Cisco Explorer 8742HDC Users Manual

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Issue DVR, provide no manual. According to one of their CSR's, there is none due to different firmware versions & updates.
Edited by videobruce - 6/30/12 at 1:56pm

Wow, people actually read user manuals?

Why would you even need a user manual? The Quick Start Guide gives you all of the relevant info had the hardware. For firmware based features of the box, since every MSO is running different firmware, it would be impossible for Cisco themselves to publish a real user manual. I’m not sure about other providers, but Time Warner has a support section on their website, because navigator on an 8240HDC is no different than Navigator on a 8742HDC, the information is universal from one box to the next.

You have to be kidding ? You must work for ePVision. I basically stated that. Which basically contradicts what you just posted.

Yup, you got me, I work for ePVision (not sure why that's even relevent)

There’s nothing contradictory about it. There is absolutely no reason for Cisco to put out a user manual when, for many MSOs, they are not the ones providing the firmware, and even if they did put out a manual for each platform, there’s no guarantee that those features will be around after the next firmware update. It would be a waste of effort to create a manual.

What reason do you even need a manual or this thing? If you’ve used any TW Navigator based DVR is the past, it’s basically the same thing. If you haven’t, all the info is on TW’s website. If you’re interested in the hardware of the 8742, that’s what the quick guide is for.

This is a much ado about nothing.

No. What he is saying is that the manual should be put out by Navigator, not by Cisco. Cisco doesn't know if the user will be using SARA, PASSPORT, NAVIGATOR, or some other firmware. All Cisco manuals only cover SARA. PASSPORT and PASSPORT ECHO have manuals of their own. NAVIGATOR needs to do likewise.

Take a look at the ePVision DVR thread. Three months and no manual! I was planing on adding the same to my post. As long as someone supplies some documentation, either in printed form, or a printable on-line manual. Something! I understand that. At no point did I state only TWC supplying the manual. You apparently assumed that's what I meant, sorry it wasn't. Confused by this. Isn't the term "Navigator" something TWC uses for their user interface (avoiding the terms "software" or more correctly "firmware")?

Is "Navigator" some 3rd party that writes the firmware for these, as opposed to some fancy name TWC gave to their user interface?

I would just like to know how to dim the display on the front because it lights up my entire bedroom even when the unit is powered off. I have to cover it with a shirt at night so I can get to sleep . Do you have any information on this matter?

The menu should have a entry to change the display to none. No dimming, just off completely.
The only other way is to place a opaque material over the display to 'dim' the output.

Here is the PDF user manual (or at least the closest thing I could find to one). I am so interested what the USB and Ethernet ports are for.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/video/at_home/Set-Tops/8000_STTs/4038345C.pdf

What firmware? With TRIO, it's:

SETTINGS->RECEIVERS->FRONT PANEL->FRONT PANEL STATUS->ON WITH RECEIVER

As far as I know, the USB port can be used to power a USB device; that is all. On one of my Cisco ("SA") boxes, I use the USB port to power an IR extender. No actual functionality is supported. I can't comment on the Ethernet port.

That sounds right. Usually those USB ports are there for the cable techs to use when troubleshooting the DVR. The end-user would be able to do nothing other than power a USB device with it.