it up again and that seemed to fix things. But others may have other suggestions.

Originally posted by edmc
QZ1> Correct, it won't be six months. But they have plans for a new DVR in fall '05, so, likely, it will be end up being one year, from one DVR to the other.

While Motorola (or whomever) may roll out a new DVR every 6 months, it's up to the local Comcast as to which/when/if to roll each out.

Rogo, as I am, is in the SF Bay Area where Comcast "skipped" the 6208. I didn't have the option of DVR from Comcast until the 6412 came available. I suspect, at least here in the SF Bay Area, that Comcast will space out their DVR adoptions given this first datapoint. YMMV in other locales.
But the point is, there won't be a DVR every half year, rather it will be a year (or more).

The 6208 was their first HD DVR, and it was skipped in some areas, because they didn't even want to release it in the first place; they knew it was an inferior product, but they had to release a DVR in some markets, to stop some subs from going to Satellite. They wanted to get a dual-tuner DVR out ASAP.

Notice that the 6208 was not promoted at all, and I was told, it is not being rolled out at all anymore. The 6412 is being promoted nationwide, and was rolled out over the last three months.

As I said, just because they are supposed to release another DVR this fall, doesn't mean they will dicontinue the 6412; the 5100 STB is still rolled out even after the 6200 has been around for, what, ~7 mos.

So, they won't necessarily promote the new DVR, but I expect to see the future DVRs nationwide. They will be available, upon request, just like the 6200 STB was/is.

Recently got my 6412.. Boy does this thing fill up fast.

Is there any upgrade opportunities with this or would i just get myself in trouble cracking the case open? Bigger drive, second drive, anything..

Originally posted by gwichman
Recently got my 6412.. Boy does this thing fill up fast.

Is there any upgrade opportunities with this or would i just get myself in trouble cracking the case open? Bigger drive, second drive, anything..
I noticed on one of the diagnostic menus some reference to a second drive, so it might be a possibility.:confused:

Originally posted by BullittMustang
Thanks, I have tried all you suggested. I had my cable modem on the same line and the modem worked fine. I am trying to rule out any problems before I call comcast out to my house...last resort. I thought there might be a way to get the box to receive the IP address. I called Comcast last night and they are forwarding the problem to the VOD department. If they can't help it looks like it's time for a new box, I really didn't want that to happen this one has been almost flawless.

I finally got VOD to work! I had the cable going from the wall into my dvd recorder then out to the antenna A of the tv then looped out to my 6412. I disconnected it all and went right into the 6412 from the wall. This was the first thing I tried when I noticed VOD didn't work but this time I unplugged the box after I changed connections and let it reboot. That did it. I went into the diagnostics menu and I now have an IP address and VOD works!
I then added a splitter from the wall and put one into the 6412 and the other into the dvd recorder then out to ANT A from the dvd recorder, so everything still works and the cable box has its own feed. Now I'm going to see what this VOD is all about.

Originally posted by BullittMustang
I finally got VOD to work! I had the cable going from the wall into my dvd recorder then out to the antenna A of the tv then looped out to my 6412. I disconnected it all and went right into the 6412 from the wall. This was the first thing I tried when I noticed VOD didn't work but this time I unplugged the box after I changed connections and let it reboot. That did it. I went into the diagnostics menu and I now have an IP address and VOD works!
I then added a splitter from the wall and put one into the 6412 and the other into the dvd recorder then out to ANT A from the dvd recorder, so everything still works and the cable box has its own feed. Now I'm going to see what this VOD is all about.

Like I said, everything up and down the line has to be able to pass signal both ways. Glad to hear it worked out.

Originally posted by cwachs
Well, on one hand you make a valid argument. This is a new product at version 1.1. However, why do we need to re-invent the wheel each time a product like this comes out. Tivo and Replay have been out for years and have a pretty polished interface and feature set. Then Comcast comes along and releases a similar product that is back in the dark ages with its interface and features. Why not learn from the existing products? Start where they leave off, not where they began. Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Unfortunately they had to start from scratch.

Comcast does not make the DVR nor the guide software that it runs. Comcast simply makes a choice of either SA or Motorola and then they make another choice of which guide to use. Currently the (cable) guide makers are the following:

TV Guide/Gemstar/Guide Works
Pioneer
SARA - Pioneer off shoot
Microsoft

Neither ReplayTV nor Tivo have provided their guide software for any cable company to utilize.

Ironically there was a deal that Tivo walked away from. The deal was to provide Comcast the Tivo guide.

You can read all about it here...

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/17/technology/17tivo.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5088&en=9a9c0885c4824f8b&ex=1263704400&partner=rssnyt

I don't think we will ever see Tivo make a deal with Comcast. Secondly, I don't see Tivo around much longer either.

I hope neither of my last two statements are true.

Originally posted by frankz1
Do you think it'll come before or after the firmware update you said we'd get last week? Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

I have no specific Firmware release/update information. The folks I talk with mention a Firmware update in the future but they never said anything about it being released now (as some have posted). I was told the i-Guide crew is working on many of the bugs mentioned in this thread as well as some new features. But they have not been forthcoming as to when the release will happen other than "soon".

Originally posted by markjrenna
Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

I have no specific Firmware release/update information. The folks I talk with mention a Firmware update in the future but they never said anything about it being released now (as some have posted). I was told the i-Guide crew is working on many of the bugs mentioned in this thread as well as some new features. But they have not been forthcoming as to when the release will happen other than "soon".

It wasn't you who said Comcast will be pushing a firmware update nationwide on 1/21. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=5020411#post5020411) I wish it had been true, though. While I (knock wood) haven't been having many of the lock up and other problems that others have reported, it's probably because I avoid most of the trouble functions. It would be nice not to have to wonder if the next button push will lock it up.

Originally posted by frankz1
It wasn't you who said Comcast will be pushing a firmware update nationwide on 1/21. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=5020411#post5020411) I wish it had been true, though. While I (knock wood) haven't been having many of the lock up and other problems that others have reported, it's probably because I avoid most of the trouble functions. It would be nice not to have to wonder if the next button push will lock it up. Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

No, I'm not Midranger4.

Originally posted by markjrenna
Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

No, I'm not Midranger4.

I realize that, which is why I said it wasn't you. :)

I'm sure midranger will learn that stuff you get from a Comcast CSR when you call in for support rarely is reliable (to say the least)

Has anyone noticed a dark HD black-level on their 6412 with DVI output? No detail at all in shadows etc. When I adjust the black level on my Sony WEGA, all my other inputs are too bright. Yes, surprising Sony locks their picture adjustments across all 7 inputs! But they do.

Any fix to this?

Originally posted by spearse
Has anyone noticed a dark HD black-level on their 6412 with DVI output? No detail at all in shadows etc. When I adjust the black level on my Sony WEGA, all my other inputs are too bright. Yes, surprising Sony locks their picture adjustments across all 7 inputs! But they do.

Any fix to this?

You mean you adjust one input and it's global for all inputs? Shame on Sony. As for the DVI problem I can't help you there...

Either Motorola or Comcast is not offering the ability to add a second drive right now. I forget which. It would plug into the Firewire port in the back.

I believe cracking open the box and swapping drives wouldn't work, because the factory drive has a proprietary format. And, of course, you don't own the box. So cracking it open is not a good idea.

You can hook up a DVHS deck or computer to the Firewire port. Search this thread for details.

Originally posted by nielloeb
I believe cracking open the box and swapping drives wouldn't work, because the factory drive has a proprietary format. And, of course, you don't own the box. So cracking it open is not a good idea.
Does anyone know for sure about the format of the drive? The reason I ask is I also own a Zenith HDR-230 (OTA receiver with DVR). When folks would swap out hard drives in it, it would automatically format the drive, and operate normally. The format of the actual data was propietary, but it would not prohibit you from swapping drives. That was with that machine, and of course, it wasn't the property of the cable company!

Ken

Does anybody know if there's been a change to the Comcast 6412 and it's ability to be recognized as a capture device in Windows. For some reason I noticed that VLC no longer recognized any A/V device to stream from, then I noticed the hardware wasn't there in Device Manager anymore. I unplug the firewire and plug it back in and Windows doesn't recognize having plugged anything in. Known issue? Workaround?

Originally posted by keenan
You mean you adjust one input and it's global for all inputs? Shame on Sony. As for the DVI problem I can't help you there...

Sony WEGA can mean a lot of things. On my Sony 55XS955 (a 4th generation Grand Wega - the most current), it definitely has independent memory for each of the 8 inputs.

Spearse -

while i cannot comment on the Wega specifically, i have two 6412's hooked up via DVI and neither have any problems with black level. shodow detail is excellent with DVI out of these things, so something must be wrong with the Wega's DVI input.

and i would be shocked if any Wega with a DVI input didn't have independent settings for the inputs....my 4 year old Wega has this.

Originally posted by millerwill
Question re the Audio Setup on the 6412: In experimenting with various options, I set the "Optimum Stereo" (the second line in the Audio Setup list) to "Yes". But I think I liked it better when it was "Off", but I can't seem to find anyway to set it back to "Off". Can anyone tell me how to do it?

Thanks much!

Speaking about the cable box volume, optimum stereo is always like 90% or something. If one wanted a line level signal to the TV, is one supposed to put it at max or just at the optimum stereo mark?

Originally posted by Garrett Adams
I read here in the San Francisco Comcast thread the following: "Look at the serial number of the box... if the 4th to 6th digits is 436 or 437, you have a bad power supply and need the box swapped."

My first two 6412's were bad and fell into the above s/n range. The third box had a higher serial number and has been bulletproof. Take it for what it's worth. ;)

And believe it or not, I was the one who posted that in that thread but I got the information earlier in this thread! ;)

"However, why do we need to re-invent the wheel each time a product like this comes out. Tivo and Replay have been out for years and have a pretty polished interface and feature set. "

Exactly.

The bar isn't "nothing" it's things that "just work." No one would tolerate a new entrant into the HDTV market making a set that occasionally failed to deinterlace and showed a field with black lines interspersed between the picture content.

But, again, there are people in the DVD recorders area who think "chase play" was just invented like last year... They haven't been with it for 6 years. So it's all a matter of perspective.

From where I sit, this thing is, well.... But one man's garbage is another man's gold, or however the saying goes.

Originally posted by rogo
"However, why do we need to re-invent the wheel each time a product like this comes out. Tivo and Replay have been out for years and have a pretty polished interface and feature set. "

Exactly.

The bar isn't "nothing" it's things that "just work." No one would tolerate a new entrant into the HDTV market making a set that occasionally failed to deinterlace and showed a field with black lines interspersed between the picture content.


Ummmm.... Did I miss something, or did Tivo and/or Replay hand over their development kits to Motorola for them to use ? Of course they had to develop the thing from scratch.

Shall we also (conveniently?) decide to not talk about DirecTV's astounding ability to roll out less than stellar HD STB's, which also exhibit bugs galore. Never mind DVR functions, they can't even function as proper tuners a lot of the time. If you have any questions about that, please refer to the multitudinous bug reports over on the HDTV Hardware forum...

Originally posted by rodneyremington
HAS COMCAST HEARD OUR COMPLAINTS??

Today I noticed that when fast-forwarding or rewinding, there is now a FIFTH faster setting rather than (I think) what used to be only 4 speeds.

