Here's a new bug I haven't heard of yet...When I FF through the commercials and hit play, instead of skipping back xx seconds (relative to the FF level), it appears to be skipping forward the same amount. It doesn't happen all the time, and the frequency is random.

Yup. Been experiencing this for months on my 6412. Happens more often with FF2 then FF3 and never with FF4 (I don't use FF1).

There also appears to be some other nice features to the software. Like when you do a search by show title it brings up a list of known shows. Much faster to page down to what you want than "type" it in.

Cool, I sure haven't seen this yet. Will hafta check again tonight.

When I FF through the commercials and hit play, instead of skipping back xx seconds (relative to the FF level), it appears to be skipping forward the same amount. It doesn't happen all the time, and the frequency is random.Anyone else experiencing this?

Yup, and it's pretty annoying. Used to be able to bypass the problem by hitting REW after FF, then hitting play, but this doesn't appear to work anymore.

I have the "skip forward after FF" also but it only happen on certain channels (mostly < 99).

Originally Posted by Alden_Sloe There also appears to be some other nice features to the software. Like when you do a search by show title it brings up a list of known shows. Much faster to page down to what you want than "type" it in.

Does anyone else have this feature? I sure don't. Sigh.

Originally Posted by Alden_Sloe There also appears to be some other nice features to the software. Like when you do a search by show title it brings up a list of known shows. Much faster to page down to what you want than "type" it in.

Does anyone else have this feature? I sure don't. Sigh.

Does anyone else have this feature? I sure don't. Sigh.

It's been that way for a long time. Every character you select refines the starting point of the list. When you're satisfied with the starting entry, you can then scroll through the list.

It's been that way for a long time. Every character you select refines the starting point of the list. When you're satisfied with the starting entry, you can then scroll through the list.

A few questions:

1) Is it "politically correct" to continue discusison on this thread now that I've been swapped out for a 3416? Couldn't find a 3412/16 with MSFT thread so I'm guessing the over riding commonality of this thread is the OS and not so much the hardware?

2) What does ADS stands for? I'm guessing its something like Automatic Digital Substitution or some such.

3) Related to the above. Does anyone know if the 6412 is by default set to use the digital feed for all the analog channels, if it's user setable or if there's even a way to tell? Since the 6412 has no RF output I'm guessing there's an A to D translation and the the reverse if you're using anything but the HDMI or Firewire output. Seems like just accepting the Comcast compression up front would the best way to go.

4) Anyone know about the stretching algorithm used by the Moto DVRs for 4:3 to 16:9. On my TV (an old Monovision) it streches the sides more than the center and it's never looked distorted to me. On the Moto box it seems like the news anchors are being viewed via a mirror in the fun forest. It looks like setting the override to 480p still lets the TV do the stretching and gives the best picture.

5) Does the RF out on the 3416 ever just function as a pass through or is it always going to output the DVR display on channel 3 (or 4 I guess if you change the setting).

6) Any info or rumor about why Comcast is planning to replace the MSFT software? I know it has some bugs but the version on my 3416 is way better than what was on the original 6412 (and working hardware is nice too :rolleyes: It seems like there's no shortage of issues with the iGuide software. I'm suspecting it's as much an economic reason as a technical one. However, the rumored networking may have been a big kudo for the iGuide folks.

A few questions:
...


1) I don't see why not, so I do it. Questions seem appropriate for both. I don't think they're giving out the 6412 any more. Mine died and was replaced by a 3412, and I later swapped for a 3416.

2) ADS -- Analog Digital Simulcast, which means both analog and digital signals are sent down the coax. The digital signals are mapped to the appropriate channels by boxes for which ADS has been enabled. The analog signals are available for use by analog tuners.

3) I don't know if it's automatically enabled for the 6412. It was for mine (when ADS first started). If it isn't, then you must contact Comcast to get it done. The analog signal is used if you have no box, or would be converted to digital if the box weren't enabled to use the digital, but more likely the boxes have been ADS enabled. Back when I had the 6412 I could see some of the analogs at the 7xy equivalents of the 0xy digital channels (e.g., Speed digital was mapped to 33, and Speed analog was on 733).

