Friend of mine has the SA 8300HD box and LG 42" 42PC3D plasma. He recent connected the box and TV via the newly purchased HDMI cable from Monoprice. However, he can only get sound on 3 channels below channel 100 and all above 100 except one. It's a very strange problem and I don't see a technical explanation for this behavior. If he uses a component connection (or even coaxial or analog), the sound comes through just fine on all channels.

The cable company (Brighthouse) said they don't support the HDMI connection in their SA 8300HD box, so out of luck from them. He has a call into LG for possible support.

Anyone here ran into this problem before? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Lesmiz

Friend of mine has the SA 8300HD box and LG 42" 42PC3D plasma. He recent connected the box and TV via the newly purchased HDMI cable from Monoprice. However, he can only get sound on 3 channels below channel 100 and all above 100 except one. It's a very strange problem and I don't see a technical explanation for this behavior. If he uses a component connection (or even coaxial or analog), the sound comes through just fine on all channels.

The cable company (Brighthouse) said they don't support the HDMI connection in their SA 8300HD box, so out of luck from them. He has a call into LG for possible support.

Anyone here ran into this problem before? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Lesmiz
I have this exact problem. I have an LG 37" 37LC2D. I hope that it's just a coincidence that they're both LG TV's. Hate to think it's the TV. Just to confirm one thing. I am able to get to the settings to change the audio input to HDMI. I selected the HDMI audio, and that's how I'm able to get sound on channels above 100. My theory is that it's the "non-digital" channels that are having the problems I'm more than happy to jump to the conclusion that it's Time Warner Cable's problem. They too say they don't support HDMI. Component still looks and sounds great though. Please repost with updates.

unbelievable - I just wrote a whole dissertation on my testing & dilemma, & somehow hit some ad button & got the denon ad & lost it all.

anyhow, I'll just ask a question. as you all probably know, one has to set the 8300HD w/ Passport to "Dolby Digital" to get DD 5.1 on their processor/HT.

while using the HDMI connect for video, is anyone able to also get sound from their TV, probably by using the analog audio outs on the 8300 to the HDMI audio input (R&L) on their TV?

I've come to the conclusion that it's either the box shutting off the analog audio when when it senses an HDMI connection; or, my Sony SXRD HDMI analog audio inputs won't accept anything 'cept LPCM (linear pulse code modulation), which it hints to in the SXRD manual.

if you're doing this w/ an 8300HD & YOUR tv, then it's MY TV that's the culprit.

thanks!

Mick

I have the same problem. SA8300HD with Sony KDS-R50XBR1 connected via HDMI cable. No sound coming from the TV. I tried using RCA Audio cables attached to the HDMI input ports - no sound either. I get Sound and HD via Component cables no problem, even while HDMI is plugged in on the SA.
I've read through a bunch of posts and I even tried doing the whole "handshake" thing where you power off both devices, then power on TV, then power on SA.

I have Passport firmware from TimeWarner - so the diagnostics menu or even menu options in the SA manual do not apply, i.e.: I cannot get to the "Audio" menu to change from DD to 2channel.
Naturally I call TimeWarner cable for help but I got a standard idiot tier 1 response: "We don't supply HDMI cables so I can't help you. You need a visit from a tech." I really don't have the time to wait between 8am and 10pm for a cable guy so I was hoping to solve this with your (collective you) help.

I think the problem really does lie in the HDMI interface. SA assumes no DD and outputs no sound and provides no menu to change that setting or override it somehow.

It's a temporary problem for me because eventually I'll hook up Digital Out through my receiver, but since I just moved, most of my components are still in boxes arriving furniture arrival, so I was hoping to get the sound out through the TV speakers. And then there's a whole problem of wiring speakers without pissing off my wife by running cables everywhere. :)

If anyone knows how to get to the Setup menu or Audio menu on the SA8300HD w/ Passport that would be swell.

No sound coming from the TV. I tried using RCA Audio cables attached to the HDMI input ports - no sound either. I get Sound and HD via Component cables no problem, even while HDMI is plugged in on the SA.
I've read through a bunch of posts and I even tried doing the whole "handshake" thing where you power off both devices, then power on TV, then power on SA.
.
Just curious, did you try connnecting digital optical audio cable from SA8300HD OUT to TV digital optical audio INP (if your TV has an optical input)?

Also, what do you mean by you "tried using RCA Audio cables attached to the HDMI input ports"? you mean just connecting an RCA (analog) audio pair directly to the TV's analog audio inputs?

Seems to me the source of the problem is (obviously) the SA8300HD- either something with the firmware or some internal physical setting or connection. HDMI audio lines are not passing anything.

Just curious, did you try connnecting digital optical audio cable from SA8300HD OUT to TV digital optical audio INP (if your TV has an optical input)?

Also, what do you mean by you "tried using RCA Audio cables attached to the HDMI input ports"? you mean just connecting an RCA (analog) audio pair directly to the TV's analog audio inputs?

Seems to me the source of the problem is (obviously) the SA8300HD- either something with the firmware or some internal physical setting or connection. HDMI audio lines are not passing anything.

I don't have an optical IN on my tv, just OUT. the 8300 does have an optical OUT, which I plugged into my Sony reciever.

Unfortunately I don't really think there is a way to have audio inputs coming into the tv while the HDMI is plugged. Makes sense, because HDMI is all in one, so you shouldn't need any other audio inputs. There was one other option in the tv manual about using an audio RCA from cable box into a mini-plug on back of the tv for people using DVI instead of HDMI. However, from testing, it seems like when the HDMI cable is plugged into the cable box, the other audio/video output gets disabled.

Again, the really weird thing is that I DO get sound on 75% of my channels when using the HDMI. I do think it's the cable box, because what else would cause HDMI to work perfectly on most channels, but nothing on what I would think of as basic cable.

I have a TWC Houston Explorer 8300HD box connected to a Panasonic 50" HD Plasma via a direct HDMI connection. Several months ago, I noticed the picture pixelating.Some examples:
1. When watching basketball on certain channels, you can see pixelation behind the players as they are running. Very Annoying!! I can't even watch the game with that happening!!
2. While watching action movies / tv shows, as the camera moves across, the picture smears (especially noticeable on 'The Office").
3. Channels 340-350 show excessive tiling, even when the objects are barely moving..

The weird part is that it only happens on certain channels. I watched the NBA playoffs on TNT HD, and it was terrible, but I watched the finals on ABC HD, and it was perfect. ESPN HD is also perfect (World Cup was awesome). However, NBC HD, HBO HD, and also a lot of the channels from 320-350 are especially bad (non HD Channels). I tried switching from HDMI to component, but that made the picture worse. I went through the initial setup of SA box to match my tv, and it was working. Also, the picture does black out for a few seconds randomly while watching shows (DVR or not). Is there anything I can check to help me resolve the problem, or could it be a bad STB?
I apologize if this has been addressed before...
Thanks in advance!

Your tiling and blackouts on some channels are indications of bad signals on those channels. Possible hardware issues in your cable area equipment. Call for service. Not likely it's your 8300.

TerryB

I have the 8300HD PVR connected via HDMI to a front projector and via component and composite to a 32" hdtv. I want to use the tv since I don't want to use the projector for crapy stuff or short period of time of viewing.

The HDMI ouput is working just fine all the time.
However, when the HDMI cable is plugged in, there's no image from component output and a message "DVI/HDMI output blocked" always appears on composite output after power on and changing station.
Note that this happen with all stations, not just HD ones.
When I unplug the HDMI cable from the 8300, composite and component works just fine.
Are all 8300 doing the same or is it just my cable company that have particular settings? My cable company gives me lame reason for this behavior.

I am expection to at least have a image on composite without the anoying message and image on component also with regular stations and with non-HDCP hd content.
I figured it's not HDCP related since all stations do the same and I am understanding that no broadcaster actually use the HDCP.

Is there something I can do in settings to make this work?
I hope someone will tell me this it's working on their machine so I could get back at my cable company and tell them it's their fault.

The guide on the 8300 is 4:3 only.

Thanks for the confirmation. I just don't understand their logic behind it. How many HDTVs that would be connected to a 8300 are 4:3? Why not make the device fully compatible with the HDTV's it is intended to work with?

The weird part is that it only happens on certain channels. I watched the NBA playoffs on TNT HD, and it was terrible, but I watched the finals on ABC HD, and it was perfect.

I've got Time Warner in NYC. I also noticed significant artifacts on the TNT broadcasts of the NBA playoffs. My guess is that it was the signal and not our boxes or TVs. I've noticed similar things on my 27" CRT HDTV as well....

So, Los Angeles is switching over to TWC in the Adelphia/Comcawst/TWC deal. Which is a better setup: TWC + 8300HD or D* & the 250-10?

Thanks for the confirmation. I just don't understand their logic behind it. How many HDTVs that would be connected to a 8300 are 4:3? Why not make the device fully compatible with the HDTV's it is intended to work with?

probably because as of now maybe one out of every 25 8300's is an HD box and they dont' see a need as of yet to reprogram those boxes

Quotes:
“Originally Posted by mtw76mtw
Thanks for the confirmation. I just don't understand their logic behind it. How many HDTVs that would be connected to a 8300 are 4:3? Why not make the device fully compatible with the HDTV's it is intended to work with?"
"Matthew R
probably because as of now maybe one out of every 25 8300's is an HD box and they don’t see a need as of yet to reprogram those boxes”

Matthew: SA series 8300 STBs are ALL HD STBs, the same as the earlier SA 8000 model.

mtw76mtw: Your program guide is not an HD product or transmission. It’s produced by your cable co., is downloaded per schedule, and saved in your STB. It appears on all screens, in all circumstances, in SD.

When your set is in the 16:9 mode, SD programming can be Stretched (with distortion) or Zoomed to fill the screen. However, when the program guide is on the screen, the Normal/Stretch/Zoom feature of your 8300 STB is not in the loop. Does that answer your question?

Jim

I have TWC, with SA8300HD cable box, in the Los Angeles area (actually South Pasadena).

I've noticed for a while now, at least a month or so, my cable box automatically power's-off. Usually at some specific time (ie. 08:30pm for example) a small message window appears and state's- "cable box will shut-down in 3 minutes, press any key to by-pass." The thing is I'm alway's at work when this happens, so it screw's-up any programmed recording I've set earlier in the day.

I'm curious if they're doing this to upgrade firmware?

Or, maybe, to minimize the quantity of cable boxes operating at one time within their jurisdiction to reduce overall load on system? I say this because reception has been poor. Seems like at night most all channels come in clean & clear (good signal strength). However, during the daytime, especially on weekend's, certain channels become very weak, or pixelated, and eventually go completely blank, however, come back into reception at night. Of course these are the channels I really want to watch (ie. SPEED channel, and other local HDTV channels).

I'm using two SA8300HD boxes for two different set-up's- one for my full-blown home theater system in my living room, and the other for my small HDTV in my bedroom. I experience the same problem's, explained above, when watching either set-up.

My main cable line enter's my house through the living-room floor (behind my home theater set-up), and connect's to the INP of an Acoustic Research (AR) 2GHz 3-way splitter. One splitter OUT is connected to INP of a Monster HTS-1600 power conditioner on home theater system, which then connect's to SA8300HD INP. The second splitter OUT is connected, using a 25ft AR coax cable along wall base-board, to my other SA8300HD INP in my bedroom.

Quotes:
“Originally Posted by mtw76mtw
Thanks for the confirmation. I just don't understand their logic behind it. How many HDTVs that would be connected to a 8300 are 4:3? Why not make the device fully compatible with the HDTV's it is intended to work with?"
"Matthew R
probably because as of now maybe one out of every 25 8300's is an HD box and they don’t see a need as of yet to reprogram those boxes”

Matthew: SA series 8300 STBs are ALL HD STBs, the same as the earlier SA 8000 model.

mtw76mtw: Your program guide is not an HD product or transmission. It’s produced by your cable co., is downloaded per schedule, and saved in your STB. It appears on all screens, in all circumstances, in SD.

When your set is in the 16:9 mode, SD programming can be Stretched (with distortion) or Zoomed to fill the screen. However, when the program guide is on the screen, the Normal/Stretch/Zoom feature of your 8300 STB is not in the loop. Does that answer your question?

Jim

negitive... i work for the cable company and all of the boxes are most deffinitly NOT hd boxes. most of the houses i go to people do not have the HD version of the 8300. the 8000's were not all HD boxes either

WestCoastD,
I suspect you have a heat induced signal problem which clears at night. I have had similar problems a couple of times. It requires a service visit while the problem is occurring. The powerdown is of no use in reducing the load on the cable. The impedance doesn't change, only the wear and tear on the disc drive. 8:30PM is a very strange time, normally around 1:30AM. A lot of systems have eliminated it because of complaints.

TerryB

WestCoastD,
I suspect you have a heat induced signal problem which clears at night. I have had similar problems a couple of times. It requires a service visit while the problem is occurring. The powerdown is of no use in reducing the load on the cable. The impedance doesn't change, only the wear and tear on the disc drive. 8:30PM is a very strange time, normally around 1:30AM. A lot of systems have eliminated it because of complaints.
hmmmm..........a possible thermal issue? very interesting. You referring to the actual cable-box itself becoming too hot and, consequently, degenerating the signal?

No, Sorry I was unclear, my problems have been with equipment in the cable chain upstream of my house. Because the HD usage is still pretty sparse, I was the only one downstream who had a visible problem.

TerryB

Got my Panny 50PX60U yesterday and set it up with the 8300HD DVR box that I picked up from Adelphia (N.E. Ohio), my cable provider. I'm having a problem with the HDMI setup and was wondering if anyone else has seen this issue:

I used the Setup Wizard to select the resolutions/formats that the TV supports and then selected Auto DVI/HDMI under Picture Format settings. Everything works great until I turn off the 8300HD. When I go back to using it again all the HD channels are coming out of the box at 480i (with gray bars at top and bottom) and some channels (NBCHD, for example) are gone completely. Re-checking the Picture Format settings, they are stilll correctly set at Auto DVI/HDMI. I also tried going through the Setup Wizard and then setting Picture Format to Upconvert 1 or Upconvert 2. Same problem, everything is fine until the 8300HD is powered down, then it seems to loss its settings and transmits the HD channels in 480i. The only way to make it work properly is to run through the Setup Wizard every time the SA 8300HD is powered-up. Extremely annoying!

To test if this was only an HDMI issue, I then removed the HDMI cable and plugged in component cables instead. Went through the Setup Wizard process and setting the Picture Format and everything works fine, even after powering down the STB and then turning it back on. Has anyone else seen this problem? Is there an HDMI compatibility issue with the SA 8300 unit?

If there is no solution to the HDMI issue and have to abandon the HDMI input, how much PQ am I losing by going to component inputs rather than HDMI? I kinda hate the fact that I spent the $$$ to get the better cable and now I can't use it.

Any help from the AVS gurus out there would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

Change the station using the up or down arrow, then wait for the resolution change to cause the box to resynch.

Good Luck.

Here's a good one for you. I have the 8300HD and a Samsung HL-S6187W TV and have been fighting the same problem since the last software upgrade. Everytime we turn the system on for viewing I get a 1 second flash of video and then it goes to the typical white snow screen. Time warner is clueless about the issue and has no solution. I'm sure it's the HDCP/HDMI culprit again.

Here is the delimma. Usually what works is using the remote to jump from a SD signal to a HD signal, and that will reinitiate the handshake and resynch the video. Well last night I went in to watch tv and when the system came on I got the typical white snow screen. the problem was that BOTH tuners were recording shows. Well with both tuners in use you cannot change channels, PLUS when you can't see the video feed you can't see any of the warnings/questions that the box is sending to you. I had no idea what to do in that case. I couldn't figure out what to try since I didn't want to mess up my recording in progress. What finally worked in that situation was forcing the TV to change sources, from HDMI to air broadcast and then back to HDMI. Then I got my picture back, BUT when I got up the next morning and checked it, I had the snow screen, but using that same method to force them to resynch, it did not work. No matter how many times I changed sources I still had a white screen. I would love to hear if anyone has any ideas on this, or other potential work arounds. I know that composites solve the problem, but when I tried them I was not happy with the PQ. To my eyes the HDMI is a might better signal. Any other ideas?


Thanks,

Bri

Got my Panny 50PX60U yesterday and set it up with the 8300HD DVR box that I picked up from Adelphia (N.E. Ohio), my cable provider. I'm having a problem with the HDMI setup and was wondering if anyone else has seen this issue:

I used the Setup Wizard to select the resolutions/formats that the TV supports and then selected Auto DVI/HDMI under Picture Format settings. Everything works great until I turn off the 8300HD. When I go back to using it again all the HD channels are coming out of the box at 480i (with gray bars at top and bottom) and some channels (NBCHD, for example) are gone completely. Re-checking the Picture Format settings, they are stilll correctly set at Auto DVI/HDMI. I also tried going through the Setup Wizard and then setting Picture Format to Upconvert 1 or Upconvert 2. Same problem, everything is fine until the 8300HD is powered down, then it seems to loss its settings and transmits the HD channels in 480i. The only way to make it work properly is to run through the Setup Wizard every time the SA 8300HD is powered-up. Extremely annoying!