In other words, it seems like previously when you FF you could press the forward mutiple times until 4 forward arrows were showing, and it would FF fairly quickly, like 1 minute every 3 seconds or so.

Now there are 5 arrows maximum for moving forward and back, and it moves through quite quickly, like 1 minute per second.

It is possible that this was always the case and I just didn't notice, but it may be a software upgrade from Comcast.

Anyone else notice this or am I going crazy? Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

There are still 4 FF speeds: FF1, FF2, FF3, and FF4. The guide however does indicate a fifth FF Arrow. I noticed this a while back so nothing has changed (for me anyway).

Originally posted by markjrenna
Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

There are still 4 FF speeds: FF1, FF2, FF3, and FF4. The guide however does indicate a fifth FF Arrow. I noticed this a while back so nothing has changed (for me anyway).

> = Play. >> = FF1, >>> = FF2, etc

The first arrow comes on when you hit play. The second arrow comes on when you hit FF1. Arrow 3 = FF2. Arrow 4 = FF3. Arrow 5 = FF4.

Hope this helps,
Ben Music

I really wish the 6412 would compensate and rewind a second or 5 when you hit play while fast forwarding. The Tivo did an awesome job with that.... I'm always missing a little bit when I do this.

Originally posted by dutchboy71
I really wish the 6412 would compensate and rewind a second or 5 when you hit play while fast forwarding. The Tivo did an awesome job with that.... I'm always missing a little bit when I do this.

I've had good success ending my FFWDs with the "Replay" button, which jumps back 15 seconds. This was suggested as a workaround earlier in the thread.

Originally posted by spearse
Has anyone noticed a dark HD black-level on their 6412 with DVI output? No detail at all in shadows etc. When I adjust the black level on my Sony WEGA, all my other inputs are too bright. Yes, surprising Sony locks their picture adjustments across all 7 inputs! But they do.

Any fix to this?

The only way to fix it is in the Service menu. You can fine-tune adjustments to compensate for different video modes and inputs. Too bad they didn't make it user accessible.

Originally posted by rogo
"However, why do we need to re-invent the wheel each time a product like this comes out. Tivo and Replay have been out for years and have a pretty polished interface and feature set. "

Exactly.

The bar isn't "nothing" it's things that "just work." No one would tolerate a new entrant into the HDTV market making a set that occasionally failed to deinterlace and showed a field with black lines interspersed between the picture content.

But, again, there are people in the DVD recorders area who think "chase play" was just invented like last year... They haven't been with it for 6 years. So it's all a matter of perspective.

From where I sit, this thing is, well.... But one man's garbage is another man's gold, or however the saying goes.

You're forgetting something else: ROYALTIES, LICENSING FEES, etc.. It's likely Tivo and ReplayTV were asking for too much. Gemstar, etc.. probably thought it was cheaper to write it from scratch themselves and therefore have 100% control.

Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Looks like Comcast is getting some press...

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/columnists/10777517.htm?1c

Maybe this will help expedite some of those bug fixes we need.

Too bad you need a subscription (Signing up on the site) to read it.

Originally posted by bronowyn
Too bad you need a subscription (Signing up on the site) to read it.

http://www.bugmenot.com/

Originally posted by dutchboy71
I really wish the 6412 would compensate and rewind a second or 5 when you hit play while fast forwarding. The Tivo did an awesome job with that.... I'm always missing a little bit when I do this.

I programmed my Pronto's hard "play" button to be a macro of "play" + "replay" IR codes. It behaves almost exactly like TiVo now. When coming out of FFwd, it just backs up a little bit and starts to play from there.

Thanks for the tips. Will try that tonight!

My Comcast Dual Tuner with Microsoft interface has just started recording only part of a scheduled recording. 3 x's in the last 2 days, it began recording a show properly, even said it was recording it throughout the show, the record info says it has all the show, but when I try to play it back, I get about 3 minutes. I've tried simply playing to the problem point, Fast forwarding to it, restarting the box via remote and by unplugging, but each time, only get the 3 minutes. Comcast doesn't seem to know what is causing it. Any ideas?

Originally posted by markjrenna
Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Looks like Comcast is getting some press...

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/columnists/10777517.htm?1c

Maybe this will help expedite some of those bug fixes we need.

Also from that same article comes this possibly news-worthy item :

Comcast also said a software fix from Motorola is almost ready, and should be automatically downloaded to all its DVRs within three weeks.

Originally posted by andyross63
You're forgetting something else: ROYALTIES, LICENSING FEES, etc.. It's likely Tivo and ReplayTV were asking for too much. Gemstar, etc.. probably thought it was cheaper to write it from scratch themselves and therefore have 100% control.

That's not the point. Tivo/Replay TV have set the standard. Comcast has to come close to that standard to have an acceptable product. If I wanted to start a new car, aiming for the 1930's VW Beetle as the level of my product would not be a good idea. I'd have to aim to compete with a 2005 Toyota or BMW or at least Ford.

Or if I wanted to come out with a personal computer, producing something to compete with a Commodore 64 would not be a good idea.

The 6412 user interface, when it works, is passable. But the number of bugs is not.

Has anyone else had this problem? After about 3 weeks, I've had to return both 6412's I've had. They simply freeze. No amount of presses of the remote button or buttons on the front of the unit accomplish anything. I have to unplug the unit. Then, it will freeze again within 6 hours, ad nauseum until I replace it. It doesn't seem to freeze just while recording. This sounds different to me than the problems reported earlier in this thread with Sci-Fi recordings.

Originally posted by bronowyn
Too bad you need a subscription (Signing up on the site) to read it. Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Sorry Dawn.

Here is a copy of the article. Note the fourth paragraph.

"Posted on Mon, Jan. 31, 2005

Bigger glitch with Comcast's DVR service

By Mike Langberg

Mercury News

I received a lot of comments and questions from readers after my Jan. 3 column praising the new Motorola digital video recorder offered by Comcast in the Bay Area. There have been some developments since then, and I want to bring you up to date.

First, I wrote about how I encountered ``a few small glitches.'' Turns out the problem was bigger than I realized. A number of readers told me their new Comcast DVRs were freezing up or failing to record programs. I've also encountered freeze-ups with the Motorola DCT6412 at my house.

I called Comcast last week and got the following response: ``A limited number of Comcast DVR customers are experiencing technical issues with their DVR,'' related to a software bug. I asked for a definition of ``limited number'' and was told about 1 percent of DVR subscribers have reported problems.

Comcast also said a software fix from Motorola is almost ready, and should be automatically downloaded to all its DVRs within three weeks.

I'm always skeptical when the cable company claims a technical malfunction is small and will soon be under control, but I'll give Comcast the benefit of the doubt -- for now."

Originally posted by vondo
That's not the point. Tivo/Replay TV have set the standard. Comcast has to come close to that standard to have an acceptable product. If I wanted to start a new car, aiming for the 1930's VW Beetle as the level of my product would not be a good idea. I'd have to aim to compete with a 2005 Toyota or BMW or at least Ford.

I agree that TiVo is the gold standard for today's standard definition DVRs. That's indisputable. Where's their HD DVR ? Oh yeah, they might show it at the next CES, next year. Who knows when they'll ship it...

Trust me, I'd rather that TiVo's CEO not been a dumb-ass and nixed the deal with Comcast, so that I'd have a nice shiny new Cable TiVo instead of the 6412. In the meantime, I wanna DVR HD, so my only logical choice was the 6412, warts and all.

I also don't feel that's a fair shot at Comcast for aiming low. Feature wise, this box is fairly loaded with features. They've aimed high, but they've likely shipped this box a little too early. It could have done with some more time in lab test/beta test before they rolled it out.

Originally posted by rogo

The bar isn't "nothing" it's things that "just work." No one would tolerate a new entrant into the HDTV market making a set that occasionally failed to deinterlace and showed a field with black lines interspersed between the picture content.


Try looking at some of the HDTV forums (Samsung HLP, for example). We're tolerating quite a few problems with sets that just don't work right. Whether we like it or not, we're early adopters and things aren't perfect yet.

Has anyone else had this problem? After about 3 weeks, I've had to return both 6412's I've had. They simply freeze. No amount of presses of the remote button or buttons on the front of the unit accomplish anything. I have to unplug the unit. Then, it will freeze again within 6 hours, ad nauseum until I replace it. It doesn't seem to freeze just while recording. This sounds different to me than the problems reported earlier in this thread with Sci-Fi recordings.

I have previously had freezing from time-to-time, the kind that could be corrected by hitting the swap or last button. But last night, the unit just froze up, right in the middle of a program I was watching about 15 minutes "behind" (American Dreams"). Fortunately, we were also recording it on the more-reliable TiVo, so we watched that and left the 6412 alone. We checked it later and it skipped completely from the time it froze (about 20 minutes into the show) to the time it unfroze (about 42 minutes into the show). Ridiculous - the whole point of the machine is recording HD; if I can't do that reliably , I may as well go back to my TiVo.

Originally posted by SeattleUser
My Comcast Dual Tuner with Microsoft interface has just started recording only part of a scheduled recording. 3 x's in the last 2 days, it began recording a show properly, even said it was recording it throughout the show, the record info says it has all the show, but when I try to play it back, I get about 3 minutes. I've tried simply playing to the problem point, Fast forwarding to it, restarting the box via remote and by unplugging, but each time, only get the 3 minutes. Comcast doesn't seem to know what is causing it. Any ideas? Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Try the Microsoft thread located here...

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=467203

Originally posted by dmlove51
I have previously had freezing from time-to-time, the kind that could be corrected by hitting the swap or last button. But last night, the unit just froze up, right in the middle of a program I was watching about 15 minutes "behind" (American Dreams"). Fortunately, we were also recording it on the more-reliable TiVo, so we watched that and left the 6412 alone. We checked it later and it skipped completely from the time it froze (about 20 minutes into the show) to the time it unfroze (about 42 minutes into the show). Ridiculous - the whole point of the machine is recording HD; if I can't do that reliably , I may as well go back to my TiVo.

Mine never unfreezes. The first time it did this I was on vacation. I got back and it had not recorded anything for two weeks.

I'm already on my 3rd dual tuner box from Comcast.

1st one would turn on with no video and the box stuck on channel 0. Had comcast send a hit to the box on 4 seperate occasions before having a service call.

2nd box would for no apparent reason shut everything off (as if I had disconnected the power from the box and plugged it back in). Changing channels, going into the menu and hitting My DVR button would cause this.

3rd box everyonce in a while would make chirping noises from the speakers and then the audio sync would be out of wack. This was from a brand new box straight from the warehouse. Supposidly the tech was going to the warehouse to get another box but seriously doubt he is coming back.

Whats up with these dual tuner boxes? My single tuner box worked beautifully. Ever since upgrading (is it really an upgrade after all these issues???) to the dual tuner we've had nothing but problems.

Originally posted by markjrenna
Here is a copy of the article. Note the fourth paragraph.


Thanks! I couldn't get in with BugMeNot either. I even had the plug in!

So I thank you Markjrenna.

Exciting news! I wonder if they know WHY it's freezing so often. And when they say 1%... I wonder if we should all call them and report our problems. I'm so paranoid that they are going to try to take it away, I don't tell them, I just tough through it! I can't wait for the update to the software.

Does 6412 record HD in its native res? I set my output at 1080i, but I wonder if switching it to 780p just before playback of 780p show will output original 780p instead of 780->1080->780 conversion. After watching ABC and FOX OTA, I can't live with 6412's scaler anymore.

