If a series airs once a week, the modified times are not retained and must be reentered every week.

Okay, well thanks for the info. Not the answer I was hoping for, but that's not your fault lol.

I really hate this box and Cablevision in general.

Padding end times will usually hold on the sofware version being run by Cablevision. I have an extra minute added to a couple of "first run" weekly recordings and they hold.

Padding end times will usually hold on the sofware version being run by Cablevision. I have an extra minute added to a couple of "first run" weekly recordings and they hold.What version number of SARA do you have?

Comcast hasn't updated my version of SARA 1.89.22.2 since December 12, 2007.

What version number of SARA do you have?

Comcast hasn't updated my version of SARA 1.89.22.2 since December 12, 2007.

Will you be getting the Rovi S25.2 IPG anytime in the near future to replace SARA?

Will you be getting the Rovi S25.2 IPG anytime in the near future to replace SARA?I am not sure what the company name is but the S25 sounds correct. I should get it this week.

Here is a link to more information about the new guide:

http://blog.comcast.com/2010/05/new-guide-for-scientific-atlanta-cable-boxes.html

What version number of SARA do you have?

Comcast hasn't updated my version of SARA 1.89.22.2 since December 12, 2007.

1.91.36.111 on Cablevision

Sad to say, but after almost 7 years, I'm cancelling my subscription to this thread and will no longer be updating the First Post unless someone PMs me with needed changes.

Sad to say, but after almost 7 years, I'm cancelling my subscription to this thread and will no longer be updating the First Post unless someone PMs me with needed changes.

Why?

Why?

DoubleDAZ is with Cox Phoenix.
Cox Phoenix no longer uses SARA they have switched to Rovi Passport Echo.

DoubleDAZ is with Cox Phoenix.
Cox Phoenix no longer uses SARA they have switched to Rovi Passport Echo.

That is only part of the reason, but it will suffice. I've already quit the new Passport thread too, read what you want to into that. :(

That is only part of the reason, but it will suffice. I've already quit the new Passport thread too, read what you want to into that. :(Hi Dave,

I appreciate all the effort that you put into this thread. It has helped me understand what is going on with SARA.

Comcast is in the process of replacing all of its SARA guides with a guide that is based on the Motorola A25 guide and upgrade it to the Motorola A28 guide and then upgrade both the Motorola and Cisco/Sa areas to a tru2way guide. Comcast should have all SARA guides replaced by the end of May.

For Comcast users that have the new guide and have issues you can post in Comcast's Ted Hodgins, Sr. Director, Video Product Development - Navigation, in Media & Entertainment, "New Guide for Scientific Atlanta Cable Boxes" blog (click on the GUIDE BLOG link in
signature. Also, I have posted a lot of information about the new guide in the Houston Comcast thread (click on the HOUSTON link in my signature.)
Early Monday morning, I got the new guide and I am still trying to understand all the details.

Thanks, Russ, it's been a great ride, but it's time for me to let the thread go. I appreciate all the help you've been too. Good luck with the new Comcast Guide.

I have a 1Tb external WD Black drive, and now have some issues seeing recordings that I beleive are on the external drive. I get the Digital Recorder screen when trying to acces some recordings that were working in the past.
I did the hard reboot, still same issue.
Is possible that the numbers of recordings is limited to 100 ?

I have a 1Tb external WD Black drive, and now have some issues seeing recordings that I beleive are on the external drive. I get the Digital Recorder screen when trying to acces some recordings that were working in the past.
I did the hard reboot, still same issue.
Is possible that the numbers of recordings is limited to 100 ?

I don't think the number of recordings has a limit. When I had SARA, I had 2 External eSATA HDDs and well over 100 recordings between them. It is always possible the data file/index for the recordings has become corrupt, that did happen to me once. My solution was to erase every recording and start fresh.

It is also possible, one of the HDDs has a bad sector.

You may want to post in the Videotron Canada Forum also http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=131003&page=4

If the issue is limited to just a few recordings, just delete those affected. If the problem persists, you may need to reformat the internal HDD, see first post, and reformat the external on a PC and run Check Disk to find out if the Ext HDD has any issues. NOTE all recordings will be lost, but you will be starting fresh.
Instructions on how to reformat (using windows) an already DVR formatted HDD: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=18414497#post18414497

Thanks for the clarification. When I read your post I interpreted it mean you were going to connect the SA's component video output to a corresponding component video input on your DVDR. I didn't think any mfg was making a DVDR with that connectivity (although it would nice to have) - that's why I asked.

