Hi all,
I don't recall seeing this particular situation reported before...sorry if it has been. The other night when my 6412 was recording on both tuners, I happened to check 'My DVR'. I noticed that one of the currently recording programs was being displayed as a 'phantom' recording...showing the 12/31/1989 date, with no title or show information. I had never seen this happen with a currently recording program before. It completed recording and showed 59 minutes recorded. I never tried to watch it as I didn't want to tempt fate. I unplugged the unit for a minute before going to bed that night, and when I checked the next day, it was still there. I tried this again the next day, with the same results. I noticed last night that the recording was now showing 0 minutes for length. I decided to try the method that I have used successfully once or twice before to try and get rid of it...I started a recording, pulled the plug on the box, then plugged it back in and turned the unit back on. It worked! This morning, the phantom was gone and the program in question was restored. It showed a recording length of 59 minutes, but still didn't show any show description. I watched it this morning and deleted it.
Anyway, if all else fails in trying to rid your box of the phantom, you might try this method. I have had mixed results, and others have reported it did not work for them, at all. But if I remember correctly, it has worked for some others, too. I thought it was worth mentioning that it did work for me again, and that I was actually able to see it record the phantom this time around instead of having an existing recording replaced with the phantom. Obviously, YMMV....

-Randy

Well, what you did is known for creating the 12/31/89 phantom. I had accumulated three, each appearing when a recording was in progress, and there was a power outage. I finally reformatted the HDD, and got rid of them. But, your situation is a little different, in that you lost a recording. So, congratulations on out-smarting the 6412. I have lost recordings before, and if I do again, I'll try your method!

Well, what you did is known for creating the 12/31/89 phantom. I had accumulated three, each appearing when a recording was in progress, and there was a power outage. I finally reformatted the HDD, and got rid of them. But, your situation is a little different, in that you lost a recording. So, congratulations on out-smarting the 6412. I have lost recordings before, and if I do again, I'll try your method!

Well, the closest I came to outsmarting the box was reading someone else suggesting this a long time ago and remembering it! It is odd that something that is known to cause the issue can, upon occasion, clear it up. I have repeated this method on here before, but most people that tried it had no luck with it. I had pretty much given up on it, but when this one wouldn't go away I decided to give it another shot. It might have something to do with the way the file database entry was corrupted...who knows? I thought this situation was very strange as I know there were no power issues (even a really short one should be taken care of by the UPS), and there were two recordings going on with only one getting corrupted. Plus I'd never had a currently recording show do this. Oh well, just remember that it if you do resort to the method I used, it is possible that it won't work and as you point out, could end up causing another 'phantom'. FWIW, the recording I interrupted by pulling power ended up recording to the end with no issue, just having two fragments....

-Randy

Yes, a recording in two sections is the normal result of a power interuption, and has happened to me before. I don't know what variable is in play to make it go one way one time, and another at another time.

I thought I would mention that I have found another difference in the new 16.20 firmware. When fast forwarding through a recording, if you hit "exit," the time bar goes away. With the old firmware, it came back, quicker at higher FF speeds. With 16.20, when you hit "Exit," it stays gone, and you can see the whole screen during FF!

Well, what you did is known for creating the 12/31/89 phantom.

Really? Because in my experience that is not the case. All the ones I've got have been due to a bad signal on a digital channel so it can't lock in at the start of the show.

I'd tape a show once a week on a channel that didn't come in very good. If I just set a recording, it would ususally wind up as the 12/31/89 type, with most of the show there (albeit in bad quality with lots of breakups) but the beginning was missing.

But, if I set the tuner that was going to be recording to the channel manually the night before and let it lock in ahead of time, the 12/31/89 problem stopped occuring.

Now that channel comes in better, so I don't really have an issue with it, but that's how I got all of my 12/31/89's.



On to other things, has anyone found a fix for the broken corner picture in the menus yet? How widespread is this issue?

If you don't know what I mean, hit guide on your remote. If the little picture in the top right is the whole screen shrunk down, you don't have the problem. If you just see the corner of the normal screen that was there before you hit guide, you, like me, have the problem.

I know I brought this up once before, but it's been a while since anyone's mentioned the issue, so I thought I'd ask one more time. Hope that's okay. Sorry if it's not.

I guess there's more than one way to make a phantom! I read others on this forum say that power outages during recording produced them for them, and it did so for me.

I recently got the 6416. Since I don't have an AV receiver yet, I tried connecting the digital audio outs (first, coaxial, and then, optical) to my separate MSB Digital Link DAC. Then, I ran analog audio outs from the DAC to my integrated amp.

But, I'm getting a lot of digital type noise, instead of the proper sound. Any ideas, suggestions? The DAC works fine when I use a digital out from my DVD player, and the cables are ok.

Another poster mentioned that I may need to switch the audio setting to PCM. Does anyone know how I can do this. The manual refers to seting audio output to PCM, but only in the context of "Additional HDMI Settings." Would this also work for the digial audio outs?

I recently got the 6416. Since I don't have an AV receiver yet, I tried connecting the digital audio outs (first, coaxial, and then, optical) to my separate MSB Digital Link DAC. Then, I ran analog audio outs from the DAC to my integrated amp.

But, I'm getting a lot of digital type noise, instead of the proper sound. Any ideas, suggestions? The DAC works fine when I use a digital out from my DVD player, and the cables are ok.
Your DAC cannot handle Dolby Digital. In the 64XX, the software is not currently implemented to switch the digital output to PCM. (Your DVD player must be set to output PCM.)

Ok this is more for the 6200 but I suppose its a valid question for a 6412 as well.

My Dad has just jumped into the HDTV bandwagon. He had a Toshiba 46" HDTV for quite some time now, but just last week he got the DCT-6200 HD Box. It does look really nice, but now we want to get 5.1 surround sound to the receiver. His cable company is Service Electric Cablevision from Birdsboro, PA. Unfortunately they do not do full Digital Simulcast like Comcast does for my area. I purchased a fiber optic cable on e-bay for $4.89 shipped, so now I wait for it to arrive. Its a good price so I figure it was worth the gamble.

The only digital COAX input on his Sony receiver is used by the DVD player. There are 3 additional optical inputs which is why I had to purchase an optical cable for him. The Sony receiver has three settings for the TV input. They are [ Analog / Optical / Auto ]. I'm assuming the auto setting would auto sense if there is audio on the optical cable, but if there is none it would default to the L/R RCA Jacks for the TV/Sat input.

Since his cable company has the first 99 channels in analog, does the DCT-6200 digitize the analog channel audio for transport over the optical and digital coax output? Or do I keep both analog L/R from the TV audio output AND the digital optical cable connected with the receiver on the auto setting?

Thanks for reading! He would really enjoy the 5.1 surround sound on sports and movies.

Yes. The 51xx/62xx/64xx/34xx will output all audio as digital. If it's converting analog TV to digital, it also converts the audio to Dolby 2/0. Basically, ALL audio outputs are active all the time. The analog outputs can be adjusted for volume and with options in the setup menus. The digital outputs are fixed in level and do not have any form of 'enhancement' done.

I just discovered another quirk of the new 16.20 firmware. When fast forwarding at FF4, when you hit "Play," instead of starting from the point at which you pushed play, it rolls back ~10-20 seconds, to compensate for reaction time. I haven't checked it at other speeds, or tried to get an accurate measure of the rollback, but it is definitely there, and was not with the old firmware.

Hmm... I didn't notice any rollback last night.

I just bought an Onkyo 604 receiver and I currently have a Comcast 6412 Phase 3 with 12.31 firmware. I tried to hook it up via HDMI to the receiver then the receiver to the HDMI port on the TV. Well, apparently the box didn't like that, as I got a brief signal followed by an error like "This device cannot function with a repeater" or something. Then I still got audio, but a green screen.

I did some research in this forum and from what I read, a firmware upgrade to 12.35 should fix it. I called Comcast about this and they were baffled, of course. So they basically said I had an older box and they were going to replace it with a new model that as 3-tuner support (record 2 programs, watch a 3rd). That is scheduled for Saturday morning.

Here are my questions:

1) Does anyone know anything about the replacement box I'm supposed to be getting?
2) Is the firmware version on the box I currently have known to have this problem?
3) If the firmware/box I have now is known to have this problem, will the new box fix it?
4) A friend of mine told me only Dolby 2.0 is passed through HDMI on this unit. Is that true? I mean, if it is, it sort of defeats the purpose of using HDMI in the first place.

I think this thread might answer your questions:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=640348

Yes. The 51xx/62xx/64xx/34xx will output all audio as digital. If it's converting analog TV to digital, it also converts the audio to Dolby 2/0. Basically, ALL audio outputs are active all the time. The analog outputs can be adjusted for volume and with options in the setup menus. The digital outputs are fixed in level and do not have any form of 'enhancement' done.

Thanks for the reply. I guess we'll just use the optical cable to the receiver and select optical mode for the TV/SAT input.

Anyone else notice "Connected Home" in the diagnostic menu with the new firmware/iGuide? Hopefully we'll be seeing Motorola's HMA (http://broadband.motorola.com/whms/index.html) on our digital boxes sooner rather than later. But I'm not holding my breath.

PS: If you haven't seen the video demos of this stuff at work, check out the link. It's very cool.

I just bought an Onkyo 604 receiver and I currently have a Comcast 6412 Phase 3 with 12.31 firmware. I tried to hook it up via HDMI to the receiver then the receiver to the HDMI port on the TV. Well, apparently the box didn't like that, as I got a brief signal followed by an error like "This device cannot function with a repeater" or something. Then I still got audio, but a green screen.

I did some research in this forum and from what I read, a firmware upgrade to 12.35 should fix it. I called Comcast about this and they were baffled, of course. So they basically said I had an older box and they were going to replace it with a new model that as 3-tuner support (record 2 programs, watch a 3rd). That is scheduled for Saturday morning.

Here are my questions:

1) Does anyone know anything about the replacement box I'm supposed to be getting?
2) Is the firmware version on the box I currently have known to have this problem?
3) If the firmware/box I have now is known to have this problem, will the new box fix it?
4) A friend of mine told me only Dolby 2.0 is passed through HDMI on this unit. Is that true? I mean, if it is, it sort of defeats the purpose of using HDMI in the first place.
1) Not really -- haven't heard of a 3 tuner box. The existing 2 tuner boxes do what you said i.e., record 2 shows while playing a 3rd from the DVR. Nothing new there. Your Comcast CS rep was typically clueless (and probably making it up as he/she went along).

2) Yes -- your firmware V12.31 definitely has this problem. Both V12.35 and V16.20 have been reported by other posters to fix the problem.

3) No -- new firmware is rolled out across an entire region by the head-end to all STB's that it connects to -- when and as the head end managment decides to do it. It is not done on a box by box basis.

See this thread for MUCH more info on this problem ----
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=649941&page=1&pp=30

4) Due to the above problems I have never used HDMI from the STB to the AVR so I have no first hand experience with it - either video or audio. I could be wrong, but I believe the problem with audio in 2.0 instead of DD5.1 existed via the SPDIF digital audio output (not HDMI) and was fixed in an earlier firmware version. My DCT6412 PIII V12.31 has no audio problems with DD5.1 via SPDIF Optical -- either on original broadcast or playback from DVR. Do a search in this thread for previous posts regarding audio 2.0 vs 5.1 problems -- primarily on playback from the DVR.

Edit -- Of course DD5.1 audio is only available from original DD5.1 sources (i.e., most but not all HD sources). Everything else is either mono or stereo -- which can be converted to DD PLII, DTS Neo 6, etc. or other conversion/decoding processes -- as may be available in your AVR.

I just bought an Onkyo 604 receiver and I currently have a Comcast 6412 Phase 3 with 12.31 firmware.

I have the Onkyo TX-SR604 as well, but with the 3412. I have the same problem and the same firmware. I have to clear it with my wife tomorrow, but I plan on resetting the firmware in the 3412 to 12.35 (assuming I read that I can, correctly) to see if it'll fix the problem. Until then, I have the 3412 plugged directly into my HL-S4676S.

I love that my newly upgraded-6412 firmware passes DD5.1 correctly however does anyone notice that it freezes up a lot more than with the 12.18 firmware? I got two or three lock-ups a week where I am fast-forwarding through a show and the system becomes unresponsive...i.e.: it doesn't work until it cycles through all the commands I've hit...and then it processes them all very quickly...kind of annoying

I plan on resetting the firmware in the 3412 to 12.35You no not have the ability to do that. It is controlled from your cableco head-end.

...kind of annoying
Just kind of?? Mui annoying, I'd say. Don't you just hate it? :mad:

Just kind of?? Mui annoying, I'd say. Don't you just hate it? :mad:

ahaha see sig ;)

ahaha see sig ;)
Yeah, I noticed your sig in earlier posts. So I thought you'd enjoy the "hate" line. ;)

1) Not really -- haven't heard of a 3 tuner box. The existing 2 tuner boxes do what you said i.e., record 2 shows while playing a 3rd from the DVR. Nothing new there. Your Comcast CS rep was typically clueless (and probably making it up as he/she went along).


the DCT-64xx & DCT-34xx STB are 3 tuners, 2 QAM Cable tuners, 1 QAM OOB Data Tuner.



2) Yes -- your firmware V12.31 definitely has this problem. Both V12.35 and V16.20 have been reported by other posters to fix the problem.



F/W 12.31 does fix the problem on some headends, but others did not get the fix until 12.35 or in the 16.xx series of F/W.

what one version of F/W might fix at one cable headend might not fix the same problems at another headend. the F/W is coded to work at each cable plant / headend.

:)

the DCT-64xx & DCT-34xx STB are 3 tuners, 2 QAM Cable tuners, 1 QAM OOB Data Tuner.

F/W 12.31 does fix the problem on some headends, but others did not get the fix until 12.35 or in the 16.xx series of F/W.

what one version of F/W might fix at one cable headend might not fix the same problems at another headend. the F/W is coded to work at each cable plant / headend.

:)
scanpa -- as always thanks for the detailed insider knowledge you share with us. Nice to know that 12.31 fixes the problem for some folks. I haven't seen any posts that it does, so made an assumption.... and we all know what that does.

