Some of us have been in the honeymoon period for quite some time now... :cool:

-Randy

Yeah my honeymoon lasted a while too. But then I met this other box (ViP622) and had our first three-some (me+6412+ViP622) and I kenew that the first honeymoon was over. I am now on my second one

Sorry. Sammy what? CRT? LCD? What model number?

Are you using DVI/HDMI?


My alias is my model number it's a direct view CRT HDTV monitor...........It's DVI only.

Thank you CuCuy for at least trying to nicely answer my question. My main concern was whether I am doing something wrong that when I set the box to the "off" setting I lose the ability to set the aspect ratio. Basically whether that's the TV doing that or normal for the box.
I thought i did read that the Panny is known for this.
If I want aspect control do most people find 480i or 480p to be better.
Of course not being an "expert" I don't see much difference between the two.

Thanks again

Thank you CuCuy for at least trying to nicely answer my question. My main concern was whether I am doing something wrong that when I set the box to the "off" setting I lose the ability to set the aspect ratio. Basically whether that's the TV doing that or normal for the box.
I thought i did read that the Panny is known for this.
If I want aspect control do most people find 480i or 480p to be better.
Of course not being an "expert" I don't see much difference between the two.

Thanks again

I think you're on the right track anyways. Experiment a little and see what you prefer. I have a 30" Toshy CRT which looks best with the 4:3 overide set to 480i. Just like you if I set it to OFF I can only view the "natural" aspect which is fine except that with a 30" TV I end up with what amounts to about a 24" image. I prefer to use the Toshy's TW1 stretch mode which keeps the middle normal and only stretches the edges. I barely notice and since I watch almost all DVDs and HD material it's basically so my kids don't whine about the gray bars.

I believe on many TV's - possibly the last gen of HDTVs you lose your stretch modes when an HD signal is feeding it, so you're not alone with a buggy TV or anything.

Got things straightened out more or less. Funny thing happened everytime I would go into the master setting window/menu and toggle something one way or the other my audio would drop out. Only way to bring the audio back was to reset the box.

So you're kidding when you say the picture-in-picture buttons on the remote are not active??!?!?

The Motorola MOXI had a better user interface to tweak settings than the '6412'. Thanx 2 y'all I'm good to go and the wife isn't shouting at me as much..........wifey aggro!!!! oh noooooooooOOOOO!!!

Yeah my honeymoon lasted a while too. But then I met this other box (ViP622) and had our first three-some (me+6412+ViP622) and I kenew that the first honeymoon was over. I am now on my second one

I have an extremely favorable deal with Comcast right now, so I don't have a wondering eye...but when that deal is over, I very well may checking out the ViP622. I've been hearing some pretty good things about it over in the DFW area local forum. Being a long-time ReplayTV user, I've never thought the 6412 was perfect...far from it. But it records in HD reliably (at least in my case), and pretty much does what I need. Enough so that my two Replays are seldom used...hello, eBay! :)

nope laxo01 it is definately not the Yamaha because i have a dvd via HDMI to receiver and there are no problems.

it definately is the Moto, i am just surprised no one has found a solution for this because i believe it effects just about any receiver just like donnyb's 4806.
It could still be the Yamaha --- does it support HDCP? DVD players don't use HDCP, so the fact that it passes the DVD video through without issue doesn't really tell you if it's the Yamaha or the Moto.

Not to say that there aren't issues with HDCP and the way it's implemented, but if your equipment is HDCP-compatible you should be able to get it to go, eventually.

Have you tried this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_6412#HDCP)?

I go the following reply from my Comcast provider when I emailed them about use of the Firewire port on my Moto 6412 after getting an initial reply that the output was "encrypted."

...

Does this mean I could record HD channels like HBO to a JVC D-VHS deck? or would the "special formatting" prevent these shows from being recorded?
The premium channels (HBOHD, SHOHD, STZ-HD, MAXHD, etc) had DTCP (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DTCP)/5c turned on a while back with "copy never" set, so I don't believe any of those will be transferrable to DVHS tape, and I know they aren't transferrable to a PC.

Edit: I had been told the flag is set to "copy never", but a post in the 3412 thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7453119&&#post7453119) suggests it is set to "copy once", in which case you could copy any recording once via firewire to any DVHS deck.

The other HD channels (INHD1&2, DISC-HD, local HD, etc) don't use 5c and are freely copyable via firewire, to a PC or DVHS deck.

I have a question regarding the Motorola box. I am a Comcast subscriber in NJ. I have an old twin tuner DVR HD box with DVI being the highest output. I have called Comcast and have not gotten an acknowledgment about the HDMI boxes with a SATA port in the back. There was a Comcast truck on my block and I asked the installer to see the box. Sure enough it had a HDMI port in the back along with a SATA port. Does anyone know if the port is active and has anyone used it with an external hard drive. I was wondering how the extra storage shows up and is accessed by the boxes software. Also anyone heard anything about the new 250G Panasonic box? Thanks in advance

I have a question regarding the Motorola box. I am a Comcast subscriber in NJ. I have an old twin tuner DVR HD box with DVI being the highest output. I have called Comcast and have not gotten an acknowledgment about the HDMI boxes with a SATA port in the back. There was a Comcast truck on my block and I asked the installer to see the box. Sure enough it had a HDMI port in the back along with a SATA port. Does anyone know if the port is active and has anyone used it with an external hard drive. I was wondering how the extra storage shows up and is accessed by the boxes software. Also anyone heard anything about the new 250G Panasonic box? Thanks in advance


Comcast does not support the SATA port. It is not active, and I believe they have no immediate plans to activate it.

I did read that Comcast and Panasonic did pen an agreement but nothing since.

Right now I have it at 16:9, 1080i ... When I [set Override=OFF] it makes the aspect setting on the TV inoperable. ... Is this a problem caused by the TV or the box. Am i doing something wrong.Now that I've had my lunch, I'll try this again.

No, you are not "doing something wrong". As I said before, with Override set to OFF, the DVR outputs a 4:3 image exactly as it should be shown - in 4:3 format.Technically, what is happening is that, with your setting at 1080i, the DVR is placing a 4:3 picture in the middle of a 1080i 16:9 black image. The reason your aspect controls don't work is that the actual image is already 16:9 with black bars on the sides. The benefit of this is that the DVR is converting all incoming signals to 1080i (in your case) or whatever DVI resolution you have selected. The display never has to resync. All aspect ratios are presented correctly in the first place.Which one of [480i or 480p] if I need to be set on them have people found better. That's entirely dependent on your display. If the deinterlacer in your display is better than the one in the DVR, then 480i will look better; otherwise 480p would be better. But some displays will not accept 480i over DVI. And whenever you change from an SD channel to an HD channel, the display will have to resync; on some units that takes a few seconds or a key press to happen.By the way the "Stretch" option looks horrible.I believe that's what I said.

Now that I've had a chance to look at the specs on your Panny, you have a larger dilemma than most. Unfortunately your plasma screen is not a "standard" ED or HD display! It has a native resolution of 1,024x768, an odd duck, which means that every available program input has to be rescaled internally by the TH-37PX50U. :(

Normally, you would determine the desirable resolution from the Moto box based on your viewing habits combined with the native resolution of the display. PQ is generally directly but inversely related to the number of scaling operations the signal has to go through between the originating source and the display. For instance:

A 480p (ED) display would favour either 480i or 480p and would tend to look best on digital 480 (SD) signals. All other signals would be down converted to 480p by the display.

A 720p (HD) display is an excellent match if you watch a lot of sports or "American Idol" on ABC, FOX or ESPN because those stations broadcast in 720p, the highest HD quality. Unfortunately, SDTV and DVDs have to be upscaled and 1080i HDTV downscaled to 720p.

A 1080p (HD) display would obviously favour the 1080i resolution which only has to be deinterlaced, but not rescaled. All of the HDTV stations are 1080i with the exception of the three higher bandwidth 720p networks mentioned above. Everything else has to be upscaled.

But your unit, with its oddball computer XGA resolution of 1,024xi768, doesn't particularly favour any one video standard. Absolutely every available program input has to be scaled up or down. Pixel-mapping simply isn't an option, unless you want to use it as a desktop display for your computer.

Bottom line: in your case, you'll have to experiment and determine which device has the better builtin scaler at each of the pertinent resolutions - the Moto DVR or the Panasonic TH-37PX50U.

Clarification on my last statement: In your situation, the Panny will always be performing some scaling operation, up or down. Always. So the challenge is to find the combination of the two scalers which provides the best PQ for the program you are watching at that time. Remember that the Moto will not scale the signal in three different "pass through" scenarios: those are when the source program resolution matches the DVI output resolution and is passed through at 480i, 720p and 1080i. 480p output from the Moto is always a result of deinterlacing by the Motorola.

I'm pretty sure of the answer to this question, but I might be missing something.

Is there any way to make the 6412 (p3, if it matters) do nothing at all to the signal it puts on HDMI output? That is, is there any way to have it leave 480 as 480, 720 as 720, 1080 as 1080 and i as i and p as p? Putting it yet another way, can I force the 6412 to let my TV do all the signal schlepping?

I'm pretty sure of the answer to this question, but I might be missing something.

Is there any way to make the 6412 (p3, if it matters) do nothing at all to the signal it puts on HDMI output? That is, is there any way to have it leave 480 as 480, 720 as 720, 1080 as 1080 and i as i and p as p? Putting it yet another way, can I force the 6412 to let my TV do all the signal schlepping?

The STB does not have native signal output. You must set the box to output 1080i, 720p, 480i, or 480p.

Now that I've had my lunch, I'll try this again.

No, you are not "doing something wrong". As I said before, with Override set to OFF, the DVR outputs a 4:3 image exactly as it should be shown - in 4:3 format.Technically, what is happening is that, with your setting at 1080i, the DVR is placing a 4:3 picture in the middle of a 1080i 16:9 black image. The reason your aspect controls don't work is that the actual image is already 16:9 with black bars on the sides. The benefit of this is that the DVR is converting all incoming signals to 1080i (in your case) or whatever DVI resolution you have selected. The display never has to resync. All aspect ratios are presented correctly in the first place.That's entirely dependent on your display. If the deinterlacer in your display is better than the one in the DVR, then 480i will look better; otherwise 480p would be better. But some displays will not accept 480i over DVI. And whenever you change from an SD channel to an HD channel, the display will have to resync; on some units that takes a few seconds or a key press to happen.I believe that's what I said.

Now that I've had a chance to look at the specs on your Panny, you have a larger dilemma than most. Unfortunately your plasma screen is not a "standard" ED or HD display! It has a native resolution of 1,024x768, an odd duck, which means that every available program input has to be rescaled internally by the TH-37PX50U. :(

Normally, you would determine the desirable resolution from the Moto box based on your viewing habits combined with the native resolution of the display. PQ is generally directly but inversely related to the number of scaling operations the signal has to go through between the originating source and the display. For instance:

A 480p (ED) display would favour either 480i or 480p and would tend to look best on digital 480 (SD) signals. All other signals would be down converted to 480p by the display.

A 720p (HD) display is an excellent match if you watch a lot of sports or "American Idol" on ABC, FOX or ESPN because those stations broadcast in 720p, the highest HD quality. Unfortunately, SDTV and DVDs have to be upscaled and 1080i HDTV downscaled to 720p.

A 1080p (HD) display would obviously favour the 1080i resolution which only has to be deinterlaced, but not rescaled. All of the HDTV stations are 1080i with the exception of the three higher bandwidth 720p networks mentioned above. Everything else has to be upscaled.

But your unit, with its oddball computer XGA resolution of 1,024xi768, doesn't particularly favour any one video standard. Absolutely every available program input has to be scaled up or down. Pixel-mapping simply isn't an option, unless you want to use it as a desktop display for your computer.

Bottom line: in your case, you'll have to experiment and determine which device has the better builtin scaler at each of the pertinent resolutions - the Moto DVR or the Panasonic TH-37PX50U.

And now that I had my lunch I'll thank you very much for the great explanation and I actually understand it. That's probably what I remembering hearing about the Panny's because I believe even the 42" has that resolution.

Anyway thanks again and I knew I'd get a kinder answer...lol. Just please try to keep in mind everybody here is not an AV guru so I guess some of our questions seem stupid to those who are the experts but answers are what we depend on to learn more. That's why this is a great site.


ps - experimenting the 480p seems to look a bit better.

is there any way to have it leave 480 as 480, 720 as 720, 1080 as 1080We wish!! ;)

That would be the #1 firmware mod I could hope for.

Cavu-

And just as a side note no matter what i'm setting the overide at watching this Masters coverage with my HK surround system is phenomenal. I might never leave the house. Maybe because I'm new at HD but this Panny TV picture to me is great.

Thanks again

Cavu-

And just as a side note no matter what i'm setting the overide at watching this Masters coverage with my HK surround system is phenomenal. I might never leave the house. Maybe because I'm new at HD but this Panny TV picture to me is great.

Thanks again

Thats all that matters. Good PQ & Good SQ :D

Enjoy it...

Maybe because I'm new at HD but this Panny TV picture to me is great.I have added the following clarification to my last post:

In your situation, the Panny will always be performing some scaling operation, up or down. Always. So the challenge is to find the combination of the two scalers which provides the best PQ for the program you are watching at that time. Remember that the Moto will not scale the signal in three different "pass through" scenarios: those are when the source program resolution matches the DVI output resolution and is passed through at 480i, 720p and 1080i. 480p output from the Moto is always a result of deinterlacing by the Motorola.

I've noticed a bunch of strange audio quirks with the 6412 Series III I'm leasing. I have two audio processors, a regular home theater reciever and the Pioneer SE-DIR800C Dolby Headphone processor. Since neither of them have outputs and both only have a single coaxial and optical input, I had to split the coaxial and optical signals from my DVD player and the 6412. Since the DVD player I was using only had a coaxial output, I was using optical for the 6412. But for some reason, I lost the signal when I used the optical digital splitter. I tried using the coaxial cable for the 6412 and it split the signal fine. So at first I thought that it was a problem with the splitter. But then I had a hunch that it was yet another audio quirk with the 6412, so I purchased a DVD player with an optical output, which I would have returned had I not been able to split the optical signal with the splitter I had. But, sure enough, the splitter was fine. So now I got everything set up right, just have the 6412 hooked up with coaxial and the DVD player hooked up with optical. Just seems odd that the 6412 optical signal can't be split while the coaxial one can.

Other quirks:

I tried connecting the 6412 to my television with an HDMI/DVI cable to see if there was a difference. The audio played fine when watching live television, but when watching something off the DVR it output 5.1 recordings as 2.0. When I removed the HDMI conncection and used component again, the DVR recordings output the sound properly.

Though I have the television hooked up with RCA stereo cables, it doesn't output sound through this when it's sending a digital signal either through the coaxial output or digital output. Not that this is a problem, just odd...

I have a Samsung HL-R5067W DLP TV, Motorola 6412 Phase 3 (using HDMI out right now) with firmware 12.22 & iGuide - my cable provider is Armstrong Cable in Western PA. I also have a HK AVR 235, and HK Dvd 22 but I suppose those items don't enter into this question.

My current cable box setup is: TV Type 16:9, HDMI output 720p, 4:3 Override OFF

Earlier tonight I ripped everything apart and tried component cables so I could see if 480i in the 4:3 Override setting was any better for the non-HD broadcasts (my Samsung balks at 480i over HDMI) - and I really didn't notice much of a difference. However it got me to thinking whether 1080i was better for the HDMI output setting and what settings folks have the best luck with. (I've tried 480p and off in the 4:3 override area and honestly I think off may look a tiny bit better)

So what would you folks recommend I have my settings at for my setup? I'm not overly thrilled with the PQ of my non-HD (analog & digital both) channels right now.

Also - I bought a Comcast 3 Device remote off Ebay with the intention of enabling the "30 Second Skip" function (as listed in the Remotes forum) and teaching it to my Harmony 880 - but it's not working (I followed the instructions in the 30 second skip thread several times through) - can anyone confirm if the 30 second skip function was dropped from the 6412 in a firmware upgrade?

A quick note about teaching the Harmony 880 the 30-second skip. I have the 880 and the skip function was available via the standard programming set-up on the Harmony website. No learning needed. Works great!

Brestle - could you explain where that was found? I can't see anything that specifically says "30 second skip" when I try "change behaviour of buttons" - also - could you check your 6412 setup and tell me what firmware version your box is at? Thanks very much.