To test if this was only an HDMI issue, I then removed the HDMI cable and plugged in component cables instead. Went through the Setup Wizard process and setting the Picture Format and everything works fine, even after powering down the STB and then turning it back on. Has anyone else seen this problem? Is there an HDMI compatibility issue with the SA 8300 unit?

If there is no solution to the HDMI issue and have to abandon the HDMI input, how much PQ am I losing by going to component inputs rather than HDMI? I kinda hate the fact that I spent the $$$ to get the better cable and now I can't use it.

Any help from the AVS gurus out there would be much appreciated.

Thanks!
Yep, that seems to be a problem with the box. I have the exact same issue with my 8300HD and my Pioneer plasma TV. It doesn't exactly lose the settings, it just chooses to ignore them the next time I turn the box on. When I go back into the setup, all my chosen resolutions are still there. To makde it work again, I just have to go into the setup and exit. After several days of trying every combination of settings and reading tons of forum posts on the issue, I gave up and went to component cables.

Yep, that seems to be a problem with the box. I have the exact same issue with my 8300HD and my Pioneer plasma TV. It doesn't exactly lose the settings, it just chooses to ignore them the next time I turn the box on.

I had the same problem with my SA8300HD and a Toshiba plasma set. The only way around this using an HDMI connection was to use the "quick setup" option on the box so that everything is sent to my TV as 1080p, and the box's "picture format" option is left on "Auto DVI/HDMI."

I tried component cables, but I found that the resulting picture was less sharp when I was watching in 1080p.

I had the same problem with my SA8300HD and a Toshiba plasma set. The only way around this using an HDMI connection was to use the "quick setup" option on the box so that everything is sent to my TV as 1080p, and the box's "picture format" option is left on "Auto DVI/HDMI."

I tried component cables, but I found that the resulting picture was less sharp when I was watching in 1080p.
8300HD's output 1080p from 1080i cable inputs? -- John

8300HD's output 1080p from 1080i cable inputs? -- John

No...

Hey guys noticed the audio levels are lower, not sure if its this box or my digital cable. I used to be able to listen with my reciever at -35db or so, now I have to bump it to -20 to -15. Also audio levels jump in levels from channel to channel and even during commericals. Any fixes?

Hey guys noticed the audio levels are lower, not sure if its this box or my digital cable.
I loop the analog audio output through an old audio pre-amp.

I've got a question about the Auto HDMI/DVI setting. I have my 8300HD hooked up to a 1080p set (Samsung HL-S 6187w DLP) via HDMI, so I get the "Auto HDMI/DVI" setting instead of "Pass Through".

So if I'm reading this right, the cable box is supposed to see my TV and pick the best resolution to ouput at for my set. The set is 1080p, so I'm assuming it is likely choosing to ouput at 1080i (is this correct?). However, from my understanding the conversion done by my TV would be much better than the conversion done by my box so it would seem I would rather it not try to be "smart" and just output the normal resolution as "pass through" would and let my TV do the work.

Why on Earth is there not an option for this when using HDMI cables and short of switching to component is there anything I can do about it? Or is this auto HDMI/DVI actually supposed to provide a better picture than pass through would? If so, does it actually accomplish this?

Trying to do PIP/Split screen with my new TV, and I have my TV connected with an HDMI cable to the 8300HD, but its upconverting the standard signal to 1080i, so the TV won't let me split the signal. How do I make it so while using the HDMI cable it runs atwhatever standard resolution is?


*EDIT*

Just called Scientific Atlanta, and they told me if you set the cable box to Upconvert 2 it won't force the TV to 1080i using the HDMI cable, though I tried that and it didn't seem to work.


*EDIT* 2. Ok so it turns out you need to run the setup program on the box. Turn it off press guide/info on the box and do the advance set up. So I'm back to 480i/p I now need to figure out how to get 2 signals to output. Like 1 through HDMI and 1 through component/rca cables. Any ideas?

Familiar here with 8300HD YPbPr PIP outputs but not HDMI. The video processor in the 8300HD doesn't do split screen but instead PIP, combing the two tuner outputs. Not all cable systems may offer this feature, but a temporary component setup should tell. If a PIP 8300HD display in component doesn't appear with a HDMI hookup, that's likely a quirk of HDMI's digital versus YPbPr's analog outputs. Not sure, but believe 8300HDs only output YPbPr or HDMI separately, not simultaneously.

If your display does split screen, requiring two separate inputs, then the 8300HD, presumably could serve as one input and other video sources as the 2nd input. Maybe a 1-GHz splitter on the main cable would provide a 2nd source [analog-only signals to any NTSC tuner, or with a built-in cable (QAM) and/or 8VSB (ATSC) display tuner, all non-encrypted cable signals]. -- John

Not sure, but believe 8300HDs only output YPbPr or HDMI separately, not simultaneously.

I haven't tried operating both outputs simultaneously, but I do have both component and HDMI cables hooked up to my 8300HD and I can choose either one without having to change any settings on the box.

I have noticed lately that I have quite a few recordings that are being stopped early, and I can find no reason for this. I'm sure that others have had this come up before. I was wondering if anyone has discovered a reason the pvr is stopping early. If so is there any way to prevent it or am I pretty much just stuck with rolling the dice and hoping the shows tape in their entirety. Thanks for any info.

Brian

Re stopping early, there's a way of setting up series recordings and adjusting the start/stop times within the menus, or something similar (haven't tried it). You have to burrow down through the menus to establish start/stop times. -- John

Re stopping early, there's a way of setting up series recordings and adjusting the start/stop times within the menus, or something similar (haven't tried it). You have to burrow down through the menus to establish start/stop times. -- John


So there is a way to verify the start/Stop times that the guide is using to set the timers? I thought that if you chose a recording off the guide the times were set and could not be altered.

So there is a way to verify the start/Stop times that the guide is using to set the timers? I thought that if you chose a recording off the guide the times were set and could not be altered.
I reset a series recording from 11 pm to 1 am yesterday and viewed the start/stop settings, advancing the start time temporally several minutes just as a test. Earlier above, just suggested checking (the 'management' menu) to see if somehow this setting has been advanced/delayed by several minutes. Seems you could compensate for errors by using these start/stop-time settings--or resetting them to 'zero' minutes (on time) if they're off. -- John

There was recent discussion on this in the software specific threads, and it is different between them. PASSPORT was somewhat simple to adjust the start/stop times (for the series, or for an individual recording in it) and should display any guide related (8:59/9:01,etc.) non-hour-mark times in the entry on the scheduled recording list.

SARA was somewhat more involved I believe -- but Adelphia could not fix it so we could view the extended cable channels, so I returned the SA8300HD and did not have much time to play with it.

v/r,
C-F <------missing the DVR.

We have used several of the 8300s around the country on various installations. Many of these installations include a NEC plasma with a Lumagen processor. We like to feed the Lumagen a "native" signal. This requires activating the 480i,480p,720p and 1080i. It has not been a problem with this combination of DVR,processor and display? On a recent trip to a Time Warner supplied site in Leawood KS. the 8300 would not allow us to set either 480i or 720p? Not sure why? Any idea what is happening here? Thanks Dallas
PS Sorry if this is a redundant question. I searched the thread to no avail

Hello,
I been having problems getting the hdmi output to work correctly on the 8300HD box. The sound is not stable. It cuts out for a second frequently. Video and Audio look and sound fine when it is working properly but the audio cuts out briefly and it's annoying. Anyone else had this problem?

EDIT: I figured it out. In order for HDMI to work properly I need to reboot the the SA 8300HD with the HDMI cable plugged in and no component cable plugged in. I have to say, big improvement in audio but to be honest I don't notice any difference in video. In fact I kindof think that SDTV looks better in component. Maybe it's just me.

Has anyone been able to output HDMI and component simultaneously?

time warner new york had a new update a few days ago that should have fixed the HDMI problem along with a couple of other tweaks.

I received my Panny 509UK yesterday and have it hooked up to the 8300 via HDMI. I have the 8300 set to "Auto DVI/HDMI" so that it will send native resolution to the display. But for every channel, whether HD or not, the display of the 8300 says 480p, and the "HDTV" that the manual says is in the display never appears. Any idea what's up?

Thanks in advance..

I live in NYC. I have TWCNY, a samsung HLR5078W & Im using the SA8300 HD box. I can't even access the quick setup wizard by pressing the guide and info button. When I called time warner, I was told that they didnt make the guide/info feature active. So then my question was "Well how am I supposed to access the quick setup wizard?" Of course, there was no answer to that question. Can anyone help out on that one?

Also, Im using component cables and digital optical audio. I have no problems and I have a great picture and sound. I would love to have an even greater picture so I was going to get HDMI, but Im a little apprehensive about getting them with all this talk of the HDMI not functioning properly. Matthew R posted that TWCNY had an update a few days ago that fixed all this, but I want to know if anybody out there actually had their problems resolved with this update?

Thanks

Has anyone been able to output HDMI and component simultaneously?

I'm not sure what this means... I have both HDMI and component cables hooked up at the same time to my 8300HD, both connected to my HDTV, and I have no problem with switching the TV input back and forth from one to the other without unplugging or resetting anything.

Are you trying to run two monitors at the same time off the 8300 box?

Read another post today from someone trying to run a 2nd monitor in another room and discovering his 8300HD wouldn't deliver HDMI and YPbPr outputs simultaneously for viewing both monitors at once. Said he had to unplug one connection; so switching two simultaneously outputs would appear to differ from trying to view both simultaneously. -- John

I live in NYC. I have TWCNY, a samsung HLR5078W & Im using the SA8300 HD box. I can't even access the quick setup wizard by pressing the guide and info button. When I called time warner, I was told that they didnt make the guide/info feature active. So then my question was "Well how am I supposed to access the quick setup wizard?" Of course, there was no answer to that question. Can anyone help out on that one?
With NYC's TWC Passport operating system, just press the SETTINGS remote control button, then enter the additional settings submenu and scroll to the right setups. -- John

there is no quick settup wizard either, or do you mean the settup wizard for the samsung set?

Before I ask my question.... I have read and searched for the answer to my question....

Is there any way to adjust (center) the image on the SA8300... can not find anything in the quick or general setting.....

I have the SARA software...

Any help would be great....

Don

Guys,

I was using the component video out to my 37" Viewsonic and optical out to my audio receiver to provide Dolby Digital. Worked fine. But now I have changed the configuration. I am using the HDMI out from the cable box to TV (video only), still using optical out from cable box to audio receiver. The weird thing is that the video is fine with HDMI, but whats strange is that I can no longer get Dolby Digital 5.1 sound when using the HDMI cable in my TV (only digital 3-channel with my receiver when HDMI is plugged in). The second I remove the HDMI cable from the box, 5.1 surround sound is fully restored! Any suggestions? Thanks.

The weird thing is that the video is fine with HDMI, but whats strange is that I can no longer get Dolby Digital 5.1 sound when using the HDMI cable

Make sure that you have the audio set to Dolby not HDMI.... General Setting: Audio..... there are 3 choices.... Dolby Digital, HDMI and Other......

Hope this helps....

Don

Thanks, Don! I tried to access the main menu by pressing Info and Guide at the same time (with cablebox off) to access the menu, but it does nothing. Any suggestions? I am using the Cablevision version of the 8700. Thanks.

Thanks, Don! I tried to access the main menu by pressing Info and Guide at the same time (with cablebox off) to access the menu, but it does nothing. Any suggestions? I am using the Cablevision version of the 8700. Thanks.

Well I have a SA8300HD running SARA so I can't tell you how to do it on a 8700... but I press the setting button once to get to the Quick Settings and then one more time to get to the General Settings......

Don

Got it!!!!! SWEET! Thanks.

Read another post today from someone trying to run a 2nd monitor in another room and discovering his 8300HD wouldn't deliver HDMI and YPbPr outputs simultaneously for viewing both monitors at once. Said he had to unplug one connection; so switching two simultaneously outputs would appear to differ from trying to view both simultaneously. -- John

I am running a projector in my home theater connected through HDMI and a 32" HDTV in my living room through component; both displays are connected to the same SA8300HD.

Until recently, I had to unplug the HDMI cable from the SA8300 to get an image on the component output. It was major PITA.

But I read in this thread a couple pages earlier that when using a HDMI switcher, it works. This person said he was using the Monoprice HDMI switcher. I had to buy one and try.
It is actually working!!!. BUT, you need at least 2 HDMI sources connected in the switcher. In my case, I have an upconverting DVD player has my second source. I have to select the DVD source on the HDMI switcher in order to get an image on the component output of the SA8300. Seems like when selecting a source other than the SA8300 on the switcher, it unlocks the component output of the cable box.
I find it pretty dump that it works in this case, but not when the projector was connected directly in the cable box, even when the projector was off. Moreover, if I recall, I tried with an HDMI cable plugged in the cable box but with nothing plugged on the other end, and the component output was locked!!
I don't know why it works with the switcher, but it works. Must be HDCP handshake thing...

My 8300HD seems to have a mind of its own. It will reboot for no real reason at various times. This can happen several times a week. For example, it has happened four times that we saw since Saturday night. It will also turn itself off for no real reason -- no one has the remote, it is just sitting on a table. And every once in while the TW start over feature will not be there (we consider that a plus but after reboot it comes back). This morning it did an uncalled for reboot and then did two more reboots during the reboot! The above are three seperate issues.

The only clue you might have to this reboot is about to happen is that you may have to turn the sound louder and louder. After a reboot the sound is fine. The picture is always fine.

I have called TW several times about this and have swapped out the box a few times. The person today told me the cause of the problem was the fact that I had the cable signal coming in from the wall to a splitter one to the DVR and the other to the VCR ( yes we do use that once in a while). She said I needed to disconnect the splitter and not have the VCR hooked up! Whenever TW has come out and looked at the diagnostics or I have looked at them they are all fine.

Any help would be appreciated! I am stuck with TW where I live -- no dish possible so that is not an answer, I wish it was!

Thanks

We had problems like that. We added a UPS, and since, no such problems.

I am having a couple of problems with a an 8300. We are connected HDMI output ot a DVI input of a lumagen processor and then to a NEC plasma via DVI. This combination usually allows me to set the resolution to all formats. On this combination we cannot seem to get the 8300 to provide either 480i or 720p? It allows me to choose it,but then deletes the aforementioned formats when you exit the setup menu. Not sure what is going on here
In addition we cannot seem to get into the service menu. Guide+ info when off does not seem to work? Just looking for any insight. Thanks Dallas

I am running a projector in my home theater connected through HDMI and a 32" HDTV in my living room through component; both displays are connected to the same SA8300HD.

Until recently, I had to unplug the HDMI cable from the SA8300 to get an image on the component output. It was major PITA.

But I read in this thread a couple pages earlier that when using a HDMI switcher, it works. This person said he was using the Monoprice HDMI switcher. I had to buy one and try.
It is actually working!!!. BUT, you need at least 2 HDMI sources connected in the switcher. In my case, I have an upconverting DVD player has my second source. I have to select the DVD source on the HDMI switcher in order to get an image on the component output of the SA8300. Seems like when selecting a source other than the SA8300 on the switcher, it unlocks the component output of the cable box.
I find it pretty dump that it works in this case, but not when the projector was connected directly in the cable box, even when the projector was off. Moreover, if I recall, I tried with an HDMI cable plugged in the cable box but with nothing plugged on the other end, and the component output was locked!!
I don't know why it works with the switcher, but it works. Must be HDCP handshake thing...

I may need to do this as well, or at least something similiar, as I have my Projector and did have my 34" TV( back in repair shop for 5th time) hooked up at the same time, but like you had to unplug one or the other to get either to work.

This majorly sucks, cause my old 811 Dish Net Receiver would send both at the same time.

I decided for the short term to just split 2 sets of component cables, but the picture gets darker, so I know this isnt optimal, but finances are grim lately.

I may just get a "Component" 1 in 4 out splitter/amplifier, when i have some surplus cash, and that will be that.

What is the AUX INPUT on the front panel used for?

Dragon,
The aux. inputs can be used to connect a camera or game through the 8300 to the TV. You cannot record this material on the 8300. Of course all of this requires a software version which enables the aux. in.

TerryB

Dragon,
The aux. inputs can be used to connect a camera or game through the 8300 to the TV. You cannot record this material on the 8300. Of course all of this requires a software version which enables the aux. in.

TerryB
I suspected something like that. I'm not sure if my cable company (Rogers) has this enabled on my box. IF it was, how would I know and how would I select the aux input for use? [I currently have a HDMI cable outputting to my projector and analog stereo connection to my receiver.]