Also -- just to further show my ignorance. I didn't know I had a QAM OOB data tuner in my 6412 PIII. What can I do with it and how do I access it?

scanpa -- as always thanks for the detailed insider knowledge you share with us. Nice to know that 12.31 fixes the problem for some folks. I haven't seen any posts that it does, so made an assumption.... and we all know what that does.

Also -- just to further show my ignorance. I didn't know I had a QAM OOB data tuner in my 6412 PIII. What can I do with it and how do I access it?

You don't do anything with it, the OOB (out of band) tuner is the tuner that talks with your headend and Tx / Rx all of the STB data, guide info, time, account info, STB software / Firmware and feature downloads, STB interactive features. ect....

You no not have the ability to do that. It is controlled from your cableco head-end.

So this doesn't work?

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6621889&&#post6621889

So this doesn't work?

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6621889&&#post6621889


That would just redownload the current firmware to the box, only the cable techs can roll back the the firmware.

ajwees41

I have to say the old firmware was much better. I've had a lot of trouble fast-forwarding and rewinding, and now I can't get closed-captioning on certain channels.

So this doesn't work?

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6621889&&#post6621889

You need to call comcast tech support and ask them to place the seriel number of your STB to the old firmware access list.

Good luck!

My 16.20 firmware that came yesterday seems only slightly improved and most functions require an extra button to push. The program guide is still not loading most of the primetime network shows until the middle of the day that they're showing, which was happening with the old 12.31 firmware. On the positive side, you can push Play when watching On Demand programs and see how much time is remaining. You can see a list of all the programs you've set to record, without having to go through all the programs on the guide. There's an HD indicator next to the digital audio logo, but it shows itself on many SD programs. Maybe with the next upgrade, they will fix any bugs that this "fix" brought with it.

You can see a list of all the programs you've set to record, without having to go through all the programs on the guide.
You could do that before. You just had to go to the DVR menu.

For me, this update simply makes more accessible a few things I don't use very often. And it makes less accessible the one thing (the list of my recorded programs) that I use all the time. So basically a step backward.

All other behavior seems about the same to me. I can't tell yet whether any of the Guide-related bugs I know about have been addressed (i.e. unable to delete two overlapping series recordings, and the "four Daily Shows a day" problem where the guide can't tell if a program is a rerun or not [I know, this is a guide data issue, but still!!]).

Some new 6412 strangeness has me really perplexed.

I have Comcast, in Ann Arbor, Mi. We went to the 16.20 firmware a few weeks ago. Current SW is 74.53-3321.

I have a 56" DLP TV, 720p. My 6412 feeds into my Denon AVR, then to my TV, using component, and S-Vid.

When I first got HD, over two years ago, the tech tried to set STB output at 720p, but the TV wouldn't get a picture, so it was set to 1080i. When I got a replacement box, about a year ago, we tried 720p again, but had to use 1080i.

The signal to the TV would be in 1080i for HD channels only. SD channels would be in 480i. This was confirmed by the info screen on the TV. This was nice, since the TV would let me zoom to fill the screen with letterboxed SD pictures. I can't use zoom, only Wide, and 4x3, with an HD signal.

Last Thursday, I hooked up a DVI cable, directly from the 6412 P2 to the TV. Everything came over the DVI in 720p, even the SD channels. I had NOT gone to the setup menu, and had NOT selected 720p, or anything, there.

I then switched back to the component input on the TV, and everything coming from the 6412, even SD, was showing a 720p signal.

That meant that to zoom, when necessary, I had to switch to a S-Vid input. And, as I already knew,on the S-Vid input, you cannot see the menu, time bars, any graphics at all.

I tried disconnecting the DVI, turning off the STB, and turning it back on. This changed nothing. I still get only a 720p signal, from every channel. Of course now, there is no SD->HD changeover from SD to HD channels, like before, but the no zoom is a pain. Anybody know what is up with this? Is it due to hooking up the DVI, or was that just a coincidence? I notice a few other changes as well, such as more hesitation at executing orders than ever before.

i don't have 16.20 yet but this sounds like an override problem.

see if the setup menu for the 6412 has some new override settings.

good luck

jim

Is it somehow possible to connect two 6412's to separate TV inputs and be able to control each one separately (without turning one off). The puny 6412 recording capacity is the reason for my question.

Is it somehow possible to connect two 6412's to separate TV inputs and be able to control each one separately (without turning one off). The puny 6412 recording capacity is the reason for my question.

The only difficulty is that the remote will engage both 6412s. If you can separate them, like one on each side of your TV you can probably make it work well. If not, then you will need to place something like a piece of cardboard in front of the IR receiver of the 6412 that you don't want to control. It's a bit of PIA, but it will work.

Is it somehow possible to connect two 6412's to separate TV inputs and be able to control each one separately (without turning one off). The puny 6412 recording capacity is the reason for my question.

Just how much do you time shift record in one day?

I record about 8 - 10 HD shows and 3 - 8 SD shows per day and have yet to run out of room on the STB HDD.

There are many people who have been able to rent two 6412 DVRs from Comcast. If they are willing to give you the second DVR and collect rent for it, they would have to allow you to use them both. Each of the DVRs would have its unique ID code registered to your account and should operate in a parallel manner to the other. If you have good connections, the signal should be able to split and still give a good signal to both DVRs, although this may vary for some areas. A splitter-amplifier that can handle HD-digital signals might be needed, depending on the signal strength that comes into your house. I can split mine without an amplifier, but only after I got some new, high-capacity splitting components (RG-58 wire to each DVR and a pro-quality Y-splitter). If you have two 6412s and you're not able to run them both, there's something wrong with the way your service is set up by Comcast and they need to be contacted, so they can make changes at their end. Note that Comcast has many variables in their policies in different regions, so what is possible in one place, isn't always the same everywhere.

Just how much do you time shift record in one day?

I record about 8 - 10 HD shows and 3 - 8 SD shows per day and have yet to run out of room on the STB HDD.
The space issues come in when I record HD movies and don't have time to watch them. I got spoiled when I had a 300 hour Tivo.

Okay, I didn't see this bug in the Wikibook or in any recent posts here, so I'll post and ask. I have a 6412 PIII box, only a couple months old. Replaced an older 6412 that died.

I got the new software update last week. Everything was working okay until yesterday, when all of a sudden the DVR would not play any recordings. The list of recordings shows, but when I pressed OK/SELECT I'd get the status bar showing the program and time of recording but only a black screen. No picture or sound. Also couldn't FF or skip ahead, or even STOP. The only way to exit to live TV was to channel up or down.

I tried to PAUSE or REWIND live TV and was unable. It ignored those commands. Didn't seem to be buffering. I hit the REC button and it started recording. But then when I tried to view it freezed the frame and then went black, just like the other recordings. I couldn't check the F/W and S/W versions. Black screen again. So I did a power reset, and then everything worked fine again. I thought it was solved but then the same thing happened again this morning. Everything is there, but all I get is a black screen when trying to watch. I did the power cycle again and again it fixed it.

I really don't want to have to do a power cycle every time I want to watch my recordings. If I can get through watching the backlog of recordings (which is being added to each day) I can do an HDD reset to see if that clears it up, but that will take me some days. Has this happened to anybody here? Any ideas?

I tried in the 3412 thread but not luck there so I thought maybe someone here would know.

I just got the 3412 box, but I am having a real problem getting it to output 5.1 surround sound. I tried using both optical and coax digital connections into my Marantz SR-19 receiver and nothing seems to work right.

On the channels that transmit 2-channel stereo sound, it works just fine with no issues. But on the channels that transmit either 3-channel or all 5.1 channel surround sound (receiver shows what is coming in), I hear the "background" sound on the main speakers and VERY faint speech on the center speaker. It seems like the front and center channels are being dropped out. If I force the receiver into stereo mode then it sounds normal, but again only in stereo.

Anyone have any idea?

TIA!!!

I tried in the 3412 thread but not luck there so I thought maybe someone here would know.

I just got the 3412 box, but I am having a real problem getting it to output 5.1 surround sound. I tried using both optical and coax digital connections into my Marantz SR-19 receiver and nothing seems to work right.

On the channels that transmit 2-channel stereo sound, it works just fine with no issues. But on the channels that transmit either 3-channel or all 5.1 channel surround sound (receiver shows what is coming in), I hear the "background" sound on the main speakers and VERY faint speech on the center speaker. It seems like the front and center channels are being dropped out. If I force the receiver into stereo mode then it sounds normal, but again only in stereo.

Anyone have any idea?

TIA!!!

Swap the STB out.

The only difficulty is that the remote will engage both 6412s. If you can separate them, like one on each side of your TV you can probably make it work well. If not, then you will need to place something like a piece of cardboard in front of the IR receiver of the 6412 that you don't want to control. It's a bit of PIA, but it will work.

I have 3 sets of two units of recorders from the same manufacturers. With one pair, there is an A/B channel switch on the controlers that solves the problem of crossover signals. With the others, I place them at far sides of my wide video desktop and don't have any misdirected commands. I can't find any A/B type of switch on the 6412 controlers, probably because it is mainly intended to be used just one to a subscriber.

Perhaps, there's some little-known code that can be entered, that would dedicate each controler to its own DVR?? I've run across unpublicised enabling codes for several other features on these controlers that would otherwise be unaccessible.

For those with more sophisticated universal remote controls there are RF/IR emitter solutions that could control two 6412's easily. I control my 6412 using the URC MX-900 via this method and have been considering adding a second 6412 on a shelf below the other.

I have 3 sets of two units of recorders from the same manufacturers. With one pair, there is an A/B channel switch on the controlers that solves the problem of crossover signals. With the others, I place them at far sides of my wide video desktop and don't have any misdirected commands. I can't find any A/B type of switch on the 6412 controlers, probably because it is mainly intended to be used just one to a subscriber.

Perhaps, there's some little-known code that can be entered, that would dedicate each controler to its own DVR?? I've run across unpublicised enabling codes for several other features on these controlers that would otherwise be unaccessible.


Sorry all of the GI / Motorola DCT & QIP Series of STB use only 1 set of Remote codes.

You need to call comcast tech support and ask them to place the seriel number of your STB to the old firmware access list.

Good luck!I've called Comcast several different times and pleaded my case to get rolled back to the older firmware and was told "absolutely not!" They wouldn't budge and in fact when I got a call-back from a higher level tech I was told that "it would never happen". Who do I need to speak to and what do I need to ask for to get put on the old firmware access list?

Who do I need to speak to and what do I need to ask for to get put on the old firmware access list?You should just go outside and piss into the wind ... it would be better use of your time.

The only difficulty is that the remote will engage both 6412s. If you can separate them, like one on each side of your TV you can probably make it work well. If not, then you will need to place something like a piece of cardboard in front of the IR receiver of the 6412 that you don't want to control. It's a bit of PIA, but it will work.


Two pieces of cardboard, and two small mirrors... seriously, you can direct the IR beam with a mirror, to an opening on the side of the cardboard, a sort of a bank shot. Use a flashlight to line up the mirror, the cardboard cover, and the IR receiver. Set up one for each 6412, and you can pick which you control by which mirror you aim at. I had to do something similar to get the IR signal to my DVDR, and it works well.

I used two Motorola boxes by putting one (the one that wasn't the DVR) in (a well-ventilated cabinet) and use my TiVo's IR emmitter to drive it. So I'd change channels for the "hidden" Motorola box using my TiVo remote.

I've called Comcast several different times and pleaded my case to get rolled back to the older firmware and was told "absolutely not!" They wouldn't budge and in fact when I got a call-back from a higher level tech I was told that "it would never happen". Who do I need to speak to and what do I need to ask for to get put on the old firmware access list?

They are telling the truth. Your area does not support a fallback F/W option. Sorry. Complain to comcast corporate hq.

I used two Motorola boxes by putting one (the one that wasn't the DVR) in (a well-ventilated cabinet) and use my TiVo's IR emmitter to drive it. So I'd change channels for the "hidden" Motorola box using my TiVo remote.
What's Comcast charging you for the second HD Box. I was told it would be $6.99 for a second Digital Classic box and $9.99 for a total of $17/month. Does this seem right? (pardon my distrust of Comcast CSRs)

For me, this update simply makes more accessible a few things I don't use very often. And it makes less accessible the one thing (the list of my recorded programs) that I use all the time. So basically a step backward.

Amen!!

I hate how, even on the Motorola remotes, the 'List' button doesnt actually go there anymore. I mean, I can see that on Comcast remotes, the 'My DVR' or whatever button would go to the new screen, but I mean, come on, if I wanted that, I'd go to the DVR menu thru the main menu. It's a pain now.

What's Comcast charging you for the second HD Box. The second box was SD.

I didn't have the two boxes very long, so I don't know if I'm seeing everything. One box was "included" in the Digital Silver package. The other box was $4.50 for the box + $0.25 for the remote + $2.75 for the additional outlet. (There was an additional charge on top of that for the DVR service.)

They are telling the truth. Your area does not support a fallback F/W option. Sorry. Complain to comcast corporate hq.Thanks for the info! That's too bad - that policy just cost them my $100 per month. I'm not going to 'piss into the wind', as cavu so eloquently put it, any further over this. HDMI broken... Firewire recording broken... 3 to 6 months for it to get fixed... $100 per month will rent me a lot of HD-DVDs and help pay for my Tivo S3 and Toshiba HD-XA1.

Generally, the few instances where something like that would result in "cost[ing] them ... $100 per month" don't make up for the comparatively many instances where maintaining support for multiple codebases would result in additional maintenance and support costs. They make so much on serving the general public, and comparatively little serving the cutting edge, that it isn't suprising that nuances like this don't get the kind of attention that some folks would like to see.

Firewire recording might be cutting edge but I think HDMI is pretty mainstream these days, at least in the HD world which Comcast is trying to compete in. If reverting individual people to older working firmware while they fix the problems is more than they can handle, they should just stop the rollout and put everyone back to the working firmware. And I said I wasn't going to piss in the wind anymore. :)

I noticed my DVR Menu consolidate on my 6412 I was'nt aware they were changing the FW on the boxes, I have'nt had any problems so far and I notice the menu's are a bit more snappy. I have a question thou. Is Comcast ever going to roll out the DVR's with Tivo I read about long ago, seems like this is a dead issue.

