From what I understand, this is going to replace SARA and Passport on the TWC boxes over the next 8 months. I do not have a confirmation on timetables or whether this will be a definite for everyone or dependent on individual franchise adoption.
click on the "Answers On Demand" for a more detailed description of features. It looks like they basically address most all of the common TiVo functions that they had been missing [better guide, title search, recording history log, conflict management, Show list (like Now Showing?), series recording options (more developed than the single option SARA) like padding, etc...]
Wow, I'm impressed. My guess is that it won't be as slick and as quick as TiVo, but it addresses most all of the major functionality advantages that TiVo had over SARA.
If anyone has any updates on features or timetables, please post them here and I'll try to update this post.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BenJF3 /forum/post/18839746
Yes, the customer pointed out to me that he used to use the channel banner to scroll through the current channel and hit select when he saw his show. That was on an 8300HDC with SARA. Both of the other features you mentioned are nt in our version of Navigator yet. I upgraded him to an 8640HDC yesterday.
On a side note, I've found two little Easter Eggs in the software for our division. If you directly enter channel 1990 you will get a Diagnostic screen with your version of Navigator. It's only two pages of data, but it's a quick check that doesn't require you to go into the full diagnostic menu. Also, direct entry of channel 1997 will give you a Navigator Install screen which looks like it a way to force a download to the box or dump the info to the headend. The channels are hidden from the guide so you won't see them there. I believe most divisions have them, but they are different channels depending on the division.
Those "hidden" channels don't show up on a regular [Ch Up]/[Ch Dn] scan, but they do show up in the Favorites List. You can search for their existence there, and if you add them as favorites a [Fav] scan will tune them.
Here, the installer channel loads the TW Installer App... there is a bit of information to be gleaned there, but you need to enter an installer ID and workorder number to actually do anything.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jcalabria /forum/post/18837177
All true... but as the legacy box numbers are reduced from attrition, a point will be reached where the effort to upgrade MDN will be deemed to be not worth it. Not saying we're there yet, or even very soon (hell, there are still Pioneer Voyager and Explorer 1000 boxes out there... 8300HDs are brand new in comparison, lol)... but it will happen.
On the money... but keep in mind that "roll out" timing (referring more to Jack's original post) is generally way, way short of expectations. I believe MDN 2.5.x first rolled out 6 months ago. Somehow or other, I will be shocked if my area got it by the end of this year.
When we got gatrored, I thought that was the end of 8300HDs being given out... but folks are still getting them 2 years later. Just making a wild-a**ed guess, but I bet you we will see such boxes for 3 plus years more.
In all likelihood this is attributable to the virtual lock in most cable MSOs have. Yes, TiVO & Moxi exist, but given the move to SDV, such folk can be in for some hurting (look at all 3 tuner Moxis, in most areas, SDV means you completely lose the functionality of that third tuner... not to mention Moxi apparently will ONLY sell new 3 tuners boxes going forward).
I know it was considered odd that I got a version of MDN nobody else seemed to have, but I isolated it to just my head end AND consider it realistically the same as everyone else has... after all, it was just the last doublet that was different.
We certainly have seen major new versions typically rolling out in SD to NC first before they percolate to other areas. Does ANYONE else have a 3.x version of MDN? That is certainly a major version upgrade from what is out there... I see some significant changes for the 2.4.x version most seem to have over the 2.5.x rev that the few and the lucky have. If you are running a 3.x version of MDN, one would think it has to have significant upgrades for 2.5.x.
I'm not trying to be a jerk, but are you really sure of the version you are reporting? Right now, ODN is generally 3.x deployed with the start of some chatter about 4.x ODN. But even there, there are significant ODN features in the 3.2.x range that have yet to deploy to more than 15% of the country (guess as to the %).
I had a truck roll today due to my 8300HD losing HDMI. (component still works.) I kept the 8300 because my eSATA has about 55 hours I haven't watched yet. But the tech had a few Samsungs, a few 8300HDCs and 6 8640s on the truck. I was actually hoping he might have a 8300HD which I know will work with the eSATA. But I couldn't pass up a chance to play with a 8640 so I took one. I may try to clean off my drive and see if it will work on the 8640, we have ODN 3.2.
