Originally posted by DMT1971
Hello,

Since the 6412 does weird things when you turn it off and on again, I would like to never bother turning it off. The problem is that to turn my TV on and off, I have to hit the TV button. Then to use the DVR ff, rew, etc, I need to hit the Cable button, which I often forget. Is there a way to program the remote that when it is set to Cable, the power button controls the TV instead of the DVR? I still want Aux power to control my amp, as well. I know, I want it all!! Thanks for any input.

I just created a macro on the silver remote under the + button for the PIP that goes like this:

Aux
Power
Tv
Power
Cable

This turns my TV and Receiver on/off at the same time while leaving the DVR on.

Originally posted by DMT1971
Hello,

Since the 6412 does weird things when you turn it off and on again, I would like to never bother turning it off. The problem is that to turn my TV on and off, I have to hit the TV button. Then to use the DVR ff, rew, etc, I need to hit the Cable button, which I often forget. Is there a way to program the remote that when it is set to Cable, the power button controls the TV instead of the DVR? I still want Aux power to control my amp, as well. I know, I want it all!! Thanks for any input.

Try the cursor keys, while in TV mode.
Left is Rwnd, Right is FFwd, up is Pause/Play.
I use them even in Cable mode, since they're closer to my thumb :)

Originally posted by troll565
I just created a macro on the silver remote under the + button for the PIP that goes like this:

Aux
Power
Tv
Power
Cable

This turns my TV and Receiver on/off at the same time while leaving the DVR on.

I just point my remote at the floor for the ones I don't like :)
The Power-All button takes a few seconds for each "power off" portion of their macro.

Originally posted by efball
Internet Movie Database http://www.imdb.com/

It won't have talk show appearances or all guest appearances on regular shows (it does have quite a few of them), but it's quite complete otherwise.

I would also recommend www.epguides.com. The episode guides link to www.tvtome.com I believe. And it sometimes has better guest information than imdb.

Originally posted by mrzzmr
Manual Recordings = Menu -> DVR -> DVR Schedule -> Create a manual recording. This lets you set up a scheduled recording not by show name but for any time interval on any day, with options to repeat every day, same day each week, or Mon-Fri. You select the channel off a list of channels, not the guide. The channel list has both numbers and names so I don't know whether it has or overcomes the same number vs name mapping problem.

This is correct, it only goes by the Ch number you selected and the time, it will not care what program title or info is given.
:)

Originally posted by ticman
I have the 6412 box. The convoluted way of having just Favorite channels show in the guide is to

Hit menu on remote
Hit main menu button on tv screen
Hit favorites.

favorite channels ONLY will appear in the guide--but you have to go through the process each time.

See, this is my complaint. I don't have favorites available as an option on the quick menu OR on the main menu. Does everyone else have a selection for favorites on the main menu? Is this a local St. Paul comcast issue or are just my boxes messed up? (Yes, I have two 6412's and the menus are lacking a favorites selection on each. I can set up favorite channels but there is no way to display a guide page ONLY containing favorites. I also don't have options for search of messages on the main menu, FWIW)

Maybe I should unplug one of the boxes to reset it and see if the menus change when it downloads the data again. I just hate waiting so many hours for the guide information to return. You'd think there would have been room to buffer guide data somewhere on the 120G HD!

not trying to be a smart "a" but you do know that there are 2 screens in the main menu could that be your problem?

Do you have a Fav Key / Button on your remote?

Originally posted by ticman
not trying to be a smart "a" but you do know that there are 2 screens in the main menu could that be your problem?

Well, don't I feel stupid. Thanks for the tip. You are correct that these functions are on the other menu screen.

I'm still not sure why the favorites list is missing from the quick menu, though. I guess that is just a "feature" that comcast has in their custom version of iguide, since the iguide manual indicates that software includes a favorites option in the quick menu.

And I do have a Fav button on my remote, but all it seems to do is skip ahead to the next favorite channel. I don't find this to be a very useful feature, but maybe someone likes it.

Originally posted by drdr
Well, don't I feel stupid. Thanks for the tip. You are correct that these functions are on the other menu screen.

I'm still not sure why the favorites list is missing from the quick menu, though. I guess that is just a "feature" that comcast has in their custom version of iguide, since the iguide manual indicates that software includes a favorites option in the quick menu.

And I do have a Fav button on my remote, but all it seems to do is skip ahead to the next favorite channel. I don't find this to be a very useful feature, but maybe someone likes it.

I have left a voice mail with one of the Sr. Comcast Tech Mgrs. About the 2 Icons missing from the 6412's quick menu. I will let you all know what he says.

Originally posted by GrantGochnauer
I have this real problem with my 6412 PVR. About 40-50% of the recordings I make in HD are completely unwatchable because the audio skips every few seconds followed by some video corruption. Then its ok again, and then it repeats. Some shows are fine but others are totally messed up. However, one week, the HD show will record just fine, and then the next week, its all messed up again.

Anyone else seeing this? I don't have any problems watching live HD content, its only when playing back from the HD. Its like the HD isn't fast enough to record HD content so during the record its dropping frames causing all the corruption and audio skips.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Interesting. You are watching the show from the HD even when watching "live" since the signal is buffered on the HD. That would seem to indicate that any HD problem would be manifest whether watching live or recorded. However, based on 1 experience I had with a failed HD in a TiVo, I susoect your HD is bad.

Does it happen with SD recordings?

Hey all,

Just did a search on the MUTE problem but can't find what I am looking for.

All of a sudden (i am recording west wing and law and order) I have MUTE on top of tv screen on Sony 55wf655. Can't figure out what happened or how to unmute. Hitting mute on comcast remote show up on screen as a separate muting. tv speakers are off. no sound from dvr picture or cd either.

anyone ? any ideas??

thanks

man, the loss of 5.1 bug is really starting to be a big issue on both of my 6412's. I am constantly having to turn the boxes off and on again to regain 5.1 streams, and this is impossible if a recording is occuring. why are these things dropping 5.1 so easily!?!?!?? argh.....

1. Freeze Ups - occasionaly the picture will freeze. The only way to get it to unfreeze is to change channels on the tuner. I have noticed from postings that MANY people are experiencing the same issue with freeze ups. Note: this was happening fairly frequently but it has subsided.

2. Last night the box just reset - in such a way that all of the guide information needed to be re-downloaded.

3. Just noticed that we are missing the end of several different shows. For the most part we get entire shows but we are noticing that some are missing 20 and 30 minutes.

I have 9.12 firmware.

Any thoughts or fixes would be appreciated.

Thanks.

I just created a macro on the silver remote under the + button for the PIP that goes like this

I wasn't aware you could create macros on the silver remote. Are there instructions somewhere?

Somebody else mentioned that you can tie the aux button to your amp, which I'd like to do so I can lock the volume on the amp. How do I set the remote so the aux button controls my amp?

dmlove51 just follow this link for help with your question:

http://www.cjhengineering.com/hdtv/cablehdtv/dct6412remote.htm

Just got my box and all seems good but one thing.

When I press fast forward just once, it seems like slow motion and then just jumps to the end of the program?? does not happen when I use skip or push FF more than once.

Very strange everything else works great, no freeze ups, all my shows record etc.

I haven't had a chance to read through the thread, does anyone have this problem?

Originally posted by oleus
man, the loss of 5.1 bug is really starting to be a big issue on both of my 6412's. I am constantly having to turn the boxes off and on again to regain 5.1 streams, and this is impossible if a recording is occuring. why are these things dropping 5.1 so easily!?!?!?? argh.....


I had the same problem after my 6412 rcvd. the updated firmware (09.15) and then rebooted.

Comcast support told me to do the following.

To restore DD / D5.1 sound due the following:

power off

press menu

scroll down to reset defaults at the bottom.

after the settings all restore, then reset your Video settings at the top of the screen.

then power the cable box back on. Go to any of the confirmed DD5.1 ch. (Discovery HD, Comcast Sports Net and look on the ch info bar and see if it now shows DD or DD5.1.

This restored my Digital 5.1 Sound!

scanpa -

a simple off/on cycle restores the 5.1 sound.....problem is every day or so i will turn to a 5.1 channel and it's gone again.

WARNING! Dumb question to follow . . . After making a recording on the 6412, how can I copy it to videotape?

Originally posted by jimb408
WARNING! Dumb question to follow . . . After making a recording on the 6412, how can I copy it to videotape?

connect your Cable box RCA Video, R-Audio, L-Audio output cables to your VCR RCA inputs.

Originally posted by jimb408
WARNING! Dumb question to follow . . . After making a recording on the 6412, how can I copy it to videotape?

Get a DVHS VCR! I love mine, got a Mits 1100 on clearance at Best Buy for around $100. You'll need a firewire connection to your TV, and you are good to go! It's the easiest way to archive high-def right now. And it works VERY well.

Originally posted by scanpa
connect your Cable box RCA Video, R-Audio, L-Audio output cables to your VCR RCA inputs.

Thanks - I was thinking it was more complicated than that.

Originally posted by HJSimpson
Just got my box and all seems good but one thing.

When I press fast forward just once, it seems like slow motion and then just jumps to the end of the program?? does not happen when I use skip or push FF more than once.

Very strange everything else works great, no freeze ups, all my shows record etc.

I haven't had a chance to read through the thread, does anyone have this problem?


I have the same problem with one of the channels "Goltv" but not with my other frequently viewed channels. Goltv is a soccer channel. I have been following this thread on and off but have not yet seen anyone identify this same problem (though I'm sure someone has).

Originally posted by ticman
Hey all,

Just did a search on the MUTE problem but can't find what I am looking for.

All of a sudden (i am recording west wing and law and order) I have MUTE on top of tv screen on Sony 55wf655. Can't figure out what happened or how to unmute. Hitting mute on comcast remote show up on screen as a separate muting. tv speakers are off. no sound from dvr picture or cd either.

anyone ? any ideas??

thanks

Leaving the box on all the time will prevent it. I don't like leaving mine on all the time (Please no bashing!) So I programmed a button to act like a cable-box remote MUTE to turn it of. See JohninLA's post above for the link to CJ Engineering. When you press MUTE, chances are that its sending the TV or receiver/Amp's MUTE signal when it needs the Cable-Box's Mute.

GrantGochnauer and rodneyremington,

I've noticed this audio issue as well, but not the video drop-outs. I sometimes get staccato audio playback when watching recorded HD content. But my processor still shows a digital signal lock coming from the 6412, so it is like the data is just....missing, within a valid overall signal?

IMHO -- it is almost as though the box doesn't have the overall system bandwidth to buffer two shows and play back HD at the same time, and the audio is the lowest priority so it gets the shaft. I'm basing this grand assumption on the fact that, if I tune both 6412 tuners to Music channels (which aren't supposed to be buffered), the exact same show plays back without any difficulty at all.

I think we may need to do some more experimenting to see what combination of analog & digital channels on each tuner results in the audio issues.

What do you think?

-John

John,

I definitely agree with you, even though my evidence doesn't directly coincide with yours. Occasionally, when both of my tuners are on HDTV channels, the menus seem especially sluggish. Changing one of the tuners to an analog channel restores the responsiveness to the menus. By "sluggish", I mean that the menus do respond to commands, but at a slower pace. This is distinctly different than when the menus kinda freeze up for a few seconds, and then act upon a bunch of IR commands all at once.

Originally posted by John Williams
GrantGochnauer and rodneyremington,

I've noticed this audio issue as well, but not the video drop-outs. I sometimes get staccato audio playback when watching recorded HD content. But my processor still shows a digital signal lock coming from the 6412, so it is like the data is just....missing, within a valid overall signal?

IMHO -- it is almost as though the box doesn't have the overall system bandwidth to buffer two shows and play back HD at the same time, and the audio is the lowest priority so it gets the shaft. I'm basing this grand assumption on the fact that, if I tune both 6412 tuners to Music channels (which aren't supposed to be buffered), the exact same show plays back without any difficulty at all.

I think we may need to do some more experimenting to see what combination of analog & digital channels on each tuner results in the audio issues.

What do you think?

-John

If it helps as a control case, during prime time I regularly watch an HD recording using my surround receiver while the box is recording two HD shows in the background and have (knock wood) experienced none of what you describe.

It may help to tune to 2 HD channels during a time when both are broadcasting actual HD content (i.e. using the highest possible bandwidth) and go into your PWR+OK diagnostic menu to see how much error correction is being done on the signals. It's my understanding that error correction is very resource intensive.

My guess is that the box just barely makes it through regular operation when everything is OK (recording 2 + watching a 3rd recorded HD show), but any additional operations that are needed overtax it.

The site with full descriptions of PWR+OK diagnostic menu operations is here (http://cjhengineering.com/hdtv/cablehdtv/dctdiag.htm) if the need arises.

Originally posted by drdr
See, this is my complaint. I don't have favorites available as an option on the quick menu OR on the main menu. Does everyone else have a selection for favorites on the main menu? Is this a local St. Paul comcast issue or are just my boxes messed up? (Yes, I have two 6412's and the menus are lacking a favorites selection on each. I can set up favorite channels but there is no way to display a guide page ONLY containing favorites. I also don't have options for search of messages on the main menu, FWIW)

Maybe I should unplug one of the boxes to reset it and see if the menus change when it downloads the data again. I just hate waiting so many hours for the guide information to return. You'd think there would have been room to buffer guide data somewhere on the 120G HD!


I got around this by creating a macro to use to view the guide screen displaying only my "favorites" listings. If you have a programable remote (I have a Pronto) you can set up a "Guide" button with the following macro:

*Exit (just to be sure that the macro always starts from the same place)
*menu
*menu
*enter

You need to go to the menu screen and highlight "favorites" and leave it there for this to work. I find that I have little need to go to the menu screen. Most of my needs can be reached through the quick access menu bar. If I do go to the main menu screen I just highlight the "Favorites" bar before I exit. This work around is a little on the "kluggy" side but it works great. I just got tired of scrolling through dozens of channels that we never watch. Maybe the iguide folks will take pity on us and give us this functionality in the future!

Originally posted by Charrua
I have the same problem with one of the channels "Goltv" but not with my other frequently viewed channels. Goltv is a soccer channel. I have been following this thread on and off but have not yet seen anyone identify this same problem (though I'm sure someone has).

Here's another one I notice with GOL TV: when I fast-forward on the highest speed on a show recorded from GOL TV, it doesn't run smoothly and quickly, but instead jerks at intervals of about four seconds at a time, if that makes sense. Doesn't happen on any other channel. (I know it's four seconds because you can see the clock move ... as Charrua notes, it's a soccer channel and there's always a match clock in the corner of the screen.)

Originally posted by GrantGochnauer
I have this real problem with my 6412 PVR. About 40-50% of the recordings I make in HD are completely unwatchable because the audio skips every few seconds followed by some video corruption. Then its ok again, and then it repeats. Some shows are fine but others are totally messed up. However, one week, the HD show will record just fine, and then the next week, its all messed up again.

Anyone else seeing this? I don't have any problems watching live HD content, its only when playing back from the HD. Its like the HD isn't fast enough to record HD content so during the record its dropping frames causing all the corruption and audio skips.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

I am too!! :( I just registered to post this, and am still perusing through all the pages on this thread. Let me know if you find out what the cause is behind this annoyance, thanks.

Can some one point me to step-by-step directions on how I can transfer programs I record on the 6412 to my laptop and then burn them to DVD? I have a laptop with a Friewire connection if that's necessary. All help is appreciated. Thanks.

Originally posted by kevev99
Can some one point me to step-by-step directions on how I can transfer programs I record on the 6412 to my laptop and then burn them to DVD? I have a laptop with a Friewire connection if that's necessary. All help is appreciated. Thanks.


http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=403695

Originally posted by zoostation1973
I am too!! :( I just registered to post this, and am still perusing through all the pages on this thread. Let me know if you find out what the cause is behind this annoyance, thanks.