I noticed my DVR Menu consolidate on my 6412 I was'nt aware they were changing the FW on the boxes, I have'nt had any problems so far and I notice the menu's are a bit more snappy. I have a question thou. Is Comcast ever going to roll out the DVR's with Tivo I read about long ago, seems like this is a dead issue.

There is a thread about Comcast and the upgraded DVR service w/ TiVo here in this Forum Category.

The Optional DVR service upgrade to TiVo DVR software on the Motorola DCT-34xx & DCT-64xx STB begins limted roll out in late Dec. 2006.

Full Roll out to begin in 2007.

I have had the dct3412 I for about 4-5 months now, and had little problems with it.
But today I suddenly had a major problem for the first time.

I used the DVR last night to record shows, and then used them to watch other programs i had recorded. This morning when i tried to use the dvr to watch a recording, the screen just goes black. I thought it was maybe one recording, but i have tried to watch many different recordings. No matter what i try to play, the screen just goes black and doesnt play anything. It shows the time bar on the screen, along with what the recording should be, but it just freezes on a black screen. I cant play, or fast forward, the most i can do is hit stop to get out of it.

Any ideas or suggestions on what this is, or how to remedy the problem?
Thanks in advance
\

There is a thread about Comcast and the upgraded DVR service w/ TiVo here in this Forum Category.

The Optional DVR service upgrade to TiVo DVR software on the Motorola DCT-34xx & DCT-64xx STB begins limted roll out in late Dec. 2006.

Full Roll out to begin in 2007.
Take this for what it's worth:

I was told by a "supervisor" at the Comcast call center in Concord, CA, that the TiVo software rollout in this area would be in March 2007. The bit of new info, which I'd like someone to confirm/deny, is that we'd be "able to upgrade to a higher capacity DVR once they are available". Does this seem accurate?

Take this for what it's worth:

I was told by a "supervisor" at the Comcast call center in Concord, CA, that the TiVo software rollout in this area would be in March 2007. The bit of new info, which I'd like someone to confirm/deny, is that we'd be "able to upgrade to a higher capacity DVR once they are available". Does this seem accurate?
Mazman,
There's no reason that you shouldn't be able to upgrade to a higher capacity DVR when they are available. The person in our area to talk to is Barovelli, he would know when these newer boxes become available in our area. Trust me if he doesn't know about the availability of these boxes, then no one does.. ;)

Laters,
Mikef5

I have had the dct3412 I for about 4-5 months now, and had little problems with it.
But today I suddenly had a major problem for the first time.

I used the DVR last night to record shows, and then used them to watch other programs i had recorded. This morning when i tried to use the dvr to watch a recording, the screen just goes black. I thought it was maybe one recording, but i have tried to watch many different recordings. No matter what i try to play, the screen just goes black and doesnt play anything. It shows the time bar on the screen, along with what the recording should be, but it just freezes on a black screen. I cant play, or fast forward, the most i can do is hit stop to get out of it.

Any ideas or suggestions on what this is, or how to remedy the problem?
Thanks in advance
\See my post #8791 above (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8838245&&#post8838245). I experienced the exact same problem just the other day. First time it ever happened for me too, which leads me to believe that the problem is related to the recent software change. The temporary solution is to do a power cycle. Unplug the box, wait a few seconds, plug back in and let the box reinitialize and begin downloading the guide again. Soon you should be able to play your recordings again. But when I turned my box off it happened again later. So I haven't powered off my box since and it hasn't recurred (at least yet.)

Anybody else seen this problem yet?

I have had the dct3412 I for about 4-5 months now, and had little problems with it.
But today I suddenly had a major problem for the first time.

I used the DVR last night to record shows, and then used them to watch other programs i had recorded. This morning when i tried to use the dvr to watch a recording, the screen just goes black. I thought it was maybe one recording, but i have tried to watch many different recordings. No matter what i try to play, the screen just goes black and doesnt play anything. It shows the time bar on the screen, along with what the recording should be, but it just freezes on a black screen. I cant play, or fast forward, the most i can do is hit stop to get out of it.

Any ideas or suggestions on what this is, or how to remedy the problem?
Thanks in advance
\

This sounds very similar to my issue. No problems with the 3412 until the last few days. The only difference between my issue and yours seems to be that I can watch some amount of the recorded programs before it goes black. I also get a "NPLY" error sometimes when trying to ff through the frozen section.

FWIW, Comcast assured me that there was no firmware rollout recently (Chicago area) that could have caused this. They had no good explanation for why this problem arose months after I got this box. I'm still fishing around for a solution.

Hi! I'm new and I did search for this but I have not found an answer
I need to find a IR (infra red) externder for the motorola dct3412 i . I have this thru comcast.

I want to hide the receiver to keep clutter to out my living room

please let me know the brands ans the set up.

Thank you! in advance and sorry my English is no as good

. . .
I need to find a IR (infra red) externder for the motorola dct3412 i . I have this thru comcast.

I want to hide the receiver to keep clutter to out my living room

please let me know the brands and the set up.



The Harmony 890 should do it. They can be expensive. It pays to shop around on the internet for prices.

Hi! I'm new and I did search for this but I have not found an answer
I need to find a IR (infra red) externder for the motorola dct3412 i . I have this thru comcast.

I want to hide the receiver to keep clutter to out my living room

please let me know the brands ans the set up.
There are many around. I've found RF-based ones are cheapest. I use a Terk Leapfrog to control mine from a bedroom. You might find it cheaper elsewhere, but I bought mine from SmartHome, which has many other options:
http://www.smarthome.com/
http://www.smarthome.com/8220f.html

With the Leapfrog, you put the transmitter somewhere near your TV or wherever you want to aim your remote. The receiver will be near the cable box. It will blast out on it's own, but it also comes with an emitter on a cable so you can put the receiver someplace out of the way (or where you get a better signal), and run the emitter to sit in front of the cable box (the box's IR receiver is on the left side of the window, just left of the MSGS and ON text.)

The drawback to the RF ones is they are rather bulky. Direct-wire systems can be nearly invisible, but they cost an arm and a leg for some reason. All you really need is an IR receiver, a power supply, a tiny bit of electronics, and an emitter.

Anyone have a photo of the inside of a 6412 or similar? My searches came up empty. I'm having firewire recording problems with the new 16.20 firmware and I suspect that heat might also be an issue since it's usually my second recording in succession that has problems.

Maybe the first recording causes some overheating that effects the next one. :confused: I was thinking of putting a PC cooling fan blowing in to see if it would help so I can get my shows copied and get the box swapped out and want to see where some of the components are located.

Stupid supersized shows...grrr :(

I have Smallville, The Office, and Grey's Anatomy recording on Thursday nights. This week NBC is supersizing its shows and The Office crosses both the 8:00 and 9:00 hours. I don't know why it can't record The Office on one tuner and Smallville and Grey's on the other, but it's telling me there's a conflict.

I'm probably just going to wait for the Grey's repeat on Friday night but is there a way to fix this?

Thanks,
Mike

Stupid supersized shows...grrr :(

I have Smallville, The Office, and Grey's Anatomy recording on Thursday nights. This week NBC is supersizing its shows and The Office crosses both the 8:00 and 9:00 hours. I don't know why it can't record The Office on one tuner and Smallville and Grey's on the other, but it's telling me there's a conflict.

I'm probably just going to wait for the Grey's repeat on Friday night but is there a way to fix this?

Thanks,
Mike

This has happened to me before. Try deleting all recordings for that night(including series recordings of these 3 shows) and then set Smallville, The Office, and Grey's(in that order) to record.

You probably have this correct, but just a thought -- could it just be that you have Smallville on CW set to record an extra minute or two late and Grey's on ABC an extra minute or two early, such that they would both be recording simultaneously during the overlap, thus leaving no tuner for The Office during that time?

I usually set my recordings to pad the beginning and end just a little because you can't always trust their clock to match yours. I don't know if that's something you do or not.

Hmm, that could be. I'll have to check my series recordings.

Is there anything that can be done to protect our boxes from the Emergency Broadcast System test? Everytime the test is conducted here in Seattle it immediately cancels all of my current recordings and makes my box completely unresponsive to all commands for about 30 minutes. Essentially, my box gets FUBAR'd once per week.

I told the DVR not to record Grey's tonight so why didn't it automatically set tomorrow's episode to record? Or, if I had waited until tomorrow would it have done it?

FYI, the 16.20 firmware I got today finally deleted those pesky 12/31/1989 phantom recordings. Let's hope they're gone for good.

Is there anything that can be done to protect our boxes from the Emergency Broadcast System test? Everytime the test is conducted here in Seattle it immediately cancels all of my current recordings and makes my box completely unresponsive to all commands for about 30 minutes. Essentially, my box gets FUBAR'd once per week.

No.

Is anyone else in the area having these problems?

How many DVR STB do you have? How is your signal strength?

I had been one of the fortunate people to have a 6412 with minimal issues. I've only had to unplug it once or twice in about 2 years and have the occassional "delayed response/command backup", but nothing major.

I got the 16.20 firmware a couple days ago. Last night while watching a recording, the box went totally unresponsive, including the front panel buttons on the box. I had to pull the plug. Lets hope it was a one-time thing!

BTW, I've noticed several people saying the new firmware causes he remote to be more responsive. I've experienced the opposite. Remote commands, like the 30 second skip seem to be a little slower. On the up-side, the FF seems to speed through a program a whole lot faster, probably twice as fast.

FYI, the 16.20 firmware I got today finally deleted those pesky 12/31/1989 phantom recordings. Let's hope they're gone for good.

We just got this in the SF Bay Area, and it has new bugs of its own :-(. If you use HDMI, be prepared to switch back to component cables.

This is apparently a known issue and there will be a new iGuide update (no estimate yet) to fix it.

I had been one of the fortunate people to have a 6412 with minimal issues. I've only had to unplug it once or twice in about 2 years and have the occassional "delayed response/command backup", but nothing major.

I got the 16.20 firmware a couple days ago. Last night while watching a recording, the box went totally unresponsive, including the front panel buttons on the box. I had to pull the plug. Lets hope it was a one-time thing!

BTW, I've noticed several people saying the new firmware causes he remote to be more responsive. I've experienced the opposite. Remote commands, like the 30 second skip seem to be a little slower. On the up-side, the FF seems to speed through a program a whole lot faster, probably twice as fast.

I have to say that the remote commands may be a bit more responsive, too soon to tell. But some TV sets using HDMI now have issues with getting a blank screen if you turn the TV on after the STB (or leave the STB on all the time). You have to power cycle the STB. The solution is to go back to component cables. Supposedly they know about this and are working on a fix.

I have to say that the remote commands may be a bit more responsive, too soon to tell. But some TV sets using HDMI now have issues with getting a blank screen if you turn the TV on after the STB (or leave the STB on all the time). You have to power cycle the STB. The solution is to go back to component cables. Supposedly they know about this and are working on a fix.

I'm in the SF Bay Area and find much the opposite regarding remote responsiveness. In fact, the DVR isn't responsive all to remote commands (or even buttons on the box), except for power on/off, and channel up/down. I'm unable to access recordings, scheduled recordings, the guide, transport functions, or tuner swap.

I'm in the SF Bay Area and find much the opposite regarding remote responsiveness. In fact, the DVR isn't responsive all to remote commands (or even buttons on the box), except for power on/off, and channel up/down. I'm unable to access recordings, scheduled recordings, the guide, transport functions, or tuner swap.

These functions all work for me on both my boxes. Sounds like you got a corrupted download.

If you do a boot reset, it would probably re-download all the firmware and iguide SW, but it would also delete all your recprdings. If you can get through to the CSR, maybe they could hit your box with just a new firmware/iGuide download command.

In the SF Comcast Forum it is noted that the problem is mainly in the South Bay. It is also noted that you should leave your DVR plugged in and don't touch it. It sounds like a fix is in the making.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8925092&&#post8925092

BTW, I've noticed several people saying the new firmware causes the remote to be more responsive. I've experienced the opposite. Remote commands, like the 30 second skip seem to be a little slower.

I've noticed the same thing with my 6412.

I just received the update last night and i don't know if it's just me, but SD quality looks worse than before. Before the update i could stand SD quality but now they look terrible. Also, the guide looks fuzzy to me.

Is anybody else noticing this? I've got my 6412 Phase III hooked up through HDMI to my Sony A2000.

I'm in Northern CA. I normally leave the 6412 on (I have a Phase II w/DVI) all the time. This morning I wake up, and the box is "frozen". Can't even turn it on or off. So I bit the bullet and unplugged it, let it rest for a couple of minutes. When I plugged it back in, the front display read "dU1". It booted, but I had no iGuide, and I couldn't hear the hard disk writing at all. Great. I power it down, leave it unplugged, and go to work.

While I'm at work, my wife calls Comcast to arrange a box swap.

I get home, plug the box back in, and everything is perfect. It even has the new firmware update -- I wonder if it tried to update the f/w last night and got corrupted, and that caused the freeze?

I'm in Northern CA. I normally leave the 6412 on (I have a Phase II w/DVI) all the time. This morning I wake up, and the box is "frozen". Can't even turn it on or off. So I bit the bullet and unplugged it, let it rest for a couple of minutes. When I plugged it back in, the front display read "dU1". It booted, but I had no iGuide, and I couldn't hear the hard disk writing at all. Great. I power it down, leave it unplugged, and go to work.

While I'm at work, my wife calls Comcast to arrange a box swap.

I get home, plug the box back in, and everything is perfect. It even has the new firmware update -- I wonder if it tried to update the f/w last night and got corrupted, and that caused the freeze?

Yes.

Is there anything that can be done to protect our boxes from the Emergency Broadcast System test? Everytime the test is conducted here in Seattle it immediately cancels all of my current recordings and makes my box completely unresponsive to all commands for about 30 minutes. Essentially, my box gets FUBAR'd once per week.

I am having this issue too with my 6412 Ph III. I dont mind it so much, but my wife does because EBS is usually run weekly during "Oprah". So I have to hear the complaints. I'd like to know if anyone knows if there is a FW fix for it, or any other way around it. Although, it's been quite a while this has happened, maybe they changed the time of th EBS test here (Pflugerville TX).

