First post - Great site and great info...thanks

Fresh installation C**cast southern NH, and I end up with a SA 3250HD.
I asked the installer to use a HDMI cable (talked to him over the phone - wife was home). When I got home it was connected via component. Looking at the 3250HD - no HDMI only DVI. Then look at the user manual and it seems that this box is from 2004.

Which box should I request - what are my best options? Were they just trying to dump old stock on me? Surely this can't be current for Comcast (w/out HDMI).

thanks

First post - Great site and great info...thanks

Fresh installation C**cast southern NH, and I end up with a SA 3250HD.
I asked the installer to use a HDMI cable (talked to him over the phone - wife was home). When I got home it was connected via component. Looking at the 3250HD - no HDMI only DVI. Then look at the user manual and it seems that this box is from 2004.

Which box should I request - what are my best options? Were they just trying to dump old stock on me? Surely this can't be current for Comcast (w/out HDMI).

thanks

Welcome to the AVR Forum!

Actually, I believe it is. I was on Comcast (formerly SusCom) on their Brunswick, ME. system and got a newly manufactured SA3250HD box from them for a second HD TV a year ago. When I asked what STBs they had with HDMI, I was offered an SA8300 HD DVR box at double the rental fee. :(

Some SA3250HDs don't even have the DVI port active. Mine did.

I finally left Comcast/Suscom last fall - after 25 years of continuous sub - for D* and couldn't be happier.

The comprehensive SA3250 HD thread is here http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=346428&highlight=3250

Dana

thanks for the link -
but what I don't understand is why they didn't use a box that has HDMI.
So should I ask for a SA8300HD?
The 3250HD is 4 years old.

thanks for the link -
but what I don't understand is why they didn't use a box that has HDMI.
So should I ask for a SA8300HD?
The 3250HD is 4 years old.

Your Comcast cable system apparently uses Scientific Atlanta (SA) equipment at the head end, when all the big sat dishes, reception and distribution equipment is located. So, only SA receivers can be used on the system. And apparently SA hasn't been in the forefront of new technology. (It has been bought out by Cisco.) On the other hand, it may be that Comcast and other cable cos. haven't been asking for/willing to buy new HD boxes, preferring to rent HD DVRs to customers instead.

The SA cable box link is http://www.scientificatlanta.com/products/consumers/new_cableboxes.htm But, it does no good to ask for something Comcast isn't stocking locally.

Dana