Yeah here the cable companies are so cheap they make you pay to own their soon to be outdated devices. Everything is like that, Internet, phone, satellite tv. Some allow you to lease the devices through a third company that charges 35% interest. But you still have to pay the whole thing off before you're through.
Ironic, since most in the USA want to be able to buy the product and then stop paying "rental fees" which will eventually add up to hundreds of times the cost of the freakin' units. :mad: Cox told me, they will "eventually allow customers to buy the units", but no one knows what "eventually" means. Of course I'm sure there will still be "rental fees" involved, but they would be less than we are paying now.

I didn't even know you could buy them.
Canadians, like rob76, can purchase boxes and expect to have them activated. Americans cannot.

Ironic, since most in the USA want to be able to buy the product and then stop paying "rental fees" which will eventually add up to hundreds of times the cost of the freakin' units. :mad: Cox told me, they will "eventually allow customers to buy the units", but no one knows what "eventually" means. Of course I'm sure there will still be "rental fees" involved, but they would be less than we are paying now.Cox is required to provide CableCARDs. Other than VOD, why would you want to buy a Motorola instead of a TiVo?

Cox is required to provide CableCARDs. Other than VOD, why would you want to buy a Motorola instead of a TiVo?
I don't know, I'm not saying I would. I didn't think of it during this context since he had link to a Motorola box.

But since you still need a cable card with a TiVo, and the TiVo requires a subscription, I'm not sure of the TiVo advantage. Especially since Cox isn't going to support it like they would a box model they provide.

My thinking is that since Motorola sells the STBs to cable companies, and the cable companies have no desire to purchase a better STB at what would probably be a higher cost, Motorola has no real incentive to upgrade with newer models. Unlike Dish, Directv, and even TiVo, who push the merits of their STBs directly to the consumers as the lastest and best. Cable companies are only worried about the bottom line, and since most areas (like Louisville, KY) really have only one cable company to choose from they know for the majority of people it's either them or OTA.
I know there are different regulations for cable vs satellite, but really, what cable company out there really cares about what they are offering to it's subsribers. Here in Louisville Insight has been running TV ads promoting how "they don't charge a $10.00 extra fee for HD programming". What they don't say is that to be able to view HD you must rent the 6416 at $15.00 a month, and if you want any programs like HDnet, Universal HD, and about 4 other "special" HD channels, it's another $8.00 more a month.
Ghpr13:)

Here in Louisville Insight has been running TV ads promoting how "they don't charge a $10.00 extra fee for HD programming". What they don't say is that to be able to view HD you must rent the 6416 at $15.00 a month, and if you want any programs like HDnet, Universal HD, and about 4 other "special" HD channels, it's another $8.00 more a month.
Ghpr13:)
Cox claims the exact same erroneous misleading thing here on their commercials. The only difference is here you don't need a 6416 (or 3416) DVR, but you must at least get an STB from them (which can be a non-DVR STB). What they should be saying is "HD programming is free for box subscribers". That is factual and not misleading.

My thinking is that since Motorola sells the STBs to cable companies, and the cable companies have no desire to purchase a better STB at what would probably be a higher cost, Motorola has no real incentive to upgrade with newer models. Unlike Dish, Directv, and even TiVo, who push the merits of their STBs directly to the consumers as the lastest and best. Cable companies are only worried about the bottom line, and since most areas (like Louisville, KY) really have only one cable company to choose from they know for the majority of people it's either them or OTA.
I know there are different regulations for cable vs satellite, but really, what cable company out there really cares about what they are offering to it's subsribers. Here in Louisville Insight has been running TV ads promoting how "they don't charge a $10.00 extra fee for HD programming". What they don't say is that to be able to view HD you must rent the 6416 at $15.00 a month, and if you want any programs like HDnet, Universal HD, and about 4 other "special" HD channels, it's another $8.00 more a month.
Ghpr13:)

That's exactly how it is here as well. Also, you have to buy your 6416 from the cable company. they won't activate boxes they didn't originally sell.

Moto DCT 6416 and Sony Bravia LCD. When initiallly turn on, Moto won't control volume until it (volume) has been on 20-30 seconds. Bad if early A.M. and trying to lower volume ASAP so as not to disturb others. Any settings which would allow more immediate volume control?

Here's some info on the new STB. Took some digging around the Motorola site, but I found it.

http://www.motorola.com/business/US-EN/DCX3400_US-EN.do?vgnextoid=0ac33ead2d4c9110VgnVCM1000008406b00aRCRD

Moto DCT 6416 and Sony Bravia LCD. When initiallly turn on, Moto won't control volume until it (volume) has been on 20-30 seconds. Bad if early A.M. and trying to lower volume ASAP so as not to disturb others. Any settings which would allow more immediate volume control?
What I do is turn my TV's volume all the way down before turning them off.

I'm wondering if you're not having some kind of panel interference with the IR. If so, solutions in these threads:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1082190
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1041947

Here's some info on the new STB. Took some digging around the Motorola site, but I found it.

http://www.motorola.com/business/US-EN/DCX3400_US-EN.do?vgnextoid=0ac33ead2d4c9110VgnVCM1000008406b00aRCRD
Thanks for the link. ;)

Greetings,

I recently upgraded my TV to a plasma and of course had to get all new media furniture. I finished hooking everything up last week and it looks awesome. This particular piece houses all AV equipment inside a cabinet with a glass door with chimney style ventilation.

The furniture is of real good quality and the back openings are fairly large but I do remember a while back that the DCT6416 didn't like to get too hot. Last night a started to get the "flickers" again and then lost the channel for about 10 minutes. I opened the front door and let things air out and then in about 3 minutes the broadcast came back. I can't be too sure if I lost the transmission due to overheating since I have had everyhting hooked up for about a week, but I just wanted to check. I don't have anything stacked on top with about 8 inches and plenty of room for air circulation all around.

If I was smart I should have ran downstairs and turned on the other one but I forgot. Do any of you run any sort of cooling in your enclosed areas?

Cheers.

I use a 4" computer fan mounted on the back of my closed equipment rack and powered off a USB port to cool my DVR

I use a 4" computer fan mounted on the back of my closed equipment rack and powered off a USB port to cool my DVR

Good idea. I just tried the usb port on the back of my DCH6416 and it would work for powering a fan but it appears to be "always on". Not a big deal though, it's not like a pc fan burns alot of juice.

Always on is a good idea anyway as the DVR is always on since the hard drive is always spinning even when off. There is also on outlet on the back on the unit that can be set to switched or unswitched in the menu.

I use a 4" computer fan mounted on the back of my closed equipment rack and powered off a USB port to cool my DVR

Is the fan sucking out back or blowing in toward the front your enclosure? I looked at one of the $13 dollar USB fan from Coolerguys... Seems to be a good alternative?

In a "chimney" style ventilation cabinet, blowing in from the bottom is most effective. Also, if you can fit a filter on the intake side of the fan, it will keep your equipment clean, too.

Is the fan sucking out back or blowing in toward the front your enclosure?Mine is mounted at the top of the cabinet, sucking out the top-rear (drawing cool air from the bottom of the cabinet).

Mine is mounted at the top of the cabinet, sucking out the top-rear (drawing cool air from the bottom of the cabinet).

And drawing in dust bunnies... :D And, drawing in from all the cracks. That's why blowing in at the bottom, but drawing through a filter is best.

Put a stocking or some gauze over the fan intake to work as a filter.

On another note, inside the DVR menu (Power off), on a 1080p display, where should I set the Moto DVR? I had it set initially at 720p, but then geeky research over the web indicates that many times I should set it to 1080i and let the TV do the upscaling?

108i or 720p?

On another note, inside the DVR menu (Power off), on a 1080p display, where should I set the Moto DVR? I had it set initially at 720p, but then geeky research over the web indicates that many times I should set it to 1080i and let the TV do the upscaling?

108i or 720p?90% of the TV networks are 1080i !!

You could switch the DVR to 720p for the rest (ABC, FOX, ESPN and NatGeo) for best performance.

The scaler in the DVR is crappy. The scaler in your TV will be much better.

if you have to choose one for all-pupose viewing, i would choose 1080i.

of course i didn't like the one-size-fits-all approach, so i recently swapped out my 6412 for a 3416 and programmed my remote accordingly. now if i know for certain a particular channel is transmitted in one format or another i can change on the fly to that resolution with a simple button press on the remote.

You could switch the DVR to 720p for the rest (ABC, FOX, ESPN and NatGeo) for best performance[/COLOR].Some providers are feeding National Geographic Channel in 1080i.

720p is mainly, as Cavu said, for Disney- and Fox-owned channels and some local OTAs.  Just about all other cable HD is in 1080i.

if you have to choose one for all-pupose viewing, i would choose 1080i.

of course i didn't like the one-size-fits-all approach, so i recently swapped out my 6412 for a 3416 and programmed my remote accordingly. now if i know for certain a particular channel is transmitted in one format or another i can change on the fly to that resolution with a simple button press on the remote.

Stretch437,
Are you programming the 3416's remote or a universal remote? If it's the 3416's remote, how do you do that?
Thanks,
Ghpr13:)

it was in this thread in several places. this first one i know of is http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13524611#post13524611

it was in this thread in several places. this first one i know of is http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13524611#post13524611

Stretch437,
Thanks for taking the time to point out that link for me.
Best to you,
Ghpr13:)

It's looking like I'll have to return yet another Motorola box, a DCH3416. The box has suddenly decided that it's going to record scheduled shows an hour later and prevent me from deleting or changing the scheduled programs.

ex. A manual recording M-F, 11-12 that I haven't changed now says it will start recording at 12. I can't enter the scheduled recording to change or delete by pressing info or enter. If I try to trick of setting other programs to record at that time so the conflict menu comes up and I choose to take the "new" recordings instead of the "old" recordings, it says okay but the "old" recording still displays in the scheduled recordings listing (it says I'm going to record 3 programs at the same time). Seems like boxes only last 8-14 months for me, before they crap out. Rather than wait until Monday night to see what happens when it tries to record 3 programs simultaneously, I'll return it for another box on Monday morning. Unplugging to reset has no effect.

It's looking like I'll have to return yet another Motorola box, a DCH3416. The box has suddenly decided that it's going to record scheduled shows an hour later and prevent me from deleting or changing the scheduled programs.
You probably noticed there was a time change maybe a week or so ago? Like the last time this happened, DST was changed and many PC's didn't change the time even though they may have been set to to this. M$ had to issue a patch for the new and different DST change for the PC's that didn't realize it. My VCR, TV and some other devices around the house that do have the standard DST correction option, did not see the time change because it was at a different time than in years past. But some devices did correct for the current time. :confused: I don't understand how some were correct and some were not.

Of course a VCR is connected to your cable co, so it should have received the correct DST adjustment as my STB did in my case (non-DVR Motorola). My guess would be that since the VCR has the "automatically adjust for DST" option, that's exactly what it did, but by the old standards which took precedence over the new corrected data from the cable co. ??

I would guess that either your box has the DST time option and it was not set, or your cable co didn't send the correct adjustment. But since you also say you can't delete or change the scheduled programs, there may be something wrong with the box, and that problem may also be related to not receiving the correct time for its timer recordings even if your cable co sent the correct adjustment.

I don't think its related to DST, because the time on the box adjusted properly last Sunday morning and the problems didn't begin until Thursday night. Anyways, the box seems to have reset itself sometime early this morning. This morning I was able to enter and delete the improperly scheduled shows.

I don't think its related to DST, because the time on the box adjusted properly last Sunday morning and the problems didn't begin until Thursday night. Anyways, the box seems to have reset itself sometime early this morning. This morning I was able to enter and delete the improperly scheduled shows.
Ahh, Ok, never mind. ;)

Who is your provider? I know Cox for one is constantly screwing up the boxes from these "overnight resets".

I have Comcast. I'm on my 4th or 5th box.

Also on Comcast, I'm on my second or third DCH3416 after five boxes of two other models before it.  Now this one is having trouble: timer events that fail to fire.

I have Comcast. I'm on my 4th or 5th box.
Ok. Since it's a large provider like Comcast it's more likely it's yet another box screw up. Otherwise I think we would have heard more about it in these threads if it were an overnight box reset screw up (like Cox has).


Also on Comcast, I'm on my second or third DCH3416 after five boxes of two other models before it. Now this one is having trouble: timer events that fail to fire.

:confused: Why do they let these boxes out to the public? More and more I'm thinking of sticking with my POS VCR with all it's crappy SD and 240x320, it's at least totally reliable.

I got a DCT6416 box with HDMI and I am having problems with a few channels, they are FOXHD, NBCED, ABCED. All my other HD channels work great. The three channels I mentioned have lots of pixel issues and the sound keeps cutting out constantly. Upstairs we have a pace hd cable box thats connected with components and there is no issues on these channels. Anyone else having problems with these channels/?

I got a DCT6416 box with HDMI and I am having problems with a few channels, they are FOXHD, NBCED, ABCED. All my other HD channels work great. The three channels I mentioned have lots of pixel issues and the sound keeps cutting out constantly. Upstairs we have a pace hd cable box thats connected with components and there is no issues on these channels. Anyone else having problems with these channels/?

Freshane,
I have a DCH6416 and I have a lot of sound drop outs on the same HD channels. On FoxHD if I record anything I have trouble trying to FF or Rew, the picture just breaks up and freezes.
Ghpr13

Thanks for the reply... do you notice this with hdmi or with components??

Thanks for the reply... do you notice this with hdmi or with components??

I have mine connected via HDMI. I haven't tried component yet, but I have some reconnecting to do over the weekend so I might give it a try that way. If I do I'll let you know if there's any difference.
Ghpr13:)

I can't figure this out and perhaps someone can guide me in the right direction. I have my Motorola 6416 III set in the "user menu" as 1080i, HDMI, 4:3 480i override. Every now and then I turn my whole setup back on and those values are somehow changed. What in the world is going on?

I do all my HDMI connections through a Yamaha RX-V1800 and the TV is a Samsung PN58A650. Everything is brand new.

What in the world can change the values I set in the user menu? Rain and weather outside or overheating DVR? Most of the time they reset to 720p and then turn 4:3 override to "OFF".

Cheers

this happened to me when i put a VP in the chain (similar to the setup you have). eventually my VP vendor updated their firmware and this went away for me personally, but i was led to believe it was not unusual for devices to try to autodetect each others capabilities and adjust their settings accordingly. every once in awhile they mess it up. hopefully it's not so often you can't live with it.

Ok. Since it's a large provider like Comcast it's more likely it's yet another box screw up. Otherwise I think we would have heard more about it in these threads if it were an overnight box reset screw up (like Cox has).

