Originally posted by markjrenna
and specifically this PDF from this link... http://broadband.motorola.com/dvr/downloads/URMD2.pdf Many thanks. This is the user guide manual which perhaps should have been given out in addition to the little quick-reference brochure. On page 37 of the manual (actually page 39 of the PDF) there are the instructions regarding setting manual timers which do, indeed, indicate that there is a first "confirm step" at the end of the first page of the dialog (though not strongly reinforced in the wording as only confirming this first page of date/times and not the entire manual timer dialog itself), preliminary to getting to the next steps which begins with channel selection.

Yes, had I been given this manual to read (as I had been given the little glossy brochure) I might have been able to answer my own questions about this apparent mystery but which in retrospect isn't a problem after all. But normally, well designed user interfaces should be intuitive... at least to technically savvy and highly experienced users such as ourselves. The manual is a last resort and if the interfece is misleading or confusing or non-intuitive, I'd say something is wrong there.

My point now simply regards the design of the user interface for this setting of a manual timer. Up until now, I've not seen a machine VCR or any other onscreen guide for setting a manual timer that did not put everything on one page... including date and start/end times, along with channel and recording frequency (and recording speed, for VCRs). Not that I'm complaining about secondary dialogs (friendly and complete as they might be, as they are) to set channel and special DVR recording options, I'm just complaining that I had no idea how to get to them and no idea they even existed from that first page of the manual timer dialog. And I shouldn't have needed to read a manual to know that there was a "second level" to the dialog, only reached by pushing the "confirm" button on the first page. Why not at least have some additional text on the screen advising me that this is what I should do to continue on and that "confirm" is not the very end?

Or, I see no reason why the manual timer dialog for the 6412 could not have provided additional links directly off of the first page to the very complete and friendly secondary channel and recording options dialogs, which at the end would perhaps have returned you back to the first dialog page (with your secondary choices displayed). And then you'd have "confirm" at the bottom of that first page with wording clearly suggesting you were now actually going to set the manual timer you had just fully constructed.

Or, maybe at the end of the last dialog page you'd have that final "confirm" with well worded text indicating that this was, truly, the end.

My point about the existing interface is that the wording of the "confirm" question and everything else on the first page does not intuitively suggest that there is much more to do that is not on this page. It clearly intimates that by pushing the "confirm" you are done and are now setting the timer, despite the fact that this was clearly not the case.

Else why would so many of us have missed the key breakthrough, which you have now provided us (and for which I am truly quite grateful)?

Anyway, manual timers were only my first thought as a solution to the current "record series" iGuide functional deficiencies in light of the less-than-adequate guide data regarding reruns and secondary weekly showings of a first-run weekly series on the same channel (e.g. HBO original series and movies, ABC hit shows, NBC hit shows, CBS hit shows,). Actually, given a powerful and accurate onscreen guide I would not normally think to set a manual timer. I much prefer to use the one-click setting of a timer and then perhaps come back in afterwards to edit or modify special settings as appropriate.

Originally posted by QZ1
Optimally, there would be a native mode, but since we have to choose 1080i or 720p, what do you think looks better, for LCDs and DLPs?

I know the TV has a better scaler than the STB. Of course, the STB must scale sometimes.

So far, I have only used 1080i on my 768p Sony LCD. It is silly that one needs to power cycle the STB to change this, I will leave it at one of the other.

I have tried both on my 56" DLP and for the life of me I can not see much of any Difference. Maybe after I use DVE for 720p sets I will change my tune.

Originally posted by jsb_hburg
The guy from the blog spot posted again (http://www.pvrblog.com/pvr/2003/12/comcast_set_to_.html#c2900993) . I tried with Maxtor 5000XT 250 GB external. I do have the Maxtor One Touch to test.

To nail this down we need to be increasingly specific. I have a maxtor One Touch and have tried both firewire and USB. Which are you using? do we know which the guy from the blog spot is using?

What I have done so far is to connect to the DVR by Firewire
pull the plug for a full minute
plug it back in to force a re-boot
nothing happened

I did the same procedure for the USB port on the back as well with the same result.

Is there some indication when the system tries to re-format the attached drive?

I am going to try unplugging the USB wire and plugging it back in without re-booting.

Can you think of any other ways to try this process?

Feels like we are close but, as yet, no cigar.

Originally posted by Bruce Blakeslee
To nail this down we need to be increasingly specific. I have a maxtor One Touch and have tried both firewire and USB. Which are you using? do we know which the guy from the blog spot is using?

What I have done so far is to connect to the DVR by Firewire
pull the plug for a full minute
plug it back in to force a re-boot
nothing happened

I did the same procedure for the USB port on the back as well with the same result.

Is there some indication when the system tries to re-format the attached drive?

I am going to try unplugging the USB wire and plugging it back in without re-booting.

Can you think of any other ways to try this process?

Feels like we are close but, as yet, no cigar.

I just got back from the feast. I will have to move the data off my Maxtor One Touch 250GB USB/FireWire external drive. I will do this Friday. This morning, I tried connecting a slightly older Maxtor 5000XT 250GB USB/FireWire to the 6412 before seeing the update on the blog spot. Nothing happened. Nothing changed. I did have recordings on the 6412 to gauge any change. I also checked the diagnostic menus. I saw no change with the Maxtor 5000XT connected. My 6412 has firmware 9.12. I tried only the USB connection.

I don't like the notion of all drives being reformatted once a new drive is connected. I had envisioned using a hub of some sort to connect multiple external drives and to be able to use the drives on any USB-equipped Motorola digital cable box provisioned by Comcast in my house. More info is needed.

Originally posted by Bruce Blakeslee
...I did the same procedure for the USB port on the back as well with the same result.

...Can you think of any other ways to try this process?

Feels like we are close but, as yet, no cigar.

Did you try the front USB port?

Originally posted by jsb_hburg
Did you try the front USB port?

No, but I will shortly

Bruce

Originally posted by jsb_hburg
Did you try the front USB port?

I tried the front USB port but nothing. No change. Still does not recognize the drive.

Originally posted by Bruce Blakeslee
I tried the front USB port but nothing. No change. Still does not recognize the drive.

What firmware do you have on your 6412?

Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Guys,

There are some inputs on the 6412 that are not enabled per page 8 of this document... http://broadband.motorola.com/dvr/downloads/URMD2.pdf

Not enabled:
1. Ethernet
2. Video In (RCA)
3 USB

Hope this helps.

Originally posted by markjrenna
Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Guys,

There are some inputs on the 6412 that are not enabled per page 8 of this document... http://broadband.motorola.com/dvr/downloads/URMD2.pdf

Not enabled:
1. Ethernet
2. Video In (RCA)
3 USB

Hope this helps.

Bummer:o

Originally posted by jones07
I have tried both on my 56" DLP and for the life of me I can not see much of any Difference. Maybe after I use DVE for 720p sets I will change my tune.
Is that particular DVE good for 768p TVs also?

Originally posted by markjrenna
Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Guys,

There are some inputs on the 6412 that are not enabled per page 8 of this document... http://broadband.motorola.com/dvr/downloads/URMD2.pdf

Not enabled:
1. Ethernet
2. Video In (RCA)
3 USB

Hope this helps. According to the config page the USB ports are enabled. That's why we think that blogger getting external harddrive support working is legit.

That would be the only reason why the USB ports are enabled.

Originally posted by QZ1
Is that particular DVE good for 768p TVs also?

I only know of the DVE for 720p and 1080i


http://store.yahoo.com/dvdinternational/dve-faq.html

i was supposed to have 2 6412's installed today....even after calling comcast twice to confirm that would be what i was getting, the tech came out with 2 regular digital cable boxes.

luckily he had 1 6412 in the truck but he had no idea what it was....he watched me install it. He called in my serial number but none of subscriptions are activated three hours later. i've been on and off the phone with comcast for an hour and they have no clue!!

the fourth CSR i talked to on the phone said the subscription was removed. how this is all happening is beyond me....i was also charged for TWO INSTALLS!! even though the guy watched me do the work and i basically trained him on the differences between the receivers.

and to think i'm going to have to do this all over again for a second 6412....sheesh

Originally posted by avic
IF your 6412's 4th-6th digits of the serial number are 437 or 438, there is a known issue with that series of boxes that causes them to shut off and or reboot. The box needs to be replaced in that case. Just had my first reboot today.

I was deleting a show, and then setting a "series recording" for a second show.

After completing that second process and pushing the "confirm" button, I
noticed that the bottom of the screen looked "corrupted" and everything
froze. Next thing, I see the lights go crazy on the display panel on the box
itself, and then it's obvious it's going through its initial power-on/boot
sequence.

So now I have to wait a few hours to get the guide downloaded again (appears to take 2% of the hard drive, since I had 34% before and 32% now, if I recall correctly) and check my DVR recording schedule to see if that new series actually got saved before the glitch.

Oh... my box does have 438 in its serial number. Hmmm...

Otherwise, the box has been a dream. Absolutely silent hard drive. I don't
really want to consider exchanging it (although I do think the MPEG2 decoder puts out a slightly off-color image compared to my OTA Panny DST50 and DirecTV Hughes E86, so maybe I should consider taking a chance on a second box).

I'd like to thank the person who posted the info on how to get recurring manual timers setup. Thanks!

However now that I'm using some of them to replace badly functioning series timers, I have noticed that after it records the show it does not put the proper name of it in the DVR recordings list. All you get is a generic name for all of them instead of the name of the show that was recorded. Hope they improve that in a future version.

Also I'm curious if anyone here ever gets more than 3 or 4 days worth of guide listings?

I've only had my 6412 for 5 days and luckily, so far I've had no reboots, but, it's very loud. I easily hear the hard disk noise from about 11 feet away - a head seeking noise that's often non-stop. I looked in the diag screens and found it uses a Seagate ST3230025ACE model HD which uses a voice coil for the head positioning mechanism. Although when building computers I have found Seagate drives to be quieter than most, this particular model seems to be a bad choice for a PVR. BTW, you'll also see in this screen that only 109MB are available for recording. The rest is for the OS and guide indexing.

Can others post the drive model used in their 6412s and note whether or not your box is noisy or acceptably quiet?

Regarding a previous post, I have 15 days of program info in my guide.

Originally posted by LKupersmith
I've only had my 6412 for 5 days and luckily, so far I've had no reboots, but, it's very loud. I easily hear the hard disk noise from about 11 feet away - a head seeking noise that's often non-stop. I looked in the diag screens and found it uses a Seagate ST3230025ACE model HD which uses a voice coil for the head positioning mechanism. Although when building computers I have found Seagate drives to be quieter than most, this particular model seems to be a bad choice for a PVR. BTW, you'll also see in this screen that only 109MB are available for recording. The rest is for the OS and guide indexing.

Can others post the drive model used in their 6412s and note whether or not your box is noisy or acceptably quiet?

Regarding a previous post, I have 15 days of program info in my guide.

Mine is very quiet. If you tell me how to check which drive I have I'll let you know which one it is. Can any settings be messed up by going to those menus?

Originally posted by DSperber
so maybe I should consider taking a chance on a second box). Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

You may want to see if it is a chronic problem.

If you do get another box it may be of the same series with problems. So, you may want to wait for newer 6412's to start showing up.

Originally posted by mr2828
However now that I'm using some of them to replace badly functioning series timers, I have noticed that after it records the show it does not put the proper name of it in the DVR recordings list. All you get is a generic name for all of them instead of the name of the show that was recorded. Hope they improve that in a future version.

Also I'm curious if anyone here ever gets more than 3 or 4 days worth of guide listings? Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

I'd like to see that fixed as well.

Another item that needs to be fixed... When I pause live TV I always see "To Be Announced" on the left part of the Time Line Bar. It should indicate the show I'm watching but it doesn't.

I get 14 days of guide data.

Originally posted by LKupersmith
I've only had my 6412 for 5 days and luckily, so far I've had no reboots, but, it's very loud. I easily hear the hard disk noise from about 11 feet away - a head seeking noise that's often non-stop. Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

There isn't much you can do with a noisy hard drive in a 6412. Just get it swapped out for another one. Make sure you are happy with the new one before the cable guy takes off.

Originally posted by markjrenna
Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

I'd like to see that fixed as well.

Another item that needs to be fixed... When I pause live TV I always see "To Be Announced" on the left part of the Time Line Bar. It should indicate the show I'm watching but it doesn't.

I get 14 days of guide data.

Mine shows the name of the show I am watching when I pause live tv.

I've had my 6412 for 3 days now and it is working quite well! I'm a Tivo advocate, but the dual tuner with HD is just blowing my old Sony Series 1 out of the water.

My box sits about 11 feet from where we sit and I can hear no noise from the hard drive. Only when I'm really close (ie. messing around with wiring) can I hear the drive whirl. I can't report on the make/model of the drive yet (don't know how).

Mr2828- Comcast LA/Inglewood is using iGuide as it's program listing provider and I can see at least 2 weeks of programs on my box.

markjrenna- Just like BullittMustang's, mine shows the name of the program I'm watching when I pause live TV.

So far, the 6412 has performed superbly with no hiccups...

Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Originally posted by markjrenna
"Another item that needs to be fixed... When I pause live TV I always see "To Be Announced" on the left part of the Time Line Bar. It should indicate the show I'm watching but it doesn't.

Is my box broken?

I'm running SW 71.44 - 1203 and FW 09.12

What SW/FW are you guys running? If it is the same, then this is a strange problem.

Originally posted by markjrenna
Comcast NJ - Union/Verona



Is my box broken?

I'm running SW 71.44 - 1203 and FW 09.12

What SW/FW are you guys running? If it is the same, then this is a strange problem.

Mark,

I am running SW 71.44-1203 and FW 09.12 as well and mine shows the correct name when I pause.

Bruce

Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Any suggestions?

Maybe I should pull the power and have it re-load the guide data.

What do you guys think?

Mark

Sounds like it's worth a shot. Only gonna cost you the time to wait for the guide data to reload...