Just a followup. Tech did return and this time brought 3 boxes with him. Working fine now (but for how long....)

SeattleUser, in Post #2630 (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=5093489#post5093489) writes:

My Comcast Dual Tuner with Microsoft interface has just started recording only part of a scheduled recording.

While it is somewhat comforting to know that it's not just us iGuide users who are victim to this trouble, you'll probably get more insight discussing this topic in the Washington State - Comcast 6412 w/ MSFT Software Thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?threadid=467203).

This is the iGuide Thread devoted to those using the iGuide software, rather than the MSFT software, on the Motorola 6412 DVR.

But thanks for letting us know it's not just iGuide's issue. I, for one, find the 6412's hardware to be very suspect. Cooling, for instance, is horrid. Air flow bottom to top? Huh? The most likely situation in any stereo rack I've seen is that is the very worst choice. Most components don't have such an issue, but this box gets extremely hot causing untold issues.

Alvis asked about what resolution is recorded (i.e. is it dependent upon what your playback settings are). As far as we are told, no re-encoding is going on in the DVR at all for Digital stations. Hence, the MPEG-2 stream is recorded just as it is received.

That said, I'd dearly love to be able to control the (non re-)encoding of Analog SD. My experience with MPEG-2 encoders is they benefit greatly from both a good/clean source signal and proper tweaking of Contrast, Brightness, and Saturation settings. Alas we have no control of that.

Oh, and btw, it's 720p, not 780p.

Personally, I have a 1080p panel but, given the choice btwn. 720p and 1080i output over DVI to my panel, I stick with 720p which is most of what I watch. I find that the DVR does a perfectly acceptable job scaling down 720p while it has a much harder time scaling 720p content up to 1080i - not to mention introducing interlacing and throwing away half the frames... That said, on my 45" panel, the difference is hard to see unless you really look for it.

Originally posted by edmc

Personally, I have a 1080p panel but,

What 1080p panel do you have?

I have the dual tuner DVR, and received the remote control without a manual. I've managed to program my audio receiver so I can turn it on and off, but I can't control the volume with it. I have a SETUP button on mine with 3 inputs, AUX, TV and CABLE, along with Power and the Setup button.

Everytime I try to set up the VOL, it defaults back to my TV volume. How do I change that to control the volume my Yamaha Sound receiver, rather than the TV volume?

I can't tell which exact remote I have, but it's silver. Any thoughts/suggestions?

Originally posted by JohninLA
Everytime I try to set up the VOL, it defaults back to my TV volume. How do I change that to control the volume my Yamaha Sound receiver, rather than the TV volume?

I can't tell which exact remote I have, but it's silver. Any thoughts/suggestions?
http://www.cjhengineering.com/hdtv/cablehdtv/dct6412remote.htm Scroll down to Volume lock. Its not my website, but its invaluable (and still a work in progress)

I got a second box and attached it to a non-HD teevee (old 20" WEGA). When I tune to the HD channels, they come in. They aren't in HD, obviously, but they look better than the SD version. I have the box setup for 4:3 Letterbox, and the picture is indeed letterboxed. (On the HD stuff, obviously, not the other.)

1) Why can I see these channels on my non-HD teevee?

2) Why do they look better ... noticably so, if I swap back and forth between HBO-HD and HBO, the picture isn't just letterboxed on the HD version, it's a crisper picture.

Originally posted by Kaiser-Soze
http://www.cjhengineering.com/hdtv/cablehdtv/dct6412remote.htm Scroll down to Volume lock. Its not my website, but its invaluable (and still a work in progress)

Thank you so much!! That's exactly what I needed.

Originally posted by masoo
I got a second box and attached it to a non-HD teevee (old 20" WEGA). When I tune to the HD channels, they come in. They aren't in HD, obviously, but they look better than the SD version. I have the box setup for 4:3 Letterbox, and the picture is indeed letterboxed. (On the HD stuff, obviously, not the other.)

1) Why can I see these channels on my non-HD teevee?

2) Why do they look better ... noticably so, if I swap back and forth between HBO-HD and HBO, the picture isn't just letterboxed on the HD version, it's a crisper picture.

You are watching a cleaner signal but just not in HiDef. If you use S-Video cable then it will look a tad better but for sure not HD quality. This is what all non-HD sets will soon see HD channels once they are all being broadcasted that way.

Had a 1st time problem tonight. We have recorded several shows, but when we tried to play them back--by hitting 'OK' at the appropraite time (which has been working)--it jumps directly to the end message, 'delete' or 'do not delete' without playing the recorded program. Does anybody know what might be going on?

Well my freezes have disappeared for the time being, but my Series recordings again reverted from the HD to the SD channel.

Please I-guide people fix this bug.

Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

The Digital Simulcasting has started in my area. Currently we have six channels A to D'd. I notice that five of them are QAM 256 and one is QAM 64.

I believe I see another bug...

On the QAM 256 channels while watching live TV when I FF1 or REV1 the movement is somewhat choppy and in some cases when I use REV1 it will jump right to the beginning.

Anyway the A to D conversions look pretty good.

Originally posted by millerwill
Had a 1st time problem tonight. We have recorded several shows, but when we tried to play them back--by hitting 'OK' at the appropraite time (which has been working)--it jumps directly to the end message, 'delete' or 'do not delete' without playing the recorded program. Does anybody know what might be going on? Make sure the length of the shows looks right in your recordings screen. If so, have you tried restart from the beginning instead of play?

Originally posted by markjrenna
Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

The Digital Simulcasting has started in my area. ....
Anyway the A to D conversions look pretty good.

Don't many of the channels in the analog tier come to Comcast in digital form in the first place? Do they really need to an A to D on most of them?

Originally posted by markjrenna
Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

The Digital Simulcasting has started in my area. Currently we have six channels A to D'd. I notice that five of them are QAM 256 and one is QAM 64.

Is there any pattern to the channels they chose to roll out first? Major networks? Basic Cable stuff? Local access channels? I've love for them to roll out the network affiliates first, especially my HDTV holdouts. If I can't get ABC and the WB in HD, at least give me a clean picture on them.

quote:Originally posted by KentStater72
I recorded "24" on Fox last night @ 9:00.
When I went to watch it I could not fast forward or rewind.
It was not my box, i tried other recordings, just 24.
When the time line came up it showed the 0/ (international symbol for NO!)
line in circle.
Could the network have put in place technology from stopping us from skipping commercials?
Anyone else have this happen, or not, with 24?Originally posted by frankz1
I guess they could have, but they didn't.

I've had this issue with the box and live TV in the past. Solved it by unplugging / replugging. Never had it with a recording.

I had the very same problem with 24 last night. My father had the same problem - different head-ends of Chicago area Comcast, same show. Other recording (sadly the wife's Bachelorette) recorded fine - at the same time as 24 was recording. Is Fox or Comcast playing games with the transport functions? Skipping comercials is nice, but I was very annoyed in not being able to rewind/replay a line that I missed.

Anyone else experience this?

Originally posted by dbernhard
Is Fox or Comcast playing games with the transport functions?

Fox isn't. 24 recorded and played fine here. Comcast advertises dvr functions, so I find it hard to believe they'd disable them in some markets (if it's even technically possible).

Originally posted by jayjay06
Well my freezes have disappeared for the time being, but my Series recordings again reverted from the HD to the SD channel.

Please I-guide people fix this bug.


I spoke too soon, the freeze came back. I had 24 on a series record for analog 2 (hadn't switched it to the new 702 HD which would have reverted back to 2 anyway cause of my other bug) and was watching and pausing live on other tuner in HD. Well the analog series record froze, but the HD was fine, even with pausing the buffer, rewinding, and ff.

I had my 6412 installed by Comcast on Friday. It's hooked up to an older Samsung standard-def TV (25-inch direct-view CRT) via composite RCA cables. I don't have HDTV.

The first box the installer put in was immediately flashing bright green, constantly on all channels. He said he hadn't seen that before. Fortunately in the truck he had a second box, which he swapped in and it worked fine.

Last night I tried a scheduled recording for the first time (Letterman's Carson tribute show). Afterward, I noticed occasional green flashes on all analog channels (it does not seem to be happening on digital channels such as BBC America). It also happened on the recorded Letterman program (although it is not part of the recording; if I rewound and replayed, the flash did not occur in the same spot).

The green flash happens, on average, about once every 90 seconds. Sometimes the whole screen flashes, sometimes just the bottom third of the screen.

This does not seem to be a common problem. I searched, and about the only place on the Web I could find similar reports were in a few posts by andyross63 in this thread. But I did not see a solution.

Is there something wrong with my setup? I tend to think not since it worked fine for the first few days. The installer tested my signal going into the box and said it was strong.

Do I just have a bad box? Would it do any good to have Comcast come back out and swap it?

Originally posted by CaseCom
I had my 6412 installed by Comcast on Friday.

The first box the installer put in was immediately flashing bright green, constantly on all channels. He said he hadn't seen that before. Fortunately in the truck he had a second box, which he swapped in and it worked fine.

Last night I tried a scheduled recording for the first time (Letterman's Carson tribute show). Afterward, I noticed occasional green flashes on all analog channels (it does not seem to be happening on digital channels such as BBC America). It also happened on the recorded Letterman program (although it is not part of the recording; if I rewound and replayed, the flash did not occur in the same spot).

The green flash happens, on average, about once every 90 seconds. Sometimes the whole screen flashes, sometimes just the bottom third of the screen.

This seems to come up when both tuners are set to analog channels, and the prevailing theory is that the MPEG2 compressor in the box can't quite manage 2 video streams at the same time. Try tuning in a digital channel and then hit the "Swap" button on the bottom of the remote and tune in your analog channel with the 2nd tuner. This usually clears it up. If your remote doesn't have the "Swap" button on the bottom the installers left you with the wrong remote control.

Originally posted by steve_wmn
This seems to come up when both tuners are set to analog channels, and the prevailing theory is that the MPEG2 compressor in the box can't quite manage 2 video streams at the same time. Try tuning in a digital channel and then hit the "Swap" button on the bottom of the remote and tune in your analog channel with the 2nd tuner. This usually clears it up. If your remote doesn't have the "Swap" button on the bottom the installers left you with the wrong remote control.

Thanks for the reply. I do have the "swap" button -- although I didn't realize until now that I could use it to switch tuners manually!

So this is something all 6412 users contend with? Seems like a major bug to me.

Originally posted by mrzzmr
I've been having the problem of recording "24" and getting it cut off. I had set up a series record, and the first Saturday 2 hour episode, I watched the record light on the whole time. But when I later watched the show, it had only saved the first 47 minutes. The Sunday 2 hour episode I moved the series record to start one minute early. That time it only saved the first minute. So then I erased and reprogrammed the series record, but the following Monday 1 hour episode it only saved the first 25 minutes.

OK, so after hearing everyone's suggestions here, I tried a manual recording for last night's one hour episode. Actually I still had the series record, plus I did a manual record from 8:59 to 10:01. Well, it recorded both, but as saved both versions were cut off at the same exact time, i.e. 34 minutes into the one hour series record and 35 minutes into the manual record. This is the first time I've heard on this board of a manual record not saving the whole time. Next Monday I'll try manual record only and see what happens.