Thanks.:)

Hello can someone explain the Digital out of this box to me . When I sellect DD via the digital coaxor toslink the sound is LOW on my AVR if I select Other in the digital audio menue I do NOT get DD but it is much louder and almost sounds better ,I think it is PCM
Thanks ~

I noticed the same thing when I set the audio to HDMI vs. DD. I only use the digital coax w/ my Onkyo receiver not the TV's audio. I thought that maybe volume can be adjusted on the STB but it doesn't appear to be. I end up cranking my volume up during non-DD shows and DD shows are louder.

I recently traded in my regular HD cable Box for a SA 8300HD DVR at Time Warner. There is one thing that I simply cannot figure out. On my old HD cable box I could have my TV set to Full (The regular setting for a widescreen TV that won't stretch or distort a widescreen image), while I had my cablebox set to Widescreen for HD content and to Stretch for non-HD channels (so my Cablebox was doing the stretching, not my TV). This was ideal because the cablebox could detect when to stretch non-HD content to fill my screen and when to not alter the image when it was HD content (ie. full widescreen). Now that I have my new SA 8300HD set up with the exact same settings on my TV and the SA8300HD as I had before when I had my regular cablebox, the channels still work fine (HD displays undistorted and SD channels are stretched) but WHENEVER I bring the Guide up the Guide is displayed with grey letterbox bars on the left and right of it. Also, whenever I change channels the brief flicker you get between channels brings the picture in real quick (ie. puts grey letterbox bars on the left and right) before expanding the picture again once the new channel is displayed. This was never a problem before I got the SA8300, my old cable box had the guide/info screens fill my entire widescreen TV. Anyone have any ideas? (I know I can get the guide to fill the screen if I set my TV settings to H-Fill or Zoom but I shouldn't have to make my TV distort the image just to make the guide fill the screen).

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

OK, another problem with the SA 8300HD. After about a week of watching HD, yesterday I couldn't get any reception on all but one HD channel, NBC but all SD channels were fine. This was across both the HDMI and the component feeds. There was nothing displayed and no audio either. I called Charter and they asked me to pull the power and restart. When the box restarted I noticed no changes.

Later on that same night I decided to remove a splitter that I was using and see if signal strength played a role. When I checked the channels I ended up getting PBS and all network HD channels but not HBO, Cinemax or Showtime which I get in this package. This doesn't appear to be a problem with programming because I don't get a message telling me that I'm not subscribed to these channels. Also, I don't really know if the splitter was really a factor because it wasn't a problem all week long and I removed it just to be sure.

Charter is sending a tech over but I don't want to have to take off work for this, is there something that I can do to diagnose the problem myself or is this an issue with the feed and something that is being worked on behind the scenes?

I have a new Panasonic 9UK with the SA8300HD DVR attached via the 8-series HDMI connection. With this setup the panel loses the ability to adjust color and tint. If I connect the 8300 via component, the color and tint adjustments are there. Does anyone know if there is a way to adjust for the oversaturation and hue when connected via HDMI ? ? ?

Does anyone happen to know if it is at all possible to hack the 15-minute guide-FastForward so that it skips roughly 2minutes 30 seconds instead? Can you manually adjust many settings? I'm assuming you can't really edit the firmware.

My, do you write well. In this world of fine points, unpublished details and uncertainty, you said a lot in one brief paragraph. I tried out Leko’s tip earlier, and had to conclude that my Cox Comm. 8300’s software does not execute what amounts to a pretty neat trick.

I happen to be a recovering Replay TV model 5040 user, the last one sold that automatically skipped commercials. The box and remote that Replay sold me worked poorly, so the auto skip feature is all that I miss. That, and the $300 I shelled out for a “lifetime” contract.

After using the SA box for a few months, I’ve settled on using the double-arrow 10X Fast-forward speed on 2½ minute long and other commercials. Then Play, 4X Rewind to a black screen, and back to Play. (Personally, I prefer Rewind to Instant Replay.) Spending maybe 20 seconds to return to a program isn’t so bad.

During the past week or two I’ve noticed a brief alert on the screen about an upcoming recording. It says something like: “Notice, in two minutes you will be recording Program X, etc.” It’s up for only a second! I think I would prefer that it stay up longer, or not at all. A speed reader I’m not.

Jim

Hello, I tried to get this answered in the Sony 60a2000 thread:

"I hope there is an easy fix, but none of my TWC boxes work on my A2000 with HDMI? I returned the 8300 hd and got a new one, so I know it is not a cable issue. It will work on svideo and only on some of the HD channels on component. Any thoughts? "

I may think this unit needs the setting on pass through? How is this accomplished< thanks in advance!

Not using HDMI, but checking a possible local forum thread would help establish your cable head end, firmware update, etc., is set up for HDMI outputs. Not all are. Also, from posts, it appears the order in which the STB and display are turned on make a difference in the 'hand shake'. If you aren't getting some subscribed or known channels via component (as a test) call customer service and have them initialize your STB properly. Some get better images with YPbPr, so comparisons are useful . A 1080i STB output might be best, but a comparison is useful here, too. -- John

I have the 8300HD from Adelphia. I want the volume button to control the Cable box's volume. I tried the holding select + CBL button until they blink twice, however the CBL button never blinks...


I called adelphia and they didn't know what to do. Any ideas?


Also, anyone know how to program a $10 radioshack universal remote to control the 8300HD?

Not using HDMI, but checking a possible local forum thread would help establish your cable head end, firmware update, etc., is set up for HDMI outputs. Not all are. Also, from posts, it appears the order in which the STB and display are turned on make a difference in the 'hand shake'. If you aren't getting some subscribed or known channels via component (as a test) call customer service and have them initialize your STB properly. Some get better images with YPbPr, so comparisons are useful . A 1080i STB output might be best, but a comparison is useful here, too. -- John

Thanks John. I actually had Charter out today and they replaced some cable and a splitter in the house. I think they felt that water infiltrated the cable as it entered the house. Either way, I have all channels as of before they arrived so I'm happy for the time being. Thanks!

OK, here's a weird one. During Bones and Justice tonight, at about 55 minutes into Bones, the 8300HD decided it was going to go bonkers. It recorded the last 5 minutes of Bones and the entire hour of Justice in little 10 second increments. I have hundreds of "recordings". When I checked the DVR after Justice it was tuned to Fox, no recording occuring, and every 10 seconds the picture and sound was cutting to black and coming back. I assume it was doing this throughout the show. Another recording that occured at the same time completed without incident.

So, since I know that the 8300HD can be a buggy beast, I'm willing to chalk it up to a one time occurance for now, however is there any way I can remove ALL recordings at once? Or do I have to manually remove 300-400 entries one by one?

I'm having an odd problem - just switched the box to see if it would help, and it made no difference. I'm on TWC, if that helps. So here goes:

When using the HDMI output on my 8300, the HD content looks great, and about half of the SD content looks ok (as well as can be expected). However, from roughly channel 20 to channel 60 or so, there is a flickering/vibrating portion on the very top of the screen (top 1%). It doesn't really degrade the PQ as there is nothing up there really, but it is quite distracting. When I go to higher SD channels, the problem is gone, and on lower channels, the problem is gone.

Interestingly enough, if I switch the output on the box to no less than 720p/1080i, and then use my tv to stretch the content, the problem goes away on all SD channels. However, since my TV (Panny 42PX60u) defaults to full when it sees HD sources, this would be quite annoying having to manually switch it every time. Plus, the rest of my household would never do so, and I'd end up with a burnt up plasma.

So, out of curiosity, I switched from HDMI to component out and lo and behold the problem went completely away on all SD channels, regardless of whether or not I allowed 480i/p or not. So that's what I'm running now, but I liked the quality of HDMI better (visually to a degree, but more importantly audibly), so I'd like to figure out a way to make the HDMI work. Any ideas or knowledge of this problem?

IIRC, it sounds like you are seeing the CC track on line ??? of the NTSC signal. It generally looks like random checkered line(s).

On your end, it may be a matter of overscan, since it goes away with component. I am not a calibrator, so I cannot speak to HDMI/DVI mapping vs. component analog...

On the other end, the CC [or whatever track is showing] could go away once brought to the appropriate entity's attention. Sometimes it is the source [showing their slip], sometimes it is the cable head-end conversion to digital-SD. Try a search for closed captioning on one of the software threads (SARA (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=471859) or PASSPORT (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=453804)).

v/r,
C-F

The only "acceptable" method I've come across for deleting lots of files on the DVR (they sure don't make it easy!) is when the disk is too full for any additional recording. If you allow the disk to get too full, the DVR allows you to place checkmarks next to each file you wish to delete, rather than the cumbersome multi-button & window method of deleting one at a time.

Perhaps you could set up some dummy recording events (you need to see if this problem will persist or not, anyway) to fill up the disk by using loong shows to minimize the number of files. Once the disk fills, schedule a recording that extends beyond the remaining recordable time, and use the batch delete function to get everything off.

This is the only approach I'm aware of...

I got my Sony A2000 SXRD TV and Knology came out and hooked up an SA8300HD.

I've got HDMI out of the STB as well as component. I use these so I can have different picture settings for SD and HD channels.

The component works like a charm, but the HDMI is developing some issues. It only happens sometimes, but I can always make it happen if I try. I have the video format set to "Auto HDMI/DVI", and went through the setup to tell the box to output all formats. I want the TV to do all upconversions and just want the box to pass the signal through.

The problem is that sometimes when I switch channels with different formats, the TV shows colored snow. I have to switch inputs on the TV and then switch back to make it resync the HDMI. Is there anything I can do about this? I DO notice a slight quality increase with the HDMI and would like to leave my setup the way it is. I watched TV almost the entire day yesterday without seeing this issue, but now it seems to be happening more frequently. It doesnt happen all the time which tells me this setup SHOULD work.

Picked up a new 8300HD on Friday. Worked perfect for the first day (this is my second). Last night at 2 AM I was going to turn it on and the front panel said "proc" instead of the normal time. The unit wouldn't respond so I unplugged it and restarted it.

It then worked fine for around 15 minutes and then the screen went blank. The front panel came back on (like it was power cycling) and said "boot". When "boot" went away it went black and the front panel shutoff.

It's now dead, I can't get it to do anything and the front panel won't light up. An ideas?

Picked up a new 8300HD on Friday. Worked perfect for the first day (this is my second). Last night at 2 AM I was going to turn it on and the front panel said "proc" instead of the normal time. The unit wouldn't respond so I unplugged it and restarted it.

It then worked fine for around 15 minutes and then the screen went blank. The front panel came back on (like it was power cycling) and said "boot". When "boot" went away it went black and the front panel shutoff.

It's now dead, I can't get it to do anything and the front panel won't light up. An ideas?
I'm guessing it was going through a firmware update from you cableco when you pulled the plug. Not good. You better take it back and pick up your 3rd unit. This time don't unplug it at 2:00am!

redjr...

Here's my 8300HD problem: the voltage coming out of the component connections. As I have a few things going (dvd, xbox, xbox360, etc...), I went and picked up a switch. Everything can be plugged into it with no problem - except for the cable. The voltage creates these wavy lines, I don't even have to have it be on the cable for them to appear. It's lead to me having to plug/unplug from the switch to the box directly a few times a day. A pain, and I also don't like the current each time I do it (it's not a ton, but it's not hard to tell what the problem is).

What can I get to solve this? I'm assuming there must be some inbetween device/adapter that can solve this. I saw someone earlier in the thread recommended something from Audio Authority (1181?) but I can't find that. Is there anything else?

Do people find that the hdmi connection on the SA 8300HD is less robust than the component one? I am finding that if I use hdmi I get audio and video dropouts from time to time that last from several minutes to 10 minutes. I don't seem to get those dropouts with component. Should I just stick with component, or is it worth trying to futher tinker (try to improve the signal level from the coax, get a better hdmi cable, etc.)?

(I'm on TWC NYC)

I have a SA8300HD and a Toshiba 56HM195 and I have no problems with my HDMI connection... works great... no drop outs.... great picture.... also have my Denon 3910 hooked up via HDMI to the Toshiba... no problems there either....

SA8300HD running SARA... Rogers cable in Toronto...

Don

I have a SA8300HD and a Toshiba 56HM195 and I have no problems with my HDMI connection... works great... no drop outs.... great picture.... also have my Denon 3910 hooked up via HDMI to the Toshiba... no problems there either....

SA8300HD running SARA... Rogers cable in Toronto...

Don
For what it's worth, my SA8300HD (the one with the hdmi dropouts) runs passport.

Here's my setup:

HDMI: SA8300
DVI-D: Oppo 971 dvd player
Both are directly connected to an Optoma HD72 projector.

And here's my problem:

When I switch sources from HDMI to DVD-D, the screen starts a green strobe light effect. This can only be fixed if I power down the projector, and power it back on.

This does NOT happen when switching from DVD-D to HDMI.

Is this a SA8300 problem, dvd player, or projector issue?

More on my HDMI dropouts:

One idea occurred to me which I figured I'd check here about. My hdmi cable is a 1M cable that I got for about $30 online (at a reputable place). I got that after someone at pc richard had tried to sell me a $130 cable and insisted that you had to pay up to get a 'good' cable and that that was worth doing. I told him I thought that was ridiculous since the signal is digital and the bits are the bits (no interference problems). Was I wrong? Any chance that dropouts (both audio and video, lasting up to 10 minutes at a time) are due to an inferior HDMI cable.

<---- not an expert on cable signal-ing...

There is a possibility that you have a "bad" connection (re-plug), "bad" cable (a/b test), "bad" combination of equipment and/or software (cry and moan), but to this last question:

Not likely; in my readings, bits are bits as the adage goes. However, there is a difference between the 'cheap' and the 'high-dollar' cables at distances greater than 15' (someone smarter please correct the threshold distance) where [reflection] and [timing] issues rise above the [correctable] threshold and begin to cause sparkles and or worse.

v/r,
C-F

I'd highly recommend BlueJeansCable. Not a single problem with my 20' HDMI and 23' DVI cables.

Great quality, a bit more expensive than Monoprice, but I'd definitely buy again.

I got my Sony A2000 SXRD TV and Knology came out and hooked up an SA8300HD.

I've got HDMI out of the STB as well as component. I use these so I can have different picture settings for SD and HD channels.

The component works like a charm, but the HDMI is developing some issues. It only happens sometimes, but I can always make it happen if I try. I have the video format set to "Auto HDMI/DVI", and went through the setup to tell the box to output all formats. I want the TV to do all upconversions and just want the box to pass the signal through.

The problem is that sometimes when I switch channels with different formats, the TV shows colored snow. I have to switch inputs on the TV and then switch back to make it resync the HDMI. Is there anything I can do about this? I DO notice a slight quality increase with the HDMI and would like to leave my setup the way it is. I watched TV almost the entire day yesterday without seeing this issue, but now it seems to be happening more frequently. It doesnt happen all the time which tells me this setup SHOULD work.

I am having this same exact issue with my 60a2000 and the 8300hd. Sometimes when switching between hd channels that have different resolution, the tv displays colored snow and i have to switch inputs to get the snow to go away. Any ideas?

I am having this same exact issue with my 60a2000 and the 8300hd. Sometimes when switching between hd channels that have different resolution, the tv displays colored snow and i have to switch inputs to get the snow to go away. Any ideas?
Similar problem here:

When switching between 720p channels (ABC, FOX) and 1080i (the rest), I sometimes get a picture that is like looking through a green filter. I have a Optoma HD72 projector connected via HDMI to the SA8300.

This does not happen every time, but it is annoying.

Now, I just use a fixed output of 1080i from the STB to disable this green screen.

WOW! Sounds like I'm lucky to be using the component interface on my 8300 (SARA). Does this happen on Passport too?

WOW! Sounds like I'm lucky to be using the component interface on my 8300 (SARA). Does this happen on Passport too?


YES

Does the SA8300 ever turn off (completely silent)?

I woke up this morning, and even though the power was off, I could still hear the (hard drive?) fan still spinning.:(

I am completely stumped. I had a scientific atlanta box through Time Warner that worked just fine on my Pioneer sd533-hd5 set (rptv). However, some channels were not coming in since the box was getting an analog feed instead of a digital one so they told me to swap out the box.

My previous box was a dark gray. The new box i received was silver. Went home, plugged it in, and after activating I noticed the picture was 'bloomed out' (a videogame term). Basically, the colors were very oversaturated - appearing fuzzy overall and just very 'white'. I figured great, another busted box so I returned it today for another silver piece of crap.

Same thing is going on. I have no idea what's up. Anyone have any ideas? I'm pretty darn sure it's not my set since it worked fine with the dark gray 8300hd boxes but not the silver one. I'm cluesless as to what the cause is.