4) I don't know, since I avoid the stretch.

5) I've never tried it, but there is an option to switch the output at Menu/Settings/Cable box options/RF Bypass.

6) The switch from MSFT to iGuide isn't a rumor, it's imminent. The only rumors relate to when, and the soonest of those is June 4.

6) The switch from MSFT to iGuide isn't a rumor, it's imminent. The only rumors relate to when, and the soonest of those is June 4.
Thanks! I guess I didn't work this last question very well. I understand the swithover has been anounced. What I'm wondering about is rumors as to why? Technical vs. economics (economics usually wins out) and if it's a technical issue might that be related to the Moto anounced Home Networking? Clearly where I'm headed with this is IF the networking is enabled maybe there's a chance a PC could "spoof" a DVR ala DVArchive does for ReplayTV. That would be wonderful. I can also see where IF MSFT was involved in this they would driven to enable such a feature ONLY on machines running their software; and likely want to charge a usage fee. -Bernie

Thanks! I guess I didn't work this last question very well. I understand the swithover has been anounced. What I'm wondering about is rumors as to why? Technical vs. economics (economics usually wins out) and if it's a technical issue might that be related to the Moto anounced Home Networking? Clearly where I'm headed with this is IF the networking is enabled maybe there's a chance a PC could "spoof" a DVR ala DVArchive does for ReplayTV. That would be wonderful. I can also see where IF MSFT was involved in this they would driven to enable such a feature ONLY on machines running their software; and likely want to charge a usage fee. -Bernie

I never understood why Comcast would use iGuide in most of the country and MSFT here. I think the switch is probably due to a combination of lack of interest on the part of MSFT in supporting it and the fact that the iGuide is developing increasingly complex features that would be a pain to incorporate into another guide. We'll see just how interesting those features turn out to be. There's also that ultimate in vaporware to look forward to -- the Comcast TiVo guide.

It's been that way for a long time. Every character you select refines the starting point of the list. When you're satisfied with the starting entry, you can then scroll through the list.

Ahhh, that explains it. I thought the reference to "known shows" meant that it was now saving searches. Shoulda known that was too much to ask for. Sigh.

I never understood why Comcast would use iGuide in most of the country and MSFT here.

My understanding is that Comcast was pretty tight with Microsoft, and there was gonna be a push to use the MSFT guide software countrywide. I remember groaning when I first saw the words "Microsoft Enhanced" in the guide...

Assuming there are any Spokane customers here, it would be interesting to have a posting about the new guide software that was due to start rolling out there today (I know, it's Comcast and it's a schedule, so who am I kidding?).

Assuming there are any Spokane customers here, it would be interesting to have a posting about the new guide software that was due to start rolling out there today (I know, it's Comcast and it's a schedule, so who am I kidding?).

It hasn't been implemented yet as of 1:00 PM.

the spokane area guide transition was changed to the week of 6/12. so far the seattle area is still expected to start the week of 6/19.

Still the week of 6/19? This is the first I've heard of that date. Do you have a reference? (Not that I don't believe you -- I just want to know where to look when it slides.)

Can anyone suggest were to look to get some "what to expect" when we switch to iguide? this is the same iguide that is being used in the rest of the country correct? i'm curious what we are gaining and what we are loosing type comparison of msft vs iguide for the seattle market. There is over 350 pages posts in the comcast iguide discussion so if someone can summarize the the pro/cons of what we are about to be given that would be great.

Thanks
Keith

Check out www.comcast.com/seattlenewguide

There's a pretty decent overview there.

One thing I'll look forward to is dual buffers and tuner swapping. And hopefully the firmware will be updating as well with the new guide, so no more choice between funky FFW with 12.31 and spontaneous reboots with 12.35. I'm crossing my fingers that it's gonna be better.

the spokane area guide transition was changed to the week of 6/12. so far the seattle area is still expected to start the week of 6/19.

