Samsung 3090/3270 HD-DVR Thread - Page 21

The newer update makes the 3270 even noisier as it now buffers both tuners. Those who like the quiet operation, may be in for a surprise, or maybe one of my 3270's has a bad HDD that is fairly noisy. If you sit far enough or watch enough TV, then it's fine. It might not be a good box for a bedroom if you're sensitive enough to the HDD noise.

First time poster. I'll start with a comment(s) then you KNOW there's gonna be a question or three. I read most if not all the posts in a couple different & related threads. I unknowingly swapped out a 320 sammie for the smaller version before I found out all these problems are in the software, not the box. Thank you all for your most excellent responses. I've seen several posts from various people stating the FF/Rw works better. I must agree to some extent. However, I'm still experiencing the freeze effect when paused for more than a minute or two. The only way out of it I can figure is to click live tv, then rewind to the point I want to resume viewing. I've not yet complained directly to TWC. I promise to do it soon. Man, I had to record the Olympics is SD. Like a lot uf us, I'm anxiously waiting for the test results of the most recent external HDD install. I forget who you were but pls update us. From the diag screens, I can't figure out how to make change. I've seen posted how to get deeper into the diagnostics of the box, if memory serves (big if) a 3090 box pw is 3090. It does nothing for me. Any help? Also, someone posted a ? about the SEL then UP or DOWN, I have same issue, UP works but not DOWN. That could be vice/versa but I think I have the up/down correct. Is there any difference to the two selections? Jcalabria, I knew I liked reading your post, especially when you told the guy who's trying to figure out how to order pizza with the D button not forget the beer. All of you keep up the good work!!!
While looking at the "preview" to this post, it appears my signature isn't right yet. I have SMT-H3090, V4.3.5.3 ODN_4_0_0_6

Hold the phone... where in Charlotte are you and when did you get ODN 4???? I'm still on 3.2.0_15. Most of the country outside of Charlotte and San Diego is on 3.1. ODN 4 would be MAJOR news if a rollout has indeed begun here.

The 3090 freezing during extended pauses began with the most recent Samsung firmware update (4.3.5.x here, 2.4.9.3 elsewhere). I actually have not been able to make it do it lately even though the firmware version has not been changed (but we have had some patches in the last few weeks). When I did experience the problem, I found the quickest way out was to just change channels, then hit List, select the show again then select Resume Play.

The the password to access the advanced diagnostics was changed several Samsung firmware versions ago... but the need for it also disappeared as well (the need to activate DD/AC3 audio via HDMI). However, that password had nothing to do with accessing either the main Samsung diagnostics (hold [Select], then press [Up]) or the ODN diagnostics (hold [Select], then press [Down]). The password only got you into a small submenu of the Samsung diagnostics for some deep settings like performing a factory reset. Since the AC3 audio factory default has been changed to Enabled, there is really nothing much else of interest there for the user anyway.

Don't feel too bad... I also returned a 320GB unit that I thought was defective only to have the 160GB replacement have the same problem. The particular problem that prompted that exchange was that the box was booting into its native GUI instead of booting Navigator. That turned out to be a strange interraction with my Onkyo AVR that still hasn't been fully resolved, but I now know that the AVR has to be turned off or the 3090 will not boot Navigator correctly. Since the update to 4.3.5.x, it now boots into Navigator when connected to the AVR, but the time will be incorrect and there will be no guide listings. It's really not a big deal since the AVR is off for any unnattended updates/reboots and I know to shut off the AVR first if I need to manually reboot the 3090, which is basically never since the latest updates cured the FOX/CBS recording issues we were having here in Charlotte.

Well, maybe I need to verify that ODN. There are LOTS of numbers in the DIAG menus! does the series of numbers I listed look familiar or relative to anything else? I'll verify that tonight. I'm located close to Arrowood "Office" < 2 miles.

B.T.W. the freezing problem is with live TV. If I change channel, then the paused info is GONE. I don't recall the freeze with recorded shows but that doesn't mean it doesn't do it. Besides, as you say, just resume.