In contrast, many hours of ER, West Wing, Lost, Amazing Race, NYPD Blue, etc. all record and save OK. I know other people here have had similar problems with "24" or Fox generally as well as SciFi. For now we're relying on VCR recording as a backup.

FYI, we're running about 50-60% full so that's not the problem. Also, we're still on FW 9.12, SW 71.44 1203. That supposed "firmware push" people talked about scheduled for last Friday didn't happen from what I can see.

That's my post above, and here's an update. As promised, last night I set up "24" on manual record, having deleted the earlier series scheduled record. I set it up to record from from 8:59 to 10:01. The record light was on the whole time. In the "list" it says 62 minutes. But when I play the show, the time line says 36 minutes and that's where it cuts off. I can't fast forward over the spot as some have been able to do.

Does anyone have any speculation on how a manual recording set up for a duration of time could cut off early? Seems to me this operation should be completely independent of the guide or any series scheduling bugs. It cut off almost at the end of a commercial break (maybe a problem rejoining the network?). Meanwhile, Amazing Race, NYPD Blue, Lost, West Wing, ER, NBC News, Nova, MI-5, McLaughlin Report all have been recording just fine, so I doubt it is the box overheating, one of my tuners, etc. etc. All are non-HD analog channels. Other than this, I've never seen a "freeze" while watching live or recorded shows. I'm at 49% capacity.

There has to be something about "24" or Fox or KTVU or channel 2 that makes this different. "24" has never recorded right once, everything else has been fine. Anyone else in the SF Bay Area experience the same (or a different) cutoff of "24" last night? Anybody in the Bay Area get it to record intact?

Originally posted by dbernhard
I had the very same problem with 24 last night. My father had the same problem - different head-ends of Chicago area Comcast, same show. Other recording (sadly the wife's Bachelorette) recorded fine - at the same time as 24 was recording. Is Fox or Comcast playing games with the transport functions? Skipping comercials is nice, but I was very annoyed in not being able to rewind/replay a line that I missed.

Anyone else experience this?

Live outside of Chicago and had problem with watching 24 Live. The box locked up just as previews for next week were about to come on. I did not try to FFWD or Rewind during the program. Once I switched to second turner and then switched back I was able to change the channel. All other HD channels were viewable at the time. Fox became viewable around 10:15.
Glad to here it was not just my box.

Originally posted by steve_wmn
Is there any pattern to the channels they chose to roll out first? Major networks? Basic Cable stuff? Local access channels? I've love for them to roll out the network affiliates first, especially my HDTV holdouts. If I can't get ABC and the WB in HD, at least give me a clean picture on them. Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Yes. They are doing all OTA's first. The Super Bowl has put a halt to anymore DSing this week. It will resume thereafter and the Major Networks will be DS'd.

The only other obstacle so far is Digital Program Insertion (DPI). Otherwise know as Digital Add Insertion. There is more equipment needed. More than what was originally thought to be needed. Some more testing is needed too.

The Digital Simulcast is set to happen this year. I know we are all in a hurry to get it. But we still have 11 months to go.

Originally posted by km
Don't many of the channels in the analog tier come to Comcast in digital form in the first place? Do they really need to an A to D on most of them? Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

No they don't.

There are 80 or so Analog (from the source) channels that need to be converted to Digital.

CNBC is an example of a channel that comes over the satellite to Comcast's headends in digital form. Then (for those systems that have CNBC as an analog channel), Comcast converts it from digital to analog to send it out to subscribers.

So that would be one channel that should go digital to digital with digital simulcasting-- and thus show really good SD PQ. Unless Comcast's digital simulcast process doesn't allow for straight satellite digital to QAM 256 digital, in which case it would digital to analog and back to digital.

There has to be something about "24" or Fox or KTVU or channel 2 that makes this different. "24" has never recorded right once, everything else has been fine. Anyone else in the SF Bay Area experience the same (or a different) cutoff of "24" last night?

Yes, I saw the same type of problem last week, in "recordings" section displayed as 60 min but only plays back for 34 min. Didn't try this week since I normally record 24 on my Tivo.

Hopefully the switchover to digital broadcast on 702 will fix this. I'll definitely be keeping a backup recording set on the Tivo for awhile.

Originally posted by dbernhard
I had the very same problem with 24 last night. My father had the same problem - different head-ends of Chicago area Comcast, same show. Other recording (sadly the wife's Bachelorette) recorded fine - at the same time as 24 was recording. Is Fox or Comcast playing games with the transport functions? Skipping comercials is nice, but I was very annoyed in not being able to rewind/replay a line that I missed.

Anyone else experience this?

I didn't watch/record '24', but at 9pm I was unable to tune in 190 (WFLD-DT.) I'm guessing it went off-the-air for a bit. When I tried to change to 190, it would just sit there. All other channels worked fine.

I'm guessing the recording 'locked' until it reacquired the signal. A post in another thread mentioned it jumping to 9:05, probably when the signal came back. Maybe the box gets confused when a 60 minute recording ends at 65 minutes?

Originally posted by dbernhard
I had the very same problem with 24 last night. My father had the same problem - different head-ends of Chicago area Comcast, same show. Other recording (sadly the wife's Bachelorette) recorded fine - at the same time as 24 was recording. Is Fox or Comcast playing games with the transport functions? Skipping comercials is nice, but I was very annoyed in not being able to rewind/replay a line that I missed.

Anyone else experience this?

I am in a Chicago area market also. I had the same problem as you did with 24 last night. It is really aweful when you can't even replay a scene to hear something you missed. It is not good that they took these features away! What can we do about this?

Just to throw in another data point, I replaced a 6208 with a 6412 three weeks ago. The 6208 was never a problem.

The 6412 (fw 9.12) just within the last week has been freezing once every 24 hours, always in the 4 o'clock hour. How do I know? The time display freezes too. Odd. It's an every day thing now. The unit just becomes unresponsive - stuck on one channel, and the guide/menu/software unresponsive.

You might want to set yours to display the time and see if there's a daily pattern - who knows?

Strangly enough, it did not do this for a week or so when I first hooked it up.

Other than that, it works ok.

Originally posted by djwdjwdjw
Just to throw in another data point, I replaced a 6208 with a 6412 three weeks ago. The 6208 was never a problem.

The 6412 (fw 9.12) just within the last week has been freezing once every 24 hours, always in the 4 o'clock hour. How do I know? The time display freezes too. Odd. It's an every day thing now. The unit just becomes unresponsive - stuck on one channel, and the guide/menu/software unresponsive.

You might want to set yours to display the time and see if there's a daily pattern - who knows?

Strangly enough, it did not do this for a week or so when I first hooked it up.

Other than that, it works ok. Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Your not alone. See this post...

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=4977474#post4977474

Mine never recovered. The problem happened every day, twice a day. I had to get another box.

Originally posted by SonomaSearcher
CNBC is an example of a channel that comes over the satellite to Comcast's headends in digital form. Then (for those systems that have CNBC as an analog channel), Comcast converts it from digital to analog to send it out to subscribers.

So that would be one channel that should go digital to digital with digital simulcasting-- and thus show really good SD PQ. Unless Comcast's digital simulcast process doesn't allow for straight satellite digital to QAM 256 digital, in which case it would digital to analog and back to digital. Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Yes, it is source dependent. If it comes in Digital and they need to show it on the Analog Tier then they must D to A it. If it is Analog then they not only show the Analog feed (for now anyway) but now have to A to D it (Digital Simulcast) at QAM 256. If it is Digital than again it is sent out Digital at QAM 256.

Bottom line is it does not matter how it comes in. It always gets sent out Digital QAM 256. There are just more or less steps in between to get it to the home.

Originally posted by BullittMustang
I am in a Chicago area market also. I had the same problem as you did with 24 last night. It is really aweful when you can't even replay a scene to hear something you missed. It is not good that they took these features away! What can we do about this?

I too had the same problem in Westmont, IL (western suburb of Chicago) that gets its feed from Elmhurst, IL. Couldn't fast forward, rewind, pause, skip ahead 30 seconds or "instant replay" - kept getting the circle with a line thru it symbol. Totally frustrating. Then the recording cut off just before next weeks previews! These functions work ok on older recordings as well as watching delayed live shows so it isn't the unit.

I just hope Fox and other networks haven't figured out how to disable these features.

Originally posted by juggler123
I too had the same problem in Westmont, IL (western suburb of Chicago) that gets its feed from Elmhurst, IL. Couldn't fast forward, rewind, pause, skip ahead 30 seconds or "instant replay" - kept getting the circle with a line thru it symbol. Totally frustrating. Then the recording cut off just before next weeks previews! These functions work ok on older recordings as well as watching delayed live shows so it isn't the unit.

I just hope Fox and other networks haven't figured out how to disable these features.

It did the same thing again tonight with American Idol. Thanks Fox :(

I'm on the verge of completely dumping Dish Network and switching to Comcast 100%, but if they are going to allow "trick play" DVR features to be disabled, even for just a few shows, I'm going to have to strongly rethink this.

fox-hd here in atlanta (via comcast) isn't acting up like this on either of my 6412's.

i have seen it occasionally happen with LENO, but not consistently. i think it's a glitch, and not something the affiliate could disable....

Fox HD in Dallas works fine. I recorded American Idol on my 6412 and was able to pause, rew, ff and skip while watching live and recorded content. I really don't think it is an affiliate disabling features.

Originally posted by mr2828
dumping Dish Network and switching to Comcast 100%.

Go ahead take the plung. I dumped dish after five years and 3 PVR501s. Great product but I really wanted dual tuners and affordable HD.

If you are not sure try comcast out, stay away from a contract. Dish will offer you a free months if you come back to them, they will also keep your account active so it will be easier to come back.

For now I'm staying, based on the HD content and price alone. Dual tuners are great, too!

Originally posted by BullittMustang
I am in a Chicago area market also. I had the same problem as you did with 24 last night. It is really aweful when you can't even replay a scene to hear something you missed. It is not good that they took these features away! What can we do about this?
I too had the same problem in Westmont, IL (western suburb of Chicago) that gets its feed from Elmhurst, IL. Couldn't fast forward, rewind, pause, skip ahead 30 seconds or "instant replay" - kept getting the circle with a line thru it symbol. Totally frustrating. Then the recording cut off just before next weeks previews! These functions work ok on older recordings as well as watching delayed live shows so it isn't the unit.

I just hope Fox and other networks haven't figured out how to disable these features.

AMERICAL IDOL - TONIGHT

I live in Orland Park, IL (southwest suburb of Chicago) and I also cound not rewind, FF, pause, skip etc.... while watching American Idol. This is the first time this happened and I/we watch and record a lot of shows. Probably at least 1 , 2 or 3 shows a night, although 24 is not one of them.

Originally posted by BullittMustang
It did the same thing again tonight with American Idol. Thanks Fox :(

It's not Fox. We recorded and played both 24 and AI with full DVR functionality.

Are you guys recording the analog or digital broadcast when you have these problems? Is the recording off of a series recording, or is it something you set up manually through the guide?

Live in CT and am off to get 6412 from Comcast. Have Tivo and will reassign to another tv. Lot's of good info in this thread--but you guys are scaring me into thinking I may be making a mistake with the 6412.

Will report back and hopefully be able to say "all is well"

I have several problems with the 6412, and the first one I haven't seen mentioned here.