Any activity on the new guide east of the mountains, or has another slide been announced?

Any activity on the new guide east of the mountains, or has another slide been announced?

No new guide for me in Spokane.

One thing I'll look forward to is dual buffers and tuner swapping.

I've never been quite sure what these two things will do for us, can someone explain?

I've never been quite sure what these two things will do for us, can someone explain?

If it works like my direcTivo did, you always have access to both tuners and both tuners are always buffered. So you can be watching two shows ( A and B) on two different tuners for instance, and when show A goes to commercial you can switch to show B on the other tuner, which has a buffer and rewind in that one to catch anything you missed, and the show A will still be getting buffered, so you don't have to worry about missing anything (so long as it is in the buffer window) and you can switch back to show A at any time, while show B is still being buffered. It was great for sports for me.

It is very similar to what would happen if you recorded 2 shows at the same time on a 6412. When you do that, you can switch back and forth between them by entering the channel and they will both be buffered (because they are recording). But you can't change the channel in this case from one of the ones you are recording and keep access to both tuners without stopping a recording, changing a channel, and starting to record the new channel. With access to both tuners you are basically buffering two stations at once all the time and have access to both buffers.

I hope that made sense. It's the number one feature I miss from my DirecTivo (well #2 - Reliability is #1 :))

Just got a call from Comcast tonight. It was a recorded message to let me know that in the next 10 days the guide will be changing. So, I guess this thread is on it's last legs. There will no longer be a need for it. Perhaps we should figure out a way to euthanize this thread Bye bye msft guide. I really won't miss you. (I hope).

Just got a call from Comcast tonight. It was a recorded message to let me know that in the next 10 days the guide will be changing. So, I guess this thread is on it's last legs. There will no longer be a need for it. Perhaps we should figure out a way to euthanize this thread Bye bye msft guide. I really won't miss you. (I hope).

Let's wait until it actually happens. After all, I haven't even received a phone call, and I've heard nothing about the Spokane rollout that was to have begun the week of June 12 (whatever that means).

I received a message on my Comcast DVR about the new guide. It provided this link:

http://www.comcast.com/seattlenewguide/

Yeah, I got that message over a month ago here in Anacortes.....still waiting......

As far as I know the Spokane area already has the new guide, I havn't confirmed it, but I was told. Comcast started yesterday on the King County area, and is expected to work outward from there.

One thing to keep in mind is that the DVR's will come last, the standard STB's (dct 700 and such) will be the first to get the new software, so if you have a DVR you might have the new guide on the other boxes in your home, but not the DVR, dont worry, it didnt get forgotten, it will get the DL later in the week

I don't have the new guide in Spokane. I do have a DVR, though.

WooHoo! I have an older DCT5100 plus a couple of 6412s and a 3412. While the latter boxes do not have this, the DCT5100 has the new IGuide!!! It's for real guys and gals! This thread is close to being obsolete!

No new guide yet in my Bellevue 3416 or 700.

No new guide yet in my Bellevue 3416 or 700.
That's what you get for living in such a backwards community such as Bellevue. Come on down south to Lakewood, the waters fine! :D :D :D

Woohoo, one more post and I become an AVS Special Member!

WooHoo! I have an older DCT5100 plus a couple of 6412s and a 3412. While the latter boxes do not have this, the DCT5100 has the new IGuide!!! It's for real guys and gals! This thread is close to being obsolete!

Any big advantages to the iguide?

Well my non-DVR HDTV Cable box from Comcast has the new iGUIDE but the DVR box doesn't yet..

I do like the fact that while on the channel you can add it to your favorites list. Sure beats going through the master list. You can also change your THEME to your guide about 15 different color themes, audio setup as a few more options as well.

Well my non-DVR HDTV Cable box from Comcast has the new iGUIDE but the DVR box doesn't yet..

I do like the fact that while on the channel you can add it to your favorites list. Sure beats going through the master list. You can also change your THEME to your guide about 15 different color themes, audio setup as a few more options as well.