How long have you had the 6412 STB? Have you contacted your cable provider support team about the problem?

Originally posted by scanpa
How long have you had the 6412 STB? Have you contacted your cable provider support team about the problem?

We've had it less than 2 weeks. And no, I haven't called them.. yet :)

Originally posted by zoostation1973
We've had it less than 2 weeks. And no, I haven't called them.. yet :)


I would call them and report your problem, or else just go to your local office and swap out your STB for a new one.

Originally posted by GrantGochnauer
I have this real problem with my 6412 PVR. About 40-50% of the recordings I make in HD are completely unwatchable because the audio skips every few seconds followed by some video corruption. Then its ok again, and then it repeats. Some shows are fine but others are totally messed up. However, one week, the HD show will record just fine, and then the next week, its all messed up again.

Anyone else seeing this? I don't have any problems watching live HD content, its only when playing back from the HD. Its like the HD isn't fast enough to record HD content so during the record its dropping frames causing all the corruption and audio skips.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

When the signal level is low, it is common on these units to have break-up on one tuner, but not the other . Since you are watching a "good" tuner, you are forcing it to record on the other tuner, which may (or may not) be "bad".

Figure out what HD channel is giving you a "bad" recording, tune both tuners to that channel, and by the "swap" button, check to see if the signal is good on both tuners.

You have a dead tuner. My first 6412 did something like that, although I noticed it after one day.

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:

[...]

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.



When I was beta testing the box I told them about this (I encountered it with The Wire on HBO) and I was told this was a "feature." I explained TiVo's 28-day rule to no avail. The stupid box just doesn't remember that it ever recorded that episode once it's been deleted.

I still see that stupid "your recording has finished" pop-up while I'm watching tv. If anyone at Comcast is listening, would you please get rid of that?

Why do I see talk about a dedicated forum for the 6412? Isn't that what this is?

Mike

Originally posted by Mike20878
When I was beta testing the box I told them about this (I encountered it with The Wire on HBO) and I was told this was a "feature." I explained TiVo's 28-day rule to no avail. The stupid box just doesn't remember that it ever recorded that episode once it's been deleted.

I still see that stupid "your recording has finished" pop-up while I'm watching tv. If anyone at Comcast is listening, would you please get rid of that?

Why do I see talk about a dedicated forum for the 6412? Isn't that what this is?

Mike


Series recording is based on the following. New or repeat. If the same episode is listed as New, and you only have recodings for new, then it will be recorded again. If the ch. provided niether New or Repeat to the tv Guide. Then it will always record the episode. Not all show listings have the New or repeat listed in there show description. There is no fault with the software, there is just a lack of info and the lack of a "do you want to record this series more then once for New showings"

Originally posted by scanpa
Series recording is based on the following. New or repeat. If the same episode is listed as New, and you only have recodings for new, then it will be recorded again. If the ch. provided niether New or Repeat to the tv Guide. Then it will always record the episode. Not all show listings have the New or repeat listed in there show description. There is no fault with the software, there is just a lack of info and the lack of a "do you want to record this series more then once for New showings"

No, that's a completely different issue that I wasn't talking about. I'm talking about when you record a program, watch it, delete it, and then it gets recorded again. TiVo remembers for 28 days, while the 6412 forgets it completely.

Originally posted by Mike20878


Why do I see talk about a dedicated forum for the 6412? Isn't that what this is?

Mike

I was referring to a proper forum with subjects and responses rather than a single lengthy thread.

Anyways it isn't going to happen at avsforum because they want Comcast to *pay* for the forum, and I think we all know what the likelyhood of that is.

I'd just like to say that overall I'm pretty satisfied with this unit. The dual tuners and the ability to record in HD 5.1 is very nice. I've had a tivo for about 2 years now and I really love it, but being locked into a single tuner and not having any HD recording capabilities was really starting to wear on me.

I do have some gripes about this unit, however. Maybe some others have noticed this too?

1. Series priority list number index was duplicated: Some how I was able to remove index (the number displayed in the left column) number 3 (went from 2 straight to 4), and then had two series at index 7. So when I'd try to re-shuffle the series in the list it would do funky stuff like show duplicates, not let me move certain ones up or down, etc. The only fix I could come up with (after trying to power the unit on/off, unplugging it, etc.) was to delete all my series so that only two were left (1 & 2), and then start adding them back in. Then they seemed to index correctly.

2. Magically switched all my ABC series set to record on the HD channel (707) to the SD channel (7). Unfortunately it had already recorded Alias and Lost in SD by the time I had figured out. I had to delete all the ABC series (no way to change the channel for a series, unless it happens magically w/out your consent) and then add them back using the HD channel (yes I had the "record this channel only" option selected). This is what got me into issue #1.

3. Unit goes into mute after hitting power button under some circumstances. From what I can tell, sometimes if I hit the power button on the remote while the unit is recording it displays the dialog that says if you continue the recording will be canceled, it will mute and there's no way to get the sound back unless I cancel the recording and power the unit off, then back on. Or I have to wait until the recording is complete, so I don't lose anything. The up side is that it still seems to record the sound when it's in this state.

4. Breaks recordings up into multiples when something interrupts the recording. I think this tends to happen when there is some type of broadcast, emergency broadcast or something, and I end up with two recordings for one show. At least it is able to get the second half, but this seems to happen with some frequency.

5. Twenty minutes of recording missing in my latest Battlestar Galactica. From about 20 minutes into the show to about 40 minutes the DVR just jumps ahead when playing like that chunk of the show is missing. According to the show details it recorded all 60 minutes. The progress bar shows all 60 minutes. Luckily I still have my tivo shadowing this unit so I was able to switch over.

6. Anytime you unplug it it takes FOREVER to get the guide back. You would think they would persist this to the drive and not store it in memory. The guide is pretty big, quite a lot of data, so I'm sure that's why it takes so long to update. With tivo you can unplug, reboot, etc. and the guide still hangs around.

So it seems this unit is still a bit buggy. Does anybody know if these units can self-update their software much like tivo does? I wonder if the bugs will "disappear" on their own with updates, or if they will persist until I get the unit replaced with an updated version?

Has anyone else encountered some of these issues?

*starting to understand Frankz1*

That MUTE bug is well documented (along with some others you mention). Do a SEARCH (up at the top) for MUTE, and it will tell you how to program the UNMUTE...

Nevermind, actually, I have it saved on my desktop just for some new-poster questions.

Here is the exact procedure to program a swap, mute, or 30 second skip to the remote.

1) Press the "Cable" button at the top of the remote to put it into Cable Box control mode.
2) Press and hold the "Setup" button until the "Cable" button blinks twice.
3) Type in the code 994. The "Cable" button will blink twice
4) Press (do not hold) the "Setup" button
5) Type in the code 00173 (for 30 second Skip), 00141 (for Mute) or 00236 (for Swap).
6) Press whatever button you want to map the skip or swap function to.

I spoke to Comcast CSR (Delaware) and asked about the Freeze up issue. He assured me that the problem was not on the box but at their end. He had no ETA on a fix.

Just for grins, I called back this morning to speak to another CSR to see if I got the same story. This time they said that Comcast was working with Motorola on a software fix. I asked if he meant firmware and he said yes. This guy said that they are in testing now on the fix.

Both of the CSR admitted that they are getting TONS of complaints about the issue.

I'm tempted to call back a 3rd time to see what different story I get.

They both said that swapping boxes is not fixing the problem. They said that it is affecting live TV and recording (same issue, if it freezes while you are watching, just change the channel. If it freezes while you are recording, you are out of luck (unless of course you are babysitting your recordings).

Originally posted by dwichman
Has anyone else encountered some of these issues?

Yes. Never turn it off. That'll help with most of your problems.

Swapped my 6200 for a 6412 on wednesday, after reading this entire thread. I've made multiple recordings so far, and it's been rock solid. No freezing, no stuttering, no missing minutes, no missing 5.1. No mute bug, but I leave mine on all the time anyway. For some reason since I installed it I'm getting every pay channel (I subscribe to none). I suspect that if I pull the plug or have a power outage that will go away though.

All the reported problems made me a bit paranoid, so I'm still recording SD versions on my SA Tivo of everything I'm recording on the 6412. Once I feel confident enough in the 6412 I'll stop mirroring it's recordings.

I only wanted the 6412 for recording HD and the occasional >100 digital channel so 15 hours should be adequate until someone comes up with an expansion option. Everything else stays on the 130 hour tivo.

My only complaint is pretty minor. Like with the 6200, there's no way to pass through the native resolution of each HD channel. I really wish that were possible.

Anyway, thanks to everyone in this thread. Because of all this sharing, I knew what problems to look for and it seems I lucked out with a good unit.

And for the record, I'm with Frankz1 (most of the time). If you're getting this unit, you should read the entire thread in order to be as informed as possible. Anyone who can't be bothered to do that or even click the Search button deserves a little ribbing before getting the answer to their often-asked question. :)

Originally posted by dwichman

1. Series priority list number index was duplicated: Some how I was able to remove index (the number displayed in the left column) number 3 (went from 2 straight to 4), and then had two series at index 7. So when I'd try to re-shuffle the series in the list it would do funky stuff like show duplicates, not let me move certain ones up or down, etc. The only fix I could come up with (after trying to power the unit on/off, unplugging it, etc.) was to delete all my series so that only two were left (1 & 2), and then start adding them back in. Then they seemed to index correctly.

2. Magically switched all my ABC series set to record on the HD channel (707) to the SD channel (7).
1. I describe a similar problem with the series priority list in this post (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=5076957#post5076957). I also saw issues with changing priorities of shows where I couldn't get them to move past the "gaps" in the numbered list.

2. This sounds like the bug that's been discussed extensively this last week where the 6412 gets confused when the two channels have the exact same call letters. In the Denver market, KMGH and KMGHD are designated differently so there is no problem. In the Philly market and others, their channels have the same designation so the 6412 just records the lowest numbered channel with the desired call letters. This is actually a deliberate feature so that you won't have to reset your recordings should they shuffle channel numbers. The solution is for your market to make sure each channel has a unique designation. CSR's probably won't be able to help, but a nicely worded letter to the engineering group might do the trick.

Originally posted by dwichman

4. Breaks recordings up into multiples when something interrupts the recording. I think this tends to happen when there is some type of broadcast, emergency broadcast or something, and I end up with two recordings for one show. At least it is able to get the second half, but this seems to happen with some frequency.



If this is happening with some frequency then your box may be rebooting itself while you aren't looking. I would get a replacement box if I was you. Mine has only ever broken a recording into two pieces twice. Once was an emergency broadcast and once was for an unknown reason. But I think multiple occurances indicates a problem.

Troll - from what I've heard the issue isn't so much a dead tuner as it is a software problem. My problem is exactly as you describe it, but I've swapped my box out and still have it. So I would believe that it's not so much that it's a bad box, but either bad software, firmware, or a design flaw.

dwfphils - have you noticed the box freezing on any particular content?

I've noticed over the last couple of weeks or so that my box always freezes on certain channels when the Lance Armstrong commercial comes on. I think it's a Comcast ad. Very strange... it's like Comcast is sending corrupt data through our boxes. I've seen it on multiple channels like Nick, TLC/Discovery, etc. That can't be a coincidence.

Just FYI -- I'm still at Firmware 9.12 here in Franklin (Nashville area) TN. Where have they been rolling out 9.15 so far?

-John

As to whether my freeze happens on particular content: At one point it was freezing at the same spot in a Dunkin Donuts commercial. At first I thought I was imagining things but my son noticed the same exact thing - without any prompting from me.

As to particular channels - I have had a lot of problems with ABC Family and Bravo but I have also noticed freez-ups on Cartonn Network as well. If I had to guess I would say it is not channel related. I thought it was since ABC Family is one of my worst channels reception wise but it is happening on channels that look great as well.

Comcast better fix this fast or they will lose me. The whole point of DVR is set it and forget it (series especially). It's worthless if I have to babysit it (I might as well use my VCR for that).

Originally posted by rodneyremington
I was referring to a proper forum with subjects and responses rather than a single lengthy thread.

Anyways it isn't going to happen at avsforum because they want Comcast to *pay* for the forum, and I think we all know what the likelyhood of that is. Huh?

fyi...Firmware 9.15 got pushed out in the SF Bay Area last night. Supposedly its a fix for the Analog Freeze.

9.15 firmware has arrived in the San Francisco Bay Area. It downloaded overnight.

Great post Frank1.

Thanks

Like several have mentioned, regular reading of this thread is getting tiresome as so many new 6412 customers join the discussion and ask the same questions. To be fair, the thread is now 150+ pages long and seems to be accelerating as Comcast rolls out the boxes to more customers.

Please forgive me if this has been discussed already, but it seems a updatable FAQ at the start of the thread would help tremendously. Frankz1 gives an excellent summary of the known issues and workarounds above - is there a way to put a version of this info in an easily accessable spot that newbies (to the thread) will see it? Maybe start a new thread to replace this one where the first post lists the issues and is regularly updated when fixes/workarounds are discovered?

We need some better structure here as this will only get worse as this box will be finding it's way into a lot more homes.

This is a product in it's infancy with numerous version 1 type problems. If you think your VCR and a library of tapes does a better job time shifting shows, you have every right to feel that way and every right to reject the 6412 until it works appropriately.

well said!

Originally posted by Keller
Like several have mentioned, regular reading of this thread is getting tiresome as so many new 6412 customers join the discussion and ask the same questions. To be fair, the thread is now 150+ pages long and seems to be accelerating as Comcast rolls out the boxes to more customers.

Please forgive me if this has been discussed already, but it seems a updatable FAQ at the start of the thread would help tremendously. Frankz1 gives an excellent summary of the known issues and workarounds above - is there a way to put a version of this info in an easily accessable spot that newbies (to the thread) will see it? Maybe start a new thread to replace this one where the first post lists the issues and is regularly updated when fixes/workarounds are discovered?

We need some better structure here as this will only get worse as this box will be finding it's way into a lot more homes.

Moderator, please make this a Sticky Topic!

Originally posted by frankz1
For best operation, leave the box on at all times, do not leave your tuners set to an analog channel for any length of time until you have firmware 9.15, if you lose 5.1 sound turn the box off and on again.

Are the music stations digital or analog (I know they call it "Digital Music"... but that doesn't mean anything to me, knowing how I called up comcast early on the HDTV thing, and when I asked about HDTV, they said, "Yes, Home and Garden Television is available"... no I'm not kidding)?

I leave music on all day... I tend to put both tuners on digital music... so I'm wondering if the above issue would affect me.

Originally posted by ticman
Great post Frank1.

Thanks

Thanks. FWIW, I believe I'd be horrible at writing a FAQ because I apparently lack the ability to do it without editorializing, but I posted this as sort of a touchstone that people can link to in the future when a newbie asks a question that's addressed in the post.

By the way, if I missed one of the "biggie" bugs I'll gladly add paragraphs to that post (provided nobody minds that it'll most likely come off as a rant no matter how hard I try to make it not be).

Originally posted by bronowyn
Are the music stations digital or analog (I know they call it "Digital Music"... but that doesn't mean anything to me, knowing how I called up comcast early on the HDTV thing, and when I asked about HDTV, they said, "Yes, Home and Garden Television is available"... no I'm not kidding)?

I leave music on all day... I tend to put both tuners on digital music... so I'm wondering if the above issue would affect me.

If you're on the Bensalem system, everything above Weatherscan is digital (Weatherscan on 101 is analog, by the way, as I can pick it up on my TV's analog tuner).

If your Dolby (Double D) indicator is working properly, it'll be there when you hit "Info" on digital channels and it won't be there on analog channels. Some people say they don't get the symbol on one of their tuners. I get it on both.