:confused: Why do they let these boxes out to the public? More and more I'm thinking of sticking with my POS VCR with all it's crappy SD and 240x320, it's at least totally reliable.

Lower standards in a historically monopolistic industry. It's the quality level they are used to offering. Imagine building and selling a car where the windshield is cloudy, or the car pulls to the left.

But in the cable industry it was VERY common to have the left channel twice as loud as the right, or a channel not have proper picture quality for YEARS.

Not until competition (and premium channel theft) forced them to digital cable did they straighten basic stuff like that out.

The MOTO DVR's were barely even functional until a few years ago. By the time they worked well enough to be "out of beta" they should have been replaced already. THe MOTO DVR STB's are 7 years old. Oddly, FiOS manages alright with them. Which means the crappy cable software is most of the problem.

FX is STILL washed out for me.

Why do they let these boxes out to the public?Because the boxes are more than good enough for enough people, people who generally are too cheap to be willing to pay enough more to incentivize the cable companies to offer better.

The folks who want better can get TiVos.

$16 a month is NOT cheap for a DVR.
For the record, I would like to state that I have no association with any cable company, cable hardware producer, or any internet media company.

I AM, however, a Comcast customer.

Then again, while $16/mo isn't cheap for DVR rental, with the cable company's DVR you don't have the upfront cost actually buying one like you would with tivo. Also with some cable co's are in the process of using SDV, then one would have to get a tuning adapter. Also if the DVR breaks down, that isn't your own problem, it could be swapped out at no charge. With tivo, one would have to buy the tivo and then pay extra for tivo service.

Yes, but Tivo HDs have been available at Sears recently for $199, and you can get lifetime service on ebay for $330. So if you average $529 over 3 years, it's $14.69 a month, and after that you're free and clear. If it breaks, it's highly likely that it's the hard drive which can easily be replaced. Plus if you ever decide to sell it, you'll get a lot of what you paid back since it has a lifetime sub.

Sorry, but we cannot dismiss Tom's assertion regarding the upfront cost. For many people, that not just something in the cable company DVR's favor (like support for VOD and PPV), but something that makes TiVo purchase infeasible.

Yes, but Tivo HDs have been available at Sears recently for $199
Is that in store only and dual tuner? At their website they have one HD version listed, they don't mention dual tuner, and they don't have any price nor a way to order it.

I just swapped my old box for a DCH-6416 (after having endured many problems with a Pace box, my cable co. uses both). The Pace had an extra RCA audio output to hook it up to both the TV and my stereo system. On the 6416, there is one RCA output, plus the digital optical and coax outputs. Before I go out and buy an optical cable, does anyone know if I can hook up to both the RCA and the optical audio connections? I wouldn't use both at the same time, but it's nice to have the choice. Thanks.

can [I] hook up to both the RCA and the optical audio connections?Yes.

Thanks.

What are my options for saving tv shows now residing on my 6416's hard drive.

Thanks,
Scotty

You can try to download them in real-time using Firewire:

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Firewire

Or you can play them in real-time and record them using some external device, such as a DVD-recorder.

I am having a strange problem.On my DCH6416 hooked up via HDMI on Charter service it will not record a series in HD on ABC.

Since I have been lurking here off and on for years I thought I read somewhere that this was a programming problem on Charter's end.Something about the SD and HD channels not being labeled different or something.

I can't seem to find the post about it.Has anyone else had this problem?If not does anyone know where that post/thread is?

I'm on my fourth Moto box in just 18 months of being a Time Warner (LA) customer. Other than the general inferiority of the software compared to Tivo, the sporadic remote lag on these boxes is ridiculously bad. And Moto and Time Warner have known about this issue for years, yet can't seem to fix it. It's maddening.

My original 6416 FIOS HD DVR settop box has been replaced with a newer 6416-2 HD DVR. I have noticed watching Formula 1 on Speed (Non-HD) that the 4:3 SD picture is now overscanned on my 4:3 Sony HD capable TV -- the lap counter at the top of the picture is now cut off, so is info at the sides and bottom. The overscan is consistent on all sides.

I spoke with FIOS but even their 2nd level tech did not know how to access the diagnostic menu or service menu. They have apparently made a change where the previous method just puts the box in standby mode.

SD Override and Video Format are now available from the user menu but no combination of these settings solves the problem.

Any ideas? Or pehaps a solution for accessing the other service menu options on a 6416-2?

Thanks!

I have had it ! I hate these boxes. The controls are totally unresponsive and it just fast skipped to the end of the show and ruined the ending.

Guess I'm finally going to ditch Comcast for a dish

I have had it ! I hate these boxes. The controls are totally unresponsive and it just fast skipped to the end of the show and ruined the ending.

Guess I'm finally going to ditch Comcast for a dish
Which box were you using?

I have had it ! I hate these boxes. The controls are totally unresponsive and it just fast skipped to the end of the show and ruined the ending.

Guess I'm finally going to ditch Comcast for a dish


Or get a Tivo.

Has anyone heard anything about the Moxi recorders advertised on this site? They look amazing, and while they do have a high initial investment, they have no sub fees. They look like a great alternative to both Tivo and the POS Motorola boxes. I find it amazing that I am paying $16 a month to Comcast for such a poorly-performing 160GB HD box, but I didn't like Tivo and there was nothing else out there til now.

Has anyone heard anything about the Moxi recorders advertised on this site? They look amazing, and while they do have a high initial investment, they have no sub fees. They look like a great alternative to both Tivo and the POS Motorola boxes. I find it amazing that I am paying $16 a month to Comcast for such a poorly-performing 160GB HD box, but I didn't like Tivo and there was nothing else out there til now.TiVo is available without monthly fees too, if you buy a lifetime subscription. Moxi includes a lifetime subscription in their purchase price.

Here's the applicable item from the FAQ:

How does the Moxi compare to the TivoHD?

The Moxi is a dual-tuner HDTV DVR for cable with name-based recording and season passes, much like the TiVo. Moxi licenses guide data from Tribune and delivers 14-days of guide data to each box using their own Internet servers, just like TiVo.

The Moxi is $799 @ Amazon.com. It is not available at retail. That price includes a lifetime subscription; the Moxi is not available at a lower price with a monthly or yearly subscription.

Comparisons of TiVo and Moxi: Zatz Not Funny (http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2009-04/a-non-geek-look-at-moxis-hd-dvr/) | Gizmodo (http://gizmodo.com/5231626/moxi-hd-review-beats-cable-but-it-aint-tivo) | Engadget (http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/04/21/moxi-hd-dvr-initial-impressions/)


Moxi Advantages

Being a newer product, the hardware is based on newer technology (i.e. faster DVR CPU)


In of itself, this means little. But Moxi developers have more CPU cycles and memory bandwidth to work with when adding new features.


16:9 HD menus (as opposed to a 4:3 menus on a 16:9 HD background)


The Moxi UI has crisper, sharper text and graphics in the menus.

In some cases, Moxi takes advantage of the 16:9 aspect ratio to show more information on the screen.


Fast guide scrolling / scanning.


1.5 hour HD buffer per tuner (compared to 30 minutes for TiVo)


Can record three cable channels at the same time (two digital, one analog) when the free WinTV-HVR-1950 (http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hvr1950.html) USB tuner is connected.


Clear QAM channel mapping through a web interface to fully support HD locals on cable -- with program information-- without the need for a CableCard.


DLNA 1.0 client support allows access to music. photos, and videos on computers, network attached storage, mobile phones, and other devices without proprietary software.


Moxi includes a free license to "PlayOn" DLNA software for Windows, which allows you to watch Netflix, Hulu, CBS, YouTube, CNN, and ESPN Internet feeds through the Moxi;

Windows 7 has DLNA server functionality built-in, so you'll be able to right-click on a music or video file on your Windows 7 PC, select "Play to Moxi" from the pop-up menu, and that music or video file will begin playing on the Moxi.

Moxi is currently working to add DLNA 2.0 capability with DTCP-IP encryption. This will allow the Moxi to stream recordings throughout the home to other DLNA 2.0 compliant devices that support DTCP-IP encryption.


Conflict management allows you to choose which of the two conflicting programs you would like to skip. You aren't limited to skipping the lower priority program.


No advertising whatsoever in the UI.


Storage expansion works with any external eSATA drive up to 2.0TB, not just the My DVR Expander (500GB, 1TB).


External drives can be added and removed at will to archive recordings; recordings are not split across internal and external drives, so recordings are not lost when a drive is removed.


Adjustable duration on skip button (30 seconds, 3 minutes, etc).


Ability to display a small guide at bottom of the screen.


Picture window on every menu screen that shows the current liveTV channel and/or current recording.


On-screen widgets for weather, sports scores, stock quotes, etc, updated in real time.


Online scheduling with real time conflict resolution.


You can edit / delete recordings online.


Includes backlit remote (included with TivoHD XL, but a $50 option on TivoHD)


Moxi Disadvantages

$799 @ Amazon.com with lifetime service and 500GB drive; there is no option to purchase for less with monthly or yearly fees


No ATSC (OTA) support; the Moxi is cable only;


No support for SDV channels on cable -- Moxi expects to add that capability this summer;


No built-in support for analog channels; customers must request a free USB device (http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hvr1950.html) to add a single analog tuner to the box;


Cannot download or transfer recordings to a computer; cannot view DVR recordings on a computer;


No support for multi-room viewing;


Later this year, Moxi plans to add multi-room viewing between Moxi DVRs and MoxiMate extenders. Unlike the current implementation of MRV on the TiVo, there will be no restrictions on what recordings can be streamed from one room to another, thanks to the use of DTCP-IP encryption.


No wishlists or comparable functionality (can't record based on search);


You cannot setup a single recording to record all new games with your favorite team, regardless of date, time, and channel. You cannot create a single recording to record all new pilots and season premieres. You cannot create a single recording for all new HD movies in a particular genre. You cannot create a recording for a future program not yet listed in the guide, whenever and wherever it shows.


No overlap protection, so 1-2 minute program overlaps cause conflicts that can result in missed recordings;


Many networks run their programs 1-2 minutes past the hour, and this creates conflicts with programs on other networks. TiVo clips off 1-2 minutes from the lowest-priority conflicting program so it still gets recorded, whereas Moxi cancels the recording for the conflicting program.


Does not keep a record of recorded programs to prevent re-recording the same programs after they are deleted from the DVR;


Does not remember the position on the inactive tuner. You can't pause one tuner, switch to a different tuner, and then resume where you left off; the inactive tuner always switches to liveTV;


Lacks "traditional" grid-based program guide.


Moxi's guide is similar to the default "TiVo-style" guide in that it only shows upcoming programs for the currently selected channel. Moxi presents this information in much more graphical way, with quick access to content filters, but they actually show less upcoming program information on the screen (three upcoming timeslots, compared to eight timeslots on TiVo).
There is no option to use a traditional grid-based guide instead, as you can on the TiVo.
No way to view information for programs that have ended.


No manual recording screen. You can only create recordings from the program guide or by selecting a search result.


When you stop or finish a recording, the Moxi always displays a liveTV window, even when that is a recording-in-progress (such as a sporting event); there is no way to exit a recording without seeing the liveTV window;


If the user is recording a sports event to watch later, or to watch on a delay to skip commercials, the viewing experience is "spoiled" because the user sees the score before they've started to watch the recording. This behavior is detrimental to sports viewing, but sporting events aren't the only programs affected; key plot developments in movies and series may be revealed before the user has the opportunity to watch the recording. That is not the desired behavior, as it acts as a built-in spoiler.
When you finish watching a recorded program, the liveTV video window should always default to whatever channel is not recording. If two programs are recording, then display a black video window with a message, "Two recordings in progress. Press the LiveTV button to display the picture." If Moxi wishes to preserve the existing behavior for some users, then it should add this as an option in global settings.


No option to use a phone line for guide downloads; a network connection is required, using a direct run of ethernet cable, a wireless bridge, a powerline adapter, or a MoCA adapter.


Has only one CableCard slot, so a M-CARD is required for both tuners to function with digital cable. If your cable provider doesn't have M-CARDs available, then you won't get dual-tuner functionality.


No support for Netflix's HD; only supports Netflix SD, and only does so when a Windows PC is on and running the PlayOn software;


No support for Amazon Unbox's HDTV VOD service with series and movies downloads in 1080p24 with DD5.1 ($4.99 per HD movie, $2.99 per HD episode).


Auto-correction on FF / REW not as accurate as TiVo (subjective)


Moxi assumes that the user has faster reflexes, so it provides less auto-correction than TiVo.


Interface not as intuitive (subjective)

Note: This only compares TiVo and Moxi. Like any other unidirectional CableCard device, the Moxi does not support cable company VOD.
Moxi puts more emphasis on liveTV viewing in their design, with a variety different filters to show what is on TV right now, as opposed to what is showing in the future. TiVo's puts more emphasis on time shifting and finding programs to record.

You can see video demos of Moxi in action right here (http://moxi.com/us/features.html). You can see video demos of TiVo in action here:

Youtube: Basic TiVo functionality (HD, 10min) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNvgoLVzijE&fmt=22)
Youtube: Netflix, Youtube, Video Podcasts on TiVo (HD, 7min) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mCIKSj8bvY&fmt=22)
Youtube: Viewing Computer Videos on TiVo (HD, 9min) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUi7IWlnFJY&fmt=22)

TiVo is available without monthly fees too, if you buy a lifetime subscription. Moxi includes a lifetime subscription in their purchase price.

8. No overlap protection, so 1-2 minute program overlaps cause conflicts that can result in missed recordings;

Many networks run their programs 1-2 minutes past the hour, and this creates conflicts with programs on other networks. TiVo clips off 1-2 minutes from the lowest-priority conflicting program so it still gets recorded, whereas Moxi cancels the recording for the conflicting program.

10. Does not remember the position on the inactive tuner. You can't pause one tuner, switch to a different tuner, and then resume where you left off; the inactive tuner always switches to liveTV;

12. No manual recording screen. You can only create recordings from the program guide or by selecting a search result.

Thanks for the info. Wow, #10 is bad, but #8 and 12 are the absolute killers. Those are totally unacceptable. How did something with such serious flaws ever get released. :eek: It's insane at this age of technology that a VCR is still the only reliable way to go.

I'm sure the DCX boxes will also be full of flaws. :mad:

Ehh? TiVo is as close to 100% reliability as you can get for digital cable.

Now, if only they would update their menus to take better advantage of 16:9 screens...
"As close to 100%" is still not 100%, and from looking at the threads around here--while perhaps (TiVo) may be better than Motorola--[they] too still miss recordings.