My Philips dvdr 3400 does have a component input. However it is limited to 480p. So they do exist.

I should have been clearer. When I said that I didn't think any mfg was making a DVDR with that connectivity, I should have said "any more". I know that there was a time when such devices were sold. I'm pretty sure that there aren't any mfgs. including Component Video inputs on any new DVDRs though.

The links in my signature are for Comcast customers that are getting or already have the new Comcast S25 Guide that is replacing the SARA Guide.

Click on the "GUIDE BLOG" link in my signature to go to Comcast's Ted Hodgins, Sr. Director, Video Product Development - Navigation, in Media & Entertainment, "New Guide for Scientific Atlanta Cable Boxes" blog.

Click on the "GUIDE TIPS" link in my signature to go to the post that has a lot of information and tips about the new Comcast S25 guide that is replacing the SARA guide in the Comcast Cisco/SA markets.

Click on the "GUIDE SCHEDULE" link to go to the post that has the latest Comcast schedule for new guide and its phases.

when unit powers on in the morning it says wait hdd powering up it seems to not see the ext western digital hdd 1tb drive. This happens every morning. I have to unplug the ext hdd then plug it back in and the sa8300 sees the ext drive. I read on here this..Auto Shut-off Workaround. Auto Shut-off feature can be defeated by setting General Settings/Timer: Turn Off option and setting Timer: Wake-up option for 1 minute later to keep unit on virtually 24/7. Useful if 8300HD is connected to Replay TV or other devices that rely on 8300HD for channel change, etc.

Whoever came up with, this is amazing. Im going try it. My question is this. What do i set it at? Daily at say 1:00am and then turn on 1 minute later to 1:01am. This will keep the unit on all day till 1am again. Im alittle clueless on how to set it. Please help if u can. stroise256@aol.com. Thank you all for your input.

I used the instructions at the beginning of this thread to make several amorphic DVDs of high definition TCM movies last year. I think I'm doing everything the same, but I must be going wrong somewhere because now the picture I get when viewing through the Pioneer DVR-650 I'm trying to record on is still boxed on all sides. Normal, stretch, and zoom are giving me different pictures when I view the SA 8300 through the regular HDMI output I use to watch TV, but all I get is the same picture framed look when viewing through the DVD recorder whether the SA is hooked to the recorder through s-video, composite, or coaxial. Where am I going wrong?

When you have output to the TV from your DVD and you press the aspect button, does the aspect change? If not, do a reboot on the DVR (power off for 10 seconds or so, then power on while holding the on/off button on the unit in). In my experience, from time to time the aspect gets locked and you can't change to "stretch" to make the anamorphic copy. The reboot fixes it.



I used the instructions at the beginning of this thread to make several amorphic DVDs of high definition TCM movies last year. I think I'm doing everything the same, but I must be going wrong somewhere because now the picture I get when viewing through the Pioneer DVR-650 I'm trying to record on is still boxed on all sides. Normal, stretch, and zoom are giving me different pictures when I view the SA 8300 through the regular HDMI output I use to watch TV, but all I get is the same picture framed look when viewing through the DVD recorder whether the SA is hooked to the recorder through s-video, composite, or coaxial. Where am I going wrong?

I forget to mention that sometimes I forget and use the copy to VCR composite into the DVDR. If you do that you will see the letter-boxing. You have to actually be playing the program to be recorded on the DVR. I have my composites/s-video split, one is for the copy to vcr, the other is direct play.


I used the instructions at the beginning of this thread to make several amorphic DVDs of high definition TCM movies last year. I think I'm doing everything the same, but I must be going wrong somewhere because now the picture I get when viewing through the Pioneer DVR-650 I'm trying to record on is still boxed on all sides. Normal, stretch, and zoom are giving me different pictures when I view the SA 8300 through the regular HDMI output I use to watch TV, but all I get is the same picture framed look when viewing through the DVD recorder whether the SA is hooked to the recorder through s-video, composite, or coaxial. Where am I going wrong?

I have a SA 8300 HD and I've always kept my cable box on all the time. Lately I've found that when I turn on my TV, I get a screen saver from the cable box. Furthermore, I'm finding that the screen saver kicks on even when the screen is paused for a short time.

I would seriously like to turn off the screen saver entirely, or at least make it wait longer before kicking on. I've looked through the menus of the cable box, but I haven't found any way to do this. Does anyone know how to do this?

Thank you!