It would be on Page 1 of the ODN diagnostics ([Select] then [Down]) menu... third line from the bottom (ODN Version).

It also is on Page 6 of the Diagnostic Applet available on Ch. 1999.

My BAD, Sorry to get anyone excited there about the ODN. I'm still at 3.2.0_15. Like I said my SEL for 10sec then DOWN, doesn't do anything. I've tried the box buttons and the remote. The numbers I found by using remote, SEL for 10 then UP, EXTENDED DIAGS., down to APPL INFO, scroll to the right to page 10/12. Third line down is where I saw ODN_4xxxx6. Now that I've been corrected, I see page 11/12 shows ODN_4xxxx7 and page 12 shows the correct ODN_3_2_0_15, same as channel 1999. What's that all about anyway???

Are you holding [Select] for 10 seconds before you hit [Down]? You access the ODN diagnostics the same way as the Samsung Diagnostics (which you succesfully entered)... just substituting [Down] for [Up] after pressing [Select] for 8-10 seconds.

I see the ODN 4.0.0.6 and 4.0.0.7 applets loaded, too... but have no clue what they mean.

I have a feeling that ODN v4.0.0_6 or 7 is just a test version. I'm sure they'll release a newer version that's more stable. Or maybe not. ODN v3.2.0_15 still has a few bugs here and there, though it seems to be pretty stable on my Samsung boxes. ODN v4.0 is probably going to be a major version. San Diego once tested ODN v3.2.0_7 which was a test version. We ended up getting ODN v3.2.0_15.

i'm having the 'pausing' problem. If I pause the live video for about 10 mins or more, I cannot un-pause and watch the video. I end up having to hit the button and then reverse the video to the point where I paused.
Has there been a fix for this or does TWC have H3090s with newer firmware versions where this problem is corrected?


Thanks

Ah, so it seems a kind of universal symptom... ya gotta be PATIENT accessing diagnostics, even on my SA/Cisco box. I had all sorts of trouble until I just let it sit... it always got there, just took time. One good thing is I get a visual display (the mail icon of all things) while holding SEL so I know it's ready for the next step (which in my case are system diagnostics, not box).

I'm in Round Rock and have none of those issues with my 3270.

One thing I do not like about the 3270 - when I browse channels with the channel up/down button on the remote, it shows channels that I do not subscribe to when my old 8300 did not. Is there a setting for this?


Of course I can use the favorite function to avoid them but still prefer not seeing them!

No mail icon (or any other indicator) on the Sammies... you just have to hold it "long enough".

That's just how Navigator works, whether on a Samsung or an SA/Cisco box. With the version of Navigator you have there (ODN 3.1.x), you can use the Sort by Favorites function to create a guide lineup with ONLY your favorites so you don't have to see anything else listed in the guide. Unfortunately this excellent feature disappaeared with ODN 3.2.x... rumored to be in preparation for a more comprehensive guide filtering feature coming soon.

Yep, I've held it down a lot, I've timed it from 5-35 seconds in 5 second increments. I've held the Down arrow for similar times as well. I got in the diag menu ONE time only and have not been able to get back in. That one time was probably in the 12-15 second range on SEL, then maybe another 5 on the down arrow. BTW, the small info bar scrolls channel info too, even the time I actually got in. Now I must say, having "been there" I didn't seem to see much that told me anything useful since I finally found the CORRECT ODN version by pressing UP. HOWEVER, having admitted I probably won't go there much, I want to be able to go there if I want to!!! If that doesn't work, maybe other stuff doesn't work, like the pisspoor FF/RR, the freezing up when paused, random stuff not recording (which might be fixed), etc etc etc...
I've getting really frustated with this box/software/TWC etc etc etc... I'm even having trouble finding the sort by favorites list. Don't anyone tell me how either, I not so ignorant I can't read and figure it out on my own but right now, I'm turning all my $#!$$%&^ off and going to bed. Sorry to vent so!

I wish I could tell you how to get into Sort by Favorites... they removed it from ODN 3.2 (which is what we have here in Charlotte)!