The tech said that they were issued about 2 months ago. SO, you Raleigh folks who are wanting one, they are out there. Now, my local office in Chapel Hill only has 8300HDCs. I am not sure about the other offices. The tech said that the payment centers and the tech trucks are on two seperate systems as far as issuing STB and DVRs. If for some reason he needs another box during the day, he can't go into a local office and pick one up. He has to drive all the way back to his dispatch office, (I think he said it was in Cary), to be issued additional ones. So that leaves the possibility that only the trucks got issued 8640s.
I figured out that the 864X boxes have a digital tuner and the 865X boxes have a analog and digital tuner. However the 86X2 boxes "includes the
Ethernet and MoCA configurations as standard" What are those exactly? I know it has something to do with delivering content over a LAN. Does TWC currently have any features that use these? Is this what is required for the multi-room deal? Has TWC deployed any 86X2 boxes anywhere?
I figured out that the 864X boxes have a digital tuner and the 865X boxes have a analog and digital tuner. However the 86X2 boxes "includes the
Ethernet and MoCA configurations as standard" What are those exactly? I know it has something to do with delivering content over a LAN. Does TWC currently have any features that use these? Is this what is required for the multi-room deal? Has TWC deployed any 86X2 boxes anywhere?
MoCA (Multimedia over Coax Alliance), in its broadest definition, is a means of establishing an IP LAN link over coax cabling. Some vendors such as D-Link have MoCA modems that do just that... and are not tied to a specific functionality - they are just wired Ethernet bridges. In the context of TWC STBs, MoCA is the protocol that TWC will use to establish its Multiroom DVR service, where one DVR can act as a server to a client STB, allowing the client STB to control and view programming stored on the server DVR. The coax cabling that is already connected to the boxes will be the transmission medium. Besides requiring boxes that support MoCA communications and have the software required to use it, MoCA will also require the use of special RF splitters that will allow the boxes to communicate and also prevent that communication from getting out of the house.
The Ethernet port is just another IP communications port, but it's not clear if/how it might be utilized by TWC. The Cisco literature states that the port...
"enables a connection to the home IP LAN for advanced services suchas content sharing to the set-top from retail-purchased electronic devices".
That sounds like the box might be a DLNA client... no mention of streaming content residing on the box to other devices (i.e, not a DLNA server).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Riverside_Guy /forum/post/18840915
I know it was considered odd that I got a version of MDN nobody else seemed to have, but I isolated it to just my head end AND consider it realistically the same as everyone else has... after all, it was just the last doublet that was different.
We certainly have seen major new versions typically rolling out in SD to NC first before they percolate to other areas. Does ANYONE else have a 3.x version of MDN? That is certainly a major version upgrade from what is out there... I see some significant changes for the 2.4.x version most seem to have over the 2.5.x rev that the few and the lucky have. If you are running a 3.x version of MDN, one would think it has to have significant upgrades for 2.5.x.
I'm not trying to be a jerk, but are you really sure of the version you are reporting? Right now, ODN is generally 3.x deployed with the start of some chatter about 4.x ODN. But even there, there are significant ODN features in the 3.2.x range that have yet to deploy to more than 15% of the country (guess as to the %).
Can't say for sure, but its possible that your MDN 3.0 might be an exclusive Gator build for the carry over from SARA systems. Because the new features that I had mentioned for Florida and North Carolina subs on MDN 2.5 AFAIK came from a Passport to Gator transfer. I think you had mentioned ODN having Sort by Favorites and in most divisions Sort by Favorites was removed to prepare the boxes for a new feature (both MDN/ODN) called Guide Filtering. There are rumors floating around that Guide Filtering will expand the sorting process to allow the following:
Favorite Channels
Subscribed Channels
Themed Channels
HD Channels
Than you filter what you want.
We can make a game on the forum guessing what the next big Gator update is gonna be! LOL!
Well both my DVRs are still on 2.4.6-19 so not all of us get everything first.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Satch Man /forum/post/18838974
BTW, what is the TWC fee for a second DVR, and any subsequent DVR? I heard between $8-$10. Is it like the first DVR is $10 a month and all subsequent ones are $8 extra?
That might be the only muti-room DVR turn-off, the cost involved. Unless of course TWC would be willing to deal on individual cases.
Like Ben, I pay an additional $20 for the second DVR. $10 for the box and $10 for the DVR service.