Now if they'd just give you the ability to control closed caption without turning off the box... No new guides here, yet.

No new guide in Shelton yet either :( GRRRRR.

I now have the i-Guide on my DCT 700's here in Shelton, still not on the 3416 tho. It's almost time to put this thread to rest :D

nothing here yet..shoreline 98177

Well I work for Comcast here in Spokane and the reason for the supposed switch to the new guide was because Microsoft wanted to work either either DirecTV or Dish. The new guide sucks its slow and has caused nothing but problems for us.

Hell it broke my device drivers for the DVR, I cant capture via firewire anymore.

My parents have the new guide in Enumclaw (non-DVR)

I just got the automated call for DuPont, Wa DVR Guide changing the week of the 23rd of July.

I got the automated call yesterday. My 6412 will be updated this week. Does anyone know if the new software will enable the 30 second skip? It looks like everyone else in the country has been able to enable this but us. If so does anyone know how to program this into a harmony remote? Thanks.

...
Does anyone know if the new software will enable the 30 second skip?
...
If so does anyone know how to program this into a harmony remote?
...



Yes, it's supposed to. Try this:
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Programming_the_Remote#Add_30-Second_Skip

Thanks Wareagle.

New guide in West Seattle today.

New guide in DuPont.. I guess this thread is dead now..:(

Anyways..FF works flawlessy for the last 8 hours.. One thing to note when you stop FF now it STOPS right there no auto back 15 secs or so..

ok how do I set my favorites with this new guide?

new guide running in Renton, WA

It looks like we now have to select the favorites list EVERY time we go into the guide. Boo! If anyone knows how to set it to always show a favorites list, please post. Also, the new search feature is a step backwards from the keyboard-style layout we had before - you have to scroll through the entire alphabet to enter each character! So far I still like the old software better.

Video of Comcast/Tivo interface - http://www.cnettv.com/9710-1_53-25635.html

Review of new Tivo HD - http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-video-recorders-dvrs/tivo-hd/4505-6474_7-32511935.html?tag=nl.e501

Got it in Olympia.

While I enjoy the new look and some of the increased accessibility, I am having problems with my family's favorite shows being recorded EVERY TIME they are on, rather than one specific time of the day. There doesn't seem to be a way to limit the recording to a single time-slot, short of setting up a one-time manual recording, or limiting the number of shows to keep. This quickly fills the hard drive in the course of two days. WTF?!?!?!?!

I called Comcast up to ask what I was missing and they said I wasn't missing anything. That's the way it works.

Realizing that I wasn't going to get any further with this. I inquired about the time frame for the Tivo "guide" and got the "I've never heard of that" response.

Can I have the MS guide back for now? :mad:

Not only that, apparently you can't get it to cancel all those extra recordings. 2 series I have set to record are Mythbusters and Entourage. Episodes coming on today are both repeats. So I attempted to cancel the upcoming recordings. The first cancel would work. Then, when I'd cancel the next program, the previous one I'd just cancelled was set to record again. When I'd go back and cancel that one, the 2nd recording I'd cancelled was now set to record again. I tried this about 3 times and the see-saw behavior happened each time.

New one for me tonight - hit play on a recording made today, data indicates it recorded normally for 1:03, got message: This recorded show is no longer available.

Has anyone else run into this? Any idea what it means?

New one for me tonight - hit play on a recording made today, data indicates it recorded normally for 1:03, got message: This recorded show is no longer available.

Has anyone else run into this? Any idea what it means?

I had this happen several times with the old guide software, but never figured it out. I had to just delete the recording. If it happens again I'm making Comcast give me a new box.

New one for me tonight - hit play on a recording made today, data indicates it recorded normally for 1:03, got message: This recorded show is no longer available.

Has anyone else run into this? Any idea what it means?

If I try to delete a program at the same time that both tuners are recording a program (that is, try to delete while 2 programs are also recording), you will get this message if you delete it just once- you then have to go back to delete it again. In short, you deleted the program (either intentionally or not) while 2 programs were recording.