1. After recording a scheduled show, it turns off! I rarely watch live tv, so I'm often watching a recorded show while it is recording something else.....once the current recording finishes, boom it shuts off and I'm staring at a blank screen. Very annoying.

2a. When watching HD channels, the guide information doesn't display. I'm using a S-video cable on a non HD TV. If I hit the GUIDE button, the channel up/down buttons won't work again until I hit EXIT. It's almost like the guide is active, and just not being displayed.
2b. When rew/ff on the HD channels the status bar at the bottom doesn't appear.

3. (already reported) IGuide and scheduled recording problem. I have many scheduled recordings that work just fine (all set to record only new episodes). But I have one set up to record Stargate which has a new episode on Fridays, which it tapes fine. BUT it also tapes all other episodes during the week regardless of the fact that they are a few years old.

Originally posted by Snowhound
I have several problems with the 6412, and the first one I haven't seen mentioned here.

1. After recording a scheduled show, it turns off! I rarely watch live tv, so I'm often watching a recorded show while it is recording something else.....once the current recording finishes, boom it shuts off and I'm staring at a blank screen. Very annoying.

2a. When watching HD channels, the guide information doesn't display. I'm using a S-video cable on a non HD TV. If I hit the GUIDE button, the channel up/down buttons won't work again until I hit EXIT. It's almost like the guide is active, and just not being displayed.
2b. When rew/ff on the HD channels the status bar at the bottom doesn't appear.

3. (already reported) IGuide and scheduled recording problem. I have many scheduled recordings that work just fine (all set to record only new episodes). But I have one set up to record Stargate which has a new episode on Fridays, which it tapes fine. BUT it also tapes all other episodes during the week regardless of the fact that they are a few years old.

The resolution to Problem #1 is addressed in tall1's temporary FAQ (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=4847147#post4847147). Problem #2 is addressed on Page 14 of the Manual. (http://broadband.motorola.com/noflash/customer_docs/user_guides/512659-001-a.pdf)

Originally posted by Snowhound
I have several problems with the 6412, and the first one I haven't seen mentioned here.

1. After recording a scheduled show, it turns off! I rarely watch live tv, so I'm often watching a recorded show while it is recording something else.....once the current recording finishes, boom it shuts off and I'm staring at a blank screen. Very annoying.

2a. When watching HD channels, the guide information doesn't display. I'm using a S-video cable on a non HD TV. If I hit the GUIDE button, the channel up/down buttons won't work again until I hit EXIT. It's almost like the guide is active, and just not being displayed.
2b. When rew/ff on the HD channels the status bar at the bottom doesn't appear.

3. (already reported) IGuide and scheduled recording problem. I have many scheduled recordings that work just fine (all set to record only new episodes). But I have one set up to record Stargate which has a new episode on Fridays, which it tapes fine. BUT it also tapes all other episodes during the week regardless of the fact that they are a few years old.

re #1: leave the box on. This is a "silent wakeup" "feature" (or bug.) No real benefit to turn it off.

re #2: go to the service setup menu (power off, hit Menu w/in few secs- or was it OK...),
and change your Component (YPbPr) display from 1080i 16:9, to 480i (choose letterbox or pan/scan.)
It's rendering your menus/guide gfx all right, but in 1080i HDTV on component output :) and it can't re-render in a different res for the 480i output.
If you change to a 480i/p channel, eg analog or digital non-HDTV, the menus should appear even w/ your current settings.

The Comcast installer should have done this for you?

re #3: TVGuide data stinks :) tell them to buy Tivo's guide data...

FYI, this post in another thread may help explain why some of you aren't able to FF or use normal transport functions for certain shows:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=5105773#post5105773
The short of it is perhaps in certain markets some shows are being encoded differently than expected by the playback software leading to problems with transport functions.

I have followed some of the advice I've found on this thread concerning the audio quality of the 6412 but still can't seem to figure out my issue.

Whenever I switch over to HD, my audio drops to a very low level and it seems that I lose the center channel. If I go back to a non-HD channel the audio is back to a normal level. I notice this drop both on the TV itself and my home theater system. I've made every adjustment to audio quality I could find on this thread including setting the advanced options to heavy compression to no avail. I connect to the home theater via an optical cable and it seems to be working fine. Am I missing something or do I have a defective box?

Picture quality on non-HD stations is also a concern. The images are quite grainy but when I navigate over to HD the appearance is superb. I've made the switch from DirectTV to Comcast and have had this box for about a week now. I'm wondering if I made a mistake...

I would apprecate any advice one could lend here.

Originally posted by cgould
re #1: leave the box on. This is a "silent wakeup" "feature" (or bug.) No real benefit to turn it off.

re #2: go to the service setup menu (power off, hit Menu w/in few secs- or was it OK...),
and change your Component (YPbPr) display from 1080i 16:9, to 480i (choose letterbox or pan/scan.)
It's rendering your menus/guide gfx all right, but in 1080i HDTV on component output :) and it can't re-render in a different res for the 480i output.
If you change to a 480i/p channel, eg analog or digital non-HDTV, the menus should appear even w/ your current settings.



1. I wish I could leave the box on. The problem is that when a recording finishes, the box automatically "turns off". Maybe I've missed it, but I didn't see any setting to change this.

2. I assumed (bad on my part) that since I wasn't using the (YPbPr) output that the setting there didn't matter..... What your saying makes sense and should solve the problem. I'll respond tonight if it doesn't.

Originally posted by Snowhound
1. I wish I could leave the box on. The problem is that when a recording finishes, the box automatically "turns off". Maybe I've missed it, but I didn't see any setting to change this.

He means you should leave the box on - at all times - 24x7. This issue happens when the box "wakes up" to do a recording. It remembers that it "woke up" and shuts down at the end, regardless of whether you're watching a recording or not.

Are you saying you never shut your box off at all and it still turns off after a recording?

Originally posted by JRodTig


Picture quality on non-HD stations is also a concern. The images are quite grainy but when I navigate over to HD the appearance is superb. I've made the switch from DirectTV to Comcast and have had this box for about a week now. I'm wondering if I made a mistake...

I would apprecate any advice one could lend here.

I'm in the same boat. I had DirecTV and was forced to switch to Comacast after I moved because I no longer had a clear view of the southern sky.....And believe me I tried. The analog channels don't hold a grain of salt to the digital DirecTV picture quality. The HD picture (on my 32" standard TV) looks clear and sharp like everything on DirecTV. Since I don't have a HDTV I'd go back to my DirecTV Tivo in a heart beat if I could. If you want to affordably record HD programming, well your stuck with Comcast.

I obviously loved DirecTV BUT one thing I have to say for Comcast is that they offer a lot more programming with Digital (surround) audio.

Originally posted by frankz1
He means you should leave the box on - at all times - 24x7. This issue happens when the box "wakes up" to do a recording. It remembers that it "woke up" and shuts down at the end, regardless of whether you're watching a recording or not.

Are you saying you never shut your box off at all and it still turns off after a recording?

Cool, I hopped it was as simple as that. Yes, I was turning off the box so it was "waking up". Now I just need to reporgram my wife not to use the all off button. Thanks!

A friend of mine in the San Francisco Bay Area just got a Comcast 6412. I've browsed through the early part of this thread and there are codes for swap (to get to the second tuner) and unmuting due to bugs with this function. Have all these issues been worked out with the latest Software or does he still need to program this stuff in to be able to use multiple tuners? I figure all he needs to program in is the 30 second skip code but figured I'd check to make sure.

Is it safe to assume that his 6412 has iGuide or are there still multiple versions of SW that come with this box? How do you tell what SW you have? Thanks.

John

Originally posted by frankz1
It's not Fox. We recorded and played both 24 and AI with full DVR functionality.

Are you guys recording the analog or digital broadcast when you have these problems? Is the recording off of a series recording, or is it something you set up manually through the guide?

We in the Toledo area are having the same problem with FOX. Reports of "24", American Idol and others not letting us us the DVR functions. We can watch the show in its entirely, but no FF or skip.

I do not believe that this widespread issue, only on FOX, is an anomaly or a set up problem.

Originally posted by KentStater72
We in the Toledo area are having the same problem with FOX. Reports of "24", American Idol and others not letting us us the DVR functions. We can watch the show in its entirely, but no FF or skip.

I do not believe that this widespread issue, only on FOX, is an anomaly or a set up problem.

Regardless of what you believe, if it hasn't happened here then it clearly isn't the FOX network.

Comcast clearly has no reason to do this and, seeing as how they're trying to put TiVo out of business, every reason not to remove basic DVR functionality from their products even for one or two popular shows.

If you believe it's your local FOX affiliate (and you're talking about the HD broadcast, which no one answered in my previous reply), then why not check your local HD reception thread to see if non-comcast people with different stbs or computer HD cards are having the same problem.

I believe it is a STB problem, because I had a similar issue and resolved it by unplugging and rebooting the box. Obviously, if the original poster asked about it in the thread for the 6412, they also believed it was a STB problem rather than a local HD reception / broadcasting issue. If they did not believe it was 6412 specific, it's in the wrong thread.

Originally posted by jcg
A friend of mine in the San Francisco Bay Area just got a Comcast 6412. I've browsed through the early part of this thread and there are codes for swap (to get to the second tuner) and unmuting due to bugs with this function. Have all these issues been worked out with the latest Software or does he still need to program this stuff in to be able to use multiple tuners? I figure all he needs to program in is the 30 second skip code but figured I'd check to make sure.

Is it safe to assume that his 6412 has iGuide or are there still multiple versions of SW that come with this box? How do you tell what SW you have? Thanks.

John

All of the 6412's in the Bay Area have I-Guide.

Swap is the button for switching between tuners...you will always need it..a feature, not a bug.

The "Mute" bug is still there...an easy solution is just to leave the box with the power on...the mute but only happens when it has to wake itself up to do a recording (keep in mind the box is always never really off..even if you "power it off"...so just leaving it powered on is okay)

no software updates yet, although one is expected later this month.

I've had a 6412 for 3 or 4 weeks and have tried recently to access the user menu that is referred to in this thread. I understand that the unit needs to be powered off and that "menu" needs to be pressed twice. On my first press I get a basic set-up menu but on the second press I get a blank screen. Is this a problem with the box or am I missing a step? I'd like to check my signal strength but can't get to the proper menu.

Originally posted by pleasanton
I've had a 6412 for 3 or 4 weeks and have tried recently to access the user menu that is referred to in this thread. I understand that the unit needs to be powered off and that "menu" needs to be pressed twice. On my first press I get a basic set-up menu but on the second press I get a blank screen. Is this a problem with the box or am I missing a step? I'd like to check my signal strength but can't get to the proper menu.

I'm not in front of my 6412...but what I think you want to do is power off the box and then hit the "select" key on the front of the 6412...That will bring up the diagnostic menu..then use the down arrow to scroll to the function you want to look at (such as inband channel status) and hit select

Originally posted by pleasanton
I've had a 6412 for 3 or 4 weeks and have tried recently to access the user menu that is referred to in this thread. I understand that the unit needs to be powered off and that "menu" needs to be pressed twice. On my first press I get a basic set-up menu but on the second press I get a blank screen. Is this a problem with the box or am I missing a step? I'd like to check my signal strength but can't get to the proper menu.

What you're looking for is not in the User menu, and what you're doing is not the right way to get into the Diagnostic menu. (http://cjhengineering.com/hdtv/cablehdtv/dctdiag.htm)

Other than that you're fine.