Whenever I set a time recording and turn the 6412 off before the recording starts,there is no audio when the unit turns on to record.The second tuner also has no audio on any channel.
The recorded program and all channels will have audio after shutting down the box and turning it back on. It my box defective or is this common with the 6412?

Originally posted by rcodey
Whenever I set a time recording and turn the 6412 off before the recording starts,there is no audio when the unit turns on to record.The second tuner also has no audio on any channel.
The recorded program and all channels will have audio after shutting down the box and turning it back on. It my box defective or is this common with the 6412? Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

There is a know audio mute issue. It may be a bug. I think in this thread there is a code to program your remote to un-mute the 6412. This is not the TV mute.

I just leave my box on all the time so I avoid that problem.

Did anyone come up with a fix to remove the cable box from powering down when hitting the "all on/off" button?

That would make my life much easier... :)

Originally posted by rcodey
Whenever I set a time recording and turn the 6412 off before the recording starts,there is no audio when the unit turns on to record.The second tuner also has no audio on any channel.
The recorded program and all channels will have audio after shutting down the box and turning it back on. It my box defective or is this common with the 6412?

The box goes into mute when the power is off and a recording starts. You have to press the mute button on your remote. If it mutes the tv instead of the cable box then follow these steps..


1. Press the cable button

2. Press and hold setup until it blinks twice then let go

3. Press 994

4. Press setup and release

5. Press 00141

6. Press the mute button

Originally posted by markjrenna
Comcast NJ - Union/Verona



Is my box broken?

I'm running SW 71.44 - 1203 and FW 09.12

What SW/FW are you guys running? If it is the same, then this is a strange problem.

I have the same software and firmware.
I would try unplugging it and have it reload the guide.

Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

*****I rebooted the box.

Success! The show name is now in the time line bar

I now have the show title and the time line bar also indicates "white". It didn't do this before, it was just green.

Nothing changed software version wise. But there must be a small update or a glitch that was resolved only after a "plug pulling" power down and then a subsequent software download.

I guess getting the box a "few" days before the official roll out in my area may have been the reason. ;)

Thanks to all you guys for the help!

Mark

Comcast Boston, MA
I seem to be having an issue when powering the box on. I use the all on button. Recently (the last day or so) I have complete guide data, current channel info but not picture. The way I have restored the picture the first few times was to star a recorded program, stop it then return to live and the image comes back. The last time it happened, that did not work. I had to wait a good minute then the video just popped on. Anyone ahving this?
FREAK!

metallica,


are you using dvi output? i had the same problem with mine, i switched to component output, and after powering off everything was fine.

Freak,

I had the same problem this morning. I generally never turn the cable box off (if only to avoid the stupid auto-mute and auto-shutoff bugs in the software), but my kids tend to use the "All-Off" button. This morning, they're complaining that the "TV doesn't work" (my 5-year old has impressed me with how well he's figured out the 6412 without ever being shown how it works - he understands how it pauses, rewinds stuff he wants to see again, etc. Every time he gets up to do something, he either grabs the remote and pauses it or says "Pause it for me, Dad". Now I just need to teach him about FF thru commercials.)

Anyway, getting back on topic, this morning there's no picture - guide data and whatnot are there, but no TV. I play around with it for a while, then try playing a recorded program. Comes right up and when I stop the replay, live TV is back!

Sounds like another bug in the software. Hope it doesn't get any worse.

Derf!

Originally posted by Derf
Now I just need to teach him about FF thru commercials.)
Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Program the remote (instructions in this thread) with the 30 second skip. He'll only have to push it a few times and back to the show. :)

How does one get to the diagnostics menu?
I read here that it was power and ok. Tried power off and then ok, but nothing. Maybe I have to hold power then ok?

I know to get to the settings menu, it is power off and then menu.

How does one get to the diagnostics menu?

You got it right: Power Off and then "OK." I read earlier that the "OK" has to come within 3 seconds of powering off, though. That's what's worked here.

I dumped some local HD content off the 6412 to my Mac and then to my HTPC with a MyHD card. I had to use TSReader Lite to find the PIDs and then use HDTVtoMPEG2 1.11b to keep only the PIDs needed. Without following this process, the MyHD card would hang trying to play the originally dumped file. Following the process, the resulting useable files cannot be fast-forwarded or rewound.

I think I will use the 6412 only to capture local HD for weak powered stations and otherwise use the MyHD card. The jury is still out on getting an HDMI/DVI-equipped DVHS VCR to hook up to the DLP.

Originally posted by frankz1
You got it right: Power Off and then "OK." I read earlier that the "OK" has to come within 3 seconds of powering off, though. That's what's worked here.
What is the correct way to get out of the menu then? Exit or the power button?

What is the correct way to get out of the menu then? Exit or the power button?

That one I don't remember, although hitting "POWER" again sounds right because you use "SELECT/OK" to navigate through the menus.

There's an "Everything you wanted to know about the Diagnostic Menu" Site mentioned earlier in the thread. I'm prevented from directly posting URLs at this point in my limited posting history, but it's on a site at cjhengineering "dot" com "slash" hdtv "slash" cablehdtv "slash" dctdiag "dot" htm.

Subsitute the symbols for the quoted words. It's very instructional.

http://cjhengineering.com/hdtv/cablehdtv/dctdiag.htm

Originally posted by BullittMustang
The box goes into mute when the power is off and a recording starts. You have to press the mute button on your remote. If it mutes the tv instead of the cable box then follow these steps..


1. Press the cable button

2. Press and hold setup until it blinks twice then let go

3. Press 994

4. Press setup and release

5. Press 00141

6. Press the mute button
love these codes, Remote would not work with my H/K receiver codes so when in DD5.1 I couldn't mute. Code works to mute the 6412 box now.

I read others are able to dump shows from the 6412 to their D-VHS?? I'm not able to do that & hope someone out there can PLEASE HELP!!

My plasma is hooked up the the 6412 via DVI & everything works fine until I power up my JVC 3000(which is hooked up via firewire). THEN the 6412 goes into lock up mode. I have to turn off the D-VHS to get it going again. When I turn it back on I no longer even get an image via firewire. Any suggestions or thoughts on the problem??

Originally posted by LKupersmith
I've only had my 6412 for 5 days and luckily, so far I've had no reboots, but, it's very loud. I easily hear the hard disk noise from about 11 feet away - a head seeking noise that's often non-stop. I looked in the diag screens and found it uses a Seagate ST3230025ACE model HD which uses a voice coil for the head positioning mechanism. Although when building computers I have found Seagate drives to be quieter than most, this particular model seems to be a bad choice for a PVR. BTW, you'll also see in this screen that only 109MB are available for recording. The rest is for the OS and guide indexing.

Can others post the drive model used in their 6412s and note whether or not your box is noisy or acceptably quiet?

Regarding a previous post, I have 15 days of program info in my guide.

Ok, I checked mine. It is a Maxtor hard drive and it is very quiet.

carl -

funny you posted that just now because i just came here to report similar problems with my new 6412 and dvhs (JVC 30K) recordings via firewire. it's basically making my 6412 crash HARD.

is anyone here successfully making recordings to a dvhs deck from their 6412's?

after anywhere between 15-40 minutes of an attempted recording to my dvhs deck, the 6412 will crash. i've tried 10 times....i've also tried unplugging the firewire, turning everything off and starting over, etc, but it seems like just having the firewire plugged into the 6412 makes it unstable (i've been getting freezeups where the remote won't do anything and the buttons on the actual unit won't do anything, forcing me to unplug the 6412).

it seems to be stable when the firewire cable isn't plugged into the 6412.

any ideas?

My drive is also the Seagate ST3230025ACE and it's intollerably loud. I guess I'll have to keep exchanging it until I get the Maxtor.

Originally posted by oleus
carl -

funny you posted that just now because i just came here to report similar problems with my new 6412 and dvhs (JVC 30K) recordings via firewire. it's basically making my 6412 crash HARD.

is anyone here successfully making recordings to a dvhs deck from their 6412's?

after anywhere between 15-40 minutes of an attempted recording to my dvhs deck, the 6412 will crash. i've tried 10 times....i've also tried unplugging the firewire, turning everything off and starting over, etc, but it seems like just having the firewire plugged into the 6412 makes it unstable (i've been getting freezeups where the remote won't do anything and the buttons on the actual unit won't do anything, forcing me to unplug the 6412).

it seems to be stable when the firewire cable isn't plugged into the 6412.

any ideas?

Have you tried just turning off your JVC to "unfreeze" the moto box? So far that has worked for me. But I SURE want to get this fixed!! LOTR ROTK is on in HD starting tonight & I REALLY wanted to record that!!

Originally posted by BullittMustang
What is the correct way to get out of the menu then? Exit or the power button?

I have done this both ways (I'm constantly shifting from 1080i to 720p & back again). It really doesn't seem to matter.

Have you tried just turning off your JVC to "unfreeze" the moto box? So far that has worked for me. But I SURE want to get this fixed!! LOTR ROTK is on in HD starting tonight & I REALLY wanted to record that!!

i haven't done that yet because by the time i stop the JVC deck, the 6412 has usually rebooted, or i've already resorted to unplugging the 6412. now that i know it's the JVC probably causing the problems i'll probably just take it out of the mix altogther and use it with my other receiver (the 6208, which works GREAT with my JVC deck).

i'm pretty sure the 6412 just doesn't like the JVC 30K, because it works fine when it's not hooked up to it. this is very discouraging. I might just keep my other 6208 instead of upgrading it if i can't record via firewire from the 6412.

later tonight when i have tme i will try leaving the firewire cable plugged into the 6412 but NOT hooked up to the JVC, just to see ifit's something to do with simply havingthe firewire cable in there. i doubt that though....seems to me if two of us are having the same problems there is some sort of incompatibility going on.

Ok this has happened with two remotes. I programed the 30 seccond skip and the mute on my black UEI remote for the 6412 and now the number 4 wont work. Took the first one back, it worked until I programed it for the mute and gone again. Any ideas?

Has anyone checked the temperature on their 6412? Mine is at 138 degrees, though it says it's ok.

Also, my FF4 is only 20x. Earlier posts referred to a 60x FF. Is there a way to make this advance at 60x?

I'm in the Boston area.

I just recorded to my JVC 30K The Matrix I had saved a few days ago.

At about the 55min mark a few glitches appeared. Then a bit later a few more. Not too bad, but it needs to be fixed.

No lock up.

This crash after 15 minutes or so is what use to happen to my 6208 when I would record to my DVHS. I got around it as follows: With the cable box off, I prep'd my DVHS tape and then powered the cable box on and started the recording. With the 6208, if the box was on while I was inserting and prep'n the tape, it would crash in the first 5-15 minutes. I have not recorded to DVHS yet but will tonight most likely as I have to record the Patriots game I have saved before tomorrow's game. I will report my findings.
FREAK!

Originally posted by KentStater72
Ok this has happened with two remotes. I programed the 30 seccond skip and the mute on my black UEI remote for the 6412 and now the number 4 wont work. Took the first one back, it worked until I programed it for the mute and gone again. Any ideas?

In case you happen to have been issued an Atlas remote try this post (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=4689687#post4689687) for assistance but substitute your 4 key for the 7 key specified in the post.

Originally posted by Derf
Freak,


Anyway, getting back on topic, this morning there's no picture - guide data and whatnot are there, but no TV. I play around with it for a while, then try playing a recorded program. Comes right up and when I stop the replay, live TV is back!

Sounds like another bug in the software. Hope it doesn't get any worse.

Derf!


Exact same thing happened to me too.

jason

Update on DVHS recording. I recorded the Pats game without issues.
FREAK!

I did some AVS research and found this beauty of a post (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=4487390#post4487390) leading me to believe that adding external hard drive space will be next to impossible if using USB. Thus, I do not believe the post at the blog spot.

I think there is still potential for expansion using FireWire because of 5C. The new I-Guide would have to be modified to allow for menus for the externals.

Originally posted by jsb_hburg
I did some AVS research and found this beauty of a post (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=4487390#post4487390) leading me to believe that adding external hard drive space will be next to impossible if using USB. Thus, I do not believe the post at the blog spot.

.

What a pathetic no life person that guy was :p

Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Looks like I found another bug.

I setup my 13th Series Recording (is that too many?). I needed to change its Priority among the other 12 recordings in the Priority list. So I moved it from where it was to 8th. When I selected the Confirm it just froze. I waited an hour but nothing changed. I had to remove power and reboot the box. When I powered up, the show was in the 8th spot in the Priority List like I wanted.

I duplicated this bug moving the 13th show again, so it does not seem random.

Is 13 Series Recordings too many???

Anyone else have 13 or more Series Recordings???

Anyone else experience their 6412/i-Guide become non responsive???

*** Update ***

I added a couple more Series Recordings. I was able to change the Priority and Confirmed the changes without the box locking up. Maybe 13 is unlucky. :D

Obviously I'll post back if the bug occurs again.

News and Question:

My first 6412 from Comcast of North Fulton (Atlanta) had the random reboot problem. My replacement is fine.

My research indicates different Comcast locations provide different things. Some have ethernet enabled, some don't. Some have Seagate drives, some have Maxtors. Etc. My guess is individual systems have their own budgets and buy accordingly.

My V-chip with my iGuide sucks. The iGuide gives only general ratings for TV shows, such as TV-14. It doesn't give the details, such as D, L, S, V. So if I want to block TV-14 shows that have D, L, and S, but allow those that have just V, I have to block all TV-14 shows instead. When it comes to movies on regular TV channels, such as TNT, the iGuide goes by the movie's original rating and has no TV rating for it. So, for example, if a movie was originally rated R, and I have the V-chip set to block R movies, the movie is blocked. This happens even if TNT (or whoever) has edited the movie down to something acceptable for kids and given it a TV rating of, say, TV-PG.

My question is who do I complain to? My local provider? Comcast Corporate? iGuide Corporate? TV Guide Corporate? All of the above? Is this really just a request for a software enhancement? Should I expect them to already know about this and that they are planning to implement it once they finish with their first round of bug fixes?

I understand iGuide is owned by Comcast and maybe TV Guide is owned by them, too.