Bill

Wow this is weird. I've had a phantom 12/31/1989 recording for months and months now then suddenly over the past few weeks i picked up two more.

Then today my moto re-booted itself twice within about 10 minutes and two of the three phantom recordings are gone -- and in their place are: an old episode of lost and an old episode of family guy (i have series recordings set for both of those shows). I know for a fact that neither of these shows were on the DVR just before the re-boot because I had just gone in and watched a recording of Conan and i only had one other show on the DVR.

Anyone else seen that happen before?

That is to get the Harmony 880 or 676. Logitech has a $50 rebate out there for 'exclusive offer for Tivo users.'

Wow this is weird. I've had a phantom 12/31/1989 recording for months and months now then suddenly over the past few weeks i picked up two more.

Then today my moto re-booted itself twice within about 10 minutes and two of the three phantom recordings are gone -- and in their place are: an old episode of lost and an old episode of family guy (i have series recordings set for both of those shows). I know for a fact that neither of these shows were on the DVR just before the re-boot because I had just gone in and watched a recording of Conan and i only had one other show on the DVR.

Anyone else seen that happen before?

I kind of had the same thing happen only I had only one 1989 recording. I was going to wait untill I had watched all I had on the harddrive before doing a hard reset. I ended up recording to 100% one night before. After it hit 100% it deleted the 1989 recording along with the next oldest recording but then It brought back a 3 or 4 week old recording I had deleted.

The premium channels (HBOHD, SHOHD, STZ-HD, MAXHD, etc) had HDCP (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDCP) and DTCP (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DTCP)/5c turned on a while back with "copy never" set, so I don't believe any of those will be transferrable to DVHS tape, and I know they aren't transferrable to a PC.

The other HD channels (INHD1&2, DISC-HD, local HD, etc) are freely copyable via firewire, to a PC or DVHS deck.

If I don't use the 6412 to "copy" HBOHD etc for later viewing, then could I use my own HD Recorder to record these channels directly off a Comcast box without the hard drive. Otherwords, are the Comcast HD recorders the only game in town to time shift HBOHD etc. Doesn't this violate FCC regulations by forcing you to rent their equipment to time shift?

Wow this is weird. I've had a phantom 12/31/1989 recording for months and months now then suddenly over the past few weeks i picked up two more.

Then today my moto re-booted itself twice within about 10 minutes and two of the three phantom recordings are gone -- and in their place are: an old episode of lost and an old episode of family guy (i have series recordings set for both of those shows). I know for a fact that neither of these shows were on the DVR just before the re-boot because I had just gone in and watched a recording of Conan and i only had one other show on the DVR.

Anyone else seen that happen before?
A 12/31/89 recording with no title is sort of a broken link between the file system and the MyDVR page. The page has a link for a recording, but it can't find the information on the drive. When you do a reboot, it does some sort of CHKDSK-like activity and sometimes it relinks properly and the old recording reappears in the list.

It's sort of hit-or-miss if it will work. Sometimes, it takes several reboots. Some have reported letting it sit unpowered for 30 minutes or more have worked. Sometimes, you can delete them immediately after a reboot with no effects (but try to watch any other recordings, just in case.)

I just got my Samsung 5667w with DNet (Firewire) and one interesting thing I've discovered is it won't see the 6412 unless my JVC 30K DVHS deck is hooked up as well. They're not even hooked up in a chain, just each one individually to the TV.

With the DVHS hooked up the 6412 shows up clearly as "MOTOROLA CABLE STB" and I can change channels directly and such. Pretty cool, saving me the bother of hooking up component cables, audio cables, etc.

A 12/31/89 recording with no title is sort of a broken link between the file system and the MyDVR page. The page has a link for a recording, but it can't find the information on the drive. When you do a reboot, it does some sort of CHKDSK-like activity and sometimes it relinks properly and the old recording reappears in the list.

It's sort of hit-or-miss if it will work. Sometimes, it takes several reboots. Some have reported letting it sit unpowered for 30 minutes or more have worked. Sometimes, you can delete them immediately after a reboot with no effects (but try to watch any other recordings, just in case.)

Ah, that makes sense.

If I don't use the 6412 to "copy" HBOHD etc for later viewing, then could I use my own HD Recorder to record these channels directly off a Comcast box without the hard drive. Otherwords, are the Comcast HD recorders the only game in town to time shift HBOHD etc. Doesn't this violate FCC regulations by forcing you to rent their equipment to time shift?
I don't know what other boxes have implemented in terms of their response to HDCP or DTCP settings, but I'm guessing any box with firewire output is going to have these protections. So no, another HD recorder wouldn't work.

You need the Comcast box to authorize the viewing of the premium channel, and you can't get the recording out of the box because of the copy protection settings. So yes, the Comcast box is the only game in town for stream capturing, time shifting, etc, an HD channel (or any channel) with copy protection.

Whether this violates FCC regs, I don't know.

I may have to eat my words, though. A post in the 3412 thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7453119&&#post7453119) suggests the protection flag is set to "copy once". I had been told it was set to "copy never". I know it won't work to copy to a PC via firewire with any DTCP protection, but if the flag is set to "copy once", you'd be able to copy each recording once via firewire to any DVHS deck.

Brestle - could you explain where that was found? I can't see anything that specifically says "30 second skip" when I try "change behaviour of buttons" - also - could you check your 6412 setup and tell me what firmware version your box is at? Thanks very much.

Bill

It is under the "Change or add buttons for this Activity" section (the area with all the drop-down menus for the buttons). I have "Replay" programmed for the skip back button (15 seconds back), and "Advance" programmed for the skip forward button (30 seconds forward). Unfortunately I am not at home right now...don't know my firmware off the top of my head but I know I have a Phase II.

Hope that works!

Wow this is weird. I've had a phantom 12/31/1989 recording for months and months now then suddenly over the past few weeks i picked up two more.

Then today my moto re-booted itself twice within about 10 minutes and two of the three phantom recordings are gone -- and in their place are: an old episode of lost and an old episode of family guy (i have series recordings set for both of those shows). I know for a fact that neither of these shows were on the DVR just before the re-boot because I had just gone in and watched a recording of Conan and i only had one other show on the DVR.

Anyone else seen that happen before?

I must confess I haven't read every post, but here is my experience with the 1989/empty-name/0-channel bug:

It happened to me 3-4 times so far (in about 8 months). Usually 1-2 reboots preferably signal-resets by Comcast customer support solved my problem. The other programs were intact, sometimes the 89-ed program was saved sometimes it was not.

Some of the Comcast tech support people do not seem to know about this bug, so if you encounter one of them, either ask for another rep, or call again later.

I found out the hard way that trying to delete it before a reboot causes a mess - it seems to jump to other recordings, so you may lose more recordings if you keep deleting/watching other stuff.

I have no clue what causes it and none of the Comcast people I talked to seem to know what caused it.

I also found out (inadvertantly) that if you record a blank channel it does a good job of compressing it to nothing and takes up 0% space (I was recording from a channel who had technical difficulties with no picture/sound).

Another bizarre problem I had only once with this device is that all the analog channels had sound but no picture thru the DVR. When connecting the RF to VCR/TV/etc the analog channels were fine. A Comcast-reset signal solved the problem.

I must confess I haven't read every post.....

I'm not sure that's humanly possible for this mega-thread. ;-)

Bob

I must confess I haven't read every post, but here is my experience with the 1989/empty-name/0-channel bug:

It happened to me 3-4 times so far (in about 8 months). Usually 1-2 reboots preferably signal-resets by Comcast customer support solved my problem. The other programs were intact, sometimes the 89-ed program was saved sometimes it was not.
You don't need to call Comcast. Unplugging the box for a minute or longer is generally no different than having them reset it remotely. The difference might be if they do more than a simple reboot hit, and do something like a factory reset or DVR reset.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_6412

You don't need to call Comcast. Unplugging the box for a minute or longer is generally no different than having them reset it remotely. The difference might be if they do more than a simple reboot hit, and do something like a factory reset or DVR reset.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_6412

Yes, I think their reset is slightly different from a power-off/-on. I'll check the Wiki entry later, their server is currently down...

It is under the "Change or add buttons for this Activity" section (the area with all the drop-down menus for the buttons). I have "Replay" programmed for the skip back button (15 seconds back), and "Advance" programmed for the skip forward button (30 seconds forward). Unfortunately I am not at home right now...don't know my firmware off the top of my head but I know I have a Phase II.

Hope that works!

Thanks anyway Brestle - but it doesn't work with my 6412. I suspect my cable provider either removed that functionality - or - the firmware on my 6412 did. :(

Yes, I think their reset is slightly different from a power-off/-on. I'll check the Wiki entry later, their server is currently down...

It's NOT.

There is only 3 things the CSR can do to reset your STB remotely.


1) send a power reset hit. This does the same thing as the user pulling the Power Cord.

2) DVR HIT: This will delete & reformat the HD. User can also do this on his end.

3) Factory Reset / STB Authorization Hit: Can be done also by the user. Resets the STB back to factory Blank Cond: Will force the STB to re-download all Software, Firmware, IPG Software and Cable Settings.

It's NOT.

There is only 3 things the CSR can do to reset your STB remotely.


1) send a power reset hit. This does the same thing as the user pulling the Power Cord.

2) DVR HIT: This will delete & reformat the HD. User can also do this on his end.

3) Factory Reset / STB Authorization Hit: Can be done also by the user. Resets the STB back to factory Blank Cond: Will force the STB to re-download all Software, Firmware, IPG Software and Cable Settings.

Can you do #2 and #3 with the consumer-level software on the DVR box?

For #1, you have to wait at least 30-60 seconds if unplugging it from home, but when they send their reset signal there it gets done in under 30 seconds. Are you sure it's exactly the same thing?

Thanks anyway Brestle - but it doesn't work with my 6412. I suspect my cable provider either removed that functionality - or - the firmware on my 6412 did. :(

Bummer.

Referring back to your original question I just checked and I'm on firmware 9.19.

Good luck!

Can you do #2 and #3 with the consumer-level software on the DVR box?

For #1, you have to wait at least 30-60 seconds if unplugging it from home, but when they send their reset signal there it gets done in under 30 seconds. Are you sure it's exactly the same thing?

Yes, all 3 can be done via the STB by the User. See Repost of Install guide info a few posts down.

There is no need or requirement to wait 30 - 60 sec when doing the reset. With any loss or change in Voltage the STB will reset itself upon power being restored. This is hardcoded into the STB 5 - 10 Sec would be the longest you need to wait.

All 3 Resets are Hardcoded into the STB and have nothing to do with any version of STB Software, Firmware, or Type of IPG Software Used. Remember that no software, firmware or IPG software is preinstalled or included in the STB when it leaves the Moto Factory. These are provided upon activation of the STB with the Head End / Cable Plant.

** Repost of the DCT 64xx / 34xx & 6208 Series STB Install Guide. **

Diagnostic Menu

To access the diagnostic menu, start with your STB on.

turn off the STB and press ok/select within 2 sec.

To exit the Diagnostic screen just hit the power button.


User Setup Menu

To access the User Setup Menu, start with your STB on.

turn off the STB and press Menu.

To exit the User Setup Menu screen just hit the power button.


Basic Reset

To do a Basic Reset (aka A Hit) Just Unplug your power cord completely from the unit and plug back in. 5 - 10 Sec is all you realy need to wait as the Caps used in the STB will only hold a charge from 2 - 5 Sec.

You will now need to let the STB reload your Cable settings and Time Settings from the Head End. It will then begin to populate the Guide data over the nexr 2 - 24 hours.


DVR Hard Drive Reset

NOTE *** This will delete all stored shows on the Hard Drive!
This will also delete all of your scheduled recording settings!


1. STB should be turned on
2. Press Cable, Power off, ok/Select, to bring up the Diagnostics Page
3. With diagnostics page showing press Replay (15-sec rewind), My DVR, My DVR, My DVR, Live.
4. Your STB should now show "Clr" in the LED display.
5. Press ok/Select to proceed with the reset (and presumably Exit to cancel).
6. The STB should now reformat the HD & then peform a STB reset and begin to reload your Cable settings and Time Settings from the Head End. It will then begin to populate the Guide data over the nexr 2 - 24 hours.


STB Authorizeation and Factory Full Reset

*** Be warned this will erase all STB Settings & Your Cable Account Info from the STB ***

*** This will normaly (some reports that it will on the 34xx series) not delete your DVR settings or Stored Shows on the Hard Drive. ***

Reset procedure

Step 1

Unplug Power Cord from STB.

Step 2

on the STB, Press & Hold {Power & Menu} Keys while plugging the Power Cord back into the STB.

The Display should now say (BOOT)

Step 3

Let Go of the {Power & Menu} Keys and press the up or down arrow keys till you see (n DL) on the Display.

Step 4

Push the {Select} Key To begin STB Authorizeation & Downloading of STB software, IPG software, STB / DVR Firmware from your Cable Head End. Could take up to 20 min to download. You should see [DL] in the display with a led line moving in a square.


After it completes this Download the STB will then Reset/reboot and begin to download the Time setting info for the STB Clock & Download your cable account info and settings. After this is done, it will begin to populate the IPG info. Keep your STB on Standby/Off mode to speed up the IPG Data download. Could take up to 24 Hours to fill in all 2 weeks of IGuide info.

FYI, I added a section to the wiki page to step through finding the software and firmware versions for boxes with iGuide. We can cut down on the clutter in this thread if we refer people to the wiki page.

How To Check Your Firmware and Software Versions (iGuide Software) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_6412#How_To_Check_Your_Firmware_and_Software_Versio ns_.28iGuide_Software.29)

ExDeus,

Thanks for that link! I'm a new 6412 user and I had no idea there's was even a Wikipedia page for it. It answers questions that I didn't even know I had! :-)

Are there any other 6412 resources worth checking out? (I've skimmed the first 60 pages of this thread and I've been reading the more recent posts.)

And put me in the "honeymoon" camp regarding the 6412. It has some quirks but I really like it so far.

Bob

FYI, I added a section to the wiki page to step through finding the software and firmware versions for boxes with iGuide. We can cut down on the clutter in this thread if we refer people to the wiki page.

How To Check Your Firmware and Software Versions (iGuide Software) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_6412#How_To_Check_Your_Firmware_and_Software_Versio ns_.28iGuide_Software.29)

Yes, all 3 can be done via the STB by the User. See Repost of Install guide info a few posts down.

There is no need or requirement to wait 30 - 60 sec when doing the reset. With any loss or change in Voltage the STB will reset itself upon power being restored. This is hardcoded into the STB 5 - 10 Sec would be the longest you need to wait.

All 3 Resets are Hardcoded into the STB and have nothing to do with any version of STB Software, Firmware, or Type of IPG Software Used. Remember that no software, firmware or IPG software is preinstalled or included in the STB when it leaves the Moto Factory. These are provided upon activation of the STB with the Head End / Cable Plant.

Thanks! That's interesting and useful information!

The STB does not have native signal output. You must set the box to output 1080i, 720p, 480i, or 480p.

For what it's worth (and I don't know if it has been 'reported' on this sub-forum since I don't read here much) I emailed comcast the other day about a firmware patch to the moto boxes for passthrough mode and they mentioned a firmware with this functionality is in beta, but with no ETA. So here's to crossing your fingers.

I have a 6208 (I think- DVI port and no HDMI) and I'm moving but want to keep my DVRed shows. I'm hoping I can just take the box with me, anyone have any experience with that, or if you can just swap HDDs from one unit to another (I'm guesesing that's a no)?

If I don't use the 6412 to "copy" HBOHD etc for later viewing, then could I use my own HD Recorder to record these channels directly off a Comcast box without the hard drive. Otherwords, are the Comcast HD recorders the only game in town to time shift HBOHD etc. Doesn't this violate FCC regulations by forcing you to rent their equipment to time shift?

In the PC world you could if you could somehow get something with Cable-card to descramble the encyrption (and tune QAM)- these are coming down the pike, but don't yet exist in the consumer market. No idea about FCC regulations. There is also some sort of panasonic DVR coming down the pike in conjunction with Comcast, but no real details or timelines (at least that I have seen). Maybe you are talking about using firewire out to the PC, there are threads about this too, but you are limited IIRC by how the D5 copy flags are set. It is very likely that for 'premium' channels you will get a 'copy never' set and you are out of luck for 1394 out.