Thanks!

With the new software/firmware going around, I've noticed a few items not really mentioned anywhere:
The font and font size seem to be slightly different and bigger.

The time-bar is shaded, and the transport icons on it are inside a 'button' shape.

Some channels have a link to their OnDemand page when you pop up the info bar.

The graphic overlay often seems to be shifted to the left. You can see some video off to the right. The guide positioning in the setup menu only adjusts the graphics INSIDE the overlay.

In the guide setup, you can make the mini-guide (where you hit OK/Select with nothing else on-screen) single height (3 channels) or double-height (2 channels).

There is a Services Locks setup, which lets you lock out OnDemand (and probably other services in the future.)

When you use the new 'press a key to unmute' feature (to unmute after the box turns itself on to do a recording), it also cancels the power off when the recording ends.

Some bugs I've had already:
On Wednesday night, it only recorded the last 20 minutes of Letterman. On Thursday night, it didn't record it at all, although the channel had changed. I deleted and recreated the series entry, and last night seems to have recorded OK.

When I went to delete a recording today, it froze solid. After 20 minutes, I had to pull the plug.

This is on a 6412-P2.

I have a 6412-2005 and I just wanted to know if there is a gauranteed way to have this box reset completely. Like the memory has to be reset, and everything... I think its called a hard reset, but not by calling my cable company. I've read a few ways but whats the best way, anybody know?

PLease let me know, desperate for info!!

Thanx to anyone who helps, or even clarifies.

I have a 6412-2005 and I just wanted to know if there is a gauranteed way to have this box reset completely. Like the memory has to be reset, and everything... I think its called a hard reset, but not by calling my cable company. I've read a few ways but whats the best way, anybody know?

PLease let me know, desperate for info!!

Thanx to anyone who helps, or even clarifies.
Here's a link that will help you learn about your dvr and how to do the resets
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR

Laters,
Mikef5

With the new software/firmware going around, I've noticed a few items not really mentioned anywhere:
The font and font size seem to be slightly different and bigger.

The time-bar is shaded, and the transport icons on it are inside a 'button' shape.

Some channels have a link to their OnDemand page when you pop up the info bar.

The graphic overlay often seems to be shifted to the left. You can see some video off to the right. The guide positioning in the setup menu only adjusts the graphics INSIDE the overlay.

In the guide setup, you can make the mini-guide (where you hit OK/Select with nothing else on-screen) single height (3 channels) or double-height (2 channels).

There is a Services Locks setup, which lets you lock out OnDemand (and probably other services in the future.)

When you use the new 'press a key to unmute' feature (to unmute after the box turns itself on to do a recording), it also cancels the power off when the recording ends.

Some bugs I've had already:
On Wednesday night, it only recorded the last 20 minutes of Letterman. On Thursday night, it didn't record it at all, although the channel had changed. I deleted and recreated the series entry, and last night seems to have recorded OK.

When I went to delete a recording today, it froze solid. After 20 minutes, I had to pull the plug.

This is on a 6412-P2.

One of the changes I like least is the removal of the HD grid. When you pull up HD listings now you have to choose between time or channel.

I have a 6412-2005 and I just wanted to know if there is a gauranteed way to have this box reset completely. Like the memory has to be reset, and everything... I think its called a hard reset, but not by calling my cable company. I've read a few ways but whats the best way, anybody know?

PLease let me know, desperate for info!!

Thanx to anyone who helps, or even clarifies.

You have asked the same thing on many forums.

Call your Cable company and ask them to reset your STB.

Just off hand, why do you want to know how to reset the flash memory?

I got the 16.20 firmware upgrade and now the analog channels have a blue line down the right edge of the picture. This is on the component outputs with the box set to output everything in 1080i. The s-video output doesn't have the blue line. I have an old (phase 1) 6412 box.

Anybody else see this problem?

I got the 16.20 firmware upgrade and now the analog channels have a blue line down the right edge of the picture. This is on the component outputs with the box set to output everything in 1080i. The s-video output doesn't have the blue line. I have an old (phase 1) 6412 box.

Anybody else see this problem?

Yes. This occurs on my Phase 2 box when using the DVI output.

Yes. This occurs on my Phase 2 box when using the DVI output.

i'm hoping atlanta is slow to implement this formware, we're stil on 9.something

did this update do any good?

Another "feature" of the 16.20 upgrade seems to be that pressing the "MyDVR" button no longer takes you directly to the recordings, but instead to another sub-menu. Does anyone know if there's a button code that allows you to go directly to my recordings?

You can put a macro on a button that will press MyDVR and then OK/Select.
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Programming_the_Remote#Add_a_Macro_Button

I noticed why the graphic overlay is sometimes shifted over. It has to do with the total length of the channel number and overlay!! If the number + name (not counting the space between) is less than 6 characters, it will leave some of the video visible to the right, and the graphics themselves are slightly shifted to the left. You'll mostly notice this on channels 2-9 unless it has a 5-character (the maximum length) name, and 10-99 with 2-3 character names.

I've also had the box reboot again when I was exiting the diagnostics menu. I'm thinking it might be due to trying hit POWER too soon. Maybe you now have to wait a second or two.

There are many people who have been able to rent two 6412 DVRs from Comcast. If they are willing to give you the second DVR and collect rent for it, they would have to allow you to use them both. Each of the DVRs would have its unique ID code registered to your account and should operate in a parallel manner to the other. If you have good connections, the signal should be able to split and still give a good signal to both DVRs, although this may vary for some areas. A splitter-amplifier that can handle HD-digital signals might be needed, depending on the signal strength that comes into your house. I can split mine without an amplifier, but only after I got some new, high-capacity splitting components (RG-58 wire to each DVR and a pro-quality Y-splitter). If you have two 6412s and you're not able to run them both, there's something wrong with the way your service is set up by Comcast and they need to be contacted, so they can make changes at their end. Note that Comcast has many variables in their policies in different regions, so what is possible in one place, isn't always the same everywhere.
I have three 6412 IIIs in my house thru Comcast

I had a seven hour recording yesterday. I haven't had one of those in a long time. I'm still on the old firmware.

A few more bugs and changes in the new software involving manual recordings:

I have a few manual recordings set up, mainly to cover multiple programs that change often (Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block on Saturday and Sunday nights.)

Negative: With the new software, you no longer see the program divider tick marks on the time bar when you play back the recording if the recording covers multiple programs. Also, when you get the info for the currently playing program, the play time listed is for the total recording, not just for that program.

Plus: In the guide, ALL the programs covered by the manual recording now show a recording icon (or series recording icon if it's a repeating manual recording.) Before, only the first program would have the icon.

Bug: On Saturday's recording, the box rebooted when I tried to FF4 over some material. It appeared to happen at the 30-minute mark, which is when another recording started on the other tuner. This happened twice. I got past it by slowing down and basically stepping over that point. I think there was a glitch in the data.

So far, my box has rebooted itself more in the past 4-5 days than it has in the TWO YEARS I have had it.

A new phonemena. At least to me.

Without prompting, the 6412 PII started recording all by itself last night. While recording the unit was completely locked up. Once it stopped (next morning), the unit was still locked up, so I unplugged it. Powered back up, it now acts like normal, but the DVR shows 93% full, I've only got about 50% worth of programs recorded, and the recording it made by itself does not show up in My Recordings.

Any ideas?
How to regain the missing space on the HD, without losing existing recordings?

Have you actually checked the length of each recording listed? By that, I mean FF to the end and see if there is still recorded material there. I had a normal looking listing for Letterman one night and when viewing the next day it turned out the the actual recording had gone on for over 7-8 hours. The status bar showed the recording was complete, but continual pushes at the FF button resulted in finally reaching the end.

How to regain the missing space on the HD, without losing existing recordings?Start recording something and pull the power plug for a couple of minutes. Repower and the unit will rebuild its directory.

I forgot how heat sensitive the Phase II units are. I re arranged my layout and moved my 6412 to a new slot with about 2" more air space on top and my sluggish channel changes and freezing went down dramatically.

Start recording something and pull the power plug for a couple of minutes. Repower and the unit will rebuild its directory.

any power loss will cause the HDD to reindex on power restore. :)

Here's my latest "bug".

When nothing is recording or even shceuled to record I choose hit the record button to record the current show I'm viewing. That works ok - but if I try to change channels I get an meesage that I either have to cancel the current recording and change channels or stay on the same channel. WHY won't this thing simply switch to the 2nd reciever and change the channel? ( I am assuming that's the real problem)

Unit is a 6414 pIII

If you can hit "swap" and then change channels, I wouldn't call that a bug, but rather a "design suggestion". I am pretty sure that that is the case.

The new software will give you a 3rd option to swap tuners.

Anybody know just where the programmers are that write the I-Guide code? I need take my belt and give those 2-year-olds-on-crack a good spanking. They don't know how the f*** to program.

Last night, AGAIN, my box did NOT record Letterman. Thankfully my VCR was set to record, as this was one I didn't want to miss (with Jerry Seinfeld and Michael Richards talking about his little temper tantrum.) At least fuzzy SVHS (it's a cheap JVC HR-S3800U) is better than nothing.

What is weird is that the box was powered off, and Leno (manual recording, set to begin 1 minute early) should have been on tuner 2. Instead, when I turned it on, tuner 1 was set to 188, and tuner 2 was still on 21, which is where it was when I turned it off. I checked at 9pm, and Letterman was scheduled to be recorded.

I've modified the Leno manual recording to not start one minute early, so I'll see how it works. Otherwise, I'll probably have to go to a manual recording for Letterman, too. (Leno is manual due to a repeat at about 2:30am that it keeps trying to record if I set up a series recording.)

Have you actually checked the length of each recording listed? By that, I mean FF to the end and see if there is still recorded material there. I had a normal looking listing for Letterman one night and when viewing the next day it turned out the the actual recording had gone on for over 7-8 hours. The status bar showed the recording was complete, but continual pushes at the FF button resulted in finally reaching the end.
Bing!

It turns out one of the recordings was 7-8 hours long, and once it was deleted, all is well once again.

Thanks to all who lent a hand.

Bing!

It turns out one of the recordings was 7-8 hours long, and once it was deleted, all is well once again.

Thanks to all who lent a hand.
Good to hear as it's not an easy thing to readily see by just looking at the listings, you have to check each recording.

With the new software, I've noticed a difference in Series recording scheduling. Before, the only time it would ever update the schedule was at 4:20 am/pm. Now it appears to update whenever it senses a change in the guide data. I've seen programs that were not listed at all show up as a recording when the guide is filling in after a reboot (which has been happening way too often lately.) It still appears to run a master scheduling update at 4:20 am/pm, where any programs without information will be removed.

Since somebody reported they replaced a series recording with a manual (presumably a later repeat selected off the guide?), the new software double-scheduled it, causing a conflict.

I have had this recorder for three weeks now and no glitches yet. My service is with Adelpia but they will be changing to Comcast in about a month. Thanks to this thread I have programed my silver remote with the 30 sec skip, swap, and mute codes. The only time I have to switch to the TV remote is to use to dot to dot mode. Is there any remote out there that has a mode button?

I've been reading through these and other forums for two days now and can't seem to find my question answered. I've found references to recording from the DVR's tuner onto a PC or Mac via Firewire, but what I need is to copy from the DVR's hard disk to my Mac (or PC, though it'd be easier for me to work on the Mac).

DTC6412/2305 phase 3, SD content only at this point. I've got to get this content off the box before I turn it in.

thanks.

I've been reading through these and other forums for two days now and can't seem to find my question answered. I've found references to recording from the DVR's tuner onto a PC or Mac via Firewire, but what I need is to copy from the DVR's hard disk to my Mac (or PC, though it'd be easier for me to work on the Mac).

DTC6412/2305 phase 3, SD content only at this point. I've got to get this content off the box before I turn it in.

thanks.

You can not copy the files from the DVR. You must play each one and record the live stream via firewire.

You can not copy the files from the DVR. You must play each one and record the live stream via firewire.

I am just curious. Has anyone tried to take the harddrive out of the box and attach it to a PC or Linux box. I am wondering if you could copy the data then.

I am just curious. Has anyone tried to take the harddrive out of the box and attach it to a PC or Linux box. I am wondering if you could copy the data then.

no you can not. You can not even take the HDD from one STB and install it in another STB to play.

You can not copy the files from the DVR. You must play each one and record the live stream via firewire.

Um, Ok. I guess that explains why I can't find the info. <grin>

I should just use the same info from the article on macteens and hit 'play' instead of recording from the tuner?

Hi, I'm looking into getting one of these Motorola 6412s from Comcast. Here's the thing... I don't have an actual HDTV. But I do have a DIY projector that uses a 15" LCD monitor with both VGA and DVI inputs. I saw that the 6412 has a DVI out on the back... will it display video on a standard LCD monitor, or is it DHCP-DVI only or something. Thanks in advance.

I've been reading through these and other forums for two days now and can't seem to find my question answered. I've found references to recording from the DVR's tuner onto a PC or Mac via Firewire, but what I need is to copy from the DVR's hard disk to my Mac (or PC, though it'd be easier for me to work on the Mac).

DTC6412/2305 phase 3, SD content only at this point. I've got to get this content off the box before I turn it in.

thanks.


You have seen this thread, right?

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=403695&page=1&pp=30

will it display video on a standard LCD monitor, or is it DHCP-DVI only or something.It uses HDCP but I suspect it depends on the channel selected. Probably only the HDTV channels will have it. (I've never tried it on a non-DHCP display.)

You have seen this thread, right?

I did, but it also appeared to be about recording (on the PC) something that was playing (on the DVR), not about copying an existing recording directly from the DVR's hard disk to the PC's, which is what I was hoping for. If I missed something I'd be glad to hear it, but from earlier posts here it doesn't look like it.

thanks anyway

I did, but it also appeared to be about recording (on the PC) something that was playing (on the DVR), not about copying an existing recording directly from the DVR's hard disk to the PC's, which is what I was hoping for. If I missed something I'd be glad to hear it, but from earlier posts here it doesn't look like it.

thanks anyway


That's the same thing. You play it off the dvr menu and capture it through firewire. Will not work for Premium channels, or other channels with 5c protection.

ajwees41

copying an existing recording directly from the DVR's hard disk to the PC'sIt is not currently possible.