I was not told if there was an additional multi-room fee, but this is TWC so I think that it is safe to assume there will be an additional fee.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BenJF3 /forum/post/18839278
Also, you shouldn't need two DVR's for Multi Room. If you have an 8640 DVR in one room and a 4640 non-DVR in another room, you should be able to call up your shows from the non-DVR. That was my plan, however, if the pricing structure changes, it would be nice to have 4 available tuners and mix n' match. That said, I've found that just about EVERY cable net show I record is re-run later at night after original airing, so I usually balance my tuners that way.
Yes, you don't have to have 2 DVRs, but 2 tuners isn't enough in our house because it seems like all the shows we want to watch are on at the same time. I also like the ability to pause live tv.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hdtvfan2005 /forum/post/18839347
FioS only allows for 1 Multi room DVR. This could very well happen with TWC. I'm sure with newer protocols, it might be expanded, but that would require an even newer box.
TWC San Diego has a deal where an additional DVR can be had for $2 month over the standard HD box fee. This is a good deal, as you could have more DVR's for $10 a month.
I was specifically told that I would be able to use 2 DVRs.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jcalabria /forum/post/18841967
MoCA (Multimedia over Coax Alliance), in its broadest definition, is a means of establishing an IP LAN link over coax cabling. Some vendors such as D-Link have MoCA modems that do just that... and are not tied to a specific functionality - they are just wired Ethernet bridges. In the context of TWC STBs, MoCA is the protocol that TWC will use to establish its Multiroom DVR service, where one DVR can act as a server to a client STB, allowing the client STB to control and view programming stored on the server DVR. The coax cabling that is already connected to the boxes will be the transmission medium. Besides requiring boxes that support MoCA communications and have the software required to use it, MoCA will also require the use of special RF splitters that will allow the boxes to communicate and also prevent that communication from getting out of the house.
Here is an update reguarding my MDN Navigator. I checked tonight by going to the diagnostic channel and it has my Navigator Version as Atlas 2.4.6-19, but when I go back into the internal diagnostics it still shows as what I have in my sig? Very strange.
Also, at my fathers tonight doing some install work I checked his 8300HD and he doesn't have a diagnostic channel like we do. I scanned the fav list and tried what ours are here. He is off the Utica headend and I'm off the Rome headend, so that is likely the difference.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BenJF3 /forum/post/18844200
Also, at my fathers tonight doing some install work I checked his 8300HD and he doesn't have a diagnostic channel like we do. I scanned the fav list and tried what ours are here. He is off the Utica headend and I'm off the Rome headend, so that is likely the difference.
If you have your TV and Cable box set up to turn on and off at the same time, on some of the boxes, it may take between 20-30 seconds from the time you first see the picture when turning the set on, to the time when all menus are functional and synchronized. I just noticed this last night. Hope it's not a box issue.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Satch Man /forum/post/18844465
Tip,
If you have your TV and Cable box set up to turn on and off at the same time, on some of the boxes, it may take between 20-30 seconds from the time you first see the picture when turning the set on, to the time when all menus are functional and synchronized. I just noticed this last night. Hope it's not a box issue.
Everyone's been out of service in my area. (For about an hour or more.) I just called and there was a busy signal. Why they don't publish scheduled maintenance or updates on-line is ridiculous.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BenJF3 /forum/post/18844200
Here is an update reguarding my MDN Navigator. I checked tonight by going to the diagnostic channel and it has my Navigator Version as Atlas 2.4.6-19, but when I go back into the internal diagnostics it still shows as what I have in my sig? Very strange.
Thanks Ben, yes I also very much notice multiple versions attached to various things, but I SUSPECT some of those may be what could be called sub-routines. I to can come up with a bunch of "version" numbers in my diagnostics and I think there are a few extra savvy folks that follow those numbers.
I think the next milestone for MDN folk is getting 2.5.x, there certainly seems to be some smallish software changes from what we typically have. Keep in mind that to the best of my reading, this 2.5.x version frst went public around the beginning of this year, so it remains to be seen exactly how long they take to get it deployed across their systems.
The thing that first struck me was your MDN version seemed to be exactly the same as the most widely deployed ODN version.
Here it's 996. 6 pages worth. Only other thing of note is under MDN, it takes a LOT longer for those pages to appear then it used to take under Passport. After being 'gatored, I thought this function went away because it didn't seem to come up. Then I saw it did, just took a LOT longer for it to appear.
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