Official Comcast 6412 w/ iGuide Discussion [Text View] - Page 24

gmwedding

10-18-05, 03:38 PM

Yesterday, I started having more problems with the Fast Forward not stopping on my DCT-6412. So, I called Comcast customer service and they sent out a tech within a couple of hours -- in the afternoon afternoon! I asked the tech about the DCT-6412 III. He said Sacramento has them but that for the moment, they were only available by request. Since he previously had made service calls to our place for the poor analog picture quality, he put in a request for me ! Today, he came back and installed a new DCT-6412 III!

The new DCT-6412 III provides an HDMI port instead of a DVI port. Last Friday, I ordered new HDMI-to-HDMI and other mail order cables but as of today, they have not yet arrived. They should be here this afternoon or tomorrow, so at the moment, I only have it connected via S-video. Here are some initial details about the new box...

A label imprinted on front identifies the new DVR/HDTV cable box as a DCT-6412 III.
A sticker on the bottom labels it as a DCT-6412 Phase III.

- It has an HDMI port (that replaces the DVI port of the original DCT-6412).

- It still has a 120GB hard drive, but also has a new SATA (Serial ATA) port for an external hard disk.
(I cannot determine if this port is active; the settings menu does not state the status. Other AVS Forum users indicate it may not be active as of yet.

- Other AVS Forum users indicate that it has a new Analog-to-digital converter chip.
(Using the S-Video input, the analog channels do seem to look much better. I’ll let you know later about the HDMI input).

- It has a new internal fan and the settings menu indicates it is preset to a maximum temperature of 108 degrees.
(My old DCT-6412 internal temp was at 120 degrees when we disconnected it).

While the jury is still out on whether the box has been improved, all in all, this is impressive customer service!

Barrybud

10-18-05, 06:23 PM

Sorry, this would be mostly HD programs. I have tried S-video with no luck. I just tried a composite cable and it works, but the image quality is unwatchable. I don't see any settings on the Centrios I can change re: input type, the only options are along the lines of 4:3 or 16:9 :(

I guess if I know for sure it's not the 6412, I'll have to troubleshoot the DVD recorder...

Can your DVD recorder record an HD signal? I don't think they can, but I am far from an expert.

egore

10-18-05, 06:47 PM

Sorry, this would be mostly HD programs. I have tried S-video with no luck. I just tried a composite cable and it works, but the image quality is unwatchable. I don't see any settings on the Centrios I can change re: input type, the only options are along the lines of 4:3 or 16:9

The component and S-video outputs on the DCT have macrovision (I think thats what its called) copy protection. So if you try and copy from them you won't get any picture or the picture will be really dim and distorted.

Dave Harper

10-18-05, 07:40 PM

I have recorded a few things from the 6412's component outs with no problem at 480i onto a Philips DVDR-985.

No, current DVD recorders can't record Hi Def. You must set your 6412 to 480i if you want to record from the component output.

ExDeus

10-18-05, 07:44 PM

Can your DVD recorder record an HD signal? I don't think they can, but I am far from an expert.
Only if it could downscale an incoming HD signal to DVD format (doubtful) would it able to record the (downscaled) HD signal. It certainly wouldn't be able to record the input in HD format. HD content uses bitrates and resolution well beyond the max allowed by the DVD-Video standard (~10Mb/s program stream, 720x480 NTSC, 720x576 PAL).

@Meatpants: I would assume the DVD recorder requires the input to be the correct format. I don't know if the output ports on the 6412 are set up with Macrovision or not. Considering you have a consumer device with component video input (which are not supposed to exist according to the consumer electronics industry), you may be able to get around that anyhow.

I would recommend going into the "service menu" of the 6412 (turn the box off and immediately hit the Menu button) and set the YPbPr (component video) output to 480p or 480i to comply with DVD standards. Exit the SM (hit the Menu or Power button again and then turn the box back on) and see if you can get the DVD recorder to take the component video.

HealeyGuy

10-18-05, 07:52 PM

Meatpants, I don't know why connecting via S-video to your DVD recorder doesn't work. It works fine with my Pioneer DVD recorder. If what you're looking for is 16:9 video from the 6412 then you're out of luck. In order to use the 6412's component output with your DVD recorder you must set the 6412 to 480i output and doing so results in a letterbox 4:3 signal. So using S-video from the 6412 is just as good as using downsampled component connections with a DVD recorder.

Dave Harper

10-18-05, 07:58 PM

ExDeus,

A DVD recorder will not take in a 480P signal, it must be 480i. The DVD standard is 480i, the de-interlacing happens in the player if it outputs a 480p signal.

HealeyGuy,

S-video shouldn't be quite as good as component video. S-Video has half the color resolution as YPbPr component video. The luminance signal is the same (Y), but the chrominance is only carried by one wire with "S" instead of two for component. Use YPbPr if at all possible.

ExDeus

10-18-05, 08:00 PM

... In order to use the 6412's component output with your DVD recorder you must set the 6412 to 480i output and doing so results in a letterbox 4:3 signal. So using S-video from the 6412 is just as good as using downsampled component connections with a DVD recorder.
I wouldn't go that far. Component video, whether 16:9 or 4:3, still has higher bandwidth and superior brightness (luminance) and color (chrominance) information --- which results in a better picture.

Dave Harper

10-18-05, 08:02 PM

ExDeus,

The luminance is the same in both formats and can actually be interchangeable.

ExDeus

10-18-05, 08:20 PM

ExDeus,

The luminance is the same in both formats and can actually be interchangeable.
Haha, we seem to be repeating the same information, so I'll defer to you on the electrical properties of the two luminance signals.

To my knowledge, the DVD-Video standard includes progressive scan content. If the content type is FILM (24fps), then the content is made up of frames and not fields, and 2:3 or 3:2 pulldown can be used to display at 29.97fps. In that case, the player has to interlace the video into fields in order to output to a standard TV set. In the case that 480p is enabled and a digital TV is used, the original frames can be displayed in progressive format.

You disagree?

CoreyG

10-18-05, 09:54 PM

I have a 6412 Phase 3 with a manual recording of the Gilmore Girls (for the girlfriend) in HD that won't play. The bar stays at 0:00 (the recording duration is 1:00) no matter how long it's set to fast-forward or play. Are there any solutions for this?

jmorton

10-18-05, 10:00 PM

Hi all,

I have recently noticed something on my 6412. It seems that some times when I record a show I can not switch to the 2nd tuner. Nothing happens when I hit the swap button. This only happens every now and then. Anyone else experience this?

I have noticed the same thing on my 6412 a couple of times. Haven't been able to solve. I finally gave up both times. Usually works fine - problem is only occasional.

Couch Patato

10-19-05, 12:19 AM

I have noticed the same thing on my 6412 a couple of times. Haven't been able to solve. I finally gave up both times. Usually works fine - problem is only occasional.

I also have had this problem a few times in the past. That is untill I figured out the other tuner was on the same damn channel.:D

If this is the case. One tuner will have the large REC on the readout. If the tuners switch then it will go to what ever you have the readout set to. Time or channel & a little red led in the corner showing the other tuner is recording.

Dave Harper

10-19-05, 10:25 AM

Haha, we seem to be repeating the same information, so I'll defer to you on the electrical properties of the two luminance signals.

To my knowledge, the DVD-Video standard includes progressive scan content. If the content type is FILM (24fps), then the content is made up of frames and not fields, and 2:3 or 3:2 pulldown can be used to display at 29.97fps. In that case, the player has to interlace the video into fields in order to output to a standard TV set. In the case that 480p is enabled and a digital TV is used, the original frames can be displayed in progressive format.

You disagree?

From what I remember, yes there is a progressive format in the DVD specs, but no one, including Joe Kane with DVE, has been able to get it to work correctly so it goes unused.

Rather than type here forever and to get back on topic, here is a great explanation from the DVD Demystified folks:

http://www.dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html#1.40

gmwedding

10-19-05, 03:35 PM

I just connected a $30, 15-foot, HDMI-HDMI cable between a Pioneer PDP-4304 Plasma and the DCT-6412 III. Previously, I was using a more expensive, 6-foot, Belkin HDMI-DVI cable to the first generation 6412 (with DVI instead of HDMI port). The old cable may or may not have better specs, shielding, construction and connections -- I'd really have to research this. The cable box output remains set to 720p for this 1024x768 display.

With the HDMI port and new cable, the luminance signal to the TV is defintely reduced, and subtle shadow details have disappeared. The color saturation appears to be a bit higher as well, and this also needs to be reduced. So, the TV's HDMI input settings need to be adjusted from a -2 brightness to a +4 brightness level, and the contrast reduced a few points. This worries me, as it probably would decrease the life of the display over time. Also, the straight HDMI picture does not appear to be quite as crisp and sharp as the HDMI-DVI connection from the old 6412 box (Or perhaps, I'm getting a better picture with the straight HDMI, and now can notice imperfections in the HDTV video signal).

It's subtle, but noticeable to my trained eye (I'm a professional photographer).

Could all this be caused by the new cable? (I have two new HDMI's and tried both.) Should I try a Monster or Belkin HDMI cable?

Or does anyone here think these subtle sifferences could be a sign of problems with the new HDMI connection in the DCT-6412 III?

FYI: the analog channels look marginally better with this box when viewed through both the S-Video and HDMI connections. The analog-to-digital converter on the old 6412 box has been a known problem.

pepar

10-19-05, 04:16 PM

From what I read here and on the Denon 2910 and 3910 forums, HDMI is Not Quite Ready For Primetime. Everyone seems to be struggling. HDMI users may not be beta testers, but they are surely whatever comes after that - gamma testers? - which truly s*cks. :rolleyes:

Dave Harper

10-19-05, 04:18 PM

...With the HDMI port and new cable, the luminance signal to the TV is defintely reduced, and subtle shadow details have disappeared. The color saturation appears to be a bit higher as well, and this also needs to be reduced. So, the TV's HDMI input settings need to be adjusted from a -2 brightness to a +4 brightness level, and the contrast reduced a few points. This worries me, as it probably would decrease the life of the display over time...

The darker picture and less white whites may be due to the new HDMI connection using different signal levels (Video at 16-235 vs. PC levels at 0-255) than the previous version with DVI. Just readjust to the proper level and all should be fine. No harm will come to your display as long as they are set in a reasonable fashion. They should end up around the same intensity as previously if measured with a meter. Try recording the "Tune Up" show on either INHD or INHD 2 when it comes on and then use that to set the proper levels like you would with DVDs like Avia, DVE, S&V and THX Optimizer on THX discs.

Good Luck and remember to have fun:)!!!

gmwedding

10-19-05, 04:34 PM

The darker picture and less white whites may be due to the new HDMI connection using different signal levels (Video at 16-235 vs. PC levels at 0-255) than the previous version with DVI. Just readjust to the proper level and all should be fine. No harm will come to your display as long as they are set in a reasonable fashion. They should end up around the same intensity as previously if measured with a meter. Try recording the "Tune Up" show on either INHD or INHD 2 when it comes on and then use that to set the proper levels like you would with DVDs like Avia, DVE, S&V and THX Optimizer on THX discs.

Good Luck and remember to have fun:)!!!

Well I have the DVE DVD, and do plan to use that to revise my own consumer-level calibration. In fact, I used it to establish my first settings for the DVI-equipped 6412. Any thoughts on the sharpness issues? Am I seeing things that aren't there? Should I try another cable brand or even get Comcast to try another box?

Dave Harper

10-19-05, 06:12 PM

gojulas

10-19-05, 10:02 PM

****DISREGARD! I'M A MORON! THE REMOTE WAS SET TO AUX!*****
:o

I originally posted this in the Comcast - Boston thread, but maybe it is more approprate here:

I have the Moto 6412 DVR and I'm in Brighton. We lost cable yesterday, possibly because Comcast was doing an audit in our neighborhood. We got it back today after being prompted to disconnect our cable boxes for the cable feed and re-connect them.

Now on the DVR my pause, rewind, and fast forward buttons don't work. This is with live TV or with a recorded program.

Any ideas? I guess I should just unplug the box for a minute, but it's recording Lost and Law and Order right now.

frachel

10-20-05, 11:40 AM

AFAIK, they only have an agreement with Tivo to do software for various Moto DCT STB for the DVR & Guide interface, due out in 3rd. qtr 2006.

Last I heard the basic prototype is about to be beta tested in 3 areas in PA/NJ/DEL from Nov - Feb. But I have not confirmed this yet.
Ooh any way to get in to that test? :-)

scanpa

10-20-05, 12:37 PM

Ooh any way to get in to that test? :-)

I wished....

I still have not confirmed this info yet.....

gmwedding

10-20-05, 01:09 PM

I would use the Tune Up on INHD as a better way to calibrate. Always try to use the actual source so you can account for any quirks, etc. in the source device. Plus, DVD players, even if they have DVI/HDMI outputs and upconvert, can and may use the wrong lookup table for their levels. DVD is 480i NTSC video and HDTV is ATSC and they use different ones. They're close (i.e. - color points, etc.), but not the same.

If it still doesn't seem right to you, no harm in getting them to swap boxes. you have to live with it after all.

How do you find INHD Tune Up? I never heard of it. Is it buried somewhere in Comcast OnDemand? This would be a logical place to find it. Or does one have to just watch for it on the iGuide schedule? How does it work?

Also, I think most DVDs are 480p (not 480i). We once rented a DVD that turned out to be 480i (a made-for-NTSC TV movie), and the interlaced image quality was truely horrible and vastly inferior to most DVDs.

pepar

10-20-05, 01:24 PM

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

Bapon

10-20-05, 01:43 PM

Dave Harper:

What is INHD Tune UP ??

Cucuy

10-20-05, 01:54 PM

How do you find INHD Tune Up? I never heard of it. Is it buried somewhere in Comcast OnDemand? This would be a logical place to find it. Or does one have to just watch for it on the iGuide schedule? How does it work?

No it's not onDemand. It's on INHD on Saturday's at 7:00am. Double check the guide to make sure. There are a few threads that explain how to use it but if you have avia and/or DVE it should be similar. The difference here is that the test patterns come from the source outputs (moto box) as oppossed as if you would use a dvd player on the inputs you have the moto box connected. By the way record it and keep it in your box just in case the decide not to air it anymore. I think a similar pattern on HDnet was not being aired anymore

HD Rookie

10-20-05, 02:05 PM

I think most DVDs are 480p (not 480i).
No, they are all 480i. Progressive scan dvd players deinterlace them to 480p. Also, many tvs will automatically "line double" a 480i signal to 480p.

gmwedding

10-20-05, 02:55 PM

No, they are all 480i. Progressive scan dvd players deinterlace them to 480p. Also, many tvs will automatically "line double" a 480i signal to 480p.

Interesting. So what was I encountering with that oddball DVD I described? For some reason, my progressive scan Sony DVP-NS725P DVD Player with component video out would only display it as a 480i film. It was some months ago, but I never really understood what it was about that particular DVD that caused this. It's not a high-end DVD Player, but it is the only time anything like this every happened with it.

Dave Harper

10-20-05, 03:20 PM

It was probably just poorly mastered and you were getting a lot of interlace artifacts. There should be no reason that your PS DVD player did not deinterlace it and send it out 480p:confused: PS DVD players with inferior deinterlacer/scalers do have a harder time with video based sources than film based, but it still should have deinterlaced it to 480p.

Can you try that title again to confirm?

Kaiser-Soze

10-21-05, 08:03 AM

No it's not onDemand. It's on INHD on Saturday's at 7:00am. Double check the guide to make sure. There are a few threads that explain how to use it but if you have avia and/or DVE it should be similar. The difference here is that the test patterns come from the source outputs (moto box) as oppossed as if you would use a dvd player on the inputs you have the moto box connected. By the way record it and keep it in your box just in case the decide not to air it anymore. I think a similar pattern on HDnet was not being aired anymore

Still 7am.
http://www.inhd.com/product.jsp?prodId=23585&mp=cb2

Thank you for reminding me of this. Now if I remember to record it...

PaulNEPats

10-21-05, 06:34 PM

I notice a white flickering in the picture of my Philips 30PW8420 (as if you were watching something on a projector) when using my HDMI connection in conjunction with the DCT6412. My connections are tight, so it's not a loose connection problem. When I switch over to component, the problem goes away. I don't have another HD box in the house, so I'm not sure if it's a faulty HDMI port on the TV or cable box. What's the best way to troubleshoot this? Has anyone experienced any faulty HDMI port problems with their Moto box?

zamboniman

10-21-05, 08:47 PM

I've got the same skipping problem as Q & A.... Hmm both in Chicago area.....

Got the Phase III box.....

My picture gets choppy/jumpy also. I pretty much only watch HD content so not sure about SD material. It's like it starts dropping frames. There is no macro blocking or anything like that.. The full high quality picture starts studdering..

Sound is smooth with no issues just the picture...

So far it seems to be connected to the drive filling up.. although not full. I've had it happen 3 times now in the last month anytime the drive is over 50% full. Funny thing is that it also happens on live TV too. Perhaps related to the buffering? Could also be related to how long the box is running and a memory leak type problem. By not leaving the box on when not watching I've been able to increase the time between reoccurance.

