possibly off-topic, but I could use some advice w/my 8300HD DVR. I have had an external drive which seems to be working fine for some time now. However, lately, when I play a recent recording, about 10% of the time, the DVR plays back the content from an older, different recording. The older recording is always a different name, channel, etc. I've done hard and soft reboot but no luck getting my recent recording back. Any suggestions?? For what it's worth, once the new recording is corrupt, I've had no luck restoring it.

thanks.

I've had the same thing happen a few times, also. The only way that I have found to play the correct recording is to delete the one it is incorrectly pointing too. But, after that, if I turn off the box, the newer recording will disappear also. I still don't know what is causing the problem, though.

is any compression done in the "narrow" option ?
doesnt seem that way. but its definitely louder.

didnt notice any difference in sound between Wide and normal,
although maybe it has to do ith audio level during channel changs.

I have been recording shows from the 8300 and comcast in wpb florida for 2 years (had D* TV before that witha an UltimateTV DVR....the best DVR IMHO)

I have a Panasonic DVD recorder, and I love burning shows that I have on the 8300, esp. HBO shows. b/c I set the DVR to copy to VCR, and I set DVD burner to length of show ,,, and watch what I want ..or leave the house....come back and finalize disc....BOOM I can take that show to any DVD player to watch...

Broadcast TV of course more difficult, if I want to record w/o commercials....
I usually record and watch so I can delete the nasty commercials...



BTW anyone know if there is a setting I can adjust , that will make audio on recorded DVD.s louder....seems to record video fine,, but audio seems to be too low...


Record away ...

Like Big, I cannot guarantee, but the only thing a cableco could do, I think, is disable the "Copy To VCR' function and I have never heard anyone say they did this. If you know someone with an 8300, simply ask them to see if that option is available for a recording. If it is, then you are indeed "golden".



AFAIK, the 8000 was a different animal and I don't know if it had the Copy To VCR function, especially when that question might have been asked. However, I still think they were talking about recording direct to DVD or copying to DVD in HD.

In any event, even "without" the Copy To VCR function, you could still "play" the recording and record it over the Composite or S-Video connection. The difference is you can't watch something else while it is playing. With the Copy To VCR function, you can watch live TV while it is recording to DVD.

I have a 8300 and a DVD recorder. I am on brighthouse networks and we do not have the Copy to VCR function. Would I just go from composite output on the back of the dvr to input on the dvd recorder then play and press record? Trying to back up a bunch of workout shows so that they don't have to sit on the dvr forever.

I have a 8300 and a DVD recorder. I am on brighthouse networks and we do not have the Copy to VCR function. Would I just go from composite output on the back of the dvr to input on the dvd recorder then play and press record? Trying to back up a bunch of workout shows so that they don't have to sit on the dvr forever.

IIRC that works just fine. The real value of the Copy To VCR function is that it works in the background and you don't have to view what is being recorded.

IIRC that works just fine. The real value of the Copy To VCR function is that it works in the background and you don't have to view what is being recorded.

Does the Tv Need to be hooked up through the DVD recorder then? This is how I currently have it. I have hdmi from 8300 to tv. Component from 8300 to dvd recorder. It's not working though :(

Does the Tv Need to be hooked up through the DVD recorder then? This is how I currently have it. I have hdmi from 8300 to tv. Component from 8300 to dvd recorder. It's not working though :(

The key word in your original post was "composite". Using HDMI often disables the Component Out (DRM rules), so the Component connection cannot be used at the same time, even for a different device. You should be able to use either a Composite or S-Video/L-R Audio connection to the DVD recorder and keep your HDMI connection to the TV intact.

Sounds about right for an 8300HD with a 320GB drive, which is what it might have if it's fairly new.

I checked via diags and it's a 160GB HDD.

ps - Looks like they upgraded s/w again:

ROM 1.8.0.1401 9/9/09
SARA 1.91.36.103 9/9/09

I have a 1 TB external hard drive connected to by 8300. I was cleaning it up from last season, and started deleting shows. Then I remembered something I read somewhere (maybe here) that the correct way to delete a show is to fast forward through it and delete it then. Otherwise, the hard drive will not free up the space.

Anyone know if there is any truth to that?

I have a 1 TB external hard drive connected to by 8300. I was cleaning it up from last season, and started deleting shows. Then I remembered something I read somewhere (maybe here) that the correct way to delete a show is to fast forward through it and delete it then. Otherwise, the hard drive will not free up the space.

Anyone know if there is any truth to that?

No, but there is some belief that deleting a recording while it is still recording will not free up the space. To be safe, I always stop/save my recordings before I delete the ones that were in progress. If what you said was true, we'd all run out of space in a week.

On a similar note, our box often will not rewind during live viewing. It just shows a red bar to the left of "now". Yesterday, I actually caught something happening that may be related. While viewing a live program, all of a sudden the program description bar showed up on screen as if I had changed the channel (which I didn't) and after that I couldn't rewind the program.

Also, I often can not record a program from the beginning that I am watching despite having watched it from the beginning. It just records from the time I press record.

Cox San Diego South
I have this same problem on my new 8300HDC I did not have it on my 8300HD
I have taken it back 2 times, not happy . is there any fix?

Yeah, the problem I described sounds similar to the last 5 posts or so. It's not that the box is idle and goes into that "press any button mode", it instead blanks the screen for a second and then pops up the program description minibar (on the bottom) as if i changed the channel and at that point all the recorded material from the pause point is erased and it skips to live (can't rewind because it's all red bar prior to where it skipped to). The odd thing is that this happens on the dot at 3am every night. I don't think it use to do this but I can't be sure. I'll give manually rebooting a shot and see what it does tonight.
that just happened to me tonight and i could not rewind it was all red instead of green.
what is up with this, I had it happen at other times too on the 8300hdc

Here is a story about web scheduling of our SA8300 SARA based DVRs on Cablevision.

First Cable Operator to Introduce Feature Across Service Footprint
Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 9/22/2009 12:36:09 PM EDT
Cablevision Systems announced the deployment of remote DVR scheduling and management through its Optimum.net portal across its entire New York metro service area, becoming the first cable operator to enable the feature footprint-wide.

The service, available to subscribers who subscribe to both DVR and broadband, lets viewers search for shows, set recordings and delete stored content, using a Web browser from a PC or Mac.

Cable operators have been behind the curve in introducing the feature, which has been touted by DirecTV, Dish Network, Verizon's FiOS TV and AT&T U-verse TV, as well as TiVo.

Comcast and Cox Communications, for their parts, have said they are preparing to launch the feature before the end of the year, and Charter Communications has offered the feature to customers who have access to Digeo DVRs.

Cablevision's new remote DVR feature includes a "DVR Status" page, where customers can view titles of previously recorded programs stored on their DVR, schedule new recordings and search for programs they would like to record. The service also lets subscribers assign names to their DVRs if they have multiple boxes in the house and identify a favorite DVR as a default recording choice.

The feature also provides programming recommendations for shows that are similar to the ones that have been recorded, lets customers set DVR privileges for other members of the home, and can send out e-mail or text message alerts as reminders when a program is going to run again.

"Whether our customers are at the office or away on vacation, the addition of remote DVR access offers the added convenience of setting and managing DVRs from any computer, and with the fall TV season coming up, it's a perfect time to introduce this enhancement," Cablevision senior vice president of product management John Trierweiler said, in a statement. "Remote DVR access is a natural evolution of Cablevision's ongoing development of our triple-play with integrated features that greatly enhance the value of the bundle for our customers."

http://www.multichannel.com/article/354904-Cablevision_Debuts_Web_DVR_Scheduling.php

I don't know if this is the correct thread to ask. But my cable operator is Brighthouse Networks, in Altamonte Springs FL.

I HD DVR is:

Scientific Atlanta, Explorer 8300 HDC, with Mystro Software.

I've tried to see what type of version I have, and I have attempted what the very first page of this thread have said to check software version, remove bars from SD channels, etc.

But neither of these work here.

The way I have removed the black bars from SD channels is "stretching" option in the display section in the settings department.

Perhaps the info is outdated.

I was hoping to see if I have to come to THIS thread based on the HD DVR that I mentioned above.

(If this is not the correct thread, where can I find it?)

Thanks.

I don't know if this is the correct thread to ask. But my cable operator is Brighthouse Networks, in Altamonte Springs FL.

I HD DVR is:

Scientific Atlanta, Explorer 8300 HDC, with Mystro Software.

I've tried to see what type of version I have

The First Post has a section to tell you how to determine what software you have by looking at A, B, and C keys when you are viewing the IPG; SARA, Passport, or Navigator (Mystro). You can double check, but since you already think you have Navigator, you probably should be in this thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8434087&&#post8434087).

Anyone have this problem. I recorded House last night and it recorded eight segments. It kept stopping then starting back up. Thankfully, it didn't just stop recording. Weirdly, it seemed to start and stop at the commercial breaks. So far I don't think I have missed any of the program itself.

Maybe this is a new software feature! :-)

Anyone have this problem. I recorded House last night and it recorded eight segments. It kept stopping then starting back up. Thankfully, it didn't just stop recording. Weirdly, it seemed to start and stop at the commercial breaks. So far I don't think I have missed any of the program itself.

Maybe this is a new software feature! :-)

We used to have that problem with Fox in Austin every once in a while. It was due to them inserting commercials with a different video format I believe...

xnappo

The First Post has a section to tell you how to determine what software you have by looking at A, B, and C keys when you are viewing the IPG; SARA, Passport, or Navigator (Mystro). You can double check, but since you already think you have Navigator, you probably should be in this thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8434087&&#post8434087).

You are correct. I have the navigator. Thanks for the link!

:)

With my old tv, I used the component out and never had any problems with this box from Time Warner in Los Angeles. My new tv is a Pioneer 500M which uses HDMI. Video is fine but when HDMI is used, the digital out switches from 5.1 to stereo even though the audio out is still set to dolby digital. I have an older Marantz receiver which does not have HDMI, so I need 5.1 out of the optical out. Is this a bad box or an inherent problem with this box? Thanks.

With my old tv, I used the component out and never had any problems with this box from Time Warner in Los Angeles. My new tv is a Pioneer 500M which uses HDMI. Video is fine but when HDMI is used, the digital out switches from 5.1 to stereo even though the audio out is still set to dolby digital. I have an older Marantz receiver which does not have HDMI, so I need 5.1 out of the optical out. Is this a bad box or an inherent problem with this box? Thanks.

No, it's not a universal problem with the box. I used optical digital to connect the 8300HD to my non-HD receiver, the box was set to "Dolby Digital," and I got 5.1 Dolby Digital over the receiver when the show was broadcast that way. The box sent video to my TV via HDMI.

TWC replaced that box with an 8300HDC, all the connections are the same, and everything still works the same way.

I'm trying to set up multiple record all's of the same show on the same channel on a SA8300HD using SARA. It's easier to explain with an example

Trying to record TopGear at 11PM Monday nights on BBC America. They always show a different episode at 2PM Tuesday morning.

I set up the record all for the 11PM show and that saves. Then I go and set up the recording for 2AM show and save that. No error message, but the recording setting for the 11PM show is gone.

As a test I also tried setting up the same pattern with Seinfeld on TBS and had the same thing happen.

Does anyone know if this is a SARA issue or is my DVR messed up?

thanks

I believe it is a software issue. I know I run into this problem from time to time under similar circumstances. I believe that all you can do is set it to record the Tuesday show once only and then of course you have to remember to do this every week; I "think" this works. The only other option is to record all shows and given they have a ton of showings I doubt you want to do this. BTW, the Top Gear season is over now.

I'm trying to set up multiple record all's of the same show on the same channel on a SA8300HD using SARA. It's easier to explain with an example

Trying to record TopGear at 11PM Monday nights on BBC America. They always show a different episode at 2PM Tuesday morning.

I set up the record all for the 11PM show and that saves. Then I go and set up the recording for 2AM show and save that. No error message, but the recording setting for the 11PM show is gone.

As a test I also tried setting up the same pattern with Seinfeld on TBS and had the same thing happen.

Does anyone know if this is a SARA issue or is my DVR messed up?

thanks

I'm trying to set up multiple record all's of the same show on the same channel on a SA8300HD using SARA. It's easier to explain with an example

Trying to record TopGear at 11PM Monday nights on BBC America. They always show a different episode at 2PM Tuesday morning.

I set up the record all for the 11PM show and that saves. Then I go and set up the recording for 2AM show and save that. No error message, but the recording setting for the 11PM show is gone.

As a test I also tried setting up the same pattern with Seinfeld on TBS and had the same thing happen.

Does anyone know if this is a SARA issue or is my DVR messed up?

thanks
You can't do that. You are trying to tell it to record in THIS TIMESLOT and then giving it 2 different timelsots. It's poor design, but that goes without saying when it comes to SARA designers.

Since both episodes you are trying to record play back to back at 1:00 ET, you would probably be better off setting up a manual recording from 1:00-3:00 on Tuesday (or 2 manual recordings; 1:00-2:00 and 2:00-3:00). Any other option is going to record all episodes and you will have to delete quite a few repeats.

I don't like to recommend manual recordings because they have no individual identity, but if you only have this one, this will save you a lot of deleting and wasted HDD space.

Anyone have this problem. I recorded House last night and it recorded eight segments. It kept stopping then starting back up. Thankfully, it didn't just stop recording. Weirdly, it seemed to start and stop at the commercial breaks. So far I don't think I have missed any of the program itself.

Maybe this is a new software feature! :-)

I have had the same problem - three times in the last 10 days. A one hour show is recorded in two segments. Break is during a commercial. This happened to the same show last week and this week. Is there any kind of fix. Has anyone had a hard reboot help this problem. Thanks.

I have had the same problem - three times in the last 10 days. A one hour show is recorded in two segments. Break is during a commercial. This happened to the same show last week and this week. Is there any kind of fix. Has anyone had a hard reboot help this problem. Thanks.

Whenever this has happened to me, not often, I have done a hard reboot. I don't know if it's just coincidence that it doesn't happen again or not. I think I've seen this maybe 3-6 times in 6 years and I seem to remember one instance just last year.

Well, my recording of House once again had numerous breaks- seven for a one hour recording. As someone responded to me after the first time, obviously something that FOX is doing during commercials is causing this. It's hard to believe that changing formats of the broadcasts can stop the 8300 from recording, but obviously it does. I doubt that it is the 8300, but I'll try and remember to reboot before the next episode of House. House is the only Fox program I record so I don't know if affects all Fox programming in my area.

Whenever this has happened to me, not often, I have done a hard reboot. I don't know if it's just coincidence that it doesn't happen again or not. I think I've seen this maybe 3-6 times in 6 years and I seem to remember one instance just last year.

It's hard to believe that changing formats of the broadcasts can stop the 8300 from recording, but obviously it does.

It depends on how they are doing it. If the signal is effectively "lost", the DVR quits recording and restarts when the signal comes back. It must be your local station because I've had no problems at all with House, Bones or Lie To Me.

Edit: Oh, and that is not the same as multiple recordings that do not break at the commercials, though a signal problem could be the cause there. I don't think rebooting is going to help in your case, but you never know.

I have noticed commercials popping up asking you to push A, B, or C alot lately. When they happen on a HDTV channel, the format switches to SDTV almost like the channel has been changed. I wonder if this is causing the segmented recordings?

I have noticed commercials popping up asking you to push A, B, or C alot lately. When they happen on a HDTV channel, the format switches to SDTV almost like the channel has been changed. I wonder if this is causing the segmented recordings?

On what provider?

I have read many posts on setting up the STB, but I am still confused and need your help with the following.

I have Comcast's SA 8300 HDC and a Panasonic 50V10. I don't do games and don't have a Bluray, I just watch TV. I have been reading about the debate over 720p vs 1080i. And haven't decided which is better, so I'd like to be able to have the 1080i broadcasts show in 1080i and the 720p broadcasts show in 720p. As for the SD channels, I'm just not sure how to handle them and would appreciate your suggestions on how to fit them into the above scheme (don't know if 480p is good enough or should I upscale...thoroughly confused). Bottom line question: Given that I'm using components from STB to TV, how should I set up the STB to allow the TV to do the scaling so that each broadcast format is minimally changed? If this request doesn't make sense, please help me sort this all out.

Not sure there is a "right" way. Personally, I use pass through on the box. I enable all formats. I have the Panasonic automatically convert the SD to the full screen using "full" (not sure your Panasonic uses this terminology). Some people like the SD with side bars and no distortion. I don't like the sidebars.

I have read many posts on setting up the STB, but I am still confused and need your help with the following.

I have Comcast's SA 8300 HDC and a Panasonic 50V10. I don't do games and don't have a Bluray, I just watch TV. I have been reading about the debate over 720p vs 1080i. And haven't decided which is better, so I'd like to be able to have the 1080i broadcasts show in 1080i and the 720p broadcasts show in 720p. As for the SD channels, I'm just not sure how to handle them and would appreciate your suggestions on how to fit them into the above scheme (don't know if 480p is good enough or should I upscale...thoroughly confused). Bottom line question: Given that I'm using components from STB to TV, how should I set up the STB to allow the TV to do the scaling so that each broadcast format is minimally changed? If this request doesn't make sense, please help me sort this all out.

BA, I do use pass-through and I realize that I can enable all formats, but then this makes it "messy." I guess what I would ideally like is to have 1080i, 720p in wide screen w/o any bars for those channels that broadcst in 1080i and 720p. And for the SD cahnnels, I'd like wide screen 480p without bars...if this is possible. Hope I made my goals clearer so that you can show me how do it.

BA, I do use pass-through and I realize that I can enable all formats, but then this makes it "messy." I guess what I would ideally like is to have 1080i, 720p in wide screen w/o any bars for those channels that broadcst in 1080i and 720p. And for the SD cahnnels, I'd like wide screen 480p without bars...if this is possible. Hope I made my goals clearer so that you can show me how do it.

Absolutely this is possible, that's what I do. Many TVs are able to zoom/expand non-HD channels. Like BA, I pass all formats. My TVs all properly display HD channels and then zoom/expand the others automatically. The only time this doesn't work is when an HD channel broadcasts 4:3 content. This cannot automatically be zoomed/expanded.

You need to look in your TV manual for the various zoom options to find out how your TV does this, if it can. For mine, I just bring up the options while on a non-HD channel and select the option I want. After that, it's automatic.

In my case, non-HD channels allow for 6 options: 4:3 standard, 4:3 expanded, 4:3 zoom1, 4:3 zoom2, 16:9 standard, and 16:9 zoom. HD channels only allow for 2 options: 16:9 standard and 16:9 zoom.

I hope this helps.

Absolutely this is possible, that's what I do. Many TVs are able to zoom/expand non-HD channels. Like BA, I pass all formats. My TVs all properly display HD channels and then zoom/expand the others automatically. The only time this doesn't work is when an HD channel broadcasts 4:3 content. This cannot automatically be zoomed/expanded.

You need to look in your TV manual for the various zoom options to find out how your TV does this, if it can. For mine, I just bring up the options while on a non-HD channel and select the option I want. After that, it's automatic.