New one for me tonight - hit play on a recording made today, data indicates it recorded normally for 1:03, got message: This recorded show is no longer available.

If I try to delete a program at the same time that both tuners are recording a program (that is, try to delete while 2 programs are also recording), you will get this message if you delete it just once- you then have to go back to delete it again. In short, you deleted the program (either intentionally or not) while 2 programs were recording.

Hmm, not sure what this means. Are you saying I accidentally deleted the program, then accidentally confirmed the deletion? The program had finished recording just a few minutes before I hit play, not sure I'm talented enough to screw it up so quickly...

:) Yeh, it is a little hard to explain. When 2 programs are recording, and I attempt to delete a third previously recorded program, I see the disk usuage go down, but, after a long wait, the Menu still shows the show. If I then attempt to play the this third show, I get the exact mesage that you described. But when I delete a second time, it disappears from the menu.

You may be having an unrelated issue :) In any event, very soon when we are all switched over to the new menu system, it will all be a moot point!

Not only that, apparently you can't get it to cancel all those extra recordings. 2 series I have set to record are Mythbusters and Entourage. Episodes coming on today are both repeats. So I attempted to cancel the upcoming recordings. The first cancel would work. Then, when I'd cancel the next program, the previous one I'd just cancelled was set to record again. When I'd go back and cancel that one, the 2nd recording I'd cancelled was now set to record again. I tried this about 3 times and the see-saw behavior happened each time.

I too enjoy MythBusters. So I decided to see if I could duplicate your problem with Mythbusters. I searched for upcoming epsodes, found one, went to series recording, selected New Episodes Only and that's what i got. Checked my guide schedule just to be sure and all it shows are new episodes to be recorded, no repeats. Works fine for me. I'll leave it that way for a while and see if it does indeed record repeats.

BTW: I am not a fan of either the layout of all the letters or having to scroll through the letters. I would much rather have a keyboard. That said, scrolling through the letters once you get used to it is onlyslightly worse than the keyboard layout, but not by much IMO. I hate them both.

I believe someone noted that the MSFT guide uses the broadcast flags or somesuch to know whether a show is new or a repeat. Many shows don't seem to have this data, so even choosing "new shows only" still gets you plenty of repeats.

I find the broadcast networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX) seem to be the best with setting the flag properly. Many cable networks don't seem to so I get shedloads of repeats I have to cull every week.

I believe someone noted that the MSFT guide uses the broadcast flags or somesuch to know whether a show is new or a repeat. Many shows don't seem to have this data, so even choosing "new shows only" still gets you plenty of repeats.

I find the broadcast networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX) seem to be the best with setting the flag properly. Many cable networks don't seem to so I get shedloads of repeats I have to cull every week.

Yeah I've have that issue with the new guide as well.. It doesn't seem to know what's new or repeat on alot of the channels. Three Sheets for one.. I said new only and it's taped like 9 in the last 24-36 hours..

I believe someone noted that the MSFT guide uses the broadcast flags or somesuch to know whether a show is new or a repeat. Many shows don't seem to have this data, so even choosing "new shows only" still gets you plenty of repeats.

I find the broadcast networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX) seem to be the best with setting the flag properly. Many cable networks don't seem to so I get shedloads of repeats I have to cull every week.

Having written my own guide using data from Tribune Media (one of the larger suppliers of guide data which is what I believe MSFT was using) the repeat flag is totally useless. It is incorrectly set by the suppliers of the info et. al. the networks and there is nothing that the suppliers of guide info can do about the "repeat" flag. The only algorithm I have found that works 99% of the time it to use the original air date. This is the date the show first aired and is typically set correctly. That combined with the date the show is supposed to show gives you new shows only. If both dates are the same (adjusted for GMT) then this is a new show.

As a test, I set MythBusters to record only new shows on my 6412. As of today, it only shows a recording for 9PM on August 8th. This duplicates EXACTLY what my guide software says. There is no new Mythbusters next week. This is a far superior algorithm to using the repeat flag. It appears that this is the way the IGuide software works because the repeat flag is NOT set on the other repeats. I should be getting tons of Mythbuster recordings on my 6412 if it did not work this way. The repeat flag sucks.