- Chris

Well sounds like I know what it is. Apparently the 8300hd has DC interference with the component outputs, so I had to order a DC Blocker from audio authority. Should arrive in a couple days and hopefully fix it. Stupid design.

Does the SA8300 ever turn off (completely silent)?

I woke up this morning, and even though the power was off, I could still hear the (hard drive?) fan still spinning.:(

It does not turn off completely unless you pull the plug. It's capable of recording without the power-on button, and also your local broadcaster downloads the latest "codes" to your box when needed. I find it kind of annoying. I have one unit in my bedroom, and I can hear the hard drive humming/spinning from time to time. I have pull the plug sometimes during restless nights so I can get complete silence.

Anyone know when the 8300HD will be phased out? I would love to know when it will be replaced by something new.

I am having this same exact issue with my 60a2000 and the 8300hd. Sometimes when switching between hd channels that have different resolution, the tv displays colored snow and i have to switch inputs to get the snow to go away. Any ideas?

Same problem here. Time Warner has no idea what I'm talking about. They just suggest I get a new box. 2 boxes have the same problem so far. Sony has never heard of the problem. I talked to someone on the phone and chatted with someone on their support site and neither had heard of this problem.

Same problem here. Time Warner has no idea what I'm talking about. They just suggest I get a new box. 2 boxes have the same problem so far. Sony has never heard of the problem. I talked to someone on the phone and chatted with someone on their support site and neither had heard of this problem.


I have the same problem with my Samsung and the 8300HD. After looking into it it seems to be caused by the handshake that the box and tv go through. I just set my box to default at 1080i. Even doing that on occasion it still does it. It does it EVERY time when just turning on the set and box together. The way I work around it is by having my box turn on to channel 3 and then have the remote immediately change to one of the higher digital/HD channels. That forces a new handshake and the box and TV seem to resync. It's something to do with the HDCP on the HDMI cable. Supposedly the only way to fix this is through the software updates on the 8300hd box. Samsung has said that their TV meets all HDCP requirements. I've seen alot of other people with the same issue. Most just go back to using composite cables to avoid the whole issue, but I see a noticable difference in PQ going from HDMI to composite, so I just use that workaround. It's a headache sometimes but I don't have a choice at this point.


EDIT:
Just found this on another thread. It mentions the problem with HDMI and some TVs. Came from TW.

Regarding an upgrade to 1.88.xx in the Syracuse/Central NY TWC area...here's what I got from the "horse's mouth"

"Mr. ----, your e-mail was forwarded to me about the newest version of
code for the DVR's. We do have this code available to us and we were
going to release it some months ago, but in addition to the enhanced
features, there were a few major bugs that we found that made us decide
to wait until Scientific Atlanta fixed them in the next DVR release of
code. There are some instances where the DVR will reboot, some "zero
length" recording problems and a major bug with the HDMI connection and
some TV's. Another bug has to do with the one feature that we know all
of our customers have been waiting for where the DVR will not kick you
out to live TV while recording a program. This feature currently only
works if you select the program through the list and select the play
from beginning feature. If you channel onto your recording and rewind
to the beginning it will still kick you out to live TV.

Im about to get this HD box from cablevision sometime this week.Picked up the KD-34XBR970 two weeks ago and love it.Nice thread to come to if i have any problems.

Anyone here using the 8300 with the KD-34XBR970?Im using the HDMI and im trying to get sound threw the optical from my receiver.My AVR doesnt have an HDMI input.The 970 has a Digital Coaxial Audio input.By using the coaxial would this solve the sound issue by using this connection since the optical doesnt seem to work with the HDMI?I just ordered one from monoprice anyway since i didnt have one.Thanks

Is there any way to turn off the channel bar on the 8300HD>. I dont want it causing burn in with my plasma. PM me please!

My 8300 will reboot on its own. I have posted this before but am wondering if anyone else is having the same problems or found a solution. Sometimes it will reboot just for the hell of it in the middle of a show. Tonight it rebooted when I went to turn it off. I gave upon the football game and decided to go to bed. I was recording a show and when I turned off the TV/box it rebooted so I now have missed about 5 minutes of the show I was recording.

We have swapped out several boxes, we have had several tech people out here and they find nothing. The only clue I seem to have is that you have to turn the sound up louder and louder -- that tells me it is getting ready to reboot.

TW told me I could not have a splitter to a VCR that was causing the problem. I tried that, took the splitter out for a couple of months, did not matter. So I put the splitter back in. I will need the VCR this week since my TIGERS made the playoffs!

I also can make the box reboot if I try and use the A button for the interactive stuff. I showed that to a TW tech and he said "huh".

It is getting very frustrating -- any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

I have Atlantic Broadband HD, with the S-A HD8300 DVR. Did anyone else have problems recording shows last Thursday on their HD DVR? I recorded Survivor, CSI, Gray's Anatomy and Letterman, and all four programs (on two different networks) had large chunks missing from the middle of the programs. Each ended up being between 48 and 52 minutes long, with different parts missing.

I got the beginning and end of each show, so it wasn't like the DVR shut off before the programs were over. But during the shows, all of a sudden the program would abruptly change scenes, and there would be a couple of minutes missing. It recorded all 30 minutes of Earl OK, but all four of the hour-long programs were corrupted. Shows it recorded the next day on Friday were OK.

Does anyone have any explanation?

No explanation, deanbrew, but suggest one or two cold boots, unplugging for ~20 secs. It often cures all sorts of glitches. Also, delete most stored files if you have a great many of them. If no help, it's time for a new STB DVR. -- John

Deanbrew,
Are you sure you didn't have outages of service?
Were you watching something else on the digital tier at the time and so sure of continuous signal?

TerryB

No explanation, deanbrew, but suggest one or two cold boots, unplugging for ~20 secs. It often cures all sorts of glitches. Also, delete most stored files if you have a great many of them. If no help, it's time for a new STB DVR. -- John

I guess I'll try that. Does it make any difference if I pull the power cord from the back of the box or the other end from the outlet? I have some stored files, but I am not over 60 percent full. I will definitely be keeping an eye on the box for quirky behavior, but as I said it seemed to work fine recording programs after Thursday.

Deanbrew,
Are you sure you didn't have outages of service?
Were you watching something else on the digital tier at the time and so sure of continuous signal?

TerryB

We were watching a DVD on Thursday, I think. Either that, or a recorded program. We almost never watch anything live anymore, so it wouldn't have been that. There were no power outages on Thursday. I also have a Tivo Series 2 box that recorded the entire episode of Grey's Anatomy with no problems. I got the entire 60 minutes on my Tivo with no missing parts. But that was recorded off of analog channel 12, not the digital HD channel 777.

So the problem was definitely not electricity or overall cable signal, but it could have been the digital signals. But it affected four different programs that started at 8PM, 9PM and 11:30PM on two different channels on the same evening. Strange.

Deanbrew,
Was there a dead period within the program or did the show get broken into two or more pieces?

TerryB

The 8300HD doesnt work with the coaxial or the optical on the XBR970.Im using the HDMI on the 970 and my AVR doesnt have an HDMI connection so i dont get any sound when selecting DD or HDMI in general settings.

Deanbrew,
Was there a dead period within the program or did the show get broken into two or more pieces?

TerryB

There was no dead period (blank screen), just several instances where the scenes suddenly changed and parts of the shows were missing. I missed several parts of each show, perhaps a couple of minutes at a time.

Deanbrew,
Was there a dead period within the program or did the show get broken into two or more pieces?

TerryB
What would cause a show to be broken into two pieces? I've had this happen on several occasions with Prison Break.

Loss of the digital tier and I suppose the communications with the head end or a machine "Crash" will do it.

Oh, I missed what you meant, Terry. I have had shows broken into two pieces before, with say the first five minutes as one recording on my list and the last 55 minutes as a second recording. But that isn't what happened to me on Thursday night.

So, to answer your question, I didn't have either a dead period or have it broken into two recordings. I just had missing parts where there were several minutes of programming missing in the show, shortening the recordings to 48 to 53 minutes.

Deanbrew,
So the program played back as a continuous display/sound out put, contained both beginning and end but was missing simething in the middle. As if the disc failed to find some of the sectors containing this program. I've never heard that one before.

TerryB

Yep, that's what happened, Terry. On the positive side, it has recorded several programs just fine since Thursday. I also heard from another person on my cable system who had the same problem with CSI, so it appears to have been a problem with the cable HD feed, and not my specific DVR. I'm still curious why it didn't record the entire 60 minutes, and have blank periods, rather than simply having missing parts of the program and a shortened recording time.

I recentally bought an 67" DLP HDTV, it accepts pretty much all resolutions and I have connected it with both HDMI and Components to my SA 8300HD. I have also tried another HDTV to verify this is not a problem with my TV. My problem:

The 8300HD always cuts off the sides (yes the sides, not the top and bottom) of my HD programs in 720p and 1080i modes. In 480p mode it works fine and gives me the whole 16:9 picture. In 1080i or 720p mode it chops off the sides when the picture is full screen; when you go to the menu and the picutre is shown quarter-size in the upper right corner you can see all of it.

I've tried pretty much every setting on the 8300HD including the whole Info+Guide thing where you tell it you have a 16:9 tv and what resolutions it accepts, I've tried the different upconvert/pass-through/fixed/Auto-HDMI modes, I've tried all the different output modes, I've tried HDMI and component. I'm about to take the box back to my cable provider, Cox, and ask for another one. Can anyone recommend a way to fix this?

From my experience the sides will be cut of on some commercials even though you are watching an HD channel.Movies,sporting events should all be in full screen.I always turn the tv on first before the DVR.I only use the HDMI on Auto and set it up with the info+guide method.

What happens when you push the zoom/* button (near the zero button)? It really sounds like you're zoomed in.

-Greg

I recentally bought an 67" DLP HDTV, it accepts pretty much all resolutions and I have connected it with both HDMI and Components to my SA 8300HD. I have also tried another HDTV to verify this is not a problem with my TV. My problem:

The 8300HD always cuts off the sides (yes the sides, not the top and bottom) of my HD programs in 720p and 1080i modes. In 480p mode it works fine and gives me the whole 16:9 picture. In 1080i or 720p mode it chops off the sides when the picture is full screen; when you go to the menu and the picutre is shown quarter-size in the upper right corner you can see all of it.

I've tried pretty much every setting on the 8300HD including the whole Info+Guide thing where you tell it you have a 16:9 tv and what resolutions it accepts, I've tried the different upconvert/pass-through/fixed/Auto-HDMI modes, I've tried all the different output modes, I've tried HDMI and component. I'm about to take the box back to my cable provider, Cox, and ask for another one. Can anyone recommend a way to fix this?

What's the firewire port on this thing really for?

Greg: when I hit the Zoom button on the 8300HD nothing happens (I think you have to enter the tv code into the remote). my tv has various zoom modes but none of them show me the missing sides.

vid33nyc1: it happens with all programs

What's going on here is that the 8300HD is acting like I have a 4:3 TV (even though I've repeatedly told it I have a 16:9 TV) and cutting off the sides of 16:9 programming and showing 4:3 programming full-screen. Basically the 8300HD is zooming when it shouldn't.

All fixed now...just had to unplug my 8300HD and wait a few minutes for it to get a software upgrade...then the HD Zoom button started doing exactly what I wanted.

All fixed now...just had to unplug my 8300HD and wait a few minutes for it to get a software upgrade...then the HD Zoom button started doing exactly what I wanted.

HA you didnt let the box update first.A little anxious to hook it up :)

Just an observation from last night:

I was watching TV and every 5-10 seconds, the picture would "jump" for a split second, up then down, about 1 pixel. This was present with SD or HD channels, and was especially noticeable upon channel changing (the on-screen Info bar would jump upon a channel change).

The only thing I had changed recently was that I was experiementing with the AutoHDMI setting for the resolution output the night before. When I noticed this jumpiness, I had already returned the setting to Fixed output 1080i (my personal preference).

Anyways, this morning, after changing to AutoHDMI and then back to Fixed, the jumpiness is gone. Weird.

Anybody else have a similar experience?

Greetings,

I hope someone here can help me. I have a TWC 8300HD w/ Sara 1.88.xxxxx. I have an external SATA drive attached, and the box is showing I'm using 12 % of available space.

Two weeks in a row I've recorded "Heroes", and Shark in their normal time slot. I saw the recording show up in the list. On Sunday, when I went to watch them, they were gone.

I have the DVR set to keep ALL episodes. I don't understand why the box keeps deleting them.

David

This Sunday, I recorded, but also watched at the same time, the Charger/Pittsburg game. Today, I wanted to watch it again. I went to play it and it only played about 10 seconds of the opening and then it went to the "end of program" screen. The list shows that 4hr 5min is recorded and the playback bar shows all green (although there is a little bit of red at the beginning). When I "skip to the end" it only goes to the beginning +10 seconds. Any ideas? Anyway I can delve in deeper to this recording?

For about eight years, I've been using a Pioneer Elite HD, with one channel set for component input, set at FULL for HD material, and a second with S-Video input set at NATURAL WIDE for SD. I'm currently using an SA8300 from TWC, in the Raleigh area. To simplify the switch, I have my Pronto programmed for the change.

Suddenly, just this evening, it became apparent to me that somehow the change in modes iis now being made automatically with just the component input continuously selected, and no intervention from me. When I change to an HD channel, the output of the 8300 is at 1080i, and the Elite shows HD properly at FULL mode and when I switch to an SD channel, it changes to 480i, and the Elite changes to NATURAL WIDE.

If I hadn't quit drinking in 1982, I'd suspect that I had one too many tonight, but that isn't the case. On the other hand, my memory may be starting to fail me.

Has anyone else noticed a change recenlty, or have I just been doing it the hard way for years. I'm happy but confused. I'm really hoping it was a recent program change on the 8300. If so, it's great.

vicw,
Got to tell you that this process has been available from the 8300 all along. You've been doing it the hard way.

TerryB

vicw,
Got to tell you that this process has been available from the 8300 all along. You've been doing it the hard way.

TerryB

Hmmm... Interesting.

I know mine never behaved that way before, but perhaps I inadvertently changed an option on the 8300 so that it now outputs 1080i and 480i consistent with the selected channel. On Sunday night, I had encountered the effects of the Video Source button while I was using Picture-in-Picture, trying to watch my Padres and my Chargers playing simultaneously, so maybe that is when the change occured. In any case, that's great.

Now, the only remaining uses for my Pronto are for system power cycles, and dimming the lights.

vicw

I wonder if any of you have seen this problem with the 8300HD:

I've been experiencing an issue where recordings I know are there, and didn't intentionally erased, just disappear, gone, nowhere to be found.

The first few times this happened I thought to myself:"Well, maybe I deleted it by mistake". But then, it happened yesterday again.

The PVR recorded 'Lost'. I know this because I checked it while it was doing it. I was watching something else, so I decided to watch it today. When I came home today from work, it wasn't there!! WTF?

Thinking back, I know it recorded L&O SVU on tuesday, I saw it in the recording list yesterday. Today, it's also gone. And I haven't been home all day!

They seem not to last too long in the PVR. Any ideas? Is my box just plain broke?

bufito, check your DVR settings regarding how long to keep recorded programs. I don't think it's just your settings if you are losing programs that quickly, but it's worth checking. I changed my settings so that programs are not deleted automatically, after I lost a few programs before I got around to watching them. It was deleting programs after a couple of weeks even though I had unused space on my hard drive.

Yep, several weeks in a row, I've sat down on Sunday eve to watch Shark and Heroes, to find that they have disappeared. They were on the box prior -- I confirmed that.

This week, I'm double checking to make sure it is set to Save Until I Delete. I'm not sure setting it to keep "All Episodes" is enough.

For about eight years, I've been using a Pioneer Elite HD, with one channel set for component input, set at FULL for HD material, and a second with S-Video input set at NATURAL WIDE for SD. I'm currently using an SA8300 from TWC, in the Raleigh area. To simplify the switch, I have my Pronto programmed for the change.

Suddenly, just this evening, it became apparent to me that somehow the change in modes iis now being made automatically with just the component input continuously selected, and no intervention from me. When I change to an HD channel, the output of the 8300 is at 1080i, and the Elite shows HD properly at FULL mode and when I switch to an SD channel, it changes to 480i, and the Elite changes to NATURAL WIDE.

If I hadn't quit drinking in 1982, I'd suspect that I had one too many tonight, but that isn't the case. On the other hand, my memory may be starting to fail me.

Has anyone else noticed a change recenlty, or have I just been doing it the hard way for years. I'm happy but confused. I'm really hoping it was a recent program change on the 8300. If so, it's great.

Does anyone know if the same happens when connected via HDMI->DVI?

Also, is anyone using a 2407wfp with the 8300HD? I'm getting it installed next week and I'm just wondering how it works with the Dell.