Originally posted by DaveFi
My drive is also the Seagate ST3230025ACE and it's intollerably loud. I guess I'll have to keep exchanging it until I get the Maxtor.

You can tell if it is a Maxtor without ever hooking it up. The printing can be seen through the top vent holes. I can clearly see Maxtor.com through the top front vent holes.

Originally posted by Carl Jones
I have done this both ways (I'm constantly shifting from 1080i to 720p & back again). It really doesn't seem to matter.
The Aspect Ratio, Resolution, and 4:3 Override are in another settings menu, accessed while power is off and pressing 'Menu', navigate with arrows, and then exit by pressing 'Menu' again; 'Exit' doesn't work.

The Diagnostics menu has Signal to Noise Ratio, Temp, and others. As we discussed, power should be off and within 2 seconds press 'ok'. Navigation is with the arrows, and since 'ok' is used to select, then I would guess 'Exit' should work to exit; one shouldn't have to power cycle so much. I know the HDD is always running but, while off, it doesn't buffer.

Originally posted by BullittMustang
You can tell if it is a Maxtor without ever hooking it up. The printing can be seen through the top vent holes. I can clearly see Maxtor.com through the top front vent holes. Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Mine is the Seagate ST3230025ACE and I can't hear it unless I put my ear to the 6412.

I guess the noisy ones are random.

Mine was noisy only on bootup. The it quieted down.

Originally posted by nielloeb
My question is who do I complain to? My local provider? Comcast Corporate? iGuide Corporate? TV Guide Corporate? All of the above? Is this really just a request for a software enhancement? Should I expect them to already know about this and that they are planning to implement it once they finish with their first round of bug fixes?

I understand iGuide is owned by Comcast and maybe TV Guide is owned by them, too. Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Here are some phone numbers:

Gemstar-TV Guide/i-Guide - (212) 626-2564

Comcast Corp Office - (215) 665-1700

I'd call, in fact I am. I'd like to know who to give feedback to.

I'll call and see if I can get some contacts and better phone numbers, if they exist.

I'll post any useful information here.

As far as I know, Comcast doesn't own i-Guide but jointly created it with TV Guide. Mostly to do with avoiding a lawsuit Comcast would loose.

Originally posted by Derf
this morning there's no picture - guide data and whatnot are there, but no TV. I play around with it for a while, then try playing a recorded program. Comes right up and when I stop the replay, live TV is back!

Sounds like another bug in the software. Hope it doesn't get any worse.

Derf!
Same problem here. Happens regularly. Anyone know what's up with this?

Originally posted by markjrenna
Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Mine is the Seagate ST3230025ACE and I can't hear it unless I put my ear to the 6412.

I guess the noisy ones are random.

I have the Seagate, The only time I can hear it is if I turn off the TV and sit right in front of the box. I guess if it was in a bedroom while sleeping I may hear it. But that is what your going to get with anything with a hard drive.

Originally posted by dcfox
I have the Seagate, The only time I can hear it is if I turn off the TV and sit right in front of the box. I guess if it was in a bedroom while sleeping I may hear it. But that is what your going to get with anything with a hard drive.

Not so. I've been building computers since 1982 and have seen HDs come a long way. Even now though, every brand or model has their own sound and there's no one best brand overall for noise. I built my Linux music server with a Seagate (I think it was a ST380023?) and it's extremely quiet. I also have a ReplayTV 5080 and an original TiVo series 1. My original TiVo drive (a Quantum) was ok, but I upgraded it to a 120 GB Maxtor and it is all but silent. My ReplayTV box has the original drive (type unknown) and although this box is in the bedroom, it's still quiet enough to be unobtrusive.

My complaint with the Seagate in my 6412 is the head seek noise. Sometimes the box seems pretty quiet and not annoying at all. Other times, the head seems to be seeking non-stop - maybe it does some kind of defrag in the background and that's when it's noisy. When recording two shows at once, it's louder, but that's to be expected. My wife doesn't mind the noise, but it bugs me.

Originally posted by LKupersmith
My complaint with the Seagate in my 6412 is the head seek noise. Sometimes the box seems pretty quiet and not annoying at all. Other times, the head seems to be seeking non-stop - maybe it does some kind of defrag in the background and that's when it's noisy. When recording two shows at once, it's louder, but that's to be expected. My wife doesn't mind the noise, but it bugs me. Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

It looks like the 6412 has been made with two hard drives. Either the Seagate or the Maxtor. It seems that the Maxtor is quieter than the Seagate. Although my Seagate is very quiet.

I suppose the only thing we can do is to call Comcast and swap it for another. If you are lucky, you may get the Maxtor or a more quiet Seagate. But that is pot luck at best.

I'd probably wait a month or two and put up with the noise. By then Comcast may have newer/quieter units and hopefully the serial numbers are not the 437 and 438 series.

Just a guess. I don't know for sure.

BTW, both tuners are always recording regardless if you hit record or not.

Originally posted by spearse
Mine was noisy only on bootup. The it quieted down. same here, with seagate, loud high pitch sound on first boot up, quiet ever since.

Everytime I turn the cable box on there is no picture. The guide works though. To get it to work I have to play a dvr recording, just for a second. this seems like a MAJOR bug to me. How many other people have this problem?

jason

Don't turn the box off ;)

Does anyone know the difference between white and green in the iGuide time bar?

I know green represents the buffer on the hard drive, so if you pause a show, the green bar will gradually increase in size until a certain point and then decrease as the HD can only hold so much buffer.

But what about the white bar? I've had it appear a couple times. It also decreased over time. Anyone know what it represents? Best I can tell is maybe the overlapping buffer of the second tuner.

Originally posted by tennberg
Does anyone know the difference between white and green in the iGuide time bar?

I know green represents the buffer on the hard drive, so if you pause a show, the green bar will gradually increase in size until a certain point and then decrease as the HD can only hold so much buffer.

But what about the white bar? I've had it appear a couple times. It also decreased over time. Anyone know what it represents? Best I can tell is maybe the overlapping buffer of the second tuner.

http://broadband.motorola.com/dvr/downloads/URMD2.pdf

tennberg, according to the I-Guide User's Manual (link posted above), page 35 (page 37 viewed as a PDF):

Status Bar: Yellow bar indicates where you are in the program; Green indicates the length of program you are watching; Red indicates that you are watching a recording in process; and White indicates the length of other programs available in the buffer.

Hope that helps,

JohnF

I have Voom as well as cable.
Can I run my Voom from the stb to the 6412 video input?

I know I could not record in HD, but would be nice to get Universal HD and the Voom movies on the DVR.

As I think about this...
Could I also (or not also) run the extra output from my 6412 to my Pioneer 310 DVD recorder?
I could then get some of the movies off the HDD and on to DVD.

tennberg. the white buffer is a live program that has ended. you'll likely only see it on a non-HD channel since the HD buffer is only 10-15 minutes. green buffer indicates a program still in progress and of course for any DVR playback.

Originally posted by jason978
Everytime I turn the cable box on there is no picture. The guide works though. To get it to work I have to play a dvr recording, just for a second. this seems like a MAJOR bug to me. How many other people have this problem?

jason

I had this same problem a couple weeks ago. I called the comcast DVR support and they reset my box. It has been working ever since. The only problem with a reset is waiting for the guide to re-populate.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Carl Jones
[B]I read others are able to dump shows from the 6412 to their D-VHS?? I'm not able to do that & hope someone out there can PLEASE HELP!!

My plasma is hooked up the the 6412 via DVI & everything works fine until I power up my JVC 3000(which is hooked up via firewire). THEN the 6412 goes into lock up mode.

Adding to this I am able to see channels like CBS fine but no Discover or HBO as examples. Any thoughts on why & what I can do to correct these issues?

Thanks for all the suggestions. Here's a bit more info on box #2's situation. Not only does OnDemand not work, but some of the digital channels do not come through as well. About 50% of the channels in the digital tier come up black screen with the box saying they are subscription service only. On top of that, I originally indicated that the DVR was working. That's not the case. It seems when I set things to record they don't record. I called Comcast and they sent a signal to the box. I did provide serial # of course. Nothing happened when a supposed "flash" should have come through, so it looks like I have to have a tech come out.

Here's how my lines are rigged given I have a new construction home:

Main line from outside feeds to a 4-way splitter #1 IN
OUTS from 4-way #1: 2 bedrooms, living room, 4-way splitter #2 IN
OUTS from 4-way #2: 1 bedroom, bar TV, basement TV, 2-way splitter IN
OUTS from 2-way: cable internet, office TV

Living room line has a signal booster on it, supplied by Comcast, and has lines that feed DVR, TV, and VCR. This was done by Comcast. TV (Ant-A) & VCR are normal cable not digital. There are no issues with this setup.

The cable internet works fine and at/above speeds expected from Comcast. Lines exist for office, bar, and basement TV's but are not in use as basement is still being finished. TV in 1 bedroom works with regular cable, no digital. Cable in other bedroom works as formerly was used as office and cable internet worked no problems. Master bedroom is where box #2 is and issues are occurring. I think a signal booster will be needed.

Let me know your thoughts as 4-way #2 was connected by me to feed the basement/bar/office lines.

A little question... I know that certain serial numbers (437 &438?) are having some issues... However, I have none of those issues, and I have one of those numbers.

Is there a certain brand of HD maybe, combined with the serial number that is giving issues? I don't have any reboot problem, so I'm hesitant in calling up comcast.

if it ain't broke...
of course call them if that changes.

Immediately. :) Well, after I watch all my saved up programs. :)

Is there a remote code you can use to map a button to go directly to guide by channel?

We programmed a macro on our remote to go directly to a channel (while powering up the Cable box and our reciever...

However, if you are referring to the comcast supplied remote, I don't know if you can do it.

Can I plug the DVI output of my 6412 straight into the DVI input of an LCD computer monitor? If the LCD monitor is 1280x1024 what is the appropriate setting for the 6412?

Does the 6412 degrade the HD picture? It seems more "grainy' than before. Of course I can't compare since I don't have the old boxes anymore (6208 and 6200)

Maybe I'm just seeing things

i have not noticed degraded PQ with the 6412. some cox cable systems around the country seem to have problems with the 6412 and HD macroblocking....but here with comcast in atlanta, the 6412 HD seems to look the same as the 6208.

dvhs recording via firewire is much less stable for me on the 6412, however.

Monday night I tried for the first time to schedule recordings of both Everwood and Las Vegas at the same time. I left for my late shift, leaving the 6412 off.

When I came home, both shows showed on the list of recordings..but...! When I tried to start the Las Vegas recording all I got was the dialog that asked me to either delete or not delete the recording. The dialog you get at the end of a show. Obviously something went wrong. The other recording was fine...!!

Does anyone have a suggestion to why this would happen...?

The same thing happed to me with mutant X last Saturday, all I got was the dialog that asked me to either delete or not delete the recording also. But in my case I left my 6412 on......................nasty ugly bug here maybe ?

Does anyone know when the new I-Guide finally gets uploaded on the old original DCTs in the Delaware County, PA area? I have the 6412 in the living room and of course it's already preloaded on that stb but was just wondering when will it be uploaded to my old Digital stb in the bedroom.

I tried to record about 7 shows during Thanksgiving weekend (out of town) only one of them worked sucessfully.

Is there some bug/glitch propagating the system?

after a few days of flawless recordings i'm getting a lot of "split" recordings. on my 6208 this would have definitely meant a crash, but i lost no guide listings so it must be something else.

This thing needs a screensaver during "pause".

Also, a "jump" to time index on saves would be nice.

Originally posted by Carl Jones
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Carl Jones
[B]I read others are able to dump shows from the 6412 to their D-VHS?? I'm not able to do that & hope someone out there can PLEASE HELP!!

My plasma is hooked up the the 6412 via DVI & everything works fine until I power up my JVC 3000(which is hooked up via firewire). THEN the 6412 goes into lock up mode.

Adding to this I am able to see channels like CBS fine but no Discover or HBO as examples. Any thoughts on why & what I can do to correct these issues?


I only upgraded my 6408 to a 6412 yesterday, but I was able to dump a short recording to my 30K as well as view the channels through the firewire/30K. I did notice that if I am viewing through the 30K and changing channels on the 6412, it slows down considerably, (to the point of thinking it has locked up) but eventually seems to catch up. Maybe it has to resynch on each channel.....?

Anyway, dumping shows to 30K worked on initial trial. I could NOT get the 30K to recognize the 6412 if I had my Samsung SIR-T165 connected to the 30K. Thanks to Comcast, I no longer need to use the 165T for OTA backup for schedule conflicts tho, so no issue there.

These are initial findings based on quick tests. Hopefully it will continue this way... I am concerned about the lockup you mention....

Originally posted by jones07
The same thing happed to me with mutant X last Saturday, all I got was the dialog that asked me to either delete or not delete the recording also. But in my case I left my 6412 on......................nasty ugly bug here maybe ?

I was able to record on both tuners at the same time, but that was by pressing record on one tuner, swapping, then pressing record on the other tuner. It did work, though...haven't tried it yet with two scheduled recordings at the same time, but I'm set to record two things this morning while I'm at work, so we'll see how it did when I go home for lunch. I'll keep you all updated...

scheduled dual recordings worked flawlessly during the holiday.

I just tested recording two programs at the same time and I made sure I had a channel on that wasn't scheduled to record. One minute before the recordings were to begin, a window popped up with two options.
1. Change the channel when recording begins or
2. Cancel the recording.
I selected option 1, chanel changed and both recordings started with no issues.

So I imagine if you set a recording for two different channels, you must have the tuner set ot one of the recorded channels, although I am not sure what would happen if I would not have chosen any of the options and just let it go.

I'm wondering if the people who are having issues recording keep their cable box on all the time, or turn it off before they record.

Just for diagnostic purposes.

Back in this thread it has been noted that if you schedule two recordings at the same time it will record them. I believe if you have the unit ON, watching TV it will ask you, and if you don't do anything, continue on its merry way with the scheduled recording.

(Tivo does this too.)

Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Scheduled dual recordings work fine for me all the time, every time. So far no problems there.