Having a problem with closed captioning, keeps disappearing. If I REW or skip back, the CC comes back again, not sure why it's not there the first time. Anyone else run into this?

In any event, very soon when we are all switched over to the new menu system, it will all be a moot point!

Is this true? Do we only have to put up with this 'software?' for a little while?

If true, when are we to get a real software for our DVRs? Expected date?

Tim

It's currently being rolled out now. From what I've read, the roll-out should be complete by the end of Summer.

My DVR was updated today, I live east of Redmond.

"If true, when are we to get a real software for our DVRs? Expected date?"

That depends on what you mean by "real software". If by real you mean written by REAL idiots and implemented by REAL bastards, then yes, it's real. I'm so glad that for the past year or so the rumors have been flying that this would be a version of Tivo. You can only laugh when you see the guide and realize you have been waiting for this.

I hate to say it, but I'd almost rather have the original MSFT back. They say the sequel is rarely better than the original, and I'm sorry to say that's true.

I want my MSFT software back!! I never thought i'd say that, but how can anyone live with this guide? Also the DVR seems buggy ... it had scheduled a season pass for a bunch of shows that i had never requested.

Is there a support group for this new software?

I want my MSFT software back!! I never thought i'd say that, but how can anyone live with this guide? Also the DVR seems buggy ... it had scheduled a season pass for a bunch of shows that i had never requested.

Is there a support group for this new software?

Yes, it's Alcoholics Anonymous. You'll find many of the designers there, too. :)

No, actually, I've only found the Comcast forums on their own site.

BTW, can someone please explain why it has been rumored for so long that the new software would be Tivo lite and then we get this?

I want my MSFT software back!! I never thought i'd say that, but how can anyone live with this guide?

Actually, I kinda like it. 30 second skip, of course, and the remote is much more responsive. However, the drastic drop in FF4 speed sucks, and FF generally seems more jerky...

Yes, it's Alcoholics Anonymous. You'll find many of the designers there, too. :)

No, actually, I've only found the Comcast forums on their own site.

BTW, can someone please explain why it has been rumored for so long that the new software would be Tivo lite and then we get this?

Actually, this is the same guide that Comcast uses everywhere else in the country. It's not, by any means, new as evidenced by the Commodore64-quality graphics.

There is an actual Tivo interface that is supposed to be available sometime later this year which you can request (and you will have to pay extra for... naturally).

But what you are seeing now is not the Tivo-lite that was talked about.

I thought the MS guide was pretty lame, but this thing is just horrible. I'll try out the "real" Tivo interface when it becomes available. If it doesn't run well on the craptastic Moto hardware, I may have to break down and buy a Tivo HD.

I hate the "new" guide software so much that I'm switching back to DirecTV. They're giving me a free HD DVR, 5 LNB dish, and I talked them into free MLB package for the rest of the season. Plus their DVR can record 30-50 hours of HD.

I thought the MS interface on Comcast's HD-DVR was better in every way to this new version.

I hate the "new" guide software so much that I'm switching back to DirecTV. They're giving me a free HD DVR, 5 LNB dish, and I talked them into free MLB package for the rest of the season. Plus their DVR can record 30-50 hours of HD.

I thought the MS interface on Comcast's HD-DVR was better in every way to this new version.
I mostly have small complaints about the new guide and there are several things I like better. I have two large complaints though that I don't think DirecTV can address. On DirecTV can you remove channels from the master list that you will never watch? Is channel surfing faster? IGuide does not allow you to remove channels and using up/down arrows on live TV is a joke. It takes forever to change channels and multiple presses add to the queue.

If there are any Tivo owners who read this, is this taken care of with the S3?

When I have the time and money, I'll probably take a look at replacing all but one of my Comast boxes (so I can get VOD, I know I'm one of the few who like it) and adding a Tivo S3.