For what it's worth (and I don't know if it has been 'reported' on this sub-forum since I don't read here much) I emailed comcast the other day about a firmware patch to the moto boxes for passthrough mode and they mentioned a firmware with this functionality is in beta, but with no ETA. So here's to crossing your fingers.

I have a 6208 (I think- DVI port and no HDMI) and I'm moving but want to keep my DVRed shows. I'm hoping I can just take the box with me, anyone have any experience with that, or if you can just swap HDDs from one unit to another (I'm guesesing that's a no)?


Cool, the passthrough mode would be great.

As far as moving, when I moved 3 years ago, I kept my 2 digital boxes... So as long as it is the same Sub, and the same equipment is used, you should be able to move your equipment. In Richmond, one side of the river uses Motorolo equipment, the other side uses SA, even though both sides are now Comcast.

1. Who "programs" Iguide (times, new vs repeat show, etc)?
2. Did anyone else that was recording the Masters have it cut off about 20 minutes early on Sunday?

What are the latest vers. of s/w and f/w?

I'm guessing the f/w is 9.19..........

My s/w vers. is 71.44-1203, is this the latest s/w vers?

1. Who "programs" Iguide (times, new vs repeat show, etc)?

That info is provided by the Network. TV Guide uses whatever info is provided by the Network.

What are the latest vers. of s/w and f/w?

I'm guessing the f/w is 9.19..........

My s/w vers. is 71.44-1203, is this the latest s/w vers?


It varies by MSO & your local Cable Plant / Head End.

For the 6412P1 & 6412P2 F/W 9.19 & S/W 71.44-1203 are the latest.

For the 6412P3 & the 3412P1 F/W 12.18 -- 12.31 & S/W 71.44-1203 are the latest.

The 3412P2 reportedly Uses a new 14.xx F/W and a S/W ???? version.

IPG S/W version varies by the Type of IPG S/W your Cable Co. Uses.

IGUIDE
Passport
MSFE

For those of you who have built-in digital and HD tuners and can compare, have you noticed any picture quality degradation from using the 6412?HD image quality can be improved by a CableCARD HDTV.

I thought that I had solved the problem with the slow response on the 6412. About 3 weeks ago, I discovered if I powered down by unplugging the power to the 6412 every week, the DVR performs well. However, two days ago comcast upgraded the DVR with new firmware and it started slowing down immediately. I powered it down several times but it still runs slow. It is not as bad as when I leave it on for several weeks, but I now get some hesitations within the first day after powering it back up.After testing this theory, I've also come to the same conclusion, with a 6412 PII.

Until yesterday I had a 6200 box with no DVR and the analog reception was noticeably inferior to my Panasonic's built-in tuner (digital SD and HD looked about the same). However yesterday I received a 6412 III and all channels now look fine. This unit has much better analog reception than my old STB. As conformation, I just read on this forum that the III series has improved analog reception over the II series. If your box is older you might try to get the cable company to upgrade it, the difference in analog reception should be instantly apparent (...love the DVR features too).All Comcast areas are transitioning to ADS, so analog quality will soon become a moot point.

What should I have the box menu settings set to.

Due to the vast possibilities of connectivity with the Moto DVR's, unfortunately there is no 'best' way to interface with the rest of an A/V system. The best way is to try a number of alternatives and simply use the one that looks best to you.

The advice you previously received is an excellent starting point.

I never understand why people spend a lot of money on quality electronics, digital connections, etc. just to distort images with "aspect settings" and DNi automatic picture destroyers, etc. Why bother. Because most of what I watch is HD, and I don't want the little I do watch in SD to burn my CRT's while in 4:3 mode.

So you're kidding when you say the picture-in-picture buttons on the remote are not active??!?!?

Unfortunately, no, we're not kidding.

The Moto DVR's are packed full of stuff that doesn't work. Examples include Ethernet, USB, composite video input, smart card, true IEEE1394 function (bidirectional communication), yada yada yada.

Wow this is weird. I've had a phantom 12/31/1989 recording for months and months now then suddenly over the past few weeks i picked up two more.I've had a few experiences with 12/31/1989. The only way I ever got rid of them was using the DVR Hard Drive Reset, listed above in scanpa's excellent post.

I did figure out how to force a 12/31/1998, by trying to delete a program that is playing.

I may have to eat my words, though. A post in the 3412 thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7453119&&#post7453119) suggests the protection flag is set to "copy once". I had been told it was set to "copy never". I know it won't work to copy to a PC via firewire with any DTCP protection, but if the flag is set to "copy once", you'd be able to copy each recording once via firewire to any DVHS deck.
This is correct. I can record anything and everything from my 6412 PII onto D-VHS. Never tried to make a dupe, so not sure about that.

Updated the Wikipedia page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_6412) with sections for information about, rather than just bugs caused by, hardware and firmware/software.

I added the dates for firmware and software versions from a search of this thread. Add any info you know about bugfixes.

May I add a piece of info.

The 6412 phase 3 has a fan on the bottom for better cooling.

ajwees41












Updated the Wikipedia page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_6412) with sections for information about, rather than just bugs caused by, hardware and firmware/software.

I added the dates for firmware and software versions from a search of this thread. Add any info you know about bugfixes.

All Comcast areas are transitioning to ADS, so analog quality will soon become a moot point.

Since being moved to ADS, I keep an old VCR hooked up so I can use it's tuner to watch the analogue versions. Sometimes it produces a much better picture than the ADS "digital" pictures.

Someone a page or two back was asking about recording premium channels(HBO, Starz, etc) and 5C flags.

I believe the proper way they should be set is that cable,HD, and PREMIUM channels are on "copy-once" This means you can copy it to a DVHS deck from your hard drive. You can(at least I can) make a copy, put another blank tape in, and record another copy on another tape, from the copy on the DVR hard drive. I don't think this is how it is supposed to work, but they have not gotten to where they can just "move" the recording onto the dvhs tape. Basically it is a real time capture.

PPV OnDemand is set to "copy-never" You cannot record this content onto the hard drive, or output to a DVHS deck.

Networks(both SD and HD) are set to "copy-free" You can record onto the hard drive, and make copies to DVHS. Additionally you could hook up a 2nd dvhs deck to the 1st dvhs deck and dub a copy. This can only be done with "copy-free"

I use a Mits 1100u deck, with my 6412PII and Sammy 5667. I can just plug in the cable box to the tv w/o the dvhs and the dnet sees the box fine, and lets me change channels and everything. I do have a working setup and can record off the 6412 onto dvhs. Took a bit of trial and error to get it hooked up, but I have achieved success.

I posted this question in the other 6412 thread and got no response. I just returned my 6412 for another as the old one "fried." Now, the entire image is shifted slightly to the right and I can't correct it. The image shift in MENU is for the guide only. Can anyone help? Is this in the "secret" menu? and if so, how do I get in.

Much thanks in advance and sorry for not searching through the pages.

Since being moved to ADS, I keep an old VCR hooked up so I can use it's tuner to watch the analogue versions. Sometimes it produces a much better picture than the ADS "digital" pictures.

Oh the irony! :p

I posted this question in the other 6412 thread and got no response. I just returned my 6412 for another as the old one "fried." Now, the entire image is shifted slightly to the right and I can't correct it. The image shift in MENU is for the guide only. Can anyone help? Is this in the "secret" menu? and if so, how do I get in.

Much thanks in advance and sorry for not searching through the pages.

Your HDTV should have Picture Ajustment settings for each Type of Connection.

Calibration Time.

Your HDTV should have Picture Ajustment settings for each Type of Connection.

Calibration Time.

Well it does but I don't want to use the geometry on the tv. In HD, the picture is perfectly placed (centered). The old box was fine and other sources playing through my tv are fine (TiVo, E-95, regular tv). It's just the output in analog from the new 6412.

Thanks again.

Since being moved to ADS, I keep an old VCR hooked up so I can use it's tuner to watch the analogue versions. Sometimes it produces a much better picture than the ADS "digital" pictures.Isn't that the truth! My area only switched to digital a few weeks ago. Since then, many of the channels are almost unwatchable because of all the pixellation. My analog reception was far better.

Someone a page or two back was asking about recording premium channels(HBO, Starz, etc) and 5C flags.
I use a Mits 1100u deck, with my 6412PII and Sammy 5667. I can just plug in the cable box to the tv w/o the dvhs and the dnet sees the box fine, and lets me change channels and everything. I do have a working setup and can record off the 6412 onto dvhs. Took a bit of trial and error to get it hooked up, but I have achieved success.

ak3883, are you on Comcast. I wonder (hope) all Comcast allow "copy once". I wonder if other Comcast areas allow "copy once" on the non-network HD channels? If they don't, the IEEE FIRWIRE will eventually be a meaningless feature that is still required by the FCC.

How can you tell if your Comcast service is digital? Is this indicated on one of the 6412's diagnostic screens?

Bob

Isn't that the truth! My area only switched to digital a few weeks ago. Since then, many of the channels are almost unwatchable because of all the pixellation. My analog reception was far better.

How can you tell if your Comcast service is digital? Is this indicated on one of the 6412's diagnostic screens?

BobYeah, but I forget where. Maybe someone else knows... But somewhere in there is tuner status, and I believe it says QAM256 when receiving digital. Of course, for me, it's obvious because of the picture even before checking the tuner... Definitely getting digital rather than analog defects.

My 6412 is about a year and a half old. I've done a basic reset 2 or 3 times over that year and a half.

Lately it had been getting more and more buggy, so I did a hard drive reset.

I lost all my recorded shows.

..it happens, I know.

A couple of questions:

How often should I have been resetting the hard drive? Every other month? Or was this inevitable, and should I just plan on replacing the box every year or so?

The second question may have already been answered, but should I go down and get a series III box? Or just do a full factory reset?

Thanks




** Repost of the DCT 64xx / 34xx & 6208 Series STB Install Guide. **

* * *

Basic Reset

To do a Basic Reset (aka A Hit) Just Unplug your power cord completely from the unit and plug back in. 5 - 10 Sec is all you realy need to wait as the Caps used in the STB will only hold a charge from 2 - 5 Sec.

You will now need to let the STB reload your Cable settings and Time Settings from the Head End. It will then begin to populate the Guide data over the nexr 2 - 24 hours.


DVR Hard Drive Reset

NOTE *** This will delete all stored shows on the Hard Drive!
This will also delete all of your scheduled recording settings!


1. STB should be turned on
2. Press Cable, Power off, ok/Select, to bring up the Diagnostics Page
3. With diagnostics page showing press Replay (15-sec rewind), My DVR, My DVR, My DVR, Live.
4. Your STB should now show "Clr" in the LED display.
5. Press ok/Select to proceed with the reset (and presumably Exit to cancel).
6. The STB should now reformat the HD & then peform a STB reset and begin to reload your Cable settings and Time Settings from the Head End. It will then begin to populate the Guide data over the nexr 2 - 24 hours.
.

zooey91

I have cox in Omaha NE with a 6412 phase 3 and it is in my opinion the best non all digital motorola dvr because of the added fan and better video chip. If you did a harddrive reset that is the same as a factory reset. I vote for getting a phase 3.

ajwees41

zooey91

I have cox in Omaha NE with a 6412 phase 3 and it is in my opinion the best non all digital motorola dvr because of the added fan and better video chip. If you did a harddrive reset that is the same as a factory reset. I vote for getting a phase 3.

ajwees41

Thanks. So the magic words are "I need the one with HDMI" in order to ensure that they give me a phase 3 box?

Thanks. So the magic words are "I need the one with HDMI" in order to ensure that they give me a phase 3 box?Those would be the magic words, assuming you can find someone who knows what HDMI means.

But be careful.... If the 6412 Phase III is the best Motorola DVR out there, I hope to Hell I never have to use another Motorola DVR....

It's the best in my opinion with firmware 12.31

You should just need to request a phase 3.

ajwees41

Has anyone served by Comcast in Baltimore County been upgraded beyond the 12.18 I have?

tnx
jtm

You probably will. They also have a 6416 with a 160 MB hard drive. They also have 3412 that are all digital versions of the 6412.

ajwees41












Those would be the magic words, assuming you can find someone who knows what HDMI means.

But be careful.... If the 6412 Phase III is the best Motorola DVR out there, I hope to Hell I never have to use another Motorola DVR....

How can you tell if your Comcast service is digital? Is this indicated on one of the 6412's diagnostic screens?

Bob

Link: How To Check If Analog-Digital Simulcasting (ADS) is Enabled (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_6412#How_To_Check_if_Analog-Digital_Simulcasting_.28ADS.29_is_Enabled)

Howdy all,

Has anyone noticed anything similar to this?
If my DVR is plugged in to the power outlet, but NOT connected to the TV, then all my other video devices (DVD player, Xbox) have perfect pictures. However, if I plug my DVR into the TV via S-Video, Component, OR Composite, all of a sudden all the other devices get faint purpleish/gray scan lines repeatedly drifting up the screen. It makes me feel like something is ungrounded, or SOMETHING, in the DVR. If I have the DVR not plugged into power, but plugged into the TV, this still happens. As soon as I unplug the video plug from the DVR, all the other signals get perfect again.

I called Comcast and they were infantile... any ideas geniuses?

As always, THANK YOU.

-=Brazil=-

You have a ground problem coming in from the RF coax line. This is usual with cable unfortunately. You have to isolate the ground somehow. I believe Radio Shack has a solution for the coax with an in line ground isolator so check there.

Dave,

Thank you SO much for the tip. I really had no clue what the hell was happening, and Comcast was no help at all. I'll look into it. Is there something specific (perhaps what you just said?) that I can tell a Comcast tech person if they come out? I'll look into the radioshack option in the mean time.

-=Brazil=-

Dave,

There's a Radio Shack right by my house, so I'm thinking of trying that first - can you give me an idea of exactly what I should get? I see they have Coax cables with ground wires, but I don't know if this would help, or where I would attach the ground wire. They also have something called a "Ground Rod" but this probably has to be attached to some grounding area as well.

If I attach the DVR to my TV using an HDMI cable instead of an analog cable, will this solve the problem?

Thanks again,

-=Brazil=-

The HDMI should make a difference as this is usually an analog issue, but can effect digital too.

Why do you not have it connected with HDMI already??? If you are only using composite or S-Video you aren't getting true HD:confused: Let me guess, those smart comcast installers strike again:rolleyes:

I'll check on a solution for you at Rat Shack.

Dave,

Thank you SO much for the tip. I really had no clue what the hell was happening, and Comcast was no help at all. I'll look into it. Is there something specific (perhaps what you just said?) that I can tell a Comcast tech person if they come out? I'll look into the radioshack option in the mean time.

-=Brazil=-

Have comcast come back out and correct there wiring problem. It has nothing to do with the the user. Comcast and all other cable co. are required to ground the coax at the entry point of the structure.

Dave - To answer your question, I don't have an HD TV yet, so I'm stuck with S-video for now. I need the component input on the TV for my xbox, since I don't have an xbox s-video cable. Indeed, once the HD TV comes, it'll be all HDMI, but I still want to fix the issue in case HDMI doesn't solve the problem. Thanks for looking into Rat Shack solutions!!

Scanpa - You are correct indeed. I actually have them scheduled to come out on Saturday to look at other issues I'm having (Pixellated/Stuttering Channels, and that annoying "This channel will be available shortly" message on some channels).

Ugh! (Thanks again for the help!)

-=Brazil=-

You don't get "true" HD without having HDMI?

So ... with my 6412 p3 connected via component cables -

When I watch ESPNHD at home on my HDTV I'm not seeing 720 lines when my stb is set to output 720?

Or when I am watching CSI on CBS I'm not seeing 1080 lines when my stb is set to output 1080?

Now that's interesting. Sounds like a Best Buy representative trying to sell me a $100 hdmi cable by telling me that I won't get "true" HD, yet not being able to explain what "true" HD is.

:rolleyes:

That's probably due to the grounding issues:(

Brazil, I doubt very much HDMI would solve your problem even if you could use it. You say the interference is on the other sources, and that interference is coming from the Comcast ground (or lack thereof). HDMI is digital, but it's still a grounded cable and will still make that connection between the components.

That's probably due to the grounding issues:(

It can also be a Problem caused by bad or leaky house Electrical wiring, Or Extention cords or even cheap power strips that do not provide proper 3 phase RFI grounding and power conditioning.