Originally posted by buzgz
When the signal level is low, it is common on these units to have break-up on one tuner, but not the other . Since you are watching a "good" tuner, you are forcing it to record on the other tuner, which may (or may not) be "bad".

Figure out what HD channel is giving you a "bad" recording, tune both tuners to that channel, and by the "swap" button, check to see if the signal is good on both tuners.

I think that is exactly the problem. I did some more testing, and basically one tuner always records content just fine but the other tuner never records content correctly and will always have the corruption. So if I have one HD channel recording, and then watching another live HD show, the live show doesn't skip at all but the one currently recording will be totally garbled.

I have a signal booster I will try put on the cable line. Its a motorola one specifically designed for this type of signal ($100 at BB). I will see if this help. Otherwise, I am going to have to call comcast since I can't reliably get good recordings.

On a side note, I don't think my swap button does anything.

Originally posted by scooterboy
I only wanted the 6412 for recording HD and the occasional >100 digital channel so 15 hours should be adequate until someone comes up with an expansion option. Everything else stays on the 130 hour tivo.
Actually, the 6412 is 12-20 hours of HD.

if you have nothing on the 120 gb HD, then you can record 26 hours MAX of HD programming.

Originally posted by GrantGochnauer


I have a signal booster I will try put on the cable line. Its a motorola one specifically designed for this type of signal ($100 at BB). I will see if this help. Otherwise, I am going to have to call comcast since I can't reliably get good recordings.



Cocmast will install an excellent powered signal booster for free if you call them.

Originally posted by frankz1
If your digital and analog broadcast network channels share the same name in the guide listing, the box will record the analog. No, this is not the way it's supposed to be. Yes, Comcast could easily and immediately fix it by adding -DT to the digital channel in locations where it's not working right. Does Comcast care? It really doesn't appear that they do.

Actually, it records the Digital channel sometimes, but it records the Analog channel often enough to be annoying, if they don't correct this soon.

Originally posted by weldon
In the Philly market and others, their channels have the same designation so the 6412 just records the lowest numbered channel with the desired call letters. This is actually a deliberate feature so that you won't have to reset your recordings should they shuffle channel numbers. The solution is for your market to make sure each channel has a unique designation. CSR's probably won't be able to help, but a nicely worded letter to the engineering group might do the trick.
One of the moderators said that Comcast is reading this thread, so they need to send out a national memo, telling every service area, to check all of it's digital channels that have analog counterparts, and make sure that they are labelled differently; that is simple enough.

Someone, maybe a moderator, said that they were going to contact management on this issue, and get it corrected, but we are still waiting.

Originally posted by rodneyremington
Cocmast will install an excellent powered signal booster for free if you call them.

Yes, you do not want to spend $$$$ on a non Comcast Signal booster device. Some of them raise the noise level more then the signal, and this will cause more problems then you have now. You can view your current signal to noise ratio in the diagnostic menu. Comcast has A signal amp made for these problems, but they will only use them depending on certain criteria... S/N ratio is one of them. If your having a signal loss problem, let comcast come out and check your signal, replace cables, bad or cheep splitters ect. It cost you nothing.

Signal loss is the reason there is no RF out coax connection on the 6412, With the Duel Tuner, the signal is cut in half inside the STB, and it requires a Stronger signal going to the box then say the 6208 or the 6200 (non DVR) boxes. Any type of noise on the cable line will also cause major signal problems.

Originally posted by scanpa
if you have nothing on the 120 gb HD, then you can record 26 hours MAX of HD programming.

Doesn't that depend on the bitrates of the HD material being recorded?
I've seen quite a variance so far......

If you are using an HTM MX-350 universal remote with the 6412, what is your button configuration?

Analog Channel Reception

I am presently receiving my cable HD signal via a Motorola 6208 DVR. I have been waiting for the cable company to get the 6412s in specifically for the dual tuner. They finally got them in but aren't releasing them to the public yet because of poor reception on the analog channels. Has anybody experienced this problem with the 6412s? The reception on the analog channels wasn't very clear on the 6208 either so I installed a splitter and split the cable signal between the cable box and the TV. The cable from the wall goes into the cable in connection on the splitter and one cable out goes to the cable box and the other cable out goes directly to TV. With this set up my analog channels are coming in very clear on the hook up connected directly to the TV. When I want to watch the non digital network channels I just change the input on my TV to that connection. It would be nice not to have to do that but I do get a clearer picture. Shouldn't this same solution work with the 6412 also or is the reception on analog channels really that bad?

Newbie here, but I have spent the past week and a half reading this entire thread, so I think I'm up to speed on things! That being said, I haven't seen this specific bug mentioned (although it's probably tied in with other software glitches). I scheduled the Super Bowl to record, came home at halftime and tried to access it from the beginning, but it wasn't on the "My DVR" list. When I went to the tuner on which it was recording, the box said "REC"; when I tried to just rewind it, I got a red progress bar with the times reversed--the current time was on the left and the start time was on the right. Plus, it wouldn't rewind past the time that I flipped over to this tuner. In other words, I flipped to the tuner at 8:36 and saw the red progress bar with 8:36 on the left, 6:00 (the start time) on the right, but I couldn't rewind to anything earlier than 8:36 (the rewind indicator still went right to left, but it just stopped at 8:36). Also, the channel indicator above the progress bar said "0" rather than the channel it was on.

Even when the recording ended, it did not show up on my list of recorded programs, but the infamous 0 minute 12/31 empty recording did. The strange thing is, it happened again last night on something else I was recording, with the exact same scenario, but when I went to the "My DVR" menu, lo and behold, my Super Bowl recording had appeared. The 0 minute recording was now at the top of my list, obviously representing last night's program I had been trying to record, which was nowhere to be found.

I've successfully recorded other programs, and successfully accessed them from the "My DVR" list while they were recording.
I don't know if the tuner was frozen and then came unfrozen when I flipped to it, so I can't say whether the glitches were byproducts of freezing.

I'm swapping out my box tomorrow because this one has a hard drive that ticks and whirs like Big Ben...I'll be curious to see if this happens again on a different box, not to mention after 9.15 gets pushed to my area.

Thanks for this thread and this forum, by the way...invaluable info.

Sharon, I too thought the analogs were awful on my 6208 and at first on my 6412, but something got tweaked, I think, a month or more ago that really made them much better. Some here thought digital simulcasting has started, that's how good it is. This doesn't mean it'll be that way in your area, of course, but it does sound like they are making progress on the issue.

COMCAST Forum???

Originally posted by rodneyremington
I was referring to a proper forum with subjects and responses rather than a single lengthy thread.

Anyways it isn't going to happen at avsforum because they want Comcast to *pay* for the forum, and I think we all know what the likelyhood of that is.

Can we get a reponse from the people managing the AVS forums as to what the cost, requirements etc... for setting up a new area for Comcast...

If it is a policy matter, e.g. they do not see it as their charter, then so be it. On the other hand if it is a matter of money, perceive interest... then lets understand it and see if we who are using the Comcast can see if we can make it happen or who else we can contact to host a Comcast forum.

guys, there already is a forum for this. its local to san francisco, but everyone seems to be piping in from around the country. they discuss all the issues you are and the issues are local to comcast.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=5165422#post5165422

Originally posted by gdebruyn
guys, there already is a forum for this. its local to san francisco, but everyone seems to be piping in from around the country. they discuss all the issues you are and the issues are local to comcast.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=5165422#post5165422 Huh? I mean, WTF?

As mentioned more than once in this thread, analog picture quality is not as good as when you bypass the box. And it probably won't be fixed by any upgrade, since it's most likely a hardware issue (Comcast had Motorola use cheap converters to keep costs down).

Sharon -
I had the 6208 before upgrading to the 6412. The analogs are equally bad on each. And yes, your workaround of splitting the signal before the box should still work fine as long as it doesn't weaken the signal too much for the 6412, which has to feed 2 tuners instead of 1.

Also, hopefully sometime this year, Comcast should provide a digital channel equivalent for each analog you currently receive. This should help the problem.

Originally posted by scanpa
if you have nothing on the 120 gb HD, then you can record 26 hours MAX of HD programming.

i was able to record exactly 21 hrs 54 mins of inhd2 straight through using an empty brand new 6412.
at that point it stopped recording and popped up with dvr is at 100%.

also people seeing 150+ pages in this thread.
i'm at 52.
not everyone has the same setting for showing total posts per page.

i do see nearly 3100 posts so far.

so frank.

do you think the signal booster will solve the pixilating on fox and wb that happens on one tuner and not the other?

Originally posted by frankz1
Thanks. FWIW, I believe I'd be horrible at writing a FAQ because I apparently lack the ability to do it without editorializing, but I posted this as sort of a touchstone that people can link to in the future when a newbie asks a question that's addressed in the post.

By the way, if I missed one of the "biggie" bugs I'll gladly add paragraphs to that post (provided nobody minds that it'll most likely come off as a rant no matter how hard I try to make it not be).

being new to this thread, I find that what is easiest for me is to do a copy of interesting posts and put them in WORD doc in a 6412 folder. That way I can go back to them easily. I have tried to use the search feature here, but get so so many posts that usually don't help me out or isn't the specific on I am looking for.

Just food for thought

I haven't had any freezing, but a funny thing has just happened today, I was watching TV and the Comcast DVR/Digital TV commercial came on and bingo it froze, just changed the channel and all was fine, then it froze again and it was at the same spot in the same Comcast commercial again. So the only time I ever saw the freeze problem has been during this commercial, and seems it's every time it comes on, Very odd, and kinda ironic...lol

And I still have the problem when I press FF just once, it goes like slow motion and somewhat jerky, and then goes right to the end of the program.

Still loving it though, only minor bugs to me that I can work around until it's fixed.

Originally posted by frankz1
I used the Motorola digital amp that people have discussed here for a different problem. I know we can't discuss prices here, but I'll say I got it below the BB price I've seen quoted here at CC on a rebate.

I wound up seeing a lot more line noise on analog channels than I had in the past. Now that I know what my digital problem was, it wouldn't have helped it.

My advice would be to get it and try it and keep all the packaging. It's returnable in 30 days if it doesn't solve the problem or if it does and you'd rather get one for free from Comcast (if it's true that they'll install one for free).

That's me, because I'd rather go through the hassle of buying and returning something than the hassle of having comcast to the house without knowing they can solve my problem for sure.

I was totally the same way. For those interested in my recording issue, I have installed the motorola signal booster (the one from BB) and so far I haven't had any bad recordings. This has definitely fix my problem. Yeah it was fairly expensive (Sorry didn't know you can't quote prices) but it was worth it as now I can do my dual recordings. I already owned this device before and just moved it from another TV to this HD set.

I do want to point out that I have my cable modem on the same cable line that goes into my tuner. So I have the cabe from the wall, split into two, one for tuner, one for cable. I think that is the problem with the signal being too low.

Either way, both tuners are recording perfect as I recorded two HD shows at the same time Friday night which would have never worked before.

I definitely suggest picking one up if you have these issues and return within 30 days if it didn't fix the problem.

Hope that helps others.

I have a 6412 and would like to know:

How do I (the enduser) force a firmware DL?
_____________________________________

Please only post an Answer to the Q Please!
_____________________________________

No please read 155 pages of posts that do not answer the Q

This Q has been asked 3 times in the last 10 pages, so it only needs an answer.

Just got off the phone with Comcast concerning the Freeze up issue (4th call and they are staying consistent that it is a problem on their end). They now have a "turnaround date" that they are giving out - they say that the problem should be fixed on February 24th.

I asked if they think the problem is with my box or my signal strength and they said no.

Lost 3 recordings last night due to freeze ups. Getting very frustrated.

Originally posted by 5*General
I have a 6412 and would like to know:

How do I (the enduser) force a firmware DL? has been mentioned several times.
most recently, exactly 117 posts before yours.

Last night, I had SciFi lock up on me THREE times. The first time, during 'Andromeda', NO recording was going on, and the other tuner was on a DIGITAL channel. This occured right around 6:30 (central). The second two times were around 7:30, with 'Enterprise' being recorded on the second tuner. The 3rd lockup occured barely 1 minute after the second! It was OK the rest of the night, including while recording 'Monk' on the second tuner.

Comcast/Motorola had better get those fixes out NOW. If this is still happening by March, I will be seriously considering canceling the DVR at the minimum, and maybe even canceling Comcast and going to satellite. It's especially ironic as Motorola headquarters are only a few miles from me!!!

Originally posted by whotony
has been mentioned several times.
most recently, exactly 117 posts before yours.

I needed an Answer to my post. "I did not need to be added to your 542 posts."

Originally posted by 5*General
I have a 6412 and would like to know:

How do I (the enduser) force a firmware DL?
_____________________________________

Please only post an Answer to the Q Please!
_____________________________________

No please read 155 pages of posts that do not answer the Q

This Q has been asked 3 times in the last 10 pages, so it only needs an answer.

You can't. You have to wait for Comcast to send it. It happens at night usually between 2-3am. Some parts of the country have already received the new firmware, it should be sent soon.

Set up the cable box to rename all of the titles from porn channels to "Adult Programming".

Get into the alphabetical show listing, as if you did a search by title. You should be able to scroll up or down, and page up or down at will. Let's say your cruising the titles starting with the letter 'L'. Everything's fine, right ?

Now, find a page where the top title is a renamed "Adult Programming". Page up or scroll up, doesn't matter which one you do. Instead of going back one page, into previous 'L' listings, you're instantly transported to the 'A' alphabetical listings right where "Adult Programming" would be. You're no longer in the 'L' programs, but the 'A' programs.

Looks like the display is getting really lazy. Instead of remembering where in the listings it really is, on a scroll/page up/down it does a search for the top or bottom title and finds the next/previous title. Except for adult programs, it's forgetting to use the REAL title, and is using the substitute "Adult Program" string.

Happens going up or down, by scrolling up or paging up.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by GrantGochnauer
[B]I was totally the same way. For those interested in my recording issue, I have installed the motorola signal booster (the one from BB) and so far I haven't had any bad recordings. This has definitely fix my problem. Yeah it was fairly expensive (Sorry didn't know you can't quote prices) but it was worth it as now I can do my dual recordings. I already owned this device before and just moved it from another TV to this HD set.

Amazon.com has the Motorola Signal Booster for a very good price...and free shipping. I bought two of them.

Originally posted by sharonf
Analog Channel Reception

I am presently receiving my cable HD signal via a Motorola 6208 DVR. I have been waiting for the cable company to get the 6412s in specifically for the dual tuner. They finally got them in but aren't releasing them to the public yet because of poor reception on the analog channels. Has anybody experienced this problem with the 6412s?

Who told you that tall tale? The 6412 has been released to about 90% of comcast markets, despite the fact that the analog channels, as is true for every cable box I have ever used, don't look as good as the digital ones.

I doubt if it is being held back just in your area for an issue that is inherent to the technology and not a bug or defect.

Originally posted by Paul Simoneau
Set up the cable box to rename all of the titles from porn channels to "Adult Programming".

Now, find a page where the top title is a renamed "Adult Programming". Page up or scroll up, doesn't matter which one you do. Instead of going back one page, into previous 'L' listings, you're instantly transported to the 'A' alphabetical listings right where "Adult Programming" would be. You're no longer in the 'L' programs, but the 'A' programs.
I mentioned this problem in this earlier post (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=5076957#post5076957). There are ways to get around it, but it can be a real PITA when you are trying to get to a certain show and have "adult" titles around it.

To fix this problem, it would seem like you would need to rewrite the way the guide loads the list of shows and sorts it. Maybe it can be done quickly, but I would suspect that this bug will be around for a while.

Let me say I'm new to this thread- and have read alot of it (not all of it yet). I was a long time Tivo user, who switched from Directv to Cable...long story for another post.