I hate the "new" guide software so much that I'm switching back to DirecTV. They're giving me a free HD DVR, 5 LNB dish, and I talked them into free MLB package for the rest of the season. Plus their DVR can record 30-50 hours of HD.

I thought the MS interface on Comcast's HD-DVR was better in every way to this new version.


I'm planning on doing the exact same thing. I HATE the new guide with a passion. I was looking at picking up two new TivoHD's but if i'm gonna pay that much I want external storage to work so I can plug in a 500+ gig drive. I doubt I would stay even if comcast gave me a free year to stay on with them..i hate it that much..ok maybe I would stay but would still bitch :D

I'm planning on doing the exact same thing. I HATE the new guide with a passion. I was looking at picking up two new TivoHD's but if i'm gonna pay that much I want external storage to work so I can plug in a 500+ gig drive. I doubt I would stay even if comcast gave me a free year to stay on with them..i hate it that much..ok maybe I would stay but would still bitch :D

When I called Comcast to cancel (I told them I switched back to D* because I didn't like the new DVR guide software), all they offered me to stay was $33/mo for basic cable. No thanks.

I too am not impressed with the new guide. After 24 hours, it's not quite the disaster I thought at first, it still is generally worse then the MS guide (I can't believe I am saying that). I expect by this weekend I'll be on Tivo HD...

I too am not impressed with the new guide. After 24 hours, it's not quite the disaster I thought at first, it still is generally worse then the MS guide (I can't believe I am saying that). I expect by this weekend I'll be on Tivo HD...


Just completed setting-up my Tivo HD and am now recording HD goodness on two channels at once.

Comcast Redmond now has multistream cable cards (they gave me two, actually) so you only need one of them to enable both channels (so I'll be taking one back). Too about three minutes to activate over the phone with the excellent Comcast agent.

Unit plus service works out to $16 a month over three years. Since I save $10 buy sending back my 6412, for $6 more it is so worth it. Even when Comcast eventually gets around to launching their TiVo service in my area (which may be three years considering how late they are with the pilot), it's worth the money now to enjoy television again.

Just completed setting-up my Tivo HD and am now recording HD goodness on two channels at once.

Comcast Redmond now has multistream cable cards (they gave me two, actually) so you only need one of them to enable both channels (so I'll be taking one back). Too about three minutes to activate over the phone with the excellent Comcast agent.

Unit plus service works out to $16 a month over three years. Since I save $10 buy sending back my 6412, for $6 more it is so worth it. Even when Comcast eventually gets around to launching their TiVo service in my area (which may be three years considering how late they are with the pilot), it's worth the money now to enjoy television again.

Wish the Tivo had firewire. Can't use my DVHS with Tivo. Of course, having the ability to add additional disk space could potentially replace my DVHS. I'm tempted but not quite ready to pull the trigger on a Tivo. Hope I don't regret waiting when the fall season starts...

Wish the Tivo had firewire. Can't use my DVHS with Tivo. Of course, having the ability to add additional disk space could potentially replace my DVHS. I'm tempted but not quite ready to pull the trigger on a Tivo. Hope I don't regret waiting when the fall season starts...

The Tivo HD does have an E-SATA connection and I believe folks have connected SATA HDDs to it. I do have an E-SATA 2.5" enclosure with a 60GB HDD in it. Guess I should plug it in and see what happens...

The Tivo HD does have an E-SATA connection and I believe folks have connected SATA HDDs to it. I do have an E-SATA 2.5" enclosure with a 60GB HDD in it. Guess I should plug it in and see what happens...

The Series 3 works with e-Sata, but I haven't seen anything about the TiVo HD. I saw something else that should interest the TiVo crowd:

NCTA Opens Window to Switched Channels
http://ibc.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=175784

The Series 3 works with e-Sata, but I haven't seen anything about the TiVo HD.

