Hello I see people paying a lot of attention as to what month a Philips 3575 was manufactured. What's the difference? Did they get better or worse as the months went by?
My 3575 refurb says manufactured April 2007 and renewed/refurbished Nov. 2007. It has the current firmware according to the Philips website. So do I have a good one or a bad one and what would be the difference?
Thanks!!

The original units needed a hdwe fix for the "lost digital channels" problem, but it affected only people on ANALOG CABLE... some sort of analog interference.

I would suspect a factory refurbished unit would have the hdwe fix installed, since Philips was replacing problem units with ones having that fix.

Some people currently buying October units seem to report no problems with digital channels.

Oh ok I thought it had something to do with the tuner. I have analog cable tv with the digital box available for more $$$. I'm not sure if I would get any digital channels or not. So far the digital channel search has found nothing and just sitting on DTV channel 117 and doing nothing. Stuck?

Yes, digital channel 117 has been a problem for several people. Mine is 93, I think.

Here's some tips on scanning that include how to get a channel scan thru when one channel "sticks." (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=12298432&postcount=12)

It worked! I could use the setup button to get out of it. I switched over to analog tuner, then went back to DTV and it was still stuck on Ch 117. I started auto scan again and unplugged the cable right before it got to Ch.117 and it completed the scan like you said. The scan completed.
Now my question is after it goes past Ch. 117 can I plug it back in again to get the rest of the channels?

Oh BTW there are LOTS of great looking digital channels that come through the cable here in Sacramento on Comcast without a digital box. I didn't realize. There are full screen as well 'black on all 4 sides' versions (that I was griping about yesterday) for the local channels so I can take my pick. I'll next read the part of your thread again that talks about getting the ones that the auto scan didn't pick up to see what I can get.

Thanks wabjxo!

The rest of that post has some info on adding channels manually.

Check out this post also to see if it helps understand the new digital channels you'll be seeing. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=12371974&postcount=62)

I don't have a digital TV so I don't know which ones would come in. Do I need to enter every channel to see if I get anything or is there a list for this area?

Without a digital-tunered TV, it is tough to find "hidden" channels... those the 3575 missed cuz the 1st major channel XX.1 is Scrambled.

If you have to search manually, you'll have to enter several minor channel numbers beyond each major XX.1 channel cuz that's where they might "hide."

One thing that MIGHT help is going to this forum on HDTV channel reception by area of the country and see if your city/area is in one of the threads there. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=45) If it is, you might at least have a clue as to the OTA channels that are broadcast and may be able to correlate them somehow... sorry, I've not done that so don't know diddly.

The original units needed a hdwe fix for the "lost digital channels" problem, but it affected only people on ANALOG CABLE... some sort of analog interference.Not sure what you mean by this.

If you're using a straight coax connection, and your cable company is sending the analogs on the line, seems to me you don't have a choice. Saying "on analog cable", or "on digital cable" sounds as if a person would have a choice in the matter when using the straight RF feed.

If you're using an external digital cable box, of course, you're not even using the internal tuners and the "dropped channel" issue wouldn't even apply.

Do these models output 5.1 audio via the opitcal output on the digital channels found through cable using the QAM tuner?

It doesn't seem to do it on mine that I got as an open box(August 2007 manufacturing date) today for $114.80.

I know the channel I am using is transmitting in 5.1 audio because running the same channel just through the TV(the TV is a SDTV with a Coaxil Cable output for Dolby Digital) to my receiver, it decodes the 5.1 audio(NBC's Law and Order on right now on January 16th, 2008) from the TV, but not the DVD Recorder.

I was just wondering if it does or does not?

I haven't tried a DVD yet, but I am sure it will playback will be 5.1 since it lists a Dolby Digital selection in it's Audio menu. I will try one tomorrow.

This is no deal breaker if it does not by the way. It would have been nice, but 48khz PCM is OK, but 5.1 would be better. But at less than $115 for the thing, I cannot complain for God's sake.

So far no problems with the digital cable side of my channels. The Scan took FOREVER, but went all the way through to 135(which does not matter to me because there is nothing above 125 on my cable system anyway). Also no drops of channels yet either, but it has only been about 8 hours so far. But so far, so good. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Does this thing output DTS by the way? Very strange if it does not. But it does not have a DTS output selection in the menu which most DVD recorders/players do, so I was wondering if it did? Very weird if it does not.

Do these models output 5.1 audio via the opitcal output on the digital channels found through cable using the QAM tuner?
. . .
Does this thing output DTS by the way? Very strange if it does not. But it does not have a DTS output selection in the menu which most DVD recorders/players do, so I was wondering if it did? Very weird if it does not.No current DVDR outputs broadcast 5.1. The tuners are strictly SD with 2.0 sound. If you play a commercial DVD that includes a 5.1 audio track then it should output the 5.1 audio through the digital port. DTS audio is only available on a commercial DVD if the DVD includes it along with the 5.1 audio track. From the selection of DVDs I have, it seems not a lot of them include a DTS soundtrack. In order to hear it your amplifier has to be capable of decoding the DTS.

Do these models output 5.1 audio via the opitcal output on the digital channels found through cable using the QAM tuner?
What Kelson said plus no DTS on the 3575, only DD5.1 if available on a commercial disc/movie.

Here's a post on the INFO button, where you can see what sound a disc has available while playing and can change it if desired. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=12304095&postcount=21)

Not sure what you mean by this.

If you're using a straight coax connection, and your cable company is sending the analogs on the line, seems to me you don't have a choice. Saying "on analog cable", or "on digital cable" sounds as if a person would have a choice in the matter when using the straight RF feed.