I have a SA 8300 HD and I've always kept my cable box on all the time. Lately I've found that when I turn on my TV, I get a screen saver from the cable box. Furthermore, I'm finding that the screen saver kicks on even when the screen is paused for a short time.

I would seriously like to turn off the screen saver entirely, or at least make it wait longer before kicking on. I've looked through the menus of the cable box, but I haven't found any way to do this. Does anyone know how to do this?

Thank you!
If you have the S25 guide: Menu>Setup>Screen Saver Setup>. You have the option of turning it on or off and a duration up to 15 minutes.

If you have the S25 guide: Menu>Setup>Screen Saver Setup>. You have the option of turning it on or off and a duration up to 15 minutes.

Thank you for your response! I know that you're trying to be helpful, but I'm not following your instructions at all. Specifically: What S25 guide and what Menu button?

For information, I am using the Atlas remote.

Thanks!

Thank you for your response! I know that you're trying to be helpful, but I'm not following your instructions at all. Specifically: What S25 guide and what Menu button?

For information, I am using the Atlas remote.

Thanks!

I think you may get a better answer if you also include in your question who your cable provider is and a general location of where you're located. I am in a Comcast system and S25 is the sofware / firmware in the STB.

I have a SA 8300 HD and I've always kept my cable box on all the time. Lately I've found that when I turn on my TV, I get a screen saver from the cable box. Furthermore, I'm finding that the screen saver kicks on even when the screen is paused for a short time.

I would seriously like to turn off the screen saver entirely, or at least make it wait longer before kicking on. I've looked through the menus of the cable box, but I haven't found any way to do this. Does anyone know how to do this?

Thank you!

IPG firmware? No option with Passport, IIRC.

Thank you for your response! I know that you're trying to be helpful, but I'm not following your instructions at all. Specifically: What S25 guide and what Menu button?

For information, I am using the Atlas remote.

Thanks!Comcast is replacing the SARA guide with its own guide (S25) and Time Warner Cable has replaced SARA with Navigator. If you are on Comcast, click the following link for more information on the S25 guide:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=20312042#post20312042

There is finally a fix for using the wd dvr expander with the scientific atlanta 8300 cable box. for cablevision subscribers. Im so excited i cant type this fast enough. Please pass this message around all the boards. The western digital ext hdd comes with a sataII cable. DUMP IT dont use it. You must buy for .97 cents, thats right at amazon a esata to esata cable. This cable works and stops the cablebox from not seeing the ext hdd when hard drive is powered up in the morning or sleep mode. This mode im talking about is the power saving mode it goes into overnight between 1am and 130am. If anyone needs help i would be gladly to help.

Comcast is replacing the SARA guide with its own guide (S25) and Time Warner Cable has replaced SARA with Navigator.Well i have a feeling that S25 is better than Navigator,am i right Russ??

Well i have a feeling that S25 is better than Navigator,am i right Russ??I haven't used Navigator but from what I read about it, Navigator has its own set of problems depending on the version that you use.

Comcast's new guide (S25, Phase 1) for its SA/Cisco markets is worse than the old guide that it replaced (SARA). The worst problem is the DVR software truncates a recording if you try to watch a recorded show while two shows are recording. It is based on an old Motorola guide (A25) and is missing the latest features in A28 (iTV - Interactive TV Applications, myDVR Manager to schedule the DVR recordings remotely). These missing features are scheduled to be added in phases. It is missing some of the best features in SARA such as Picture-In-Picture, Passthrough, Sleep Timers and Series Recording based on a time slot, etc. Some of the features will be supported in future versions, but there are no plans for Picture-In-Picture. Phase 2 is supposed to fix the truncated recordings bug, but the current schedule for Phase 2 is from this August through the end of the year. Most of the schedules from Comcast have not been kept with the dates slipping months or even a year or more. Click the links in my signature for more information on the S25 guide.

Ahhh ok,im a dire lover of SARA so its sad hearing its worse...... (No surprise really right?)

:(

Ahhh ok,im a dire lover of SARA so its sad hearing its worse...... (No surprise really right?)

:(It wasn't a surprise that the new Comcast guide S25, Phase 1 was worse than SARA. It was written by Guideworks, a subsidiary of Comcast. SARA hadn't been updated in Houston for over 4 years so I was hoping for an improved guide, but that didn't happen.

No usually 'NEWER IS NOT BETTER' is the way it goes .. Its over bloated/ugly garbage!!