Anyway, I started with the Motorola 6208 box which was a complete POS, the new Motorola 6412 box is MUCH MUCH better, my main complain right now is lack of storage. My brother lives near me, but in another city with a different cable provider (not comcast) - They use the Scientific Atlanta xxxx box (I think its the 8300HD?) anyway, that box has an external hard drive connector to add and increase HD space! :) HOW AWESOME IS THAT!!!?

Is there ANYWAY to increase the Hard drive space on the 6412? Even 20 hrs of HD recording time is simply NOT ENOUGH :( I've lost several shows recorded before I had the chance to watch them because of new recordings coming in. :rolleyes:

Please advise.
Araltd

If anyone from Comcast Nashville (or anyone that can send them a message) is reading this - the clocks on our 6412s are set approximately 1 minute fast. This is causing the end of most shows to be cut off. This only started a few days ago - please correct it.

MX-800 Problems.

If any of you are using the MX-800 remote and have experienced problems after getting the 6412 box the following link will be helpful.

http://www.remotecentral.com/cgi-bin/mboard/rc-master/thread.cgi?6007

I noticed right away that the RF receiver was not working properly. I am hoping the new RF unit will solve the problem as it has for others.

Kris

I live in the Wayne, PA area, and I still have v9.12 of the firmware. Anyone in my area get the update yet?

Originally posted by rodneyremington
For those that care, I am in discussions with both the owners of avsforum and comcast to allow us to make a dedicated forum on avsforum for comcast DVR users.

Having used the tivocommunity forum and found it invalable at times for information and trouble-shooting as well as getting feedback to the company, I think it would be a great resource, better than searching through an endless thread like this one.

I'll let you know what comes of it.

i wish this could happen.
especially with as many dupe questions that are popping up every 50 posts or so now.

Originally posted by Stephenb
I just got my 6412 from Comcast today and I have spent alot of time going through this thread, but I have a question that I either missed the answer to or is not answered here.
I have always used Replay 5xxx DVR ( I ahve 4) but now I want to use the 6412 to record HDTV, but use the normal STB function to provide a signal to the replay for recording non-HDTV. I know that the 6412 has dual tuners and I have tested that the Replay IR blaster changes channels properly. But how can I assign the 6412 to record on one tuner and allow the other tuner to drive the RTV when I want to record an HDTV and non-HDTV program simultaneously? Any help would be greatly appreciated. It is unclear to me that if I use the swap button and choose to record on the 6412 then swap again the RTV can use the tuner that isn't in use for the 6412.

I've got the same problem here. I'm using a Replay 5040 which does have an analog coax feed, but sometimes I want to record an HD show and a SD show off the box at the same time. I only want to use the 6412 for HD stuff since space is so limited. So my plan was, schedule the HD recording on the 6412 and schedule the SD recording on the Replay. That should work, right? Well, apparently not.

Maybe I'm missing something, but my 6412 seems to want to jump to the tuner that is recording. So here's the scenario--I've got a SD recording of Speed Channel (250 in my market--not HD but still so I still need one of the 6412's tuners) on my Replay TV. Replay correctly changes the channel of the 6412 to 250 and starts recording the feed from the box--so far so good. Now 30 minutes later my HD recording starts on channel 822, scheduled on the 6412. When that time comes, the 6412 swaps that tuner with the "watched" tuner and starts recording the HD program. Well as you can figure out, the 5040 is now recording a downconvert of channel 822 because the 6412 "changed" the channel on it.

Is there any way to keep the 6412 from swapping tuners when it starts to record? Pretend for a moment that I don't even have a Replay. If I'm just watching channel 250 and then 822 starts to record, it should just do it in the background on the second tuner, right? Why does it need to switch, interrupt what I'm watching just to show me what it is recording? Sure I can switch back, but I've missed part of the show now.

Please tell me there is a way around this.

Let me say I'm new to this thread- and have read alot of it (not all of it yet). Is there ANYWAY to increase the Hard drive space on the 6412?

No. The only options are to dump recordings to either a D-VHS deck or video-enabled computer using the Firewire port. Instructions (and, actually, the answer to your question posted previously) can be found by searching this thread (try looking for "D-VHS firewire").

whenever i have something set to record, it always records to the other tuner and leaves on what i'm watching.

thats why have to leave one tuner on all the time because one tuner gets breakups on fox and wb.

I've taken some of the FAQ's from frank along with some other knowledge gained here and put together a wikipedia entry on the 6412. It is at the URL http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_6412

Since this is editable by everyone, it would be a good place to track bugs, work arounds, and fixes as/if they occur. Maybe it can become a FAQ we point newbies to.

Please tell me/us if we can assist you in trying to get a full Comcast forum. Also if you have some feedback on your progress or what seems to be holding it back, I'd like to know.

I am impressed with the quality of the AVS system and hope that we can be hosted on their system.


Thanks.

Originally posted by whotony
i wish this could happen.
especially with as many dupe questions that are popping up every 50 posts or so now.

someone took comcastdvr.com domain name already.

So I guess we will wait and see.

Otherwise We can put up a site with a another domain name.

Originally posted by BullittMustang
You can't. You have to wait for Comcast to send it. It happens at night usually between 2-3am. Some parts of the country have already received the new firmware, it should be sent soon.

Thats funny, I saw the tech do it right in front of me, with the remote... On my DCT-5100

Originally posted by 5*General
Thats funny, I saw the tech do it right in front of me, with the remote... On my DCT-5100

The firmware update can only be sent out from the cable head end Point.

You just have to wait until your local head end finishes there testing of the firmware update. All locations that can support the 6412 box, should be updated by the end of Feb.

Comcast has finished testing of the 09.15 firmware update as of Friday and has sent it to all local Head Ends for there compatibility testing and distribution over there local systems.

Originally posted by 5*General
Thats funny, I saw the tech do it right in front of me, with the remote... On my DCT-5100

Then call your tech.

Anyone know what is expected to change or improve with this new firmware?

Originally posted by 5*General
Thats funny, I saw the tech do it right in front of me, with the remote... On my DCT-5100

Your tech must be a magician (or he pulled a fast one on you..because it cant be done that way)

Originally posted by beanagee1
Anyone know what is expected to change or improve with this new firmware?


http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=507017

I have the new Firmware.

for anyone with 2, 6412's on the same tv.
how do you use the remote to switch from one to the other?

so far what i do is put a small object in front of the one i dont want to use.
then switch inputs on the tv and move the object to the front of the other 6412.

another plus to tivo for this is the tivo remote has a switch on it to change from "dvr 1/2".

Originally posted by whotony
for anyone with 2, 6412's on the same tv.
how do you use the remote to switch from one to the other?

so far what i do is put a small object in front of the one i dont want to use.
then switch inputs on the tv and move the object to the front of the other 6412.

another plus to tivo for this is the tivo remote has a switch on it to change from "dvr 1/2".
I use to get up and move an object, but I'm too lazy for that:)

Just put a shield on one of the boxes from a direct beam, the beam bounces off objects so if you slightly block one from the other and just aim correctly you can find a way to operate both boxes without a problem.

In the Chicago forum, somebody posted that the firmware will be out around the 16th. It had better. In addition to the 3 lockups friday night on SciFi, I found out that a recording of 'Buck Rogers', which should be 60 minutes, was only 33 minutes. A digital channel recording on the Science Channel at the same time was the full 60 minutes. Last night, a recording of 'Slipstream' appears to have stopped after 56 minutes. A 3 hour recording of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block is complete. In the nearly 2 months I've had the 6412, this is the first time recordings have been incomplete.

Just what is it about SciFi that is causing problems? Could it be a particular pattern of interference causing the MPEG encoder to barf?

Originally posted by mr2828
If anyone from Comcast Nashville (or anyone that can send them a message) is reading this - the clocks on our 6412s are set approximately 1 minute fast. This is causing the end of most shows to be cut off. This only started a few days ago - please correct it.
The networks do not adhere to their scheduled times. Your only option is to pad your recordings by 1-2 minutes.

Originally posted by weldon
To fix this problem, it would seem like you would need to rewrite the way the guide loads the list of shows and sorts it. Maybe it can be done quickly, but I would suspect that this bug will be around for a while. It is a known bug and, if I am recalling correctly what I learned some time ago, I can say with confidence it will be fixed in the next iGuide software revision.

Originally posted by flex727
The networks do not adhere to their scheduled times. Your only option is to pad your recordings by 1-2 minutes.


Actually, I talked to a senior Comcast Tech at their Headquarters in Philly regarding the clock issue. He called me back after checking with the regional tech in my area (S. Florida). He said they are installing GPS synch switches to continuously monitor the time and make corrections. He was very disappointed that the tech down here hadn't installed them yet and he promised me they would check the time 4-5 times a week until they get the new hardware installed. Sure enough, when I got home, instead of my box being 44 seconds slow, it was dead on.

Could you provide me that senior tech's contact info privately, or contact him regarding Nashville. We are still running around a minute fast here for the past several days. I have verified this against my cell phone clock and satellite clock, and this problem with cutting the ends off virtually all recordings has only been happening very recently.

Originally posted by flex727
The networks do not adhere to their scheduled times. Your only option is to pad your recordings by 1-2 minutes. Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

What we are talking about here is that the 6412's clock is not accurate and in my case has been off by almost 2 minutes. I contacted Corporate a few months back and they transfered me to my local engineer. It took a few weeks but since December my clock is dead on. Perfect. I hope they are doing a national GPS fix for the rest of you guys. In any case, I'd follow up on my own as some of you are doing.

We shouldn't have to pad because in the year 2005, Comcast should know how to keep the time accurate.

I'm just amazed I had to call them to fix it.

Originally posted by frankz1
I used the Motorola digital amp that people have discussed here for a different problem. I know we can't discuss prices here, but I'll say I got it below the BB price I've seen quoted here at CC on a rebate.

I wound up seeing a lot more line noise on analog channels than I had in the past. Now that I know what my digital problem was, it wouldn't have helped it.

My advice would be to get it and try it and keep all the packaging. It's returnable in 30 days if it doesn't solve the problem or if it does and you'd rather get one for free from Comcast (if it's true that they'll install one for free).

That's me, because I'd rather go through the hassle of buying and returning something than the hassle of having comcast to the house without knowing they can solve my problem for sure.

I have the problem of Fox pixelizing on the 2nd Tuner. Same thing happens for the WB. So, I went out and got the Motorola signal booster.

I installed it just before my splitter that sends the cable signal to the modem and the HD TV in my basement. So, connecitons look like this:

Cable Feed --> Moto Booster --> Splitter -->4 outs (33 TV, 1 cable modem)

I saw no impact in the problem. Still seeing pixelization on Fox and WB on second tuner.

I am looking for any advice? Is the config right? Should I put the booster closer to the TV which has the 6412?

Thanks!

pete

Originally posted by markjrenna
Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

What we are talking about here is that the 6412's clock is not accurate and in my case has been off by almost 2 minutes. We shouldn't have to pad because in the year 2005, Comcast should know how to keep the time accurate.

I'm just amazed I had to call them to fix it.

This happens to me every month, and has for years, on all my boxes, including my 6412. My clock will drift continuously, until at times I am up to 3 minutes off.

I can't continue to pad all my shows, because, periodically, Comcast resets the clock, and it's right on. Then a day or two later, it starts to drift again. I've called them continously about this, and they say they will report it, but it's never fixed. Very irritating!

Originally posted by NovaCat91
I have the problem of Fox pixelizing on the 2nd Tuner. Same thing happens for the WB. So, I went out and got the Motorola signal booster.

I installed it just before my splitter that sends the cable signal to the modem and the HD TV in my basement. So, connecitons look like this:

Cable Feed --> Moto Booster --> Splitter -->4 outs (33 TV, 1 cable modem)

I saw no impact in the problem. Still seeing pixelization on Fox and WB on second tuner.

I am looking for any advice? Is the config right? Should I put the booster closer to the TV which has the 6412?

Thanks!

pete

Sometimes too strong of a signal can also cause pixelation.

Originally posted by scanpa
Sometimes to strong of a signal can also cause pixelation.

Thank you for the idea, I thought about that. When I look at the service menu, the SNR and AGC on Tuner 2 read "Fair" while Tuner 1 reads "Good". That is why I thought maybe the signal was weak after the splitter.

pete

well, the loss of 5.1 audio bug is happening more than once a day now on both of my 6412's. there is a desperate need to fix this in the new firmware upgrade. all it takes is turning the box off and on again but that's getting REALLY annoying.

The past two weeks some of the HD television shows I've recorded (specifically ABC's Lost and Fox's 24) have had numerous picture drop outs where the screen momentarily goes black and then pixelates into a normal picture. I'm noticing this during playback from the recording. I haven't looked into whether or not it's occuring in the source material.

Is this a problem with my receiver or most likely showing up in source material? Did anyone else notice problems with these broadcasts? I did watch the recordings on my Tivo (from same cable feed) and their were no problems/dropouts.

Could it potentially be when I'm recording two HD programs at the same time?

Thanks in advance for any help/advice!

Originally posted by oleus
well, the loss of 5.1 audio bug is happening more than once a day now on both of my 6412's. there is a desperate need to fix this in the new firmware upgrade. all it takes is turning the box off and on again but that's getting REALLY annoying.


Try resetting all user settings as explained in a previous post.

power off
menu

reset all default settings

power on.


This comes from a Service Tech Manager.

I noticed the same thing this past weekend in Chicago on SciFi. What was really weird is that it's the 4th time it's happened during the same commercial at the same point in the commercial. I know that sounds weird (how could a commercial cause this?), but it's true. It's an Oreo cookie commercial and it always hangs with an asian kid (about 5 yrs old) dunking his cookie in his milk. On one of the SG-1 recordings (7pm one) it was at the 33rd minute at the later showing at 11pm, the commercial was shown at the 44th minute and that's where it hung. The other two times (about 2 weeks ago) were when taping Andromeda (same commercial- same point in commercial - towards the end).

I'm starting to not like Oreos. :mad: Maybe a boycott is in order? :p


Originally posted by andyross63
In the Chicago forum, somebody posted that the firmware will be out around the 16th. It had better. In addition to the 3 lockups friday night on SciFi, I found out that a recording of 'Buck Rogers', which should be 60 minutes, was only 33 minutes. A digital channel recording on the Science Channel at the same time was the full 60 minutes. Last night, a recording of 'Slipstream' appears to have stopped after 56 minutes. A 3 hour recording of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block is complete. In the nearly 2 months I've had the 6412, this is the first time recordings have been incomplete.

Just what is it about SciFi that is causing problems? Could it be a particular pattern of interference causing the MPEG encoder to barf?

scanpa -

is this a permanent fix, or does this default reset perform the same function as turning the box off and on again?

I just noticed 9.15 and on first glance it seems to have fixed:

1) Power off, Power on (Old system, 9.12, no live picture until switching to recorded show and then back) -- Now seemed to show live picture when powered up.

2) Flakeness when showing HD (Old system seemed to almost freeze, dificult to get guide, etc.) -- Now seems to be responsive to remote even when showing HD.

Note: This is first impressions after 15 minutes, it may be ilusionary.

Originally posted by oleus
scanpa -

is this a permanent fix, or does this default reset perform the same function as turning the box off and on again?


Fixed it on my 6412. I lost all 5.1 & 2.0 & 3.0 DD sound after the firmware update download and STB reset.

You have to do this anytime you reset your 6412 or get a firmware update or a power outage as the audio & sometimes the Video user settings will change...

re: forcing firmware download
Originally posted by davisdog
Your tech must be a magician (or he pulled a fast one on you..because it cant be done that way) Part I.
When my 6412 was installed, the tech did indeed force a firmware download. I know, because I had to help him do it, although it did not involve the remote control. While he held down several buttons on the 6412's front panel, he had me pull the power plug, and then reinsert it. Unfortunately, since I was behind the unit, I couldn't see the exact combination of buttons he was holding, but when the power came back on, the 6412 went into a download.