If you're using an external digital cable box, of course, you're not even using the internal tuners and the "dropped channel" issue wouldn't even apply.
See this post. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=12762236#post12762236)

See this post. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=12762236#post12762236)That still doesn't answer the actual question we're asking at all, unless you're just not understanding it.

Okay, how about this then:

First, describe EXACTLY what you mean by being "on analog cable" and "on digital cable" - and the differences between the two.

There's a DTV/TV button on the 3575 remote. When it's on TV it brings in the analog channels. When on DTV it brings in the digital channels. Even if you only pay for analog cable (like I do) there are a lot of digital channels that come through the wire that the 3575's digital tuner will bring in -- when on DTV.

What Kelson said plus no DTS on the 3575, only DD5.1 if available on a commercial disc/movie. So are you saying that if I use the 3575 to play a commercial DVD that has a DTS soundtrack (i.e. Gladiator), and select select DTS sound from the DVD options menu, that the 3575 will not transmit the DTS out the digital audio port?

Let me be clear here. Plugging the 3575 (or any player) into your TV and selecting DTS audio from the DVD menu will result in no sound. I don't know any TVs off-hand that can decode DTS. You need to run the digital audio through a home-theater class receiver that is DTS certified in order to get the sound. With all the players I have at home, there is a selection to send the audio out the digital port but no selecting of the type of audio (format). The bits that are transmitted are determined by what is selected from the source DVD menu and the ability of the receiving device to decode it.

So are you saying that if I use the 3575 to play a commercial DVD that has a DTS soundtrack (i.e. Gladiator), and select select DTS sound from the DVD options menu, that the 3575 will not transmit the DTS out the digital audio port?
Correction #2:

Found one that shows "DTS 5.1". Checked disc menu, and it had DD5.1 and DD2.0 Stereo, plus DTS. Selected DTS and played it via digital coax to receiver. It played with "DTS" and 5 channels showing + surround in receiver display. The 3575 INFO menu showed DTS available and checked, plus DD5.1 in 3 languages and DD 2 ch also available... except not selectable since the disc menu DTS setting overrode other option in the 3575.

The above is "sort of" true.

I have my 3575 connected via the RCA Red and White Audio outputs to my TV(a SDTV Toshiba 27F46), and the optical output connected to a Sony DD/DTS receiver(meaning it reads and recognizes DD 5.1 and DTS 5.1 signals).

I put in GLADIATOR SIGNATURE EDITION(6.1 DTS/ES, DD. 5.1, and DD 2.0 sound available in menu) last night, and selected DTS/ES. This is the 6.1 surround sound for those receivers that have ES decoding, whether it is DD or DTS. The newer ones do, 6 speakers to 1 subwoofer, while most of the older ones don't. It will just playback the DTS as 5.1 instead of 6.1, that's all. No Big deal.

Anyway, through the OPTICAL OUTPUT to the receiver, the Sony received and decoded the DTS soundtrack with no problems. So YES, it does output/pass DTS signals through the OPTICAL/COAXIL(I would say coaxil as well with confidence) to a receiver which can decode it properly. It will do the same with 5.1 DD as well through the OPTICAL OUTPUT(as well as 2.0 DD obviously).

The DTS sound through the RCA cables to the TV directly is a different story. There was no sound at all. BUT THIS IS THE WAY IT IS WITH DTS SOUNDTRACKS THROUGH RCA CABLES WITH ANY TV.

There will always be NO SOUND on a DTS soundtrack through RCA cables. Why? Because TV's(that goes for even the brand new ones, I think) don't have the CIRCUITRY to decode a DTS soundtrack, so nothing is reproduced. It does not recognize it at all.

A tv WILL recognize a DD soundtrack through RCA cables with NO PROBLEM. But ONLY at 2.0, and that is it.

You want surround sound(5.1/6.1/or better)you MUST connect the unit throught OPTICAL/COAXIL cable to a receiver which can decode the surround sound to 5, 6, or 7 speakers(not including the subwoofer).

So to put it plainly:

1. The 3575 sends through DTS/DD soundtracks via Optical/Coaxil connections to a receiver that can decode the signals.

2. The 3575 ONLY sends DD 2.0 sound(or analog) through RCA Red and White audio cables only to a TV, or even a Receiver. No DTS sound can be sent through RCA cables. Current TV's(through there own speakers) cannot decode DTS sound, no matter what. You get silence.

3. I have also have learned that the SD Tuner in the unit only passes 2.0 DD through optical, coaxil, RCA, whatever. It does not passthrough the 5.1 sound that most primetime broadcasts accompany their shows with through the optical/coaxil to a receiver. It is ALL 2.0 DD, no matter what.

The last one doesn't really matter much(unless this unit is your prime source of SDTV. Your SOL on DD 5.1 surround sound from broadcasts through this tuner, if connected to a proper receiver) since the recorder only records(like ALL of them) in 2.0 DD anyway.

There's a DTV/TV button on the 3575 remote. When it's on TV it brings in the analog channels. When on DTV it brings in the digital channels. Even if you only pay for analog cable (like I do) there are a lot of digital channels that come through the wire that the 3575's digital tuner will bring in -- when on DTV.Right - and if you were subscribing to "digital cable", and feeding it into the Philips' RF input and receiving it with the QAM tuner, you'd STILL be getting those analogs.

My point is, unless they are not sending any analogs at all on the line, then you don't have a choice of receiving, or solely "being on" either analog or digital cable.

As far as the button thing, I don't believe that's what he's referring to at all, if you go back and read the post I questioned (#2). He specifically said the "lost digital channels" problem affected only people on analog cable. The way it's phrased, he seems to be talking about what's going into the unit, not which ones you're actually watching.

Unless I'm wrong - in which case he needs to be a lot clearer. Hence, post #14.