I much prefer OLDER THINGS :)

I just swapped out my Yamaha 2600 for a new Onkyo TX-NR809 to which my SA8300 is connected via HDMI and I am having a new odd behavior, that is no doubt due to start up order. If I hit "watch TV" on my Harmony 880 everything starts up, but I get no audio from the DVR... I have to power toggle it. I assume it's the dvr not seeing a response from the AVR, but why kill audio and not video too? Should I just add a delay in my start up routine, or are there other options for this type of issue?

I just swapped out my Yamaha 2600 for a new Onkyo TX-NR809 to which my SA8300 is connected via HDMI and I am having a new odd behavior, that is no doubt due to start up order. If I hit "watch TV" on my Harmony 880 everything starts up, but I get no audio from the DVR... I have to power toggle it. I assume it's the dvr not seeing a response from the AVR, but why kill audio and not video too? Should I just add a delay in my start up routine, or are there other options for this type of issue?

Have the Onkyo turn on first. Also, reboot the 8300.

On Tampa Bay Bright house here and the latest update has caused more issues than any in The past 5 years. 'Set top box was unable to record the show', or 'User cancelled the recording' and some shows on the list, but when I try to play it the play head is blank and the show is not available. I do have as I have had a wd dvr expander attached currently at 43% full. Right now Warehouse 13 is recording, but the red indicator in the display window is not illuminated... Anyone else having these issues?

Yes! I have BrightHouse in Bakersfield (CA) and it is showing the same problems. It is obviously something they included in the last update. At first, I thought the box was going bad. Hope they get it corrected wuickly....

Yes! I have BrightHouse in Bakersfield (CA) and it is showing the same problems. It is obviously something they included in the last update. At first, I thought the box was going bad. Hope they get it corrected wuickly....
Thanks for the confirmation on that. I'd call the cable office, but we know that won't amount to much... I guess we are at their mercy for a fix.

Is it possible to change the software used from SARA to Passport?

I have Cablevision 8300HD.

The small SD menu is poor.

Is it possible to change the software used from SARA to Passport?

I have Cablevision 8300HD.

The small SD menu is poor.

Not by you, and Cablevision has no intention of doing that, since they have stopped buying new SA8300's due to the development of their network DVR.

All of a sudden the remote stopped controlling the 8300. I think I know what happened: The RNG box was screwing up, so CC replaced it with the 8300HDC box. We have two remote controls, one is silver faced the other gray faced. When the boxes were swapped, the tech may have been using the silver RC to re-set everything because the silver RC controls the box just fine. I called CC, and by the book, they had me enter (press Cable, then hold Setup until Cable blinked two times) some codes into the non-controlling RC, but the codes didn't work. Suggestions?

All of a sudden the remote stopped controlling the 8300. I think I know what happened: The RNG box was screwing up, so CC replaced it with the 8300HDC box. We have two remote controls, one is silver faced the other gray faced. When the boxes were swapped, the tech may have been using the silver RC to re-set everything because the silver RC controls the box just fine. I called CC, and by the book, they had me enter (press Cable, then hold Setup until Cable blinked two times) some codes into the non-controlling RC, but the codes didn't work. Suggestions?The same remote does not work for both the 8300 HDC box and the RNG box. They use different protocols.

Thanks, RussB...Thought it might be something like that.

I've searched through this thread and I've seen that several people ask about why they can't hear audio when they force the Audio Output mode to HDMI. I am now also asking this question. I have an explorer 8240HD if that makes a difference. I'm also unsure what SARA version I'm running (if I am). I'm running on Time Warner. I've gone into the diagnostic menu but I didn't see SARA.. Is that the software/firmware for different cable systems? Comcast or COX maybe?

Anyway, my setup is like this. STB to receiver over HDMI. Receiver to TV via the receiver's HDMI out. When I set the Audio Out setting on the STB to "HDMI" my receiver starts decoding DD5.1. When I set Audio Out to "Dolby Digital" I don't get any audio. Obviously my receiver is capable of decoding DD5.1, I just don't understand why when I switch to this setting it doesn't work as expected. Any ideas?

Oh, just for some background on the problem. Why am I trying to mess with the Audio Out setting when I'm already getting DD5.1 over HDMI? It has something to do with my receiver and I'm trying to forward audio to another component. I don't want to get in to that since I've disconnected that stuff to try to debug this initial roadblock.

I appreciate any help you guys can offer.

STB to receiver over HDMI. Receiver to TV via the receiver's HDMI out. When I set the Audio Out setting on the STB to "HDMI" my receiver starts decoding DD5.1. When I set Audio Out to "Dolby Digital" I don't get any audio.