In my case, non-HD channels allow for 6 options: 4:3 standard, 4:3 expanded, 4:3 zoom1, 4:3 zoom2, 16:9 standard, and 16:9 zoom. HD channels only allow for 2 options: 16:9 standard and 16:9 zoom.

I hope this helps.

Thanks, 2XDAZ, but how do I set up my SA 8300 to allow this to happen? I know how to use the zoom options on my TV. Do I merely allow ALL screen/resolution options to exist in the STB, or do I only allow certain options?

Thanks, 2XDAZ, but how do I set up my SA 8300 to allow this to happen? I know how to use the zoom options on my TV. Do I merely allow ALL screen/resolution options to exist in the STB, or do I only allow certain options?

No, AFAIK you need to disable some formats.

Since I don't see any difference between 720p and 1080i on my setup, I only enable 1080i, but you should be free to enable both if you so desire. There are/were some TVs that did not handle 720p correctly and some HDMI connections had various problems. But if both work, you can enable both if you want.

The real problems come with the 480i/p formats. As mentioned in the First Post, the widescreen formats let the 8300 control the zooming/expanding. Therefore, you only want to enable the standard formats to let your TV control things.

Most non-HD channels are 480i and the music channels are 480p. It doesn't really matter which you enable, but some folks have had problems with one or the other. I assume those problems were similar to the 720p problems and were probably in the same TVs.

Anyway, I suggest you start with 480i standard, 480p standard, 720p, and 1080i. Run through the various channels and see if there are any problems and if things work the way you want them too. In case you don't know how to enable/disable formats, the First Post has instructions, along with a lot of other info. Let us know how it goes.

I'm a little confused by your previous post. You won't get bars from 720p or 1080i, it will fill the screen. Make sure the 8300 is set to "normal" picture size. Do this from the menu or on the remote (# button). Set the 8300 to pass through if you use component cables or auto HDMI if you use HDMI cables. Then set your TV to upsize SD. My TV allows several options for upsizing the SD to 16-9. I like the "full" option. I would allow all options formats on the box. You know how to do that, right? The box instructions and I think the first post in this thread explain how.

Thanks, 2XDAZ, but how do I set up my SA 8300 to allow this to happen? I know how to use the zoom options on my TV. Do I merely allow ALL screen/resolution options to exist in the STB, or do I only allow certain options?

You won't get bars from 720p or 1080i.

Sure you will, whenever they show 4:3 or OAR content, which is much of the day for local networks. ;)

Thanks BA and 2XDAZ. Both of your responses appear to give me what I want to know. Now I have to go to the TV and do a little monkeying around...

Yep, you caught me on that. The only think I watch on what normally is an HD channel is Family Guy.

Sure you will, whenever they show 4:3 or OAR content, which is much of the day for local networks. ;)

STB: Set on "pass through." I chose the following for the incoming signal to be processed by the TV: 420p standard, 720p, and 1080i. My TV screen size is set to "Full".

Now, here's what I get: All channels (SD and HD) come in wide size without bars. Clicking from one channel to the next is just about instantaneous. All channels show in their sent signal--480, 720, 1080. This is exactly what I wanted. Thanks for your help.

This is exactly what I wanted.

Thanks for letting us know it helped.

Thanks for letting us know it helped.

Always enjoy letting those who helped that I appreciate it.

Now to continue with my still lingering confusion. Of course, I found much of what i think I was looking for on the very first post of Tips and Tricks:

"Display Format Summary. UG-5/6 Press Settings twice, then scroll to Set: Picture Format.
Fixed - Displays all content at whatever resolution you selected in Setup Wizard.
Pass Through - Passes input signal through with no change unless you disable a resolution. For example 480i in - 480i out, 720P in - 720P out, 720p disabled - 1080i out, etc.
Auto HDMI/DVI - If you use HDMI, this option replaces Pass Through option. Resolution is automatically formatted to scan rate supported by TV.
UpConvert 1 - All 480i/480P signals converted to 480P. All 720P/1080i signals converted to 1080i.
UpConvert 2 - All 480i/480P signals converted to 480P. All 720P/1080i signals converted to 720P."

I need a little further explanation with Pass Through. Does using PT allow your TV to do all the scaling? I do want the TV to do the scaling and not the STB. What confuses me is that if I set the STB to PT and 480p, 720p and 1080i (as I have done), does this mean that the STB lets these signals through without change and thus lets the TV do its stuff?

Always enjoy letting those who helped that I appreciate it.

Now to continue with my still lingering confusion. Of course, I found much of what i think I was looking for on the very first post of Tips and Tricks:

I need a little further explanation with Pass Through. Does using PT allow your TV to do all the scaling? I do want the TV to do the scaling and not the STB. What confuses me is that if I set the STB to PT and 480p, 720p and 1080i (as I have done), does this mean that the STB lets these signals through without change and thus lets the TV do its stuff?

Yes. However, by not enabling 480i, you are letting the STB convert most/all SD channels to 480p before sending. I doubt you will notice ANY difference, but if you want a pure stream, enable 480i unless it causes problems.

FWIW, I doubt you would notice any difference if you only enabled 480i and 1080i and the same would be true with enabling all formats and using UpConvert 1 or 2. By limiting which formats you enable, you reduce the reformatting that takes place when scanning through channels. I disabled 720p because I saw no difference, even on sports, with my setup and I disliked the reformatting that took place when I tuned to/from 720p channels. Our cableco segrates SD and HD channels, so reformatting now is almost nil for us.

Yes. However, by not enabling 480i, you are letting the STB convert most/all SD channels to 480p before sending.

...By limiting which formats you enable, you reduce the reformatting that takes place when scanning through channels. I disabled 720p because I saw no difference, even on sports, with my setup and I disliked the reformatting that took place when I tuned to/from 720p channels. .

OK, getting close to home. So, as I am now starting to understand, I should also enable 480i on the STB pass through in order to let my TV process the signal to 480p???

As for limiting formats to reduce reformatting time, I do understand what you are saying. But, as I presently have things set up, when I go from a 720p channel to a 1080i (or any changes from one format to another) it is instantaneous and I don't have to resize the screen image. So, if this be true, then I can leave things well enough alone, eh?

OK, getting close to home. So, as I am now starting to understand, I should also enable 480i on the STB pass through in order to let my TV process the signal to 480p???
Some of this depends on your TV. AFAIK, most TVs display in only 1 resolution (720p, 1080i, or 1080p, or some variation I suppose), so there is generally no conversion to 480p no matter what.

The bottom line is there is nothing right or wrong about enabling the various resolutions, except the standard vs widescreen formats we discussed. If you are a purist and want your TV to do the scaling, regardless of any difference you can or cannot see, then you should enable all the formats being broadcast, including 480i. In your case, you have to enable at least one 480 in order to get rid of the bars on SD channels. Other than that, it's totally up to you.

As for limiting formats to reduce reformatting time, I do understand what you are saying. But, as I presently have things set up, when I go from a 720p channel to a 1080i (or any changes from one format to another) it is instantaneous and I don't have to resize the screen image. So, if this be true, then I can leave things well enough alone, eh?
Again, this depends on the TV. In your case, and I think in the case of my new TVs, there is no noticeable reformatting displayed, so you can most definitely leave things as they are, with the exception of what we discussed above for 480i.

NOTE: One of my nits is to pick on purists. :) In most cases, people will never notice a difference if they simply enable 480i and 1080i. As I mentioned I can't see a difference between 720p and 1080i. I only enable 1080i because that is what most HD channels are, simple as that.

Great tutorial, 2XDAZ. Now that I understand all that I've been seeking, I'm a little embarrassed that I didn't get it right after reading the T&T's first page. I guess I am somewhat of a purist and I don't mind your nit-picking at all. You are probably right about my not noticing any differences between 720p and 1080i. I'd like to check that out with my own eyes, but it is difficult to do as I don't think one can toggle between the two formats while watching the same picture. As the reformatting is instantaneous, and just to be on the "safe" side, I'll add 480i and be done with it...that is until I realize that enabling just 480i and 1080i will essentially do the same job. Thanks again.

Yeah, I can get away with saying I and others don't notice a difference because there is usually no way to do sidebyside comparisons. ;)

I used to look at in-store displays for Blu-Ray and say pretty much the same thing until I happened across a sidebyside display. They have 2 setups with the same model TVs/players running the same movie. This showed me there is a very noticeable difference. Obviously, it's not the same situation, but reinforces my belief that everyone needs to test things for themselves and ten do what they want. Even if you don't see a difference, there is no reason not to enable all formats. I don't because I don't like the reformat when tuning through channels, simple as that.

Oh, and the First Post is the culmination of work by a lot of folks, I simply maintain it. I'm glad it's still useful after all this time.

Hey guys, I just recently got the Samsung PN42B450. This is my first HDTV and have no idea how to set up my TV properly. So far I've been reading that on a new plasma you're supposed to break it in for the first 100 hours. I have made a copy of the breakin dvd and have ran it for probably less than 10 hours.

I using a Scientic Atlanta Explorer 8300HDPVR with my new plasma and when I try to watch HD channels they have black bars at the top and bottom, but on the SD channels they are fullscreen. I read that I should be avoiding watch TV with the black bars during breakin. I tried setting PVR picture settings to stretch, Zoom 1 , and Zoom 2, but nothing changed on the HD channels. Still have the black bars. Is it supposed to be like this or did I not set it up right?

Also when streaming movies with my PS3 with PS3media server I can't seem to watch them in fullscreen either. I'm not sure what kind of content I should be getting to get it to show fullscreen.

I forgot to add that my HDMI cables haven't arrive yet and I'm using composite cables to connect everything. I'm not sure if that makes a difference on the matter

I don't think you have set up the box correctly; HD formats not enabled?. Look at the first page of this thread for instructions.

Yes, don't watch with side bars. I wouldn't bother with the DVD. If you want to be cautious, just make sure that you don't have a steady picture on all or part of the screen like playing a game. Also, don't leave it on the brightest setting for a while.

Hey guys, I just recently got the Samsung PN42B450. This is my first HDTV and have no idea how to set up my TV properly. So far I've been reading that on a new plasma you're supposed to break it in for the first 100 hours. I have made a copy of the breakin dvd and have ran it for probably less than 10 hours.

I using a Scientic Atlanta Explorer 8300HDPVR with my new plasma and when I try to watch HD channels they have black bars at the top and bottom, but on the SD channels they are fullscreen. I read that I should be avoiding watch TV with the black bars during breakin. I tried setting PVR picture settings to stretch, Zoom 1 , and Zoom 2, but nothing changed on the HD channels. Still have the black bars. Is it supposed to be like this or did I not set it up right?

Also when streaming movies with my PS3 with PS3media server I can't seem to watch them in fullscreen either. I'm not sure what kind of content I should be getting to get it to show fullscreen.

I forgot to add that my HDMI cables haven't arrive yet and I'm using composite cables to connect everything. I'm not sure if that makes a difference on the matter

I forgot to add that my HDMI cables haven't arrive yet and I'm using composite cables to connect everything. I'm not sure if that makes a difference on the matter

There's your problem. A single yellow video cable can't deliver HD, you need to use HDMI or component (3 video cables) to get it to deliver HD.

I have an SA 8300 HD with an HDMI connection. I accidentally switched the settings from 1080 to 480i. Now my TV says it's not supported and I can't even fix it back. I called Time Warner Cable and they were useless as usual. Any ideas on how I can fix this?? Thanks!!!

I have an SA 8300 HD with an HDMI connection. I accidentally switched the settings from 1080 to 480i. Now my TV says it's not supported and I can't even fix it back. I called Time Warner Cable and they were useless as usual. Any ideas on how I can fix this?? Thanks!!!

Turn off the cable box, but leave your TV on. Now hold down the GUIDE and INFO boxes together at the same time on the box. This should bring up the box's setup wizard, where you can choose what settings you want. If you want everything sent to your TV in 1080i, choose the Easy Setup option and select Widescreen. Follow instructions on your tv.

I am a little confused on the stretch function on the 8300HD

I would like to pass through all signals as is to my AV receiver as I feel the upconversion software is better on my denon receiver than on the 8300
My receiver can upconvert all signals to 1080i and output to plasma tv via HDMI.

Problem is when I pass through the signals on the 8300 and press # on the remote on the SD channels it goes from normal with bars on the sides to zoom which is way too big and content is missing on the screen. I don't like the bars.
Same issue with upconvert1 or upconvert2 on the SD channels.
The HD chanels have a stretch option when toggling through the # button after normal before zoom, this seems to be missing on 480i or 480p signals.

I do not like the way my TV stretches, is there no way to have the stretch option with an SD channel on the 8300 if pass through is selected?
If I select fixed output at 1080i I get the stetch option on my SD channels but then I am using the 8300 upconversion not that of my AV receiver.

Also I noticed that when on an SD channel if I toggle the # button it still reads 1080i, yet I thought pass through this would be 480i?

If it cannot work I will use the 8300 to upconvert but thought I would at least pose the question before admitting defeat.

mr767,

The zoom options I have for SD channels are Normal, Zoom1, Zoom2. For HD, they are Normal, Stretch, Zoom1, Zoom2. Since you don't like the stretch options your TV provides, you can try enabling 480i Widescreen instead of 480i Standard. I don't remember if that gives you a letterbox or not. If it does, then you might get close to what you want with Zoom1 or one of your TV options. If it doesn't help, I think you are SOL. Some HDTVs, like mine, have an "expanded" option. This cuts very little off the top/bottom and stretches the sides more than the middle.

In the latest SARA version "Zoom2" is gone and replaced by "auto fit" which stretches SD channels to 16:9 (if that's what you like) but has no effect on HD channels so you don't have to toggle when you change channels.

In the latest SARA version "Zoom2" is gone and replaced by "auto fit" which stretches SD channels to 16:9 (if that's what you like) but has no effect on HD channels so you don't have to toggle when you change channels.

Can one, and how does one, get the lastest SARA version?

Yes, that sounds like the perfect solution for me.
I have comcast cable and technically they "own" the box.

Do all cable providers have the new software updates, can you upgrade your self by,call them and they do it over the phone, return the box for a new one, or are you screwed until they decide to upgrade on their own.

Thank you very much for the replies.

No, not all cableco's have the same software and you can't upgrade yourself, they push it to your box. Also, most cableco's actually use 2 versions, one for the 8300HD and one for the 8300HDC (cablecard), and they do have different options.

No, not all cableco's have the same software and you can't upgrade yourself, they push it to your box. Also, most cableco's actually use 2 versions, one for the 8300HD and one for the 8300HDC (cablecard), and they do have different options.

I've got the SA 8300HDC from Comcast in West palm Beach, FL. Just spoke to them and they have no idea what I was talking about, DUH.

I've got the SA 8300HDC from Comcast in West palm Beach, FL. Just spoke to them and they have no idea what I was talking about, DUH.

Not surprising since CSRs rarely have anything to do with firmware. Upgrades usually take place early in the morning. My guess is you have the latest firmware Comcast is using in WPB. You can use instructions in the First Post to go into the diagnostics pages to see what version you have. It will be something like 1.90.x.x.

FWIW, if you can email customer service, I find that easier than calling. Email lets you provide more info and they can pass it around to get you a better answer. At least that has been my experience with Cox here.

I am a little confused on the stretch function on the 8300HD

I do not like the way my TV stretches, is there no way to have the stretch option with an SD channel on the 8300 if pass through is selected?
If I select fixed output at 1080i I get the stetch option on my SD channels but then I am using the 8300 upconversion not that of my AV receiver.

Also I noticed that when on an SD channel if I toggle the # button it still reads 1080i, yet I thought pass through this would be 480i?



I think I setup 3 possible modes. As I remember it was 480i, 720p, and 1080i (I forget if that's because the output can change due to input or because I capture off the S-VHS port sometimes). Anyway, no matter what I'm watching SD, ED, HD, 4:3, 16:9 ... by using the "cycling" # key I can always find a good mode. If it's 4:3, we usually use Zoom1 (the one that expands it to full width and crops the top and bottom a bit) ... if not # a few times. I never change the aspect adjustment on the plasma (for TV or disc). I think I have the TV set to 1:1 pixel or maybe Auto. As I recall, it usually says 720p on the 8300HD display. I think p is better than i, and I don't think this unit will do 1080p (might be a TW limitation) so 720p it is. HD looks really nice upscalled by the 1080p plasma (can't really turn that off). I think The Fifth Element on HBO last Sunday looked better than the DVD (even the wife said so).

Not surprising since CSRs rarely have anything to do with firmware. Upgrades usually take place early in the morning. My guess is you have the latest firmware Comcast is using in WPB. You can use instructions in the First Post to go into the diagnostics pages to see what version you have. It will be something like 1.90.x.x.

FWIW, if you can email customer service, I find that easier than calling. Email lets you provide more info and they can pass it around to get you a better answer. At least that has been my experience with Cox here.

I'll be checking my version later today...

I have a question for everyone regarding the explorer 8300HD used with the pioneer pro-101fd plasma. I recently switched to the pioneer a couple of weeks ago and am very happy with the set but I have one small annoying problem. I have a SA explorer 8300HD STB with Videotron in Montreal Canada. There seems to be some kind of HDMI handshake issue with either the STB or the TV because almost every time i switch between a HD and SD channel, I get the static snow screen and must change input and then back again to resolve the issue.

When I had my Sharp LCD before getting the Pioneer I had a different problem where the audio would cut every few seconds when I switched only from SD to HD but this did not happen very often. Now this problem I am having with the Pioneer seems to be an HDMI handshake issue but I find it hard to believe that the Sharp is better at handling this problem that the Pioneer because it's an older set.

What do you all think is the problem, the STB or the TV? It's starting to get annoying to have to constantly switch to another input to resolve the problem. Any input would be greatly appreciated on the matter. Anyone having this STB as well as a 101fd/500M could maube chime in as well.

Thanks

I have a question for everyone regarding the explorer 8300HD used with the pioneer pro-101fd plasma. I recently switched to the pioneer a couple of weeks ago and am very happy with the set but I have one small annoying problem. I have a SA explorer 8300HD STB with Videotron in Montreal Canada. There seems to be some kind of HDMI handshake issue with either the STB or the TV because almost every time i switch between a HD and SD channel, I get the static snow screen and must change input and then back again to resolve the issue.

When I had my Sharp LCD before getting the Pioneer I had a different problem where the audio would cut every few seconds when I switched only from SD to HD but this did not happen very often. Now this problem I am having with the Pioneer seems to be an HDMI handshake issue but I find it hard to believe that the Sharp is better at handling this problem that the Pioneer because it's an older set.

What do you all think is the problem, the STB or the TV? It's starting to get annoying to have to constantly switch to another input to resolve the problem. Any input would be greatly appreciated on the matter. Anyone having this STB as well as a 101fd/500M could maube chime in as well.