Part II.
A download can be forced, as stated above, HOWEVER, that does not mean that you will be getting the "new" firmware. You will only get the latest firmware that your particular cable system has released. So, in places where the 9.15 firmware has not yet been released, forcing a firmware download will just reload the 9.12 (or whatever your system is running). You might as well just wait for the 9.15 to show up on its own, because at best, forcing a firmware reload every day would just get you the new version less than a day earlier than you would get it anyway.

Audio issues -

My wife tried to watch a recorded HD Desperate Housewives this morning, but since there was no audio for half of the show, she is now the desperate one.

I've read through several posts regarding the audio issues, but am not sure what the definitive answer is. To summarize:

1 - The new firmware is causing the problem.
2 - I have a bad tuner
3 - I have a bad hard drive
4 - I have a bad 6412
5 - My signal strength is poor
6 - The splitter installed by the comcast tech is not good enough.

Of the above, I reset the box this morning to see if that fixes it, but is that pretty much the list? Any suggestions?

Thanks

I'd add another option "7-ABC's fault". I've seen 2 or 3 occasions in the last 2 months where ABC (either the network or my local affiliate) screwed up the 5.1 audio on the HD broadcast of Desperate Housewives. On 2 occasions I wound up with everything but the center channel, which was entertaining as you could hear all the background sound but no dialog.

I haven't checked my recording yet, but I've seen this often enough that I wouldn't blame the DVR immediately.

Originally posted by jraisner

I've read through several posts regarding the audio issues, but am not sure what the definitive answer is. To summarize:

1 - The new firmware is causing the problem.
2 - I have a bad tuner
3 - I have a bad hard drive
4 - I have a bad 6412
5 - My signal strength is poor
6 - The splitter installed by the comcast tech is not good enough.

Originally posted by jraisner

Of the above, I reset the box this morning to see if that fixes it, but is that pretty much the list? Any suggestions?

Thanks

We had a tech come out yesterday to replace the box for this problem, but I have yet to test an HD recording. My theory is that it's a firmware bug. The signal strength to the house is fine and watching HD live does not present a problem. The box is still on .12. I will test an HD recording tonight and see if it changes anything.

Merged in new thread. See post #3126.

Originally posted by vondo
I've taken some of the FAQ's from frank along with some other knowledge gained here and put together a wikipedia entry on the 6412. It is at the URL http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_6412

Since this is editable by everyone, it would be a good place to track bugs, work arounds, and fixes as/if they occur. Maybe it can become a FAQ we point newbies to.

I've updated the Wiki with a more fleshed-out remote remapping section. We should be able to point to that for anyone who needs that info.

I definitely agree that it's a great place to put a FAQ.

p.s. Over on Wikipedia, I'm FredipusRex. I've got to get a handle on my screen handles... :D

The advantage to this A/V forum over others on the web is the number of knowledgeable and helpful members. Porting to a new site doesn't mean all the members will come with it! (I can barely keep up with AVSForum)

What we really need is a forum like "Cable DVRs" or more specifically "Motorola DVRs" like ReplayTV, Ultimate TV, and Dish DVR have. The fact that you can't hack or substantially modify these units means there will prob. be less to chat about so a forum like Tivocommunity is probably a ways off.

Originally posted by frankz1
Your wish is my command.

I've set up a dedicated 6412 forum called **********.com (www.**********.com). The kinks are still being worked out and there may be some initial downtime here or there and frequent design changes at first, but it's an actual forum with actual categories and subject areas. All interested parties are welcome, and freedom of expression is encouraged.

way to go and thank you!!!

The Wiki site is great! Like an uber-FAQ!

I've added the "whack-a-mole" bug and some more info about firewire.

-John

Originally posted by frankz1
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."

I do not do series recording. I had just deleted a snippet of the Grammies I had recorded when I saw this blank phantom with the 12/89 date. I tried to delete it. It just sat there on the delete command. When I tried to play it, it showed 1 minute and was blank. That screwed up all kinds of things. I could no longer get to the Info displays. Anytime I tried to pause a live show, it just showed the 1 minute record bar and would not pause or move either direction. Swap of tuners no loinger worked. Selecting another recording from the DVR menu just reverted to the live show or the 1 minute recording. Shutdown fixed everything except the phantom file and if I tried again to delete or play it, the same problems would happen.

I unplgged the player, and after reloading, the phantom is still there and causes the same problems. It looks like a common file allocation table error. I deleted a file, but the OS thinks it's still there but cannot locate the clusters.

I'll call Comcast tonight and search further here. I really don't want to delete all the recordings, But I guess I'll have to stop off and get some more tapes for the D-VHS and transfer them, if I have to delete them.

Other than some occasional lag in response to remote commands, the 6412 has worked well until last night.

Bill

I just got the new 9.15 firmware, I never really had much of a freezing problem.
I did have a problem when I would push FF just once it would be like slow motion and then jump to the end of the program. Well so far the new firmware has fixed that for me, which is great. It's probably just me but the channels seem to change faster with the old 9.12, hope it's just the guide data still downloading thats slowing it down:)

Anyway many people in South Jersey should have got the new 9.15 this morning, if you didn't it should happen for you very soon I would guess.

For those of you looking for a good forum for more information on the 6412, including a FAQ and answers to questions/problems as well as links to all the manuals/supporting documentation for the hardware and software, there is one. I do not "own" it nor do I benefit from it in any way other than being a user of it.

AVSforum has asked me not to post a link to it. In fact they have blocked the name of the forum so it won't display here and have deleted many posts with references to it. I don't agree with this but since it's their forum, they set the rules and I will follow them.

If anyone wants a link to this website, PM me.

If this post in some way violates the rules of the forum, I would ask the moderator to delete it.

...information on the 6412, including a FAQ and answers to questions/problems as well as links to all the manuals/supporting documentation for the hardware and software, ...Anyone is free to put this together on AVSForum, either as a separate thread or as part of this one. I have been wanting to put one up myself, but my time has been too occupied by other things to get it together. If you have the time to do it, it beats taking the time to complain that one doesn't exist.

Originally posted by SonomaSearcher
Anyone is free to put this together on AVSForum, either as a separate thread or as part of this one. I have been wanting to put one up myself, but my time has been too occupied by other things to get it together. If you have the time to do it, it beats taking the time to complain that one doesn't exist.

I agree with you, but the problem is there is so much information that a very long thread like this makes that information difficult to manage. A seperate forum is much more user-friendly. I tried to take the inititative with the forum managers and ask them to encorporate such a forum as part of the avsforum family but was basically told they would not do it unless comcast paid for it which is of course not likely.

So another forum member created one. I personally do not understand why the name of this forum would be blocked here given that the powers that be decided they didn't want one anyways, but that's not for me to decide.

I was disappointed that as a senior member of avsforum I got an PM from a moderator basically threatening to ban be just for mentioning it, but again that's their right.

In fact, something tells me that this post will not last long. :(

Originally posted by rodneyremington
I agree with you, but the problem is there is so much information that a very long thread like this makes that information difficult to manage. A seperate forum is much more user-friendly. I tried to take the inititative with the forum managers and ask them to encorporate such a forum as part of the avsforum family but was basically told they would not do it unless comcast paid for it which is of course not likely.

So another forum member created one. I personally do not understand why the name of this forum would be blocked here given that the powers that be decided they didn't want one anyways, but that's not for me to decide.

I was disappointed that as a senior member of avsforum I got an PM from a moderator basically threatening to ban be just for mentioning it, but again that's their right.

In fact, something tells me that this post will not last long. :(

Too bad that such small minds exist. This forum was a good place to pick up valuable info on the 6412 but the recent censoring of info on the existence of a new forum is very disappointing especially since they declined to provide the functionality that the new forum offers.

I'd like to echo the above sentiments. I too am disappointed. I have enjoyed this forum for awhile and have patronized it's sponsors. The deletion of posts under these circumstances is simply unacceptable. I can only assume the advertisers here also know, and if not will soon.

I would propose to the moderators that we put this behind us with a mutual understanding that nobody is going to repeatedly promote this other forum here, but at the same time I would like to see a removal of the ban on the name and a restoration of the deleted posts. That's not healthy for the forum, and it's completely unnecessary. Nobody is trying to detract from avsforum.Then we can all move on and actually discuss the subject of this forum instead of how the forum is moderated, which normally has been excellent and fair-minded.

Yes, let's keep this thread on topic. As you may or may not know, there is a 'Forum Feedback' area where you can start a new thread and post just about anything regarding what you don't like about AVS Forum, complaints, etc. Please take this discussion there. Thanks.

And let me reiterate, in closing this off topic diversion, that anyone is free at any time to put together an FAQ, summary of links to manuals, etc. AND to start new threads about special 6412 w/ iGuide topics, so the alleged lack of flexibility in discussing the 6412 outside of this one stickied thread has been greatly exaggerated.

Edit: Here is a link to the Feedback forum: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&forumid=43

Edit: Off topic deleted per my warning in the previous post. Please post feedback issues in the feedback forum.

Edit: Off topic deleted per my warning in the previous post. Please post feedback issues in the feedback forum.

Tried searching the thread without finding a definitive answer; so could someone answer either yes or no for me? Does the optical out on the 6412 function?

Originally posted by Jeffrin
Tried searching the thread without finding a definitive answer; so could someone answer either yes or no for me? Does the optical out on the 6412 function?

Yes. I use it exclusively for audio from the 6412 to my receiver.

Originally posted by stevehof
Part I.
When my 6412 was installed, the tech did indeed force a firmware download. I know, because I had to help him do it, although it did not involve the remote control. While he held down several buttons on the 6412's front panel, he had me pull the power plug, and then reinsert it. Unfortunately, since I was behind the unit, I couldn't see the exact combination of buttons he was holding, but when the power came back on, the 6412 went into a download.

Part II.
A download can be forced, as stated above, HOWEVER, that does not mean that you will be getting the "new" firmware. You will only get the latest firmware that your particular cable system has released. So, in places where the 9.15 firmware has not yet been released, forcing a firmware download will just reload the 9.12 (or whatever your system is running). You might as well just wait for the 9.15 to show up on its own, because at best, forcing a firmware reload every day would just get you the new version less than a day earlier than you would get it anyway.

All that you described in the above Quote causes the STB to erase the Guide data and reset the box. IT HAS NOTHING to do with the Firmware.

When your getting a Firmware update, your box will flash on the display FRM DL

I will state again, it can not be done from the box, or by the CSR, it can only be done by the Head End Mgr. and the update would be sent to all STB under the control of that Head End and to only those with the same model type of STB.

What you downloaded was ONLY the GUIDE DATA and Account settings!

Hope this clears up any more bad info you have about Firmware.

Originally posted by mrzzmr
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?

I am happy to report that having received the 9.15 firmware sometime prior to the weekend, I reprogrammed "24" back to being a series recording, and last night it recorded perfectly with no cut off. Well done, Comcast and Motorola!

Originally posted by scanpa
All that you described in the above Quote causes the STB to erase the Guide data and reset the box. IT HAS NOTHING to do with the Firmware.

When your getting a Firmware update, your box will flash on the display FRM DL

I will state again, it can not be done from the box, or by the CSR, it can only be done by the Head End Mgr. and the update would be sent to all STB under the control of that Head End and to only those with the same model type of STB.

What you downloaded was ONLY the GUIDE DATA and Account settings!

Hope this clears up any more bad info you have about Firmware. I definitely saw on the 6412's front panel the letters DL (I'm not sure if there were additional letters), along with some "crawling" segments, indicating that a download was underway, which took 15 or 20 minutes. The Guide data was NOT present after this download occurred. In fact, it took overnight for the Guide data to appear, so clearly it was not a download of Guide data, and I can't imagine that account settings would take that long to download. This all occurred when the 6412 was being installed, so I don't know if the firmware version changed. However, prior to this download, portions of the DVR user interface were not working. Afterwards, everything immediately worked fine (except for the missing Guide data). Sure seems like a firmware download to me.

Do you know of a specific combination of buttons that can be held down on the front panel when the power plug is inserted to initiate either the Guide data download that you described or the sequence that I described? If so, it would be a simple matter to test.

Originally posted by stevehof
I definitely saw on the 6412's front panel the letters DL (I'm not sure if there were additional letters), along with some "crawling" segments, indicating that a download was underway, which took 15 or 20 minutes. The Guide data was NOT present after this download occurred. In fact, it took overnight for the Guide data to appear, so clearly it was not a download of Guide data, and I can't imagine that account settings would take that long to download. This all occurred when the 6412 was being installed, so I don't know if the firmware version changed. However, prior to this download, portions of the DVR user interface were not working. Afterwards, everything immediately worked fine (except for the missing Guide data). Sure seems like a firmware download to me.

Do you know of a specific combination of buttons that can be held down on the front panel when the power plug is inserted to initiate either the Guide data download that you described or the sequence that I described? If so, it would be a simple matter to test.

Sounds to me like it may be possible to use the box to force a download of the firmware that is currently loaded up on the head-end for a specific box. In other words, there could feasibly be two different f/w versions loaded up for a particular model of box, but with particular address ranges having access for each...just to do a managed rollout, for example. I certainly don't know...just throwing it out there...

-Randy

I believe you are both correct and incorrect about the downloads. When you unplug your box, you force it to reboot. When it reboots it will look for newer firmware. If it finds it, it will download it. It can only find it if the headend makes it available. You can't force your box to version 9.15 unless the headend makes it available to you.

I beleive the DL (download) shows when it is looking for an upgrade.

Originally posted by HD Rookie
You can't force your box to version 9.15 unless the headend makes it available to you. That is exactly the point of Part II of my original post: even if you can force a firmware download, you cannot force a firmware upgrade!

Something's changed in the install procedure. My 3rd DVR was hooked up today, and it is still downloading/updating - apparently, that now takes 30-45 minutes before the DVR is at all operational.

My first two DVRS were operational (albeit w/o the iGuide loaded) within minutes of install, IIRC, when I got those in December.

I need to set something strait for I love it when people jump to conclusions without the facts. In regards to censoring a web site URL and why we did it....

Lets see...over 30 SPAM messages set out in various threads on this site promoting the other site and via PM. ANY SITE would be added to the censor list for even much less than that. We are not here for someone to promote their own forums. Sorry...It is direct marking and ask such is not allowed. The SPAM more or less sent it over the edge. You are more or less lucky we did not ban the accounts that did it as we have done for any such spam of a site.

On a side note...this comes at a time when I was asked to make a full site for the chat on the topic. I declined for it costs money to operate such a site and would seek Comcast help in doing so if they would like such a site that is spun off AVS Forum. Then it seems it was done by someone else and the members choose to market it here. Thus the issue created. (How do you know we are not already now talking to Comcast for example.) Not to mention even considering opening a area for the PVR like the Replay area that is not a dedicated site.

Now back to being on topic. Thank you.

Originally posted by David Bott
I need to set something strait for I love it when people jump to conclusions without the facts. In regards to censoring a web site URL and why we did it....

Lets see...over 30 SPAM messages set out in various threads on this site promoting the other site and via PM. ANY SITE would be added to the censor list for even much less than that. We are not here for someone to promote their own forums. Sorry...It is direct marking and ask such is not allowed. The SPAM more or less sent it over the edge. You are more or less lucky we did not ban the accounts that did it as we have done for any such spam of a site.

On a side note...this comes at a time when I was asked to make a full site for the chat on the topic. I declined for it costs money to operate such a site and would seek Comcast help in doing so if they would like such a site that is spun off AVS Forum. Then it seems it was done by someone else and the members choose to market it here. Thus the issue created. (How do you know we are not already now talking to Comcast for example.) Not to mention even considering opening a area for the PVR like the Replay area that is not a dedicated site.