I do have another problem though...

I do experience the 6412 freezing on me (not every time) when I make changes to my Series Recordings and/or my Priority List.

This has happened to me three times now. The first time I waited an hour and nothing. It never un-froze. Every time this happens I have to pull the power and do a complete reboot. And that stinks since I have to wait hours for the guide data to fully return.

So, has anyone else experienced this or am I alone in the woods here?

Mark

Originally posted by pkwjr
So I imagine if you set a recording for two different channels, you must have the tuner set ot one of the recorded channels, although I am not sure what would happen if I would not have chosen any of the options and just let it go. Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Both tuners can be on any channel. Everything will happen automaticaly...

Channels change and recordings start. You don't have to intervene at all. That is just a warning/notice that the channel will change and a recording is going to start.

I do experience the 6412 freezing on me (not every time) when I make changes to my Series Recordings and/or my Priority List.

This has happened to me three times now. The first time I waited an hour and nothing. It never un-froze. Every time this happens I have to pull the power and do a complete reboot. And that stinks since I have to wait hours for the guide data to fully return.

So, has anyone else experienced this or am I alone in the woods here?

I have changed series recording options (space needed ---> save until I delete) once without incident here if that helps.

My pet peeve is that the DVR menu screens show the program you're recording in progress. It seems I always start to watch a show just as it's getting to the climax during the "live" broadcast, and the little window view winds up ruining the ending. My wife has taken to covering her eyes and screaming "LA LA LA LA LA" when I'm navigating the DVR menus during a recording.

TiVo is much more elegant in this respect.

A question for those of you with the 6412 and DVHS. Tonight I want to `dump' the recording I made of LOTR: ROTK to DVHS, but would like to watch other shows or content from the DVR at the same time. Has anybody tried this---starting to record to DVHS from the hard drive, then switching tuners? I was wondering if the 6412 might automatically pause or stop the first tuner if I go to the second...hope that makes sense!

Here's my update - went home for lunch, and both shows I had recording this morning at the same time recorded just fine, no issues...

Originally posted by JonM in MN
A question for those of you with the 6412 and DVHS. Tonight I want to `dump' the recording I made of LOTR: ROTK to DVHS, but would like to watch other shows or content from the DVR at the same time. Has anybody tried this---starting to record to DVHS from the hard drive, then switching tuners? I was wondering if the 6412 might automatically pause or stop the first tuner if I go to the second...hope that makes sense!

Please don't rub it in. That's what I was trying to do when Ii found out Comcast has me set for "copy never". I can't copy HBO, etc. to DVHS at all!!

That sucks, Carl. Even my `copy once' HBO stuff I can record to the 6412 and then dump to DVHS. The LOTR stuff isn't even protected, I believe---it was broadcast on StarzHD.

Originally posted by frankz1
My pet peeve is that the DVR menu screens show the program you're recording in progress. It seems I always start to watch a show just as it's getting to the climax during the "live" broadcast, and the little window view winds up ruining the ending. My wife has taken to covering her eyes and screaming "LA LA LA LA LA" when I'm navigating the DVR menus during a recording.

TiVo is much more elegant in this respect. [/B]

Funny!

My wife does the same thing! She get's pissed when it does that.
I agree, My TiVo has much better software. But, we need our HD!

Yeah, guys---I hate that window, too---I do the same thing, like to begin watching towards the end of the recording. I think I'm going to tape a piece of paper to the top of my TV and flip it down before I hit that menu---and make sure the sound is off!

Originally posted by Carl Jones
Please don't rub it in. That's what I was trying to do when Ii found out Comcast has me set for "copy never". I can't copy HBO, etc. to DVHS at all!! Unplug/plug your box.

john m-

i don't think what you were asking about would work...i.e, switching tuners right as a recording to DVHS begins to watch something else.

i think whatever tuner you're on, or whatever you're watching on PVR, will be going out to the dvhs deck via firewire.

DWK -

I had no problems dumping to my DVHS deck UNTIL i started trying to record things longer than 25-30 minutes. Then for some reason (EVERY TIME) the 6412 would hard crash where it powers off and loses the guide for a long time.

try recording something longer than 30 min. like a movie and see if it works for you. i really am curious as to what's causing this to happen on my setup....used to work great withthe 6208.

Does anyone know how I can program the favorites button to access my list of favorites rather than change the channel to the next favorite? This would be more useful.

Also, does anyone have the favorites icon in their "quick" menu? It's missing from mine.

Originally posted by markjrenna
Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

I do experience the 6412 freezing on me (not every time) when I make changes to my Series Recordings and/or my Priority List.

This has happened to me three times now. The first time I waited an hour and nothing. It never un-froze. Every time this happens I have to pull the power and do a complete reboot. And that stinks since I have to wait hours for the guide data to fully return.
I have similar freezes, but pressing EXIT on the remote gets me out of them. Haven't had to reboot.

Rich (Watertown, MA)

Firewire output is adversely effected if you are watching something off the harddrive and recording starts.

On my unit I was trying to save The Matrix and about 50mins in a timed recording started- then the screen briefly pixelated in a "streak" or line, like the harddrive couldn't keep up. It also "streaked" when the timed recording stopped.

So, if you are making a recording to DVHS, make sure there are no timed recordings at the same time. Chalk this up to another bug.

If you send an email to Harmony, they will send you instructions on how to learn a command from another remote. Then you could add the code to your original remote and learn it on the Harmony.

Had two 6412's installed from comcast/central nj. When installed asked if there was a new remote. Installer said no. Then read the booklet that they sent along. Booklet has pictures of a 'swap' and 'pip' buttons on the remote. Called comcast. After twenty minutes waiting the cs came back with, 'yes, you need a new remote.' They are sending it in the mail. This should be interesting. Maybe pip is alive?

No pip, but you need the swap button to change tuners.

PiP from the remote doesn't work, according to my 6412 installer, who did appear very knowledgable. At least you're getting a new remote with them. My new remote for the 6412 is actually the old 6208 remote with a swap function programmed on the TV/VCR button. It does work, however.

In my area, they got the 6412s, but then decided to wait two weeks to get the 'new remotes'. I was expecting the silver with swap button, but I got the silver with TV/VCR programmed to swap. It was obviously a new remote, by the looks of the remote and plastic packaging, and it had sealed batteries, and instructions.

So from this, I assume they only program factory new remotes, because this area had 6208s already. But why didn't they send the 6412 remote? Maybe they had factory new 6208 remotes sitting in the warehouse? The installer was also very knowlegeable.

Originally posted by hibs99
Problem with my 6412 (Comcast Chicago):

I decided that it would be a good idea to check the status screen on my box, so I turned it off, hit 'select' and went into the status screen. Browsed around, checked a few things out, no big deal right?

Wellllllllllll, when i exited the screen and went back to an "off" box, and I turned it on again, no picture. It would display the guide info, change channels, go into the guide, etc. ONLY when i played a saved program from the dvr section and then exited it would the picture come on.

I unplugged it for 30 seconds, plugged it back in, and that seemed to fix it b/c I was able to turn it on and get a picture...but now it is back to its old tricks, and I have not gone into any status screens.

I just had this same problem, but I get no video at all. I don't even get a guide. I played something from my DVR, then exited, but still no video. I unplugged it for 15 minutes, and still nothing. Is there some kind of reset button? Or is there something else I should know? Thanks!

edit: The component worked fine, it was the DVI that didn't work. The DVI came back to life about 4 hours later for some reason.

Also, my box seems to reset a lot. It has done it about 5 times today, and It did it a few times on Monday when I first got it. Does this ever stop? Also, there are horizontal lines that sporadically show up on my menu. Anywhere from 2 to 10. They are annoying, and it makes me think something is corrupt with the guide. Any ideas?

edit: It just froze, and then restarted itself twice in the last five minutes when I tried to access the guide.

Rec'd 6412 with new remote (Swap and PIP, etc...). Installer who seemed to know his stuff stated that PIP is not currently active, but will be via firmware upgrade down the line...no time frame however. Make sure you ask tech when they bring 6412...read on other threads that installers didn't bring new remotes into house, then when asked, "found" one in the truck. Production problem maybe??? or perhaps as QZ1 stated above alot of older remotes sitting in the warehouse...

Question:
Does this DVR output HD via the component output or just the DVi output? I'm guessing the component is just 480p while the DVi is 1080i or 720p??? If so, I guess it's not compatible with my Mits set (rgb HD)...unless I buy the promise module...darned!

HD via both component and DVI...your Mits should be fine via component. Make sure your 6412 is configured to ouput 1080i.

How do you configure the 6412 to output to 1080i or 720p?

Originally posted by progear
HD via both component and DVI...your Mits should be fine via component. Make sure your 6412 is configured to ouput 1080i.
Doesn't the component down-convert to 480p???

With the TV on, power off the DCT6212 on the front of the box. Hit the Menu key and you will see the DCT user settings screen appear...make sure that TV Type is set correctly (16:9 or 4:3), set component output to 480, 720p, 1080i, and 4:3 override to 480i.

Joe_R...you Mits shouldn't downconvert as long as its receiving a 1080i signal...if your DCT is ouputting 1080i via component, your mits should display it at 1080i...

Now... you say component output.. If I switch it there in the diagnostic screen, will it also switch it in the dvi output.

I currently connect via DVI

Set it for 1080i...I'm pretty sure as long as your DCT is ouputting 1080i your DVI will as well. I have my 6412 connected both component and DVI, and never had to set anything beyond this to get 1080i via both...

Originally posted by Joe_R
Doesn't the component down-convert to 480p???

Not here it doesn't. It outputs at whatever you tell the "POWER - MENU" screen to output.

Ok, thanks. I'm thinking here at work and I'm trying to remember...I think my TV has an HD selection for RGB or Component. I'll have to check when I get home. I'm running a DTC-100 to it now via RBG.

Question:

Is there a magic word to have Comcast come out and check the lines in your neighborhood without having to schedule a time for you to be there?

The wind here in Bucks Co tonight and Sunday night have revealed that there is a loose connection somewhere between the pole and Comcast. This manifests with flashes and pops on my analog-tv tuner signal and blocks and drop outs on my 6412. During wind - problems. Wind stops - no problems.

I have swapped out each cable/splitter between the junction box at the side of my house and my tv - even going so far as to use a coupler to directly connect my TV to the feed line coming from the pole. The only thing that stops the problem is stopping the wind.

I have called Comcast twice. They will only send someone out when I am here to meet them even though the problem is demonstrably not on my end.

I run a business - a retail business - and this time of year is not conducive to blocking out two and a half hours to wait around for a cable guy just so he can do something outside.

And they make fun of DirecTV for their weather-related glitches?

Well, I feel like I just made a deal with the devil but I just signed up for Comcast digital with HD and HBO. Plus I get the 6412 DVR all for $50/month with the dish buyback. I have a spare reciever laying around that's not even worth $10 that I'll give them when they come out on Saturday to hook up...no wait, drop off the DVR. I don't think they'll want to mess with my setup...in fact, I'll insist on it. In the mean time, I think I'm pulling down my antenna and possibly the dish....yikes

Joe R

I dont think you will be sorry. THe 6412 is SWEET!

Congrats Joe_R...the 6412 is SWEET, and for all of the shots Comcast takes on these forums, they offer some pretty damn good products. Of course we'd all like to pay a lot less than we do, but considering the time we spend with our gear, HDTV's, etc., it's not a bad investment...I have a Mits (48413), finely tweaked, combined with the 6412 and the HD PQ is outstanding...you won't be disappointed.

Alright, mine says 480p. Is this correct? How do I switch it to 720p or 1080i

I got in the User Setting Status but I don't seem to be able to change that

has any one figured out how to get the 6412 to 'pass thru' native signal? or do i have to choose either 1080i or 720p exclusively? thanks.

Originally posted by muniman
has any one figured out how to get the 6412 to 'pass thru' native signal? or do i have to choose either 1080i or 720p exclusively? thanks.

I don't think the 6412 has a native passthrough. I had the 6400 for a while and I never saw a pass through on that one either. I think it's a design decision by Motorolla.

Folks,

I got my new box installed here in Canton, MI last week (with only a 2 day lead, no less!), and have experienced audio dropouts on recordings every since.

I'm wondering if I'm the only one in the Detroit area with this problem? It only occurs on playback from disk, leaving the obvious question of whether it is a recording issue or a playback issue.

The audio dropouts are repeatable (they always occur in the same place), so I'm inclined to think it is a recording issue. I should not that there are NO video problems - it is audio only. My stereo indicates it has lost the 5.1DD for 2-3 seconds, and then returns w/ audio.

It doesn't seem to occur on live programming (on either tuner), and I've already tried unplugging the box several times to force a reboot. Other than irritating my wife (due to the lack of a program guide), this has had no effect.

Is anyone else having this problem/know of a solution?

Thanks in advance!

Doug

Originally posted by acaoacao
Alright, mine says 480p. Is this correct? How do I switch it to 720p or 1080i

I got in the User Setting Status but I don't seem to be able to change that

I must be an idiot or something. I can't seem to change any of the settings in the diagnostic mode.....

What keys are you using on your remote

With TV on, 6412 Power to OFF, hit MENU on front of box which will bring up User Settings....There should be an arrow ">" next to TV Type...use arrow left/right to select setting and down arrows to navigate to YPbPr Output...when ">" is next to YPbPr, use left/right arrows to roll through 480,480p,720p,1980i...

Thanks progear... I should have read carefully..

Power Off then "MENU"

I have it set to
16:9
1080i
480p for 4:3

Changing the TV type between 4:3 and 16:9 has no affect on my box. everything looks the same either way. I checked both the HD channels and the analog ones. I have a Sony 30" set.

Jason

How frustrating. I just wrote a giant post, and before hitting submit, I had, for some reason decided to unblock popups for AVS, and in doing so, I cleared my reply.

I'm going to paraphrase for the sake of my mental health.