The This channel will be available soon sounds like a signal strength problem. Go into the Diagnostic menu and check the signal strength on the OOB status, Inband Status, and let us know.

to access the Diagnostic menu. do the following with your TV & STB on.

use the remote and:

STB power off/standby and press ok/select within 2 sec.

arrow down to OOB and press OK/Select. look at the info and post it here.

then press the left arrow button to return to the Diagnostic menu and go to the inband status. post that info here.

power button to exit, and power button again to turn the STB back on from the standby mode.

I'm not saying it will truly solve his issue, just that it may be less noticeable with HDMI.

Someone brought up a good point. Check the spot where cable comes into the house and see if they grounded it properly to a rod or cold water pipe.

ak3883, are you on Comcast. I wonder (hope) all Comcast allow "copy once". I wonder if other Comcast areas allow "copy once" on the non-network HD channels? If they don't, the IEEE FIRWIRE will eventually be a meaningless feature that is still required by the FCC.

Yes I am on Comcast. I think they are supposed to allow copy-once for non-network HD channels. It already seems meaningless the way you can record onto one dvhs tape, eject and put in another dvhs tape, and just make another copy. As long as you have the original recording on the hard drive, I could make as many copies as I wanted....

I'll check the signal strength stuff, and the grounding stuff, when I get home tonight. Are both of these issues things that the Comcast technician will be able to fix, or am I going to get a blank stare from him when he comes by?

I'm going to stop by Rat Shack tonight to see what they have in stock that might help the ground problem. I wonder if one of those power strips with coaxial ports would help?

-=Brazil=-

You don't get "true" HD without having HDMI?

So ... with my 6412 p3 connected via component cables -

When I watch ESPNHD at home on my HDTV I'm not seeing 720 lines when my stb is set to output 720?

Or when I am watching CSI on CBS I'm not seeing 1080 lines when my stb is set to output 1080?

Now that's interesting. Sounds like a Best Buy representative trying to sell me a $100 hdmi cable by telling me that I won't get "true" HD, yet not being able to explain what "true" HD is.

:rolleyes:

Ummmmm, if you actually read my post instead of being sarcastic you'll see that I said "..with composite or S-Video you don't get true HD....."

I said nothing of component, which is capable of 720p/1080i HD. I was simply trying to tell him to avoid analog for now and use a digital conneciton to see if that helps.

Take a chill pill dude:rolleyes:

I can also sell you some awesome 1 Meter HDMI cables for about $28...how's that;)?!?!?!?!

....Why do you not have it connected with HDMI already??? If you are only using composite or S-Video you aren't getting true HD...

Here's my post if it helps any there "doc"???

I'll check the signal strength stuff, and the grounding stuff, when I get home tonight. Are both of these issues things that the Comcast technician will be able to fix, or am I going to get a blank stare from him when he comes by?

I'm going to stop by Rat Shack tonight to see what they have in stock that might help the ground problem. I wonder if one of those power strips with coaxial ports would help?

-=Brazil=-While Comcast has some good technicians, most of them (in my experience) are incapable of doing more than plugging a cable in, and that just barely. I try not to rely on them to solve issues if it can be avoided. <g>

The power strip idea is probably a good one to try, but there's a way you might be able to check before buying one. All the power strip is going to do it tie the ground of the cable to your electrical ground. You can do the same thing (assuming your outlets are properly grounded) by attaching a wire to the screw in the center of the faceplace (being extremely careful not to let it enter the slots, of course) and then touching that to the outside of the coax connector. If the problem goes away when you connect the ground that way, then the power strip should solve it as well.

Great tip:)!!!

Ceccacci - Interesting! I'll try that when I get home and see if the problem goes away. One thing I forgot to mention is that if I plug the DVR directly into the TV via component cables, there are virtually no "hum" lines appearing on the screen. If I pass the Component through my cheap video switch box that I use to switch between xbox and ps2, then the lines appear, as well as if I plug the DVR into the TV using S-Video.

But if I plug the DVR directly into the TV via component, so I get no "hum" lines (that I can see) and the picture is at its best, all my other components (xbox, ps2, etc) get hum lines in their signals. So if I didn't actually have any other components, I could probably just watch TV using the component cables from the DVR, but since I have other stuff, I need to fix it.

Such a sad state of affairs, but I am very grateful for all the help!

-=Brazil=-

My 6412 has been doing some odd stuff for the last two days. Yesterday it was constantly rebooting itself and today after I did a restart, I get a 'Eb09' on the front followed by a 'dl' with a what looks like it could be downloading something?

Any help would be grand.

My 6412 has been doing some odd stuff for the last two days. Yesterday it was constantly rebooting itself and today after I did a restart, I get a 'Eb09' on the front followed by a 'dl' with a what looks like it could be downloading something?

Any help would be grand.

Your box is doing a SW / FW DL and there is a Error causing it to stop and then retry..

Eb09 is a Boot Error code, I will have to look that one up as I dont remember it offhand.

Boot Cycle Error Codes

If hardware or software problems occur, the set-top displays error codes on the LED display. Table 3-2 lists error codes that can occur during boot cycle startup:

Table 3-2 Boot cycle error codes

Code Description When Error Occurs Action Required
Eb 01 Object failed validation After the LED displays dl, indicating validation check failed Contact headend operator
Eb 02 Download time-out After cycling twice through the OOB frequencies None
Eb 03 Flash erase failed After software object download complete and EF is displayed Replace the set-top
Eb 04 Flash programming failed After software object download complete and FP is displayed Contact headend operator

Eb 05 Invalid DLC frequency After the LED displays dl, indicating validation check failed Contact headend operator
Eb 06 Hardware initialization failed After plugging the set-top into an electrical outlet to begin the boot cycle Replace the set-top
Eb 07 Object failed validation After software object download complete and FP is displayed Contact the headend operator
After a successful software object download and the set-top is reset No action required because the set-top repeats the software object download
Eb 08 Reserved None
Eb 09 Check failed Reset within two minutes of a complete software object download No action required because the set-top repeats software object download process

How long should this download for Eb09 take? It's been going on for about 2 hours so far.

How long should this download for Eb09 take? It's been going on for about 2 hours so far.

That all depends on how busy the OOB Data Network is in your area / and how fast the speeds are from your Head End Plant.

It normaly takes about 10 - 20 Min to Download and install the Software, Firmware & IPG Software.

It could take longer depending on several factors as stated above..

Make sure there are no splitters in the path of the Coax from the drop point to the STB, as you need the best signal strength for the download to work.

Well I just watched the box restart itself and then it found the same error again. Also briefly showed something like 'FH' followed by 'hunt'.

It seems to be in some kind of never ending loop.

Well I just watched the box restart itself and then it found the same error again. Also briefly showed something like 'FH' followed by 'hunt'.

It seems to be in some kind of never ending loop.

call your cable Co. and have them come out to fix the problem asap.

Following up on my earlier video "hum bars" issue, I found that I can jiggle the coax cable going into the back of the DVR and if I get it to sit just right, the hum bars go away! Does this imply that the RF IN on the box itself may be a bit broken, so that if the coax cable doesn't sit just right in it, something is left ungrounded?

As I've mentioned before, I have a technician coming out on Saturday to fix all the channels I have that currently say "One moment please. This channel will be available shortly" and I asked him to bring a new DVR just in case - perhaps the new DVR will solve the grounding video hum proble, if it is the RF IN port that is messed up on the box.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

-=Brazil=-

Following up on my earlier video "hum bars" issue, I found that I can jiggle the coax cable going into the back of the DVR and if I get it to sit just right, the hum bars go away! Does this imply that the RF IN on the box itself may be a bit broken, so that if the coax cable doesn't sit just right in it, something is left ungrounded?

It sounds like either a bad box or a loose fiting on the cable going into the cable in on the box.

ajwees41

I agree. Try a new RF coax cable as it might be a bad "F" connector mounting on the RG-6 cable, or it could be as you said a bad RF screw terminal on the box itself that's got a bad ground.

Try the new RG-6 cable first, this may solve all your problems.

I tried a new cable and it has the same problem. Makes me feel like the problem is in the box... weird.

The box's RF coax connector has a nut holding it tight, make sure that's not loose.

Actually, when it's tight, the problem is at its worst. I have to loosen it up just enough so I can wiggle it around and find the right spot where the bum bars disappear.

I did try the thing where you connect a wire to a screw on the box and to the end of the coax, and it didn't work. I put the wire in different places to see if I could notice any change, but couldn't get a change. The only change so far comes from the super magical unicorn wiggle trick!

It sounds like a bad connector on the box then.

ajwees41

Any chance getting a replacement box will fix my constant "One moment please. This channel will be available shortly." problems on a bunch of channels? My signal strength, according to the status menus, goes between GOOD and FAIR.

Wahhh :( - I just want it all to work nice n' perty.

Thanks again for the help!

-=Brazil=-

Any chance getting a replacement box will fix my constant "One moment please. This channel will be available shortly." problems on a bunch of channels? My signal strength, according to the status menus, goes between GOOD and FAIR.

Wahhh :( - I just want it all to work nice n' perty.

Thanks again for the help!

-=Brazil=-
Brazilmma,
I had the same exact problem, the rolling video and the channel available message. I my case it was a ground in the system. They found a faulty connection in my back bedroom that was part of the problem and they had a ground on the drop cable that comes into my house, all is well now. Definitely get the tech out there to test your system, I would bet this is your problem.

Laters,
Mikef5

It's the RF connector on the back of the box. Either take off that silver box on the back and check it out (not recommended) or just swap the box.

I say go to the local office and swap the box. It may work fine and you can avoid having the "tech" come to your house. If not, then leave the appt for him to check other things that may be wrong also.

Brazilmma,
One other thing to try is bypass the motorola box all together. If your tv has a built in tuner direct connect to it and see if you still have the problem. If it goes away then the box is the problem if you still have it have them check the connections.

Laters,
Mikef5

Cool. If I have time, I'll definitely just go to the Comcast office and swap the box. Otherwise, the tech is supposed to bring a new box, and he'll be able to (hopefully, maybe, if he's competent) isolate other problems if they exist.

One thing that is interesting is that once I wiggle the RF cable so that the hum bars go away, I still get the "One moment please" message on lots of channels. Wiggling the cord fixes the hum bars, but not this other issue. Thoughts on why this would be?

Ah, good idea Mikeof5! I'll definitely try that too. I love having different things to try - the whole situation stresses me out bad, but at least i have options and can feel a bit empowered. Nothing worse than being at the mercy of a cable company, especially when they show up way late for service calls, can seem to think that people all work at home and can do service calls during a weekday.

I love this forum :)

-=Brazil=-

Just go swap the box and report back and take a deep breath:p

Will do! My wife tells me "Look, it'll all get fixed and worked out. Chill." I try to take the advice, but my brain chemistry has a hard time with it. :)

I believe I stumbled onto the cause and solution for the Dolby Digital 5:1 “audio bug” that some in this thread have experienced when a DCT-6412 with version 12.18 firmware is connected to an HDTV via HDMI with a second audio connection made to an AV receiver via optical.

Some have confirmed that this problem does not occur if the DCT-6412 video output is switched to component.

The 5.1 “audio bug” seems to manifest itself (and the audio output drops back to stereo) after using any DVR function (pause, jump back, etc.) or playing anything that has been recorded. Also there may be no 5.1 playback from one of the two tuners.

I have never experienced this problem before, even though we use a system configured as described.

But last night, I did briefly encounter this issue during playback of one channel while another was being recorded on the second tuner. Coincidentally, I had just reviewed my DCT-6412 Audio Setup, and made a subtle change. Afterwards, I noticed the problem while playing back a CBS network show. Here’s what I did:

Use the Comcast remote to do the following:
MENU
MENU
Select SETUP
Select AUDIOSETUP
Select AUDIO OUTPUT
Select ADVANCED: MATRIX (instead of STEREO)

If you Select Advanced, with Matrix Output and Compression (Light or Heavy), the 5;1 Dolby Digital “audio bug” occurs. If you switch the Audio Setup back to Stereo, the problem goes away.

Any thoughts on this? It suggests that this may not be a bug, but a setup and configuration problem. Of course, I immediately switched my DCT-6412 Audio Setup back to STEREO. But it does seem to me as if the correct setup ought to be the more capable-sounding “MATRIX” setting…

To determine what version of DCT-6412 firmware is installed, use the Comcast remote to do the following:
MENU
MENU
Select SETUP
Select CABLE BOX SETUP
Select CONFIGURATION and SELECT TO DISPLAY

I believe I stumbled onto the cause and solution for the Dolby Digital 5:1 “audio bug” that some in this thread have experienced when a DCT-6412 with version 12.18 firmware is connected to an HDTV via HDMI with a second audio connection made to an AV receiver via optical.

Some have confirmed that this problem does not occur if the DCT-6412 video output is switched to component.

The 5.1 “audio bug” seems to manifest itself (and the audio output drops back to stereo) after using any DVR function (pause, jump back, etc.) or playing anything that has been recorded. Also there may be no 5.1 playback from one of the two tuners.

I have never experienced this problem before, even though we use a system configured as described.

But last night, I did briefly encounter this issue during playback of one channel while another was being recorded on the second tuner. Coincidentally, I had just reviewed my DCT-6412 Audio Setup, and made a subtle change. Afterwards, I noticed the problem while playing back a CBS network show. Here’s what I did:

Use the Comcast remote to do the following:
MENU
MENU
Select SETUP
Select AUDIOSETUP
Select AUDIO OUTPUT
Select ADVANCED: MATRIX (instead of STEREO)

If you Select Advanced, with Matrix Output and Compression (Light or Heavy), the 5;1 Dolby Digital “audio bug” occurs. If you switch the Audio Setup back to Stereo, the problem goes away.

Any thoughts on this? It suggests that this may not be a bug, but a setup and configuration problem. Of course, I immediately switched my DCT-6412 Audio Setup back to STEREO. But it seems to me as if the correct setup ought to be the more capable-sounding “MATRIX” setting…

To determine what version of DCT-6412 firmware is installed, use the Comcast remote to do the following:
MENU
MENU
Select SETUP
Select CABLE BOX SETUP
Select CONFIGURATION and SELECT TO DISPLAY

This bug is related ONLY to users of HDMI.... If you unplug your HDMI cable from the STB, the problem is gone.

The Audio Settings in the Setup menu Only deal with the Analog Audio. Does not have anything to do with Digital Audio.

Does it happen with ALL users of HDMI, or only some?

Does it happen with ALL users of HDMI, or only some?

Mostly reported by HDMI users who have STB F/W 12.18 and lower.

Most users of F/W versions 12.22 - 12.31 report the problem is fixed.

This bug is related ONLY to users of HDMI.... If you unplug your HDMI cable from the STB, the problem is gone.

The Audio Settings in the Setup menu Only deal with the Analog Audio. Does not have anything to do with Digital Audio.
I think gmwedding understands this, but is suggesting the cause is the analog audio settings.

The Matrix setting takes incoming DD 5.1 streams and creates a Dolby Surround-compatible or Dolby Surround II-compatible downmix, no?

All DVD players are required to support Dolby Digital as part of the DVD-Video standard, and part of the Dolby Digital standard states that the hardware implementation must be capable of downmixing a 5.1 stream to a 2.0 stream. Usually this uses the same circuitry for the audio processing.

I don't know why the DVR functions would trigger it, but isn't it possible that enabling the Matrix setting for the analog audio output activates a portion of the digital audio circuits (DSPs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_signal_processor)) in a different way (to perform a Dolby Surround-compatible downmix) that causes this bug to occur? As in, there are dedicated DSPs for the HDMI audio output as the primary digital connection, but to save on cost/space, the DSPs used for the optical audio output are reused for the downmix when Matrix is enabled. Thoughts?

We need a Canadian member who owns their box, or someone with access to boxes (i.e., scanpa!?) to pop open the top and post some photos of the circuit board layout.

I think gmwedding understands this, but is suggesting the cause is the analog audio settings.

The Matrix setting takes incoming DD 5.1 streams and creates a Dolby Surround-compatible or Dolby Surround II-compatible downmix, no?

More allong the lines of expanding the soundfield of the 2 channel analog audio.

All DVD players are required to support Dolby Digital as part of the DVD-Video standard, and part of the Dolby Digital standard states that the hardware implementation must be capable of downmixing a 5.1 stream to a 2.0 stream. Usually this uses the same circuitry for the audio processing.