It uses DHCP but I suspect it depends on the channel selected. Probably only the HDTV channels will have it. (I've never tried it on a non-DHCP display.)

It's DTCP. Don't want ya'll serching for DHCP or you'll find information on Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (for obtaining IP address and configuration on a TCP/IP Network)

5C DTCP - 5 company Digital Transmission Content Protection. An HDTV copy-protection encryption method for devices connected via FireWire, this allows one of three copy states: copy always (all ATSC broadcast and "in the clear" QAM cable broadcasts); copy once (premium cable); and, copy never (pay per view, video-on-demand). Bidirectional system requires 5C chips in every device in an A/V system (in other words, a set-top box, a TV, and so on); the TV "requests" acknowledgment before allowing the signal to be viewed or recorded. Proposed and sponsored by Hitachi, Intel, Matsushita (Panasonic), Sony, and Toshiba--the five companies.

It's DTCP. Don't want ya'll serching for DHCP or you'll find information on Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (for obtaining IP address and configuration on a TCP/IP Network)Sorry. That was a typo. Actually its HDCP (http://www.digitalconnection.com/FAQ/HDTV_12.asp) (High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection).

I currently have Dish with the HD DVR. Thinking about switching over to Comcast. I've heard Comcast doesn't compress the signal as much, plus they're offering some really good incentives to switch right now. I have 2 TVs that will use cable card (I think) and 1 TV that will connect the old school way. How does the HD DVR with Comcast work with cable cards? Forgive my newb questions but I'm not familiar with cable cards. If this is the wrong thread for this question, I apologize. Thanks.

Comcast's DVRs generally don't use CableCards nor interact with them.

I have the 6412 DVR, but through local cable company not Comcast. The last week or so I have been having a weird problem. When watching live TV (mostly HD) everything is fine, but when I record a show and then watch it, the shows have a pixelation problem every few minutes. The sound drops for like 10-15 seconds, a portion of the picture pixelates, then it comes back fine.

Where live TV is fine, could this be a sign of a hard drive problem? Would a reboot help?

Comcast's DVRs generally don't use CableCards nor interact with them.



So I would need a DVR box for each TV I want to record shows? What's the benefit of a cable card? I'm about to call Dish and cancel. I added up my bill and I'm paying $39 in fees and another $8.99 for locals a month!?!?!? I'm trying to understand how the cable card and DVR for Comcast work. Thanks.

So I would need a DVR box for each TV I want to record shows? What's the benefit of a cable card? I'm about to call Dish and cancel. I added up my bill and I'm paying $39 in fees and another $8.99 for locals a month!?!?!? I'm trying to understand how the cable card and DVR for Comcast work. Thanks.

The cable card is a lower cost reception alternative to having a separate box (or DVR). If you want to record shows, you will need a DVR, at extra cost.

Cable cards will not do PPV.

ajwees41

So I would need a DVR box for each TV I want to record shows? What's the benefit of a cable card? I'm about to call Dish and cancel. I added up my bill and I'm paying $39 in fees and another $8.99 for locals a month!?!?!? I'm trying to understand how the cable card and DVR for Comcast work. Thanks.
Cable card and dvr are apples and oranges. The cablecard is used instead of a settop box (stb). If your tv has a cable card slot, you can use a cablecard instead of a stb to get premium channels. Since you want a dvr, you won't need a cablecard - you will already have access to premium channels through the dvr/stb. Do both of your tvs accept a cable card?

Speaking generally, if you want a dvr on both tvs, you have no need for a cablecard on either tv. If you only need one dvr, you can put the dvr on one tv and get a cablecard for the other.

I have the 6412 DVR, but through local cable company not Comcast. The last week or so I have been having a weird problem. When watching live TV (mostly HD) everything is fine, but when I record a show and then watch it, the shows have a pixelation problem every few minutes. The sound drops for like 10-15 seconds, a portion of the picture pixelates, then it comes back fine.

Where live TV is fine, could this be a sign of a hard drive problem? Would a reboot help?

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Bugs#When_watching_a_recorded_program.2C_there_are_audio_dro pouts_or_digital_video_artifacts

Thanks everyone!! You've cleared up my confusion. It looks like I'm going to need 3 DVRs. 2 HD and 1 SD. Does Comcast offer different levels of DVRs? What do I want to look for? Thanks.

So I would need a DVR box for each TV I want to record shows? What's the benefit of a cable card?Without them, you cannot tune in encrypted channels on your tuner. I'm trying to understand how the cable card and DVR for Comcast work.The complexity you're introducing is DVR capability, which is beyond just tuning in the channels -- it also allows you to record the programming and play it back at your leisure. There are DVRs (most notably, the TiVo Series 3) that accept CableCards and will allow you to do what you wish, but they're incredibly expensive.

Thanks everyone!! You've cleared up my confusion. It looks like I'm going to need 3 DVRs. 2 HD and 1 SD. Does Comcast offer different levels of DVRs? What do I want to look for? Thanks.


Depending if your area is all digital no analog tv signal.

You might have an option of Motorola 3412-3416 just like a 6412 except doesn't tune Analog cable. Your local Comcast might or might not carry the SD Motorola version of the 3400. The 3412-3416 are HD capable.


ajwees41

It looks like I'm going to get 3 DVRs. No cable card. Comcast will be supplying the DVRs. Is the 6412 the high end Comcast DVR? Do I want to make sure that's the one I get? I'm in the Minneapolis area and think it's all digital? Thanks again!

The high end dvr would be the all digital 3412-3416 if offered in your area.

ajwees41

I have a friend that only gets the $15/month basic cable from Comcast. He's getting an HD TV and wants to know if he will get the over the air HD stations on this subscription. I know they block most of the analog cable channels that are not OTA channels. Do they also block the digital HD versions of the OTA channels? (I know they don't encrypt them).

Assuming they don't block it, his options would be:

1) Buy an HDTV with a built in QAM tuner for unencrypted QAM. Unfortunately, most HDTV's only have ATSC tuners.

2) Buy an external HD QAM tuner for unencrypted QAM with component outputs. Does anyone know of an economical current model?

3) Rent a 6412 from Comcast. Will they do this on a basic cable subscription?

I have a friend that only gets the $15/month basic cable from Comcast. He's getting an HD TV and wants to know if he will get the over the air HD stations on this subscription. I know they block most of the analog cable channels that are not OTA channels. Do they also block the digital HD versions of the OTA channels? (I know they don't encrypt them).

Assuming they don't block it, his options would be:

1) Buy an HDTV with a built in QAM tuner for unencrypted QAM. Unfortunately, most HDTV's only have ATSC tuners.

2) Buy an external HD QAM tuner for unencrypted QAM with component outputs. Does anyone know of an economical current model?

3) Rent a 6412 from Comcast. Will they do this on a basic cable subscription?
1) Read the fine print. Many current-model TVs advertise ATSC tuners, but actually support both 8-VSB for OTA (antenna) reception and QAM for cable digital channel reception.

2) There is a new Samsung external HD/SDTV digital set top box/tuner that sells for about $170. The model number is DTB-H260F and it is discussed in this thread: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=728392

3) In most Comcast areas, they require a minimum of some digital package to be able to use their 6412 for HDTV reception.

FYI, Comcast customer service rep's have little or no training on how a person can use their own QAM tuner for HDTV reception over Comcast cable--for normally-free over-the-air (OTA) channels, but not premium channels. They will likely tell you the ONLY way to get HDTV over cable is with their digital service and the 6412 or 3412/3416 box.

In the Seattle area, we can definitely receive free HDTV channels using a QAM tuner using their Limited Basic service which sells for about $14 per month.

The high end dvr would be the all digital 3412-3416 if offered in your area.

ajwees41



I talked with a lady at Comcast about switching from Dish to cable. I asked her if there's different DVRs. (i.e. high end, low end, etc) She chuckled and said, "no." I then asked what model # DVR I'm getting. She laughed again and said, "I don't know." So I guess I'm getting what they're giving. Hope it's a good one...

I talked with a lady at Comcast about switching from Dish to cable. I asked her if there's different DVRs. (i.e. high end, low end, etc) She chuckled and said, "no." I then asked what model # DVR I'm getting. She laughed again and said, "I don't know." So I guess I'm getting what they're giving. Hope it's a good one...

When the installer comes out, ask him for 3416s, or 6416s, if he has them. They both have a 160GB HDD, instead of the 120GB HDD on the 3412 and 6412. Believe me, 120GB is NOT enough, if you are going to be recording HD programming. The 34xx are the newer boxes, and only have digital tuners. The 64xx have analog and digital tuners. I don't think there is much difference in performance, apart from that. The important thing seems to be to get one that doesn't have any bugs, and that seems to be luck-of-the-draw. :rolleyes:

I have a friend that only gets the $15/month basic cable from Comcast. He's getting an HD TV and wants to know if he will get the over the air HD stations on this subscription. I know they block most of the analog cable channels that are not OTA channels. Do they also block the digital HD versions of the OTA channels? (I know they don't encrypt them).

Assuming they don't block it, his options would be: . . .


Not a good assumption. Things are not consistent across the country (which is the first bit of confusion you have to deal with).

In some parts of the country local HD stations WERE transmitted unencrypted digitally. Increasingly they are being encrypted and your friend will need to pay for digital cable service (or use an over the air antenna).

Discovered another bug/feature loss in the new software:
Take a VCR-style manual recording that is set up to repeat (such as every week, M-F, etc..) Wait for the recording to begin, then stop it. In the past, this would simply stop the recording, but have no effect on scheduled recordings in the future. Now, it totally deletes it, just as if you chose 'Do not Record this program' before the recording begins.

You’re right kjbawc, I need to talk to the installer. The reps didn’t have a clue about DVRs. Which incidentally, my install is set for Dec. 8th. Do the Comcast DVRs have HDMI? Thanks.

You’re right kjbawc, I need to talk to the installer. The reps didn’t have a clue about DVRs. Which incidentally, my install is set for Dec. 8th. Do the Comcast DVRs have HDMI? Thanks.

I think that some of the early 6412s only had DVI, but my 6412 has HDMI. Check the wikipedia. It has an amazing amount of info on the Motorola boxes, and things you can do with them.

OOPS! MY 6412 PII has DVI, not HDMI.

64xx Phase I and Phase II boxes are DVI only. 64xx Phase III and 34xx boxes are HDMI.

That's good to know. I'm going to call Comcast back and make sure I'm getting 2 with HDMI. What are the main differences between the 64xx phase III and the 34xx boxes?

That's good to know. I'm going to call Comcast back and make sure I'm getting 2 with HDMI. What are the main differences between the 64xx phase III and the 34xx boxes?

Not too much my 6412 crapped the bed last weekend and monday they had a new box to me. The main difference is the HDMI Out which will come in handy since my new tv coming has 2 HDMI but only 1 component input, other than that the box is a bit smaller and runs alot cooler. I was told they had a 160gb version but in limited supply and I would only get the 120gb. I was also told (take this with a grain of salt) that the Tivo service would be available in the spring of 07

What are the main differences between the 64xx phase III and the 34xx boxes?


the Moto DCT 64xx Series are combo Analog / Digital QAM tuners. They will work on both analog & digital cable systems.

The Moto DCT 34xx Series is Digital QAM Tuners only. They will NOT work on a analog cable system.

I talked to a rep form Comcast this afternoon. Had to make sure I get 2 DVRs with HDMI. I also asked if I could get the 160gb hard drive. He assured me that the 160gb was standard issue. We'll see come install time...

Scanpa, how does one know if they're on an analog or digital system? Thanks.

[QUOTE=The main difference is the HDMI Out which will come in handy since my new tv coming has 2 HDMI [/QUOTE]


Congrats on the new TV! What did you decide on?

I talked to a rep form Comcast this afternoon. Had to make sure I get 2 DVRs with HDMI. I also asked if I could get the 160gb hard drive. He assured me that the 160gb was standard issue. We'll see come install time...

Scanpa, how does one know if they're on an analog or digital system? Thanks.

Comcast does not provide the 3416 except in those areas which are fully digital.

My 6412 box blew up, and they replaced it with the 3416. I was told the 160gb box was in short supply and I would not receive that. The 3416 does not have any of the sluggishness of the 6412

I had the new firmware updated this week and twice now i have had the box lock up when browsing on demand. It stops at "one moment please" and then reboots like the 3412 was doing when i had it.

This 6412 has worked great since i got and the firmware seems to make the HD look better, sound is definitely better too.

The reboot problem so far has only been when using on demand, should i do a reboot and download the firmware again? Anyone else having this issue?

The reboot problem so far has only been when using on demand, should i do a reboot and download the firmware again? Anyone else having this issue?
My 6412 P1 had been pretty well behaved for about two years. Since the 16.20 upgrade two weeks ago, I've had to pull the plug 3 times due to lockups. All 3 lock ups occured when watching a recording. The recording will still play, but all buttons/controls lock up, including the clock.

My 6412 box blew up, and they replaced it with the 3416. I was told the 160gb box was in short supply and I would not receive that. The 3416 is 160GB.

Some bugs I've had already:
On Wednesday night, it only recorded the last 20 minutes of Letterman. On Thursday night, it didn't record it at all, although the channel had changed. I deleted and recreated the series entry, and last night seems to have recorded OK.

When I went to delete a recording today, it froze solid. After 20 minutes, I had to pull the plug.

This is on a 6412-P2.

I also have the 6412-PII, and I've been having similar issues. The box has frozen entirely on occasion, or gotten so gorked on other occasions that I had to unplug it anyway.

My favorite issues introduced with the 16.20 F/W upgrade include:

Freezing up at random intervals, whether in use or not.
Playing only in slow-motion following RW or FF of live/buffered TV. It doesn't matter how many times Play, Pause, FF, RW or LIVE is pressed --- it won't come out of it without a reboot.
Claiming the HDD is 100% full when it is 50-75% full, and refusing to record programs or buffer live TV.
Failing to record scheduled recordings for no reason whatsoever.
Failing to record scheduled recordings because all scheduled recordings show "To Be Announced", even though the guide data shows properly in the iGuide display.
Randomly deleting recorded programs when the HDD is less than 75% full. I've decided the box is courteously saving room for me, in case I decide to schedule a 5-hour HD recording at a moment's notice.
Randomly deleting recorded programs following a reboot. I've decided the box is providing me the service of deleting programs it knows I may never watch.
Audio drop-outs and video pixelation. I've decided the box is censoring programs it knows I shouldn't be watching.