I've seen very little talk about the 480i/480p settings. As I see it, there is no real advantage to using the 480p setting. It's more of an annoyance, as it does not preserve the original aspect ratio, and when I use the set's aspect control, I lose a small amount of real estate vs the box's "cropping". Also, it's just annoying to have to change AR's when viewing 16:9 content. I found it hard to get a true A/B test.. But from what I could see, I saw no increase in PQ, only a nominal change in color levels. The biggest thing I do not understand where the logic of "480p=stretch to 16:9" comes in. I'd most likely be using the progressive setting, even if just for placebo effect.

There.. I think that's everything I wanted to say.

Originally posted by RichSim
I have similar freezes, but pressing EXIT on the remote gets me out of them. Haven't had to reboot.

Rich (Watertown, MA) Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

EXIT does nothing. The box is completely locked!

I guess I have a bad box since no one is complaining about freeze ups other than me.

Calling Comcast now...

I'm thinking too now that my 2nd box is bad. I think it's more a multiple personality than anything. When first OnDemand wouldn't work and some digital channels wouldn't come on but I could record with the DVR. I unplugged box to reset it to get OnDemand and digital to work (numerous times) and they now work, but my Starz subscription isn't coming through on the box when it was before, and now I can't record with the DVR. There is no whir from the hard drive. I've tried to unplug/reset box and the drive makes a few click noises and that's it. I think this box is bad. Not to mention it sometimes takes a few unplugs before the box even comes back to life. I'm not even going to mess with swapping this and my other box which is working pristine for everything, especially dual-recordings at the same time and recording while watching DVR. I'd like to get some thoughts from those here, but I am scheduling a tech for Sunday to replace this box.

Originally posted by frankz1
And they make fun of DirecTV for their weather-related glitches?

Back when I had cable it would go out whenever we got alot of rain. After a while you would see the trucks out checking all the boxes on the street. I am thinking of switching back to Comcast from Dish but I hope they have fixed the "rain fade".

What about the drc 800 remote it doesn't have a setup button. Hiw do you get the codes to the remote?

Originally posted by Douglas_Baker
Folks,

I got my new box installed here in Canton, MI last week (with only a 2 day lead, no less!), and have experienced audio dropouts on recordings every since.

I'm wondering if I'm the only one in the Detroit area with this problem? It only occurs on playback from disk, leaving the obvious question of whether it is a recording issue or a playback issue.

The audio dropouts are repeatable (they always occur in the same place), so I'm inclined to think it is a recording issue. I should not that there are NO video problems - it is audio only. My stereo indicates it has lost the 5.1DD for 2-3 seconds, and then returns w/ audio.

It doesn't seem to occur on live programming (on either tuner), and I've already tried unplugging the box several times to force a reboot. Other than irritating my wife (due to the lack of a program guide), this has had no effect.

Is anyone else having this problem/know of a solution?

Thanks in advance!

Doug

I'm in Detroit and the only audio dropouts I'm experiencing are on the ABC digital channel (180). This has been discussed in the local Detroit thread and it seems to be a problem for OTA and cable people so seems to be a local ABC issue. Have you noticed the audio dropouts on other channels too? If so maybe you have a bad box.

I'm pretty happy with my new 6412 -- only problem is that I seem to have gotten one of the loud ones.

Originally posted by jason978
Changing the TV type between 4:3 and 16:9 has no affect on my box. everything looks the same either way. I checked both the HD channels and the analog ones. I have a Sony 30" set.

Jason

How are you connected to your TV? Component? DVI? SVideo?

Originally posted by frankz1
Question:

Is there a magic word to have Comcast come out and check the lines in your neighborhood without having to schedule a time for you to be there?


Just make the appointment and don't show up. I inadvertantly did that once and they did the work anyway.

I just picked up my 6412 at the service center in Lowell, MA. I couldn't get rid of the 6208 fast enough - I hated that thing. It was a good intro to DVR, but everything about it was annoying. I'm really looking forward to playing around with the 6412. From everything I've read about it, it should be fun!

This is the first time in a while that they just had me exchange the box myself. With the last 3 HD boxes (5100, 6200, 6208), they always insisted on having a technician come out and install the HD stuff before.

At this point I have a 6200 and a 6412. I considered keeping the 6208 and dumping the 6200, but I decided to purge the 6208 from my house forever. I only have 1 HDTV anyways... I use the 6200 on an analog TV just so I always have an HD backup for my main TV.

Originally posted by Kracko
How are you connected to your TV? Component? DVI? SVideo?

I'm not answering for him, but I myself have it hooked via DVI. If something is changing when switching that setting, I don't know what the hell it is. I assume it's for when future software releases make use of the extra real estate. That's the only thing I can figure. Unless is somehow plans to solve my whole 480p SD gripe mentioned above. :)

Originally posted by yarnboy
I've seen very little talk about the 480i/480p settings. As I see it, there is no real advantage to using the 480p setting. The Motorola user manual says the reason for changing between 480i and 480p is to accommodate the component video inputs of your TV, which may only be able to handle one or the other.

http://broadband.motorola.com/noflash/customer_docs/user_guides/512659-001-a.pdf (http://)

But why stretch the signal? I understand people sometimes want to fill the screen, but I do not.. And I don't really have a choice. It doesn't really matter though, because most HDTV's are going to deinterlace better than a STB box, so the 480i setting ends up looking better.

I just received my 6412. I've had a TiVo for 4 years and the 6412 is a pleasant surprise. It's not as good as a TiVo - I particularly miss the searching function of TiVo's wishlists - but the 6412's HDTV more than makes up for that.

However, my box came with a remote by ICX Global called an "ENT 6412." Has anyone had any success programming this gizmo for a 30 second skip?

Thanks,

Larry Matasar

Originally posted by Kracko
How are you connected to your TV? Component? DVI? SVideo?

I'm using the component cables supplied by comcast.

I ran into a problem the other day with our 6412. There were two shows scheduled to be recording at the same time. I was watching one of them, then hit "swap" to switch to the other one, and the screen was just black. I left it alone and swapped back because I didn't want to mess up the recording. When the recording was finished, I went to watch the show, and it said it was 60 minutes, but when I try and view it, I just get a black screen and then the option to delete or save it.

After that, I went and did a "swap" again to the other tuner, and the screen was still black. If I changed the channel, the picture would come back, but if I swapped back and forth, it would just be a black screen.

I ended up unplugging the power from the box and plugging it back in, and that seemed to clear it up for now - except for the part about the angry wife and her program that did not record. :)

Has anyone else experienced this problem?

Originally posted by yarnboy
But why stretch the signal? I understand people sometimes want to fill the screen, but I do not.. And I don't really have a choice. It doesn't really matter though, because most HDTV's are going to deinterlace better than a STB box, so the 480i setting ends up looking better.

My Samsung DLP TV does not support 480I on its hi-def inputs (COMP 2+3), so I HAVE to use the 480P override.

Originally posted by wackymann
My Samsung DLP TV does not support 480I on its hi-def inputs (COMP 2+3), so I HAVE to use the 480P override. hmmm...I have a sammy HLN5065 and I use 480i on component 2.

Originally posted by wackymann
My Samsung DLP TV does not support 480I on its hi-def inputs (COMP 2+3), so I HAVE to use the 480P override.

I thought that most people set the 480 overide to 'off' on their hlp's. ???

Originally posted by markjrenna
Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

EXIT does nothing. The box is completely locked!

I guess I have a bad box since no one is complaining about freeze ups other than me.

Calling Comcast now...

I've had the same problem. The ONLY thing to do is to unplug the unit & then re-plug it again...like a hard boot.

Originally posted by Carl Jones
I've had the same problem. The ONLY thing to do is to unplug the unit & then re-plug it again...like a hard boot. Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

I've done that 5 times now! EEEESHH!!! I never had a problem with the 6208. Go figure!

Comcast is coming with a new 6412 on Tuesday. Fingers crossed it isn't a software issue and hoping it is the box.

Who knows when they are going to release a new version of the i-Guide. Although I was told they were planning on it. Also they are deploying the i-Guide to all STB's (in my area) on the 8th. I wonder if it is the same version as now, or does it contain some bug fixes.

One of my Comcast contacts has not heard of any wide spread 6412 problems with hardware or the i-Guide. Is that good or bad??? Maybe just Carl and I have lemons???

I tried calling TV Guide/i-Guide but no one seems to be there to take my calls other than a receptionist that has no clue what the i-Guide is.

Thanks Rollerfink - I appreciate the response. I've been gone from the board for a couple months, and reading through this thread took enough time, I didn't have time to read the locals thread as well.

You are correct, I am primarily noticing it on ABD, but will double-check my other channels and see if I have the problem there as well.

Thanks again for your help,

d-

Originally posted by markjrenna
One of my Comcast contacts has not heard of any wide spread 6412 problems with hardware or the i-Guide. Is that good or bad??? Maybe just Carl and I have lemons??? Hey mark, can you recreate the problem? When you get the new one you could test it and see i the problem is fixed? Or was it something that worked at one time but began to fail?

OK, well this is weird. I'm in northeast NJ and just got my 6412 yesterday.
It seems that in the past couple of hours Comcast has changed channel numbers for all the HD networks.
ABC was ch. 210 now 231
NBC was 211 now 232
etc.

Plus HBO and Cimemax HD have also been changed.

In addition:
I *can not* access the menu using the power the box off and hit Menu button scenario.
I have a Sony 955 connnected via both component and DVI.
On the DVI input, nothing happens when I hit the menu button on the box, and in component mode, some screen flashes briefly (so briefly that I can't read it) then disappears.

The box also has frozen on me once, and then after that, would not allow me to input channels directly. I had to go to Guide, highlight the channel I
wanted, then enter it that way to see the channel.
Now, direct entry has started to work again. This after I took the batteries out of my remote, then putting them back in. This method used to unfreeze my 6208 when that (frequently enough) would freeze up.

I apparently do have a new remote now. The Swap button actually is labled TV/VCR on the button and has Input above it, but they put a sticker on it that says "Swap". I tried it last night and successfully recorded one HD channel and watched another.

I like the 6412 (I guess) but I am doing a bit of hair pulling at this point of being only one day in.

Parental Control Update.
Comcast's Parental Control people say they haven't heard of the problems I told them about. Their technical people say my TV's V-chip doesn't work with the 6412 because the TV is on only channel 3. That, of course, is ridiculous.
So I e-mailed Comcast saying the 6412/iGuide doesn't give or use TV ratings for original feature films, but goes by the original film rating even if it's been cut down for TV; that the 6412/iGuide doesn't give or use TV content ratings (S,L,D,V,FV) or let you program them; and that the 6412/iGuide blocks the V-chip signal.
We'll see what kind of reply I get.

wackymann, congrats to the Sox from a fan in Pa who wishes we had picked up Shilling instead of Millhouse I mean Millwood but actually I'm glad you got him because that was fun (expecially in 720p).

But beware of earthquakes, tidal waves, bleeding walls and dogs and cats cosorting and other signs of the apocalypse up there.

Originally posted by tall1
Hey mark, can you recreate the problem? When you get the new one you could test it and see i the problem is fixed? Or was it something that worked at one time but began to fail?

I'm having roughly the same problem. I got my box on monday, It freezes after a few minutes of use. It looks like the guide is always corrupt, because there are always horizontal lines across the screen when I access the guide. Also, It has crashed just browsing the menu, setting up a Record, Watching a recorded program. It pretty much doesn't matter. After a few presses of the button, BAM, the 6412 just reboots, and It has to load the guide all over again. I guess I'll call comcast and get a different one.

Originally posted by tall1
Hey mark, can you recreate the problem? When you get the new one you could test it and see i the problem is fixed? Or was it something that worked at one time but began to fail? Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

tall1,

The 6412 only locks when I am in the "Series Recording" and "Priority List" settings. I can't recreate the freeze, but if I keep adjusting the settings it will freeze at some point. It was fine for two days, then yesterday it decided to freeze. I hold my breath every time I have to change a setting. I can do 5 settings changes in a row and it is fine. Attempt the 6th and frozen. After a reboot and the guide finally loads I can go in and make 2 changes then on the 3rd attempt, frozen. So, it can happen at anytime within the "Series Recording" and "Priority List" settings.

The box never reboots at all. It never freezes outside of the "Series Recording" and "Priority List" menus.

Seems only me and another person on this board experience this specific problem. So, I'd have to assume the i-Guide is OK. It must be my box. (fingers crossed!)

I'll see if I can figure anything more out before Tuesday's swap.

Mark

Originally posted by portishead
I'm having roughly the same problem. I got my box on monday, It freezes after a few minutes of use. It looks like the guide is always corrupt, because there are always horizontal lines across the screen when I access the guide. Also, It has crashed just browsing the menu, setting up a Record, Watching a recorded program. It pretty much doesn't matter. After a few presses of the button, BAM, the 6412 just reboots, and It has to load the guide all over again. I guess I'll call comcast and get a different one. Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Now your experience is very different then mine, but more like others on here. Definitely get a new one. My problem seems to be isolated to me and Carl.

Is ANYONE in the philly market able to record premium channels to DVHS on this box? I was able to with the 6200 but with the 6412 I cannot.

Originally posted by wackymann
My Samsung DLP TV does not support 480I on its hi-def inputs (COMP 2+3), so I HAVE to use the 480P override.

That seems fairly odd.. Is Samsung assuming that all analog broadcasts are rebroadcast non-interlaced on digital channels? That doesn't make any sense. Regardless, it doesn't annoy you to have the image distorted like that? There's no way I could stand that.

Originally posted by markjrenna
Comcast NJ - Union/Verona


The box never reboots at all. It never freezes outside of the "Series Recording" and "Priority List" menus.

Seems only me and another person on this board experience this specific problem. So, I'd have to assume the i-Guide is OK. It must be my box. (fingers crossed!)

I'll see if I can figure anything more out before Tuesday's swap.

Mark


I have had this problem also, just a couple of times, after messing around in "priority list"/"series recording" - I believe after the "confirm" point I got a total freeze or on a couple of occasions I thought it was going to freeze but came to life after 5-10 secs. Hasn't happened for a while, but I've been avoiding the "priority list" because I don't really need it enough to be worth risking the misery of unplugging and reloading. I have messed with "series recording" some lately and haven't had a problem.
This box seems robust and working just fine except for that, so maybe it is some kind of semi-rare bug, at least for us three.