If ~35 year old technology is more reliable than current technology, and it is, someone somewhere had a major brain aneurysm during the design stage and it obviously is still "bleeding"......collectively. :confused:

More people should be infuriated at the crappy unreliable buggy STB's and firmware, shoddy features, etc., then maybe the companies would go back to the ~35-year-old drawing board and build on a proven technology that worked and was reliable 100% of the time. The only "errors" with a VCR, were user errors.

As a (former) potential DVR buyer, I was all hyped up about finally getting one and finally being able to recycle my VCR's. But after reading countless thousands of posts about lost recordings, recordings never beginning, recordings being recorded over, spastic unacceptable features, etc., etc., etc., it's just plain sickening to a state of perpetual disgust. :eek: :mad:

Manufacturers and/or providers need to get their heads out of their asses, stop resting on their user-allowed "monopolizing complacency", LISTEN to their users, and get something out on the market, THAT WORKS ALL OF THE TIME.

The fact that they do NOT, and users ALLOW it by using these crappy products instead of some national boycott, makes the users as much to blame.

These are yet more devices that were not, and still not ready for prime-time; and as the current situation holds, never will be.

What the heck happened to the post I just quoted?? :confused:I decided it was pointless to respond (and off-topic).

In the past 18 months, my dual-tuner TivoHD has recorded over 1000 programs. In that time, it has only missed one episode, and that only happened because the network changed its schedule in the ~16 hours since the TiVo last connected to download guide data. The President was responsible for that.

That is far greater reliability than I ever saw with any VCR. Occasionally, I'd be hit with a power surge or power outage during a storm, and my VCR would loose its time, and thereby miss a recording. More than one power outage or power surge per year would make my VCR less reliable than TiVo.

Even I were to connect my VCR/DVDR to a UPS, I would not have the time to schedule and update the VCR/DVDR timers to achieve TiVo-esque reliability for more than a handful of programs per week. DVRs like TiVo keep track of dozens of different series, news, and sports teams. They are largely "maintenance free."

With a DVR, you spend 30 seconds to create a series recording for all new episodes of a show. You spend two minutes to create a recording for all future games with your favorite pro or college team, regardless of date, time, and channel. You spend one minute to create a recording for all new pilots and series premieres, regardless of date, time, and channel. It is "set it and forget it;" once you setup a recording, you're done with it. You don't have to set it again the following year, and you never have to deal with scheduling changes or program length changes. You can watch shows as they record (on a time delay), one day after they record, or six months after they record...in high-definition, skipping commercials.

In the past 18 months, my dual-tuner TivoHD recorded over 1000 programs. In that time, it has only missed one episode, and that only happened because the network changed its schedule in the ~16 hours since the TiVo last connected to download guide data. The President was responsible for that.
Well that at least is good to know.


That is far greater reliability than I ever saw with any VCR. Occasionally, I'd be hit with a power surge or power outage during a storm, and my VCR would loose its time, and thereby miss a recording. More than one power outage or power surge per year would make my VCR less reliable than TiVo.
I used a UPS for that. Mine have about a 15 minute built-in back up (caps), so no UPS needed, plus now I have a hole house generator.


Comparing a VCR to a DVR is really apples and oranges, because there's no way anyone would ever have the time to schedule and update their VCR/DVDR timers to achieve TiVo-esque reliability for more than a handful of programs per week. DVRs like TiVo keep track of dozens upon dozens of different series, news, and sports programs.
But not always done accurately.


With a DVR, you spend 30 seconds to create a series recording for all new episodes of a show. You spend two minutes to create a recording for all future games with your favorite pro or college team, regardless of date, time, and channel. You spend one minute to create a recording for all new pilots and series premieres, regardless of date, time, and channel. It is "set it and forget it;" once you setup a recording, you're done with it. You don't have to set it again the following year, and you never have to deal with scheduling changes or program length changes. You can watch shows as they record (on a time delay), one day after they record, or six months after they record...in high-definition, skipping commercials.
I totally agree they are far more convenient, that's why I wanted one, but my point is what good is convenience without total reliability.

I think the best setup would be a DVR along with a VCR for backup to record the same programs for when the DVR screws up. But for that setup, you'd have to have cable (which I do), or one of the new digital VCR's, and you'd be limited to using the VCR for recording only basic cable channels.

I never need to record more than 8 hours a day, and I always watch the recordings the next day. My current one I use the most, I've used for over 15 years and it's been flawless. I've developed such a neuromuscular facilitation with it, that I can program it in about 5-7 seconds without even looking at it.

I'm on Cox, so I think I might at least give one of theirs a try and hope it's more reliable than the Comcast-provided Motorola DVR's due to maybe different firmware.

Bickering removed, infractions issued.

Hi all - major issues w Comcast 2 tuner DVR (Moto DCT6412 III) - I'm on my 3rd box this month; keep getting error codes during playback of recorded programs; or when manipulating live TV. Keep getting error code NS, NPLY, NC, etc. Have had them come out; check cables signals, etc. They replaced a cable from the pedestal to the house. Still driving me insane... any ideas?? Thanks in advance :-)

Sorry for the rather blunt question, but has anyone else had issues with the 6416 box only outputting in 720p? I know for a fact some of these broadcasts are fed in 1080i, but no matter how many times I press the format button on the box or the aspect button on the remote, it stays at 720p. It even stays on that with SD broadcasts.

no matter how many times I press the format button on the box or the aspect button on the remote, it stays at 720p.:confused: What "format" button??

The output resolution is set through a service menu (Press power OFF then MENU).

The format button along the bottom, or program EFC Code 00109 to an unused button on the remote.
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/File:Motorola_3416_Front.jpg

The crap thing about these boxes is they will only choose one resolution for HD. So you must pick either 720P OR 1080i but not both. I noticed sometimes my format button will get stuck in one mode, where I change it to 1080i, but as soon as I change the channel it goes back to 720p. To get around it, turn the box off, and set the resolution in the setup menu to 1080i.

Power Off, then push menu. Use the arrow keys to navigate.

I've been having a problem with my Comcast 6412 P3 shutting down and rebooting, when I am reverse scanning at 4X, usually when I have backed up 20-30 minutes. This has happened four or five times, so I am sure by now that it is not a coincidence, but a result of the fast reverse.

Has anyone else experienced this? Any other factors involved, that might let me fast reverse w/o shutting down?

Also, probably due to a recent firmware change, the page up button no longer does a 5 min. skip ahead. It's only 30 sec. now. Darn, just when I was beginning to enjoy the 5 min skip! :(

the page up button no longer does a 5 min. skip ahead. It's only 30 sec. now.Actually, the 5min and 30sec skip are now both 1 min.

Actually, the 5min and 30sec skip are now both 1 min.

Maybe where you are, but as of last night, both my "page up" button skip, and my programmed 30 sec. skip are definitely just 30 sec. each. It takes two pushes to move one minute. I'm not certain about the "page down" button, and the "instant replay" button, but neither is more than 30 sec., and I believe the "instant replay" button is more like 10 or 15 sec.

Maybe where you are, but as of last night, both my "page up" button skip, and my programmed 30 sec. skip are definitely just 30 sec. each. It takes two pushes to move one minute. I'm not certain about the "page down" button, and the "instant replay" button, but neither is more than 30 sec., and I believe the "instant replay" button is more like 10 or 15 sec.

Can you please let us know what version of firmware/software you have on the DVR now & what model DVR? Thanks.

We still have the 5 minute skip on the page +/- buttons around here & hopefully that doesn't change for quite some time as it's a great feature.

I got changed to 30 second skip too.

Hi guys - I have a Comcast DCH6416 and am having a problem with a green vertical line while in 1080i, has anyone found a solution? Is it specific to certain boxes??

If i switch to 720p its not there but I'd like to stay in 1080, also heard of a fix to use component but id prefer to use hdmi

any help would be appreciated

Can you please let us know what version of firmware/software you have on the DVR now & what model DVR? Thanks.

We still have the 5 minute skip on the page +/- buttons around here & hopefully that doesn't change for quite some time as it's a great feature.

I have a 6412 P3, on Comcast in Ann Arbor Mi. I'll check my firmware and software, and post them tomorrow. Yeah, 5 min. skip was a great feature. :(

SW 75.59-a25p2-2.S1.r-8

FW 16.53

Does anyone know if there is newer FW/SW that will restore the 5 min. skip?

SW 75.59-a25p2-2.S1.r-8

FW 16.53

Does anyone know if there is newer FW/SW that will restore the 5 min. skip?

Odd, that's the same version of those 2 as I have & I still have the 5 minute skips. Did you turn the box off & go to 'code modules' for the firmware info you posted? If so what are the other 2 versions you have? Could be one of those is what's changed.
Mine are:
tvg7559r 75.59
stv0532_ 05.32

Also out of curiosity go to the following setup screen and see what values are there. While box is on press 'menu' two times & to 'setup', then 'cable box setup', then 'configuration'. When in the configuration screen press the 'Fav' button on the remote 6 times. It should say something about 'DVR skips' toward the top right of the screen. Mine says 30/300 and 15/300, basically saying the 30 sec & 5 min forward skips are present & the 15 sec & 5 min reverse skips are there too. What values does yours say?

I'll have to check that when I go home. But, even before losing the 5min. forward, I didn't have the 5min. rev skip. I just learned about the page button skips a few weeks back, and never had 5min. rev then. Perhaps I should try turning off the box, then turning it back on, like I used to do to restore DD to the audio outs.

I got the FW and SW from the cable box configuration screen in the menu, by clicking on "Select to display."

I'll have to check that when I go home. But, even before losing the 5min. forward, I didn't have the 5min. rev skip. I just learned about the page button skips a few weeks back, and never had 5min. rev then. Perhaps I should try turning off the box, then turning it back on, like I used to do to restore DD to the audio outs.

I got the FW and SW from the cable box configuration screen in the menu, by clicking on "Select to display."

Same here, never had the 5 min back and now I lost the 5 min fwd. I'll check the S/W next time I get a chance. Also whenever I unplug or lose power I lose my Fav. channel list and have to reprogram it.

I think the skip's like the 5min forward/reverse, along with menu layout and mini-icon's are all downloaded via a configurable xml -like file that can be altered by engineering and loaded onto the local system's controller.

I still have 5min skips and I do enjoy using them, so hopefully they will stay.

I still have 5min skips and I do enjoy using them, so hopefully they will stay.

Fingers crossed on keeping that here too. I think this is one of the best improvements/enhancements they've made to these DVR's in the 4+ years that have been out.

Also out of curiosity go to the following setup screen and see what values are there. While box is on press 'menu' two times & to 'setup', then 'cable box setup', then 'configuration'. When in the configuration screen press the 'Fav' button on the remote 6 times. It should say something about 'DVR skips' toward the top right of the screen. Mine says 30/300 and 15/300, basically saying the 30 sec & 5 min forward skips are present & the 15 sec & 5 min reverse skips are there too. What values does yours say?

Mine says ~

DVR skip FFWD 1 30sec
FFWD 2 30sec

DVR skip FREV 1 15sec
FREV 2 15sec

My 6412 is having a major issue. It makes a loud click, shuts off, will not respond to any input, then a few seconds later it turns back on, having lost all menu & guide data. It does this both while recording and while not recording. I tried the DVR Authorization and Full Factory Reset as found on Wiki, but have not done the DVR HDD Reset.

Any ideas?

Get a new one, an xx16...

About the only thing else I can think to try is unplugging it for 30sec. or more, plugging it back in, and trying it. You don't have a short somewhere in the power cord > wall socket linkage, do you?

I wonder when the higher capacity DCX cable boxes will be available in the Ann Arbor area? I'm getting sick of managing my DVR programs so closely. The TV viewing season is almost over, but it is such a pain to have so little HD recording capacity. Sigh....

I need to check out this 5 minute skip thing, never knew about it. I think I would still more often use the 30 second skip at it is better suited to bypassing commercials.

I was using Directtv at my brother's house, fast forwarding through commercials, and it did this cool thing. When I got to the show again and hit play, I think it jumps back 15 seconds or so, or to the previous scene maybe.

I was using Directtv at my brother's house, fast forwarding through commercials, and it did this cool thing. When I got to the show again and hit play, I think it jumps back 15 seconds or so, or to the previous scene maybe.TiVo was the first with this "autocorrection" feature and others have followed since. Moxi has it too.

On a TiVo, you don't even have to press play. You hit FF three times for 60x speed (one minute per second), and then hit FF a fourth time to play when you see that the commercials are over. The TiVo skips back so you see the last second or two of commercials (depending on your reflexes). There's almost never a need to hit replay.

I need to check out this 5 minute skip thing, never knew about it. I think I would still more often use the 30 second skip at it is better suited to bypassing commercials.

Sorry, Mike, you're too late. I live in A2, and I don't have the 5 min. skip anymore. The "Page Up" arrow is 30 sec. ahead, and the "Page Down" arrow is 15 sec. back (just like the instant replay button.)

For what it's worth, the machine that I just had installed yesterday has five minute skip back and forward. They didn't leave me a manual, and I can't figure out which exact model number I'm using, but I do have the five-minute skip. :confused:

EDIT: It's the DCT6400. Still don't know how big an HDD it has—couldn't find it in the setup menu. I'm a bit surprised by the lack of HDMI. Is anyone currently using the DVI output? I'm wondering if I should get a DVI-to-HDMI cable or just stick with component.

The lack of HDMI means it's a DCT-6412 phase 2 or phase 1 box. 120gb Hard drive, and it has a slower processor. You might experience the command queue bug more often than a user with a newer box.

I had one of those for awhile. Then eventually it would reset itself randomly, or just freeze (requiring me to pull the power cord). One day after it did that, all of my recordings were gone, so I traded up to a DCH-3416.

Thanks for the info, cypherstream. Of course, the salesman assured me I'd be getting one of newer models (a nicely vague phrase). :)

If I do experience errors, what amount of disfunction will it take for Comcast replace it?

Also, has anyone compared the component out to the DVI port? I'm trying to decide if it's worth ordering an HDMI-to-DVI adapter cable since my receiver doesn't do DVI.

Also, there are PIP buttons on my remote, but they don't do anything. Is this a phantom feature?

No PIP with Comcast Motos, but you use the PIP Swap button to switch between tuners.

If you want to take your DVR in to your local Comcast office, tell them it doesn't work, tell them you heed HDMI, almost certainly they will swap it without question. Ask for a 6416, or 3416, with HDMI.

About the only thing else I can think to try is unplugging it for 30sec. or more, plugging it back in, and trying it.Tried that.

You don't have a short somewhere in the power cord > wall socket linkage, do you?No.