I have started leaving the box on 24/7, which I didn't have to do previously. So far, it hasn't helped. When I watch all the recorded programs I want to see, I'll do a full reset and see what happens.

My 6412 P1 had been pretty well behaved for about two years. Since the 16.20 upgrade two weeks ago, I've had to pull the plug 3 times due to lockups. All 3 lock ups occured when watching a recording. The recording will still play, but all buttons/controls lock up, including the clock.

Yes. Same here, except for the part about it being isolated to recorded programs. I have come back to the box a number of times, finding it in a frozen state, with the video still playing.

The only lockup I had was trying to delete a recording. I think it could have gotten confused as I had used the 30-second skip a few times near the end, then very quickly hit OK when it shows the delete option.

I've had several random reboots. Twice it happened powering back on after using the user or diagnostics menu. I think this happens if I power up too fast. I haven't had problems if I wait 2 or 3 seconds after exiting the menus before trying to power back on.

Another reboot happened while FF's through a program. It happened at the same point twice. I got past it by slowing down and skipping across the spot.

The only lockup I had was trying to delete a recording. I think it could have gotten confused as I had used the 30-second skip a few times near the end, then very quickly hit OK when it shows the delete option.

I've had several random reboots. Twice it happened powering back on after using the user or diagnostics menu. I think this happens if I power up too fast. I haven't had problems if I wait 2 or 3 seconds after exiting the menus before trying to power back on.

Another reboot happened while FF's through a program. It happened at the same point twice. I got past it by slowing down and skipping across the spot.
I haven't had it reboot on me while watching a program, but I have seen the guide data and menus restoring after what must have been a recent reboot.

More often, it's these random problems that I haven't been able to associate with a particular cause. The box has locked up when I haven't been watching it, so I know it's not a condition I forced the box into with the UI.

I also have the 6412-PII, and I've been having similar issues. The box has frozen entirely on occasion, or gotten so gorked on other occasions that I had to unplug it anyway.

My favorite issues introduced with the 16.20 F/W upgrade include:

Freezing up at random intervals, whether in use or not.
Playing only in slow-motion following RW or FF of live/buffered TV. It doesn't matter how many times Play, Pause, FF, RW or LIVE is pressed --- it won't come out of it without a reboot.
Claiming the HDD is 100% full when it is 50-75% full, and refusing to record programs or buffer live TV.
Failing to record scheduled recordings for no reason whatsoever.
Failing to record scheduled recordings because all scheduled recordings show "To Be Announced", even though the guide data shows properly in the iGuide display.
Randomly deleting recorded programs when the HDD is less than 75% full. I've decided the box is courteously saving room for me, in case I decide to schedule a 5-hour HD recording at a moment's notice.
Randomly deleting recorded programs following a reboot. I've decided the box is providing me the service of deleting programs it knows I may never watch.
Audio drop-outs and video pixelation. I've decided the box is censoring programs it knows I shouldn't be watching.

I have started leaving the box on 24/7, which I didn't have to do previously. So far, it hasn't helped. When I watch all the recorded programs I want to see, I'll do a full reset and see what happens.

Ditto. The audio drop outs and video pixelation are horrible. Comcast gave me another Comcrapstic response when I called about it -- we can schedule a tech to come out and look at it (meaning I'll need to take half a day off of work), but we can't guarentee that we'll have any boxes in stock to give you if that's what it needs. Thanks, guys!

Question, primarily for scanpa:

I'm in the process of performing a DVR Authorization and Factory Reset (http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Resets#DVR_Authorization_and_Factory_Full_Reset), hoping that it will at least solve the problem I'm having involving the DVR not bothering to record any of my scheduled recordings (they all show "To Be Announced" now, and none of them are being recorded).

When I held POWER and MENU while plugging in the box, I saw "boot" on the LED display, and then arrowed down to "n dl". I pressed SELECT and the process began.

I'm wondering what the other options besides "n dl" are for, they read:

* cold
* hunt
* run
* dISP

Do you know what these options do? TIA.

I'm wondering what the other options besides "n dl" are for, they read:

* cold
* hunt
* run
* dISP

Do you know what these options do? TIA.
I think they are:
cold - Reboots as if you pulled the plug
hunt - Searches for the communications frequencies
run - Just continues booting as if you hadn't started up the boot menu
dISP - I think this is just a display check?

A note for others who may encounter problems with their scheduled recordings:

I figured out why all my series recordings weren't being recorded, even though they would show up at the correct times in the Scheduled Recordings menu, each one titled "To Be Announced".

All the channel numbers for the series recordings were wrong. This didn't happen immediately with the 16.20 F/W upgrade, but sometime since then. Every single series recording had been changed to record a non-existent channel, i.e.,

NBCHD 232 -> 11221
FOXHD 234 -> 5491
HBOHD 215 -> 10002
CBSHD 233 -> 11581
PBS 2 -> 5196

I have all my series recordings set to record "this channel only", so I have no idea how the iGuide even found the programs to be recorded, but when it came time to actually record the programs, it wasn't following through.

I did schedule one recording for a single show in the iGuide that was never recorded, but that may have been due to a random reboot, I'm not sure. I returned home and my guide data was partially missing, so I'm assuming it rebooted.

I deleted all series recordings and rescheduled as many as I could. I'll see if it starts recording them correctly or not.

went to cancel my satellite service today and told them I was switching to Comcast cable. The satellite folks did a little trash talking towards cable. One thing they said was that cable is only about 20%-30% digital. The other 70% or so is analog. I know it used to be this way. Just wondering if this is true today. Any insights or suggestions will be very helpful. Thanks.

went to cancel my satellite service today and told them I was switching to Comcast cable. The satellite folks did a little trash talking towards cable. One thing they said was that cable is only about 20%-30% digital. The other 70% or so is analog. I know it used to be this way. Just wondering if this is true today. Any insights or suggestions will be very helpful. Thanks.

Depends on area & MSO.

I have Comcast, and all my CH. are Digital, infact my 3 Moto DCT 3416p2 STB ONLY do Digital QAM, NO Analog tuner.

There is still about 40 - 70 Analog Cable Channels available in most areas that have converted over to Digital via ADS Cable program. (Analog Digital Simulcast.)

What area do you live in?

I live in the Minneapolis area. I've had satellite for almost 10 years. I'm very out of touch on the new cable systems, so I apologize for such basic questions. Thanks!

I live in the Minneapolis area. I've had satellite for almost 10 years. I'm very out of touch on the new cable systems, so I apologize for such basic questions. Thanks!
Plus, the HD you get is TRUE HD. The satellite services, due to severely restricted bandwidth, compress the *** out of it (HD-Lite). Most cable systems do little to no HD compression.

If you live in a Comcast CATV area, the 3412/3416 is available, so it is 100% digital. When I left Dish nearly two years ago, they trash talked CATV the same way. I already had the cable installed and I have never looked back.

I live in the Minneapolis area. I've had satellite for almost 10 years. I'm very out of touch on the new cable systems, so I apologize for such basic questions. Thanks!

If you happen to live in the NW suburbs, I can assure you that Comcast has converted to 100% digital.

If you happen to live in the NW suburbs, I can assure you that Comcast has converted to 100% digital.

I think all these answers are somewhat misleading - Comcast's basic cable doesn't really provide many digital channels. The ADS "digital channels" people are talking about are really analog TV that has been converted to digital for delivery to the customer.

Many times the analog version provides a better picture than the ADS does.

I think all these answers are somewhat misleading - Comcast's basic cable doesn't really provide many digital channels. The ADS "digital channels" people are talking about are really analog TV that has been converted to digital for delivery to the customer.

Many times the analog version provides a better picture than the ADS does.

Your point is well taken, but my experience was that the picture improved noticeably when Comcast did the conversion in our area. I realize there are a lot of variables in this including display, signal strength, etc.

I think all these answers are somewhat misleading - Comcast's basic cable doesn't really provide many digital channels. The ADS "digital channels" people are talking about are really analog TV that has been converted to digital for delivery to the customer.

Many times the analog version provides a better picture than the ADS does.

I would imagine the same analog-digital conversion is taking place with many of the digital channels, perhaps just farther up the content stream. I find it hard to believe the content providers are delivering their content in ready-to-air form for digital cable. Either way, the ADS channels are superior quality in comparison to the digital-only channels.

I think my ADS channels look better than they did with analog reception, but obviously YMMV. It's always a tradeoff b/w analog reception issues and digital noise, pixelation, etc.

Ultimately, though, this isn't about digital vs. analog quality. This is about digital satellite vs. digital cable. In my opinion, the all-digital quality of my Comcast feed beats the quality of the all-digital Dish Network feed I used to have.

In the St. Paul and suburbs area (the old Comcast area), yes ADS is being used. The ADS channels come in at 704x480 3-6Mbps. This is better than the digital-only channels, which come in at 528x480 2-3Mbps. The HD channels come in at their native resolutions, and my own, non-scientific comparison b/w Comcast HD bitrates and local OTA HD bitrates show Comcast isn't rate shaping or otherwise reducing bitrates.

In the Minneapolis and suburbs area (the old Time Warner area), everyone I know still has their old Scientific Atlanta box. I don't know if those boxes are capable of ADS, or if the TWC network is capable of ADS. A quick search didn't turn anything up, and I'm too lazy right now to dig deeper.

I also saw a post around here that listed Dish resolutions and bitrates for comparison, but I can't find it now.

went to cancel my satellite service today and told them I was switching to Comcast cable. The satellite folks did a little trash talking towards cable. One thing they said was that cable is only about 20%-30% digital. The other 70% or so is analog. I know it used to be this way. Just wondering if this is true today. Any insights or suggestions will be very helpful. Thanks.
Assuming you're here because you have the Moto 6412/6416, you can check for ADS with this procedure (http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Configuration#How_To_Check_if_Analog-Digital_Simulcasting_.28ADS.29_is_Enabled).

If you have the 3412/3416, it has no analog tuner, so you have ADS.

When I left Dish nearly two years ago, they trash talked CATV the same way. I already had the cable installed and I have never looked back.


Thank you, that's very reassuring.

Plus, the HD you get is TRUE HD. The satellite services, due to severely restricted bandwidth, compress the *** out of it (HD-Lite). Most cable systems do little to no HD compression.


I've noticed a lot "noise" on certain Dish HD channels, ESPNHD for example. I'm quite excited to see HD the way it was meant to be seen.

I have a 6412 and a couple of times within the past week, some of my scheduled recordings have not recorded because my dvr was "100%full". Both times, I had one show recorded on my DVR. I would then have to delete the one listing in my DVR, to have it record my scheduled show. Any suggestions?

Usually a change from 12.xx to 16.xx like Comcast has done indicates a major revision in the code base rather than bug fixes.

Anyone have any idea what the big motivation was for a big jump in the code base?

It certainly hasn't helped it seems with reliability.

jim

I have a 6412 and a couple of times within the past week, some of my scheduled recordings have not recorded because my dvr was "100%full". Both times, I had one show recorded on my DVR. I would then have to delete the one listing in my DVR, to have it record my scheduled show. Any suggestions?


http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Bugs#The_DVR_menu_erroneously_states_the_DVR_hard_drive_is_1 00.25_full

I have a 6412 and a couple of times within the past week, some of my scheduled recordings have not recorded because my dvr was "100%full". Both times, I had one show recorded on my DVR. I would then have to delete the one listing in my DVR, to have it record my scheduled show. Any suggestions?

I added the step to try performing a full reset. I was regularly experiencing this bug, but have not since a full reset.

See the bug description and rememdies (http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Bugs#The_DVR_menu_erroneously_states_the_DVR_hard_drive_is_1 00.25_full), as Couch Patato pointed out.

Usually a change from 12.xx to 16.xx like Comcast has done indicates a major revision in the code base rather than bug fixes.

Anyone have any idea what the big motivation was for a big jump in the code base?

It certainly hasn't helped it seems with reliability.

jim
Probably the new guide (http://www.comcast.com/newguide/) features, particularly Comcast Central, more than any bug fixes.

My firmware was updated about a month ago and there is one change that bothers me. Before the update whenever I entered the channel guide, the current program being watched was resized to fit in the upper right hand corner so that I could watch the program while I browsed the guide. Now the guide just overlaps the program and I can only see what isn't obscured by the guide. Is there any way to get it to resize again?

As of right now. NOPE. I don't think they really care about fixing it either. I still have 12 something & mine is the same way. Been that way since day one of getting this new box in June.

My firmware was updated about a month ago and there is one change that bothers me. Before the update whenever I entered the channel guide, the current program being watched was resized to fit in the upper right hand corner so that I could watch the program while I browsed the guide. Now the guide just overlaps the program and I can only see what isn't obscured by the guide. Is there any way to get it to resize again?

Had the same problem, not due to a firmware update though. Check this Link (http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Bugs#On_some_display_screens.2C_you_only_see_a_corner_of_the _video_instead_of_it_being_scaled_to_fit)
out, it worked for me.

Had the same problem, not due to a firmware update though. Check this Link (http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Bugs#On_some_display_screens.2C_you_only_see_a_corner_of_the _video_instead_of_it_being_scaled_to_fit)
out, it worked for me.


Oh my god! I can't believe it. It worked. I take back what I said.

I think I played with this way back in the summer but it didn't change things. I guess I didn't move it far enough.

The bug fix says one or two clicks. Ha! It took about 20 or so. The screen finally shrunk in the corner! Thanks!!!!


We all learn something new every day.:)

Had the same problem, not due to a firmware update though. Check this Link (http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Bugs#On_some_display_screens.2C_you_only_see_a_corner_of_the _video_instead_of_it_being_scaled_to_fit)
out, it worked for me.
Thanks for the help!

Had the same problem, not due to a firmware update though. Check this Link (http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Bugs#On_some_display_screens.2C_you_only_see_a_corner_of_the _video_instead_of_it_being_scaled_to_fit)
out, it worked for me.