I have a problem with the 6412 i havent seen anywhere else. I taped a show, and when i went to watch it, the time window was only 3 minutes long, and it never started playing when i tried. So i keep trying to delete this and when i do it says "cannot delete while file is in use, code ciu" or something. This has been there for 3 weeks. Now my 6412 still functions fine , I'd just like to know how to get this deleted.

Originally posted by WagGag
I have had this problem also, just a couple of times, after messing around in "priority list"/"series recording" - I believe after the "confirm" point I got a total freeze or on a couple of occasions I thought it was going to freeze but came to life after 5-10 secs. Hasn't happened for a while, but I've been avoiding the "priority list" because I don't really need it enough to be worth risking the misery of unplugging and reloading. I have messed with "series recording" some lately and haven't had a problem.
This box seems robust and working just fine except for that, so maybe it is some kind of semi-rare bug, at least for us three. Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

YES! Exactly! That is my problem. So now we are up to three with this problem.

Anyone else out there willing to play around with "Series Recording" and "Priority List" menus and make settings changes???

I'm beginning to think this is an i-Guide bug and not the 6412.

I have a 6412 but BrightHouse still has me on v8 so I can't use the dual tuners. However, I have noticed a number of bugs and annoyances and I was wondering if the v9 fixes these or if anybody else has seen them.

1. I had a multiple recording scheduled (M-F). I was watching a recorded show when it started and it asked me to switch to the channel when the recording started. I answered but it asked me again. The only way to remove the menu was to go to the channel and then start watching my recorded show again. (Bug)

2. I was watching a TV show and had paused it for a while. I went back to watching it and when the next show was to start (on the same channel) it asked me for my parental pin. I should not be required to enter the pin until I reach that part. (Bug)

3. The cable box freezes for a moment if you give it to many IR signals in a row. This should never happen. (Bug or is it an annoyance?)

4. In VOD it does not show you the price until you select it. This is really annoying, since my cable company gives a lot of free VOD stuff, but you can't tell until you select it. (Annoying)

5. In DVR menu you cannot tell how long a recording is until you select it. I get a lot of accidental recordings (due to my son) which are only 1 minute. I want to delete them, but I can't tell without selecting each one. (Annoying)

6. You can't back up the guide once it hits the 1/2 hour mark. It should allow a couple of hours or better yet a whole day. I have had occassion where I came into the end of a show decided to record the show and need to find when it is playing again, but it rolls over and I can't get to it in the guide. Also, I would like to be able to check if I missed a show. (Extremely Annoying).

7. You can make a recording start earlier or end later, but you can't adjust to start late or end early. This would be extremely useful to handle those TV channels that decide to have their show run over by 1 minute. :) (Annoying)

8. I unlock a show with the parental pin. The next show also is locked. When the next show is about to start (but before the old show was finished) I get interrupted to enter the pin again. A nice solution would be to have an option to override locks on the menu that asks for your pin. (Annoying)

9 If you look at the quick guide and accidently change to the same channel it throws away all your cached recording.

10. You can't back up the cache and hit record. When you hit record it starts from the live point and throws away all the cache.

11. When you are watching a recorded show that has multiple recordings there is no menu item to go to the recording options. This would be very useful for changing the options, such as extending the recording by 1 minute once you have found out the show tends to run long.

David

Originally posted by metallicafreak
Comcast Boston, MA
I seem to be having an issue when powering the box on. I use the all on button. Recently (the last day or so) I have complete guide data, current channel info but not picture. The way I have restored the picture the first few times was to star a recorded program, stop it then return to live and the image comes back. The last time it happened, that did not work. I had to wait a good minute then the video just popped on. Anyone ahving this?
FREAK!

I was having the same problem, and I used the same solution. The remote had a malfunctioning key, so they replaced it. Then when I turned off everything, and turned back on, everything was there but no sound! I finally called Comcast and they admitted there is some sort of factory programming that makes the equipment automatically come on in "mute" mode - my second tech had forgotten to override this - he just handed me the new remote. When I called, the tech had me reprogram the remote (nope, I don't remember the sequence) and now the picture comes on as it should, along with the sound. So, call your provider to get them to help you reprogram it. What a hassle!

Re 480i overide - yes or no?

I have a Sony GWIII RP LCD, does anyone know what menu settings I should use? I swear the HD pic looked a tad better on my 6208.

Comcast will be out this morning to replace my 6412 after a number of annoying reboots. Best I can tell, the reboots seem to happen most often when you ask the unit to delete a show from the DVR list. It's not consistent but HIGHLY annoying, especially since reboots with this DVR means the program guide listings are lost for at least an hour or so. The other night I was cleaning out some recordings while the 6412 was recording Law and Order. Big mistake. The unit crashed, like I feared it would. Fortunately L&O was on a commercial, and when the unit came back, it continued the recording (with a new list entry) where it left off, despite having no guide information. Well, it least it did that crash recovery procedure correctly, but it shouldn't have crashed at all. I have a feeling that this software is still very much BETA and we're the guinea pigs.

I know TiVo has had more that its share of software bugs over the years, but I can't remember either or my Tivos being still unstable for keeping the dang unit up. TV Guide better fix this, and fast.

Originally posted by Sevenfeet
Comcast will be out this morning to replace my 6412 after a number of annoying reboots. Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Please keep us updated and let us know how the new 6412 is.

Thanks.
Mark

Originally posted by FXDWG
I *can not* access the menu using the power the box off and hit Menu button scenario.
I have a Sony 955 connnected via both component and DVI.
On the DVI input, nothing happens when I hit the menu button on the box, and in component mode, some screen flashes briefly (so briefly that I can't read it) then disappears.

after the screen flashes briefly try pressing menu again. Sometimes I have to hit it a couple of times to get the menu to pop up.



I apparently do have a new remote now. The Swap button actually is labled TV/VCR on the button and has Input above it, but they put a sticker on it that says "Swap". I tried it last night and successfully recorded one HD channel and watched another.


That sounds like you just got the 6208 remote with a pre=programmed swap button. There is a newer 6412 remote with a big My DVR button and a tiny swap button at the bottom in the PIP area. I re-programmed a new swap button using one of the bigger buttons at the top.

can you stretch hd channels? i cant...i hate watching with the bars on the sides....and i dont like watching the analog counterpart....

Originally posted by one028
can you stretch hd channels? i cant...i hate watching with the bars on the sides....and i dont like watching the analog counterpart....

I don't believe so, because the are actually broadcasting the bars themselves, so the tuner/tv cannot differentiate and eliminate the bars.

Originally posted by Sevenfeet
Comcast will be out this morning to replace my 6412 after a number of annoying reboots. Best I can tell, the reboots seem to happen most often when you ask the unit to delete a show from the DVR list. It's not consistent but HIGHLY annoying, especially since reboots with this DVR means the program guide listings are lost for at least an hour or so. The other night I was cleaning out some recordings while the 6412 was recording Law and Order. Big mistake. The unit crashed, like I feared it would. Fortunately L&O was on a commercial, and when the unit came back, it continued the recording (with a new list entry) where it left off, despite having no guide information. Well, it least it did that crash recovery procedure correctly, but it shouldn't have crashed at all. I have a feeling that this software is still very much BETA and we're the guinea pigs.

I know TiVo has had more that its share of software bugs over the years, but I can't remember either or my Tivos being still unstable for keeping the dang unit up. TV Guide better fix this, and fast.

It is not the software, it is the hardware. The reboot problem has been linked to bad power supplies installed in certain 6412's. When you click through the menu and select an action, a call goes to the power supply/relay for more power, when the power supply fails to return enough juice, the box crashes.

Don't know how many PC geeks there are out there (like me), but this is very similar to when a PC's power supply is on the go. The machine just spontaneously reboots. I'm on 1 week with my second 6412 and all is fine and will be. You kind of know when you have a bad box as this problem will happen at least once per day under normal use. I banged the hell out of the menu with box #2 and it is rock solid.

Originally posted by yarnboy
That seems fairly odd.. Is Samsung assuming that all analog broadcasts are rebroadcast non-interlaced on digital channels? That doesn't make any sense. Regardless, it doesn't annoy you to have the image distorted like that? There's no way I could stand that.

My samsung has 2 component inputs. The high def inputs have 480p/1080i and the other is 480i/480p. For ease of use I just have one set of component cables going to the tv and have set the 6412 to 480p override. I used to have an s video connected for SD viewing and would have to switch inputs when I went to an HD channel. In my eyes I can't tell a difference between the S video and the component 480p on SD viewing. But I also always watch with the image stretched to 16:9 and have got used to that as well :)

i tried to connect my 6412 to my sony lcd yesterday via DVI. I was not really impressed with the PQ vs the componenet connection. additionally, i lost all info and guide function via DVI. it makes me think i did it wrong? i know i'm good on the sony end, is there something is missed on the 6412?

on another 6412 issue, this is a new box for me in a new town. i used to have the SA3250, which i loved. My big gripe against the 6412 is that the analog channels just look awful, really awful. are people having this same experience? I have a PDI drop amp that i'm going to try and put in the mix this weekend, maybe boosting signal strength will help. I read somewhere way back in this thread that comcast was moving to a digital simulcast of the analog channnels, any one know any more about that? thanks.

I got my first crash/reboot about 5 minutes into playing with my new 6412. I was simply modifying the first recording I had set up, and the thing crashed. Sounds like I got a bum power supply. It hasn't happened again, but if it happened once... it's bound to happen again.

Originally posted by yarnboy
That seems fairly odd.. Is Samsung assuming that all analog broadcasts are rebroadcast non-interlaced on digital channels? That doesn't make any sense. Regardless, it doesn't annoy you to have the image distorted like that? There's no way I could stand that.

It's not distorted - it's just 480P instead of 480I. Progressive/interlaced scan has nothing to do with stretching or shrinking the image.

Originally posted by tall1
hmmm...I have a sammy HLN5065 and I use 480i on component 2.

I have the 56 inch DLP, and it definitely does not support 480I on comp 2+3 (only 480P, 720P, 1080I). Component 1 ONLY supports 480I/480P (no HD) so I use that for the DVD player. It seems weird to me too, but that's the way it is!

Revisiting The Noise Issue.

I have had the 6412 for a few weeks now. The sound level of the writing/reading of the hard drive is annoying but what bothers me even more is a lud (and seeming getting louder) high pitched sound / squeek. I have the urge to sprey WD40 in there to stop the squeeking. But of course I will not :) Does anyone else have a high pitched squeek?

Andy

Mine talks to me in the middle of the night. It says "redrum" and "7 days." It's a little creepy but gets the job done so no complaints here.

I did a very non-scientific testing of if the 480I or 480P would look better on my tv. I just flipped to a analog station, changed it, looked at that analog station, changed it, and decided what I liked better. I did this with digital, too. I think sometimes it's easier to see what you LIKE better for your individual TV rather than going by what other people say. I think I'm using 480P... I'll have to go home and check, on my toshiba with the 6412.

bronowyn, i found that 480p looked better on my lcd panel than 480i from the 6412, which surprised me. but not on my plasma, 480i definitely looks better execpt on analog channels which look like crap no matter what, even processed to NR, total garbage. anyone else having this problem?

Originally posted by wackymann
I have the 56 inch DLP, and it definitely does not support 480I on comp 2+3 (only 480P, 720P, 1080I). Component 1 ONLY supports 480I/480P (no HD) so I use that for the DVD player. It seems weird to me too, but that's the way it is!
the first-generation Samsung DLP, the HLM's, have a limitation in accepting 480i on its high-def component inputs (inputs 2 & 3). this has been rectified in the succeeding generations, starting with the HLN's. this is one of the few instances that i regretted being an early adopter. ;)
with the HLM's, the only way to watch SD channels from a high-def cable box on one input was to set the override to anything except 480i. setting it to Off will default to the YPbPr output you specified. on the HLM, this has the effect of watching SD channels with the black bars always. with a setting of 480p, the image is stretched to fill the screen; however, you can set the TV's aspect to Narrow if you want the original aspect ratio of 4:3 displayed (with black bars, of course).

Originally posted by dutchboy71
Does the 6412 degrade the HD picture? It seems more "grainy' than before. Of course I can't compare since I don't have the old boxes anymore (6208 and 6200)

Maybe I'm just seeing things
Yes! I thought I was crazy (my wife definitely thinks I'm crazy), but I am sure that my picture is worse (grainier) than the 5100 and 6208. This is true for the SD stations as well. I also can't compare, but I'm not as much in awe as I was before the switch.

I have had persistent reboots of this box, too, so once the kids get the DVD versions of the shows I have on the hard drive, I'll be looking to swap boxes (It is easier to live with an annoying reboot than explaining to twin 3 year olds that daddy thought that the box was broken so you can't watch your movie).

Just got my 6412 yesterday. The only issue I am seeing is this. All SD stations are MUCH DARKER than HD stations. And not just the show itself, but if I go to GUIDE while watching the SD station then even the guide itself is MUCH darker than the HD picture. Do you think this is a box issue, or has anyone seen this and know how to correct it?

Thanks.

My big issue w/ the 64xx is the audio levels between SD channels and HD channels. Audio through my reciever is about a quarter louder on SD channels than my HD channels.

Originally posted by kmattoo
My big issue w/ the 64xx is the audio levels between SD channels and HD channels. Audio through my reciever is about a quarter louder on SD channels than my HD channels.
I have this same 'phenomena'.

Do you think it's just because the HD stations are sending discrete (matrix) Dolby Digital signals? If I recall correctly, the SD stations send Dolby Pro Logic signals, and the HD stations send at the worse DD 2.0.

Originally posted by memnoch
with a setting of 480p, the image is stretched to fill the screen; however, you can set the TV's aspect to Narrow if you want the original aspect ratio of 4:3 displayed (with black bars, of course).