I've used the DVI to HDMI adapter. The only issue was a screen distortion bug if I powered on the TV while the box was tuned to a 720p channel. A simple push of any menu / on screen graphic would fix it.

http://home.comcast.net/~cypherx/poweron.jpg

DVI does not contain the audio. Make sure your A/V equipment allows you to channel the audio in from another source (be it analog L/R, digital coax or toslink, etc...). In my case, my TV has 1 HDMI port with additional optional audio jacks. The other 2 HDMI ports do not have the extra audio jacks. Each equipment will have it's own limitation. Being that Component video is working for you, maybe it would be best to stick with it.

i have a DCH-3416 with Comcast. This morning the picture stopped working. I have confirmed that the problem is with the video of the box (I connected the cable inputs to a different video component and got a picture and connected a different cable input to the box and didn't get a picture). The box is giving sound and changing channels fine, just no picture.

Before I take it back (and lose everything on the DVR), does anybody know anything I could try first? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

As a quick follow-up, when I switch the resolution (from 720p to 480i and 480p and back to 720p), I get a split second of either a good picture or a garbled picture before it goes back to black.

My 6412 is having a major issue. It makes a loud click, shuts off, will not respond to any input, then a few seconds later it turns back on, having lost all menu & guide data. It does this both while recording and while not recording. I tried the DVR Authorization and Full Factory Reset as found on Wiki, but have not done the DVR HDD Reset.

Any ideas?

Sounds like DVR is on its way out. You might want to watch what you have recorded on there & swap it out before it goes for good. The clicking you're hearing is the beginning of the box reset, which also explains why the guide has to fill in again afterward.

My DCT-6416III is starting to introduce a framing drop on FPS on some HD recorded shows. I haven't been able to tell if it's only recorded items or live stuff yet. Sure happens on recorded shows though, but not all the time. Very strange. Wonder if it's the signal coming in or if it's a DVR box issue...

DCH's have been available for a few years here, but no news on DCXs for Insight Cable yet. I emailed them, but you can never tell f the person knows or looks up what you are asking...

My DCT-6416III is starting to introduce a framing drop on FPS on some HD recorded shows. I haven't been able to tell if it's only recorded items or live stuff yet. Sure happens on recorded shows though, but not all the time. Very strange. Wonder if it's the signal coming in or if it's a DVR box issue...

I've noticed it a few times on HD recorded shows, but not on HD live shows...

I've noticed it a few times on HD recorded shows, but not on HD live shows...There is no such thing as a "live show" on the Moto/Pace DVRs. Everything you watch is coming off the hard disk!!!!

Remember, the DVR is always recording the "live show" onto the hard disk for pause, replay, etc.

Hook up a nearby TV directly to the cable and put both on the same channel. You'll hear a long echo caused by the recording/playback cycle on the DVR.

There is no such thing as a "live show" on the Moto/Pace DVRs. Everything you watch is coming off the hard disk!!!!

Remember, the DVR is always recording the "live show" onto the hard disk for pause, replay, etc.

Whatever is coming from the air and is being distributed to my TV through the box itself...how's that? Sheesh!

Sheesh!You appear to miss my point entirely ... there is NO DIFFERENCE between "recorded" and "live" shows!!! Everything coming out of the DVR is recorded.

I think he took your point, but you seem to be ignoring his, unless you think there is no functional difference between a program that has completed recording, is stored on the HDD, and one that is playing "live" even though it is being buffered.

I think he took your point, but you seem to be ignoring his, unless you think there is no functional difference between a program that has completed recording, is stored on the HDD, and one that is playing "live" even though it is being buffered.Huh?

Popweaver alluded to dropped frames. You will see dropped frames and stutter when the DVR hard drive starts to go bad, but that affects both "liveTV" and recorded TV, because everything is read off the hard drive before it is displayed.

Channel recompression at the Comcast Media Center (CMC) can also introduce stutter during intense motion scenes when the bandwidth required exceeds that available on a particular mux. This is not hard drive related, and you see it regardless of whether you are watching "liveTV" or recorded TV.

There is no scenario that would produce dropped frames on recorded TV, but not "liveTV."

Thank you for the assist, bfdtv and kjbawc.

There is no scenario that would produce dropped frames on recorded TV, but not "liveTV."

Well, my DVR doesn't seem to feel obligated to conform to your expectations. I often watch things "live," while recording them for later transfer to DVD. On more than one occasion I have checked the recording later to find digital video glitches that were not visible while watching live. I have also found audio dropouts that were not present when "live." OTO, I have never seen a recording that didn't have any and all audio/visual glitches that I saw while watching "live."

There is no such thing as a "live show" on the Moto/Pace DVRs. Everything you watch is coming off the hard disk!!!!

Remember, the DVR is always recording the "live show" onto the hard disk for pause, replay, etc.
Doesn't that harm the quality of what you see, if you're always watching a recording?

unless you think there is no functional difference between a program that has completed recording, is stored on the HDD, and one that is playing "live" even though it is being buffered.There is no difference whatsoever.

Doesn't that harm the quality of what you see, if you're always watching a recording?It's digital. There is no quality loss created by the disk write/read process itself.

BUT ... these boxes are prone to memory 'leaks' (RAM ... not disk) so if you are getting visual artifacts I suggest resetting the DVR (pull power cord) every once in a while and try playback again.

Doesn't that harm the quality of what you see, if you're always watching a recording?A video file doesn't change just because you save it to your computer's hard drive. A DVR is no different. As far as your DVR is concerned, every digital channel is simply a MPEG-2 video file that can be saved to the disk.

When you record something, the video file is saved to the hard disk until you delete it. When you watch liveTV, the video file is saved to the hard disk in exactly the same way, but only on a temporary basis (i.e. "the buffer"). Everything viewed on the DVR is played back from the hard drive. That's how modern DVRs work.

Hard drives typically fail over time, so it is possible for a hard drive to develop bad sectors on the part of the drive used by the recordings...before the part used for temporary storage of liveTV.

A video file doesn't change just because you save it to your computer's hard drive.
It does if it's being saved, recorded, at a low quality. It still does even if it's being saved at the highest quality. That's why there are different record speeds; quality Vs. size.


When you record something, the video file is saved to the hard disk until you delete it. When you watch liveTV, the video file is saved to the hard disk in exactly the same way, but only on a temporary basis (i.e. "the buffer"). Everything viewed on the DVR is played back from the hard drive. That's how modern DVRs work.
That I knew, and I knew that DVR's had that pause and replay feature, but I never thought about how that's stored quality wise until now when someone mentioned it. I assumed it was a buffer, as in the RAM memory chip buffer any HD uses which is volatile memory, whereas the HD disk storage is permanent memory.

So if this data on a DVR goes to the buffer and not the HD, that makes sense you wouldn't lose any quality. But if it's really being played all the time from the HD, off of the HD, I don't understand how the quality can be exactly the same as the original broadcast because even at the best setting some quality will be lost.

I think everything goes through a buffer, then when reply is pressed it comes from the buffer, and if pause is pressed long enough it then goes from the buffer to the HD. Just a guess.

It does if it's being saved, recorded, at a low quality. It still does even if it's being saved at the highest quality. That's why there are different record speeds; quality Vs. size.There are no different record speeds on a DVR. You sound like you are talking about an analog VCR! :eek:

The DVRs record the incoming digital datastream directly from the digital tuners without any conversion of any form. So what is read off the hard drive is EXACTLY the same as what came down the wire from the cable company (for better or worse).I assumed it was a buffer, as in the RAM memory chip buffer any HD uses which is volatile memory, whereas the HD disk storage is permanent memory.DVRs have very little actual "RAM" memory ... perhaps as little as 48MB. HDTV runs at about 4-6GB per hour and the DVRs provides ~30min buffers for BOTH tuners ALL THE TIME ... that's between 4-6GB of buffer memory.

In the case of DVRs, hard disk storage is used as buffer memory. This is not speculation - it is a fact.

There are no different record speeds on a DVR. You sound like you are talking about an analog VCR! :eek:
Then why do they have different hours that can be recorded per HD size per quality? Such as, X hours at low quality, and X - X hours at a high quality?


In the case of DVRs, hard disk storage is used as buffer memory. This is not speculation - it is a fact.
How do you know that for a fact? I'm curious about this. Every HD has a buffer, and that's where most recently accessed data is stored for faster retrieval. So I'm curious why HD's in DVR's are not used in this way.

Then why do they have different hours that can be recorded per HD size per quality? Such as, X hours at low quality, and X - X hours at a high quality?The reason the number of hours available on a given DVR hard disk size varies, is that the incoming bit-rates vary by the program. The user has NO CONTROL at all over the incoming video stream. You get what you get. How do you know that for a fact?:confused: Perhaps because I am an engineer who worked in broadcasting for many, many years?? Perhaps because it is common knowledge in the industry?? What answer do you want?Every HD has a buffer, and that's where most recently accessed data is stored for faster retrieval.Data are only held in the buffer of a hard disk while waiting to be written to the hard disk or while being collected from random reads from the hard disk. There are never any data in the buffer which are not also written on the hard disk.So I'm curious why HD's in DVR's are not used in this way.The hard disks in DVRs are just plain ordinary hard disks. The Motorola boxes typically use Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 series drives which have an 8MB cache which will hold about 5 seconds of HDTV stream.

We pay about $350 for our DVRs where I come from. How much would it cost for 6GB or DRAM to buffer an hour of HDTV??? [Edit: I'll answer my own question ... http://www.jdoqocy.com/image-3136390-10521304Newegg has 6GB of suitable RAM (http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-3136390-10521304?URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.newegg.com%2FProduct%2FProduct .aspx%3FItem%3DN82E16820227381)for about $100 ... they also have a http://www.jdoqocy.com/image-3136390-10521304Seagate 160GB drive (http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-3136390-10521304?URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.newegg.com%2FProduct%2FProduct .aspx%3FItem%3DN82E16822148267) for only $55 :eek: Much, much cheaper to store video stream buffers on hard disks!!]

Perhaps you do not understand that a DVR is just a computer running some form of *nix operating system which has two digital TV tuners built in.

Then why do they have different hours that can be recorded per HD size per quality? Such as, X hours at low quality, and X - X hours at a high quality?Such quality settings only apply to analog channels. Analog channels cannot be written to the disk as is -- they must be digitally encoded before they can be written to disk.

TiVo, ReplayTV, and the Motorola 64xx DVRs all have built-in analog encoders to permit DVR capability with analog channels. TiVo and some others allow you to pick a quality setting to use when recording analog channels. But none of these settings apply to digital channels. Digital channels are always saved as is.

The Motorola 34xx DVRs do not have analog tuners or encoders. They only allow the tuning and recording of digital channels.

Make sure you do not confuse DVD recorders with DVRs. DVD recorders always re-encode channels, degrading quality. They do this because they use low-cost, all-in-one chipsets that cannot decode or output actual HD.

How do you know that for a fact? I'm curious about this. Every HD has a buffer, and that's where most recently accessed data is stored for faster retrieval. So I'm curious why HD's in DVR's are not used in this way.Yes.

Every hard drive has a buffer for cache purposes. Some read and write operations are predictable, and a built-in cache or buffer is used to speed these operations. This buffer / cache is not accessible to DVR hardware; it is used by the hard drive's built-in controller chipset to improve performance. Everything in the buffer is always written to the hard drive.

As noted above, high-definition requires up to 8.6GB per hour (1075x the size of the typical drive buffer), 4.3GB per 30 minutes, and 2.15GB per 15 minutes. The Motorola DVR has a 20-30 minute buffer per tuner, TiVo has a 30 minute buffer per tuner, and Moxi has a 1.5 hour buffer per tuner. This buffer always takes away from available recording capacity; on many DVRs, separate partitions on the hard drive are created and reserved for the buffer and recorded programs.

There is no difference whatsoever.



Hard drives typically fail over time, so it is possible for a hard drive to develop bad sectors on the part of the drive used by the recordings...before the part used for temporary storage of liveTV.

Ah, so there IS (or at least can be) a difference, and I'm NOT hallucinating after all. Thank you!

Make sure you do not confuse DVD recorders with DVRs. DVD recorders always re-encode channels, degrading quality. They do this because they use low-cost, all-in-one chipsets that cannot decode or output actual HD.
I wasn't confusing the two, I know the difference. I once had a DVD recorder. I just didn't understand the bit about how the HD buffer was used on a DVR, and how you're always watching what's coming off the HD. Thanks for the info.

Ah, so there IS (or at least can be) a difference, and I'm NOT hallucinating after all. Thank you!

No you're not hallucinating, I've seen this too.

But if it's really being played all the time from the HD, off of the HD, I don't understand how the quality can be exactly the same as the original broadcast because even at the best setting some quality will be lost.Wrong.

Unless it gets corrupted, it always is exactly the same no matter when you view it, in real time or at a later date.

bfdtv & cavu know of what they speak.

I read a few people say there E-sata was enabled on there 6416 Can you guys tell me what cable system you are on? And maybe a firmware version number. Thx

Wrong.

Unless it gets corrupted, it always is exactly the same no matter when you view it, in real time or at a later date.

bfdtv & cavu know of what they speak.
To elaborate on the quoted point -

Think of it this way...

0011001100110011

This sequence of numbers was typed in by me just now (the "live" feed), and is being read by you some minutes (hours, days, whatever) later. It looks exactly the same.... because it did not change when stored on this forum's server. You read it *verbatim* as I typed it in.

Now, consider that *all digital data* is written and read in the exact same manner. When you watch you digital cable, it's just a stream of 0s and 1s that is being interpreted by your cable box. It can store them on its hard drive just as they are, with or without interpretation. there's absolutely no conversion process (where one would normally lose quality). Bits in, bits out.

Does that make more sense?

To elaborate on the quoted point -

Think of it this way...

0011001100110011

This sequence of numbers was typed in by me just now (the "live" feed), and is being read by you some minutes (hours, days, whatever) later. It looks exactly the same.... because it did not change when stored on this forum's server. You read it *verbatim* as I typed it in.

Now, consider that *all digital data* is written and read in the exact same manner. When you watch you digital cable, it's just a stream of 0s and 1s that is being interpreted by your cable box. It can store them on its hard drive just as they are, with or without interpretation. there's absolutely no conversion process (where one would normally lose quality). Bits in, bits out.

Does that make more sense?

So if I read what you say correctly, hard drives don't/can't go bad? Sectors can't get corrupt after data is written to them? Not to mention after literally years of these boxes being 'on' while in circulation other components can't go bad & cause playback problems, CPU, etc?

I read a few people say there E-sata was enabled on there 6416 So far as I know, there are no Moto boxes w/enabled eSATA but the Pace boxes are so enabled.

hard drives don't/can't go bad?:rolleyes:

The specs for the Seagate DVR drives are:ReliabilityMTBF: 600,000 hour(s)
Non-Recoverable Errors: 1 per 10^14
Start / Stop Cycles: 50,000
That means that the disk will have a single, non-recoverable, disk read error once every quadrillion bits. That's one bit in every 12,500 Gigabytes. That's one bit in 2,083 two-hour HDTV movies.