Thanks! Worked for me too. The firmware update must've kicked it in somehow, but this fixed it for me.

Does anyone else see an issue where the overlay doesn't always cover the right edge of the picture on SD? This will depend on how much overscan your TV has. On a TV with 5% or less, there can sometimes be a slight gap on the right showing the underlying video. At first, I thought it had to do with the combination length of the channel number and name, but that doesn't cover all the times I've seen it.

Does anyone else see an issue where the overlay doesn't always cover the right edge of the picture on SD? This will depend on how much overscan your TV has. On a TV with 5% or less, there can sometimes be a slight gap on the right showing the underlying video. At first, I thought it had to do with the combination length of the channel number and name, but that doesn't cover all the times I've seen it.
Yes, no amount of tweaking the guide position has cured it for me, either.

Hi, first post. VERY interesting forum. Just had latest 6412 installed a few weeks ago, Comcast.

3 questions. Had cable card 1 year in 50" Sony HD. No issues at all other than no guide and no recording. Went to DVR. SD picture bad compared to cable card. Jerky on HD - football, fast movement etc. Did NOT have it with card. Also any way to have CC (closed caption) throught the DVR? Dave

Well I'm back to loathing the buggy and crappy Motorola 6412pIII. What a piece of junk...last night, I had it scheduled to record Heroes at 9 on NBC, Studio 60 at 10 on NBC and What About Brian at 10 on ABC. Pretty simple right? Well since Heroes runs till 10:01 and Studio 60 starts at 10:00, the DVR can't figure it out that its the same channel...instead it says there is a scheduling conflict because I'm trying to record 3 programs between 10:00-10:01....so I deleted Heroes and WAB and re-added them to the series priority list...and it took it...no conflict message saying it couldn't record it. Well last night rolls around and I check the guide to make sure the red-dot is next to the listings for all 3 shows. Check, all 3 shows are set to record. Next I checked the Schedule Recordings List for 12/04. Check, all 3 shows are set to record and none of them have the Red Dot with the Slash through it...

So I sit down to watch Heroes at 10:01 and there is A) No Recordings of Heroes B) No Recording of What About Brian....I was about to rip the DVR off the shelf and hurl it across the room....I'm so entirely sick of this piece of crap and its buggy software and logic...I cannot wait for Verizon FIOS or Tivo software to come in...the 6412 is an absolute monkey-code waste of shelf-space... :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

Anybody know if the 6416 or 3416 is any better? I'm about to call Comcast and demand a new unit...

Wouldn't those units have the exact same software? Maybe slightly different firmware. The problem is the software. It's not very good and you get the impression that nobody is actually working to fix these kind of problems to improve it.

Well I'm back to loathing the buggy and crappy Motorola 6412pIII. What a piece of junk...last night, I had it scheduled to record Heroes at 9 on NBC, Studio 60 at 10 on NBC and What About Brian at 10 on ABC. Pretty simple right? Well since Heroes runs till 10:01 and Studio 60 starts at 10:00, the DVR can't figure it out that its the same channel...instead it says there is a scheduling conflict because I'm trying to record 3 programs between 10:00-10:01....so I deleted Heroes and WAB and re-added them to the series priority list...and it took it...no conflict message saying it couldn't record it. Well last night rolls around and I check the guide to make sure the red-dot is next to the listings for all 3 shows. Check, all 3 shows are set to record. Next I checked the Schedule Recordings List for 12/04. Check, all 3 shows are set to record and none of them have the Red Dot with the Slash through it...

So I sit down to watch Heroes at 10:01 and there is A) No Recordings of Heroes B) No Recording of What About Brian....I was about to rip the DVR off the shelf and hurl it across the room....I'm so entirely sick of this piece of crap and its buggy software and logic...I cannot wait for Verizon FIOS or Tivo software to come in...the 6412 is an absolute monkey-code waste of shelf-space... :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

Anybody know if the 6416 or 3416 is any better? I'm about to call Comcast and demand a new unit...

I've had this very problem happen more than once when I had a 6412, and although it may not be related, it also involved an ABC program, I think it was Boston Legal. Everything looks fine after deleting and adding back in the recordings. but then neither of them records. Frustrating. Never figured out why it did that. No issues with the S3 TiVo, it has yet to fail in those type of situations.

I cannot wait for Verizon FIOS or Tivo software to come in...the 6412 is an absolute monkey-code waste of shelf-space... :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:


Why not just spring for that nice, shiny S3 TiVo? :)

Monday Night 7 weeks ago, with those 3 shows and MNF being completely messed up by my 6412, is when I finally decided to dump it for good :) Just over a week later, I was in S3 bliss!

I'm tempted to do the same because of all of the problems I've had with the 6412. if the S3 either had
1.) a lower entry price, or
2.) a lower monthly fee
I would be all over it.

I'm tempted to do the same because of all of the problems I've had with the 6412. if the S3 either had
1.) a lower entry price, or
2.) a lower monthly fee
I would be all over it.

I actually don't have many problems with my 6412, but I'd be all over the S3 if I wasn't afraid of switched digital video coming in and making them virtually worthless for cable. That is, unless the S3 will work with two-way communicating cards...when they are available, that is...

Randy

I actually don't have many problems with my 6412, but I'd be all over the S3 if I wasn't afraid of switched digital video coming in and making them virtually worthless for cable. That is, unless the S3 will work with two-way communicating cards...when they are available, that is...

Randy


Don't let too many buts, ifs and thens ruin your 'now' (and for the foreseeable future, considering all the foot-dragging by CableCos) HD viewing enjoyment. Take the plunge, the water's nice and warm, the KoolAid's yummy ;)

Don't let too many buts, ifs and thens ruin your 'now' (and for the foreseeable future, considering all the foot-dragging by CableCos) HD viewing enjoyment. Take the plunge, the water's nice and warm, the KoolAid's yummy ;)

If sdv wasn't already (reportedly) rearing its ugly head some, or if I had major issues with my 6412, I'd be very tempted. As it stands, I'm okay to see how things shake out. But the invitation is definitely appreciated! :)

Well I'm back to loathing the buggy and crappy Motorola 6412pIII. What a piece of junk...last night, I had it scheduled to record Heroes at 9 on NBC, Studio 60 at 10 on NBC and What About Brian at 10 on ABC. Pretty simple right? Well since Heroes runs till 10:01 and Studio 60 starts at 10:00, the DVR can't figure it out that its the same channel...instead it says there is a scheduling conflict because I'm trying to record 3 programs between 10:00-10:01....so I deleted Heroes and WAB and re-added them to the series priority list...and it took it...no conflict message saying it couldn't record it. Well last night rolls around and I check the guide to make sure the red-dot is next to the listings for all 3 shows. Check, all 3 shows are set to record. Next I checked the Schedule Recordings List for 12/04. Check, all 3 shows are set to record and none of them have the Red Dot with the Slash through it...

So I sit down to watch Heroes at 10:01 and there is A) No Recordings of Heroes B) No Recording of What About Brian....I was about to rip the DVR off the shelf and hurl it across the room....I'm so entirely sick of this piece of crap and its buggy software and logic...I cannot wait for Verizon FIOS or Tivo software to come in...the 6412 is an absolute monkey-code waste of shelf-space... :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

Anybody know if the 6416 or 3416 is any better? I'm about to call Comcast and demand a new unit...

I had something similar happen, but I did get Heroes and What About Brian. I'm almost positive Studio 60 was set to record but it wasn't there when we went to watch tonight. I wish Comcast would add a frickin' history function so you can see what happened. I really wish NBC would stream the whole show for Studio 60 instead of the two minute replay.

isn't the S3 like $600? yikes no thanks...thats a pretty steep price to pay for functionality that the Motorola SHOULD flipping have

Anyone else start receiving obnoxious, loud contextual ads and "quick tips" at the bottom of their iGuide listings?

This is annoying. I really enjoy paying to receive advertisements.

Anyone else start receiving obnoxious, loud contextual ads and "quick tips" at the bottom of their iGuide listings?

This is annoying. I really enjoy paying to receive advertisements.

They tried here in Co. this summer. It only lasted about a month. I think they rec. quite a few complaints & killed it.

You'll probly notice that it's only during prime time.

They tried here in Co. this summer. It only lasted about a month. I think they rec. quite a few complaints & killed it.

You'll probly notice that it's only during prime time.
I do remember seeing a few text-based ads a long time ago, during prime time. But these are on right now, with bright, colorful, and low-res graphics.

They were bright & colorfull here. The thing I really didn't like about it was that they took up two whole channels of the guid.

hey my DVR actually recorded what I told it to record last night...everyone rejoice!

isn't the S3 like $600? yikes no thanks...thats a pretty steep price to pay for functionality that the Motorola SHOULD flipping have

$700 - $800 for the hardware (price depends on if you can find one of the $100 off coupons) plus $20 a month for the service plus whatever the cable company charges you for the two cable cards.

Too rich for my blood. I'd be willing to pay either the $800 for the hardware with no monthly fee or a couple hundred for the hardware with the monthly fee, but the current price point is just too over the top for me.

mcamden, way to post the WORST possible scenario for pricing :)

The TC Forum store (sister domain/ownership shared with avsforum, so hopefully they'll let this free ad remain) has it for $120 off. Shipped, tax free (until you file State taxes of course, duh)

3 year service prepay is 299 (or is it 349?). Or 12.95 pm if you commit to 3 years. $6.95 for all subsequent/additional TiVos (S1, S2 or S3) on that account (same commitment)

$979 for 3 years, by my math. Not THAT far off your 800 self-imposed limit. And waiting a few weeks (after Christmas) may lead to a price drop!

Of course, there's also the Lifetime transfer available for a while (if you own or cana cquire a Lifetimed TiVo) for $199 one-time.

mcamden, way to post the WORST possible scenario for pricing :)

The TC Forum store (sister domain/ownership shared with avsforum, so hopefully they'll let this free ad remain) has it for $120 off. Shipped, tax free (until you file State taxes of course, duh)

3 year service prepay is 299 (or is it 349?). Or 12.95 pm if you commit to 3 years. $6.95 for all subsequent/additional TiVos (S1, S2 or S3) on that account (same commitment)

$979 for 3 years, by my math. Not THAT far off your 800 self-imposed limit. And waiting a few weeks (after Christmas) may lead to a price drop!

Of course, there's also the Lifetime transfer available for a while (if you own or can acquire a Lifetimed TiVo) for $199 one-time.

So in this best case scenario it only takes more than 8 years to breakeven vs a DVR from the cable company. And with the cable company if there is a problem they replace it free. And if you care about programs on-demand or pay-per-view, they are available with the cable box. that function is included

It is my theory that the pricing of the Series 3 and the various monthly fees are a bankruptcy strategy for Tivo for some reason, or maybe positioning to be so far in the hole that someone will have mercy and rescue Tivo via a buy out and then switch to a strategy that exploits thier technology for their own good and that of their customers.

Break even? One can (in most 'honest' cable regions) get a CableCard or even do without one and view unencrypted free-QAM channels witha MUCH cheaper cable TV package than renting a cable company DVR neccessitates. Of course, for those who want all those channels anyway (like me, honestly) this argument is moot.

I don't care about On Demand or PPV, so I have that going for me :)

And (just like TiVo), i don't need anyone to have mercy on me and not miss my HD recordings, or come post online to let people know that it is time to rejoice because my exuse of a DVR actually failed to miss a recording ;)

I also place value on peace of mind, superior UI, reliable recordings, clear, conistent recording/missed strategy, reliability etc. What's the breakeven on that, even IF one were to place a monetary value to it (which would vary per person).

Tha tangible and intangible benefits combined - For me, it made the decision WAY easier. If MRV/TTG comes out soon, or isn't clearly blocked by the Cable Mafi^H^H^HCompanies, I'll be getting a second S3 soon :)

<edit> And your 8 year math is incorrect- the numbers have been rehashed repeatedly on the TiVo forums, and depending on your usage and subscription type, breakeven is more like 2-3 years for many people. And instant gratification is worth that much ;)

Anyone else start receiving obnoxious, loud contextual ads and "quick tips" at the bottom of their iGuide listings?

This is annoying. I really enjoy paying to receive advertisements.

I'm in Charles County, MD and I woke up this morning to find ad banners at the bottom of the guide. It's ridiculous that they can push an update with ads but not include some benefit to the consumer. I still don't have the software version that is advertised at the following site: http://www.comcast.com/newguide/

Break even? One can (in most 'honest' cable regions) get a CableCard or even do without one and view unencrypted free-QAM channels witha MUCH cheaper cable TV package than renting a cable company DVR neccessitates. Of course, for those who want all those channels anyway (like me, honestly) this argument is moot.


That's what did it for me, all I wanted was the ability to dual-tuner record my local HD channels. With the Comcast DVR the least I could get away with was $75 a month. With the S3 amortized over 3 years, it's costing me about $45 a month, including the S3 cost and the TiVo subscription. Also, that $75 is unrecoverable money, whereas with the S3 I would say around $10-15 of the $45 is recoverable if I sell the unit.

The TC Forum store (sister domain/ownership shared with avsforum, so hopefully they'll let this free ad remain) has it for $120 off. Shipped, tax free (until you file State taxes of course, duh)
Can you post where you see it on the TC Store for $120 off. I'm seeing it for $799 on the site (http://store.tivocommunity.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=EA&Product_Code=2777&Category_Code=S3TIVO). Seriously, if you know how to get it for under $700, I'd appreciate knowing (either post, PM, or email me) because that's approaching my sweet spot for pricing and may change my mind.

We already have a Series 2 DT for my wife, so I should be able to add this to the subscription for the $7/month.

Just found the coupon. This gets interesting now.

One of us ... One of us ...

Good luck with the S3, mine rocks!

Mine actually (unlike some other regions) happily requested renegotiation & channel authorization for its Motorola CableCards when my Adelphia headend switched their software/setup or whatever to Comcast's sometime over the last couple of days! Without needing a truck-roll or a long phone call!

mcamden, way to post the WORST possible scenario for pricing :)

The TC Forum store (sister domain/ownership shared with avsforum, so hopefully they'll let this free ad remain) has it for $120 off. Shipped, tax free (until you file State taxes of course, duh)

3 year service prepay is 299 (or is it 349?). Or 12.95 pm if you commit to 3 years. $6.95 for all subsequent/additional TiVos (S1, S2 or S3) on that account (same commitment)

$979 for 3 years, by my math. Not THAT far off your 800 self-imposed limit. And waiting a few weeks (after Christmas) may lead to a price drop!