This is the whole problem I'm talking about. I don't understand how this makes any sort of sense at all. Our 480i SD option gives us the natural AR, where as the line doubled option forces an AR change? What advantage is that? What person knows about the 480p output option, yet prefers a grainy, heavily distorted image? That's like watching pan and scan at the theater! There is no reason I should have to change the set's AR settings while watching TV. The 480i is in true form.. Why can't the 480p option be?

Originally posted by yarnboy
This is the whole problem I'm talking about. I don't understand how this makes any sort of sense at all. Our 480i SD option gives us the natural AR, where as the line doubled option forces an AR change? What advantage is that? What person knows about the 480p output option, yet prefers a grainy, heavily distorted image? That's like watching pan and scan at the theater! There is no reason I should have to change the set's AR settings while watching TV. The 480i is in true form.. Why can't the 480p option be?

480p is in true for on mine ..just the same as the 480i option..the only different one is the stretch option.. There are three options on the 6412

here in atlanta....seeing no difference in the quality of the HD channels but the SD's do look darker....much lower black levels.

since the guides are transparent over the picture, this might make the guide appear darker as stated in a previous post.

other people in my area of atlanta have complained that their 6412's don't look as good as their 6208's as far as HD picture quality....there must be SOMETHING going on here. i don't see it yet, but it can't be that people's eyes are lying to them.

Originally posted by oleus
other people in my area of atlanta have complained that their 6412's don't look as good as their 6208's as far as HD picture quality....there must be SOMETHING going on here. i don't see it yet, but it can't be that people's eyes are lying to them.

It's my understanding that the 6412 simply caches and outputs the HD transport stream so the PQ should be exactly the same as on every other HD piece of equipment.

From what I know, the only possible variation could come when using component outputs because the box decodes the signal to this medium. Is this wrong?

Using DVI or FireWire, the box is just a conduit sending bits on to the TV so there should be no variation there whatsoever.

Again, correct me if any of my assumptions are wrong here.

This sounds correct to me:

"It is not the software, it is the hardware. The reboot problem has been linked to bad power supplies installed in certain 6412's. When you click through the menu and select an action, a call goes to the power supply/relay for more power, when the power supp"ly fails to return enough juice, the box crashes."

I got my 6412 box yesterday morning. Just about anything I did caused the box to either reboot by itself, or lock up, causing me to have to unplug it and force a "hard" reboot.

Told Comcast to bring me out a NEW box, which they did... and so far (3 or 4 hours of watching and recording... no problems.

Love the new system, and the box is MUCH quieter than the 6208.

Now, it just so happens that we ALSO have WOW cable for a few weeks (long story) so I can compare the 6412 with the SA 8000HD box. Video quality really seems about the same for both boxes.

OK... found my first problem.
If I preset a recording and leave the 6412 box OFF, if I turn my TV on during the recording, there is a white MUTE sign on my TV (not the TV's RED mute sign) and I get no sound, neither on the channel being recorded nor any other channel. After the recording is over, all is normal, and the sound on the recording is FINE! Mute button on the remote only controls the TV's MUTE function.

If I leave the 6412 box ON, this does not happen.

Obvious work around is to leave the box ON, but obviously this lock-up is a fault. Comcast here has never heard about it and is going to research it.

Only thing about MUTE in any of the on-line manuals has to do with recording a channel set with parental controls, and in that case, the picture is supposed to be blacked out, too.

Anybody else see this problem? Any thoughts?

Originally posted by RichMI
If I preset a recording and leave the 6412 box OFF, if I turn my TV on during the recording, there is a white MUTE sign on my TV (not the TV's RED mute sign) and I get no sound, neither on the channel being recorded nor any other channel. After the recording is over, all is normal, and the sound on the recording is FINE! Mute button on the remote only controls the TV's MUTE function.
[...]
Anybody else see this problem? Any thoughts?

This was discussed further up in the thread and it was determined that this is not a fault in IGuide's eyes but rather a feature to benefit those who may leave audio receivers connected to the unit and on so they're not blasted out unexpectedly during power ons and recordings.

It seems like it negatively effects more folks than it helps, but that's the story as far as it was determined.

There are instructions on setting up a "Box Mute" remote button further up on the thread, too, in order to get around it.

Well after switching to Comcast for this free box, I am completely dissapointed in the picture quality vs. the DISH network 811 box I had before this. The Analog channels are a joke for me, they are so dark it's ridiculous. It is not my setup or color settings, I have tried three different versions of component cables and verified the hookup 50 times. HOWEVER, the colors on the HDTV channels are GREAT, but the clarity itself is suffering from DISH. I am wondering if it is just my box or the overall quality of Comcast.

EDIT: I did find that if I change from 480i to 480p that the color is just as good as HD, however ot then stretches everything from 4:3 to 16:9, which we all know just sucks.

I just got mine this morning. The tech verified it's a new, not used or refurbished box, so that's a good firt point. No problems thus far, though I haven't had lots of time to play with recording or other features. I thought the cables they gave are a big step up form the old days. I'm still using Monster cables though. Oh, my set is an ISF calibrated Mits 55805.

My initial impression is the black levels are way off from my other components. I wan't sure if this was because I went from rgb on my DTC-10 to the component video on the 6412. But as I read, it seems it's Comcast or the 6412 box that's the issue. I'm going to have to adjust some levels later tonight. The HD picture quality seems lower than from DirectTv. Maybe it's the compression. Don't know. Just not as crisp. The black levels also don't help the cause. I'll report back later.

Well I did find the problem with the DARK channels in the Analog band, you have to set the 4:3 override mode to OFF, and not 480i (dark) or 480p (bright but stretch). Now it is acceptable to point, although I agree with the last post about the HD not being as CRISP as SAT. However I do have dual tuner HD recorder now, so I will ride this out for a while and see what I think.

Only other grip is that the Guide interface really is not user friendly, the search engine really is lame and not powerful, it almost worthless and you are better off just scrolling through the guide to find things to record.

Originally posted by BullittMustang
480p is in true for on mine ..just the same as the 480i option..the only different one is the stretch option.. There are three options on the 6412

I should have mentioned this is only going to affect widescreen displays, which I'm assuming you're not using. If you are, are you setting your display to 4:3 for SD then toggling to 16:9 for HD? I hate doing this.

Originally posted by yarnboy
I should have mentioned this is only going to affect widescreen displays, which I'm assuming you're not using. If you are, are you setting your display to 4:3 for SD then toggling to 16:9 for HD? I hate doing this.

Yes, I have a 16:9 tv. If you want it in the 4:3 aspect ratio the display has to be changed on your tv. I like the 4:3 material stetched, It looks fine to me.

Originally posted by memnoch
the first-generation Samsung DLP, the HLM's, have a limitation in accepting 480i on its high-def component inputs (inputs 2 & 3). this has been rectified in the succeeding generations, starting with the HLN's. this is one of the few instances that i regretted being an early adopter. ;)
with the HLM's, the only way to watch SD channels from a high-def cable box on one input was to set the override to anything except 480i. setting it to Off will default to the YPbPr output you specified. on the HLM, this has the effect of watching SD channels with the black bars always. with a setting of 480p, the image is stretched to fill the screen; however, you can set the TV's aspect to Narrow if you want the original aspect ratio of 4:3 displayed (with black bars, of course).

Thank you!! The old Motorola HD cable boxes didn't have the "Off" setting, so I was stuck using 480P override. I had no clue they had fixed the issue... Thanks for clearing this up for me! I have it set to "off" now and I am very happy :)

I also have a 6412 with a Sammy HLP5063W. I have tried all the input and output combos.

DVI looks best on HD and digital channels. (No digital/analog conversion like with component.)

Splitting the cable and tuning the analog channels with the TV's NTSC tuner gives better PQ than any of the Moto output options.

I can output 480i via component or 480p via DVI (with no stretch. All you have to do is set the TV's aspect ratio once, and it remembers after that.) Trouble is, the analog channels look grainy at these settings. Leaving the 4:3 override to off is OK for most channels. The few that look really bad, including my local CBS affiliate, I tune through the set for a noticeable improvement.

Because the TV set does a much better job of scaling than the 6412, I tend to leave the Moto output at 1080i with 4:3 override off. The only time I switch is when I'm watching Monday Night Football on ABC, where the 720p looks slightly crisper because it comes through the box untouched.

I use a Harmony 688 universal remote, and it works fine with the 6412 (and all my other gear.) The Harmony database contains an "advance" function which works like a 30-second skip, and I was able to program the TV/video button on the Comcast remote for the swap function and then learn it with the Harmony.

All in all, it's a great improvement over my old 6208. Less noise, less stutter, dual tuners and a better iGuide. With the settings above, PQ is just as good -- no better and no worse.

Please clear up something for me.

I signed up for the 39.99 dish buy back program in central jersey. At the time the sales person told me it was 9.99 for each DVR. My first installation had to be followed up with a second.

I called back to reschedule and was told that the DVR price was 6.95 + 9.99 for the first box then 4.95 + 9.95 for each additional box.

Which one is correct 9.95 for (4.95/6.95) + 9.95


Thanx

Should be $9.99 for a dual hd tuner DVR lease.
$9.95 for single hd dvrt uner

$5.00 for HD tuner

and I have the dish buy back program.

That seems logical - i Don't know where there getting the extra 4.95 in addition to the 9.95.for the dvr But i have called twice now and both times gotten the same story. Guess I need to wait for a supervisor to call back.

Thanx

Hope this does not confuse things but I am a Comcast Northern NJ customer and I have two 6412 boxes. I recent ly learned that to get my premium services to operate on the second box, I needed to pay an additional $4.95 fee a month on the second box. I pay $9.95 for each box,

But hope is on the way. My town, Summit, is going to install city wide WiFi service for $20.00 a month and that will drop my monthly donation to Comcast by $28.00. I also understand that if that works, the next goal will be to piggy back a telephone service on WiFi. It seems that the city needs to raise revenues and they will take their 'local franchise' to point that they in effective become 'buying co-ops'. The city will get 20% of the WiFi fee which will give them $50,000 a year. Is wireless HDTV in our future?

I set my DVR timer to record a PPV.
Ever since the box has been screwed up.
It listed the film as nothing,but i did get to watch it. :)

Now i can't access aNYTHING on the DVR.

I did a reboot,so I will see if that works.

It not only worked byut labeled the PPV recording properly :)

Though:
The 6412 has a dual tuner. My set has one HD input (old school) therefore can't do PIP on the HD input. I'd like to see a way to do HD PIP through this box.

And I'd love to see some test screens (over scan, color bars, etc) built into this box. Yeh...that's the ticket.

ps. made some adjustments on my set. I set the DVR to no 4:3 override. Watching football all day, the HD is looking pretty good. The streched picture was just too dark so I just watch std. cable in 4:3.

Originally posted by Joe_R
Though:
The 6412 has a dual tuner. My set has one HD input (old school) therefore can't do PIP on the HD input. I'd like to see a way to do HD PIP through this box.


The 6412 does not currently support PIP.

Originally posted by prodogs
I signed up for the 39.99 dish buy back program in central jersey. At the time the sales person told me it was 9.99 for each DVR. My first installation had to be followed up with a second.

I called back to reschedule and was told that the DVR price was 6.95 + 9.99 for the first box then 4.95 + 9.95 for each additional box.

Which one is correct 9.95 for (4.95/6.95) + 9.95Originally posted by acaoacao
Should be $9.99 for a dual hd tuner DVR lease.
$9.95 for single hd dvrt uner

$5.00 for HD tunerOriginally posted by ThePerfectViewe
Hope this does not confuse things but I am a Comcast Northern NJ customer and I have two 6412 boxes. I recent ly learned that to get my premium services to operate on the second box, I needed to pay an additional $4.95 fee a month on the second box. I pay $10 for each box,Wow, so many different stories… but I think I can top them all. Here in the Pacific Northwest (well, Portland-metro anyway), it's $9.95 for additional standard digital cable boxes - $5 for rental, $5 for an access fee of sorts - but the first box is included in a digital cable subscription. HDTV boxes are an additional $5 on top of all of that - so $5 for the first HDTV, $15 for each additional. DVR's, on the other hand, are $10 dollars additional, so we pay upwards of $20 per DVR. I think we're getting screwed…

…but if you subscribe to the most expensive programming package available (called the Platinum Plus here, $100/mo), you get a second standard additional receiver for free, but a second PVR still costs $10 additional.

Originally posted by markjrenna
Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Please keep us updated and let us know how the new 6412 is.

Thanks.
Mark

Well Comcast came out on Friday on the tech had a different theory about the reboots: bad signal strength. According to him, they had recently rebalanced the frequencies in the system to handle a cable modem issue, but that some of the new cable boxes had taken it badly. If the DVR can't receive a clean signal from the headend, then the box will reboot and try to reset itself.

Whatever. I'm not sure I completely buy this theory but I suppose anything is possible. One thing we did learn is that even though my signal strength was overall improved the last time Comcast came out, my connection was still suffering a -7 to -8 db loss on one frequency spectrum. So my tech decided to remove the block on my line that is a part of the limited basic "service". This gives me back the channels 2-79 block of analog channels...virtually all of which I have with DirecTV anyway so I don't not getting any service I didn't enjoy already. Also, DirecTV's version of the same channels have superior quality to Comcast's analog channels, despite DirecTV's tendency to overcompress these channels. But removing the hardware block now gives me a complete unfettered signal from my tap at the street.

Anyway, Comcast also left me with a new 6412 (my third now) and so far, I haven't seen any problems but I didn't use it much over the weekend. I'm not sure if the signal strength explanation is correct, or the power supply, or buggy software. I just hope the problem goes away.

Originally posted by Sevenfeet
Anyway, Comcast also left me with a new 6412 (my third now) and so far, I haven't seen any problems but I didn't use it much over the weekend. I'm not sure if the signal strength explanation is correct, or the power supply, or buggy software. I just hope the problem goes away. Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Thanks Rick.

Most people on here have the following issues:

1. Screen sizing and output problems.
2. Random Rebooting.

And my problem (also two others seem to experience this as well)...