Now back to being on topic. Thank you.

Thanks for explaining. Whole thing just seemed....weird.

Originally posted by John Williams
Just FYI -- I'm still at Firmware 9.12 here in Franklin (Nashville area) TN. Where have they been rolling out 9.15 so far?

-John

John,

I am also in the Nashville area and just got my box this week (2/14). The firmware is at 9.12 and after talking with customer support, they had no idea when an upgrade would be available.


Mark

I've only had my box for 2-3 weeks and I've got 9.12. Picked it up from the Comcast store in Arlington, TX. I guess our area's are not getting the 9.15 update (yet)

Testing of the 09.15 firmware is now completed by Comcast Corp Data Center. The firmware has been sent to ALL Comcast Area Head Ends, for final compatability testing with headend and local gear. After that is done, the head end mgr. will then send it out over the system.


When your STB shuts itself down, then flashes FRM DL on the screen, and then shows a download indicator LED Sq. and the words DL. After it is done downloading and installing the firmware, it will then do a test, and flash how many errors were found. after that, the STB will do a reset and turn back on and begin to download the guide info and account settings.

on my STB, the Firmware DL & install took aprox 8 - 11 min. The basic guide info took about 25 min to fill up the current days shows info.

Cool beans ScanPA... I hope I already have it when I get home!

Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

A tad more information on the 9.15 Firmware. The areas that have 9.15 are a trial run to see what the break fix is. So far the results are positive.

As far as Comcast in my area goes, no 9.15 for a while. I couldn't get a firm date but it certainly didn't seem soon.

Seems they are a tad too busy to deploy 9.15 while trying to deploy a working DVR, i-Guide, Digital Simulcast, and add some new channels.

He seemed to feel that they want to get the new version of the i-Guide (whenever that may be) and make sure it works with 9.15.

It certainly wasn't an upbeat conversation to say the least.

If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area and you record ABC HD on your 6412, please be aware:

707, formerly "KGO", has just been renamed "DKGO" off the Rohnert Park headend, and probably most, if not all, other Bay Area headends.

Any scheduled recordings, whether manual or otherwise, have reverted to SD channel 7. You will have to reschedule all of them.

Right now, the iGuide for 707 is all "To Be Announced" in 30 min. segments, so you may have to set up manual recordings to tonight's and/or tomorrow night's ABC HD programming if the programming data does not download in time.

This will fix the problem of scheduled HD recordings on 707 reverting to SD recordings on analog channel 7.

Thank you, Comcast Bay Area management, for correcting this problem relatively quickly after becoming aware of it.

P.S. 707 has also been added to the HD channel menu. 730 and 736 are now the only HD channels missing from that list.

Originally posted by markjrenna
Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

A tad more information on the 9.15 Firmware. The areas that have 9.15 are a trial run to see what the break fix is. So far the results are positive.

As far as Comcast in my area goes, no 9.15 for a while. I couldn't get a firm date but it certainly didn't seem soon.

Seems they are a tad too busy to deploy 9.15 while trying to deploy a working DVR, i-Guide, Digital Simulcast, and add some new channels.

He seemed to feel that they want to get the new version of the i-Guide (whenever that may be) and make sure it works with 9.15.

It certainly wasn't an upbeat conversation to say the least.

as stated in previous post:

Testing of the 09.15 firmware is now completed by Comcast Corp Data Center. The firmware has been sent to ALL Comcast Area Head Ends, for final compatability testing with headend and local gear. After that is done, the head end mgr. will then send it out over the system.

With Compatibility testing being the hold back on many of the systems.

9.15 FW has been in SF Bay Area STBs for around 2 weeks already..

still 9.12 firmware in Center City, Philadelphia.

Still seems to be 9.12 in LA on Comcast. No 9.15 for me yet.

However they did seem to update 9.12 to support "On Demand". It is activated via the MENU button and "ON" icon on the menu bar, but the big red "ON DEMAND" button on the remote only produces the digit "1" on the screen. I'm sure they'll fix that eventually.

The service looks great, especially since HBO SHO and Starz are supported. However there is NO HD!!! That makes it essentially worthless for my needs.

But what I did notice is that although it's still 9.12 and not 9.15, the stability of the graphics generator for GUIDE and MENU functions has been seemingly completely repaired. Up until yesterday, I would often get horizontal black streaks across the image displayed in the small video window during Guide/Menu functions. And the rest of the blue background would be chopped and ragged, as if there were some graphics generation problem.

Anyway, all of these graphics problems have now disappeared with this upgrade to 9.12 for "ON DEMAND". Mini-video window has no streaks now, and the blue background is perfect.

I'm further hoping that my 6412 will now have its reboot frequency reduced to match. I could always tell when a reboot was coming, when the graphics raggedness was deteriorating even further. If they fixed the graphics generator problem, maybe the associated reboots will disappear.

I've observed something about the combined behavior of my 6412 and JVC 40K that seems to explain why the 6412 at times seems to simply ignore button pushes from the remote for a while (seemingly "buffering" them, only to suddenly perform them all in a quick series).

The 40K has a bit of a delicate interface to the 6412 which can easily be upset by doing things like (a) searching backward or forward while playing, (b) index searching from STOP, etc. The result of these situations is to suddenly lose 1394 sync from the 6412, or to display the "cannot decode" message box.

Most times this problem can be cured by turning off both boxes, and then turning on the 40K first, and then the 6412 second. That sequence of power-on steps seems to get the 1394 handshake to complete successfully... at least most of the time. Sometimes it too fails, in which case the only cure is to pull the power plug of the 40K out of the wall and then plug it back in (with 6412 powered off). The cold power-on/reset sequence seems to clean things up and allows the 40K to recognize the 6412 when it then gets powered on.

Anyway, I have observed the when the 40k "loses its mind" as described above, such that it can not reestablish sync via the usual recovery steps, that it is at this time that the 6412 seems to become unresponsive to the remote button pushes.

I have further observed that if I then power off the 40K, the 6412 once again becomes responsive (and of course runs all of the remote button pushes which have been "buffered").

I am convinced that whatever causes the 40K to lose sync and be unable to reestablish it causes the 40K to go into a "sync attempt loop", which simultaneously and continuously interacts with the 6412 totally occupying its CPU with responses to the 40K (which unfortunately have no effect). This is much like a "denial of service" attack on the 6412 by the 40K, preventing it from dealing with foreground service requests coming from the remote because it is fully preoccupied responding to the constant background sync requests from the 40K.

Note that this 100% CPU lockout on the 6412 also impacts any DVR recording(s) that also might be unlucky enough to be going on in the background while you were trying to get the playback tuner to feed the 40K for playback or recording.

Turning off the 40K clears this worthless sync-traffic, and the 6412 once again has CPU capacity available to deal with the remote and other foreground and DVR recording service needs.

I know this may not explain all of the non-responsive symptoms others have observed (especially if they have no 40K connected), but it definitely explains at least some of the remote lockout situations I have encountered which stem from properly setting up for a D-VHS archiving from 6412 to 40K.

I turn to channel 2 on my 40K right up until I hit play on any recordings I want to send from the 6412. But you're right, it is very unresponsive on iLink. I haven't had any synch problems since using this procedure.

Originally posted by tall1
I turn to channel 2 on my 40K right up until I hit play on any recordings I want to send from the 6412. I like to put my 40K into record-pause state while I position the 6412 for the proper DVR content playback. Then I press PLAY on the 40K to actually begin recording, so that it starts instantly. I prefer that to beginning a recording from a STOP state where an index mark has to be written first and other startup delays might interfere with starting the recording content as I want.

I do this because when "stacking" multiple movies on a single D-VHS tape I want to be sure I'm positioned correctly on the tape, hence why I'm fooling around with forward/backward search from PLAY state. If the 6412 is powered on while I'm doing this on the 40K, that seems to be a strong contributor to loss-of-sync, which I believe to be a 40K deficiency rather than a 6412 problem.

Anyway, once I find the right tape spot to begin the recording on the 40K I press STOP. I then want to confirm that I still have 1394 sync with the 6412 before pressing PAUSE+RECORD on the 40K, and it is here that I frequently don't (if I've left the 6412 powered on because I wasn't thinking). And it is at this point even if the 6412 is now powered up from an OFF state, it may not sync up with the 40k (which just came out of my searchprocess).

And it is at this point where the 6412 will occasionally appear to go deaf to my remote if the 40K just can't seem to re-sync.

I know, this may be a bit overly detailed. But I hope that a raised awareness of this delicate 40K/6412 relationship and the requisite 1394 sync, and its being the explanation for what appear as 6412 symptoms might help others deal with their own related issues.

Originally posted by SonomaSearcher
707, formerly "KGO", has just been renamed "DKGO" off the Rohnert Park headend, and probably most, if not all, other Bay Area headends.

This will fix the problem of scheduled HD recordings on 707 reverting to SD recordings on analog channel 7.

Thank you, Comcast Bay Area management, for correcting this problem relatively quickly after becoming aware of it. This is indeed good news! However, channel 705 is still "KPIX", the same as channel 5, here in Sunnyvale. Elsewhere?

I got my first phantom recording today. I tried deleting it but no luck. I'm still on 9.12 -- do we know if 9.15 will fix this bug?

DSperber

Where are u in Marina Del Rey.
I'm in Marina Pointe Drive and I do not have the On Demand service yet

Originally posted by bweissman
This is indeed god news! However, channel 705 is still "KPIX", the same as channel 5, here in Sunnyvale. Elsewhere?
Same situation here in Cupertino. KGO (707) is now DKGO, but KPIX(705) is the same as KPIX(5). So all of my series recordings for both need to be recreated. Is there any chance that KPIX will be fixed in the South Bay?

By the way, for the last week and a half, I have not powered off the 6412 (based on suggestions here) and it had NOT reset my Series recordings until the change today. Coincidence?

Originally posted by scanpa
as stated in previous post:

Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Yup, saw it. You were talking generally and I was talking specifically about my area - Comcast of NJ.

Very dumb question - but I had to ask it. How do I know which firmware version I have? Sorry - I'm not a newbie to forums in general but I couldn't find the answer.

Originally posted by neoprufrok
Very dumb question - but I had to ask it. How do I know which firmware version I have? It's located in the SETUP item, reached through the MENU dialog. The navigation was slightly different just a few days ago before they uploaded the newest 9.12 (not 9.15 yet) release into my 6412, to make ON DEMAND available. The new main menu now runs on to two pages of items.

Here's the navigation map with this latest 9.12 software:

(1) Press MENU, and then either select the HOME ("main menu") icon or just press MENU a second time to get to the main menu directly.

(2) The main menu is now two pages long, so navigate down (using the down-arrow key) to the very last item on second page, which is SETUP. Select SETUP.

(3) Navigate to CABLE BOX SETUP and select.

(4) Navigate down to the "configuration" item which shows "SELECT TO DISPLAY" in the button, and select. You will be shown the "review configuration" details, including "firmware" level.

(5) "Firmware level" is shown in the lower portion of the second column.

Originally posted by ptchristensen
Where are u in Marina Del Rey. I'm in Marina Pointe Drive and I do not have the On Demand service yet I'm in Villa Marina East, at Redwood and Mindanao.

I called Comcast today to confirm my suspicion, that ON DEMAND did not have any HD content as it appeared not to, and while the CSR confirmed my suspicion he also expressed surprise that I even had the service yet. He didn't think the Marina had been rolled out yet, although it was supposed to be made available sometime this week.

As I said earlier, for the moment it is only reachable through the new ON icon on the menu bar presented from the MENU button. The big red ON DEMAND button on the remote only presents the digit "1" at the top of the screen, so it's clear something is not fully implemented yet.

But I did take the initial "introductory tour" which is reached from the HELP AND SERVICES button (first item on the ON DEMAND menu), and then selecting ABOUT ON DEMAND, and then selecting ON DEMAND: A to Z. It was very well put together and presents examples of everything you can do with this service.

Apparently HBO, SHO, and STARZ have ON DEMAND functionality which is free with the premium subscriptions. I assume these movies can be recorded on the 6412 just like ordinary programs from these same channels, but I haven't tried it because they are NOT in HD. As such, this aspect of ON DEMAND is of zero value to me.

ON DEMAND PPV is also NOT HD. More zero value to me, as I would only consider purchasing HDPPV.

Lots of free previews as well.

There are "viewing-period bookmarks" for the server-based content (just like with programs recorded and played back locally on the 6412), so that you are not forced to watch a complete ON DEMAND program all at once. You can "resume" at a later time from where you left off, as long as it's within the availability period for the viewing you've selected (which might be free, or purchased, depending on content).

Anyway, the interface is really quite user friendly. Lots of categorizations for easy navigation, helpful icons indicating "new" (i.e. newly added in the last 7 days) or "LC" (i.e. within the final 7 days of availability), etc. Also you're told whether the content is "free" or "for sale". When navigating channels during normal channel surfing, you're also advised that this channel has ON DEMAND content available by a new highlight.

You can also set parental locks with PIN, for viewing and/or purchasing, if that's important to you.

When you enter the ON DEMAND dialog, the mini-preview window shows a continuously running video giving you what is essentially a tutorial and introduction to features and services. Very helpful and useful.

All in all it looks like a very elegant and complete implementation. And the amount of ON DEMAND content seems very very extensive. I believe there's going to be lots of SD sports (delayed, of course) although that has zero value to me as well. But they have really done an excellent job building out this software, based on my early exploration.

Now if only they had HD it might actually be of some value to me.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by DSperber
[B]I'm in Villa Marina East, at Redwood and Mindanao.


Thanks...!
Could you try to record one of the channels. The manual for 6412 clearly states that NO on demand content can be recorded.

Originally posted by DSperber
[B]I'm in Villa Marina East, at Redwood and Mindanao.

Thanks...!
Could you try to record one of the channels. The manual for 6412 clearly states that NO on demand content can be recorded.
The manual is correct. In fact, the info button doesn't even work with On Demand (fw 9.12). But OD does give you quite a few free choices to play iwth if there's nothing else on. Watched the HBO OD that was a freebie from Comcast last week. I don't watch PPV, but I was a little disappointed that everything I tried on HBO OD was 4:3 instead of 16:9.

Originally posted by markjrenna
Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

My box is being replaced on Friday. Mine reboots, locks, and now the most peculiar thing ever...

Everyday between 4 and 5 am and 4 and 5 pm the box will lock up. Totally unresponsive! Anyone else have this happen??? I don't get it. This thing was nearly perfect for 2 solid months now it grew a mind of its own.

I too wish Comcast would just buy Tivo (and use their guide). What then would we talk about? :) Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

I think I may have found the solution to this problem.

I did a check on the AC outlet where my 6412 is plugged into with a Polarity/Ground Fault Tester. It uncovered a problem with the wiring. Seems I have a Hot/Neutral Reverse and/or No Ground.

Last night I plugged my 6412 into a different outlet (one wired correctly) via extension cord and the 6412 didn't freeze between 4 and 5 am this morning.

I'm being hopeful that it will not freeze between 4 and 5 pm today as well. When I get home, I will verify.

I'm guessing that my power company does something between 4 and 5 am and 4 and 5 pm that causing the power to drop just enough that the 6412 is susceptible to it and it freezes. I wonder if a UPS is something I (we all) should at least have the 6412 and probably all our HT equipment plugged into.

Looks like this isn't really a Comcast/Motorola/i-Guide issue, but the box I feel needs to operate at a wider voltage tolerance since none of my other HT devices seem to mind.

In any event, it sure looks like I need an electrician.

Originally posted by bweissman
This is indeed god news! However, channel 705 is still "KPIX", the same as channel 5, here in Sunnyvale. Elsewhere?