The disk itself will fail (on average) every 68 years of continuous operation.

To put this all in perspective, here are some other odds:


Odds of bowling a 300 game: 11,500 to 1
Odds of getting a hole in one: 5,000 to 1
Odds of getting canonized: 20,000,000 to 1
Odds of being an astronaut: 13,200,000 to 1
Odds of winning an Olympic medal: 662,000 to 1
Odds of an American speaking Cherokee: 15000 to 1
Odds that a person between the age of 18 and 29 does NOT read a newspaper regularly: 3 to 1
Odds that an American adult does not want to live to age 120 under any circumstances: 3 to 2
Odds of injury from fireworks: 19,556 to 1
Odds of injury from shaving: 6,585 to 1
Odds of injury from using a chain saw: 4,464 to 1
Odds of injury from mowing the lawn: 3,623 to 1
Odds of fatally slipping in bath or shower: 2,232 to 1
Odds of drowning in a bathtub: 685,000 to 1
Odds of being killed on a 5-mile bus trip: 500,000,000 to 1
Odds of being killed sometime in the next year in any sort of transportation accident: 77 to 1
Odds of being killed in any sort of non-transportation accident: 69 to 1
Odds of being struck by lightning: 576,000 to 1
Odds of being killed by lightning: 2,320,000 to 1
Odds of being murdered: 18,000 to 1
Odds of getting away with murder: 2 to 1
Odds of being the victim of serious crime in your lifetime: 20 to 1
Odds of dating a supermodel: 88,000 to 1
Odds of being considered possessed by Satan: 7,000 to 1
Odds that a first marriage will survive without separation or divorce for 15 years: 1.3 to 1
Odds that a celebrity marriage will last a lifetime: 3 to 1
Odds of getting hemorrhoids: 25 to 1
Odds of being born a twin in North America: 90 to 1
Odds of being on plane with a drunken pilot: 117 to 1
Odds of being audited by the IRS: 175 to 1
Odds of having your identity stolen: 200 to 1
Odds of dating a millionaire: 215 to 1
Odds of dating a supermodel: 88,000 to 1
Odds of writing a New York Times best seller: 220 to 1
Odds of finding out your child is a genius: 250 to 1
Odds of catching a ball at a major league ballgame: 563 to 1
Odds of becoming a pro athlete: 22,000 to 1
Odds of finding a four-leaf clover on first try: 10,000 to 1
Odds of a person in the military winning the Medal of Honor: 11,000 to 1
Odds of winning an Academy Award: 11,500 to 1
Odds of striking it rich on Antiques Roadshow: 60,000 to 1
Odds of getting a royal flush in poker on first five cards dealt: 649,740 to 1
Odds of spotting a UFO today: 3,000,000 to 1
Odds of becoming president: 10,000,000 to 1
Odds of winning the California lottery: 13,000,000 to 1
Odds of becoming a saint: 20,000,000 to 1
Odds of a meteor landing on your house: 182,138,880,000,000 to 1
Chance of an American home having at least one container of ice cream in the freezer: 9 in 10.
Chance of dying from any kind of injury during the next year: 1 in 1,820
Chance of dying from intentional self-harm: 1 in 9,380
Chance of dying from an assault: 1 in 16,421
Chance of dying from a car accident: 1 in 18,585
Chance of dying from any kind of fall: 1 in 20,666
Chance of dying from accidental drowning: 1 in 79,065
Chance of dying from exposure to smoke, fire, and flames: 1 in 81,524
Chance of dying in an explosion: 1 in 107,787
Chance that Earth will experience a catastrophic collision with an asteroid in the next 100 years: 1 in 5,000
Chance of dying in such a collision: 1 in 20,000
Chance of dying from exposure to forces of nature (heat, cold, lightning, earthquake, flood): 1 in 225,107
Chance of dying in an airplane accident: 1 in 354,319
Chance of dying from choking on food: 1 in 370,035
Chance of dying in a terrorist attack while visiting a foreign country: 1 in 650,000
Chance of dying in a fireworks accident: 1 in 1,000,000
Chance of dying from overexertion, travel or privation: 1 in 1,428,377
Chance of dying from food poisoning: 1 in 3,000,000
Chance of dying from legal execution: 1 in 3,441,325
Chance of dying from contact with hot tap water: 1 in 5,005,564
Chance of dying from parts falling off an airplane: 1 in 10,000,000
Chance of dying from ignition or melting of nightwear: 1 in 30,589,556
Chance of dying from being bitten by a dog: 1 in 700,000
Chance of dying from contact with a venomous animal or plant: 1 in 3,441,325
Chance of dying from being bitten or struck by mammals (other than dogs or humans): 1 in 4,235,477
Chance of dying from a mountain lion attack in California: 1 in 32,000,000
Chance of dying from a shark attack: 1 in 300,000,000
Chance of having a stroke: 1 in 6
Chance of dying from heart disease: 1 in 3
Chance of getting arthritis: 1 in 7
Chance of suffering from asthma or allergy diseases: 1 in 6
Chance of getting the flu this year: 1 in 10
Chance of contracting the human version of mad cow disease: 1 in 40,000,000
Chance of dying from SARS in the United States: 1 in 100,000,000
Chance of American man developing cancer in his lifetime: 1 in 2
Chance of an American woman developing cancer in her lifetime: 1 in 3
Chance of getting prostate cancer: 1 in 6
Chance of getting breast cancer: 1 in 9
Chance of getting colon / rectal cancer: 1 in 26
Chance of beating pancreatic or liver cancer: 1 in 9
Chance of beating thyroid or testicular cancer: 9 in 10

I just got a newer DCH-6416. Seems when I try and set up a series recording, the unit locks up, then resets leaving no programing info in the guide. Is this a common issue with these boxes?

Is this a common issue with these boxes?No. Call your cable company.

Wrong.

Unless it gets corrupted, it always is exactly the same no matter when you view it, in real time or at a later date.

bfdtv & cavu know of what they speak.
I never said anything to the contrary. I only wanted to learn more about how this specific function worked in DVR's.

:rolleyes:

The specs for the Seagate DVR drives are:ReliabilityMTBF: 600,000 hour(s)
Non-Recoverable Errors: 1 per 10^14
Start / Stop Cycles: 50,000
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]That means that the disk will have a single, non-recoverable, disk read error once every quadrillion bits. That's one bit in every 12,500 Gigabytes. That's one bit in 2,083 two-hour HDTV movies.

The disk itself will fail (on average) every 68 years of continuous operation.

Assuming my Moto has a Seagate drive, I guess someone used it for about 65 years before I got it. If it's NOT a Seagate, I sure wish it was... :D

No. Call your cable company.

Further testing reviled that it was only 1 show causing this to happen. (tested 2 different days as well...) Really strange.

Help/advice needed........

My comcast motorola dvr keeps reseting to the default settings/hdmi settings. It actually happens every time i turn the tv itself off?? the settings stay when 1) i use the dvr, 2)shut off just the cable box, and 3)turn the avr on and off. However if i turn the tv off even leaving the cable box on the settings all reset to the defaults. i see some flickering in the clock area and when the picture shows up the settings have all been reset, very weird, any thoughts? I want it to stay on 4:3 overide= stretch and under additional hdmi settings i want it to stay on RGB. They both get reset to 480i and something like yyy my resolution stays on 1080i luckily but if i want it to be on 720p it goes back to 1080i. I simply power off the dvr, press menu, change my settings then press menu again. The screen goes black and the clock disappears. I finally turn the dvr back on the settings are working. If I turn my tv off however it resets?? I have tried unplugging all three devices and letting them reset but no luck.
my equipment all connected by hdmi:
1)Pioneer 42 PDP-42A3HD Plasma
2)Yahmaha RX-V465
3)motorola 34xx dvr

killah,

That is a known issue with Yamaha A/V receivers. You'll experience the same issue when using a number of different STBs/DVRs with the Yamaha A/V receivers. It is not specific to Motorola DVRs.

If you can return your Yamaha, you might look at receivers from Denon or Pioneer, neither of which exhibit this problem.

Latest on my failing Moto 6412.

I finally got all the recordings off of it and did both a DVR HDD Reset & DVR Authorization and Factory Full Reset, per the Wiki info.

It still is resetting itself, and it seems to do it most often shortly after powering up. I think it may be a basket case.

killah,

That is a known issue with Yamaha A/V receivers. You'll experience the same issue when using a number of different STBs/DVRs with the Yamaha A/V receivers. It is not specific to Motorola DVRs.

If you can return your Yamaha, you might look at receivers from Denon or Pioneer, neither of which exhibit this problem.

but i can turn the avr on and off and the settings stay anyway.....where can i read more about it?:(

Anyone have the discrete on and off codes for the DCH 3416? I am setting up my H-1 and want to switch from power toggle to discrete commands. I called motorola and they said they "must not " have them but have searched this forum and seen mention that they do exist, I guess this is in hex code. Logitech does not have them but will set me up if I get the hex code. I guess other option is to leave dvr on all the time, I want to change as I get out of synch sometimes, thanks, mcdee

Anyone have the discrete on and off codes for the DCH 3416? I am setting up my H-1 and want to switch from power toggle to discrete commands. I called motorola and they said they "must not " have them but have searched this forum and seen mention that they do existI'm not sure where you read that. Motorola DVRs do not have discrete on/off codes.

On the Devices tab in the Harmony software, I suggest you set the Motorola DVR to remain on all the time. The power button on the Motorola only turns off the video output and the power LED on the front of the unit, saving 1-2 watts at most. The rest of the DVR always remains running.

but i can turn the avr on and off and the settings stay anyway.....where can i read more about it?:(I don't know of any articles. But it is mentioned in various Yamaha AVR threads in the AMPs, Receivers, and Processors (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=90) forum. There are also comments about it throughout this forum and the Blu-ray player forum.

The first thing I'd do would be to check the owners thread for your AVR in the A/V receivers section (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=90). I'm not aware of any solution, besides returning the AVR and buying a different make/model.

Does anyone know which model will Comcast give nowadays when someone orders an HD DVR?

Does anyone know which model will Comcast give nowadays when someone orders an HD DVR?Only Comcast reps do.  The actual model varies from region to region and area to area.

Here in Chicago Area 2 they'd exchange my DCH3416 for another DCH3416, or they'd issue me another DCH3416 if I wanted one for another outlet.  But unless you're moving to the Northwest Side or West Side of Chicago, Illinois, in the near future and you're asking about service here rather than service in Alpharetta, Georgia, that's of no informative value to you whatever.

More specifically, only Comcast Reps at office counters and dispatching offices know. The folks on the telephone don't have access to precise information along those lines.

More specifically, only Comcast Reps at office counters and dispatching offices know. The folks on the telephone don't have access to precise information along those lines.

I found that out today when trying to determine which model might be availalbe in North Fulton county (Georgia)...

My DCT3416 finally gave out on me after 2 pretty good years of (almost) trouble free operation.

Any chance someone has picked up a new dual tuner HD DVR in GA (Roswell / Alpharetta) lately, say in the last month or two?

And / or any specific recommendations on which model I should request or stay far away from (assuming they have more than one model available)?

Thanks!
Jeff

Does anyone know which model will Comcast give nowadays when someone orders an HD DVR?Comcast knows. :eek:

Why don't you call them and ask!?!?!?! :rolleyes:

More specifically, only Comcast Reps at office counters and dispatching offices know. The folks on the telephone don't have access to precise information along those lines.

Ideally you would be correct, however even some of the people that have their hands on the converters don't really know what models they're dealing with!

People can try requesting whatever model they want if a tech is coming out with box but unfortunately 99% of the time it comes down to what is being issued out by their local warehouse at the time. So it's pretty much a crap shoot. I'd say best bet on getting what you really want would be to visit local office & be nice to the rep at the counter.

Hi, new to avsforum. Had a few questions hopefully someone can answer.

1. I've programmed 30-sec skip into the remote. Is there a way to program 30-min skip like TiVo? (i.e. while in >> mode, hitting 30-sec skip advances to next hash mark, but there are no hash marks on the Moto flipbar)

2. Flipbar questions. Settings has an option to have the flipbar on top or bottom, but it always appears on bottom regardless of settings. Is this a common problem? Also, is there any way to have the flipbar disappear when in <<, >>, slow-motion, pause, or frame-by-frame? It's pretty lame right now since sports scores and such often appear at the bottom of the screen, so it's hard to scan through 12 hrs of French Open tennis if you can't see the scores.

3. Has there been a fix/workaround to the key-queuing problem?

hxxp://newteevee.com/2007/12/06/pushing-buttons-comcasts-key-queuing/

Comcast noticed a big spike in key queuing issues after it implemented the latest version of the guide software this year.

Comcast is implementing a fix; it’s being tested as we speak. According to Hess, the new software drastically improves the key queuing issues, and Comcast is aiming to have it rolled it out, nationwide, by mid-February of 2008.

I just got my DVR a month ago, so I guess TWC has not fixed it?

That's it for now. Any help/info is greatly appreciated! :)

2. Flipbar questions. Settings has an option to have the flipbar on top or bottom, but it always appears on bottom regardless of settings. Is this a common problem?Seems so; I can't get it to move either.Also, is there any way to have the flipbar disappear when in <<, >>, slow-motion, pause, or frame-by-frame?Press EXIT.3. Has there been a fix/workaround to the key-queuing problem?No.

Thanks dattier, at least one of my problems is solved!

2. Flipbar questions. Settings has an option to have the flipbar on top or bottom, but it always appears on bottom regardless of settings. Is this a common problem? Also, is there any way to have the flipbar disappear when in <<, >>, slow-motion, pause, or frame-by-frame? It's pretty lame right now since sports scores and such often appear at the bottom of the screen, so it's hard to scan through 12 hrs of French Open tennis if you can't see the scores.



The "dvr flip bar" is always at the bottom for me (the bar you see when you use ff, rew, play,etc...) but the "info flip bar" (what you see when you change the channel or press the info button while watching a show, not in user guide mode) will move the bottom or top (well, more like the upper middle than the top) depending on the settings.

Comcast knows. :eek:

Why don't you call them and ask!?!?!?! :rolleyes:

They don't even know what the heck model they have when they are handing it to you...:rolleyes:

Had enough with the DCH-6416...missing recordings (re: recording two HD shows at the same time, recording episodes of "Series Recording" shows that I had deselected only for it to return as soon as an hour later as marked for recording, etc.). The tech from Charter didn't have another DCH-6416 to do an even swap, but had a Motorola MOXI HD DVR available, so I'm giving it a try now. So far, so good. Best of luck to everyone else who has the DCH-6416 and to those who provided input on my comments/questions over the last few months!