I have 2 of these, and have had them a week. My one hooked to my HDTV works fine except for the DVI looks really bright and unnatural. No problems outside of that. My other one has had nothing but problems. From me turning it on and it being muted, to it powering itself on and off on it's own, to my DVR recording's just vanishing for no reason. So far the customer service has been less than stellar, and Comcast is about to lose a customer if they can't get this fixed. Anyone have any workarounds other than leaving the box on all the time? or will that actually fix all of these issues?

And if so, is there a way to disable the remote from turning off the power on the box when I hit all on or whatever.

I saw a couple of posts on this, but regarding the phantom 1989 recording, is there a way of fixing this other then rebooting? I don't want to lose all my series or saved recordings?

Originally posted by BamaUnc1
I saw a couple of posts on this, but regarding the phantom 1989 recording, is there a way of fixing this other then rebooting? I don't want to lose all my series or saved recordings?

Rebooting (unplugging) has no effect on your series or saved recordings. Just the guide data and software.

There was a report in this very thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=4992151#post4992151) that rebooting with a 1989 recording in the posters saved recordings actually made the recording usable and put back it's proper title.

As a side note, is there anyone who does not do series recordings who has wound up with a phantom 12/31/89 recording? It strikes me this could be another in a long list of "series recording bugs" that I was told recently does not make series recording "woefully broken."

Originally posted by frankz1
Regardless of what you believe, if it hasn't happened here then it clearly isn't the FOX network.


Wow, That sounds like something you would hear from a New Yorker.

Your logic escapes me. There have been numerous threads all pointing to one network, and a few highly rated shows.
Here in Toledo all of the members of the AVS forum have experienced this problem. It is not comcast that I am looking at as the culprit, it is the network, and more likely the digital signal being sent out.
What is so far fetched to think that they are experimenting with a way to "Package" their programs to assure advertising income.
My brother works for a CBS station, he HATES DVR's and would love to be able to have this kind of technology.
Also look at the lobbing going on to restrict DVR's and the like.

It makes more sense than all our STB's malfunctioning only on one network and one or two shows.

By the way in Toledo all the problems were HD recordings.

One thing that's stuck out for me regarding the "locking out" of the DVR functions (FF, Pause, Rew) was that they were (for the most part) located in the Chicago and Ohio areas. I haven't seen any reports of the lockouts occurring anywhere else. If I'm mistaken, feel free to correct me...

Originally posted by KentStater72
Wow, That sounds like something you would hear from a New Yorker.

Your logic escapes me. There have been numerous threads all pointing to one network, and a few highly rated shows.
Here in Toledo all of the members of the AVS forum have experienced this problem. It is not comcast that I am looking at as the culprit, it is the network, and more likely the digital signal being sent out.
What is so far fetched to think that they are experimenting with a way to "Package" their programs to assure advertising income.
My brother works for a CBS station, he HATES DVR's and would love to be able to have this kind of technology.
Also look at the lobbing going on to restrict DVR's and the like.

It makes more sense than all our STB's malfunctioning only on one network and one or two shows.

By the way in Toledo all the problems were HD recordings.

Your "second city inferiority complex" insult of New Yorkers not withstanding, if the FOX NETWORK was messing with the stream everyone viewing the program over the FOX NETWORK - on all of the affiliates - would be having the same problem. I didn't. I'm not a New Yorker, so that's probably non-big-city-logic that even you could understand.

Now, if your mini-city's FOX AFFILIATE was somehow sending data that was so corrupt as to mess up the functionality of the 6412 because it couldn't get a read on the stream with all the data errors, that's another story. Same with your tiny little Comcast head end out there.

In either event, if you don't think it's a problem or issue with the 6412, I am entirely perplexed as to why it is being discussed in the 6412 thread?

Originally posted by frankz1


In either event, if you don't think it's a problem or issue with the 6412, I am entirely perplexed as to why it is being discussed in the 6412 thread?

It pertains to this thread because it is directly related to the value of the 6412 and the future of the DVR.

Unless of course the only funtion of this thread is to instruct newbies to unplug their unit for every problem and how to program the 30 second skip.

Originally posted by KentStater72
It pertains to this thread because it is directly related to the value of the 6412 and the future of the DVR.

Unless of course the only funtion of this thread is to instruct newbies to unplug their unit for every problem and how to program the 30 second skip.

Not sure what a "funtion" is, but given the choice between newbie instruction and wild, baseless speculation that the big bad corporations are conspiring against minor media market consumers to limit their commercial skipping capabilities, I choose the former.

PS...have you tried unplugging the unit to correct the problem, newbie?

Originally posted by Paul Simoneau
One thing that's stuck out for me regarding the "locking out" of the DVR functions (FF, Pause, Rew) was that they were (for the most part) located in the Chicago and Ohio areas. I haven't seen any reports of the lockouts occurring anywhere else. If I'm mistaken, feel free to correct me...

Thanks for the input Paul.
You see this communication and sharing information across the network is how you identify a problem and find a solution if there is one.

I am not saying I know what is causing the problem of function freeze on the 6412, only on FOX. I am saying that if we compare notes we might find out why.

Demanding that unplugging the unit, is all that should be said about this is ridiculous.

I forgot to mention the other value of this thread... leave your stb on night and day. Wonder what power company exec first posted that.

Originally posted by KentStater72
I forgot to mention the other value of this thread... leave your stb on night and day. Wonder what power company exec first posted that.

More on "Attack of the Big Bad Corporations" tonight at 11.

Suprisingly, those who advocate both rebooting to fix silent crashes and leaving the unit on night and day are also the ones who are not experiencing constant problems. Wonder how that worked out so well.

You're right. Next computer error you have, just leave it on. Don't reboot. It's easier to curse big bad corporation Microsoft than actually correct the problem.

Originally posted by KentStater72
It makes more sense than all our STB's malfunctioning only on one network and one or two shows.

By the way in Toledo all the problems were HD recordings.

Philly 'burb Comcast 6412 HD FOX - 24 (love that show!) No, Nada,
Zero, Zippo DRV functionality loss at all. FF, pause, rewind, 30 sec etc all
work as expected. I had one 3-5 sec loss of audio the last show, but
other than that, no problems.

Unless your markets head end is doing something funky to the stream,
but why would they? Of course, they may be bending to ad revenue
pressures to find ways to disable the functions. But, that sounds like
a class action waiting to happen to me by the end users, us...

Originally posted by frankz1
More on "Attack of the Big Bad Corporations" tonight at 11.

Suprisingly, those who advocate both rebooting to fix silent crashes and leaving the unit on night and day are also the ones who are not experiencing constant problems. Wonder how that worked out so well.

You're right. Next computer error you have, just leave it on. Don't reboot. It's easier to curse big bad corporation Microsoft than actually correct the problem.

Forget your meds today Frank? :D :p

Originally posted by frankz1
Not sure what a "funtion" is, but given the choice between newbie instruction and wild, baseless speculation that the big bad corporations are conspiring against minor media market consumers to limit their commercial skipping capabilities, I choose the former.

PS...have you tried unplugging the unit to correct the problem, newbie? :) That was great. I haven't had a good laugh like that all day. I applaud your witty reply.

Originally posted by keenan
Forget your meds today Frank? :D :p
I've been on this board for quite a while and it is usually very friendly and helpful, so I don't understand why you keep giving Frank "atta-boys" for going after people. Even if he's right and even if its a personality trait,
I think its pretty rude to treat people like **** when they are here to help/learn from others.

<SOAPBOX>

IANAM (I Am Not A Moderator), but can we please stay on topic here?

This isn't the "Bash <large media company>" thread, nor is it the "Make fun of newbies!" thread. It is the "Official Comcast 6412 w/ iGuide Discussion".

The more noise we post here, the less likely it is that the folks reading this thread who actually write the software will stick around.....think about that.

</SOAPBOX>

-John

Originally posted by HD Rookie
I've been on this board for quite a while and it is usually very friendly and helpful, so I don't understand why you keep giving Frank "atta-boys" for going after people. Even if he's right and even if its a personality trait,
I think its pretty rude to treat people like **** when they are here to help/learn from others.

Some people are not here to help or to learn. They love to spread either misinformation ask really, really dumb things. Those are the people I go after. I usually help people with legitimate issues outright, regardless of if they've been asked a dozen times. That doesn't mean I won't tease them for asking something that's been asked a dozen times, though.

It's usually the people who come on here and post something very incredibly wrong with a tone of such authority and condescension ("Your logic escapes me" comes to mind) that really drive me nuts. Lord knows I'm all for being snarky and talking down to people. Just be right when you're doing it.

So I'm rude? That's who I am. I can't help it. If you want someone who's being forced to be nice to you to help you with your problem, call Customer Service.

I'm a cranky dude. "Don't be rude?" That's like me saying to you "let's not be dopey about this" like you can help it. What's the point?

Originally posted by KentStater72
We in the Toledo area are having the same problem with FOX. Reports of "24", American Idol and others not letting us us the DVR functions. We can watch the show in its entirely, but no FF or skip.

I do not believe that this widespread issue, only on FOX, is an anomaly or a set up problem. Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Did anyone check out the threads below regarding lack of functionality that KentStater72 first pointed out.

moyekj's post here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=5107109#post5107109 refers to MoxiGuy's post here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=5105773#post5105773

I too have a REV1 FF1 issue with the newly Digital Simulcasted channels so this seems to make sense to me.

From my earlier post: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=5099849#post5099849

Originally posted by markjrenna
Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Did anyone check out the threads below regarding lack of functionality that KentStater72 first pointed out.

moyekj's post here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=5107109#post5107109 refers to MoxiGuy's post here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=5105773#post5105773

I too have a REV1 FF1 issue with the newly Digital Simulcasted channels so this seems to make sense to me.

From my earlier post: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=5099849#post5099849

So, it seems it is exactly what he didn't think it was: An anomaly.

FWIW, I have a problem rewinding on some digital channels such as NFL Network, although others are fine and skip and FF works just great on NFL. Sounds like another anomaly, unless someone wants to suggest a class-action suit against the NFL Network and get all up in arms about "them" stealing our functionality and ruining "value of the 6412 and the future of the DVR."

OK I'll tell him to just leave the box on to avoid some of the issues there are. Early in the thread people said you had to program a code into the remote to get swap to work? I agree he needs this function but I'm just wondering if the swap key just works on newer units (he just picked his up yesterday) or if you still need to go in and program the code to make it work? Thanks for the help.

John

Originally posted by davisdog
All of the 6412's in the Bay Area have I-Guide.

Swap is the button for switching between tuners...you will always need it..a feature, not a bug.

The "Mute" bug is still there...an easy solution is just to leave the box with the power on...the mute but only happens when it has to wake itself up to do a recording (keep in mind the box is always never really off..even if you "power it off"...so just leaving it powered on is okay)

no software updates yet, although one is expected later this month.

Originally posted by jcg
OK I'll tell him to just leave the box on to avoid some of the issues there are. Early in the thread people said you had to program a code into the remote to get swap to work? I agree he needs this function but I'm just wondering if the swap key just works on newer units (he just picked his up yesterday) or if you still need to go in and program the code to make it work? Thanks for the help.