"Dolby Digital" label should really read "SPDIF" (Coaxial or Optical ... whichever one is on the back of the STB)

So, it's probably working, but you would have to hook up a SPDIF cable to hear it.

Other than the obvious reasons, it's better to run both audio and video over HDMI because it also handles "lip sync" automatically.

Not sure what "forwarding audio" is but I think the stereo audio from the STB is always working. Hook that to the amp. also (and re-route from there). If you are doing something with Amp Zone-2, with most amps, it only works with 2 channel analog stereo anyway.

I've searched through this thread and I've seen that several people ask about why they can't hear audio when they force the Audio Output mode to HDMI. I am now also asking this question. I have an explorer 8240HD if that makes a difference. I'm also unsure what SARA version I'm running (if I am). I'm running on Time Warner. I've gone into the diagnostic menu but I didn't see SARA.. Is that the software/firmware for different cable systems? Comcast or COX maybe?

Anyway, my setup is like this. STB to receiver over HDMI. Receiver to TV via the receiver's HDMI out. When I set the Audio Out setting on the STB to "HDMI" my receiver starts decoding DD5.1. When I set Audio Out to "Dolby Digital" I don't get any audio. Obviously my receiver is capable of decoding DD5.1, I just don't understand why when I switch to this setting it doesn't work as expected. Any ideas?

Oh, just for some background on the problem. Why am I trying to mess with the Audio Out setting when I'm already getting DD5.1 over HDMI? It has something to do with my receiver and I'm trying to forward audio to another component. I don't want to get in to that since I've disconnected that stuff to try to debug this initial roadblock.

I appreciate any help you guys can offer.TWC switched from the SARA Guide to the Navigator Guide. I don't know if they finished switching all their systms yet. The following is a link to the "Time Warner Cable Navigator" thread.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=21287861#post21287861

Comcast and Cox are switching away from the SARA Guide. Comcast only has a few remaining systems that still use the SARA Guide and those are scheduled to be changed early next year.

"Dolby Digital" label should really read "SPDIF" (Coaxial or Optical ... whichever one is on the back of the STB)

So, it's probably working, but you would have to hook up a SPDIF cable to hear it.

Other than the obvious reasons, it's better to run both audio and video over HDMI because it also handles "lip sync" automatically.

Not sure what "forwarding audio" is but I think the stereo audio from the STB is always working. Hook that to the amp. also (and re-route from there). If you are doing something with Amp Zone-2, with most amps, it only works with 2 channel analog stereo anyway.

According to the instruction manual for the set top when you change it to Dolby Digital mode it forces DD to be output on all audio outputs capable of carrying the DD data (HDMI, Optical and Coax). I did have an optical cable hooked up just to double check myself and I still wasn't getting any audio.

What I meant by forwarding audio is my receiver has two modes. One where it will decode the audio and de-embed it the HDMI output and one where it will decode the audio but still leave the audio data intact. Yeah. I could hook up stereo RCA cables but, ugh. One of the biggest featrues of HDMI (for me anyway) is to reduce the amount of wires. It's a mild annoyance and I'm being stubborn :)

According to the instruction manual for the set top when you change it to Dolby Digital mode it forces DD to be output on all audio outputs capable of carrying the DD data (HDMI, Optical and Coax). I did have an optical cable hooked up just to double check myself and I still wasn't getting any audio.

What I meant by forwarding audio is my receiver has two modes. One where it will decode the audio and de-embed it the HDMI output and one where it will decode the audio but still leave the audio data intact. Yeah. I could hook up stereo RCA cables but, ugh. One of the biggest featrues of HDMI (for me anyway) is to reduce the amount of wires. It's a mild annoyance and I'm being stubborn :)

Ya, well the manual says whatever it says ... my post was from my experiences. I've had my TimeWarner supplied 8300hd for about 5 years ... so I've had it hooked to many different amps and TV, in many different ways. Actually, I have 2 ... both with amps.

Not sure what amp you have. I would think HDMI-HDCP would prevent most of that. But like you said ... that is a different issue and better answered in a thread dedicated to your amp.

Ya, well the manual says whatever it says ... my post was from my experiences. I've had my TimeWarner supplied 8300hd for about 5 years ... so I've had it hooked to many different amps and TV, in many different ways. Actually, I have 2 ... both with amps.

Not sure what amp you have. I would think HDMI-DHCP would prevent most of that. But like you said ... that is a different issue and better answered in a thread dedicated to your amp.