The only way I've been able to correct it is to remove power from the box for a few seconds. That's annoying because of how long it takes to refresh the guide...

No one else is seeing this? I've searched high and low and haven't found any mention of it until I saw what Q&A was saying.... It seems easy enough to reproduce, I'm surprised no one else has this issue. Maybe it's isolated to a bad box? but is sure looks to be a software issue...

Phil Tomaskovic

10-22-05, 02:35 AM

Has anyone seen an issue where it doesn't give you a series recording option?

I found the solution to my scheduling conflict with Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy and Crossing Jordan. Need to program Housewives 1st, Jordan 2nd and Grey last. If you do Housewives, Grey and Jordan in that order you get a conflict and it won't let you even finish programming Jordan.

So I had a series programming for Housewives and Grey, then deleted Grey so I can get Jordan in. It didn't even show the option to do a Series recording for Jordan, then I repogrammed Grey and it also wouldn't show a series option.

I kept going through many cycles of deleting the entries and reprogramming them and the stupid thing actually rebooted!

I also came home one day, turned on the dvr and it was muted. The tv wasn't muted, the dvr was! It actually said "mute" at the top of the screen which is different than when my Sony SXRD has mute on. Called Comcast and they said to power cycle the dvr; waited til the program it was recording was over and this fixed it. He then told me it was bug in the box and the recommended solution was to leave the dvr on all the time (I had been turning it off when going to bed), He said the problem was due to the box turning on to record an even when it had been powered off.

DSperber

10-22-05, 05:18 AM

I also came home one day, turned on the dvr and it was muted. The tv wasn't muted, the dvr was! It actually said "mute" at the top of the screenThis "feature" has been well discussed here for quite some time. And it's true, if you power the box off when it powers itself on to record a timer event it will mute itself. It's never been clear why it would be programmed this way, but that's the way it is.

So I'm sure your description is just a little off. You must have come home, turned the TV on (since the DVR was obviously already on and performing a timer recording from its previous OFF state), and noticed the "MUTE" at the top of the screen, coming from the 6412 being muted.

Anyway, the standard workaround is to program one of the unused buttons on your remote to be a MUTE/UN-MUTE toggle for the 6412, for just such a situation. That way if you come in and want to watch what's being recorded, or want to watch something else on the other tuner while the timer recording is taking place, you can hear what you're watching.

How to program an unused button on remote for MUTE/UN-MUTE (as well as 30second skip) (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=5327687&&#post5327687)

Phil Tomaskovic

10-22-05, 10:28 AM

This "feature" has been well discussed here for quite some time. And it's true, if you power the box off when it powers itself on to record a timer event it will mute itself. It's never been clear why it would be programmed this way, but that's the way it is.

So I'm sure your description is just a little off. You must have come home, turned the TV on (since the DVR was obviously already on and performing a timer recording from its previous OFF state), and noticed the "MUTE" at the top of the screen, coming from the 6412 being muted.

Anyway, the standard workaround is to program one of the unused buttons on your remote to be a MUTE/UN-MUTE toggle for the 6412, for just such a situation. That way if you come in and want to watch what's being recorded, or want to watch something else on the other tuner while the timer recording is taking place, you can hear what you're watching.

How to program an unused button on remote for MUTE/UN-MUTE (as well as 30second skip) (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=5327687&&#post5327687)

Thanks, I been missing the commercial skip functionality like on my dvd-r!

So no clues about not seeing series recording option?

keenan

10-22-05, 11:21 AM

Has anyone seen an issue where it doesn't give you a series recording option?

I found the solution to my scheduling conflict with Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy and Crossing Jordan. Need to program Housewives 1st, Jordan 2nd and Grey last. If you do Housewives, Grey and Jordan in that order you get a conflict and it won't let you even finish programming Jordan.

So I had a series programming for Housewives and Grey, then deleted Grey so I can get Jordan in. It didn't even show the option to do a Series recording for Jordan, then I reprogrammed Grey and it also wouldn't show a series option.

When you deleted these recordings, did you do it from the guide listing or from the series recording list? If you deleted just one episode it may not allow you set up another series recording because it's still set up as a series recording, it just won't record the episode you deleted.

I don't know why you would have a conflict with the original way you set up those 3 shows. Are you recording something else other than DH at 9, such as something that is not on the same channel as Jordan? Does Jordan start early?

I've set up my series recordings by the channel and then each show by time on the same channel, and then I do the same for the next channel. Haven't had any conflicts or tuner swapping back and forth like I had when I set them up by time first and then channel second.

cavu

10-22-05, 11:22 AM

It's never been clear why it would be programmed this way, but that's the way it is.That's one of the silliest remarks I've seen on this forum.

It's extremely clear why the DVR mutes the audio for scheduled recordings: how do you like being awakened in the middle of the night when the DVR turns itself on and blasts you out of bed because your AV receiver is still on??!!

This isn't rocket science! To unmute the DVR, use the 'mute' button on the remote.

If YOU have changed ('locked') the remote's volume/mute functions to your AV receiver or TV, you should briefly 'unlock' them so you can control the mute of the DVR, then relock them to your audio device. (Read the manual!)

If YOU haven't messed with the settings on the remote, the mute button is will unmute the DVR as was intended.

Phil Tomaskovic

10-22-05, 11:43 AM

That's one of the silliest remarks I've seen on this forum.

It's extremely clear why the DVR mutes the audio for scheduled recordings: how do you like being awakened in the middle of the night when the DVR turns itself on and blasts you out of bed because your AV receiver is still on??!!

This isn't rocket science! To unmute the DVR, use the 'mute' button on the remote.

If YOU have changed ('locked') the remote's volume/mute functions to your AV receiver or TV, you should briefly 'unlock' them so you can control the mute of the DVR, then relock them to your audio device. (Read the manual!)

If YOU haven't messed with the settings on the remote, the mute button is will unmute the DVR as was intended.
Except the mute button on the remote doesn't unmute the dvr, it affects the mute of the tv. I didn't touch this, either the remote is programmed that way or the Comcast installer did (since the remote's volume and channel also work with the tv so they must have programmed the remote to go with my tv (since most tvs have different codes).

Please don't be so quick to criticize or call someone silly.

ThePerfectViewe

10-22-05, 11:55 AM

Since Comcast was too cheap to provide an adapter plug, I purchased a $4.00 plug from monoprice. Seems to work okay. I have not recalibrated the TV (DVI and componet inputs) yet. I also feed the component out from the 6412 to the TV. Both seem about the same in brightness and quality of picture. However, I have noticed a slight breakup in the picture on both outputs. Do I have a box, cable or line problem?

P. s . Has anyone with the 6412 III tried to plug a SATA hard drive into the SATA plug?

cavu

10-22-05, 12:03 PM

Except the mute button on the remote doesn't unmute the dvr, it affects the mute of the tv.That's because YOU or SOMEONE has reprogrammed it. As you point out, it doesn't default to that mode because everyone's codes are different!

Please don't be so quick to criticize or call someone silly.I didn't criticize anyone! I said the remark was silly and it is: The 'mute' issue has been mentioned in over 200 posts in this thread alone and the rationale has been explained evey time.

egore

10-22-05, 02:25 PM

That's because YOU or SOMEONE has reprogrammed it. As you point out, it doesn't default to that mode because everyone's codes are different!

My remote doesn't un mute either. I bought my 6412 from the store the remote was sealed in its plastic bag, My remote wasn't reprogramed. I think it's a software bug with the 6412.

DSperber

10-22-05, 03:53 PM

That's one of the silliest remarks I've seen on this forum.Unbelievably incorrect editorial comment. You are speaking falsehood, as if it were true, and you are simply wrong. Unless you have a new model of 6412 remote that nobody else has, or unless you have some different firmware somewhere, this pre-programmed mute/un-mute function into the MUTE button on the 6412's remote has NEVER been reported by ANYONE ELSE!

It's extremely clear why the DVR mutes the audio for scheduled recordings: how do you like being awakened in the middle of the night when the DVR turns itself on and blasts you out of bed because your AV receiver is still on??!!Who leaves their A/V system on while not watching it? This is "proper" behavior? And this is the actual thought-generated reason why Motorola/iGuide programmed their device to mute itself when powering on to make a timer recording... to cater to those people who go to sleep while leaving their A/V system turned on??? They would quickly learn to mute or power off their A/V system the first time this happened.

Or... maybe they would learn to leave their 6412 powered on, to match leaving their A/V system powered on. Then they'd never get blasted out of bed. Why have a strange behavior that leaves one large system powered on 24/7 but turns one minor device off when not in use? Now THAT's silly!!!

This isn't rocket science! To unmute the DVR, use the 'mute' button on the remote. Now THAT is the absolute falsest statement that's been posted in this entire thread!

The MUTE and VOLUME buttons on the remote control the TV's sound . It does NOT control the 6412's audio output. There is no pre-programmed button on the 6412's remote (unless you have a different remote than the rest of us) which provides this function. That's exactly why the sequence of programming steps to install MUTE/UN-MUTE to some unused button has been described and re-described MANY MANY times in this thread... because it does NOT pre-exist in all of our remotes!

If YOU have changed ('locked') the remote's volume/mute functions to your AV receiver or TV, you should briefly 'unlock' them so you can control the mute of the DVR, then relock them to your audio device. (Read the manual!)What manual? Please provide a PDF link if you have one, or please provide a quoted paragraph from the folded paper "manual" you are referring to, giving such instructions. Remarkable that nobody else among the fairly savvy group of users and participants in this thread has ever corrected the rest of us who have programmed an unused button on the remote to compensate for the absence of such a pre-programmed button.

It seems the the MUTE/VOLUME buttons would likely have been programmed to be associated with the device key you last pressed (TV, CABLE, AUX) if they had wanted to associate it with that device. But they didn't... at least not on my remote, nor on everybody else's except yours, apparently. Instead, it is "locked" to the TV, at least it certainly is on mine. That way, leaving the remote in "CABLE" (which is the normal way things are, so that the remote has full functionality for the 6412) will still allow you to mute/unmute the TV without first having to push the TV button and then push the CABLE button to get back to 6412 functionality for the rest of the buttons. Now THIS makes some sense.

But the idea of actually catering to those people who leave their A/V systems powered on 24/7 instead of turning it off when not in use, as the supposed justification for why the 6412 mutes itself coming out of power-off for timer recordings... well I just don't see it, especially when they didn't provide a matching mute/un-mute function pre-programmed into the remote (or at least my model of the remote).

If YOU haven't messed with the settings on the remote, the mute button is will unmute the DVR as was intended.All I can say is that this is the total 100% opposite of the truth (i.e. "lie", "falsehood", etc.) for all of everyone else who has a 6412 and who has participated here. Not one person, except for you, has reported such an observation. Everyone has appreciated the manual progrmaming instructions for an unused key to assign such an obviously needed function... but only caused by the strange "mute the 6412 when powering on out of power-off to perform a timer recording" behavior in the first place.

Oh... and if the MUTE button actually controlled the audio output of the 6412, and you happened to be archiving something to D-VHS while watching it, and the phone rang and you pushed MUTE to temporarily turn off the sound (something which is fairly reasonable to hypothesize), you would have just muted the sound on the D-VHS recording! Now THIS is undesirable, but would be the result of a reflexive action on the part of the viewer/archiver in that moment. Guarding against this, by making the MUTE button only control external speakers (e.g. from the TV) and not affecting the 6412's audio output, would seem more reasonable to me as a well-reasoned behavior. Not providing a second button to provide a secondary manual mute/un-mute specifically for the 6412 when the device automatically goes into mute state for some reason (such as the current powering on to timer record situation, a questionable justification)... now that is NOT a well-reasoned implementation.

DSperber

10-22-05, 04:24 PM

Ok... apology time.

Turns out the "manual" for the remote DOES describe a "CHANGING VOLUME LOCK" procedure, to overcome the default factory-provided association of TV device with the VOLUME/MUTE buttons.

Turns out you CAN re-program these two buttons to unlock VOLUME/MUTE when a specific device key has been pressed, thus enabling VOLUME/MUTE to be temporarily associated with the individual devices designated by first pushing that device button and then VOLUME/MUTE. For all other non-unlocked devices, VOLUME/MUTE still associates with the TV.

Or, you CAN re-program these buttons to not be permanently associated with any specific device at any time, but rather to always be associated with whatever device key was last pressed. You thus must always press a device button first (if you're not already there), before using VOLUME/MUTE, if you want to adjust the volume or mute/un-mute of that device.

Both of these two re-programming procedures are written up, either to specifically unlock one device (while retaining factory-programmed TV when having last selected devices other than one that's been unlocked), or unlocking all devices (so-called "global volume unlock") so that VOLUME/MUTE are always associated with the last device selected. If I were to choose, I guess I'd go with the "global unlock" method... but I, personally, am not going to do anything.

I never noticed that before now. And I suppose we could have always used this now-discovered method (e.g. the "global unlock" seems most reasonable, and intuitive, if you're going to do this) as an alternative to the program-another-key method to simply assign a second unused key for the 6412 mute/unmute. Of course this method would require pressing the CABLE button first (if the remote was not already in CABLE device mode), and then MUTE, in order to address the needs of the current discussion. Certainly feasible.

However... I would NEVER want to tamper with the "line-level" audio output of the 6412, so I would NEVER want VOLUME to be associated with the 6412. Similarly, I would never want to accidentally and unwittingly mute the 6412 while recording to D-VHS if the phone rang. So for me, I would NEVER change the factory-programmed locked-to-TV state of the VOLUME/MUTE buttons.

Instead, I'm quite satisfied with simply using the well-documented remote programming method to allocate a second unused button to specifically mute/un-mute the 6412 to compensate for the occasionally encountered behavior it has of going into mute state when powering on to do a timer recording... assuming I've turned it off when not in use (which I do, but then I also turn off my A/V system when not in use). Others never turn off their 6412 and thus never have a need for this 6412-specific mute/un-mute feature. I'm perfectly satisfied with VOLUME/MUTE only controlling the TV sound (although I actually listen through my external A/V system all the time now and never use these buttons any longer), as I prefer leaving my remote in CABLE mode for permanent full functionality. Having a second mute/un-mute button specifically for the 6412 allows me never to have to leave CABLE mode.

To each his own, I guess. But "changing volume lock" is certainly now a newly discovered (but always was available) alternative. I personally am perfectly content to leave VOLUME/MUTE locked to the TV when in CABLE device mode (or perhaps unlocked for AUX, if I had associated that with an A/V receiver).

gtrogue

10-22-05, 10:04 PM

I have been using the 6412 for a week now after being a long time stand alone Tivo and DirecTivo user and all I can say is I hope the Tivo software hurries up and makes it to Comcast.

This thing is a complete POS.
The conflict resolution and recording scheduling completely sucks. I setup to record the Alabama/Tennessee game today in HD on CBS and I guess the hard drive filled up while it was recording. Instead of deleting old shows or asking me what to do when I scheduled it, it just stopped recording the game after an hour. Also, more than once I have been told there are recording conflicts when a newly scheduled recording would result in only two shows being scheduled. Along the same lines, a deleted scheduled record can still cause a recording conflict.

I honestly think I'm going to cancel the cable service and give up the extra HD content until Comcast gets their sh*t together. Six years of using Tivo has pretty much made it impossible for me to use other services' inferior products.

cavu

10-23-05, 01:34 AM

this pre-programmed mute/un-mute function into the MUTE button on the 6412's remote has NEVER been reported by ANYONE ELSE!

Motorola DCT6412 User Guide

Adjusting the Volume

Press VOLUME + or – on the remote control to adjust the volume. When
you adjust the volume, the volume scale is displayed on the screen.
Press MUTE on the remote control to turn the sound off and on again.
For best audio quality, use the remote control to set the DCT* to
approximately ¾ of the maximum volume level and then adjust the audio
levels on external devices such as your TV or A/V Receiver.

Who leaves their A/V system on while not watching it?Many people use the auxilary switched power outlet on the DCT6412 to power on their TV/projector/AV system, etc. That way the whole system turns on with one button on the remote.

What manual?Here is the DCT64** User Manual (http://broadband.motorola.com/consumers/products/dct6412/downloads/DCT6412_User_Guide.pdf) and here is the manual for the standard remote control (http://broadband.motorola.com/consumers/products/drc800/downloads/DRC800_User_Guide.pdf).

The section on locking and unlocking the volume/mute controls reads:

CHANGING VOLUME LOCK

Locking the volume controls to a
single device makes it easier to control
volume, without having to guess
whether the volume will change. If you
lock the remote's volume controls to
the TV (for example), you will always
be able to change the volume to the
level you want, without having to
adjust it on multiple devices.
1. Press and hold the device mode
key (TV, AUDIO, DVD/VCR, or
Cable) corresponding to the
device you want to control
volume for at least six seconds.
The LED for each device key
lights up, then the key for the
device you selected remains on.
2. Press Volume +.
The device key’s LED blinks three
times, indicating it has locked the
volume control to the device you
selected. The AUDIO device key always
controls its own volume, regardless of
the device is locked to volume control.
Note: If you reassign AUDIO to
another device, such as a second TV,
the second TV will always control its
own volume.