Thanks

what are you outputting out of the 8300HD, i.e., did you select a fixed resolution (e.g., 1080 or 720) or did you select pass-thru?

you may want to play around with your output settings to find one that works.

the issue i encounter is that it takes a few seconds before my image stabilizes; the screen flashes a few times before it selects the proper display format when switching between stations with differing resolutions, i.e., going from a 1080 station to a 720 station since i have mine set on pass-thru.

i can eliminte this by selecting a fixed 1080 out resolution but then have to live with the 8300 doing the scaling as opposed to the pio (i have a pro-fhd1)

Ben (love the name btw), I am doing pass through but have also tried upconvert 1. Both seem to exhibit the same problem. I think this is a handshake issue as I also get the flashes at times like you described but when the signal finally logs in, I get a snowy static white screen and the only way to remedy is to change input and come back.

Setting the resolution to just 1080i will give me bars on the side of the SD channels and I will constantly have to fiddle with the TV's picture size setting. If the STB was left to pass through the native resolutions, each resolution can have it's own assigned picture size so when switching form SD to HD channel, the picture is automatically streched/adjusted accordingly without me having to do it each time.

You could always use component cables. HDMI drives me nuts with the lengthy handshake that works only about 80% of the time.

Ben (love the name btw), I am doing pass through but have also tried upconvert 1. Both seem to exhibit the same problem. I think this is a handshake issue as I also get the flashes at times like you described but when the signal finally logs in, I get a snowy static white screen and the only way to remedy is to change input and come back.

Setting the resolution to just 1080i will give me bars on the side of the SD channels and I will constantly have to fiddle with the TV's picture size setting. If the STB was left to pass through the native resolutions, each resolution can have it's own assigned picture size so when switching form SD to HD channel, the picture is automatically streched/adjusted accordingly without me having to do it each time.

I have two Panasonic TVs (LX700 and V10), and both are hooked up to SA8300HDCs. The LCD via HDMI and the plasma via component. I have CC turned on in both of the TVs' menues. I have what I believe to be the right settings set within the STB (CC1 and Digital1, all other settings related to CC are essential at default). Nonetheless, I don't get CC. I have spoken with Panasonic and they agree that my TV settings are correct and they have stated that CC control should now come via the STB. Speaking with Comcast, I have gone through 6 reps with 3 hang ups. BTW, I am very calm and precise during my talks with Comcast, and I believe the hang ups are due to the fact they are reading from the manual and can't answer questions like: What's the difference between CC1-4, Digital 1-6, etc? Interestingly, those reps that stayed on the line were all pushing for a tech to come out. To my way of thinking that would be a waste of time since both sets are exhibiting the same problem that appears to be most probably related not to the boxes but to the settings...which can be handled over the phone...or you folks can do it over the net.

You undoubtedly have done this, but I thought I would mention it anyway: have you turned the CC ON via the STB menu? If it is not on it doesn't matter what settings you have. It seems to me that on my Pannys the TV's CC does not work on SD or HD or both. I have to have CC via the box.

Also, just to be sure, reboot the boxes although I doubt both would be acting up at the same time.

I have two Panasonic TVs (LX700 and V10), and both are hooked up to SA8300HDCs. The LCD via HDMI and the plasma via component. I have CC turned on in both of the TVs' menues. I have what I believe to be the right settings set within the STB (CC1 and Digital1, all other settings related to CC are essential at default). Nonetheless, I don't get CC. I have spoken with Panasonic and they agree that my TV settings are correct and they have stated that CC control should now come via the STB. Speaking with Comcast, I have gone through 6 reps with 3 hang ups. BTW, I am very calm and precise during my talks with Comcast, and I believe the hang ups are due to the fact they are reading from the manual and can't answer questions like: What's the difference between CC1-4, Digital 1-6, etc? Interestingly, those reps that stayed on the line were all pushing for a tech to come out. To my way of thinking that would be a waste of time since both sets are exhibiting the same problem that appears to be most probably related not to the boxes but to the settings...which can be handled over the phone...or you folks can do it over the net.

I have two Panasonic TVs (LX700 and V10), and both are hooked up to SA8300HDCs. The LCD via HDMI and the plasma via component. I have CC turned on in both of the TVs' menues. I have what I believe to be the right settings set within the STB (CC1 and Digital1, all other settings related to CC are essential at default). Nonetheless, I don't get CC. I have spoken with Panasonic and they agree that my TV settings are correct and they have stated that CC control should now come via the STB. Speaking with Comcast, I have gone through 6 reps with 3 hang ups. BTW, I am very calm and precise during my talks with Comcast, and I believe the hang ups are due to the fact they are reading from the manual and can't answer questions like: What's the difference between CC1-4, Digital 1-6, etc? Interestingly, those reps that stayed on the line were all pushing for a tech to come out. To my way of thinking that would be a waste of time since both sets are exhibiting the same problem that appears to be most probably related not to the boxes but to the settings...which can be handled over the phone...or you folks can do it over the net.


The control of the CC is in the 8300. The CC settings in the Panasonics are only for when using the TVs internal tuners (probably not being used if you have a 8300 hooked up).

The control of the CC is in the 8300. The CC settings in the Panasonics are only for when using the TVs internal tuners (probably not being used if you have a 8300 hooked up).

Agreeded as was told the same by Panasonic. Also, BigA, the settings that I have used in the 8300 were obtained in the following manner: 2XMenu>CC Options>Default text/Style set by progrram>CC Source>CC1/Dig1. Nowhere did i see sometihing like "CC on/off." For good measure the CC is "on" on the TV. So, which settings in the 8300 should be used? Is there an "CC on/off" that I am missing?

Agreeded as was told the same by Panasonic. Also, BigA, the settings that I have used in the 8300 were obtained in the following manner: 2XMenu>CC Options>Default text/Style set by progrram>CC Source>CC1/Dig1. Nowhere did i see sometihing like "CC on/off." For good measure the CC is "on" on the TV. So, which settings in the 8300 should be used? Is there an "CC on/off" that I am missing?

Press the Settings button once for Quick Settings and scroll down to Caption: Off/On.

Press the Settings button once for Quick Settings and scroll down to Caption: Off/On.

Amazing! That did the trick. Can't understand why 6 different comcast reps couldn't have told me that?

If the cable cos et al could answer questions then forums like this wouldn't exist.

Amazing! That did the trick. Can't understand why 6 different comcast reps couldn't have told me that?

Amazing! That did the trick. Can't understand why 6 different comcast reps couldn't have told me that?

Probably because they either assumed you already knew that or they just didn't think of the simplest thing. Even here, people often apologize ahead of time when suggesting the simple stuff. I don't happen to be one of them. :)

Yes, I reluctantly suggested that he check the menu to see if it the CC was on. I thought to myself, I bet he gets mad at me for suggesting the obvious.

Probably because they either assumed you already knew that or they just didn't think of the simplest thing. Even here, people often apologize ahead of time when suggesting the simple stuff. I don't happen to be one of them. :)

there's normal ect.
do any of them compress the sound ?
i must say that music isnt CD quality but that may
not be the fault of HD 3800 box, it may be transmitted that way

there's normal ect.
do any of them compress the sound ?
i must say that music isnt CD quality but that may
not be the fault of HD 3800 box, it may be transmitted that way

I don't know about compression, but from the First Post:
Audio Range Settings. Audio Range options are for Dolby Digital output signals and refer to digital "Dynamic Range".
Wide Dynamic Range will render audio that will go from faintest audio level of a whisper at an extremely low level to thundering boom at ear-shattering levels giving great impact to action movies, but calls for good audio setup to properly hear normal dialog without blasting speakers during loud scenes.
Narrow Dynamic Range keeps lower volumes at higher level while muting higher level sounds to lower level. Whispered dialog is not much quieter than explosion and all sound levels are "Narrowed" to a certain level.
Normal Dynamic Range basically splits difference.
These are not specific numbers, but think of it something like this when setting the volume level to about 33% for same scene. Using Narrow Dynamic Range, whisper might be 45db and explosion 85db. Using Wide Dynamic Range setting, whisper might now be 15db and explosion 105db.

I'm new to this forum and looking for help with my SA8300HD. Since I connected with HDMI (previously component) I cannot shut the unit off. The unit stays on for about 5 minutes after I have shut down my projector and all other equipment. I cannot shut it off with the remote or from the front panel power button. After 5 minutes, the display goes blank (like it's booting) then, the "boot" message appears on the display. This message remains on the display until I turn my equipment on then, the unit goes through a boot cycle. After it cycles I am able to watch TV. If I try to turn the unit off, it will not turn off and the process I described repeats.

I thought this was a problem with the unit itself which, I have swapped out. Both units had the same behaviour. I'm thinking it has something to do with the HDMI connection but don't understand why or how to fix it.

I have a question for everyone regarding the explorer 8300HD used with the pioneer pro-101fd plasma. I recently switched to the pioneer a couple of weeks ago and am very happy with the set but I have one small annoying problem. I have a SA explorer 8300HD STB with Videotron in Montreal Canada. There seems to be some kind of HDMI handshake issue with either the STB or the TV because almost every time i switch between a HD and SD channel, I get the static snow screen and must change input and then back again to resolve the issue.

When I had my Sharp LCD before getting the Pioneer I had a different problem where the audio would cut every few seconds when I switched only from SD to HD but this did not happen very often. Now this problem I am having with the Pioneer seems to be an HDMI handshake issue but I find it hard to believe that the Sharp is better at handling this problem that the Pioneer because it's an older set.

What do you all think is the problem, the STB or the TV? It's starting to get annoying to have to constantly switch to another input to resolve the problem. Any input would be greatly appreciated on the matter. Anyone having this STB as well as a 101fd/500M could maube chime in as well.

Thanks
Check your input settings on your pioneer. If you have a option to select 16-235 for that input. If it's set to auto you might encounter handshake issues. I had this problem on my 600M

This procedure from first post doesn't appear to work:

Last Resort (Reformat). If for some reason you can't get STB to do what you want and you've rebooted it by unplugging it, etc., this is a "last resort" item - say just before taking unit back, you can try reformatting the HDD. The format operation resets all data on the DVR, including all recordings, preferences and scheduled recordings. It is a "factory fresh" reset.

When doing the format procedure, there are times where it won't always "take" and will have to be redone again. The procedure is to get the mail light blinking from the remote control by holding down the pause button. Once blinking do not press anything else except the page down (page -) button on the remote three times while watching the display. The display should say something like HDD-1 and then HDD-2 or HDD-F. Once on the setting you want (typically the third press) leave it alone and put the remote down. In a few minutes, the DVR will reboot and reformat on it's own. Once complete in about 10 to 15 minutes (depending on RDC and FDC signal level quality) the unit will be available to be turned on, but it's best to leave it off and come back at a later time after it has completely downloaded all of the guide data and info.
Press and hold PAUSE until Mail led is lit.
Press PAGE down or (-), and then press LIST three times.
Turn box off. When turned back on, formatting will begin.

I've had the same thing happen a few times, also. The only way that I have found to play the correct recording is to delete the one it is incorrectly pointing too. But, after that, if I turn off the box, the newer recording will disappear also. I still don't know what is causing the problem, though.
I have also seen this (new recording playing an older one) occassionally. The last two times it happened it was over a period of a week or two and for both occurrances I happened to notice that the total number of recordings on the PVR was in the 320-330 range. The last time it happened the bad recording was actually pointing to the oldest recording on the device. Could the problem be related to a maximum size of Directory structure?

I deleted a whole bunch of the wife's oldest Art lesson shows (over 100) and with the total recordings now down under 200 I haven't seen the issue again in over 2 months.


Robin

Also, the last two times it happened I noticed it by trying to start playing the recording from the beginning while it was still recording. It was actually being laid down on the disk as I could go to the channel being recorded live and then rewind all the way to the beginning and watch it.


Robin

I am trying to get into the setup wizard on the 8300HDC to change the output format, but can't seem to bring it up. I've turned the unit off and then pressed Guide + Info simultaneously multiple times, but to no avail.

I also tried rebooting the box and it didn't make a difference.

I also tried holding the Select button down and changing it this way. After holding the Select button a few times, the mail icon starts flashing, but then hitting the volume +/- or channel +/- buttons, just performs their normal function as opposed to changing picture format as expected.

Any ideas why this is not working for me? Maybe it's a defective box? Maybe time to call Time Warner?

Thanks,

Jonathan

Is there any work around for my 8300HD not being able to show video through HDMI and Component at the same time? WHen I try I get a picture on the screen with a Red Circle with a line through it, saying that I have an HDMI cable connected.
Thanks

No, it flat just won't do it.

Is there any work around for my 8300HD not being able to show video through HDMI and Component at the same time? WHen I try I get a picture on the screen with a Red Circle with a line through it, saying that I have an HDMI cable connected.
Thanks

Anyone else having trouble getting the DVR to reformat?

Hello everyone ... I'm a new member ....

I probably should search this thread before asking ... but

Anyone know the remote codes for a Samsung ... LN52A860?

I just replaced my cablebox because it was getting receiption problems & starting to lockup causing re-boots ... the new one has a weird problem .... I can turn the cablebox on and the supplied remote functions perfectly ... however once I turn on my TV ... the cable remote stops working for about 5 minutes ... after that the remote works just fine .... I mean I can live with it ... but it just seems a bit weird ...

Denon-2809, 8300HD, sammy LN52A860


PS: I will post the version of the 8300hd once I read thought and figure out how to get it

Hello everyone ... I'm a new member ....

I probably should search this thread before asking ... but

Anyone know the remote codes for a Samsung ... LN52A860?

I just replaced my cablebox because it was getting receiption problems & starting to lockup causing re-boots ... the new one has a weird problem .... I can turn the cablebox on and the supplied remote functions perfectly ... however once I turn on my TV ... the cable remote stops working for about 5 minutes ... after that the remote works just fine .... I mean I can live with it ... but it just seems a bit weird ...

Denon-2809, 8300HD, sammy LN52A860


PS: I will post the version of the 8300hd once I read thought and figure out how to get it

What is the exact make and model of the remote that came with it. I've seen different models lately.

http://www.urcsupport.com/

Have you tried 1395 ?

As for the interference, be sure you have new alkaline batteries installed. Push the DVR back into the cabinet beyond the "plane" of the TV's display panel. Maybe put a little "blinder" on the 8300's IR eye. Possibly, move the DVR further away from the TV. Also, see this thread ...

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1063783&page=91

and here:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1063783&page=98

Anyone know why I have to re-select the dolby digital sound setting every time I switch inputs on my tv. HDMI direct to tv from SA8300, digital audio out to pioneer reciever.

Ok i got a samsung 50 inch HDTV Model A450

I had got no color when watching anything on DVR or cable broadcast, i have a time warner Explorer 8300HDC, have had this model now for about 9 months working fine and the problem started while watching a DVR show.

Now I also have a PS3 and a Wii and they both work fine and there is color so I know my TV is working properly, I was so nervous my TV was going to need to be repaired.

so i switched HDMI cables around and what port the cable box is plugged into and also tried using comp cables and still it keeps showing up with no color and mostly the screen is just all white

The fix ultimately was to reboot the box, I have never ever seen this before. I am wondering if i should just exchange the box or wait for it to happen again?

Has anyone seen this with their 8300 boxes?

I've had weird things happen that are cleared up with a reboot. I wouldn't worry about it unless it happens on a regular basis.

Ok i got a samsung 50 inch HDTV Model A450

I had got no color when watching anything on DVR or cable broadcast, i have a time warner Explorer 8300HDC, have had this model now for about 9 months working fine and the problem started while watching a DVR show.

Now I also have a PS3 and a Wii and they both work fine and there is color so I know my TV is working properly, I was so nervous my TV was going to need to be repaired.

so i switched HDMI cables around and what port the cable box is plugged into and also tried using comp cables and still it keeps showing up with no color and mostly the screen is just all white

The fix ultimately was to reboot the box, I have never ever seen this before. I am wondering if i should just exchange the box or wait for it to happen again?

Has anyone seen this with their 8300 boxes?

Ok i got a samsung 50 inch HDTV Model A450

I had got no color when watching anything on DVR or cable broadcast, i have a time warner Explorer 8300HDC, have had this model now for about 9 months working fine and the problem started while watching a DVR show.

Now I also have a PS3 and a Wii and they both work fine and there is color so I know my TV is working properly, I was so nervous my TV was going to need to be repaired.

so i switched HDMI cables around and what port the cable box is plugged into and also tried using comp cables and still it keeps showing up with no color and mostly the screen is just all white

The fix ultimately was to reboot the box, I have never ever seen this before. I am wondering if i should just exchange the box or wait for it to happen again?

Has anyone seen this with their 8300 boxes?

No, I haven't seen that exactly. However, the other day (2 months back) my father-in-laws 8240hdc had no sound at all (like yours ... like a cable was disconnected). I tried all the menu options and even a new cable. A reboot fixed it and it's been working since. Might only be the "C" models that do this. I've learned, no matter what strange thing the SA-DVRs are doing, always try a reboot first.

I've had weird things happen that are cleared up with a reboot. I wouldn't worry about it unless it happens on a regular basis.

No, I haven't seen that exactly. However, the other day (2 months back) my father-in-laws 8240hdc had no sound at all (like yours ... like a cable was disconnected). I tried all the menu options and even a new cable. A reboot fixed it and it's been working since. Might only be the "C" models that do this. I've learned, no matter what strange thing the SA-DVRs are doing, always try a reboot first.

thanks all, guess reboot is #1 rule just like windows PC's

It is a PITA for me to get to the back of my Panasonic V10, so I need to know the answer to this question before making any changes.

When I have company, I like to have music channels' music play through my surround system without having the TV on. Interestingly, and this is a known fact, if one goes HDMI cable box (SA8300 HDC) to TV and optical coax cable box to AVR (my AVR has no HDMI input), although the TV and the surround sound will work fine, TURNING OFF the TV but leaving the cable box and AVR on will (within a few seconds) turn the cable box OFF. In other words, when using an HDMI connection, one must always leave the TV on to get sound. To overcome this deficiency (that is, to listen to broadcast sound with the TV off) I had to run component cables from the box to the TV.

Ah, as for my question (which I think I know the answer to): If I keep the component cable as is and also run HDMI from the box to an HDMI slot on the TV, will I now be able to listen to music with the TV off when using component mode; and will I be able to watch TV with surround sound when in the HDMI mode?

And while I'm at it, will the HDMI mode give me any better PQ than the component mode? From what I've read in the past, I think that there will probably be no difference in PQ.

It is a PITA for me to get to the back of my Panasonic V10, so I need to know the answer to this question before making any changes.

When I have company, I like to have music channels' music play through my surround system without having the TV on. Interestingly, and this is a known fact, if one goes HDMI cable box (SA8300 HDC) to TV and optical coax cable box to AVR (my AVR has no HDMI input), although the TV and the surround sound will work fine, TURNING OFF the TV but leaving the cable box and AVR on will (within a few seconds) turn the cable box OFF. In other words, when using an HDMI connection, one must always leave the TV on to get sound. To overcome this deficiency (that is, to listen to broadcast sound with the TV off) I had to run component cables from the box to the TV.