The 2 Channel audio track is seperate from the 5.1 digital audio track on DVDs.

I don't know why the DVR functions would trigger it, but isn't it possible that enabling the Matrix setting for the analog audio output activates a portion of the digital audio circuits (DSPs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_signal_processor)) in a different way (to perform a Dolby Surround-compatible downmix) that causes this bug to occur? As in, there are dedicated DSPs for the HDMI audio output as the primary digital connection, but to save on cost/space, the DSPs used for the optical audio output are reused for the downmix when Matrix is enabled. Thoughts?

No they are 2 seperate audio feeds. No Downmixing. Some MSO do not even support a 5.1 Stream yet.

We need a Canadian member who owns their box, or someone with access to boxes (i.e., scanpa!?) to pop open the top and post some photos of the circuit board layout.
:D Someone has already done this, do a google search for it.. They were some great shots of the insides of the 6208, 64xx, 34xx STB & the SA 8300 HD STB.

:)

Last time I was at the plant visiting the gang, they had a 6416 taken apart on the bench.

The 2 Channel audio track is seperate from the 5.1 digital audio track on DVDs.
Yes, you can have a separate DD2.0 or LPCM stream, but DVDs are only required to have at least one DD stream, which can be DD5.1. Every DD hardware implementation is required to perform a 2-Ch downmix from a DD5.1 stream.

No they are 2 seperate audio feeds. No Downmixing. Some MSO do not even support a 5.1 Stream yet.
So are you saying every digital channel has an analog audio signal accompanying the digital stream, or just a separate 2-Ch digital stream? So all the HD channels, including local broadcasts, that broadcast an ATSC stream with DD5.1 also always include a 2-Ch stream?

:D Someone has already done this, do a google search for it.. They were some great shots of the insides of the 6208, 64xx, 34xx STB & the SA 8300 HD STB.

Thanks, I'll look for it.

The bottom line, to anyone who encounters this: check the DCT-6412 Audio Setup settings...Obviously, someone should try to replicate this to see if my experience and conclusions are correct...

Anyone have a One-For-All remote that they've been able to program to work with the 6412? I've used the codes 0476 and 0276, but with no luck. Instead of the two led blinks you're supposed to get at the end of the programming sequence, I get one long blink, indicating an error. I cleared the memory using the 992 code, but then I still get the long blink when trying to program the remote.

Ideas?

As always, thanks!

-=Brazil=-

Anyone have a One-For-All remote that they've been able to program to work with the 6412? I've used the codes 0476 and 0276, but with no luck. Instead of the two led blinks you're supposed to get at the end of the programming sequence, I get one long blink, indicating an error. I cleared the memory using the 992 code, but then I still get the long blink when trying to program the remote.

Ideas?

As always, thanks!

-=Brazil=-


All of the GI / Moto DCT series of STB use the 0476 code on the "One for All" 4 code products

I have 7 Different One for All Remotes and that code works just fine.

I think I figured out what the problem is - I was trying to program that code using the PVR button on my One-For-All remote. I think I have to use the CBL button instead.

Thanks!

-=Brazil=-

Anyone have a One-For-All remote that they've been able to program to work with the 6412? I've used the codes 0476 and 0276, but with no luck. Instead of the two led blinks you're supposed to get at the end of the programming sequence, I get one long blink, indicating an error. I cleared the memory using the 992 code, but then I still get the long blink when trying to program the remote.

Ideas?

As always, thanks!

-=Brazil=-
0476 works with the 6412s and the 6416s. Are you sure you're following the right procedure?

1. Select device button you wish to program to
2. Hold down P for 2 seconds until light blinks twice
3. Enter in code (0476)
4. Light should blink twice again

Actually, on my remote it is:
1. Select device button you wish to program (although I've been told that you can't use the DVD button if you are programming a TV. You need to choose the right device button for the thing you are programming)
2. Hold down "Set" for 2 seconds until light blinks twice
3. Enter code
4. Light should blink twice again

Unfortunately, when I get to #4, the light isn't blinking twice. It's giving one long blink.

Why don't you just use the remote that came with the 6412?

ajwees41

With the Wikipedia entry getting so long an unwieldy (like this thread!), I copied most of the information to a Wikibook entry. It's a bit more split up and easier to find things.
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR

Ajwees,

The universal remote I already have has buttons for way more components... and I have a ton of components, so it's good for me.

Actually, on my remote it is:
1. Select device button you wish to program (although I've been told that you can't use the DVD button if you are programming a TV. You need to choose the right device button for the thing you are programming)
2. Hold down "Set" for 2 seconds until light blinks twice
3. Enter code
4. Light should blink twice again

Unfortunately, when I get to #4, the light isn't blinking twice. It's giving one long blink.
OFA remotes can be programmed to change device button function; for example you can make the PVR button accept the Cable device code.

All of the GI / Moto DCT series of STB use the 0476 code on the "One for All" 4 code products

I have 7 Different One for All Remotes and that code works just fine.I knew I liked you.

All the way with OFA.

0476 works with the 6412s and the 6416s. Are you sure you're following the right procedure?

1. Select device button you wish to program to
2. Hold down P for 2 seconds until light blinks twice
3. Enter in code (0476)
4. Light should blink twice again

6416's are available in Flower Mound?!?!?! Surely they're also available in "Lewisville". Are the 16's simply a Moto 6412 DVR Ph. III with a 160gig HD on board? Do the 16's have DVI or HDMI?

I currently have a 6412 ph. II and I was wondering if the only difference between the ph. III & ph. II is a better video chip for better analog reception and the HDMI output? The digital side-of-things is no different?

The 6412 phase 3 and newer also have an extra fan for improved cooling.

ajwees41

This bug is related ONLY to users of HDMI.... If you unplug your HDMI cable from the STB, the problem is gone.

The Audio Settings in the Setup menu Only deal with the Analog Audio. Does not have anything to do with Digital Audio.

This is not true. I am only using the digital outputs and I have the same audio probems. Also, what's the point in unplugging the HDMI cable to rectify the problem? It's like saying if you turn the cable box off the problem is gone.
Strangely enough I need the HDMI cable plugged in to watch the TV.

This is not true. I am only using the digital outputs and I have the same audio probems. Also, what's the point in unplugging the HDMI cable to rectify the problem? It's like saying if you turn the cable box off the problem is gone.
Strangely enough I need the HDMI cable plugged in to watch the TV.

What is not true? .

The HDMI Cable Interface is the cause of the Audio Loss, it is a HDMI Driver in the Firmware causing it. That Driver has been updated in the newer Firmware releases.

If you unplug the HDMI cable from the STB and use Component Cables you do not have this problem.

The HDMI Cable Interface is the cause of the Audio Loss, it is a HDMI Driver in the Firmware causing it. That Driver has been updated in the newer Firmware releases.

Well for a start I'm using only optical out and the audio setup menu does affect the digital audio output!
Second, I have a brand new box with the latest firmware.

Comments deleted. Keep to the topic with out the personal comments.

For those of you who helped me diagnose my "hum bars" and "One moment please" issues, I wanted to report back that Comcast came out and fixed everything. But I really do have you all to thank, because the cable was grounded at the cable box, but NOT grounded as it came into my apartment, and that was the problem. I told him he should try grounding it to a water pipe where it comes into the apartment, and he tried it and it worked. No more hum bars.

The "One moment please" was because the line was flapping around in the wind, and the screws to the splitter were not tight. He secured the line and tightened everything up, and voila. Brilliant.

Thanks again AVSers. You rock.

-=Brazil=-

I have a motorola DCT6412 with comcast cable in the PG county MD area. I am having an issue with setting up a recording. When I schedule a recording for channel 214 (the HD version of the WB), for some reason, it ends up recording the non-HD version of the channel (channel 3). I also have series recordings set for Fox HD (channel 213) and ABC HD (Channel 210) and those work fine. It only seems to be a problem with the WB. Anyone else encounter this problem and perhaps know of a solution? Thanks in advance for the help!

Probably asked before, but this is a huge thread.

Okay, I have an HDReady TV, this Comcast box, if I hook up an antenna to the Comcast box, can I get OTA HD? Ya know, since the box is a HD tuner. If not, any adapter I can get?

I mainly ask because a crappy local channel recently added HD for the sporting events it does, and Comcast isn't carrying it

Probably asked before, but this is a huge thread.

Okay, I have an HDReady TV, this Comcast box, if I hook up an antenna to the Comcast box, can I get OTA HD? Ya know, since the box is a HD tuner. If not, any adapter I can get?

I mainly ask because a crappy local channel recently added HD for the sporting events it does, and Comcast isn't carrying it

Nope. No Over the Air Tuner in the STB.

Probably asked before, but this is a huge thread.

Okay, I have an HDReady TV, this Comcast box, if I hook up an antenna to the Comcast box, can I get OTA HD? Ya know, since the box is a HD tuner. If not, any adapter I can get?

I mainly ask because a crappy local channel recently added HD for the sporting events it does, and Comcast isn't carrying it
The cable box has QAM tuners for digital CABLE channels, but for digital OTA channels you need an ATSC tuner. You can find some external stand alone STB's at best buy and circuit city stores as well as online that have ATSC tuners for OTA HD. Most of these require no monthly subscription but can be fairly expensive to purchase.

Well for a start I'm using only optical out and the audio setup menu does affect the digital audio output!
Second, I have a brand new box with the latest firmware.
The "latest firmware" is whatever firmware your cable headend has pushed down the line to your box. The latest version in one cable system may be very different from the latest version in another system. What version number is your firmware?

I have a motorola DCT6412 with comcast cable in the PG county MD area. I am having an issue with setting up a recording. When I schedule a recording for channel 214 (the HD version of the WB), for some reason, it ends up recording the non-HD version of the channel (channel 3). I also have series recordings set for Fox HD (channel 213) and ABC HD (Channel 210) and those work fine. It only seems to be a problem with the WB. Anyone else encounter this problem and perhaps know of a solution? Thanks in advance for the help!
Answer in the Wikibook:
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Bugs#The_DVR_records_in_SD_when_you.27ve_set_it_to_an_HD_cha nnel

The "latest firmware" is whatever firmware your cable headend has pushed down the line to your box. The latest version in one cable system may be very different from the latest version in another system. What version number is your firmware?

I have 12.18 firmware, 6412 phase 3 comcast box, Denver CO. I have this "audio bug" described on the thread since I am using HDMI output (and would like to keep using it :)).

I searched this thread, read wiki, googled to no avail -- is it possible to force firmware upgrade or do I have to wait for comcast to push it through ? If I call comcast cs and complain, can they push this firmware upgrade individually ?

Thanks, Davie.

I have 12.18 firmware, 6412 phase 3 comcast box, Denver CO. I have this "audio bug" described on the thread since I am using HDMI output (and would like to keep using it :)).

I searched this thread, read wiki, googled to no avail -- is it possible to force firmware upgrade or do I have to wait for comcast to push it through ? If I call comcast cs and complain, can they push this firmware upgrade individually ?

Thanks, Davie.

You have to wait on Comcast to push the Newer Firmware thats been coded for your local Head End.

Sorry....

The "latest firmware" is whatever firmware your cable headend has pushed down the line to your box. The latest version in one cable system may be very different from the latest version in another system. What version number is your firmware?
You're right, I have the latest version available from comcast.

You're right, I have the latest version available from comcast.

And is that 12.31 or or something different for you particular head end?

I know this has been discussed in general before, but I was wondering if anyone has a specific advice about what video output setting is best for a Motorola 6412 hooked up to a 42" Panasonic plasma (1024x678 native resolution).

Would 720p or 1080i give a better picture? And for that matter, would 480i or 480p be better for the override setting? I've read in this forum that it is best to choose 720p or 1080i depending on the program you are watching, but it's a bit of a pain to jump into that menu every time you want to watch something in HD, so I was hoping someone has figured out an optimal setting for the 6412 with a Panny HD Plasma.

For the record, I have a 42px60u Panasonic plasma.

As always, thanks!!

-=Brazil=-

I know this has been discussed in general before, but I was wondering if anyone has a specific advice about what video output setting is best for a Motorola 6412 hooked up to a 42" Panasonic plasma (1024x678 native resolution).



Try here

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7449235&&#post7449235

Thanks Cucuy.. I actually read that thread, which prompted me to ask my question. I was hoping for a Panasonic-specific experience from someone. That thread suggests finding "the combination of the two scalers which provides the best PQ for the program you are watching at that time," but that just seems like a bit of a pain to switch the mode in the DVR for different programs.

Anyone with any Panasonic-specific experience on which setting works better in general?

Thanks!

-=Brazil=-

I don't know if this has been discussed before, but I noticed that sometimes when recording a program, the "live" view is actually around 1 second (I didn't use a timer) behind real time. For example if I am watching the same program on a VCR or TV using the RF split, the DVR is a step behind. I am not complaining about it, just an observation and I am wondering if others have ran into it as well...

I don't know if this has been discussed before, but I noticed that sometimes when recording a program, the "live" view is actually around 1 second (I didn't use a timer) behind real time. For example if I am watching the same program on a VCR or TV using the RF split, the DVR is a step behind. I am not complaining about it, just an observation and I am wondering if others have ran into it as well...

This is pretty much to be expected...it is buffering everything to the hard drive before displaying...

-Randy

FYI - Regarding the post about comcast not using the add space....last week I noticed a couple of ads pop-up in the guide. not cool.

And is that 12.31 or or something different for you particular head end?

Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, we were on 12.18 for a long time, then finally they upgraded to 12.31 a couple weeks ago :) . I didn't even notice until I realized that some HD programs I had recorded were playing back in 5.1 instead of the usual 2 ch stereo, then I checked the rev.

I just read in the Wikipedia entry that 12.31 disables the 30-second skip. I'm in the bay area (SF) and last time I checked (about a week ago) I was still on 12.22. Can you confirm that you lost the ability to do the 30-second skip with 12.31?

I just read in the Wikipedia entry that 12.31 disables the 30-second skip. I'm in the bay area (SF) and last time I checked (about a week ago) I was still on 12.22. Can you confirm that you lost the ability to do the 30-second skip with 12.31?

i still have my 30 sec skip and i have 12.31

i still have my 30 sec skip and i have 12.31

Nice! Had me worried :)

Help - Picture gone after firmware upgrade.

After a recent upgrade, when the 6412 is turned on and the TV is turned on, the TV only displays the various guides and menus, but no picture or sound. If I play a saved recording, it will play just fine. When the playback is stopped, the regular cable channel is displayed without any problems. I've tried various routines for powering up the equipment, but it consistently does not pull in a cable station until after playing back a recording.

I don't have Comcast, but I have a Moto 6412 and my small cable company (CMA Access) just downloaded the firmware upgrade that enabled the dual tuner capabilities of the 6412. The menu style and text were all upgraded at that time. Everything else behaves much the same as before and all of the setting were saved.

I would appreciate any suggestions.
Thank you,
Clyde

Does anyone have any experiences (good or bad) with running a Comcast cable through a Monster Cable surge suppressor? Does this affect the signal in any way? Thanks.

Help - Picture gone after firmware upgrade.

After a recent upgrade, when the 6412 is turned on and the TV is turned on, the TV only displays the various guides and menus, but no picture or sound. If I play a saved recording, it will play just fine. When the playback is stopped, the regular cable channel is displayed without any problems. I've tried various routines for powering up the equipment, but it consistently does not pull in a cable station until after playing back a recording.

I don't have Comcast, but I have a Moto 6412 and my small cable company (CMA Access) just downloaded the firmware upgrade that enabled the dual tuner capabilities of the 6412. The menu style and text were all upgraded at that time. Everything else behaves much the same as before and all of the setting were saved.

I would appreciate any suggestions.
Thank you,
Clyde
Have you tried unplugging the unit and then plugging it back in? This will probably cause a guide reload, but it might be the next thing to try.

Has anyone else come across information reported in this recent Reuters news story posted at CNet. Obviously, deployment of this technology could affect the Motorola 6412 and other DVRs used by Comcast:

Comcast, Time Warner back Cablevision DVR plan
March 30, 2006, 4:04 PM PST
Comcast and Time Warner Cable on Thursday threw their support behind fellow cable operator Cablevision's plan to offer a digital video recording service that can replace DVR boxes.

The proposed new service will allow cable TV subscribers to record programs on Cablevision Systems' network servers, doing away with the need for digital video recorder boxes made by companies like TiVo and Cisco Systems' Scientific-Atlanta.