One more thing, can I connect the 8300HD with hdmi/dvi and component at the same time? I was planning on watching the HD channels with the dvi cable and SD channels with the component. I will use component when watching TV in PIP, the small screen, while I work in my computer(which will use the only DVI connection) and DVI when watching it full screen.

One more thing, can I connect the 8300HD with hdmi/dvi and component at the same time? I was planning on watching the HD channels with the dvi cable and SD channels with the component. I will use component when watching TV in PIP, the small screen, while I work in my computer(which will use the only DVI connection) and DVI when watching it full screen.

Yes - all outputs are active at all times.

Carol

On the SA8300HD the Hd outputs (HDMI and component) are mutually exclusive, you can't use them both. However the SD outputs (s-video and composite) do work simultaneous with the HD outputs, and output a down-converted 480i signal of whatever the HD output (only one active) is showing. So for your purpose of wanting an SD output with an HDMI output, just use s-video or composite for it.

On the SA8300HD the Hd outputs (HDMI and component) are mutually exclusive, you can't use them both. However the SD outputs (s-video and composite) do work simultaneous with the HD outputs, and output a down-converted 480i signal of whatever the HD output (only one active) is showing. So for your purpose of wanting an SD output with an HDMI output, just use s-video or composite for it.

Is the signal via the RF cable also active at all times with a signal and if so is it also SD? I need to be able to have the signal from the STB go to a non HD set in my kitchen via RF cable.

I concur with joxer: the HDMI and component jacks do not both work at the same time - you have to choose. The s-video and composite jacks do work at all times, however. I don't know about the RF jack, but I suspect it works all of the time, as well.

Yep, several weeks in a row, I've sat down on Sunday eve to watch Shark and Heroes, to find that they have disappeared. They were on the box prior -- I confirmed that.

This week, I'm double checking to make sure it is set to Save Until I Delete. I'm not sure setting it to keep "All Episodes" is enough.

I followed your advice, and ever since I'm setting them as "Save until I delete", the disappearing act stopped. The only bummer with this approach is that one has to be vigilant so when the show stops recording, one can set this flag afterwards in the recording list. Annoying to have to do it every time.

I followed your advice, and ever since I'm setting them as "Save until I delete", the disappearing act stopped. The only bummer with this approach is that one has to be vigilant so when the show stops recording, one can set this flag afterwards in the recording list. Annoying to have to do it every time.

Wouldn't it be easier to set this flag when the recording is originally setup - especially when the recording is repeated?

Wouldn't it be easier to set this flag when the recording is originally setup - especially when the recording is repeated?

I originally had it set to keep "All Episodes", assuming that it would keep all of them until I deleted them.

I'm not sure how the logic works. If I set it to keep until I delete, will it grab all new episodes?

I originally had it set to keep "All Episodes", assuming that it would keep all of them until I deleted them.

I'm not sure how the logic works. If I set it to keep until I delete, will it grab all new episodes?

From memory, I think the choice is either "manually delete" or "automatically delete when space is needed". Those aren't the actual words, but they're close. Just set it to manually delete.

The selection to "record once" or "record all episodes" is a different option.

I hope that makes sense.

Hi, pretty much a rook question, but I am not sure what makes the most sense for me. I've read through this thread, but still feel the naive need to ask:

I have a Toshiba 34HFX83 set that accepts 480i, 480P, 720p, and 1080i, and upconverts to either 540p or 1080i. (The owner's manual says the DVI/HDCP connection will accept and display 480i, 480P, 720p, and 1080i signals). I use two inputs from my SA8300 HD recorder, for standard cable, a simple S-video cable, and for high def, an HDMI/DVI cable (RAM electronics).

QUESTION: When selecting the "output format" settings on the SA8300 box, should I select all four choices (480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i), choose only 1080i, or a combination of 2 or 3 (e.g. 1080i and 720p)...?

thx, walk

What would cause a scheduled show not to record?

For example, 3 weeks ago I recorded "My Name is Earl" and "The Office" without any problem. Settings were "all episodes in this time slot" and "keep until I erase."

Last week, only "The Office" recorded. And this week, neither show recorded, even though the day before I had verified that they were on my "scheduled list."

I do have a second program recording, "Gray's Anatomy," but the PVR is dual-tuner, isn't it? Note: I did not try to watch TV during this time either.

Anybody else have problems with these particular shows recently?

Hi, I apologize if this was already answered somewhere else, but I've been searching all morning and couldn't find it, so...yesterday I switched to HDMI for my SA8300HD (I have a 46" Samsung DLP) and now some SD channels have thin black vertical bars on either side of the picture in addition to the usual thick grey sidebars that are always in place for 4:3 content. Does anyone know what could be causing this? I've played around with picture settings both on my TV and the 8300 (passport in NYC), but nothing seems to make them go away. Thanks in advance for any help.

Is this a “handshake” problem?

First I want to thank all you HD generals for the time you put in on this forum. I’ve spent the last couple of weeks reading and learning – or at least trying to learn.

Last Friday I purchased a Sharp HDTV LC-40C32U from Costco.

On Saturday I picked up an SA 8300HD-DVR from TWC’s location on FM 1960. As a side note I should mention that I was just going to get a plain HD box but the lady there started telling me how wonderful the DVR box was so I said how about letting me try it out at no charge so she offered me the DVR box for six months free.

On Sunday I bought an HDMI cable from BB. The box came with component and video cables, but I thought HDMI would be better.

On Tuesday I finally got around to hooking everything up. (yeah, I know – I’m slow; it takes me two hours just to watch 60 Minutes.)

I went through the set up wizard:
Guide-Info Advanced 16:9
All of the formats displayed so I selected them all.

BUT: every time I turn off the TV or the cable box and then turn everything on the display on the cable box states “480i” so, I have to run the set up wizard again.

The TWC tech department today acknowledged this is a common problem and told me to go through the set up wizard again but this time be real careful. I’ve been through the set up wizard at least five times.

Any advice?

I recently purchased a Sharp XV-Z200. I have my SA 8300 and a Panny DVD connect thru my Yamaha receiver with component cables. I have horizontal discoloration lines moving up my screen when the DVD or Cable is on. At first I thought it was the projector... then the receiver... but then I unplugged the component cables from the 8300 and the lines went away. Is this common? In my research, I read someone talk about DC voltage on the component lines? Could this be causing the problem? If so, any suggestions on how to fix. Any help would be extremely appreciated. Thanks!
I had the same problem with horizontal lines moving up the screen. For me, routing the cable coax connection through a UPS (Tripp-Lite HT1500UPS) fixed the problem.

From memory, I think the choice is either "manually delete" or "automatically delete when space is needed". Those aren't the actual words, but they're close. Just set it to manually delete.

The selection to "record once" or "record all episodes" is a different option.

I hope that makes sense.

See, this is where it gets odd. When I setup a recording, my box gives me the option to either save 1 episode or save them all. Only if I choose to save 1 episode, I get the other option to "save until I delete" in the same screen. If I choose to save all episodes, the other option changes to "all, 1, 2, 5, or 7 episodes" (or something like that). Bottom line, there is no option to save "all" episodes "until I delete" them.

Only after a recording is done, now I have the option to flag it as "save until I delete" even though is part of a "save all episodes" series.

HELP! :( :( :(

My 8300 has been stopped recording shows that were definitely scheduled for recording. It first started about 3 weeks ago with one missed show. Last week, it missed two shows. This week, it recorded only 11 minutes of Prison Break yesterday, and since then, it has missed 4 consecutive recordings.

HELP!!! :( :( :(

And, to top it all off, I bought this PVR and it past the 30 day return window by 7 days!!!!!!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

HELP! :( :( :(

My 8300 has been stopped recording shows that were definitely scheduled for recording. It first started about 3 weeks ago with one missed show. Last week, it missed two shows. This week, it recorded only 11 minutes of Prison Break yesterday, and since then, it has missed 4 consecutive recordings.

HELP!!! :( :( :(

And, to top it all off, I bought this PVR and it's past the 30 day return window by 7 days!!!!!!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

HELP! :( :( :(

My 8300 has been stopped recording shows that were definitely scheduled for recording. It first started about 3 weeks ago with one missed show. Last week, it missed two shows. This week, it recorded only 11 minutes of Prison Break yesterday, and since then, it has missed 4 consecutive recordings.

HELP!!! :( :( :(

And, to top it all off, I bought this PVR and it's past the 30 day return window by 7 days!!!!!!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:


Have you rebooted? Press the info button and the volume up and down buttons at the same time on the front panel. The reboot is finished once you see the time back on the front LED screen. It takes a couple of minutes.

Ok, this is a freakin weird problem. I've been using the 8300HD for a couple of weeks now via HDMI. Another member on this forum had posted he had better PQ via the component out. So, I figured I would try the component outs and see what it looked like. Well, I cannot get a video signal out of the component outs for nothing. I have unplugged the HDMI cable, turned my TV off, rebooted the 8300HD, plugged the component video into the 8300HD then turned my TV back on and nothing. I have tried these steps in every possible order also thinking that maybe some sort of negotiation may need to happen between my TV and the 8300HD that would cause one or the other to enable the component interface. I can plug the HDMI cable back in and everything works great. It's like the HDMI out is stuck on and it won't switch to the component out for some reason. Anyone else had this issue or know what might be causing it? The component cables and component in on my TV work fine with my DVD player FYI. My TV is a Samsung HL-S5688W BTW.

twinkdogg,
Go into the 8300's setup (not output resolutions) video output and turn off HDMI.

TerryB

HELP! :( :( :(

My 8300 has been stopped recording shows that were definitely scheduled for recording. It first started about 3 weeks ago with one missed show. Last week, it missed two shows. This week, it recorded only 11 minutes of Prison Break yesterday, and since then, it has missed 4 consecutive recordings.

HELP!!! :( :( :(

And, to top it all off, I bought this PVR and it's past the 30 day return window by 7 days!!!!!!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

I've been having the exact same problem for a few weeks as well, and I'm also in Toronto (Rogers). The problem doesn't seem to be specific to a particular show, it's completely random. However, Prison Break was broken into 3 pieces for me this week also, and 2 pieces the week before... ??? At first I canceled and rescheduled the missed recordings (thinking there was a glitch), to no avail. I rebooted the box several times, also without any luck. I rent my box and so, thinking it was somehow fried, I exchanged it for another last week - this is the 3rd box in 1.5 years and I have stayed a renter for exactly this reason.

So, the new box was programmed to record all my shows and it worked perfectly for a few days. However, the problem returned, starting slowly and quickly escalating to tonight where NONE of 5 scheduled recordings were begun. Again, I rebooted the box several times with no luck. Shows are missed which are the sole thing being recorded at a particular time. I think this must be the result of a flawed software upgrade done in the past month.... ??? Anyone else have the same problem or a solution?

OK...excuse my stupidity....because I have re-read the thread on advancing the 8300HD to the end of a program and I still don't get it.

I start the program playing as it states and hit select so I can choose go to end - but that's where nothing happens.

I have tried hitting every button on the remote I can find - including the select button. I have both paused the program and let it play...but still no luck. How do I get the selection up to go to the end of the program, so I can rewind from there?

I've been having the exact same problem for a few weeks as well, and I'm also in Toronto (Rogers). The problem doesn't seem to be specific to a particular show, it's completely random. However, Prison Break was broken into 3 pieces for me this week also, and 2 pieces the week before... ??? At first I canceled and rescheduled the missed recordings (thinking there was a glitch), to no avail. I rebooted the box several times, also without any luck. I rent my box and so, thinking it was somehow fried, I exchanged it for another last week - this is the 3rd box in 1.5 years and I have stayed a renter for exactly this reason.

So, the new box was programmed to record all my shows and it worked perfectly for a few days. However, the problem returned, starting slowly and quickly escalating to tonight where NONE of 5 scheduled recordings were begun. Again, I rebooted the box several times with no luck. Shows are missed which are the sole thing being recorded at a particular time. I think this must be the result of a flawed software upgrade done in the past month.... ??? Anyone else have the same problem or a solution?
Sorry to hear about your problems too. But, in a way, it makes me glad because now I know I'm not the only one! :o :o :o

Re: Prison break. It always got broken up into 2 chunks. Except, this week, it's as if the second chunk didn't start recording (it recorded only 11 minutes). And after that, the PVR missed 3 consecutive recordings.

Update: I unplugged the machine for about 20 minutes. I'm not sure if this is the same as the reboot suggested by twinkdogg (info+volumeUp+volumeDown). After that, it DID record 3 consecutive scheduled programs. But, a weird thing happened while recording Lost on CTV last night ... I was watching the PVR when the clock turned to 8:00 and it didn't start recording for another 20 seconds or so (not sure if this is normal); then at around 8:04, the front panel went blank (as if there was no power) and the clock disappeared for about 10 seconds but then it reappeared and was still recording. Dunno if this is a precursor to another "meltdown" of the machine or not.

Maybe these are all symptoms of a Rogers problem???? (which doesn't surpise me if it is).

[QUOTE=Dragon Reborn]Sorry to hear about your problems too. But, in a way, it makes me glad because now I know I'm not the only one! :o :o :o

Yes, I was relieved to read your first post too and know I wasn't alone. I wonder if you also noticed a 2nd 8300hd problem which coincided with the start of the missed recordings? When things worked normally, a message popped up on the screen to say a scheduled recording would begin in 2 minutes and that was it. Now, the message pops up AND (without fail) it changes the station to that channel when recording begins (assuming, of course, that this is one of the shows that it actually decides to record!) - and NO, there isn't a 2nd program being recorded at the same time, where this behavior would be normal.

I called Rogers today, knowing there was nothing the technician could do, but wanting to add my voice to the complaint list. He said he gets about a call a day regarding missed recordings, and several calls complaining of shows being split into pieces. He offered to exchange the box again but we both knew that wouldn't fix the problem. I said I wasn't paying $122 a month to miss recordings and he immediately credited me one month's rental ($25); I'll be demanding more of these credits in the future if the problem drags on. I urge others to do the same - losing money will make Rogers (or whatever company) pay attention to a complaint faster than just a phone call.

Yes, I was relieved to read your first post too and know I wasn't alone. I wonder if you also noticed a 2nd 8300hd problem which coincided with the start of the missed recordings? When things worked normally, a message popped up on the screen to say a scheduled recording would begin in 2 minutes and that was it.I can't recall ever seeing this type of message popping up on screen, but maybe that's because we rarely watch live TV.

Now, the message pops up AND (without fail) it changes the station to that channel when recording begins (assuming, of course, that this is one of the shows that it actually decides to record!) - and NO, there isn't a 2nd program being recorded at the same time, where this behavior would be normal.Sounds like one of the tuners isn't working? Not sure. This hasn't happened to mine (yet? :o )

I can't recall ever seeing this type of message popping up on screen, but maybe that's because we rarely watch live TV.

We never watch live, but play one while recording two more (the second baseball which I watch alone after 10:00 PM) and we get this message all the time. When recording only one program it doesn't appear.

twinkdogg,
Go into the 8300's setup (not output resolutions) video output and turn off HDMI.

TerryB

How do you get to this setup menu? I went into the advanced settings menu where you can adjust closed caption and audio out settings. I didn't see anything for video out though.

From the user's guide
"1. Press settings twice to access General settings.
2. Press up or down arrows to setect Set picture format.
3. Press right arrow to select picture format setting.
4. Press up and down arrows to display another picture format setting. Each time you press an arrow another setting displays."


You should find the setting is Auto DVI/HDMI now and you want to get rid of that for pass through.

TerryB

I did a few searches & didnt see anything on this so far. I apologize if it has been covered.

I've got an external SATA drive connected to my 8300HD. I've got maybe half of the drives full with programs. When I hit the list button & then the select button to watch a show, some of the programs do nothing at all. In other words, they show up on the list but are unable to be viewed. Ideas? My external drive seems to be working fine & I checked the connections. I've also rebooted a couple times.


Twitch

I did a few searches & didnt see anything on this so far. I apologize if it has been covered.

I've got an external SATA drive connected to my 8300HD. I've got maybe half of the drives full with programs. When I hit the list button & then the select button to watch a show, some of the programs do nothing at all. In other words, they show up on the list but are unable to be viewed. Ideas? My external drive seems to be working fine & I checked the connections. I've also rebooted a couple times.


Twitch

I had that happen when I intentionally shut off the external drive. Are you sure your connections are good?

PS Try this thread

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=516559&page=1&pp=30

Can someone please tell me how to use the front panel AUX input to hook up a Playstation? The Playstation has a standard RCA composite video and RCA audio output.

It should be noted that my 8300HD only has a HDMI connection to my projection.

Is this possible?

IIRC, only some SARA versions enabled the front AV connectors & PASSPORT had none.

But YMMV and you should check the thread for which-ever [software] you have for details.