Unlocking Volume Control:

1. Press and hold a device mode
key (TV, AUDIO, DVD/VCR, or
Cable) corresponding to the
device currently locked to the
volume controls for at least six
seconds. The LED for each
device key lights up, then the key
for the device you selected
remains on.
2. Press Volume -.
The device key’s LED blinks three
times, indicating it has unlocked the
volume control for all devices.

As to the rest of your fatuous comments, I make no response. I stand by my initial posting.

Bruce Blakeslee

10-23-05, 08:24 AM

Kaiser-Soze

10-23-05, 10:59 AM

This thing is a complete POS.
The conflict resolution and recording scheduling completely sucks. I setup to record the Alabama/Tennessee game today in HD on CBS and I guess the hard drive filled up while it was recording. Instead of deleting old shows or asking me what to do when I scheduled it, it just stopped recording the game after an hour. Also, more than once I have been told there are recording conflicts when a newly scheduled recording would result in only two shows being scheduled. Along the same lines, a deleted scheduled record can still cause a recording conflict. .

If there is a conflict, it WILL only show one program - but if you go into the DVR Menu, and select scheduled recordings, then you will see the entire conflict. Could Comcast handle it better? Yes. As far as it not deleting any of yor other programs - did you tell it that it was OK to delete them? I forget what the exact terminlolgy is and the box is in the other room, but poke around in some of the recordings.

Its not the best thing since sliced bread, but as you learn some of the features, its not THAT bad...

gtrogue

10-23-05, 03:40 PM

If there is a conflict, it WILL only show one program - but if you go into the DVR Menu, and select scheduled recordings, then you will see the entire conflict. Could Comcast handle it better? Yes. As far as it not deleting any of yor other programs - did you tell it that it was OK to delete them? I forget what the exact terminlolgy is and the box is in the other room, but poke around in some of the recordings.

Its not the best thing since sliced bread, but as you learn some of the features, its not THAT bad...
All of my shows are set to "delete as space is needed". Not a single show is "keep until I delete". A lot of this problem could be solved if Comcast offered a way to upgrade the recording capacity. After having 200+ hours of recording available on my DirecTivo's having such a small amount of space is really limiting.

As for the scheduling conflict, the latest example was Friday night when I had Family Guy and The Tonight Show scheduled to record. I went in and cancelled the Family Guy recording so I could record a show on HBO. When I went in to record the HBO show, while the non-recording tuner and the one I was watching was tuned to HBO, a window popped up and asked if I wanted to stop recording The Tonight Show and start recording the HBO movie. I said yes and it tuned the other tuner that was recording The Tonight Show to HBO and started recording. Now both tuners were tuned to HBO, one recording and one not. I was then able to change the non-recording tuner to The Tonight Show and start recording it again without getting any conflicts.

DSperber

10-23-05, 04:53 PM

This makes a great deal of sense to me. I record many things in the wee hours of the morning and I do not want the sound to come on at 3AM when the system begins to record. I like to sleep at that hour.I also record things at all hours. But why are you leaving your audio system turned on 24/7? You're obviously turning your 6412 off when you're not actually using it and watching something, so why don't you simply turn off your A/V receiver at the same time? This baffles me as an argument for why you appreciate the auto-mute facility when powering on from off-state to do a timer recording. Seems like more of an accidental serendipitous confluence of an unexpected "feature" of the 6412, which actually allows you to leave your sound system on 24/7... although again, I don't understand why that is a good thing (especially since you're consciously turning your 6412 off when not in use)?

Also, if you didn't turn your 6412 off and just left it on, then you wouldn't be able to take advantage of (intentionally or not) this auto-mute feature, since it doesn't happen except if it powers on from power-off state. In that case, you'd no doubt turn your audio system off when not in use and/or when going to bed. Presumably that's what everybody who leaves the 6412 on 24/7 does... turn off the peripheral equipment (including TV, sound system, etc.) when not being used and they leave the room.

I agree that a mute button should have been part of the remote to begin with and not have to be programmed by the user. But, as for the mute it self, I view it as a nice feature and not a bug at all.Well, in my opinion there certainly should have been a factory-default remote-provided abilty to be able to mute/un-mute the 6412, if there is going to be a factory-default built-in (and non-defeatable) "feature" which places it in auto-mute state under very common conditions of timer-recording from power-off state. Having only a single MUTE button on the remote therefore necessitates providing some way of associating that button with the 6412, and based on a re-reading of the remote instruction booklet there apparently is (and always was) a straightforward way to do this (which I never noticed until yesterday, in response to this recent discussion). The technique actually "unlocks" the volume and mute buttons from their factory-default permanent association with TV.

Unfortunately (in my opinion) this unlocked configuration also causes one to always have to press the proper device key first, before using the volume or mute buttons, in order to guarantee that they will work as expected.

Also, opening up the volume and mute controls for the 6412 is (in my opinion) a bad thing. I never want to tamper with the "line-level" audio output, so that I can guarantee the audio levels on my D-VHS recordings will always be consistent and will never be unwittingly or accidentally muted. Actually, I'm not sure if the audio portion of the MPEG2 datastream sent via firewire to D-VHS is affected by volume/mute for the 6412... so maybe my fear here is unfounded. Maybe the only thing affected is the analog/digital audio output level of the 6412 itself. But for sure, opening up the 6412 for volume adjustments means you now have two places to adjust your audio levels... 6412 and your audio system, and that's really "rookie" if you ask me. I think the 6412 should be "flat" or "line-level" or at least constant, so that the peripheral sound system is in complete control.

Much more appropriate (in my opinion) would be to have provided an audio configuration/setup option in the 6412 in the first place, to let the user choose whether auto-mute (when powering up to do a timer recording from power-off state) is desired or not. This forced behavior is clearly unexpected (based on the 200 thread references and questions from new users who were surprised or startled by this result, and who obviously missed the "unlock" discussion in the remote booklet, and who asked help from others as to how to overcome it, and prompting numerous repeats of the recipe for programming mute/un-mute into an unused remote button).

Also, the "unlock" procedure for the remote does NOT have the ability to permanently re-assign the volume/mute buttons to a single given device other than TV. It only allows unlocking a device so that pressing the device key before volume/mute will allow volume/mute to operate for that device, and is necessary in order to utilize volume/mute for that device. Pressing any other device key disables the use of volume/mute for that device (unless it, too, has been unlocked).

So, for example, if you wanted to simply permanently reassign volume/mute to AUX to deal with your audio system (instead of TV, since you don't use your TV's speakers) which is a very reasonable thing to want to do, you can't!

You can only unlock AUX so that you now MUST press AUX first, before using the now-functional volume/mute for AUX. But that takes the remote out of CABLE mode for the other cable-related features, so that you now MUST press CABLE again before using those other buttons. Having one device permanently assigned to volume/mute is a good thing, and convenient, but Motorola only did this for TV. If you don't want exactly that you have to go through the unlock procedure (for some or all devices), and now you always have to press a device button before using remote buttons for that device. I feel that to be a real pain and inconvenience.

In my opinion, this is another example of odd software design (to leave out the ability to opt in or out of auto-mute on the 6412, and to leave out the ability to change the association of volume/mute to be some other single device than TV). It does not bother me to criticize the overall interaction and user-interace between remote and 6412, since in this area I believe criticism is justified.

I think the best way to deal with all of these special-case needs (all caused by the totally unexpected and uncalled-for auto-mute, I insist) is to (a) turn your audio system off when not in use, and/or (b) leave your 6412 on 24/7, and/or (3) leave volume/mute hard-associated with TV and program a second button on the remote to be mute/un-mute for the 6412 as virtually all of us have seemingly done (based on thread comments, and thank-you's for the recipe).

Anyway, I still don't understand why consciously leaving your audio system on 24/7, even when you sleep, is reasonable behavior when you've apparently decided to consciously turn the 6412 off when not in use for viewing.

DSperber

10-23-05, 05:09 PM

Motorola DCT6412 User Guide

Adjusting the Volume

Press VOLUME + or – on the remote control to adjust the volume. When
you adjust the volume, the volume scale is displayed on the screen.
Press MUTE on the remote control to turn the sound off and on again.
For best audio quality, use the remote control to set the DCT* to
approximately ¾ of the maximum volume level and then adjust the audio
levels on external devices such as your TV or A/V Receiver.This may be what Motorola intended when writing the manual, but it is pure fiction as delivered. The remote is factory-programmed to have volume/mute locked to the TV device. This makes the above discussion 100% untrue, except if you've followed the "changing volume lock" procedure for the remote which is not even mentioned in the 6412 user guide.

Similar "fiction" occurs in the installation_manual (table 2-2), which says the auxiliary power outlet on the back of the 6412 can be configured as either switched or unswitched. They may have wanted that, but never programmed it and there is no hardware slide-switch to change it. Instead, as is stated in the user_manual, it is simply a "switched" outlet.

Many people use the auxilary switched power outlet on the DCT6412 to power on their TV/projector/AV system, etc. That way the whole system turns on with one button on the remote. Surely you're joking? It's one thing to have a "system" or "all on" button to emit power-on to all devices simultaneously, but it's another thing to plug all of your TV/projector/AV system into the switched outlet on the 6412! I realize you may have more devices that need to be powered off/on than the three devices available with the remote that can be handled through "all on", but is this really a good idea? What about power conditioners/UPS boxes? Where do they fit in (if you have them)?

That means you're effectively just pulling the power plug out of the wall for all these external devices whenever you power-off the 6412. Why would you pull the power plug for these devices, when they're really supposed to be
powered-off into "power-save standby" state which is what happens when you use their own remote and push their own POWER button? Isn't there a giant surge when all of these suddenly power on together?

Or, maybe they're supposed to be left on for "thermal stability"? I have a Threshold T2 preamp and it doesn't even have a power- on/off switch! It only has a "standby" state as controlled by the remote, which is how I leave it when I'm not using the sound system. As is recommended by the manufacturer, I generally leave my Threshold T200 amp powered on all the time (for "thermal stability"), but don't run the risk of getting any audio out of it unless the T2 is taken out of standby state (i.e. when I'm actually viewing from 6412).

Also, if your TV has a clock (as my 34XBR960 does) pulling the plug out of the wall will lose the clock and require it to be reset after powering up, something which is clearly undesirable.

So this is why you get blasted at 3AM when a timer recording starts from 6412 power-off and the 6412 powers up... because your external system also powers up simultaneously since it's all plugged into the switched outlet of the 6412?

I, personally, would not wire things this way.

Here is the DCT64** User Manual (http://broadband.motorola.com/consumers/products/dct6412/downloads/DCT6412_User_Guide.pdf) and here is the manual for the standard remote control (http://broadband.motorola.com/consumers/products/drc800/downloads/DRC800_User_Guide.pdf).

The section on locking and unlocking the volume/mute controls reads:

[i]CHANGING VOLUME LOCK

Locking the volume controls to a
single device makes it easier to control
volume, without having to guess
whether the volume will change. If you
lock the remote's volume controls to
the TV (for example), you will always
be able to change the volume to the
level you want, without having to
adjust it on multiple devices.Well, you obviously have a different remote than I (and perhaps many others) do. My booklet is titled "Comcast Custom 3-device Universal Remote Control". And in my booklet, there is NO WAY to lock the volume/mute buttons to a single device other than TV.

The only thing you can do with my remote is "unlock" the blocking of other devices from volume/mute being functional for those devices. So you can "unlock" one or more devices so that if you press that device key first the volume/mute buttons will work for that/those device(s).

Of course doing this now requires that you ALWAYS have to press a device key before you use volume/mute (in order to guarantee that it will work as expected), and also that you must press CABLE to get full remote functionality back for the 6412 once you've pressed another device key in order to get volume/mute to work for that other device.

Seems like a very inconvenient compromise to have to make, when other much simpler solutions are available. Programming a second button to mute/unmute the 6412 while leaving the real volume/mute buttons for TV seems very reasonable as an alternative.

Again, the Comcast remote does NOT allow re-assigning the single-device hard-assignment of volume/mute to some other device than TV (e.g. AUX, which would make lots of sense). It only allows "unlocking" one or more devices so that you can get volume/mute to work for them... but you need to press the proper device key first.

cavu

10-23-05, 05:55 PM

you obviously have a different remote than I (and perhaps many others) do. My booklet is titled "Comcast Custom 3-device Universal Remote Control". I have a Motorola DRC800 supplied with my Motorola DCT6412. It came in the box when I purchased the DVR. See the DCT6412 brochure (http://broadband.motorola.com/catalog/product_documents/Final%20DCT6400%20Series%20III%20Product%20Data%20Sheet%2052 4553-001-a.pdf) which lists the DRC800 as the standard remote. This remote is also detailed on page 11 of the Motorola 's i-Guide manual (http://broadband.motorola.com/consumers/products/dct6412/downloads/TVGuide_DVR_Manual.pdf).

If you have a 'Comcast' supplied remote which has limited capability, then all of your arguments are with Comcast, not Motorola. The Motorola remote works just fine with the Motorola DVR.

The remote is factory-programmed to have volume/mute locked to the TV device.Absolute drivel! Exactly how would Motorola do that when every single customer has a different TV with different codes??!! Your cable installer obviously reprogrammed your remote to your TV.

The remote which comes out of the shipping box is not locked to the TV.

DSperber

10-23-05, 07:08 PM

Absolute drivel! Exactly how would Motorola do that when every single customer has a different TV with different codes??!! Your cable installer obviously reprogrammed your remote to your TV.No installer did anything for me. He brought the box, watched as I connected it, wrote up the paperwork and was gone. The rest of the setup (including programming the remote) was done by me.

The remote which comes out of the shipping box is not locked to the TV.Let me see if I can get this across to you...

Whatever you program into the remote as your TV (using the TV manufacturer device codes provided on the booklet) becomes THE device which is then controlled by volume/mute, by factory default (for this Comcast remote)!

Of course out-of-the-box there is no TV device actually programmed into the remote by Motorola. As you point out, that would be impossible since they can't know what TV the user will have. But I never claimed that... you simply misunderstand what I was saying or assumed something else, undiplomatically referring to it as "drivel".

However the fact is that the "locked" state of volume/mute hard-coded connection to the TV device (whatever manufacturer it ends up being) IS default-programmed at the factory, whatever your TV is! That's how the Comcast remote behaves, as delivered.

So once you program a manufacturer code into the remote so that the TV device button becomes operational (i.e. it can power the TV on/off) then the volume/mute buttons also then automatically become operational and work for that TV... as does the "input" button, which now cycles through the inputs of the TV... assuming first push the TV device button.

Now I realize you are apparently using the standard Motorola remote, but the Comcast remote works differently. Since you quoted your manual, I will quote mine, which can be viewed at: Comcast DVR 3-device remote manual (http://www.comcast.com/Media/1-2/CM/VanityURL/documents/comcast_dvr_remote_manual.pdf) :

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

CHANGING VOLUME LOCK

The Comcast Custom 3-Device universal
remote control is set at the factory to
control the TV volume in all modes.

However, you may change the Volume
Lock setting to Individual Volume
Unlock to unlock a specific device’s volume
controls for independent operation
in its own mode (e.g., Audio
Receiver volume controls in the AUX
mode).

Or, if desired, you can perform Global
Volume Unlock so that the volume
controls of all devices can be independently
operated in their own modes.

Unlocking Volume Control For A
Single Device (Individual Volume
Unlock):...

4. If desired, repeat steps 1 to 3 (of
this section) for each device that
you want volume to be unlocked.
5. Now, after you select a device that
has volume unlocked (e.g., AUX),
pressing VOL+, VOL-, or Mute, will
control the device’s volume only
in its own mode.

Unlocking All Volume Controls
(Global Volume Unlock):...

3. Now, volume controls for all
devices can be independently
controlled in their own modes.

Locking Volume Control To TV Mode
(Restoring Global Volume Lock To
The Default Mode):...

3. Now, when you press VOL+, VOL-,
or Mute, the volume of the selected
device (e.g., TV) will be controlled
regardless of the mode
you have selected.

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

Note that there is a similar discussion regarding the CHANNEL button on the remote. By factory default it is locked to the cable box and is only controls the channel up/down function on the DVR, regardless of what device key has last been pressed.

But again, you can unlock this behavior to allow the CHANNEL button to control either the TV or 6412, depending on what device key is last pressed.

In other words, factory default has volume/mute associated with TV only, and channel associated with DVR only. These function keys are immediately operable, without having to first press a device key. Obviously the volume/mute buttons only become operable once you program in your TV's manufacturer code, but once that's been done the volume/mute are locked to your TV by factory-default software settings in the remote.