Ah, as for my question (which I think I know the answer to): If I keep the component cable as is and also run HDMI from the box to an HDMI slot on the TV, will I now be able to listen to music with the TV off when using component mode; and will I be able to watch TV with surround sound when in the HDMI mode?

And while I'm at it, will the HDMI mode give me any better PQ than the component mode? From what I've read in the past, I think that there will probably be no difference in PQ.

First, your "known fact", I don't agree with. I have HDMI from box (SA 8300HD/DVR) to TV and a digital coax from box to AVR. It doesn't matter if TV is on or off and my box does not shut off in this situation. I don't know why your box shuts off. I also prefer listening to Music Choice without any video.

I have attempted in the past to hook up both component/audio and HDMI from box to seperate inputs on the TV at the same time and get no audio from either. This was tested for another reason not for what your situation is.

I tried both component and HDMI from box to TV (Sony XBR-LCD) and I found that the video quality of the HDMI far surpassed the component.

It is a PITA for me to get to the back of my Panasonic V10, so I need to know the answer to this question before making any changes.

When I have company, I like to have music channels' music play through my surround system without having the TV on. Interestingly, and this is a known fact, if one goes HDMI cable box (SA8300 HDC) to TV and optical coax cable box to AVR (my AVR has no HDMI input), although the TV and the surround sound will work fine, TURNING OFF the TV but leaving the cable box and AVR on will (within a few seconds) turn the cable box OFF. In other words, when using an HDMI connection, one must always leave the TV on to get sound. To overcome this deficiency (that is, to listen to broadcast sound with the TV off) I had to run component cables from the box to the TV.

Ah, as for my question (which I think I know the answer to): If I keep the component cable as is and also run HDMI from the box to an HDMI slot on the TV, will I now be able to listen to music with the TV off when using component mode; and will I be able to watch TV with surround sound when in the HDMI mode?

And while I'm at it, will the HDMI mode give me any better PQ than the component mode? From what I've read in the past, I think that there will probably be no difference in PQ.

I am curious why your 8300HDC was turning off. Did it turn off if you disconnected the optical connection?

I have an 8300 HDC and recently changed from component video to HDMI video via a new amp. There is a noticeable improvement in picture quality on my 61" DLP.

I also like to use cable audio without turning on the TV. I have had no problems with my current HMDI connection and my previous optical audio component video setup.

First, your "known fact", I don't agree with. I have HDMI from box (SA 8300HD/DVR) to TV and a digital coax from box to AVR. It doesn't matter if TV is on or off and my box does not shut off in this situation. I don't know why your box shuts off. I also prefer listening to Music Choice without any video.
And you'd be right. AFAIK, this problem is caused by the TV not completely powering down the HDMI connection. This results in an HDCP handshaking error that eventually turns off the DVR. Other TVs and some HDMI switchers completely turn off the power to the HDMI connection and therefore do not exhibit this problem.

I have attempted in the past to hook up both component/audio and HDMI from box to seperate inputs on the TV at the same time and get no audio from either. This was tested for another reason not for what your situation is.
As long as an HDMI connection remains "active", the Component connection will not work. Both used to be active at the same time, but somewhere along the line the firmware was changed.

I tried both component and HDMI from box to TV (Sony XBR-LCD) and I found that the video quality of the HDMI far surpassed the component.

This all depends on the setup, but if the TV is relatively new (or digital), HDMI will probably provide a better PQ.

Several people have resolved this problem by adding as HDMI switcher to the mix which effectively shuts off all power to the HDMI connection when the TV is off. Unfortunately, I do not have any brand or model switcher to recommend.

OK folks, here's the answer. 2XDAZ is most correct and wdsnls is somewhat. There is a problem getting sound while the tV is off if one is using HDMI...WITH CERTAIN, but not all TVs. My Panny is one of the TVs that does have this problem (wdsnls' Sony doesn't) and it is due, at least in my case, to a setting within the TV that allows for the use of Viera Link. I need to turn the CEC off when using HDMI so that the box won't go off when I turn the TV off.

As for component vs HDMI and PQ, now that I can swap out the component for the HDMI, I can't wait to see if I see a difference. I've been using tweaked CO1's calibration (no SM entrance) and have been very satisfied with the picture except for some minor blowing of the whites and for the reds not quite being accurate.

it is due, at least in my case, to a setting within the TV that allows for the use of Viera Link. I need to turn the CEC off when using HDMI so that the box won't go off when I turn the TV off.


That's a good point, the stuff that allows TVs to link with other devices from the same maker could be what is leaving the HDMI connection "hot". It's certainly worth trying to turn that off, if you can, before resorting to HDMI switchers or Component.

I would venture to guess that most TVs, even my CRT, would benefit from using HDMI vs Component. I just think the improvement isn't worth the HDMI hassles in many of cases. YMMV, so it's always worth trying, something I always recommend.

The saga continues. I have spoken top two technically well versed Panasonic concierge folks and they both came up the same solution: Turn off the Viera Link when using HDMI. Well, I unhooked my component cable (BTW when both component and HDMI are used, only the HDMI input would give sound and picture...has to do with cable box priorities) and hooked in the HDMI. Guess what? NG, No Good! It's not the box that turns off, it is just the sound. They think that the problem lies with the SA8300. Whenever I speak to Comcast about this, it comes down to them wanting to send out a tech. What's the tech going to do that I can't do with some instruction???

So, I've opted to forego entertainment sound without the TV on using HDMI. BTW, although I thought I had very PQ with components, it appears that the PQ has been improved upon with the HDMI.

The saga continues. I have spoken top two technically well versed Panasonic concierge folks and they both came up the same solution: Turn off the Viera Link when using HDMI. Well, I unhooked my component cable (BTW when both component and HDMI are used, only the HDMI input would give sound and picture...has to do with cable box priorities) and hooked in the HDMI. Guess what? NG, No Good! It's not the box that turns off, it is just the sound. They think that the problem lies with the SA8300. Whenever I speak to Comcast about this, it comes down to them wanting to send out a tech. What's the tech going to do that I can't do with some instruction???

So, I've opted to forego entertainment sound without the TV on using HDMI. BTW, although I thought I had very PQ with components, it appears that the PQ has been improved upon with the HDMI.

Yes, turn off VieraLink to stop HDMI-CEC control (power, etc.).

I just tried setting the 8300 on a TWC Music channel. Whether the TV is on or off, the music plays from the Onkyo Amp (I never use the TV speakers).

I assume you have tried adjusting the setting on the 8300 that controls how it directs the sound when using HDMI? The setting "Dolby Digital" will force the sound to one of the two SPDIF Digital Audio Ports (even if HDMI is hooked up). Of course, in this config. (HDMI capable amp. as the heart of the system), I don't use that setting.

My system. Notice the Onkyo 607 is the "system controller".

Panasonic TH-46pz850u 46" 1080p Plasma TV
Onkyo TX-sr607 HDMI Audio/Video Receiver (630 watts)
Scientific Altanta DVR 8300HD
Panasonic DVD-s35 DVD Player (Progressive Scan)
MediaPortal HTPC Media Server Computer

Infinity BU-2 Amplified SubWoofer (100 watts)
JBL N26II Northridge 6" 2-way (L/R Speakers)
JBL SC305 5"x2 2-way (Center Channel Speaker)
JBL G100 5" 2-way (L/R Surround Speakers)
JBL J900mv 8" 3-way Tower (Back Surround Speaker)

APC UPS-500 Battery/Surge (for TV, DVR, and DVD)
Antec Veris Audio/Video Component Cooler (for Onkyo)
Smart Strip LCG5 Power Strip (controls Veris unit with Onkyo)

Wiring Notes:
Plasma via HDMI to Onkyo Amp (HDMI Out)
DVR via HDMI to Onkyo Amp
DVD via Component/Optical to Onkyo Amp
HTPC via RGB to TV and Optical to Amp
- HTPC is only device using a Video-In on TV (other than Amp)
HTPC and TV via CAT5 to router
Speaker Cable is 12 AWG and BananaJacks
Infinity Sub to Onkyo PreOut via Coax

The saga continues.

Well, as I said, it all depends on your setup, particularly the TV. Too bad this didn't work out for you, it was a good idea.

Now, folks can blame the 8300, but that doesn't help. The fact is things work fine with some TVs, so placing "all" blame on the 8300 is not really fair IMHO. I will say that I assume the HDMI standards allow for the connection to be left "hot", so software designers at Cisco should have accounted for that. Surely someone at Cisco is smart enough to know that some folks would like to listen to cable music channels without having the TV on, risking possible burn-in, etc. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like they are/were, so my opinion of Cisco has weakened over time, not that they care. Of course, this was all Scientific-Atlanta, so maybe Cisco will care if they ever go retail and expect me to actually buy their products, especially their software. In any event, the software's days are numbered, so there is no doubt northing is going to get fixed.

Yes, turn off VieraLink to stop HDMI-CEC control (power, etc.).

I just tried setting the 8300 on a TWC Music channel. Whether the TV is on or off, the music plays from the Onkyo Amp (I never use the TV speakers).

I assume you have tried adjusting the setting on the 8300 that controls how it directs the sound when using HDMI? The setting "Dolby Digital" will force the sound to one of the two SPDIF Digital Audio Ports (even if HDMI is hooked up). Of course, in this config. (HDMI capable amp. as the heart of the system), I don't use that setting.

My system. Notice the Onkyo 607 is the "system controller".


OK, let's continue to hunt down the problem with a little more detail. Yamaha AVR, no HDMI input/output on Yammy. Optical dig out from STB to AVR. Analog L/R RCAs from STB to TV for times when I don't want to listen through the AVR. HDMI from STB to TV. STB Audio set on HDMI or Digital or Other, makes no difference-no sound when TV is off in all cases. CEC is off. According to the Panny tech, all my sound settings on the TV are correct for receiving sound via STB to Yammy with TV off. He believes that the STB is the culprit.

Here's exactly what happens when I try to listen to a music channel with TV off: TV, Yammy and STB are on. Choose a music channel, music comes via Yammy while TV is still on. Turn TV off, music plays for about 3-4 seconds through Yammy, there is a "click" sound and at the same time the display on the STB gives a very quick and slight "flicker," sound now off...STB and Yammy still on. It is the click and the flicker that lead me to also believe that the problem lies within the STB. That's about all I can say. Your turn....

It is the click and the flicker that lead me to also believe that the problem lies within the STB. That's about all I can say. Your turn....

From what others have said, I believe if you had another TV connected to the STB via composite or analog video, you'd see the HDCP error generated when you turn the HDTV off. In fact, I think someone posted an image of this a long time ago. Anyway, the TV is leaving a signal of some sort on the HDMI connection, causing the STB to "think" the TV is still on. However, since there is no longer a video signal, the HDCP handshake fails and the STB shuts down, or at least turns off the audio.

Like I said, some folks have placed an HDMI switcher between the STB and TV. This effectively blocks the complete signal, so there is no HDCP check/failure and the STB remains on. Others simply use Component and don't worry about it. It all depends on how much of a difference there is in PQ or how much they worry about TV life/burn-in (CRTs/plasmas). There could still be a way for you to change a setting in the TV to solve this, but it sure looks like you've tried everything you can. Interesting to see if you can come up with something.

NOTE: If it were only the STB, why do other TVs work just fine in this situation? Because they don't leave a stray signal on the HDMI port. Like I said, I assume Cisco could take care of it on their end, after all, other STB makers seem to cope with it. Unfortunately, there is no incentive for Cisco to do so at this point and I don't see anyone forcing them to "fix" it. Just another reason why cableco's generally don't support HDMI.

OK, let's continue to hunt down the problem with a little more detail. Yamaha AVR, no HDMI input/output on Yammy. Optical dig out from STB to AVR. Analog L/R RCAs from STB to TV for times when I don't want to listen through the AVR. HDMI from STB to TV. STB Audio set on HDMI or Digital or Other, makes no difference-no sound when TV is off in all cases. CEC is off. According to the Panny tech, all my sound settings on the TV are correct for receiving sound via STB to Yammy with TV off. He believes that the STB is the culprit.

Here's exactly what happens when I try to listen to a music channel with TV off: TV, Yammy and STB are on. Choose a music channel, music comes via Yammy while TV is still on. Turn TV off, music plays for about 3-4 seconds through Yammy, there is a "click" sound and at the same time the display on the STB gives a very quick and slight "flicker," sound now off...STB and Yammy still on. It is the click and the flicker that lead me to also believe that the problem lies within the STB. That's about all I can say. Your turn....

Ok, well I see you are using the TV as the heart of your system (unlike me now) , but …

Try disconnecting the analog L/R from the TV. Either you want the sound to go to the Amp. or you don’t. Plus, wouldn’t the sound get there via the HDMI ? (I think that’s what the Auto setting is for).

Sound setting on the 8300 should be set to Dolby Digital (to send to amp via SPDIF always) … again, I think you have to decide. Create a simpler wiring setup, get to work the way you want, and then slowly start changing things one at a time (rechecking every function before moving on).

Try using Digital Coax to the Amp instead of Optical. I doubt it will make a difference, but that’s what I used to use when hooked up that way.

If you still can’t get the HDMI to work the way you want … Since the 8300 only outputs 720p max, (be sure it’s set to 720p … the V10 will upscale to 1080p) and use a short Component cable to TV (and a digital to Amp). When I had my old (non-HDMI) amp, I had it hooked up this way and it worked fine. It looked great, and sound always went to the Amp and it didn’t matter if the TV was on or off.

I think you might have to decide between:
1. Ever so slightly better display via HDMI.
2. Being able to turn the TV off and being able to use the TV speakers when on.

While Component is the old way (and analog) remember that VGA is analog and you can run some crazy high res. over VGA and it looks great. 720p native is considered HD (I'll take 720p over 1080i any day). Be sure you are testing it on a real HD cable channel.

When 2 HDMI devices are connected together, they will always handshake and negotiate what to do with the video/audio. There might be some flickering and clicking but this is normal. Be sure you have downloaded the latest firmware for your Panasonic V10 plasma.

Ok, well I see you are using the TV as the heart of your system (unlike me now) , but …

Try disconnecting the analog L/R from the TV. Either you want the sound to go to the Amp. or you don’t. Plus, wouldn’t the sound get there via the HDMI ? (I think that’s what the Auto setting is for).

Sound setting on the 8300 should be set to Dolby Digital (to send to amp via SPDIF always) … again, I think you have to decide. Create a simpler wiring setup, get to work the way you want, and then slowly start changing things one at a time (rechecking every function before moving on).

Try using Digital Coax to the Amp instead of Optical. I doubt it will make a difference, but that’s what I used to use when hooked up that way.

If you still can’t get the HDMI to work the way you want … Since the 8300 only outputs 720p max, (be sure it’s set to 720p … the V10 will upscale to 1080p) and use a short Component cable to TV (and a digital to Amp). When I had my old (non-HDMI) amp, I had it hooked up this way and it worked fine. It looked great, and sound always went to the Amp and it didn’t matter if the TV was on or off.

I think you might have to decide between:
1. Ever so slightly better display via HDMI.
2. Being able to turn the TV off and being able to use the TV speakers when on.

While Component is the old way (and analog) remember that VGA is analog and you can run some crazy high res. over VGA and it looks great. 720p native is considered HD (I'll take 720p over 1080i any day). Be sure you are testing it on a real HD cable channel.

When 2 HDMI devices are connected together, they will always handshake and negotiate what to do with the video/audio. There might be some flickering and clicking but this is normal. Be sure you have downloaded the latest firmware for your Panasonic V10 plasma.

A lot of great advice, but too late to impliment. Will check things out tomorrow.

EDIT: It is now tomorrow and I have tried everything, all to no avail in terms of having cable supplied music without the TV being on. And, BTW, I do not implicate the SA8300 here, but do agree that the problem lies within the Panny not allowing HDMI to "let go." But, all is not lost in that I ahve replaced the component cables with HDMI and get what I think is a superior picutre across all channels. Also, I have set the STB's audio to Digital (rather than to HDMI) and the sound through my AVR is really good.

But, now I can't get sound from the TV (some times I don't turn on the AVR and would like to have sound through the TV's speakers). If I choose Audio/HDMI rather than Digital, I will get sound from both my AVR and from the TV, but the AVR produced sound quality becomes inferior to what it was when in the Digital mode. Thus, unless anyone can help[ me here, I will remain on Audio/Digital and use just my AVR for sound.

If i get a new DVR box will my external still have the shows show up on the new 8300HD box?

If i get a new DVR box will my external still have the shows show up on the new 8300HD box?No

The shows are encrypted with the key from the old DVR box and will only play on that box.

thanks

that sucks but oh well

Hey my recordings of House being broken into 10 segments problem is over. Some incompatibility between the commercials on House caused by 8300 to stop and start recording. However, a new IPG (and other software upgrade?) download from my cable provider cleared up the issue.

Hi everyone,

Time Warner gave me an 8240HDC which seems to be like the 8300HD only without the front input jacks.

They gave me nothing to read on how to setup the DVR or how to adjust any of the settings. I have a 46" Panasonic plasma and I'd really like it if the program guide could be put into 16:9 mode so the 4:3 bars wouldn't show.

Also, can someone please explain what the picture format setting means? I have it set to fixed right now but I do not understand what this feature does.

I have read about accessing a setup wizard by holding guide+info while the box is off but should I do that?

I appreciate any help! Thanks

Justin

Hi everyone,

Time Warner gave me an 8240HDC which seems to be like the 8300HD only without the front input jacks.

They gave me nothing to read on how to setup the DVR or how to adjust any of the settings. I have a 46" Panasonic plasma and I'd really like it if the program guide could be put into 16:9 mode so the 4:3 bars wouldn't show.

Also, can someone please explain what the picture format setting means? I have it set to fixed right now but I do not understand what this feature does.

I have read about accessing a setup wizard by holding guide+info while the box is off but should I do that?

I appreciate any help! Thanks

Justin

http://www.cisco.com/web/consumer/support/settop_8240HDC_DVR.html

Hi everyone,

Time Warner gave me an 8240HDC which seems to be like the 8300HD only without the front input jacks.

They gave me nothing to read on how to setup the DVR or how to adjust any of the settings. I have a 46" Panasonic plasma and I'd really like it if the program guide could be put into 16:9 mode so the 4:3 bars wouldn't show.

Also, can someone please explain what the picture format setting means? I have it set to fixed right now but I do not understand what this feature does.

I have read about accessing a setup wizard by holding guide+info while the box is off but should I do that?

I appreciate any help! Thanks

Justin

The 8240 is the same as the 8300 only without the front jacks or an analog tuner. Software and setup is the same for both. In addition tothe User Guide link you were given, there is some info in the First Post here that may also be helpful to explain some things.

The Guide is 4:3 and there is no way to set it to 16:9, except for zooming on HD channels or setting your TV to zoom/expand SD channels.

Darn it!!! Recently got new IPG with the new episode flag. Set several recordings to first run only. Recorder failed to record a half dozen programs on Wednesday and Thursday! Oh well, I guess I'll go back to the old way and experiment occasionally to see if the feature starts working.