I'd normally search for it, as I recall it was mentioned <6 months ago somewhere, but I'm at the edge of reception here in the RV park...


v/r,
C-F

I am in Toronto and I am having the same problem as you guys. I am on Rogers Cable also. Prison Break was totally NOT recorded this past Monday Oct 30th, even though it's set up to record. And yes mine is broken up into 2 recordings also every week. I connected an external SATA drive the other day, I am not sure if that's why I missed the recording on Monday Oct. 30th. Do you guys with this problem have an external drive connected?

Thanks in advance



[QUOTE=Dragon Reborn]Sorry to hear about your problems too. But, in a way, it makes me glad because now I know I'm not the only one! :o :o :o

Yes, I was relieved to read your first post too and know I wasn't alone. I wonder if you also noticed a 2nd 8300hd problem which coincided with the start of the missed recordings? When things worked normally, a message popped up on the screen to say a scheduled recording would begin in 2 minutes and that was it. Now, the message pops up AND (without fail) it changes the station to that channel when recording begins (assuming, of course, that this is one of the shows that it actually decides to record!) - and NO, there isn't a 2nd program being recorded at the same time, where this behavior would be normal.

I called Rogers today, knowing there was nothing the technician could do, but wanting to add my voice to the complaint list. He said he gets about a call a day regarding missed recordings, and several calls complaining of shows being split into pieces. He offered to exchange the box again but we both knew that wouldn't fix the problem. I said I wasn't paying $122 a month to miss recordings and he immediately credited me one month's rental ($25); I'll be demanding more of these credits in the future if the problem drags on. I urge others to do the same - losing money will make Rogers (or whatever company) pay attention to a complaint faster than just a phone call.

Count me in as another Toronto Rogers user with the same no-record problem! PB didn't record this week, and got broken into 3 pieces last week. I've had manual recordings split into multiple pieces as well.

Rebooting helps for a couple of days, but then the problems return. I've had an external drive for 6 months now, it's generally worked ok. The no-record is a recent problem, don't think it's related to the ext HDD.

I am in Toronto and I am having the same problem as you guys. I am on Rogers Cable also. Prison Break was totally NOT recorded this past Monday Oct 30th, even though it's set up to record. And yes mine is broken up into 2 recordings also every week. I connected an external SATA drive the other day, I am not sure if that's why I missed the recording on Monday Oct. 30th. Do you guys with this problem have an external drive connected?
No external drive here.

On October 30th, Prison Break recorded only 33 minutes. So, it looks like the 2nd "part" did not start recording. I was recording the FOX HD broadcast. Going to try recording GLOBAL's HD for Prison Break to see if there's any difference next week.

Given that I've bought my PVR, I'm pretty dissapointed in its (and Rogers) performance.

Is there a way to get the SA8300 to display the channel instead of the time?

Yes
Settings -More Settings-Clock Options-show time of day -or show channel

Many thanks antman27. I was so sure that I went through all the settings. Apparently not.

Thanks again

And that is why we visit the foums Glad to help out~

IIRC, only some SARA versions enabled the front AV connectors & PASSPORT had none.

But YMMV and you should check the thread for which-ever [software] you have for details.

I'd normally search for it, as I recall it was mentioned <6 months ago somewhere, but I'm at the edge of reception here in the RV park...


v/r,
C-F
Is there a way to find out which software my machine has?

Is there a way to get the SA8300 to display the channel instead of the time?

Watch it carefully. When I did that and it was recording 2 shows at once the display flashed many times, then the box rebooted. This happened several times.

Is there a way to find out which software my machine has?
Go into Diagnostic Mode. (Press and hold the Select button on the front of the unit OR/ the Pause button on the remote (may take up to 15 seconds), until the Mail light starts to flash, then press the INFO button on the front of the unit OR/ the Page Up (Page Down on some versions) button on the remote).

On the first page, under STATUS SUMMARY the fourth line will say System Heap then SARA Heap if you have SARA. I’m not sure what PASSPORT users see, but it is likely the screen will say “Passport Heap”. On page 14 you should see SARA INFORMATION. Passport users will likely see PASSPORT INFORMATION.

Scroll to page 3 (using Page Up) for SOFTWARE VERSIONS. The third line should read “FLASH: 1.88.22.1 or a similar number for SARA. The 1.88.22.1 is the version number. I believe Passport version numbers run 2.X.XXX. or something similar.

The page numbers may be approximate as I have not used this function enough to be sure they do not change.

I noticed some people also recently posting about shows that were scheduled to record, but didn't. I have had this issue also, recently. I have had an external drive added for over a year, no problem for the person with one attached.)

Here's my theory:
- I have a few shows like "Deal or No Deal" set to record all new on same channel.
- I have some other shows set to record. Let's use Monday. I have a few timeslots where both tuners are preset to record shows I have previously requested.
---------Everything has been working fine for weeks---------------
Now, this week I noticed several shows on Monday night didn't tape. I also noticed I had a new Deal or No Deal that was 'moved' or added to Monday's lineup for the 8pm slot. It appeared at a glance that this NEW "deal or no deal" was added and the 8300HD decided to keep that one and not record the other one that was at same time.

When you select a prog to be recorded, it will alert you to a triple impact situation where you must choose which to cancel and which to keep.

What happens when three shows are all previously scheduled and then a network moves one into a collision course with the others? Which ones are kept and which ones are recorded?

I figured the 'new one' wouldn't record, but it appears that it did and another one did not.

I noticed some people also recently posting about shows that were scheduled to record, but didn't. I have had this issue also, recently. I have had an external drive added for over a year, no problem for the person with one attached.)

Here's my theory:
- I have a few shows like "Deal or No Deal" set to record all new on same channel.
- I have some other shows set to record. Let's use Monday. I have a few timeslots where both tuners are preset to record shows I have previously requested.
---------Everything has been working fine for weeks---------------
Now, this week I noticed several shows on Monday night didn't tape. I also noticed I had a new Deal or No Deal that was 'moved' or added to Monday's lineup for the 8pm slot. It appeared at a glance that this NEW "deal or no deal" was added and the 8300HD decided to keep that one and not record the other one that was at same time.

When you select a prog to be recorded, it will alert you to a triple impact situation where you must choose which to cancel and which to keep.

What happens when three shows are all previously scheduled and then a network moves one into a collision course with the others? Which ones are kept and which ones are recorded?

I figured the 'new one' wouldn't record, but it appears that it did and another one did not.
Interesting theory. But, on my PVR, I've still had missed recordings even though only one program was being recorded that entire night (e.g. Prison Break).

Help or suggestions please related to the SA8300 and my SONY KDS55A2000. The picture and sound flash on and off (black screen) at approx. 1 second intervals when I first tune in to a HD channel. This is not the same as the flashing images I see as the TV is upconverting. The problem has not occurred on SD channels. It also happened once when I selected a prerecorded show to watch on the 8300, but I do not know whether that was an HD recording. Of course this is an intermittent problem, because life is just like that.

The problem occurs only when using HDMI connections, found on inputs 6 and 7 of the SONY. It disappeared when I switched to the component cable connection I have in input 5, but it was still ongoing when I returned to the HDMI input. Switching to an SD channel corrects the problem.

The 8300 is set to its passthrough HDMI setting, with all options selected. The TV is a 1080p. Both are new.

Since the problem is not constant and only seems to occur when the channel is first tuned in, my hunch is that it relates to upconverting in some way, or maybe a port. Before I replace my 8300, which is my next step, I am hoping for some direction. thanks for bearing with this long post. Thanks in advance. This forum has been of enormous value in so many ways.


By the way, I have also tried 2 different HDMI cables. Problem on both.

I believe your problem is the HDMI output of the 8300 is not supported by your cable company. You should use component if you want glitch free operation.

I had the same problem with the image flashing when I first changed the channel on my Sony KDS50A2000 from the SA8300HD. This problem went away when I changed all of the resolutions to ITU601. Mine came from the factory with some of the resolutions set to ITU601 and some to ITU709. Hopefully, this will solve your problem. My opinion is that the difference in picture with HDMI over component is so dramatic that it is worth the hassles.
Hope this helps.

I had the same problem with the image flashing when I first changed the channel on my Sony KDS50A2000 from the SA8300HD. This problem went away when I changed all of the resolutions to ITU601. Mine came from the factory with some of the resolutions set to ITU601 and some to ITU709. . . .

Thanks for giving me hope--I have done lots of reading of tweeks and owners' threads for the SONY and do not recall seeing how to do this. Instructions please!

On the remote for the Sony KDS50A2000 Press Menu. Then Settings. Go down to Setup. Select Color Matrix-Custom. Then you should have the necessary screen. Hope these directions are clear.

Interesting theory. But, on my PVR, I've still had missed recordings even though only one program was being recorded that entire night (e.g. Prison Break).


I've been having the same problem for over 2 mths now. Ive complained to Rogers (mississauga) several times they are quite good at refunding the time i have lost usually 2 weeks credit. They told me to unplug the unit and plug it in again(same problem) , they sent a tech out he did some quick tests and said the box appears fine.

Im getting quite fed up missing weeks of programming it doesnt matter if I have 2 recording at once or 1 by itself.

I think Im going to to try a hard reboot mentioned earlier and see how it goes

I've been having the same problem for over 2 mths now. Ive complained to Rogers (mississauga) several times they are quite good at refunding the time i have lost usually 2 weeks credit. They told me to unplug the unit and plug it in again(same problem) , they sent a tech out he did some quick tests and said the box appears fine.

Im getting quite fed up missing weeks of programming it doesnt matter if I have 2 recording at once or 1 by itself.

I think Im going to to try a hard reboot mentioned earlier and see how it goes

I had problems with my first PVR from rogers (Toronto).... I insisted that they repalce the unit with a new one.... if you are renting the box, it is their problem.... get them to give you a new one... it only took a few mins.....

Don

I had problems with my first PVR from rogers (Toronto).... I insisted that they repalce the unit with a new one.... if you are renting the box, it is their problem.... get them to give you a new one... it only took a few mins.....

Don


I rent for exactly times like this, I just have to watch what is left on the Pvr and will be exchanging . thx

I am having the most annoying problem with my SA8300HD box. Every time I power off the STB, or even change the input on my TV, the box reverts back to 480i with horizontal grey bars on HD channels. For example, I was recording Lost HD 720p tonight and decided to switch to Antenna to see if the picture was any clearer OTA. When I switched back to HDMI-1 the output from the box was 480i with horizontal grey bars. To solve this I have to power off the STB and press info and guide to set the box back to HD. Is anyone one else experiencing this? If so, what is the solution?

I had the same problem with the image flashing when I first changed the channel on my Sony KDS50A2000 from the SA8300HD. This problem went away when I changed all of the resolutions to ITU601. Mine came from the factory with some of the resolutions set to ITU601 and some to ITU709. Hopefully, this will solve your problem. My opinion is that the difference in picture with HDMI over component is so dramatic that it is worth the hassles.
Hope this helps.


WLC, my email notification said this was a reply to my post about picture/sound flashing on and off in HD, but how could changing color settings make a difference in that problem?

I have no idea. Have you tried it?

Ok guys I have a couple of questions. I have the HD8300 box and I cannot get sound to my receiver. Here is my setup.

HDMI from 8300 to TV

Optical cable from 8300 to receiver

Dvd component to tv component

Dvd optical out to optical in on receiver

DVD's seem to play just fine, but I can hear sound from the DVD when changing video on the tv. Like video 1-3 I can hear sound but no picture until I get to video 4 which is where the component cables are connected. Then I get sound a picture.

The bigger problem is that I cannot get sound from the cable box or tv to my receiver via an optical connection. I can however get sound by plugging in two red/white composite cables from the back of the tv (audio out) to the back of the receiver's tv inputs. So I do have sound that way, but what is the correct way to connect everything? Do I need to run optical out from the tv to the receiver and not the cable box since I'm using HDMI from the box to the TV?

Also my 8300 box seems to buzz loud. Especially notieable when turning everything off. I unplugged it, let it reboot and then it was fine over night. But I think tonight once I get home it will be buzzing again. Is this normal?

Last question. Is it ok to plug my coax from the wall through my surge protector to the cable box. I had two TWC guys tell me not too. Then again both said don't bother with the HDMI cable.

Thanks in advance for any help!!!

I have no idea. Have you tried it?

I did make the adjustment, but when I read in the manual what exactly the adjustment was for--color-- I undid it to write back to you because I wondered if I should have. The SONY folks explicitly say in the manual that these settings are best left at default, and so I wanted to ask you whether you had in fact used this correction for the problem that I had described.

(I was not able to see any changes, but my problem is sporatic.)

Ok guys I have a couple of questions. I have the HD8300 box and I cannot get sound to my receiver. Here is my setup.

HDMI from 8300 to TV

Optical cable from 8300 to receiver

Dvd component to tv component

Dvd optical out to optical in on receiver

DVD's seem to play just fine, but I can hear sound from the DVD when changing video on the tv. Like video 1-3 I can hear sound but no picture until I get to video 4 which is where the component cables are connected. Then I get sound a picture.

The bigger problem is that I cannot get sound from the cable box or tv to my receiver via an optical connection. I can however get sound by plugging in two red/white composite cables from the back of the tv (audio out) to the back of the receiver's tv inputs. So I do have sound that way, but what is the correct way to connect everything? Do I need to run optical out from the tv to the receiver and not the cable box since I'm using HDMI from the box to the TV?

Also my 8300 box seems to buzz loud. Especially notieable when turning everything off. I unplugged it, let it reboot and then it was fine over night. But I think tonight once I get home it will be buzzing again. Is this normal?

Last question. Is it ok to plug my coax from the wall through my surge protector to the cable box. I had two TWC guys tell me not too. Then again both said don't bother with the HDMI cable.

Thanks in advance for any help!!!
Make sure you have the 'Audio' option under setup on your STB set to 'Dolby Digital' instead of HDMI. It may have been improperly set to HDMI as a default. The audio option may be somewhat different depending upon whether or not your box support Passport, or Sara. BTW, use the HDMI connection to your TV regardless of what the cable guy/gal says.

redjr...

Make sure you have the 'Audio' option under setup on your STB set to 'Dolby Digital' instead of HDMI. It may have been improperly set to HDMI as a default. The audio option may be somewhat different depending upon whether or not your box support Passport, or Sara.

redjr...

Thanks to you for this and WLC's idea, and i don't mean to sound ungrateful--but I am having trouble understanding how either a sound or color setting would cause the problem I am having. I have other questions related to these suggestions...first, since I am using an HDMI cable, why would this be preferable (under any cicrumstances--even without the problemI am having)? Why would this setting, if incorrect, result in a problem where both my picture and sound flash on and off? And, finally, if the setting were wrong, why would the problem only occur occasionally and be able to be corrected when I switch to an SD channel and then back again to HS?

Thanks to you for this and WLC's idea, and i don't mean to sound ungrateful--but I am having trouble understanding how either a sound or color setting would cause the problem I am having...
I don't mean to sound snooty, but it would have been quicker to try that setting than to type that post ;)

When audio is set to HDMI the optical output is limited to the audio capabilities of the TV which is likely Dolby 2.0. This could mean that an audio signal won't be sent over the optical connection. The HDMI audio setting should not be used unless you are using the TV speakers.

I don't mean to sound snooty, but it would have been quicker to try that setting than to type that post ;)

When audio is set to HDMI the optical output is limited to the audio capabilities of the TV which is likely Dolby 2.0. This could mean that an audio signal won't be sent over the optical connection. The HDMI audio setting should not be used unless you are using the TV speakers.

(Oh, you know about my typing speed, huh? :p ) Quicker, yes--except I am the kind of person who likes to understand things before I do them! :)

In this case, the sound is being fed to my receiver, but not through an optical cable. I was aware of the adjustment you referred to WRT the time that I eventually did my optical feed.

My hunch at this point is that the problem is lodged in the translation of 8300 signals to the A2000.

Again, though, I do thank you for taking the time to answer my post.

Thanks to you for this and WLC's idea, and i don't mean to sound ungrateful--but I am having trouble understanding how either a sound or color setting would cause the problem I am having. I have other questions related to these suggestions...first, since I am using an HDMI cable, why would this be preferable (under any cicrumstances--even without the problemI am having)? Why would this setting, if incorrect, result in a problem where both my picture and sound flash on and off? And, finally, if the setting were wrong, why would the problem only occur occasionally and be able to be corrected when I switch to an SD channel and then back again to HS?
Sorry. I was trying to answer just the audio part of your post. Run digital from your 8300 STB to your receiver, NOT from the TV. Use HDMI just for video not audio. You'll get significantly better audio from your STB than the TV. Now, if you have an HDMI compliant receiver that's another matter.

redjr... :)

So Sue Me, once you have posted into a thread, the default forum setting will send a notification of a reply to any post into the thread, not just a reply to your specific original post. IIRC, the notification defaults to the FIRST post from whenever the forum resets your [last visited] date time group.