And there is NO way to reassign a different device to be hard-coded for these function keys (e.g. volume/mute for DVR instead of TV, or channel for TV instead of DVR). The only option you have is to "unlock" the hard-coded factory default single-device association (that avoids requiring you to first enter a device key when using these function buttons), which allows the functions to be used on multiple devices but now you must press the desired device key first. And this has the downside of placing the remote in the state for that device, possibly inhibiting other device-specific buttons for other devices and further requiring that you push the other device button first when wanting to regain full remote functionality for that other device.

scanpa

10-23-05, 07:19 PM

keithj

10-24-05, 09:14 AM

I've recently have started having a problem with the sound levels on my recordings. I can start a recording and the volume will be fine. However, once I fast-forward using the programmed 30 second skip, the volume drops to an almost inaudible level. The only way to get the volume back is to stop the playback and then resume it. I don't think the sound loss is also happening with the normal FF and REW buttons but its definately happening with the 30 second skip (and it just recently started happening). Is this a box issue or could it be something else? Would Comcast replace my box because of it (the 30 second skip isn't an "official" feature of theirs is it)?

Bruce Blakeslee

10-24-05, 10:11 AM

I also record things at all hours. But why are you leaving your audio system turned on 24/7?

You do have several valid points here.

StuJac

10-24-05, 10:18 AM

billo4357

10-24-05, 11:37 AM

Comcast has NEVER used the original Moto / GenInst. STB Remote. They have a contract with URC / AKA One for all remotes.

And yes the URC is pre programmed by Comcast before being sent out to the Field offices. for Cable Box Settings.

Just to let you know that in Atlanta, GA in November 2004, when I upgraded from the 6200 to the 6412 FROM Comcast, the installer brought the 6412 along with a DRC800 remote. This is a 4 device remote, has the Motorola logo on it, dark gray in color and no setup button. He then programmed the mute button for my Sony TV. When he left, he took the Comcast 3 device remote (URC-1057BG0) that did not have the swap button on it, which I received when I got the 6200.

mr2828

10-24-05, 12:22 PM

I have the exact same problem, and more with my machine. It's a pain in the a..

I've also been noticing this occasionally lately. I haven't kept track of whether it happens on both my phase 3 6412 and my phase 2, or just one. I figured it was a channel/show issue, and not a box problem, but maybe not?

spark9576

10-24-05, 01:07 PM

spark9576

10-24-05, 01:10 PM

ak3883

10-24-05, 01:14 PM

This huge debate about the mute coming on when you record something at 3am bring the box out of standby state, because your audio system is plugged into the outlet on the cable box. I would NEVER plug anything into that, I don't want my $500(or more) amp not being plugged into SOME kind of protected outlet.

My DLP's manual clearly warns you to not plug the TV into any kind of switched outlet, in the wall or in a device like a cable box or amp. Plus my tv's plug has a ground pin, and the 6412's outlet doesn't even have a ground pin!

Anyway, can't you just go into the 6412's setup and change the outlet to "unswitched" instead of "switched"? Won't that make that outlet not turn off it is set on unswitched?

Bruce Blakeslee

10-24-05, 01:25 PM

Last night I recorded a show on Comedy Central for 30-minutes. This is a normal SD show. When I checked my DVR's status it said I was 5% full. At this rate, my DVR will only record 10-12 hours of NORMAL programming.

Anyone see this, and if so, any help?!?

Do I have a buggy DVR, or is there something in the settings I should change.

Don't use the percentage when recording is at so low a level. It is not accurate because a percentage of the disk is used up by housekeeping and other iteme. You will get a better idea when you record a number of shows and then watch the percentage. Generally it is as advertised.

HD Rookie

10-24-05, 01:34 PM

Don't use the percentage when recording is at so low a level. It is not accurate because a percentage of the disk is used up by housekeeping and other iteme. You will get a better idea when you record a number of shows and then watch the percentage. Generally it is as advertised.
What Bruce said. In addition, analog channel (2-99) SD programs take up more space than digital channel (>99) SD programs. I don't recall the estimates of each.

spark9576

10-24-05, 01:44 PM

Yup, I did the quick math and that makes sense. Now why couldn't Comcast Customer Service-Less tell me that?

Any thoughts on my other issue (series recording) posted?

Again, thanks for all the help and good information on this forum

Cucuy

10-24-05, 05:49 PM

This thing is a complete POS.

I have been using the Moto 6412 and while IMO it is not the best piece of Hardware ever it is certainly not a POS. But to each its own., BTW the Tivo software is coming soon (read late 2006).

A lot of this problem could be solved if Comcast offered a way to upgrade the recording capacity. After having 200+ hours of recording available on my DirecTivo's having such a small amount of space is really limiting.

I agree that recording space is limited but only when recording in HD. Recording in SD should give you plenty of space. What HD recording capacity do you have in your DVR?

andyross63

10-24-05, 05:49 PM

Last night I recorded a show on Comedy Central for 30-minutes. This is a normal SD show. When I checked my DVR's status it said I was 5% full. At this rate, my DVR will only record 10-12 hours of NORMAL programming.

Anyone see this, and if so, any help?!?

Do I have a buggy DVR, or is there something in the settings I should change.

Don't PANIC! A SINGLE recording seems to show a minimum of about 3-4%, even if it's only 1 minute! It may be due to overhaead not taken into account when empty. SD digital programs seem to be roughly 1%/hour. Analog is about 2-3%/hour. Also, be aware that some areas are beginning digital simulcasting. Just because you are recording a channel below 99, it may not be analog anymore. One clue is to tune into the channel, then look for the Dolby symbol on the small 'info' screen.

cavu

10-24-05, 07:24 PM

analog channel (2-99) SD programs take up more space than digital channelThe recording capacity on the DCT6412 DVR depends on the video format of the programming you wish to record. Here are some guidelines for determining recording capacity provided by Motorola:

• Analog TV Shows (not digital) – Typically analog cable channels are channels 2 through 78, but may vary depending on your cable system. Recording capacity is up to 25 hours.

• Digital TV Shows (compressed) – Typically digital cable channels are channels 100 and above, but vary depending on your cable system. Recording capacity is between 30 - 60 hours.

• High Definition TV Shows (HDTV) – Shows that are broadcast in HD may be recorded in the same format. Recording capacity is up to 15 hours.

MaliciousBraham

10-24-05, 08:37 PM

I dont know if this has been stated or not, but just an fyi, I just had the mute issue happen at 6pm at night, box was on a timed record. Tv is hooked up via HDMI, no other audio used. Both TV and 6412 were off, 6412 powered up at 6pm for a timed record. Audio was muted, and I couldnt control it via the comcast remote. I got home ~7 and could not control audio.

There is so much arguing going on in this thread it is useless as a search tool. It took me half an hour to find the lock solution to the remote.

solution for me was to unlock the volume control on remote.
Press cable input buttn.
hold setup till cable blinks twice.
enter 993
press vol-

this unlocked the vol controls for cable input so they control the 6412 itself.

I hope this post helps someone searching in the future...

DSperber

10-24-05, 10:51 PM

I dont know if this has been stated or not, but just an fyi, I just had the mute issue happen at 6pm at night, box was on a timed record.

solution for me was to unlock the volume control on remote.
Press cable input buttn.
hold setup till cable blinks twice.
enter 993
press vol-

this unlocked the vol controls for cable input so they control the 6412 itself.You're free to use this particular approach, which unlocks the volume/mute buttons on the remote from TV and allows them to be associated with whatever device key (e.g. CABLE or TV) is pressed first.

Although it's been repeated a number of times in this thread you might not have seen it, but the alternative method many of us (including myself) have adopted is to simply program a second unused key on the remote to specifically be MUTE/UN-MUTE FOR THE 6412.

This second button approach has the advantage in that it does not involve unlocking the volume/mute from TV as your above method does, and therefore does not require the use of the TV or CABLE device keys first prior to pressing volume/mute in order to ensure that those functions operate the desired device, and another possible press of the TV or CABLE device keys to get the remote back to the desired device in order to use the rest of the device-specific buttons. In fact, it leaves the volume/mute buttons locked to TV, so that you never have to think "now what device key did I last press... do I have to press TV or CABLE to make sure those buttons do what I now want them to???". It simply controls the TV's volume and mute functions, period. If you have an external audio system you probably weren't using volume/mute on the remote anyway, so that creating a second single-click MUTE/UN-MUTE button just for the 6412 really does seem like the simplest most optimal user-friendly solution.

And besides, the second button you choose for this special purpose is currently unassigned and non-functional anyway! You might as well use it for something good and assign it the specific purpose of something useful, such as a specific MUTE/UN-MUTE for the 6412 itself... specifically to address the problem you yourself ran into last night. What could be a simpler solution than pushing one button whose specific purpose is to solve this specific problem???

Please check this other post for "the recipe": How to program MUTE/UN-MUTE and 30-SECOND SKIP into 6412 remote (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=5327687&&#post5327687)

Post-script: some users have reported that for them it takes three leading zeros instead of two in front of the 173 or 141 codes (for 30-second skip and mute/unmute, respectively) to make the programming procedure work. In other words enter 000173 or 000141, instead of 00173 or 00141. If you're having no success with the process I described in "the recipe" you might try this other code value with three leading zeros.

Also, yet one other variation has been been suggested that you might feel more comfortable with. This makes the existing MUTE button work for either the TV or 6412, by using a what might be considered a "shift" key in the assignment process (similar to what's done for assigning special purpose computer hotkeys to an app), to program the remote for a multi-key "macro".

This is an alternative to assigning a second key to MUTE/UN-MUTE just for the 6412 as I describe in the standard approach. And it has the user-friendly advantage of using the single well-labeled MUTE button on the remote as an inuitive MUTE/UN-MUTE key for either TV or 6412, depending on absence or presence of the "shift key" before pressing the MUTE button. In this case, the "shift key" is the SETUP key on the remote.

This alternative programming method can be accomplished by pressing the SETUP button before you press the key you are mapping the function to in "the recipe" procedure... with the MUTE button now being the obvious choice for the target button to be programmed. In other words for the MUTE/UN-MUTE goal, you're really programming a "macro" so that "shift-MUTE" means MUTE/UN-MUTE for the 6412, but MUTE by itself means MUTE/UN-MUTE for the TV (where "shift" is the SETUP button).

The programming technique simply requires that after entering 00141 (or 000141 if necessary for you) in "the recipe", at the next step press the SETUP button and then press the MUTE button. You will then get the two confirmation LED flashes and you are in business. And the 2-key sequence of SETUP and MUTE will now be interpreted by the remote as the "macro" to MUTE/UN-MUTE the 6412.

So to MUTE/UN-MUTE the TV simply press the MUTE button. To MUTE-UN-MUTE the 6412 press SETUP first (i.e. "shift") and then MUTE. This keeps MUTE/UN-MUTE logically located on the single prominent already labeled MUTE button, but gives it two purposes depending on whether it's preceded by SETUP or not.

Note that this alternative idea does require a 2-key entry to MUTE/UN-MUTE the 6412 instead of the simple single-key approach with a dedicated second button (e.g. "+" in PIP group) as described in "the recipe". But it does use the existing MUTE button, which seems intuitive.

Anyway, it's up to you. There are many ways to skin this cat. Thankfully, the problem (i.e. auto-mute when timer recording is activated from power-off) has a solution.

RGS79

10-26-05, 10:11 AM

gtrogue

10-26-05, 10:17 AM

I just got a Motorola 6412 and was wondering if there is any way to get separate outputs from each tuner so I can use my TV's PIP capability. For example, I'd like to get output from "Tuner 1" from the HDMI and the output from "Tuner 2" from Componant Video outputs. Any thoughts?
No, there is only a single output on the box. Similar to the DirecTivo's, if you are familiar with those.
There are ways to utilize your TV's PIP functions but they involve splitting the cable and using the TV's tuner or getting another 6412. Cable card is another possibiltiy if your TV has that capability.

kcbob79clone

10-26-05, 11:09 AM

I haven't seen this one yet so here goes....

I set up a series to record on the Moto 6412 and tell it to not record certain episodes. (i.e. South Park - Only want to record Wed 10:00 show).

When I create ANOTHER series record for a DIFFERENT Program (The Offices), all of my "Do Not Record" from my other series record (South Park) get set to "Record."

This is especially painfull since I have to go an tell my DVR to not record certain shows, everytime I add a new series record to the DVR.

Any thoughts?

I had this happen to me before I went on vacation. I went through and did a 'do not record' on quite a few Stargate episodes and then recorded another show before I left but didn't check the 'do not record' status. End result is every Stargate, they had a marathon, ate up space so new programs weren't recorded.

I think we are just going to have to live with this until they improve the 'Guide' which the DVR reads to have "NEW" when it is a new show and ignore the rest. Right now the algorithim is if it doesn't say "REPEAT" then the show is recorded.

wko

10-26-05, 11:45 AM

YesJim

10-26-05, 12:06 PM

I just came upon this thread. I bought a 60" Sony SXRD. I have a 5100 motorola comcast box. I never record. Is it worth the time and effort to upgrade to a 6412 comcast box. My picture looks great now, so my goal would be improving my present picture. Thanks for any help.

IMO, the non-DVR boxes have a SLIGHTLY better picture than the DVRs. So I'd stay put or maybe see if you could nab the newer non-DVR box. If you do get a DVR, you'll find yourself recording, believe it or not.

davisdog

10-26-05, 12:37 PM

I just came upon this thread. I bought a 60" Sony SXRD. I have a 5100 motorola comcast box. I never record. Is it worth the time and effort to upgrade to a 6412 comcast box. My picture looks great now, so my goal would be improving my present picture. Thanks for any help.

The HD picture quality is the same....the original 6412's had a slighly lower quality on the Analog channels (1-80), but the newer "Phase III" version of the 6412 has better Analog (HD is the same again)..

...and once you have a DVR you will use the Record feature (trust us :)

there is nothing better than skipping right through commercials (or watching a show at a time that is convenient for you)

gtrogue

10-26-05, 01:02 PM

I had this happen to me before I went on vacation. I went through and did a 'do not record' on quite a few Stargate episodes and then recorded another show before I left but didn't check the 'do not record' status. End result is every Stargate, they had a marathon, ate up space so new programs weren't recorded.

I think we are just going to have to live with this until they improve the 'Guide' which the DVR reads to have "NEW" when it is a new show and ignore the rest. Right now the algorithim is if it doesn't say "REPEAT" then the show is recorded.
Tivo software fixes everything I hate about this piece of junk. I feel sorry for people that have never used Tivo. They have no idea how a real PVR should work. Unfortunately, those of us that have used Tivo are left to suffer with inferior software until Comcast gets the rollout done.
Until I have Tivo from Comcast I will not be cancelling my Directv service.

MickeyGee

10-26-05, 01:04 PM

...and once you have a DVR you will use the Record feature (trust us :)

there is nothing better than skipping right through commercials (or watching a show at a time that is convenient for you)
Agreed. And the unexpected thing I seem to do all the time now, is to rewind a live broadcast (I never remember to hit pause) after being interrupted. So even if you are a non-recorder, the DVR box does have a few nice features.

Mickey

RGS79

10-26-05, 01:08 PM

No, there is only a single output on the box. Similar to the DirecTivo's, if you are familiar with those.
There are ways to utilize your TV's PIP functions but they involve splitting the cable and using the TV's tuner or getting another 6412. Cable card is another possibiltiy if your TV has that capability.
Thanks, that's what I thought.

pepar

10-26-05, 01:17 PM

Tivo software fixes everything I hate about this piece of junk. I feel sorry for people that have never used Tivo. They have no idea how a real PVR should work.
Ignorance is bliss.

Unfortunately, those of us that have used Tivo are left to suffer with inferior software until Comcast gets the rollout done.
Have you considered electro-shock therapy for this affliction?

:D

Cucuy

10-26-05, 01:39 PM

Ignorance is bliss.

Have you considered electro-shock therapy for this affliction?

:D

:eek:
:D

tall1

10-26-05, 01:43 PM

Tivo software fixes everything I hate about this piece of junk. I feel sorry for people that have never used Tivo. They have no idea how a real PVR should work. Unfortunately, those of us that have used Tivo are left to suffer with inferior software until Comcast gets the rollout done.
Until I have Tivo from Comcast I will not be cancelling my Directv service.Buy a HD Tivo, cancel comcast and be done with it.

Cucuy

10-26-05, 01:47 PM

I just came upon this thread. I bought a 60" Sony SXRD. I have a 5100 motorola comcast box. I never record. Is it worth the time and effort to upgrade to a 6412 comcast box. My picture looks great now, so my goal would be improving my present picture. Thanks for any help.