John

It depends on what remote you have. It's not to do with the unit at all - just the remote.
If it's got a labeled "SWAP" button, he's good to go.
If it's got a TV/VCR button, try it to see if it's been reprogrammed by Comcast for SWAP functionality (some have).
If he's got neither, follow the instructions posted numerous times in this thread to program SWAP onto a little-used button.
If there's no SETUP button on the remote and it doesn't already SWAP, I believe he's SOL.

Thank you markjrenna

Moxiguys post made a lot of sense.
This is the kind of dialog I presumed a forum is for.

I am not anti business
I am not looking to start a class action suit
I am not off topic
I was just looking for some reasonable answers from reasonable people.

And I ran into a control freak patrolling the board.

Originally posted by KentStater72
Thank you markjrenna

Moxiguys post made a lot of sense.
This is the kind of dialog I presumed a forum is for.

I am not anti business
I am not looking to start a class action suit
I am not off topic
I was just looking for some reasonable answers from reasonable people.

And I ran into a control freak patrolling the board.

Were you crying when you wrote this? I guess where you are, insulting stereotypes are "reasonable" and "the kind of dialog I presumed a forum is for." Not here, buddy.

C'mon Frank!

Honestly, a lot of the people posting here were just concerned about a possible corporate "solution" to the DVR "problem".

While potentially off-topic, the possibility that Fox had figured out a way to ensure that people watch their commercials was NOT outside the realm of possibility!

Or, even if, technically, it was, it was at least weird enough to merit discussion.

I understand acerbic and grouchy, but they haven't been that out of line.

I appreciate the honesty (sometimes brutal) you bring to these boards, but I also appreciate information sharing among members.

I just wonder what will happen when the "solution" finally appears...

Originally posted by MJVanDam
C'mon Frank!

Honestly, a lot of the people posting here were just concerned about a possible corporate "solution" to the DVR "problem".

While potentially off-topic, the possibility that Fox had figured out a way to ensure that people watch their commercials was NOT outside the realm of possibility!

Or, even if, technically, it was, it was at least weird enough to merit discussion.

I understand acerbic and grouchy, but they haven't been that out of line.

I appreciate the honesty (sometimes brutal) you bring to these boards, but I also appreciate information sharing among members.

I just wonder what will happen when the "solution" finally appears...

There's "concern" and then there's "wild accusations based on nothing but speculation followed by insults against those who provide solid reasons why the speculation is wrong." I'll leave it to to decide which I felt this discussion fell into. A good forum is part education and part entertainment. I try to amuse myself while providing a little of both.

We've all read "I was going to get the 6412, but after reading this thread I don't know" posts. We've all been able to provide workarounds for MOST of the legitimate problems. These people are mostly turned off because of these naysayers and their bogus, inaccurate theories. I feel it's a shame.

The 6412 is a good, not perfect, but good product. If you're expecting perfection, it's not for you.

I've PM'd you with the more non-6412 portions of my reply.

I posted about my DVR problem with "24" in another thread, but I thought I would take a moment to add to the collective knowledge here.

Just a quick refresh: I recorded "24" on Monday and when I watched it and attempted to FF, was presented with a circle-with-a-line-through-it icon telling me, "You can't do that."

I called Comcast yesterday and had my concerns escalated from the initial ("There was something wrong with the signal") phone-center person to a ("I'll look into it and call you back") supervisor.

Today, I received a call from a different guy who was very knowledgeable about the technical issues faced with the DVR's and their recordings. In short, he admitted to me that this was a bug in the TV-Guide software which incorrectly marked this episode of "24" to disallow certain functionality. (The same thing apparently happened with "American Idol" last night, but I was not aware of that until he told me about it.) He told me that it would be fixed in an upcoming version of the software and, based on the large number of bugs that have been discovered, this summer's scheduled release of the next version may get changed.

Bottom line: Yes, the DVR features can be selectively disabled as a feature of the IGuide. No, this was not intentional by any party involved in the presentation of "24" on Monday.

Originally posted by EvanstonTom
I posted about my DVR problem with "24" in another thread, but I thought I would take a moment to add to the collective knowledge here.

Just a quick refresh: I recorded "24" on Monday and when I watched it and attempted to FF, was presented with a circle-with-a-line-through-it icon telling me, "You can't do that."

I called Comcast yesterday and had my concerns escalated from the initial ("There was something wrong with the signal") phone-center person to a ("I'll look into it and call you back") supervisor.

Today, I received a call from a different guy who was very knowledgeable about the technical issues faced with the DVR's and their recordings. In short, he admitted to me that this was a bug in the TV-Guide software which incorrectly marked this episode of "24" to disallow certain functionality. (The same thing apparently happened with "American Idol" last night, but I was not aware of that until he told me about it.) He told me that it would be fixed in an upcoming version of the software and, based on the large number of bugs that have been discovered, this summer's scheduled release of the next version may get changed.

Bottom line: Yes, the DVR features can be selectively disabled as a feature of the IGuide. No, this was not intentional by any party involved in the presentation of "24" on Monday.

Didn't "Mark It" that way here. Same software. What gives?

Originally posted by EvanstonTom
Bottom line: Yes, the DVR features can be selectively disabled as a feature of the IGuide. No, this was not intentional by any party involved in the presentation of "24" on Monday. Wow, this is disturbing indeed. It wasn't good enough to just have a Copy Once or Copy Never flag as options, but now there is a "No transport functions" flag too? Pretty soon there will be more flags in the stream than video frames and a DVR will be worthless.

Originally posted by frankz1
Didn't "Mark It" that way here. Same software. What gives? Different headend without flag being set?

Originally posted by frankz1
Didn't "Mark It" that way here. Same software. What gives?

That's not exactly clear. It's also not clear why only some users experienced the problem in my area. I'm guessing that the bug may be in the way the box downloads the guide, so it could be different from DVR to DVR.

Anyway, I have a number to call to follow up on this issue. If I see it again, or if more questions like this come up, I will call.

Originally posted by moyekj
Pretty soon there will be more flags in the stream than video frames and a DVR will be worthless.

Just to be clear: The "no transport functions" flag is in the guide, not in the stream itself. Some added functionality in the software to improve the "value" to the content providers, I guess.

I figure I'd just add another datapoint for those experiencing problems with the 6412 w/ iGuide. I just picked it up from the Mountain View office on Monday and was allowed to do a self-install. No problems getting it set up, and the HD looks great. However, I've encountered the following problems, all of which seem to be mentioned by people previously in this forum:

1. Freezing: I left the DVR on overnight on channel 2 (KTVU) and when I got up in the morning, the picture was frozen. I was able to rewind, and it looks like it froze at about 4am. Changing the channel cleared the freeze. Ever since then, I have not tuned to this channel and have not had this problem recur.

2. First Run problem: Series recordings ignore the request for recording first run only. I'm mostly having problems with South Park, Leno, The Daily Show, and Stargate SG1, even though in the guide data for some of these programs, it says that they are from 1999 or 2001 (so how could these not be reruns?).

3. Forgetful series: I delete extra series recordings that are reruns, however, as soon as I set up another series or a new recording, all deleted recordings are back, and I have to go delete them again.

4. HD -> SD: Despite setting up series recordings for Lost and Desperate Housewives on channel 707 and specifiying "This Channel Only", when I went to check my schedule recordings this evening, they decided to record channel 7 instead.

5. More forgetfulness: With my series recordings for The Osbournes, I had it record Monday's new episode. I watched it and deleted it. Now it wants to record the same episode again whenever it reruns this week.

6. Whack a mole: For some series recordings, when I have 2 reruns (despite specifying first run) in adjacent time slots, if I cancel one, and then cancel the next, then the first one wants to record again. I can repeat this process endlessly, going back and forth... feels like whack a mole.

I called Comcast 3 times to speak to different customer service reps. The first person was clueless and could barely speak English. The second person acknowledged the freezing issue and said a fix was coming in 2-3 weeks but had no idea about the series problems. The third person wanted to swap my box, and said that I could transfer my current recordings to the new DVR via firewire (when I heard this, I knew this rep was BSing me). He also said that the fix for the freezing issue should fix the series problems, but he has never heard of these problems before, and wouldn't confirm anything about what exactly is in this fix. He also wanted to zap my box and clear all the guide data, but I didn't want him to do that, since I had recordings scheduled for tonight, and asked if it would interfere with them, and he told me he didn't know. I asked each time to talk to someone who wasn't clueless, and they all said they couldn't do that, and offered to have someone come out to take a look at my box. Just to play their game, I have someone coming to check it out on Saturday, but I doubt that will do any good.

At least I still have the TiVo set up to act as a backup, but I really want to be able to record HD, and unfortunately, TiVo is dragging its heels on releasing an affordable HD DVR. Too bad for them.

Has anyone had any luck with their DVR and is not experiencing these problems? I really would like to avoid having to swap the box on Saturday if at all possible, since from what it looks like some people are saying, there are some real lemons out there.

Regarding the inability to FF/RR/P American Idol last night, I recorded it in HD and had no problems here.

Originally posted by KGD_007
I have searched this forum and found where people had posted the following problem, but never found an answer.

When I set a series recording for an HD channel after a few days the series switches to the SD channel. I make sure when I set the series to select, record this channel only. It seems to do it the most on channel 707. I don't recall it happening on any of the others.

Is there something I am doing wrong?

Thanks,

Kris

I'm also having the same problem with series recordings switching from HD station to the SD station number. Matter of fact, its the exact same channel 707 going to 7. I have not experienced this problem on any other series recordings on HD channels. For me, it's somewhat sporadic in occurance. It happened to me today, but previous to this incident it didn't happen for over a week. Truly annoying, sooner or later I'll break down and just put everything in manually.

Anyone have any success in resolving this?

Thanks.

Does anyone know how to program the mute and swap codes with the UR5-MDVR remote? It does not have a "setup" button. :confused:

Discovered another bug. I had 5 recordings scheduled for tonight:
Lost: 8-9:03 (manually added padding)
American Idol: 8-9
Crank Yankers: 9-9:30
South Park: 9:30-10
Daily Show: 11-11:30

However, South Park did not record. When I look at the Scheduled Recordings for today, there's still a listing from 9:30-10 for a show "To Be Announced" (all other shows that recorded are no longer on this list). Any ideas, besides that the iGuide software seems to only be in its alpha version and is a complete embarrassment, why it would do this? Who can we actually talk to to report these problems, since I've tried 3 different Comcast CSRs and they all just dismiss me as a dolt, asking, "Now, did you read the manual?" and just offer to replace the box, without really seeming to take down these bugs I was trying to be nice and report to them.

Originally posted by JRodTig
I have followed some of the advice I've found on this thread concerning the audio quality of the 6412 but still can't seem to figure out my issue.

Whenever I switch over to HD, my audio drops to a very low level and it seems that I lose the center channel. If I go back to a non-HD channel the audio is back to a normal level. I notice this drop both on the TV itself and my home theater system. I've made every adjustment to audio quality I could find on this thread including setting the advanced options to heavy compression to no avail. I connect to the home theater via an optical cable and it seems to be working fine. Am I missing something or do I have a defective box?

Picture quality on non-HD stations is also a concern. The images are quite grainy but when I navigate over to HD the appearance is superb. I've made the switch from DirectTV to Comcast and have had this box for about a week now. I'm wondering if I made a mistake...

I would apprecate any advice one could lend here.