Latest on my failing Moto 6412.

I finally got all the recordings off of it and did both a DVR HDD Reset & DVR Authorization and Factory Full Reset, per the Wiki info.

It still is resetting itself, and it seems to do it most often shortly after powering up. I think it may be a basket case.

Interesting...a new apartment complex just opened across the street from our condos. The techs who were working on my signal said that all of the new tenants were having that same problem (though they only have four or five tenants so far). The leasing office, which had service several months before the move-ins did not have the problem. The techs said that there was a wiring issue that was causing the tenants' problems. I am wondering if anything has changed in the wiring around where you live?

Interesting...a new apartment complex just opened across the street from our condos. The techs who were working on my signal said that all of the new tenants were having that same problem (though they only have four or five tenants so far). The leasing office, which had service several months before the move-ins did not have the problem. The techs said that there was a wiring issue that was causing the tenants' problems. I am wondering if anything has changed in the wiring around where you live?

Unlikely. The other box I have, a 6200, is working fine,

The "dvr flip bar" is always at the bottom for me (the bar you see when you use ff, rew, play,etc...) but the "info flip bar" (what you see when you change the channel or press the info button while watching a show, not in user guide mode) will move the bottom or top (well, more like the upper middle than the top) depending on the settings.

I think this may be where much of the confusion is from. That 'flip bar' top or bottom option is only for the 'info flip bar', the other bar people are referring to is the 'transport bar' or fast forward/rewind indicator & unfortunately can't be moved at this time.

Hi, new to avsforum. Had a few questions hopefully someone can answer.

1. I've programmed 30-sec skip into the remote. Is there a way to program 30-min skip like TiVo? (i.e. while in >> mode, hitting 30-sec skip advances to next hash mark, but there are no hash marks on the Moto flipbar)

I think you pretty much answered your own question on that one, there are no tick marks on the bar so it wouldn't know where to stop even if there was some way to enable that feature. Maybe (hopefully) in a future version?

BTW, welcome to the forum. :)

Question for the masses (who were so easily able to help program the forward skip). Hopefully in the right thread.

I have been able to program my remote -- http://product.expotv.com/1/9/6/196551_150x150.jpg -- to control every aspect of every device well enough so that it is the only one I need to use, EXCEPT one:

When I want to change inputs from, say, the cable box ("Video 4") to the DVD player ("Video 5"), I press the "TV" button at the top of the remote to have the remote control the TV itself, then the "input" on the remote to bring up the TV's input list. I can then scroll up or down to "Video 5," but no button on the remote will actually activate the input selection that's highlighted. I've tried the "OK" button in the center of the remote; I've tried the little "enter" button down near the "input" button, (and several others) but to no avail.


Any suggestions? It would be nice not to have to fish out the TV's individual remote just to switch the input.

Any suggestions? It would be nice not to have to fish out the TV's individual remote just to switch the input.

Check out the following 2 pages:

http://www.hifi-remote.com/ofa/advanced.shtml

http://www.hifi-remote.com/ofa/adv-codes.shtml

You should be able to program a button (maybe one of the unused PIP buttons) to do what you want depending on whether or not your TV is listed in the second link. It may be some trial & error & may take a couple times to get the process down right but good chance it'll work. I programmed a buddy's remote to work his PIP using this method on the same remote. Personally I like using the JP1 programming on my remotes where the possibilities are nearly endless, but this should be fine for your purposes.
Good luck!

Check out the following 2 pages:

http://www.hifi-remote.com/ofa/advanced.shtml

http://www.hifi-remote.com/ofa/adv-codes.shtml

You should be able to program a button (maybe one of the unused PIP buttons) to do what you want depending on whether or not your TV is listed in the second link. It may be some trial & error & may take a couple times to get the process down right but good chance it'll work. I programmed a buddy's remote to work his PIP using this method on the same remote. Personally I like using the JP1 programming on my remotes where the possibilities are nearly endless, but this should be fine for your purposes.
Good luck!

Thanks. I'll give it a shot.

My Panasonic E100H has a recording option call Auto Renewal that keeps only the latest copy of a recurring program. Does the 34xx have similar capability? I've tried setting series record options to record only new instances and keep only one copy but that results in just one copy being recorded. Subsequent instances aren't recorded until I delete the one recording.

Thanks...

Nothing like that, but I've noticed if I delete a show it comes back a day later. For example Jon & Kate Plus 8 comes on new on Monday Nights. Say I end up watching it that night, and delete it. Well the next day it might be right back on there.

Aww, I miss my Moxi. The PSU broke, so it wouldn't power up, and when TWC came over to replace it, they gave us a new DVR that works like crap. Everyone in my family hates it, as it doesn't respond half the time, switching from an HD channel to a SD program on the HDD will mess up the audio, horrible series recording; I could go on forever.

If you are on TWC and you are lucky enough to have your old Moxi, KEEP IT! Take it to a technician to get it fixed and avoid ever having to use TVC's new DVR's!

just picked up my dch 3416 today .. the dct 3416 was getting way to hot really hot to the touch and not when it was on in stand by too.anyway not why im on here I have a light plugged into the outlet on the back of the box and have set in the menu to switched . but its not switching on and off like it did on the dct 3416 is there a fix for this or just take it back and get another one .. thanks for any help

just picked up my dch 3416 today .. the dct 3416 was getting way to hot really hot to the touch and not when it was on in stand by too.anyway not why im on here I have a light plugged into the outlet on the back of the box and have set in the menu to switched . but its not switching on and off like it did on the dct 3416 is there a fix for this or just take it back and get another one .. thanks for any help

If you read next to the outlet on the box it says "unswitched". So regardless of what you set it to in the menu you can't switch it. It's like that on all the newer boxes so unless you want to trade it out for a really old model you're unfortunately out of luck.

I think too many people had TV's coming on in the middle of the night when it was set to switched so Moto changed it. :D

So, what is the best Motorola model that Comcast has today?

Each local area has different equipment, so there is no good way to answer that question without misleading you. The best we can do is to ask that question in the dedicated thread for your local area and service provider.

United States THREAD INDEX - find your local discussion thread HERE (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=453241)

Does anyone know if both tuners in the DCH3416 DVR are accessible via firewire?

Does anyone know if both tuners in the DCH3416 DVR are accessible via firewire?The Firewire implementation is no different than on past Motorola boxes. Only the currently selected tuner is available.

The hardware in the DCH does not have the capability to do what you ask. The DCX hardware may have that capability, but that box still functions like the earlier models.

Thanks for the reply.

There are two firewire ports on the DCH3416. I was hoping each is connected to the corresponding tuner. Oh well.

Any idea what the 2nd firewire port is for?

Thanks for the reply.

There are two firewire ports on the DCH3416. I was hoping each is connected to the corresponding tuner. Oh well.

Any idea what the 2nd firewire port is for?You might have a Firewire connection to a TV and a Firewire connection to a D-VHS HDTV VCR (or a future Blu-ray recorder).

Any idea what the 2nd firewire port is for?As Sheldon Harnick put it, "One more going nowhere just for show."

Does anyone else have a problem with their MOTO box not starting scheduled recordings?

I'd say 65% of the time it works. The other 35, it will simply act as if no recording was set or on the screen it will pop-up and say 'your scheduled recording has begun' and then do nothing.

I have a new TV being fed via HDMI from a Charter DCH416. All HD channels are outputed as 1080i and al SD channels are outputed as 480i. My new TV does not like being switched from HD to SD. Sometimes the video goes completly away (audio remains). Sometimes I get 1/2 screen size full picture on 1/2 of the screen. And sometimes the picture is on the screen twice on the top and the bottom of the screen. This all occurrs when I switch and does not alway happen.

Any comments as to what/if/should/ I do to prevent this?

Since it supposedly all digital into the DVR what kind of signal is 480i out? Is it analog or digital?

Should I change it to have 480p output? I always figured the TV had as good or better decoding (correct word?) than the box. I think I could set them to all go to 1080i, but then the 480i signals would be converted to 1080i by the DVR then changed to 1080 p by the TV (its native resolution, again I think that is true statement, so that would be two extra conversions.

Any and all answers and comments welcomed.

I have a new TV being fed via HDMI from a Charter DCH416. All HD channels are outputed as 1080i and al SD channels are outputed as 480i. My new TV does not like being switched from HD to SD. Sometimes the video goes completly away (audio remains). Sometimes I get 1/2 screen size full picture on 1/2 of the screen. And sometimes the picture is on the screen twice on the top and the bottom of the screen. This all occurrs when I switch and does not alway happen.

Any comments as to what/if/should/ I do to prevent this?

Since it supposedly all digital into the DVR what kind of signal is 480i out? Is it analog or digital?

Should I change it to have 480p output? I always figured the TV had as good or better decoding (correct word?) than the box. I think I could set them to all go to 1080i, but then the 480i signals would be converted to 1080i by the DVR then changed to 1080 p by the TV (its native resolution, again I think that is true statement, so that would be two extra conversions.

Any and all answers and comments welcomed.

You could try changing to 480p but if you change to "override"=off it will fix it. Only problem is that you'll have bars on the sides of all your SD channels. Depending on your TV you may be able to keep one aspect/zoom for your HD and a different one for your SD channels though.

You could try changing to 480p but if you change to "override"=off it will fix it. Only problem is that you'll have bars on the sides of all your SD channels. Depending on your TV you may be able to keep one aspect/zoom for your HD and a different one for your SD channels though.

When I turn the overide off, the TV says it is receiving a 1080i signal that is 16:9, so yes the black bars are there. Since the TV thinks it is getting a full picture, if I go to a zoom setting then all 1080i outputs (all channels when set to off) then I get a distored zoom picture on true HD signals. I do not think eithe of my Sonys could handle it any differently. I do not know about any other brand.

So, if I set the over ride to 4:3, am I sending a ture 4:3 digital signal to my TV, which then in turn can "zoom or full" it?

IOW, if overide is set to off are SD channels sent to the TV unaltered 4:3 SD digital form (Remember I have the DCH 3416, so I cannot get analog channels) and similarly then the HD signals sent to the TV unaltered in 1080i format? I think that to be true and thus am letting the TV do all of the converting to other resolutions and formats.

My TV is a 1080p set, so I am assuming that all channels are being converted to that resolution with the "stretching " of SD channels taking place within the TV. Correct?

if overide is set to off are SD channels sent to the TV unaltered 4:3 SD digital form [...] and similarly then the HD signals sent to the TV unaltered in 1080i format? ISet the output to 1080i and Override = OFF.

That way your SDTV channels will maintain their proper aspect ratios and all output sent to the TV will be 1080i so the TV doesn't have to keep resyncing.

Set the output to 1080i and Override = OFF.

That way your SDTV channels will maintain their proper aspect ratios and all output sent to the TV will be 1080i so the TV doesn't have to keep resyncing.

If I set it to 480i, I thought that I would be sending the TV an unaltered signal direct from Charter in its orginal resolution (480i digital) Is this not correct? If so why let the box turn it into 1080i and then let the TV turn it into 1080p. Seem like I could cut out one transformation, one less chance for degradation due to conversion. Is this correct or not? If so why then would I want to set it to off and do two transformation instead of one? The aspect ration stays the same either way, does it not? Looks like it to me.


This is where I started:

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"]"I have a new TV being fed via HDMI from a Charter DCH416. All HD channels%

Is this not correct?You are correct.

However, your original problem was that the TV didn't like resyncing. You can't have it both ways.

IAC, the Moto boxes do a reasonable job of upconverting the 480i to 1080i. And the TV obviously must go from 1080i to 1080p. Those are two separate processes.

So long as your TV is 1080p, then what I suggest does not duplicate any conversion - it has to be done somewhere!

PS. The Moto boxes do NOT do a good job downconverting from 1080i to 720p.

PS. The Moto boxes do NOT do a good job downconverting from 1080i to 720p.

That is one thing that I am enjoying about the DCX3400. It will send 720p or 1080i to the TV based on the program being broadcast.

You are correct.

However, your original problem was that the TV didn't like resyncing. You can't have it both ways.

IAC, the Moto boxes do a reasonable job of upconverting the 480i to 1080i. And the TV obviously must go from 1080i to 1080p. Those are two separate processes.

So long as your TV is 1080p, then what I suggest does not duplicate any conversion - it has to be done somewhere!

PS. The Moto boxes do NOT do a good job downconverting from 1080i to 720p.

My post got truncated, but you got the gist of it.

So where is there not a double conversion on a SD signal.

Charter sends out a 480i digital. The box converts it to 1080i , then the TV cinverts that to 1080p. I would seem if I set the bypass to 480i, then the signal would pass directly to the TV which would then convert it to 1080p. Do I have that correct?

Now yes, you did answer my question as to the TV stuttering when switching from 480i to 1080i, but I think I am cutting out one conversion. We seem to disagree on this, please straighten me out or confirm.

You are right, I cannot have it both ways, but my family likes to have the screen full. If I send a SD signal to the TV via 1080i (4:3 by pass = off as you suggested) it stays at its orginal aspect ratio ok, but with black bars (it is after all a 1080i signal by the box due to the bypass being off) on each side, because the TV thinks it is getting a HD signal. However if I tell it to stretch it one way or another, the HD signals which are also seen by the TV as 1080i get the same stretch, and I do not want to do that.

So, I only see one automatic solution, and that is to use 480i or 480p. Manually, I could stretch all 4:3 signals, but to the non technically inclined in the family that unacceptable. Now if you are not married, maybe you cannot relate, but I bet there are plenty on here who can.

I was hit with my FOURTH Emergency Alert Weekly Test in the last 5 days. Needless to say, I will be contacting Comcast now. I understand the need for the system but you don't have to test it daily.

I was hit with my FOURTH Emergency Alert Weekly Test in the last 5 days. Needless to say, I will be contacting Comcast now. I understand the need for the system but you don't have to test it daily.

What do you really think is going to happen? They are REQUIRED to run the test, Comcast is not the ones initiating the test.

Really! Why does anyone thing that Comcast runs the tests? Comcast is a cable company, not a broadcaster!

What do you really think is going to happen? They are REQUIRED to run the test, Comcast is not the ones initiating the test.

I'm hoping Comcast at least questions why a WEEKLY test has to be run seemingly everyday. The local broadcast channels don't even run the test during the week, as far as I have seen.

EDIT: I had meant to put this in the Comcast Motorola thread, don't know how it ended up here.

I'm hoping Comcast at least questions why a WEEKLY test has to be run seemingly everyday. The local broadcast channels don't even run the test during the week, as far as I have seen.