Any thoughts on what it portends? I believe this may be similar to an approach that some believe Apple eventually could take if it launches an Internet-based video store using iTunes technology...Entire story here.

http://news.com.com/Comcast%2C+Time+Warner+back+Cablevision+DVR+plan/2100-1033_3-6056149.html?tag=st.ref.goo

I haven't heard about this before, but it always seemed to be the logical next step, even in the early Tivo and ReplayTV days. What may be worrisome is how much control will we have on what we can record, how much we can record and at what quality, how long we can store it, and the playback capabilities (fast forwarding or skipping through commercials). So, I guess I'm concerned about everything. With a DVR, we have (or at least we think we have) control over what we record.

I sure wouldn't pay for it as a network-side service, even if a DVR was no longer an option. Not to mention it would probably take up so much bandwidth you could say goodbye to HD....

Yeah. If it didn't do HD, we'd be back in the mode of buying our own DVRs that would.

Does anyone have any experiences (good or bad) with running a Comcast cable through a Monster Cable surge suppressor? Does this affect the signal in any way? Thanks.

Back in 2002 I tried running my antenna and cable feeds through a Monster HTS2000 to my new SONY HDTV. Both signals seemed a little degraded vs. direct device connection, although it was close. Anyway I ended up using the Monster for power cords only.

Back in 2002 I tried running my antenna and cable feeds through a Monster HTS2000 to my new SONY HDTV. Both signals seemed a little degraded vs. direct device connection, although it was close. Anyway I ended up using the Monster for power cords only.

Same experience here, when I tried this with a HTS3600.

Newer STB's most likely have surge protectors built in, and even if they don't, you are renting from the cable company so you are only out the recordings that were on that particular box if it fries. They will have to come out and give you a brand new one.

Newer STB's most likely have surge protectors built into their power supplies, and even if they don't, you are renting from the cable company so you are only out the recordings that were on that particular box if it fries. They will have to come out and give you a brand new one.

True, but most here have other equipment besides the STB - oftentimes it's easier and neater to plug everything into one place.

True, but most here have other equipment besides the STB - oftentimes it's easier and neater to plug everything into one place.
I was just referring to the coaxial cable connection, as he was asking about "running a Comcast cable through a Monster Cable surge suppressor."

Thanks Cucuy.. I actually read that thread, which prompted me to ask my question. I was hoping for a Panasonic-specific experience from someone. That thread suggests finding "the combination of the two scalers which provides the best PQ for the program you are watching at that time," but that just seems like a bit of a pain to switch the mode in the DVR for different programs.

Anyone with any Panasonic-specific experience on which setting works better in general?

I have a Panasonic TH-42PHD7UY plasma, which is 720p. Overall, I find that the difference between setting the 6412 to 720p vs. 1080i is fairly subtle for 1080i programming, as scalers in both the 6412 and the TV seem to produce about the same level of quality.

I leave my 6412 set to 720p, on the theory that:
- programming that is 720p doesn't get scaled up to 1080i in the 6412 then back down to 720p in the TV
- programming that is in 1080i is going to gets scaled down once whichever setting I use

A different approach would be to set your 6412 for the type of HD channels you watch most often, those broadcast in 720p (ABC, Fox, ESPN/ESPN2, and the National Geographic Channel) or those in 1080i (everything else).

Newer STB's most likely have surge protectors built in, and even if they don't, you are renting from the cable company so you are only out the recordings that were on that particular box if it fries. They will have to come out and give you a brand new one.
Even though the coaxial cable might only be connected directly to the STB, the other equipment is electrically grounded to the STB through the audio and video cables. In other words, a big power spike on the cable coax could still damage other equipment connected to the STB.

.....

Why do you not have it connected with HDMI already??? If you are only using composite or S-Video you aren't getting true HD:confused: Let me guess, those smart comcast installers strike again:rolleyes:



I'm a few pages behind so forgive me if somebody else has already jumped on this one. Personally I am using component even though I could use HDMI. WHY? Because of the damned HDMI / dolby digital audio bug. I know that this has been written about elsewhere in these pages. When the 6412-III is connected to the tv with HDMI, and audio connected to the receiver via optical, any DD program drops to regular stereo (i.e. pro-logic) mode whenever I use any DVR functions (pause, rewind, etc.). This issue does not occur if I am connected via component. I have firmware 12.18 and I understand that this has been fixed in 12.21 and above. Problem is that I can't get any information regarding when my firmware will be upgraded from the head end. Comcast telephone support is worse than worthless. Honestly they know less than my cat does about the most basic technical issues. Throw the word "firmware" at them and they become slack-jawed and glassey-eyed, managing (after some hesitation) only to offer to reset your box. Thanks but no thanks!

OK. Rant over.

I have a Panasonic TH-42PHD7UY plasma, which is 720p. Overall, I find that the difference between setting the 6412 to 720p vs. 1080i is fairly subtle for 1080i programming, as scalers in both the 6412 and the TV seem to produce about the same level of quality.

I leave my 6412 set to 720p, on the theory that:
- programming that is 720p doesn't get scaled up to 1080i in the 6412 then back down to 720p in the TV
- programming that is in 1080i is going to gets scaled down once whichever setting I use

A different approach would be to set your 6412 for the type of HD channels you watch most often, those broadcast in 720p (ABC, Fox, ESPN/ESPN2, and the National Geographic Channel) or those in 1080i (everything else).

Ah, this makes sense. Too bad we can't just tell the DVR not to do anything and let the Panasonic do the work. You know the scalers in the Panasonic just have to be better than whatever Motorola put in the DVR.

Have you found that setting the 4:3 override to 480i or 480p looks better?

Thanks!

-=Brazil=-

Does anyone have any experiences (good or bad) with running a Comcast cable through a Monster Cable surge suppressor? Does this affect the signal in any way? Thanks.

I have this --
http://www.monstercable.com/images_db/power/HT800_alt1_tn.jpg

At the wall I have a splitter with one line directly to the stb and the other line to the Monster and then to the Sony HDTV. I followed the logic that another poster commented on about not caring about the 6412 getting fried...it ain't mine, but that $1300 TV is.

I find that the SD channels are a little cleaner when watching through the TV connection than the stb. HD local channels seem to be about the same.

In sum, not much difference between the direct connection to the stb versus the connection through the Monster bar to the TV.

I'm a few pages behind so forgive me if somebody else has already jumped on this one. Personally I am using component even though I could use HDMI. WHY? Because of the damned HDMI / dolby digital audio bug...I know that this has been written about elsewhere in these pages. When the 6412-III is connected to the tv with HDMI, and audio connected to the receiver via optical, any DD program drops to regular stereo (i.e. pro-logic) mode whenever I use any DVR functions (pause, rewind, etc.)...

This may well be a DCT-6412 HDMI/Optical audio bug, but for now, it can be resolved during setup and configuration. See my post on this page...

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=464986&page=255&pp=30

This may well be a DCT-6412 HDMI/Optical audio bug, but for now, it can be resolved during setup and configuration. See my post on this page...

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=464986&page=255&pp=30

Thanks for this. The post that you linked describes my issue EXACTLY. However, the suggested workaround did not work. I set audio to stereo and the exact same problems occurred when watching through hdmi. I even tried both stereo modes -- the one in the regular audio setup menu and the one that appears when you select the advanced audio setup menu. No difference.

I did notice one thing however. Even though my audio is going through my receiver, broadcasts with pro-logic soundtracks sounded much fuller and richer when the audio setup was set to "TV Speakers" than when it was set to Stereo or any of the advanced settings. For DD5.1 soundtracks (with the video input via component) it didn't make a difference what selection I made in the audio setup menu. They all sounded the same.

I'm just going to have to live with component as long as I'm stuck with firmware 12.18. The audio bug makes HDMI more or less un-usable. HEY CHICAGO AREA COMCAST USERS: Any idea whether upgrades to 12.21 are going on and in what neighborhoods?

I am pretty new to Comcast DVR universe- had DirecTV with TiVo (greatest thing ever) for a few years, but that has been put on hiatus. The Comcast DVR is a worthy replacement, but old habits are hard to break.

I've found a couple useful hacks and fixes for the 6412 remote (30sec skip, macro and unlock/lock volume).

However, I haven't found a fix for this: When I press "TV" then "Play" the "AUX" button lights and the video doesn't play (because I'm trying to play the cable video. How do/can I set the "Play" button to always play the cable box video?

I did find a workaround (the arrow keys), but is it possible to lock the play button to cable?

Thanks in advance for the help.

b

A couple of questions regarding the new firmware 12.31 here in SF. I apologize if these have been explained somewhere before. I downloaded the entire thread and did some searching in MS Word, but the file is so large it crashes my setup after a couple of searches.

First, a small annoyance. I have the 6412 III connected via an optical digital connection, and the "analog channels" (2-82, I don't think that Marin is digital simulcast at this point) are always 8 - 10 db louder than the digital channels. On either digital or analog, the STB is outputting what my receiver identifies as a Dolby Digital signal. Is there any way to "turn down" the gain on the analog channels?

Second, I am one of a few who are powerfully annoyed about the refusal of Motorola to produce a STB that will handle HDMI repeaters, such as my Denon 4806 switching receiver. When I was playing around with a direct connection to my screen, I noticed that the 6412 read the HDMI connection and (I think part of the new 12.31 firmware) has a couple of HDMI options in the setup screen (the one you access through power-off and menu). One of them allows you to set the HDMI to either HDMI or DVI mode. Can't seem to make this do anything useful, but what is this exactly?

On the same problem as just discussed, would I be able to beat the repeater problem by switching to the older model (Series II?) that has the DVI output. My Denon has one DVI input, currently occupied by my Oppo DVD player, but I could obviously get a converter cable if using the DVI box would solve my switching problems.

HEY CHICAGO AREA COMCAST USERS: Any idea whether upgrades to 12.21 are going on and in what neighborhoods?


No idea, waiting patiently.

I'm going crazy. I just switched out a broken 6412 III for a new 6412 III. Hooked it up yesterday afternoon and powered it up. Started downloading. Great. Two hours later still not ready to go so I call and they reset the box. Went to bed. This morning it's still screwed up. I can get a picture but it will start flashing weird codes on the box display. Sometimes I can't change channels and it is just not working right. WTF??? This is really annoying. They are supposed to be sending someone out on Friday to look at it. Any things I should try before then (I did the reset this morning and didn't help).

I'm going crazy. I just switched out a broken 6412 III for a new 6412 III. Hooked it up yesterday afternoon and powered it up. Started downloading. Great. Two hours later still not ready to go so I call and they reset the box. Went to bed. This morning it's still screwed up. I can get a picture but it will start flashing weird codes on the box display. Sometimes I can't change channels and it is just not working right. WTF??? This is really annoying. They are supposed to be sending someone out on Friday to look at it. Any things I should try before then (I did the reset this morning and didn't help).

Try these:
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Resets

Good luck!

Have you found that setting the 4:3 override to 480i or 480p looks better?

Only use 480i if your TV cannot accept 480p through its high def inputs.

First, a small annoyance. I have the 6412 III connected via an optical digital connection, and the "analog channels" (2-82, I don't think that Marin is digital simulcast at this point) are always 8 - 10 db louder than the digital channels. On either digital or analog, the STB is outputting what my receiver identifies as a Dolby Digital signal. Is there any way to "turn down" the gain on the analog channels?
I have the same problem as you, and I find it really annoying. Unfortunately, the only way to turn down the gain on the analog channels is to use analog audio output (RCA cables). In that situation, see the Setup menu -> Audio Setup -> Advanced for audio compression settings. However, these settings do not affect optical digital audio output. So for now, I think we're stuck with it.

Only use 480i if your TV cannot accept 480p through its high def inputs.


On a Pioneer PDP4304 plasma, the 4:3 Overide setting looks better in the "Off" setting!

I'm going crazy. I just switched out a broken 6412 III for a new 6412 III. Hooked it up yesterday afternoon and powered it up. Started downloading. Great. Two hours later still not ready to go so I call and they reset the box. Went to bed. This morning it's still screwed up. I can get a picture but it will start flashing weird codes on the box display. Sometimes I can't change channels and it is just not working right. WTF??? This is really annoying. They are supposed to be sending someone out on Friday to look at it. Any things I should try before then (I did the reset this morning and didn't help).
You can also check http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Boot_Error_Codes, but most error codes require contacting your cable operator or swapping out the box, so it doesn't do much beyond help you understand the "why" of your situation.

Only use 480i if your TV cannot accept 480p through its high def inputs.

Not necessarily true! Both my HDTVs accept 480p, but I use 480i. The 6412 does not deinterlace nearly as well as my TVs do and I get a better picture by letting the TVs do the work.

Are the digital channels broadcast in 480p or 480i? Not the HD ones (obviously) but the higher-numbered ones....

-John

Are the digital channels broadcast in 480p or 480i? Not the HD ones (obviously) but the higher-numbered ones....
All SD channels are encoded for 480i. The only 480p HD (actually ED) was Fox until a year or so ago.

Thanks for this. The post that you linked describes my issue EXACTLY. However, the suggested workaround did not work. I set audio to stereo and the exact same problems occurred when watching through hdmi. I even tried both stereo modes -- the one in the regular audio setup menu and the one that appears when you select the advanced audio setup menu. No difference.

I did notice one thing however. Even though my audio is going through my receiver, broadcasts with pro-logic soundtracks sounded much fuller and richer when the audio setup was set to "TV Speakers" than when it was set to Stereo or any of the advanced settings. For DD5.1 soundtracks (with the video input via component) it didn't make a difference what selection I made in the audio setup menu. They all sounded the same.

I'm just going to have to live with component as long as I'm stuck with firmware 12.18. The audio bug makes HDMI more or less un-usable. HEY CHICAGO AREA COMCAST USERS: Any idea whether upgrades to 12.21 are going on and in what neighborhoods?

Sorry it didn't work for you -- it did for me, and our 6412 Phase III firmware also is 12.18. I wonder what other configuration differences we might have?

Along with the HDMI audio/video connection to your TV, I assume you also have an optical audio connection to the AV Receiver, and have it set to Digital and that you are using an Auto sensing or a (Dolby) Digital setting (on the receiver)...Also, check the optical SPDIG connections. When I tested this, I even disconnected and reconnected the optical cables, and then switched them around on the back of the receiver (which has two optical ports). You probably know this, but once you connect an optical cable to a receiver, you have to step through the receiver's setup menu and tell it what device input to use with the connection...

Does anyone have any experiences (good or bad) with running a Comcast cable through a Monster Cable surge suppressor? Does this affect the signal in any way? Thanks.

Yes. I have a Monster power center (about four years old, blue, cost about 100 bucks). I tried running the Comcast cable from the wall outlet through the power center and into the 6412. Results were not good. The HDMI audio bug that occurs with firmware 12.18 turned into an outright inability of the 6412 to output Dolby Digital under any circumstances, when connected to the TV via HDMI (audio connected via optical to receiver). Usually the bug only occurs when using a DVR function (pause, skip back, etc) but with the cable running through the surge protector I couldn't get DD at all. HOWEVER, as with the HDMI audio bug this problem does not occur if you are connecting to your video display with component. The strange thing is this: even when the video was connected via component and the DD signal was passing to the receiver, the Dolby icon that normally appears when you hit the "info" button was missing. I've noticed that for some reason the icon only shows up on one of the two tuners anyway, but when the cable was running through the Monster surge protector the symbol was absent on both tuners.

Go figure.

I was so annoyed with these audio glitches that I never got around to figuring out whether there was a difference in the video quality routing through the surge protector vs. straight from the wall. I just decided to bypass the surge protector altogether and hope for the best.

I have a question about iGuide:

From what I've seen in the promotional screenshots, its much nicer than the "yellow/blue 4:3" guide, which has at most 8 characters for a 30min show, but it seems the "new guide" that Comcast was touting (a year ago) was smoke. I'd love it if it took up the entire 16:9 screen area. Also, it would be nice to set up season recording for new shows. :(

Is this the fabled iGuide, and thats what it looks like, or do I have the old guide?

The screenshots I've seen both on Comcasts site and the iGuide site are *totally* different from what my box has. I think its a 6412 II.

Regarding the network stored alternative to DVR STB. Think about it a second. The content is digital, that means the content provider can keep the "master" on a server that is addressable to all subscribers. Think of it as a big video server in the sky.