I think redjr was addressing stpolo's audio question, as that was the post he quoted.

v/r,
C-F

(after logging in - those with persistent cookies usually have ~20 min to jump to "Unread Posts" before the timer is reset)

So Sue Me, once you have posted into a thread, the default forum setting will send a notification of a reply to any post into the thread, not just a reply to your specific original post. IIRC, the notification defaults to the FIRST post from whenever the forum resets your [last visited] date time group.

I think redjr was addressing stpolo's audio question, as that was the post he quoted.


Oopsie.

And, thank you for pointing this out!

I have had a Sony VPL-VW100 hooked up to a SA8300HD since last January. I did not have a problem with the HDMI handshake. Then, 3 weeks ago, I had to replace the STB because of its erratic behavior. Since then, I have had a problem with the HDMI handshake. I have found this simple work-around. Make sure your TV is on and has the HDMI input selected. Turn on the STB. Turn it off. Hit the Info & Guide on the STB simultaneously. (The screen flickers, but still no success). Turn the STB back on. So far, it has worked every time.
We also purchased a Sony HDS50A2000 about one month ago and have it connected to a SA8300HD. There has not been a problem with the handshake on it.
The difference between the HDMI image and component is so significant on our TVs that we will do whatever is necessary to receive the HDMI signal.

When I go to watch a show that's recording the DVR starts at the point of the show where it is currently recording as opposed to the beginning. If I rewind the show to the beginning it stops playing after the show is done recording. I notice that when you play the show in progress it plays it off of the channel it is recording as opposed to the "DVR Channel"

Is there anyway to watch the show while its recording from the beginning without rewinding or without being booted out of it when it is done?

I DID do a search of this thread and couldn't find anything on it, although I am certain this has been covered already...

When I go to watch a show that's recording the DVR starts at the point of the show where it is currently recording as opposed to the beginning. If I rewind the show to the beginning it stops playing after the show is done recording. I notice that when you play the show in progress it plays it off of the channel it is recording as opposed to the "DVR Channel"

Is there anyway to watch the show while its recording from the beginning without rewinding or without being booted out of it when it is done?

I DID do a search of this thread and couldn't find anything on it, although I am certain this has been covered already...

From the Tips & Tricks thread:

Watch A Recording In Progress. UG-18 Stop the current recording and save it (usually during a commercial). Then start a "new" recording to finish the program by pressing the Record button and then press the Pause button. You can now view the first part from the beginning and then view the second part, either in progress or from the beginning after it finishes. While it is annoying to divide the recording into segments, at least you can easily skip to the beginning without rewinding, certainly a useful feature for time-shifting.

On Sunday, I was recording the Charger/Bengals game and watching it at the same time. I paused it for a little bit to take care of a few things (and to allow me to fast forward through the commercials). When I started watching it again, I watched the game up until about 10 minutes to go in the first quarter, and then, when it reached a certain place, it skipped ahead to 3 minutes to go in the first quarter. In other words it skipped 7 minutes of football time (probably 20-25 minutes of "real time").

Does anyone know what is going on? This would have been VERY annoying if it happened in the second half (end of game, etc.).

From the Tips & Tricks thread:

Watch A Recording In Progress. UG-18 Stop the current recording and save it (usually during a commercial). Then start a "new" recording to finish the program by pressing the Record button and then press the Pause button. You can now view the first part from the beginning and then view the second part, either in progress or from the beginning after it finishes. While it is annoying to divide the recording into segments, at least you can easily skip to the beginning without rewinding, certainly a useful feature for time-shifting.

Thanks! I knew the answer (or workaround) was somewhere.

I just switched to the 8300 from a Directv HD-Tivo. I feel like I went from having Windows XP on my computer to having Windows 3.1. Yea they do the same thing, but you have to work with the 8300 a little more. I do however like the picture quality, price, and speed of the guide and menus.

When I go to watch a show that's recording the DVR starts at the point of the show where it is currently recording as opposed to the beginning. If I rewind the show to the beginning it stops playing after the show is done recording. I notice that when you play the show in progress it plays it off of the channel it is recording as opposed to the "DVR Channel"

Is there anyway to watch the show while its recording from the beginning without rewinding or without being booted out of it when it is done?

I DID do a search of this thread and couldn't find anything on it, although I am certain this has been covered already...

You can also hound your cable provider for upgraded software that features "play from beginning". My provider switched to this around eight months ago.

Bump. Any ideas? Defective 8300?

On Sunday, I was recording the Charger/Bengals game and watching it at the same time. I paused it for a little bit to take care of a few things (and to allow me to fast forward through the commercials). When I started watching it again, I watched the game up until about 10 minutes to go in the first quarter, and then, when it reached a certain place, it skipped ahead to 3 minutes to go in the first quarter. In other words it skipped 7 minutes of football time (probably 20-25 minutes of "real time").

Does anyone know what is going on? This would have been VERY annoying if it happened in the second half (end of game, etc.).

Tallen234
"paused football"? There's no pausing[U] in football!!! ;)
Actually a very good question. The os in these things is sooo unevolved it is depressing.
Why can't I even have a user interface as easy to use as a cellphone?
I'm sure the recording buffer when you are watching somehow effects the recordings at times. I think similar things have happened to me. How long were you paused do you think?

It was paused for about 10 minutes at the beginning of the game (I was actually playing Gears of War), but I was also recording the game, not just pausing it, so you would think that it would have 100% of the content. It was frustrating seeing time shift from 12 minutes to go in the 1st to 3 minutes to go.






Tallen234
"paused football"? There's no pausing[U] in football!!! ;)
Actually a very good question. The os in these things is sooo unevolved it is depressing.
Why can't I even have a user interface as easy to use as a cellphone?
I'm sure the recording buffer when you are watching somehow effects the recordings at times. I think similar things have happened to me. How long were you paused do you think?

Since Cablevision upgraded my box to the latest version of SARA this annoying bug has appeared.

Say you are watching an hour long program and at the 30 minute mark, you want to record the rest of it to watch later. Hit the RECORD button an accept the recording. The result will be a 30 minute recording, containing the 30 minutes you already watched (the contents of the buffer). The final 30 minutes will not be recorded.

I am almost positive that this bug did not exist when I first got the SA8300. The result would be an hour long recording, including all of the buffer plus the remainder of the program.

The workaround is to change channels before initiating the recording, but then you lose the contents of the buffer.

Can anyone confirm this is indeed a bug, and if there is any workaround?

Since Cablevision upgraded my box to the latest version of SARA this annoying bug has appeared.

Say you are watching an hour long program and at the 30 minute mark, you want to record the rest of it to watch later. Hit the RECORD button an accept the recording. The result will be a 30 minute recording, containing the 30 minutes you already watched (the contents of the buffer). The final 30 minutes will not be recorded.

I am almost positive that this bug did not exist when I first got the SA8300. The result would be an hour long recording, including all of the buffer plus the remainder of the program.

The workaround is to change channels before initiating the recording, but then you lose the contents of the buffer.

Can anyone confirm this is indeed a bug, and if there is any workaround?
I don't use Cablevision (TWC), but I would say that's a huge bug - that needs to be squashed. Sounds like they need to fix the software and push another update.

redjr...

Hi all,

got a tough one for ya.....i'm on cox with an SA 8300 hooked up via HDMI to a 50" panny plasma. From time to time(more like day to day), as i flip though my HD channels, my pic locks up but the audio keeps going? so for example as i flip up from Discovery to NBC, my picture freezes up on nbc but the audio continues. and it'll just hang like that until i change the chennel. So i switch up to Fox and again, my frame freezes and the audio continues. Now it's not with all channels, it only freezes on: nbc, fox, wb, abc, espn, cbs and tnt. never locks up on: hbo, discovery, inhd1, inhd2, UNI, Mtv, weta, 3&4, NBC weather+

any idea on what's going on?

I have a 55" Hitachi plamsa and the PQ even on HD is not too good.....yes HD is nice but I think something is wrong( even the girlfriend who does not care can notice). The picture is very digitized and the edge enhancement is bad. I also have this line of pixels across the top of the screen with fuzz. I tried to swap out the box with the HD one from my bedroom but the same thing happens. The line across the top haapens off and on. The picture use to be good but something happened. The picture looks awesome when I play DVD and HD DVD. I am thinking of switching to Directtv. I live on LOng Island.


Thanks

I have a 55" Hitachi plamsa and the PQ even on HD is not too good.....yes HD is nice but I think something is wrong( even the girlfriend who does not care can notice). The picture is very digitized and the edge enhancement is bad. I also have this line of pixels across the top of the screen with fuzz. I tried to swap out the box with the HD one from my bedroom but the same thing happens. The line across the top haapens off and on. The picture use to be good but something happened. The picture looks awesome when I play DVD and HD DVD. I am thinking of switching to Directtv. I live on LOng Island.

Guess you're outlining cable PQ problems, and if so perhaps the cable company can check incoming signal levels over several frequency bands. If it was good once, they should fix it even it requires many service calls and visits from a supervisor.

Might want to read all the complaints about DirecTV's HD-Lite in the HD programming forum before switching. This involves reformating 1080i to 1280X1080 and filtering that many are objecting to. By contrast, Dish (Echostar or E*) doesn't seem to have as many complaints and offers ZOOM channels besides lots of other HDTV. With adequate yard space, you could also install a big-dish system (see sticky threads atop a few forums) that would provide the best PQ possible--although some mention network encryption may increasingly limit channels. -- John

Small yard Jason...lol. I have a cable tech coming out next week. Anything I should make sure of regarding my cable line?

Thanks Jason.

Hey guys, I had an issue today with my SA 8300HD and wanted to know if anyone else has experienced the same problem.

I was watching TV(Hitachi 42HDS69, I've only had the TV for 2 weeks) last night and everything was fine. I adjusted some of the video settings up a bit because I'm about 200 hundred hours through my break in period. I come home from work today, turn on the TV and the picture is all effed up. I could see the station but glimpses of the picture was flashing up all over the place(this is really hard to explain). The TV would turn on for about 1min and the shut off on its own and the turn right back on again. The remote for the TV only worked when it wanted to, it just didn't seem to recognize it. Unfortunately, after I reset the software(I installed the updated version) and reset the settings, while the remote decided to let me, that still didn't fix the problem. The next thing I did was connect the cable directly to the TV. Worked fine. Connected the TV through the 8300HD, effed up again. Grabbed my non HD cable box and connected that, worked fine. So I went to Charter(my cable provider) to switch out boxes and they were all out of the 8300HD. So I had to get a regular cable box until a shipment comes in tomorrow.

Has anyone here ever experienced anything like this? FYI I'm am using HDMI cables to connect my TV to my 8300HD.

Hey guys, I had an issue today with my SA 8300HD and wanted to know if anyone else has experienced the same problem.

I was watching TV(Hitachi 42HDS69, I've only had the TV for 2 weeks) last night and everything was fine. I adjusted some of the video settings up a bit because I'm about 200 hundred hours through my break in period. I come home from work today, turn on the TV and the picture is all effed up. I could see the station but glimpses of the picture was flashing up all over the place(this is really hard to explain). The TV would turn on for about 1min and the shut off on its own and the turn right back on again. The remote for the TV only worked when it wanted to, it just didn't seem to recognize it. Unfortunately, after I reset the software(I installed the updated version) and reset the settings, while the remote decided to let me, that still didn't fix the problem. The next thing I did was connect the cable directly to the TV. Worked fine. Connected the TV through the 8300HD, effed up again. Grabbed my non HD cable box and connected that, worked fine. So I went to Charter(my cable provider) to switch out boxes and they were all out of the 8300HD. So I had to get a regular cable box until a shipment comes in tomorrow.

Has anyone here ever experienced anything like this? FYI I'm am using HDMI cables to connect my TV to my 8300HD.

Bump

Might be useful to have a YPbPr cable ready as a fast test to rule out HDMI glitches. Don't use DVI/HDMI but have read it's best to turn on the display first, then the HDMI source if the 'handshakes' are thrown off. Haven't encountered anything like that with many years of various STBs, other than a bad cable connection from an apartment building hallway that screwed up higher-frequency channels. HDMI may provide better images than YPbPr, but many say the difference isn't that obvious, so a comparison could be useful. -- John

Might be useful to have a YPbPr cable ready as a fast test to rule out HDMI glitches. Don't use DVI/HDMI but have read it's best to turn on the display first, then the HDMI source if the 'handshakes' are thrown off. Haven't encountered anything like that with many years of various STBs, other than a bad cable connection from an apartment building hallway that screwed up higher-frequency channels. HDMI may provide better images than YPbPr, but many say the difference isn't that obvious, so a comparison could be useful. -- John
I use to believe it was a power-on 'order' thingy too, but usually if the display is not turned on first you will just see a quick HDCP message from the 8300, but then the HDCP syncing occurs and all is well. Beyond that very short message, my 8300 and Westy 37w3 play together just fine.

Simple question:

Will the SA8300HD allow a straight thru signal without scaling? :confused:
I may like my very expensive VP unit to do that instead. :)

Simple question:

Will the SA8300HD allow a straight thru signal without scaling? :confused:
I may like my very expensive VP unit to do that instead. :)

Go into advanced settings and change the ouput resolutions so that all those you want to use are chosen (e.g. 480i, 720p and 1080i). The SA should then pass these thru unmolested. I only use 480i and 1080i with my Lumagen HDP since the 1080i looks better than a pass thru 720 with 1:1 pixel mapping (IMO). Hope this works.

Go into advanced settings and change the ouput resolutions so that all those you want to use are chosen (e.g. 480i, 720p and 1080i). The SA should then pass these thru unmolested. I only use 480i and 1080i with my Lumagen HDP since the 1080i looks better than a pass thru 720 with 1:1 pixel mapping (IMO). Hope this works.

Many people, including me, have experienced problems with the 8300HD reverting to 480i despite going through the screen resolution setup many times. I have a Toshiba 42HPX95 TV, but other users have reported the same situation with other displays. Here is what I have found:
1. The problem only happens when the 8300HD is connected to the display via HDMI, not component. Since I get a sharper picture via HDMI, I'm willing to live with this problem until my cable operator comes up with a solution to this problem.
2. As long as I leave the TV input set to display the 8300HD's signal, the TV will remember and use whatever resolutions I have set on the 8300HD when I use the cable box the next time.
3. However, if I change inputs on the TV, whether or not the 8300HD is turned on at the time, then the cable box will revert to 480i when I turn it on the next time. The resolution of the input that the TV has been switched to has no effect on this problem.
4. It makes no difference whether I turn on the display first or the cable box; the situation described in #3 above will invariably happen if the TV input has been changed.
5. A quick temporary fix: In the 8300HD SETTINGS screen, set Picture Format to "Auto DVI/HDMI." If the cable box reverts to 480i, the fastest way to get back to your stored resolution settings is to turn on the TV, hold down the INFO and GUIDE buttons together on the box and wait for the first screen of the resolution setup procedure to appear, then press the POWER button on either the cable box or its remote.

I've got the family all over me about getting the parade back up and running. I have the 8300HD and I moved to another location in the living room last night and now it's acting all wonky.

I first booted it up this morning via HDMI and had no picture but I did have sound, then I plug in some component cables and had a pink picture. I confirmed they were plugged into the correct colors and still it was pink. I rebooted a couple times and that didn't work so I went into the HDTV setup and now the color is back to normal for the menus but now I get no picture at all. I rebooted again and now the clock won't even come up (after 20 minutes of waiting) rebooted again and it still won't bring up the clock.

Any ideas??

My 8300HD has goine haywire. The HD channels as well as channels 2 through 14 are all pixilated and not working.

I wantt o have HD for the game today.
Is there a way to reset the box maybe that will help. I tried re-booting but that did not do anything.

Nothing has changes in my connections.

2panther: If you can't make your box show the clock, call your cable operator's tech support and they can send it a signal that may correct that. As for the pink picture on component video, that happens on my setup only when I have both the HDMI and component plugged in at the same time. Unplug the HDMi if you aren't using it. If that does not get rid of the pink picture, then I bet your box is defective unless one of your component cables is defective.

I have two of these boxes connected to two different systems, The first is connected to a 50" Plasma via HDMI and works relatively trouble free. I did have some problems with the box defaulting to 480i every time i turned it back on after i had dome some troubleshooting with it in our other system (more on that to come) I had tried reboots, tried to reformat but I dont think I ever got that to work. Then I finally got it to work correctly again by using component and then doing the format setup again. Where it asked if I wanted to use HD mode (never asked that using HDMI) once It was working correctly on component I switched it back to HDMI and its been fine since.