EDIT: I had meant to put this in the Comcast Motorola thread, don't know how it ended up here.

One possibility behind the multiple tests is that your cable system is serving multiple locations which means that the headend has to pass through tests for a few different areas. Not all the areas do the test on the same day, thus you see multiple tests.

I'm hoping Comcast at least questions why a WEEKLY test has to be run seemingly everyday.I think you really need to learn about what EAS is all about. It isn't something that the cable company has anything to do with, really, except that they're required to obey the signal. You're barking up the wrong tree, completely.

Just got a DCH6416 as a second DVR for our bedroom. But currently have an older DCT6416 III hooked up to my 50" plasma downstairs. I was considering putting the newer one on the plasma, but have a ton of recording I haven't watched yet. Is there that much noticable difference in PQ between these two DVRs?

There shouldn't be. They practically identical in terms of the components that affect playback quality.

I think you really need to learn about what EAS is all about. It isn't something that the cable company has anything to do with, really, except that they're required to obey the signal. You're barking up the wrong tree, completely.
Jumping in here: I worked in radio & TV for 30 years and never figured out why those EANS tests, especially in recent years, had to make so much noise. Everyone knows how to send tones or alerts digitally without making them disruptive. The tests aren't aimed at the audience, they're designed to make sure an alert signal can make it all the way through the chain. Used to be stations used audible tones 'cause that's all they could do, but with more modern technology, no need to make them audible.

If they would just send them through at a normal volume, so I don't have to jump to turn down the volume instantly, attempting to avoid ear, speaker, and amp damage, that would be nice...

Are you suggesting they use inaudible tones, either too high, or too low, for humans to hear? I have no low pass filters in my system. A few years back, I blew an amp, because AMC was sending some very low, almost below hearing, tone, at a fairly high volume, on the right channel, most of the time. On an average consumer system, it would not have been audible. So, much as I would like for the EAS to go away, inaudible tones scare me a bit.

I need help! I just bought Denon AVR-1910. hook up the DCH3416 to AVR 1910 through HDMI. Set audio output to TV. I only use the TV's speakers. Every time I turn off every thing, then turn them back on. there is no sound. I have to re-select the audio output to TV again (TV output option still there). Same thing happens when I switched from DVD/Bluray back to DCH 3416. From DCH 3416 to DVD/Bluray, everything is fine.

Any reason I did not get audio? Am I missing something here?

My assumption about the noise was to ensure that part of the test is the testing of the mechanism that ensures that the tests would gain casual viewers' attention.

Hi all, Great site- just joined.

I know there has been much discussion about archiving material off the hdmi out of the cable dvr box. Ours is a comcast motorola dch3416. I prieviously recorded stuff about the last election and the Bejing olympics and now dont have much space left.

Is there a system or device that I can transfer stuff to, then erase it on my 3416, but still be able to acces it later.

I have no interest in copying movies or other protected material? Thank you.

An incredibly stupid question, but I have my DCH6416 setup, but one thing that is driving me nuts is that you have to press in leading zeros for all channels under 100. For instance, going to channel 7 has to be 007. I know it's a small complaint, but it's really annoying and it doesn't work that way on the DCT6416 that I have (just press 7).

Anyway to change this?

@awp, take a look in the setup menus and look for auto tunning. Set it to yes so that you don't need to add the leading zeros.

-Steve

In the main menu, enter setup, then guide setup, then channel behavior, and set it to "auto tune". It only has two positions, auto tune or no auto tune.

Anyway to change this?I believe its called "Autotune" in the setup menu.

Yesterday, I recorded two bowling matches and one Nascar race.
When I tried to watch the bowling matches(ESPNHD), first one froze video only with sound working correctly.
Second bowling match, didn't get past first 5 minutes of watching, video froze with sound working correctly.
Nascar Race(TNTHD) played back correctly.
In both cases, cycling power did not help. FF & RWD did not help.
The DVR is DCT 6416, S/W:75.59 -a25p2-2.s1.r-8: F/W: 16.53

Any ideas on problem other than swapping out DVR?

Thanks.

I have my DCH 3416 set to 1080i and 480i on 4:3 pass through. NBC and CBS broadcast in 1080i. The SD channels are in 480i.

Does that mean that the above channels are just passed through the DVR to the TV, and is there a frequency conversion? Other info?

I assume that ABC and FOX which are 720p are converted to 1080i by the box.

Ultimaltelly, if I understand it correctly, my TV which is 1080p native resolution, converts all of the above to 1080p. Is that correct?

Lastly, what resolution are the typical HD cable channels, such as ESPN, AE, History, etc, etc?

Does that mean that the above channels are just passed through the DVR to the TV, and is there a frequency conversion? Other info?Yes, nothing is done to the SDTV channels.I assume that ABC and FOX which are 720p are converted to 1080i by the box.Yes.my TV which is 1080p native resolution, converts all of the above to 1080p. Is that correct?Yes.what resolution are the typical HD cable channels, such as ESPN, AE, History, etc, etc?See the The Official AVS HDTV Programming Synopsis - Summer 2009 (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=164671)

"Yes, nothing is done to the SDTV channels"

Thanks for all your answers. You might have skipped over my question regarding HD broadcast channels. Are NBC and CBS which are 1080i just passed through also? Add is this question, are they encrypted someplace or is it just a frequency conversion that prevents the QAM tuner from tuning them in?

TIA

Greetings.

I've been recording programming off my Charter 6416 via firewire for a few weeks now, and I noticed something odd today.

It would appear that sometime recently the STB stopped outputting 5.1 over the IEEE 1394 output.

Has anyone observed this before, and found a way to fix it?

My assumption about the noise was to ensure that part of the test is the testing of the mechanism that ensures that the tests would gain casual viewers' attention.

You shouldn't assume things.

The test is just that, a test to make sure the system is working. It doesn't have to alert anyone of anything. As long as the cable company or the EAS provider can tell that the signal is getting through, that is the only purpose of the test.

The loud tone and simplistic transmission is just laziness.

You shouldn't assume things.Not true. As long as assumptions are clearly highlighted, there is no harm in making assumptions when the available information is lacking in sufficient detail.

The loud tone and simplistic transmission is just laziness.With respect, I don't believe such a generalization. I think you're making assumptions, without clearly highlighting them in your assertion.

Fact is, they don't even need to make the notification audible. The tests are designed to make sure equipment along the line responds: that station staff are notified and that switching equiopment, if automated, will respond and do whatever needs to be done. The tones are there because no one has been willing to move to digital notification to get the noise off the air.

Cox does the same thing here and it's infuriating. They totally tie-up viewing for 5 minutes. Loud obnoxious sounds and voice-overs 20db louder than TV that blow your speakers, and they mute the freakin' audio on all channels! They are so incompetent that when audio finally is supposed to return when the test is over, some idiot forgets to "throw a switch" and the TV programs' audio is still gone!

All of this is totally uncalled for. They apparently never heard of simply running a scroll at the bottom while allowing the programs to continue.

Good day techno-friends. The other day there was a power spike that knocked out my whole house. After resetting the main breaker, my TV was no longer showing any picture after a channel change until I press rewing or fast forward on the remote. I don't know if the two things are related, but I'd like your suggestions as to how to solve this problem. I have a Motorola 6416.

Good day techno-friends. The other day there was a power spike that knocked out my whole house. After resetting the main breaker, my TV was no longer showing any picture after a channel change until I press rewing or fast forward on the remote. I don't know if the two things are related, but I'd like your suggestions as to how to solve this problem. I have a Motorola 6416.

Did you reset the Moto 6416, by unplugging, then waiting for about 30 seconds, replugging and then let the box reload?

Did you reset the Moto 6416, by unplugging, then waiting for about 30 seconds, replugging and then let the box reload?
Thanks. Yes I did. And I also asked the cable company re-send the signal. No luck. Any other suggestions? or any idea what's wrong?

I just recently got a DCT-3416-I HD-DVR box.

I was wondering if You could add addition storage using eSATA or usb. so i called comcrap and they said NO they dont support it for copy-right reasons. bummer. That sucks royally. :(

My local (Shaw) cableco tells me that the NEXT FIRMWARE RELEASE WILL ENABLE THE USB PORT on the Moto boxes so that they will operate like the Pace boxes.

Whether I believe him or not is the question. He sounded sincere and understood the question but Shaw have lied to me before ... many times. :rolleyes:

I'm having lots of hassles with one of my Pace boxes and he was suggesting if I can hang in, they would swap it for a Moto box when the firmware was updated so that I could continue using my external disk !?!?!?!

My parents have the 6412 III box from Comcast and recently 'Interactive TV' became available and supposedly their DVR can display Caller ID info on their display. This feature works at my sister's house (a few doors down) but not at my parents. I have set it up in the i-guide menu, but nothing happens when people call. Any ideas?

They do have phone service through Comcast.

I just recently got a DCT-3416-I HD-DVR box.

I was wondering if You could add addition storage using eSATA or usb. so i called comcrap and they said NO they dont support it for copy-right reasons. bummer. That sucks royally. :(
It depends on who you ask. Motorola's website says, the external ports are disabled. (So the question is, why would they add something to a box just to disable it? :confused:) Then some people on these threads say theirs does work, while others say it does not and they are disabled! So you'll have to hear from someone that has gotten theirs to work. I don't know if you know it, but the other thread is here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16771337#post16771337) where you may also want to ask.

Does anyone else have a problem with their MOTO box not starting scheduled recordings?

I'd say 65% of the time it works. The other 35, it will simply act as if no recording was set or on the screen it will pop-up and say 'your scheduled recording has begun' and then do nothing.

Mine has always done this. Not to the extent of 65%-35%, but none the less, has always done this.

I attempted to record Michael Jackson's memorial service a few days ago; the night before, I checked the schedule for CNN at the time that it was to air, and it didn't mention the memorial; it listed whatever programs would have normally aired at that time. So I set it to record those programs at the time that the memorial would be happening, thinking it would record fine.

Wrong.

I got home after work to find that it hadn't recorded a thing. I checked the schedule again, and lo and behold -- at some point, those "usual" shows had been replaced by a listing for the memorial. My best guess is that the DVR then cancelled my scheduled recording since the programs I scheduled were no longer listed.

So for times that you know something will be aired but the schedule doesn't show it...is it best to just schedule a manual recording then?

I attempted to record Michael Jackson's memorial service a few days ago; the night before, I checked the schedule for CNN at the time that it was to air, and it didn't mention the memorial; it listed whatever programs would have normally aired at that time. So I set it to record those programs at the time that the memorial would be happening, thinking it would record fine.

Wrong.

I got home after work to find that it hadn't recorded a thing. I checked the schedule again, and lo and behold -- at some point, those "usual" shows had been replaced by a listing for the memorial. My best guess is that the DVR then cancelled my scheduled recording since the programs I scheduled were no longer listed.

So for times that you know something will be aired but the schedule doesn't show it...is it best to just schedule a manual recording then?

Why can't these DVR's be set to record at a certain time instead of a certain program?? :confused:

Why can't these DVR's be set to record at a certain time instead of a certain program?? :confused:They do.

iGuide -- like almost every other modern DVR -- provides three ways to record programs: (a) select the program from the guide, (b) select the program via search, or (b) create a single or repeating timer. Most people don't bother with the third option because it always records that slot rather than the specific program they want with the correct duration.

Such timers are needed in the specific scenario described above, where you know about a same-day scheduling change and the DVR's guide data does not. Many DVRs only receive updated guide data once per day (ex: 1pm), so they don't know about changes made within that timeframe.

They do.

iGuide -- like almost every other modern DVR -- provides three ways to record programs: (a) select the program from the guide, (b) select the program via search, or (b) create a single or repeating timer. Most people don't bother with the third option because it always records that slot rather than the specific program they want with the correct duration.
Ok, I wouldn't know because I don't have one yet, that's why I asked. ;) From the way others were talking about problems with the scheduled name recordings, they didn't have that option. Good to know, thanks. That (time) would seem to be the more reliable way of recording rather than program name.

That (time) would seem to be the more reliable way of recording rather than program name.Name-based recording is far, far more reliable given the program scheduling changes and durations that occur throughout the season.

If you are only accustomed to a list of timers, then you don't see the day and time scheduling changes that those with name-based DVRs see on a regular basis in their record schedule. Multiple times throughout a season for a show, users will see a new episode broadcast in a different timeslot, a second new episode shown before or after the normally scheduled episode, a second new episode shown another day during the week, and durations that vary by 0 to 15 minutes for extended length episodes.

The scenario where a scheduling change occurs after 1pm for a program that is shown (at or before) 1pm the following day is quite rare.

Name-based recording is far, far more reliable given the program scheduling changes and durations that occur throughout the season.
Apparently not when the events happens as "NabziF" described above. So it's good that one has both options, regardless of "rare event" or not.


If you only see a list of timers, then you don't see the day and time scheduling changes that those with name-based DVRs see on their record schedule.
What?? My OLD STB now even gives a list of the program names, days and times for which I set a record timer to record. Are you saying the DVR's don't do this?

What?? My OLD STB now even gives a list of the program names, days and times for which I set a record timer to record. Are you saying the DVR's don't do this?Name-based solutions like the Comcast DVR certainly do that. But timer-based DVRs often do not. Most time-based DVD recorders do not. The following shows the record schedule for two popular name-based and time-based OTA DVRs.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm314/ilovehdtv/Other/TivoHD/small/todolist.jpg (http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm314/ilovehdtv/Other/TivoHD/large/todolist.png) http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm314/ilovehdtv/Other/DTVPalDVR/small/dailyschedule2.png (http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm314/ilovehdtv/Other/DTVPalDVR/large/dailyschedule2.png)

Name-based solutions like the Comcast DVR certainly do that. But timer-based DVRs often do not. Most time-based DVD recorders do not. The following shows the record schedule for two popular name-based and time-based OTA DVRs.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm314/ilovehdtv/Other/TivoHD/small/todolist.jpg (http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm314/ilovehdtv/Other/TivoHD/large/todolist.png) http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm314/ilovehdtv/Other/DTVPalDVR/small/dailyschedule2.png (http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm314/ilovehdtv/Other/DTVPalDVR/large/dailyschedule2.png)
Thanks for the info. Time-based DVR's sound similar to what a VCR does.

In the case of a rapidly evolving situation like the Michael Jackson event I might recommend *both* approaches (assuming you have two tuners and enough space remaining). You can always delete one. This would have prevented the OP's issue .

My 6416 has been giving me a headache the past two days. When I have two programs scheduled to record at the same time, that I don't want it to because of repeats, it will only let me disable one of the two. Not to mention the guide has been going crazy as of late, but that's not really a problem of the unit itself.