If you don't care about watching shows at your own schedule, skipping comercials, and maybe pausing and rewinding live sports then you should be okay without it (these are the features that I use the most)

As far as video quality vs the previous/other boxes I don't have a comment since I only have had a Moto 6412 Phase II. The DVR interface is not perfect but it works for me.

keenan

10-26-05, 01:54 PM

...and once you have a DVR you will use the Record feature (trust us :)

there is nothing better than skipping right through commercials (or watching a show at a time that is convenient for you)
I don't start my TV viewing until about 8:45pm now, doing that allows me to zip through all the commercials and be right on time for the 11pm news.. :D

It also allows me time to, well, type messages like this on the computer.. :p

keenan

10-26-05, 01:58 PM

falsedawn

10-26-05, 02:06 PM

blackngold75

10-26-05, 04:09 PM

mcoughlin

10-26-05, 04:41 PM

sgurey

10-26-05, 04:42 PM

I am having problems receiving at 5.1 signal off of my Motorola 6412 Phase III box from Comcast in NJ. It is connected to a Samsung HL-R5078W HDTV. I have tried various connection methods and none seem to work. I have and HDM- output to HDMI-input connection between the box and the HDTV and a SPDIF connection from the cable box to the AV receiver and only get PCM. When, however, I switch the video input from the TV to the monitor output of the AV receiver to look at the OSD from the receiver, I do get 5.1 from the SPDIF output of the 6412. I then tried connecting an optical cable from the digital audio output of the TV to the optical input of the receiver, and still don't receive 5.1 at my receiver. The TV has a sound selection menu from which you can choose PCM or Dolby as the digital sound output, but the option is greyed out, preventing me from changing it it to Dolby. I have been on the phone with Motorola, with Samsung and Marantz, the manufacture of the AV receiver. Since my receiver can detect a 5.1 signal from a DVD player output, the receiver does not appear to be at fault I have had long conversations with both Motorola and Samsung. Samsung says that unless a 5.1 signal is being received over the HDMI, you will not have the option to output it. Motorola has escalated my issue to a higher technical level and I'm waiting to hear from them. I was considering changing my connection from the cable box to the TV to component video to hopefully get around the problem, but I'm annoyed that I would have to bypass the higher quality HDMI connection to do so in order to receive 5.1. I spoke with a knowledgeable person at LipFix who has read the HDMI standard. He believes the problem is in the formatting of the HDMI audio and video packets and that the TV is probably incapable of handling the 5.1 packet format and is "telling" the cable box not to send 5.1 and to send only PCM. Has anyone encountered a similar problem with their 6412 phase III box using the HDMI output?

keenan

10-26-05, 04:56 PM

Has anyone encountered a similar problem with their 6412 phase III box using the HDMI output?
Yes.

Read from this post (www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6405783#post6405783) forward. The bottom line is that the Motorola 6412 Phase III needs a firmware update to version 12.22 to fix the problem.

davisdog

10-26-05, 05:42 PM

I've never used TiVo but I feel the same way about my ReplayTV - it's interface is vastly superior to Comcast. The only ways my 6412 is superior to my ReplayTV is that it handles HDTV and has 2 tuners.

Yup...I've used Tivo and Replay...

you can give me all the pretty interfaces you want..if you cant record HD or only have a Single tuner its not worth it these days...and I wasnt willing to pay $1K to get that with a pretty interface.

The 6412 provide both features and the interface isnt that bad (heck my 5 yr old uses it just fine)

tall1

10-26-05, 05:49 PM

Does anyone here have a 6412 without subscribing to one of the digital tiers? I want to downgrade my cable service to basic cable (HSI is cheaper doing this) but keep the 6412s if I can still get the HD locals.

If this is possible, is the user interface iGuide? Can you subscribe to an HD premium channel if you only have basic cable?

I know some comcast areas are different and I have heard they require you in my area to sub to a digital tier if you want a 6412. Just curious if this is technically possible so I have some ammo when I talk to the uninformed CSR.

falsedawn

10-26-05, 06:10 PM

IMO, those are two very big things in the 6412's favor. Without HDTV capability, any PVR is worthless to me.

I guess you only watch HD. I have tons more SD programming to watch than HD. Hopefully that will change in the distant future, but until then my ReplayTV will hold a lot more programming with a superior interface/software set.

tall1

10-26-05, 06:19 PM

I guess you only watch HD. I have tons more SD programming to watch than HD. Hopefully that will change in the distant future, but until then my ReplayTV will hold a lot more programming with a superior interface/software set.I agree with blackngold (must be a boiler fan?), a PVR that ONLY records SD has little value but SD content is valuable. Oh, and your viewing habits do change to include more HD vs. SD content. Take a look at this poll: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=592987

JBaumgart

10-26-05, 08:02 PM

Not sure if anyone else has this problem.

I have a Moto 6412 DVR hooked up via HDMI to DVI and Audio goes through the Toslink cable to an Onkyo receiver. Here's my problem. When I shutoff the power to the DVR the sound remains on. I need to either change to another input on the receiver, turn the volume down, or shut it off.

The other issue is sometimes when I turn the DVR on there is video and no sound. If I select a recorded show and click play, the sound goes back on.

Very strange...anybody else see this?

One very easy fix is to buy a Harmony universal remote control. Even the cheapest one will solve all input switching issues for you. You just type in the model numbers of your equipment on their web site, answer a few basic questions about how your components are connected, and it downloads all instructions to your remote which you connect to your computer with a USB cable. You can specify which components should remain on or off when you press "Watch TV", "Watch a DVD", "Listen to a CD" or any other special activity you want to set up. If you are on a budget you could buy a used one on eBay for cheap. Take their "Test Drive" on the web site before buying, and you'll get a good feel for how it's programmed.

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/features/harmony/us/en,CRID=2078

mcoughlin

10-27-05, 08:24 AM

HD Rookie

10-27-05, 09:29 AM

Does anyone here have a 6412 without subscribing to one of the digital tiers?
Yes, but I'm not sure they allow this any longer. Since you already have the box, it may be possible.

If this is possible, is the user interface iGuide? Can you subscribe to an HD premium channel if you only have basic cable?
Yes, iGuide. Not sure about premiums.

Just curious if this is technically possible so I have some ammo when I talk to the uninformed CSR.
It is possible. I had to talk to 3 different csrs to upgrade my HD box to the 6412 while keeping the $16 locals only package.

IFLYSWA

10-27-05, 10:39 AM

That sounds like a good workaround...however my question was why doesn't the cable box turn off the sound when you shut off the power? The video shuts off...why not the audio?

Now...let me ask you about the Harmony 880....looks nice! Does it work with the Moto Guide? What about DVR recordings? Is there a button like the DVR button on the Moto Remote?

I went through the Test Drive and can see how it works. Very nice! but it does not show anything about operating the guide or DVR features of the STB.

Thanks,

Mitch

Hi Mitch,
I hope you don't mind me jumping here...I recently bought the 880, and I love it! It works very well with the Moto box. When I press the guide button on the 880, it pops up the guide on the Moto box. When I press Menu, it pops up the QuickMenu. And it is pretty customizable....if you want to change one of those functions, you can. Plus you have the 'soft buttons'...the default profile had one programmed for 'Favorites', one for 'C', and one for 'Live'. I just added MyDVR to one of them, which is nice. You can add pretty much any function from the Moto box to it. I have had a problem with 'C', which is Day +. I even redid it, and it still doesn't work. I might just 'learn' the command, or I'll contact Harmony to check on it. I understand their customer service is first rate, although I haven't used it yet. Anyway, to try and keep on topic here, feel free to PM me if you'd like more info on it. And if anybody else has had the 'C' problem, I'd like to hear that, too!

Randy

cavu

10-27-05, 11:06 AM

Audio goes through the Toslink cable to an Onkyo receiver. Here's my problem. When I shutoff the power to the DVR the sound remains on.I have noticed that when the DVR is left on a 'digital music' channel and the unit is turned 'off' that, after about 1.5 minutes, the SPDIF audio comes on again. I always used this 'feature' to listen to BG music when not watching TV.
The other issue is sometimes when I turn the DVR on there is video and no sound. If I select a recorded show and click play, the sound goes back on.This is a bug most of us have gotten used to. If it becomes persisten, ask your cableco to 'hit' your box and the bug will disappear for a while.

mcoughlin

10-27-05, 11:13 AM

Thanks IFLY...Sounds like the remote might be a good choice. Also CAVU has pretty much confirmed that the Moto has bugs that may or may not be able to be fixed with flashes.

IFLY..do you have issue with the programmed buttons on the 880.
Let's say the DVR is programmed to record a show and you leave it on. You turn off the AV receiver and the TV and go to bed. The next morning you pickup the 880 and select "Watch TV" ...will it turn on the TV, the AV receiver and shutoff the DVR?

Mitch

IFLYSWA

10-27-05, 11:34 AM

IFLY..do you have issue with the programmed buttons on the 880.
Let's say the DVR is programmed to record a show and you leave it on. You turn off the AV receiver and the TV and go to bed. The next morning you pickup the 880 and select "Watch TV" ...will it turn on the TV, the AV receiver and shutoff the DVR?

Mitch
I leave my DVR on all the time, so when I was setting up the 880 I told it to more or less leave the Moto box alone with regard to powering up or down for 'Activities.' It works like a champ...

Randy

mcoughlin

10-27-05, 11:57 AM

ok that makes sense. Thanks

tall1

10-27-05, 11:58 AM

IFLYSWA

10-27-05, 12:11 PM

Right or wrong I don't control any power with my harmony, I leave all devices powered on. For me I simply hit the power buttons for the tv and receiver on my way to the recliner and I always leave the 6412 on. I found controlling the power on/off with the harmony was a hassle if you click the wrong button and the TV turns off or you get out of sync etc. Easier just to push 2 power buttons as I enter/leave room.

I hear you...I've only had that happen once or twice, so I'm happy with letting it do it's thing. So far, anyway. :) I particularly enjoy the 'master' power off. The part that is a little tricky is the fact that I have two ReplayTVs. I programmed the power toggle for them in addition to the discrete power on and power off to help out with that situation, though....

stevehof

10-27-05, 01:19 PM

Buy a HD Tivo, cancel comcast and be done with it. Done with it? No way. As soon as DirecTV switches to MPEG4 compression, that HD TiVo will be a very expensive doorstop, and you'll be back to square one with a new DirecTV unit from NDS that does not use the TiVo interface.

Cucuy

10-27-05, 03:40 PM

Now...let me ask you about the Harmony 880....looks nice! Does it work with the Moto Guide? What about DVR recordings? Is there a button like the DVR button on the Moto Remote?

I went through the Test Drive and can see how it works. Very nice! but it does not show anything about operating the guide or DVR features of the STB.

Thanks,

Mitch

The Harmony if programmed right should work exactly like your original remote. Some commands would be on hard keys, some would be on soft keys, and if there is any command missing you can learn it(assumming you have the original and assign it to any key (soft or hard).

As far as powering the devices with the harmony I too leave my dvr's on all the time but use the harmony to power on/off all other devices . So far it's worked great for over a year. There is a control remote are here at AVS at

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

and at

www.remotecentral.com/

These two forums are a great resource to get started with advanced remotes

AlexOgan

10-27-05, 05:00 PM

I have some questions about Phase II vs Phase III 6412s.

1) I'm pretty sure I currently have a II. It sounds like the IIIs are always clearly labelled "Phase III". Is this correct? Is there any possibility I have a phase I? How can I check?

2) If I do have a II and decide that I want a III, will Comcast just make the exchange for free if I request it, or what?

3) If I do have a II, do I want a III? I gather that one possible advantage is that it has a HDMI rather than a DVI output, which is good because it will match my TV. I gather from this thread that it (arguably) has better analog SD quality and perhaps is quieter. Is this all correct? Are there other differences between the two to consider?

Thanks.

mr2828

10-27-05, 05:11 PM

I have a P3 and P2 side by side.

The P3 can't really be quieter since it has a fan built in. The fan runs quiet enough though that you can't hear it once you're a few feet away. The hard drive noise between the two sounds pretty much identical.

Regarding analog quality, I prefer the P2. The P3 does some kind of filtering I think, which combined with possibly a lower encoding bitrate or other mpeg settings results in a smoother, yet much more smeared out looking image. I prefer the P2, which may look rougher, but it has more detail especially in darker scenes.

Bottom line - if I had to return one today I would ditch the P3. It also is generally slower at navigating and handling remote button presses. The only reason I would pick it over a P2 is if your display works better with HDMI. But since I have an analog crt display, this doesn't matter for me.

Oh and yes, the P3 is clearly labeled on front.

tall1

10-27-05, 05:18 PM

Done with it? No way. As soon as DirecTV switches to MPEG4 compression, that HD TiVo will be a very expensive doorstop, and you'll be back to square one with a new DirecTV unit from NDS that does not use the TiVo interface.You need to read more on this topic because you are way off. But anywho, just offering some advice to a guy who is obviously very disappointed with the 6412. Kinda confused why he would switch to comcast from D* in the first place.

RGS79

10-27-05, 09:36 PM

I notice that my 6412 will produce DD5.1 on all live broadcasts (when available), but not from anything recorded on the DVR. Normal?

bobby94928

10-27-05, 10:48 PM

I'm getting 5.1 on my recordings where the original signal was 5.1. It has worked both with the Phase 2 and 3 boxes. This is using component cabling.

blackngold75

10-28-05, 08:43 AM

My recordings all play back with the same audio encoding as the original: if it was 5.1, it plays back that way.

pepar

10-28-05, 09:16 AM

My recordings all play back with the same audio encoding as the original: if it was 5.1, it plays back that way.
Yes, of course. The drive directly records the bitstream and then streams it back.

stevehof

10-28-05, 09:52 AM

You need to read more on this topic because you are way off.tall1,
Would you care to elaborate on exactly how I am "way off" about the HD TiVo and DirecTV? Are you claiming that DirecTV won't switch over to non-TiVo DVRs from NDS? Are you claiming that DirecTV won't switch over to MPEG4 compression, which the existing HD TiVo does not and cannot support?

tall1

10-28-05, 10:25 AM

tall1,
Would you care to elaborate on exactly how I am "way off" about the HD TiVo and DirecTV? Are you claiming that DirecTV won't switch over to non-TiVo DVRs from NDS? Are you claiming that DirecTV won't switch over to MPEG4 compression, which the existing HD TiVo does not and cannot support?No claims to those questions you pose but I disagree that my HD Tivo will become an expensive door stop. I am happy with my $199 after rebate HD Tivo. There are no immediate plans to offer any new mpeg4 national HD channels. I won't be subscribing to the HD package anyway after my sunday ticket deal is over. I am only interested in OTA HD. I have no need for HD LiL. And as Ken H. reports, D* is going to keep the existing HD on MPEG2 for the indefinite future. There is no reason for me to swap my HD Tivo for an NDS DVR when D* switches to mpeg4 but if I do I most likely would have to pay a nominal fee of $49 for the 5 LNB antenna. I also have 6412s for handling conflicts.

tall1

10-28-05, 10:52 AM

It is possible. I had to talk to 3 different csrs to upgrade my HD box to the 6412 while keeping the $16 locals only package.Thanks for the info. I called last night, no go. They will gladly swap out the 6412s for the HD boxes but the supervisor I talked to said the "system" doesn't allow them to reduce my digital service to basic cable and keep the DVRs on the account. So, I'll keep calling until I get what I want.

gmwedding

10-28-05, 11:54 AM

We now have a Motorola DCT-6412 PIII being used with a Pioneer 43-inch plasma and feel that the analog picture quality is improved, and noticeably bettter than the PII.

The PIII navigation does seem slower to me too. Obviously, we had to switch from an HDMI-to-DVI cable (used with the PII) to an HDMI-to-HDMI cable for the PIII. We also found subtle differences in the video signal levels between the two. HDMI required us to raise the brightness level from a -2 setting on this relatively new plasma to a +4 value. Without this change, much shadow detail is lost, and various levels of the darkest grays are compressed as black. This worries me, as I fear the higher brightness setting will reduce the long-term life of the display. However, another AVS member says no, that this merely represents a difference in the scales used for measuring DVI and HDMI signal levels, and is not a refelection of the signal levels themselves. I do not understand how this could be true, but it is an interesting theory. I am using a new, $30 HDMI-to-HDMI cable from an online discount site and sometimes see some "dancing noise" in the shadow details of some programming (like ABC's Alias). I may pick up a brand name HDMI cable over the weekend to see if it makes any difference with any of these issues.

All in all, I would stick with the PIII...

memnoch

10-28-05, 12:58 PM

tall1

10-28-05, 02:38 PM

having discrete power and input selection helps a lot.How? I have discrete power and discrete input selection. But I don't like having power on/off programmed into an activity because if the receiver turns on and the TV doesn't or vice versa, you gotta diddle around with it or if you select the wrong input and the TV shuts off...just not worth the little bit of time it saves.

Ronin_R6

10-28-05, 05:21 PM

keenan

10-28-05, 05:37 PM

How? I have discrete power and discrete input selection. But I don't like having power on/off programmed into an activity because if the receiver turns on and the TV doesn't or vice versa, you gotta diddle around with it or if you select the wrong input and the TV shuts off...just not worth the little bit of time it saves.
Have you tried changing the character of how your display or receiver reacts to power on/off inputs? I have used 2 different Harmony remotes for over a year and never had this problem. I leave the 6412 on 24/7 and everything else gets turned off. I leave the 6412 on because if you want to change inputs on the display to say, a sat feed, and you're recording, the 6412 requires input on whether to stop recording or not if you turn it off(stupid IMO, neither the HD-TiVo or the Dish 942 require such action be taken).

I think there is about 4-5 different power on/off scenarios to choose from at the Harmony setup site. I had to play with 2 different scenarios before I got it dialed in, but since then it's worked flawlessly.