Darn it!!! Recently got new IPG with the new episode flag. Set several recordings to first run only. Recorder failed to record a half dozen programs on Wednesday and Thursday! Oh well, I guess I'll go back to the old way and experiment occasionally to see if the feature starts working.

I hope they were actually new because there are a lot of reruns these days. Also, need to double-check to make sure the New indicator is really set. Does your Guide include the indicator in the Info display?

Yeah, the guide showed them as "NEW". So, unless CBS and NBC changed their minds at the last second and notified the guide folks.... I did think it was strange that they were running new stuff on Thanksgiving.

I hope they were actually new because there are a lot of reruns these days. Also, need to double-check to make sure the New indicator is really set. Does your Guide include the indicator in the Info display?

Ok here is what is happening. When I first plugged in the drive, powered it up and turned on the cable box, it gave a drive has bad disc error (or something like that). Then I remembered that people have said to unplug the box for 10 sec, turn on the SATA drive first, and then turn on the cable box. When I did this, it went through all the menus, the mystro screen (I have the navigator software just newly updated through the cable company, everyone’s box was in my area) and after it did the updates and turned off, I turned it back on and it did detect the hard drive. It said press a to format drive. So I pressed a, after a few seconds the msg box cleared and I thought it had done its thing. When I look at my used space though, it did not add any more capacity to the %. I was at 36% and it still said 36% used. The drive I added was a Calvary external that has a 1TB drive in it. I was going to get into the diagnostic mode to check my exact software version but neither of the 2 methods I have see described works anymore, I guess since this latest update because I did get in it before and look around about 6 months ago. If i turn the cable box off, shut off the drive, and power back up it still says the exact same amount of used space as it does with the drive on. Since it wasn't working I decided to plug the drive into my computer to make sure that it was working. When I did it said it had to set a master boot record to the drive to make it useable. I thought that this might be the problem so I let it and left it as unallocated space in windows. Then I plugged it back into the unit, unplugged the cable box, powered up the sata drive first, and then did the full cold boot again (holding the power button down on the 8300 when plugging the cord back in) and it did not say anything about the drive needing to be formatted or anything when it finally came back up. So next I took it back to my computer and formatted it ntfs hoping that when the cable box saw the external drive again it would want to try to format it to whatever format it needs but once again after the full procedure of rebooting the cable box and having the drive turned on first it didn't mention anything about the drive.

My question is, why did it detect it at first and want to format it but it didn't work right and now no matter what I do to the drive it will not ask to format it again? I did read online that some people got the Calvary brand to work with the 8300, although I did read the some Calvary external drives came with different brand sata drives according to their build date. Could it just be the brand of drive that is in the external case? Why did it see it and try to format it at first? I am thinking about taking another one or my drives out of my computer and swapping with the one in the external Calvary enclosure but I was hoping that someone else might have some insight. I have read through a lot of posts and can't find anyone with the same exact problems that I am having.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

For eSATA, check the first page of this thread, then the eSATA thread here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?threadid=516559).

Yes, Swami,post your question in that thread. I'll give you a quickie suggestion. It could be the cable. I had trouble a few weeks ago setting up mine. The cable wasn't seated well in the SA8300 and this has been problematic with others.

Thanks, i'll post it in the other thread. I'll go try messing around with the cable now too. Is there any way to delete the reply I put here?

Thanks, i'll post it in the other thread. I'll go try messing around with the cable now too. Is there any way to delete the reply I put here?

Yeah, just Edit. One of the options toward the bottom should be delete. But, it won't hurt anything to leave it.

I have been noticing some really strange issues with my 8240HDC. A few days ago I started getting random red pixelated clusters, mainly toward the top of the screen in the center. Of course, I'm also getting quite a bit of pixelation which the cable tech told me was "normal";)

Anyways, I just had a really serious issue with my DVR. I was watching a game, went to the program guide and found another game that I wanted to take a look at, pushed select to go to the channel and the screen went blank. Not black, but a very dark blue. I tried everything but I could not get a picture so I manually rebooted it and it now works fine again. Last night while watching a show I noticed two times where the signal cut out and the screen turned that grayish color.

EDIT: I forgot to add that I still had sound.

I have been noticing some really strange issues with my 8240HDC. A few days ago I started getting random red pixelated clusters, mainly toward the top of the screen in the center. Of course, I'm also getting quite a bit of pixelation which the cable tech told me was "normal";)

Anyways, I just had a really serious issue with my DVR. I was watching a game, went to the program guide and found another game that I wanted to take a look at, pushed select to go to the channel and the screen went blank. Not black, but a very dark blue. I tried everything but I could not get a picture so I manually rebooted it and it now works fine again. Last night while watching a show I noticed two times where the signal cut out and the screen turned that grayish color.

EDIT: I forgot to add that I still had sound.

Try a hard reboot. Pull the plug then press & hold the power while you plug it back in. Keep holding it until you see Boot on the display or the display starts cycling. If that doesn't clear things up, I recommend you watch what you have recorded and then replace it, none of that is normal, no matter what the tech says. You may get some occasional pixelation, but it shouldn't happen with any regularity at all.

I haven't had that particular issue since it happened but I am still getting occasional gray-outs. It's as if the signal is lost for a split second and then it returns.

I have also noticed, the night owl that I am, that if I pause live TV or I am watching a recorded program at 3:01am it will jump to live TV or pause the program. I have experienced this 5-6 times now.

Just a guess, but maybe a cable company download? Don't they do that in the early am?

I haven't had that particular issue since it happened but I am still getting occasional gray-outs. It's as if the signal is lost for a split second and then it returns.

I have also noticed, the night owl that I am, that if I pause live TV or I am watching a recorded program at 3:01am it will jump to live TV or pause the program. I have experienced this 5-6 times now.

I have the SARA software,apparently, and it is not auto-deleting shows. I set all these programs to save for seven days and I have auto-erase on and they stay until I delete them and it never erases anything. It fills up and then stops recording.

I go and look at the oldest files that aren't being deleted and they are over three weeks old, all set to save for seven days only.

I am so tired of manually deleting things. Why isn't auto-erase working like it should?

I have the SARA software,apparently, and it is not auto-deleting shows. I set all these programs to save for seven days and I have auto-erase on and they stay until I delete them and it never erases anything. It fills up and then stops recording.

I go and look at the oldest files that aren't being deleted and they are over three weeks old, all set to save for seven days only.

I am so tired of manually deleting things. Why isn't auto-erase working like it should?

Go into your DVR Recorded List and bring up the "Preferences".
From there you have to make TWO changes. The first is to "TURN ON AUTO ERASE". The second is to "CHANGE SAVE TIME FOR FUTURE RECORDINGS" to something other than "UNTIL I ERASE".
The STB will now default to Auto Erase for the time chose, any Newly Created recording option. The recording options should not change for pre-existing season passes, but anything scheduled or created at this point will auto erase.

vegggas

I recently got a new IPG download with the "NEW" flag. I then set recordings for "First Run Only" for several series. During the holiday break, the series didn't record- as expected. It did leave what I thought was a place holder old date. However, when the first run episodes started again this month, the series failed to record. I had hunch this would happen since the new shows hadn't been shaded red on the IPG.

Software flaw or what?

I recently got a new IPG download with the "NEW" flag. I then set recordings for "First Run Only" for several series. During the holiday break, the series didn't record- as expected. It did leave what I thought was a place holder old date. However, when the first run episodes started again this month, the series failed to record. I had hunch this would happen since the new shows hadn't been shaded red on the IPG.

Software flaw or what?

Yes, it is a bug. If there is no NEW flag in the IPG when you set the recording, it will not take. The only solution is to set up the recording when there is a new episode in the IPG. After that, it will work as long as it's in the schedule. I've got some season passes that have been working fine for 2 or more years.

Thanks, Dave. Just to clarify, say I set a recording for first run only for NCIS on this coming Tuesday, but then in subsequent weeks there are reruns only. A month from now when the next NEW NCIS runs, will it record? If so, then I guess I must have set my problem recordings on programs that weren't first run.

Yes, it is a bug. If there is no NEW flag in the IPG when you set the recording, it will not take. The only solution is to set up the recording when there is a new episode in the IPG. After that, it will work as long as it's in the schedule. I've got some season passes that have been working fine for 2 or more years.

Thanks, Dave. Just to clarify, say I set a recording for first run only for NCIS on this coming Tuesday, but then in subsequent weeks there are reruns only. A month from now when the next NEW NCIS runs, will it record? If so, then I guess I must have set my problem recordings on programs that weren't first run.

Yes, it will record new episodes from that point on.

One way to check is after you set your recording, press List and then "A" to review scheduled recordings. If there is no NEW episode in the coming week, there won't be a recording in the schedule. If there is, then there will be and the program should be highlighted in the IPG.

With SARA, if you add a series recording for New Episodes, and the one you chose was not new or not within the weeks guide data, it will NOT be set as a series recording.
If you want to make sure a recording works correctly, I would delete any references to the recording in your Scheduled Recordings list, and then set up a new series on a listing that says NEW.

vegggas

Thanks, Dave. Just to clarify, say I set a recording for first run only for NCIS on this coming Tuesday, but then in subsequent weeks there are reruns only. A month from now when the next NEW NCIS runs, will it record? If so, then I guess I must have set my problem recordings on programs that weren't first run.Dave's answer is correct, but there can be circumstances when it will not record. For instance, if you have record all episodes for different shows set up and one week there is a conflict where the DVR would have to record 3 or more shows at the same time. The DVR will only record 2 of the shows and it will not inform you about this. The DVR will detect conflicts for the first week when you set up the recording and inform you, but if there are conflicts in subsequent weeks the DVR will not inform you. You can check the guide and the scheduled recordings page to make sure the shows you want to record will be recorded.

Dave's answer is correct, but there can be circumstances when it will not record. For instance, if you have record all episodes for different shows set up and one week there is a conflict where the DVR would have to record 3 or more shows at the same time. The DVR will only record 2 of the shows and it will not inform you about this. The DVR will detect conflicts for the first week when you set up the recording and inform you, but if there are conflicts in subsequent weeks the DVR will not inform you. You can check the guide and the scheduled recordings page to make sure the shows you want to record will be recorded.

Don't forget to check for title changes if you suspect something is wrong.

The usual reason for conflicts is the varied start/stop times for some shows, though that seems to have abated some this year or I record programs on the same channels more than I used to.

Since our network HD channels are mapped close together, it's pretty easy for me to do a quick check of the IPG to make sure my primetime shows are set to record.

If I were you Big, I'd keep an eye on things for awhile, at least until most shows have returned or started.

Thanks, all of you. I'll keep an eye on things now. One other little nagging problem you reminded me of Dave, is the odd start times for some programs. I scheduled an FX program for same day same time recording, but because it started at 11:02 the day I set it and the following week is scheduled at 11:00, the next recording was not properly scheduled. I've learned to watch out for these.


Don't forget to check for title changes if you suspect something is wrong.

The usual reason for conflicts is the varied start/stop times for some shows, though that seems to have abated some this year or I record programs on the same channels more than I used to.

Since our network HD channels are mapped close together, it's pretty easy for me to do a quick check of the IPG to make sure my primetime shows are set to record.

If I were you Big, I'd keep an eye on things for awhile, at least until most shows have returned or started.

Thanks, all of you. I'll keep an eye on things now. One other little nagging problem you reminded me of Dave, is the odd start times for some programs. I scheduled an FX program for same day same time recording, but because it started at 11:02 the day I set it and the following week is scheduled at 11:00, the next recording was not properly scheduled. I've learned to watch out for these.

That is precisely where the New flag really helped with network shows, like DH and GA, who consistently started/stopped at various times. Won't help much for FX, etc., unless they are New shows. :)

Thanks, all of you. I'll keep an eye on things now. One other little nagging problem you reminded me of Dave, is the odd start times for some programs. I scheduled an FX program for same day same time recording, but because it started at 11:02 the day I set it and the following week is scheduled at 11:00, the next recording was not properly scheduled. I've learned to watch out for these.If you use the Scheduled Recordings page to check what is going to be recorded it is helpful to reboot the DVR once or twice a week. After a reboot, all the placeholders are grouped together at the end of the Scheduled Recordings page. Placeholders either have a blank description or a description from the last episode. This makes it easy to see what is really going to be recorded.

Go into your DVR Recorded List and bring up the "Preferences".
From there you have to make TWO changes. The first is to "TURN ON AUTO ERASE". The second is to "CHANGE SAVE TIME FOR FUTURE RECORDINGS" to something other than "UNTIL I ERASE".
The STB will now default to Auto Erase for the time chose, any Newly Created recording option. The recording options should not change for pre-existing season passes, but anything scheduled or created at this point will auto erase.

vegggas

Thank you for the reply, I appreciate your trying to help, but I did those things. Every new file is set to save for seven days, and every old file is flagged "save for seven days". There are no files set for "until I delete" but it acts as if they are anyway.

I did the two things you said months ago. I just double checked again right now. It still won't erase old files and it filled up again this afternoon and didn't record some things today.

Is there any other reason why a file set to save for seven days would be three weeks old and not be deleted by autodelete? Or should I format the thing and start over under the assumption that the existing subscriptions are straight up lying to me when they say they are save for seven days?

I really think this box/software is too hard to use. Too hard to modify an existing subscription (I can't even find them? I have to cancel a show and start over.)

I really think this box/software is too hard to use. Too hard to modify an existing subscription (I can't even find them? I have to cancel a show and start over.)
Why can't you find them? Press LIST and then "A" to display the list of scheduled recordings. Scroll through until you find the one you want to edit. All mine are set to "Until I Erase" and I delete them after viewing, so I don't use Auto-Erase. I have changed them to/from First Run, etc., without problems.

I just turned on Auto-Erase and set the time to 1 day. I scheduled a recording for TPIR today and will see what happens tomorrow.

Thanks, all of you. I'll keep an eye on things now. One other little nagging problem you reminded me of Dave, is the odd start times for some programs. I scheduled an FX program for same day same time recording, but because it started at 11:02 the day I set it and the following week is scheduled at 11:00, the next recording was not properly scheduled. I've learned to watch out for these.

One other thing is that the New flag will follow the schedule. For example, Chuck aired last night and moves to it's regular slot tonight. The New scheduled recording followed the schedule change and set another recording for tonight.

That's funny. I set Chuck to record one time only for Sunday and record first run only for Monday. I later looked at my list of scheduled recordings and it listed Chuck twice for the Sunday program.

The FX situation with oddball scheduling would work if I set it for first run, but the first showing conflicts with my other recordings so I have to schedule one of the other showings. Would be cool if the software was smart enough to say, "hey, that's close enough, I'll record it" when the difference is only a couple of minutes.

One other thing is that the New flag will follow the schedule. For example, Chuck aired last night and moves to it's regular slot tonight. The New scheduled recording followed the schedule change and set another recording for tonight.

Has anyone experienced (or can explain) the following behavior regarding the RNG200 DVR: When the DVR has no programs recorded, it will show "0%" as used. Whenever I record a single program (eg. a 30-minute SD show) it will report that 12% is used. Thereafter, it will show an accurate size for each additional program recorded. So, what happens to the first 12%? I have done soft and hard re-boots and I don't have an external drive--just the original equipment from Comcast.

Question about Audio.

My 8300HD has three options: HDMI, Dolby Digital, Other

HDMI : sound gets to my TV just fine. Sound also gets to my receiver via optical, but the sound quality stinks. It's like two channel stereo with poor voice quality.

Dolby digital : No sound at the TV. Great sound (5.1) from the receiver.

Other : No sound anywhere.


Why Does the HDMI option not produce good sound?


I read a number of posts about listening to music with the TV off. My LG 55LH40 will turn off the 8300HD much to my dislike. My work around it to use the good old composite video from the 8300HD to a free input on my TV. When I want to listen to music with no TV, I will simply change the TV to that input before powering off the TV. 8300HD stays on and pumps audio to my receiver. So far I dislike HDMI as a concept, really.

Can anyone recommend a good universal remote control for the 8300HD? With emphasis on the DVR features.

My default remote will not turn on my Yamaha receiver... how crappy is that?

Can anyone recommend a good universal remote control for the 8300HD?
Logitech Harmony One.

Question about Audio.

My 8300HD has three options: HDMI, Dolby Digital, Other

HDMI : sound gets to my TV just fine. Sound also gets to my receiver via optical, but the sound quality stinks. It's like two channel stereo with poor voice quality.

Dolby digital : No sound at the TV. Great sound (5.1) from the receiver.

Other : No sound anywhere.


Why Does the HDMI option not produce good sound?


I read a number of posts about listening to music with the TV off. My LG 55LH40 will turn off the 8300HD much to my dislike. My work around it to use the good old composite video from the 8300HD to a free input on my TV. When I want to listen to music with no TV, I will simply change the TV to that input before powering off the TV. 8300HD stays on and pumps audio to my receiver. So far I dislike HDMI as a concept, really.

If you are using HDMI, you don't need Optical audio cables (if your receiver supports HDMI and you are using the Receiver as the "Central Controller" of the whole system). Just set the 8300 to HDMI.

Set the 8300 to Dolby Digital to activate one of the Digital Audio Ports (the Optical Port or the Digital Audio (coax). Use this when:
1. You are using Component Video and Audio separately. Note: The 8300 only outputs a max of 1080i/720p/DD5.1 anyway (even via HDMI) so you aren't really missing anything.
2. Your Receiver doesn't support HDMI ... so you run HDMI (video) to the TV and Digital Audio to the receiver.

The reason the 8300 is turning off is the HDMI-CEC back-channel control in either your receiver or TV. If you don't like it, turn off the option. As a last resort, you can go back to Component/Optical.

At first, I wasn't too crazy about HDMI either ... but the Pros out-weigh the Cons. The biggest Pro is a Digital Video signal. Also, once you get the HDMI-CEC programmed the way you like, it will eventually do a little something you like.

I have had my 8300 for about 5 years now and hooked it up all different ways ... I've never had a real problem with it. I've only had to cold reboot it a few times.

Can anyone recommend a good universal remote control for the 8300HD? With emphasis on the DVR features.

My default remote will not turn on my Yamaha receiver... how crappy is that?

My 8300 came with a UEI Atlas 1055. It works surprisingly well after you get it programmed properly ... not bad for free.

Have you been to:
http://www.urcsupport.com/
... to look for better codes?

And no, I don't think you can beat a Harmony.

Thanks!
I have spent about 40 minutes trying to use my Atlas DVR-1054 remote to turn on my Yamaha receiver and could not get it to work. I will try the urc link and see if I have any luck there. I can do volume and what not, just can't turn the darn thing on. :D

My receiver does not have HDMI.
I want to use my LG TV as my control center because of it's optical audio output and 4 different HDMI inputs. But then I run into the problem of turning off the TV while listening to music.


EDIT. I will try disabling my HDMI-CEC stuff on the LG LCD TV by turning off the simple link and I will search for the similar control in the 8300HD menu.