If I watch the analog feed on our channel 99 TV Guide channel, we get a upcoming programs crawl showing the channels vertically and about 2 hours horizontally.

If I use the all digital feed, the crawl is gone but the program material is still there. This drive my wife crazy as she preferes (did it for years) looking ahead that way rather than pushing buttons on the remote to scan the future programming.

Why is this and it would seem that they would want it on the digital as well, but I guess inorder to see the digital feed you need the cable box, so maybe they are trying to encourage the use of the digital programmng guide.

It was thought it would be restored, but it has not and it has been nearly a year now.

1. I have a DCT 6412, is the newer DCH-6416 worth the upgrade? (beyond larger HD)

2. I have a Sony LCD Bravia connected via component and want to add a projector for a theater room. Can I use the HDMI out at the same time and run it to my projector/Receiver then Projector? Another words are both the component and HDMI outputs on at the same time?

3. Is the firewire still working to record to a my mac mini, did this about 2 years ago; but last year when I wanted to save a program on my mac, I had to disconnect and reconnect the firewire at just the right moment for it to work.

Thanks in advance

My 6416 has been giving me a headache the past two days. When I have two programs scheduled to record at the same time, that I don't want it to because of repeats, it will only let me disable one of the two. Not to mention the guide has been going crazy as of late, but that's not really a problem of the unit itself.
see "whack a mole" bug at http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Bugs

1. I have a DCT 6412, is the newer DCH-6416 worth the upgrade? (beyond larger HD)
probably not worth too much trouble. the only advantages i experienced when i made the switch were
-slightly larger HD
-better-looking (same team that designed the RAZR phone supposedly)
-able to switch output resolution on-the-fly

actually only the last point mattered to me, but i doubt it would matter to many others. unless you have a large screen and/or a video processor, the cost in aggravation (standing in line, re-connecting all your gear, losing all your saved programs) is not worth the marginal increase in picture quality.

also note you may not be able to get a 6416, your cable company may only be providing 3416's. most cable companies are going all-digital so they are not shipping any new STB's with analog tuners. the two models are otherwise the same in every other respect.

2. I have a Sony LCD Bravia connected via component and want to add a projector for a theater room. Can I use the HDMI out at the same time and run it to my projector/Receiver then Projector? Another words are both the component and HDMI outputs on at the same time? )
I know when i was having HDCP issues, i found the box knows when anything is conneected to its outputs. it may be that one disables the other. you will defintiely find that the setup menu options (http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Setup#HDMI.2FYPbPr_Output) change depending on what outputs are in use. but someone else who has actually tried it (or who can find documentation better than the connections guide (http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Connections) of the wikibooks article which omits this for some reason) will have to provide you with a straight yes or no.

3. Is the firewire still working to record to a my mac mini, did this about 2 years ago; but last year when I wanted to save a program on my mac, I had to disconnect and reconnect the firewire at just the right moment for it to work.

Thanks in advance
firewire was always hit-or-miss for me on the DCT and later the DCH. i have not tried on the DCX.

2. I have a Sony LCD Bravia connected via component and want to add a projector for a theater room. Can I use the HDMI out at the same time and run it to my projector/Receiver then Projector? Another words are both the component and HDMI outputs on at the same time?

Yes all available (working) outputs are active at all times regardless of which ones are being used. The only ones that can 'know' that they're being used are HDMI/DVI and Firewire. So yes you should be able to hook up multiple devices to the box & use them at the same time. However even though these are dual tuner DVR's you can only view on tuner at a time, so you're stuck watching the same show on both TV's. Others have complained about this but unfortunately there's no way around it.

I have 2 motorola DVRs through Charter, one is the DCH6416. It seems that in the last 2 weeks both my recorders have lost the ability to record "only new" shows. I'm not sure how the software identifies it, but up until a few weeks ago it worked pretty well. Now i'm getting dozens of shows, some as old as 2001 being taped.

Has anyone else on charter seen this as of late? It's really really annoying having to delete dozens of old shows every day.
my S/W version: 75.59
Firmware: a25p2-2.S1.r-8

Any thoughts?

1. I have a DCT 6412, is the newer DCH-6416 worth the upgrade? (beyond larger HD)
probably not worth too much trouble. the only advantages i experienced when i made the switch were
-slightly larger HD
-better-looking (same team that designed the RAZR phone supposedly)
-able to switch output resolution on-the-fly
Does the 3416 have that option?

yes. actually i should clarify- my cable provider is one of the ones that only gives out 3416's, so i should have made the discalimer that my experience is *only* with the 3416 and that i am *assuming* the 6416 has an identical feature set with the sole exception of the analog tuner. check out cypherstream's post over in dslreports.com - i trust him.
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r21674730-

Yeah they are supposed to be identical except the DCH's are analog only.

I never even heard of a DCT-3416 (or a DCH-6416), I thought the "3416" were DCH's. So is the DCT-3416 older or newer than the DCH? I guess it's older if the current DCT/DCH differences still apply. And in my question above, that means "Does the DCH-3416 have that option?". This nomenclature is getting confusing.

Yeah they are supposed to be identical except the DCH's are analog only.

I never even heard of a DCT-3416 (or a DCH-6416), I thought the "3416" were DCH's. So is the DCT-3416 older or newer than the DCH? I guess it's older if the current DCT/DCH differences still apply. And in my question above, that means "Does the DCH-3416 have that option?". This nomenclature is getting confusing.

In order of age: DCT, DCH, DCX
The '34xx' series denotes digital tuner(s) only.
The '64xx' series denotes digital AND analog tuner(s).
The '64xx' series is more costly to produce because of the expense of the analog tuners. So when a system is ADS they generally just get the '34xx' series boxes to save money as the analog tuner does nothing anyway.
The 'xx12', 'xx16' or 'xx25' refer to hard drive size, 120gb, 160gb or 250gb, respectively.
You will not see any 'new' DCT boxes in larger cable systems as they do not offer separable security that the FCC mandated for all new boxes after July '07. You will continue to see used ones for many years though. The DCH & DCX series both offer separable security in the form of cable cards & you may find new boxes in both flavors depending on your cable co. and area.
All 3 (DCT, DCH & DCX) offer digital as well as digital/analog versions.
The DCT boxes cannot change resolution while the box is on, you must turn it off & change in menu.
You can do the same on the DCH & DCX in the menu but they also have a 'format' button on the display with which you can change resolution/format while the box is on, or 'on the fly'.
While the DCT & DCH boxes only give option in menu to set all HD content to either 720p or 1080i the DCX lets you do this or choose to send the native resolution to the TV of what is really being broadcast.

Thanks Jon.

I have a DCT6416 III. When viewing any widescreen HD movie, there is a thin horizontal line between the video and the upper black border, which looks like a compressed mirror image of the movie -- i.e. a moving image in the movie is reflected as equally moving shadows in that line.
When switching to the SD channel where the same movie is playing, there is no such line. The bottom black border of both, the HD and SD channels are clean-looking, with no lines in between.
I have tried to change some "User Settings" (4:3 override...) and the "DVR Clipping" to ON (in the SETUP Menu), but it made no difference. I bought / own the box, so before I phone my cable company, I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this, or if this might be a cable problem.

see "whack a mole" bug at http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Bugs
Thanks for the link, but it doesn't always work, especially with 30-minute programs.

Also, my unit developed the inability to set new series recordings. The only option is regular manual recording, no series recording anymore.

I have a DCT6416 III. When viewing any widescreen HD movie, there is a thin horizontal line between the video and the upper black border, which looks like a compressed mirror image of the movie -- i.e. a moving image in the movie is reflected as equally moving shadows in that line.
When switching to the SD channel where the same movie is playing, there is no such line. The bottom black border of both, the HD and SD channels are clean-looking, with no lines in between.
I have tried to change some "User Settings" (4:3 override...) and the "DVR Clipping" to ON (in the SETUP Menu), but it made no difference. I bought / own the box, so before I phone my cable company, I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this, or if this might be a cable problem.

I have seen that on occasion. I it also prevalent on "full pixel" setting of the TV. Have you tried any adjustments on your TV to center the picture, or others, depending on your TV.

I have seen that on occasion. I it also prevalent on "full pixel" setting of the TV. Have you tried any adjustments on your TV to center the picture, or others, depending on your TV.

Thanks for yor suggestion, but whatever the cause, I tried a "cold reset" on the DCT6416 box as a last resort, and that completely resolved the problem. I'm a happy camper now...

Thanks for this explanation. This may be one of the most useful posts in this thread.

In order of age: DCT, DCH, DCX
The '34xx' series denotes digital tuner(s) only.
The '64xx' series denotes digital AND analog tuner(s).
The '64xx' series is more costly to produce because of the expense of the analog tuners. So when a system is ADS they generally just get the '34xx' series boxes to save money as the analog tuner does nothing anyway.
The 'xx12', 'xx16' or 'xx25' refer to hard drive size, 120gb, 160gb or 250gb, respectively.
You will not see any 'new' DCT boxes in larger cable systems as they do not offer separable security that the FCC mandated for all new boxes after July '07. You will continue to see used ones for many years though. The DCH & DCX series both offer separable security in the form of cable cards & you may find new boxes in both flavors depending on your cable co. and area.
All 3 (DCT, DCH & DCX) offer digital as well as digital/analog versions.
The DCT boxes cannot change resolution while the box is on, you must turn it off & change in menu.
You can do the same on the DCH & DCX in the menu but they also have a 'format' button on the display with which you can change resolution/format while the box is on, or 'on the fly'.
While the DCT & DCH boxes only give option in menu to set all HD content to either 720p or 1080i the DCX lets you do this or choose to send the native resolution to the TV of what is really being broadcast.

Hi guys - I have a Comcast DCH6416 and am having a problem with a green vertical line while in 1080i, has anyone found a solution? Is it specific to certain boxes??

If i switch to 720p its not there but I'd like to stay in 1080, also heard of a fix to use component but id prefer to use hdmi

any help would be appreciated

I am still having this green line issue on a DCT6412

Is there a fix out there for this I missed? If you guys dont have this green line/pixel shift issue are you on a more recent cable box?

Odd, that's the same version of those 2 as I have & I still have the 5 minute skips. Did you turn the box off & go to 'code modules' for the firmware info you posted? If so what are the other 2 versions you have? Could be one of those is what's changed.
Mine are:
tvg7559r 75.59
stv0532_ 05.32

Also out of curiosity go to the following setup screen and see what values are there. While box is on press 'menu' two times & to 'setup', then 'cable box setup', then 'configuration'. When in the configuration screen press the 'Fav' button on the remote 6 times. It should say something about 'DVR skips' toward the top right of the screen. Mine says 30/300 and 15/300, basically saying the 30 sec & 5 min forward skips are present & the 15 sec & 5 min reverse skips are there too. What values does yours say?

Mine has the same info regarding skips, I found the 5min forward and reverse are the page buttons. Which button does the 30sec skip ahead?

The 30 sec. skip ahead has to be programmed. Instructions are on the wikipedia. I'm sure there is a link on this thread somewhere, or perhaps someone else will post one.

I'll look it upon the Wiki! Thanks.

Found it: Adding 30 second skip

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Programming_the_Remote#Add_30-Second_Skip

On some channels when the display shows the channel number the times, the rating etc, there is now a tab on the top right. It first has a "i" on it then n then On Demand with < > arrows on both ends of the tabs.

This is on Charter in mid Micigan. What are these all about?

I have enabled "30 second skip" on my Comcast DVR and I really like it. The only thing missing is a "15 minute skip" similar to the "skip to tick" feature on TiVo. Anyone know if there's a way to do that?

On some channels when the display shows the channel number the times, the rating etc, there is now a tab on the top right. It first has a "i" on it then n then On Demand with < > arrows on both ends of the tabs.

This is on Charter in mid Micigan. What are these all about?I believe it means that channel is available in On Demand as well.

I have enabled "30 second skip" on my Comcast DVR and I really like it. The only thing missing is a "15 minute skip" similar to the "skip to tick" feature on TiVo. Anyone know if there's a way to do that?The wikibook has a section on macros; perhaps it's possible to program a macro that does thirty-second-skip forward and fifteen-second-skip back (or 15 back and then 30 forward), netting fifteen seconds forward.  There are rare occasions when I want to go fifteen seconds forward, so I just press two keys when that arises, and I've not tried programming a macro.

Just picked up a DCX3400 and a DCH3200 HD STB from Charter in Allegan, MI for self install. The DCX3400 doesn't have the last 2 numbers like the other models, but on the bottom it's listed as a DCX3400/7380/250. I'm guessing it has a 250 gig HDD? People were real nice there, took my old HD STB which they refered to as an old model and basically tossed it on to a pile of old STBs. They replaced one of my remotes that had the battery cover missing (darned kids), gave me two HDMI cables and a nice Charter shopping bag. New to the DVR world, looking forward to getting home and playing with my new toy!

I have enabled "30 second skip" on my Comcast DVR and I really like it. The only thing missing is a "15 minute skip" similar to the "skip to tick" feature on TiVo. Anyone know if there's a way to do that?

Depending on your firmware, you may already have a 5 min.> and a 5 min.<. If you have these, they are the page up and page down buttons. If they are NOT 5 min., they are probably 15 sec. each. Mine have gone back and forth between 5 min. and 15 sec., with the firmware changes.

I have enabled "30 second skip" on my Comcast DVR and I really like it. The only thing missing is a "15 minute skip" similar to the "skip to tick" feature on TiVo. Anyone know if there's a way to do that?

Try this http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Programming_the_Remote#Add_15-Second_Back

I haven't seen this mentioned elsewhere so here goes. Shaw Cable up here in Canada has released the 16.74 Motorola firmware that removes the "green line" problem, enables the eSata port for external storage (or rather enables enabling, the cable provider has to flip a switch somewhere) and removes the cap on internal storage limits so I can replace the 160GB drive in my 6416 III with a 1TB drive. This applies to all phase III machines.

I haven't seen this mentioned elsewhere so here goes. Shaw Cable up here in Canada has released the 16.74 Motorola firmware that removes the "green line" problem, enables the eSata port for external storage (or rather enables enabling, the cable provider has to flip a switch somewhere) and removes the cap on internal storage limits so I can replace the 160GB drive in my 6416 III with a 1TB drive. This applies to all phase III machines.

Has anything changed in regard to IEEE 1394 output? Or is Shaw still 5Cing everything there, so you can't tell?

Has anything changed in regard to IEEE 1394 output? Or is Shaw still 5Cing everything there, so you can't tell?

Yes. Most channels are 5c'd. Even more of a reason to add more storage to the PVR.

It seems that while the "green line" problem has been solved by this firmware, the ability to upgrade the internal drive is still unknown. I'll keep you posted.