Of course, there's also the Lifetime transfer available for a while (if you own or cana cquire a Lifetimed TiVo) for $199 one-time.

wow what a ripoff...and people pay this?

Could someone please direct me to the Comcast 6412 thread?

:D :D :D

Could someone please direct me to the Comcast 6412 thread?

Point taken :)

Although I will continue to hang around here since I am holding on to my Comcast 6412 temporarily. Atleast until I switch to FiOS (now that the TiVo OS upgrade has been postponed ... to mid '07?)

About the ONLY good thing about the 6412 is the Firewire HD offload 'feature' ... which unfortunately locks up all trick play ability (after a Firewire offload) forcing a reboot and a two-day Guide info re-acquisition. Understandably, I haven't bothered capturing any more HD after the first couple of attempts!

I figured out why all my series recordings weren't being recorded... All the channel numbers for the series recordings were wrong..., i.e.,

NBCHD 232 -> 11221
FOXHD 234 -> 5491
HBOHD 215 -> 10002
CBSHD 233 -> 11581
PBS 2 -> 5196
...
I deleted all series recordings and rescheduled as many as I could.
Just a note, that I haven't had any missed recordings, reboots, lock-ups, or guide delays since forcing a full reset (http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Resets#DVR_Authorization_and_Factory_Full_Reset). For the time being, it has solved all issues I was having with the 6412. We'll see how long it lasts, but perhaps some (or many) problems are symptoms of a bad install when Comcast has pushed new S/W or F/W updates. Maybe a full reset following each upgrade will help.

Could someone please direct me to the Comcast 6412 thread?
Well, I think it is kind of germaine to the topic. If the 6412 wasn't such a piece of crap that filled up 300 pages mostly of complaints and problems on this forum, most people wouldn't even be considering dropp that kind of $ on a Tivo Series 3.

And if the TiVo Series 3 was thought-out a bit more, perhaps there wouldn't be a comparable number of complaints about it on the TCF! LOL!!!

The reality is that as much as we all love to sit back and exclaim, "This stuff should be easy to do perfect!" it simply isn't true. The Motorola boxes are what they are -- they're good enough for a vast number of people, and there is apparently insufficient numbers of people willing to pay sufficiently more to produce a market for substantially better equipment, except for what you see with the Series 3. Some people will spend the $800+$20 per month, but most won't, because the Motorola boxes are (again) good enough.

And if the TiVo Series 3 was thought-out a bit more, perhaps there wouldn't be a comparable number of complaints about it on the TCF! LOL!!!

Yeah, that and the cost are what are holding me back. Everytime I get ready to pull the trigger on the S3, I stop and think that the 6412 is good enough, especially because of the price difference. Then I sit down to watch something I recorded, and boom it's not there, or the video works but not the sound, or I can't fast forward, or it plays for 15 minutes and then stops, or ...

I just rememebr when I had DTV with an HD Tivo, the thing just worked. No ifs, ands, or buts; it worked! My big complaints with DirecTv were when they switched to HD-lite and the fact that I still had to maintain basic cable for locals.

If C-Cast would have just released the Tivo software for the 6412 already, this might not even be an issue.

But in the grand scheme of life, this is about as minor of an issue as one could be.

Got my Comcast cable installed today, using the 3416 box. Just want to say "thank you" to everyone who answered my questions and made the transition from satellite to cable as painless as possible. Muchas gracias!!

Now it's time to start tweaking and playing with this thing...

I'm in Charles County, MD and I woke up this morning to find ad banners at the bottom of the guide. It's ridiculous that they can push an update with ads but not include some benefit to the consumer. I still don't have the software version that is advertised at the following site: http://www.comcast.com/newguide/
I called about another issue and mentioned I was disgusted with the new ad banners.

The CSR immediately mentioned that he disliked them as well, that they were in a pilot period, and that they already have a complaint box set up specifically for the ad banners.

If enough of us call to lodge complaints, perhaps they will abandon the idea....

... and use that as justification for another price increase.

And if the TiVo Series 3 was thought-out a bit more, perhaps there wouldn't be a comparable number of complaints about it on the TCF! LOL!!!

The reality is that as much as we all love to sit back and exclaim, "This stuff should be easy to do perfect!" it simply isn't true. The Motorola boxes are what they are -- they're good enough for a vast number of people, and there is apparently insufficient numbers of people willing to pay sufficiently more to produce a market for substantially better equipment, except for what you see with the Series 3. Some people will spend the $800+$20 per month, but most won't, because the Motorola boxes are (again) good enough.

totally agree with you there. the tivo has a slick interface for sure, but i can't justify the cost. i mean the moto dvr box is $10 a month (extra over the regular box) and you get to swap out a brand new one if you have any issues with it, ever.

my main concern is that you get an $800 box and 2 years form now it fails and you are SOL.

totally
my main concern is that you get an $800 box and 2 years form now it fails and you are SOL.

Your main concern could be alleviated by purchasing one from Costco. :p It's curently the cheapest source of S3s anyway!

My 6412, which has performed very well the last few years, decided to dump all my recordings and scheduled recordings yesterday. I tried recording a few minutes and it worked, leaving the program fragment in My Recordings.

I've had Comcast reset the box with no effect. I tried turning the box off for an hour - no joy. I unplugged the box overnight - no luck. I checked the Wiki for ideas/bugs. I searched this string because I recall someone having this problem in the past but could not find the entry.

I'm hoping my previous recordings can be recovered. Any ideas (short of swapping the box out or the DVR HDD reset)?

Thanks

My 6412 did the same thing a couple of months ago which I attributed to a couple of power failures that we had had that morning. Never was able to recover my shows but the DVR has been working fine since then. FWIW, I'm recording something almost every night.

My 6412 did the same thing a couple of months ago which I attributed to a couple of power failures that we had had that morning. Never was able to recover my shows but the DVR has been working fine since then. FWIW, I'm recording something almost every night.

Thanks. I forgot to mention my 6412 is on an UPS, and I don't think we had a power failure/glitch.

My 6412, which has performed very well the last few years, decided to dump all my recordings and scheduled recordings yesterday. I tried recording a few minutes and it worked, leaving the program fragment in My Recordings.

I've had Comcast reset the box with no effect. I tried turning the box off for an hour - no joy. I unplugged the box overnight - no luck. I checked the Wiki for ideas/bugs. I searched this string because I recall someone having this problem in the past but could not find the entry.

I'm hoping my previous recordings can be recovered. Any ideas (short of swapping the box out or the DVR HDD reset)?

Thanks
I had this problem over the summer. I did a HDD reset, which caused me to lose all of my settings. Instead of doing the HDD reset, I wish that I had opted to have COmcast replace the unit. The HD reset seemed to work for the longest time; however, over the past couple of weeks, it's been acting strangely again (don't know whether to attribute the problems to the recent firmware upadte or a failing unit).

I called about another issue and mentioned I was disgusted with the new ad banners.

The CSR immediately mentioned that he disliked them as well, that they were in a pilot period, and that they already have a complaint box set up specifically for the ad banners.

If enough of us call to lodge complaints, perhaps they will abandon the idea....

I've called up to complain too. I encourage others to voice their opinions: 1-800-COMCAST

I have a 6412 III. I am having the problem mentioned several times in this thread that on series recordings on high def local channels it will often revert to the SD local channel. Our HD and SD local channel call letters are identical and it has been speculated in some posts in 2-2005 that this was the problem. I called comcast and they say they never even heard of this problem and if it exists its a Motorola issue and they are not responsible. Has anyone been able to resolve this problem? I know it is a known issue in this thread but have read for 7 hours now and have not found any answers yet.
thanks

I have a 6412 III. I am having the problem mentioned several times in this thread that on series recordings on high def local channels it will often revert to the SD local channel. Our HD and SD local channel call letters are identical and it has been speculated in some posts in 2-2005 that this was the problem. I called comcast and they say they never even heard of this problem and if it exists its a Motorola issue and they are not responsible. Has anyone been able to resolve this problem? I know it is a known issue in this thread but have read for 7 hours now and have not found any answers yet.
thanks
Sorry, no answers to report, but wanted to mention that this has happened to me a few times (especially on Fox and NBC) in the past 10-12 months -- but, I always assumed it was due to a temporary programming or tech broadcast situation/decision at either my head-end or upstream.

As far as the Comcast CSR's throwing the blame over to someone else (Motorola in your case) -- well I guess that's just part of their training and "par for the course."

........ Hey -- how about that? -- Here is our favorite CSR instructor now -- Mr/Ms Comoto-Botto. :eek: Let's listen to what she/he has to say to the class ------- (pregnant pause) ----- "Um-ah --- Pay attention now Comcast CSR class. --- Well -- um-ah -- we have been discussing difficult situations for the past 2 minutes now, and as I have pointed out -- um-ah -- they are part of life as a Comcast CSR (Lord, don't I know it!) But, hear me now -- um-ah -- and this is very important -- whenever you don't know the answer to a question or situation -- um-ah -- BLAME someone or something else. NEVER -- um -- I repeat NEVER -- admit that it might be a problem on our part or something we might be able to -- um-ah -- solve in the near-term with any amount of -- um-ah -- dilligent or thoughtful effort " ..... etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. (to quote a famous, yet fictitious, Perisan king [and I])

Hmmmm... Well back to the present --- Your problem might be a DCT6412 issue/bug, but I doubt it. More likely to be a temp situation due to "technical difficulties" at your head-end which will be rectified "any time now."

scanpa -- If you're listening -- can you enlighten us about this situation???

The channels being named the same are definitely the problem, and you need to escalate the problem until you can get someone who runs your local headend to rename one of the channels. We've had this problem twice here in Nashville when they added some HD feeds of the networks, and both times I had to contact the local customer service manager to get it fixed.

I have a 6412 III. I am having the problem mentioned several times in this thread that on series recordings on high def local channels it will often revert to the SD local channel. Our HD and SD local channel call letters are identical and it has been speculated in some posts in 2-2005 that this was the problem. I called comcast and they say they never even heard of this problem and if it exists its a Motorola issue and they are not responsible. Has anyone been able to resolve this problem? I know it is a known issue in this thread but have read for 7 hours now and have not found any answers yet.
thanks
Wow -- I haven't seen any mention of this problem since the Feb 05 posts that you referenced. Sorry to hear the problem's back.

If you have the series recording set up to "Record All Channels", you might want to change it to "This Channel Only" (or whatever the choice is). If that's not the problem, setting up a manual recording will work, though it's obviously far from ideal.

Strictly speaking it's likely a TVGOS program guide issue rather than Motorola or Comcast, but they should be dealing with that vendor and not forcing the customer to.

I'm hoping my previous recordings can be recovered. Any ideas (short of swapping the box out or the DVR HDD reset)?
I've never heard of anyone recovering a recording, in any situation, once it's disappeared from the list.

It sounds to me like you had a S/W upgrade that went poorly and caused a HDD reset already. Swap the box out if you're unhappy with it, but I don't think doing another reset would solve anything. It would simply clear it off and reinstall everything again.

Anyone else start receiving obnoxious, loud contextual ads and "quick tips" at the bottom of their iGuide listings?

This is annoying. I really enjoy paying to receive advertisements.

They just showed up in Baltimore County, Maryland. I just called to complain, and emailed. What a load of BS. I am now paying for ads that take away 20% of the guide I used to get.

:mad:

Wow -- I haven't seen any mention of this problem since the Feb 05 posts that you referenced. Sorry to hear the problem's back.

If you have the series recording set up to "Record All Channels", you might want to change it to "This Channel Only" (or whatever the choice is). If that's not the problem, setting up a manual recording will work, though it's obviously far from ideal.

Strictly speaking it's likely a TVGOS program guide issue rather than Motorola or Comcast, but they should be dealing with that vendor and not forcing the customer to.

The same thing happened on my 6412 II box. The last two Smallville and Veronica Mars (both on the CW) recorded in SD.

On the 6412 III how do you program 1 number channel input? I have done 2 days of search.

If I want ch 8, I have to input 008. CH 29, 029. Comcast comes to install first 6412 and said he programed 1 button ch select. Well in 3 weeks 6412 goes south, I went and picked up replacement an I have to do 008.

thanks, Dave

On the 6412 III how do you program 1 number channel input? I have done 2 days of search.

If I want ch 8, I have to input 008. CH 29, 029. Comcast comes to install first 6412 and said he programed 1 button ch select. Well in 3 weeks 6412 goes south, I went and picked up replacement an I have to do 008.

thanks, Dave

When the box is set to one button channel select you have to wait a few seconds before it tunes to that channel, this works for both one and two digit channels, if you punch in a three digit channel it tunes to that channel right away. So if you punch in 8, it will tune to that channel in a couple of seconds, same thing with channel 11, etc.

On the 6412 III how do you program 1 number channel input? I have done 2 days of search.

If I want ch 8, I have to input 008. CH 29, 029. Comcast comes to install first 6412 and said he programed 1 button ch select. Well in 3 weeks 6412 goes south, I went and picked up replacement an I have to do 008.

thanks, Dave

Go to Menu, Setup, Guide Setup, and change Channel Entry Behavior to Auto Tune.

Anyone have a cure for video stutter on HD channels on a series 3? Don't see it on the non HD channels. I'm on Comcast in Broward County, Fl.

Anyone have a cure for video stutter on HD channels on a series 3? Don't see it on the non HD channels. I'm on Comcast in Broward County, Fl.

I've concluded this is a box/firmware problem. I get it too and resolve it by turning the power off and back on. So far this hasn't been necessary so frequently I feel I need to get a different box. BTW, I have the 3416.

Turning off and on does nothing for me. Wish it did.

A little help?

Turning off and on does nothing for me.Turning it on/off will not do anything. Unplug the box for a minute. When you restore power to it, the program guide will reload. Your stuttering will be gone. Till next time.

Sorry for you but it's been working for me. ;) So far.