On to the real problem though which is the box in our theater, The projector is an infocus 7205 which is connected through component to a B&K AVR507. The cable box connects to the B&K via component. My problem is that im getting a really overdriven signal on the cable box. All the whites have a dropshadow, Anything bright is extremely washed out. Its not the box itself because I have swapped the other one in and it did the same thing, With the boxes hooked up to my plasma via component it looks fine, I also tried connecting the projector directly to the box which did help the problem a little but it was still being overdriven. When im watching a dvd everything looks great. Im thinking that the cable box is just outputting too much signal for my projector. I took the cover off to see if there were any pots i could possibly adjust the power with but there arent. SA's attempt at securing their box was quite futile. :p

I havent bothered contacting the cable company yet because im confident any box they give me will do the same thing, unless they have other models I could use. Has anyone experienced this too? I am not able to connect the projector via DVI because I have not run those cable and have no plans to do so. Overall I havent been impressed at all with the HD programming or this POS they call an HD box.

I opened up the service menu thinking i could adjust something in there but of course I couldnt.

Xposting from the sammy 720 thread, wasnt certain where this belongs:

I Picked up an HLS4266W over the weekend and I'm having a bit of an issue with regard to the picture.

I'm using an SA 8300HD (time warner NYC) and for whatever reason, it looks terrible. SD chans, HD chans, everything. Very heavy compression (i assume) artifacting everywhere. I tried component and HDMI with similar results.

I would be satisified blaming the TV if it was not for my xbox 360, which looks utterly amazing.

Any Suggestions?

Xposting from the sammy 720 thread, wasnt certain where this belongs:

I Picked up an HLS4266W over the weekend and I'm having a bit of an issue with regard to the picture.

I'm using an SA 8300HD (time warner NYC) and for whatever reason, it looks terrible. SD chans, HD chans, everything. Very heavy compression (i assume) artifacting everywhere. I tried component and HDMI with similar results.

I would be satisified blaming the TV if it was not for my xbox 360, which looks utterly amazing.

Any Suggestions?
What port ARE you using if not the HDMI, or component? Composite(I hope not!) :eek: Did you follow the HD setup process for the STB as described in the manual? I don't know if you're STB uses SARA, or Passport, but there should be an initial setup that needs to be done to tell the 8300 how to process/pass the various resolutions to your TV. Start there...

What port ARE you using if not the HDMI, or component? Composite(I hope not!) :eek: Did you follow the HD setup process for the STB as described in the manual? I don't know if you're STB uses SARA, or Passport, but there should be an initial setup that needs to be done to tell the 8300 how to process/pass the various resolutions to your TV. Start there...

I'm sorry if i was not clear, i have tried both HDMI and Component, both gave me very similar results.

Time warner NYC uses Passport, and blocks access to the guide/info-triggered initial setup.

I'm sorry if i was not clear, i have tried both HDMI and Component, both gave me very similar results.

Time warner NYC uses Passport, and blocks access to the guide/info-triggered initial setup.
I have to believe there's a HD setup screen somewhere in Passport. Can someone using Passport in NYC provide assistance to JackR?

I Am A Noobie And Want To Know How To Get Into The Advanced Settings For The Explorer 8300hd, Thanks.

I Am A Noobie And Want To Know How To Get Into The Advanced Settings For The Explorer 8300hd, Thanks.
Do you know if you're using SARA or Passport? That's the first question. If SARA, try pressing the 'Settings' button on the remote twice.

I Am A Noobie And Want To Know How To Get Into The Advanced Settings For The Explorer 8300hd, Thanks.

If Passport; settings then press the A button.

Thanks Guys. I found it. I still have a little problem. Whe I turn on my set and an SD channel comes on I have a black bar on the left side of the screen. Does anyone know what can correct this. It does not happen on all the channels. Thanks.

No "Settings" button on my E8300HD remote. Any one else have this issue? Any idea how to enter Advanced Settings with this remote? Thanks

Disregard...just hit 'Menu' twice to see General Settings, which includes advanced settings. (SARA v1.88.19.1 and Comcast DVR 3-device univ remote)

I did have some problems with the box defaulting to 480i every time i turned it back on after i had dome some troubleshooting .......
Then I finally got it to work correctly again by using component and then doing the format setup again. Where it asked if I wanted to use HD mode (never asked that using HDMI) once It was working correctly on component I switched it back to HDMI and its been fine since.

I've been dealing with that very same problem for 6 months now every time I change to a different input source on my TV! I'm going to try that when I get home. If that works, you will be my HERO!!!

***update***
OMFG!!!! That was it! Oh, what a happy, glorious day!!!!

My dad wants to use HDMI on the 8300 HD DVR, but when going into settings>more settings>audio output, it only states two channel or dolby digital, no HDMI. On my 8300, it has all 3 options. Anyone know why? Will it become enabled if he plugs in an HDMI cable, or is it some other setting? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Anybody have any ideas for the issue I'm having here? I've heard I may need some special filter from AA to get my 1154a working correctly with this box. Is that true?

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=759900

I have a 8300 (Knology cable-Florida) hooked up to my xbr2 via hdmi, when I am watching a HD channel and switch to a non HD channel and then back to HD the HD channel is no longer in HD but 480 and I can't figure out why. The only way I found to fix this is tune to 2 HD channels in a row and it will go back to displaying in HD. Also when I use the rewind (instant replay) on HD channel it changes it to 480 and then I have to again tune to 2 HD channels in a row. I had knology cable replace the 8300 today but same problems. I also had my Tv and HDMI cable replaced today with no luck. Please help before I light my cable box on fire.

Thanks

I have a 8300 (Knology cable-Florida) hooked up to my xbr2 via hdmi, when I am watching a HD channel and switch to a non HD channel and then back to HD the HD channel is no longer in HD but 480 and I can't figure out why. The only way I found to fix this is tune to 2 HD channels in a row and it will go back to displaying in HD. Also when I use the rewind (instant replay) on HD channel it changes it to 480 and then I have to again tune to 2 HD channels in a row. I had knology cable replace the 8300 today but same problems. I also had my Tv and HDMI cable replaced today with no luck. Please help before I light my cable box on fire.

Thanks

Saw this in a recent thread. Hope this helps.

(Originally Posted by Haoleb)
I did have some problems with the box defaulting to 480i every time i turned it back on after i had dome some troubleshooting .......Then I finally got it to work correctly again by using component and then doing the format setup again. Where it asked if I wanted to use HD mode (never asked that using HDMI) once it was working correctly on component I switched it back to HDMI and its been fine since.

I will give it a try tonight and post back. Thanks for the help

Saw this in a recent thread. Hope this helps.

(Originally Posted by Haoleb)
I did have some problems with the box defaulting to 480i every time i turned it back on after i had dome some troubleshooting .......Then I finally got it to work correctly again by using component and then doing the format setup again. Where it asked if I wanted to use HD mode (never asked that using HDMI) once it was working correctly on component I switched it back to HDMI and its been fine since.

No luck. Any other ideas?

I've been dealing with that very same problem for 6 months now every time I change to a different input source on my TV! I'm going to try that when I get home. If that works, you will be my HERO!!!

***update***
OMFG!!!! That was it! Oh, what a happy, glorious day!!!!


Glad I could help. It was pissing me off and I only had it do that for a week. And I hardly watch tv :)

Anybody with a Panny 42PX60U using a SA8300HD STB hooked up via HDMI? I currently have my new plasma hooked up via component and just got my HDMI cables that I ordered. Any issues to be wary of before making the switch? I won't be using a receiver so is it safe to assume I won't need additional audio cables? Any HDCP handshake issues?
Sorry for bombarding, just curious and anxious, planning to swith cables this weekend.
TIA.

From the Tips & Tricks thread:

Watch A Recording In Progress. UG-18 Stop the current recording and save it (usually during a commercial). Then start a "new" recording to finish the program by pressing the Record button and then press the Pause button. You can now view the first part from the beginning and then view the second part, either in progress or from the beginning after it finishes. While it is annoying to divide the recording into segments, at least you can easily skip to the beginning without rewinding, certainly a useful feature for time-shifting.


??? If show is being recorded and is in progress when I start watching, I just go to the listing of recorded shows, select the show, and press "play from beginning," and it starts from the beginning. Sometimes (but not always (?! ) when the "live" show ends, the recorded playback that I am watching will either stop (freeze) at that point, or it will jump me to "live tv". But then all I have to do is go back the the list of recordings, select the show, and select the "resume playback" and it will take me right to where I had left off.

[EDIT]: OOPS!! Sorry - I didn't see this earlier reply:
You can also hound your cable provider for upgraded software that features "play from beginning". My provider switched to this around eight months ago.

I didn't know some cable systems didn't provide this option!

Anybody with a Panny 42PX60U using a SA8300HD STB hooked up via HDMI? I currently have my new plasma hooked up via component and just got my HDMI cables that I ordered. Any issues to be wary of before making the switch? I won't be using a receiver so is it safe to assume I won't need additional audio cables? Any HDCP handshake issues?
Sorry for bombarding, just curious and anxious, planning to swith cables this weekend.
TIA.

Just remember to switch your audio output on the 8300 to HDMI.

Settings>more settings>audio digital out - HDMI

I noticed some people also recently posting about shows that were scheduled to record, but didn't. I have had this issue also, recently. I have had an external drive added for over a year, no problem for the person with one attached.)

Here's my theory:
- I have a few shows like "Deal or No Deal" set to record all new on same channel.
- I have some other shows set to record. Let's use Monday. I have a few timeslots where both tuners are preset to record shows I have previously requested.
---------Everything has been working fine for weeks---------------
Now, this week I noticed several shows on Monday night didn't tape. I also noticed I had a new Deal or No Deal that was 'moved' or added to Monday's lineup for the 8pm slot. It appeared at a glance that this NEW "deal or no deal" was added and the 8300HD decided to keep that one and not record the other one that was at same time.

When you select a prog to be recorded, it will alert you to a triple impact situation where you must choose which to cancel and which to keep.

What happens when three shows are all previously scheduled and then a network moves one into a collision course with the others? Which ones are kept and which ones are recorded?

I figured the 'new one' wouldn't record, but it appears that it did and another one did not.

The priority is determined by the show's position on your list of scheduled recordings. When you are in the recordings list and choose "c" for "series manager", you'll see the list of all the shows you have set to record automatically.
The priority that these shows will record is how you have them listed from top to bottom. They got in the order they did by when you set them up for recording. The oldest shows are at the top, the newest at the bottom. When you select one of these shows, the "Series recording options" is the default selection. But notice that it is actually the second choice on the list - the top choice is "series recording PRIORITY" Select that, and you can move that show up or down the list of scheduled series recordings. THAT will determine what has priority when 3 shows are on at the same time.

So that's how you can choose what gets recorded when three series recordings bump up against each other. What I don't know is how a manually recorded show will effect this. In other words, what if you have two series automatically set to record, but you decide to record a particular show on in that time slot on a certain night.

Anybody with a Panny 42PX60U using a SA8300HD STB hooked up via HDMI? I currently have my new plasma hooked up via component and just got my HDMI cables that I ordered. Any issues to be wary of before making the switch? I won't be using a receiver so is it safe to assume I won't need additional audio cables? Any HDCP handshake issues?
Sorry for bombarding, just curious and anxious, planning to swith cables this weekend.
TIA.

I've got the same setup. I am searching for a solution to a problem using HDMI. While watching live or recorded programing, the picture freezes. The remote has no control of the PVR. If I switch back to component cables it works fine, reconnect the HDMI and within an hour I get the freezing.

On to the real problem though which is the box in our theater, The projector is an infocus 7205 which is connected through component to a B&K AVR507. The cable box connects to the B&K via component. My problem is that im getting a really overdriven signal on the cable box. All the whites have a dropshadow, Anything bright is extremely washed out. Its not the box itself because I have swapped the other one in and it did the same thing, With the boxes hooked up to my plasma via component it looks fine, I also tried connecting the projector directly to the box which did help the problem a little but it was still being overdriven. When im


Went to the Cable co and traded in my 8300 HD boxes for 3250HD boxes. I didnt use the DVR feature enough to be worth the extra cost. And Finally I have good picture in our theater. Thank goodness this box doesnt push out such an overdriven signal like the 8300 did. I kinda like this box better. Doesnt have the HDMI but I did have a DVI to HDMI converter laying around so its not a big deal.

I have a Sanyo 30" widescreen CRT television. I have the SA 8300HD connected with HDMI. The problem I am having is my HD channels are coming through in 4:3 aspect ratio. I have the cable box set at widescreen 16:9/stretch 4:3. When I press the # key on the remote and cycle through the different settings it will stretch the picture. But as soon as I change channels it goes back to 4:3 with grey bars on the sides. This isn't happening with any standard definition channels. The guide also stays in 4:3 mode on all channels. I have tried every setting that I can think of and nothing works.

Also what would you guys suggest I set my aspect ratio to on the cable box. It gives me the choice of 480i,480p,720p and 1080i. My television supposedly upconverts to 1080i on all signals but I want to send the best signal to it before any upconversion is done.
Thanks in advance
z

I am on TW in Columbus, Ohio. We are a Sinclair market, which means we don't get ABC or FOX in HD over cable, because they own those and are still locked in a battle with TW over the rights to carry them in HD. Thus, I cannot record those channels.

Question: Is the 8300HD capable of recording OTA, like a Tivo Series 3? I know that presently, they cannot. But is that a hardware issue, or just a software issue? TW could make a lot of customers happy if only they gave their customers a way of recording the Sinclair stations in HD. If I could do that, I could care less whether or not they are carried over cable.

Because I cannot record the Sinclair stations, I am inclined to switch to WOW or DirectTV in order to have a "complete" DVR service. But I'd stick with TW if I could record the OTA signals as an alternative.

Hi everyone,

Had a quick question about 8300HD. Is it possible to use both the HDMI connection and component connection simultaneously? Reason I'm asking is that the right now my box is hooked up to my HDTV via HDMI. I am getting a Slingbox Pro with the HD Connect cable, and that will require me to hook component cables to it.

I want to verify that the 8300HD will send a signal to both devices whenever the box is on.

Thanks in advance.

a.dave,
Sorry, the HDMI usage causes the the non-HDCP compliant output (component) to be shut off. No telling what naughty electronic HD stealing stuff you might have hooked up out there. If you want to use the component for anything you have to shut off / disconnect the HDMI.

TerryB

Hi everyone,

Had a quick question about 8300HD. Is it possible to use both the HDMI connection and component connection simultaneously? Reason I'm asking is that the right now my box is hooked up to my HDTV via HDMI. I am getting a Slingbox Pro with the HD Connect cable, and that will require me to hook component cables to it.

I want to verify that the 8300HD will send a signal to both devices whenever the box is on.

Thanks in advance.

All outputs are active at all times. I do this very same thing to send the signal from my bedroom 8300HD to my kitchen set via RF cable while having it hooked up via HDMI to the set in the bedroom.

All outputs are active at all times. I do this very same thing to send the signal from my bedroom 8300HD to my kitchen set via RF cable while having it hooked up via HDMI to the set in the bedroom.
I believe RF may remain active with HDMI, but component is not. Won't get HD signal over RF port anyway.

Hi everyone,

Had a quick question about 8300HD. Is it possible to use both the HDMI connection and component connection simultaneously? Reason I'm asking is that the right now my box is hooked up to my HDTV via HDMI. I am getting a Slingbox Pro with the HD Connect cable, and that will require me to hook component cables to it.

I want to verify that the 8300HD will send a signal to both devices whenever the box is on.

Thanks in advance.

The fact that you are getting conflicting answers may be an indication of just how crappy this box is. Mine runs the Passport software. It will output over both HDMI and component at the same time. However, for this to happen, I unplug HDMI, shut off the box, connect by component only, turn box back on so that it can only output a conponent signal and then reconnect the HDMI. Both should work at that time.

The fact that you are getting conflicting answers may be an indication of just how crappy this box is. Mine runs the Passport software. It will output over both HDMI and component at the same time. However, for this to happen, I unplug HDMI, shut off the box, connect by component only, turn box back on so that it can only output a conponent signal and then reconnect the HDMI. Both should work at that time.
Cool. I'll test this out and see what happens. Hopefully this works for me as well. Worse case scenario I can use the composite outputs to the slingbox, and the HDMI output to the television. I'll let you know if your unplug method works for me.

Thanks to all who gave their advice.

No luck fellas. Tried to unplug HDMI, reset box with only component, and then plug HDMI back in. As soon as the box detects HDMI connection, it turns off the component.

That's BS. We pay a lot of money for the cable service, and some more to rent the stupid box, and they restrict us from using all of the outputs? Ridiculous.

I guess I'll be forced to the use the s-video for my slingbox, which eliminates the connection from my 8300HD to RDR-HX900 for recording DVDs of programs.

Does this sound right. When I connect my 8300HD box using HDMI to my LG LCD TV I am no longer able to control the volume using the box. I am forced to control it using the TV volume. I did not have this happen when I was using component. It would seem as though the box is not able to process digital audio and just passes it through to the TV. Is that normal for this box?