Hey Guys - I picked up a 3270 from TWC a few weeks ago. I noticed when watching recorded shows that it sometimes pauses and skips. It has also froze while watching live TV. It happened when I left the room for about an hour, I came back to a frozen picture. I'm concerned because I'm in the process of breaking in my new Sammy PNB860 and I don't think it's normal. Do I have a defective box and should I try and exchange for another? Thanks!

Any update? I'm pretty much decided on the 2310 and am trying to choose an HD DVR that will give me the fewest problems.

Start with the basics... In what order are your devices powered up? 99.9% of the time it is best to fire up an HDMI chain in the following order:

1. HDMI Sink device - the display device
2. HDMI Repeater device(s) - AVRs, switching devices, etc.
3. HDMI Source - STB, disc player, etc.

Doing the channel up/down is forcing a renegotiation, but the downstream components are already on and stabilized and ready to have their EDID and HDCP info read by the box. If the downstream devices are not ready and willing when the box initially powers up, it cannot read their EDID/HDCP and the result is no handshake.

There may be other issues, but that is definitely the first level recommendation for these types of issues... especially if they play nice after everything is on and you do a channel change.

The 3270 has some HDMI issues where it will show a black screen instead of the guide and it might even show the equivalent to digital snow. It generally can recover by itself but it usually requires a reboot. Samsung is aware of this issue and maybe by ODN v4.0 it will be fix. Probably just another SW update and maybe another ODN version.

I love the 2310. After taking the good advice from others on this site, the problems are resolved if I now turn on the TV first, then the Denon AVR, and last the DVR. I am having a new problem, however, with some pixelation issues on a few HD recordings with the 3270 DVR. I'm having Time Warner come out to see if there is a signal strength problem.

I'm having pixilation issues on HD channels since getting the 3270 DVR about a month ago. It typically occurs when I record a program, and try to watch it at a later time. However, I have also checked a recording in process and found that the HD channel itself was having pixiation issues. I've have had Time Warner out to check the box and all the connections and they don't see any problems, although when I first called to set the appointment up, they were able to see from the office that pixilation problems had occured. I like the look of the 3270 and I think it produces a better picture than the 8300hd, but I'm getting close to switching back.

Try another 3270. Sometimes pixellation could happen on the cable system or the station side. There might be an issue with that HD station. If it's on all the HD channels then you should complain to TWC. My 3270's don't have this behavior.

Due to the old box failing, I had to upgrade to a Samsung SMT-H32270 this morning. Seems to be OK, but...

My HDMI 5:1 switch box (Mascool brand) no longer works on that input. It always switches away to another input. The switch box is OK, I checked the HDMI cable direct to the new cable box and it is OK. Must be some kind of handshaking problem to the switch box. I switch to the correct input, and then it just autoswitches to another input that it believes is valid.

Help appreciated on how to debug - known problem? Get a new switch? I spoke to tech support for the switch and they said it is HDMI 1.3.

Thanks much...

Has anybody else been bothered by the power on light of the Samsung SMT-H3270 box like I have? The bright blue vertical bar is so bright as to be distracting while viewing in a dark room. I've put a piece of black electrical tape over most of the light, with just a small portion showing so I can tell if the box is powered up.

I have a 3260 in my bedroom and I too find the light to be a bit bright, but I have gotten used to it.

Password: 3090 doesn't work for the Samsung 3090. I'm in Charlotte and have Time Warner cable.

Also my hard drive is 160gb, are the 320gb's out yet in Charlotte??
Any ideas on the password for diagnostics?

It was changed a few firmware versions ago and is currently unknown, at least around here. The audio setting that previously needed to be accessed in the password protected pages no longer exists and is no longer required (DD over HDMI is enabled by default now), so there is not much need to get in there any longer.

The very first 3090s issued here over a year ago were 320s, then 160s were added to the mix. It's potluck which you get.

jcalabria - Thanks. Now I don't have to spend countless hours surfing the web to find it! How about you take 0000-5000 and ill do 5000-9999 and we brute force it! haha.

Dont know why these power trip techie's have to change the password. I wanted to reformat my drive, seems there are a few issues with it that I want to resolve.