Yeah, part of my suspicion was that the manual was incorrect. What do you mean HDMI-HDCP would prevent most of "that"? What is that? Keeping the audio intact?

Yeah, part of my suspicion was that the manual was incorrect. What do you mean HDMI-HDCP would prevent most of "that"? What is that? Keeping the audio intact?

Sorry about the typo ... HDCP :o

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-bandwidth_Digital_Content_Protection

I'm no expert. It's just been my experience that once a signal(s) are combined into HDMI ... it hard-to-impossible to separate them again, or route them over a different type of cable. Maybe it's just a property of HDMI.

I recently had my 8300HD crash, so I went in for a new one and they gave me an 8300HDC which had (old?) OCAP Mystro (Navi or Sara? I don't know which those are/were) and it didn't like my brand new Onkyo 809 (2011 model) or my Sony nx720 (also 2011) and would just flop back and forth from 480 to 1080 in and endless cycle - despite having set it to 1080 only in the settings. If I connected it to my little 24" LED TV, it found 1080 and worked fine...

I brought this HDC back and they gave me a Cisco 8742 hdc, which appears to have the same software - but this is a very new stb (model) - I cannot find any info on it on the web or in here, as to capacity or advanced settings.

Does anyone have a clue about this box? I am having the same resolution cycle issues - I CAN eventually get it to stick on 1080i - Not sure if its me fiddling with the avr & TV or if its sorting itself out. I fully expect its a HDCP handshake issue - but WHY and WHAT did they do that makes a NEW STB not work with new AVR & TV?? Very frustrating to say the least.

I understand there was a way to really force (8300 anyway) it never to change resolutions, and if I can do that to the 8742 I think I'll be ok. Any insight appreciated, Thanks. I can get more info if needed, but I'll have to figure out how to get into the info menus first!

*I should also add that I had a WD 500 MyDVR Expander connected successfully to the old 8300 and it s currently connected (eSATA) to the 8742, which I'm seeing may cause *other* issues...I have no idea if it is working, not working, or causing any issues or simply being ignored.

I recently had my 8300HD crash, so I went in for a new one and they gave me an 8300HDC which had (old?) OCAP Mystro (Navi or Sara? I don't know which those are/were) and it didn't like my brand new Onkyo 809 (2011 model) or my Sony nx720 (also 2011) and would just flop back and forth from 480 to 1080 in and endless cycle - despite having set it to 1080 only in the settings. If I connected it to my little 24" LED TV, it found 1080 and worked fine...

I brought this HDC back and they gave me a Cisco 8742 hdc, which appears to have the same software - but this is a very new stb (model) - I cannot find any info on it on the web or in here, as to capacity or advanced settings.

Does anyone have a clue about this box? I am having the same resolution cycle issues - I CAN eventually get it to stick on 1080i - Not sure if its me fiddling with the avr & TV or if its sorting itself out. I fully expect its a HDCP handshake issue - but WHY and WHAT did they do that makes a NEW STB not work with new AVR & TV?? Very frustrating to say the least.

I understand there was a way to really force (8300 anyway) it never to change resolutions, and if I can do that to the 8742 I think I'll be ok. Any insight appreciated, Thanks. I can get more info if needed, but I'll have to figure out how to get into the info menus first!

*I should also add that I had a WD 500 MyDVR Expander connected successfully to the old 8300 and it s currently connected (eSATA) to the 8742, which I'm seeing may cause *other* issues...I have no idea if it is working, not working, or causing any issues or simply being ignored.

First, just remove the WD-MyDVR-HDD (eliminate one possible issue).

Set DVR to 720p and HDMI Audio. Install 6-12ft. 26-24awg HDMI v1.4 cables on everything. Turn off HDMI-CEC capability on everything (or maybe all on ... try both ways).

I love my 8300, so good to hear Cisco has 8742 now. Hopefully TW will use it and it has "Whole House" networking.

Edit: I'll take native 720p anyday. It gets up-scaled at the 1080p TV anyway.

Edit 2: Be sure the 809 and Sony TV are both running the latest firmware.

I recently had my 8300HD crash, so I went in for a new one and they gave me an 8300HDC which had (old?) OCAP Mystro (Navi or Sara? I don't know which those are/were) and it didn't like my brand new Onkyo 809 (2011 model) or my Sony nx720 (also 2011) and would just flop back and forth from 480 to 1080 in and endless cycle - despite having set it to 1080 only in the settings. If I connected it to my little 24" LED TV, it found 1080 and worked fine...