Just a thought. :)

pepar

10-28-05, 06:05 PM

having decrete power selections means that instead of one button doing both on and off. there are seperate buttons for on and off.

so when you push power you send a "on signal" so if the tv is off but your reciever isnt, when you push power the tv comes on but the reciever does nothing since its already on.
tall1 knows how it works. His objection is "I don't like having power on/off programmed into an activity because if the receiver turns on and the TV doesn't or vice versa, you gotta diddle around with it or if you select the wrong input and the TV shuts off...just not worth the little bit of time it saves."

JimVR4

10-29-05, 12:21 PM

ridgefamus

10-29-05, 12:55 PM

My equipment is in 2 corners of the room, 12 feet apart. My Harmony 680 reaches everything easily with one command. Arc range is not a problem. In fact, my Harmony has a much greater depth range than the remote for the 6412, i.e., I can be much farther away and still use the Harmony.

davisdog

10-29-05, 01:03 PM

It would seem the Harmony can't overcome one issue and that is the possibility that the IR receiver on each box you're controlling might not be within a reasonable zone for the Harmony. Many IR systems have a fairly narrow operating angle so if you're trying to control multiple boxes with one sequence some commands could be missed. This is why I like NetCommand on the Mits sets. They come with a 4 headed IR cable that you plug into the back of the set. Each IR emitter head is positioned directly near the IR receiver of each unit. Then the TV remote controls everything by just aiming at the TV.

Sure there is a practical limit to the range...but I've got units scattered around in a big amoire and the Harmony doesnt have any problem controlling them all at the same time...It has 3 angle IR transmitters, and I can control them from the other end of the room (~30ft).

keenan

10-29-05, 02:50 PM

I'll add as well, the Harmony has incredible range and angle. I've been able to control everything in my system from almost 30' away as well. Point it in the general direction and it works great.

The Comcast remote in comparison is terrible, sometimes a couple of inches up or down and the unit doesn't respond.

There is a trick I read about in the Radio Shack HD tuner thread. Take a small piece of material like from a coffee filter and attach it over the emitter on the remote. This disperses the signal in a larger scattered pattern and seemed to work very well with the remote for the RS unit. It is worse than the Comcast remote in having to be exactly aimed right in order to work.

aussiejohn

10-30-05, 11:40 AM

I was using the clear memory and hard drive function and suddenly my 6412 is showing green tinted video.

Any thoughts?

(Power off, select, replay, dvr,dvr,dvr select thing)

keenan

10-30-05, 11:49 AM

I was using the clear memory and hard drive function and suddenly my 6412 is showing green tinted video.

Any thoughts?

(Power off, select, replay, dvr,dvr,dvr select thing)
Are you using component output? Sounds like a cable came loose. Or hooked up wrong.

pepar

10-30-05, 12:03 PM

I was using the clear memory and hard drive function and suddenly my 6412 is showing green tinted video.

Any thoughts?

(Power off, select, replay, dvr,dvr,dvr select thing)
Yep, check your cabling. Sounds like a loose/disconnected red or blue component video connection.

aussiejohn

10-30-05, 12:17 PM

I feel like an idiot, thanks though!

Assumed that since I didn't move anything the cables wouldn't come loose.

keenan

10-30-05, 12:36 PM

I feel like an idiot, thanks though!

Not really, it's happened to most of us at sometime or the other. :)

pepar

10-30-05, 12:57 PM

I feel like an idiot, thanks though!

You're among equals here. :)

stevehof

10-30-05, 06:37 PM

No claims to those questions you pose but I disagree that my HD Tivo will become an expensive door stop. I am happy with my $199 after rebate HD Tivo. There are no immediate plans to offer any new mpeg4 national HD channels. I won't be subscribing to the HD package anyway after my sunday ticket deal is over. I am only interested in OTA HD. I have no need for HD LiL. And as Ken H. reports, D* is going to keep the existing HD on MPEG2 for the indefinite future. There is no reason for me to swap my HD Tivo for an NDS DVR when D* switches to mpeg4 but if I do I most likely would have to pay a nominal fee of $49 for the 5 LNB antenna. I also have 6412s for handling conflicts.tall1,
Thanks for the clarification. Now I see where you are coming from. I think the error in my original statement was that the HD TiVo would become a doorstop "as soon as" MPEG4 comes, which overstates the case. It won't happen until D* ceases MPEG2, which will happen, they just won't say when. As more national channels eventually migrate to HD, they'll run out of bandwidth for MPEG2. So maybe it's two to three years away.

AVSAR

10-30-05, 11:04 PM

My thoughts exactly:I have been using the 6412 for a week now after being a long time stand alone Tivo and DirecTivo user and all I can say is I hope the Tivo software hurries up and makes it to Comcast.

This thing is a complete POS.
The conflict resolution and recording scheduling completely sucks. I setup to record the Alabama/Tennessee game today in HD on CBS and I guess the hard drive filled up while it was recording. Instead of deleting old shows or asking me what to do when I scheduled it, it just stopped recording the game after an hour. Also, more than once I have been told there are recording conflicts when a newly scheduled recording would result in only two shows being scheduled. Along the same lines, a deleted scheduled record can still cause a recording conflict.

I honestly think I'm going to cancel the cable service and give up the extra HD content until Comcast gets their sh*t together. Six years of using Tivo has pretty much made it impossible for me to use other services' inferior products.

I recently unplugged two standalone TiVos to benefit from the HD picture and HD DVR capability of the 6412 III. At first, I tried to connect the HDMI out on the DVR to my receiver (JVC RX-D401S) HDMI input and then from my receiver's HDMI output to the HDMI input on the TV (Phillips 50PF9630A/37). The picture flickers on the plasma and then gives a message about "protected content." I assume the Moto box has some restriction that the HDMI out cannot go to anything other than a TV; which, if true, would be total crap. Comcast customer support was clueless. As a workaround, I ran an additional HDMI directly from the cable box to the plasma's second HDMI input with a digital audio output from the plasma back to the receiver.

When I finally got the boxes up and running, the HD picture is very nice. The complements stop there. The DVR interface is the absolute worst I have ever used and I miss my TiVos already. Additionally, using the DVR's HDMI output, the sound sometimes POPS when changing channels. Frequently, the sound drops out completely (mostly when using DVR fast forward and then resuming). This seems to be only corrected when I turn the TV off/on or turn the 6412 III off/on. What a pain in the a**. This is not limited to a particular setup either. It happens on both my Phillips plasma and Sharp Aquos when using the HDMI output from the DVR.

I do not know whether to be angry with Comcast or Motorola. However, I am not sure these Comcast HD DVRs are ready for prime time using the HDMI output. Any thoughts, tips, comments appreciated. :mad:

pepar

10-31-05, 12:25 AM

My thoughts exactly:

I recently unplugged two standalone TiVos to benefit from the HD picture and HD DVR capability of the 6412 III. At first, I tried to connect the HDMI out on the DVR to my receiver (JVC RX-D401S) HDMI input and then from my receiver's HDMI output to the HDMI input on the TV (Phillips 50PF9630A/37). The picture flickers on the plasma and then gives a message about "protected content." I assume the Moto box has some restriction that the HDMI out cannot go to anything other than a TV; which, if true, would be total crap. Comcast customer support was clueless. As a workaround, I ran an additional HDMI directly from the cable box to the plasma's second HDMI input with a digital audio output from the plasma back to the receiver.

When I finally got the boxes up and running, the HD picture is very nice. The complements stop there. The DVR interface is the absolute worst I have ever used and I miss my TiVos already. Additionally, using the DVR's HDMI output, the sound sometimes POPS when changing channels. Frequently, the sound drops out completely (mostly when using DVR fast forward and then resuming). This seems to be only corrected when I turn the TV off/on or turn the 6412 III off/on. What a pain in the a**. This is not limited to a particular setup either. It happens on both my Phillips plasma and Sharp Aquos when using the HDMI output from the DVR.

I do not know whether to be angry with Comcast or Motorola. However, I am not sure these Comcast HD DVRs are ready for prime time. Any thoughts, tips, comments appreciated. :mad:
You should feel fortunate and grateful that your cable provider allows you to pay them addtional money for a DVR. It's not as if you can call up the OTHER cable company and get a better unit. :)

Bruce Blakeslee

10-31-05, 07:39 AM

My thoughts exactly:

I do not know whether to be angry with Comcast or Motorola. However, I am not sure these Comcast HD DVRs are ready for prime time. Any thoughts, tips, comments appreciated. :mad:

I have used the Comcast DVR (both the 6208 and the 6412) sincel last November. While there are a number of ongoing issues that I find annoying the DVRs have done their job and Comcast has upgraded the software a couple of times. A new Mosaic guide is coming this fall and later next year the Tivo interface willl be available.

Comcast and Moto both review this thread and, from what I am told, take our comments seriously. Be specific about your issues and they may be dealt with in a future upgrade.

Again, all in all, it is the best $10/month deal I have ever gotten. If it develops problems they give you a brandy new one, no questions asked. I like that.

pepar

10-31-05, 08:49 AM

If it develops problems they give you a brandy new one . . . I like that.
I like that, too. :)

rpoffen

10-31-05, 01:10 PM

Well maybe I should have watched it for a day before getting nervous and posting this, but it looks to be ok now. Not skipping or anything and the HD looks fine. The SD however becomes very pixelated during heavy motion, this didn't happen when I had my other box but fortunately I don't watch much SD anymore :) I guess I'm going to invest in another HDMI cable now, but what's this I hear about the port being buggy? Is that a wide spread fact or just isolated happenings?

Just got my digital cable (used to have Dish, but the increasing yearly subscription cost, plus the lack of HD with DVR unless you buy your own $700 box made me switch), and I noticed HD choppiness at first. It went away after a few hours (at least by the time I had to go out to the store and come back). It might be that during the first few hours after connection, it is downloading the guide, and perhaps that is just a bit too much going on for it at once.

Cucuy

10-31-05, 02:07 PM

Again, all in all, it is the best $10/month deal I have ever gotten. If it develops problems they give you a brandy new one, no questions asked. I like that.

Agree 100%. Best feature in my book. The box has some issues so it is not perfect. I can't comment on Tivo since I never had one but the box does what I need

Records HD so I can watch at my schdule

keenan

10-31-05, 02:20 PM

Again, all in all, it is the best $10/month deal I have ever gotten. If it develops problems they give you a brandy new one, no questions asked. I like that.
And no commitments other than subbing to a digital tier in most cable systems.

myapplebuddy

10-31-05, 03:45 PM

Does anyone here have a 6412 without subscribing to one of the digital tiers? I want to downgrade my cable service to basic cable (HSI is cheaper doing this) but keep the 6412s if I can still get the HD locals.
I just called my cable company, Adelphia, last night and asked them about this. FYI Adelphia is owned by Comcast so this should apply to Comcast subscribers too. My dad has the most basic cable package and wants to use the 6412 without having to subscribe to any more channels. The CSR I spoke to said I could add the 6412 to any cable package, even their most basic one. It's $13 a month to do this, which is cheap considering the DVR comes with access to all the local channels in HD and Discovery HD as well.

tall1

10-31-05, 04:23 PM

I just called my cable company, Adelphia, last night and asked them about this. FYI Adelphia is owned by Comcast so this should apply to Comcast subscribers too. My dad has the most basic cable package and wants to use the 6412 without having to subscribe to any more channels. The CSR I spoke to said I could add the 6412 to any cable package, even their most basic one. It's $13 a month to do this, which is cheap considering the DVR comes with access to all the local channels in HD and Discovery HD as well.I've called twice and it takes a good deal of esplainin' to get the CSR to understand what I want to do. Then they turn you over to a supervisor who knows exactly what I am asking for but stonewalls me and says she can't enter a 6412 into the "system" with adding a digital tier. Seems odd that Discovery HD is included if only subbed to basic cable.

gtree10

10-31-05, 11:47 PM

I tried a search of the thread but couldn't find an issue that just cropped up. I'm having problems with the sound on the 2nd tuner. On the 1st tuner I get sound from both digital and analog channels. On the 2nd tuner, I get sound on the digital channels but NOT the analog channels. I recently had to unplug the box (I had 2 fantom recordings which weren't going away). The problems started after I unplugged the box.

Does anyone know of a fix to this problem?

myapplebuddy

11-01-05, 02:16 AM

Seems odd that Discovery HD is included if only subbed to basic cable.
I think that Adelphia includes a "basic" HD package if you pay the $13 a month for the 6412 use. This includes the local HD channels, PBS HD, and Discovery HD. If you want the two HDNET channels or ESPN HD you have to pay an additional $5 per month. Although Adelphia is owned by Comcast, it may be that with Comcast you have to pay for a higher level cable package before you're eligible to use the 6412. The whole thing about not being able to put you in the "system" with a 6412 unless you subscribe to an expensive digital package is ridiculous. Obviously they're using the high demand for these Moto 6412's to squeeze a few extra bucks from their subscribers. If it were me I would keep calling and calling and calling until you find someone who will help you.

Ronin_R6

11-01-05, 11:18 AM

Ronin_R6

11-01-05, 11:24 AM

tall1 knows how it works. His objection is "I don't like having power on/off programmed into an activity because if the receiver turns on and the TV doesn't or vice versa, you gotta diddle around with it or if you select the wrong input and the TV shuts off...just not worth the little bit of time it saves."

It appears you dont understand this either. You dont need to program an On/off activity. you can program descrete codes so that on and off are seperate so that you wont get them out of sync.

if you set up a descrete code activity for "all on" then you can push all on and if one device is already on and 2 are off, it will make the 2 come on, but the 1 that was already on will stay on because a discrete code for on is different then pushing the on/off power button

pepar

11-01-05, 12:41 PM

It appears you dont understand this either. You dont need to program an On/off activity. you can program descrete codes so that on and off are seperate so that you wont get them out of sync.

if you set up a descrete code activity for "all on" then you can push all on and if one device is already on and 2 are off, it will make the 2 come on, but the 1 that was already on will stay on because a discrete code for on is different then pushing the on/off power button
I'll forego returning the slight and repeat myself by saying that hall1's issue is not that it can't be done, but that in the real world, it can't be done reliably. Or at least not reliably enough for him. Who knows, maybe his cat wanders in front of one of the components . . .

hall1, can ya help me out here? :)

myapplebuddy

11-01-05, 12:44 PM

Adelphia is not owned by Comcast.

Comcast and TWC are in the process of buying Adelphia's assets in a bankrupcy sale but it has yet to be approved by the FCC.

It will be 2Q next year untill anything with the Comcast takeover to come into effect.
Oh sorry - I thought it had already happened. Guess I'm not paying close enough attention to the news! Anyways, for those of you who are with Comcast, you could always use the old "but Adelphia does it" line when asking to add the DVR to a basic cable package. If that doesn't work, "everybody's doing it" seems to work as well, at least it did in elementary school.

pepar

11-01-05, 12:53 PM

If that doesn't work, "everybody's doing it" seems to work as well, at least it did in elementary school.
It never worked with my first girlfriend. :(

bobby94928

11-01-05, 01:35 PM

It never worked with my first girlfriend. :(

nor my second :( , nor my third :( , ah but the fourth!!! :D

Ronin_R6

11-01-05, 03:00 PM

I'll forego returning the slight and repeat myself by saying that hall1's issue is not that it can't be done, but that in the real world, it can't be done reliably. Or at least not reliably enough for him. Who knows, maybe his cat wanders in front of one of the components . . .

hall1, can ya help me out here? :)

There was no slight, at least not an intentional one.

Just that in the situation that was described to me with the power status of components being out of sync, using discrete codes would not have the same shortcomings.

JayMan007

11-01-05, 04:04 PM

nor my second :( , nor my third :( , ah but the fourth!!! :D

Ahh... the phase IV girlfriend....

Cucuy

11-01-05, 04:19 PM

There was no slight, at least not an intentional one.

Just that in the situation that was described to me with the power status of components being out of sync, using discrete codes would not have the same shortcomings.

Exactly, using discrete commands (power/input selection) should not cause your components to go out of sync. Even if some commands of the activity are blocked you would just send them again and whatever component was missed in the command sequence would be fixed. This happens a lot when batteries are dying in my setup (i.e input not changed) but a second press fixes it. They never go out of sync

Ronin_R6

11-01-05, 06:41 PM

Exactly, using discrete commands (power/input selection) should not cause your components to go out of sync. Even if some commands of the activity are blocked you would just send them again and whatever component was missed in the command sequence would be fixed. This happens a lot when batteries are dying in my setup (i.e input not changed) but a second press fixes it. They never go out of sync

same here, sometimes I pojnt the remote at the TV even though the components arent there, and one of them wont get the signal, oh well just push the button again and its all better.

I just got another 6412 from Adelphia and it has all of the same nusances as the first. The worst of which is that when i turn the box on i get no picture until i start a recording. For some reason teh wife cant grasp the concept of leaving the box on.