Its been fixed here in the East Bay for at least 6 or 8 weeks.

Originally posted by markjrenna
Comcast NJ - Union/Verona
I wonder if a UPS is something I (we all) should at least have the 6412 and probably all our HT equipment plugged into.


After spending a grand-plus on an HD-tube TV, I made sure that I had a UPS back there. Tho I forget if the cable-box is on a UPS-plug or just a power-surge plug. Since STB powercord has been the same since I built the setup, I've never unplugged it at the plug. I remember having the thought that since the STB wasnt purchased by me, it was more expendible than the TV or receiver. But knocking on wood, I've had very few problems with the box.

Sorry if this has been addressed already, but if it has I cannot find it....

I am currently using both the S-Video and DVI outputs on my 6412 going to my tv so that I can switch back and forth between SD/HD programming.

Here's my problem....when I am using the S-Video output to my tv, I cannot pull up the program guide (the iGuide only works when I switch to my DVI connection). Is this normal, or do I need to change a setting somewhere?

this is a known limitation of the svideo output.

Originally posted by MCanfield
Sorry if this has been addressed already, but if it has I cannot find it....

I am currently using both the S-Video and DVI outputs on my 6412 going to my tv so that I can switch back and forth between SD/HD programming.

Here's my problem....when I am using the S-Video output to my tv, I cannot pull up the program guide (the iGuide only works when I switch to my DVI connection). Is this normal, or do I need to change a setting somewhere?

GUI graphics only appear on Svideo output, when the box res is the same- eg 480i.
Eg, watching an SD or analog channel/program, you'll see it.
But if the current display res is 720p or 1080i, no SVideo graphics.
Only way to get hi-res programs to show the menu, is to change the primary display res to 480i in the "off, menu" setup menu.

Shouldn't DVI out, also send SD/480i programming OK? or is the upconverted picture horrible, so you prefer the Svideo-transcoded output...

Originally posted by SonomaSearcher
If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area and you record ABC HD on your 6412, please be aware:

707, formerly "KGO", has just been renamed "DKGO" off the Rohnert Park headend, and probably most, if not all, other Bay Area headends.

Any scheduled recordings, whether manual or otherwise, have reverted to SD channel 7. You will have to reschedule all of them.

Right now, the iGuide for 707 is all "To Be Announced" in 30 min. segments, so you may have to set up manual recordings to tonight's and/or tomorrow night's ABC HD programming if the programming data does not download in time.

This will fix the problem of scheduled HD recordings on 707 reverting to SD recordings on analog channel 7.

Thank you, Comcast Bay Area management, for correcting this problem relatively quickly after becoming aware of it.

P.S. 707 has also been added to the HD channel menu. 730 and 736 are now the only HD channels missing from that list.

None of these fixes are in Foster City yet. My KGO recording of Lost (that I verified just the day before) got switched to SD. KPIX name still the same also, so far some of my sched recordings are still set to 705 after I changed them...

How about HBO-HD and Showtime-HD? Those channel names are the same also.

PS: Thanks VERY MUCH SonomaSearcher, for pressing w/ mgmt to get this fixed!
Plus for the heads-up for us to reschedule, after the fix :)
Guess peninsula viewers just have to wait a few more days, or? :(

PPS My box does have the 9.15 firmware upgrade, several days ago.

Originally posted by Terry_L_G
Same situation here in Cupertino. KGO (707) is now DKGO, but KPIX(705) is the same as KPIX(5). So all of my series recordings for both need to be recreated. Is there any chance that KPIX will be fixed in the South Bay?

Same situation with KPIX in San Jose. It seems this is pretty widespread. Hopefully someone will know how to get this resolved as they did with KGO.

I am hooked up the same way, except I have component instead of DVI. I am able to get the program guide for all channels analog and digital except the local digital channels on my S-Video input.

Originally posted by cgould
How about HBO-HD and Showtime-HD? Those channel names are the same also. I noticed yesterday that the HD channel of HBO had been renamed from HBO-W to HBO-HD, removing the conflict with the SD channel name. (Here in Sunnyvale, anyway.) We no longer get Showtime here, so I can't comment on that.

Originally posted by DSperber
It's located in the SETUP item, reached through the MENU dialog. The navigation was slightly different just a few days ago before they uploaded the newest 9.12 (not 9.15 yet) release into my 6412, to make ON DEMAND available. The new main menu now runs on to two pages of items.


Thanks so much! Definitely appreciate the detailed instructions. I'll try it out tonight.

Originally posted by bweissman
I noticed yesterday that the HD channel of HBO had been renamed from HBO-W to HBO-HD, removing the conflict with the SD channel name. (Here in Sunnyvale, anyway.) We no longer get Showtime here, so I can't comment on that.


I think one (sloppy) work around for this whole issue is to go into Series Recording/See More Options/ and select "Record on all Channels". It would leave you with some recordings to delete, but at least ONE of your recordings would be HD, right?

I am testing this idea out today. We shall see.

Almost got bit by another manifestation of the Whack-A-Mole problem last night. I had a series recording (MythBusters) set to record at 9PM last night. I go through the ScheduledRecording listings almost daily now, so I was sure that it was good to go. However, a repeat showing of Carnivale (also a series recording) popped up on my ScheduledRecording listing for last night, at the same time as MythBusters and made itself active, deactivating the previously activated MythBusters. No harm done because I caught it in time, but just a head's up to everyone.

Originally posted by Kaiser-Soze
After spending a grand-plus on an HD-tube TV, I made sure that I had a UPS back there. Tho I forget if the cable-box is on a UPS-plug or just a power-surge plug. Since STB powercord has been the same since I built the setup, I've never unplugged it at the plug. I remember having the thought that since the STB wasnt purchased by me, it was more expendible than the TV or receiver. But knocking on wood, I've had very few problems with the box.

I have UPS's on all my video stuff- battery-backed for the Tivo, 6412, and my DVD Recorders.
The rest are just plugged in for AVR (voltage regulation) clean power & surge.
I think it's a very good idea- I strongly believe the UPS-AVR protection helps the power supplies and disk drives last longer! (beside the obvious benefit, of still recording all your TV shows even if the power is out, to watch later!)
My 6412 is one w/ a "suspicious" serial number, but I've had no crashes or hangs or resets of the box, so I think it's helping.

Right now CompUSA has a great
Belkin 500VA UPS w/ AVR (http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=311655&pfp=SEARCH) , for $10. ! (prob out of stock by now.)
Other deals do come up... less important for a $10 leased box, but...

My 6412 is one w/ a "suspicious" serial number


What do you mean suspicious serial number?

Originally posted by cgould
Right now CompUSA has a great
Belkin 500VA UPS w/ AVR (http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=311655&pfp=SEARCH) , for $10. ! (prob out of stock by now.)
Other deals do come up... less important for a $10 leased box, but...

I just emailed the link to a dozen people :)

Tho I truely hate rebates.

Originally posted by DSperber
I like to put my 40K into record-pause state while I position the 6412 for the proper DVR content playback. Then I press PLAY on the 40K to actually begin recording, so that it starts instantly. I prefer that to beginning a recording from a STOP state where an index mark has to be written first and other startup delays might interfere with starting the recording content as I want.

I do this because when "stacking" multiple movies on a single D-VHS tape I want to be sure I'm positioned correctly on the tape, hence why I'm fooling around with forward/backward search from PLAY state. If the 6412 is powered on while I'm doing this on the 40K, that seems to be a strong contributor to loss-of-sync, which I believe to be a 40K deficiency rather than a 6412 problem.

Anyway, once I find the right tape spot to begin the recording on the 40K I press STOP. I then want to confirm that I still have 1394 sync with the 6412 before pressing PAUSE+RECORD on the 40K, and it is here that I frequently don't (if I've left the 6412 powered on because I wasn't thinking). And it is at this point even if the 6412 is now powered up from an OFF state, it may not sync up with the 40k (which just came out of my searchprocess).

And it is at this point where the 6412 will occasionally appear to go deaf to my remote if the 40K just can't seem to re-sync.

I know, this may be a bit overly detailed. But I hope that a raised awareness of this delicate 40K/6412 relationship and the requisite 1394 sync, and its being the explanation for what appear as 6412 symptoms might help others deal with their own related issues. Wow, all that trouble just to "stack" movies? I prefer to have things work correctly the first time so I have my 40K always turned to channel 2 and when I hit play on the 6412, I change the channel to iLink and check the picture but it now synchs 100% of the time so it is hassle-free. And what is "stacking" movies? I have never done this because I use Fuji SVHS 120 tapes so it is one movie to a tape. I also use Fuji SVHS 300 tapes for movies longer than 2 hours. But you seem to be alot more organized than me so you provide valuable info and workarounds for folks that want to stack movies.

Originally posted by Kaiser-Soze
I just emailed the link to a dozen people :)

Tho I truely hate rebates. Sold out at all the stores nearby me :( thanks anyway.

Originally posted by acaoacao
My 6412 is one w/ a "suspicious" serial number


What do you mean suspicious serial number?

some serial number models, had "poor" power supplies, that could cause problems (possibly related to the reboots/resets etc.)... longgg time ago post. Think was -473, -476, 4th numbers in... will look for the post...

Post 2486 this forum (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=5070520#post5070520) , which refers to another post. I also have not had (power) problems w/ my box w/ "bad" serial #.

Originally posted by markjrenna
Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

I'm being hopeful that it will not freeze between 4 and 5 pm today as well. When I get home, I will verify.
Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Well I'm home and it didn't lock up so it was the poor wiring in the ac outlet.

Does anyone know a good electrician in North Jersey???

Originally posted by cgould
some serial number models, had "poor" power supplies, that could cause problems (possibly related to the reboots/resets etc.)... longgg time ago post. Think was -473, -476, 4th numbers in... will look for the post...

The first 175 or so 6412's had bad transformers that caused the STB to over heat (more so then it does normally)..

They have long since been replaced before the end of last year. Not to say that your STB isn't having a power supply problem! I would take it in and get it swapped out ASAP as a bad one can cause a fire!

Originally posted by cgould
None of these fixes are in Foster City yet. My KGO recording of Lost (that I verified just the day before) got switched to SD. KPIX name still the same also, so far some of my sched recordings are still set to 705 after I changed them...

PPS My box does have the 9.15 firmware upgrade, several days ago.

At my house in Foster City, the KGO fix was in yesterday. I did have to go back and change all scheduled recording to DKGO-707, since the change reverted all of them to KGO-7.

It seems odd that they would only change part of Foster City when they did most of the bay area.

Sorry to drop in like this, but I have a question...

The DD out on my 6412 has suddenly stopped working. I know it's the box, because I have a DCT5100 in the other room, still receiving DD signals. I've verified it's not my AVR, either.

It is interesting to note that the flip bar does not show the DD logo, or 5.1 insignia anymore, either.

Has anyone else here seen this issue?

thanks.

mt

Originally posted by mikel51
At my house in Foster City, the KGO fix was in yesterday. I did have to go back and change all scheduled recording to DKGO-707, since the change reverted all of them to KGO-7.

It seems odd that they would only change part of Foster City when they did most of the bay area.

KGO is fixed now (this morning); I may have not seen it, or checked after yours.

KPIX is still not fixed, nor is SHOw... HBO is now HBOHD, but doesn't show up in the HD category. SonomaSearcher in the SFBay Comcast forum is following up.
He asks people (Bay Area at least) to post dupe channel names/#s, city/zip, and MCA #...

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=5199613#post5199613

Originally posted by Kaiser-Soze
I just emailed the link to a dozen people :)

Tho I truely hate rebates.

Any way to know when CompUSA will do more sales like this?

MartyTeboe

Welcome to the forum. Please do a search of this problem and you will see it is well documented. The only fix for now is to power off and on and it will return. A firmware upgrade to 9.15 is rolling out and may address the issue.

JTMav

In the spirit of being able to use my 6412 to it's fullest extent, does anyone have any information about Comcast's analog channels 1-99 converting to a digital signal like those of channels 100+?

Welcome to the forum. Please do a search of this problem and you will see it is well documented. The only fix for now is to power off and on and it will return. A firmware upgrade to 9.15 is rolling out and may address the issue.


JTMav,


Thank you very much, my friend. What a relief. This forum, along with the HTF have given me so much great information. I really appreciate your help!

mt

You're welcome. It is a great resource for us all.

JTMav

n/m

Another example of the terrible quality guide listings on the 6412: scifi channel stopped showing Andromeda rerun episodes monday-friday at 3pm, but the guide still lists it even now. This change happened on Monday, but the guide data still hasn't caught on.

Comcast: get a better guide data provider!

In the spirit of being able to use my 6412 to it's fullest extent, does anyone have any information about Comcast's analog channels 1-99 converting to a digital signal like those of channels 100+?

If you mean picture quality, the answer is the 6412 doesn't not have a very good analog-to-digital converter and it probably will never be fixed.

If you mean digital simulcasting (digital signals of what are now analog channels), the answer is Comcast is rolling it out and says everyone should have it this year.

By the way, I see you have posted very little. Your question was previously answered in this thread. At the top of the page is a search box.

Originally posted by DanRex
I think one (sloppy) work around for this whole issue is to go into Series Recording/See More Options/ and select "Record on all Channels". It would leave you with some recordings to delete, but at least ONE of your recordings would be HD, right?

I am testing this idea out today. We shall see.
Smart idea, it should record both the HD and Analog versions of the channel. The only drawback, is that if one is very low on HDD space, the Analog recording(s) will use a little bit of space; a good temporary solution, most of the time, nonetheless. Tell us how it works out.

I used the Firewire connection to copy some short clips from the DVR to my Mac, mostly just to learn what's being written to the DVR's drive. What's most notable is how much more space is needed to record analog channels than the digital channels. One minute of video from an analog channel uses about 50 Mb on the hard drive compared to an average of about 20 Mb required per minute of digital channel recordings (which actually ranged from about 12 Mb to 30 Mb in my clips). The HDTV clips averaged about 120 Mb per minute of video. So deleting analog recordings should be a priority over digital recordings if you're trying to gain space on the hard drive (and unwilling to delete an HDTV recording).

As for format, the analog recordings were 720X480 at about 7 Mbps with 320 Kbps 2-channel AC-3 audio. The standard digital channels were 528X480 at about 2.5 Mbps with 128 Kbps 2-channel AC-3 audio. The HDTV channels were 1920X1080 at close to 20 Mbps with 384 Kbps 3/2 AC-3 audio. And the music channels were 192 Kbps 2-channel AC-3 with a 704X480 progressive video track.

The fact that the digital channels at their lower resolution and bitrate look superior to the analog channels is either a compliment to the very high quality MPEG encoders being used by the sources or a slap for the low quality original analog signal being recorded by the DVR; or both.

I'm not an expert in this so I'm sure others will find error in my findings. Please correct me where I'm mistaken.

Originally posted by nielloeb


By the way, I see you have posted very little. Your question was previously answered in this thread. At the top of the page is a search box.

Its not like you've posted a lot either.

And often times, the search function is counterproductive in most forums. A lot quicker and easier to ask a specific question than to flip through hundreds of posts trying to find that answer. If forums are truly a place for good info and discussion, then asking questions shouldn't be frowned upon - no matter how seemingly dumb.

I've always thought that the whole "you're a noob go and search for the answer" was never truly helpful.

And just why do you think this thread is 108 pages, and growing rapidly ? It's because 50% of the questions posted are repeats of previously posted questions. That's why searches have become difficult. If people actually utilized a little self-motivation, this thread would have a higher signal-to-noise ratio as well as being easier to search.

On topic : any ideas what we should expect for turnaround times for ADS, once a local system cuts over to 256QAM ? 1-2 months, more, less ?