Thanks!
I have spent about 40 minutes trying to use my Atlas DVR-1054 remote to turn on my Yamaha receiver and could not get it to work. I will try the urc link and see if I have any luck there. I can do volume and what not, just can't turn the darn thing on. :D

My receiver does not have HDMI.
I want to use my LG TV as my control center because of it's optical audio output and 4 different HDMI inputs. But then I run into the problem of turning off the TV while listening to music.


EDIT. I will try disabling my HDMI-CEC stuff on the LG LCD TV by turning off the simple link and I will search for the similar control in the 8300HD menu.


RE: URC
Try all the Yamaha codes. Hopefully, you will find ONE code that works. If it takes TWO code-sets (for Power and then another for everything else), there is a way, but it's tricky.

RE: Cabling
The Digital Optical on the back of the TV is most likely only for it's Internal tuners (OTA, etc.) ... which if you have cable ... are probably not using.

When I talk about Optical cables above, I mean from the back of the 8300 directly to the amp/receiver.

When you connect the 8300 to the TV via HDMI (only), the 8300 can detect that the TV only has 2 speakers, so it mixes any 5.1 channel content down to 2 channels before sending it to the TV. This is correct if you only have TV speakers, but you have the Yamaha amp. that you want to use. So you set the option in the 8300 to Dolby Digital, and run a Digital Optical cable directly from the 8300 to the Receiver.

As for the HDMI controlling ... I don't think you can turn it off on the 8300 because it's only a slave device. You should be able to on the LG-TV or reprogram how it works. Again, if you drop the HDMI in favor for a nice short component cable, I doubt you will see a difference and it will work the way you want it to.

Logitech Harmony One.

+1 ....and any other DVR you might add in the future

Plus my new Harmony PS3 adapter works great too. :cool:

Tesla,

Thanks again, but no luck for me. I cannot disable the HDMI-CEC stuff on my LG TV. What I have is called "simple link" for detecting when a new input turns on. My 8300Hd does not have an option for CEC either. :(

For audio, I understand now that the HDMI is downsizing to two channel stereo because of my TV speakers. Still sucks for me though.

The website link to the URC codes was just what I have in the user manual. So, I still cannot turn on my Yamaha receiver. So I'm 0 for 2 today. Sometimes I wish I got thrills out of just watching birds or making clay pots. This high tech stuff changes too often to ever be simple. Too many standards means nothing is standard anymore. :D

Thank you for the reply, I appreciate your trying to help, but I did those things. Every new file is set to save for seven days, and every old file is flagged "save for seven days". There are no files set for "until I delete" but it acts as if they are anyway.

I did the two things you said months ago. I just double checked again right now. It still won't erase old files and it filled up again this afternoon and didn't record some things today.

Is there any other reason why a file set to save for seven days would be three weeks old and not be deleted by autodelete? Or should I format the thing and start over under the assumption that the existing subscriptions are straight up lying to me when they say they are save for seven days?

I just turned on Auto-Erase and set the time to 1 day. I scheduled a recording for TPIR today and will see what happens tomorrow.

Almost forgot to post an update to this. The TPIR recording from Monday got deleted last night just as it should have. So, it would seem that some part of Auto-Erase is working, at least here with Cox and my version of SARA.

Have you tried a setting other than 7 days? Maybe 5 days? That's the only thing I can think to try to narrow this down.

I have a Comcast SA8300 HD and within a day or so after using On Demand one or more of the shows that I have set to record does not record. You can see them in the scheduled program list but they don't record. And even more strange, sometimes I will see a show when press I press Info or look in the Guide saying REC that I did not set up to record and it seems to be recording but it really isn't. The resolution to these problems is to reboot the DVR. I thought the not recording problem was a fluke and traded the DVR. Now this second one does the same thing after watching On Demand. It's pretty frustrating. I'm wondering if anyone else has seen this issue.

rjd

Guide doesn't fill the whole screen. On my widescreen hdtv the guide is 4:3 so it doesn't fill the 16:9 screen. I have been through all the setup's including the setup wizard any suggestions?

The guide is 4:3 and there are no settings to change it. There is a lot of good information in the first post in this thread.
Guide doesn't fill the whole screen. On my widescreen hdtv the guide is 4:3 so it doesn't fill the 16:9 screen. I have been through all the setup's including the setup wizard any suggestions?

With 8400 posts, this was probably asked before, but:

Can one of these be purchased (off eBay) for analog and 'in the clear' digital channels on any system?
Would it have the program guide available on a SA system that did use these STBs'?

A few problems. First, not ANY system, only ones that use the 8300's. More importantly, I am pretty sure that the box will be non-operational unless the box serial/code number is put into the system. I remember when I got one of my boxes the tech had to call in the number to activate it and the head end had to code it as to what channels it would receive. Lastly, you would have to contact your cable company to see if they would allow you have your own box rather than rent it. I kinda doubt they want to give up the monthly fee.

I see why you are interested. Looks like one can pick up a box on E-bay for $50-75 bucks. One could quickly make up for the cost with no monthly fees.

With 8400 posts, this was probably asked before, but:

Can one of these be purchased (off eBay) for analog and 'in the clear' digital channels on any system?
Would it have the program guide available on a SA system that did use these STBs'?

I just referring to using standard/basic service. No PPV, no digital tiers, only whatever is in the clear.

I understand, but I don't think you can get anything at all. Just a blue screen and a message that you need authorization. Go to E-Bay and one of the ones on sale has a bunch of pictures and one is the blue screen and message.

I just referring to using standard/basic service. No PPV, no digital tiers, only whatever is in the clear.

AFAIK, you are only allowed to own your own SA8300 box in Canada.

I have a Panasonic 50v10 and the SA8300HDC, with Comcast as my server. Also, the box is connected to the TV via hdmi; but in order to get surround sound through my Yamaha AVR, I am using dig coax from the box to the AVR (box audio set to dig out). As for my CC setup, I have it on within the TV and also have it on within the box, but no CC???

1. Is CC dependent on the TV sources supplying CC? If so, I guess that in order to get CC, the TV station has to be sending out CC??? Naively, I thought CC exits will all TV broadcasts???

2. Nonetheless, what should be the CC settings within the box?

CC is on almost all broadcasts. Hit menu once (on the box remote), scroll to CC, select ON, AND THIS IS IMPORTANT- press OK. Pretty sure TV's CC is disabled when getting a signal thru the box. I know my TV's CC is on, but I only see it when the signal comes in thru straight cable or via DVD. Audio hook up has nothing to do with CC.

I have a Panasonic 50v10 and the SA8300HDC, with Comcast as my server. Also, the box is connected to the TV via hdmi; but in order to get surround sound through my Yamaha AVR, I am using dig coax from the box to the AVR (box audio set to dig out). As for my CC setup, I have it on within the TV and also have it on within the box, but no CC???

1. Is CC dependent on the TV sources supplying CC? If so, I guess that in order to get CC, the TV station has to be sending out CC??? Naively, I thought CC exits will all TV broadcasts???

2. Nonetheless, what should be the CC settings within the box?

I guess the question is, if you called and gave your cable company your (owned) box number would it activate it. I suspect not. There's a bunch of them on E-Bay for sale. Maybe only Canadians are buying them.

AFAIK, you are only allowed to own your own SA8300 box in Canada.

I guess the question is, if you called and gave your cable company your (owned) box number would it activate it. I suspect not. There's a bunch of them on E-Bay for sale. Maybe only Canadians are buying them.

Americans are buying them too, but they are throwing their money away.:(

With 8400 posts, this was probably asked before, but:

Can one of these be purchased (off eBay) for analog and 'in the clear' digital channels on any system?
Would it have the program guide available on a SA system that did use these STBs'?

I'm pretty sure they only use the "Digital Cable" signal. I think the analog signal is ignored.

They must be authorized (usually at customer service center or also over the phone ... the field techs do it this way) to work on your account. The 8300HD has a fixed card inside it. The newer models that end in a c (ie 8300HDc, 8240HDc) have a removable card that can changed or upgraded without opening the case.

I'm not sure if it will operate (without a subscription) and do anything with the Clear-QAM channels or not (never tried it). I doubt you would get the Program Guide. Even if it did work, the Clear-QAM channels are very limited (I've seen them on my TV Card). I get a better selection for free over ATSC. You might want to look into getting a Tivo. It's not tied to a specific cable network.

Can one of these be purchased (off eBay) for analog and 'in the clear' digital channels on any system?
Would it have the program guide available on a SA system that did use these STBs'?

It's been asked dozens of times and the answer is still "no".

1) They have to be "activated" in order to work.
2) They can't tune clear QAM channels.
3) Even if they could, they need to be activated in order to function as a recorder.
4) They also need the guide in order to function as a recorder and you don't get that without them being activated.
5) Most of those sold on eBay are either stolen or Canadian models and many of those have probably been sold several times to unsuspecting purchasers.
6) If they could be used, do you realy think they'd be that cheap?

As someone else mentioned, you might want to consider a Tivo HD or a Moxi. AFAIK, the Moxi is the only cable DVR leased by a cableco (Charter) and sold at retail. Moxi comes standard with lifetime service. Check out the Moxi thread here, it has a great feature comparison spreadsheet.

It's been asked dozens of times and the answer is still "no".With 8400 posts on the just the 2nd thread, I would think so, but it's kinda hard to search for the answer with a complicated question (for a search field).Most of those sold on eBay are either stolen or Canadian models and many of those have probably been sold several times to unsuspecting purchasers.I saw a additional word in the description from a link someone e-mailed to me. I didn't notice exactly which e-bay it was. I assumed it was the US, but there was an additional word used in the model; Videotronics, Videotron or something like that. Sound familiar??If they could be used, do you realy think they'd be that cheap?You never know. I have seen some really expensive current made stuff go for less than 1/5 th the original cost.

Someone asked me and I didn't have the answer. I have been using the Sony HD DVR. The only current HD DVR I would consider would be the TiVo HD if I was looking to replace the somewhat dated design of the Sony. Like the Sony, I'm surprised no one has been able to 'beat the system'. ;)

Thanks for the straight answer.

... Pretty sure TV's CC is disabled when getting a signal thru the box. I know my TV's CC is on, but I only see it when the signal comes in thru straight cable or via DVD...

Are you saying that with a direct hdmi connection between TV and STB, there will be no CC reaching the TV, even if the broadcast is sending a CC signal? Sounds somewhat counterintuitive as you've got all new sets with hdmi and the cable box with hdmi, and everyone recommending hdmi hookups???

Are you saying that with a direct hdmi connection between TV and STB, there will be no CC reaching the TV, even if the broadcast is sending a CC signal? Sounds somewhat counterintuitive as you've got all new sets with hdmi and the cable box with hdmi, and everyone recommending hdmi hookups???
In my hookup, the TV's CC does not work with the HDMI connected from the STB to TV. However, the STB's CC does work. I have the same situation with my DVDR connected via HDMI to TV. The DVDR's CC works but not the TV's. When the straight cable is used via the RF the TV's CC works.

With 8400 posts on the just the 2nd thread, I would think so, but it's kinda hard to search for the answer with a complicated question (for a search field).
Wasn't commenting on whether or not you should have asked the questions, searching definitely sucks. :)

I saw a additional word in the description from a link someone e-mailed to me. I didn't notice exactly which e-bay it was. I assumed it was the US, but there was an additional word used in the model; Videotronics, Videotron or something like that. Sound familiar??

Not at all.

You never know. I have seen some really expensive current made stuff go for less than 1/5 th the original cost.
I guess that's true if you aren't familiar with the brand/model. And it never hurts to ask, right? :)

Someone asked me and I didn't have the answer. I have been using the Sony HD DVR. The only current HD DVR I would consider would be the TiVo HD if I was looking to replace the somewhat dated design of the Sony. Like the Sony, I'm surprised no one has been able to 'beat the system'. ;)

I don't know that no one has been able to beat the system, but I do know cableco's, at least Cox, do periodic audits via software of devices attached to their system. If it's not on your account, they send a signal to disable it.

Don't overlook Moxi if you ever replace your Sony. I don't have one yet, but I'm thinking about it.

It's CATV only. I would want both.

In my hookup, the TV's CC does not work with the HDMI connected from the STB to TV. However, the STB's CC does work. I have the same situation with my DVDR connected via HDMI to TV. The DVDR's CC works but not the TV's. When the straight cable is used via the RF the TV's CC works.


Don't quite undersand. You say that with a hdmi box to TV, no CC; but then how do you know that your STB and DVDR do work?

lets say there is a sports event and according to the guide, its from 8-10pm. so you have the 8300 record it. i know it stops automatically when the event is over, but lets say the event finishes at 10:15. does it stop recording at 10:15 or 10pm?

lets say there is a sports event and according to the guide, its from 8-10pm. so you have the 8300 record it. i know it stops automatically when the event is over, but lets say the event finishes at 10:15. does it stop recording at 10:15 or 10pm?

10 pm, unless you change the stop time. Rather than try to figure out the correct stop time, it's always best to just record the show following any live sports event.

so we can program it manually to record from 8pm to 10:15pm?

10 pm, unless you change the stop time. Rather than try to figure out the correct stop time, it's always best to just record the show following any live sports event.

so we can program it manually to record from 8pm to 10:15pm?

Sure, you can edit the start and end times in the first screen. I always pad my live sports end times by at least a half hour.

Don't quite undersand. You say that with a hdmi box to TV, no CC; but then how do you know that your STB and DVDR do work?
STB is connected via HDMI to TV through an external input.

If I turn on CC in the TV's menu, CC will not work but if I turn it on in the settings memu of the STB, the CC works.

The same is true using my DVDR connected via HDMI to TV through an external input.

When I use the TV's tuner via the RF connection from the cable (no STB) or OTA from an antenna and turn on the CC, it works.

I hope I explained this better.

STB is connected via HDMI to TV through an external input.---Is "external input" the same as directly connecting STB to TV via hdmi?

If I turn on CC in the TV's menu, CC will not work but if I turn it on in the settings memu of the STB, the CC works.---Are you saying that if I turn the CC off in my TV but CC on in the STB, I'll get CC?

The same is true using my DVDR connected via HDMI to TV through an external input.

When I use the TV's tuner via the RF connection from the cable (no STB) or OTA from an antenna and turn on the CC, it works.

I hope I explained this better.


STB is connected via HDMI to TV through an external input.---Is "external input" the same as directly connecting STB to TV via hdmi?

If I turn on CC in the TV's menu, CC will not work but if I turn it on in the settings memu of the STB, the CC works.---Are you saying that if I turn the CC off in my TV but CC on in the STB, I'll get CC?

Yes. Yes. (There are two DIFFERENT cc's. One is decoded by the STB and transmitted to the TV. The other is decoded by the TV and displayed. If you have a dvd player or run cable directly to the TV you can see the difference between the STB CC and the TV CC. They'll likely look a little different.)

STB is connected via HDMI to TV through an external input.---Is "external input" the same as directly connecting STB to TV via hdmi?

If I turn on CC in the TV's menu, CC will not work but if I turn it on in the settings memu of the STB, the CC works.---Are you saying that if I turn the CC off in my TV but CC on in the STB, I'll get CC?

so we can program it manually to record from 8pm to 10:15pm?

Yes, however the changes only "stick" for that recording and for scheduled recordings more frequent than once a week. You cannot pad a weekly program and save the changes for future weeks, you have to pad it again each week. The only way to pad it permanently is to set up a manual recording.

i will be buying this unit maybe tonight. there is a promotion for it. buy it for $350 plus tax and i get $30 off my cable bill each month untill the $350 is given back to me. so in effect, i only pay the tax on this. sounds to good to be true to me, but that's what they say. so is this generally a good product? and which of the OS's installed on this unit are good? is there a way to tell from the outside of the box which OS i'm going to get with it?

I was using this box via Component cable to my 16:9 LCD HDTV. For the season premiere of LOST Tonight, I've moved the DVR out to my game room where I have a projector that is outputting in 4:3 to a 100" screen.

I ran the advanced setup, selecting the screen as a 4:3 instead of a 16:9 but when things come up, it seems as if it still thinks it is on a 16:9 screen instead of 4:3, even after doing this a few times.

Is there any method out there to force it to go back to a 4:3 aspect ratio to be output, instead of it continuing to stay 16:9? Everything stays looking squished right now in 1080i instead of the letterbox being applied to the top and bottom of the picture as it normally would do.

i will be buying this unit maybe tonight. there is a promotion for it. buy it for $350 plus tax and i get $30 off my cable bill each month untill the $350 is given back to me. so in effect, i only pay the tax on this. sounds to good to be true to me, but that's what they say. so is this generally a good product? and which of the OS's installed on this unit are good? is there a way to tell from the outside of the box which OS i'm going to get with it?

You get whatever the cableco supports. When you connect the box, the software is downloaded and you go from there. I would assume your cableco's website would have some info on what the guide, etc., looks like. If they use SARA, then to User's Guide that comes with the box or from the cableco or downloaded from Cisco's site will show you what you'll be getting.

I was using this box via Component cable to my 16:9 LCD HDTV. For the season premiere of LOST Tonight, I've moved the DVR out to my game room where I have a projector that is outputting in 4:3 to a 100" screen.

I ran the advanced setup, selecting the screen as a 4:3 instead of a 16:9 but when things come up, it seems as if it still thinks it is on a 16:9 screen instead of 4:3, even after doing this a few times.

Is there any method out there to force it to go back to a 4:3 aspect ratio to be output, instead of it continuing to stay 16:9? Everything stays looking squished right now in 1080i instead of the letterbox being applied to the top and bottom of the picture as it normally would do.Try a reboot after you use the advanced setup. Look at the first post for more information on rebooting.

Follow-up on problem with getting closed caption to work.

CC does work when hdmi connects 8300 to TV. Panasonic told me that even if I had CC off on the TV, as long as CC was on for the 8300, CC would show. After spending some time with Comcast's chat tech, I finally saw what I did wrong. I didn't correctly turn the box's CC on, duh! Under settings/CC source...Std CC 1 and Digital 1 are the correct settings. When one wants CC, single click the remote's Menu once, scroll to CC, toggle to on and then press Select (I had missed pressing Select). If you don't press select, as I did, when you go back to this menu selection, the on reverts back to off...

I told you that a few days ago.

Follow-up on problem with getting closed caption to work.

CC does work when hdmi connects 8300 to TV. Panasonic told me that even if I had CC off on the TV, as long as CC was on for the 8300, CC would show. After spending some time with Comcast's chat tech, I finally saw what I did wrong. I didn't correctly turn the box's CC on, duh! Under settings/CC source...Std CC 1 and Digital 1 are the correct settings. When one wants CC, single click the remote's Menu once, scroll to CC, toggle to on and then press Select (I had missed pressing Select). If you don't press select, as I did, when you go back to this menu selection, the on reverts back to off...

I told you that a few days ago.
Yes, you did. But, I kept missing Select (which, btw, was there in the menu) and thus no CC.

Years ago I had an 8300 with Comcast. I then switched to Dish for a couple of years and am now back to Comcast. I seem to remember being able to do a couple things than I now can't recall or find information on...

1) When pressing the 'guide' button, the guide shows up 4:3. I seem to remember finding a way to get it to go wider and fill my entire HDTV. Ideas?