I brought this HDC back and they gave me a Cisco 8742 hdc, which appears to have the same software - but this is a very new stb (model) - I cannot find any info on it on the web or in here, as to capacity or advanced settings.

Does anyone have a clue about this box? I am having the same resolution cycle issues - I CAN eventually get it to stick on 1080i - Not sure if its me fiddling with the avr & TV or if its sorting itself out. I fully expect its a HDCP handshake issue - but WHY and WHAT did they do that makes a NEW STB not work with new AVR & TV?? Very frustrating to say the least.

I understand there was a way to really force (8300 anyway) it never to change resolutions, and if I can do that to the 8742 I think I'll be ok. Any insight appreciated, Thanks. I can get more info if needed, but I'll have to figure out how to get into the info menus first!

*I should also add that I had a WD 500 MyDVR Expander connected successfully to the old 8300 and it s currently connected (eSATA) to the 8742, which I'm seeing may cause *other* issues...I have no idea if it is working, not working, or causing any issues or simply being ignored.TWC switched from the SARA Guide to the Navigator Guide. I don't know if they finished switching all their systms yet. The following is a link to the "Time Warner Cable Navigator" thread.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=21287861#post21287861

After consulting this thread I decided to add an Esata drive to my 8300HD.

Initially it worked just fine but and this is a big "BUT"

If I leave the unit in standby mode, no recording occur, so I decided to leave the unit always on. To minimize disk wear I tune either a channel that I don't subscribe to or a music channel. This way the stream is not bufferred on the disk.

Unfortunately, the 8300HD seems to power down during the night and in the morning, eventhough the unit is powered on, no recording will occur until I reboot the unit. This is kind of inconvenient since recording of shows during the night or during extended period away from home does not happen.

Is there a way to disable the cycling down during the night (time at which the drive is defragmented).

By the way, if the Esata drive is disconnected, everything works just fine anytime.

in the mean time I will use the DVR without the Esata drive while I leave for the Xmas vacation.

Thanks

PeeGee54

PS. If this has been answerred somewhere in this thread or into an other one, point me to it. I just could not find it.

I haven't seen that problem, but maybe you can use the following to workaround the issue. This is from the first post in this theard

Auto Shut-off Workaround.
Auto Shut-off feature can be defeated by setting General Settings/Timer: Turn Off option and setting Timer: Wake-up option for 1 minute later to keep unit on virtually 24/7. Useful if 8300HD is connected to Replay TV or other devices that rely on 8300HD for channel change, etc.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=4682052#post4682052


There is a link to the "8300HD and External SATA - It Works!!" thread in that post, maybe someone there can help you.

I have SA8300HDC with Comcast Xfinity Service. I have connected it via HDMI via AV unit. I, however, do not get Dolby or DTS sound. I just get simple two channel PCM. Configuration does not give me any choice on this. I have tried direct digital/optical Audio outputs for feeding the AV unit, but get only two channel. I called Comcast Customer Support, but they don't have any clue for such issues. Any help will be appreciated.

I have SA8300HDC with Comcast Xfinity Service. I have connected it via HDMI via AV unit. I, however, do not get Dolby or DTS sound. I just get simple two channel PCM. Configuration does not give me any choice on this. I have tried direct digital/optical Audio outputs for feeding the AV unit, but get only two channel. I called Comcast Customer Support, but they don't have any clue for such issues. Any help will be appreciated.

"I have connected it via HDMI via AV unit." You better clarify this. What is this "AV unit"? What equipment do you have (model numbers), and precisely how do you have it wired?

I have SA8300HDC with Comcast Xfinity Service. I have connected it via HDMI via AV unit. I, however, do not get Dolby or DTS sound. I just get simple two channel PCM. Configuration does not give me any choice on this. I have tried direct digital/optical Audio outputs for feeding the AV unit, but get only two channel. I called Comcast Customer Support, but they don't have any clue for such issues. Any help will be appreciated.Comcast has replaced the SARA guide with the S25 guide. Last week, Comcast started replacing the SARA guide in the final areas still using the SARA guide.

For more information about the S25 guide, click the links in my signature. You can post your question in Comcast's Ted Hodgins, Sr. Director, Video Product Development - Navigation, in Media & Entertainment, "New Guide for Scientific Atlanta Cable Boxes" blog (click the blog link in my sugnature).

"I have connected it via HDMI via AV unit." You better clarify this. What is this "AV unit"? What equipment do you have (model numbers), and precisely how do you have it wired?