Try going into the menu, choose Setup, then Audio, then change Audio Options to Advanced. Under "Compression", change it to Heavy. I know, my first instinct is always compression=signal loss, but I believe they are referring to dynamic range. So before this change, I had to turn the digital channels up to half my TV's volume, and on the analog channels about 10-15% of the volume bar achieved an equivalent volume. Switching from a digital channel to an analog channel got me in trouble a few times late at night. After changing this setting, they are much closer, although still not equal.

Try that, see if it helps.

Another Annoyance Bug:
Got a message from Comcast last night. The box's red light is on, the menu screen shows the little envelope, but there's no "Messages" choice on my Main Menu. Maybe it'll show up later.

I turned my message notification light off somewhere last Dec. However it came back on 2 nights ago. There were 4 messages, from a period of time, non of which told me of winning the lottery, a rebate, a refund, or anything of any value to me. They didn't even say: Hi Lew, how YOU doin?

I'll have to look into turning it off again.

Originally posted by EvanstonTom
Just to be clear: The "no transport functions" flag is in the guide, not in the stream itself. Some added functionality in the software to improve the "value" to the content providers, I guess. Ahh, OK that makes more sense, thanks for clearing that up.

Does the DCT-6412 w/ i-guide group together (like folders on TiVo) DVR recordings in the "My Recordings" screen?

the 6412 is available for pick up now in delaware county pa at the brookhaven office.

so i went yestday to get an additional box.

it had the same troubles as the very first box i got about 6-7 weeks ago.

cant change the channel without the box freezing and shutting off.
couldnt do anythin g really.
i tried to go to ondemand and that froze it up too.

it didnt start that way for the first few hrs or so.
it had the same problem i have on my current box.
fox and wb nets both pixilate constantly but only on one tuner.

so i'm heading back today to get another box.

oh, when i picked it up yesterday, i asked if they have the remote with the extra 4 buttons on the bottm.
"no we have to special order them, and we havent been getting them anyway."

so when i look at the remote after getting home, guess which remote i had.

I've been noticing two entries for the same program in my Recordings menu. One of them has been saying "This show has been interrupted".

Last night while recording I noticed my box reset itself. This is obviously the problem. I guess I'll exchange my box for a different one.

Originally posted by mikeizzy
Does the DCT-6412 w/ i-guide group together (like folders on TiVo) DVR recordings in the "My Recordings" screen?

Nope. You can sort your recordings based on a few different criterea (name, date, etc), but there's no hierarchical folder stuff like on TiVo.

Ok guys. I need your help but please don't tell me to unplug the unit--at least not yet.

Got the 6412 yesterday. Comcast did not have the 2 tuner remote and supposedly are waiting for a shipment from Motorola--timeframe unknown. Sent email to Moto but that's another story. Got the manual and remote for the 6208. Have since d/l 6412 manual.

I have the 30 second skip sequence written down; Comcast gave me a sequence to "create" a swap button. My questions is this--what "button" do I use or should I use for these two functions. Bottom of remote has input button with tv/vcr and enter with HD zoom. Not sure if I should use these.

Help would be greatly appreciated.

Also I have questions on connections of 6412; tv;vcr;dvd and receiver. What section should I post those type of questions. LOL all worked before and now with component cables I can't get the same functionality I had before.

Have a great day--I might if i can ever get this figured out!!!

I don't understand, why would you need to unplug the unit...

And... for those that are worried about losing things when you unplug the unit (recordings for that day... etc...)... I've unplugged the unit when I've had recordings for later in the day without affect. Also... I've unpluged the unit (get this) MID-RECORDING, say during a commercial... and it kept on going. It actually said, this program has been interrupted... but it just interrupted the commercials (I recommend if you HAVE to do this, do it at the start of the commerical break. :)

Hope that clears things up for those of you that have mentioned this worry recently.

Originally posted by bronowyn
I don't understand, why would you need to unplug the unit...

I think it was supposed to be a wise crack, because rebooting the unit is correctly suggested to resolve a wide range of problems in the forum. Not a very wise way to begin a request for help if you ask me.

Originally posted by ticman

I have the 30 second skip sequence written down; Comcast gave me a sequence to "create" a swap button. My questions is this--what "button" do I use or should I use for these two functions. Bottom of remote has input button with tv/vcr and enter with HD zoom. Not sure if I should use these.

Help would be greatly appreciated.

I used the HD zoom button for swap and help button for 30 sec skip. Who uses the help button anyway? :)

Originally posted by ticman

I have the 30 second skip sequence written down; Comcast gave me a sequence to "create" a swap button. My questions is this--what "button" do I use or should I use for these two functions. Bottom of remote has input button with tv/vcr and enter with HD zoom. Not sure if I should use these.


I used the HD Zoom for the 30 second skip since, AFAIK, it has no function currently. My TV/VCR button was already programmed for swap (although I had no documentation of this from Comcast).

I also programmed the "Help" button to do the STB mute since I'd overriden the "real" mute button to mute the TV (so my tv's close caption on mute would work on the CC'ed channels). That way, if your box wakes up to do a scheduled recording, you can unmute it.

Enough of the bickering. Further unrelated comments will be deleted without warning.

Originally posted by jasonander
I figure I'd just add another datapoint for those experiencing problems with the 6412 w/ iGuide. I just picked it up from the Mountain View office on Monday and was allowed to do a self-install. No problems getting it set up, and the HD looks great. However, I've encountered the following problems, all of which seem to be mentioned by people previously in this forum:

I love the inconsistency of huge corporations customer service. When I got my box a few weeks ago I called and asked if I could do a self-install on the 1-800 number and they said no, but I figured I'd go in and ask. I went to Santa Clara Comcast to and they said "Oh we don't have equipment at this location" as I could see through the door; racks and racks (hundreds of boxes). Granted these may have been returned or non-DVR units, I asked well which location has equipment. Reply "none".


1. Freezing: I left the DVR on overnight on channel 2 (KTVU) and when I got up in the morning, the picture was frozen. I was able to rewind, and it looks like it froze at about 4am. Changing the channel cleared the freeze. Ever since then, I have not tuned to this channel and have not had this problem recur.

I seem to only get it on analog channels, mostly 2. Also had it on HGTV (71 I think) and one other channel I can't remember. Since 702 was added, I am rarely on 2 and haven't had too many freezes since.

2. First Run problem: Series recordings ignore the request for recording first run only. I'm mostly having problems with South Park, Leno, The Daily Show, and Stargate SG1, even though in the guide data for some of these programs, it says that they are from 1999 or 2001 (so how could these not be reruns?).

3. Forgetful series: I delete extra series recordings that are reruns, however, as soon as I set up another series or a new recording, all deleted recordings are back, and I have to go delete them again.

4. HD -> SD: Despite setting up series recordings for Lost and Desperate Housewives on channel 707 and specifiying "This Channel Only", when I went to check my schedule recordings this evening, they decided to record channel 7 instead.


This is the only issue driving me nuts right now, but I am assuming there will be a fix for it soon. I am probably going to plug the tivo back in, but for now everthing I want to record is on re-run so there's no problem.


5. More forgetfulness: With my series recordings for The Osbournes, I had it record Monday's new episode. I watched it and deleted it. Now it wants to record the same episode again whenever it reruns this week.

6. Whack a mole: For some series recordings, when I have 2 reruns (despite specifying first run) in adjacent time slots, if I cancel one, and then cancel the next, then the first one wants to record again. I can repeat this process endlessly, going back and forth... feels like whack a mole.

I called Comcast 3 times to speak to different customer service reps. The first person was clueless and could barely speak English. The second person acknowledged the freezing issue and said a fix was coming in 2-3 weeks but had no idea about the series problems. The third person wanted to swap my box, and said that I could transfer my current recordings to the new DVR via firewire (when I heard this, I knew this rep was BSing me). He also said that the fix for the freezing issue should fix the series problems, but he has never heard of these problems before, and wouldn't confirm anything about what exactly is in this fix. He also wanted to zap my box and clear all the guide data, but I didn't want him to do that, since I had recordings scheduled for tonight, and asked if it would interfere with them, and he told me he didn't know. I asked each time to talk to someone who wasn't clueless, and they all said they couldn't do that, and offered to have someone come out to take a look at my box. Just to play their game, I have someone coming to check it out on Saturday, but I doubt that will do any good.

At least I still have the TiVo set up to act as a backup, but I really want to be able to record HD, and unfortunately, TiVo is dragging its heels on releasing an affordable HD DVR. Too bad for them.

Has anyone had any luck with their DVR and is not experiencing these problems? I really would like to avoid having to swap the box on Saturday if at all possible, since from what it looks like some people are saying, there are some real lemons out there.

Regarding the inability to FF/RR/P American Idol last night, I recorded it in HD and had no problems here.

I recorded Amer. Idol pressing record half way thru cause I had to leave. I had it on 2 instead of 702 and it actually recorded the whole show fine with all ff and rr.

So far I really like this box for the HD record capability, all-in-one cable/dvr solution, and it changes channels a lot faster than tivo!!!. They just need to fix the few glitches and I'll be more than satisfied.

Comcast/Iguide, please hurry and fix these bugs, I want to cancel my Tivo subscription and sell the box on ebay. If you don't I'm going to ask for my $10 bucks a month back!!!!

BTW... I recorded HOUSE, M.D (or should I call it Frankz1, M.D. ;))... on fox after american idol, and no problems. Apparently, it's not starting to happen "mistakenly" or "bugily" in Philly market. Thank goodness.

I was wondering if maybe they were testing this functionality for the Big Game? Maybe that's my conspiracy theory brain talking. Those ads are expensive... and having people Tivo/DVR past them... not terribly attractive.

Originally posted by bronowyn
BTW... I recorded HOUSE, M.D (or should I call it Frankz1, M.D. ;))... on fox after american idol, and no problems. Apparently, it's not starting to happen "mistakenly" or "bugily" in Philly market. Thank goodness.

I was wondering if maybe they were testing this functionality for the Big Game? Maybe that's my conspiracy theory brain talking. Those ads are expensive... and having people Tivo/DVR past them... not terribly attractive.
I've had no problems on any FOX shows (or any other shows except the one glitch about three weeks back which I posted about and solved by rebooting.)

Of all the shows where I'd worry that someone would skip the commercials, the Superbowl is not one of them. That's actually the one show where the commercials are almost as much of an entertainment draw as the programming (maybe not this year in this town, of course. Go Birds is right!).

Honestly, as I've said, I believe this "stopping us from skipping commercials" issue is a non-starter. People have been ignoring commercials since the beginning of time (an old tale about water levels in NYC during I Love Lucy Commercials comes to mind) and have been FF'ing commercials since the early 80s. As much as networks do not like it, I find it hard to believe that comcast would render their DVRs (and an entire revenue stream) useless to appease them.

Originally posted by cmpalmer
I used the HD Zoom for the 30 second skip since, AFAIK, it has no function currently. My TV/VCR button was already programmed for swap (although I had no documentation of this from Comcast).

I also programmed the "Help" button to do the STB mute since I'd overriden the "real" mute button to mute the TV (so my tv's close caption on mute would work on the CC'ed channels). That way, if your box wakes up to do a scheduled recording, you can unmute it.

How do you set up the 30 second skip?

Originally posted by extremegamer
How do you set up the 30 second skip?
Here ya go, friend. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=4636291#post4636291) Have a super day!:)