One feature that i really wish i had is when i set up a series recording. My son loves Dora, so i set up a SR, and set it to this channel only "nick2" but they show 3 of them a day it seems. why cant i set an SR for only one time slot on one channel.

myapplebuddy

11-01-05, 10:44 PM

One feature that i really wish i had is when i set up a series recording. My son loves Dora, so i set up a SR, and set it to this channel only "nick2" but they show 3 of them a day it seems. why cant i set an SR for only one time slot on one channel.
I agree that it's very annoying not to be able to set up a series recording for a specific time slot. The thing that annoys me even worse is when you set up a manual recording to record a specific time slot, it doesn't show the program name in your recorded program list. It just says something like "Recording Mon 10/31 at 5:30p".

AuroraProject

11-01-05, 10:51 PM

You can set a series recording for a specific time slot, just set a recording for say 10-10:30 on Tuesday, then modify it to a series. It wont display the info as mentioned, but it will record whatever you want whenever you want it.

Ronin_R6

11-02-05, 08:33 AM

I have tried that method, but my son could not find his shows. The shows being titled "Dora the Explorer" or what have you are vital unfortunately.

myapplebuddy

11-02-05, 10:50 AM

I have tried that method, but my son could not find his shows. The shows being titled "Dora the Explorer" or what have you are vital unfortunately.
Just a thought...If your son doesn't care which specific episode of Dora he watches, then why not only allow the 6412 to save 1 Dora show at a time? My wife likes watching Gilmore Girls re-runs, and they show the same one twice a day. I just have it set to only save one at a time and it works fine. The only problem would be if they showed 2 different re-runs on the same day, and she specifically wanted to watch the earlier one. In that case I would have to allow it save at least 2 or else it would erase the earlier re-run when the later re-run came on. That's the best thing I've been able to figure out for this issue. On a more positive note, is your son speaking Spanish yet? :p (that question would probably only make sense if you watch Dora with him)

Cucuy

11-02-05, 02:33 PM

One feature that i really wish i had is when i set up a series recording. My son loves Dora, so i set up a SR, and set it to this channel only "nick2" but they show 3 of them a day it seems. why cant i set an SR for only one time slot on one channel.

I have the same issue with Dora and other cartoons/shows I record for my children. Initially I had the series recording but it would record too many due to daily repeats. Then the clean up would take a lot of time. A cool feature of the Dish Netwrok DVR is that it allows you to do multiple erases making managing your recordings easier. Hint, hint Comcast/Motorola/Software maker if you are reading this. I then limited the DVR to only keep 7 shows and that makes the clean up a little easier. Another thing is that I get some episodes recorded twice or more times. I thought the DVR was suppossed to not record an episode if you already have it on the DVR but I think I remember seeing duplicates in the DVR list.

Bruce Blakeslee

11-02-05, 02:43 PM

I have the same issue with Dora and other cartoons/shows I record for my children. Initially I had the series recording but it would record too many due to daily repeats. Then the clean up would take a lot of time. A cool feature of the Dish Netwrok DVR is that it allows you to do multiple erases making managing your recordings easier. Hint, hint Comcast/Motorola/Software maker if you are reading this. I then limited the DVR to only keep 7 shows and that makes the clean up a little easier. Another thing is that I get some episodes recorded twice or more times. I thought the DVR was suppossed to not record an episode if you already have it on the DVR but I think I remember seeing duplicates in the DVR list.

I don't think this is a problem with the DVR, rather it is a problem with the information that the channel gives to the guide. The DVR uses the "New" "Repeat" indicator in the Guide to know how to limit the recordings. If there is nothing in the listing to indicate that this is a new episode it just records all of them. You can control this to some extent by using the manual recording option but there are down sides to that too.

gtree10

11-02-05, 02:57 PM

puck71

11-02-05, 03:31 PM

I thought the DVR was suppossed to not record an episode if you already have it on the DVR but I think I remember seeing duplicates in the DVR list. I don't think that feature is on the 6412. Right now I have it setup to record all episodes of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" since I haven't really seen any of the seasons, and it records a LOT of episodes, including a LOT of duplicates (sometimes two at the same time, on different HBOs!) and there seems to be no limit on how many duplicates it returns. I just have to go through and cancel scheduled recordings for dupes and delete the dupes that did get recorded. It doesn't really take much time.

nielloeb

11-02-05, 04:10 PM

[QUOTE=gtree10]On the 1st tuner I get sound from both digital and analog channels. On the 2nd tuner, I get sound on the digital channels but NOT the analog channels.QUOTE]

I think I remember this means your box is broken and you need to get a new one.

nielloeb

11-02-05, 04:12 PM

I don't think this is a problem with the DVR, rather it is a problem with the information that the channel gives to the guide.

As I recall, it IS a problem with the guide in that the guide company (owned by Comcast) doesn't do as good a job as we would like. They are introducing a new guide within perhaps a year.

gtree10

11-02-05, 05:09 PM

Ronin_R6

11-02-05, 06:34 PM

Just a thought...If your son doesn't care which specific episode of Dora he watches, then why not only allow the 6412 to save 1 Dora show at a time? My wife likes watching Gilmore Girls re-runs, and they show the same one twice a day. I just have it set to only save one at a time and it works fine. The only problem would be if they showed 2 different re-runs on the same day, and she specifically wanted to watch the earlier one. In that case I would have to allow it save at least 2 or else it would erase the earlier re-run when the later re-run came on. That's the best thing I've been able to figure out for this issue. On a more positive note, is your son speaking Spanish yet? :p (that question would probably only make sense if you watch Dora with him)

That is what I am doing now, the real ssue is that there is an episode of Dora on at the same time as a show that my wife has to tape, so for 30 min a day i have to watch only analog TV using my tv tuner, although usually i am at work, but every once in a while it causes conflict. If i could only record the morning Dora and no thte afternoon then it would solve my problem, right now it records both. This is excluded the one day every 2 weeks or so where they run a dora marathon :rolleyes: But only saving one ep does make things easier, and the real benefit is that i prevent him from watching too much TV, he records 4 shows, and each only save 1 ep. so he can only watch 2 hours of tv a day.

And Yes he is counting and saying his colors in spanish, and a few other words. he likes to say vamenos a lot. :D

myapplebuddy

11-02-05, 06:49 PM

And Yes he is counting and saying his colors in spanish, and a few other words. he likes to say vamenos a lot. :D
You must be so proud. :p

shades

11-02-05, 07:32 PM

davisdog

11-02-05, 07:54 PM

I have the dual tuner coming tomorrow, i heard ther are issues with picture quality, my signal already is not that great, all channels are digital now and look ok and i know that makes a difference because of analog signals looking worse with weaker signals but will there be dropoff in digital and HD PQ?

The digital picture (both SD and HD) should be the same quality as before...

The 6xxx series is not as good as some older boxes for Analog (mainly because they are meant for digital signals and have to convert Analog)

shades

11-02-05, 08:05 PM

ok , all my channels are digital now anyway but i do have a not so great signal

myapplebuddy

11-02-05, 09:07 PM

Those of you who have been having DD5.1 audio problems while using the HDMI output of the new Phase 3 Motorola 6412 (the one with HDMI and SATA ports), I was able to confirm today that firmware version 12.22 fixes the problem. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, or would like more information, please reference the Phase 3 Motorola 6412 thread located here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=558602&page=16&pp=30).

keithj

11-02-05, 11:12 PM

There was a problem with our cable in the area today and I had a show scheduled to record that seems to have messed up my DVR. When I go into my DVR programs it shows with no title, a length of 60 minutes, and a record date of 12/31/1989. When I try to play it it pretty much hangs the box and I CANNOT delete it (I've tried and nothing happens). How can I get this off of my box? It was a HD broadcast and its now wasting space on the DVR. :(

oleus

11-02-05, 11:25 PM

earlier this year both of my 6412's started getting plagued with the mystery "12/31/1989" recordings. if you try and delete them you will accidentally delete something else on your dvr i believe.

the only thing i was able to do was wait it out and they eventually disappeared. others said if you unplugged your box while recording on both tuners that was supposed to get rid of them, but that never worked for me. i never switched the boxes out but haven't had the problem is quite some time. trying to play the recording will cause all sorts of problems and crash your box.

cavu

11-02-05, 11:52 PM

no title, a length of 60 minutes, and a record date of 12/31/1989. - How can I get this off of my box?I started with one and now have three of them!! As someone else pointed out, trying to play or delete these phantom entries will cause loss of data or hang your box. My cableco says I have to reformat the disk to get rid of them! I am trying to watch all my recorded programs so that I can do that. (Search this thread for instructions on reformatting.)

cjc84

11-03-05, 12:01 AM

First of all, my first series III had a phantom recording of 63 mins with a date of 12/31/1989 and another with 0 mins, same date. The 0 min one I can not delete. There is also a 0 min 12/31/1989 recording on my last pre-Series III box that is un-deleteable.

Also, I am experiencing a weird video issue where the image is like repeated. I only so far noticed it when the box is on Fox HD (but I assume it would be on any other HD channel, idk about SD) and the TV (hooked up with DVI) is left of for a undetermined period of time. Here is a quick mock-up in mspaint:
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/4872/6412vid6sv.png

This issue is resolved by a channel change or by accessing the menu (the full menu, not the quick menu, probably because it changes the video scale to fit in the window).

So far I only noticed this with the pre-series III boxes and I will report tomorrow if its present on the Series III and on another HD channel or SD scaled up to 1080i and stretched, depends on what was last watched downstairs :p

BJMoose

11-03-05, 07:27 AM

Also, I am experiencing a weird video issue where the image is like repeated. I only so far noticed it when the box is on Fox HD (but I assume it would be on any other HD channel, idk about SD) and the TV (hooked up with DVI) is left of for a undetermined period of time. Here is a quick mock-up in mspaint:
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/4872/6412vid6sv.png

This issue is resolved by a channel change or by accessing the menu (the full menu, not the quick menu, probably because it changes the video scale to fit in the window).
This is a very repeatable phenomenon on my 6412 (DVI connection) also. It has been ever since I've had the box. It will always occur whenever the cable box is on and tuned to an HD channel and then I switch to an SD channel via another connection (e.g. my OTA antenna on video6) and then switch back to the 6412 (video7) HD connection. Changing channels always clears it up. I've just accepted this as normal behavior for my configuration.

Bruce Blakeslee

11-03-05, 07:54 AM

I started with one and now have three of them!! As someone else pointed out, trying to play or delete these phantom entries will cause loss of data or hang your box. My cableco says I have to reformat the disk to get rid of them! I am trying to watch all my recorded programs so that I can do that. (Search this thread for instructions on reformatting.)

Do a search on this thread using the keyword "1989". The answers are there.

Ronin_R6

11-03-05, 09:18 AM

tall1

11-03-05, 12:43 PM

I tried to do a factory reset to remove 2 phantom recordings. I unplugged, replugged while pressing power+menu on the STB. I did not get a dL when I hit up/down (not sure which up/down, I tried both and never got a dL). But when I pressed "My DVR" the 12/31/1989 phantom recordings had the program name I had tried to record. It was actually a couple of failed attempts at recording the hockey game on INHD. These phantom recordings were taking up 17% of disk space so I was happy I could then delete them. I deleted all my recordings before attempting the power+menu reset. All my series passes were still there and the box is now operating normally. Before I did the power+menu I was having trouble getting INHD to tune in when I swapped the tuner.

ridgefamus

11-03-05, 12:57 PM

that double image you are seeing it a HDCP handshake problem, its prettty commom, but it only happens on the DVI/HDMI connection. If you go to the guide and then exit it goes away. Nothing you can really do about it. It ahppens to me everytime i turn on my tv. or change from another input.

It happens for me using a DVI connection AND the last channel tuned in was a 720p signal. My Sony is 1080i native and it DOESN'T happen when the TV is turned on and the incoming signal is 1080i (INHD, for instance). So my theory is not just a handshake issue but a resolution issue as well.

scanpa

11-03-05, 01:00 PM

Cucuy

11-03-05, 01:10 PM

I don't think that feature is on the 6412. Right now I have it setup to record all episodes of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" since I haven't really seen any of the seasons, and it records a LOT of episodes, including a LOT of duplicates (sometimes two at the same time, on different HBOs!) and there seems to be no limit on how many duplicates it returns. I just have to go through and cancel scheduled recordings for dupes and delete the dupes that did get recorded. It doesn't really take much time.

I remember you can limit it to what channel to record. It's on one of the options in the series recording. Just tell it to record from one channel. This way it will record from only one HBO channel. Also you can limit the number of recordings up to 7 (I think there are 3,5,7 as an option) or as many as your DVR would hold.

Cucuy

11-03-05, 01:15 PM

I don't think this is a problem with the DVR, rather it is a problem with the information that the channel gives to the guide.

When I meant DVR I meant the end-product not only hardware. So it should include hardware/software etc. But yes I agree that a lot or most of the issues are software related and more specific guide related. If they could fix that and the annoying remote commands slugishness it would be a lot better but it appears it is too hard to fix quickly.

Do the phase III boxes also have the sluggish behavior with RC commands?

tall1

11-03-05, 01:20 PM

When plugging the power cord back in, and holding the 2 front pannel Power & Menu Buttons, it should then display BOOT in the display, after that, then press CH up / Down, till you see (n dl) in the display, then press ok/select........I tried doing this scanpa and it never displayed dL. But I was able to delete the recordings so the end result was successful.

myapplebuddy

11-03-05, 01:24 PM

Do the phase III boxes also have the sluggish behavior with RC commands?
Sometimes my P3 box is very sluggish with RC commands. Other times it works fine. FYI I have firmware 12.22. The weird thing is that I never had these problems on my P2 box, except for when I had my JVC 40K DVHS player hooked up to it via firewire.

shades

11-03-05, 02:32 PM

How do you bring up the miniguide, i used to press the page up or down button but now that just rewinds

leftjab

11-03-05, 03:47 PM

the phantom 1989 recordings happpen when one of two cenarios occur.
1 you are in the middle of a recording and your box loses pwer
2 you are recording something and the box loses cable signal for the remainder of the show. If the cable comes back on during the show you will just be missing a chunk of data but it will still play.
Supposedly the only way to get rid of the 0 minute ones is to format the drive, thus losing all your other show, Im not sure if you lose you series recording etc or not, although i assume you will.

that double image you are seeing it a HDCP handshake problem, its prettty commom, but it only happens on the DVI/HDMI connection. If you go to the guide and then exit it goes away. Nothing you can really do about it. It ahppens to me everytime i turn on my tv. or change from another input.

I got a 1989 recording after a Comcast firmware upgrade was sent to me in the middle of the night, while I was fast-forwarding a recorded problem. the dl interrupted me from doing anything, and the 1989 recordings were there when the dl was completed. I wasn't recording anything at the time.

the double image happens on my DVI/DVI connection when i turn it on for any 720p channel.

rpoffen

11-03-05, 04:11 PM

When plugging the power cord back in, and holding the 2 front pannel Power & Menu Buttons, it should then display BOOT in the display, after that, then press CH up / Down, till you see (n dl) in the display, then press ok/select........

Once you reboot, does the box need to be re-authorized from the cable company? Do I have to call them (Comcast) or do they ping them periodically and you just have to be patient?

andyross63

11-03-05, 06:02 PM

How do you bring up the miniguide, i used to press the page up or down button but now that just rewinds
Hit OK/Select (center of arrow keys).

Ronin_R6

11-03-05, 06:03 PM

I got a 1989 recording after a Comcast firmware upgrade was sent to me in the middle of the night, while I was fast-forwarding a recorded problem. the dl interrupted me from doing anything, and the 1989 recordings were there when the dl was completed. I wasn't recording anything at the time.

the double image happens on my DVI/DVI connection when i turn it on for any 720p channel.

I hadnt thought about the phantom recording popping up during a playback, but it makes sense.

I get the double image on both 1080 and 720 content when i turn my set on. it happens everytime the box is set to any HD channel, but now that you mention it it never happens when its set to a non HD channel.

ak3883

11-04-05, 12:57 PM

I too get the double image when i first turn on my tv sometimes. Usually only happens when after I hit power for the TV, I don't hear the "click" of the fan/power supply engaging for a few seconds. That's a tv specific thing though, but when that happens and I have the box on an HD channel, i get a double image.

I change the channel and it goes right away, i have never seen it any other time than when I first turn on my tv. Not a big deal to me.

Scrawner

11-04-05, 01:20 PM

Are any of you using a Phase III box at 720p hooked to a projector or other large display and notice that the picture is a bit noisy? e.g. fringing around objects and text...

I'm using a Panny AE900. Its easiest to spot on the 6412 setup menu where you choose the native resolution. When 720p is selected, the text in the menu has a lot of noise around it, instead of being clear and sharp. This is further visible in the program guide where the lettering is not as crisp as it should be. Almost like there is noise in the signal somehow.

If I swap in a Phase II box, the problem goes away. Or, if I switch to 1080i on my phase 3 its a bit better. Its also visible on the HDMI input. I've tried two different Projectors, so unless its unique to the AE900 then its either my specific box or the Phase III itself. I'm trying to decide if I should try to return it.

Thanks.