Connected via HDMI as pass through Yamaha HTR-5063. It works, but Audio is simple PCM. I then tried connecting Digital output for SA8300HDC to my Yamaha amplifier, but also provided only simple two-channel PCM no matter TV channel is played. I don't have such issued while connecting my Bluray. With previous Comcast s/w there used to be an option to choose among PCM/DTS/Dolby, but with new s/w that is gone.

You should also consider a programmable universal remote which will allow you to program a 30 second or longer skip. You will also be able to hide all the other remotes.
The remote (http://www.universalremote.com/products/cable/digital-remotes/ur5-9000l-series) for my SA 8240 HDC is programmable, but sadly I'm reading that it's impossible to get the unit to do a 30-second skip (http://www.remotecentral.com/cgi-bin/mboard/rc-prontong/thread.cgi?7721,1). I wonder if there is a way, please?

Highly unlikely. The regular remote doesn't have this feature. So, the only way your remote would work is if the box and its software had the feature but it couldn't be accessed with the regular remote. The chances of that?

The remote (http://www.universalremote.com/products/cable/digital-remotes/ur5-9000l-series) for my SA 8240 HDC is programmable, but sadly I'm reading that it's impossible to get the unit to do a 30-second skip (http://www.remotecentral.com/cgi-bin/mboard/rc-prontong/thread.cgi?7721,1). I wonder if there is a way, please?

Highly unlikely. The regular remote doesn't have this feature. So, the only way your remote would work is if the box and its software had the feature but it couldn't be accessed with the regular remote. The chances of that?It happened to me. I have SA 8300 HD DVRs and Comcast. Comcast replaced the SARA guide (no 30 second skip)with the S25 guide (which has the 30 second skip). The remote has the * key which now does the 30 second skip. The remote is old and some of the other keys no longer work. When I get the replacement remote which doesn't have that key, I can reprogram a key to do the 30 second skip. This is an unusual situation.

Hi all, I just recently started capturing recordings from my 8300HD onto a Mac, and I was curious if there is a way to force a specific resolution to be output over the STB's firewire connection? I can force the resolution over HDMI using the methods described in this thread, but this setting doesn't carry over to the firewire stream. It still will just output whatever the recording's native resolution is.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Hey guys- I am having a problem with my 8300hd and couldn't find this error anywhere else, here or on the web.

My dvr will "choose" not to fast forward at certain parts of recorded shows. This usually happens after we gave watched for a while and are getting into the show, of course. If I push the buttons on the remote just right sometimes I can enable a single ff response but usually the show will just freeze momentarily and then resume playing. Pause and rewind work fine. This is extremely annoying as you might imagine!

We have tried switching to other dvr'ed shows (where ff still works) and then back again but no luck. Other dvrs in the house operate correctly. I am a little surprised no one else has encountered this issue just based off my google searches and searching on here. Anybody heard of this?

Have you tried rebooting the 8300? I don't remember having your specific problem, but I get a lot of others that are cured by a reboot. Other possibility- faulty remote? You can try one of your other remotes to rule this out.

Hey guys- I am having a problem with my 8300hd and couldn't find this error anywhere else, here or on the web.

My dvr will "choose" not to fast forward at certain parts of recorded shows. This usually happens after we gave watched for a while and are getting into the show, of course. If I push the buttons on the remote just right sometimes I can enable a single ff response but usually the show will just freeze momentarily and then resume playing. Pause and rewind work fine. This is extremely annoying as you might imagine!

We have tried switching to other dvr'ed shows (where ff still works) and then back again but no luck. Other dvrs in the house operate correctly. I am a little surprised no one else has encountered this issue just based off my google searches and searching on here. Anybody heard of this?

Your remote has taken one too many falls. Visit an Optimum Store and they'll replace it for free.

Have you tried rebooting the 8300? I don't remember having your specific problem, but I get a lot of others that are cured by a reboot. Other possibility- faulty remote? You can try one of your other remotes to rule this out.

Thanks, big. I should have mentioned in my post above that a reboot generally fixes the problem at the time but it always returns the next night. Since reboots take 10-15min to complete, it is usually too drastic a solution so I am hoping there is some other fix. I am guessing this box just needs replacement.

Yeah, if the reboot doesn't work and you know that the remote is okay, it sounds like a hardware problem with the box.

Thanks, big. I should have mentioned in my post above that a reboot generally fixes the problem at the time but it always returns the next night. Since reboots take 10-15min to complete, it is usually too drastic a solution so I am hoping there is some other fix. I am guessing this box just needs replacement.