IP multicast and a variety of other technologies already exist to deliver the video to the STB/TV.

If they are really smart about it the can offer options; one option, no commercials for a fee, targeted commercials for free. And hopefully no option for generalized commercials like we have today.

The bandwidth requirements would actually deminish.

With IPTV only the channel one is watching uses any bandwidth. Today, even digital Cable is a channelized service with bandwith allocated for every channel offered.

With packet based delivery --IPTV-- there is no bandwidth allocation on a per channel basis.

Naturally, the conversion requires all new headend gear and new STBs. Or new headend gear and let us use our computers for the STB.

David

Ok I just swapped out my phase II box with a phase III box. I'm still using component, but I'm noticing audio drop outs(they are brief like 3-5 secs) on some of my recordings. Is this an issue with phase III boxes or is this just an issue with my box?

Ok I just swapped out my phase II box with a phase III box. I'm still using component, but I'm noticing audio drop outs(they are brief like 3-5 secs) on some of my recordings. Is this an issue with phase III boxes or is this just an issue with my box?

I've been experiencing these 3-5 sec audio dropouts in both recordings AND live TV, recently and I have a phase I box, that has exhibited very few issues over the last 2-3 years! This has only started happening in the last week so I don't think it's your particular box. I think the service is going through a bad patch! :(

Regarding the network stored alternative to DVR STB. Think about it a second. The content is digital, that means the content provider can keep the "master" on a server that is addressable to all subscribers. Think of it as a big video server in the sky.
While this method would be technically ideal for the cable operators, it is exactly what they cannot do because of copyrights held by the content networks (which would require negotiating rights and/or payments for every single program they would want people to be able to record). The cable companies implementing network stored DVRs are all avoiding the copyright issue by using a "silo" approach where each household has an exclusive area of storage space on the server not shared by any other households, even though the servers might be storing a million copies of American Idol. That way, the system functions the same as if the disk drives were in the individual homes, which is allowable as "fair use" under copyright laws.

It's stupid, but that's the way it's going to work.

Of course, on demand systems operated directly by the networks (internet delivery without a cable operator) would work under totally different rules.

I have one of my 6412/p2's hooked up to a Sony 27" CRT Trinitron and when I go to the HD channels, my iGuide and all other info displays (including volume) do not show up on the channel. All non-HD channels work fine with the misc. info displays. I know that the tv is not HDready but the images are so much better on those channels.

I would like to know if these HD channels will hurt the tv since it's not HDready and if there is something wrong with the box since it won't display any info other than the broadcast on the HD channels.

I have one of my 6412/p2's hooked up to a Sony 27" CRT Trinitron and when I go to the HD channels, my iGuide and all other info displays (including volume) do not show up on the channel. All non-HD channels work fine with the misc. info displays. I know that the tv is not HDready but the images are so much better on those channels.

I would like to know if these HD channels will hurt the tv since it's not HDready and if there is something wrong with the box since it won't display any info other than the broadcast on the HD channels.

I had mine setup this way before I got an HDTV.. you will want to go into the 6412 setup menu and set it to output 480i (which is the max resolution for your TV) you will then see all the guide info... I also set mine to 4:3 to fill the screen, although I did like the 16:9 view also... just got more viewable with the 4:3 mode.

JayMan

I had a 6412pII set up to output to a 27" standard TV over the S-Video output. I could see the I-guide and other displays.

On page 14 of the Owners Manual, it states:

On-screen graphics are not available on all DCT* YPbPr output setting
and video output combinations:
• On-screen graphics are always available if your DCT* is connected
through the HD outputs (DVI or YPbPr)
• Standard definition connections (S-Video or composite Video) will
only display on-screen graphics if the YPbPr Output is set to 480i
• On-screen graphics will not be displayed when you are using the
IEEE 1394 connection on the rear panel of the DCT*
The YPbPr Output setting can be configured from the on-screen menu.


Have you set your STB accordingly?

I had a 6412pII set up to output to a 27" standard TV over the S-Video output. I could see the I-guide and other displays.

On page 14 of the Owners Manual, it states:

On-screen graphics are not available on all DCT* YPbPr output setting
and video output combinations:
• On-screen graphics are always available if your DCT* is connected
through the HD outputs (DVI or YPbPr)
• Standard definition connections (S-Video or composite Video) will
only display on-screen graphics if the YPbPr Output is set to 480i
• On-screen graphics will not be displayed when you are using the
IEEE 1394 connection on the rear panel of the DCT*
The YPbPr Output setting can be configured from the on-screen menu.


Have you set your STB accordingly?

Well I guess the Comcast monkey that set it up, set it up wrong. Who woulda thunk it! I got three boxes that day and I was too busy in my HT room playing with HD on my new PJ when he did the others. Oh well, now I know.

THANKS GUYS!!!

Funny thing is that we get quicker responses to our problems here than waiting on phone with comcast.

I've been experiencing these 3-5 sec audio dropouts in both recordings AND live TV, recently and I have a phase I box, that has exhibited very few issues over the last 2-3 years! This has only started happening in the last week so I don't think it's your particular box. I think the service is going through a bad patch! :(
I've had a phase3 box for about a month and frequently experience these dropouts (2 or 3 times/hour), for both sd and hd as well as for recorded or live. Of course customer support says that I should not be experiencing them and want to schedule a service call , but really...what could a service person do about it ?

I've had a phase3 box for about a month and frequently experience these dropouts (2 or 3 times/hour), for both sd and hd as well as for recorded or live. Of course customer support says that I should not be experiencing them and want to schedule a service call , but really...what could a service person do about it ?I get the same thing. Only started recently. Annoying, but I don't even bother calling Comcast for things like this. Dealing with the CSRs is more frustrating than putting up with the dropouts.

I'm a Comcast customer in Baltimore

I have a motorola DVR phase III STB and use component cables to the TV. The analog channels 02-99 have a much improved picture quality over previous versions. My problem seems to be one of video frame rate or video signal dropoff. The audio is smooth with no noticable drop offs or skips and no problems with 5.1 audio.

The video has 2 issues:

1) Video freezes for 1/2 - 1 sec then jumps to real time and happens every few seconds, this seems to occur on channels 2-99 on a spotty basis. It can appear as you change to a new channel for a few minutes then stops occuring and the picture returns to normal transmission. The video drop outs seem as if a buffer isn't full enough to keep a constant smooth video, and audio always remains constant and smooth.

2) High Definition channels have a problem but less frequently. These stations have what seems to be a slow frame rate as in a video game on a slow computer. The video appears jerky, like the MaxHeadroom character, if you remember that show. This stuttering video can occur for an entire show and is an eery unwanted effect.

Generally the STB works very good without incident.

Anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks

I'm a Comcast customer in Baltimore

I have a motorola DVR phase III STB and use component cables to the TV. The analog channels 02-99 have a much improved picture quality over previous versions. My problem seems to be one of video frame rate or video signal dropoff. The audio is smooth with no noticable drop offs or skips and no problems with 5.1 audio.

The video has 2 issues:

1) Video freezes for 1/2 - 1 sec then jumps to real time and happens every few seconds, this seems to occur on channels 2-99 on a spotty basis. It can appear as you change to a new channel for a few minutes then stops occuring and the picture returns to normal transmission. The video drop outs seem as if a buffer isn't full enough to keep a constant smooth video, and audio always remains constant and smooth.

2) High Definition channels have a problem but less frequently. These stations have what seems to be a slow frame rate as in a video game on a slow computer. The video appears jerky, like the MaxHeadroom character, if you remember that show. This stuttering video can occur for an entire show and is an eery unwanted effect.

Generally the STB works very good without incident.

Anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks


I'm getting this same stuttering video issue, I'm getting this in both HD/SD, I did a HDD/DVR Reset to, but still jerking me around. My SNR is "Fair" is this causing this issue or is it hardware/sw related?!?!?! This is really pissing me off. FiOS where the hell are you!??!?! The next city over offers FiOS it's time to move to that neighborhood. I, as well, am utilizing a Ph. III 6412 over component cables.

Sorry it didn't work for you -- it did for me, and our 6412 Phase III firmware also is 12.18. I wonder what other configuration differences we might have?

Along with the HDMI audio/video connection to your TV, I assume you also have an optical audio connection to the AV Receiver, and have it set to Digital and that you are using an Auto sensing or a (Dolby) Digital setting (on the receiver)...Also, check the optical SPDIG connections. When I tested this, I even disconnected and reconnected the optical cables, and then switched them around on the back of the receiver (which has two optical ports). You probably know this, but once you connect an optical cable to a receiver, you have to step through the receiver's setup menu and tell it what device input to use with the connection...

I had never had the digital audio bug associated with the DVR until I messed with the audio settings (set to Matrix, etc.). Once I messed with that, I had the issue. I set it back, and it was still there. Even though I typically leave the box on, I turned it off and back on, and the problem went away. Has been fine since. Firmware is 12.13, I think.

ScanPA or anyone else, please help,
The weirdest thing started happening with both of the Motorola 6412s we have in the house today. Around mid-morning, the video started stuttering on both boxes. All digital channels (SD and HD channels) have this weird stuttering affect (someone described something similar in earlier post as the stuttering you see with a computer game when the video card can't keep up with the rendering sent to it - that's an apt description of what I'm seeing). Along with this stuttering, whenever I try to change a channel, I get the following error pop-up: "Unable to Process Request. A service problem has been detected, Code: HW". I called Comcast; they told me that the hard drive is going bad, and they need to send a tech to the house. It just doesn't make sense to me that the hard drive would go bad in both units at the exact same time. I tried a resetting the unit by unplugging it for 30 seconds and plugging it back in; that didn't help. Any suggestions would be most welcome, or is it really likely that the hard drive has gone bad in both units at the same time.

By the way, both units are Phase III with 12.18 firmware. The unit hooked up to the HDTV is also plugged into a Monster Power line conditioner, which is in turn plugged into a UPS with AVR.

By the way, my AGC and SNR are listed as good on both boxes. I'm performing the STB Authorization and Factory Full Reset on one of the boxes now to see if that fixes it. I still can't believe that I've had the hard drive on two boxes go bad at the same time like that.

By the way, my AGC and SNR are listed as good on both boxes. I'm performing the STB Authorization and Factory Full Reset on one of the boxes now to see if that fixes it. I still can't believe that I've had the hard drive on two boxes go bad at the same time like that.

Do the Hard Drive reset before you do the Factory reset & Authorization.

This will tell you if there is a HDD problem.

The full reset will re install all software and Firmware....

ScanPA or anyone else, please help,
The weirdest thing started happening with both of the Motorola 6412s we have in the house today. Around mid-morning, the video started stuttering on both boxes. All digital channels (SD and HD channels) have this weird stuttering affect (someone described something similar in earlier post as the stuttering you see with a computer game when the video card can't keep up with the rendering sent to it - that's an apt description of what I'm seeing). Along with this stuttering, whenever I try to change a channel, I get the following error pop-up: "Unable to Process Request. A service problem has been detected, Code: HW". I called Comcast; they told me that the hard drive is going bad, and they need to send a tech to the house. It just doesn't make sense to me that the hard drive would go bad in both units at the exact same time. I tried a resetting the unit by unplugging it for 30 seconds and plugging it back in; that didn't help. Any suggestions would be most welcome, or is it really likely that the hard drive has gone bad in both units at the same time.

By the way, both units are Phase III with 12.18 firmware. The unit hooked up to the HDTV is also plugged into a Monster Power line conditioner, which is in turn plugged into a UPS with AVR.
The chances of both hard drives failing simultaneously are EXTREMELY remote. Ever been struck by lightning? If not, the HDD's may not be your problem. That is unless some type of spiked signal or power surge or ANYTHING of that nature could have fried both drives at the same time, because that's a whole different story.

My opinion is your cable company is clueless, so i wouldn't listen to them, AT LEAST until they send a tech to come out and check in person, and even then i would be dubious of his diagnosis- they are NEVER right........

I have also noticed increased flakiness and slowness and it is 50% empty. But I can't complain since i am only renting it :)

The factory reset didn't help. ScanPa, if I do the HDD reset, won't that format the HDD? If I lose all of my wife's Oprah's she's going to kill me. She's already po'ed that I switched from DTV to Comcast and she had to give up her beloved Tivo for the "POS Motorola". If I lose the Oprah's, House Hunters, etc., I'm going to be in real hot water. I may try the HDD reset on my unit to see if it works, and then give her the choice on hers.

Twitchee3, yeah, I agree that the odds are long for two HDDs failing like that. It wouldn't have been a lightening strike or an electrical surge. If that was the case, the fuse in the UPS or the Monster Power Center would have blown. It's something flaky with the boxes pure and simple.

So far this switch to Comcast hasn't been very "Comcastic". The cavalier attitude by the "tech person" on the phone didn't help. I'm starting to catch flak from the wife about how much more reliable DTV was amd how much she misses her Tivo (and I agree, my DTV HD Tivo didn't require 258 pages of troubleshooting; it just worked), and now I'm starting to regret this decision.

The only time I've seen anything like the "Max Headroom" effect would be when going from an HD channel to an SD channel. It doesn't seem to be doing that much lately, but I know it used to do that all the time on my pIII. The solution, at least in my case, was just to change the channel to another SD channel and back.

This problem never seemed to affect any recordings, even if the effect was going on when watching a show. If I was also recording the show, the recording was fine.

I get the "Max Headroom" effect from time to time. If the channel change doesn't fix it I depower the box for a minute and then power it up again and the problem is fixed.

The factory reset didn't help. ScanPa, if I do the HDD reset, won't that format the HDD? If I lose all of my wife's Oprah's she's going to kill me. She's already po'ed that I switched from DTV to Comcast and she had to give up her beloved Tivo for the "POS Motorola". If I lose the Oprah's, House Hunters, etc., I'm going to be in real hot water. I may try the HDD reset on my unit to see if it works, and then give her the choice on hers.

Twitchee3, yeah, I agree that the odds are long for two HDDs failing like that. It wouldn't have been a lightening strike or an electrical surge. If that was the case, the fuse in the UPS or the Monster Power Center would have blown. It's something flaky with the boxes pure and simple.

So far this switch to Comcast hasn't been very "Comcastic". The cavalier attitude by the "tech person" on the phone didn't help. I'm starting to catch flak from the wife about how much more reliable DTV was amd how much she misses her Tivo (and I agree, my DTV HD Tivo didn't require 258 pages of troubleshooting; it just worked), and now I'm starting to regret this decision.

HW error is a hardware error. But it is highly unlikely both would go at the same time. Have Comcast swap out the STB with another set. You will lose the shows on the HD either way. sorry.

I just ran into what I think are signal strength errors after a fairly long stretch with no problems (other than the known bug regarding HDMI repeaters (such as HDMI switching receivers such as the Denon 4806).

Here is the diagnostic info:

OOB:
SNR: 19.1 dB - Fair
AGC: 18% - Fair

Inband Tuner 1
SNR: 27.3 dB Poor
AGC: 77% - Fair
5 second error uncorrectable between 0 and 5
Correctable errors in the 40000 range

Inband Tuner 2
SNR: 32.6 dB Fair
AGC: 77% Fair
No correctable or uncorrectable errors.

Symptoms are breakups in the digital range of channels, and the HD channels I associate with the greatest bandwidth: HBO and Discovery.

As I said, this just cropped up. Not sure why one tuner would have all these errors while the other one was clear.

I have not changed the coax configuration at all. I disconnected a bunch of unconnected splits, but that didn't change the SNR one bit.

Bad tuner or drop in signal quality in my neighborhood. I'm on firmware 12.31 in the SF Bay Area, if that has any implication.

Picture on the cablecard connected TV in another room is perfect. (I know that the Cablecard has no internal splits the way the DVR does.)

Your OOB is out of range. My contact at Motorola told me that the OOB range is 24 minimum and 60 maximum when I was having problems. My tuners run in the range of 37 dB. You should check the coax run from where it enters the house all the way to the unit. You are looking for damaged coax or loose connectors. If any of the coax is exposed and there are any critters around (wanted or unwanted like mice) check for chew marks on the coax.

After the factory reset didn't help, I did the HDD reset and then redid the factory reset on one of the boxes (mine), and the error and the stuttering went away. Scanpa, do you think this fixed the problem for good, or do you think I should still have the tech come over on Tuesday and see about swapping the two boxes out?