Cucuy

11-04-05, 01:39 PM

Hi All,

I was checking th on-demand offerings and while browsing I noticed that I could not get back in the menus. I had to exit the on-demand interface and come back to get to the main menu. Is there a way to go back wihtout doing this?

I later found out that If I press 1 and "ok" any on-demand screen it would bring me to the front menu and much quicker than exiting and coming back.

mcoughlin

11-04-05, 02:33 PM

If you hit the LAST button on the remote it will bring you BACK like in a web browser.

snidely

11-04-05, 07:20 PM

I assume the answer is no, but is there a way to hide the channels I don't subscribe to in the guide? I loved this feature with my Ultimate TV.

Our first generation RCA D* box from 10 years ago allows this! In fact, you can pick just the channels you want displayed leaving out the bible thumpers and shopping chanels (guess the preachers are also selling<G>). You can create 4 custom lists.
Can't be done w. this box.

...mike

keenan

11-04-05, 08:11 PM

The Dish 942 allows for the same thing, in fact I think it's 5 lists.

AVSAR

11-04-05, 08:22 PM

Question: I thought I read earlier in this thread that current plasmas, LCDs and such will not carry the 5.1 audio back to the receiver via a digital audio coax even if the plasma receives the HDMI out from the the DVR (6412 III). Can anyone clarify/verify this?

I have the Phillips 50PF9630A.

Thanks in advance.

Phil Tomaskovic

11-05-05, 12:15 PM

FriscoSteve

11-05-05, 12:38 PM

IFLYSWA

11-05-05, 12:54 PM

How do you know if thisstupid 6412 guide is going to record something or not. Half of the series recordings I have show up in the "Series Recording priority list" but don't show up on the day the show is on under "Scheduled Recordings" and no recording indicator on the guide.

Thurs I had Will & Grace as a series and it recorded even though nothing was listed for it in the scheduled list, but Fri it did not record Threshold. I feel like I have to duplicate everything on my Panasonic E80 dvd-r to make sure I get a recording to watch.

Also every once in a while, I see the machine reboot and/or the guide has no listings info and has to redownload them again. If the listings don't show the show's info, will it not record the series event because it doesn't think the requested show is playing?

Looks like you can't do a manual series recording, is that true?

Thanks, what a POS!

The machine keeps the start/finish times of scheduled recordings when a reboot occurs, so it should still record without guide data. The recorded show will look like a manually recorded show (no show data) until it fills in, I believe. But rebooting should not affect what gets recorded. If you machine is rebooting sporadically, you might have a bad box, which could explain the other behavior you are reporting that I don't experience with mine. The machine will reboot after firmware/software downloads, etc., but it shouldn't occur that often...

Yes, as discussed many times in this thread, you can do a manual series recording. Set up the manual recording, then go back in and edit it...you should be able to find the option to make it repeat there. I can't remember the exact sequence, but a search of this thread should help you out if it isn't readily apparent.

Good luck...

IFLYSWA

11-05-05, 12:59 PM

I have 2 6412's that I have had since Dec 04 and have an audio problem that is very frustrating. When watching a local channel HD recorded show the volume starts out normal, but at some point diminisnes dramatically to where I have to crank up the volume to almost maximum on my TV or HT receiver. Sometimes I hear a "pop" when this initially happens, but that is not a consistent thing. It is very frustrating and I am coming to the end of my intro deal with Comcast in Frisco, TX (Dallas suburb) and am debating if I should keep cable or return to a dish. I never watch live TV so don't know if this happens on live. My setup is 6412 to 60inch Sony XBRLCD via DVI and optical audio. My settings are : TV type 16:9; DVI/VPbPr output 1080i; 4:3 override 480i; Audio output TV speakers (I usually just use the Sony speakers on my TV); Optimal Stereo yes and my firmware is 9.19. I would appreciate any help with fixing this because otherwise my experience has been great with this HD DVR.

Hey neighbor...
Have you swapped out the box with Comcast? I know that might be a pain, but I don't experience what you are describing with mine. I do see some variance in volume levels between channels, etc., and there is some popping sometimes when the material is switching from commercial to a show, etc., but that isn't anything like what you are talking about. Take advantage of not owning the equipment and swap it out to see if that fixes your problem....

-Randy (in Frisco)

UncD2000

11-05-05, 01:06 PM

Mine does the scheduled recordings over 90% of the time. My LG LST-3410A has about the same batting average. The HD Tivo runs pretty close to 100%. The latest miss by the 6412 was Tuesday night when it struck out on some X-Files episodes that I scheduled from TNT HD.

Most annoying defect of the 6412 is the absurb accessing of the CC. You have to turn the box off to bring up that menu. Of course, if the 6412 is recording something at the time, you can't possibly turn it off, so you're stuck with CC or no CC, as the case may be. Good thinking, Motorola engineers! I guess a CC button on the remote was too easy. Of course there are 4 buttons at the bottom of the remote that do absolutely nothing (unless you program them yourself).

FriscoSteve

11-05-05, 01:07 PM

I have not tried swapping out the box because it also happens on my other 6412, although not as frequently. My other setup is a 56" Samsung DLP using component video to TV and Optical audio to a Denon 3801, therby bypassing the TV's speakers. When the volume loss occurs, it usually gets loud again for the commercials and then decreases for the HD local channel show.

GaryStebbins

11-05-05, 07:44 PM

scanpa

11-05-05, 10:20 PM

I would like to control the volume on my Denon 3805 receiver with the 6412 remote. I called Comcast, and they told me that receiver isn't listed in their information. Has anyone figured out how to set up the remote for this receiver?

Thanks.

Gary

Gary,

Did you search for the code via the code search feature on the remote?

press the device type, then hold setup down till it blinks twice, enter 991
the device key should now blink twice, aim the remote at the device, and begin to alternate between pressing the power on/off key & the device key, till you find the code that powers on/off the device, then hit setup key one time to lock the working code in.

looking in the Remote codes PDF for the all in one URC for the 2 main comcast remotes below, I found the following codes for Denon Audio units.

Comcast Silver
URC-1067-ABG1
or
Comcast Silver w/ PIP
URC-1068-BG0

Denon Audio code is listed as: 1104 or 1360

If anyone would like a copy of the remote codes pdf or needs a website that sells both these remotes, please let me know.

myapplebuddy

11-05-05, 11:52 PM

andyross63

11-06-05, 09:50 AM

How do you know if thisstupid 6412 guide is going to record something or not. Half of the series recordings I have show up in the "Series Recording priority list" but don't show up on the day the show is on under "Scheduled Recordings" and no recording indicator on the guide.

Thurs I had Will & Grace as a series and it recorded even though nothing was listed for it in the scheduled list, but Fri it did not record Threshold. I feel like I have to duplicate everything on my Panasonic E80 dvd-r to make sure I get a recording to watch.
Did you have any conflicts? If you have used the option to add extra start or end time, that can prevent other recordings from being made even if it looks like there should be no conflict. Also, some have suggested that series recording settings are checked at around 4-4:30 am and pm, which on some boxes was causing lockups. If the reboot issue mentioned below is messing up the guide, it may be dropping recordings.

Also every once in a while, I see the machine reboot and/or the guide has no listings info and has to redownload them again. If the listings don't show the show's info, will it not record the series event because it doesn't think the requested show is playing?
I believe a recording should go through, even if the guide hasn't reloaded yet. It will work off the last settings. I'm not 100% certain this is true for standard series recordings, but know it's true for manual and 'individually selected in the guide' recordings. If the box is constantly rebooting, it is either defective, overheating, having communications problems, or power supply problems.

Looks like you can't do a manual series recording, is that true?
You can do VCR-style manual recordings. I use several for problem programs and for groups of programs (like Cartoon Network's constantly changing Adult Swim lineup.) You can also set up a program to record by hitting RECORD while it's selected in the Guide. Unlike a series recording, this 'guide selected' recording is basically a quick manual recording, with the program name instead of just a date and time in MyDVR. The drawback is that it will NOT move if the program moves.

Jim Miller

11-06-05, 05:26 PM

I know you can swap between tuners by doing the PIP thing. However is there some sort of way of identifiying which tuner you are using?

Right now I have one tuner doing DD5.1 to the AVR which video is going via HDMI to the Mitsu and I know the other one doesn't but it would be nice to know which would work without going through the "PIP test".

tnx
jim

Jim Miller

11-06-05, 05:27 PM

BTW, Comcast in Baltimore today acknowledged they've received 12.22 firmware and are evaluating it. No ETA yet on when it will be sent out.

jim

andyross63

11-06-05, 05:59 PM

andyross63

11-06-05, 06:00 PM

DST bug in manual recording schedule:

I just realized that one of my repeating, weekly, manual recordings changed when it records. It was set up to record from Saturday 10pm, to Sunday 1am. This past Saturday, and future recordings, had changed to 9pm-midnight. I ended up deleting and recreating it. I missed two Adult Swim episodes. (the times are Central.)

I'm guessing since it overlapped a DST change day, the box got confused and altered it 'permanently' for some reason.

scanpa

11-06-05, 06:16 PM

Cabana

11-06-05, 06:30 PM

scanpa

11-06-05, 07:41 PM

My DVR is only showing a black screen, but I can still browse the guide and my recordings. Whenever I hit play on a recording the time bar shows 45 minutes, then I get an error that says "cannot delete while file in use." How do I fix this? I can't watch anything.

Your Box has locked up.

You can either power cycle it yourself or call your cable co. and ask them to hit the box (reset) for you.

scanpa

11-06-05, 07:44 PM

BTW, Comcast in Baltimore today acknowledged they've received 12.22 firmware and are evaluating it. No ETA yet on when it will be sent out.

jim

They will begin sending it down the line after it has been setup for the head end it will be used on. (local changes and ajustments to the code ect. and then a test period.

Cabana

11-06-05, 08:25 PM

Your Box has locked up.

You can either power cycle it yourself or call your cable co. and ask them to hit the box (reset) for you.

Thanks, I did that and now it works perfectly again. :-)

Bruce Blakeslee

11-07-05, 07:35 AM

Kaiser-Soze

11-07-05, 08:38 AM

Has anyone read the article in the New York Times this morninga about Yahoo linking to Tivo to deliver web content to set top boxes? It seems to me that this would be far easier for Comcast to do since they have both things in house, a DVR and a strong web presence. Perhaps the modem in the 6412 will have some significant use afterall. I think Comcast could blow the doors off of Yahoo on this one.

Comcast, are you listining??????

I've never had a Tivo - so the Comcast DVR is gold to me an wasnt considering the switc sometime next year. But if this is available to Comcast/Tivo customers, then sign me up!

articles:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/07/technology/07yahoo.html?ei=5090&en=22b04dd9b003ba03&ex=1289019600&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=print

PCWorld's thought:
http://blogs.pcworld.com/techlog/archives/001059.html

Sparkman87

11-07-05, 09:41 AM

I glanced thru this thread & didn't see any posts that were similar to my problem. If there are & I missed them, I apologize.

Friday AM the box was locked @ 12:00, the guide stopped working, along with the DVR functions. We did have the box rehit, but no luck. Comcast plans to come out tomorrow AM, but will likely switch out the box & we will lose all the shows recorded on there.

Has this happened to anyone before? Any suggestions?

gmwedding

11-07-05, 12:03 PM

The DCT-6412 Phase III is available in the Sacramento Comcast region upon request and we've been using one for a couple of weeks now (we requested an upgrade after we started experiencing many freezes with our original DCT-6412).

The Phase III box does deliver an improved analog signal (channels 2-99), although the quality of the signals that Comcast receives from each of those broadcasters still is all over the board. Similarly, the picture quality of Comcast's digital channels (100 and above) remains inconsistent -- some channels are quite good, some are unacceptable.

For this reason, I continue to recommend that Comcast HD customers not bother subscribing to more than one Premium channel, which also are way too expensive. Instead, we just look at the Premium channel programming lineup each month and order the very same listed movies using a Blockbuster Online subscription (about $17 per month). This price is much lower than the cost of subscribing to all the Comcast Premium channels. If you have a decent 480p upconverting DVD player, DVD quality is much better than the most of the Premium channels -- AND you get all your movies in widescreen! Now, each Premium channel subscription does include one HD channel, but the cost of subscribing to all is far too expensive and not a good value for HD customers (given the Netflix/Blockbuster Online options...and I can't wait for an Apple iTunes Video store and a'la carte pricing). Comcast needs to reduce it's Premium channel pricing to better compete with alternative content delivery systems like mail order DVDs, and acknowledge the value of their current lower quality product. That said, I do love the Comcast HD channels, which are spectacular.

Also, broadcasters (and/or Comcast) are overcompressing the content on many digital channels, and the resulting pixelization/tiling often is quite visible and just awful. One such example is the Encore Western channel. Most of the old Black-and-white Westerns look terrible and for the most part are unwatchable. I will be glad when the industry standardizes on an acceptable level of compression and switches to MPEG-4, which should help in this regard. Current Comcast DCT's are MPEG-2 devices. Does anyone know if MPEG-4 conversion will require a hardware upgrade when it happens in the future (a DCT-6412 Phase IV maybe), or will it be able to be implemented with software using a firmware update?

The Phase III's response to the remote is slower than the original DCT-6412 box, but you sort of get used to it.

Like the old 6412, the Phase III box occasionally freezes when you are fast forwarding or rewinding. Sometimes, the only solution is to turn off the box and reboot it. Of course, this loses the last 30 minute recording of the channel you were watching...

Has anyone tried to connect a SATA drive? does it add to the recording capacity?

I wonder if an attached SATA drive would be recognized by a computer connected to a DCT-6412 Phase III via Firewire?

myapplebuddy

11-07-05, 12:26 PM

Bruce Blakeslee

11-07-05, 12:35 PM

Has anyone tried to connect a SATA drive? does it add to the recording capacity?

I wonder if an attached SATA drive would be recognized by a computer connected to a DCT-6412 Phase III via Firewire?

The SATA connector has not been activated on these boxes.

Since it is not active a computer could not recognize it.

myapplebuddy

11-07-05, 12:38 PM

Has anyone tried to connect a SATA drive? does it add to the recording capacity?
The SATA port is not active at this time. It's up to the cable companies to activate it - I believe that it was reported earlier in this thread that it might be active next year 2Q sometime.

I wonder if an attached SATA drive would be recognized by a computer connected to a DCT-6412 Phase III via Firewire?
I'm not sure if this has been attempted. I believe that at this time there is no way to increase the available hard drive space of the P2 or P3 Moto 6412 beyond 120GB.

Sparkman87

11-07-05, 01:05 PM

Have you tried power cycling the box?

Only unplugging it and plugging it back in, per the tech on the phone.

Cucuy

11-07-05, 02:35 PM

If you hit the LAST button on the remote it will bring you BACK like in a web browser.

Yeah Thanks. I got it. I also heard from on Comcast On-Demand commentators. I never saw it becasue I never used the original remote. I am using a programmable remote and that command was not in the list of commands. But since I had the original somewhere I just learned it and added it to my configuration.

markjrenna

11-07-05, 05:20 PM

Has anyone read the article in the New York Times this morninga about Yahoo linking to Tivo to deliver web content to set top boxes? It seems to me that this would be far easier for Comcast to do since they have both things in house, a DVR and a strong web presence. Perhaps the modem in the 6412 will have some significant use afterall. I think Comcast could blow the doors off of Yahoo on this one.

Comcast, are you listining??????Comcast does have plans to implement DVR scheduling via the web. The data won't use the the modem in the 6412 but rather the same transport as the way the current i-Guide receives its data.

Each 6412 has a unique serial number and IP address already. Your 6412 will be linked behind the scenes to your account and more importantly the Internet scheduling feature.

This and the "whole Home Media Option" would be nice additions now.

BTW, the earliest we will see the new i-Guide "Mosaic + VRN" is second quarter 2006. We might see the TiVo guide sooner.

Bruce Blakeslee

11-07-05, 05:31 PM

Comcast does have plans to implement DVR scheduling via the web. The data won't use the the modem in the 6412 but rather the same transport as the way the current i-Guide receives its data.

Each 6412 has a unique serial number and IP address already. Your 6412 will be linked behind the scenes to your account and more importantly the Internet scheduling feature.

This and the "whole Home Media Option" would be nice additions now.

BTW, the earliest we will see the new i-Guide "Mosaic + VRN" is second quarter 2006. We might see the TiVo guide sooner.

Mark,

Thanks. I was actually hoping that Comcast would go well beyond Web Scheduling (which is nice and I won't scoff at) and really begin to link television and web content togehter, even if crudely done at first. At least provide access to the Comcast website over the STB. Something like Microsoft's WebTV is a direction that would be interesting, especially for those of us who have both web and TV through Comcast.

Connecting this to their VOIP serviced and allowing video phone service would be fantastic as well.

We have so much more than I even dreamed of when I first started to surf the web in 1990 uising Mosaic that I feel a bit gready but what the heck... don't ask, don't get. I figure if I can think of it others in the Comcast trenches have already gone well beyond. I feel like we are poised on the precipice of some amazing stuff coming down the pike and I am drooling.

Bruce