Originally posted by Paul Simoneau

On topic : any ideas what we should expect for turnaround times for ADS, once a local system cuts over to 256QAM ? 1-2 months, more, less ?

I think everybody already has the capability for 256QAM dont...For instance the HD channels are sent 256QAM (and some of the newer SD channels) already.

This thread was around 50 pages when I found it...now over 160!
It has some good information if you can find it but it's almost at the point of being unuseable... Do anybody know of any other sites that might be present this same type of 6412 info in an easier to use format....

(please don't suggest the SEARCH option...i'm hoping for something more somewhere out there)

Thanks.

I had a phantom recoding appear a week ago. It actually appeared when I deleted a recording. I could not delete it. If I tried to play it, all kinds of things went wrong until I powered off/on.

I have 9.15 now. I deleted all recordings and still could not delete the phantom. Did a couple of power disconnect resets at Comcast's direction. No luck. Taking the box in for exchange tomorrow.

Bill

I've just encountered the "phantom" recording as well. I tried deleting, playing, etc. to no avail. What I then encountered was weird. I could not playback other recordings and switching to another channel left me with a blank screen. I had to unplug the unit to reboot to get it working again, which it did but the mysterious "phantom" recording is still there??

In two months with the 6412 , I've had a total of 1 phantom recording on my two units. I was afraid it was using up a good portion of my disk but after a week or two it vanished on its own. I'm still on 9.12.

Originally posted by trojan125
This thread was around 50 pages when I found it...now over 160!
It has some good information if you can find it but it's almost at the point of being unuseable... Do anybody know of any other sites that might be present this same type of 6412 info in an easier to use format....

(please don't suggest the SEARCH option...i'm hoping for something more somewhere out there)

Thanks.

There is a FAQ of sorts at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_6412 It's a Wiki page, so if you see something it doesn't address, please edit it and add the answers you didn't find there.

There is also another forum set up, but we're not allowed to mention it, apparently.

Originally posted by vondo
There is a FAQ of sorts at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_6412 It's a Wiki page, so if you see something it doesn't address, please edit it and add the answers you didn't find there.

There is also another forum set up, but we're not allowed to mention it, apparently.

Thanks for this info.

It's strange that you are comfortable posting a link to one FAQ site, but not another.

This seems bizarre to me. C'mon avsforum, lighten up!

Originally posted by trojan125
Thanks for this info.

It's strange that you are comfortable posting a link to one FAQ site, but not another.

This seems bizarre to me. C'mon avsforum, lighten up!

You might want to read the last couple of pages here to see the explanation from David Bott regarding the linking to the new site and it should be clear why it is differentiated from the wikipedia site. You may or may not agree, but at least you'll be informed. And as for not wanting to search, I can tell you that type of comment will be far less welcomed at the new forum than it is here. I'm not saying that is good or bad, just that it is the case...they more or less spell that out in their welcome message...

-Randy

Originally posted by Bill Ball
I had a phantom recoding appear a week ago. It actually appeared when I deleted a recording. I could not delete it. If I tried to play it, all kinds of things went wrong until I powered off/on.

I have 9.15 now. I deleted all recordings and still could not delete the phantom. Did a couple of power disconnect resets at Comcast's direction. No luck. Taking the box in for exchange tomorrow.

I found this possible information to wiping out recordings. I don't know just what else it may also delete or reset:
Enter diagnostics menu: Turn off power, hit OK/Select within 2 seconds.
Hit in sequence: Replay, MyDVR, MyDVR, MyDVR, Live
Hit any other key and the box will reset.

The above is 100% at your own risk!!!

yeah, if you try and play one of the phantom 12/31/1989 recordings it almost acts like a virus - it basically keeps you from watching ANYTHING unless you unplug the box.

the ONLY thing that has gotten rid of these recordings for me (on both of my 6412's) is just waiting it out. they eventually go away. they seem to appear when the hard drive is filling up during a recording and it has to go delete older programming. a few months ago it started happening to me, i got the box swapped out, and it's happening again. i doubt it's a faulty unit, since all 3 i have had did the same thing. now it seems to be happening to a lot more people.

I have had my 6412 for a couple of months now and suddenly for no apparent reason ONE of my two tuners started pixelizing with audio and video drop outs but only on 4 of the HD network channels. Comcast came out today and replaced the unit with exactly the same result - still drop outs on the same channels on ONE tuner. Anyone with this experience or any suggestions?

Originally posted by andyross63
I found this possible information to wiping out recordings. I don't know just what else it may also delete or reset:
Enter diagnostics menu: Turn off power, hit OK/Select within 2 seconds.
Hit in sequence: Replay, MyDVR, MyDVR, MyDVR, Live
Hit any other key and the box will reset.

The above is 100% at your own risk!!!


This is the Full DVR STB Clear / reset. This will delete everything and cause the box to reset and download Account settings, and I-Guide info

the correct buttons are as follows

STB Power Off

15 Sec replay / rewind
15 Sec replay / rewind
15 Sec replay / rewind
My DVR
Live
Live
Live

Originally posted by Carl Jones
I've just encountered the "phantom" recording as well. I tried deleting, playing, etc. to no avail. What I then encountered was weird. I could not playback other recordings and switching to another channel left me with a blank screen. I had to unplug the unit to reboot to get it working again, which it did but the mysterious "phantom" recording is still there??

Yes, that's what I meant when I said weird things happened when I tried to play the phantom recording. However, the odd behavior would stop just by turning it off and on. I exchanged the box today. New one OK.

Oh, and it is nice to see the total reset code. I think that the resets sent by Comcast over the wire were ineffective - I didn't even see the DL letters, so all it really wiped was the guide. In fact, I had to have them do two resets before the new box went through a DL and worked properly.

Thanks for the codes - that's a keeper.

Bill

Originally posted by scanpa
This is the Full DVR STB Clear / reset. This will delete everything and cause the box to reset and download Account settings, and I-Guide info

the correct buttons are as follows

STB Power Off

15 Sec replay / rewind
15 Sec replay / rewind
15 Sec replay / rewind
My DVR
Live
Live
Live

On the black remote am I right that List = MyDVR? Would seem so.

Bill

Originally posted by cgoldst
I have had my 6412 for a couple of months now and suddenly for no apparent reason ONE of my two tuners started pixelizing with audio and video drop outs but only on 4 of the HD network channels. Comcast came out today and replaced the unit with exactly the same result - still drop outs on the same channels on ONE tuner. Anyone with this experience or any suggestions?

I have the same problem and I'm also in Delaware. I scheduled a service call, but, based on your experience, I guess it will not help. Has to be a problem with the signal but why only on one tuner? Are the channels in question ABC, NBC, CBS and PBS?

Originally posted by Bill Ball
Yes, that's what I meant when I said weird things happened when I tried to play the phantom recording. However, the odd behavior would stop just by turning it off and on. I exchanged the box today. New one OK.

Oh, and it is nice to see the total reset code. I think that the resets sent by Comcast over the wire were ineffective - I didn't even see the DL letters, so all it really wiped was the guide. In fact, I had to have them do two resets before the new box went through a DL and worked properly.

Thanks for the codes - that's a keeper.

Bill

If the code goes through correctly, the box will display CLR for about 1 sec. or so.

Originally posted by trojan125
This thread was around 50 pages when I found it...now over 160!
It has some good information if you can find it but it's almost at the point of being unuseable... Do anybody know of any other sites that might be present this same type of 6412 info in an easier to use format....

(please don't suggest the SEARCH option...i'm hoping for something more somewhere out there)

Thanks.


There is another help forum for the 6412 but the name of it has been banned here. If you want the web address you can PM me.

(Forum Moderators-I'm not spamming, I'm answering a direct question. You can delete this post if I'm breaking a rule)

Quote:
I have the same problem and I'm also in Delaware. I scheduled a service call, but, based on your experience, I guess it will not help. Has to be a problem with the signal but why only on one tuner? Are the channels in question ABC, NBC, CBS and PBS?




WRIGHTDA: Yes. Exactly those same channels. Perhaps Monday (or now) we should both call and explain this is not an individual set top problem. (My tech's name is Ryan Mullin - that might help.))

Originally posted by cgoldst
Quote:
I have the same problem and I'm also in Delaware. I scheduled a service call, but, based on your experience, I guess it will not help. Has to be a problem with the signal but why only on one tuner? Are the channels in question ABC, NBC, CBS and PBS?

WRIGHTDA: Yes. Exactly those same channels. Perhaps Monday (or now) we should both call and explain this is not an individual set top problem. (My tech's name is Ryan Mullin - that might help.))

I'm another Delaware user also in Bear. Just got my 6412 last week and came here because I noticed the same problem with one of the tuners. This kinda sucks. With three of us so far it doesn't seem to point to the 6412.

Originally posted by quartrj
I'm another Delaware user also in Bear. Just got my 6412 last week and came here because I noticed the same problem with one of the tuners. This kinda sucks. With three of us so far it doesn't seem to point to the 6412.

I sent a couple of emails through the comcast.com website and have a customer rep named Quinton sending the information to the "field department". I'm hoping they find something.

Originally posted by wrighda
I sent a couple of emails through the comcast.com website and have a customer rep named Quinton sending the information to the "field department". I'm hoping they find something.
Well, it's good to see some other folks here from my area. I'm located in Newark, DE and I've been reporting this choppy audio/video for some time--at least since November. Comcast says no one else is reporting this, but I'm thinking that's just a stock answer for everything.

My problem isn't necessarily connected to a specific tuner, however sometimes it is. And it is sporadic. Sometimes on a few HD networks, other times only on one. On Friday night I recorded 3 programs back to back on CBS...Joan of Arcadia, JAG, and Numbers.

I watched them out of order...JAG first. There was audio breakup throughout the entire show. The breakup occurred exactly 4 seconds apart, consistently. Next I watched Numbers and there was no breakup of any kind, so all was good. Then I watched Joan of Arcadia there was both audio and video breakup, again...every 4 seconds.

Now there are other days when there is no breakup at all. So I'm convinced it's not the box, it's the signal from our local point of origin. I've had Comcast to the house, they've checked the box and my signal, my splitters and the lines to the house. Signal to the box is consistently good.

I'll be interested to hear any updates from my fellow Delawareans. Maybe the firmware update (which our local Comcast affiliate still isn't acknowledging) will take care of all this.

Originally posted by BJMoose
[B]Well, it's good to see some other folks here from my area. I'm located in Newark, DE and I've been reporting this choppy audio/video for some time--at least since November. Comcast says no one else is reporting this, but I'm thinking that's just a stock answer for everything.
B]

I've had the 6412 since November (I think, maybe December). No consistent problems until Wednesday. First noticed it with Lost. I remember seeing others in Delaware complaining. Since then, I've had dropouts in some recordings, not others. I was tipped off that I had recorded other programs at the same time that did not have problems. Checked both tuners and it is the second tuner on 4 HD channels. I went to the diagnostics screen. Signal to noise and AGC both "good" for both tuners. On the channels with problems, there are periods of lots (tens of thousands) of "correctable" errors at times. I think it's something that happened around Wednesday. Hope they can figure it out because it makes recording 2 HD shows at the same time impossible.

Originally posted by wrighda
I've had the 6412 since November (I think, maybe December). No consistent problems until Wednesday. First noticed it with Lost. I remember seeing others in Delaware complaining. Since then, I've had dropouts in some recordings, not others. I was tipped off that I had recorded other programs at the same time that did not have problems. Checked both tuners and it is the second tuner on 4 HD channels. I went to the diagnostics screen. Signal to noise and AGC both "good" for both tuners. On the channels with problems, there are periods of lots (tens of thousands) of "correctable" errors at times. I think it's something that happened around Wednesday. Hope they can figure it out because it makes recording 2 HD shows at the same time impossible.

Actually it makes recording even ONE HD show (in advance) impossible because you can not control which tuner will record the show. ALL of us Delawareans should call Comcast Monday AM and explain the situation. I talked with a rep today who clearly did not understand the problem and gave the line "it will all be corrected in the upcoming firmware release". Truth is we don't even know Comcast is aware of this specific problem much less that it will be corrected. So let's make sure they understand the problem.

It's interesting how many different answers you can get from one Comcast office. For me, they wouldn't even acknowledge that there was a firmware update. And they've never acknowledged to me that they recognized any problems with freezing.

However, from reading through this thread, some of those who have the update have reported that it took care of their freezing problems, although there are some differences in the types of freezing that have been reported. For me, it's not consistent to any one channel. When it does occur, it's always with the abc, cbs, nbc, fox, wb channels. I've had my box since early November and have never had anything but perfect reception on the HD comcast, espn, and inhd and pbs channels. So I don't think it's anything in how my box is decoding HD. I just think that with the current firmware, the network signals are not always broadcast in the proper format for the 6412.

Hi Guys,

6412 in Newark,DE same problems you are describing. Who do we need to get a hold of at Comcast to fix this problem? I called it in on Thursday night, but the rep just did a reset to no avail.

Chris

Those of you in Delaware who are experiencing this problem; The best I know to do is call & e-mail Comcast to report this issue. Those who wish, PM me with your names, e-mails & address & I will call & e-mail with our list of names reporting this problem.

Any on this board from motorola or comcast who can help us, please jump in. There's obviously a problem in our little state.

Originally posted by Carl Jones
Those of you in Delaware who are experiencing this problem; The best I know to do is call & e-mail Comcast to report this issue. Those who wish, PM me with your names, e-mails & address & I will call & e-mail with our list of names reporting this problem.

Any on this board from motorola or comcast who can help us, please jump in. There's obviously a problem in our little state.
I've experienced these problems off and on since I first received the 6412 early in November. I call Comcast regularly about it to see if there are any updates. They will not acknowledge any problems openly (at least to me) and their favorite answer is "I've not heard of anyone else with that problem."

I will call in again today and perhaps point them to this thread. I'm actually heartened by the fact that I'm finally seeing other Delawareans with this problem. It does not seem to happening in any major way to those just over the PA state line.

Make that another one with the problem....

RE: Lockup when adding/modifying series recordings.



Originally posted by markjrenna
Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Well, now I think there are four of us with this problem (others have posted in this thread).

I feel it is an i-Guide/Firmware issue and not the box being faulty.

I have a call into an engineer with Comcast. He claims to have put in a call to Motorola. He said they have a test bed where they can try to recreate our problem. I have to call him back to see where we stand on the issue.

Maybe whomever else has this issue and is interested in his number can PM me. Hoping that if he gets more than just my call he/they will see it is a more serious issue.

I'll post back anything I find out.

Originally posted by BJMoose
I've experienced these problems off and on since I first received the 6412 early in November. I call Comcast regularly about it to see if there are any updates. They will not acknowledge any problems openly (at least to me) and their favorite answer is "I've not heard of anyone else with that problem."

I will call in again today and perhaps point them to this thread. I'm actually heartened by the fact that I'm finally seeing other Delawareans with this problem. It does not seem to happening in any major way to those just over the PA state line.

For what it's worth, I don't think that the problem is necessarily restricted to Delaware. I experienced the same problems mentioned here in Plano, TX, Friday night, although I had the problem both during JAG and Numb3rs. I don't think it was quite as bad during the latter show, but I still had dropouts. I also had them Wednesday night during Lost and Alias. Just an FYI...

Edit: I should note that I am still on a 6208, so this was just happening on a single tuner.

-Randy

In Delaware County, PA, I have problems on one tuner with Comcast SportsNet and ESPN-HD. Everything else is usually okay, although I too have sporadic pixellation/drop-outs on HD network channels: CBS, ABC, Fox, etc.

I can attest to the fact the sound drop outs are happening in the Dallas-Garland area as well. I've gone through two 6412s so far and my wife is about to toss comcast on their ears.

We've yet to get the 15 update, still at 12.

It also only happens on the 6412 not the single tuner model of HD box we have.