After the factory reset didn't help, I did the HDD reset and then redid the factory reset on one of the boxes (mine), and the error and the stuttering went away. Scanpa, do you think this fixed the problem for good, or do you think I should still have the tech come over on Tuesday and see about swapping the two boxes out?

Thats up to you, These are problems seen on a lot of the STB. It seems to be a HDD problem.

if possible have the wife watch her shows ASAP so you can do the HD reset on her DVR....

Your OOB is out of range. My contact at Motorola told me that the OOB range is 24 minimum and 60 maximum when I was having problems. My tuners run in the range of 37 dB. You should check the coax run from where it enters the house all the way to the unit. You are looking for damaged coax or loose connectors. If any of the coax is exposed and there are any critters around (wanted or unwanted like mice) check for chew marks on the coax.
I am on cox in Omaha NE with a 6412 and the OOB is 17dB with no problems.

ajwees41

(posted this to other 6412 thread as well...)

Hi all.
New to the club as of last night.
Currently, not very happy. Issues galore unfortunately and I don't know if they are the unit or the broadcast... or both.

Recorded the Soprano's in HD. Towards the end, it pixelated in the lower third and came to a stop. Froze dead. No FF, no Rew... nothing would get it to play. Fortunately I had also recorded the SD version and it played just fine.

Recorded Elizabeth I in HD. about 2/3 of the way, it was jittery, the sound and picture dropped several times. Several skips... ugh.

Recorded Big Love in both HD and SD. Have not watched them yet. I'll let you know. Anyhow...

Anyone get these kind of errors? When I had D*TiVo, these things would happen, but not very often. The installers said I had a 'near perfect' signal, and judging by the image and general play, I would think so. Even the Analog channels look pretty good (imagine that!).

Being a nOOb here, I also have several questions... like:
With TiVo, you can skip ahead by in 15 min. intervals. Any way to do that with this unit? Any to skip to the end of the recording?

Thanks in advance.

shane

Being a nOOb here, I also have several questions... like:
With TiVo, you can skip ahead by in 15 min. intervals. Any way to do that with this unit? Any to skip to the end of the recording?

Thanks in advance.

shane

Sorry to hear you are having problems. Welcome to the world of the Moto 6412. As far as your questions you can't skip 15 minute intervals nor you can't skip to the end of a recording.

Sorry to hear you are having problems. Welcome to the world of the Moto 6412. As far as your questions you can't skip 15 minute intervals nor you can't skip to the end of a recording.


Oh well...

Thanks for the info.

shane

Does anyone know if you can run passthrough with these boxes???

Does anyone know if you can run passthrough with these boxes???

If your asking if native signal pass through, it is not an option in the DCT-64xx or 34xx or the 6208 series STB.

If I remember the DCT-51xx series of STB was the last to have this.

I have had intermittent but frequent and annoying problems with slow command processing. Most of you know exactly what I am talking about. I just want to add to other reports that placing a Laptop Cooler 3 flipped over and ontop of the 6412 immediately dropped the temperature of the unit from rather warm to quite cool, and the problem seems to have almost completely disappeared. I had a couple of very brief delays, but nothing like the caching of issued commands, with 15-20 second delays between each execution, and then a flood of commands when the blcking stopped. The worst since the cooler was added has been a couple of commands for about 10 seconds twice over 4 or 5 days of use.

I have very low cabinet shelf clearance above the 6412, which I'm sure has contributed to the problem. Laptop cooler 3 is very slim, exhausts out the rear, is silent and sells many places for under $25. It is powered by the 6412s USB port and runs all the time but draws less than 180mA. There are other more powerful units, like the 4 fan Evercool, that pump more CFM but also draw twice as much current. Judging how cool the 6412 feels now, that would be overkill.

I still want TiVo, but the reduction in command execution problems has made the 6412 livable again.

I have had intermittent but frequent and annoying problems with slow command processing. Most of you know exactly what I am talking about. I just want to add to other reports that placing a Laptop Cooler 3 flipped over and ontop of the 6412 immediately dropped the temperature of the unit from rather warm to quite cool, and the problem seems to have almost completely disappeared. I had a couple of very brief delays, but nothing like the caching of issued commands, with 15-20 second delays between each execution, and then a flood of commands when the blcking stopped. The worst since the cooler was added has been a couple of commands for about 10 seconds twice over 4 or 5 days of use.

I have very low cabinet shelf clearance above the 6412, which I'm sure has contributed to the problem. Laptop cooler 3 is very slim, exhausts out the rear, is silent and sells many places for under $25. It is powered by the 6412s USB port and runs all the time but draws less than 180mA. There are other more powerful units, like the 4 fan Evercool, that pump more CFM but also draw twice as much current. Judging how cool the 6412 feels now, that would be overkill.

I still want TiVo, but the reduction in command execution problems has made the 6412 livable again.


Ah, TiVo... it's a dream compared to what I've been dealing with. :(

Customer Service had to 'reset' my unit tonight (causing my guide to be vacant for HOURS!).

It was this dreaded and apparently common 'delay' syndrome: Hit a command and it takes a second (or 5) to activate. Hit a second command and it doesn't react. Hit something else, and again... nothing happens for what seems like minutes... then WHAM!

It rips through all the commands in immediate succession. Nice. This sucker got stuck on FF2. Then it went into some catatonic fit... ugh.

The rep rebooted it and 'sent it a signal' (yeah, right). It seemed to work fine for the rest of the evening. Even recorded HD content was fine. Great.

The rep told me that this is very, very common. I don't know if the signal she sent really 'fixed' it. Time will tell. She also told me that new units were to be issued... some time in the future, but couldn't give me a date.

As for cooling the unit. Mine wasn't on for more than 5 minutes when this happened. It was not hot, and there is a lot of air-space around it.

Who knows. I just got it yesterday to replace my D*TiVo. Not so sure I made the right choice.

Cheers

shane

Ps... I got married in Alamo :D

I just ran into what I think are signal strength errors after a fairly long stretch with no problems (other than the known bug regarding HDMI repeaters (such as HDMI switching receivers such as the Denon 4806).

Here is the diagnostic info:

OOB:
SNR: 19.1 dB - Fair
AGC: 18% - Fair

Inband Tuner 1
SNR: 27.3 dB Poor
AGC: 77% - Fair
5 second error uncorrectable between 0 and 5
Correctable errors in the 40000 range

Inband Tuner 2
SNR: 32.6 dB Fair
AGC: 77% Fair
No correctable or uncorrectable errors.

Symptoms are breakups in the digital range of channels, and the HD channels I associate with the greatest bandwidth: HBO and Discovery.

As I said, this just cropped up. Not sure why one tuner would have all these errors while the other one was clear.

I have not changed the coax configuration at all. I disconnected a bunch of unconnected splits, but that didn't change the SNR one bit.

Bad tuner or drop in signal quality in my neighborhood. I'm on firmware 12.31 in the SF Bay Area, if that has any implication.

Picture on the cablecard connected TV in another room is perfect. (I know that the Cablecard has no internal splits the way the DVR does.)

Each uncorrectable error is going to give you a glitch in the channel. With about 1/second they must be virtually unwatchable! Try putting the second tuner on the same channel as the first and then checking your stats again. But yeah, sure looks like a signal quality issue.

I have had intermittent but frequent and annoying problems with slow command processing. Most of you know exactly what I am talking about. I just want to add to other reports that placing a Laptop Cooler 3 flipped over and ontop of the 6412 immediately dropped the temperature of the unit from rather warm to quite cool, and the problem seems to have almost completely disappeared.


Bill Ball; can you provide a link or tell us where you got it? I've seen 3 from a Google search and they were 28.

Shane,

Have you checked your signal info using the diagnostic menus?

And have you double-checked and tightened all your coaxial connections?

And you might just have a bad box. Our first 6412 would not tune in channels 3 through 24 and it turned out to be a bad unit.

Good Luck!

Bob

(posted this to other 6412 thread as well...)

Hi all.
New to the club as of last night.
Currently, not very happy. Issues galore unfortunately and I don't know if they are the unit or the broadcast... or both.

Recorded the Soprano's in HD. Towards the end, it pixelated in the lower third and came to a stop. Froze dead. No FF, no Rew... nothing would get it to play. Fortunately I had also recorded the SD version and it played just fine.

Recorded Elizabeth I in HD. about 2/3 of the way, it was jittery, the sound and picture dropped several times. Several skips... ugh.

Recorded Big Love in both HD and SD. Have not watched them yet. I'll let you know. Anyhow...

Anyone get these kind of errors? When I had D*TiVo, these things would happen, but not very often. The installers said I had a 'near perfect' signal, and judging by the image and general play, I would think so. Even the Analog channels look pretty good (imagine that!).

Being a nOOb here, I also have several questions... like:
With TiVo, you can skip ahead by in 15 min. intervals. Any way to do that with this unit? Any to skip to the end of the recording?

Thanks in advance.

shane

Shane,

Have you checked your signal info using the diagnostic menus?

And have you double-checked and tightened all your coaxial connections?

And you might just have a bad box. Our first 6412 would not tune in channels 3 through 24 and it turned out to be a bad unit.

Good Luck!

Bob

Hey Bob...

Diagnostic menus... how do I get there?
They measured signal strength when they put it all in and said it was very good

Connections are good, I've checked. Yes, it just might be a bad unit, but from what I can tell, many have had similar (if not identical) problems... it seems endemic to these units.

Time will tell on this thing.

cheers

shane

Hey Bob...

Diagnostic menus... how do I get there?
They measured signal strength when they put it all in and said it was very good

Connections are good, I've checked. Yes, it just might be a bad unit, but from what I can tell, many have had similar (if not identical) problems... it seems endemic to these units.

Time will tell on this thing.

cheers

shane

Diagnostic Menu

To access the diagnostic menu, start with your STB on.

turn off the STB and press ok/select within 2 sec.

To exit the Diagnostic screen just hit the power button. or Select Exit.

Diagnostic Menu

To access the diagnostic menu, start with your STB on.

turn off the STB and press ok/select within 2 sec.

To exit the Diagnostic screen just hit the power button. or Select Exit.

Thanks... I'll try this when I get home.

shane

And to expand on scanpa's helpful instructions, here's a wiki link with some more details:

How To Check Your Incoming Signal Strength (http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Configuration#How_To_Check_Your_Incoming_Signal_Strength)

Our current 6412 is working beautifully so far. One oocasional annoyance is that the unit will sometimes be unresponsive to the remote commands. But that has been very infrequent.

I might also try the Laptop Cooler 3 that Bill Ball mentioned above.

Bob

Diagnostic Menu

To access the diagnostic menu, start with your STB on.

turn off the STB and press ok/select within 2 sec.

To exit the Diagnostic screen just hit the power button. or Select Exit.

Our current 6412 is working beautifully so far. One oocasional annoyance is that the unit will sometimes be unresponsive to the remote commands. But that has been very infrequent.

Bob

I don't believe this command queing problem is related to heat. But having your 6412 running cooler probably helps with other things. The remote command problems is so sporadic. The problem just goes away for a while (I don't recall any instance happening in the last month or so) then it just comes back tiwh a vengance

I don't believe this command queing problem is related to heat. But having your 6412 running cooler probably helps with other things. The remote command problems is so sporadic. The problem just goes away for a while (I don't recall any instance happening in the last month or so) then it just comes back tiwh a vengance

I agree... it doesn't seem heat related, at least not with my unit. It does seem sporatic, but it is obviously fairly common with these units, and firmware doesn't seem to address it... yet.

shane

Thanks for the feedback. I was thinking it would be nice if the command cueing was helped by a cooler unit. But it would be nice if an inexpensive cooler could extend the life of our current unit since it seems to be a "good one".

And here's a question I have about the 6412. I am new to the 6412 so this may have an easy answer. Is there a way to see a list of 'Scheduled Recordings" after pressing the "My DVR" button? It seems that I have to press the "Guide" button on the remote and then DVR button on the on-screen menu to access the scheduled recordings info.

Bob

I don't believe this command queing problem is related to heat. But having your 6412 running cooler probably helps with other things. The remote command problems is so sporadic. The problem just goes away for a while (I don't recall any instance happening in the last month or so) then it just comes back tiwh a vengance

I agree... it doesn't seem heat related, at least not with my unit. It does seem sporatic, but it is obviously fairly common with these units, and firmware doesn't seem to address it... yet.

shane

Agreed... except that it started with mine when I got the latest firmware 9.19 on a phase II box.

I am not a newbie to this group (I've been a lurker), but had dropped off the charts for a while. I am now buying a new television and trying to determine whether or not it makes sense to pay a premium to get Picture-in-Picture functionality. Does the Comcast 6412 permit PIP with its dual tuners (as I don't have it now, I've never checked)?

I know that I would use PIP if the Comcast box is capable....

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

No, I don't believe that PIP is activated. Sorry:(

I have had intermittent but frequent and annoying problems with slow command processing. Most of you know exactly what I am talking about. I just want to add to other reports that placing a Laptop Cooler 3 flipped over and ontop of the 6412 immediately dropped the temperature of the unit from rather warm to quite cool, and the problem seems to have almost completely disappeared. I had a couple of very brief delays, but nothing like the caching of issued commands, with 15-20 second delays between each execution, and then a flood of commands when the blcking stopped. The worst since the cooler was added has been a couple of commands for about 10 seconds twice over 4 or 5 days of use.



Bill Ball,

I'm not familiar with Laptop coolers, when flipped over, does it blow air into the unit (DVR), or pull air out of the DVR?

Also, where did you find the cooler?

Thanks,
JayMan.

DVR Hard Drive reset of the DCT-- 6208, 64xx & 34xx STB

NOTE *** This will delete all stored shows on the Hard Drive!
This will also delete all Guide Data & Any type of scheduled recording settings!

1. STB should be turned on
2. Press Cable, Power off, ok/Select, to bring up the Diagnostics Page
3. With diagnostics page showing press Replay (15-sec rewind), My DVR, My DVR, My DVR, Live.
4. Your STB should now show "Clr" in the LED display.
5. Press ok/Select to proceed with the reset (and presumably Exit to cancel).
6. The STB should now reformat the HD & then reboot and begin to download the Guide data from the Local headend...

My 6412 has been having playback issues of recorded material where it will momentarily pause a few times, get progressively worse until it eventually pauses to the point that it stops. Screen goes blank but is still in play mode. The only way to get out of the lockup is to hit stop, go back to regular channel viewing then re-enter the DVR through the menu system and restart the recorded program. At which point it will not start where it left off -- it always starts from the beginning and then I have to FFwd or 30sec skip to get back where I was. It will then play through the initial freezing point play a little while longer then begin the process again. Last night it took me nearly an hour and a half to get through a one hour show because of the freezes, lockups and restarts. I tried the procedure above to see if the hard drive just needed reformating.

It had no effect...the system still exhibits the same behavior. I did notice however once I initiated the procedure above, I was expecting the system to do like a PC reformat where the disk would actually overwrite all of the current data and do the equivalent of reloading the OS. This I expected to take a long time. I never did hear any real disk activity that sounded like a reformat or anything. Does this procedure [ACTUALLY] reformat the harddrive? Or is this just a reset of the system settings? I'm inclined to believe that no actual disk changes were made, no type of utility function or defragmentation. Is there some other type method that can be used on the 6412 to get a clean disk restart and install or some type of disk utility function that will clear the problem that I am having?

Or is it better just to take this unit back to Comcast and have them issue me another one? This unit has performed pretty well for about 2 years. I don't see why it would start just now to exhibit these type problems. Anyone else with similar experience? What was your solution? PM me if you don't want to post reply here

It had no effect...the system still exhibits the same behavior. I did notice however once I initiated the procedure above, I was expecting the system to do like a PC reformat where the disk would actually overwrite all of the current data and do the equivalent of reloading the OS. This I expected to take a long time. I never did hear any real disk activity that sounded like a reformat or anything. Does this procedure [ACTUALLY] reformat the harddrive? Or is this just a reset of the system settings? I'm inclined to believe that no actual disk changes were made, no type of utility function or defragmentation. Is there some other type method that can be used on the 6412 to get a clean disk restart and install or some type of disk utility function that will clear the problem that I am having?
I think the HDD reset is essentially a 'Fast Format'. It just wipes out the tables and directories and fills them with default information. I don't know if there is a true format/scandisk-style command. It may be something that can only be done remotely by the cable company, or through some special diagnostics tools.