3. The 6412/i-Guide locking randomly from within the Series Recordings and Priority Lits menus.

I really feel this is an i-Guide and or firmware problem. Maybe both in combination. I don't think my 6412 is bad since I strongly feel I'd see the box lock no matter what menu I'm in.

What frustrates me is that not many people (just 3) are reporting this problem. So I really can't be certain if this problem is in every 6412 or just a few.

Maybe some willing folks will try to do some testing. Create some Series Recordings and modify the Series Priority list. There is no set of steps to recreate this lock up. Just keep making changes and you will (maybe) see it.

I warn you though that if you do try this and your box locks, there is no recovery other than to pull the power plug. Then you have to wait the 12 to 24 hours for your guide data to repopulate.

Mark

Originally posted by prodogs
That seems logical - i Don't know where there getting the extra 4.95 in addition to the 9.95.for the dvr But i have called twice now and both times gotten the same story. Guess I need to wait for a supervisor to call back.

Thanx

When I called last week to schedule installation I was initially told each DVR would be 14.95. 9.95 for the DVR plus $5 for the HD pak. I questioned the rep and said that I really thought it should be 9.95 INCLUDING the HD pak. He put me on hold and came back and said he was mistaken and it was only 9.95 per PVR including HD.

I got my defective box replaced yesterday and all the problems form before are fixed: OnDemand works, digital tier comes through with no problems, Starz is coming through, and DVR is working. Of course, there's a new problem, my guide does not sync with my channels. For my system the following is true: 6 = ABC, 10=NBC, 39=ESPN, 32 = Starz, 2=TBS, 3=CBS. However, my guide is showing the following: 6=QVC (is 19), 9=NBC (is 10), 2=CBS (is 3), 32=ESPN (is 39), 16=Starz (is 32).

So basically if I go to the channel based off my memory I get the right channel. My guide is completely wrong for channel assocaition. Any thoughts?

Not sure if this problem exists on my other box. Will know more this evening.

Originally posted by frankz1
This was discussed further up in the thread and it was determined that this is not a fault in IGuide's eyes but rather a feature to benefit those who may leave audio receivers connected to the unit and on so they're not blasted out unexpectedly during power ons and recordings.

It seems like it negatively effects more folks than it helps, but that's the story as far as it was determined.

There are instructions on setting up a "Box Mute" remote button further up on the thread, too, in order to get around it.

Frankz1,
Thanks for mentioning the earlier thread... I had read the first few pages and then jumped to more recent discussion... skipping over the middle.

That's about like skipping WWII in history!

I went back and read ALL of the pages in this thread, and learned a LOT! Like how to set up the 30 second skip, how to access the diagnostics page, Maxtor vs Seagate drives....

Right now, I think my box is cooking along about as good as it gets.

I don't buy the signal strength cause for reboot. I had a rebooting box and they replaced it with another. Problem solved with no mention or testing of signal strength.

Originally posted by markjrenna
Comcast NJ - Union/Verona


Maybe some willing folks will try to do some testing. Create some Series Recordings and modify the Series Priority list. There is no set of steps to recreate this lock up. Just keep making changes and you will (maybe) see it.

I warn you though that if you do try this and your box locks, there is no recovery other than to pull the power plug. Then you have to wait the 12 to 24 hours for your guide data to repopulate.

Mark

Mark,

I have modifiy Series Priority once and I did not experience any reboots.

Has there been a fix yet for the multiple recording glitch? When I set the 6412 to record new shows (let's say CSI) on only one channel, it records every single episode of CSI. Every day I have to literally go through and clean up by deleting unwanted shows.

I'd actually prefer the old method of a weekly recording session of the 6208's compared to this mess.

Originally posted by acaoacao
Mark,

I have modifiy Series Priority once and I did not experience any reboots. Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Thanks for trying. Once probably won't do it. Create about 6 or more Series Recordings. Modify the Priority List a few times. Make sure you CONFIRM the settings (the check mark icon).

Modify each of the Series Recordings. Make changes to all the available settings and CONFIRM each one. At some point it should lock/freeze (not reboot).

Mark

Only thing they can do is to get an accurate description in the program guide....

Originally posted by markjrenna
Comcast NJ - Union/Verona



Modify each of the Series Recordings. Make changes to all the available settings and CONFIRM each one. At some point it should lock/freeze (not reboot).

Mark

Mark,
I have seen instances of where it would freeze for minutes at a time. This was just navigating the DVR....(FF, REW, Plause, etc.) Usually it won't respond to my remote control commands or anything. I just sit and wait a couple of minutes and it will execute the all the queued commands and go back to normal.

Originally posted by maximum360
Has there been a fix yet for the multiple recording glitch? When I set the 6412 to record new shows (let's say CSI) on only one channel, it records every single episode of CSI. Every day I have to literally go through and clean up by deleting unwanted shows.

I'd actually prefer the old method of a weekly recording session of the 6208's compared to this mess. This has been discussed elsewhere in the avsforums and the problem is with the guide. Inaccurate coding of guide information does not correctly indicate the "first run" flag. Tivo experiences the same problem. The only 2 workarounds I know of are the one you mentioned...deleting the unwanted eps or setting up a timed recording and risk missing an ep due to a schedule change.

Originally posted by maximum360
I'd actually prefer the old method of a weekly recording session of the 6208's compared to this mess. Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

I totally Agree with the 6208 approach. Series Recording "in theory" is such a great idea. In reality it needs a bit of work.

The DVR is as only as good as the data the Guide receives. So until the guide data is accurate, maybe they (i-Guide) can add a field that lets you pick a particular day.

(NEW) When Episode should Record :

Any Day or Monday Only or Tuesday Only or Wednesday Only and so on...

Wishful thinking I guess.

Originally posted by markjrenna
Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

I totally Agree with the 6208 approach. Series Recording "in theory" is such a great idea. In reality it needs a bit of work.

The DVR is as only as good as the data the Guide receives. So until the guide data is accurate, maybe they (i-Guide) can add a field that lets you pick a particular day.

(NEW) When Episode should Record :

Any Day or Monday Only or Tuesday Only or Wednesday Only and so on...

Wishful thinking I guess.

I have pretty good luck with my ReplayTVs and series recording. They use Zap2it as their source for guide data - which will never happen here, of course, with TV Guide being behind the i-Guide. You can elect to record only new shows, or all shows, and you can select the days you want to be eligible for recording. This is just one reason I really, really miss being able to use my Replays when it comes to HD content! Anyway, it can be implemented well...hopefully we'll see things improve as we move along with the 6412. I still have a 6208 until they take care of some local issues so that I can get the new box...I'd be grateful to have the problems people are experiencing here!!! ;)

-Randy

Originally posted by acaoacao
Mark,
I have seen instances of where it would freeze for minutes at a time. This was just navigating the DVR....(FF, REW, Plause, etc.) Usually it won't respond to my remote control commands or anything. I just sit and wait a couple of minutes and it will execute the all the queued commands and go back to normal. Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

I'm not really seeing that issue. Mine is specific to modifying Series Recording settings and Priority List order. I can wait forever, once the lock up happens I have to pull the power plug.

Mark

Originally posted by IFLYSWA
I have pretty good luck with my ReplayTVs and series recording. They use Zap2it as their source for guide data - which will never happen here, of course, with TV Guide being behind the i-Guide. You can elect to record only new shows, or all shows, and you can select the days you want to be eligible for recording. This is just one reason I really, really miss being able to use my Replays when it comes to HD content! Anyway, it can be implemented well...hopefully we'll see things improve as we move along with the 6412. I still have a 6208 until they take care of some local issues so that I can get the new box...I'd be grateful to have the problems people are experiencing here!!! ;)

-Randy Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Yes, the ReplayTV is very nice indeed.

Yeah, you know we are never really grateful/satisfied are we. :)

You have that 2 wire A/B system over there, right. I think they are going to move all analog to one side (A) and all digital to the other side (B) by next year.

Originally posted by markjrenna
Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Yes, the ReplayTV is very nice indeed.

Yeah, you know we are never really grateful/satisfied are we. :)

You have that 2 wire A/B system over there, right. I think they are going to move all analog to one side (A) and all digital to the other side (B) by next year.

That's the deal. I think it is a dual 550mHz plant, or something like that. I understand that they plan on doing something Q1 '05. I saw something on another forum saying it was coming sooner, but I think that is more a minor channel alignment/reallocation related more to VOD than this, though....

-Randy

Rollerfink - I checked a few more of my recordings, and it appears that you are correct - the dropouts problems I noted are pretty much confined to ABC. Thanks again for the info - I appreciate it :)

d-

Originally posted by Douglas_Baker
Thanks Rollerfink - I appreciate the response. I've been gone from the board for a couple months, and reading through this thread took enough time, I didn't have time to read the locals thread as well.

You are correct, I am primarily noticing it on ABD, but will double-check my other channels and see if I have the problem there as well.

Thanks again for your help,

d-

I just want to report back as to how damned cool this box is. A few quirks, yes. I'll learn the shortcuts. But overall recording HD content is so bad a$$.
I started watching Las Vegas and about 10 minutes into it, realized I should record it because another program was on that I wanted to watch. To my surprise, it recorded the show from the beginning (since it was buffered). Now my wife didn't miss the beginning.
Overall, the picture looks great. I'm very impressed.!!!

Originally posted by Joe_R
I just want to report back as to how damned cool this box is. A few quirks, yes. I'll learn the shortcuts. But overall recording HD content is so bad a$$.
I started watching Las Vegas and about 10 minutes into it, realized I should record it because another program was on that I wanted to watch. To my surprise, it recorded the show from the beginning (since it was buffered). Now my wife didn't miss the beginning.
Overall, the picture looks great. I'm very impressed.!!!

Not that I'm getting picky here, but it'd be nice to have it mark where you were, so if you didnt want to watch the beginning or FF to where you were... Was it me or was the picture jumpy the first 10-15 minutes of the episode?

Originally posted by markjrenna
Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

Thanks Rick.

Most people on here have the following issues:

1. Screen sizing and output problems.
2. Random Rebooting.

And my problem (also two others seem to experience this as well)...

3. The 6412/i-Guide locking randomly from within the Series Recordings and Priority Lits menus.

I really feel this is an i-Guide and or firmware problem. Maybe both in combination. I don't think my 6412 is bad since I strongly feel I'd see the box lock no matter what menu I'm in.

What frustrates me is that not many people (just 3) are reporting this problem. So I really can't be certain if this problem is in every 6412 or just a few.

Maybe some willing folks will try to do some testing. Create some Series Recordings and modify the Series Priority list. There is no set of steps to recreate this lock up. Just keep making changes and you will (maybe) see it.

I warn you though that if you do try this and your box locks, there is no recovery other than to pull the power plug. Then you have to wait the 12 to 24 hours for your guide data to repopulate.

Mark

#3 has happened to me once or twice but it was only a short pause of 5-15 seconds. Since I already have my series set up, I'm not going to mess with it. I have not the rebooting issues nor know what the screen-size issues were.

I am happy with my 6412 and dont plan on giving it up for a long while! :)

Hi Guys,

Quick question. Could someone tell me when the new I-Guide will upload to the older Digital Cable boxes. I have a 6412 in the living room here and everything is working flawlessly on that box but the bedroom cable box still displays the old Guide which really stinks.

I'm in the Philadelphia Area (Delaware County)

DMBFan1 - I think in my area (bensalem, PA) it's coming out December 9th. Or 8th, I can't remember. I'm in Bucks county... I'm guessing it's in that GENERAL ballpark.

bronowyn,

Thanks so much for the info. I had no luck getting any answers out of Comcast. I know for fact Northeast Philly got the update a few weeks ago but nothing in Delco or Bucks except of course the 6412 already has it pre loaded.................... Great box the 6412 is too. Mine is working flawlessly..................

Thanks Again.



anttttttt

yep.....answers and comcast are two words that do not go in the same sentence.

Originally posted by Kaiser-Soze
Was it me or was the picture jumpy the first 10-15 minutes of the [Las Vegas] episode?

It's not just you. Mine was cutting out to a black screen with the sound uninterrupted. Seemed like a transmission problem. It was more like the 1st 1/2 hour, too.

can anyone recommend a better remote for the 6412.....the one that came with it is so small.....and so not back-lit.......wife is giving me fits

i also would like to take advantage of the skip feature like i had on the 6280...

tia

cipro

Originally posted by Cipro
can anyone recommend a better remote for the 6412.....the one that came with it is so small.....and so not back-lit.......wife is giving me fits

i also would like to take advantage of the skip feature like i had on the 6280...

tia

cipro

There are a lot of options. I have the Harmony 659 and absolutely love it. I have literally put 5 remotes in the closet and only have the Harmony on the coffee table. The wife was skeptical and figured it would not do EVERYTHING she wanted. I took all the remotes and hid them from her one morning before work, forcing her to use the Harmony. Now she is telling neighbors and friends to get one. I have gone out and bought two for neighbors and programmed them before I brought them over.

The Harmony remotes are programmed using a PC and the Harmony database. You plug in via USB and select your components that you want it to control. This is all done via a wizard style interface with questions like - "Do you use the TV, Cable Box or Reciever to control the volume?" or "Which input on the TV do you use for DVD, Cable, etc." It is incredibly easy. The database has every funtion your specific remote would have. If there is a function (like 30-sec skip or Swap that was not listed under the 6412 in the Harmony DB) then you can have the Harmony learn the commands from the original remote. This is all stored in your personal profile on the Harmony site.

Jeesh, I must sound like a spokesman for Harmony (now Logitech)! I was turned on to this remote by other AVS members.

The only negative is that these suckers eat batteries quickly. Around every three weeks I am replacing the four AAA's. Not a big deal if you just go to BJ's or Costco and buy a megapack.

Hope this helps.

Joe

Originally posted by LarryJoe
The only negative is that these suckers eat batteries quickly. Around every three weeks I am replacing the four AAA's. Not a big deal if you just go to BJ's or Costco and buy a megapack.

Hope this helps.

Joe Comcast NJ - Union/Verona

That sure did help. No Harmony for me. No way am I replacing batteries every three weeks.