2) DVR folders. I swear I remember enabling folders in the recordings listing so that shows with the same name would get organized into the same folder. Am I on crack or is there really a way to do this?

Thanks for any info!

Years ago I had an 8300 with Comcast. I then switched to Dish for a couple of years and am now back to Comcast. I seem to remember being able to do a couple things than I now can't recall or find information on...

1) When pressing the 'guide' button, the guide shows up 4:3. I seem to remember finding a way to get it to go wider and fill my entire HDTV. Ideas?

2) DVR folders. I swear I remember enabling folders in the recordings listing so that shows with the same name would get organized into the same folder. Am I on crack or is there really a way to do this?

Thanks for any info!

1) As far as I know, it's only 4:3. There might be a way to horizontally "stretch" it to fill the screen, but that would be a function of the TV (not by using the 8300's # key).

2) You're on crack :) ... it was probably a a feature from a different DVR that you had over the years.

Ted Hodgins, Comcast's Senior Director of Video Product Development, confirmed that all SA boxes will receive an updated Guide UI targeted for this year. The following links contain more info:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=17981148#post17981148

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=17985514#post17985514

Years ago I had an 8300 with Comcast. I then switched to Dish for a couple of years and am now back to Comcast. I seem to remember being able to do a couple things than I now can't recall or find information on...

1) When pressing the 'guide' button, the guide shows up 4:3. I seem to remember finding a way to get it to go wider and fill my entire HDTV. Ideas?

2) DVR folders. I swear I remember enabling folders in the recordings listing so that shows with the same name would get organized into the same folder. Am I on crack or is there really a way to do this?

Thanks for any info!

Years ago I had an 8300 with Comcast. I then switched to Dish for a couple of years and am now back to Comcast. I seem to remember being able to do a couple things than I now can't recall or find information on...

1) When pressing the 'guide' button, the guide shows up 4:3. I seem to remember finding a way to get it to go wider and fill my entire HDTV. Ideas?

2) DVR folders. I swear I remember enabling folders in the recordings listing so that shows with the same name would get organized into the same folder. Am I on crack or is there really a way to do this?

Thanks for any info!

1) As far as I know, it's only 4:3. There might be a way to horizontally "stretch" it to fill the screen, but that would be a function of the TV (not by using the 8300's # key).

2) You're on crack :) ... it was probably a a feature from a different DVR that you had over the years.

1) The guide will stretch when you enable the 480i stretch modes and view 480i content

2) DVR folders are a function of PASSPORT software on the SA 8300 series DVRs (and other models) SARA and various other software versions do not use folders.

vegggas

Sara has a feature that lets you arrange the list alphabetically- press dvr/list then B and scroll to that option.

Years ago I had an 8300 with Comcast. I then switched to Dish for a couple of years and am now back to Comcast. I seem to remember being able to do a couple things than I now can't recall or find information on...

1) When pressing the 'guide' button, the guide shows up 4:3. I seem to remember finding a way to get it to go wider and fill my entire HDTV. Ideas?

2) DVR folders. I swear I remember enabling folders in the recordings listing so that shows with the same name would get organized into the same folder. Am I on crack or is there really a way to do this?

Thanks for any info!

hi all, if i were to buy this unit from someone in the US on ebay and they used it for their own cable provider and I'm in canada using Rogers Cable, will it work?

A naive question, but I have to ask.

I have two Panasonic TVs, each having its own SA8300hdc connected via hdmi. On the 50v10, channels show full on the screen, be it SD or HD. However, on my other set, 32LX700, when in SD, the screen usually has side bars and I have to use the Panny remote to set the aspect at "Just" in order to stretch a full screen.

I know, or at least I believe, that this has to do with my initial seetings on the box. So, I'm thinking that for the LX I need to go back into its box and reset the screen sizes...using the Wizard (info+guide). I was thinking of first looking at the settings within the v10's box, and then using them on the LX's box; but, what I'm not sure about is if I do info+guide (while box is off and tv is on), will I be able to see the present settings or will they reset. In other words, how can figure out to have the same screen formatting on the LX as I do have on the V10?

Why don't you contact Rogers Cable and ask them?

hi all, if i were to buy this unit from someone in the US on ebay and they used it for their own cable provider and I'm in canada using Rogers Cable, will it work?

I may very well be wrong, but I think the issue is not your box, but your TV. In any event, on my set up I allow for all formats on the STB, i.e., after pressing info and guide I walk through all the steps and allow every format. I then have my Panny set to "Full". I then have full screens whether it is SD or HD and I never have to use the aspect button.

A naive question, but I have to ask.

I have two Panasonic TVs, each having its own SA8300hdc connected via hdmi. On the 50v10, channels show full on the screen, be it SD or HD. However, on my other set, 32LX700, when in SD, the screen usually has side bars and I have to use the Panny remote to set the aspect at "Just" in order to stretch a full screen.

I know, or at least I believe, that this has to do with my initial seetings on the box. So, I'm thinking that for the LX I need to go back into its box and reset the screen sizes...using the Wizard (info+guide). I was thinking of first looking at the settings within the v10's box, and then using them on the LX's box; but, what I'm not sure about is if I do info+guide (while box is off and tv is on), will I be able to see the present settings or will they reset. In other words, how can figure out to have the same screen formatting on the LX as I do have on the V10?

I may very well be wrong, but I think the issue is not your box, but your TV. In any event, on my set up I allow for all formats on the STB, i.e., after pressing info and guide I walk through all the steps and allow every format. I then have my Panny set to "Full". I then have full screens whether it is SD or HD and I never have to use the aspect button.

AFAIK, you should are correct. If HD channels are being displayed full screen, then the TV should have a setting to allow SD channels to be expanded to also fill the screen.

I may very well be wrong, but I think the issue is not your box, but your TV. In any event, on my set up I allow for all formats on the STB, i.e., after pressing info and guide I walk through all the steps and allow every format. I then have my Panny set to "Full". I then have full screens whether it is SD or HD and I never have to use the aspect button.

Aren't there some negatives when allowing all formats? Here's what I think I did with my V10. When initially formatting the screen using the Wizard, I naively only accepted 720p and 1080i and set the TV to "full.". I figured that 720p and 1080i (HD) would come through "as is" when they are being broadcasted. And if it was 480i (SD), it would be upscaled to 720P or 1080i. Actaully, I'm not too sure whether or not the latter is what's really happening...I would prefer that a 480i signal be upscaled only to 720p. Nonetheless, these are my settings I think I have for my 50v10 and screens are almost always full without side bars.

Aren't there some negatives when allowing all formats? Here's what I think I did with my V10. When initially formatting the screen using the Wizard, I naively only accepted 720p and 1080i and set the TV to "full.". I figured that 720p and 1080i (HD) would come through "as is" when they are being broadcasted. And if it was 480i (SD), it would be upscaled to 720P or 1080i. Actaully, I'm not too sure whether or not the latter is what's really happening...I would prefer that a 480i signal be upscaled only to 720p. Nonetheless, these are my settings I think I have for my 50v10 and screens are almost always full without side bars.

If the image is "upscaled" to 720p, then the TV can no longer automatically expand it because it is no longer SD. Since it is now HD, it is assumed to be a full screen and you will get the side bars.

There used to be a danger in enabling all formats because some TVs can't/couldn't properly handle some of the formats. That is generally no longer a problem with new TVs, they accept all input formats. However, there are still potentital problems enabling all formats, particularly the 480i/p standard and widescreen formats. Enabling both can confuse the DVR because you are basically telling it to do 2 different things with the same signal (see First Post). Enabling 480i, 720p and 1080i causes the TV to reformat as you scan through channels of different formats. Some people don't like this and most can't tell the different, so they only enable 720p or 1080i, not both.

hi all, if i were to buy this unit from someone in the US on ebay and they used it for their own cable provider and I'm in canada using Rogers Cable, will it work?I agree with BIGA$$TV. The unit has to be authorized by Rogers Cable before it will work so you should ask Rogers Cable if they will authorize a unit bought on ebay before you buy it.

If the image is "upscaled" to 720p, then the TV can no longer automatically expand it because it is no longer SD. Since it is now HD, it is assumed to be a full screen and you will get the side bars..

OK, now I think I'm finally understanding some of this stuff. Let's see if I am right? My LX only goes to 720p. So if I only format the box for 720p, on SD channels I will get upscaled 720p with side bars...giving me HD and the need to set aspect to "just" in order to ride the side bars...Right? This is probably not the formatting that I have with the V10. With the TV's aspect set to Full, I must be allowing 480i to scale to 480p...which keeps things at SD and thus allows for stretching. As the TV is 1080i, I probably am allowing both 720p and 1080i, thus getting a full screen. Am I at least on the right track?

There used to be a danger in enabling all formats because some TVs can't/couldn't properly handle some of the formats. That is generally no longer a problem with new TVs, they accept all input formats. However, there are still potentital problems enabling all formats, particularly the 480i/p standard and widescreen formats. Enabling both can confuse the DVR because you are basically telling it to do 2 different things with the same signal (see First Post). Enabling 480i, 720p and 1080i causes the TV to reformat as you scan through channels of different formats. Some people don't like this and most can't tell the different, so they only enable 720p or 1080i, not both.

I will now pay more attention to see if there is a pause between going from SD to HD channels on both my TVs. If I have the concepts right, then I think I would see a pause on the V10, but not the LX.

Finally, back to my original question (that most likely wasn't well phrased). Can one go intot he Box's screen formatting Wizard and see the present settings; or, does doing this start things afresh?

OK, now I think I'm finally understanding some of this stuff. Let's see if I am right? My LX only goes to 720p. So if I only format the box for 720p, on SD channels I will get upscaled 720p with side bars...giving me HD and the need to set aspect to "just" in order to ride the side bars...Right?
Correct.

This is probably not the formatting that I have with the V10. With the TV's aspect set to Full, I must be allowing 480i to scale to 480p...which keeps things at SD and thus allows for stretching.
Again, correct.

As the TV is 1080i, I probably am allowing both 720p and 1080i, thus getting a full screen. Am I at least on the right track?
Yes, you're on the right track. But FYI, just because the LX displays at 720p doesn't necessarily mean it can't accept other (1080i) signals. You may have checked that at some point and found that is the case. However, many 720p TVs can accept 1080i inputs, it simply converts them for display.

I will now pay more attention to see if there is a pause between going from SD to HD channels on both my TVs. If I have the concepts right, then I think I would see a pause on the V10, but not the LX.
Well, I've been told the pause is pretty slight on newer TVs, so youmight not notice it. On my older Hitachi, it's quite obvious.

Finally, back to my original question (that most likely wasn't well phrased). Can one go into the Box's screen formatting Wizard and see the present settings; or, does doing this start things afresh?
It's been a long time since I've used the Wizard, but AFAIK you can check the settings, but it's not like you get a list of current settings. You still have to look at each one to see if it's enabled. You can move from one to the other and exit without changing anything.

It may depend on one's software version. Previously I have had to walk through each format on the set up procedure regardless of it's previous setting. Now I get to a screen that shows all the formats on one screen and they are "green-dotted" or not. Sounds like you are worried that you'll mess up the TV that currently works the way you want it to when you try and find out how it is set up. I wouldn't worry. At the worst you'd just have to try two or three combos to get it back working.

Aren't there some negatives when allowing all formats? Here's what I think I did with my V10. When initially formatting the screen using the Wizard, I naively only accepted 720p and 1080i and set the TV to "full.". I figured that 720p and 1080i (HD) would come through "as is" when they are being broadcasted. And if it was 480i (SD), it would be upscaled to 720P or 1080i. Actaully, I'm not too sure whether or not the latter is what's really happening...I would prefer that a 480i signal be upscaled only to 720p. Nonetheless, these are my settings I think I have for my 50v10 and screens are almost always full without side bars.

Dave, here's my follow-up on getting rid of the bars. Without checking the box settings on the v10 (the way I like it), I went straight to the LX. After some trial and error, I found that, via the Wizard, setting screen formatting to 720p and 480p Standard, gave me what I wanted: With TV format set to Full, no bars when HD playing, and only a few SD chennels displayed bars (horizontal bars). Can you explain why two or three SD channels have displayed these horizontal bars?

Are they really horizontal bars? Or is the screen simply not full because it the broadcast that way- letter box so that there is no distortion? I know I have some channels that do this such as FNC.

Dave, here's my follow-up on getting rid of the bars. Without checking the box settings on the v10 (the way I like it), I went straight to the LX. After some trial and error, I found that, via the Wizard, setting screen formatting to 720p and 480p Standard, gave me what I wanted: With TV format set to Full, no bars when HD playing, and only a few SD chennels displayed bars (horizontal bars). Can you explain why two or three SD channels have displayed these horizontal bars?

Dave, here's my follow-up on getting rid of the bars. Without checking the box settings on the v10 (the way I like it), I went straight to the LX. After some trial and error, I found that, via the Wizard, setting screen formatting to 720p and 480p Standard, gave me what I wanted: With TV format set to Full, no bars when HD playing, and only a few SD chennels displayed bars (horizontal bars). Can you explain why two or three SD channels have displayed these horizontal bars?

Some channels, particularly TCM, broadcast stuff OAR (original aspect ratio). HD is around 185:1 and most movies are 235:1. Shrinking the image to fit the 185:1 ratio means there will be excess space at the top/bottom. If you zoom these to fill the space, you cut off the sides. Most fans want to see things the way they were shown in the theaters. TCM and others honor that desire by showing them with the top/bottom bars. Some, like StarZ, even show their movies in multiple ratios to accommodate everyone. There is nothing you can do to automatically expand those.

Also, as BIG mentioned, some channels have taken to displaying the HD image on the SD channel in a letter-boxed format. I watch FNC on the HD channel full-screen, so I didn't know they were doing that until recently. When you expand those channels, they look pretty funny and usually zooming helps.

Are they really horizontal bars? Or is the screen simply not full because it the broadcast that way- letter box so that there is no distortion? I know I have some channels that do this such as FNC.

Doesn't look as though there is any distortion, so it must be letterbox.

Just a little further confusion. Since my TV is wide screen, doesn't it make sense to set the format at 480p rather than 480p standard. I would think that the latter (which is the setting I am presently using that isn't producing bars), would be more appropriate for a 4:3 than a 16:9 TV?

Doesn't look as though there is any distortion, so it must be letterbox.
It all depends on how your TV expands a 4:3 image, but if you have bars on the top/bottm and not the sides, then I suspect it is distorted to some degree. If you don't have bars on the top/bottom or some distortion, then I suspect you are missing some of the image on the sides. If you don't get FNC in HD, then you can't compare the images unless you toggle your TV's stretch mode.

Just a little further confusion. Since my TV is wide screen, doesn't it make sense to set the format at 480p rather than 480p standard. I would think that the latter (which is the setting I am presently using that isn't producing bars), would be more appropriate for a 4:3 than a 16:9 TV?
AFAIK, the options are 480p wide and 480p standard, though it's been a couple of years since I've looked. At any rate, the "standard" lets your TV do the stretching for SD channels while the "wide" lets the 8300 do the stretching. The way to see what each one does is toggle the TV's stretch mode and check each format.

I should note that most (all?) SD channels are 480i, music channels are 480p, and HD channels are 720p/1080i, though I supposed this might depend on what the cableco is doing with them. There have been problems with 480i/p and HDMI too, depending on equipment, so it behoves everyone to do their own setup and not rely solely on what someone else does.

No background recording going on (except, of course the channel we are watching ... just the way it works, right?)

When we watch a whole movie on a SD channel, everything is fine for the whole movie.

When we watch a whole movie on a HD channel, everything is fine for the first hour or so. Then, about every 15 seconds or so, the sound cuts out for a second, and we get some screen pixelation. If we rewind a bit, we see the same glitch again. So, we know it's recording it that way.

The work-around is to switch to a SD channel for a couple of minutes, and then back to the HD channel (I think this resets the "watching buffer").

What do you think? Drive is about 50% full. Does it sound like a fragmentation issue? Should I force a defrag?

Is current fragmentation level displayed somewhere? (So I can check it before and after).

I have an 8300HD. From the start I selected "auto HDMI/DVI" since I reckoned my set would do a better job of scaling the 720p signal into a 1080p one. I didn't mind the short delay.

Yesterday something weird happened: when I switched from a 1080i channel, such as Discovery to a 720p one such as the History Channel, the latter came up with bars on all four sides. I could get rid of the bars by turning off the cable box or otherwise forcing an HDMI handshake.

The opposite wasn't true: switching from 720p to 1080i didn't cause the same problem.

I should add that I recently got a new television, a Sony Bravia LCD, but this problem didn't exist the first few days I had it. It jut came out of nowhere. Cox is as stumped as I am. I've checked the settings and nothing seems to be different. Unplugging the box or a "refresh" made no difference.

I suppose I could select "fixed" but I prefer not to.

Any suggestions?

I have an 8300HD. From the start I selected "auto HDMI/DVI" since I reckoned my set would do a better job of scaling the 720p signal into a 1080p one. I didn't mind the short delay.

Yesterday something weird happened: when I switched from a 1080i channel, such as Discovery to a 720p one such as the History Channel, the latter came up with bars on all four sides. I could get rid of the bars by turning off the cable box or otherwise forcing an HDMI handshake.

The opposite wasn't true: switching from 720p to 1080i didn't cause the same problem.

I should add that I recently got a new television, a Sony Bravia LCD, but this problem didn't exist the first few days I had it. It jut came out of nowhere. Cox is as stumped as I am. I've checked the settings and nothing seems to be different. Unplugging the box or a "refresh" made no difference.

I suppose I could select "fixed" but I prefer not to.

Any suggestions?

I have had several SA 8300HD's, a 8300HDC and 4250HDC's. I agree that "auto HDMI/DVI" would be my choice and have the TV or Projector do the scaling. However I have always ended up using "Fixed" as everything seems to work smoother that way. Channel changes are quicker and no HDCP errors.

Thank you. As it turned out, the problem may be that my box doesn't play very well with Sony's "Full Pixel," i.e., 1:1, mode. Actually, from what I've gleaned on the web, it may very well be a Sony firmware bug.

I have had quite a few problems with my box. A few days ago I lost sound and then tonight during the Olympics my picture shrunk to the size of the preview window when you access the recorded list. I had to manually reboot it once again. I'm seriously getting annoyed with this stupid box! LOL!

I have had quite a few problems with my box. A few days ago I lost sound and then tonight during the Olympics my picture shrunk to the size of the preview window when you access the recorded list. I had to manually reboot it once again. I'm seriously getting annoyed with this stupid box! LOL!

Return it for another one. If a Hard Reboot (see first post) doesn't fix it, then there is something wrong and you need to exchange it.

As a Charter subscriber, is there a way to have to box start up on "last channel" or anything other than the "on demand" menu? It seems like my living room turns into a hotel room every time I turn on the TV with this box.

As a Charter subscriber, is there a way to have to box start up on "last channel" or anything other than the "on demand" menu? It seems like my living room turns into a hotel room every time I turn on the TV with this box.