There is an E-SATA port in the back of my unit, but I do not think it is active by default. The "kickstart62" trick for the S3 probably will work, but I don't load up my box so I should be okay with the standard on-board 160GB. Tivo and BestBuy (where I bought mine) are supposed to have an exclusive "external HDD" deal coming soon so we shall see how much they want for the thing.

According to the FAQ in the Tivo Community, the eSata port on the HD version of Tivo does not work. However, I too have also read where sometime this fall/winter eSata drives will be available for the HD series. Just a guess on my part, but I would expect the drive to be branded as a Tivo device with some sort of signature on the drive that enforces DRM. In other words, I would expect that you can't just plug in a sata drive, and/or that the file system would be encrypted.

I finally crossed over to the "other side" and recently purchased a TiVO HD series machine. So far I am very happy with it- a superior menu and guide system to my Comcast box.

I will keep my Comcast box for awhile. As a longtime Reply TV advocate, I found the 12-14 hour limit on HD storage, to say the least, very limiting. After the 2007 season ended in May, I vowed to get more storage before the new season starts in September. I originally purchased the TiVO HD assuming that they would activate the eSATA drive sometime before year end. In the meantime I would keep the Comcast box- between the 2 boxes I would have around 30 hours HD storage. When the eSATA port is eventually activated by TiVO, I would get a 500GB eSATA drive- and return the cable box.

But 2 things have changed my ideas. First, I read an article here (http://www.mfslive.org/winmfs/) in the TiVO Forum clearly detailing how to install a new larger hard drive into the TiVO. Opening the box will, of course, void the warranty, so I will wait a few weeks to make sure there are no immediate issues with the new TiVO HD box. Then I plan to install a spare 500GB drive I have.

And then this week, Ed Bott, clearly detailed the parts necessary to create a VISTA based home entertainment center (http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=289&tag=nl.e622) using Windows Media Center. I live in metropolitan Seattle, so I am confident that I will be able to receive the major HD channels OTA. The other channels I watch (663-666, ESPN HD, etc I can use my TiVO HD to record shows). I purchased the parts today at the sources he suggested (Dell and Amazon) for at/or under the prices he describes in his parts list (http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=290). I have been waiting to find a QUIET box with a small footprint. Seems like this will do the job (I considered waiting until the new XBOX comes out- the current XBOX, from all reports, is quite noisy. But who knows when that will Microsoft will bring that out). I am currently using the beta version of Microsoft's Home Server, so I will be able to tie into it to view pictures, play music, and hopefully, stream recorded HD shows.

I spent about 30" this morning with a Comcast CSR trying to figure out how to record only one of the multiple daily showings of The Daily Show; apparently it can't be done with the new software.

Also, I tried changing the Series Priorities for my various programs and sometimes the Page Up/Down moved the program but about half the time it simply moved to a different page.

I do like the 30 second skip I learned about on a different site on this forum

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/printthread.php?t=253006&pp=30&page=337

and wonder how I get there so I can post there instead of here?

Christine

...
I do like the 30 second skip I learned about on a different site on this forum

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/printthread.php?t=253006&pp=30&page=337

and wonder how I get there so I can post there instead of here?

Christine

Try http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?threadid=253006&perpage=60&pagenumber=999

WarEagle, thanks for the help; I can now read and post to the Seattle site...

Christine (still deciding if I like the new software)

I am hazarding a guess that the iGuide pulls it's guide data from a different source then the MSE guide did? I notice my Tivo has about as little information as the MSE guide had, while my 6412 with iGuide has significantly more.

Not a calamity, of course, but one of my beefs about the MSE guide was I never knew if a show was a repeat or not because it never gave title or info on it - just the show name. Kind of annoying to have to suffer the same with TiVo when iGuide is fully-populated.

For some reason a lot of my future recording setups, especially the Formula One programs, go through cycles of being listed by name one day, then To Be Announced the next, and so forth. Fortunately, they're still listed as future recordings even when the guide has forgotten what they are.

RIP MSFT guide, I miss you

RIP MSFT guide, I miss you

So true. We thought it was junk, but I couldn't take i-Guide for three days before I bought a Tivo HD.