On mine, I can go into Settings, and change to power-on channel.

I have an SA8300HD box (TimeWarner) connected to a Denon1610 AVR by HDMI.
Also have bluray disc connected to AVR by HDMI.
AVR is connected to Samsung LN52B750 LCD by HDMI.
System is pretty much all new (< 2weeks).

The problem I've been having is the picture coming from the 8300HD goes from perfect to intermittent snow/flicker. At this point, I can switch over to bluray and the pic is perfect...switch back to the 8300HD and still snow/flickers.

The only 'cure' is to reboot the 8300HD (unplug/plug back in) which works every time (4 times over the past 3 days). I've checked all connections (even disconnect/reconnect).

Is it 'this' box...I can exchange for another (and plan to)? Will that likely solve the issue or does it sound like it can be something else?
Suggestions appreciated!

The only 'cure' is to reboot the 8300HD (unplug/plug back in) which works every time (4 times over the past 3 days). I've checked all connections (even disconnect/reconnect).

There are 2 things I suggest you try before exchanging it.

The first is a Hard Reboot as outlined in the First Post.

The second is to connect the 8300 directly to the TV to rule out a disconnect with the AVR. HDMI can be finicky between the DVR and TV with an AVR in between. I'd hate for you to waste your time getting a new 8300 only to have the same problem.

There are 2 things I suggest you try before exchanging it.

The first is a Hard Reboot as outlined in the First Post.



From page 1:

"Press and hold Power on 8300 front panel. While Power is depressed, plug 8300 power cord back in. Continue to hold Power until 8300 display says "boot" and/or begins to cycle a few times (usually about 15 seconds).

How important is this step? Simply unplugging/waiting/plugging back in I get a display that says "boot" (without holding down the power button)?



The second is to connect the 8300 directly to the TV to rule out a disconnect with the AVR.

Before seting up the AVR, I had the 8300HD hooked directly to the TV by HDMI. The problem I had in this case was slightly different...the picture was 'shifting' 1-2 pixels up/down (had the 'shakes'). Others on the forum suggested I try different HDMI cables/connections. The only way I was able to stop the 'shakes' was to reboot as I described above.

How important is this step? Simply unplugging/waiting/plugging back in I get a display that says "boot" (without holding down the power button)?

They are very different and reset different indicators, etc. Problems that were not fixed with a reboot have been resoloved with a hard reboot, including one or two for me over the past 6 years.

Before seting up the AVR, I had the 8300HD hooked directly to the TV by HDMI. The problem I had in this case was slightly different...the picture was 'shifting' 1-2 pixels up/down (had the 'shakes'). Others on the forum suggested I try different HDMI cables/connections. The only way I was able to stop the 'shakes' was to reboot as I described above.

The point is to make sure there is not something in the handshake with the AVR in the mix. HDMI is not simply a cable connection. There are specific things that take place when the DVR and TV are turned on. Mind you, I don't think that's the problem. I'm just trying to rule things out so that if you get a new box the chances are it will fix your problem. If a direct connection causes other problem, then just replace the box and hope for the best.

Thanks for the advice. I did the hard reboot as described on page 1 but didn't notice this part:

On the front panel, where the : (colon) seperates the hours and minutes, the bottom " . " dot will appear after all OS firmware has been loaded.

After the time came up, it appeared as hours:minutes. The bottom "." was immediately in place.

I'll keep watch and post when/if the problem continues.

Thanks :)

After the time came up, it appeared as hours:minutes. The bottom "." was immediately in place.

I'm not sure that part applies anymore, so don't worry about it.

I have an SA8300HD box (TimeWarner) connected to a Denon1610 AVR by HDMI.
Also have bluray disc connected to AVR by HDMI.
AVR is connected to Samsung LN52B750 LCD by HDMI.
System is pretty much all new (< 2weeks).

The problem I've been having is the picture coming from the 8300HD goes from perfect to intermittent snow/flicker. At this point, I can switch over to bluray and the pic is perfect...switch back to the 8300HD and still snow/flickers.

The only 'cure' is to reboot the 8300HD (unplug/plug back in) which works every time (4 times over the past 3 days). I've checked all connections (even disconnect/reconnect).

Is it 'this' box...I can exchange for another (and plan to)? Will that likely solve the issue or does it sound like it can be something else?
Suggestions appreciated!

You might want to try a different cable.

Connecting it directly to the TV should also help in trouble-shooting.

Nice we can get them swapped out for free when we need to though.

The gremlins are at work again.

I have two new HD tv's, each attached to a SA8300hdc via hdmi. Both boxes are set up exactly the same with Format at DVI/HDMI Auto and using the Wizard's screen setup, I have only 480p Standard and 720p set (don't mind the handshake and wanted full TV screens). On the TVs, aspect set to Full (Panasonic TVs).

Both sets were functioning for many months as they should. But recently one of them (32LX700) is functioning differently and I'm not sure if it is a TV matter or a STB matter. Specifically, when working as they should (one still does, which allows for direct comparisons), the STB reads 480p for SD channels and 720p for HD channels. The TV's remotes' Info do agree with these STB format readings. Now, the STB read out for the problem set is 480i for both SD and HD, confirmed by using the TV's remote selection of Info. If I now shut the STB (leave TV on) and redo the Screen Wizard set up (BWT, I don't have to do anything except accept what comes up in the screen format as is comes up with 480p Standard and 720p already in place), things are back to normal, ie, 480p for SD and 720p for HD channels.

Now here come the gremlins. If I turn both the TV and the STB off and then turn them back on, the problem reappears: 480i showing on all channels??? Of course I could call in Comcast service and pay $45 if it was something that I could have fixed without them, or I could assume that the box went south and have it replaced. Do I have to call in Ghost Busters, or can you guys help me?

Try rebooting the SA8300hdc after the Wizard's screen setup is done.
The gremlins are at work again.

I have two new HD tv's, each attached to a SA8300hdc via hdmi. Both boxes are set up exactly the same with Format at DVI/HDMI Auto and using the Wizard's screen setup, I have only 480p Standard and 720p set (don't mind the handshake and wanted full TV screens). On the TVs, aspect set to Full (Panasonic TVs).

Both sets were functioning for many months as they should. But recently one of them (32LX700) is functioning differently and I'm not sure if it is a TV matter or a STB matter. Specifically, when working as they should (one still does, which allows for direct comparisons), the STB reads 480p for SD channels and 720p for HD channels. The TV's remotes' Info do agree with these STB format readings. Now, the STB read out for the problem set is 480i for both SD and HD, confirmed by using the TV's remote selection of Info. If I now shut the STB (leave TV on) and redo the Screen Wizard set up (BWT, I don't have to do anything except accept what comes up in the screen format as is comes up with 480p Standard and 720p already in place), things are back to normal, ie, 480p for SD and 720p for HD channels.

Now here come the gremlins. If I turn both the TV and the STB off and then turn them back on, the problem reappears: 480i showing on all channels??? Of course I could call in Comcast service and pay $45 if it was something that I could have fixed without them, or I could assume that the box went south and have it replaced. Do I have to call in Ghost Busters, or can you guys help me?

Try rebooting the SA8300hdc after the Wizard's screen setup is done.

Wife has a lot of stuff recorded on the stb. Will rebooting loose it? Also, have you seen my problem before?

No, rebooting doesn't affect recordings.

Wife has a lot of stuff recorded on the stb. Will rebooting loose it? Also, have you seen my problem before?

Wife has a lot of stuff recorded on the stb. Will rebooting loose it? Also, have you seen my problem before?Rebooting does not delete recordings. I haven't seen your problem, but I had a problem with the DVR not using the changes I made in the Setup Wizard. I used the Setup Wizard, but when I turned off the DVR and turned the DVR back on the next morning my changes were gone. I had set the format to 480i because the TV is a standard def TV, but the format would default to 1080i when I turned the DVR back on and I would have to go back to the Setup Wizard to change it again.

Rebooting does not delete recordings. I haven't seen your problem, but I had a problem with the DVR not using the changes I made in the Setup Wizard. I used the Setup Wizard, but when I turned off the DVR and turned the DVR back on the next morning my changes were gone. I had set the format to 480i because the TV is a standard def TV, but the format would default to 1080i when I turned the DVR back on and I would have to go back to the Setup Wizard to change it again.

First, re-booting didn't work...everything was still being indicated at 480i. Interestingly, along with the 480i, the STB's display also had "HDTV." I tried bouncing back and forth between two same channels, one in broadcasting in SD and the other in HD (CNN and CNNHD, eg) and although both had the "HDTV" and 480i, it was hard to discern if ohne may have been HD and the other SD. I was in rush at the time and will take a better look today. BTW, the LX700 does SD very well.

Going back to my format setup, 480p Standard and 720p, CVJ/HDMI Auto, am I right in that this forces a 480i signal into 480p and an a 1080i signal into 720p? And if so, who does this: the STB or the TV. If not the TV, then how can I use the TV's processor rather then the STB'S?

EDIT:
More food for thought. Because of the following additional observations, I am strongly thinking that the STB may be defective and should be swaped out. Out of curiosity, I started trying different screen formats, but then went back to my original formats. This time the STB display read 480p for all channels, with HDTV showing for the HD channels. I then shut the STB off and reformatted back to the original settings. 480i was back on all channels with HDTV for the HD channels. To my eyes, although 480i was displayed for all channels, when comparing CNN to CNNHD, there was a difference and the HD channel did indeed seem to be HD.

EDIT:
More food for thought. Because of the following additional observations, I am strongly thinking that the STB may be defective and should be swaped out. Out of curiosity, I started trying different screen formats, but then went back to my original formats. This time the STB display read 480p for all channels, with HDTV showing for the HD channels. I then shut the STB off and reformatted back to the original settings. 480i was back on all channels with HDTV for the HD channels. To my eyes, although 480i was displayed for all channels, when comparing CNN to CNNHD, there was a difference and the HD channel did indeed seem to be HD.

I always recommend trying the "hard" reboot (see First Post) vs a standard reboot before returning a unit. This will reset all internal indicators and force a download of the software if needed. If that doesn't help, then replace it.

I always recommend trying the "hard" reboot (see First Post) vs a standard reboot before returning a unit. This will reset all internal indicators and force a download of the software if needed. If that doesn't help, then replace it.

Don't mind a hard re-boot, but although I know a "soft" reboot won't disturb my wife's recordings, will a "hard" reboot loose them? Above suggestions to reboot don't clarify this issue, they just said rebooting won't erase the recordings without differentiating between the two types of rebooting.

Don't mind a hard re-boot, but although I know a "soft" reboot won't disturb my wife's recordings, will a "hard" reboot loose them? Above suggestions to reboot don't clarify this issue, they just said rebooting won't erase the recordings without differentiating between the two types of rebooting.

No, it shouldn't. But let me ask you this, what is going happen to those recordings when you replace the box? :)

The thing about disturbing your wife's recordings is that there are no guarantees with either reboot, after all this is computer software we're talking about. I know folks who have lost everything doing a reboot, but that was years ago with far older software and it was not something that happened with any regularity or that could be reproduced. I've never lost a recording during a reboot and I've had my box running since Sep '04.

No, it shouldn't. But let me ask you this, what is going happen to those recordings when you replace the box? :)

The thing about disturbing your wife's recordings is that there are no guarantees with either reboot, after all this is computer software we're talking about. I know folks who have lost everything doing a reboot, but that was years ago with far older software and it was not something that happened with any regularity or that could be reproduced. I've never lost a recording during a reboot and I've had my box running since Sep '04.

I think I will have to wait a while until she runs down her recordings to the point that she'll let me dow a hard reboot/return the box. Good point on the latter. I'll post after a hard reboot and/or after I get a new box.

I think I will have to wait a while until she runs down her recordings to the point that she'll let me dow a hard reboot/return the box. Good point on the latter. I'll post after a hard reboot and/or after I get a new box.

Knowing my wife, that sounds like a prudent approach. :)

I'll keep watch and post when/if the problem continues.



So far, no problems......still holding my breath! :cool:

Just do the hard reboot. I've done it countless times without affect on recordings. And if I am wrong and you lose the recordings just tell her some moron on the internet told you to do it.

I think I will have to wait a while until she runs down her recordings to the point that she'll let me dow a hard reboot/return the box. Good point on the latter. I'll post after a hard reboot and/or after I get a new box.

So far, no problems......still holding my breath! :cool:

Believe it or not, but some people still do a hard reboot once a month or so just to keep things cleaned out and running smooth.

Just do the hard reboot. I've done it countless times without affect on recordings. And if I am wrong and you lose the recordings just tell her some moron on the internet told you to do it.

As if that would keep him out of the dog house. :)

Hey, my wife is a big gal...I may not want to take any chances getting her dander up (LOL).

BTW, could someone answer this previously question within my post:

"Going back to my format setup, 480p Standard and 720p, CVJ/HDMI Auto, am I right in that this forces a 480i signal into 480p and an a 1080i signal into 720p? And if so, who does this: the STB or the TV. If not the TV, then how can I use the TV's processor rather then the STB'S?"

Hey, my wife is a big gal...I may not want to take any chances getting her dander up (LOL).

BTW, could someone answer this previously question within my post:

"Going back to my format setup, 480p Standard and 720p, CVJ/HDMI Auto, am I right in that this forces a 480i signal into 480p and an a 1080i signal into 720p? And if so, who does this: the STB or the TV. If not the TV, then how can I use the TV's processor rather then the STB'S?"

The STB does it. The only way to get the TV to do it is to enable 480i (which is most SD channels), 480p (music channels), 720p (some HD channels) and 1080i (other HD channels). 480p has caused problems with HDMI in the past, though I don't think it's the same as your problem. It's actually worth a shot though to enable 480i to rule that out as a problem. I don't know of any reason to make the STB convert all those channels to 480p just because you have a 702p TV.

Hey, my wife is a big gal...I may not want to take any chances getting her dander up (LOL).

BTW, could someone answer this previously question within my post:

"Going back to my format setup, 480p Standard and 720p, CVJ/HDMI Auto, am I right in that this forces a 480i signal into 480p and an a 1080i signal into 720p? And if so, who does this: the STB or the TV. If not the TV, then how can I use the TV's processor rather then the STB'S?"The STB does the conversion. To force the TV to do the conversion, allow all formats on the STB.

I always recommend trying the "hard" reboot (see First Post) vs a standard reboot before returning a unit. This will reset all internal indicators and force a download of the software if needed. If that doesn't help, then replace it.
A Reboot (see below) can also force a download of the software if needed. I have seen this happen several times.

Reboot. Unplug power cord for 5 or more seconds and then plug it back in.

Before I allow all screen formats, am I right that by using the TV's processing the TV's PQ would be better than if the STB did the processing? Also, when opening all formats, will one get more or fewer bars? I know that when using 480p standard and 720p, I don't have to mess with bars.

Before I allow all screen formats, am I right that by using the TV's processing the TV's PQ would be better than if the STB did the processing? Also, when opening all formats, will one get more or fewer bars? I know that when using 480p standard and 720p, I don't have to mess with bars.

Well, the 8300 is at least 6 years old now, so I would imagine the chipset in your newer TV would do a better job. However, it's debatable that you will be able to see the difference even if it technically does do a better job.

You should see no difference with 480i vs 480p (unless you incorrectly select 480i widescreen).

A Reboot (see below) can also force a download of the software if needed. I have seen this happen several times.

Reboot. Unplug power cord for 5 or more seconds and then plug it back in.

That depends on what is wrong, so you can't always rely on a simple Reboot fixing a problem. To be honest, I'm not really sure how you know what it's doing, I sure can't tell. The only thing I can see is when it downloads the IPG data again. All I know is there is a difference between a Reboot and a Hard Reboot, I've seen problems fixed by one and not the other. Plus, I believe he already tried a Reboot and it didn't help hold the settings. I never waste time with a Reboot. The few times I've had to reboot, I just did a Hard Reboot to get it over with. :)

First, let me thank you folks for helping me with my "unable to get rid of 480i [B]only[B] problem." Secondly, let me apologize for not finding the (possible) solution(s) before starting this inquiry. The solution(s) appear within the first page of this very thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=767661)...my bad, eh?

Anyway, as you can see, there are several approaches offered to this problem, all indicating that the STB is screwy, but manageable. Appearently, the most successful approaches have to do with setting things up first using component cable and the swapping back to HDMI cable (see url above). Well, you now know what I will be doing within the next few minutes (and hopefully not hours)... BTW, box swapping had nothing to do with the solution.

First, let me thank you folks for helping me with my "unable to get rid of 480i [B]only[B] problem." Secondly, let me apologize for not finding the (possible) solution(s) before starting this inquiry. The solution(s) appear within the first page of this very thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=767661)...my bad, eh?

Not at all, I forgot all about that Component cable stuff too until you mentioned it. It's been a pretty long time though since anyone ran across that same problem. Looking back, I probably should have also included a problem/solution section in the First Post, but there's only so much time.

So far, so good.

Well, I copied down about 5 different approaches to this "stuck on only one resolution" problem. Figured that starting with the approach that seemed to be most successful would be the way to go (set box to open with an SD channel-some felt this was needed, soft reboot, unhook hdmi, hook in components, check to see things are as they should be-and they will be, unhook components and rehook up hdmi, start box then TV-see url). However, there was no communication between the TV and the box when I tried to use the Wizard (info-guide), just got SD and then HD on the box display after pressing a few times. What I had forgotten to do was to switch the box's format from DVI/HDMI Auto to Pass Through. However, before I realized this error, I had already spent time exploring other reasons for the non-communication and eventually wound up, while in deep frustration, disconnecting the components and reconnecting the hdmi. I started the box (which kept my original settings: DVI/HDMI Auto and 720p and 480p Standard) and then the TV (also made sure that the box's remote's single click starter button would follow this sequence). Lo and behold, things were back to normal: Picture aspect at Full, no excessive bars on screen, SD channels were 480p and HD channels were 720p. Via the box's remote single click on/off button, I turned things off and on several times, all was still good. Waited about an hour and repeated, all is OK. Did this becasue some have reported that the good settings don't always hold up after a period of time. Well, we'll see how things go later on in the day...

What gets me is that I never completed the whole routine. Really just removed/hook in cables, and yet things are looking good...for the moment???

Sometimes that's just the way it is. Ask anyone who hooked up an eSATA drive back in the early days. Reboot once didn't work, reboot 3-4 times and things work. Sometiems just breaking the HDMI handshake completely does the trick. Go figure! That's one reason why cableco's generally don't support HDMI, just too many variables.

Sometimes that's just the way it is. Ask anyone who hooked up an eSATA drive back in the early days. Reboot once didn't work, reboot 3-4 times and things work. Sometiems just breaking the HDMI handshake completely does the trick. Go figure! That's one reason why cableco's generally don't support HDMI, just too many variables.

I still think it is gremlins at work (LOL).

I guess if one goes to components, then we will have no real problems with TV/STB interfacing, eh? And, as for component cables, I have read that there are two sides to that coin: Some say there is no difference in PQ, while others argue there is. Would you care to jump in and give us your opinion?